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Even allies of Cook County Board President John Stroger couldn't avoid his whip last week during two back-to-back county and forest preserve meetings. Will he run again in 2006 for board president? He's not saying, but he doesn't seem concerned about keeping his allies appeased in the meantime. He lashed out at Commissioner Joan Patricia Murphy (D-Crestwood), who made the apparent mistake of beginning a comment with, "I disagree with you, Mr. President." Stroger then accused her, wrongly, of being chummy with a developer. He sniped at Commissioner Roberto Maldonado (D-Chicago), who merely inquired about whether minority and small newspaper operations could bid on a county contract. He jokingly poked at Commissioner Anthony Peraica (R-Riverside), whose name he constantly mispronounces as "Peraico." (He also calls Commissioner Gregg Goslin "Gogglin" and Forest Preserve Supt. Steve Bylina "Mr. Bilini"). When Peraica corrected him on the mispronunciation, Stroger replied that he read recently Lyndon Johnson purposely mispronounced the names of senators he didn't like. "I trust that is not the case here, Mr. President," Peraica said as laughter erupted. While many of the exchanges add levity to a draining, three-hour board meeting, Stroger violated his own "be nice" advice last week. He often reminds board members of his open-door policy, but in the same breath, he cuts off those who disagree with him. He takes jabs at those who try to initiate worthwhile debate. He clips commissioners who talk off subject, but then he rambles with his own personal stories. He tells commissioners to stop picking on one another in the newspapers, but then he snaps the whip when he wants to chastise a board member publicly. It was he who opened the meeting with: "If I want to run (for re-election), I'll run, but I'm not even halfway through my term. Let's just get the job done and stop beating up on each other."