I feel terrible for him

Mayor Richard M. Daley is aces with me. Chicago is most emphatically not a perfect place to live, but I'd rather be here than anywhere else. He keeps it cleaner and safer than other cities of comparable size. We have reliable public transportation and a thriving arts community and museums and parks and baseball and shopping and diversity. Because he makes sure of it. He loves this city. Yes, he may unscrupulous at times and of course he plays hardball. But while he may have helped friends get wealthy, he hasn't enriched himself or his immediate family while in office. This city is the family business and he protects and nurtures it.

That's why today I feel awful for him.

He really put himself out there. Our #1 cheerleader, he insisted we all "back the bid." He called in important favors from Washington DC. Seeing Chicago eliminated first has to feel personal and I hate how crappy he must feel right now.