John Nichols: Will Rahm Emanuel Buy Another Term as Mayor of Chicago?

[marmar]

from The Nation:


Will Rahm Emanuel Buy Another Term as Mayor of Chicago?
John Nichols on February 19, 2015 - 11:12 AM ET


In Chicago, the democracy equation is “50-plus-1.”

If Rahm Emanuel wins the majority of the vote in a five-way mayoral contest on February 24, the Democrat who always seems to be at odds with his party’s base will secure a second term as mayor of the nation’s third-most-populous city. That, in turn, would position the corporate-friendly Emanuel—“Mayor 1%”—an even more influential figure in the “Not Elizabeth Warren Wing of the Democratic Party.”

To avoid an April 7 general election race with the second-place finisher in the multi-candidate field, Emanuel needs his “50-plus-one”: a total vote that is at least one above the 50 percent line. The same goes for city council races, where labor unions and progressive groups are challenging Emanuel’s allies.

It is expected that a number of council races will go to April 7 runoffs—and the competition could be intense, as Emanuel and his allies seek to knock off members of the council’s Progressive Caucus, while labor groups such as the Chicago Teachers Union and National Nurses United make the case for electing more progressives. National groups such as Democracy for America have weighed in on behalf of progressive alders such as John Arena, with DFA national chair Jim Dean declaring, “Each successfully re-elected progressive Alderman will send a strong message to Rahm Emanuel and leaders across America that progressives reject the agenda of privatization, public school closings, and stagnant wages for working families. We will demonstrate that progressives are ready to fight for an economy that works for everyone—and that we will defend those elected officials who stand with us.” .......................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.thenation.com/blog/198561/will-rahm-emanuel-buy-another-term-mayor-chicago

[tularetom]

1. Apparently, all you have to do to be a Democrat is say you are one

And then if you are elected, you can do whatever the fuck you want.

[LondonReign2]

2. It's what the Third Way is all about

Claim you are a Democrat while steering the party further rightward and doing corporations' bidding.

[tularetom]

3. Yeah, I don't see a lot of difference between Scott Walker and Rahm Emanuel