Chicago Daily Observer

Among Hispanic politicians in Chicago and Cook County, there’s no dispute that U.S. Representative Luis Gutierrez (D-4) is Numero Uno. Gutierrez is likely to run for mayor on 2011, whether or not his on-again, off-again ally, Rich Daley, retires.
Gutierrez, age 54, rescinded his announced retirement in 2008 after concluding that, as a former congressman, he would forfeit his visibility, power base, and fundraising capability. Also, his successor in the 4th district would become an instant mayoral contender, thereby undercutting Gutierrez.
There’s plenty of dispute as to who’s Numero Dos – Number Two – among Hispanic politicians. The upcoming 2008 Democratic primaries feature plenty of contests between various protégés and allies of assorted Hispanic politicians, all of whom are jockeying to expand their power bases and/or undermine their rivals, all with a view to running for mayor, or running for an open 4th District congressional seat.
If ... Read More...

I recently had the pleasure of seeing the new Unforgiven of Western films: a remake of the 1957 Delmer Daves classic, 3:10 to Yuma. It is set in the post-Civil War rural west, where Dan Evans, a poor rancher, is indebted to a local railroad owner. While herding cattle, Evans and his sons happen upon a robbery undertaken by the notorious Ben Wade. Following an encounter with Wade, Evans finds and tells the bounty hunter the likely destination of Ben Wade and his gang. After finding Wade in a saloon, they arrest him and decide to put him on a train leaving from the town of Contention for a sentencing in Yuma. At first, Evans’ only reason for going along is to earn some money, but despite this, Evans has a certain sense of duty––to his family, to his land, and to himself––which perhaps developed from within the ol’ Western ... Read More...