Surprising everyone Chicago’s  Mayor Richard M. Daley’s announced out of the blue, that he will not  seek re-election in 2011 and end his 21-year career as one of the nation’s most gay-friendly mayors.

Simply put, it’s time,” Daley said . “Time for me, it’s time for Chicago to move on.”

But really why?  Why now?

Following Daly’s news there is rampant speculation that White House Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel will step in and run for Mayor of Chicago.  And so far Emmanuel will neither confirm nor deny his intentions regarding the Mayor’s office.

The question is though is this a Democratic ploy to get Rahm Emanuel, who many have blamed for the conservatism in the White House and the the lack of real progressive movement on any White House positions gracefully out of Washington before the 2012?  (Rahm once said “Liberals are fucking retarded.)

In an interview with Charlie Rose to set this stage just 5 months ago Emanuel said out of nowhere:

I hope Mayor Daley seeks reelection. I will work and support him if he seeks reelection. But if Mayor Daley doesn’t, one day I would like to run for mayor of the City of Chicago,” said Emanuel. “That’s always been an aspiration of mine even when I was in the House of Representatives

Nice foreshadowing.

So the question needs to be raised.  Is Daly nor running for re-election so Rahm Emanuel can gracefully leave his position as White House Chief of Staff to run for Mayor of Chicago?

Only time will tell. And if it is true my condolences to Chicago.