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Question of the day

Tuesday, Feb 27, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller

The fight to become the state’s “official” soft drink attracted just two bidders, Coke and Pepsi.

“We wish there were 25 bidders, because of the competition, but we’re satisfied there were two,” said Mike Klemens, spokesman for the Illinois Department of Revenue.

What, no RC?

We could have a serious debate about whether this is a good idea, or even whether it’s hypocritical of the governor to force schools to stop selling soft drinks (which brings in big bucks) while encouraging their use statewide so the state could bring in big bucks.

Instead, because I feel like something a little lighter today, here’s the question: Coke or Pepsi?

       

52 Comments
  1. - Sporty41 - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 9:49 am:

    Without reservation the following are first place ties:

    1-A) Royal Crown Cola . . . man’o is it good!!

    1-B) Sweet Valley (Aldi’s) Black Cherry Cola . . . fantastic ice cold on a summer’s day!!


  2. - VanillaMan - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 9:49 am:

    See what happens when you are out of money? You start doing stupid things like this.

    Any official soft drink for Illinois should be an ILLINOIS soft drink company.

    CANFIELDS


  3. - Pat Hickey - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 10:06 am:

    Spoken like a Patriot Vanilla Man! However, might I offer - Green River historic and in the 30’s & 40’s was second only to that four-lettered prduct from Georgia.

    http://www.dggpro.com/TheSodaDepot/browse.asp?page=415


  4. - wrigs - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 10:07 am:

    Either will do on one condition: FILAN AND G-ROD leave once this issue is resolved


  5. - vole - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 10:17 am:

    Don’t question. Just consume. Be happy and enjoy the corn syrup. If it contributes to obesity and drives up the cost of health care then your the state (your grandchildren) can pay for more of that too.


  6. - Amy - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 10:17 am:

    Only Pepsi. I would die before I drink Coke.


  7. - zatoichi - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 10:19 am:

    No Jones Soda? If the state goes Coke does it become an ethics violation to bring in a Pepsi can? The SNL “cheeseburga, cheeseburga” jokes will have a huge opportunity here. If the state really goes for this, is the contest for the official state beer coming?

    It’s a vote for the offical “softdrink” not the official bottler? I prefer MDew but, if I gotta vote C or P, it has to be full strength Coke, not that diet stuff.


  8. - ArchPundit - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 10:21 am:

    Pepsi (okay Diet Mountain Dew)

    But to show I can bring this back to politics, there is a classic study in political science showing the historical ties between Democrats and Coca-Cola and Republicans and Pepsi (I can’t find the site and I have it filed away)

    While one’s partisan ID is best predicted by parents partisan ID, apparently their drink of choice has more influence on me than their politics of choice.


  9. - BBpolNut - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 10:29 am:

    What a stupid thing. Official soda. We have more important issues.


  10. - cermak_rd - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 10:41 am:

    Diet Coke! Breakfast, lunch and dinner of champions!

    I can’t stand regular sodas, they taste like syrup.


  11. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 10:51 am:

    COKE


  12. - Fan of the Game - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 10:52 am:

    Coke. It’s not as sweet and has more carbonation. Where I grew up in southern Illinois, “Coke” was a substitute for the generic “soda.” We’d order a Coke, and the waitress would ask, “What kind?”

    My uncle’s nickname was RC because he drank so much of that product and kept it stocked in his pool hall. But many in southern Illinois prefer the lemony-lime goodness that is Ski.

    As for a state soda, that is the level we have come to in Illinois. Sad.


  13. - Bill - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 10:58 am:

    Vernors


  14. - i d - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 10:59 am:

    I’m ambivalent. Depends on whether served with say, pizza (pepsi) or by itself (coke). Never diet!!!!! Drink of healthy choice: Hot brewed tea, iced down and sweetened by Splenda.


  15. - Crimefighter - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 11:00 am:

    I hope that this isn’t the state trying to impose only one brand of soda at the vending machines. BTW, where’s Dr. Pepper???


  16. - Chitownguy - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 11:15 am:

    Pepsi is nasty… Coke Zero or Diet Coke all the way!


  17. - Wumpus - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 11:34 am:

    At the same time they are trying to ban pop sales in schools, this. More doublespeak from the tax eaters. Why not Pimp Juice as the official drink?


  18. - leigh - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 11:46 am:

    Diet Coke


  19. - Ali Bin Haddin - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 11:55 am:

    This is a gas! Coke will always outsell Pepsi because it is a better bar mixer. Rum and Coke, Jack and Coke, etc. Mixing Pepsi or Pepsi products with alcohol should be a capital crime.


  20. - Crockett - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 12:01 pm:

    Coke. Will tenants in the Thompson Center basement have to change their soft drinks (like the McDonald’s in Vegas casinos that sell Pepsi)?


  21. - Ali Bin Haddin - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 12:13 pm:

    What happens if Pepsi becomes the official drink and if the Olympics comes to Chicago with Coke as the offical Olympic Soft Drink?


  22. - Utility Infielder - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 12:16 pm:

    I’m with VM Canfields 50/50.


  23. - i d - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 12:18 pm:

    Well, if we’re talking mixers, let’s go with 7up.


  24. - Jake from Elwood - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 12:22 pm:

    JIF (oh wait there’s salmonella in that)


  25. - Just the Facts - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 12:27 pm:

    (Can’t resist the snark) Why doesn’t it surprise me that Bill would prefer something unpalatable - Vernors -


  26. - Soda sommelier - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 1:16 pm:

    Green River, baby! Since prohibition!


  27. - Patriot - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 1:35 pm:

    Is there really a difference?


  28. - Establishment Republican - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 1:51 pm:

    At the Billy Goat they would say,

    “No Coke. Pepsi.”


  29. - Way Northsider - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 1:55 pm:

    Coke is it!


  30. - He Makes Ryan look like a saint - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 1:58 pm:

    Either, as long as it has Capt. Morgan, or Jack Daniels in it!!!


  31. - paddyrollingstone - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 3:43 pm:

    The word is “pop” and RC is the Cadillac of pop.


  32. - A Citizen - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 5:13 pm:

    CocaCola regular, but really prefer Vernor’s Ginger Ale.


  33. - Blue Boy - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 5:25 pm:

    Canfield’s, its a local brand.


  34. - Blue Boy - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 5:25 pm:

    Canfield’s, its a local brand.


  35. - NoGiftsPlease - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 5:38 pm:

    Go soymilk! Ag-based and good for you! Not to mention delicious.


  36. - Little Egypt - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 5:43 pm:

    Pepsi - but only because my two older siblings LOVE Coke and I still like to push their buttons. Hello gals!


  37. - Tessa - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 5:51 pm:

    I grew up in central Illinois and my siblings still joke about drinking “sodie”. Give me my Pepsi over Coke any day. It’s sweeter, doesn’t have the bite. Coke brings back the shine to pennies, just think what it does to your insides. YUCK!


  38. - Cat - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 5:55 pm:

    Just make sure you wash your hands before you grab the Yoo Hoo!


  39. - Huh? - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 6:35 pm:

    Og My God! I can’t believe there is something that Bill and I agree about.

    Vernors for the State soda!


  40. - Norseman - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 6:37 pm:

    Pepsi


  41. - Anon - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 6:45 pm:

    Only Pepsi!!!!!!!!!


  42. - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 6:48 pm:

    Coke for sure. I’d support legalizing it too, with high taxes of course. And only for adults.


  43. - pol watcher - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 6:51 pm:

    Coke in glass bottles from when I was a kid! The stuff they now sell in cans and plastic bottles is no comparison.


  44. - Papa Legba - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 6:51 pm:

    Considering a relative of Filan’s is a Pepsi lobbyist I guess we know what the official soda will be.

    Who cares, Coke is a better product anyway.

    BTW. Good choice Bill!!!


  45. - Squideshi - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 7:20 pm:

    Is this the type of thing Illinois wants to promote?


  46. - Concerned Voter - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 9:23 pm:

    Pepsi One


  47. - Duh - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 9:32 pm:

    WHO CARES? Let’s get at real state issues! This is another issue related to our light-weight Governor and his hacks. I’m so tired of this, I’m ready to move to another state — or country. I’m embarrassed! Give it up Rod, No one with any sense should care!!!!!! And this from a true Pepsi (Diet) drinker. What part of “NO GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION” does everyone not get???????


  48. - Sporty41 - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 10:29 pm:

    Duh - You have obviously not tried Sweet Valley Black Cherry Soda. 10 cents gets you 12 ounces of solid goodness.

    I will have to try the Canfield . . . can’t beat the Cadillac though. Go RC


  49. - Disgusted - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 11:28 pm:

    The blind vendor for the building I work in said that 80% of his clientele drink Pepsi. He also said that if an official drink is chosen and pushed, he will go out of business, as will a lot more of his fellow vendors. First the minimum wage was raised, then talk of a gross sales tax and now an “official” state soda. He also said that the chief person behind Coke’s push is a cousin of the Governor, whose assistants are the same ilk as our friends Brad and Lon. Same old, same old with Milarod. Will have to be buried with a corkscrew.


  50. - charlie johnston - Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 11:51 pm:

    Wild Cherry Pepsi.


  51. - Diego - Wednesday, Feb 28, 07 @ 6:42 am:

    TEAM Services (connected naming rights contractor) has the sweetest deal. They get 15% commission.


  52. - The Federalist - Thursday, Mar 1, 07 @ 1:17 pm:

    I helped put the “Coke” bid together at the U of I Urbana/Champaign IN 1997. It expires June 30, 2007. Due to complaints from small vendors the General Assembly changed the purchasing act to prohibit asking for money when a new RFP was put out. HOW DOES THE STATE GET AROUND THIS????


Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.


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