Well, here's an interesting little tale of politics back in the land of O - Chicago. Nothing subtle about Blagjevich in justifying his deploying state troopers to Chicago while the mayor is against it.
"Yes, I know, Chicago is Chicago and it's a big city and Mayor Daley is the mayor there, but I'm the governor of all of Illinois," he said. "When communities are being dominated by gangbangers, I think we have a responsibility to be as helpful as we can."
But neither the police nor the local pols think it is anything but an empty gesture mostly designed to embarass Daly because he wouldn't approve a casino Blagjevich wants to increase state revenues.
"The concern is not for the people of Chicago," said Chicago Police Lt. Bob Weisskopf. "It has nothing to with real life, nothing to do with justice ... it's politics and politicians."
But police officers say they're skeptical because the move came just weeks after Gov. Rod Blagojevich surprised Mayor Richard M. Daley and Police Superintendent Jody Weis by suggesting publicly that state troopers and even the National Guard could be used to combat "out of control" violent crime in Chicago.
That prompted speculation that Blagojevich's motives were political. Daley has refused to support the governor's proposal for a Chicago casino to help fund a massive statewide construction program.
"This is more of a kick at the mayor by the governor," said Sgt. John Pallohusky, president of the Chicago Police Sergeants Association.
At this point, you almost have to wonder if those gangbangers wouldn't actually do a better job of running things than these seemingly self-serving, incompetent and often corrupt politicans.
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