Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois NAACP President Teresa Haley should not be emulating the abuse of Migrants like Ron DeSantis or Greg Abbott

I don't have "the solution" for immigration.  But, I do know that treating people like garbage to be boxed up and shipped elsewhere isn't a solution.  Nor is putting saw blades and buoys across rivers.  But, calling migrants "Savages" and claiming they are raping people sure puts you in the Trump category.

Illinois NAACP President Teresa Haley was recorded on Zoom earlier this month saying, 

"But, these immigrants have come over here, they've been raping people, they've been breaking into homes. They're like savages as well. They don't speak the language, and they look at us like we were crazy."

Reached for comment while vacationing in Dubai, Haley defended herself by saying this was faked because "with AI anything was possible."  This story was also leaked by Patrick Watson, a political opponent of Haley whom she disciplined for undisclosed reasons and his allegations stunk of payback.  So I had the faintest hope it actually was fabricated but, I know if that were true Haley or one of her allies would have immediately released a recording of the Zoom meeting with the "true" audio.  She didn't and now others have confirmed and apparently have the recording where she made these inhumane comments.

This is so depressing.  Oppressed communities are often targeted with this resource dilemma.  Having fought for years for recognition, fair treatment, and to stop discrimination these communities cling to their meager gains and resent when others (especially new arrivals) seemingly get a slice of that pie.  Because in America we've been taught for years that resources are a finite sum and therefore any resources some other group is getting is coming at your expense.

This is one of the Plutocratic controls the Rich have used for centuries to keep the poor and working class at each other's throats.  By consistently playing each of us off against the other they maintain control and are able to exert their influence on the political leadership.  And, more importantly, the 1% are able to ensure wealth and power flow through their hands from generation to generation. 

Mayor Brandon Johnson is facing a severe backlash from Chicago African American communities who saw the resources being expended on newly arrived people as a slap in their face.  Just before making those terrible remarks, Haley was speaking to the struggles with homelessness, drug addiction, and institutional racism faced by blacks in America.

Of course, the biggest obstacle facing Chicago and the US Government, as with every issue in the United States, is not only does the Democratic Party have to come up with a near perfect solution, they have to account for, plan and overcome the ratfvcking sabotage of the solution by the Republicans.  It's hard enough coming up with a plan when everyone is pulling the same way but, Republicans are political bomb-throwers who know that by undermining the Nation and damaging the economy, the country, and peoples' lives they can steal back into power.

Republicans never help in any situation facing the country and always hinder.  Nor do their ahistorical claims that their immigrant ancestors "did it the right way"...  Nor do the bad faith demands that anyone who is against the draconian mistreatment of the stranger must therefore individually house immigrants.  It's in no way any kind of an attempted solution but serves as a Gotcha Checkmate Lib.  It's part of a disingenuous demand that you be a Saint else you can not criticize Conservative sins. 

Compassion fatigue is a real issue phenomenon but the total lack of compassion, care or basic humanity repeatedly demonstrated by Republicans not only shames them but degrades and coarsens us as well.  There is no hate as vicious as “Christian Love”…. And once again we find ourselves in search of a Hero to solve this all in some Tolkien-esque Deus Ex Machina way.

Chicago is struggling to deal with migrants but, not because we have a housing or a migrant or a border crisis we have a crisis of compassion and an Epidemic of Republican lying and demonization of people.

So, that's how we end up here.  With the planned migrant Gardaworld temporary housing plan falling completely apart as winter approaches and with members of the Democratic coalition imitating the worst aspects of Republican inhumanity towards people looking for a better life.

The Revenge of the Thin Blue Line 36: Kim Foxx not gonna Run so instead Let's Go Brandon

Kim Foxx announced she will not seek reelection in 2024 after serving two terms as Cook County state's attorney.

“At the conclusion of my term, November of 2024, I will be stepping down as State’s Attorney. I will not be on next year’s ballot, by my choice,” Foxx told the room. “I became State’s Attorney to deliver safety, justice and equity. I feel that I have made my mark, so I’m ready to let new leadership step forward,” Foxx said in a written statement following today’s speech. “Over the next year and half, my office will continue to work diligently for the people of Cook County and uphold the values of a fair and just legal system.” 

If there was one thing that pissed Police off in Chicago and Cook County it was Kim Foxx.  Because Kim Foxx is guilty;  Guilty of the crime of being a black person of America.  This is the most unforgivable offense in the United States; past, present, and future.  As State's Attorney Kim Foxx instituted reforms to cash bail, expunged cannabis arrests (which of course, overwhelmingly targeted minorities), and helped overturn numerous wrongful convictions, resulting from Police misconduct.

Now, if you ask Police why they hate her the responses will no doubt include the ridiculous Jussie Smolett incident and Foxx's unforced error in intervening in the investigation.  But, overall the claim will be that Foxx did not allow the Police (and Cook County ASA's) to do their job; which is arresting and incarcerating minorities.  Standard refrains from Officers when asked about Chicago crime revolved around, 'What do you expect? It's Cook County!' and 'Kim Foxx won't do anything about this or that crime' and it's 'Kim Foxx is stopping us from charging criminals'.  Much of this was a thin veneer to cover for slipshod police work.  But, always remember Police don't arrest innocent people...

Now, remember what we are running into is not the Thin Blue Line but, the wall of Whiteness.  White people are inculcated from an early age to love Police but, also fear them.  This is most often seen when a white parents chastise their very young child's behavior by saying, 'Now!  Little Aiden don't do that or the Policeman will come take you away!'

The reason you do this is so white people learn to understand as long as they toe-the-line and support police they will be protected good standing members of the Congregation.  But, those congregants who transgress earn the sobriquet "Mopes".

As Nicole Gonzalez Van Cleve noted in her book, Crook County: Racism and Injustice in America's Largest Criminal Court,

In the vernacular of court culture, defendants are identified by vulgarities: "scum," "piece of shit," "bad guys" - even "banana suits" (which refers to the jail jumper that defendants in custody must wear in court).  One term predominates among these epithets.  That term is "mopes," used mostly to refer to defendants but sometimes used to describe professionals as well.  The meaning inscribed in this term is central to the moral rubric applied to defendants by courtroom professionals.

Work ethic, competency, and motivation are central elements of court culture.  Efficiency and speed of disposition provide daily evidence of the court professional's work ethic.  Not surprisingly, plea bargains rather than trials define this proverbial machine of efficient justice, and judges and prosecutors pride themselves on efficiency. 

"Mope" is shorthand for a person who violates these values.  Professionals find it difficult to regard a defendant as anything but a mope.  

As we see with the Sinister Six Injustices in the Supremacist Court, the Law, Officials, and Courts in America has morphed into a quasi-religion, the new Priesthood, and Church of America.  For decades now, we've been treated to numerous TV shows which demonstrate the sublime perfection of the Mystic Legal Religion, as Cops always get there, Judges are humble, impartial arbiters of immutable Holy Script, and the Prosecutors follow the god-given tenets of law to achieve absolute truth.  While defendants attempt to wiggle free.  In many courtrooms across the land certain people are rushed through the system and incarcerated whilst others enjoy the long, slow process, multiple appeals, delays, motions, and extended mysteries of the courtroom.   

The role of Police is to be the first line enforcing this Mystical Legal Religion (which has all the hallmarks of White Supremacy); now every Officer I know would (and has) immediately balked and become defensive or dismissive of this when I point it out for a variety of personal reasons or unexamined assumptions but, this is often because they can not or will not see the systematic Institutional Racism which undergirds American society.

Because Police Officers are terrible lawyers and should not be trusted when it comes to their opinion on the charging of crimes.  So Cook County makes Officers call Assistant State's Attorney's for background and approval when charging felonies.  But, I've never met an Officer who didn't think every single arrest he made was a lock solid certainty and the defendant 100% guilty.  Now, I never made an arrest when I did not believe I had probable cause, but I've never gotten mad at not "winning" in the Courtroom.

In this system, blacks and Hispanics are always a priori considered "mopes" until proved otherwise and white people are presumed to have been raised in the spirit of holy Justice to uphold the white supremacist ideals that the Court enforces.  But, by interfering in the fast disposition of defendants, Kim Foxx became Queen Mope to Officers working in Chicago and Cook County, who took to routinely blaming Foxx for all the woes and all crime in the City and Cook County.  Of course, this is total nonsense.

Incidentally, this is why every Republican, every rightwing tv station and every internet propagandist is mad about the revelations of extreme corruption, cartoonish criminality, and highly unethical behavior of the Ettins of the Supreme Court; Clarence and Ginni, John Roberts and his wife Jane Sullivan, Sammy di puzzi Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Boofer O'Kavanugh, and Amy Coathanger Barrett.  Since they are the High Mullahs of America their whims are infallible and their dictates (much like those of Kacsmaryk or the podunk goober Judges in down state Illinois) are received from on-high and are actually the transmittals of the Idealized Pure Law and thus unimpeachable.  Also, conservatives will be apoplectic if Dick Durbin gets off his ass and abolishes the outmoded and fascist friendly blue-slip Senate rules because conservatives have stolen the Judiciary fair and square!

However, now that Kim Foxx is gone, rightwingers and asshole Reactionary Cops have lost their satan whom they could blame for any of their lazy fuck-ups in building a case, sloppy detective work, and for all crime everywhere in Cook County.  But, thankfully white supremacy in Chicago is saved because in April Brandon Johnson won the Chicago Mayoral Election against Paul Vallas and before the final vote was even tabulated rightwingers had a downtown incident which was 100% Brandon Johnson's fault and which 100% showed what the rightwing wurlitzer will do going forward. 

Let's Go Brandon (Johnson) for Chicago Mayor

Chicago's Next Mayor?

“Sometimes you have Caesar Augustus, sometimes you have Tiberius or Caligula,” During a March 18th Mayoral debate, Paul Vallas compared former Chicago Mayors to Roman Emperors.  I know Rahm was bad but I don't believe Emmanuel every made his horse into a City Alderman. 

The February 28th Chicago Mayor election ended with Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson as the top two voters getters setting up the run-off on April 4th.

So, the Lori Lightfoot era is over.  One of the key benchmarks for equality in the United States was not when President Barack Obama, an generational talent and highly qualified candidate, was elected President, it's when the black or female equivalent of George W. Bush (a career fuckup and incompetent) was elected.  Thus, Lori's 2018 election showed how far we've come...

But, Lori Lightfoot was a political neophyte or more correctly Lori showed a complete lack of political skills and instincts.  Upon becoming Mayor, Lightfoot immediately picked a fight with the Chicago Teacher's Union and alienated the only force in Chicago which was predisposed to side with her.

Lori then tried to sidle up to the Chicago Police, an effort doomed to fail from the start, since they hated her and nothing she could do could change that initiation opinion.  Police Officers throughout Chicago and the Cook collar counties called her "Beetlejuice", and since Police are still overwhelmingly white, male, and Reactionary it was a category error for Mayor Lightfoot to believe she could make inroads with the Police.

But, Lori's lackluster 3rd place finish leads to a run-off between Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson.  To Lori's discredit and further highlighting her lack political skills, she's pouting and not yet endorsed Brandon Johnson.  So as the April 4th draws near Vallas appears to be favored. 

Vallas is from the South Side and is the type of white boomer Chicago "liberal" favored by the populace, but Vallas has also already secured the endorsement of long-time Secretary of State Jesse White, a not inconsequential endorsement as Jesse White is still a revered elderly black Illinois statesman.  Vallas is also running ads with President Bill Clinton praising his work in the 1990's Chicago school, so his strategy seems to be to target the elderly black voter.  However, Vallas is an infamous Charter School proponent having foisted those monstrosities upon Philadelphia and New Orleans.  But, more concerning was the "Pension holiday" when Vallas stopped contributions to Chicago teachers pensions and under the auspices of Mayor Richard M. Daley, and then the "defending your life" style attack on teachers and administrators from so-called underperforming schools were fired and had to reinterview to get their jobs back. 

Now, back in the 1990's one could possibly forgive those who believed in Charter Schools promise just like you could forgive/understand those who believed 401k's were a viable alternative to Pensions and defined benefits.  But, Vallas systematic attacks on Public Education was a forerunner of the current Vulture Capitalist and rapacious Republican attacks.  Vallas tenure as a school system Administrator has  

However, for the April 4th election Vallas' strategy is simple: Paint Brandon Johnson as a High Taxes, Defund the Police Radical and rely on the support of rich Chicago white people, and the older black community to whom he trots out the aforementioned Jesse White and connection to Bill Clinton.

Meanwhile, Brandon Johnson has Toni Preckwinkle in his corner but, he's going to need to gather up all the votes which went to Lori, as well as Chuy Garcia, who has endorsed B. Johnson, and the venerable gas station attendant Willie Wilson.

Johnson has proposed a pretty audacious plan for increasing taxes on the sale of multi-million dollar real estate sales to help fund shelters for the unhoused as well as a raft of police reforms; canceling the city’s contract with the dysfunctional and problematic ShotSpotter gunshot detection company; ending no-knock warrants; and reopening public mental health clinics.

Brandon Johnson would seem to be a real progressive and Paul Vallas would seem to be a Eric Adams clone.  We'll see which way Chicago goes on April 4th...