A little somethin' on the side to keep him busy

Yahoo

08-04-2025

Apr. 7—Rahmbo goes for gold
Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has been making a lot of noise lately about running for something soon — governor or U.S. Senate in 2026, even president in 2028.
He clearly isn't done with politics in Illinois or beyond the state borders.
But Emanuel announced last week that he's picked up a side gig while he ponders his future election plans. The career politician is returning to work at investment bank Centerview Partners.
He worked there from 2019-2021 as a glorified influence peddler. Given his background, Emanuel can get powerful people on the phone, creating opportunities for him to counsel "CEOs on mergers, regulation and political information," according to one news account.
Emanuel left the Clinton administration in its second term to make his fortune in investment banking. That secured, he subsequently ran for the U.S. House in the Chicago area, served as a chief of staff in the first Obama administration, was elected mayor for two terms and then served as an ambassador to Japan under President Biden.
Mr. Mayor
College towns haven't been very hospitable to Republicans in recent years.
But former GOP state Rep. Dan Brady handily won his election bid for mayor of Bloomington in Tuesday's consolidated, supposedly nonpartisan election.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker and his associates were bragging after Democrats won soundly over Republicans in the suburbs.
But Brady pulled off an impressive win in a three-way race that included the incumbent. Brady, who collected 49 percent of the vote, will take over the part-time job on May 1.
Bloomington Democrats tried to turn the nonpartisan race into a referendum on President Trump by running ads featuring Brady wearing a "MAGA" hat.
Brady was pleased with the win, attributing it to his long record in state and county government as well as community affairs.
"I have enjoyed bipartisan support throughout my career in government," he said.
Brady, who is 62, served 20 years in the Illinois House and two terms as McLean County coroner. Plus, he said being "born and raised here didn't hurt either."
"I know the people of Bloomington, and the people of Bloomington know me," he said.
Brady said he is looking forward to addressing municipal issues, including public safety, infrastructure improvements and economic development.
Dems whack feared foe
There's nothing that Republicans or Democrats like more than derailing the career of a talented member of the other party.
That's why they worked so hard to defeat Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin's re-election campaign.
Irvin ran for the GOP nomination for governor in 2024, losing the primary to conservative opponent Darren Bailey. But his candidacy sent chills down the spines of Democrats, who feared a Black Republican who grew up in poverty to become a successful lawyer and politician could attract a lot of votes.
Pritzker spent a ton of his own money in the 2024 GOP gubernatorial primary to persuade voters to reject Irvin and nominate the easily beatable Bailey.
After that, Dems set out to defeat Irvin in Tuesday's Aurora mayoral election. They got the job done by spending a lot of money characterizing the two-term incumbent as a clone of President Trump.
The Illinoize reports Democrats spent "buckets of money" on behalf of the eventual winner, Alderman John Laesch. That included "over $110,000 in direct mail" plus "another $30,000 in digital ads and $18,000 in polling in the race."
The Illinoize reported the Republican Party "spent $0 on behalf of Irvin."
Puppy payoff
Here's a Chicago corruption story that, unlike so many others, will warm the cockles of outraged taxpayers' hearts.
A Chicago-area construction company owner has been charged with overseeing a bribery conspiracy in which he plied a corrupt Amtrak official with multiple gifts that included a German Shepherd puppy.
Mark Snedden, an Indiana resident who owns a Dolton construction company, has been cooperating with investigators as part of his negotiated guilty plea agreement.
The Amtrak official, the now-deceased Ajith Bhaskaran, allegedly approved "tens of millions of dollars of extra payments" to Snedden's company in exchange for lavish gifts, foreign trips, expensive meals and the puppy, complete with dog training classes.
Included in the evidence FBI agents collected were photos of Bhaskaran "at his home with the dog," according to The Chicago Tribune.
He was overseeing a $58 million contract to renovate a train station in Philadelphia.
This case represents one of Amtrak's largest corruption cases, the probe instigated by an anonymous letter sent to Amtrak's inspector general.
This is another vile example of public officials selling out the public. Nonetheless, there's got to be a special place in a prison cell block for corrupt government officials who like dogs.
Voice is silent
Longtime Chicago Tribune political reporter turned University of Illinois spokesman Thomas Hardy died March 27.
He was 72.
Hardy was a well-known figure in journalism circles, thanks to his long tenure with the Chicago Tribune. His byline graced many a Tribune front page. He began his career at the Trib as a copy clerk, rising to the level of a political writer and columnist.
Hardy left the Trib after 20 years to work for former Gov. Jim Edgar as press secretary and then public-relations firm Burson-Marsteller. He worked as the UI's chief spokesman for nearly 20 years.
Writing in tribute to Hardy was Lex Peterson, a former assistant to UI President Stanley Ikenberry. Characterizing Hardy as "a wry and fine boss," she said she "urged him to apply" for the UI job and that university officials "were thrilled when we brought him in."
Turning tricks
Local fans of the Bridge card game are always trying to attract new players.
That why former University of Illinois Professor Wesley Seitz has scheduled another opportunity for those interested in learning the game.
He'll preside over a one-day workshop on the basics of Bridge on April 19 at the Ginger Creek Bridge Club, 2901-B W. Springfield Ave., Champaign.
Called the "Bridge Quick Start Workshop," it is aimed at beginners (or newbies looking to brush up their understanding of the game) and will last from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This is the latest in a series of Bridge workshops conducted by the Bridge club. Part of the learning process involves establishing veteran players as mentors for beginners and offering sessions on Sunday afternoons for further instruction and practice.
Competitive games are offered on several days of the week for players at various skill levels.
Those interested may text or call Seitz at 217-649-9294 for more information or to sign up. The $20 registration fee covers the cost of lunch and an instruction book.