Chicago Reader

Monday, November 19, 2007

Off the books

Posted by Mick Dumke on Mon, Nov 19, 2007 at 6:02 PM

Last week Chicago aldermen held a lengthy commemoration of former mayor Harold Washington, who died the day before Thanksgiving 20 years ago. Several praised Washington, universally known as Harold, for bringing accountability and transparency to the job. Even Mayor Daley, whom Washington defeated in 1983, said as much. "He brought openness to city government," Daley said, as well as, "I want to thank him for restoring my father's desk--he found it in the basement of City Hall."

Then the council passed the 2008 budget.

In the previous few weeks, some aldermen had groused that they didn't have enough time to scrutinize the budget before they had to vote on it. What none wanted to admit publicly is that the budget documents are, frankly, complicated and confusing. The line item sections of the budget--which show some detail about how taxpayer money is spent in each department--are organized by revenue stream rather than overall expenditures. This means that if you want to see, say, how many employees Streets & San will have next year and how much they're being paid, you'd need to look several places and then add the numbers up on your own--even in the document labeled by the city as a "budget summary."

To make matters more perplexing, some of the line items aren't complete. For certain jobs, the number of positions is listed but not the pay rate. For others, such as laborer positions, the hourly rate is included in the budget but not the number of people who'll be paid at that rate. "The following employees, as needed, are authorized to be employed when requested by the department head concerned and approved by the Budget Director," reads the line item for a section of the Department of General Services.

As a result, the budget essentially hides dozens of jobs from public view.

The 2007 budget itemized 39.950 city jobs, most of them salaried, some hourly or seasonal. And as of last week, 39,796 people were on the city payroll, well under the budgeted figure. 

In several departments, though, the payroll included far more employees more than what was budgeted last year, from the mayor's office (three unbudgeted positions) to City Council (119), from the Department of Fleet Management (124) to the office of Emergency Management (475). Among the hidden jobs are staffers for the City Council's committees and labor positions that earn up to $41.55 an hour.

The budget passed by the council cut 104 positions from the mayor's proposal. It's unclear how many will remain on the payroll through budgeting magic.

Here's how it worked out this year by department:

 

CITY PAYROLL BY DEPARTMENT

11/14/2007 Payroll

Budgeted 2007

Unbudgeted positions on payroll

 

 

 

 

001-  OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

81

78

3

003-  OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

59

61

-2

004- O'HARE MODERNIZATION PROGRAM

32

55

-23

005-  OFFICE OF BUDGET & MANAGEMENT

66

47

19

006-  BUSINESS & INFORMATION SERVICES

83

92

-9

008-  PLANNING &  DEVELOPMENT

175

170

5

013-  OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

62

67

-5

015-  CITY COUNCIL

353

234

119

021-  DEPT OF HOUSING

148

170

-22

023-  DEPT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS

72

70

2

024-  SPECIAL EVENTS

142

72

70

025-  CITY CLERK

115

129

-14

027-  DEPT OF FINANCE

220

231

-11

028-  CITY TREASURER

22

23

-1

029-  DEPT OF REVENUE

401

446

-45

030-  ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS

50

50

0

031-  DEPT OF LAW

517

500

17

OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE

0

0

0

033-  DEPT OF HUMAN RESOURCES

122

122

0

035-  DEPT OF PROCUREMENT SERVICES

111

136

-25

037-  GRAPHICS & REPRODUCTION CENTER

39

43

-4

038-  DEPT OF GENERAL SERVICES

481

488

-7

039-  BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONER

128

137

-9

040-  DEPT OF FLEET MGMT

749

625

124

041-  DEPT OF PUBLIC HEALTH

1216

1460

-244

045-  COMMISSION ON HUMAN RELATIONS

38

42

-4

047-  DEPT OF AGING

501

379

122

048-  OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY

40

43

-3

052-  DEPT OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES

199

264

-65

053-  DEPT OF HUMAN SERVICES

209

255

-46

055-  POLICE BOARD

2

2

0

OFFICE OF PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

0

0

0

057-  DEPT OF POLICE

15826

16196

-370

POLICE--CAPS OFFICE

0

74

-74

058-  OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MGMT & COMMUNICATION

1731

1256

475

059-  FIRE DEPARTMENT

5058

5197

-139

061-  DEPT OF ZONING

39

41

-2

067-  DEPT OF BUILDINGS

273

343

-70

068-  DEPT OF CONSTRUCTION & PERMITS

88

104

-16

071-  DEPT OF CONSUMER SERVICES

121

142

-21

072-  ENVIRONMENT

96

94

2

073-  COMM ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL

73

85

-12

076- DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AFFAIRS AND LICENSING

99

115

-16

077-  LICENSE APPEAL COMMISSION

1

2

-1

078-  BOARD OF ETHICS

8

11

-3

081-  DEPT OF STREETS & SANITATION

3232

3544

-312

084-  TRANSPORTATION

1166

829

337

085-  DEPT OF AVIATION

1468

1500

-32

088-  DEPT OF WATER MANAGEMENT

2088

2460

-372

091-  CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY

1309

1466

-157

 

 

 

 

Grand Total

39109

39950

-841

 

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Comments (75) RSS

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You dumb ass. Stick to trying to tape CAPS meetings. The positions you see that you claim differs is comprised of seasonal-parttimers. So get over yourself. And if you not such a lazy ass, you could go to the book named Program Book, and see all the numbers you claim that are not there, by department, nice and tidy for you. Life is beautiful, NEXT

Posted by Orion on November 19, 2007 at 8:21 PM | Report this comment
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Thanks for reporting on the budget document. Here's one specific example. Crain's reported last month: " ... the Planning Department’s budget would be cut 5.4% next year, to $18.3 million, under the Daley administration’s proposal. Much of that reduction would be the result of shifting 16 positions that administer the city’s tax-increment financing districts from the Planning Department budget to TIF funds, according to the proposed budget." As you noted, the budget is organized by revenue fund, and then by dept. w/i fund. If you look up DPD in the corporate fund, sure enough you can see the 16 fewer head count. But then you flip to the TIF fund at the back, and there are NO positions listed. When a post gets TIF funded, it disappears from the budget. You'd think the Civic Federation, which claims to be our "tax watchdog" organization, would be all over this issue of the quality of the budget proposal document and its disconnect from reality, but no. Developers hit fee Daley proposes on big projects Oct. 22, 2007 By Meghan Streit http://chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=26840

Posted by Hugh on November 19, 2007 at 8:23 PM | Report this comment
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"You dumb ass". Stick to being the nickel and dime clout monkey whore you are. Every time you post a comment, Daley wets his pants, 'cause you say the silliest things. Man-up, little buddy, and learn to do what the rest of the clout monkeys do, as in, keep your pie hole shut tight. You're letting all the insider's shit spill out into the light of day, not at all what the mayor wants. Or didn't you get the memo?

Posted by Hello, M-M-Orion on November 19, 2007 at 10:06 PM | Report this comment
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I wonder how many Hacks can you hid in the city budget. I notice you guy mentioned the planning dept. I also wonder if CHRISTOPHER KOZICKI the transferee from the Dept of Buildings is included in the Planning Dept budget,and what are his duties.

Posted by Reality 7 on November 19, 2007 at 11:14 PM | Report this comment
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Criminals on City Pay-Roll: Laura Foxgrover, James Stroden, Ralph Ferro,Eloy Ortiz,John Whirity, Gerald Breimon,Rich LoCoco,Brian kenner,Reverand Lucius Hall,Mike Terranova,....

Posted by Listen to WJJG 12pm Monday! on November 20, 2007 at 7:41 AM | Report this comment
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from the better govt. association's website: Kozicki Christopher J Deputy Commissioner Planning & Development $132,768 started - 08/10/93 City of Chicago

Posted by Ian on November 20, 2007 at 8:05 AM | Report this comment
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FYI: The budgeted positions ARE from the budget program book. Though it's easier to add up the job numbers there, they're still not totaled in any one place for many large departments, thus requiring a little math.

Posted by Mick on November 20, 2007 at 9:19 AM | Report this comment
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" ... some aldermen had groused that they didn't have enough time to scrutinize the budget ... " Constituents, too. Daley REVISED the budget in the final days before its passage, but didn't revise the docs on the City website, leaving us poor slob taxpayers with NO accurate copy of our home town's budget available online. He did the same trick last year.

Posted by Hugh on November 20, 2007 at 9:42 AM | Report this comment
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Fundamentally the City budget is a MATRIX of departments vs. funds. Some depts. are operated out of multiple funds. But some funds give head counts and some don't.

Posted by Hugh on November 20, 2007 at 9:57 AM | Report this comment
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Weirdly, our IG is funded out of the O'Hara modernization fund!

Posted by Hugh on November 20, 2007 at 9:58 AM | Report this comment
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Dictator Daley version of Trick AND Treat. He tricks the taxpayers and treats himself to half a billion bucks. And he doesn't even have to buy himself a costume.

Posted by Happy belated Halloween on November 20, 2007 at 10:03 AM | Report this comment
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Hey, where's the Department of Misinformation which employs yahoos like orion to post nonsense on blogs like these?

Posted by Carter on November 20, 2007 at 10:16 AM | Report this comment
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Orion is paid from the ever elusive TIF slush funds, though, his compensation package consists primarily of back-door benefits, if you know what I mean.

Posted by TIF accountant on November 20, 2007 at 10:54 AM | Report this comment
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Private industry pays better that Chicago. City jobs are not worth talking about. If you get fired from Chicago it is a blessing. Count your blessings. Amen.

Posted by Just a thought on November 20, 2007 at 11:47 AM | Report this comment
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Please remember Daley DOESN'T HAVE DISCLOSE TO THE PUBLIC HOW THE CITY SPENDS fEDERAL DOLLARS. This is how he was able to give 3.5 million DOLLARS to the DEVINE PROPHET LUCIUS HALL

Posted by Reality 7 on November 20, 2007 at 1:44 PM | Report this comment
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FOIA. Does this acronym mean anything to anyone? As in anyone other than the few true journalists in this town? I'll bet the Federal government has the paperwork on every last cent provided to this city's, county's and state's governments. And, I'll bet that, were there anyone interested in 'following the money', doing so would be not only possible, but very rewarding. Are there any true journalists out there who'd like to make a lifetime's worth of bones by exposing those things which the high and mighty wish to remain hidden? I'd pay to read that series of articles.

Posted by Ah Ha on November 20, 2007 at 4:21 PM | Report this comment
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ah, but that would require real journalistic effort. Hard work. Pounding the beat. Lifting up rocks to see who and what crawls out. Ploughing through mountains of paperwork. Far easier for the lazy clueless fucks at the Sun-Times to splash all over page 3 today a story about fucking McDonalds selling coffee. This RedEyeization of the Sun Times is painful to watch.

Posted by Ian on November 20, 2007 at 6:51 PM | Report this comment
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Mayor's new compliance exec. Mr. Boswell. http://www.icorpethics.com/news.html This is nice, they can't even write a decent press release on their cheesy website.

Posted by ICE on November 20, 2007 at 8:09 PM | Report this comment
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The jokes on the people in the 3rd ward who thought they were getting an independant alderman. The ward is being run from the 5th floor. The new alderman Pat Dowell voted YEA to every single thing the mayor asked. We thought she would be more progressive like Preckwinkle. The mayor needed a alley and now he has her. Talk about waste. The 1.9 million Park on 47th and King Drive that has been PAID for is now going to be dug up so Pat Dowell's white developers can get a piece of it. They didn't like Tillman's 70/30 plan or the Blues District that was to include majority African American workers and culture...Well to my neighbors, You Order It, You Eat It...I am hoping that St. Rep Ken Dunkin win committeman a then got after her for the alderman seat...He has my vote...

Posted by 47st Betty on November 21, 2007 at 10:25 AM | Report this comment
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The Water Department replaced coconates job with Tom Fipel. What was the results of coconate hearing? Was Frank victorious? Did brunner rock the mike? You people are quiet on your boy mop coconuts.

Posted by Up For Grabs on November 21, 2007 at 12:15 PM | Report this comment
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See the new compliance officer's picture click here.. http://www.chicagoclout.com/ Welcome to Chicago Anthony Boswell.

Posted by Mr. Boswell Picture on November 21, 2007 at 12:42 PM | Report this comment
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Joe Annunzio got Coconutty's job! Reverand Lucius Hall figured get rid of the guy that promoted a black mayor and replace him with a guy that hates blacks! The Reverand is a true T-O-M ! Also if Coconutty would have got support from his friends William Coclanes and Mark Holder he would have been back at work. But both pissed in there pants when Coconutty needed there help!

Posted by Commissioner Spatz,Water Management on November 21, 2007 at 8:48 PM | Report this comment
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Some of the new Aldermen can't wait to lay in yhe bed with Daley. Pat dowell was suppose to be an Independent, but she fools us all. Pat has the support of the University of Chicago land interest. Therefore she will go along with Daley's land and Olympic agenda.

Posted by Transgression on November 22, 2007 at 7:46 PM | Report this comment
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I like my job. Billy and I work very hard. Commissioner Spatz is a nice guy and very handsome.

Posted by Makus Holder on November 25, 2007 at 9:16 AM | Report this comment
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COCOHEAD LOST PLAIN AND SIMPLE. HE DISREPECTED HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE PERSONNEL BOARD, TO SAVE HIS OWN WORTHLESS HIDE.

Posted by 11th man on November 26, 2007 at 1:37 AM | Report this comment
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11th man your right, how dare Coconate expose Jan Pestka's son(Policeman Gerald Breimon) as a pervert. Mayors Chief of Staff, Brian Murphy, as a shake down artist at Streets and Sanatation along with Sorich.City Workers John Whirity-Jerry Felke-Chris Kozicki-as criminals on the City pay-roll, expose rainblockers-Hired truck-Hiring scandals with the Daley administration,expose Reverand Lucius Hall -Enrico Mirabelli-as crooks. The nreve of Coconate for sticking it to the guys that fired him for using paper clips instead of staples. The best part is , he is not done !

Posted by Attorney Terry Brunner on November 26, 2007 at 7:30 AM | Report this comment
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As Ben has often mentioned, Chicago's budgets are estimates. But a naive reading of the "2007" and "2006" columns in the budget might be that they are ACTUAL expenditures. Illinois state law requires that 2 previous years be presented for comparison purposes, but incredibly apparenlty allows cities to publish ESTIMATES: 65 ILCS 5 Illinois Municipal Code Article 8 - Finance DIVISION 2. ANNUAL APPROPRIATION ORDINANCES "The budget shall contain actual OR ESTIMATED revenues and expenditures for the two years immediately preceding the fiscal year for which the budget is prepared."

Posted by Hugh on November 26, 2007 at 10:36 AM | Report this comment
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Coconate did all those things? Yet he could not keep his job? Round One to Mayor Daley!!! NEXT...

Posted by Amazing Grace on November 26, 2007 at 11:00 AM | Report this comment
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I wish Coconate could find another job,similar to the one he lost. So he could get back to his element, in the sewers.

Posted by bridgeport Bob on November 26, 2007 at 5:58 PM | Report this comment
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Damn, orion, how many phony posts are you gonna put up on this thread? "NEXT..."

Posted by so many pseudonyms on November 26, 2007 at 11:01 PM | Report this comment
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Did everyone forget how Daley asked for $500 million dollars for O'Hare expansion right after he walked into office March 2007. Then cried broke in June 2007? How about how Daley and his outfit engineered the Todd Stoger election. Boy are we lucky for having that jag-off! I'm proud I helped Tony Peraica and I'll help him again. To bridgeport bob: I have a Job , it's trying to clean up the shit at city hall, because you fuckin arrogant irish have fucked everything up! To the real soldriers in iraq....God Bless you! Because of you real HERO's, Mayor Daley's son Patrick can sit on his ass in fort bragg doing BLOW! To all you daley criminals, I'm back and stronger than ever!

Posted by Frank Coconate on November 27, 2007 at 7:43 AM | Report this comment
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In the event that the unlikely ever happens, that event being a number, (however large), of Daley's cronies, (and even Daley himself), finally being held criminally accountable for their many fraudulent activities, just remember that there are PLENTY of assholes waiting in the wings to step into Daley's chair, and continue to do EXACTLY what Daley's been doing, without missing a beat. It will not be enough to bid the current generation of crooks a fond farewell, for, with the next generation of crooks ready to step up and continue to pick our pockets, nothing will change but the faces. To ensure a real change in our governments, we, as citizens, must accept the responsibilities inherent in our Constitutional Democracy, the essential one being our Right to Vote. None of the Rights, enumerated in our Bill of Rights, has any value, if we, as free citizens, living in a free country, choose not to exercise them in their entirety. Our Right to Vote is the foundation of all of our other Rights. When we elect, or allow to be elected, individuals who have no genuine respect for our Rights, we effectively abandon our Rights. We, here in this city, and county, HAVE effectively abandoned any claim to our many Rights, by electing individuals, or allowing individuals to be elected, who have NO respect for our Rights. We can begin reclaiming our Rights by committing ourselves to exerting the minimal efforts required to: REGISTER TO VOTE VOTE IN EVERY ELECTION VOTE TO DENY INCUMBENTS REELECTION VOTE TO NOT RETAIN EVERY PUBLIC OFFICIAL Use your Right-to-Vote to remove the dishonest, incompetent, deceitful, manipulative bullshitters, open our elections to every citizen who wishes to serve, respect and value your Right-to-Vote.

Posted by Just Remember on November 27, 2007 at 11:14 AM | Report this comment
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It brings tears to my eyes to hear some self righteous loud mouth pout meaningless diatribes. In the real world you have graft,it s a fact of life. So live with it,and grow up. To our cueball headed Ex sewer worker, why blame everyone else for your fuckups. If the tables were turned and you were Mayor, you would probabily be ruthless scub bag.

Posted by 11th man on November 27, 2007 at 12:30 PM | Report this comment
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Hmmmmmmmmm, Could YOU imagine Coconuts' boyfriend Peraica being in power. One village would turn into another fucking CRACKTOWN. GOD FORBID if that moron Coconut & His boyfriend Jessay Juniah take power. That mother fucker would ABSOLUTELY impliment a CITY INCOME TAX, With MORE POWER!!!!!.

Posted by Coconut & His Boyfriend Are Hypocritical Socialist Radicals on November 27, 2007 at 1:20 PM | Report this comment
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Could you imagine ? Look at Cicago now, Cameras watching every move you make , a trasit system on the brink, taxs and fees higher than new York, the mayor selling the Skyway-Midway Airport-tollways, no jobs , and a clean downtown with a pile of steel worth $15 million dollars. Just keep paying your tax'sstupid City/County voters!

Posted by Todd Stroger/Mayor Daley on November 27, 2007 at 5:29 PM | Report this comment
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"It brings tears to (your) eyes to..." think about the possibility of your sweet, fraudulent, thieving career, as a clout monkey, coming to an end. Thanks for the heartfelt advice of "In the real world you have graft,it s a fact of life. So live with it,...", it's a huge departure from your usual denial that there is any corruption at all. Thanks, also, for revealing just how much of a race-baiter and fear-monger you are, it's refreshing to see you abandoning your typical 'everything is beautiful' line of bullshit and moving on to your 'the sky will fall if Daley is dethroned' patter. As for your rantings against those political creatures you fear might bump your own political creatures out of power, fear not, my humble attempts to encourage the citizen-voters to REGISTER TO VOTE and to HAVE NO DOUBT, VOTE INCUMBENTS OUT includes your like-minded fellow frauds, be they Republicans or Democrats all. What you and your kind are REALLY worried about, besides the loss of your overpaid jobs and heavily padded contracts, is the certainty that those bloated pensions you're all looking forward to receiving are NOT written in stone, can be modified by those holding the authority to do so. Those holding the authority to do so being whoever the citizen-voters choose to elect. No wonder you clout monkeys are sweating balls.

Posted by re 11th scum on November 27, 2007 at 5:45 PM | Report this comment
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A little later, the IL muni code requires cities to employ GAAP in their budget document. This would seem to preclude substituting estimates when real numbers are available. 65 ILCS 5/8‑2‑9.3 "Revenue estimates and expenditure recommendations shall be presented in a manner which is in conformity with good fiscal management practices."

Posted by Hugh on November 27, 2007 at 7:35 PM | Report this comment
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Hey Lemonheads & Spoongoolies, I'm DA MAYO, MO FUKKAHS!!!!. Lemonheads, Spoongoolies, Tacoheads, Riceheads get ZERO!!!!!!. We get MO!!!!!!!.

Posted by Mayot Jessay Juniah In 2011 on November 27, 2007 at 8:03 PM | Report this comment
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The dago's, Spics, Shines, and pollacks get NOTHING! The Irush get it all!

Posted by Da Mayors Boys. on November 27, 2007 at 9:35 PM | Report this comment
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He'd say!!!!!. FUOCK ALL YOU LEMONHEADS, SPOONGOOLIE DAYGOHS, TACO GREASE MOTHA FUCKAS, RICE HEAD SLANTS, POLLACK DUMBASS MOTHA FUCCAS, WHITEY LIBERAL KISS ASS MO FOS, UNCOLE TOM OREO COOKIE ASSHOS!!!!!, WE WONTT IT OLL!!!!!!!!!!.

Posted by But With Jessay Juniah's Boyz on November 27, 2007 at 9:49 PM | Report this comment
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Who writes the laws? Those we elect to the Legislative Branch. Who interprets the laws? Those we elect to the Judicial Branch. Who administers the laws? Those who we elect to the Executive Branch. Those who we elect. Who have we been electing? Assholes. What do assholes produce? Shit. And we express surprise and dismay at the massive amount of shit we're waist deep in. And we wonder why.

Posted by Some laws are more equal than others on November 28, 2007 at 12:28 AM | Report this comment
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Streets are clean, lights are on, taxes are only a few extra bucks. If you have a job, it is not bad at all. Corruption is cleaned up, garbage removed, sun comes up in the morning. Lousy city employees fired. Stop complaining, look on the bright side.

Posted by Mayor Daley is a Hero on November 28, 2007 at 1:24 AM | Report this comment
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THE POST REFERRED TO WAS POSTED BY ACYBER-ENEMY OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY! IT IS "SEDITION" TO ATTEMPT TO UNDERMINE PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR OUR DEMOCRATIC(NOT THEPARTY) SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT!, ESPECIALLY DURING WARTIME.

Posted by RE:SOME LAWS... on November 28, 2007 at 4:04 PM | Report this comment
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"Mayor Daley is a Hero November 28th - 1:24 a.m. Streets are clean, lights are on, taxes are only a few extra bucks. If you have a job, it is not bad at all. Corruption is cleaned up, garbage removed, sun comes up in the morning. Lousy city employees fired. Stop complaining, look on the bright side." The only true statement in the above post is "...sun comes up in the morning.". The lies are as follows: "Streets are clean....". Some are, some are not. Since we, the taxpaying residents, are paying for all the streets to be cleaned on a regular basis, even though some are not cleaned regularly, what's your point? That we, the taxpaying residents, should be grateful that we are, sometimes and someplaces, receiving the services we are paying for? "...lights are on." Presuming you are referring to street lights, some are, some are not. Since we, the taxpaying residents, are paying for the street lights, and the electricity that powers them, what's your point? That we, the taxpayers, who are paying for the street lights to be on, should be grateful that we are receiving the services, sometimes and somewhere, that we are paying for? "...taxes are only a few extra bucks." Not true. Taxes are much more than a few extra bucks. Much more. Liar. "If you have a job, it is not bad at all." Spoken like a true clout monkey asshole. "Corruption is cleaned up,...." Liar, Liar, Your Pants Are On Fire. "...garbage removed,..." If you are referring to household garbage collections being done on a regular basis, than, some is, some isn't. Since we, the taxpaying residents, are paying for garbage to be removed on a regular basis, than, what's your point? That we, the taxpaying residents, should be grateful for receiving, sometimes and somewhere, the services we are paying for? If you are referring to the human garbage polluting our city and county governments, you are a liar. "Lousy city employees fired." You're still working, so, what's your point, besides that you're a liar? "Stop complaining,..." Actung! Yavol Mein Furher!!! "...look on the bright side." We are. The bright side being: HAVE NO DOUBT, VOTE INCUMBENTS OUT Just Do It.

Posted by A Clout Monkey Spouts on November 28, 2007 at 4:53 PM | Report this comment
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"THE POST REFERRED TO WAS POSTED BY ACYBER-ENEMY OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY! IT IS "SEDITION" TO ATTEMPT TO UNDERMINE PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR OUR DEMOCRATIC(NOT THEPARTY) SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT!, ESPECIALLY DURING WARTIME." The only comments on this particular board that express concepts that are patently anti-American Democracy are ones like this one. It is authentically a part of our American Constitutional Democracy for anyone to express the opinion that any or all of our elected officials are assholes. In fact, the expression of the opinion that elected officials are assholes has a long and proud tradition, going back two centuries. (That's 200+ years, for the historically and mathematically impaired.) I suggest that, if the posters who do not like their elected officials being called assholes want to object to same, they post evidence proving said elected officials are not assholes. That would be the best way to support American Constitutional Democracy. That is, if they can prove that elected officials are not assholes.

Posted by Historian on November 28, 2007 at 5:05 PM | Report this comment
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Does THAT "HAVE NO DOUBT, VOTE INCUMBENTS OUT, Just do it" twinkletoe LOVE to con people. Because WHEN those new ones get elected, We ALL get the SHITTY end. As one used to say...... Fool me once, Shame on me Fool me twice, Shame on you.

Posted by Boy..... on November 28, 2007 at 5:11 PM | Report this comment
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The saying is: 'Fool Me Once, Shame On YOU, Fool Me Twice, Shame On ME' The voters should be ashamed for being fooled many more times than twice. That shame should be embraced as a strong motivation to refuse to be fooled again. REGISTER TO VOTE VOTE ON ELECTION DAY HAVE NO DOUBT, VOTE INCUMBENTS OUT The ONLY individuals who will be getting the "...SHITTY end.", should voters apply the above voting strategy, will be those FEW who have been GIVING the shitty end to THE MANY.

Posted by re boy toy on November 28, 2007 at 5:27 PM | Report this comment
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The acronym NAMBLA has been used numerous times, by what appears to be the same person, posting comments under different names. What does this acronym stand for?

Posted by Question on November 28, 2007 at 7:31 PM | Report this comment
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What's with that BS mantra "HAVE NO DOUBT, VOTE INCUMBENTS OUT"?, And WHY does that hypocrite post under different names?.

Posted by Inquiring Minds on November 28, 2007 at 9:34 PM | Report this comment
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Read the posts. And answer your own, phony questions.

Posted by gee, inquiring minds.... on November 28, 2007 at 11:50 PM | Report this comment
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To assume the worst of all Elected Officials is as UN-AMERICAN as it gets.By employing turnspeak against the poster who correctly defined this constant agitation against all officials as Seditition, intended to destroy confidence in this great democratic system of government, is in itself,designed to even turn defense of American Democracy into something to be used against it.

Posted by re:HISTORIAN on November 29, 2007 at 10:42 AM | Report this comment
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Historian writes like a lunatic of either the extreme radical far-left or the extreme radical far-rightto ssume all public officials are a^^holes unless proven otherwise is the type of rhetoric coming from the Kucinichs and Pauls-and their wing-nut supporters.Of course , both of them are public officials,too-U.S.Congressmen,so according to their broad brush,they too are a^^holes

Posted by RE:re:Historian on November 29, 2007 at 11:40 AM | Report this comment
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Wing-nut simpleton who says EVERYTHING'S huey-dorey under buffoons like Jesse Jackson Jr & co. So STFU, Bullshit artist.

Posted by You're The Phony HAVE NO DOUBT, VOTE INCUMBENTS OUT on November 29, 2007 at 12:27 PM | Report this comment
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That's HUKEY-DOREY, FYI.

Posted by Mr. I Know It on November 29, 2007 at 12:29 PM | Report this comment
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oh, yeah, I forgot, we're at war I'll lay off Daley til this dust-up with the evil-doers is settled

Posted by Hugh on November 29, 2007 at 1:23 PM | Report this comment
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It's 'hunky dory', meaning 'everything is just peachy keen'. also "To assume the worst of all Elected Officials is as UN-AMERICAN as it gets." Only 'elected officials', huh? But, it's okay for incumbents to propagandize against their challengers, implying all sorts of heinous lies about them, spreading, far and wide, the most egregiously insulting false accusations, just to continue being incumbents? But, it's okay for the clout monkey patronage leeches to criticize anyone who dares to criticize their incumbent 'sponsors'? But, it's okay for those genuinely un-American thieves and scam artists, incumbent professional politicians and their lackeys, to rant and rave and talk shit continuously, condemning anyone who dares to express any dissatisfaction with being ruled over and voice any dissenting opinions whatsoever? It's just the rulers, and their suck-asses, who have the right to criticize everyone who dares to criticize them? The attitudes of these knuckleheads would be unbelievable, were they not so very real and so very harmful to our American Democracy. HAVE NO DOUBT, VOTE INCUMBENTS OUT

Posted by re various knuckleheads on November 29, 2007 at 5:54 PM | Report this comment
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Keep working those brain cells, one day, you might have an honest thought. Until then, keep posting your rantings, they're hilarious.

Posted by Panic Time in Clout Monkey City on November 30, 2007 at 11:58 AM | Report this comment
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Since poster Hugh seems to know how to criticize those who serve in Public Office, why doesn't the pontificating grumbler put himself up for Office? Give the public a chance to JUDGE Hugh as he Judges others; who knows, maybe a HughII would start twisting public records and infer all kinds of Nefarious allegations against St. Hugh.

Posted by Why Doesn't Hugh Run? on November 30, 2007 at 12:16 PM | Report this comment
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WHAT THE SERIAL "HAVE NO DOUBT" POSTER IS REALLY SAYING,IS THAT TO INSURE A CHOTIC SOCIETY, ELECT ALL INEXPERIENCED OUTSIDERS TO OFFICE! DOES THE MORON REALIZE THAT THIS IS WHY THE FOUNDING FATHERS GUARANTEED THAT ONLY 1/3 OF THE U.S.SENATE IS UP FOR ELECTION AT ANY GIVEN 2 YR GENERAL ELECTION?

Posted by re:HAVE NO DOUBT on November 30, 2007 at 12:23 PM | Report this comment
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I WOULDN'T talk you lobotomized & sterilized cesspool, So go screw yourself. Sh*t for brains ultra-left winger.

Posted by Re; Panic Time on November 30, 2007 at 12:44 PM | Report this comment
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AAAHHHH,FRIDAY NITE IN LEFTYLAND-What to do? perhaps wine/cheese/and "Hate Our Country" time in an Art Gallery, or herbal tea and a Whacko "BLAME AMERICA FOR EVERYTHING" book reading in a "RARE BOOKS Bookstore, or POST "HOW BAD EVERYTHING IS" On BLOGS?

Posted by Lefty Heaven on November 30, 2007 at 1:04 PM | Report this comment
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Like I said, hilarious. You guys should see if they're hiring writers for 'Family Guy', 'American Dad' and 'Saturday Nite Live'. That would mean, though, that you'd have to be willing to scab. I believe you would be.

Posted by Like I Said on November 30, 2007 at 1:10 PM | Report this comment
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North American Man-Boy Love Association.

Posted by Answer on November 30, 2007 at 3:27 PM | Report this comment
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So, might this mean that those clout monkey bloggers who routinely use the acronym whose meaning was requested are members of this association?

Posted by Hmmmmmm........ on November 30, 2007 at 5:35 PM | Report this comment
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NOTICIBALE ON THESE LOCAL BLOGS,BUT ALSO ON NATIONAL BLOGS, IS THE LEFT-WINGNUT TACTIC OF NOT ONLY TALKING DOWN TO ANY AND ALL WHO OPPOSE THEIR HATEFUL POSTING,BUT TO REFER TO THEM AS MONKIES-THE INFERENCE IS THAT ONLY SOMEONE WITH THE INTELLIGENCE OF A MONKEY COULD POSSIBLY DISAGREE WITH THIS STABLE OF SELF APPOINTED GENIUS PONTIFICATING "MORALIST"ELITISTS-IOW-THEY SIT IN JUDGEMENT OF ALL,BUT FROM THE BLEACHERS.THE TRUE "MONKIES" ARE THESE ELITIST PONTIFICATORS WHO ONLY KNOW HOW TO THROW THEIR FECES AROUND,BETWEEN EATING THEIR BANANAS.

Posted by WHY DOES ULTRA-LEFT CALL PEOPLE MONKIES? on December 1, 2007 at 10:29 AM | Report this comment
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Perhaps you have a point. Maybe 'clout lemmings' is more appropriate. Or 'clout gerbils'. Or 'clout rats'. Or 'clout mice'. Or 'clout termites'. Or 'clout maggots'. Or 'clout turkeys'. Or 'clout pigeons'. Or 'clout weasels'. Or 'clout tapeworms'. Or 'clout leeches'. Or 'clout bunnies'. Or 'clout lemurs'. Or 'clout buffaloes'. Or 'clout hogs'. Or 'clout snakes'. Or 'clout guppies'. Or 'clout mosquitoes'. Or 'clout cockroaches'. Or 'clout fruit flies'. Or 'clout crustaceans'. Or 'clout bacteria'. Or 'clout chickens'. Or 'clout ___________'. Let's have a contest! See who can come up with the most representative name for all our highly valuable clout minions. The prize will be what it always is, a good laugh. We, the rabble, need one.

Posted by Well.... on December 1, 2007 at 1:57 PM | Report this comment
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THE ABOVE POST CAME FROM A HATE-RIDDLED LIBERAL ANARCHIST ANTI-AMERICAN/ANTI-DEMOCRACY MIND!WHAT ARE THE CHANCES THAT IT'S CREATOR IS ANARCHIST -IN-CHIEF,HUGH?!

Posted by LIBERAL(S)ANARCHISTS GONE WILD on December 1, 2007 at 9:46 PM | Report this comment
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Zero to none.

Posted by re ALL CAPS on December 1, 2007 at 11:29 PM | Report this comment
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IF IT ISN'T HUGH, STILL THE BEST GUESS, THAN IT IS AN EQUALLY OBSESSED ANARCHIST GONE M-A-D!

Posted by YEAH RIGHT on December 2, 2007 at 1:17 AM | Report this comment
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Nice post, short, sour and asinine. Your best work to date.

Posted by nice on December 2, 2007 at 2:33 AM | Report this comment
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Jessay Juniah, Frank Coconuts, Tony "Sunni Muslim Love" Prickracka, Chris "Manboy Love" Lawrence, McDildo, etc. in their favorite community New Town.

Posted by Hugh Goes To Manhole With..... on December 5, 2007 at 3:28 PM | Report this comment
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The ALL CAPS poster, along with his/her alter-egos, loves to sling the mud..........

Posted by not so nice on December 6, 2007 at 10:45 AM | Report this comment
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THE ALL CAPS POSTER IS NOT THE ONE WHO REFERS TO PEOPLE'S SEXUAL ORIENTATIONS OR PRESUMED ORIENTATIONS-FOR THE RECORD!~ THE ALL CAPS POSTER CONFINES COMMENTS TO REFERENCE TO ANARCHISTS, LIARS, PROPAGANDISTS,TURNSPEAK ARTISTS, BLANKETLY "TAR PUBLIC OFFICIALS ALL WITH ONE BRUSH"ARTISTS,TWISTERS AND DISTORTERS OF PUBLIC RECORDS SPECIALISTS, BUT NEVER ,N-E-V-E-R BELOW THE BELT REGARDING SEXUALITY ISSUES! THE ALL CAPS POSTER HAS HONOR AND LIVES BY A CODE,THATS WHY THE ALL-CAPS POSTER CONFRONTS THOSE THAT DON'T!

Posted by RE:NOT SO NICE on December 6, 2007 at 1:03 PM | Report this comment
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"THE ALL CAPS POSTER" My, how you enjoy being yourself. Stay as sweet as you are, don't let the world ever change you....

Posted by so you say.... on December 6, 2007 at 2:13 PM | Report this comment
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"RE:SOME LAWS... November 28th - 4:04 p.m. THE POST REFERRED TO WAS POSTED BY ACYBER-ENEMY OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY! IT IS "SEDITION" TO ATTEMPT TO UNDERMINE PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR OUR DEMOCRATIC(NOT THEPARTY) SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT!, ESPECIALLY DURING WARTIME." "re:HISTORIAN November 29th - 10:42 a.m. To assume the worst of all Elected Officials is as UN-AMERICAN as it gets.By employing turnspeak against the poster who correctly defined this constant agitation against all officials as Seditition, intended to destroy confidence in this great democratic system of government, is in itself,designed to even turn defense of American Democracy into something to be used against it." "RE:re:Historian November 29th - 11:40 a.m. Historian writes like a lunatic of either the extreme radical far-left or the extreme radical far-rightto ssume all public officials are a^^holes unless proven otherwise is the type of rhetoric coming from the Kucinichs and Pauls-and their wing-nut supporters.Of course , both of them are public officials,too-U.S.Congressmen,so according to their broad brush,they too are a^^holes" "You're The Phony HAVE NO DOUBT, VOTE INCUMBENTS OUT November 29th - 12:27 p.m. Wing-nut simpleton who says EVERYTHING'S huey-dorey under buffoons like Jesse Jackson Jr & co. So STFU, Bullshit artist." "re:HAVE NO DOUBT November 30th - 12:23 p.m. WHAT THE SERIAL "HAVE NO DOUBT" POSTER IS REALLY SAYING,IS THAT TO INSURE A CHOTIC SOCIETY, ELECT ALL INEXPERIENCED OUTSIDERS TO OFFICE! DOES THE MORON REALIZE THAT THIS IS WHY THE FOUNDING FATHERS GUARANTEED THAT ONLY 1/3 OF THE U.S.SENATE IS UP FOR ELECTION AT ANY GIVEN 2 YR GENERAL ELECTION?" "WHY DOES ULTRA-LEFT CALL PEOPLE MONKIES? December 1st - 10:29 a.m. NOTICIBALE ON THESE LOCAL BLOGS,BUT ALSO ON NATIONAL BLOGS, IS THE LEFT-WINGNUT TACTIC OF NOT ONLY TALKING DOWN TO ANY AND ALL WHO OPPOSE THEIR HATEFUL POSTING,BUT TO REFER TO THEM AS MONKIES-THE INFERENCE IS THAT ONLY SOMEONE WITH THE INTELLIGENCE OF A MONKEY COULD POSSIBLY DISAGREE WITH THIS STABLE OF SELF APPOINTED GENIUS PONTIFICATING "MORALIST"ELITISTS-IOW-THEY SIT IN JUDGEMENT OF ALL,BUT FROM THE BLEACHERS.THE TRUE "MONKIES" ARE THESE ELITIST PONTIFICATORS WHO ONLY KNOW HOW TO THROW THEIR FECES AROUND,BETWEEN EATING THEIR BANANAS." "LIBERAL(S)ANARCHISTS GONE WILD December 1st - 9:46 p.m. THE ABOVE POST CAME FROM A HATE-RIDDLED LIBERAL ANARCHIST ANTI-AMERICAN/ANTI-DEMOCRACY MIND!WHAT ARE THE CHANCES THAT IT'S CREATOR IS ANARCHIST -IN-CHIEF,HUGH?!" "YEAH RIGHT December 2nd - 1:17 a.m. IF IT ISN'T HUGH, STILL THE BEST GUESS, THAN IT IS AN EQUALLY OBSESSED ANARCHIST GONE M-A-D!" "RE:NOT SO NICE December 6th - 1:03 p.m. THE ALL CAPS POSTER IS NOT THE ONE WHO REFERS TO PEOPLE'S SEXUAL ORIENTATIONS OR PRESUMED ORIENTATIONS-FOR THE RECORD!~ THE ALL CAPS POSTER CONFINES COMMENTS TO REFERENCE TO ANARCHISTS, LIARS, PROPAGANDISTS,TURNSPEAK ARTISTS, BLANKETLY "TAR PUBLIC OFFICIALS ALL WITH ONE BRUSH"ARTISTS,TWISTERS AND DISTORTERS OF PUBLIC RECORDS SPECIALISTS, BUT NEVER ,N-E-V-E-R BELOW THE BELT REGARDING SEXUALITY ISSUES! THE ALL CAPS POSTER HAS HONOR AND LIVES BY A CODE,THATS WHY THE ALL-CAPS POSTER CONFRONTS THOSE THAT DON'T!" Happy now?

Posted by THE LAST WORD on December 7, 2007 at 10:03 AM | Report this comment

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