Completely Unnecessary

I know some of you are probably at a loss to explain my rampant disgust with Todd Stroger. He’s not as visible or as powerful as someone like George Bush. Nor, however, is he as articulate.

Eric Zorn posted a link to this clip of Stroger speaking to the City Club of Chicago. I’m going to post a transcript below, but it has to be heard to be believed.

In recent years, economic experts have coined the phrase “food dessert” to support their concern for a lack of quality grocery shopping options for people living in poor neighborhoods. Well, I’m concerned that without Provident Hospital and with Michael Reese and other hospitals having problems, Chicago’s South Side might become a hospital dessert. Ooops! I should say “desert.”

That’s why I reject calls for Provident to be closed, and favor the hospital’s continued focus in providing inpatient, acute, obsta… obsta… uh oh… obstatech… I’m gonna skip that word. [I think he's starting a new sentence here] Testify before committees and actively lobby for a brand new law to effecti… ifist… oh… afich… at… Thank you, Donna… effectuate that transfer.

I believe the first word he’s searching for is obstetrics, but it’s nearly impossible to tell because he doesn’t get very far into sounding it out before giving up. I think his effort there pretty much sums up Stroger in general.

The desire for violence I feel listening to that clip is matched only by Bush’s smirk, but honestly Bush gets through his talking points more effectively. These were prepared remarks. It’s clear, as Zorn points out, that Stroger never even bothered to read them over first. One of Zorn’s commenters points out the stupidity and arrogance inherent in this:

You’re delivering a major address before the heavy hitters at the City Club, you know that people across the county already view you as an intellectual lightweight (surely he has heard the “Toddler” nickname); and yet not only do you not have your policy address basically memorized, you haven’t even read the remarks ahead of time?

God, it’s just occurred to me that “Donna” must have pronounced the word for him. At first I thought she must be his speech writer, and he was sarcastically thanking her for putting in words he couldn’t pronounce. I can’t hear anyone say anything on the clip, but she must not have been within mic range.

At least three more years, and, given how effectively his handlers (Beavers, etc) organize the South Side, he’ll probably have a term longer than his father’s. Forest Claypool and Tony Peracia must just scream into their pillows every night.

h/t to Eric Zorn, who is also a great contra dance caller. He provided the first paragraph of the transcript; the second is mine.

also h/t for the story to my mother, who feels she deserves credit for suggesting to commissioners last week via email that they hold a tax revolt like the Boston Tea Party. They’re having one tomorrow at noon at Wacker and Michigan. She’s going, but feels stiffed.

So instead, here’s a shout out to ‘the crazy lady of Seeley Ave’ - her usage, not mine - possible idea woman behind the Chicago Revolution!

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• Vallas a Possible Republican Contender for Cook County Board
• The Stroger is Dead; Long Live the Stroger