Goo-Goos Are Not a Working Man's Pal - Claypool Rolls the Bus Over CTA Employees

Policy killed politics. Politics is what made government effective. Politics responds to people's needs. Policy is the pathway to power.

The goof who first said, "There ought to be a Law" opened the door to government for Progressives. Progressives entered that smoke filled room and immediately went shopping for judges to get smoking banned; the rest is government that pads the few and pounds the rest.

Witness this swell photo of Armani clad CTA Brahmin ( appointed, n'cest pas) Forrest Claypool standing on the platform for a CTA L Train, clad in his Progressive Work Clothes. Shucks, he's just like folks.

However, folks seem to scan for the train in the correct general direction that the train will take.

Working Folks are about to get another world-class, transcendent, post-racial screwing, from Goo-goo Progressive Forrest Claypool.

Fifteen minutes of paid “coffee time” before the start of each shift. Twenty-minute paid bathroom breaks for customer assistants with easy access to washrooms. Paid lunch breaks for CTA rail operators and Sunday bus drivers. Paying workers convicted of drunk driving to do nothing for 180 days while they appeal and attempt to get their driving privileges back. Starting the clock on emergency overtime when employees get the phone call at home instead of when they arrive at work.

Those are some of the CTA work rules that CTA President Forrest Claypool wants to change in order to fill a $277 million shortfall in the CTA budget without raising fares or cutting service.

Yeah, taking a leak is killing this City. Thus, always the way of reform. It does not matter that policies begun by people like Frank Kruesi and continued by Forrest - people who have absolutely no working experience in the field of transportation -and deals cut to make a few people rich and not a bathroom break has crippled the Chicago Transit Systems. Did we really beg for accordion buses? Green buses? Faux Parisian benches?

Forrest Claypool never drove a bus, or a train. I doubt if Forrest Claypool has ever been on the business end of a janitor's broom, mop, or brush. I'd venture to offer that, Forrest Claypool does not drop by CVS, Jewel-Osco, or other fine venues to purchase a CTA Red Pass at a modest $85.00 good for a full month of rides anywhere in Chicagoland.

I have one in my wallet. In fact, I ride the CTA in order to ease my carbon-footprint off of Mother Earth's back and to save a few shekles. I generally get on the 5:06 Bus at 104th & Western to 79th Street Terminal and grab and east bound ( Red Line) to 79th & Morgan and legendary Leo High School.

I have never seen Forrest, or Rahm on that run. They keep different hours.

I am a working stiff. A College and Graduate school degree'd mope. I ride the bus with a Mr. Duckworth ( 'Duckie') a Coast Guard Veteran who works at Calumet Harbor, Vanessa, a cook at Perspectives ( formerly Calumet H.S.) and Bertina, a nurse at Jackson Park Hospital. We are very happy with the working men and women at the wheel who not only safely and promptly get us to work, but also maintain command presence and authority over drunks, crack-pipe artists, thugs and idiots. They (Bus and Train drivers) are in harm's way, all day and every day, and do not wear Kevlar.

Driving in Chicago traffic is a bitch and a half on a good day; driving a bus is a labor fit for Greek Gods. God Bless Our CTA Folks!

Sorry for your looming troubles, folks.




Then there is the Goo-goo appointee - Forrest Claypool who gets conveniently slotted into an elective spot when someone dies and his opponent is in an iron-lung, or more commonly appointed to a six figure salary. Forrest Claypool is the Rula Lenska of Chicago*. One always wonders - "What exactly did he/she do?" Rula was the sexy Limey broad who did Clairol commercials staged in what was supposed to be a theatrical dressing room. Forrest Claypool bounces from Parks, to Staffs, to Hospitals, to Boards, to Executive Suites.

The guy can't keep a job.

Forrest is a Goo-goo Brahmin - that is a life-long sinecure - he is a professional 'Ain't He Great-er' and therefore will always collect a huge paycheck.

American Labor, like the Democratic Party has snuggled up to the Goo-goos for forty year. Why? God only knows. Unions are now learning what Old Time Ward pros have known all along. Goo-goos ( Mike Quigley, Pat Quinn, Forrest Lenska, Deb Shore, Sheila Simon, Quentin Young, Dawn Clark Netsch, Ralph Martire, Terry Cosgrove, and always hilarious Jan Schakowsky) are not friends of working people.

When a Goo-goo, Reformer, Progressive, Activist, Mobilizer, or glue-sniffer gets power, grab your ankles, make sure you have a good athletic mouthpiece firmly fitted between your uppers and lowers, and wait for the screwing of the Ages!


*"

Who the hell is Rula Lenska?" The question was first asked on the air by Detroit TV News Anchorman Don Lark, then echoed in print by Washington Post Columnist Roger Rosenblatt. She is, as many TV watchers know, a glamorous redhead who appears regularly in commercials for Alberto VO5 hair spray. She tosses her long locks, identifies herself as R-u-ula Lenz-z-zka and speaks of herself as though she were a famous actress. But, as the newscaster asked, who is she?
Chicago Adman David Lewis knows the answer, and he is telling everyone who will listen: Rula Lenska is the 31-year-old daughter of a Polish émigré count and lives in London. She was featured as a rock singer in the British TV series Rock Follies and as a character in a never released film, Queen Kong. What fascinated Lewis, who had nothing to do with the hair spray commercials, was this obscure actress's hopeful pretense of being a famous star. As a lark, he founded the Rula Lenska Fan Club—and soon found that some 600 other people were ready to join the cult.
In London, "The Fair One," as she is known to her U.S. fans, confesses to be "stunned and astonished" by her unexpected fame but more preoccupied with the imminent birth of her first child. Lewis urged fans to "name the nipper." The winners: Octavia and Llewellyn.


Read more: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,920557,00.html#ixzz1aCK9sxop

Quigley Endorses Quinn - Dan Hynes Wins!

Illinois Observer, Dave Ormsby noted early today that Congressman Mike Quigley will endorse Governor Pat Quinn to day at 10A.M. - Governor Quinn, my condolences.

The Uriah Heep of Illinois politics, Congressman Mike Quigley, is a kiss of death.

Comptroller Dan Hynes will win in a Primary Landslide and go on to thump the GOP nominee who will not be Dan Proft. Too bad. Proft is only man in the field who says anything and gives thoughtful voice to real issues.

(Chicago, IL) — October 5, 2009. U.S. Representative Mike Quigley and Governor Pat Quinn will appear together at a press conference today in Chicago and a Quigley endorsement of Quinn is the likely subject.

Quigley was absent from a big group of progressive Democrats who endorsed Quinn on September 14.

Today could be the day.

Quinn’s opponent in the Illinois 2010 Democratic primary for governor, Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes endorsed State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) over Quigley in this year’s special congressional primary for Rahm Emanuel’s vacate House seat. Oops.

Payback. Betcha.

The press conference will be at the Hotel Alegro and begins at 10:00 a.m.

Will Mike Quigley Call for Blago to Resign?????????????

With growing chorus of elected voices harrumphing Blagojevich to 'Do the Right Thing!' . . . Illinois awaits that boomingly familiar voice that echoes Blago so nicely . . . in all ways - 'Mike Quigley Calls on Blaogjevich to Resign!!!! Resign I Tells Ya!'


CHICAGO (Reuters) - President-elect Barack Obama called on Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to resign on Wednesday after he was charged with trying to sell Obama's U.S. Senate seat and swap favors for money.

Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs said Blagojevich needed to step down because "under the current circumstances it is difficult for the governor to effectively do his job and serve the people of Illinois."

Moves boiled up within Obama's home state of Illinois to strip Blagojevich of the power to make the appointment he allegedly tried to barter, either by driving him from office through legal means or letting voters fill the Senate seat with a special election.

After being arrested at home before dawn on Tuesday and then released on his own recognizance without having to post bail, Blagojevich showed no sign of resigning.

Quigley for Congress! Toes and Ankles Above All Else

This is the Monday of the Inflated Self! Desiree Rogers who has cashed in on her 'networking' abilities as the ex-Mrs. John Rogers at Illinois Lottey, Peoples Gas ( where she managed to offend skilled professional tradesmen and weasel her way out of a jackpot with ICC), high -profile philanthropic boards where she does not need to write a check, and mnost recently at Allstate Insurance, is going to Washington D.C. where she will dazzle as Obama White House Social Secretary. Adios!
This will be a howl!!!! Tic-Toc, Desiree!

Most telling the Uriah Heep of Illinois politics - Mike Quigley is leaping over the County Board Presidency and going for Rahmm-alama Dang Dong's Congressional Seat!

If Quigley officially enters the race, he could become the anti-Daley administration candidate if Daley does weigh in formally or informally on behalf of a candidate such as O'Connor. In the past, Quigley has clashed with the mayor over issues such as tax-increment financing.

Fifteen or more aldermen, state legislators and other elected and unelected individuals, including hotelier J.B. Pritzker and attorney Matt Devine, have mentioned their names in various stages of considering a run for the seat.

The Terror of Tiny Town! Gin up your news stooges Mickey! Make a show of it, Boyo!

Cook County Jail -Mike Quigley Feeding Fitzy MacArthur Leftovers?

The Uriah Heep of Cook County Politics, Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley gamely pumps his stumpy legs ever upward. Like Mark Twain's Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,* Cook County can count on Quigley to climb under any door jamb, if the height of the transom above the doors of power are inaccessible, to height and ethics challenge Mike, with the help of mighty clever friends in the think-tanks at University of Chicago to charge his gizzards with buck shot to see how low he can go. Whew, that prosing got me all winded.

Sheriff Tom Dart and The Cook County Jail took a 98 page study ( prepared, indexed, rolled and greased with warmed up left-overs from the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board, University of Chicago MacArthur Center for Justice, Chicago Magazine, and the usual assortment of lawsuit addicted lefty lawyers and, it seems Commissioner Quigley) from Federal Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald in the shorts this past week.

A few years back, The Chicago Tribune and the usual suspects listed above took a long sprint at Sheriff Michael Sheehan with a series of 'heart-tugging tales' from prisoners and diappointed Correctional Employees and had their efforts tossed by a jury in about twenty minutes.

The Tribune's 'investigative' efforts were laughed out of court by the jury and the lawyer most linked to the case against Sheehan was a nano-second away from charges of impropriety for tipping prison gangs about finding just the right time to riot and cry foul.

The Tribune, with Progressive aplomb tossed the saga into the memory hole.

Now, it sure seems to me that Mike 'I can not get a vote from anyone 300 yards west of Lake Michigan' Quigley has tossed the old MacArthur Center for Justice 'facts' on the front burner and re-heated the leftovers for Fitzy!

When the story broke - and it will break down as it did the last time -this week, my Quigley radar went on DefCon Six. Never disappointed in the wee man's energy and ambition, I was treated to Quigley popping up like the Whacka-Weasel that he is in the Tribune Editorial - Harrumphing that Cook County Jail is a dangerous and unhealthy place leading with the warmed up leftovers spooned to Fitzy:

• A federal judge has monitored the jail for a quarter-century, the result of a lawsuit aimed at overcrowding.

• In 2002 the Tribune reported that, since 1998, lawyers for the county sheriff's office had recommended settling at least 35 lawsuits that accused deputies of brutality; the lawyers cited convincing evidence that the beatings had occurred. In declining to endorse then-Sheriff Michael Sheahan for re-election in 2002, this page said: "Sheahan has to spend less time defending thuggery in his office and more time getting rid of it."

• In 2004, a special county grand jury lambasted county government's handling of a 1999 mass beating in which an elite squad of jail officers assaulted dozens of inmates.

And now this Justice report, delivered by U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald, along with a federal threat of legal action if inmates' constitutional rights aren't protected.

You don't have to wear your heart on your sleeve to see what Cook County's failed oversight has wrought: If the denial of basic dignity to prisoners for some reason doesn't bother you, the cost of damage payments to settle legal claims from inmates should.

If you live in Cook County, consider: County Board President Todd Stroger has surrendered control of the abusive and neglectful juvenile detention center. And now a supposedly independent board is taking control of the financially moribund county health system. Even the county's golf courses are performing better now that a private outfit manages them.

As county commissioner Michael Quigley argues, "What we do least we do best. Our Chicago Botanic Garden and Brookfield Zoo thrive because the county doesn't meddle."

Sheriff Tom Dart is in his second year of responsibility for the jail. He says the feds ignored the reforms he's instituted. Dart deserves a chance to finish what he's started.

If Dart doesn't succeed, Cook County should relinquish control of its jail too. Several states with populations smaller than Cook County's have prison systems run by independent boards of corrections.

But throwing more tax money at Cook County is a proven recipe for yesterday's failure at tomorrow's higher price.

It's time to fix jail management for good—or strip Cook County government of one more crucial job it has bungled for too many years.

There is not crack in government that Quigley will not use as bolt hole, or window of opportunity! The Uriah Heep of Cook County is nothing if not energetic. If one can not get elected, became a Progressive and allow litigation and 40 Watt Editorial Board Members do your heavy lifting.

Note to Patrick Fitzgerald:

Cook County Jail overflows with violently dangerous people who were put there at the request of the people of Cook County.

Mike Quigley has been working for ten years to be President of Cook County Board - sad in itself that.

Mike Quigley has massaged many of Chicago's lazier and dumber columnists at the Trib and Sun Times. If you plan to run for public office in Illinois, close on the the heels of this less than ground breaking slam at Sheriff Dart and the people who attempt to manage the thug thick Cook County Jail, Mike Quigley will be in the front of the line to stick one in your kidneys, it sure seems to me.


http://etext.virginia.edu/railton/projects/price/frog.htm

Tales of Mike Quigley, Part III -Mike Quigley and the Crabs!

Nothing says the Holidays like the diet of ripping yarns and cautionary tales that gives all of us sinners lessons that might have been gleaned from good living - to supplement all of those artery clogging goodies that we tend to put away in this Season of Giving. Takers are historically good offal and fat to fire into the Plum Puddings - Scrooge, Mr. Potter, crabby little girls who don't buy the Santa Story. Reading the papers and watching the news on TV often undermines our common sense of decency and courtesy. Public figures often give us commoners the very meat upon which to build a banquet of wholesome and toothy truths. Today, I would like to offer another bite out of what I like to call my Mike Quigley pantry of knee-slappers - they are tastey but wholesome fare!

Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley, The Uriah Heep of Illinois Politics boarded an airplane in New Orleans, with a box
of crabs.

A lovely female crew member took the box and promised to put
it in the crew's refrigerator, which she did.

The Napoleon of Reform, pulled himself to his fullest height, stared directly into the Flight Attendant's knees and firmly advised her that he, Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley, was holding her personally responsible for the crabs staying frozen,and proceeded to rant and rave about what would happen if she let the crabs thaw out.

Shortly before landing at O'Hare, the thoughtful Flight Service Professional announced to the entire cabin, 'Would the gentleman who gave me the
crabs in New Orleans, please raise your hand?'

Not one hand went up. So she took them home and ate
them herself. Mike Quigley never learns but that never stops him.

I wish to thank the estimable Frank Nofsinger of Connecticut for the roue of this crab bisque.

Quigley's Lunch ! Hold The Turtle!

Mike Quigley Knows what he wants; it's up to all the rest of us to figure out what it is.

We get that from following Quigley's sluggy political trail through the pages of the Chicago newspapers. The Chicago Reader is a good jumping off point because eventually the Sun Times will do a bowdlerized version of what Ben Joravsky writes and then someone will read that piece to Andy Shaw and he will go on to jaw-bone endlessly about the issue or position on WTTW until Kate Grossman gives Andy the skunk eye. Kate seems to be about the only human being capable of shutting that Walking Windpipe up. Back to the 'Man Who Would be - Something!'

( Click on my post title - Ben is helping Quigley as always - Mike Madigan is getting some from the Uriah Heep of Illinois Politics)

Here is a tale that worked it's way out here to the 19th Ward.

Mike Quigley had a taste for some soup - like he wanted to be Alderman of Helen Schiller's Ward; Cook County Sheriff; and now President of the Cook County Board; tomorrow - Grand High Exalted Mystic Ruler - like Dave Orr's Patrone Hugo Chavez - sold Mayor Dave those swell ballot machines, Hugo did.

After a hard morning of trying to reach the elevator buttons in the County Building, Mike broke for lunch; piston-ed his stumpy legs to Marquette Inn on Washington Street. After about a forty five minute walk, Mike arrived hungry for some soup - he needed meat - he was sure of it - Turtle soup!

Commissioner Quigley ordered up - 'I'll have a big bowl of Turtle soup!'

Waitress Marnina - 'You sure honey! Abderos! Big Turtle Soup for the Commish!'

Mike opened and read the Sun Times - The Independent - Progressive Conscience of the City! ( Jesus, that kills me every time I say it)and all of the nice things Mark Brown and Cheryl Reed had to say about him. It dawned on Mike Quigley - 'The Voters! The Citizens! Pea! I want Pea Soup!'

Before Marnina brought the huge steamy bowl of Turtle soup to Quigley's table, the Commissioner ( with the Taxpayers in mind) shouted - 'No Pea - I want Pea Soup!'

The waitress who had long served the quicksilver changeling Commissioner, in turn, shouted to Abderos!

'Abderos! Hold the Turtle and Make it Pea!'

Kate Grossman - slowly explain this one to Andy before he tells it to Joel Weisman.

Mike Quigley - He's Under the Radar and Everything Else

Mike Quigley studied in Israel ( That's Mike - Right in the middle sporting the Maroon Jumper). There he learned from experts on how to rid the Cook County Forest Preserves of waste - 'Behind us, Commissioner Quigley is the Sahara Forrest.'

Quigley - 'But, Yev, that's a desert!'

Yev - 'Now.'


Big Headlines often eclipse the little men who help make them. Mike Quigley - Cook County Commissioner has been behind - or under most the big ones dealing with Cook County government for years.

The Headlines and banners tout the machinations and the cascades of misspeaks by Bill Beavers and the inner-Party brawlings of Liz Gorman and Tony Peraica with photo ops by Forrest Claypool, looking determinedly befuddled - heck, Forrest, you play with Mike Quigley and you get that way.

Quigley ditched you for Todd Stroger - that's gotta hurt.

But Quigley gets a pass. He noodles an area of the City with high purchasing power and higher transciency. Quigley needs votes. People get to know Quigley, mercifully, move off to New York and L.A. and are replaced by new waves of earnest Yuppies.

The Media gets worked by Quigley like a kid from Puebla with a Local 150 Operators card. He's on 24/7.

He has pal columnists who never peek into his runnings and goings, much less his past. Quigley plays the University Think Tankers like Earl Scruggs on a G-Tuned 5-string Gibson!

As a reader of the news, why not give Mike Quigley an occasional tickle every now and then - like gave to John Stroger, John Daley, Helen Schiller,Michael Sheahan and any one else who was a few rungs up the ladder from his little mitts and toes.

Mike Quigley wants to be Cook County Board President by 2010. Click on my post title for the always prescient Russ Stewart's study of the Cook County States Attorney Race from back in June.

If someone, anyone, in Cook County Government, heck any government, or if you are an eight year old blind kid with the last $100,000 Candy Bar from the White Hen display, chances are Mike Quigley is chumming the guts in the waters around you - 'Sharks! Get To Swimming, Yoostis!'

In the mean time - allow me to entertain you with a tale from my Quigley files:

Mike Quigley and the Blonde

Cook County Commissioner Quigley and a blonde are sitting next to each other at the bar. The Uriah Heep of Illinois Politics leans over to her and asks if she would like to play a fun game. The blonde, drunk and dozing, just wants to take a nap, so she politely declines and rolls over to the window to catch a few winks.
Quigley persists and explains that the game is really easy and a lot of fun. He explains: "I ask you a question, and if you don't know the answer, you pay me $5, and visa-versa."
Again, she politely declines and tries to get some sleep.
Mike Quigley, now somewhat agitated, says, "Okay, if you don't know the answer you pay me $5, and if I don't know the answer, I will pay you $50" figuring that since she is a blonde that he will easily win the match.
This catches the blonde's attention and, figuring that there will be no end to this torment unless she plays, she agrees to the game.
Quigley asks the first question: "What's the distance from the earth to the moon?"
The blonde doesn't say a word, reaches into her purse, pulls out a five-dollar bill and hands it to the lawyer.
Now, it's the blonde's turn. She asks the Reformer Manque: "What goes up a hill with three legs, and comes down with four?"
Quigley looks at her with a puzzled look.
He takes out his laptop computer and searches all his references. He taps into the digital cell phone via infra-red wireless connection to his modem port and searches the Net and the Library of Congress. Frustrated, he sends E-mail to all Sun Times Editorial Board Members, Ben Jovarsky who feeds Quigley ideas, and Mark Brown, whom Quigley then feeds, friends, clients, and victims that he knows. And then some. All to no avail. After over an hour, he wakes the blonde and hands her $50. The blonde politely takes the $50 and turns away to get back to sleep.
Mike Quigley, who is more than a little miffed, wakes the blonde and asks, "Well, so what IS the answer?"
Without a word, the blonde reaches into her purse, hands the Little Giant $5, and goes back to sleep.