What Could Possibly Happen?

It's not like he's risking any personal money:

• The head of Chicago's bid for the 2016 Olympics has rushed to assure city taxpayers and city council members that it's unlikely they'll be on the hook for millions in case the games turn out to be a financial flop.
  
  Patrick Ryan said Monday that the risk of taxpayers' money in Chicago bid is "improbable.''
  
  Bid organizers met with the International Olympic Committee in Switzerland last week. The meeting included a promise from Chicago Mayor Richard Daley that he'd sign a host city contract, which assures the city will take full financial responsibility for the games.

"Improbable"? No, Mr. Ryan. What is "improbable" is a City contract awarded in Daley's Chicago that actually comes in on-time, under-budget and fully functional as designed. Off the tops of our heads, we can't think of a single instance. Ever.

Daley and his spokesweasel Jackie Heard are now spinning so fast, they could power Chicago for a year based on their RPM's lately:

• After initially questioning the need, Mayor Richard Daley has decided to discuss the controversy over Chicago's Olympic bid contract with aldermen in a public forum, his spokeswoman said today.

  “The mayor understands the City Council is a critical partner in this endeavor,” Daley spokeswoman Jacquelyn Heard said. “They’ve raised concerns. They have questions. So we will put the matter before council again.”

  Whether the session is informational or involves another vote “would be a determination that the City Council members would have to make.”

  A day earlier, Heard had said the mayor did not have to take the issue before the council again. That changed today.

So this is pretty much the last voice the public will have in an almost $5 BILLION bid for the Olympics that is sure to balloon to over $15 BILLION in the years to come. Remember, that initial bid is a full year of City resources committed to the Olympics in it's entirety. Nothing, and we mean NOTHING else gets paid for without a massive tax increase. Once the costs spiral out of control, we'll be looking at tax hikes of unimaginable proportions, even with Washington's help.

So call your aldercreatures. Here's a link with a handy list of phone numbers. Make the call and spread the word.