Chicago to take over at the White House

[T_i_B]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/03/obama-white-house-barackobama

Barack Obama is back in Chicago after a 12-day holiday in Hawaii. But not for long. On Monday he begins his new life in Washington, temporarily housed in the Hay-Adams hotel until the White House becomes available on 20 January.

Even so, Chicago will never be too far away. Just as George Bush brought Texas to Washington and Bill Clinton brought Arkansas, so Obama too brings a blast of his home city.

The inner circle in the White House will be overwhelmingly Chicagoan. His two chief advisers, David Axelrod and Valerie Jarrett, are both long-time associates from the city, and his White House chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, is another.

But more than that, Obama brings with him the baggage of Chicago's political culture - the roughest in the US. The small-scale bribes that older Chicagoans remember from visits to City Hall are a thing of the past but the sharp suits, naked ambition and political trading are much the same. So too is the large-scale corruption that has seen 50 elected officials from Illinois jailed over the past 30 years.

[Demeter]

1. Irresponsible Scare-Mongering

At least they aren't DC insiders.

[Baby Snooks]

6. Some might prefer the DC insiders...

At least they don't carry the taint of a scandal that will probably haunt the incoming administration for the next four years and might result in the Republicans taking back the White House in 2012.

Those DC insiders were wary when Rahm Imanuel was picked to be chief-of-staff. And of course not long after the scandal hit the headlines.

But then Rahm Imanuel was just the first of the Clinton administration which is what some are calling the Obama administration.

And as we learned from the first Clinton administration, what's a little scandal after all but just a right-wing conspiracy.

[Demeter]

11. I Fully Expect Rahm Will Be History Soon

6 months, perhaps, a year at the most. He's got self-destruct written all over him, and Israel is not his friend.

[Tutonic]

12. Wow! Where to begin. Israel is not his friend?

[Demeter]

13. Well, If You Think Israel's Making His Job Easier, What With Setting the Middle East Aflame

No, Israel is nobody's friend. And they shoot themselves in the foot, too.

[HereSince1628]

2. Europeans Chicago is still Eliott Ness and Al Capone

None of them have a clue about cities like Milwaukee, Cleavland, Buffalo or Omaha, but say Chicago and they light up with nostalgia. But, then, so do the TV execs and producers of the news...

Isn't it amazing that none of the MSM are interested at all in Chicago's BIG political issues like snow removal along residential streets and alleys?

[noel711]

3. I'll take Chicago over Crawford Texas any day...

Chicago, the city of broad shoulders had a violent
and corrupt past.
But look at it now: it glimmers like a shining jewel along
the dark lake...
because of the past, Chicagoans have learned to be
resilient, sassy, take-no-prisoners tough,
and know how to face a bitter wind and keep going.

There's been a rich ethnic mix from the very beginning,
history tells us that DuSable, the fur trader to started
it all was an AFrican American.

They've generated winning sports teams thru
communal support,
they've shown how to clean up a metropolis long and wide,
and don't play the ego games like "don't mess with Texas."

Let 'em fling mud.. Chicagoans don't flinch.

[classysassy]

5. Frank

said it best,"It will never let you down"Englewood High l949.

[spiritual_gunfighter]

4. Chicago is a great city I have lived here since I was 13

I am proud that Chicago will be well represented in the White House. What does a person from Manchester England know about Chicago anyway, except all the stereotypes.

[tomreedtoon]

7. To me, Chicago is Second City.

I've never been to a Second City show. I only spent one hour in downtown Chicago for my older brother's wedding. But Second City has influenced popular culture here and in Canada (where their sister company made the best television of the 1980's).

And I think that improv experience may be what Obama will need to create something new in Washington.

[Still Sensible]

8. Pretty much a non-issue

as far as I'm concerned.

[Jim Sagle]

9. Chicago is Sesame Street compared to Texas.

But since Texas is Republican, the media will pretend otherwise.

[Myrina]

10. Well thank Goddess no more fucking Texas Cowboy 'Tards!!

... is all I gotta say. :applause: :applause: