The Asses and the Pig - Illinois Re-Fabled

Thus oft the industrious poor endures reproach
From rogues in lace, and sharpers in a coach;
But soon to Tyburn sees the villains led
While he still earns in peace his daily bread. Thomas Bewick

BUT never in Illinois 2019 - thus oft and always!

Illinois' first statewide capital plan in 10 years will include spending on everything from an expansion of high-speed broadband internet to sewage system development. The bulk of the money -- $33.2 billion -- will be spent on transportation projects. An additional $4.3 billion will be spent on state facilities, $3.5 billion on education projects and $1.2 billion on environmental projects.
To pay for it all, the Democratic-controlled Legislature approved the expansion of gambling around the state, including new casinos in Chicago, Rockford, Danville, Williamson County and a yet-to-be-decided site in a Cook County suburb south of Chicago. Supporters say the state's share of gambling revenue will be $2 billion in one-time licensing fees and an additional $400 million a year when all the casinos are up and running.
"We're responsibly expanding gaming at the request of cities that want to make sure that they have the resources to pay for police and firefighter pensions, and to fund vital services," Pritzker said. Daily Herald

Illinois is a kleptocracy.  Aesop, and other dead white males. warned of the looming moment when Venezuela will make Illinois look like Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.   Illinois has reversed the morals taught by Aesop, Phaedrus, Croxal and Beckwith, as well as the diversity demanded Munika-Jakata fables of the Buddhist traditions.   In Illinois, Pigs prosper and working stiffs prove ourselves Asses.

An Ass is an equine working quadruped - bears burdens and is rewarded with carrots, sugar cubes and is pensioned off.  A Pig eats, rolls in filth, defecates, procreates, eats more and is slaughtered for his bacon & etc.

Aesop wrote of The Ass ( us) and The Pig (0ur Elected and Protected Elites) as a cautionary tale for men and women.

A Pig ate everything that came within his sight and snout, not unlike our Governor and most elected legislators, mayors and trusted public servants.

The Ass returned from his labors and refused to eat goodies left behind by the demised porker, believing that devouring everything was somehow bad.

In WOKE Illinois, we know that the opposite is the fact.

Facts are what are used by public school educators to support any conclusion determined to be satisfactory, like gender neutrality, pension jackpots, weed is not dangerous, gambling is good, gas should be unaffordable, the poor will have more company,  State controlled apprenticeships and severe punishments for nonconforming citizens of unprotected races, genders and colors.

Facts fatten Pigs and have nothing to do with what was at one time referred to as Truth, but is now dismissed from Free Port to Cairo.

Pigs prosper and Asses vote them into power.

Pigs never die in Illinois.  Babies do in Illinois at State funded Abortion Mills ( aka Planned Parenthood).

They'll never pay taxes, or drive petroleum fueled vehicles.

Drive a car?

I filled up this morning at Thornton's on Western Avenue; next week, in Hammond.

Will the Skilled Trades Once Again Go 'All-In" for Rahm Emanuel ?

How 'Proudly Union' are the skilled trades leaders, the rank and file and their families about the re-election of Mayor Rahm Emanuel 2019?

I will be bet one out of the above three are wildly happy to re-endorse the Nine Digit Midget for Mayor.  The other two demographics might be problematic and look to Paul Vallas, Garry McCarthy, Willie Wilson, Bridget Gainer, or Ja'Mal Green.

Rahm's O'Hare Expansion means millions of dollars to electricians, operating enginers ( indoors and out), pipe-fitters, plumbers, carpenters, tile setters and laborers.  Much prevailing wages are on the table.

In any case, Rahm seems poised to be a Turd-Term Mayor and once again wear the Corona Triumphalis. 

The mad Roman emperor Caligula declared war on Poseidon, the God of water, and marched his legions to the sea and told his troops to attack the waves.  Rahm did the very same thing. 

The Chicagoland Pipe Trades were out early and often for Rahm Emanuel in his last go-around.  Your Water Bill reflects, the debt paid promptly by Rahm upon his re-election. 

The Public Sector Unions ( SEIU 'nuff said) were with Chuy Garcia.  They will grudgingly back Rahm this time. 

The Pipe Trades were paid handsomely upon Rahm's re-election, Chicago tax-payers not so much.

Rahm, like JB Pritzker, will count on voter apathy and the lock-step support of the Black Ministers and Cardinal Cupich.

But Skilled and Industrial Labor is the wild card for Rahm Emanuel's continued oligarchy.

Here are some nuggets of Skilled Labor's Fealty to Rahm Emanuel in 2015.

• Rahm Emanuel is a good friend of organized labor and Chicago’s working families. He’s been behind us the wholeway. “Now it’s time to get behind him,”said Business Manager James Coyne. Join a political rally to reelect Rahm Emanuel at the Feb. 10 union meeting.Local 130, UA will also support his campaign on three Political Action Saturdays on February 7, 14 & 21.Pick up your Plumbers for RahmEmanuel sign at the February 10 rally and proudly display it on yourfront lawn
• The mayor received $53,900 from the Illinois Pipe Trades political action committee
• Rahm Backed by Labor: International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (representing two locals) Laborers District Council (represents eight locals) International Union of Operating Engineers (represents two locals) Ironworkers District Council (representing three locals)• Painters District Council 14 (representing 13 locals) 
• Why is Rahm Emanuel the best choice for our union?
• FIRST CHICAGO MAYOR TO MEET WITH LOCAL 1 MEMBERSHIP
• BROUGHT THE LIVING WAGE TO CHICAGO’S AIRPORTS, and made sure our 1750 members at O’Hare and Midway will be covered.
• RAISED THE MINIMUM WAGE
• BRINGING MORE HOSPITALITY BUSINESS: McCormick Place is now the #1 convention center in the country! That means more jobs for our members.DSC_0076
• Under Rahm, City Council passed an Airport Labor Peace Law that we supported, covering thousands of airport jobs.
• Mayor Emanuel has supported our union organizing. We have more union agreements since he became Mayor – the Marriott Marquis is just one example.
• Money for city projects – TIF – has been allocated for future projects like the arena at McCormick Place. TIF funds helped build Blackstone and Allegro Hotels.
• On April 7th, let’s keep winning.  

Unless someone, not currently in the race for mayor, announces a genuine challenge that will excite voters to oust Chicago's Caligula, Rahm will wear the Corona Triumphalis, yet again. 

Primary Day - My Early Morning Voter Turnout Report

My neighborhood, Chicago's 19th Ward. turns out the leading numbers for voter participation every election -  "The ward, which includes Beverly, Mt. Greenwood and portions of Morgan Park, has historically led the city in voter turnout."

I took a Republican ballot in early voting, in order to cross-over for the next governor of Illinois Jeanne Ives.  I identify as a Democrat, an old school, pro- trades labor, anti-abortion, anti-Communist voter.   The current gaggle of gubernatorial geese running and honking for this office are uniformly pro-abortion and far-Left of center on all issues.

Bruce Rauner is a place-holder who was elected only because Pat Quinn was perfect model of the Progressive Leftists Planned Parenthood Democratic Governor.   Pat Quinn is what being a Democrat in Illinois is all about.

Bruce Rauner ran as a GOP, Mark Kirk sop to voting sheep - people who mouth editorial memes and think that public radio and television is on-the-level. 

Jimmy the Two-Headed Boy could have beaten Governor Pat Quinn, but we elected Bruce the Two-Faced Governor.

The idea was for Bruce to warm the seat for JB Pritzker.  My entire family is for JB.  The family trade is for JB.  I am not in the trade.

Rauner is hoping for low turn-outs everywhere but Chicago.  If that happens he may hold on, until November.

We shall see.

I was for Jeanne Ives years ago and voted for Jeanne Ives on March 5th in early voting*.

I went to church this morning, as I try to do every morning, at St. John Fisher Catholic Church.  St. John Fisher Parish facilities serve as a 19th Ward precinct polling place.   There were a few workers passing out palm cards and two voters at 6:25 AM.

I ducked into church.

When I came out, I asked the workers about the crowd. " Two more voted since you went into church."

I would say that is light.

I drove to my polling place at the Quaker Church on 108th & Artsesian.  There was a forest of knee-high candidate signs, a dozen palm-card passers and no one going into the Friends Meeting House.

Dan Lipinksi and Pat Stanton for Judge win the signage balloting.  My other Primary prognostications -

• I think Jeanne Ives will beat Rauner, because downstate will turn-out

• I think Chris Kennedy will beat JB Pritzker, because black voters will stay home

• I think Dan Lipinski will trounce Ann Marie Newman, because this is the 3rd District, not Hyde Park

• I think the judges will get their robes.  I mean, Hell, This is Cook County!

Vote!

*Here’s a list of early ballots cast by ward in Chicago through Sunday. The Far South Side’s 19th Ward, centered on Beverly and Morgan Park, led the way for early voting in Chicago.

Ward 19: 4,161 early ballots cast

Ward 4: 2,767 early ballots cast

Ward 34: 2,735 early ballots cast

Ward 47: 2,731 early ballots cast

Ward 41: 2,676 early ballots cast

Ward 48: 2,506 early ballots cast

Ward 18: 2,421 early ballots cast

Ward 9: 2,276 early ballots cast

Ward 5: 2,254 early ballots cast

Ward 3: 2,232 early ballots cast

Ward 8: 2,222 early ballots cast

Ward 7: 2,191 early ballots cast

Ward 13: 2,167 early ballots cast

Ward 43: 2,118 early ballots cast

Ward 39: 2,098 early ballots cast

Ward 21: 2,040 early ballots cast

Ward 49: 2,008 early ballots cast

Ward 40: 1,914 early ballots cast

Ward 29: 1,913 early ballots cast

Ward 44: 1,906 early ballots cast

Ward 45: 1,897 early ballots cast

Ward 11: 1,861 early ballots cast

Ward 2: 1,796 early ballots cast

Ward 46: 1,796 early ballots cast

Ward 50: 1,776 early ballots cast

Ward 42: 1,761 early ballots cast

Ward 38: 1,748 early ballots cast

Ward 32: 1,703 early ballots cast

Ward 23: 1,682 early ballots cast

Ward 1: 1,614 early ballots cast

Ward 6: 1,600 early ballots cast

Ward 17: 1,532 early ballots cast

Ward 33: 1,494 early ballots cast

Ward 37: 1,390 early ballots cast

Ward 27: 1,288 early ballots cast

Ward 10: 1,245 early ballots cast

Ward 28: 1,244 early ballots cast

Ward 20: 1,144 early ballots cast

Ward 26: 985 early ballots cast

Ward 16: 928 early ballots cast

Ward 36: 923 early ballots cast

Ward 14: 902 early ballots cast

Ward 25: 885 early ballots cast

Ward 12: 860 early ballots cast

Ward 35: 834 early ballots cast

Ward 30: 821 early ballots cast

Ward 24: 775 early ballots cast

Ward 22: 759 early ballots cast

Ward 31: 738 early ballots cast

Ward 15: 575 early ballots cast

The five suburbs with the most early voters so far are Evanston (5,481), Orland Park (3,832), Mount Prospect (3,762), Oak Park (3,519) and Glenview (3,126).

Sun Times Also Endorses Governor "I'm Not in Charge!" Jeanne Ives Must be Surging!

As we say, had Ives not entered the race, we might have had a tough time endorsing Rauner. With a handful of exceptions, we believe he has been a failure as governor, and he has only himself to blame. He promised what he could not deliver. Sun Times Endorsement of Bruce Rauner

"This is a pivotal, once-in-a-generation election where you can change the trajectory of this state. But trust me, it’s either, we’re going all in for a taxpayer revolution, or you’re going to see the slow going-out-of-business sale here in the state of Illinois.” Jeanne Ives in  Bureau County News

Don't that make your blue eyes brown, Bruce?

Both Chicago papers endorsed the Cook County oligarchy's place-holder Governor Bruce Rauner.

Jeanne Ives, according to the Sun Times editorial board geniuses, is not 'compassionate' and her supporters are bully voters. Identity politics is stuck on stupid and the news media will not move the information dial to the facts.

Cadre demographics keeps the ink wet, but does not do much to level the playing field for people who work for a living, or all races, creeds and inclinations.

Both Chicago dailies follow the 2016 Presidential playbook of editorial broad brushing and fear-mongering that helped sweep Donald J. Trump into the White House.



It is very clear that Jeanne Ives scares the bejabbers out of the comfortable Cook County oligarchs who continue to chase the middle class and the well-to-do out of Illinois.

With both Chicago rags endorsing Bruce Rauner, Jeanne Ives should have no problem silencing low-information outlets with plain speaking and turning Jeanne Ives converts into missionaries.

I applaud both the Tribune and the Sun Times for their help in ridding Illinois of One -Term Rauner on March 20th and poising Jeanne Ives against JB Pritzker in November.

"Comments Off" - Sum Total of Illinois Media Integrity re Pritzker Firing of Mark Konkol

When Dave McKinney of the Chicago Sun Timjes resigned, because then Sun Times owner's ties to then candidate Bruce Rauner and long-running he-said-she-said embroglio, the media locked shields like Vikings. 

That was then.

McKinney resigned following what he called “disturbing developments” after reporting a story critical of Rauner. In his resignation letter, he says the firewall protecting independent journalism was breached. Meanwhile, the Sun-Times abruptly brought back editorial endorsements, supporting its onetime owner Bruce Rauner without having interviewed either Rauner or Gov. Pat Quinn. 

Mark Konkol was cashiered by the same News Group currently owned by SEIU and run by Edwin Eisnedrath, after ten days and cover art that hair-lipped JB Pritzker and all of the beneficiaries of his . . .largesse.

This is now.

No media outrage.   No Emile Zola for Konkol's Dreyfuss.

• No, Neil Steinberg opaque ouvere.

• No Mark Brown nosing.

• No Eric Zorn squeak.

• No Carol Marin press conference.

Only Rober Feder bothered to report on the disgraceful treatment of a Pulitzer Prize winning reporter at the hand of in-the-tank management of Illinois' mercury spined  ink slingers.  You will no hissy-fitting columnist, objecting to the termination of Mark Konkol. 

Here is the best example of the mind-set of our in-the-tank Illinois media - Capitol Fax Blog. 

News aggregator and Progressive Democrat activist Rich Miller's Capitol Fax Blog lays out the corpse with yellow-bellied snark but dis-invites the mourners:

Konkol out at Chicago Reader after “tumultuous ten days”Saturday, Feb 17, 2018* The Chicago Reader has been suffering serious turmoil since its new executive editor Mark Konkol took over. Konkol fired the paper’s editor by phone just after the editor got off a plane returning from his honeymoon, killed the transportation writer’s respected column, nixed a couple of columns by longtime Reader columnist Ben Joravsky and lost another columnist after publishing a racist front page cartoon featuring JB Pritzker sitting on a black lawn jockey ornament. Word from inside was that the paper itself could be in peril.
Sun-Times Media owns the Reader and here’s its CEO Edwin Eisendrath…
I am announcing today the departure of Mark Konkol from the Reader. Mark came to the publication bringing great hope for a new direction and a new life to a storied brand. Sometimes things don’t work out as planned. A tumultuous ten days culminated in the publication of a Reader cover that we believe was not in line with either our vision for the Reader or that storied history. We wish Mark well.
While controversy is sometimes seen as part and parcel of the alternative weekly world, we believe it’s necessary in this instance to apologize to anyone who was offended by this week’s cover. The published cover in my view distracted from the publication as a whole.
The reporters at the Reader work hard to be great journalists. They can and will take on the toughest stories — including issues of race, injustice and people struggling to be heard.
We will put in place interim leadership and plan for the future.
* From the Reader’s own Twitter feed…
Ding dong the witch is dead! https://t.co/Npx1zAehpR— Chicago Reader (@Chicago_Reader) February 18, 2018
Ouch.
- Posted by Rich Miller   Comments Off        (emphasis my own) 

Comments Off!  Ouch. 

Illinois is fixed, to quote the brilliant Dan Proft.  Illinois is a rigged game.  The news media plays for one side - the side that is screwing voters; Bruce Rauner plays for that side. 

Mark Konkol paid the price for speaking out turn.   There are no and there will be no media types coming to Mark Konkol's defense.

His voice was silenced, because fair is, after all, fair. 

This is Illinois - a Banana Republic run by oligarchs. 

Take a GOP ballot and vote for Jeanne Ives. Unfix this sad State. 

re is not followed by a colon.  Re is lation for matter.  

Chicago Reader: As 'In-The-Tank' as 87 Unleaded, But More Gas

Guess who beefed about the cover art on last week's (it was editor Mark Konkol's, as well) Chicago Reader?

Could it be. . . .might it not portend . . .is it possible . . . is it plausible that JB Pritzker, the Progressive Democrat cash cow, was miffed, irked, vexed, put-out, or a tad nettled by the two-dimensional treatment of the audio-taped chat he had with imprisoned Illinois Governor, a one-time Cook County SJW ?

Mark Konkol is now free of an oppressive regime.  One of the best beat reporters and fair-minded pens in journalism was trampled by pygmies.

Sun Times News Group CEO and former Chicago Alderman and one-time candidate for mayor, Edwin Eisendrath, immediately cashiered Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and short-time editor of the Chicago Reader, Mark Konkol and issued these weasel words -

A tumultuous ten days culminated in the publication of a Reader cover that we believe was not in line with either our vision for the Reader or that storied history. We wish Mark well.
"While controversy is sometimes seen as part and parcel of the alternative-weekly world, we believe it's necessary in this instance to apologize to anyone who was offended by this week's cover. The published cover in my view distracted from the publication as a whole.

In his view. In Edwin Eisendrath's view. . . . after calls from JB and the Progressive beneficiaries of his large ass, I mean Largesse.

Edwin Eisendrath tolerates insults to  Mount Greenwood, because the "Upside Down" hood is 'part and parcel of the alternative weekly world."

Last month this same cage-liner published an insult to every person living in the Mount Greenwood (18,357 people and 6,416 households in Mount Greenwood), but Edwin Eisnedrath was  less than outraged by the shoddy journalism and tepid moralilty to be found in the prose of still-employed Josh Malooley. So bad is it that Wikipedia won't even list it as a reference to the neighborhood.

Josh Malooley has a pay check and Mark Konkol must file with Illinois Department of Employment Services for the swell $749.00 bi-weekly dole ( limited to 26 weeks).

Well Chicago readers know that the alternative weekly bilge in the Chicago Readers is bought and paid for by SNG ( SEIU) and JB Pritzker.  The Reader bows deeply to its over-lords.

Mark Konkol is a free man!

The Reader is bought and paid for propaganda like the Sun Times and the Chicago Tribune.

Edwin, from this member of the reading community and the 18,000 + people your rag vilifies, Mount Greenwood,  a neighborhood with deep roots in the Ubs In Horto!



Stay just the way you are!

Prediction - Watch for Chicago Media News Blackout on Jeanne Ives for Governor

I was struck this early morning, by two things

1.  The general lack of snow accumulated, thus far, in the 'biggest storm of our times'
2. The complete absence of news, opinion, screeds and vaping in either daily rag for this hick -burg concerning anything related to Jeanne Ives, Candidate for Illinois Governor.

What do this portend?

One never knows, do one? - to quote the great Fats Waller.

One might opine that Jeanne Ives' ad, which blew every other campaign for governor into the cheap seats, gave the feisty Mom of Five from the School on the Hudson River more name recognition in Cook County, Illinois and the good old USA than a fat man calling up Blago, or a Governor hiding with abortionists. Every one is talking about Jeanne Ives and that must stop, according to the wallets of Illinois. 

Nota Bene!

• Both papers compete for the coveted 5-6 things You Need to Know About Snow scoop. List makers are almost as pathetic as bullet point artistes.
• The Sun Times tries to make a case for Progressive Boy Toy Dan Biss, now that we learn JB Pritzker insulted black politicians on tape while trolling for Blago's attention and Obama's Senate Seat
• The Tribune is busy buttressing Pritzker's sorry butt with a howler from the always ridiculous Eric Zorn
• Medill's Nativist turned Progressive image took another harpoon - this time for screwing women instead of police officers

No news about the news making, won't-back-down candidate for Illinois Governor!

Sneedless to say, the Big Money (SEIU/Eychaner/Personal PAC et al) called both editorial boards and said - " No News is Great News, as far as Jeanne Ives is concerned.

What is this?  A war on the only woman in the race?  Gender selectivity?  Come on gals, get them rolling pins and hair pins out!

I expect that both fish-wrappers will find no room for Jeanne Ives with the exception of the forthright and tough John Kass.  No one tells him what to write and he is keeping the Tribune afloat. 

Cancel your subscriptions, until we see all the news that's fit to print - you know, like Jeanne Ive's Policy Revolution

Jeanne Ives has the plutocrats running like scald-ed rats.  

Here's some great news!

IRISH FOR IVES, join us Monday March 5th from 5-7PM at Reilly's Daughter, 4010 West 111thStreet in Oak Lawn. Jeanne is the real deal! IRISH FOR IVES!

Bring the kids!

I'm for Ives, Bruce! Is 'Questionable' the New 'Deplorable'? How'd That One Work Out?

“Rep. Jeanne Ives has associated herself with questionable individuals that really don’t represent the views of the people of Illinois,” - Governor Bruce Rauner in Politico

One of the best reporters in the sorry State of Illinois is Natasha Korecki - late of the Chicago Sun Times and currently the Illinois Playbook editor for Politico.

Unlike too many Politico headline-grabbers, Natasha Korecki never allows politics to guide her words.  Ms. Korecki is the real deal - fair, professional and exacting with regard to the details.

You never, ever, get half a story with Natasha Korecki. She is a blue-collar Chicagoan.

Today, her front page by-line in Politico features the  Ad that is deemed "Repulsive" by the elites of both Party labels. BTW - it was Dan Bliss one of the Democratic stalking horses for plutocrat J. B. Pritzker's Guv Dreams who termed it 'Repulsive.'

The ACLU resorted to NPR scatology calling the ad "Sad."  You know, "It's just sad. Really, sad."

Bruce Rauner, a long time Cook County trough snouter, ran as Republican against Progressive Democrat Governor Pat Quinn, an accomplished goof and un-original thinker, which was like running against   J. B. Pritzker in the 100 meter dash any day.

Bruce sported Carhartt jackets and rode his  Harley into the hearts of uninformed voters as well as people suffering from Pat Quinn Malaria* ( about 88.4% of the Illinois population) .

Bruce immediately did nothing.
Svelt!

That was the plan all along - hold the spot for four years, while J. B. Pritzker dropped some tonnage for the Gubernatorial sound bytes and photo shoots 2017-18.

Jeanne Ives  stepped out of Springfield quick-sand and place her neck out for the vicious, the complacent, the satisfied and bought off to take some ax whacks.  Rauner was immediate.

The Ad vilifies Rauner  and not people.  I love my trade union, LGBTQ, Teachers Union and my Irish second and third cousins who landed in Canada and took a three year day visit to Hoffman Estates.   I want nothing but a great Illinois for them.

Only Jeanne Ives will afford them that possibility.

She is a womb to tomb social justice warrior.

Now, after Bruce and his Missus used their Equality Illinois Platinum donations and their Personal PAC good fellowship against Jeanne Ives, he now sets his piggy little eyes one me.

Bruce calls me questionable?   Ask, Bruce!  What you wanna Know?

Is support for a West Point grad, veteran, mother of five who wants a fair shake for all of Illinois not just selected few questionable?

Hell, no!  Last year it was deporable me.   Now, it is questionable me.

Hillary Clinton used that  same such sobriquette and stayed so long at the bottom of the toaster lot that she is still smoking.

I am far from questionable - I am taking a Republican ballot on March 20th and voting for Jeanne Ives.

In November Jeanne Ives will sprint past J. B. Pritzker and he can again use his gold card at Fogo de Chao. 
J.B. can Bruce about their wine list.