Jim Dey: 'Rahmbo's rages against China draw attention in Illinois

Sep. 20—Illinois politics' enfant terrible is — once again — up to no good.

But what, specifically, is that?

Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel — now the U.S. ambassador to Japan — recently made a number of undiplomatic moves that have political handicappers in Washington, D.C., and Illinois trying to read the tea leaves.

"We're intrigued by the question of what was on our former mayor's agenda. ... Was he setting himself up for another run for office? And what office might that be?" a Chicago Tribune editorial asked.

Whatever it is, Emanuel — aka "Rahmbo" and/or the "Rahmfather" — is going about it in his usual hyper-aggressive style, launching a series of personal attacks on Chinese dictator Xi Jinping.

In one tweet, Emanuel castigated Xi "as an incompetent steward of the economy, a foreign-policy failure and a bumbling would-be Machiavellian whose government is a mess," according to The Wall Street Journal.

That was for starters.

Emanuel expressed further disdain by inquiring as to the whereabouts of Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu, who hasn't been seen in public since late August and appears to be, according to Emanuel, "on house arrest."

Li is just the latest Xi subordinate to draw his boss' ire and end up with what could be an extended tenure on possibly fatal double-secret probation.

Emanuel's rhetoric is neither appreciated in dictatorial regimes like China nor likely to have any positive effect — from the U.S. point of view — on China's domestic politics.

That rhetoric has, however, drawn attention in the U.S., particularly in Illinois, and prompted speculation.

Would Emanuel be interested, in 2026, in running for governor if Gov. J.B. Pritzker does not seek a third term, or succeeding U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin if the near-octogenarian decides to retire?

The Trib even speculated Emanuel is positioning himself for a White House run, farfetched though that may be.

Given Emanuel's unlimited ambition, it would be unwise to dismiss any possibility.

After all, this is a guy who — after giving up a U.S. House seat in 2009 to become President Barack Obama's chief of staff — schemed to have that Chicago-area seat filled by a placeholder — his successor, U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, refused to cooperate — so that Emanuel could come back later, retake the seat and then be elected House speaker.

Because he has no little ego, he makes no little plans.

Emanuel would probably still be mayor of Chicago if he hadn't been caught red-handed trying to cover up the fatal 2014 police shooting of Laquan McDonald.

Emanuel tried to quietly settle the unjustified shooting out of court (the city later paid $5 million to McDonald's family) and unsuccessfully fought to suppress the video. When it became public, Emanuel's bid for a third term as mayor was doomed.

From there, Emanuel sought the job of secretary of transportation in the Biden administration. But party leftists, who despise him because of the McDonald case, blocked that, and Emanuel was banished to Tokyo.

At 63, he appears to be planning a comeback. That's probably why, before he targeted China's dictator, he made a point of scolding Japan's leaders about the need to support LGBTQ rights.

The Japanese don't care about Emanuel's views on gay rights, but he knows the uber progressives who dominate Illinois' Democratic Party do. Might they forgive him for the McDonald travesty if he returns to Illinois to seek public office?

Questions, questions, questions. Only time will provide the answers as Emanuel, an indefatigable schemer, weighs his next move.