BY ERIC ZORN | E-mail | About | RSS


Thursday, November 02, 2006

Letter to voters a letdown for Obama idealists



So, let's get started, shall we? 









But Obama did not reciprocate for Forrest Claypool.








See, I can still dream!










U.S. Senator Dick Durbin         U.S. Senator Barack Obama



Obama is a one man Potemkin village - there is nothing there behind that attractive personae. Its interesting how all this has played out. The press built him up; and now that he is of a recognizeable national stature, the press is working on his deconstruction and demolition. This symbiotic relationship between the media and Obama is pitiful and pathological.

I am deeply disappointed. I was a fan of the Senator Obama long before he hit the big time.

But say what you will--- the land deal amounts to a 1/3 subsidy for the Senator. Not quite like the California Congressman who bought hugely discounted boats from the lobbyists--not quite so crude, but a subsidy none the less--just a slick Chicago version...with that certain degree of deniability that we've bee seeing lots of lately.

If this is the case--that subsidy is unreported income--as in taxable unreported income--as in tax evasion. And he makes what, $175K as a US Senator and his wife makes $325K from UofC---so say $.5 mil per/yr..god bless them... is that not enough?

Then there's the Rezko factor--indicted Rezko--yes that Rezko. Silly me. From now on I'm voting for any candidate of any party that is the most despised by any of the established office holders ....that must be a sure sign.

Cant we all just get along?

Its very nice that you choose to define print journalism so broadly. Unfortunately, I do not. And the fact that whomever buys the Tribune in the next few months might still be paying people to do news 75 years from now does not mean that it will be relevant. I don't doubt that print media's death will be a walking death, if it isn't already.

Additionally, I'm somewhat confused by the fact that you seem to think that I equate the lazy journalism that was both of these columns with the death of print journalism. Print journalism is dying a slow death for a number of reasons (lack of immediacy probably at the forefront), but my main point is that there exists within the blogosphere a potential that does not within the print media-the potential to create a system under which journalists actually work hard to research REAL stories, not simply rely upon the same old tired formula (i.e. "build up unrealistic expectations, then tear them down").

While electronic media also has the potential for nastiness and may, at times, be worse than mainstream journalism (cough..Drudge...cough), there at least is an effort among those involved to do something different, unique, perhaps innovative. And while they may, in many ways, simply piggyback and or comment on the work of beat reporters, stringers, etc., that is changing by the day. There may not be a direct connection between lazy columns like Kass', et. al. and the demise of print journalism (I have no problem conceding this point), the reason is irrelevant. The eradication of lazy journalism, manifest in this deification/attempted destruction of Obama is enough for me.

ZORN REPLY --I'm as big into blogs as anyone you're going to find at the Tribune and I'm a big fan of many independent bloggers, whose contribution to the debate and dissemination of news, in many cases, is considerable and creditable. Yet I'm very skeptical of blog triumphalism -- of the idea that somehow thousands of smart people at their keyboards posting to the Web will disintermediate the big communications companies that now PAY people to gather information and pay other people to run the revenue generation apparatus that makes the enterprise possible.
I'm also skeptical of the idea that the blogosphere or immediacy in Web communications will raise the tone and quality of information that's out there; that the good, sober, factual, calm reasoned reportage will trump the sensational, the over-hyped, the trivial, the shallow and so on. You can't be suggesting that if, somehow, all print publications had ceased operations in mid-2004 that the Web radio and TV would have soberly, calmly and with great restraint allowed Obama's career to unfold with no attendant hyperbole, no wishful thinking, no speculation?
Who pays the bills for these innovative, different, unique scribes out there responsibly researching REAL stories? Researching REAL stories takes time, it takes money. So it takes lots of readers who are willing to pay for access to it, or lots of advertisers who believe that they can generate income by putting ads up on the Web in conjunction with these REAL stories. And where, exactly, is the model for that?
Sure, there are a few excellent blogs that make pretty decent money. Every one that I know of does so by feasting creatively and comprehensively on the work of paid journalists, mostly print journalists.
Again, if you want to define print journalism as ink-on-paper then, yes, I'd go along with the idea that, down the line, pretty far down the line, that medium is headed toward marginality. But written journalism -- created by paid journalists for media companies -- is not at all dying. You didn't care for my column or Kass' column today. Fine. I can tell you that the click counters at chicagotribune.com were spinning like crazy for both columns today. I saw some of my biggest online readership levels in many months; I don't follow Kass' numbers but his were huge, too.
Look at the number of comments on this post alone -- people are reading, engaging, joining the fray.

Patricia, Illinois is a solid blue state and probably will be for a generation. To imply that electing Peraica would somehow affect the outcome of the '08 Presidential Election is ridiculous.

There is already an official in Chicago who is cozy with Bush. His name is Richard Daley. Does that bother you, or does Daley get a pass because he has the magic "(D)" after his name?

Blind party loyalty gives people excuses for not critically examining candidates, and allows elected officials to take citizens for granted.

One more disturbing thing:


Please say it isn't so...Please!

Question, questions, questions...

Patricia, do you work for Tim H, or does he work for you at the county? Have either of you received your shepherd's assignments for Tuesday?

What will be the strategy Tuesday night? Will the Cook County precincts predicted to be strong Toddler outposts have their votes counted early, or will they hold them back until Wednesday afternoon, after they know the suburban vote?

Will the losing party claim vote fraud and demand an investigation and audit before or after midnight?

Will powerful southside aldermen who are bedfellows with Stroger The Elder storm David Orr's office en masse Tuesday night before or after they've alerted TV stations?

Who will be the first to utter the word "disenfranchised" during any live TV interview?

Which TV political commentator will be the first to use the phrase, "played the race card" during Tuesday night election coverage?

Will Barack Obama take a chance and join Toddler at his campaign headquarters, hanging around signing books just in case there'll be an acceptance speech?

Will Tony Resko and Bill Cellini be hanging quietly with Stuart Levine in a "party room" in the hotel hosting Blagojevich HQ, ordering room service? Will George Ryan, Dan Webb and Jim Thompson be invited no-shows?

Will Patrick Fitzgerald & The Uncorruptables be taking a well-deserved night off?

Will Toddler ever answer a direct question with a direct answer?

Will ballot boxes be thrown into the back of rental trucks again and ride unguarded to David Orr's office, where they'll be unloaded without any impartial observers?

Will John Stroger be available to comment on his son's campaign result?

Will any TV station exec be able to deny without giggling that it made a windfall profit on all of the political advertising over the last few weeks?

I don't know who said it, but for political observers, election watchers and concerned taxpayers, Tuesday night is shaping up to be the Super Bowl.

Independent -- I recognize all the symptoms -- you're a jounalism professor who's never worked one day in the news business, right?

As a former supporter of many republicans, I didn't expect Barack Obama to walk on water when voting for him. I still don't.

While faculty advisor to the Young Republicans at NIU in the late 60's, I had a rare opportunity to ask Sen. Everett Dirksen why he had voted for a program which provided jobs for relatives of mostly Democrats. He put his hand on my shoulder and intoned: "To get along, you have to go along. I needed their votes for one of my bills."

The jury is still out on Sen. Obama, but all he has to be is better than the alternative to keep my vote.

ZORN REPLY -- He shouldn't be worried about keeping your vote, Bill. I'm sure it's pretty safe. He should be worried about showing the rest of America that he's a man of courage, independence and integrity. That's about ALL he has/had to sell, for, as his critics rail, he doesn't have lots of experience to trade on.

EZ, One of the main criticism that I have heard about Senator Obama is that he doesn't "stick his neck out" on any polarizing issue. If he really feels that Stroger would be a better candidate for the job than Peraica shouldn't he make the endorsement? Why can't the endorement be just that? I mean the Senator did chose to be a Democrat. I think he had a reason for that. You might think his belief may be wrong but why does his actions have to have such a "shady" tone to them. Why his statement can't be taken for face value. I don't think the man is perfect by any means but I don't get the feeling that the man is really in it for the graft.

The Confederacy

OBAMA is a real disappointment--seems that he got to running with the wrong crowd. This is not a stretch--imagine the cocktail party--no introductions needed at "The Chicago Loop":

[RICH DALEY]-(Mayor and Patron of)->
[STROGER]-(Alderman and favored Candidate of)->
[REZKO]-(New found Associate of)->
[OBAMA]-(Friend and Political Patron of)->
[GIANULIUS]-(Banker and Good Friend of)->
[GIORANGO]-(Business Associate of)->
[D'ARCO]-(Convicted Cousin of)->
[BRIATTA]-(Convicted Brother-in-Law of)->
[JOHN DALEY]-(Cook County Com. and Brother of)->

LOOP-DEE-DOO...welcome to Chicago and now for the Rest of the Story!

To Eric:

Did you give Peraica permission to post your column? Or did he appropriate it on his own? It was just forwarded to me. I support 100% your right to write the column; but I am less sanguine about it becoming campaign fodder for Peraica. Say it isn't so.

Patrica, can't wait til Tuesday night. If your Toddler (one who says or does nothing) loses; how fast before the phrases "voter fraud"; "irregularities", and "we demand a recount" are uttered? Patricia, in what capacity do you work for Cook County? In the words of the great Ralph Kramden, "Every dog has his day."

My needs are simple. Can I just get some people/money/attention towards the CC Forest Preserves? What a joke! Total neglect. Filth and disrepair. How embarrasing for out-of-towners to see the sad shape of the beautiful preserves. A total "make-over" is duly needed. Not much has changed since I was a kid though. The Palos District is in dire shape. Anyone listening? Get off your keysters and do something!

Just a couple of questions and a comment...

If guns, gay rights, and a position on abortion matters not at all in the County Board race, then what is the real difference between Claypool and Peraica? I would hope that the Forrestphiles could answer this one but I've yet to see anyone take a stab at it.

What does Claypool's political future look like after 11/7? He has so thoroughly alienated many of the power brokers in his own party that his future in it is becoming increasingly untenable; he has now even began openly assisting Peraica in his election efforts.

For those who would berate Obama for supporting a Democratic candidate - would such support not be expected of a member of the Democratic Party? If a politician would like to reserve the right to support whomever he likes in a race between members of opposing parties, then such a politician should become an Independent - just like Joe Lieberman did. So...if Claypool really feels that backing a nominee of his own party in the general election is anathema to him, then he should leave the party. Show the courage of his convictions and leave, and then see how far his ideology and supporters will take him.

ZORN REPLY -- Abandoning the Democratic Party to support a third party candidate for mayor in 1986 didn't hurt Richie Daley, now, did it?
You may be right that Claypool has alienated too many power brokers; that the public may think well of his principled stand but the insiders with access to the levers don't.
Why was/is Claypool better than Peraica aside from social issue stances? He's a Democrat, for one, and would have better been able to build coalitions for reform. He's also a more polished speaker and has a better presence, something that would have helped him garner public support for change.

Both Zorn and Terry Williams are right. Claypool Has Definitely, not probably, stabilized his Democratic political career. Cook County Commissioner is his highest Democratic title. However, Claypool is without question, a better speaker and encompasses a more pleasant aura than Peraica.

Man-o-Man! There is some good thought-provoking stuff in these comments. Personally, I felt sick when I saw the Durbin/Obama endorsement of Todd. I emailed both to let them know they have lost my vote forever. Too harsh? Maybe. But a message needed to be sent.

Just as Kass wrote today that the best thing that can happen to the IL GOP is for Blagojevich to win, the best thing for the Cook County Democrats is for Peraica to win. He would basically save the Democratic Machine from itself and prevent them from having to deal with the mess they have gotten themselves into by selecting Todd Stroger. At best (for the Machine), Stroger becomes entrenched in the office and the Machine becomes powerless to do anything about it while the County digs itself even deeper into a financial hole. A Peraica win gives the Machine 4 years to come up with a qualified candidate, such as Danny Davis, while pinning anything bad that happens on Peraica or "gridlock."

Regarding Zorn's response to my previous post, I would argue that if the Claypool supporters agree with Peraica that social issues are irrelevant at the County level, then Claypool's position on them do not matter. And while Zorn praises Claypool for his "principled" stand and says that "the public may think well" of it, I would hazard a guess that there is a broad swath of the public that thinks otherwise. And using the "he's a Democrat" justification? Well, considering how he doesn't support the Democratic party candidate, why should he expect - or even want - Democratic party support? One would expect that by joining a party, that you have more in common with other members of said party than with its opposition. If that's not true, then he should renounce his affiliation.

By the way, if Claypool were victorious in the primary, does anyone believe that he would have eschewed the support of the party insiders in the general election - the same insiders he now decries for their support of Todd Stroger? This is why I believe he should change party affiliation - so that he aligns his choice of party with his principles. Joe Lieberman has done it and will (if polls are correct) be elected to the Senate as an Independent. Now that's putting money and mouth in the same location.

To KPO'M: Any idea that somehow allowing the opposing party to win is beneficial to the party one favors is ludicrous. Surely KPO'M is not suggesting that Dems should hope for a Peraica victory so they can pin gridlock and other ills on him. If Todd Stroger presides while fiscal conditions in the County deteriorate, then select a different Dem in the 2010 primary.

ZORN REPLY -- Let's be clear about this. If Prince Todd is elected Tuesday, it's as good as a lifetime appointment. Let's also be clear that "my party, right or wrong,"is a sentiment that had led to lots of trouble in this city,county and state.

Eric, although I too would have preferred that Obama had refrained from party-line endorsements, I think you're being way too hard on the guy. Frankly, I don't think ANY candidate could measure up to your weenie idealism. After all, you're the guy who says it's unethical for fans to distract free-throwers at basketball games, and used a vacuum on bees because it's more humane than swatting them.

ZORN REPLY -- The bee story is a canard. Good memory, though. In a 1995 column I described trying to use a vaccuum cleaner on yellowjacket wasps that were blighting my back yard, but only to kill them, not to spare them. In that same column I described moving on to a better, more lethal form of wasp killing. A few excerpts to refresh your memory:

August 30, 1995:

For years, I was to yellow jacket wasps what Bill Murray's character, Carl, was to gophers in the movie "Caddyshack"-an obsessed foe whose repeated failures drove me to desperate and crazy extremes.

My darkest hour was the one I spent on our back porch trying to eat dinner with one hand and suck yellow jackets into the wand of a purring vacuum cleaner with the other. A friend had promised me this would work after I had detailed for him my attempts to defeat the stinging pests with rolled-up magazines, brooms, fans, personal insect repellent, insect fog, pie-tins full of beer placed at the corner of the yard and ritual dances of appeasement to the god of flying things.

I hate yellow jackets-the hovering, feisty predators many mistakenly call "bees"-like no other bug. Mosquitoes, flies, roaches and silverfish can be annoying, yes, but you can't top German yellow jackets for combined danger, difficulty to kill and omnipresence.

They come out in particular force at the end of summer-particularly a hot one like this, experts say-just as we're trying to squeeze the last few picnics and barbecues out of the season.

They do not even have the graces to go straight for our food. First, it seems, they must bob and weave strategically over each dish and around the heads of all present, particularly the easily spooked children and those like me who are allergic to their venom. When they finally alight and present a target, they are most often in the middle of the bean salad or on the edge of a cup, where swatting at them means creating a huge mess and probably missing anyway.

Trying to suck them in doesn't seem to work either. I stabbed at them that day with the business end of our canister Electrolux through most of dinner as they grazed heedlessly and my wife laughed until she wept.

So it was a form of rough justice last week when a yellow jacket stung her below the neck, but the insult provoked me to embark on a murderous campaign of revenge.

I bought a wasp trap. It's a round, clear, covered dish with an entry channel up through the bottom. The user fills the dish halfway with a sweet liquid-I used root beer-and the yellow jackets fly in hungrily, as if it were a soda can. But because they have extreme difficulty flying downward, they become stuck in the trap and, eventually, well, drown.

keep a running score on a calendar in the kitchen. It's now Yellow jackets 1 (for the sting), Zorn family 83.

I'm no longer Carl. I'm Conan.

Bernard Greenberg of the University of Illinois at Chicago and other entomologists say I'm mad; yellow jacket colonies contain several hundred to a thousand insects and my trap probably just draws new yellow jackets to our yard from all over the neighborhood and makes life marginally easier for the mosquitoes.

Mad? Me? But I feel so good at last! Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Eric, I stand corrected. You win my respect for your determined, if ultimately ineffectual, stinging-insect killing.

I wrote to both Obama and Durbin and voiced my displeasure at their endorsement of such a lackluster candidate. I am completely fed up with being force fed candidates that are nothing but "shills" for the status quo. Take a look around our county government - indictments, FBI investigations and scores of charges of mismanagement. I'am a democrat who is going to give Peraica a try.

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