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Chicago Politics

Alderman Isaac 'Ike' Carothers Indicted On Federal Corruption Charges

Huffington Post | Posted 05.28.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Chicago Corruption, Ike Carothers Indictment, Chicago Politics, Ike Carothers, Isaac Carothers, Patrick Fitzgerald, Calvin Boender, Galewood Yards, Rsd Galewood, Chicago News

CHICAGO (AP) -- A Chicago alderman was indicted Thursday on federal fraud and bribery charges for allegedly accepting $40,000 in home improvements fro...

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Isn't it Time to Let Abe Rest in Peace?

Andy Shaw | Posted 05.26.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Chicago Politics, Chicago Corruption, Paddy Bauler, Blagojevich Indictment, Better Government Association, Andy Shaw Bga, Chicago News
Andy Shaw

We are fighting an enemy armed with the power of incumbency, and the riches of unfettered fundraising to hold their ground at all costs.

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The Changing Face of Illinois Politics

Hermene Hartman | Posted 05.15.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Jesse Jackson Jr., Danny Davis, Rickey Hendon, Chris Kennedy, Chicago Politics, Todd Stroger, Cheryle Jackson, Cook County Politics, Toni Preckwinkle, Roland Burris, Illinois Politics, Chicago-Illinois, Chicago News
Hermene Hartman

The political landscape of Chicago and Illinois is destined to change in its black representation. Todd Stroger has been a disappointment. He should go home and not waste the public's time with another run.

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Retiring White Aldermen Could Upend City Council Power Balance

Chicago Daily Observer | Russ Stewart | Posted 04.17.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Chicago City Council, Chicago Politics, Chicago Aldermen, Brian Doherty, Ira Silverstein, Bernie Stone, Pat O'Connor, Eugene Schulter, Greg Brewer, Chicago Clout, Bill Banks, Chicago News

There is a correlation between color and clout in Chicago's 50-member city council. There are 23 white, 19 black, and eight Hispanic aldermen. But it'...

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Replacing Quigley on Cook County Board a Lesson in Democracy, Sort of

James Warren | Posted 04.13.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Kimberly Walz, Todd Stroger, Cook County Politics, Bridget Gainer, Mayor Daley, Tom Tunney, Mike Quigley, Marty Oberman, Cook County Board, Chicago Corruption, Chicago Politics, Cook County Corruption, Chicago News
James Warren

When a committee gathered Saturday to fill the Cook County Board vacancy created by spirited reformer Mike Quigley's ascension to the U.S. Congress, it was no surprise that talk of a fix was rampant.

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Blagojevich, Burris and a Few Broken Hands

Alden Loury | Posted 03.19.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Chicago Politics, Pat Quinn, Rod Blagojevich, Michael Madigan, Mobsters, Political Corruption, Roland Burris, Dick Mell, Illinois Politics, Illinois Corruption, Blagojevich Scandal, Harlem Nights, Chicago News
Alden Loury

We have a long track record of political disasters in this state, and the folks on the inside need to be taught that the people of Illinois have had enough. We don't need more promises of reform.

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Sara Feigenholtz Fights for Emanuel's Seat

Marcia G. Yerman | Posted 03.02.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Women's Issues, Twitter, Roland Burris, Facebook, Illinois Fifth District Race, Emily's List, Barack Obama, Breaking Political News, Chicago Politics, Dan Hynes, Bush Administration, Rahm Emanuel, Rod Blagojevich, Women's Health, FamilyCare Bill, Mammograms, Health Care, Sara Feigenholtz, Chicago News
Marcia G. Yerman

Using the Obama model of building a strong grassroots base, Feigenholtz has tapped into the social media playbook with a profile on Facebook and updates on Twitter.

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Do You Think 700 Million Dollars is a Lot of Money?

Mike Quigley | Posted 01.29.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Todd Stroger, Cook County, Mike Quigley, Cook County Board, Chicago Politics, Fiscal Responsibility, Cook County Budget, Chicago News
Mike Quigley

When the Cook County budget comes up for a vote in the coming week, we will be dealing, yet again, with a patchwork set of fixes, an ill-conceived borrowing scheme, and a lack of attention to the real problems.

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Religous Leaders Call For Morality In Government

Chicago Public Radio | Lynette Kalsnes | Posted 01.12.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Society of Christian Ethics, Good Government, Chicago Politics, Chicago Corruption, Political Corruption, Moral Government, Chicago News

Religious professors and clergy from across the nation just finished meeting in Chicago to take on the ethics of public officials. The Christian and ...

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Bill Daley: Springfield, Not Chicago, Taints Illinois

Politico | Roger Simon | Posted 01.07.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Chicago Politics, Rod Blagojevich, Chicago Corruption, Bill Daley, Illinois Corruption, Illinois Politics, Chicago News

Blagojevich is from Chicago, and some say that city is a breeding ground for corruption. But Bill Daley, brother of Chicago's current mayor and a form...

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When Another Senate Seat Was Up for Sale

Robert Loerzel | Posted 01.06.2009 | Chicago

Read More: William Lorimer, Political Corruption, Obama Senate Seat, Senate, Blagojevich Scandal, Chicago Politics, Illinois Politics, Roland Burris, Rod Blagojevich, Blagojevich Corruption, Chicago News
Robert Loerzel

A hundred years ago, political tensions were running high in Illinois. Everyone wanted to know the answer to one question: Who would be the new U.S. Senator from Illinois?

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All I Want for Christmas Is a Modernized Cook County Government

Mike Quigley | Posted 12.18.2008 | Chicago

Read More: Cook County, Mike Quigley, Chicago Politics, Cook County Board, Cook County Government, Cook County Patronage, Cook County Reform, Cook County Bloat, Reinventing Cook County, Cook County Property Taxes, Chicago Property Taxes, Cook County Corruption, Chicago News
Mike Quigley

Short of absolute dictatorships, my staff and I couldn't find an example of a more powerful veto anywhere in the world. Why does the president of the Cook County Board have this much power?

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Jesse Jackson Jr. Should Bow Out for Obama's Seat

Earl Ofari Hutchinson | Posted 12.13.2008 | Politics

Read More: Corruption, Senate Seat, Barack Obama, Cynthia McKinney, Rod Blagojevich, Jesse Jackson Sr., Jesse Jackson Jr., Black Elected Officials, Chicago Politics, Scandal, Illinois, Politics News
Earl Ofari Hutchinson

The whispers and rumors about Jackson Jr. will swirl no matter what the FBI and the U.S. attorney ultimately decide about the extent of his involvement in the scandal.

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"Ubi Est Mea -- Where's Mine?"

Joe Peyronnin | Posted 12.09.2008 | Politics

Read More: Blagojevich Corruption Scandal, Governor Blagojevich, Chicago, Blagojevich, Chicago Governor, Organized Crime, Patricia Blagojevich, Illinois Governor, Blagojevich Democrat, Gov. Blagojevich, Chicago Politics, Friends of Blagojevich, George Ryan, Patti Blagojevich, Rod Blagojevich, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, Blagojevich Obama, Mayor Daley, Governor Arrested, Blagojevich Complaint, Blagojevich Indictment, Blagojevich Arrested, Rob Blagojevich, Patrick Fitzgerald, Politics News
Joe Peyronnin

Chicago style politics seems little changed. The charges against Blagojevich may make "Lincoln role over in his grave," but many Chicagoans are probably just thinking, "Here we go again."

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Rahm Emanuel's Political Pirouettes

John R. MacArthur | Posted 11.19.2008 | Politics

Read More: Obama Cabinet, Obama Rahm Emanuel, John R. Macarthur, Chicago Politics, Rahm Emanuel Obama, Rahm Emanuel Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel, Politics News
John R. MacArthur

If Emanuel's legendary aggressiveness were put to work in the service of "good government," he might, indeed, do wonderful things. But I somehow doubt that's what Obama has in mind for his friend.

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Alderman Tries To Cut Inspector General Out Of City Budget

Chicago Sun-Times | Fran Spielman | Posted 11.17.2008 | Chicago

Read More: Naisy Dolar, Chicago City Council, Chicago Politics, Brian Doherty, Stone Hoffman Chicago Budget, Joe Moore, Absentee Ballot Fraud Chicago, Chicago Budget Shortfall, Chicago Budget, Bennett Johnson, Anish Eapen, Chicago City Council Budget Committee, David Hoffman, Bernard Stone, Chicago News

Ald. Bernard Stone (50th) struck out Monday in his attempt to write Inspector General David Hoffman out of the city budget in retaliation for an absen...

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Chicago: Second Again

Howard Wolinsky | Posted 11.12.2008 | Chicago

Read More: Oprah Winfrey, Rahm Emanuel, David Axelrod, Barack Obama, Cardinal Francis George, Chicago Politics, Valerie Jarrett, Second City, Valerie Jarrett Meet the Press, President Obama, The Chicago Way, Mary Mitchell, Second City Complex, Chicago News
Howard Wolinsky

With the election of Barack Obama, the urban orbits have shifted. After Washington, D.C., Chicago has won Second City status once again, based on politics rather than population.

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Joanne Alter, Gender Trailblazer In Chicago Politics, Dies

Posted 11.11.2008 | Chicago

Read More: Working in the Schools, Chicago Politics, Joanne Alter Dies, Joanne H. Alter, Joanne Alter, Jonathan Alter, Lakefront Liberals, Chicago Politics and Women, Chicago News

Joanne Alter, a trailblazing woman in Chicago politics, died Sunday in her Chicago home. She was 81. Her son, Newsweek columnist Jonathan Alter, rele...

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Daley Rips Property Tax Plan

Chicago Sun-Times | Fran Spielman | Posted 10.21.2008 | Chicago

Read More: Chicago Politics, James Houlihan, Tifs, Cook County Assessor, Cook County, Richard Daley, Chicago Property Taxes, Chicago News

Mayor Daley today denounced as a "political stunt" Assessor Jim Houlihan's plan to siphon money away from Chicago's tax-increment-financing (TIF) dist...

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Obama And Daley: "Cordial, Not Close"

Posted 09.23.2008 | Chicago

Read More: Barack Obama, Chicago Politics, Daley Obama Relationship, Obama Daley, Obama Chicago Politics, Mayor Daley, Michelle Obama Daley, Obama Chicago Machine, Chicago News

The relationship between Barack Obama and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley is getting a closer look since John McCain's campaign released it's "Chicago Mac...

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Like Father, Like Son?

Chicago Magazine | David Bernstein | Posted 09.12.2008 | Chicago

Read More: Daley Machine, Chicago Politics, Daley Legacy, Chicago Machine, Boss Daley, Daley vs. Daley, Richard J. Daley, Mayor Daley, Bill Daley, Daley Reign, Richard M. Daley, Daley Father and Son, Daley Family, Chicago Mayors, Chicago News

On a blustery morning early in March, Mayor Richard M. Daley was running late for a constituent's birthday party. A very important constituent, practi...

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Jesse Jackson Jr.'s Tears In Denver Show Strength

Ray Hanania | Posted 08.29.2008 | Chicago

Read More: Democratic Convention, Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Barack Obama, Political Hugs, Convention Kumbaya, Bobby Rush, Michael Madigan, Jesse Jackson Jr., Mayor Daley, Sandi Jackson, Convention Hugfest, Illinois Love Fest, Chicago Politics, Chicago News
Ray Hanania

Most people probably believe Obama's nomination as the nation's first African American with a serious chance of becoming president is the most important thing to come out of the convention. I think the real achievement was made by Congressman Jackson.

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Blogging Where the Sun Don't Shine

Mike Quigley | Posted 08.25.2008 | Chicago

Read More: Chicago Politics, Chicago Cubs, Cook County, Mike Quigley, Cook County Sales Tax Increase, Cubs Night Games, Citizens United for Baseball in Sunshine, Cook County Government, Cook County Board, Cook County Corruption, Chicago News
Mike Quigley

Since I joined the Cook County Board in 1998, I've tried to illuminate the outdated practices, blind acceptance of the status quo, and improper political influence over hiring and contracting that have historically defined Cook County government.

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Twenty Years: From Washington in Chicago to Chicago in Washington

Jeff Dorchen | Posted 08.17.2008 | Chicago

Read More: Barack Obama, Harold Washington, Chicago Politics, Richard M. Daley, Timothy Evans, Richard J. Daley, Chicago News
Jeff Dorchen

Barack Obama's political savvy was informed by the Harold Washington era. I feel if you want to know what kind of politician Obama really is you could do worse than look to Harold as a blueprint.

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Connecting The Dots In Chicago

Tom Tresser | Posted 08.17.2008 | Chicago

Read More: Corruption, Chicago Politics, Privitization, Public Parks, Chicago Parks Department, Hired Truck, Daley Government, Daley Corruption, Mayor Daley, John Quarters Boyle, Lincoln Park Soccer Field, Blagojevich Madigan, Arenda Troutman, Rod Blagojevich, Chicago City Corruption, Michael Madigan, City Hall, Chicago Corruption, Lincoln Park, Tim Mitchell, Chicago City Finance, Chicago News
Tom Tresser

Can we calculate the cost of corruption to the citizens of Chicago? Does your city seem broke, incompetent, arrogant, unaccountable and impenetrable? Congratulations, you are a Screwed Citizen.

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