Guest
12-13-2008, 09:30 PM
OK, check this out.
Illinois' crooked Governor, Rod Blagojevich, got his start in politics by kissing the ring of long-time Chicago alderman and ward boss, Dick Mell. After Mell was instrumental in getting him elected to the state legislature, he backed "the kid" in his next step in a political career, election to the U.S. House of Representatives representing Illinois' 5th Congressional District, where Mell has lived for decades. There was an opening in that district that had been vacated by another well-known Chicago politico, Dan Rostenkowski. Rosty had to leave the U.S. House for an appointment in federal prison, as you recall. Oh, by the way, before Mell pushed the young politician upward in his career, he walked his daughter Patti down the aisle to marry the young fellow. Gotta keep this stuff in the family, you know.
After only one term in Congress, another sweet job opened up--the Illinois Governor's slot. The incumbent, Republican George Ryan had been indicted and appeared to be on his way to the federal slammer. Winning that job back for the Democrats looked to be duck soup for someone with the political power and prowess of Dick Mell. Again, Mell and all his political clout got son-in-law Rod elected to the head job in Illinois. Governor Blago never ever left Mell's home ward in Chicago, by the way. The new Governor declined to move to the Governor's mansion in the sleepy old state capitol in Springfield and remained living only a block or so away from his father-in-law and political godfather Dick Mell. He conducted his "governorship" from a state office building in downtown Chicago, flying down to Springfield on a state jet whenever he was required to appear.
By the way, when son-in-law Blagojevich left the U.S. Congress, Mell engineered the election of his replacement, a fellow by the name of Rahm Emmanuel. We all know who he is, right? Emmanuel had served in various positions in the Democratic Party, including six years as President Clinton's chief political advisor. Getting him elected the the U.S. House was duck soup for Mell.
So now that Emmanuel has resigned his Congressional seat to become President-elect Obama's chief-of-staff, there's an opening again for a new Congressman for the Illinois 5th. So who do you think "king-maker" Dick Mell will turn out the vote for? His other daughter, of course.
Deborah Mell is a forty-year old admitted lesbian who had no interest in politics until she "outed" herself and became a gay rights activist a couple of years ago. Then she asked Pops to give her a hand in getting elected to the Illinois House of Representatives from their home district. With his help she won the election in November and is waiting to be sworn in on January 4.
But wait. The primary election to fill Rahm Emmanuel's Congressional seat will be held in February, with the final election in March. Not an awful lot of time to mount a campaign. The person who can turn out the votes will likely win. So Deborah Mell, with a grand total of maybe a month in elected office, may well get a quick promotion to the U.S. House of Representatives, where she can continue her campaign for gay rights on a national stage. Maybe the only legislation she'll be asked to vote on during her month or so of service in the Illinois House will be the impeachment of her brother-in-law, Rod.
And that will leave yet another opening, her recently won seat in the Illinois House. Mell does have a son, of course, the baby of the family. He also lives down the block from the family home in that same Illinois House district. Why not?
Oh, those Chicago politics! This guy Dick Mell makes the Daley clan look like a bunch of minor leaguers.
Illinois' crooked Governor, Rod Blagojevich, got his start in politics by kissing the ring of long-time Chicago alderman and ward boss, Dick Mell. After Mell was instrumental in getting him elected to the state legislature, he backed "the kid" in his next step in a political career, election to the U.S. House of Representatives representing Illinois' 5th Congressional District, where Mell has lived for decades. There was an opening in that district that had been vacated by another well-known Chicago politico, Dan Rostenkowski. Rosty had to leave the U.S. House for an appointment in federal prison, as you recall. Oh, by the way, before Mell pushed the young politician upward in his career, he walked his daughter Patti down the aisle to marry the young fellow. Gotta keep this stuff in the family, you know.
After only one term in Congress, another sweet job opened up--the Illinois Governor's slot. The incumbent, Republican George Ryan had been indicted and appeared to be on his way to the federal slammer. Winning that job back for the Democrats looked to be duck soup for someone with the political power and prowess of Dick Mell. Again, Mell and all his political clout got son-in-law Rod elected to the head job in Illinois. Governor Blago never ever left Mell's home ward in Chicago, by the way. The new Governor declined to move to the Governor's mansion in the sleepy old state capitol in Springfield and remained living only a block or so away from his father-in-law and political godfather Dick Mell. He conducted his "governorship" from a state office building in downtown Chicago, flying down to Springfield on a state jet whenever he was required to appear.
By the way, when son-in-law Blagojevich left the U.S. Congress, Mell engineered the election of his replacement, a fellow by the name of Rahm Emmanuel. We all know who he is, right? Emmanuel had served in various positions in the Democratic Party, including six years as President Clinton's chief political advisor. Getting him elected the the U.S. House was duck soup for Mell.
So now that Emmanuel has resigned his Congressional seat to become President-elect Obama's chief-of-staff, there's an opening again for a new Congressman for the Illinois 5th. So who do you think "king-maker" Dick Mell will turn out the vote for? His other daughter, of course.
Deborah Mell is a forty-year old admitted lesbian who had no interest in politics until she "outed" herself and became a gay rights activist a couple of years ago. Then she asked Pops to give her a hand in getting elected to the Illinois House of Representatives from their home district. With his help she won the election in November and is waiting to be sworn in on January 4.
But wait. The primary election to fill Rahm Emmanuel's Congressional seat will be held in February, with the final election in March. Not an awful lot of time to mount a campaign. The person who can turn out the votes will likely win. So Deborah Mell, with a grand total of maybe a month in elected office, may well get a quick promotion to the U.S. House of Representatives, where she can continue her campaign for gay rights on a national stage. Maybe the only legislation she'll be asked to vote on during her month or so of service in the Illinois House will be the impeachment of her brother-in-law, Rod.
And that will leave yet another opening, her recently won seat in the Illinois House. Mell does have a son, of course, the baby of the family. He also lives down the block from the family home in that same Illinois House district. Why not?
Oh, those Chicago politics! This guy Dick Mell makes the Daley clan look like a bunch of minor leaguers.