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Mayor Daley's anti-war rant

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Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion (1/22-2007 thru 12/14/2010)

Enrique

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Mon Feb-15-10 10:17 AM
Original message

Mayor Daley's anti-war rant

Edited on Mon Feb-15-10 10:20 AM by Enrique

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/ct-oped-0215-mccarron-20100213,0,1142827.story

audio here: http://blogs.vocalo.org/ccahan/2010/02/mayor-daley-on-war-protests-what-happened-to-america/14738

Was that really Mayor Richard M. Daley last week urging people to protest the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan?

It sure looked like the mayor, up on the speakers' rostrum of the Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards ceremony at the Hyatt Regency. And it sure sounded like him, all wound up and passionate about the federal government needing to spend less on war and more on education.

But Mayor Daley? Making an anti-war pitch? Is this not the son of Mayor Richard J. Daley, whose police infamously clubbed the stuffing out of war protesters back in the day? And did not the current Mayor Daley's own police department rough up some Iraq war protesters a few years ago when they tried to march down Michigan Avenue?

Yet there he was last week, venting about war eternal and getting cheered by a ballroom full of community development types. And a lot of us, especially the graybeards who know the history, still can't believe our ears.

My trusty digital voice recorder, however, does not lie:

"We always believe America is No. 1," the mayor declared, citing our nation's battlefield prowess in wars past. But lately, he went on, we've been quick to dispatch armies abroad instead of taking care of business at home.

"Just think of all the money that we spend on wars to save the world. Today we can't save America. Why do we always have to go to war, continually, why can't we rebuild America? Why is it we have to take $300 or $400 billion dollars . . . and then tell people we're only going to be there for a year and we're coming home . . . and then we'll declare victory."

"What is it about America?" he challenged the crowd. "How did we start this century with 10 years of war? Ten years of war!"

Then the mayor aimed a dart at those who protested when George W. Bush was commander in chief but now sit on their hands rather than criticize President Barack Obama.

"Where are the anti-war people?" Daley wanted to know. "I look down at the Dirksen Center (the federal plaza in the South Loop favored by protesters). Where are they? They've disappeared! What happened? I thought war was evil? Where are the people who believed in their heart against George Bush. What happened?

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Mari333

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Mon Feb-15-10 10:22 AM
Response to Original message

1. hey does he get it? hoooah if he does!! bout time an official asked that question

praying for a HUGE turnout all over the USA against the occupations on March 20

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sharesunited

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Mon Feb-15-10 10:25 AM
Response to Original message

2. It's ONLY about the money with that guy.

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frazzled

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Mon Feb-15-10 10:27 AM
Response to Original message

3. He's desperate

And playing off people's ignorance. Of course he knows that the moneys spent on defense are not fungible ... they're not available to be spent on domestic programs, unless the US has the political will to borrow money from China for schools. And I don't think there's any political will to do that, whether or not there is a war somewhere or not. It's sad, but true. But simply spending less money on war does not make more money available for other things.

Richie Daley is desperate because the people are very angry at him. The corruption of the patronage administration he's run has finally got people fed up. And the huge parking meter scandal is an emblem of all that. So when a politician in a generally Democratic, progressive city is facing anger and defeat, what is left to them but to bring up a little righteous anti-war sentiment. And then find a way to try to link it to local issues.

Whatever one may think of these wars, let's not fall for a cheap political trick. Mayor Daley should be talking about ways to reform his administration, rid it of its own corruption, and stop selling off the people's assets to private industry.

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Enrique

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Mon Feb-15-10 10:46 AM
Response to Reply #3

6. it's interesting the way he views the protests

he's probably sincere about longing for the protests in Daley Plaza. How do they threaten him?

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MidwestTransplant

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Mon Feb-15-10 10:34 AM
Response to Original message

4. Maybe Daley should consider how much money he wastes on patrinage jobs and selling out the city's

interests for far below market value.

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mopinko

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Mon Feb-15-10 11:09 AM
Response to Reply #4

8. people will take your complaints more seriously

if you can spell them.

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MidwestTransplant

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Mon Feb-15-10 11:47 AM
Response to Reply #8

13. Is that you Mrs. Daley?

:)

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mopinko

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Mon Feb-15-10 11:53 AM
Response to Reply #13

14. fortunately, no

maggie is fighting breast cancer, and the rumor is it is winning.

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Don Caballero

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Mon Feb-15-10 10:42 AM
Response to Original message

5. Corrupt pig

Do not trust anything this man says.

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mopinko

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Mon Feb-15-10 11:08 AM
Response to Original message

7. amazing how your perspective changes when you have skin in the game.

there are still people in dirksen center, tho. not as many, it is true. but why don't you come on down mar 18th, ritchie. we'll make you the grand marshal.

just fyi, i actually am one of about 16 people in chicago who love my mayor.

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ProfessorGAC

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Mon Feb-15-10 11:10 AM
Response to Reply #7

9. You're Exaggerating, Mo

There's at least 20 of you folks! LOL! Actually, as a local observer, but not in the city, i think he's done a pretty darned good job.
GAC

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mopinko

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Mon Feb-15-10 11:15 AM
Response to Reply #9

10. it's tough to be a dem.

sewers, water mains, police stations, libraries, schools and parks. he's taken good care of it all. i could even defend the parking meters.
but can you get anybody to say anything good about him, out loud? only those wearing bullet proof vests.

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ProfessorGAC

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Mon Feb-15-10 11:17 AM
Response to Reply #10

11. Another Good One!

I understand, i guess. I'm not faced with the same situation, but i think i get it.
GAC

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EmeraldCityGrl

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Mon Feb-15-10 11:18 AM
Response to Original message

12. Maybe the anti-war/bush people got tired

of being ignored and taken advantage of by people like Daley.
Maybe they got tired of doing everyone's dirty work.

Why doesn't he get his ass out there in the cold and hold a sign?

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