For the 1st time since living in Chicago, I'm not voting for the Machine candidate

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

Growing up, my friends and I called Chicago "Emerald City" because it felt like Oz compared to our pokey little town. We skipped school whenever we could to lounge on its beaches, prowl its museums and just hang out on its wild and wicked streets. Now I've lived here for 33 years. Good or bad, right or wrong, this is the city I love.

So I feel a little funny that today I will go to the polls and cast my vote for someone the Machine isn't backing.

It's not because I'm making a brave stand against a corrupt system. Yes, Chicago politics is corrupt. Chicago is the town that coined the slogan "Vote early, vote often." It's the town that knows that, just because somebody dies, it doesn't mean he stops being a Democrat. You got a problem wit dat?

And it's not because I have anything against the Machine candidate. Whoever comes out of the Democratic Convention with the nomination is the person I will gladly, proudly cast my vote for in November. Even if it's someone backed by the Machine.

The reason I'm not voting for the Machine candidate isn't because I think the other candidate is a better politician, or a better leader, or a better person, but a better fighter. That's my priority and I'm sticking to it.

Still, I'm a little nervous about stating that I'm voting against the Machine. They're pretty powerful, you know. That's why I'm sure they called in favors to get their candidate endorsed by the family of the man they got elected in 1960. And you better believe they got him elected, no mistake about that. I'd have called in those favors too, if I was Machine.

So I just hope - hope! - and pray that, should the Machine candidate get the nomination, such Machine erstwhiles as Rahm Emanuel (a guy who gets vilified on DU, but I don't have a problem with) will put their fightin' power behind their pick. Because one way or another, we've got to be ready to fight.

Best of luck to both candidates. Vote early, vote often!

:hi:

[ursi]

1. That's ok, I'll vote for him because I don't want Bill back in the White House

Best of luck!

[CorpGovActivist]

2. Be safe. Be well.

Maybe you can hide out from the Machine for the rest of the day, after you vote, at the Field Museum, or buy a disguise on the Miracle Mile.

:hi:

:patriot:

- Dave

P.S. Heck, just take the whole day off. Tap into your inner Bueller. (Chhk! Chkkuh-Chkka!)

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

3. Don't worry, I know a guy who knows a guy.

[CorpGovActivist]

7. Godspeed.

[EFerrari]

4. Have we ever paid off our debt to Cook County?

lol

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

8. It's the graft that keeps on giving

:D

[EFerrari]

5. Dupe

[Didereaux]

6. A better reason than some have for their votes! good on ya (love Rumpole btw)

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

9. Thanks, glad you got the reference

Some posters take it personally. :rofl: It only applies to one man.