Chicago Columnist Illinois Review Political Analyst Entrepreneur Business Advisor Chicago Illinois Leader

SEIFFE:  Prime Minister Blago

Friday June 22, 2007

By Ralf Seiffe

Recalling Winston Churchill, Governor Blagojevich quoted some of this famous phrase: “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."  He tells us the immortal expression relates to the Nazi Blitz of London.  Apparently, the Governor wants us to think his troubles with the General Assembly make him as courageous as those Londoners who resisted Hitler’s bombers.

The only trouble is that the phrase did not refer to the Blitz but to the Battle of El Alamein in North Africa more than a year later.  The British won that battle, breaking the German Afrika Corps and gaining the upper hand for the rest of the war.  To celebrate, Churchill appeared at The Lord Mayor of London’s Luncheon on November 10, 1942 and it is from this event that history remembers the phrase.

Nothing wrong with the Governor using the wisdom of Winston Churchill but he might consider the historical context.  The performance of the Governor and the General Assembly since the end of May can hardly be considered a victory.  Perhaps another of Churchill’s phrases might be more appropriate.  The Prime Minister, tired of bureaucratic sclerosis, had little stickers made up to attach to the memos he sent.  They simply said “Action This Day!”  

© 2007 Ralf Seiffe

Ralf Seiffe advises business start-ups and product launches from Chicago, Illinois and is a political analyst and columnist for the Illinois Leader and Illinois Review.

Webmaster Contact:  Alynn Patzer alynn11111@aol.com