Mayor Daley & Governor Blagojevich: In the Crosshairs
Prediction: Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley will not seek re-election in 2007.
Daley may well announce he will run; that's entirely possible. But I believe he will withdraw his nomination at the last possible minute to enable a handpicked successor to run in his stead (and to prevent any independent or GOP candidacy from catching fire). He'll make up some excuse like wanting to spend more time with his wife or "It's been long enough and good enough...looking forward to retirement."
Why would Daley quit? It's called "payback." Many old-time GOP hacks never forgave his father, Mayor Richard J. Daley, for his critical role in the election of Kennedy over Nixon. In fact, when Bush was in Chicago a month or so ago, I had this funny feeling (not that I had eavesdropped or was mailed a secret videotape); again, just a funny feeling):
In my mind's eye, I saw a Bush operative confront Daley and say, "You might want to reconsider running for re-election. For if you do run, we will press our investigation into corruption in City Hall to the point of assuring that you (personally) will have to serve significant jail time. We have enough on you now to make our case stick. If, however, you choose not to run, we will allow you to retire without further investigation."
As a life-long citizen of Chicago, I have never believed Richard M. when he claims, "I can't remember [or "I don't know"]," when asked about various machinations of his city government. In fact, I can see him getting up every morning and looking in his shaving mirror, pointing a finger at his reflection, and saying, "Remember: You don't know nuthin', you don't remember nuthin'." I can quite easily see that.
The deeper thinkers in the GOP are looking ahead, trying to figure out how to expand their influence. If so, there's no way they can overlook old Democratic machine strongholds like Chicago (or what might turn into a machine stronghold at the state level if Democratic Governor Blagojevich manages to consolidate his power). And yes, Blago's operations are under investigation too. And why not? The GOP surely senses that Blago might be a future presidential contender; better to knock him off sooner than later.
Not that Rod Blagojevich has anything to worry about right now, at least not in the person of his GOP challenger for re-election - one Judy Baar Topinka. Conventional political wisdom in Illinois predicts she will be crushed by RB in November. Which is why I e-mailed her campaign to suggest that she consider offering a contract to the voters, using my contract for comparison purposes. I even gave her some proposals to include in such a contract. And I will keep making this suggestion to candidates of both major parties, knowing that (sooner or later) one of them might be so desperate to stave off certain defeat, one might embrace my suggestion.
Steven Searle for U.S. President in 2008: bpa_cinc@yahoo.com
www.BestPartyAvailable.org