Rahm Emanuel is Twammed*

The Dividist is still in Chicago, but will be winging back to the Left Coast on Monday. With The Real Superbowl now a distant and painful memory, the Dividist turn his eyes back to the world of politics. Here in Chicago - the story is Rahm Emanuel and whether or not he is qualified as a resident of the City of Chicago to run for Mayor. For an in-depth background briefing - we go to the Definitive Reference Media of Choice - Taiwanese animation from NMA.TV:

"US President Barack Obama’s former chief of staff Rahm Emanuel’s bid to become Chicago mayor is in trouble after an Illinois court threw him off the ballot. The court ruled that he did not satisfy residency rules. Emanuel has appealed the ruling to the Illinois Supreme Court. His name is currently still on the ballots, but we here in Taiwan say it doesn't matter because Emanuel probably won't be able to run for mayor anyways. "

The Reader may be wondering (as was The Dividist), why our intrepid Taiwanese reporters chose to render Rahm in the buff. It took a little research - but the comment thread on YouTube reminds us of this story from last March:

"Let me tell you a story about Rahm Emanuel," Massa started. "I was a congressman in my first eight weeks, and I was in the congressional gym, and I went down and I worked out and I went into the showers...I'm sitting there showering, naked as a jaybird and here comes Rahm Emanuel not even with a towel wrapped around his tush, poking his finger in my chest, yelling at me because I wasn't going to vote for the president's budget. Do you know how awkward it is to have a political argument with a naked man?"

The Dividist hopes to never learn how awkward it is to have a political argument with a naked man. The Dividist had completely forgotten about Rahm's naked verbal assault in the Congressional shower. Apparently this story had a bigger and longer lasting impact in Taiwan. Or they have better memories. Or naked political arguments strikes a cultural chord in Taiwan. Or something. We really need to be more careful about which stories we promote to mainstream media meme status here. These things create a distorted view of our politics in other countries.

Regardless, the Illinois Supreme Court had the final word yesterday, and Rahm will indeed be on the ballot. It was a unanimous decision with a little salt added to the overruled appellate court wound:

"This court’s decision is based on the following and only on the following: (1) what it means to be a resident for election purposes was clearly established long ago, and Illinois law has been consistent on the matter since at least the 19th Century; (2) the novel standard adopted by the appellate court majority is without any foundation in Illinois law; (3) the Board’s factual findings were not against the manifest weight of the evidence; and (4) the Board’s decision was not clearly erroneous."

Which means the residency distraction is over. Which means he will likely be the next mayor of Chicago. It does not mean he should be the next mayor of Chicago.

The Dividist is not a resident and won't be voting in this election. But he knows plenty of residents, and one issue that he hears about frequently is a crappy Chicago school system rife with waste and corruption. At least one of the problems with the Chicago school system has been removed. Arne Duncan was the head of the Chicago school system before being tapped by Barack Obama to implement his failed education policies and leadership in Chicago on a national basis as Secretary of Education. The fact that he is no longer in Chicago should make Emanuel's job easier. But before turning this job over to Emanuel, Chicago voters may want to consider who among the candidates truly showed their commitment to improving public schools by having their own children attend those public schools.

Long-time Chicago resident Rahm Emanuel's kids are getting a good education...

... in private school.

*Twammed - To be made the subject of a Taiwanese Animation news story.

Divided and Balanced.™
Now that is fair.