Burke’s statism revisited: Industry spoke, he and Emanuel listened

Whoa. Slow down there. This morning’s story, “Burke: City should consider seizing ‘underwater’ homes,” on which an earlier blog posting was based, has been superseded. Its very idea has been erased from the hearts and minds of Ald. Burke and Mayor Emanuel, and surely from those of the aldermanic finance committee which met to do the considering.

There was complete turnaround on the issue, backtracking, by Burke from serious consideration of the move, an exercise of dominant domain. The hearing was “quite informative and [it had been] worthwhile to spend the time learning about what is happening around the country,” he said after it and after retreat by Mayor Emanuel from the fence he was sitting on in the morning story, when he was “still evaluating” the idea, as his press aide told Sun-Times reporter Fran Spielman.

But by early afternoon, the mayor was convinced it was a bad idea:

“The idea of using eminent domain is not one I support,” the mayor said at an unrelated news conference called to showcase CTA improvements and ridership gains

What happened to make him so sure? Maybe or probably the instant opposition, unsurpising after all, from the mortgage industry:

Timothy W. Cameron–managing director of SIFMA Asset Managers Group comprised of securities firms, banks and 30 of the nation’s largest asset managers–argued that the use of eminent domain would “do more than good” [sic] to Chicago.

“The worst harm will be felt by Chicago residents themselves, as they will find it harder or impossible to obtain credit,” Cameron said in a statement distributed to reporters prior to Tuesday’s hearing.

So Spielman’s piece was well timed to quash Ed Burke’s can-you-top-this piece of statism at the local level, alerting industry opposition from deep in the morning’s paper.

The extended new lead online story, “Actor John Cusack addresses foreclosure epidemic at City Hall” — Cusack was there because a friend was pushing the local (eminent domain) solution — seems careful not to be in-Burke’s-face about it, which is not Spielman’s style and would do nothing for her continuing important reportage.

And that, my friends, is my new lead on my morning posting, which you can read here.

Ed Burke’s new statist adventure

Candidate for nation’s most statist pol, allowing for circumstances such as inherited societal proclivity towards (ugh!) democracy? Presenting Ald. Ed Burke (D-Chi), whose latest — in a long and distinguishing career, if not distinguished except ironically speaking — statist brainstorm is to seize underwater houses and condos. (this morning’s hard-copy Sun-Times, p. 50, Fran Spielman reporting: link is to on-line new lead of a.m. hard copy story).

Off-with-their-heads Ed, Red Queenie to his colleaagues (no? should be). Public housing here, 667,000 units masquerading as mortgages! A statist’s moist if not all-out wet dream. Seize the mortgages. (We can afford it, it’s not our money anyhow. Sound of eyebrows raising, like drawbridges or Michigan bridge at rip tide.)

“Steep discount” on loans at “fair-market value” to be determined by apparatchiks in city govt. What could be more fair? Serfs get new affordable mortgages from the lords of the manor, and the system works! (System? Seat of pants system if any.) In long, run we’re all dead, said Lord Keynes, he of the Bloomsbury crowd —sexual cut-ups all, by the way.

FHA not so sure about this mortgage seizure: something about “sound operations” and “taxpayer expense.” Oh? What are they? aldermanic Finance Committee members ask, turning to each other in shock and awe. What the hell is that FHA talking about? Then back each to his coloring book, or drawing board the expression is, shaking head at the mystifying gaucherie of that mysterious agency with its talk of “chilling effect” on market.

Mayor R. is not sure if he likes it. Wind not blowing strong enough yet to dry his wettened forefinger held at eye level, his best determinant for seat of his pants decision-making. But the first rule of statism is bound to win out, don’t just stand there, do something, or look like it.

(Besides, as Steve Bartin points out, “If this passes, the potential for corruption will be unlimited.” So who needs statism as a ruling orthodoxy?)

Republicans endorse Democrats for the U.S. Senate!

From guest blogger Mike Fahy: More Evidence that Republicans never blow an opportunity to blow an opportunity.

Republicans endorse Democrats for the U.S. Senate!
Republicans need to take over the Senate if we have any chance of stopping RobertsCare, yet two elected Republicans are now endorsing two Democrat candidates for the U.S. Senate!

(a) Republican U.S. Representative Don Young of Alaska endorsed Democrat Mazie Hirono for U.S. Senate from Hawaii, and even made a television commercial for her campaign.

Republican, Linda Lingle, former governor of Hawaii, has a fairly good chance of winning the Senate seat. Why did Young endorse Hirono? Because he is for “bipartisanship”!

(b) Republican U.S. Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma endorsed Democrat Joe Manchin for U.S. Senate from West Virginia, and even contributed money to his November campaign so that he can defeat John Raese, the Tea Party Conservative who won the Republican primary.

On June 27, 2012 Republican Senator Coburn donated $250 to the reelection campaign of Democrat Senator Manchin who is seeking his first six-year term running against Conservative Republican John Raese. Why? Because, “We don’t agree on everything, but he’s a good guy,” says Tom Coburn. Manchin has a 15% rating by the American Conservative Union (2011).

Two years ago too!
Two years ago, three Republicans helped three Democrats win U.S. Senate seats! Establishment Republicans gave us a Harry Reid Senate by defeating Conservative candidates in November 2010.

(1) Christine O’Donnell was hit by Karl Rove who savagely attacked O’Donnell immediately after she clobbered ultra liberal Michael Castle in the Republican primary, 53% to 47%.

(2) Joe Miller was hit by John Boehner who gave all House perks including committee assignments to the non-Republican opponent of the Republican primary winner.

(3) Sharron Angle was hit by Tom Coburn (Okla.) who allowed Harry Reid to win reelection by cutting Republican Angle’s ground funds for the final ten days of her campaign.

Famous last bipartisan words: “My friends, you have nothing to fear from an Obama presidency.” (John McCain, 11/4/8)
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Romney Agrees to Two-Against-One Debates
In May 2011 Sarah Palin said she would not agree to presidential debates unless half the moderators were Conservatives, or at least non-Liberals. Mitt Romney has agreed to presidential debates where all moderators are Liberals. N.B., FOX (most viewers) was excluded while CNN (least viewers) was included.

Presidential Debate No. 1 (domestic policy)
Jim Lehrer (PBS)
Wed., 10/3/12
University of Denver, Denver, Colorado

Vice Presidential Debate
Martha Raddatz (ABC)
Thu., 10/11/12
Centre College, Danville, Kentucky

Presidential Debate No 2. (town-meeting style)
Candy Crowley (CNN)
Tue., 10/16/12
Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York

Presidential Debate No 3. (foreign policy)
Bob Schieffer (CBS)
Mon., 10/22/12
Lynn University, Boca Raton, Florida
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Convention Speakers and Non-Speakers
Not yet confirmed — Colin Powell is rumored to have accepted a key speaking role at the Democrat National Convention. Will Colin Powell be drummed out of the Republican Party? Of course not.

Confirmed — Will the most popular Republican speaker address the Republican National Convention? Of course not. Incumbent Veep nominee Sarah Palin has been blackballed by the Bush/Romney Country Club.

Two other possible speakers at the Democrat National Convention: Repulican John Warner and Republican Chuck Hagel.

Wise old cat to young ones about Bavette’s!

Hep cats, too late, but don’t you wish you’d known about it, you who didn’t?

. . . soft opening mode tonight through Thursday, and you will pay full fare, but the cool part is— 100% of the proceeds will go to Heshima Kenya, a youth refugee organization in Nairobi, Kenya.

So they’re using this first world problem [soft openings] to benefit a third world problem— even if Bavette’s feast at this “traditional American steakhouse with a European influence” doesn’t thrill you, you’ll know your money went somewhere good, which is a smart way of blunting any possible criticism.

And hey, you know that with Sodikoff being to food what Andrew Lloyd Webber was to 80s musicals, it’ll be packed soon enough, so why not go now. To get a reservation tonight through Thursday, call 312-624-8154. [312 Dining Diva] [italics mine]

So it went. Better luck next time. Or if yr dying to send $ direct to Heshima Kenya,go to its site, silly!