Felsenthal Files - October 2011

10/31/11

Why Robert Blagojevich Wants to Appear Before the House Ethics Committee Investigation of Jesse Jackson Jr.

After the government dismissed charges against Robert “Rob” Blagojevich, the brother of former Governor Rod Blagojevich returned to Nashville with his wife to try to rebuild his business and his life. Why is he putting himself back in the spotlight, offering to travel to Washington to appear before members of the House Ethics Committee in its investigation of Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.?

Posted at 02:51 PM in Felsenthal Files | Permalink | Comments (2)

10/24/11

Will Guzzardi: 24, Ivy League-Educated, and Running Against Joe Berrios's Daughter

Will Guzzardi, a 2009 graduate of Brown University with a major in comparative literature, announced in August that he’s running in the Democratic primary for state rep of the 39th District. When the primary rolls around next March 20th, he will still be 24. His opponent is Maria Antonia “Toni” Berrios, the daughter of Joe Berrios, the machine-backed, old-school...

Posted at 11:34 AM in Felsenthal Files | Permalink | Comments (3)

10/20/11

Miguel del Valle on Occupy Chicago: 'This is What Democracy Looks Like'

Former City Clerk Miguel del Valle, 60, came in a distant third in the mayor’s race early this year, but during his campaign he tapped into a progressive vein, championing for “world-class neighborhoods” and gaining a cadre of young supporters. Here, my conversation with him this week, including his thoughts on Rahm, Barack, and Occupy Chicago...

Posted at 10:57 AM in Felsenthal Files | Permalink | Comments (1)

10/12/11

Bill Clinton on Bill Clinton, Steve Jobs, and Fixing the Economy

My last book was about Bill Clinton’s post-presidency. He was in exile back in 2001, almost broken by the Lewinsky scandal, with his outlandish pardon to billionaire Iran arms trader Marc Rich nearly finishing him off. Today, soaring in mass affection while his onetime nemesis Barack Obama (think 2008 primaries) sinks, Clinton is no longer anything close to an exile; he’s the toast of every town and country he visits. When news broke that he was coming to town for Chicago Ideas...

Posted at 10:14 AM in Felsenthal Files | Permalink | Comments (1)

10/11/11

Chicago Ideas Week Mayors Panel: Rahm Off His Game, Bloomberg Impressive, Reed One to Watch

After last night’s Mayoral Evening at the Oriental Theatre, part of the first-ever Chicago Ideas Week, I took an instant poll of those sitting near me, asking which of the three mayors in attendance—New York’s Michael Bloomberg, Atlanta’s Kasim Reed, and our own Rahm Emanuel—was most impressive. The folks around me confirmed my opinion: Rahm was...

Posted at 10:33 AM in Felsenthal Files | Permalink | Comments (1)

10/10/11

Roger Simon on Twitter, Newspapers, Roger Ebert, and More

On Friday, I posted part one of my interview with Roger Simon. Here, part two, in which he discusses his Chicago roots, his friendship with Roger Ebert, his addiction to Twitter, and what he misses about his hometown.

Posted at 10:51 AM in Felsenthal Files | Permalink | Comments (1)

10/07/11

Back on the Beat, Back on His Feet: A Conversation with Roger Simon

The columnist and former Chicagoan, who suffered a catastrophic illness that resulted in the amputation of both legs, talks about his medical nightmare and how he bagged an Oval Office interview with the president.

Posted at 02:12 PM in Felsenthal Files | Permalink | Comments (2)

	10/31/11 Why Robert Blagojevich Wants to Appear Before the House Ethics Committee Investigation of Jesse Jackson Jr. After the government dismissed charges against Robert “Rob” Blagojevich, the brother of former Governor Rod Blagojevich returned to Nashville with his wife to try to rebuild his business and his life. Why is he putting himself back in the spotlight, offering to travel to Washington to appear before members of the House Ethics Committee in its investigation of Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.? Posted at 02:51 PM in Felsenthal Files \| Permalink \| Comments (2)
	10/24/11 Will Guzzardi: 24, Ivy League-Educated, and Running Against Joe Berrios's Daughter Will Guzzardi, a 2009 graduate of Brown University with a major in comparative literature, announced in August that he’s running in the Democratic primary for state rep of the 39th District. When the primary rolls around next March 20th, he will still be 24. His opponent is Maria Antonia “Toni” Berrios, the daughter of Joe Berrios, the machine-backed, old-school... Posted at 11:34 AM in Felsenthal Files \| Permalink \| Comments (3)
	10/20/11 Miguel del Valle on Occupy Chicago: 'This is What Democracy Looks Like' Former City Clerk Miguel del Valle, 60, came in a distant third in the mayor’s race early this year, but during his campaign he tapped into a progressive vein, championing for “world-class neighborhoods” and gaining a cadre of young supporters. Here, my conversation with him this week, including his thoughts on Rahm, Barack, and Occupy Chicago... Posted at 10:57 AM in Felsenthal Files \| Permalink \| Comments (1)
	10/12/11 Bill Clinton on Bill Clinton, Steve Jobs, and Fixing the Economy My last book was about Bill Clinton’s post-presidency. He was in exile back in 2001, almost broken by the Lewinsky scandal, with his outlandish pardon to billionaire Iran arms trader Marc Rich nearly finishing him off. Today, soaring in mass affection while his onetime nemesis Barack Obama (think 2008 primaries) sinks, Clinton is no longer anything close to an exile; he’s the toast of every town and country he visits. When news broke that he was coming to town for Chicago Ideas... Posted at 10:14 AM in Felsenthal Files \| Permalink \| Comments (1)
	10/11/11 Chicago Ideas Week Mayors Panel: Rahm Off His Game, Bloomberg Impressive, Reed One to Watch After last night’s Mayoral Evening at the Oriental Theatre, part of the first-ever Chicago Ideas Week, I took an instant poll of those sitting near me, asking which of the three mayors in attendance—New York’s Michael Bloomberg, Atlanta’s Kasim Reed, and our own Rahm Emanuel—was most impressive. The folks around me confirmed my opinion: Rahm was... Posted at 10:33 AM in Felsenthal Files \| Permalink \| Comments (1)
	10/10/11 Roger Simon on Twitter, Newspapers, Roger Ebert, and More On Friday, I posted part one of my interview with Roger Simon. Here, part two, in which he discusses his Chicago roots, his friendship with Roger Ebert, his addiction to Twitter, and what he misses about his hometown. Posted at 10:51 AM in Felsenthal Files \| Permalink \| Comments (1)
	10/07/11 Back on the Beat, Back on His Feet: A Conversation with Roger Simon The columnist and former Chicagoan, who suffered a catastrophic illness that resulted in the amputation of both legs, talks about his medical nightmare and how he bagged an Oval Office interview with the president. Posted at 02:12 PM in Felsenthal Files \| Permalink \| Comments (2)