Mayor’s Row……by Ned Mitchell

          Quite often those of us who have reached adulthood become so busy in everyday life we tend to overlook what little ones around us say.  Little Carrigan who rules the roost at the Mitchell house has been known to come up with cute little names for things we all take for granted.  For instance she calls a guitar a “pitar”.   She always knows what she is talking about even when adults have trouble comprehending.

          Last week I told about what she said during President Obama’s inauguration speech when she looked up and said “there is Barack Obama, he’s my President.”  That took us all by surprise, first that she would know who he is and secondly that he was not only President, but he was her President.  She will argue to fact with you if you say he is my President.

          What we miss sometimes is the fact that little ones around us know more than we think they do.  I’ve thought about her claim that Barack Obama is her President and have had the fatherly talk with her that Barack Obama is everybody’s President.

          I’ve been involved with Presidential Elections since John F. Kennedy defeated Richard Nixon in the early sixties.  I was on the high school debate team back then supporting Kennedy.  Kennedy went on to become the first Catholic President and Obama is now the first black President.  All the Presidents between Kennedy and Obama have found me following the elections and voting in every one of them since I turned 18.

          I’ve voted for some who won and some who lost.  No matter who I happened to vote for, winner or loser, somebody won the election and became President.

          What little Carrigan said when she announced that Barack Obama is her President hit home with me.  Whether you voted for Obama or for McCain, the election is over and Obama is now President to all Americans.  I know the hurt involved with losing an election, although my losses have been for small potato elections compared to that of President.

          The time is now here for all Americans to get behind our new President and offer up our support.  If you feel the need to pray, go ahead and pray for the new President and the nation.  If you feel like doing something else, go for it.  The bottom line is the newly elected President needs our support during the first days of his new administration and the least we could do is give him the opportunity to lead this country.  If he fails, that will be another matter, but he deserves the chance to lead, he won the election.

          I would feel the same if John McCain had won the election, but he didn’t.  I made the same statement when George Bush won the highest office in the land despite the fact that I did not vote for him, nor did I think he would be a good President.  I think the last four years have spoken volumes about his Presidency but I am willing to let historians write the history of his two terms in office.

          So I learned something from Carrigan, the three year old, who wisely said “there is Barack Obama, he is MY President.”  Now is the time for all Americans to get behind President Obama and accept him as our President.  It is the least we can do as this country is facing some very difficult times that will no doubt alter our future.

          Another changing of the guard is happening in Springfield and no I’m not talking about the reformer/unreformer Governor, I’m talking about the new Senate President, John Cullerton.  Senate President Cullerton was in the Senate while I was there.  He is a brilliant man, liberal to a fault, nevertheless, one of the sharpest guys to ever serve in the Senate.  He also has a tremendous sense of humor.

          When I was in the Senate the chamber was controlled by Pate Phillips, a suburban powerhouse Republican who ran the show with an iron fist.  Democrats were shut out of the process completely.  Barack Obama was also there and when he had the chance to speak on the Senate Floor, folks from both sides of the aisle stopped what they were doing and listened.  It did no good, no matter what the cause, if Pate Phillips did not agree, it just didn’t happen.

          Once the Democrats took over the Senate and made Emil Jones President, the tables were turned and Republicans got their pay backs.  Nothing got done.  Democrats in the House fought with Democrats in the Senate.  They turned out to be the gang that could not shoot straight.

          So it was a welcome site to see Senate President John Cullerton say he was going to involve Republicans in the operation of the Senate.  Now I am sure this will not be a huge love fest, but it is a start and in my opinion he is on track to doing the people’s business.  He has assured us that the Senate will not pass legislation that has no chance of being passed in the House.  That is huge campers, as we have all witnessed what a joke that has been for the last decade or so.  Bills were passed in one chamber so politicians could go back home and tell the folks what a good job they were doing.  Never mind the fact that the bills passed had no chance as they would be voted down in the other chamber.

          Illinois is in one huge financial hole and it will take all hands on deck to pull us out of this.  We more than likely will have a new Governor soon.  We will surely want to give that person a chance to govern the same as we do President Obama.  Right now our backs are against the wall and this is no time for dissention in the ranks.  My best wishes go out to those who ran the race and are now in a position to serve.  If they don’t succeed, well we all know how cutting my remarks can be sometimes, but for now it’s a new day.  Time will tell whether this state and this country can get back on track.  I’ll be watching!

          Walter Vander celebrated his 93rd birthday Sunday with a family and friends party at the historic Sesser Opera House Café.  It was good to visit with him and his family.

          Gary “Bugsy” Howell is home from the hospital and doing well and we wish him continued healing.