Patronage

Official Gets Sarcastic 'Valentine' From Political Opponent

Posted 02.15.2012

Read More: Chicago Politics, 31st Ward Committee Race, Alonso Zaragoza, Chicago Patronage, Patronage, Chicago Corruption, Joe Berrios Corruption, Chicago Nepotism, Joe Berrios Nepotism, Cook County Assessor, Joe Berrios, Chicago News

Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios, who has said on multiple occasions that he hires his family members and does not feel bad about doing so, received a...

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Athens: New World to Emulate

Richard Laermer | Posted 12.28.2011

Read More: Athens, Greek Monetary Woes, Laermer.com, Falling Governments, Trendspotting, Patronage, European Fall, Political News, Ancient Greece, Plaka, Good Change, World News

After a week here I believe that these leaders are childish and scared to change; and that Greek professional workers will never accept those in power.

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James Franco Raises Money To Make Non-Visible Art (VIDEO)

Posted 08.15.2011

Read More: Art, Video, Weird News, Conceptual Art, Patronage, James Franco Art, William Faulkner, James Franco, New York, New York City, Arts News

It may sound like an adaptation of "The Emperor's New Clothes" but James Franco's new art project with Praxis (Brainard and Delia Carey), a conceptual...

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Stroger's Ten Lowest Moments As County Board President

Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Cook County Patronage, Toni Preckwinkle, Toni Preckwinkle County Board, Toni Preckwinkle Sworn In, Patronage, Cook County Tax Hike, Todd Stroger, Slidepollajax, Cook County Board President, Todd Stroger Scandal, Cook County Board, Chicago News

On Monday, newly elected Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle was sworn in. Her first day on the job, Preckwinkle fired patronage workers tied...

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Pinstripes and Teabags

Martin Tolchin | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Politics, Tea Party, Patronage, Bailout, Bridge to Nowhere, Politics News

The rise of "pinstripe patronage" results from the convergence of two factors: the soaring costs of political campaigns, and the simultaneous need to reward political supporters.

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What Can't be Said Today

Bob Bowdon | Posted 05.25.2011

In education these days, it's only politically acceptable to discuss how much is spent, not how well it's spent.

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Three Ways to Better Government

David Orr | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Cook County Patronage, Cook County President Race, November Election, Patronage, Cook County Board President, Government Efficiency, Cook-County-Clerk-David-Orr, Cook County, Cook County Board, Cook-County-Clerk, Chicago News

There was a time when nobody would order a birth certificate at Cook County Vital Records unless they packed their favorite book and a lunch. But times have changed.

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Barack Obama's Slipping Presidency

Bob Franken | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: White House, Obama Administration, Patronage, Change You Can Believe In, Insurance Companies, Oil Companies, Barack Obama, Politics News

In today's world of instant communication and blatant demagoguery, is an effective presidency even possible?

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Same Old LA Story

Bettina Korek | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: The Leuthold Group, The Arts, Patronage, Dow Theory Forecasts, Los Angeles Times, Earthquake, Forbes Magazine, L.A. Marathon, Culture Monster, Billionaires, Standard of Living, S&P 500, The Future of the Arts, Eli Broad, The Great Depression, Los Angeles News

Unfortunately, as Mike Boehm wrote, "SoCal billionaires [are] plentiful, but most are not known for giving big sums to the arts." Luckily Eli Broad had a good year.

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Illinois Primary Results Show Local Political Machine 'Breaking Down'

Chicago News Cooperative | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Cook County Democratic Party, Chicago Political Machine, Political Patronage, Patronage, Terrence O'Brien, Toni Preckwinkle, Mayor Daley, Chicago, Illinois, Chicago Politics, Richard Daley, Chicago News

After serving some 20 years as an elected leader of the obscure-but-jobs-rich Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, Terence O'Brien decided last ye...

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Josh Penry's Examples Of Patronage In New Energy Office Turn Out To Be False

The Denver Post | Lynn Bartels | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: New Energy, Josh Penry, 2010, Green Energy, Bill Ritter, Colorado Governor, Patronage, Denver News

The director of the Governor's Energy Office recently interviewed 20 people from scores of applicants and hired someone who had worked on Republican B...

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Orr Warns Of Political Machines, Quid Pro Quo As Election Season Begins

Chicago Public Radio | Ammad Omar | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Cook County Elections, David Orr, Political Machines, Chicago Machine, Patronage, Chicago Elections, Election Petitions, Chicago News

Cook County Clerk David Orr says residents shouldn't be fooled into collecting signatures for candidates promising them a job down the line....

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Browner Not Greener: The Decline and Fall of Environmental Policy

Reese Schonfeld | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Epa, Environmental Policy, Carol Browner, Environmental, Environment, Everglades, Environmentalism, Lisa Sutley, Barack Obama Environmental Policy, Barack Obama, Lisa P. Jackson, Patronage, Pollution, Global Warming, Politics News

The Times defined Carol Browner as "an acolyte of former Vice President Al Gore." The Clinton administration paid little attention to environmental issues and accomplished less.

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City Golf Courses: Whaddya Expect?

David Murray | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Chicago Golf, Chicago Golf Courses, Billy Casper Golf, Chicago Park District, Sydney Marovitz Golf, Cook County Forest Preserve, Kempersports, Patronage, Public Golf Courses, Chicago News

Some years ago a friend of mine, a weary veteran of Trying to Do Things in Chicago, was working with the city on a building project, and boxing with the usual shadows. He told me something that stuck with me.

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