Posted by
Mike Bates on Friday, March 27, 2009 8:08:05 PM
Today's Chicago Tribune, taking a cue from its hero Barack Obama,
gave bracketeering a try.
The contenders, all former Illinois and Louisiana public officials,
were selected for a smackdown to determine the most disgraceful.
The rivals from Louisiana were former Governors Huey Long and Edwin
Edwards, former Congressman William "Refrigerator" Jefferson, and
former New Orleans City Council president Oliver Thomas (identified as
Thomas Oliver by the newspaper.). Weighing in from Illinois were
former Governors George Ryan and Milorad "Call Me Rod" Blagojevich,
former Congressman Dan Rostenkowski, and former Chicago alderman Arenda
Troutman.
The Trib gave the nod to Edwin Edwards, although I think the
competition was marred by not having an Illinois Daley in the
competition. Setting that aside, what was interesting is the Tribune
didn't mention party affiliation in its bracketeering. Seven of the
eight contenders, or 87.5 percent, were Democrats. Gee, what a
surprise.
Yet the Tribune didn't see fit to note that relevant fact. Just
another day at what used to bill itself as the "World's Greatest
Newspaper."