Joe Moore Not Even a Good Liar

Cry Baby Joe Moore was bitch slapped in the City Council last week when his two-year old anti-foie gras ordinance was repealed.

He whined and moaned on radio and TV, and in the papers. For example, this quote: "The rules of the City Council were completely ignored." So says Moore in an interview at the Chicago Readers' Clout City.

The rules were broken, was Moore's line. But Moore contradicts himself on his own web site, in his own report about that City Council meeting. Here's what Moore himself wrote [emphasis mine]:

"Alderman Tunney never asked for a hearing on his repeal ordinance, even though the committee chair indicated he was willing to hold such a hearing, and none was ever held. Then yesterday in a surprise manuever, Alderman Tunney invoked a seldom used state law that permits an Alderman to move to "discharge" a matter from committee without a public hearing." [Source] (Full report reproduced below.)

So which is it? Cry Baby Joe says the rules "completely ignored," as he has been whining, or were the rules followed by means of a state law that allows exactly what happened to happen? Good Lord, no wonder Joe Moore is not practicing law anymore.

FULL TEXT OF ALDERMAN MOORE'S MAY 2008 CITY COUNCIL REPORT
(as copied from his web site at 6:20 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20, 2008).

Alderman Moore's May Report

Dear Neighbor,

Recent City Council meetings have been rather unremarkable, and so I generally wait a few days, or even a few weeks, before I issue you a report on the goings-on at Council. Last Wednesday's meeting was an exception, however, and the events that unfolded should be of profound concern to those who believe in good and open government.

Perhaps you saw the TV coverage or read in the newspaper that Mayor Daley and one of his City Council allies rushed through a repeal of the ban on the sale of foie gras in Chicago's restaurants with no public input and no City Council debate. You may have supported the ban as an important statement against egregious animal cruelty, or foie gras may be one of your favorite foods--but in either case, I hope you are as troubled as I am about the sad state of democracy in Chicago's City Council.

How should the legislative process work? Laws to be passed (or repealed) move through committee hearings first before progressing to the Council floor for a vote. The committee hearings are where the voices of average citizens can be heard. Anyone can testify on any piece of legislation.

The committee hearings also provide aldermen with a opportunity to learn more about proposed legislation, to debate among themselves, and to amend the legislation as result of the public input and debate. Then at the Council meeting itself, there is another chance for debate before the matter is brought to a vote.

The initial foie gras ban was passed only after a great deal of public input and discussion among the aldermen. But not so in this case. Instead, 44th Ward Alderman Tom Tunney last year introduced an ordinance repealing the foie gras ban. He did so at the behest of the Illinois Restaurant Association, an organization he once chaired. The measure was sent to the City Council Rules Committee, where it sat for over a year.

Alderman Tunney never asked for a hearing on his repeal ordinance, even though the committee chair indicated he was willing to hold such a hearing, and none was ever held. Then yesterday in a surprise manuever, Alderman Tunney invoked a seldom used state law that permits an Alderman to move to "discharge" a matter from committee without a public hearing.

I attempted first to argue that we should hold the matter in committee for a public hearing, but the Mayor, who chairs the City Council meeting, ruled me out of order, without citing any legal authority for that ruling. I then demanded to be recognized so that I could debate the issue of the repeal, and the Mayor, in complete violation of City Council rules, simply chose to ignore me and demanded that the clerk proceed immediately to a roll call vote.

The entire incident was reminiscent of City Council meetings 40 years ago, when the Mayor's father, Richard J. Daley, would turn off the microphones of dissenting aldermen. I was also disappointed in my fellow aldermen, who with a few notable exceptions, sat passively as the Mayor short-circuited the democratic process.

If this is the City Council of the future, we're all in trouble. From the Children's Museum to new property taxes to TIF's, is this how future legislative decisions are going to be determined with no public input and no debate? Let us commit ourseves to a more decent, democratic vision.

Aside from the personal attacks and the distraction of the repeal, some City Council business was actually accomplished. For example, the Council passed an ordinance requiring the recycling of plastic shopping bags, which will go into effect in six months. The ordinance copied parts of a New York City law, but the final version fell short of its model.

In New York City, all stores larger than 5,000 square fee or part of a chain must set our bins for recycling and report on the results. But in Chicago, the ordinance is limited to grocery and drug stores, no matter the size.

The result? Any little corner grocery will have to find a way to recycle bags, while some of Chicago's largest stores, from Office Depot to Best Buy to Macy's, will be of the hook. I'm not only concerned about the loss of plastic bag recycling from the larger stores, but the extra burden this legislation will place on all the little groceries and bakeries in the 49th Ward and elsewhere.

Will the City seriously address the important issues of educating the public and store owners about the plastic bag recycling and oversight? There's no qestion that disposable plastic bags waste natural resources (like petroleum) and create ugly litter, but Chicago's ordinance is not necessarily the most effective solution. And unfortunately, other approaches, such as plastic bag bans, were not even considered.

I reluctantly voted in favor, but will revist the ordinance and monitor its results as the law becomes operational.

The City Council will next meet on Wednesday, June 11th, when it is likely that the Council will consider the Mayor's proposal to move the Children's Museum to Grant Park. Just another boring meeting, I'm sure!

I will report on the results.

ALDERMAN CALLED "TOOL OF HAMAS"

Alderman Berny Stone called Alderman Joe Moore an "ignorant cry baby" who is a "tool of Hamas." Speaking live by phone on WLS 890 AM this morning with morning hosts Don Wade and Roma about the humiliating defeat of his two-year old foie gras ban, Moore said that the Chicago City Council has "lost even the pretense of a democracy." Moore went on to embarass himself for nearly 10 minutes. Hear the full Moore interview (6.6 mb mp3 file.) IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING MOORE'S PHONE INTERVIEW, 50th Ward Alderman Bernie Stone was interviewed. Stone, on the phone, said Moore was a "cry baby" who doesn't know proper procedure for City Council meetings. Stone said that had Moore followed procedure, he could have spoken, but Daley called the vote without Moore doing what was required. But that's not all that Stone said. Moore is a "tool of Hamas," Stone said. He said the particular anti-war resolution that Moore was proposing would serve as a propaganda tool for Hamas, which is sworn to destroy Israel. The end result of the exchange between Moore and Don Wade, then Stone and Don Wade, is that Joe Moore was painted as a boob who does not understand City Council procedures, is a cry baby who is whining about losing a battle, and he's a useful idiot for anti-American interests. READ ABOUT THE CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION TO PROTECT IRAN! Wow! Local politics takes a preemptive strike against any future military actions in the Middle East. Oh my I'm so happy Chicago's City Council is taking a stand on something that they ultimately wouldn't be at the table for making a decision anyway. FULL POST at "IT'S MY MIND"...

FLASHBACK: Mayor Daley Calls Alderman Moore Incompetent

Avy Meyers Foie Gras Cartoon

What does Avy Meyers, the biggest suckup to the Democrat Machine in all of Cook County, have to say about Joe Moore's foie gras meltdown?

Meyers has one of the most annoying, amateurish interview shows in history. It's a never ending parade of party hacks, and he tapes them in his musty home in Rogers Park.

Hell if I know, but we can imagine.

Click cartoon to enlarge it.

MOORE MAKES FOOL OF SELF ON RADIO

Alderman Joe Moore put another nail in the coffin of his political career this morning. (Are you paying attention, Howard Dean?)

Speaking live by phone on WLS 890 AM this morning with morning hosts Don Wade and Roma about the humiliating defeat of his two-year old foie gras ban, Moore said that the Chicago City Council has "lost even the pretense of a democracy." Hear the full interview (6.6 mb mp3 file.)

The 49th Ward Alderman complained that Mayor Daley did not turn on his microphone in yesterday's council meeting, thereby shutting him down. "How did the Mayor cut off your microphone?" Wade asked Moore.

Moore said that a technician only turns on Council members' microphones when they are called on by the Mayor. Moore's microphone never went on, he said, "because the Mayor never recognized me."

He also complained that Daley did not follow parliamentary procedure. Moore then went off on a tangent, starting to tell Don and Roma about his resolution that calls for the United States to "never invade Iran."

"Excuse me," said Wade, "what is the City Council of Chicago doing, voting on whether or not the United States of America is going to invade another country?"

"Well, I'll tell you exactly why," said Moore, and he then rattled off dollar figures related to the war effort in Iraq.

"Alderman, Alderman, stop," moaned Wade, exasperated, trying to interrupt. Moore kept babbling on. "Please," said Moore, "it isn't the purview of the City Council of Chicago to decide whether we invade another country."

Roma changed the subject suddenly. "So when are you going to run for Congress or for Senate?"

Moore danced around that question. "I think my Congressman's job is safe," he said, "and the U.S. Senators' jobs are safe as well." And then he veered right back into the antiwar resolution. "To suggest that we should embark on yet another war….is a folly."

And then a surprise came for the audience.

IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING MOORE'S PHONE INTERVIEW, 50th Ward Alderman Bernie Stone was interviewed.

Stone, on the phone, said Moore was a "cry baby" who doesn't know proper procedure for City Council meetings. Stone said that had Moore followed procedure, he could have spoken, but Daley called the vote without Moore doing what was required. But that's not all that Stone said.

Moore is a "tool of Hamas," Stone said. He said the particular anti-war resolution that Moore was proposing would serve as a propaganda tool for Hamas, which is sworn to destroy Israel.

The end result of the exchange between Moore and Don Wade, then Stone and Don Wade, is that Joe Moore was painted as a boob who does not understand City Council procedures, is a cry baby who is whining about losing a battle, and he's a useful idiot for anti-American interests.

For Alderman Joe Moore to complain about a lack of democratic procedure in the City Council is the height of hypocrisy. Moore is notorious in his 49th Ward for closed zoning meetings, often ignoring the wishes of constituents, and for alleged voter fraud and allegedly shaking down local developers.

FLASHBACK: Mayor Daley Calls Alderman Moore Incompetent

You can hear the entire interview with Moore here (mp3 file, 6.6 mb).

JOE MOORE'S GOOSE LIVER HISSY FIT

"THE SILLIEST LAW EVER WRITTEN," is what Mayor Daley called Chicago's ban on foie gras (goose liver pate). Today, the Chicago City Council repealed the ineffective law by a vote of 37-6. The law, which banned restaurants from selling it, but could not prevent them from giving it away.

(Snarky question: Does this mean that Joe has to give Dana Kohl's $30K campaign contribution back?)

Stores could still sell it, it was not illegal to buy or eat it, only for restaurants to sell it. The anti-foie gras ordinance was the pride and joy of its author, Chicago's 49th Ward Aldergoose Joe Moore, who wrote it in 2006. By tossing it out, the Chicago City Council gains a bit more respect.

Get this: According to the Associated Press, "The measure passed Wednesday by a vote of 37-6 with no debate. Its sponsor, Alderman Joe Moore, shouted his objections." Can you imagine mild mannered gooseboy Joe Moore shouting his objections to the rest of the Voters should remember this kind of ineffective, time wasting stupidity when Joe Moore runs for Congress in 2009.

A personal note: Joe, who is "discredited" now? The mayor - and millions of others - call your foie gras ordinance "the silliest law ever written." In spite of your lunatic fringe supporters, most of us see it that way. And today that silly law was soundly defeated. YOU, Joe Moore, are now an officially discredited fool, a laughing stock, the butt of jokes. And the national and international press is eating it up.

If Obama becomes our next president this November, we will likely see a special election called to fill the vacated Congressional seat of Jan "The Man" Schakowsky, who would likely move up to fill Obama's vacated U.S. Senate seat. You can bet money that Joe Moore will be put up to run by the local Schakowsky-led Democrat Machine.

Joe Moore Wants Your Meat

Alderman Joe Moore thinks you should not be allowed to eat meat, you see. Just as he has denied restaurants the right to sell goose liver pate (foie gras), he would love to legally deny you the right to order that hamburger. A bizarre interview of a bizarre alderman on a bizarre web site: QUESTION: One of the initiatives that Supreme Master Television promoted was Meatout Day. Would your ward be interested in promoting that as a way of reducing? JOE MOORE: Oh, absolutely...

Chicago's Foie Gras Inspector?

Ian Froeb wants to be the official foie gras inspector for the City of Chicago. He says so in his brilliant little post, "Just Ducky," in the Riverfront Times web site. It'll make you chuckle. Unless, of course, you're a squeamish, weak livered liberal or something. Hire me as the official inspector of Chicago's foie gras ban. I will dutifully visit as many restaurants as necessary until I've located every last spot still serving the delicacy. My terms are surprisingly reasonable. There is only one stipulation: I must sample every foie gras dish I find, just to be certain. I wouldn't want to expose the city to any lawsuits. READ THE FULL POST...

Mayor Daley's Food Fight

Will Chicago's infamous anti-foie gras ordinance be overturned today? Mayor Daley called Alderman Joe Moore's ordinance the "silliest" law on Chicago's books. Indeed. Dozens of animal-rights activists blasted Mayor Richard Daley's push to repeal Chicago's year-old foie gras ban at a rally at City Hall before this morning's City Council meeting. Ald. Richard Mell (33rd), a Daley ally, said he expected a measure to rescind the ordinance against serving the goose-liver dish would be introduced at the council today. FULL FOIE GRAS PLATE at Chicago Tribune... RELATED: 'New' City Council Meets For First Time Wednesday French cuisine this week's topic

Illegal Foie Gras Tastes Better

Yes, indeed. And the folks at the cool blog "Adventures in Culinary School" know their foie gras. They had a fun night out in Chicago recently and this entertaining post tells you all about it - including a look at the fabulous menu, complete with - yep! - foie gras! Also, a good recipe for basic pasta dough. What a tasty web site. ADVENTURES IN CULINARY SCHOOL...

Chicago Sanctions Baby Animal Slaughter

Chicago is officially killing children - the defenseless children of geese. Where is Chicago's Alderman Joe Moore, international defender of geese? If Alderman Moore wants to prove that he is not a hypocrite, he will fight this move with tooth and nail. But he won't, because we already know he's a hypocrite. Will Moore propose that counseling be provided to the distressed parents of the slaughtered babies? (AP) CHICAGO - Chicago Park District officials are enlisting a flock of volunteers to locate goose eggs laid in nests throughout the city's parks ....When the eggs are found, employees .... will destroy the eggs by shaking them or coating them with a layer of corn oil. Organizers hope to find up to 300 nests, each full of eggs that are about four times the size of a large chicken egg. FULL STORY, CBS2...

Can Alderman Joe Moore Stop The Killing?

From: "RogersParkBooster" To: rogersparkbench@yahoo.com Subject: New comment on Bugging Out, Tucking In. Cicada eating. What have we become? We can only hope Joe Moore steps in FAST and introduces an ordinance in that august body, our very own City Council (or does the CC really just belong only to the Alderguy's friends?) to ban such cruel and potentially health damaging activities here in the 49th ward. Why such a ban you might reasonably ask yourself? Friend, the risks are great and immediate. The challenge looms over our citizenry today! We owe it to our children to address this issue, before it becomes endemic in our society. First of all, these cicadas you are proposing to eat have not been inspected by the city health department. No cicada inspection fee has been levied or collected. Thus, this potentially illegal activity has not as yet added in any way to the the city coffers. These 17 year cicadas belong to the Citizens of Chicago, and as such can not be consumed with out proper inspection, certification, and the collection of appropriate user fees. Second, there is a clear and pervasive public health risk posed when citizens congregate to gorge on cicadas. Both the legs and wings can negatively impact the health and welfare of the consumer. In the course of overindulging, both the legs and wings can trigger the natural purge/gag reflex. This phenomenon is most likely to affect young women, especially thin blond college age women who have also consumed alcoholic beverages while consuming cicadas. When triggered, this reflex can expose non-eaters to second hand cicada. The health and environmental risks are obvious. In fact, cicadas may represent a new form of gateway activity, leading to the consumption of other banned gastronomical substances. Just as slang terms for drug use are common, the youth culture has embraced the term munching bugs to describe the uncontrolled or peer-pressured consumption of cicadas. While no data is as yet available, there are indications that early consumption of cicadas can lead to the consumption of other banned foods. Additionally, the cruel and inhuman treatment of these most beautiful creatures, by those who insist on eating them, should be considered. These cicadas have been cooling their heels in the muck and the mire for 17 long years, waiting for their big prom night to roll around. And we all know what teenagers do on prom night. Yes, it is the moment all red-blooded 17 year old cicadas dream of (not to forget that they are red-eyed too). The prom dresses come off, and the cicadas get down. Can you imagine their pain? Can you imagine their despair? At the very moment of their most perfect cicada joy, the completion of the great cicada circle of life, the moment they have quietly imagined for their 17 long insect underground years, that very moment when their exoskeletal existence is finally justified, they are snatched from the very claws of ecstasy and flung into the saucepan of our greedy lives (along with garlic, olive oil and white pepper). Is this Right? Is this Just? I for one say NO! I for one say this must Not Stand! I for one say Rogers Park is better than this cruelty! We can only hope our representatives in the Chicago City Council will stand and fight to set right this injustice, and to protect the community from its long term effects. In the past, they have demonstrated the wisdom and leadership necessary to rid our city of the scourge of Foie Gras. Now, rampant cicada eating is raising its ugly head in our community. Unless stopped, this plague will leave Rogers Park the laughing stock of northern Illinois. The citizens of the adjacent states, Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, and Kentucky, as well as the people of the world are all watching. What will they see? Please Joe Moore, I implore you! On the behalf of all of Rogers Park, I call upon you to do your duty! Cicada eaters are among us. Save us from them, and save them from themselves! RPBooster

Mondo Foie Gras

This is great. A blogger who calls himself "Gras Guy" states that the mission of his blog is "to bring you the latest Foie Gras NEWS and REVIEWS with a touch of humor and naivete. We hope it will become the place to go for the latest developments in the world of Foie Gras."

Visit FoieBlog for more info...

While you're on a foie gras binge, check out BonjourLaFrance for interesting foie gras facts and recipes.

The Incredible Disappearing Man

Rogers Park Gourmet

Wine shop coming to Jarvis in Rogers Park - don't worry, it's gourmet By Barry Pearce Which brings us to Rogers Park. Ald. Joe Moore's 49th Ward Land Use Advisory Committee held a community meeting last week to consider a new gourmet wine and food shop that wants to open at 1506 W Jarvis Ave. ... Full Story, YoChicago...

Goosing Joe Moore

From the website of DevCorp North comes this tidbit today (pardon the pun) about a proposed new gourmet food and wine shop. Too bad for owners Eric Aubriot and Jamie Evans that they can't legally sell foie gras, thanks to Alderman Joe Moore, who wrote the anti-foie gras ordinance - and whose office is right across the street from the proposed location of their shop. You see, Eric Aubriot (photo) is quite well known for his various artistic presentations of foie gras and widely recognized in his industry. He has opened three north side restaurants: Aubriot and Tournesol and, most recently, Fuse in Hotel 71. Fuse serves - or served - foie gras. For example, in a "Hotel News Resource" review of Fuse in 2004, it was noted that appetizers included "Seared Foie Gras with Bittersweet Chocolate Sauce – Aubriot’s signature dish." Aubriot will be right across the street from the world famous clown and battler of foie gras, Alderman Joe Moore. Foie gras with chocolate sauce is rich, but the irony in all of this is richer still. --> Learn about a proposal for a gourmet food and wine shop in Jarvis Square.Aubriot's business partner in the venture, Jamie Evans, is co-owner of the Celtic Knot Public House, a traditional Irish Pub and European restaurant located in Evanston. For more information, contact the 49th Ward Service Office at (773) 338-5796.

"Ethical" Foie Gras? Seems so...

And after the foie gras appetizer, I'll have the boiled lobster. Spanish farmers have perfected an "ethical" version. It's even won an award in France. Spain, a country not renowned for its love of animals, has come up with what could be foie gras's Holy Grail. It's not exactly guilt-free - vegetarians look away now, the goose still gets the bullet - but without being force fed first. Full story (BBC)...

Hey Joe, You Can Still Eat Foie Gras in York

Doh! ANOTHER council defeat for Alderman Joe Moore, but this time it's on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean! "The good news is that you have an opportunity to contact their councillors directly and let them know how well it worked for Alderman Joe Moore." Full post at Rogers Park Rake...

Foie Gras Wars Around the World

La Resistance du Gourmet Americain

(Weird how Rogers Park is so interested in foie gras as a political topic, but no restaurants serve it here.)

Wow. Just found this web site, Super Chef. Top story today: "Foie Gras War From York to China"

Super Chef is an industry site, oriented (obviously) toward chefs and those in the restaurant industry. But they also have a great collection of articles about foie gras. Man, is this fun. Great writing, great humor, great site.

For a nice list of links to stories about foie gras:

http://www.superchefblog.com/1991/01/foie-gras-war.html

This is good too: http://superchefblog.com/2006/05/foie-gras-war-chicago-ban.html

Viva la Resistance: http://superchefblog.com/2006/06/foie-gras-war-la-resistance.html