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**jaxx** · 05-21-2011, 10:34 AM

Rahm Emanuel, with wife Amy Rule, daughter Ilana, Leah, and son Zach is sworn in by Chief Judge Timothy Evans in Chicago. (José M. Osorio/Tribune)

Posted by Kristen Mack and John Chase at 12:01 a.m.; last updated at 12:10 p.m.

Rahm Emanuel took the oath of office today to become Chicago's 46th mayor.

The city's new mayor then laid out the challenges ahead: Improving schools, ending gun violence and downsizing a city government taxpayers can no longer afford. And he asked Chicagoans, the City Council and the business community to help him.

"Our problems are large, but so is our capacity to solve them -- only if all those who profess a love for this City of Big Shoulders are willing to bear the responsibility for keeping it strong," Emanuel told a crowd of several thousand at Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park.

"So today, I ask of each of you -- those who live here, and those who work here; business and labor: Let us share the necessary sacrifices fairly and justly," he said. "If everyone will give a little, no one will have to give too much."

Change was the overarching theme of his 25-minute speech.

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clou...ation.html

I didn't see anything about Rahm being sworn in as the mayor of Chicago, but wanted to recognize that he is now in office. This was his dream, to be the mayor and I'm glad he was elected.

**Julie** · 05-21-2011, 10:46 AM

Go get 'em Mr. Mayor! I hope to see great things to come....

Julie

**atomic** · 05-21-2011, 11:29 AM

Rahm Emanuel has a fascinating back story. He's worked hard for the Democratic Party and I'm glad to see him doing something he's always wanted to do. I wish him the best and expect to see him run for governor of Illinois in the future.

**Cha** · 05-21-2011, 01:14 PM

(05-21-2011 11:29 AM)eliz@sf Wrote: Rahm Emanuel has a fascinating back story. He's worked hard for the Democratic Party and I'm glad to see him doing something he's always wanted to do. I wish him the best and expect to see him run for governor of Illinois in the future.

It's kinda cool that he was the President's COS and now he's the mayor where the Obamas call home.

**Willinois** · 05-23-2011, 09:21 AM

(05-21-2011 11:29 AM)eliz@sf Wrote: and expect to see him run for governor of Illinois in the future.

I doubt it. Being mayor is the holy grail for most Chicago politicians. They're obsessed with it. Many would view being Governor as a step down in power.

Rahm was Chief of Staff to the President. He already had one of the most powerful jobs on the entire planet. He left that for a chance to become mayor of Chicago. My guess is that the only office he views as a step up is President.

**SemiCharmedQuark** · 05-23-2011, 11:18 AM

(05-23-2011 09:21 AM)Willinois Wrote:
(05-21-2011 11:29 AM)eliz@sf Wrote: and expect to see him run for governor of Illinois in the future.

I doubt it. Being mayor is the holy grail for most Chicago politicians. They're obsessed with it. Many would view being Governor as a step down in power.

Rahm was Chief of Staff to the President. He already had one of the most powerful jobs on the entire planet. He left that for a chance to become mayor of Chicago. My guess is that the only office he views as a step up is President.

And I don't think Rahm would leave for President. Mayor is a lot more unilateralish than president.

**Willinois** · 05-23-2011, 12:24 PM

(05-23-2011 11:18 AM)SemiCharmedQuark Wrote: And I don't think Rahm would leave for President. Mayor is a lot more unilateralish than president.

I suspect you're right. I guess he could run for Senate if he felt like being in DC again. And you don't technically have to be a member of Congress to be elected Speaker of the House. But I think it's more likely that he'll spend several terms as mayor.

**Cha** · 05-21-2011, 01:11 PM

They got their daddy back and he's the mayor of Chicago! I hope it goes well as can be for Rahm, his family, and the city.

**SemiCharmedQuark** · 05-21-2011, 01:54 PM

Yep, I picked my mom up from the airport and it said Mayor Rahm Emanuel on the signs. Kind of weird...Daley has been mayor since I was 6.

**Ikonoklast** · 05-21-2011, 07:57 PM

His speech after getting sworn in as mayor was short, and to the point.

"Bite me, you losers, I'm the FUCKING MAYOR NOW!! HAHAHAHAAA!!!"

**jaxx** · 05-22-2011, 06:15 AM

LOL Ikonoklast, that's what I like about him. He's just so damned real.

**Arkana** · 05-23-2011, 06:45 AM

Did he promise to FUCKING uphold the GODDAMN law for as FUCKING long as he was in the MOTHERFUCKING office?