election season

 

The next presidential election day is November 8, 2016, but the GOP field of contenders is already getting crowded enough that the usual clown car would be ticketed for overcrowding. But I say “bring ’em on!”

Rand Paul is officially jumping in today, not only with his official announcement, but with an online store too!

A device to block your computer’s camera.

A device to block your computer's camera.

Store.RandPaul.com

An eye chart. (Paul is an eye doctor.)

An eye chart. (Paul is an eye doctor.)

Store.RandPaul.com

For a game of cornhole.

For a game of cornhole.

Store.RandPaul.com

A signed pocket Constitution.

A signed pocket Constitution.

Store.RandPaul.com

A pair of sandals, maybe not the best item for a candidate who’s moderated positions to seek the presidency.

A pair of sandals, maybe not the best item for a candidate who's moderated positions to seek the presidency.

Store.RandPaul.com

An extremely large birthday card.

An extremely large birthday card.

Yes, underscoring the old saying that truth is stranger than fiction, as there’s no way I could have made that shit up!

This is getting fun now, or not…

Today is actually election day in two places: Ferguson, MO and Chicago, IL!

In Ferguson,

thousands of voters are expected to hit the polls and choose a new local government—maybe even one that actually represents the city’s racial identity. It’s a decidedly municipal affair that’s drawing national attention since it comes more than six months after unarmed teen Mike Brown was shot and killed, turning the St. Louis suburb into a national symbol of racial inequity. The elections also come a month after the Department of Justice issued a scathing report about how the city’s local government—ranging from its police force to its municipal courts—routinely violated the civil rights of its black residents.

Voters in Chicago will make history regardless of the outcome of today’s mayoral runoff election by the sheer fact that Chuy Garcia forced a runoff with the sitting mayor, Rahm Emanuel – the first time that’s ever happened in the Windy City!

In recent shows, we talked a lot about why Chicagoans should vote for Chuy Garcia. Today, David Sirota joined me to talk about why they shouldn’t vote for Rahm! A quick look at the articles Sirota has written over at the International Business Times brings up headlines like “Chicago Lobbyist’s Dual Roles ‘Should Be Illegal’,”Rahm Emanuel’s Secret Emails,” “Rahm Emanuel Donors Managing Chicago Teachers’ Pension Money,” and “Why Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel Wants To Run ‘Red Lights’,” to point out just a few.

As I’ve said for the past few weeks, a Garcia victory would send shock waves through not only the Chicago political machine, but the national Democratic Party too, who seems to still think the way to victory is by pretending to be Republican.

As David Sirota pointed out, just the mere fact that Chuy Garcia forced a mayoral runoff – for the first time ever in Chicago political history – is a big fucking deal, just as Zephyr Teachout’s awesome showing against incumbent NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo caused many in the political world to sit up and take notice.

Stay tuned… and if you’re in Chicago, or in Ferguson, VOTE!

For the rest of us, it’s just the start of the 2016 race…

In the first hour of the show, I welcomed Bill Scher to talk about his column (posted today at the Chicago Sun Times) regarding the Iran nuclear deal. Although there’s lots of disagreement about it, his take was as reasonable as it gets…

Speaking of presidential contenders, we’ll have one of the few already-declared candidates on the show tomorrow: Green Party presidential hopeful (for the second time), Jill Stein will join in the second hour of tomorrow’s show, radio or not!