Mayor’s Row…..by Ned Mitchell

          While the rest of the world is just getting to know the shady backroom deals of democratic politics Chicago style, the rest of us who have witnessed it for decades can sit back and be amused.  Both the democrat and republican organizations in Illinois operate like some underworld gang outfit.  You know the G Men are always chasing these thugs.  Sometimes the G Men get in a shootout and kill an outfit guy and sometimes the outfit guys kill each other.  No matter how many wise guys get killed or sent to prison, there are always more waiting in the wings to take their place and continue on with “business as usual.” 

          Now where have I heard that phrase before?  Oh, I know it comes from the X governor that old reformer/unreformer who crowed about how he was going to “rock the boat” and offer up real change in state government.  Well after most of you all elected this buffoon twice, he certainly can claim that he has “rocked the boat” and continues to do so much to the chagrin of Illinois Democratic Party leaders who promoted this guy not once but even the second time all the while knowing the G Men were closing in on him fast.  I’m telling you these types coming out of Chicago multiply like cock roaches.

          The latest in a string of mishaps brought to us by the gang that couldn’t shoot straight, the Democrats, is fast becoming a full blown embarrassment to them.  Lets’ look at this event in a time sequence and connect the dots.

          The reformer/unreformer one upped those turn coat democrats just before they were getting ready to bounce him out of office.  He suddenly, after his attorney said he would not appoint anyone to fill the United States Senate vacancy created by the election of President Barack Obama, named Roland Burris as a United States Senator. 

          It was a brilliant poke of the old stick in the eye aimed right straight at Illinois House Speaker and Democratic Party Chairman Mike Madigan.  The pundit in me had to laugh about it, but in all seriousness it was done not for the good of Illinoisans, but simply as a one-upmanship political game of “gotcha”.

          Once the appointment was made the howls from the pit in Washington became a roar.  Democratic leader Senator Harry Reid proclaimed that no person appointed by soon to be bounced Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich would be seated in the prestigious Senate chamber.  He was quickly followed by Illinois Senator Dick Durbin who proudly proclaimed that a total of 50 United States Senators had signed a written pledge that the tainted Illinois Governor’s appointment would not stand and that Burris would not be allowed to enter the hallowed halls of the United States Senate.

          What little top water guys like me knew and spoke openly about was the fact that the inauguration of newly elected President Obama was fast approaching and the Obama folks did not want the whole world watching while a bunch of white democrats denied entrance to a black man who was duly appointed to the United States Senate.  Out came the race card by an Illinois Congressman and then the national media started in joined by black leaders all over the country.

          This became the second quick lesson for all Americans Chicago style, the first lesson in Chicago politics dropped on all of us was the appointment of Illinois Congressman Rham Emanuel as Obama’s Chief of Staff.

          Of course we will probably never know the truth of the matter but I would venture to guess it went something like the new President telling Emanuel to handle this brewing mess the “Chicago way” and there is no better student in the “Chicago way” than Emanuel.  Actually he is not a student any longer; he is the distinguished professor of getting things done the “Chicago way”.

          I would imagine Emanuel in no uncertain terms whopped both Senators Reid and Durbin upside the head and explained the facts of life to them “Chicago” style.  All of a sudden both Reid and Durbin did an about face and blamed another black man, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White for the problem.  The only problem with that is that Secretary White is a really great public servant and he had done nothing wrong.

          So with the whole world watching the scandalous Governor of Illinois backed everyone of these professional statesmen in the proverbial corner and painted the floor between them and the door.  It was a brilliant political pay back by the Illinois Governor and it served up a heap of embarrassment to democrats far and wide.  Suddenly Burris was welcomed with open arms.

          Everything seemed to be going in the right direction until the G Men came calling on the new Senator telling him you might be on some of our wire taps talking on the phone with X Governor Blagojevich.  Burris had already testified under oath before an Illinois House impeachment panel that he only discussed the appointment with one individual in the Blagojevich administration and that no solicitation of money in exchange for the Senate seat took place.

          Strangely; now Senator Burris has submitted additional written statements to the Illinois House impeachment panel admitting that he talked with several people involved with the X Governor, including his brother and campaign finance chairman who solicited Burris for donations.    Republicans are crying foul and claiming that Burris perjured himself, Burris said House members did not ask him the right questions, and Democrats far and wide are once again in the position of jumping from the skillet right into the fire.  Weekend Chicago newspapers covering a press conference with Senator Burris found one writer claiming Burris might not have perjured himself but “certainly is a liar”.  And you folks thought I would have nothing to write about once the reformer/unreformer was gone!

          All good things must come to an end and that phrase was never more evident with the closing performance of the Broadway hit play “Noises Off” at the historic Sesser Opera House.  The show ran four performances and we made a lot of new friends both on stage and in the audience.  One gentleman in attendance remarked he had seen this fast moving play twice in London and the performers in Sesser “did it justice”.  Another had seen the play in St. Louis and said Sesser’s performance as good and professionally done as it was in St. Louis.

          We owe this great performance to those who performed their respective parts from all walks of life and from all over Southern Illinois.  They VOLUNTEERED their time and talents to show what community theatre is all about.  This cast worked well together and throughout all the rehearsals and set building never said a discouraging word to each other.

          We spent about four weeks of building a two story set on wheels atop the stage of the old Opera House.  It took us about four hours to completely disassemble the entire set.  Four weeks to build it and four hours to tear it apart!  It will be in storage and ready to be used again in the near future as we look forward to our next show coming up in May!  We appreciate each and every one of you who either participated in the show or attended one of the performances.