Frankly, my first reaction to the piece was relief. Finally, I thought, someone of prominence is stepping forward to try to challenge Mayor Daley on his management of city finances and resources.
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In your Trib piece, you repeatedly referred to a period in 2006 when you were “exploring” a run for mayor. It’s clear that much of the criticism you laid out in this piece is based on research and preliminary campaign work you and your team did when you were acting like a Daley opponent for a few months there. Though some of your claims—your numbers—appear to be exaggerated by a few million bucks here or there, your central point deserves serious examination: We need to seriously review, if not revolutionize, the way this city is run.
Look, don’t get too full of yourself: I’m not saying people see you as a savior. I’m not denying that lots of people can’t stand you simply because you have the name Jesse Jackson. I’m not saying you or anyone could get into position to beat Daley in an election.
I’m not sure anyone but a skilled, shrewd, aggressive, and—to be blunt—extremely self-confident politician can face off with Daley and his political operation.
And your poll numbers might get better, too.
