Mayor Daley (Chicago: live, assess, retiring)

[ccjarider]

Is it just me or does it strike anyone else how disinegenous this guy is. Now that he is retiring he says in a speech this week that the public is whiney and wants too much from government and that governement employees should strive to give more to their employers, the taxpayers.

Don't get me wrong, I like the message but for someone who has pandered to both the public and public unions for literally decades, I find this extremely distatesful at this point. He has no credibility to say these things now.

At least this is my opinion - what do others think?

[tonythetuna]

He is the king of whiners himself.

He also is a conservative progressive although his party is listed as Democrat.

BTW here is the story mentioned above:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/l...,4000052.story

[chicago103]

It is all relative and depends on what perspective you are coming from. In reality alot of the unions are pissed at Daley for not talking and dealing with them enough. I am sure if you look at his entire 22 year tenure there are examples of him pandering to unions but he is hardly some union hack. As the second poster pointed out Daley is actually quite conservative in some areas, if you listen to a number of his speeches over the years. On balance Daley is a centrist, sure there are some areas his views can be classified as liberal but he is quite to the right of typical democrats on a number of other issues. I have heard alderman tell me that Daley is like a Republican when it comes to big business issues.

To hardcore conservatives Daley is a liberal but to true progressives they see him as the status quo that is quite conservative. If you see the world in black and white, liberal and conservative it is very hard to understand someone like Daley because his views really defy typical ideological packages.

[ccjarider]

Chicago103:
Very interesting perspective - thanks.

[andrew61]

Originally Posted by chicago103

It is all relative and depends on what perspective you are coming from. In reality alot of the unions are pissed at Daley for not talking and dealing with them enough. I am sure if you look at his entire 22 year tenure there are examples of him pandering to unions but he is hardly some union hack. As the second poster pointed out Daley is actually quite conservative in some areas, if you listen to a number of his speeches over the years. On balance Daley is a centrist, sure there are some areas his views can be classified as liberal but he is quite to the right of typical democrats on a number of other issues. I have heard alderman tell me that Daley is like a Republican when it comes to big business issues.

To hardcore conservatives Daley is a liberal but to true progressives they see him as the status quo that is quite conservative. If you see the world in black and white, liberal and conservative it is very hard to understand someone like Daley because his views really defy typical ideological packages.

I agree. Very good assessment. I wonder how Rahm Emanuel is going to stack up to Daley in this regard.

[williepotatoes]

Daleys last term has been a mess. He stayed one election too long. The frustrations of that, coupled with his wifes illness have unfortunately turned him into Chicago's "biggest whiner" and curmudgeon.

I can't remember the last time that I saw him act lighthearted and happy.

[DANNYY]

Oh finally, he's leaving. I can live happily now knowing Chicago's version of Kim Jong II is leaving office. I cant express this through the internet but I am literally about to start jumping out of happiness after this post is complete!