How Convenient

Last Friday, July 20, a judge in Chicago essentially threw out Don Gordon's challenge to 49th Ward Alderman Joe Moore's April reelection. It was a sudden and unexpected move by the judge. According to a release from the Gordon team:

"At the status hearing, Judge Hayes announced that she had reviewed the motion for what is termed a "bill of particulars" filed by Joe Moore. She then decided to review the briefs filed in connection with his earlier motion to dismiss which she had denied. Judge Hayes said she determined that she had made a mistake in granting a denial of the motion and that she was reversing that ruling."

What a coincidence, indeed. That was Friday. Suddenly, the judge decides to review the briefs. What, on her own? Or did somebody urge her, maybe convince her to "review" the briefs? The very next morning, Alderman Moore released his D-2 statements, overdue by some 19 days. Coincidence? Seems very convenient, doesn't it, to be able to pay a token fine for not releasing those D-2 documents, then just wait a bit, a bit more, just a bit more, then out of left field - the judge throws out the lawsuit against you. Whew, well, now we can release those embarassing D-2's. Keep in mind that while the case was indeed "thrown out," Team Gordon has 30 days in which to appeal. Let me quote someone who must remain unnamed, but is very close to the case.

Gordon is still "in court." He has 30 days to respond to the judge's ruling. The PR-spinning from Moore, David Fagus, and their fans repeatedly contain the phrases "tossed out of court" and "without merit." Those phrases really sound juicy, definitive, and damning don't they? It's just posturing. In actuality, those folks have no idea what they are talking about. The case is not over by any means. And the evidence? You will soon get a chance to judge for yourself.

Many of us hope so. Oddly, the crowd that still can't get over the Florida election battle between Bush and Gore are giddy that the 49th Ward has been denied an opportunity - so far - to challenge an election. And one of the guys cheering the loudest about the Moore court victory is a guy who repeatedly insisted that Joe Moore is a liar and a cheat (to politely paraphrase him). He even dressed up in a goose costume once to mock the man he would eventually cheer. But he is not alone. There are many "liberals" in Rogers Park who just love Joe Moore, warts and all. Especially, perhaps, the warts. The hypocrisy is overwhelming, so thick you could cut it with a knife. People cheering in the 49th Ward because an alderman, widely suspected of being an extortionist and a violator of election laws, will stay safely in office. Some of you will write in to call me a sore loser. I am neither sore nor the loser in this case. The people are the losers. Before you write your comment, look in the mirror and first convince yourself that you've gotten over Florida 2000.