* Joe Moore: All Hat, No Cattle

The 'Bumbling Cowboy' Joe

Clearly 49th Ward Alderman Joe Moore would like us to forget about our drug corners and problem landlords and boarded-up store fronts and dead teenagers, so let's follow his lead, take a break from examining his record as alderman, and consider his all-to-familiar public persona.

Quick, What is Joe Moore Most Famous For?

• Big-box
  
  
• Did not become law. Vetoed by the executive branch. Veto sustained by Moore's own City Council. Did Ace Legislator Moore not know of the Mayor's veto power? Was he daring the Mayor to whip it out on him?
  
  On the national scene, you might read of the President warning Congress, "I pledge to veto any X bill that does not contain provision Y," and we would consider our congressmen to be engaging in a foolish waste of time to forge ahead anyway. We would expect then to adjust.
  
  If Moore cares so much about living wages, why didn't he forge a bill that had a chance to actually become law? Answer: he doesn't care. He punched up his progressive cred. That's all he cares about.
  
  And, by the way, of course Rogers Park has no stores that would have been effected.
  
  
• Foie Gras
  
  
• Only TWO citations have been issued, and one was thrown out at a preliminary hearing already. No fines have been collected. No fowl have been protected. No cholesterol has been lowered. The City is not enforcing this.
  
  And of course Chicago has no poultry farms, and Rogers Park has no stores or restaurants that sell or serve foie gras.
  
  But Moore got a LOT of press, and expanded his contributor base.
  
  
• Whistle-blower
  
  
• No claims have been made under this ordinance. Impact on fighting corruption in Chicago: Zero. Zilch. Nadda. But Moore has his talking point if anyone brings up City Hall corruption.
  
  
  • Where are the hearings into Hired Truck?
  • Where is the legislative response to convictions in the Mayor's Office of Intergovernmental Affairs?
  • Once you notice pink guys are getting minority contracts, any need for new laws?
  
  Moore is an unindicted co-conspirator in each and every City Hall scandal.
  
  
• Iraq war
  
  
• The war escalates. Impact of the City Council resolution on Bush policy: None. But loyal Edgewater Democrats are getting all wet.
  

Joe Moore: Famous for - NOTHING!

Moore is the Master of the Stunt. Actual results optional.

(graphic courtesy of Rogers Park's own chianim8r, THANKS!))