Arne Duncan plays basketball, fills a great Hart/Marx Worsted Wool and Cotton Blend and does exactly what his betters tell him to think, do and say. Paul Vallas improved schools and that is why he is in New Orleans. Arne Duncan is headed for D.C. and Rufus Williams, Oprah’s Foundation former watchdog and current CPS School President will ease into Arne’s Johnson and Murphy gunboats.

This is Change I Expected!

Arne Duncan’s resume begins and ends with his lifelong friendship to John Rogers. John Rogers runs Ariel Capital Management. John Rogers placed his ex-wife Desiree Rogers into the lucrative position of Illinois Lotto Ball Tosser and then President of Peoples Gas and then State Farm Something or Other and now White House Social Director by dint of his managing Capital. Ariel Capital Management and John Rogers make kings and White House Appointees – ask Barack Obama. Ask Mayor Daley. Arne Duncan was placed into Paul Vallas’s back pocket by Mayor Daley at the behest of Ariel Capital Management’s John Rogers. John Rogers is heavier than Coho poop in the Lake that washes up on Hyde Park shores.

Arne Duncan has gotten the plum for keeping Chicago’s Public Schools right where they are wanted to be -victims and dumb. Now, America can expect to see mobilizing, marching and shouting, when public schools plunge into the educational loam just as deeply as Chicago Public Schools. Where is the National Winnetka? Who is the National Wilco? Folks, the Chicago Catholic School entrance exams are on January 10, 2009. Buck up and get your kids a real education! There are also great Lutheran, Dutch, Jewish, Muslim and Independent Schools for your kids as well; they are competitive and reliable. Hell, Leo just beat Simeon on the hardwood last Friday night (Leo Catholic with 225 students and Simeon Public High School with a cast of thousands).

School Choice? Forget it! . . until the 2010 Election cycle which will set the pace for 2012 POTUS Elections.

Arne Duncan is bringing Chicago’s Educational Triumph onto the National Stage. Randy Jackson, Simon Cowell, and Paula Abdul . . . candy up those resumes! It won’t be that long. Oh, place a call or two to John Rogers as well.

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Pat Hickey is a regular columnist for the Chicago Daily Observer