Felsenthal Files

02/27/13

Billionaire Mayor Bloomberg Buys Illinois's 2nd District Congressional Seat

Robin Kelly easily won Jesse Jackson Jr.'s old seat, aided by a low turnout and a big PAC ad buy that opponent Debbie Halvorson couldn't match.

Posted at 11:54 AM in Felsenthal Files News & Politics | Permalink | Comments (2)

02/25/13

A Light Sentence for Jesse Jackson Jr.? This Profile Could Help

A Washington Post profile of the ex-Congressman from last year paints a portrait of a man in disarray—including naked martial arts at a Turkish bath.

Posted at 10:15 AM in Felsenthal Files News & Politics | Permalink | Comments (2)

02/20/13

How Jesse Jr.'s Judge Met Rev. Jesse Jackson

Long before he presided over the trial of Sandi and Jesse Jackson Jr., Judge Robert L. Wilkins introduced Rev. Jackson at a Harvard Law event, and talked racial profiling on CNN's 'Both Sides With Jesse Jackson.'

Posted at 04:57 PM in Felsenthal Files News & Politics | Permalink | Comments (0)

02/19/13

Cody Keenan, Obama's Chief Speechwriter: Chicago-Born and (Mostly) Bred

The Northwestern grad and State of the Union author has a tough task ahead: crafting words for a writer-president who emulates Lincoln while staying studiously in the background.

Posted at 09:50 AM in Felsenthal Files News & Politics | Permalink | Comments (1)

02/18/13

Could Alderman Beale Be the Last Man Standing in the 2nd District Race?

Michael Bloomberg's PAC has thrown its support and money behind Robin Kelly, and Toi Hutchinson unexpectedly dropped out in the race to replace Jesse Jackson, Jr. Does that leave Anthony Beale as an even longer shot, or in a better position to win?

Posted at 10:40 AM in Felsenthal Files News & Politics | Permalink | Comments (1)

02/11/13

Endorsements in the Race to Succeed JJJ Are Flying. Where's the Sun-Times?

The Democratic race to succeed Jesse Jackson, Jr. is a packed one—and one in which newspaper endorsements could do some good for voters and the state. But the editorial board standing by its no-endorsements policy.

Posted at 05:35 PM in Felsenthal Files News & Politics | Permalink | Comments (2)

02/06/13

Lunch With Ald. Bob Fioretti

The Second Ward alderman talks mayors, the costs of his cancer treatment, how we have too many aldermen, his biggest mistake on City Council, what the name "Fioretti" means, and more.

Posted at 11:12 AM in Felsenthal Files News & Politics | Permalink | Comments (1)

02/04/13

Where In the World Is Rich Daley?

After leaving office, the former mayor hasn't followed in the footsteps of big-city mayoral peers like Rudy Giuliani and Ed Koch, choosing to speak softly—or not at all—and build a big resume.

Posted at 01:15 PM in Felsenthal Files News & Politics | Permalink | Comments (0)

01/31/13

Penny Pritzker a Likely Commerce Secretary the Second Time Around

Barack Obama owes longtime friend and fundraiser Penny Pritzker a great deal, going back to his days as an obscure state senator. 2008 wasn't the right time to include her in his cabinet, for a host of reasons, but he's got a lot more political capital in 2012, and much less to lose.

Posted at 03:08 PM in Felsenthal Files News & Politics | Permalink | Comments (0)

01/29/13

Ray LaHood Leaving Obama's Cabinet and 'Hoping the Phone Starts Ringing'

The outgoing Department of Transportation secretary talks about his legacy, his best friends in government (Rahm and Joe Biden), and his relationship with the President ("bipartisanship is in his blood").

Posted at 01:51 PM in Felsenthal Files News & Politics | Permalink | Comments (2)