Criminal (In)Justice The Chicago Way: What Left Wing Hysterics Get Wrong

By John Kass

December 1, 2023   

Before we get to the interview of Rafael Mangual and his fine book “Criminal (In)Justice”— the perfect Christmas gift for anyone who cares about the Soros prosecutors unleashing violent crime to hollow out Chicago and other once-great cities—consider the mad ravings of today’s left-wing Democrats:

Poor things.

Their permissive crime policy allows them to use race to appeal for votes. But rather than feel warm and fuzzy, voters are afraid. And the politicians have no answers for the anarchy and chaos they’ve released.

And so, they’ve drifted into jabbering madness.

Because when it comes to crime, there is something pitiful about partisan left-wingers who are getting mugged by reality and their own pro-crime policies.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is one of these. They deny the truth of their policy that protect criminals at the expense of the people, and they crack like old bone china when the people push back.

Another of these is Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

They literally lose their minds when confronted by the limits of their supposed magical powers.

Pritzker, consumed by his fantasy of perhaps running for president of the United States, insists crime is down as the 2024 Democrat Convention in Chicago approaches. It is not down.

But his nonsense prompted the venerable crime site CWB Chicago to ask: What is our governor smoking?

And Johnson rants hysterically about those racist MAGA Republicans ruining his city. He’s the dim-witted creature of Cook County Democrat boss Toni Preckwinkle.

Boss Toni is the champion of one of the first Soros prosecutors, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx. Boss Toni also elevated Johnson to the office of mayor, in revenge against her rival, former Mayor Lori the Clueless.

When it comes to violent crime, Boss Toni is directly responsible for the near empty jail, the non-prosecutor Foxx and Johnson who helped destroy the Chicago Police Department. Yet Boss Toni is hardly (if ever) mentioned by Chicago’s now supine leftist corporate media. Instead they carry her water.

Odd that Johnson rants and raves about those MAGA Republicans destroying the city. He is shielded  by the media from his own failures, and hers. Screaming about the Republicans is bizzarro world. Republicans haven’t had power in Chicago for 100 years.

Brandon Johnson is clearly racist, feeble, unable to govern, devoid of ideas yet wholly reliant on Marxist slogans. And besides, as I’ve reported before with those panic attacks, he’s bat poop kookoo.

Johnson blamed former Mayor Lori Lightfoot for his failures. And he blamed those racist white men, sounding rather like Jessie Smollett and all the race hustlers.

“It is abysmal and it’s an affront for everything  that is good about this country, for the extremism in this country to use people as political tools to settle political scores for something that happened 400 years ago…”

Abysmal? Big word Brandon.

“They’re still mad that a black man is free in this country,” the mayor said. “This is nothing new.”

And you were a teacher? No wonder society is in the crapper with teachers like you.

It is nothing new that a political hack, a failure as a mayor, a cynical toady for Boss Toni would play the politics of race. It worked for Toni. It worked for Kim Foxx.

President Joe Biden has also played vulgar racial politics repeatedly and has been protected and coddled by the corporate legacy media. And black politicians have used the race card for years to leverage fortunes as did Jesse Jackson, aka The King of Beers.

But even if I disagree with you, I’d hope to be civilized, like a member of one of the Civilized Tribes.

At the Thom Serafin Christmas Party, the guests were indeed civilized. Kim Foxx was there. We were civil. We did not whip out the tomahawks. We took a selfie together and reporter Shia Kapos made a nice story of it for Politico.

At Thom Serafin’s party, we sheath our swords. It’s like the story of the Christmas truce in 1914 in the deep forests of Belgium in World War I.

Kim Foxx was saying “John, Bless your heart.” Still, I was mercilessly attacked by a few conservatives, including radio host Dan Proft, who wounded me by accusing me of being a Fifth Columnist inside the perimeter.

“What were you supposed to do, fight a duel?” asked the Manhattan Institute’s Rafael Mangual.

Exactly.

As I mentioned at the outset, I reached out for clarity’s sake to Mangual, our guest on this week’s edition of the Chicago Way podcast.

Mangual went to law school at DePaul, lived in Chicago for a time, writes for City Journal and The New York Post among other publications, and is a senior fellow for the Manhattan Institute specializing in crime policy.

He is a serious man, and is no stranger to The Chicago Way. He also knows who’s piloting this ship of fools. I wouldn’t waste your time otherwise. He knows.

And he’s written an excellent book—perfect for Christmas that begins in Chicago and explains the Soros prosecutor phenomenon.

“Criminal (In)Justice: What the Push for Decarceration and Depolicing Gets Wrong and Who It Hurts Most

Criminal (In)Justice: What the Push for Decarceration and Depolicing Gets Wrong and Who It Hurts Most: Mangual, Rafael A.: 9781546001522: Amazon.com: Books

We talked of the policy leaders shrieking the old song, that if you’re opposed to the Soros way, you’re a racist.

“If everyone’s told time and again that that the criminal justice system is racist. That policing is racist. That incarceration is racist. Well, good people are gonna have a hard time pushing back on that, especially if, they have careers that they care about and families that they care about and lives to live and, communities to stay on the right side of, et cetera. But it really is a pernicious claim. And,  there’s quite a few holes in it.”

I let Mangual do most of the talking. He’s a supremely intelligent and measured fellow. He reviles the vulgar appeal to race and power politics. He takes the racial arguments that seek to defund police and shrink the county jail, and he pulls them apart with reason, facts and statistics that show real policing, and real sentencing, which can help the most victimized Chicagoans live longer.

I hope you listen to the whole thing–that’s why I linked it here. I know you have other things to do, but I hope understanding why a great city is dying might be one of those things.

At one point we talked about that poor young woman–the 23-year-old flight attendant–whose face was smashed in by a brutal savage on North Michigan Avenue, at the Burberry store. I wrote about it.

“It’s not like this woman was,  walking through Humbolt Park,  at midnight on a Saturday with $100 bill taped to her forehead and a Rolex on her wrist, right? This is Magnificent Mile in the middle of the day,” Mangual said, police all around. The height of civilization. And when that can happen then and there it just  hits different, as the kids would say. It creates a deeper sense of insecurity. And if that sense of insecurity metastasizes. I think people would be surprised just how quickly a space like the Mag Mile can lose its luster.”

He didn’t have to say it will disappear. Every savage attack, every unanswered beating of a taxpayer by some screaming mob pushes the Mag Mile to the edge. And when it goes, the empty spaces are all the tax revenue lost to hire cops.

But by then George Soros will be gone. The billionaire nitwit Gov. J.B. Pritzker making up his lies will be gone. And race-hustling Mayor Johnson, and Toni Preckwinkle and Kim Foxx. And the once-great papers.

And Chicago.

It’ll be gone too.

-30-

Comments 49

    1. I still don’t see the end game. Is it just make a quick buck while you bust out a city? Throwing the race card around like Brandon does definitely diminishes the relevance too.

      There used to be many papers in the city. So there was competition and a variety of opinions.

      Today, the legacy media only serves a handful of oligarchs, like Soros. Soros by the way hides behind the “antisemitism” label like Foxx, Toni, and Brandon throw around the race card.

      It’s ok to go to a party to support a friend and talk to or take a photo with someone who you fundamentally disagree with. You still write the truth as you see it.

      Profit is wrong, but he’s wrong on a lot of things. That’s ok too.

      1. Look at Detroit. A lot of people can make a lot of money off the misery of others. All those cozy state and federal-financed jobs to “fight” social ills. All the contracts for connected organizations to provide supplies, services, construction, jobs, money, etc. Democratic politicians push money into communities they help destroy. Desperate people become part of the poverty cycle and dependent on government agencies. Schools spend vast sums on failing schools. Tearing down decrepit structures and building public housing is profitable. Who cares about patronage when you have affirmative action? Not to mention all the friends and relatives on the payrolls of NGOs. Those people with little skill beyond race hustling can make a good living.

      2. “Is it just make a quick buck while you bust out a city?” Of course it is. How many of these politicians retire in Chicago or Illinois, for that matter, once they are through fleecing the taxpayers?

  2. It struck me last night watching the DeSantis/Newsom debate we are existing on two planes in this country: those that live in their blue bubbles and those that don’t. Ok, I could have said those that live in their red bubbles – fair point. But the thrust of my argument is for those of us who are nearing retirement age who have worked their whole adult life and adhered to society’s norms to be confronted by people like Brandon Johnson accusing you of racism because you tend to be center right instead of their brand of radicalism is a pivot point in our tribalism. It has never been more clear what fools they take us for. I’m just a guy who has worked as a court reporter in the Illinois courts. I know what I know. And I know there are people who are ostensibly in the same party as Johnson who think Cook County is a joke – but are reluctant to speak out. I carve out an exception for the states attorney of Will County because he had the stones to call out this foolishness for what it is! I only pray and hope we have a major correction so my grandkids have half a chance!

    1. Jim: All the things you’ve seen. Would make a great series of columns. They’re afraid of Boss Toni and her new machine. Note how few reporters (only me?) write about what they’ve done. Thanks for reading. If you want to write something, drop a line to john@johnkassnews.com

  3. law enforcement–and keeping violent predators behind bars–ads years to the life expectancy of Black men living in violent neighborhoods, but the racists and media don’t mention this in their decarceration/depolicing rants

  6. Thanks for telling it like it is John.

    I was born, raised and educated in Chicago a half block from Humboldt Park.
    The Chicago I knew and loved doesn’t exist anymore and people like Foxx, Evans, Preckwinkle and Brandon Johnson have only made it worse.
    They handcuffed the coppers and allowed the feral thugs to take over the once-great city.

    Like you, I surrendered and joined the Great Illinois exodus.

    1. My husband and I were also born and raised in Chicago, near Humboldt Park, and later on in Little Village. We moved to the suburbs after our 2nd child was born. 7 year ago my retired husband bot bored, and he took a job in Los Angeles, and we live miles from our son and family now. Heartbreaking to see what kind of awful, dishonest, corrupt people run a once beautiful city.

  7. Nice article recapping your podcast with Mangual which was excellent as well. I just ordered his book.
    Great selfie with Kim Foxx. You and her both did the right thing. I hope it might lead to her being on your podcast one day where you can interview her and she would be willing to answer some tough questions regarding her role of soft on crime policies and lack of prosecution and incarceration for violent, repetitive offenders.

  9. Well. What a shame how things are going. My mother passed away in March of 2020. Only ten people allowed at the wake because of “the virus.”

    It’s a pity that I often think that I’m glad she doesn’t have to see the way things are now.

    1. Not even sure what my parents would have said about what is happening in Chicago and the other big blue cities. They would have probably shook their heads and call it disgusting. They would be worrying and praying for things to get better, and asking me to explain it all to them, which I would find impossible to do. Brandon uses the left’s failsafe of blaming everything on racism, Trump and the MAGA movement. Are the residents of Chicago that dumb?

      Everyday I am glad my parents are not around to witness what is happening around us…it truly is disgusting.

      Now I am the grandparent praying for my children and grandchildren.

    2. John, I was part of the great Chicago exodus before it was *cool”. My father was what would today be called a service technician for People’s Gas. Englewood was his territory. We lived in St. Galls parish and my father saw the rot in Englewood start to reach out towards us and we escaped to Oak Lawn. Later, I married a girl from the old neighborhood just as the gangs started taking over that once-wonderful place to be a kid. Job requirements forced a move to Texas in the early ’90’s and we’ve never looked back. I say all this so that you know I know what I’m talking about when I tell you that in the south “Bless your heart” is the biggest insult you can receive from someone in polite company. She was telling you to go perform intimate relations with yourself. Maybe you didn’t whip out your tomahawk because you were raised right, but she scalped you with hers.

  10. Sorry, John.

    I’m inclined to concur with Mr. Proft.

    These are people who seek to silence, and extinguish all who are not of the same authoritarian ideological bent.

    The Grimace is every bit as culpable as the savage who attacked that woman – and you have the temerity to be civil to those like her?

    You don’t have to do battle, but you should not have been there, in the first place.

  12. Whoa! “John, Bless your heart” !!??!! As every Northerner who has been in the South knows the “Bless your heart” is the killing you with kindness F.U. used by Southerners. Similar to the Chicago way of ending a letter “With warmest personal regards”. I would have loved to been at that party: better entertainment by watching the players mingle than going to watch a movie.

  13. I’m waiting for the D convention next summer . By my lights ,the riots will make Grant Park ’68 look like a church picnic . But unlike Daley’s cops and their night sticks , Brandon’s cops are settle back, gonna hook their thumbs in their tac belts and go ” I’m not gonna be the next Chauvin , Let ‘er burn” Ohh and for the record , the rioters will be BLM , black ops antifa and the River to the Sea anti-semites

    1. The “old school cops” are long gone,happily retired,moved away from a dying city.
      If the antifa and Hamas demonstrators loot and burn during the convention don’t expect an aggressive response from the police…….most have learned about the treacherous politicians and how they will blame the police.

  14. Respectfully disagree with those criticizing JK for bravely attending that din-witted party and not wielding a sword. His pen is mightier, which is known even to Chicago’s “Confederacy of Dunces.” (Don’t know the reference? Read John Kennedy Toole’s brilliant novel.)

  15. I have no issues with you going to the party. In fact, I’m surprised that any of the lefties attended because you were there. That’s their game. Although Foxx was there because she needs to push for a judgeship.
    I am also tired of being blamed for the dire situation here in Chicago. It’s not my fault that some parents have no business being parents, and raise the animals that are terrorizing. CWB reported a 15 year old charged with 11 armed robberies. Where is the outrage? Why aren’t we charging his parents? Highland park and the Lake County State’s Attorney believe it’s just fine to charge parents for abating their children’s crimes.

  16. John,
    Did you ever find out what airline and how that flight attendant is doing? I work for one of the bigger airlines and wanted more information. I haven’t heard a thing at work about it. I don’t think I will because they don’t like to share information like that with us unfortunately. I think of her every day and the media has swept it under the rug of course. How many times I have been on a layover enjoying a city, the sights, culture and not thinking something like that could happen to me. I’m always aware of my surroundings but that poor girl never had a chance. I’m much more cautious but hardly ever go out anymore in many of our once beautiful cities in our country. It’s really sad to see how awful these cities have become, Chicago included which I grew up in. Thank you and please keep writing. I tell everyone you are the only truth teller in Chicago and I have been reading your column for over 25 years.

  17. This column provided a partial update on the galactic status of racism. But allow me to add:

    ) crossing guards helping children are racist
    ) wearing bandages covering wounds from muggers is racist
    ) white wine is racist
    ) uncompetitive sports teams are racist — which, of course, makes Chicago even more racist than you thought

  19. Now something we can all agree on is that we are all thankful John left that wretched rag disguised as a newspaper! The apparatchiks who now run that rag would never have allowed this article for publication. Another thing we all can agree on is that everything John says IS TRUE. Mayor Brandon uses the race card quite freely. Its all he has. His “Socialist Democrat” policies are having the same results as they have in the other “Socialist Democrat” paradises like San Francisco and New York. Now as a new election cycle approaches these workers paradises are trying to clean up the shitting on the streets they once encouraged. Seattle is removing massive tent cities from now shuttered downtown areas. San Francisco, desperately trying to lure Chinese money to replace businesses that have fled, cleaned up the same to impress the Chinese “President”. Chicago? We have all seen how there is sudden movement to build housing for its new population of illegals. When you see stuff like happening this you know elections are coming. Yet, with the help of cohorts on the city council, Mayor Brandon is achieving his goal of transforming Chicago into his very own workers paradise. Additional time off for new parents, five paid days off for workers employed by any business in the city. See? They’ve already forgot about crime, bad schools, and us sticking tent camps in their neighborhoods. These are all policies that are sure to attract new businesses to Chicago Illinois. Chicago excels at the three things that are sure to attract business investment. Our unions are very organized and can shut down your business overnight ( see Berlin Nightclub, Chicago). Yes, we also have a thriving “lawsuit” scene that ensures if you end up in Cook County court,the odds are you will be the victim of a massive judgment also designed to put your business out of business. Lets not forget our crime industry which has improved since Kim Foxx has legalized crime over here. We now have highly organized gangs roving the streets committing numerous crimes at a time, saving our precious natural resources thus helping our carbon emission footprint. Kim Foxx is the unsung hero here. I mean if you legalize burglary, you no longer have a burglary problem. NO MORE BURGLARIES. GET IT? Lets admit it, gang. Chicago is the new Detroit.

  20. I saw the photo – BFD. I worked for Preckwinkle and Pat Quinn and Obama ( his run against Bobby Rush who handed Barry his ass) that should add up to about 200,000 years in Purgatory. I can do that standing on my head and probably will.

  22. Yianni,
    Forgive me if I repeat myself, but Gump was so right – “stupid is as stupid does!” The complete synopsis of the state of Illinois and once great city of Chicago. It seems our illiterate and/or out of touch electorate (products of the wonderful Chicago public school system) keep voting for these morons, and expect a different outcome – yes, the definition of insanity! I fear it’s over, goodbye Chicago…..

  23. Keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer. This only applies if you intend to use the intel gathered from the enemy for the inevitable takedown about to take place. By your own words John you are a Democrat going to Democratic Christmas parties. Sometimes the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree. Keep up the good work. John, Bless your heart!

  24. Once again, John, fabulous, spot-on column, as was the podcast. Hang in there! You make me feel there is some hope left for humanity. God bless you and hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas.

  25. 400 years Mr Mayor? No, the only people who are angry that a Black Man is free are the Libs who would have to find some other way to earn money, if Black people actually were free

  26. “It is abysmal and it’s an affront for everything that is good about this country, for the extremism in this country to use people as political tools to settle political scores for something that happened 400 years ago…”

    I’m not sure what Mayor Bread and Circuses means by this. Is he talking about the Republican white supremacists who’ve been in charge of Chicago for the last century? Nah, that can’t be it, since the last Republican mayor was Big Bill Thompson more than 90 years ago.

    Is he talking about Trump? I know he has settled scores and wants to settle more, but none of them were/are 400 years old. And he’s not in charge of Chicago.

    He must, therefore, be talking about “progressive” Democrats who want reparations for slavery, since the first slaves arrived in 1619 (supposedly). So, if that is what he’s referring to, isn’t it HIS side using people as political tools to settle 400-year-old political scores? Did he mean to attack his own people, or is this just more mush-mouthed word salad designed to give the empty-headed media a juicy quote?

    Also, you get a dispensation this year, but Serafin is a long-time Democrat propaganda meister who means to harm people on our side. Stay away from him.

  27. John,
    I respect your decision to attend the Thom Sarafin Christmas Party. I am under the impression that he is an old friend, despite your political differences. It’s what civilized people do. Besides, keep your enemies close.
    Like the new picture. Looking good.

  28. Just got to see this column. Been out of town a couple days. Another shot and a goal. Truth told for all to read. Will be listening to Podcast in a couple hours. Thanks for carrying the torch of truth, John. And I want to know where/how as soon as I can, to buy a No Chumbolone Hat! It will be worn proudly.

  29. John doing a selfie with Kim Foxx recalls the history of pro wrestling. In its earlier iteration the bad guy (the heel) would never ever associate with the good guy (the face). In fact if a “heel” walked into a restaurant where a “face” was dining, the “heel” would be obligated under contract to walk out and find another place to dine. This was enforced to maintain “Kayfabe” (the narrative … the story line). Later on the major promotion of wrestling (WWF now known as the WWE) said “well we all know wrestling is a staged show so there is no reason to maintain “Kayfabe” outside the ring, so “heels” can associate with “faces” … and even be friendly to one another.

    So in regard to the infamous selfie of John and Kim is that’s what is going on here: nothing but a wrestling type Kayfabe scenario where – “outside the ring” – the “heel” and the “face” are really good buddies after all?

  30. Many of the commenters here do not understand that the best writers always use every opportunity for inspiration to create, using their friends, relatives, enemies, etc. — the more information they get, the better they can write. Often it estranges them from their friends and relatives.

    I am your friend, John. Keep writing your thought-provoking and entertaining articles, and try not to be influenced by any off-the-cuff “You shouldn’t have been there” type of comments.

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