CHICAGO- I tried to take the penultimate winter Shytown photograph: snow covered bicycles, pigeons on old bridge gatehouse, blowing snow, and the Sears Tower.
My visit was vexing enough knowing that the president elect was conducting daily news conferences in Chicago, without a picketer in sight. You’d think someone would protest the choice of Gates, Volker or Emanuel, considering for example that November 29 was awareness day for the plight of the Palestinians.
In Colorado, I had become accustomed to rallying for some street lobbying effort or other when Candidate Obama was visiting even a nearby city. Here, Chicago was playing host to all of Obama’s cabinet appointment announcements. But I couldn’t find any listing of corresponding activities other than weekly or monthly antiwar vigils.
It was difficult enough to ascertain where the regular cabinet announcements were being presented. Most news reports simply attribute the event to Chicago, as “In Chicago today, Obama…” I began to wonder if for security logistics, the events were being staged like the Capricorn One landing, in a sound stage of inconsequential locale.
Unless you subscribe to an antiwar detente-honeymoon for Obama, Chicago is an opportunity not to be missed. Soon enough Obama will be in Washington DC, out of reach of all our voices.
The incoming cabinet reprise their incumbent roles daily, just off Grant Park, at the President Elect news conferences held in the ballroom of the Chicago Hilton on Michigan Avenue.
Good luck on your mission in Chicago, Eric! You’re going to need it.