How do you know Rahm's lying? Lips are moving.

S-T's Al Podgorski fact-checks Rahm's claim that under his rule, newcomers are flocking to Chicago. Turns out, it's total BS.

After the debate, I asked the mayor's campaign spokesperson, Steve Mayberry, for a source for Rahm's assertion. He sent me a link to a press release about a "study" last year by the eminent demographic researcher, United Van Lines.

As you might expect, there's no mention of the city's loss of more than 200,000 African-Americans over the past decade. Loss of manufacturing jobs, cuts in neighborhood city services, demolition of public housing, rising gun violence, and massive school closings, have all contributed to the exodus.

Podgorski is dead-on when he concludes:

Does Friday's stretcher by Emanuel mean you should be skeptical about other claims he makes about his administration's triumphs? Yes.

And in the remaining debates, a suggestion for the mayor's challengers: when Rahm boasts of some particular achievement, ask him, "Is that another of your United Van lines?"

DODGE CITY...Even Rahm's $11 million election propaganda machine couldn't cover up last month's 40% jump in the city's murder rate from a year ago. And that's if you believe Supt. McCarthy's numbers. I don't.

As long as the city's gun violence pandemic is seen by this mayor primarily as a policing/jailing matter, as opposed to one of improving conditions of life in the city's bleeding neighborhoods, there's little hope in sight.

I haven't forgotten how Rahm blocked Obama's gun-control initiatives when he worked in the White House. Remember:

Holder had told reporters that the administration would push to reinstate the assault-weapons ban, which had expired in 2004. The comments roused the powerful gun lobby and its water carriers on Capitol Hill. ‘Senators to Attorney General: Stay Away from Our Guns’ read a press release issued by Senator Max Baucus of Montana-a Democrat, no less.

“Emanuel was furious. He slammed his desk and cursed the attorney general. Holder was only repeating a position Obama had expressed during the campaign, but that was before the White House needed the backing of pro-gun Democrats from red states for their domestic agenda. The chief of staff sent word to Justice that Holder needed to ‘shut the fuck up’ on guns…”

Now chickens have come home to roost in Rahmville.