THE TKC WEEKLY POWER RANKINGS!!!

I was gonna wait till tomorrow morning but a photo suggestion featuring this buff lady changed my mind. To wit . . . Check some of the strongest local players in Kansas City this week.

POLITICOS



1. Council Dude Russ Johnson - Today's Downtown Toy Train victory was engineered by this genius. Other than a recent divorce he hasn't faced much pushback. That'll change soon enough.

2.  Mayor Sly - Still pretending that his popularity will remain intact despite reaction to so many tax increases is a powerful delusion.

3. Jackson County Exec Mike Sanders - He's staying quiet while everything is quickly turning to hell across the street. Another powerfully smart move.

4. Council Dude Scott Wagner - He read the City Charter and attempts a special move. Good for him!!!

5. Mo State Rep. Mike Talboy - The Downtown Kansas City State Rep. and powerful player connected to just about every political victory in this town.

NEWSIES



1.Walt Bodine - Kansas City media legend. This town just needed another reminder of this fact.

2. Charles Ferruzza - Here's a money quote regarding one of the best journalists in this town who had a major role in Walt's send off today: "He really had done an incredible job being the most respected food reviewer in Kansas City from his humble beginnings as a waiter. And he still always manages to have a scoop about local restaurants, many times even before Joyce Smith at the Star."

3. Eric Chaloux - One of the busiest reporters in town and definitely a top guy to watch @ KCTV5.

4. John Landsberg - Doing his absolute best to maintain journalistic standards in Kansas City's digital world.

5. Chris Hernandez - KSHB's power player taking some of the most controversial political stories to TV audiences.

BLVD BEERS



No, Boulevard would never sponsor TKC because I hear they're rather controlling and a bit too sensitivo. Additionally, their Chocolate Ale was a FAIL this year despite so much mainstream media hype. Still, overall it's impossible not to admire Kansas City's favorite brewery. Here are their most powerful creations.

1. Boulevard Wheat - This beer tastes like everything good about Kansas City. If this town wasn't burdened by so much petty politics, horrific homicide and hateration it wouldn't be such a such a bad place. But that's not reality. Still, Blvd. Wheat is just a bit of hope in glass and maybe one of the few reasons that TKC hasn't taken a bus to LA just yet.

2. The Sixth Glass - Kind of strong, the best of the "Smokestack Series" and certainly worth a try.

3. Irish Ale - The only seasonal that doesn't seem like an outright gimmick. It's always nice to see so many local white people hold on to the last shred of their ethnicity by pounding away these bad boys (no fishsticks) during the Springtime.

4. Lunar Ale - A blast from the past . . . This promo was pretty good and they should probably bring it back. At this point I realize that beer geeks are going to contradict me on all of this . . . Luckily, only bored girlfriends and wives are forced to listen to the rantings of beer geeks.

5. Blvd. Zon - Summertime brew to look forward to for all of you fruity d-bags.

As always, this list has been compiled according to scientific TKC polling and market research data and it's a weekly comprehensive guide to local powerful people.