Felsenthal Files - January 2013

01/31/13

Penny Pritzker a Likely Commerce Secretary the Second Time Around

Barack Obama owes longtime friend and fundraiser Penny Pritzker a great deal, going back to his days as an obscure state senator. 2008 wasn't the right time to include her in his cabinet, for a host of reasons, but he's got a lot more political capital in 2012, and much less to lose.

Posted at 03:08 PM in Felsenthal Files News & Politics | Permalink | Comments (0)

01/29/13

Ray LaHood Leaving Obama's Cabinet and 'Hoping the Phone Starts Ringing'

The outgoing Department of Transportation secretary talks about his legacy, his best friends in government (Rahm and Joe Biden), and his relationship with the President ("bipartisanship is in his blood").

Posted at 01:51 PM in Felsenthal Files News & Politics | Permalink | Comments (2)

01/28/13

Ambassadorships For Sale: Term Two, Round Two

Chicagoans did well for themselves in the first Obama term; two still serve in the highly sought-after assignments of London and Paris. As Obama looks to his expensive legacy projects, more look to be on the way.

Posted at 11:17 AM in Felsenthal Files News & Politics | Permalink | Comments (1)

01/21/13

A Chicago 'Fixer' Works the Inauguration

David Rosen of The Competence Group is a DePaul grad who's worked for Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, and the DNC... and this week, as a go-to guy for getting donors into the inauguration's best after-parties.

Posted at 04:45 PM in Felsenthal Files News & Politics | Permalink | Comments (0)

01/17/13

Rahm Hosts the Coolest-Sounding Inauguration Party of All

After the fusty official balls, the mayor will host a "Chicago-style afterhours" called the "Midnight Underground." What's Chicago-style about it? Well, there's Buddy Guy and Ronnie Baker Brooks, at least.

Posted at 04:29 PM in Felsenthal Files News & Politics | Permalink | Comments (0)

01/15/13

Robin Kelly, Running for Jesse Jackson Jr.'s Seat, Has Some Good Connections—and Good Luck

Between her fundraising prowess and her connections to power via Toni Preckwinkle and her friend-of-the-Obamas campaign manager, Matteson's Robin Kelly—most recently Preckwinkle's chief administrative officer—has the inside track in the 2nd District. Being on top of the ballot won't hurt in the packed race.

Posted at 11:39 AM in Felsenthal Files News & Politics | Permalink | Comments (1)

01/10/13

Peoria's Ray LaHood: Is He Staying in Obama's Cabinet or Going... and Who Decides?

Barack Obama has been criticized for the lack of diversity in his cabinet: too white and too male. With two women departing and a third likely to—and Republican Chuck Hagel expected to become Secretary of Defense—could that leave white male Republican Ray LaHood, his well-regarded transportation secretary, without a seat?

Posted at 01:12 PM in Felsenthal Files News & Politics | Permalink | Comments (2)

01/08/13

Bloomberg Quarterbacks Search for His Successor

On the New York mayor's list of "dream choices": Hillary Clinton, Charles Schumer, and Ed Rendell. Why not Rahm?

Posted at 05:11 PM in Felsenthal Files News & Politics | Permalink | Comments (2)

01/07/13

Richard Mell Stands Up (for Nepotism): A View of Chicago's Most Infamous Father-in-Law

The Sun-Times reports that 33rd Ward Alderman Richard Mell—who is also Rod Blagojevich's father-in-law—is looking to retire in the next few months, and has cut a deal with Mayor Emanuel that replaces his City Council seat with his daughter, Deb Mell.

Posted at 02:17 PM in Felsenthal Files News & Politics | Permalink | Comments (1)

01/02/13

The Fiscal Cliff: What You Need to Know about how Illinois Reps Voted

Peter Roskam votes no, along with Tea Partiers Joe Walsh and Bobby Schilling. Plus: another, more serious, fiscal cliff coming in March.

Posted at 04:49 PM in Felsenthal Files News & Politics News & Politics: Featured story | Permalink | Comments (0)