July 07, 2006
John Kass in Excellent Form...
...Let's hope he's right.
Oh Yeah! Thank you, Peter Fitzgerald!
City Hall needs this machine, because it squashes political dissent. It hushes political rivals who'd otherwise squawk about strange deals, like $100 million in affirmative action contracts to the mayor's white drinking buddies.But there are no real political rivals. None that dare challenge what's been going on in Chicago, as the man from The New York Times sits in the Billy Goat, recalling better days.
Those convicted Thursday were Robert Sorich, who ran the mayor's Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, and his aide, Tim McCarthy. Also, Streets and Sanitation personnel boss Patrick Slattery and John Sullivan, another ranking Streets and San chief. The first three come from Bridgeport's 11th Ward. Sullivan is from the 19th Ward.
Jurors were adamant in saying they weren't trying to send a message to Daley. But I asked Olshansky--a private citizen once again--if Daley, Degnan, Reyes, Joyce, Broderick and others may divine any hints of things to come.
Olshansky is an analyst by profession and disposition. He paused a long moment.
"Absolutely," he said. "Be realistic. Especially after what we saw going on in the trial."
City Hall, through its mouthpieces, will spin this as a partial victory, or a half defeat. It's not. They're all guilty and they're going to prison.
Posted by Bruno Behrend at July 7, 2006 10:53 AM