[LouisVanDerWright]

Random thought:

I was just hearing today on the radio that apparently Rahm and Rauner talk daily now. They have always been friends, but now they are plotting together to fix all of our woes. That's what I like to see!

Rahm might be key to getting some minimal level of cooperation out of the Democrats in the House and Senate for Rauner on important issues. Rauner's election is, in my opinion, a major coup for Chicago in state politics. Rahm is his staunchest Democratic ally and, as I mention above, therefore key to getting some minimal level of cooperation out of state Democrats in the Senate and House. The Democrats are already very pro-Chicago, but now the Republicans must cooperate with them if they want their Republican governor to get anything done. Rahm being in his ear constantly means that the downstate Republicans (who Rauner is now the ring leader of) will have pro-Chicago policies shoved down their throats because that is likely what Rahm will demand in return from the governor in exchange for Democratic cooperation in the house and senate.

Honestly, Rahm Emmanuel is a majorly brilliant politician and Rauner is essentially his ally. I am not saying I know this for a fact, but it's pretty clear to me that Rahm was a huge contributor to getting Rauner elected and it was an immensely shrewd political move. Who cares about party lines when you have as much in common as Rauner and Emmanuel? Now we have a "Chicago" governor and "Chicago" controlled house and senate.

Notice how Rauner has been killing off the peripheral and downstate pork projects left and right? That's not a coincidence especially when considering the state has committed to various projects within city limits as of late...