2009 Hall of Shame Inductees

Dr. Jim Taylor, 12.21.2009

Ph.D. in Psychology, consultant, speaker, author, and lecturer at the University of San Francisco

The 2009 inductees who have been selected have distinguished themselves by their egregious behavior that has brought shame on themselves and soiled all those who have been touched by them.

Swinging Senators to Be

Shawn Healy, 12.17.2009

Managing Director and Resident Scholar at the McCormick Freedom Museum

Attendees of the Union League Club's Dem Senatorial Forum were treated to candidates largely in agreement, but whose actions show little evidence they have been infected by the holiday spirit.

Top Ten PR Blunders of 2009

Rich Robinson, 12.16.2009

Media Strategist, Robinson Communications

For some this was, as Queen Elizabeth might say, "annus horribilis" -- a horrible year. For the rest of us, it was another lesson in public relations crisis management.

2009: A Year in "Quotes"

Bill Lucey, 12.13.2009

As 2009 draws to a close, I compiled a selection of quotes from leading newsmakers as a way of highlighting some of the biggest news stories of the year.

THE FINAL DAYS OF HONEST-SERVICES FRAUD

Gary S. Chafetz, 12.10.2009

Author and former Boston Globe correspondent

During oral arguments on Tuesday, virtually every justice on the U. S. Supreme Court expressed doubts about the disingenuous honest-services-fraud sta...

People Of Illinois Should Get The Facts From California About Recalling Governors

Byron Williams, 11.23.2009

Syndicated Columnist, Author, Pastor of the Resurrection Community Church Oakland, CA

Take it from someone who remembers the last time a governor was recalled: Having the power to recall the governor might feel empowering, but that feeling is temporary at best.

State's Civic Health on Life Support

Shawn Healy, 11.18.2009

Managing Director and Resident Scholar at the McCormick Freedom Museum

The question to Illinois citizens and their elected officials is this: Are you sick and tired of the morass that has blanketed this formerly proud state on account of leaders who have continually failed and flouted the public trust?

The Lifeblood of Undergraduate Education Is on Strike

Emily F. Shaw, 11.16.2009

Graduate student at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana

The Fighting Illini don't have much fight on the gridiron this year. But the University administration has more than enough fight to allow a strike of its TAs to begin.

Chicago Transit at a Crossroads

Aaron Renn, 10.16.2009

Urban success strategist and writer

The CTA doomsday budget, even if it doesn't come to pass, has done a great service by showing the city the inevitable future. Service has been trending downward for decades.

Video Poker: A Bad Bet for Illinois

Rep. Jack Franks, 10.16.2009

Illinois State Representative

I've filed a bill to repeal the Video Gaming Act, which allows places licensed to serve alcohol to have up to five video poker machines for patron use -- the equivalent of 60 new casinos in Illinois.

Goodies Galore: Here's How to Cajole Roland Burris Into Voting for the Heath Care Bill

Carol Felsenthal, 10.14.2009

Chicago-based journalist

Whether he wins or not, maybe Sen. Burris could have "Nominated for the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize" carved on his much-ridiculed tombstone.

Burned by the IOC, But Not by Burnham: Lessons From the Collapse in Copenhagen

Andy Shaw, 10.07.2009

Executive Director, Better Government Association

With or without Daley at the helm, it's time to make some other big plans that have the power to stir all of our souls.

How Will Chicago Top Beijing's Olympics? Easy!

Craig "Meathead" Goldwyn, 11.28.2009

Hedonism Evangelist

Let's show the world what Chicago culture is all about with some new events: Relay races with plain white envelope hand-offs. Blame volleyball. Synchronized aldermen.

In Blog Comment, Patricia Blagojevich Claims "A Widespread Media Attempt to Make a Fair Trial Impossible"

David Ormsby, 11.26.2009

Public Relations Consultant and Political Strategist

Patti Blagojevich is complaining about "the incredible bias of the press in this state" in a blog comment. Wow.

This Preposterous Week In Review: Bachmann, Big Food & Blagojevich

Paul Slansky, 11.11.2009

John Ashcroft can be sued for being such a dick, Meghan McCain is hot for Blago, and Michael Duvall says he didn't do the things he was caught on tape bragging about.

Rod Blagojevich Unleashes the Page-Turning Truth on America!

Julie Farby, 10.19.2009

http://democralypsenow.com/

Damn you, Fitzgerald! What were you thinking stopping Gandhi Blagojevich from fulfilling his life's work helping to save the world?

Franks to Blago: Don't Spend it All at Once

Rep. Jack Franks, 10.18.2009

Illinois State Representative

Blagojevich would be wise to put aside any profits from his new book, because if he's convicted on the federal charges against him he will have to surrender those profits to the state of Illinois.

Wanted: Suitable Senate Candidate

Marcel Pacatte, 10.17.2009

No one in the race has the resume, experience or heft required of a U.S. Senator. In fact, the bench in Illinois is pretty weak right now, among both Democrats and Republicans.

This Preposterous Week in Review

Paul Slansky, 09.14.2009

Michele Bachmann doesn't want to be "Palinized." Rod Blagojevich impersonates Elvis. Miley Cyrus impersonates Britney Spears. And John Edwards ... well, you knew it all along.

Hot Rod Blagojevich's (Pre) Jailhouse Rock Performance

Julie Farby, 09.12.2009

http://democralypsenow.com/

Before shamefully heading to the dustbin of history as the Lego-haired embarrassment he is, Blagojevich gave the world the final star-making performance it'd been waiting for.

Keeping Score in Chicago Episode 19: A New Urban Terrorist in Chicago?

Mark Konkol and Todd Fooks, 09.12.2009

The Parking Ticket Geek tells about a growing parking meter revolt on the South Side and warns that a meter vigilante may be lurking in the shadows, plus the best place to watch Blagojevich's continued breakdown.