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To truly understand Chicago and Illinois politics it is helpful to watch The Godfather.
One and two.
Not three. I never liked three.
The first thing to understand is that there is no moral center to any of it. This isn’t about policy and the public’s interest. It is about power and greed at the public’s expense.
In The Godfather Abe Vigoda played Sal Tessio. When it is discovered that Tessio has betrayed the Corleone family he turns to Tom Hagen, the Corleone family consigliere and asks that his life be spared. “Tell Michael (Corleone) I always liked him. It was only business,” Tessio says before being driven to his death.
The Rahm and Rauner families unite for the Millennium Park deals.
Only to be outflanked by the Daley family.
Daley and Quinn fight only to have Daley concede to Quinn to defeat the Rahm and Rauner family alliance.
Meanwhile former allies Madigan and Cullerton fall out.
After all, wasn’t this past weekend’s statement by Cullerton that there was no pension crisis essentially sending Madigan a dead fish wrapped in yesterday’s Tribune?
It’s Northside families against Southside families and fights and alliances between them.
Don’t forget Fast Eddie Burke.
The problem is that I found The Godfather entertaining.
But there is nothing entertaining about what is happening in Illinois.
In real life the the mob’s crime families hurt regular people.
That is true with these real-life political crime families as well
Fred Klonsky 
I’m confused by the large cast of characters. Who will take the canoli?