Couch Potato

Nice work in the Suntimes today by Greg Couch. He manages to finally realize on May 20th what Ivy Chat said back on April 8th.

Ok, ok. The column does break some new ground. Couch adds that Patterson will get benched if he doesn't improve. I don't see that happening, ever. Benching, that is. Hendry will trade Patterson before he gets benched. As trade bait, Patterson has value. On the bench, Patterson is as valuable as Domingo Ramos. And his trade value is about the same.

Place Your Bets

The latest battle between Mayor-for-Life Daley and Governor-son-in-law-of-a-goofy-alderman Blago (who really thinks that if he can last 4 years without signing a tax increase he can win the White House) is over casinos in Chicago. Daley wants a mega-casino downtown owned by the city. Blago doesn't want casinos in Chicago. Illinois has enough gambling. Blago said a casino in Chicago would turn the Land of Lincoln into the Land of Wayne Newton. Now there's a soundbite to play well in New Hampshire.

Bottom line is this. Chicago is losing business to Vegas and Orlando. Big business. Convention business. That means that McCormick Place gets used fewer days. Fewer hotel rooms are rented. Fewer meals are eaten in downtown restaurants. Fewer flights land at O'Hare. And the people who provide all those services have fewer jobs.

I dunno if the city of Chicago should *own* the casino, but if adding a casino keeps more business here, and even brings lost business back, do it.

Now.

The process is starting. The state Senate Executive Committee on Wednesday approved Daley's proposal for a land-based, city-owned casino. Blago threatens to veto it. If he vetoes it, Blago better have an idea on how to keep these jobs here or the only White House visits he'll make are on a tour.