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03.17.08 Celebrating the first “comeback kid”

St. Patrick may be the patron saint of Ireland, but he comes in as a close second as the patron saint of politics. Look around at the celebrations today and you will see the residue of our political arena.

The color green is everywhere today.

Green is the official color of politics in America, a lot of green. The money being raised and spent on this presidential campaign is incredible. Before it is all over, it is estimated that the candidates for president will spend over $1 billion dollars. Green issues have also become the rage in our politics. Both Barack and Hillary claim promoting green friendly jobs can repair our economy. Then again many are already green with envy for this whole process to end.

St. Patrick’s Day is also about parades, shamrocks and being Irish.

Politicians love parades. No better place to shake a lot of hands, look popular, secure votes and endorsements then at a good parade. Look for your elected officials to use this holiday for their own personal gain. The ever-popular shamrock, the three-leaf clover, reminds us of our three branches of government. The separation of powers flowers best when divided by threes. Today, everyone is Irish. 2008 could be the first election where both presidential candidates are Irish . . .

. . . McCain and O’bama.

St. Patrick himself was quite a politician in his own day. Born into a Roman family, he was kidnapped by Irish marauders and held captive for years. Upon his escape, he later returned to Ireland as a missionary of the Church. His public approval ratings have never been higher. We all love a great story.

St. Patrick was one of our first “comeback kids.”

Happy St. Patrick’s Day - a holiday in which people feel at liberty to do just about anything they want. Another reason why this is a day politicians love.

03.13.08 Supporting Your Local Tariff?

“The only new thing in the world,” we are told, “is the history we do not already know.” Certainly that is true when trying to assess the latest economic news.

Being told that this is just the normal boom-bust cycle no longer answers all of our questions. The free market laissez-faire approach is no longer completely accurate or adequate. What we need to be told is that government policy is partly to blame for our economic woes.

Ideas have consequences. More so, government policy has consequences.

Let history be your teacher.

Understanding our single greatest economic decline, the Great Depression of the 1930s, is complicated. What is not complicated, however, is that government policy was partly to blame.

Two government policies considered to help at the time of their passage went on to damage the economy greatly. Both involved protectionist tariffs.

In 1922, the U.S. Congress passed the Ford-McCumber Tariff. With hopes of averting an economic slide following World War I, this protectionist legislation only made worse the impending depression in Europe. The economic downturn in Europe only exacerbated what would be our longest depression. The global marketplace, reeling from their own difficulties, could not help to bale us out.

Unfortunately, the lesson was not learned. In 1930 the Smoot-Hawley tariff was passed. At a time when trade should have been encouraged, this protectionist policy closed down potential markets. The Great Depression, in part, was government induced.

Though explaining the Great Depression is complicated, it is not difficult to understand the fact that the U.S. government made choices that hurt the economy at a time they thought they were helping.

As we face the facts of our own impending recession, how much damage has been self inflicted?

Perhaps this is why our recession will be so painful . . . again.

03.11.08 SINcerely Sorry

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote, “Sometimes we may learn more from a man's errors, than from his virtues.”

Eliot Spitzer, yesterday, became a master teacher.

Schadenfreude is trading high on Wall Street today. Yet having to watch another elected official apologize for an improper peccadillo with his spouse at his side is still a tragic sight.

Eliot Spitzer was caught in the most embarrassing of predicaments. Having spent a lifetime prosecuting those living outside of the law, Governor Spitzer of New York seemed to forget about the stick in his own eye. No wonder his enemies find pleasure in today’s headlines.

But what exactly should we learn from this story?

What did we learn from Senator David Vitter (R-LA) last summer when it was confirmed that he visited the infamous D.C. Madam?

What did we learn from Senator Larry Craig (R-ID) last summer after he was arrested for lewd behavior in the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport?

We certainly learn that there is no shortage of such “errors.” To ere is human.

More importantly, from these errors we learn our most basic civic lesson. “We are a nation of law, not men.” Our government must be one of limits. Power cannot be centered in one place because such power will be abused. A system of checks and balances protects us from the expected vices of human behavior. Thankfully these lessons are embodied into our Constitution.

Our Founding Fathers would not be surprised by today’s headlines. They built a government that anticipated such news.

And for those who want to debate the fate of Governor Spitzer?

Marcus Aurelius said it best, “Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.”

03.10.08 Spinning the Wheel of Fortune

Over the weekend Chicagoans enjoyed not only watching the popular game-show “The Wheel of Fortune,” but also watching Pat Sajak and Vanna walking our streets. As a part of their 25th Anniversary tour, three weeks worth of shows were taped over the weekend at Navy Pier. Spinning “The Wheel” and winning big is all about the numbers.

The same can be said when spinning the Democratic results from last weeks’ primary in Ohio. The winning player, or in this case the winning candidate, will be determined by the numbers.

Though Team Obama is trying to emphasize the delegates he has already won, the demographic numbers representing large voting blocs are beginning to tilt toward Team Clinton. Look at these demographic results taken from the latest CBS exit polls in Ohio:

Female vote went 57-41 for Hillary
White male vote went 58-39 for Hillary
Total white vote went 64-34 for Hillary
Over 60 vote went 69-28 for Hillary
High School only vote went 65-33 for Hillary
Democrat vote went 56-42 for Hillary

These demographics reflect a winning Democratic coalition.

Obama continues to poll well with black voters, young voters, those with graduate degrees and independents. Outside of independents, these demographic categories rarely swing elections.

And with regards to independents, the big upcoming primary in Pennsylvania is a closed primary. Independents are not welcome to vote.

It is hard to spin these numbers any other way than toward favoring the Clinton weal of fortune.

Barack may want to buy a vowel, or maybe a state like Michigan or Florida.

03.06.08 41 Million Ways to Have a Bad Week

There is an old saying, “politics ain’t beanbag.”

Not a great week for Governor Blagojevich. He has come under fire for losing a $1 million dollar appropriation to Pilgrim Baptist Church. Then Northern Illinois University President John Peters asked for a delay in the Governor’s promise to rebuild Cole Hall, the site of the tragic Valentine’s Day shooting.

You would think a way for a governor to stay on the good graces of his constituents is to give them what they want. Usually this involves money. It is not that easy.

In the case of Pilgrim Baptist Church it was a million dollars to help rebuild after a terrible fire. Somehow the money ended up in the hands of a small private school housed in the church. As of yet, that money has not been accounted for. Upon further investigation, the story only gets worse.

In the case of Northern Illinois University, the governor thought he was helping the healing process after the tragic shooting by promising $40 million to replace the renowned lecture hall with a new state of the art academic building. State Senator Brad Burzynski from DeKalb, an early sponsor of the plan, changed his mind after receiving the most negative mail of his eighteen-year career. Many across the state are wondering where Blagojevich is going to find this money in an already strapped state budget. Mayor Daley chided the idea by saying, “You can’t tear down every building.”

Then there was the Tony Rezko trial that opened this week.

Politics certainly ain’t easy.

Just when you thought you were doing all of the right things, spreading the good will of the State of Illinois, the news turns sour. Your best intentions became liabilities.

At least the elderly get to ride the trains for free.

That gesture appears to be one of the few where Blagojevich has kept his Administration on the right track, or so he thinks.

There is always next week.

03.05.08 Onto the 5th Set

During any campaign, you often hear examples of horserace journalism as the political news closely resembles the description of two thoroughbreds racing neck-and-neck down the stretch. But with Hillary’s clutch wins in Texas and Ohio, even more descriptive sports metaphors are needed to characterize this historic nomination contest.

Tennis
Polls indicated that Barack Obama was on the edge of beating Hillary in Ohio where she had a double digit lead. With her crucial win there, Hillary essentially held serve in the 4th set establishing Texas as the tie breaker. Her close win in Texas now pushes her match with Obama into an all-decisive 5th set that looks like it might be played at the Democratic National Convention.

NASCAR
After trading paint by countering each other’s negative campaign attacks, Barack and Hillary are now racing side-by-side. But with John McCain securing the Republican nomination, their attempt to beat each other allows McCain to coast along in the lead.

Boxing
Since the Super Tuesday primaries last month, Obama has kept Hillary pinned to the ropes with his jabs and left hooks. But it now appears that Hillary is skilled in the art of rope-a-dope. Obama’s inability to deliver the knockout punch in Texas and Ohio has given Hillary a chance to respond with some big blows of her own.

Texas Hold ‘Em Poker
At the beginning of the Democratic campaign, Barack Obama was dealt decent hand equivalent to a 9 &10 of hearts. Hillary was dealt a very strong pair of Aces. But after the flop in Iowa revealed more hearts for Obama, he took the lead with his flush.

Many analysts have been predicting that Hillary would have to fold her hand, but she was dealt another Ace with her wins in Texas and Ohio.

While Obama is still in the lead, Hillary is now all in. She’s fully committed to continuing this contest to the end because the 5th and final card could give her the jackpot…if Lady Luck is on Hillary’s side.

03.04.08 Ohio – Tex Message

Remember, the fat lady has yet to sing.

Malcolm Gladwell’s books provide the best explanation for what is happening in the Democratic Party.

There have been many “Tipping Points” in Barack Obama’s short but illustrious political life. First was his Keynote Address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. Second was his surprisingly strong showing at the early money primary. Few thought Obama could challenge the Clinton fund-raising machine. Third was Obama’s stunning victory in the Iowa caucus. These three tipping points made Obama credible.

Yet these alone are not enough when trying to explain the Obama phenomenon. Malcolm Gladwell has another word that might help – “Blink.” According to Gladwell, certain decisions we make occur in the blink of an eye. Often relying on intuitive impulses, we make quick decisions that are spontaneous. Explaining them is difficult. We are told successful people do this all of the time. Obama became popular in one of those blinks.

So here we are on March 4th and Obama-mania in Texas and Ohio could force the one time inevitable Hillary Clinton out of the race. It would be another tipping point in our political history, explainable only to those who blinked when following in the footsteps of other Obama-maniacs.

Not so fast.

A closer look at the Democratic race reveals that this campaign for the nomination may be far from over. If you include all of the ballots cast in Democratic primaries, Hillary trails Obama in the popular vote by less than .5%. Obama’s lead in delegates is negligible.

Tonight’s results from Texas and Ohio could bring another crucial tipping point. In Ohio, we are told, “so goes the nation.” With the blink of an eye Hillary could be the Democratic frontrunner for President.

Then again, we may hear her music for the last time.

03.03.08 Casimir Mafia

The ratings for the new ABC drama “Cashmere Mafia” have been disappointing. Fewer and fewer seem to be noticing what was touted as this Fall’s big hit.

The same can be said for another Casimir, Casimir Pulaski. Today Illinois is honoring the esteemed Polish hero of the American Revolution Casimir Pulaski. For many state workers today is a holiday. Government offices are closed. Many schools are closed as well.

Kazimierz Pulaski was both a soldier and a politician. While still young, he distinguished himself as a brilliant military commander. Forced to leave Poland due to external invasion, young Pulaski found himself in the company of Benjamin Franklin who immediately put him in touch with General George Washington. Pulaski quickly assisted Washington in organizing the first cavalry unit in the Continental Army. Soon thereafter, Pulaski tragically died at the age of 31 at the Battle of Savannah in 1779.

For years Senator Leroy W. Lemke (D-Chicago) worked to honor the courage of Pulaski. Why in Illinois? With over 1 million Poles living in the windy city, Chicago is the second largest Polish city outside of Warsaw. After a particularly difficult series of political compromises with downstate politicians, Pulaski Day became an official holiday in Illinois in 1977.

Less and less, however, recognize Pulaski Day. More schools are in session today than at any time since the holiday was first passed into law by our General Assembly.

Why?

Perhaps this is where the “Cashmere Mafia” might teach us something. By definition, “mafia” means “a close-knit or influential group of people who work together and protect one another’s interests.” At one time, the Polish community in Chicago played a larger role in running the city. Today, many new groups are competing for that power. Paying homage to Pulaski no longer makes sense to those groups who have their own war heroes left off the calendar. In the spirit of equity we do not honor more, we do not honor any one at all.

Our Camimir mafia, here in Illinois, need not be shunned, but celebrated. For those kids not in school today, the lost time is nothing compared to what has been lost for those sitting in class.

Its enemy, the ordinary, has replaced memories of the extraordinary. And what are the consequences?

One thing for sure, bad TV shows with poor ratings.