Subject: Re: Obama States The Obvious
Mike, notice he used the word "machine"? He's talking about this:

The potent Democratic machine that dominated Chicago politics for nearly half a century formed under the leadership of Anton Cermak, a Bohemian immigrant of working-class origins. After the death of Cook County Democratic leader George Brennan in 1928,...

The Democratic machine endured Kennelly's presence in the mayor's office for two terms but then replaced him with a party regular, Richard J. Daley, in 1955. During Daley's prolonged tenure in city hall'he was reelected five times prior to his sudden death in 1976'the machine reached its apogee. At a time when virtually no urban political machines survived, Daley steered the Cook County Democratic organization to one electoral triumph after another. The 'last boss' controlled an estimated 35,000 patronage jobs, the use of which ensured party discipline and relegated the local Republican Party to insignificance.

So your talking about a political machine that doled out patronage jobs, etc., that is famous. It's the longest lasting political machine (1928-1976) and Daley extended it for 20 years after all the other machines died.

Party machine politics ran from the Civil War to 1976. Remember Boss Tweed, Tammany Hall?

That's all Obama's referring to in 2008.