Michael Baran / November 5, 2008 12:31 AM

Hopefully it'll show the Olympic Committee that Chicago is ready to play host. If there were ever a day to prove that Chicago is a world-class city, that day was today.

Pedro / November 5, 2008 8:18 AM

Patrick Fitzgerald will be removed. Chicago corruption will now have a foothold in Washington.

Don't be naive, people.

Amanda / November 5, 2008 9:37 AM

As an African American female, it's so hard to communicate what this means to me. Someone who looks like me is president. I can't stop crying,and when I went outside today, I looked at the city so differently, as if anything were possible. Whether he is the best president ever, or crashes and burns, this will change me forever.

Steve Kells / November 5, 2008 10:12 AM

Now that Obama is president Chicago politics will never be the same. I think local politicians will clean up their acts in an attempt to maintain a good relationship with Obama. The more he visits Chicago during his presidency the better the opportunities will arise. Local issues will be looked at more thoroughly and handled accordingly by the new presidential administration. Expect the culture of Chicago corruption to change drastically. Remember Obama has to fix home before he can fix the country.

dannygutters / November 5, 2008 11:17 AM

Whatever happens, I hope theres more Sam Cooke Quotes in speeches. "Its the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day."

prattfall / November 5, 2008 11:18 AM

"I think local politicians will clean up their acts in an attempt to maintain a good relationship with Obama."

That's incredibly optimistic, and I hope, but don't expect, that it's true.

I don't expect Fitzgerald to be taken off the case here in Chicago, unless its to be promoted to U.S. A.G.

The world loves Obama, and I think this will, unfortunately, almost guarantee that we get the Olympics. I just hope that we can get some federal dollars to help out with the financial boondoggle that's sure to be.

This is an incredibly positive change for the country, I'm unsure how good it will be for Chicago.

Oh, rumor mill says Madigan was waiting till after the election, and now he's gonna push hard to impeach G-Rod. There's a reason Elvis the Much Lesser hasn't been invited to any of the big parties lately.

annie / November 5, 2008 1:37 PM

I hope first that it means money for the CTA! Second, I hope that "chicago" once again means world class city and when companies are financially secure again to make relocation decisions, they'll choose here.

Spence / November 5, 2008 4:36 PM

I hope...pray that The Machine didn't just inherit Washington. If happens, we'll see a democrat backlash in 4 years on the same level as the GOP thumping last night. With power comes responsibility, that's where the Republicans failed, hopefully the Dems don't make the same mistakes. As for Chicago, it a household word now. You'll see a lot of pork coming this way.

Spencer / November 5, 2008 4:41 PM

Sorry for the broken english in that last post, long night last night.

jaime / November 5, 2008 6:38 PM

i can tell you that windy city love is way up - i was in brooklyn last night, waiting for the train when the obama announcement came & as soon as i opened my mouth yelping 'THAT'S MY TOWN! I'M FROM CHICAGO!' everyone was all 'OH MY GOD IS EVERYONE GOING CRAZY THERE? YOU MUST ALL BE SO PROUD. OBAMA! CHICAGO! USA!'

ok. so there was some booze involved in this. but the moral of the story is that a train full of new yorkers briefly admitted there was another city out there & actually cared about what was going on there.

Justin / November 5, 2008 7:01 PM

Cops. It means more cops.

Mimi / November 5, 2008 10:03 PM

It means that the women will have their chance to lead.

teary / November 6, 2008 12:09 AM

Olympics for sure. Our city absolutely sparkled last night. And a million peaceful happy people congregating sucessfully underneath the most gorgeous skyline ever...

And, I also predict that some of the long entrenced racism in this city began to dissipate yesterday. That was some serious mojo down there last night.

Gaigen / November 6, 2008 9:51 AM

And, I also predict that some of the long entrenced racism in this city began to dissipate yesterday.

This statement lets me know how much of a cynic I am. Wish this was true, but...

But anyway, it means at least four years of the GOP calling every move that Obama makes part of the "Chicago style politics" and not in a good way.

Dubi / November 6, 2008 10:16 AM

It means that governor Blagojevich will get to choose who will be a senator. I think he has the ego to nominate himself.

Cheryl / November 6, 2008 12:22 PM

I was coming here to say what Dubi said. Also, for those of you moaning about Machine politics in DC, Obama has never been part of the Machine. Ask anyone who is.

Spence / November 6, 2008 12:37 PM

I'm not moaning, I'm warning. I'm sure Obama owes something to The Machine for his steep rise to power. Emil Jones basically put him into power, and if Emil Jones isn't part of the Machine (a major part at that), then I don't who is.

Yikes / November 6, 2008 12:44 PM

You don't go from an IL state senator to US President in 4 years without owing a lot of people.

Its going to get a lot worse from here on out. (and this is coming from a career optimist in the strength of this country)

Carlotta / November 6, 2008 1:04 PM

What Daley wants, Daley will get. Lots of Chicago operatives in high places will see to that. Not that this will lead to lowered local taxes or CTA improvements because Daley has no interest in that.

More resources for the Olympic bid. Ugh.

As to Fitzpatrick: He doesn't want to remain a modestly compensated public prosecutor and is trying to parlay his high-profile position into a high-paying corporate law firm gig.

He's no white knight -- he can't harpoon the local Big Kahunas, is gung-ho on using Patriot Act powers beyond anti-terrorism efforts and conducted an ineffectual investigation in the Valerie Plame case that ravaged First Amendment protections.

Steven / November 6, 2008 5:56 PM

Pedro, the difference between corruption in Chicago and corruption in Washington is that despite the corruption (or perhaps because of it -- who knows?), things in Chicago GET DONE. So I think a better question is, what does it mean for America that Chicago and its sensible Midwestern sons and daughters are finally in the driver's seat after letting yahoos from the South and West run the country into the ground?

fluffy / November 6, 2008 8:38 PM

It's such a different vibe down here in Texas. It was wonderful to see the people in Grant Park on tv- everyone was so happy, hopeful, and peaceful. Screw Oprah, though.

Pedro / November 7, 2008 7:42 AM

Steven,

Your viewpoint is exactly what I find troubling, in that the ends justify the means.

...and if you really think that Chicago politicians reflect midwestern values, you are very naive.

m / November 7, 2008 2:11 PM

things in Chicago GET DONE

Yeah, stellar schools, transportation envied the world over, low violent crime, solid infrastructure.

The real estate ride is over. The mayor and city council's ineptness will finally come to light now that people aren't flocking here to buy condos. All of a sudden, the middle class is going to realize that paying increasing taxes on a house that's decreasing in value sucks. That paying for public schools you won't send your kids to and private school sucks. That living in a neighborhood where the cops don't stop for criminals but do stop to ticket your car sucks.

I'm glad Obama was elected but I don't expect his presidency to change much here. And he is still the man who (along with Durbin) sent me a letter urging me to vote for Todd Stroger, a "good, progressive democrat," for Cook County Board President so that he could "lead us into a new era in Cook County government." So far, Stroger's legacy will be that he raised our sales tax to be the highest in the country ... something that impacts me a lot less than the people who voted for him.

mike / November 8, 2008 9:26 PM

It means Chicago politics, race relations, and culture will be embedded in American history even further than it already has been. It means a Presidential Library. It means Chicagoans for the rest of American history can say this is where a final barrier was crossed. It means that IL will be studied very closely by the world because it produced Abraham Lincoln and Obama, something beyond coincidence. It means that this political symbolism will define our state and city further. It means that Chicago, the most American and one of the most segregated of our cities, has done something no other America city could.
We cant be certain of any short term benefits or consequences, but make no mistake, the world will view Chicago through this momentous event for quite some time...