Chicago Style Politics

Chicago is nefarious for a certain style of politics. The phrase "Vote early and vote often" is said to have originated in Chicago and our Mayor Daly (Jr) was called to Florida when Al Gore needed his expertise to attempt to steal the 2000 election. Currently the president of the Cook County Board of commissioners is MIA. John Stroger who is 77, overweight and diabetic suffered a massive stroke on March 13th while running in the primary for the November 2006 election. Mr Stroger has been a member of the board since 1970. The newest hospital in Cook County is named after John Stroger but he didn't go there as it is considered an inferior medical facility and the only patients who go there are those who have no choice in the matter.

Immediately after Mr Strogers stroke his supporters swung into action to make sure his name was not removed from the primary ballot. They were successful and he won the primary. Now what? In the ensuing 3 months he has been released and then returned to the hospital and has been kept out of the public eye. Reports on his condition come from family members and no one is sure that his condition isn't being downplayed. We do know that he has been unable to come to work at his $170,000 a year Cook County job and that his family will hear no talk of him stepping down. As more time passes the whole thing becomes more suspicious. If he were able to sit up and speak wouldn't they get a camera crew in his room, as Reagan did after he was shot? Jokes are going around comparing Strogers situation with the movie "Weekend at Bernies". Strojers' family and supporters keep harping on what a great man he is (was?) and how cruel and unfair it is to question when and if he will be able to do his job again.

The man is up for reelection in November! How can people vote when they don't know if their candidate is awake or not? Well, he is the Democrat candidate and as history has shown there are democrats who will vote for a dead person before pulling the lever for a Republican. Well, that's their choice, but they at least have the right to know if they are voting for a dead man or not!