Consigliere D’Amato?

Here’s an interesting email from the inbox.

Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2008 21:57:16 -0800 (PST)

From: Michael DAmato

To: [removed by Owen]

Brady Streeters,
As many of you know, I am supporting Sam McGovern-Rowen in the election for the next Alderman of the 3rd District.
Over the past 15 or so years, together, we have done some great things and have built a tremendous community. I know that some of you have been around
much longer than me, but remember what the neighborhood was like back in 1989 when I first went to work for Larraine Mac-Mac? High crime, empty
stores, rampant panhandling, drug dealing and little commerce. It may have been the ultimate low point for the Brady Street neighborhood.  But a strong,
dedicated group of neighbors and business owners decided that they weren’t going to take it anymore. They didn’t complain, they took matters into their own
hands and built what has become a great neighborhood to live, play, work and raise a family.  A neighborhood now known and used as a positive model
throughout the country.  Along the way they received support and encouragement from a strong, forward thinking Mayor and a young Alderman who used to be an aide.
The Brady street neighborhood means a great deal to me, as it does to each of you. I’m afraid that with the wrong Alderman all the progress and momentum we’ve built over the years willl be lost. I think Sam has what it takes to keep us moving forward. He is intelligent, responsive, understands what it takes to lead and serve this very complicated and demanding district and, best of all, beleives in what we’re doing. I hear so much about what the other candidates are against (virtually everything!) but not what their for. One (Sura Faraj)  regularly uses Brady Street as an example of what NOT to do and another (Kovac) is financed by the very people who dragged into court good, honest people who were working to preserve the East Village. Kovac’s friends made your neighbors pull money out of their own pocket to hire a lawyer to defend them against a group of nasty landlords. It’s crazy!
I know that each of you will seriously study all the candidates before you make your final choice. I hope that in the end you will agree with me about Sam and
find him worthy of your vote.  If any of you would like to discuss this further I would be happy to.
Please feel free to pass this on to whomever you may think would find it useful.
Mike

It’s from Milwaukee Alderman Mike D’Amato. 

Did you notice what he chose as his email address? 

consigliere(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

That isn’t a word that is without meaning.  In fact, it has a very specific meaning in the American lexicon. 

A “consigliere” is the title given to the third highest ranked member of America’s Cosa Nostra families.  The consigliere acts as an adviser to the Boss - particularly in matters between families. 

So why is Mike D’Amato using a Mafia title in his email address? 

It’s a particularly interesting choice when one considers that his district is booming with developments, which are traditional targets for mob schemes, and that he represents a district that encompasses part of former Senator Gary George’s district.  Gary George gained some fame when he attended the funeral of former Milwaukee Godfather Frank Balistrieri. 

Is Mike D’Amato trying to tell us something?  I’m not suggesting that D’Amato is in the Mob or anything.  Milwaukee hasn’t had its own family in quite some time.  Perhaps D’Amato just thought it was a cool word and didn’t know its meaning.  Or perhaps he does know its meaning and thought that it would still be cool and mysterious to use.  Regardless, given his position in the community, it was a very poor choice of an alias. 

1. Not sure, mountain= mole hill??

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 10, 2008 at 2123 hrs




2. I don’t think it’s even a molehill.  Just an amazingly stupid choice for an alias for a public official.

   Posted by Owen on February 10, 2008 at 2127 hrs




3. Ha! Good for him. Seems to me that it means he was somehow able to keep a sense of humor through 12 years of vicious rumormongering and overactive speculation.

   Consigliere is a word for a valued political advisor or counselor, it’s not just for the mafia. But I’m sure the double meaning was obvious to the alderman as well.

   Funny.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 10, 2008 at 2235 hrs




4. Ditto what Silly says.  The word has much greater meaning that just a mob title.

   Is he trying to tell you something?  Yeah, that he’s a fun guy with a a great sense of humor.  He’s been accused of so much.  And right now the charges are that he’s “installing” his legislative aide as his replacement and will be pulling his strings.  I’m gonna miss Mike as my adlerman.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 10, 2008 at 2308 hrs




5. I had “pigactor” as a handle for a free email address. Does that make me a closet Mike Huckabee supporter?

   Posted by Josh Schroeder on February 10, 2008 at 2326 hrs




6. As long as we don’t see him outbidding John Gotti and Tony Soprano for the vintage ice cream truck, I think we’ll be ok…...

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 11, 2008 at 0013 hrs




7. It’s his choice maybe because he just wants to protect himself and will not appear to the public his real name.

   Posted by Peyton on February 11, 2008 at 0428 hrs




8. Oh, good grief, Owen.

   Posted by Tim on February 11, 2008 at 0713 hrs




9. It’s a particularly interesting choice when one considers that his district is booming with developments, which are traditional targets for mob schemes,

   Really? I am sure Barry and Boris will be pleased to hear that.

   and that he represents a district that encompasses part of former Senator Gary George’s district.

   Did I hear one of those Ziegler bogeymen in the background?

   Regardless, given his position in the community, it was a very poor choice of an alias.

   This from an ol’ lady?.

   I like Scotty better.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 11, 2008 at 0827 hrs




10. Consigliere means counselor or advisor in Italian.

    I know of another local Italian political advisor that has used that word to describe himself. 

    It is a commonly used word.  It is no more significant than referring to political attackers as hitmen.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 11, 2008 at 1026 hrs




11. I’m sure you don’t think that every Italian word should be taken for its mafia connection, do you Owen? There are actually hardworking, decent, intelligent Italian-Americans (e.g., Ald. D’Amato) who have absolutely nothing to do with anything even related to the mafia. I’m sure you know that already, but it was a very poor choice of posts.

    And for the record, I’m sure he knows what it means. He’s about as smart as they come…

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 11, 2008 at 1404 hrs




12. Maybe it has something to do with his surname. It’s his choice. Only he knows why he chose that word. Maybe there’s a hidden message in it.

    Posted by Humus on February 11, 2008 at 2100 hrs




13. Wow pretty crazy Mike D’Amto is using a mafia title in his email lol..that’s just good detective work or nice worldly knowledge. Being part of an mmorpg community doesn’t really give you the understanding of situations you might need

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 26, 2008 at 0218 hrs




14. gtgyajfy  rsyeuieo http://gynpdwjb.com nvyvpwwt fnhzwova ghkrnfmr

    Posted by dxrpdbde on May 17, 2008 at 1111 hrs