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It’s time once again to dive into another round of quick takes on the people, places and events that were being talked about over the past week:
Another beatdown
The Wall Street Journal’s editorial page has been relentlessly critical of incompetent Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.
But it was joined last week by The Washington Post, which published an editorial headlined, “Chicago has lost its mind.”
“The city’s fiscal situation is dire, and (Johnson) is determined to make things worse,” the Post stated.
Citing Johnson’s proposed tax increases that would “threaten Chicago’s future economic growth and tax collections,” the Post reviewed a series of budget gimmicks past mayors have used to escape fiscal reality. They included Mayor Richard M. Daley’s 2008 decision to sell “75 years of future parking meter revenue for $1.15 billion” that was “quickly spent.”
Johhson, a former union organizer and teacher, is in way over his head trying to deal with the city’s various problems. But the Post noted that Johnson does not deserve all the blame.
“Reckless state politicians are also a major problem,” the Post stated, citing recent unaffordable firefighter and police pension sweeteners approved by legislators and Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
The Post said Chicago will remain in deep trouble unless what is highly unlikely comes to pass.
The Post averred that, “unless politicians get serious, actually cut spending and start enacting sane, pro-growth policies, Chicago will get more than a taste of (insolvency).”
Bad situation worsens
The “Michigan men” at the University of Michigan’s athletic program are in trouble, and not just because of former head football coach Sherrone Moore’s extracurricular marital adventures.
Having had it with athletic association misconduct, mostly related to football, Michigan President Domenico Grasso has retained Chicago law firm Jenner & Block to “conduct an independent investigation into its athletic department.”
Moore’s misconduct is just one of a series of well-publicized scandals and/or embarrassments involving Wolverine athletic figures. UM administrators apparently want an in-depth examination of the athletic department culture that laid the groundwork for the ultimate firings of former basketball coach Juwan Howard, former hockey coach Mel Pearson, the indictment of former football assistant Matt Weiss and the notorious sign-stealing scandal involving Connor Stalions.
Illinois’ lawsuit heaven
Three Illinois counties — Cook, Madison and St. Clair — have again made the American Tort Reform Association’s list of this country’s “judicial hellholes.”
What does that mean? The tort association contends they are among the nation’s “worst and most abusive civil court systems” that welcome lawsuits and are “most hostile to business and employers.”
Topping the list is Los Angeles, with New York City coming in No. 2.
South Carolina courts were No. 3, Louisiana No. 4, Philadelphia’s Court of Common Pleas No. 5, St. Louis courts No. 6 and Illinois’ three counties No. 7.
Rounding out the list of eight is the state of Washington and that state’s Supreme Court.
The group cited a series of “nuclear” verdicts handed out by jurors in the three Illinois counties, including “a $35 million verdict in an automobile crash lawsuit.”
Those counties have a deserved reputation as “plaintiff friendly” venues, and lawyers routinely try — sometimes successfully and sometimes not — to get their cases heard there.
Trial lawyers, of course, reject those charges, contending that big companies don’t want to be held responsible for the injuries their actions or products cause.
Whatever the truth, Illinois’ current political calculus indicates trial lawyers will maintain the status quo for the foreseeable future.
J.B. in the Times
The New York Times ran a lengthy profile of Gov. J.B. Pritzker last week that examined how his status as a mulitibillionaire flies with ordinary Democrats.
The Times’ conclusion was that he’s sufficiently liberal that his money is not a problem.
“He’s not in it for the money. He’s already got the money. That’s what sold me,” one Southern Illinois Democrat told the Times.
It’s power that is the draw for Pritzker, and he uses his vast wealth to obtain it. Now running for a third term as governor, Pritzker is laying the groundwork for a presidential run in 2028.
It’s mostly a flattering profile that looks at Pritzker’s personal and political history and examines how he has used his wealth to win political support.
It also included a farcical example of campaign rhetoric involving Daniel Biss and Chris Kennedy. They were Pritzker’s two main opponents in the 2018 race for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, and they objected to Pritzker’s use of his personal money to win office.
Kennedy, of course, is an heir to the hugely wealthy and once politically powerful Kennedy family of Massachusetts. Kennedy told the Times that those criticisms weren’t effective because Pritzker has an ability to “bond with people immediately.”
“His face is open, and it lights up when you meet him,” Kennedy said.
The Times also noted Pritzker’s power as a stump speaker who launches “fiery populist attacks” on Republicans, especially President Trump.
The Times said Pritzker’s wealth “makes him an avatar of a problematic combination of money and politics.” But judging from the Times article, Democrats’ aversion to wealthy candidates is limited to rich Republicans, and vice versa.
Year’s least-surprising headline
“Republicans oppose Madigan pardon request”
Illinois’ three GOP members of the U.S. House of Representatives take a dim view of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s request for a pardon from President Trump.
News reports indicate that “in a letter to the president, U.S. Reps. Mike Bost, Darin LaHood and Mary Miller said granting clemency in Madigan’s case would reward a lifetime of unethical behavior and embolden other public officials to exploit their offices for personal gain.”
That’s not all. The representatives didn’t mention it, but Madigan also ate Republicans for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Now serving a 7.5-year prison sentence in West Virginia after being convicted on corruption charges, the 83-year-old Madigan decided to join a long list of undeserving applicants who have sought pardons.
Run, run, Rudolph
State officials report Illinois hunters killed 81,225 deer during the season that ended Dec. 7. That preliminary number compares to 82,496 deer killed during the 2024 firearm season.
The firearms season ended Dec. 7.
