Month: March 2022

Now, we suddenly seeing a dozen or more
Sailing in the clear blue sky
The time has come when pigs fly
Yeah, it’s a beautiful thing
                                           When pigs fly (Michael Ford / Sandra Boynton)

An adynaton is a way of expressing something that will never happen. There are exceptions to everything. And two of the most common adynatons occurred on the same day. Pigs flew. Hell froze over.

Democratic warlord and ruler Mike “the Crypt Keeper” Madigan was indicted by the Feds with  22 counts of alleged crimes. The indictment alleges Madigan participated in an array of bribery and extortion schemes from 2011 to 2019 aimed at using the power of his office for personal gain.

“In his written statement Wednesday, Madigan said he never engaged in any criminal activity and that prosecutors were “attempting to criminalize” legal political actions such as job recommendations.” (Chicago Tribune)

Does Madigan’s statement sound familiar? Former governor and ex-felon Rod Blagojevich used the same defense when indicted and convicted for similar offenses. Blagojevich received a 14-year prison. Blago served 8 years until his sentence was commuted by former President Donald Trump.

Until his resignation last year, Madigan held office in Springfield since 1971. He was also the longest-serving Speaker of a legislature in the nation. Madigan was the most powerful politician in Illinois. He was the de facto governor. It made no difference which party held the governorship. Madigan ruled Illinois, his congressional district, and the 13^th Ward with a “velvet hammer.”

Mike Madigan was described as the “Khan of Madiganistan” by columnist John Kass. A khan is a ruler who either, through power or threats, makes alliances with others or ruthlessly destroys them to become the omnipotent leader.

It appears Mike Madigan committed a political mortal sin. He violated the 11^th Commandment, “Thou shalt not get caught.” Madigan is now in the same position as another long-time powerful Chicago politician, Alderman Ed “the Big Tuna” Burke. If convicted and sentenced, they could be cellmates in federal prison. They could compare notes on how they vanquished their enemies or about the schemes and shenanigans they committed to hold power and enrich themselves

It used to be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for an ultra-powerful Illinois or Chicago politician to enter the kingdom of the Feds. Now, two of the most powerful await their fate.

Except for his family and some of his subjects, no one is shedding any tears over Madigan’s indictment. There is no empathy or sympathy. For many in Chicago and Illinois, the feeling is it took too long to nail him. There is only a sigh of relief. Finally, we are free of Madigan’s merciless cold iron death grip.

The mighty khan fell. Madigan’s throne crumbled. His fiefdom, Madiganistan, is in ashes. He is just another geezer awaiting his fate.

For the ill-informed, the Holy Feds do not seek indicts of people like Madigan or Burke unless they know there is a higher than 50% chance they will prevail at trial. If the stories about the investigations into Madigan and Burke are accurate, including wiretaps and cooperators, the Feds have way more than they need.

The Terrible Twins are toast. It is better to stick to the smaller stuff in corrupt Chicago politics. The saying is, “Pigs get fat. Hogs get slaughtered.” Madigan will get slaughtered then roasted over the slow spit of a federal trial. Instead of the stench of corruption, there will be the aroma of low and slow cooking porcine.

MARCH 
I Martius am!  Once first, and now the third!
  To lead the Year was my appointed place;
A mortal dispossessed me by a word,
  And set there Janus with the double face.
Hence I make war on all the human race;
  I shake the cities with my hurricanes;
I flood the rivers and their banks efface,
  And drown the farms and hamlets with my rains. (Poet’s Calendar/Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

March is named for Mars, the Roman God of war. It is the month spring begins.

Military campaigns resumed in March. On March 1^st, we witnessed the Ukraine Spring, a nation rising to fight and die for its independence and freedom against Russia.

Russia is making an unprovoked war on Ukraine. Russia is shaking cities with her bombs missiles. Russia is flooding Ukraine with her tanks and artillery. Russia is trying to drown Ukraine by raining unconscionable terror in Ukraine.

The situation in Ukraine is heartbreaking. Civilians are arming themselves and fighting for their freedom. Over 600,000 people fled the country. Children say goodbye to their fathers, not knowing if they will see them again. The Ukrainian people are fighting and dying to stay free.

Watching this horror unfold over the past few days, witnessing the bravery of ordinary citizens willing to die for their freedom, I cannot believe that freedumb lovers in this country fought COVID mandates, masks, and vaccinations for two years. I can’t believe that freedumb loving elected officials fought so hard against common-sense precautions. As WC Fields said, “Common sense, the sense horses have that keeps them from betting on humans.” Freedumb lovers have no common sense. They have no sense at all.

Those same freedumb lovers celebrate the end of the mandates, as COVID abates. They are claiming victory over their senselessness, ignorance, and foolishness.

If these people were in Ukraine, they would be cowering, some weeping while clinging to their firearms like Teddy Bears. Many would be running for their lives to seek freedumb instead of standing tall for freedom.

Less-ons (Lower than morons) fight for freedumb, a ridiculous battle against inconvenience. It is more important for freedumb lovers to be right than intelligent.

In Chicago, people are expressing solidarity with Ukraine. Hundreds showed up at a demonstration on Sunday in the Ukrainian Village neighborhood. People on social media post Ukrainian flags, express dismay, and share news pieces about the conflict.

These same people from all walks of life, races, and ethnicities are silent on Chicago’s bloodshed, violence, and terror. Hundreds do not show up anywhere to demonstrate their anger at our city and county governments endorsing and enabling terror.

Spring is Nigh. Warm weather is on the way. So is the yearly spring offensive by our violent criminals. There will be more bloodshed and terror on our streets. Like the past two years, little will be done to curb the terror or hold violent criminals accountable.

Criminals know there will be no mass resistance against their terrorism. They know they will be released back to the streets to commit more violence and terror. If you deface the Bean, you will be held on a high bond. Violent criminals are caught and released on low or no bail. Many are put on the failing electronic monitoring system.

Today is March 1^st, the start of Spring. Will Chicagoans suffer through another season of terror? Or, will they wake up from their apathetic somnolence to demand elected officials do their jobs to keep the public safe?

Or, will they sit back in apathy, fretting, showing outrage, and protesting about issues in other places? The unprovoked terrorism afflicting Ukraine is horrible. All we can do is condemn it. The terrorism in our city is awful. We can do something- act out and act up to curb it.

The choice is yours. Sit on your couch or at your desk kvetch about Ukraine or other issues in the country or world. Or,  get up off your lazy, apathetic asses and do something about the terror here in Chicago.

Ukrainians are fighting for their lives and their freedom. Will Chicago fight for their safety?

What will you do?