Felsenthal Files

08/21/12

New Politico Book, 'Obama's Last Stand,' Describes West Wing Chicago Dysfunction

The popular political website’s senior White House reporter has compiled lots of juicy tidbits in Obama’s Last Stand—many from unnamed sources—about the president’s insiders. Among the Chicago players mentioned are Rahm Emanuel, Bill Daley, Valerie Jarrett, and David Axelrod...

Posted at 02:58 PM in Felsenthal Files | Permalink | Comments (0)

08/16/12

Is Bob Dold Running Away from Paul Ryan?

Could Mitt Romney’s VP choice render Dold—who voted for Ryan’s budgets in 2010 and 2011—a one-termer?

Posted at 01:53 PM in Felsenthal Files | Permalink | Comments (1)

08/13/12

My Neighbor's Surprise Meeting With Obama at Piccolo Sogno

While in town for four Sunday fundraisers, the president sees a woman who hosted one of his first fundraisers as a Senate candidate, and demonstrates character and memory that runs counter to his icy image.

Posted at 10:34 AM in Felsenthal Files | Permalink | Comments (3)

08/09/12

Blago's GOP Flirtations and Other Juicy Stories in New Book 'Golden'

In their upcoming book on Rod Blagojevich, Chicago Tribune reporters Jeff Coen and John Chase write that the former gov once threatened to fire an aide if he revealed a secret: that Blago had voted for George H.W. Bush. “If you ever repeat this, first I’ll deny it, secondly I’ll wait a little bit, then I’ll fire you,” Rod had told the aide...

Posted at 01:42 PM in Felsenthal Files | Permalink | Comments (0)

08/08/12

Fred Eychaner and Ken Griffin, Chicagoans on Top Donors Lists

Lists just out from Politico ranking donors to the two presidential candidates show that, on the Democratic side, Chicagoan Fred Eychaner ranks number one. On the GOP side, at number nine with $2.3 million for Mitt Romney and other Republican PACs and candidates, is Chicago hedge fund billionaire Kenneth Griffin...

Posted at 01:47 PM in Felsenthal Files News & Politics | Permalink | Comments (1)

08/03/12

Rahm 'Super Hot for This'—the Mayor's Role in Solyndra

A House report released Thursday reveals Rahm Emanuel's role in the Obama administration's support of Solyndra, the solar panel maker that received a $535 million loan guarantee before going bankrupt last September...

Posted at 12:40 PM in Felsenthal Files | Permalink | Comments (0)

07/25/12

Chicagoan Tops List of 50 Most Beautiful in Washington; No Illinois Lawmaker Makes Cut

Chicagoan Max Engling, a 25-year-old former model and Republican staff assistant for the House Administration Committee, topped The Hill’s eighth annual list of 50 most beautiful people working on Capitol Hill. Only one other Illinoisan, a Democrat and policy aide to a Washington state congressman, made the cut.

Posted at 04:28 PM in Felsenthal Files | Permalink | Comments (1)

07/24/12

No Successor Planned for Sun-Times's Stella Foster

After announcing on Friday that her last column would run on August 6, the Sun-Times’s Stella Foster, who has been writing “Stella’s Column” (the successor to the legendary “Kup’s Column”) since December 2003, told me in a telephone interview Monday that it was her decision to retire...

Posted at 02:07 PM in Felsenthal Files | Permalink | Comments (1)

07/23/12

J Street, Progressive Alternative to AIPAC, Backs Area Congressional Candidates

The Tribune reported last week that Tammy Duckworth, the Democratic challenger in the race for the 8th District, outraised the tea party-backed freshman, Joe Walsh, in the second quarter. Duckworth’s $888,790 total take included almost $50,000 "steered" to her by J Street, a D.C.-based PAC that is finding a stronghold here in Chicago...

Posted at 02:08 PM in Felsenthal Files | Permalink | Comments (6)

07/16/12

Rahm Takes the National Stage—Not Enough to Occupy Him at Home?

With the threat of a teacher’s strike looming, the murder rate booming, Rahm Emanuel appeared yesterday as the “headliner” on ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos. The subject was Mitt Romney vs. Barack Obama...

Posted at 04:14 PM in Felsenthal Files | Permalink | Comments (3)