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People and Politics by Patrick Roberts

Richard Daley quits, last of the big city Irish mayors says farewell

Posted on Tuesday, September 07, 2010 at 05:18 PM

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Richard Daley's decision to step down as Mayor of Chicago probably brings to an end the era of the Irish big city mayors.

Mayor Daley and his father Richard both ran Chicago with an iron fist and were incredibly successful in terms of winning re-election and the hearts and minds of voters.

Daley turned down a seventh term run however, believing, no doubt, that his recent low opinion poll ratings would not go away through this turbulent anti-incumbent period. He beleived that would leave him a weakened candidate next year.

Like James Michael Curley and Ray Flynn in Boston and Bill O'Dwyer in New York before him, Daley relied on a close knit group of close friends, his very own Irish mafia, to run the city.

He was incredibly successful. He came to power at a time when Chicago seemed ungovernable after Harold Washington, the first Black mayor died in office.

Daley proved the critics wrong and will go out with a stellar reputation, whatever the flow of recent events.

His great regret will be not landing the Olympic Games which looked like a real possibility when President Obama got behind the bid.

He was never particularly Irish, paying lip service to his Waterford roots, but rarely becoming identified with his heritage.

Next up Chicago's first Jewish mayor? Rahm Emannuel is said to be in the frame and today's decision will force his hand on his oft-expressed wish to run Chicago.

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Scrivner | Sep 09, 2010, 11:02 PM EDT

Typo error! Should be "50th Ward" because there is no "59th Ward"

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Scrivner | Sep 09, 2010, 11:00 PM EDT

I believe the real reason Ritchie isn't running for a 7th term is that his wife is suffering from cancer, and not doing well. There is no challenger who could go against him if he was running, the machine, oops, I mean organization would take out any potential challenge. Also, Rahm would not make it, too abrasive (would tick off Latinos, Poles, African-Americans within days of starting to campaign). Also, altho he had been Congressman from the fifth district and his lovely parents live up in the 59th Ward, he has no organization loyal to him. The next Mayor of Chicago will be an alderman of Mexican descent or sheriff Tom Dart.

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willieboy | Sep 08, 2010, 07:26 PM EDT

And they said there was no God...

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JBRAFTREE | Sep 08, 2010, 07:17 PM EDT

Overall, Daley has been a good Mayor, However, cops, firemen don't like the tough stances he's taken through difficult arbitrition stances the Mayor needs to take. I applaud him...

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Mairin67 | Sep 08, 2010, 01:13 PM EDT

I'm sure Daley is up to his eyeballs in corruption but the one thing I have to give him credit for is his love and passion for Chicago. He has really put this city on the map and has beutified it more than any city I have been to. It is an incredibly beutiful city. Of course, a lot of credit goes to original city planners as the city began to grow, but I think his love for this city will be hard to replace. I don't want to see some schmuck come in who is using it as a political stepping stone.

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maloney | Sep 08, 2010, 12:07 PM EDT

daly being corrupt has nothing to do with being Irish, Jewish or African. A crook is a crook & Chicago knows crook.

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jdi2269 | Sep 08, 2010, 12:00 PM EDT

GOOD RIDDENS TO THE CROOK !

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IrishTierney | Sep 08, 2010, 11:27 AM EDT

It's about time. There are too many lifer's in politics in the USA. The politicians end up corrupt and only looking out for their family's, friends, and themselve's. TERM LIMITS must be instituted to protect the integrity of politicians, if it's not already too late! I do, however, respect Mayor Daley, and his Irish decent.

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killowen | Sep 08, 2010, 10:01 AM EDT

He was never particularly Irish, paying lip service to his Waterford roots, but rarely becoming identified with his heritage - SO WHY EVEN DISCUSS NOTHINGness.

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Rebelforce | Sep 08, 2010, 09:33 AM EDT

Interesting how "Irish Central" terms an Irish-American like Chicago's Mayor Richard Daley as a "boss". When was the last time you heard a Jewish or African-American mayor in the US referred to as a "Boss" who relied on their very own Jewish or African "mafia"? Yet another example of this amateur website and it's "Monkey read, Monkey write" reporters.

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rcrdskpr@aol.com | Sep 08, 2010, 09:32 AM EDT

he must be close to being indicted. can we say blagovich?

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DLW12183 | Sep 08, 2010, 09:22 AM EDT

O'bama pushed him out so Rahm could get the job. Just another part of O'bama's takeover.

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maloney | Sep 07, 2010, 09:03 PM EDT

Quits before he is beaten & humiliated as the corrupt & constitution breaking joke that he is.

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Mairin67 | Sep 07, 2010, 06:16 PM EDT

"He never was particularly Irish"....where do you get this from? He goes to Ireland all the time....more than most "Irish Americans" but he doesn't display it because he is the mayor to many, not just the Irish in Chicago.

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