The endorsements of Topinka read more like diatribes against Blagojevich, but I’m sure she’ll take whatever she can get at this point.
* Tribune:
The governor’s flimsy responses–he doesn’t know, he can’t recall, he’s the victim here–insult the people of Illinois.
The governor who promised in 2002 to “end business as usual” would have you pay no attention to the gathering evidence of broad corruption.
He points to his efforts in health care and education. He has indeed expanded access to health care for Illinois children. He has expanded government-funded preschool. The governor says, next up: universal health care in Illinois!
But he refuses to acknowledge that he can’t pay for all those things. He can’t pay for the government we already have. The state’s long-term debt has grown dramatically during the Blagojevich administration.
* Peoria Journal-Star:
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich must take Illinoisans for fools.
You’d have to be a fool to buy the 49-year-old Chicago Democrat’s explanations regarding the ethical misconduct allegations that dog his administration as he tries to defeat GOP challenger Judy Baar Topinka.
* If you can find the Herald & Review’s endorsement, link it in comments.
* Blagojevich responds:
Newspaper endorsements backing Gov. Rod Blagojevich all refer to the “cloud of scandal” surrounding his administration, but the incumbent Democrat said Sunday he is not concerned with how those comments might shape the public’s perception of him as the Nov. 7 election approaches.
Blagojevich said “real people” are aware of the accomplishments of his first term and understand his administration is not the first to be investigated by federal authorities.
“That’s just the nature of the beast in today’s politics,” Blagojevich said after receiving the endorsement of the Illinois Nurses Association, adding officials in local, state and federal government are increasingly under scrutiny.
* The AP also ran this puff piece:
Gov. Rod Blagojevich is more than a casual John Wayne fan.
When he rattles off Wayne’s movie titles, his list of favorites includes the little-known B-Westerns the Duke made before “Stagecoach” made him a star.
He can list all of John Wayne’s B movies, but he can’t remember if his kid ever got another $1500 check.
- annon. - Monday, Oct 23, 06 @ 6:25 am:
Bladgo !!!!!!!! Geezzzz !! Haven’t we about had enough folks?? This guy in addition to screwing the state financially & otherwise will spend the next 4 {if elected} defending himself in federal court rather than governing…which he already has a tough time doing. JBT may not be the best choice …but it’s a chance. Unlike our current {not by me} Guv ..won’t start her first day in office in a new administration reading over the latest investigation info or perhaps answering an indictment. That guy goes down & then the upending that follows will be diasterous to a state already in in deep $#!*.
- Bill - Monday, Oct 23, 06 @ 7:42 am:
We the real people shall prevail!
Rich, your threads today are even more anti-Rod than usual. Have you made your endorsement yet? Is Judy going to declare your in-kind contributions?
Bring it on!
- Bill - Monday, Oct 23, 06 @ 7:44 am:
By the way, Rod can also recite Elvis’complete discography from memory as well as Cubs starting lineups from decades ago. What a mind!
4 more years!
- fedup dem - Monday, Oct 23, 06 @ 9:04 am:
“He can list all of John Wayne’s B movies, but he can’t remember if his kid ever got another $1500 check.” Nice comment.
I can just hear some Assistant US Attorney salivating over the chance to point that out during cross-examination of Blagojevich in a trial in the not-too-distant future. And unlike George Ryan, Rod’s ego is too big for him not to take the stand.
- Walking Wounded - Monday, Oct 23, 06 @ 9:15 am:
Bill,
So, Rod can recite Elvis and Cubs starting lineups but can’t recall the $1500 gift his daughter received from a close friend. Oh, that’s right, he recalled it well over a year after the Feds reminded him he needed to claim it. Yeah, he’s a real whiz, that governor of ours.
- Madigan Brown - Monday, Oct 23, 06 @ 9:43 am:
Bill,
Really, your loyalty is admirable, and I wish you a life of happiness and compassion. But you should begin to think about your future. You posted on another story in response to Martha Mitchell, ‘we can’t all be as smart as you.’ Even just a little smart says, ‘maybe, (with the ALL the anti-Rod headlines, Rich just doesn’t make them up) maybe I should tone down my Rod-loving fervor.’ The few good things for the ‘real people’ (who I think are John Wayne and Elvis action figures) are being undone but mounting EVIDENCE, not opinions.
- Country Girl - Monday, Oct 23, 06 @ 9:58 am:
Now it is the “real people” he is talking about. Doesn’t this sound like his comment about the only way his daughter would have a “normal” life would be if they lived in Chicago, rather than the mansion? Sounds to me like the only “normal” “Real People” are those like Bill who either live in Chicago or can follow Blago blindly when the evidence of corruption is not just smacking them in the face, but hitting them in the head like a giant ugly stick.
And BTW, Just because he can name all of the John Wayne movies and Elvis records doesn’t mean he has a mind that is awesome; it just means that it is so full of meaningless trivia that there is no room for the higher level of thinking that is needed by someone who is Governor of Illinois.
- VanillaMan - Monday, Oct 23, 06 @ 10:07 am:
Blagojevich has reached a point where he refuses to see only those who recognize his genius. He refers to them as “real people”. Everyone else doesn’t exist anymore, and he no longer sees them.
This is typical behavior for those folks with his mental illness.
- Bill - Monday, Oct 23, 06 @ 10:59 am:
MB,
Headlines and speculation by a biased media are not “EVIDENCE”. Even someone with your prestigious name has not seen any “EVIDENCE” of any wrong doing. Don’t you think if there was any “EVIDENCE” that Rod would have been indicted and charged by now?
Despite attempts at character assasination by bloggers and some in the press, we will win this election and continue the progressive agenda of Rod Blagojevich to benefit all of the real people in Illinois.
- ironman - Monday, Oct 23, 06 @ 12:05 pm:
Bill, come on now. I could give you 5 pages of evidence at one state facility..
- Garp - Monday, Oct 23, 06 @ 12:06 pm:
Blago has really done it this time. Bringing John Wayne into his twisted and delusional world. Is nothing sacred? How many times did the Duke rollover in his grave?
Now Patrick Fitzgerald, that is a man the Duke would respect. Our Governor needs to take a break from public service.
- Animous - Monday, Oct 23, 06 @ 12:38 pm:
Bill @ 10:59am: {Don’t you think if there was any “EVIDENCE†that Rod would have been indicted and charged by now?}
Short answer; NO. G Ryan is just now getting ready for his trip to the federal pen for actions that happened back when, in the mid 90’s?
We’re inside of three years here, there is still plenty of time left. You can bank on the likelihood that the feds are still GATHERING evidence, they’re just under no obligation to use it yet…
- archpundit - Monday, Oct 23, 06 @ 12:45 pm:
===He can list all of John Wayne’s B movies, but he can’t remember if his kid ever got another $1500 check.
- archpundit - Monday, Oct 23, 06 @ 12:45 pm:
Strangely, this doesn’t seem inconsistent given his attention span.
- Establishment Republican - Monday, Oct 23, 06 @ 2:56 pm:
Has anyone stopped to ask themselves if the Governor is simply our version of Rain Man?
3 pm, time for Wapner!
- Buck Flagojevich - Monday, Oct 23, 06 @ 3:37 pm:
One has to wonder if he chats with the portraits of the past governors of our state ala Nixon in the Governor’s Mansion. I mean when he actually does visit the Mansion.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Oct 23, 06 @ 3:39 pm:
Buck, he chats regularly with Jim Thompson. Does that count? lol
- Martha Mitchell - Monday, Oct 23, 06 @ 6:51 pm:
What arrogance!! Who the h-ll is he referring to as “real people.” We on this blog are real people and yes, governor, we DO get the big picture. It involves the “Big House” in your future.
And, by the way, Bill, you will note that my second round of blogging begins after the work day - not during it. And, for the record, I’ll put my educational credentials up against yours any day.
AND further, there a tons of people who blog here who are much cleverer than I and have great common sense.
- edward - Thursday, Nov 16, 06 @ 10:34 pm:
I think we should recall rod tge day after he takes office for the second time so that way we know republicans can win because he has little money left oh wait he will just do more no bid contracts to get the money…