The Evanston Everyman 4/23/09
If good looks was a minute/ You know that you could've been an hour- Smokey Robinson, 'The Way You Do The Things You Do'
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The inspector general for the TARP program announced Tuesday that more than $2 trillion of the $3 trillion dollars handed over to the financial industry lacks proper accounting. If you use the FBI figure that 10% of all federal money given to the private market gets lost to fraud, you have $30 billion dollars. Over the first three months of the year companies like GM, AIG, Citigroup, and others spent $9.2 million to lobby the government for more funds. GM received an extra $5 billion dollars last week, and Chrysler received $500 million in temporary loans to stem the tide until their restructuring deadline. Yet The Post reported that Chrsyler Financial turned down financial aid because their executives did not want to accept mandated compensation limits. Meanwhile, the rest of us struggle to make our bills and hold up our heads. Don’t let the Man ever fool you. He’ll always get his.
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[Sigh] Burrrissss! (UPDATED)
Senate embarrassment Roland Burris re-entered the national spotlight Saturday when the Sun-Times reported that he corrected his testimony before the Illinois House impeachment hearing. His correction came in the form of a second affidavit sent to the impeachment committee. According to today’s Tribune, this second affidavit states:
Sphere: Related Content“Gov. Blagojevich’s brother, Rob Blagojevich, called me three times to seek my assistance in fundraising.” Burris also acknowledged mentioning his interest in the Senate seat to four close Blagojevich associates.
It’s Curtains For You, Boy Blunder
Let Pat Quinn know I'd be great at calling numbers during Illinois Lottery broadcasts.
Welcome to half-time of the nation’s non-stop coverage of the ‘Crooked Pol Bowl’. When we left off, we were just beginning the second quarter and Rod Blagojevich was still wheeling and dealing like a brokerage with too many bad mortgages. Unfortunately, the defensive pressure got to Rod, and he was sacked. Boy Blunder is no longer the governor of Illinois.
But, boy, what a way to go out!
Sphere: Related ContentSome Local Political Yucks
I don’t know who the actor behind this sketch is, but Lorne Michaels should make every effort to sign him up to be Boy Blunder for the next few years. Genius!
More humor for my beleaguered fellow Cook County citizens- a Cook County Board President Steve Urkle fundraising memo entitled ‘Todd Stroger: A New Generation of Leadership‘. Best part:
Sphere: Related ContentRecently, Todd and the Cook County Board made some tough choices. The global economic crisis has had a major impact on every community in our nation — and Cook County is no exception. The decision to increase the sales tax one penny on a dollar — and exclude groceries, medicines and other essential goods from that increase — during this time was a necessary step to tackle the County’s chronic structural budget deficit and protect vital county services. These are the sorts of challenges that inspire Todd to keep fighting on behalf of taxpayers. But he is going to need your help to continue the work.
John Stroger strongly believed that “A voteless people is a hopeless people.” His son Todd needs your help to fight political opportunism, preserve vital services and continue his father’s legacy of service for all residents. Please support Todd by contributing to “A New Generation of Leadership.”
Sincerely,
Roger Mosley
Finance Director
Friends of Todd H. Strogerrmosley@strogerforpresident.com
www.strogerforpresident.com
O'Hare Arpt., IL
