The Blog

"My call wasnt immediately returned". I hope it will never be. No one owes you a call or a living. Reporters kill me, thinking that they are like God. No one has to answer to you, especially a reporter from a free newspaper. Even though I cannot stand Jackson, I am glad they gave you the equivalent of the finger.

Orion, do you know how a free media works in a democracy, or are such things lost in the Hobbesian acid trip you seem to constantly be on?

Congressman Jackson jr has a habit of back dooring his friends! Larry Sufferdino , with jacksons support, will now get 8% of the total vote cast.

The whiz kid journalist from Michigan is off to the races again. How's the pension over there at the Reader?

Jesse Jackson Jr. is going to endorse a tobacco/pharma/casino lobbyist? That is rich! Well, taking Suffredin out of the lobbying game for four years would sort of be like reform.

Ironic, ain't it, that a free journalistic publication is gonna pull down all those taxpayer-financed ivory towers and the little people residing within. Sort of a David vs Goliath fable. We know how that one turned out. The bookies lost a bundle.

Larry doesn't stand a chance in hell

How can Larry Suffredin run for State's Attorney when he is connected to con artist convict Cramer (maybe he will be the check fraud white collar department head) and he backed Toddler Stroger against Tony Peraica. Larry Suffredin has been a high priced whore hooker lobbyist for TOBBACCO--maybe he should be one for other drug dealers. Lobbyists and power brokers should not be Prosecutors. Larry Suffredin--bought and sold as a State's Attorney, bought and sold as a lobbyist

And the article was about JJ junior turning his back on his buddy Brookins. JJ junior. The apple never falls far from the tree.

A lobbyist should not be the State's Attorney Maybe JJ Jr was bought by the lobbyist

With the Jacksons, it is always follow the money. Brookins cannot afford the $25,000 Photoshop pictures with Junior. Sufferdin will have Big Tobacco writing checks. Jr. is a whore.

It's stunning any sitting alderman could aspire to higher office. Too many votes on record. Brookins' voting record cries out "lackey." His legislative initiatives are non-existent. His record in City Council is of non-performance, a term + 1 year of irrelevance.

The media has not done a real good long in depth well researched story on Jesse Jackson Jr--it is about time. First start with his family lineage and the 3 million squandered by Operation Breadbasket. or the Reverends infidelity (inherited but expanded by Congressman Jr) Jesse Jackson Jr was allegedly part of heroin dealing with his college roommate. Jesse Jackson Jr has had many affairs including with men His only job besides being a Congressman was with mob linked union boss Hanley (Frank Calabrese Sr was married to a Hanley) Orion is right. $$$$ Lots of it all around more later

Thanks for all your input. As usual, the vermin are devouring each other, with or without relish. Interesting situation here. No Incumbent to vote out. Multiple candidates, most, if not all, machine knuckleheads. The voters are left with the unpleasant reality of choosing the lessor evil. Now, which candidate fits that description? Because, this particular elected office is kinda important, isn't it? The man, or woman, elected as our Cook County State's Attorney: will not be determining how much we will pay in taxes, will not be determining what our taxes are to be spent on, will not be deciding who gets city or county contracts, will not control the creation of TIF's, nor deciding what our TIF'ed tax dollars will be spent on, will not be slating candidates for elected offices, whether for Executive, Judicial or Legislative branches of our city or county governments, will not control the hiring, or firing, of city or county workers, other than those working for the State's Attorney's offices, will not negotiate contracts with the many city and county workers' unions, will not have any authority, other than that of the State's Attorney of Cook County. So, what authority does the State's Attorney of Cook County have? And why is there so much interest, in the Democratic and Republican parties, in gaining this office? While the answer to this question may seem obvious to some, perhaps Ben or Mick could provide an article describing the specific authorities of the State's Attorney, the specific activities typically engaged in by same and the specific effects that those activities have on the residents of this city and county? So the voters can have a better appreciation of just how important their votes will be, in deciding who will hold and wield said authorities.

It is OK my honkies. A Black State's Attorney would be good for Cook County. Let the blacks have a chance to wire up the honkies balls. You might like it white crackers.

It is common knowledge that Jr. has a girlfriend in DC, that was the real motivation for having his wife run for alderman. It would get her out of the DC and keep her busy here in Chicago.

"No one owes you a call or a living. Reporters kill me, thinking that they are like God. No one has to answer to you, especially a reporter from a free newspaper." Anyone care to point Orion to the number of highly paid people on the public dole who in fact are allegedly there to work with the media? I'd say it's quite a stretch to suggest they aren't obligated to talk to the media, regardless of the fact the Reader doesn't gouge one like the Tribune does.

It's not a stretch for 'orion', he's quite flexible when it comes to bending reason to his own agendas. In fact, orion sounds like he's being paid to respond to reporters, and he doesn't like it. Of course, that is likely giving him too much credit. Coffee boy is more his speed.

Carter - Look at the Mayors list of PR people paid for in his budget. Orion should know how over bloated it is with people in place to cover up the messes. Lots a lots of PR people keeping people like Dumke and friends bouncing all over.

It is vital that a Machine Hack runs the States Attorney Office/ The Cook County States Attorney,is their get out of jail card. Without three elements the Machine would crash and burn. 1. corrupt judges 2.partnership with the News Media. 3. control over the States Attorney, so that few Machine Hack are ever prosecuted.

Jesse Jackson Jr is a liar and backstabber. Although he says some good things because of how bad our politicians are. Larry Suffredin is a tool for the machine and a money guy.

Jesse Jackson Junior made racist comments against Italian Americans. Frank Coconate should put the tape on youtube.

Jesse hates Italians because they are not to bright. If you hang around Coconate long enough, you will knock the Dagos also, so let Jesse Jackson Jr. off the hook for that comment. I heard Coconate was trying to shake the soul brother down for some cash, what would you expect? Jackson got smart to old baldy head. Jesse Jackson is my hero.

Howard! it's time to pay the rent! Ante up, bitch!

Jesse Jackson Jr. is the greatest politician in the history of Chicago. I support him and ya-all should to.

COCONUTTY FOR MAYOR. AT BEST HE IS SMARTER THAN DALEY. HE SHOT HIM BUT HE STILL WON'T DIE.

Howard is two faced. I KNOW people who helped him when he first ran for office.The Black community thought they found a new leader,only to be diappointed with Howard Brookin's weak ass Daley supporting bullshit.How long must we accept the lessor evil?

Our Mayor will decide who he wants as States Attorney. Also the new FBI chief ,after the election. Remember we don't talk shit ,we vote.

Reality 7 How is Brookins supporting Daley bullshit when he voted against the tax increase? that is called against Daley

Jesse Jackson Jr shakes people down and extorts them for polling, photoshop nonsense, and use of his name. He has a string of losers he will not talk about.

Nice of you to be so rarely honest. "Our Mayor will decide who he wants as States Attorney." "Remember we don't talk shit ,we vote." Yes, you do. Indeed, you and your minions are, for the most part, actually exercising your Right to Vote as effectively as anyone, living in an Authentic Democracy, could hope for. It's the rest of us that have failed to be as dedicated to exercising our collective Right to Vote as you have been. That's why you and yours have been so effective at dominating our governments for so long. This is not to say that your domination has been, in any way, beneficial to the citizens as a whole, because, by no means has it been. It is only to point out that the means available to you, the Right to Vote enjoyed by each and every citizen, is equally available to the many citizens who, for one reason or another, have, so far, failed to appreciate and exercise said right. The power of the Right to Vote, when exercised by the electorate, is the power to determine who is entrusted with the power to tax, the power to make law, the power to interpret law, the power to determine what said taxes are spent on, the power to decide whether the preceding powers are to be fairly imposed upon all the people or on just a selected few, the power to act honestly or dishonestly in the wielding of said powers, and the power to personally profit from same. The Right to Vote is, thus, the right to determine much of the who, what, where, when, why and how of our governmental functions, by deciding which individual citizens will be entrusted with said powers. Those currently holding power know this well. Those citizens who have failed to exercise their inherent Right to Vote seem to have no clue as to the predictable consequences of their failures. Every election presents the citizens with the opportunity to discover the power inherent in their Right to Vote. Will the next election, be it a Primary or a General election, be the one where many heretofore non-voting citizens choose to, finally, exercise their Right to Vote? Only if they choose to: REGISTER TO VOTE VOTE IN EVERY ELECTION HAVE NO DOUBT, VOTE INCUMBENTS OUT (or vote all incumbents in, if you find it to be in your interest to do so) Authentic Democracy depends upon the citizens participating. Without the citizens participation, Democracy defaults to Dictatorship, Aristocracy and basic Monopoly. If being ruled over is what citizens want, they need do nothing different that what they have been doing, that being nothing. Be assured that those few who benefit from exercising their Right to Vote will be voting. Their privileged lives depend upon them doing so.

Ask Larry Suffredin about his representation about a murderer named SATAN (actually nickname) You want a State's Attorney who represented a murderer named SATAN

"You want a State's Attorney who represented a murderer named SATAN"??? Yes, please.

"How is Brookins supporting Daley bullshit when he voted against the tax increase? that is called against Daley" Brookins' record on property taxes is abysmal. In his 5 years he has voted in favor of the Mayor's budget 5 times. Brookins has approved 30-40 new TIF districts, which as you know raise property taxes on the rest of us. In addition, he supported a dozen or so special service areas, each a local property tax increase.

What will the county do with the Burge torture cases now that the City has settled? Howard Brookins helped with the city. Frank Avila did an amazing legal job with Ivan Tomich and the urban translator Gator Bradley.

"What will the county do with the Burge torture cases now that the City has settled?" As close to nothing as is possible. Expect a stubborn insistence of amnesia from every city and county Democrat, as in "Burge? What's a burge? Is dat sum kinda burger?"

Someone's missing the real point in this article-- Why is Congressman Jackson tripping lately? Why does he publicly support a candidate/legislator and then pulls his support for no seemingly valid reason, and then bad-mouths the people who's support he's pulled-- without even giving them the courtesy of letting them know face-to-face, by the way-- in various local radio interviews, newspaper op-eds, or via automated phone messages??!! Hell, he even called his own father out with an editorial for not initially supporting Barack... Has the weight-loss surgery messed up his mind as well??!! Can someone please research this and let others know, please??!! As a constituent in his district, I would like to at least know what his rationale is so that I know why I need to vote, or NOT vote for someone.

"As a constituent in his district, I would like to at least know what his rationale is so that I know why I need to vote, or NOT vote for someone." I'll offer my humble opinion on this one. Before concerning yourself with discovering reasons to vote FOR anyone, I suggest that you, as well as most of the rest of us citizens, already have plenty of reasons to not vote for incumbents, JJ junior included. But not voting for incumbents doesn't, by itself, keep them from being reelected. Here's a voting strategy that will: REGISTER TO VOTE VOTE IN EVERY ELECTION HAVE NO DOUBT, VOTE INCUMBENTS OUT If an Incumbent has only one Challenger, vote FOR that Challenger, no matter who it may be. If an Incumbent has two or more Challengers, (as is common in a Primary Election), then cast your vote according to Ballot Name Position, to wit: If the Incumbent's name is listed FIRST, then vote For the CHALLENGER whose name is listed LAST or If the Incumbent's name is NOT listed first, then vote for the CHALLENGER whose name IS listed FIRST This will concentrate the most votes for a single Challenger, thus greatly increasing the likelihood of the Incumbent losing. In a Primary Election, an Incumbent losing eliminates that Incumbent from running, as their party's candidate, in the General Election. Since here, in Illinois, we do not have 'open' primaries, you must declare which party's primary you wish to vote in. If you find that there are mostly incumbent Republicans that you'd like to see NOT be reelected, vote in the Republican Primary by requesting a Republican Ballot. If you find that there are mostly incumbent Democrats that you would prefer NOT be reelected, then request a Democratic Ballot. In either case, apply the above voting strategy and see what happens. If enough citizens do so, concentrating their collective votes for single Challengers in every contest, the Incumbents are guaranteed to lose. At the very least, the application of this voting strategy will do much to break up the long term domination of the political machines of both 'major' political parties, and inspire truly honest and independent citizens to run for office. It's easier to remember and act on then trying, at this point in time, to discern the difference between the liars, that are our current crop of politicians, and the damned liars. In my humble opinion.