Taking names. Calling them out.

"We will not apologize for standing up for what's right for children. We will never keep silent in the face of austerity." -- Karen Lewis

It's only appropriate that the announcement of Tom Gradel and Dick Simpson's new book, "Corrupt Illinois", should parallel today's Sun-Times story of Rahm Emanuel's $2 million super PAC coming to the rescue of his gaggle of ass-kissing council candidates.

If you're taking names, here's the list:

Deborah Graham (29th), Will Burns (4th), Natashia Holmes (7th), Anthony Beale (9th), John Pope (10th), Joann Thompson (16th), Lona Lane (18th), Howard Brookins (21st), Mike Zalewski (23rd), Danny Solis (25th), Roberto Maldonado (26th),  Deb Mell (33rd), Emma Mitts (37th), Marge Laurino (39th), Pat O’Connor (40th), James Cappleman (46th) and Debra Silverstein (50th).

I'm feeling pretty confident that we can beat Rahm's bought-off candidates in wards where the community is organized. Out here in Logan Square for example, I'm predicting victories for young activist Carlos Rosa (35th) and Progressive Caucus leader Scott Waguespack (32nd).

We are are hosting a house meeting and fund-raiser for Carlos on Sunday to help him over the hump as the election draws near.  

Speaking of naming names, CTU Pres. Karen Lewis called out Rahm's "crazy hedge fund homies" in the audience, in her address to the City Club of Chicago. You gotta watch it. Also called out was board member Jess Ruiz, who's been Rahm's main water carrier on school closings. He was so shaken, he had to run out of the room at the end of Karen's speech. 

She also did a great job of unpacking Rahm's demagogy on the longer school day, testing madness, privatization of public space ("the public/private partnership means private") and pension theft. 

Gov. Rauner, received particular attention from Lewis, who said the governor was "busy trying to make the term 'collective bargaining' into dirty words." Rauner, she said, "thinks that only certain people are worthy of a high-quality education."

More Lewis:

Rauner ran on a platform about nothing, He's wasted no time attacking the wages of working-class people, attacking their labor unions and threatening massive cuts to social service programs, which help the most vulnerable people in our state. That is the real Bruce Rauner. He's not some easygoing, blue-jeans-wearing, $20-dollar-watch-having good guy who's coming to save the day. He is (Wisconsin Gov.) Scott Walker on steroids.

With three weeks to go before the primary (I'm counting on a run-off), I hope Karen's spunk and speak-truth-to-power fortitude will be contagious.