Chicago's Mayor Richard Daley, a Kerry backer, critical of "Elitists" in national Democratic Party.

Some mention has been made about how Tricky Dick didn't call for a recount in 1962 on a real cliff-hanger election, admirably saying it would not be in the best interests of the country.

Had a recall been conducted, the Florida of 1962 well might have been Chicago. Many considered Mayor Daley -- the father and undisputed boss of Chicago, not the present mayor who is the son -- to have been responsible for delivering President Kennedy his narrow margin of victory.

That said, the old man just might be squirming a bit in his grave -- I did not say rolling over -- over what his son has said of the national Democrats.

He might be thinking, "Son, elitists is what they called some of President Clinton's supporters and advisors; isn't your language a bit strong."

Jr. might reply, "Yeah Pops, but I just had to say something. This primary season and election has been almost as frustrating as we went through during the McGovern and Dukasis disasters, and I just had to blow off some steam."

"I understand son, and while you know you shouldn't have said it -- it being the time for picking up the pieces and regrouping, not having our Party leaders being critical of one another -- you know me, I was known for being blunt. If I was going to say something, at least it would be a bit more direct."

"What Pops, do you think I am way off on the elitist thing?"

"Not really, I'm just saying if you just had to say something, then you shouldn't have sugarcoated it by God. You should have told it just like it was."

"You've lost me there Pops."

"Come on son, OK, I'll spell it out for youz. If you were going to throw the elitist label at some in D.C., you shouldn't have spared Mr. Elitist himself. Get my drift?"

"I got ya Pops."
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Today the Chicago Tribune reports:

Daley praises GOP, slaps Democrats

Mayor Richard Daley backed John Kerry for president, but Daley had some admiring observations about the Republican Party after last week's elections and some chastening words for his fellow Democrats.

"I think there is political change in this country," Daley said. "You talk about Roosevelt. You talk about Kennedy. And you have to talk about Bush. You have to give credit to his discipline, to the message he stayed on line. People made fun. They underestimated him all the time. He showed them all."

"Elitists" in the Democratic Party in Washington have underestimated the religious right, Daley said.

"They don't like people who have different beliefs than they do, who maybe read the Bible, read the Koran. ... They were shoved out, not to be respected."