"Corrupt Chicago thugs"

[Ardent15]

I have plenty of criticisms of the Obama administration, but this isn't one of them. I don't care where they came from. Why the need to denigrate Chicago?

I don't like the RW smear that "nothing good can come out of Chicago,", which I've heard from many RW'ers.

Prejudice against a major American-and world-city=fail

[SpiralHawk]

1. Well, the Right Whiners (R) all hail from Babylon

so they luvs them to project their Pharisee Souls out into the world...even unto the Place Where the Wild Onions Grow.

[Bobcat]

2. Thugs

It's code for the N-word............

[Ardent15]

13. Yep

Exactly what I thought when I heard a RW'er mention it.

[blondeatlast]

3. Welcome to my* world--and also to Alabama, Georgia, Florida,

Texas, etc. Only difference is that those smears come from the Left.

*Arizona

[ljm2002]

4. If they really believe that "nothing good can come out of Chicago"...

...can we then assume would like to do away with the Chicago school of economics?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_school_of_economics

"The Chicago school is associated with neoclassical price theory and libertarianism in its support of lower taxation and private sector regulation, but differs from pure free-market economics in its support of government-regulated monetary policy."

[Scuba]

5. Just part of their "divide and conquer" strategy.

[jillan]

6. Look at what they did to San Fransisco. I guess Chicago and San Fran aren't part of

"real Amerika" series!!!111!!!!

[undeterred]

7. Alaska is a lot more corrupt, even without Stevens.

[Prism]

8. Chicago's pretty corrupt actually

And I say this as a born and raised South Sider who lived most of my life there and loves the city dearly.

It's totally crazy corrupt.

From Blagojevich and Giannoulias to the Daley Machine and George Ryan and the Stroger Shenanigans. I'm not sure what is in Lake Michigan's water, but that city, county, and state are totally goofy when it comes to politics.

It's a machine city where clout and personal connections determine all things, from government contracts to who can run for what office. There's a reason Patrick Fitzgerald has had a total field day there. Blagojevich's big mistake wasn't one of principle or substance - it's that he was so blatant and outspoken about a practice that has gone on for decades in Illinois. The first rule of Bribe Club is that you don't talk about Bribe Club.

It's funny. I have so much affection for Chicago and hope to return there when I'm ready to raise a family. There are so many great local activists and small p politicians bouncing around there who do great work. But yeah, at the top, it's absurdly corrupt.

But it's so entrenched and so much a given there, I think people think on it almost fondly. "Of course they're all corrupt! But they're our corrupt bastards. And we have been getting a very pretty city of it."

And it's true. I remember growing up in Chicago in the 80s. It was just awful to go "downtown". Now? Amazing. Totally different city. I loved it when I lived along the lakefront before moving to Cali. Daley's done some good work, and as long as he does, no one will much care.

[elehhhhna]

9. IMO (Southsider here) it is just more OVERTLY corrupt.

Very up-front and obvious.

Gutsy, yanno?

Here in TX we have REALLY slimy politicians, but they keepp it on the down-low.

[Prism]

10. That's fair comment

I don't think what happens in Illinois and Chicago are unique to the political system or either party. They're just more brazen (or incompetent) about it.

[GoCubsGo]

12. Yep. South Carolina is as bad, if not worse.

They pull the same sort of crap here that I saw in Chicago. (See: The Alvin Greene saga.) Only, instead of calling them "The Machine", they're called "Good Ol' Boys" here.

[Prism]

14. I never thought of the GoB network in that way. You are exactly right n/t

[gratuitous]

11. Yeah, Chicago's all corrupt and stuff

Especially when compared to the squeaky clean politics practiced in the state that gave us our prior president and vice president.

[butterfly77]

15. The same New York thugs who ..

run their damn mouths when there were all of the murders during the eighties I recall people hanging out of their cars after being murdered in new york and beyond who in the hell are they talking about...Peter King and all of the fox gang. "Have you forgotten?"Gangsta. Gangsta..