Dean's World

The Cesspool That Brought Us Obama

Dean

As I've said many times, Chicago politics are unbelievably corrupt. Possibly the only place worse is Louisiana. And it looks like those chickens are coming home to roost.

If Obama can't weather it now, he certainly won't be able to in the general election. He's going to have to talk about this, and talk about why he wants to clean up Washington even though he came up and succeeded in an environment that makes Washington DC look like a model of clean and honorable government. Doubtless his supporters will call such question "smears," but to the rest of us that will just look like tap-dancing.

By the way, is he anti-NAFTA or not? Apparently, it's anyone's guess. I guess that's what he means by the audacity of hope, or something.

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Snippet:

You're just a big fat hairy racist, you are.

3.1.2008 12:19pm

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Aziz (mail) (www):

"That's a noble version he is describing. He is not talking about Illinois when he does that," said Stewart, who acknowledges Obama was "a cut above" most state legislators and reliably supported ethics legislation.

3.1.2008 12:19pm

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Hank Barnes (mail) (www):

I'm a little skeptical about this line of inquiry. Yes, Chicago politics is fascinating and has a reputation for being rough &tumble. Would love to learn more about it (Midwestern roots, but transplanted to California at young age).

I guess my general principle on the campaign season still holds:

Any discussion on something OTHER than the merits or demerits of a particular extant issue affecting the general population is a distraction.

So, Yes, NAFTA criticism and praise is totally fair game -- but the Rezko stuff, I gotta say, doesn't hold much interest for me.

HankB

3.1.2008 12:56pm

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Martin L. Shoemaker (www):

Man, Aziz, talk about pulling the out-of-context quote!

Still, unless there's a lot more direct involvement on Senator Obama's part yet to be revealed, I honestly don't expect this to be a big issue. Right now, it's at the same level as the left's ridiculous Cheney-Bush-Halliburton fixation, which the public has successfully ignored. Guilt by association may be good for riling up those who already oppose a candidate, but it doesn't seem to persuade those who are neutral or supportive. I think the people are smarter than the political operatives give them credit for.

3.1.2008 12:56pm

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Aziz (mail) (www):

how it is out of context? in fact teh entire article just says, Chicago politics is a cesspool, Obama rails against corruption, Obama hasnt specifically condemned Illinois Democrats enough, and btw Obama's a cut above and supports ethics legislation consistently.

I'm not seeing anything here that says Obama is a "product" of the cesspool.

3.1.2008 1:00pm

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Martin L. Shoemaker (www):

how it is out of context?

I'll let this guy answer you (outlining added)...

in fact teh entire article just says:

1. Chicago politics is a cesspool.

2. Obama rails against corruption.

3. Obama hasnt specifically condemned Illinois Democrats enough.

4. and btw Obama's a cut above and supports ethics legislation consistently.

So you chose the least of the four pillars of the article, and made that your argument. I could have made a pretty damning argument by selectively quoting some of the other points.

I don't think the comment's irrelevant, but it's the "yes, but" of the article.

3.1.2008 1:08pm

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Aziz (mail) (www):

a well-spoken gentleman indeed. But there's not a logical causal argument here about Obama, its about Chicago politics. The Obama clause is not a "yes but". It's a "in contrast".

The point of the article is chicago politics, and obama's condemnation of dirty politics, and the intersection of these things. But nowhere is there any argument regarding Obama being a product of those politics (implying he is dirty as the system). Instead oif anything the raticle paints a grim picture of chicago politics and then gets a admission from the fiercest critic that Obama isnt of that mold!

3.1.2008 1:50pm

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Dean Esmay:

It's quite true that at the moment, not much can be said about him on the issue of corruption is that he's got buddies who are corrupt.

3.1.2008 2:24pm

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Mark @ Urthshu (mail) (www):

you need a more specific article

3.1.2008 2:46pm

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Mike (mail):

Dean, you are leaving out Detroit. It is a political cesspool, but without the charm of N.O.

3.1.2008 8:24pm

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Mike (mail):

To be perfectly clear - the cesspooling of a city or region begins when only one party has control of the political power for years. If there is no effective challenge, corruption happens.

This isn't rocket science - power without balance results in corruption. Detroit, Chicago, the former Soviet Union. History is my cite.

3.1.2008 8:32pm

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Mike (mail):

And you don't need absolute power - all you need is enough power to make sure you, your wife, your mistress, your brother in law, your hangers-on, can live high and well. Just enough power that no one is going to look too hard at you, and the employment decisions of departments, agenicies, and associated contractors.

3.1.2008 8:36pm

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Sean Golden (mail) (www):

Dean:

As an ex-Louisiana citizen, I have to say that in Louisiana at least we always had Arkansas we could point to as the one state that was more corrupt, and Mississippi as the one state with the lower average IQ.

Mississippi has topped Louisiana in the IQ department lately, but I think Arkansas still has the title for "most corrupt" state.

3.1.2008 9:47pm

Commenting on Dean's World is a privilege, not a right. Dean is your host, you are his guest, and you should behave in that fashion. Dean is not your babysitter, nor is he your punching bag. Please remember this. In general, you are free to disagree with anyone on any subject you wish, but abusive behavior will not be tolerated.

Of course we all lose our tempers now and then. Dean freely admits to being imperfect in this regard, which is why regulars to this establishment will generally be cut more slack than people who we don't know very well.

Still: behave like an adult, or go find somewhere else to play. Thanks.