SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE:

MEET THE FINANCIAL WIZARDS:  From the New York Post:   One is a Hillary Clinton mega-donor who went to a Shinto shrine to pray after Donald Trump won the White House. Another worked for President Barack Obama before her own political career spectacularly failed. A third is a prolific contributor to Democrats, including Nancy Pelosi — who owns a Napa Valley vineyard just 15 minutes from the former House speaker’s.  There’s even an improv performer.  The 12 directors who were supposed to oversee fallen Silicon Valley Bank — and prevent the catastrophic errors that threw the entire banking system into jeopardy on Friday — might not be household names.  But they are facing a series of investigations into their collective role in its collapse.   A Post examination of the board reveals it did not jibe with Silicon Valley’s young image: Only one independent director is under 60, while the oldest is 78.  I'm sure that each will be eligible for free psychiatric services and a medicinal massage.  That's only fair, right?

TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT:  from NBC CHICAGO:  A new poll of more than 800 likely Chicago mayoral election voters found that former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas is holding a lead over Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson, and several key voting blocs could play a significant role in determining the outcome of the race.  The poll, conducted by Victory Research, asked 806 likely runoff voters about their preferences in the upcoming election, with Vallas collecting 44.9% of the vote. Johnson grabbed 39.1% of the vote, with 16% of respondents saying they are still undecided for the April 4 runoff.  The margin of error in the poll was 3.45%, with a mix of respondents on land lines and cell phones, according to the polling company.  Adding some intrigue to the proceedings was the number of voters who said that their choices could change. According to the poll, 18% of respondents said they could change their minds prior to Election Day, meaning that one-third of the voters either haven’t settled on a candidate or could move to the other in the two-man race.  It should be an easy choice for voters.  Johnson is owned and operated by the teachers union, and will carry on the mediocrity of Lori Lightfoot.  Vallas has the right ideas to raise Chicago from the crime-ridden wreck that it's become.  He is pro-police and pro-school reform.  You'd expect Vallas to run away with it, but, like everything else in Chicago, race is in the air.  Vallas is white, Johnson is black. 

March 14, 2023