By 
Rahm Emanuel is making headlines again, not in Washington but in his home town of Chicago. An Illinois appellate court has ruled Emanuel doesn't meet the residency requirements to run for mayor of the Windy City.The election is Feb. 22. Emanuel is President Barack Obama's former White House Chief of Staff. Emanuel says he will appeal the ruling to the Illinois Supreme Court.
Emanuel didn't reside in Chicago, his home town, for at least a year before he submitted his name for the municipal elections, the court ruled. Emanuel officially left Obama's team Oct. 1, 2010.
Emanuel should have known the election candidacy requirements before he received all that press a year ago. Still, he will win his appeal, this corner predicts, because life at Emanuel's level is all about politics --- and money.
The infamous Al "Scarface" Capone knew that simple fact of life. Capone ran the rackets in Chicago for a decade in the 1930s because he knew which politicians to support.That is not to say that Emanuel will win in his appeal just because, he, too, knows which politicians to tap. No, not at all. We are not suggesting that.
But keep in mind Chicago is also Obama's former stumping grounds. It is not too far-fetched to envision Emanuel getting at least a little bit of help in his appeal from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.
Preposterous? Don't be naïve. Politics creates strange bedfellows, some political sage noted ions ago.
Emanuel has been considered the front-runner in the race, having far out-raised his opponents. Money talks.
Still, it didn't in the case of another big name politician a year ago--- Rod Bogdanovich, 40th Governor of Illinois (Jan. 13, 2003 to Jan. 29, 2009). Remember him?Bogdanovich was arrested Dec. 9, 2008 on federal corruption charges, including conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery. Those charges were thrown out.
He was convicted on only one count - lying to federal law enforcement agents. He, too, is appealing the conviction and pending prison sentence.
Federal prosecutors were unable to prove that Bogdanovich was trying to "sell" Obama's vacated United States Senate seat to the highest bidder.
So far, money hasn't talked for Bogdanovich. But it will for Emanuel. On Tuesday of this week, he already scored points. The Illinois Supreme Court ordered the city of Chicago to place Emanuel's name on the ballot - but it hasn't yet ruled on Emanuel's right to run.
Talk about enigmas? Meanwhile, the clock is ticking towards Feb. 22.
What do you think?
