BULLETIN – AT 6:29 P.M. ET:  The Illinois Supreme Court, in a unanimous 7-0 decision, has just put Rahm Emanuel back on the ballot as a candidate for mayor of Chicago.  Absentee voting begins Monday.  The election is February 22nd.

Rahm Emanuel can run for mayor, the Illinois Supreme Court has ruled. In a 7 to 0 decision, the court Thursday said an appellate court erred in taking Emanuel off the ballot earlier in the week.

COMMENT:  Good decision.  Voting is the heart of democracy.  To take someone off a ballot because of an extreme interpretation of residency requirements is a very bad thing.  Let the people decide.

This is important nationally because Illinois is a critical state, and the mayor of Chicago wields substantial political clout. 

This will probably help Obama in Illinois, as Emanuel is Obama's man there, but he really doesn't need much help in his home state.  At any rate, we have to call 'em as we see 'em, and this was a wise decision.  No person, of whatever party,  should lose his or her residency when going to Washington to serve in an administration.

January 27, 2011