Chicago Teachers Union President Marilyn Stewart took the stage on Thursday at a protest over recent school closings and consolidations by the Chicago Public Schools.

She talked about teaching special education students, and then used sign language to take a swipe at the CPS. The dual language sound bite not only makes it sound bite of the day, but of the week! Here’s to multi-tasking…

(video taken by Jennifer Lacey)

At a Mayor Richard Daley press conference today,  a reporter asked him about a contractor who has been accused of racist and sexist behavior, yet gets millions of dollars in city work. The contractor is reportedly a friend of the mayor. But according to the mayor, everyone is a friend…

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The GOP unity breakfast was electric this morning as reporters converged on the three gubernatorial candidates locked in a “too close to call” primary election. The speeches were pretty much straight-forward, that was until the GOP’s Comptroller candidate Judy Baar Topinka took the stage.

Her first quip was something from an open-mic set. Very Jay Leno. She starts by asking if you remember that Arnold Schwarzenegger character….

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So, did I hear that correctly? She wants to send a cyborg from the future to kill all IL Democrats? Read the rest of this entry →

The County Board meeting was explosive today (when isn’t it, ey?) during a debate on the floor over rolling back the sales tax (the other half-penny). During the first round, Commissioner Sims stopped the discussion to weigh in on Commisioner Peraica’s tweets from the chamber. Or sorry, to tell him not to ‘tweeter’ from the floor:

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Read the rest of this entry →

Governor Quinn said his opponent’s platforms and budgets are more suitable for the planet Mongo, than the state of Illinois.

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I’m thinking…I know Venus, Mercury, Saturn, Jupiter, but I don’t know Mongo. Ah, to the internet!

From Wikipedia:

Mongo is a fictional planet where the comic strip (and later movie serials) of Flash Gordon take place. It is ruled by a usurper named Ming the Merciless, who governs with an iron hand. Mongo is inhabited by different cultures. Some are technologically advanced, but they are falling under the domination of the tyrant Ming. Flash Gordon succeeds in unifying them against Ming, eventually removing him from power.

Oh! It’s from Flash Gordon!!! Now I get it! Thanks Governor Quinn for the very current, very with-it cultural reference.

What is a ‘Sound bite of the day‘ segment without Mayor Daley talking about a major celebrity? Daley was recounting an old story about Harrison Ford, who is in town promoting a movie. Daley says Harrison Ford is still holding a grudge over the demise of Meigs Field. Ford is a pilot and I guess he used Meigs Field before it was torn up. And boy was Ford angry with Mayor Daley for letting that happen. Here’s Daley’s side of the story. Apparently, they’re on a first name basis.

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Mayor Daley is back and his New Year’s resolution must have been to stay on topic. But even on topic, he makes it so interesting. So a question is asked about teacher’s salaries. Daley talks about how good teachers’ pay is. Who pays for it? The taxpayers. Okay, I’m following Mayor. But listening to the quote,  I’m not sure if he’s taking a shot at well-paid teachers or if he is just saying thanks to the taxpayers.

Well, I thank you Mayor Daley – for the sound bite of the day:

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The days are numbered for Senator Roland Burris. He will be replaced in a little more than a year from now as the IL junior senator.  So Burris isn’t wasting time. He wants to get to work on his issues, his legislation, and his holiday parodies.

Burris has been active in debating the health care reform bill and decided to burn the midnight oil working on his rendition of “The Night before Christmas.” But, see, Burris changed the words to reflect the health care debate and to take on Republicans who are against the bill. Classic? Yes, but not like Dickens. More like Weird Al.

The audio is over-modulated, but still worth a listen.

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Today, Congressman Danny Davis (7th) held a press conference to throw support behind Dorothy Brown for Cook County Board President. After a few sentences, Davis realized a photographer was blocking the TV cameras. His campaign manager told him to restart, so they could get the full shot. And that my friends, is what gets the sound bite of the day.

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Today Sam Hudzik went to Gov. Quinn’s talk at Maggiano’s. Afterward, as the press conference was beginning, GOP candidate for Comptroller Bill Kelly disrupted things.
The press release Sam got later billed the event as a protest for everyone who “DEMANDS REFORM.” From the sound of the chant in this sound bite, his turnout was less than expected.

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