Rahm Emanuel Inauguration Live Blog
By Chuck Sudo in News on May 16, 2011 4:00PM
AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato
11:55 - Instant reaction. More of the same we've expected from Emanuel. Long on talk, not much in the way of a blueprint. It should be interesting to see what he does, but he didn't show his hand in this address.
11:53 - And just like that, it's over.
11:46 - All the talk about kids either means Rahm's really going to focus on schools and safety, or he's already courting voters twelve years from now.
11:44 - "Rahm doubles down on the "City of Dreams" theme.
11:43 - Rahm to crowd on why Chicago is the Second City. A.j. Liebling would disagree.
11:42 - The cognitive dissonance between the talk for change and the dog and pony show at Millennium Park is so striking a blind man can see it.
11:40 - "Chicago is the city of 'Yes, we can.'" It's like the Emanuel Campaign was a small-scale version of Obama 2008.
11:38 - "The old ways no longer work."
11:36 - "What kind of society have we become when the memorials we build honor the loss of innocence and the loss of childhood?"
11:24 - First policy Rahm touches on in his speech is the school system.
11:31 - Take a drink every time Emanuel mentions "change."
11:29 - Rahm to Daley. "Now more than ever, Chicago loves you back." Speak for yourself.
11:27 - More last-minute Hosannas for Daley. Now to the task of cleaning up the mess he leaves behind.
11:26 - Rahm: "This is your day."
11:24 - And just like that, Cook County Circuit Court Chief Judge (and Little Richard doppelganger) Tim Evans swears in Rahm Emanuel.
11:22 - No mocking of the violin girl. That was pretty cute.
11:20 - So far the new Chicago is all about prayer.
11:19 - Jesus is a Bulls fan, apparently.
11:14 - I take that back. Pretty cool.
11:10 - Chicago doesn't need a poem by Chanel Sosa about Chicago.
11:08 - I like this Imam's invocation.
11:06 - An imam delivers the prayer for peace. Somewhere a Tea Partier is misspelling a sign.
11:00 - City Clerk Susana Mendoza sworn in. Now swearing in City Council. Was hoping for a group "I, STATE YOUR NAME" from the aldermen.