Hypocrite

Thy name is Dave Fagus. In following this thread at The Broken Heart I was led to Dave's own blog.

Dave really, really likes John Stroger. But he is so busy liking the guy, and his son Toddy, that Dave has become blind to the realities surrounding these likable men. Dave was more than happy to print the Chicago Tribune editorial that was friendly to John Stroger, but he ignores a very important comment they make;

Some of the most confrontational meetings this newspaper's editorial board ever has hosted occurred with John Stroger at the table, loudly refusing to reduce bureaucracy and improve services in a featherbedded county government that always took care of his cronies.

(bold emphasis is mine)

That's an important statement being made, which Dave never questions and never disputes. We don't know for sure where Toddy stands on the really hard issues and work that needs to be done. He has yet to prove he can stand up on his own and face down the machine. This matters because Dave got behind Toddy as the candidate for the Presidency, after making these pious comments;

My criteria is simple. I will be making a decision based on who has the best vision for the county government. I believe the next president must be committed to supporting the essential services of the county, and not balancing the budget on the backs of the poor, hungry, homeless and ill.

The county doesn't know how to balance the budget, aside from raising taxes. And why should we believe Todd can do any better?

It is about providing the best and most efficient care to the neediest people of this county, and providing as much safety, security and justice as possible.

Tell that to the children at the juvenile detention center. How is Todd going to deal with that?

I don't subscribe to the theory that merely coming in second entitles you to a vacancy.

But being the son does?

Most important, we should remember that government is there to serve the common good. It is a mission that requires good leadership, a strong sense of direction and, most importantly, a vision of where we are going and why we are going there. That is what we need in a President of the Cook County Board and that is who I will support.

All well said, but do explain how Toddy fits this criteria, aside from his genes.

At the end of it all, I come away more convinced than ever that Dave Fagus is simply a cog in the machine. Not a leader, not someone who recognizes leadership qualities, but definitely willing to kowtow to whomever rules the roost.