* John Patterson made an excellent point the other day. After noting this AP story about the governor’s reaction to the Tribune poll…
The governor says his 13 percent job approval rating is unrelated to the federal corruption investigation that’s been swirling around his administration.”
…Patterson digs into his memory bank and realizes that former Gov. George Ryan made essentially the same argument…
When Ryan’s popularity tanked early on, he said it had far more to do with his 1999 decision to push higher alcohol and vehicle taxes – which paid for construction spending – than the federal investigation of his administration. There was also his decision to support O’Hare expansion after telling suburban voters he’d fight against more runways.
The federal proble was merely something of media fascination, he and his aides argued.
In case you forgot, and I doubt you have, that investigation no one was paying attention to ultimately caught up to Ryan. He’s now in prison.
* Patterson adds this thought today…
The Chicago Tribune had an interesting political poll last week that showed Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s approval rating at 13 percent. Of those polled, 75 percent said they don’t want to see him re-elected.
I just happened to be digging through some of my George Ryan files recently and came across the Oct. 31, 2000 Daily Herald story on the poll we did back then with news partner ABC-7. 65 percent said Ryan should not seek re-election.
Oof.
* Our state’s ongoing political gridlock and internecine warfare is now apparently taking a toll on charity events…
Big parties require work. And no one works harder than the volunteer in charge of invitations or seating — not even the chefs who prepare fancy meals for hundreds of picky eaters.
It’s the invitation committee that must navigate the treacherous minefield of contentious relationships.
Consider the Joffrey Ballet gala held earlier this party season.
Organizers were faced with the predicament of waiting for Mayor Richard M. Daley’s RSVP before inviting Gov. Rod Blagojevich. In the end, neither attended.
Though their staffs deny any animosity, party planners say the two politicos aren’t likely to be seen at the same soiree.
* Meanwhile, this is no real surprise…
And Blagojevich, the financial wunderkind who has shattered campaign money records, isn’t even involved in races this fall.
His campaign told the State Board of Elections last week it isn’t giving money to support other candidates or ballot issues this election.
So that means Democrats running for legislative seats won’t reap the rewards of cash from a governor whose administration is under the cloud of federal investigations, whose poll ratings are at all-time lows and whose fights with lawmakers have dominated government in recent years.
No doubt tears are flowing on campaigns throughout Illinois.
A quick check of campaign records shows just one actual campaign contribution to a legislative candidate in 2006 (Rep. Eddie Washington), one in 2004 (Rep. Bob Flider) and none in 2002.
Blagojevich set up an “independent” Move Illinois Forward PAC a few years back, which doled out $30,000 to Emil Jones and about $70,000 to legislative candidates in 2004, but that was the only cycle he really played in.
* House GOP Leader Tom Cross finessed the Blagojevich question in his local paper and it was printed without question…
Cross sets himself apart from the infighting among the state’s top Democratic leaders, including Gov. Rod Blagojevich. He said he works well with Democrats in his district.
“Here in Will County,” he said, “I feel pretty good about the fact that we work in a bipartisan way.”
All of Cross’ House campaigns are blasting Democrats for real and imagined ties to the governor. Ironic, ain’t it?
* Some say the public’s ire at Blagojevich will impact the constitutional convention referendum vote next week…
…the ballot’s convention question could essentially become an approval poll of Blagojevich and the state’s other top Democrats who control almost all aspects of state government.
“That’s basically what they’ve been telling me,” said state Rep. Mike Boland, an East Moline Democrat and convention supporter.
Blagojevich’s position may only help the “Yes” folks…
For his part, Blagojevich is mostly staying on the sidelines of the debate, with an aide saying the governor is “leaning towards no.”
* More…
* Kurt Erickson: Tackling the election, Blagojevich and a constitutional convention
* Gov the wild card in push for Obama’s seat
* If Obama wins, Jackson Jr. should take Senate seat
LIVE session coverage...
- culatr - Monday, Oct 27, 08 @ 11:21 am:
Fodder for QOTD: Will the President pardon George Ryan? Bonus question: Will Blago get Ryan’s spot?
- South of I-80 - Monday, Oct 27, 08 @ 11:32 am:
“The governor says his 13 percent job approval rating is unrelated to the federal corruption investigation that’s been swirling around his administration.”
It’s amazing how G-rod takes this little trips and when he comes back, everything is right with the world!
- Captain Flume - Monday, Oct 27, 08 @ 11:46 am:
When Governor Ryan’s approval ratings were dropping, his party was sliding along. That does not seem to be the case with Governor Blagojevich’s popularity and its effect on the Democrats. Perhaps the public does not make the connection between top official and party this year because the media is chary of damaging Senator Obama’s image, which more real scrutiny might call into question.
- VanillaMan - Monday, Oct 27, 08 @ 11:46 am:
Oh the mind-set of the politically powerful!
What do you think happens to people when they win an election a few times or elected to a high office a couple of times? Some of these people become addicted, don’t they?
Perhaps it is the belief in their own innocence. Perhaps it is the belief they control their own future? Or that they are too important to be replaced? The ones I’ve met are often unwavering in their faith in themselves regarding an ability to handle any issue at any time. How could a guy without even a completed term in office, look around the US Senate and convince themselves they ought to be president? How wacked an ego can these people have?
But these guys are Frankensteins. They are made by us. We have allowed a history of accepting their scenarios that they should be empowering our lives and controlling our decisions. In turn, these Frankensteins are told how important they are, not how important the office they are caretaking is important, but how important they are. After several months of this, heads are bound to expand to shocking excess.
They talked themselves into leading multi-million dollar political groups because of their personalities, their selling skills and their appearance. They are given staffs of hungry youngsters looking to change the world and enrich themselves in the process. These Frankensteins are feted by people who wouldn’t have given them the time of day within their social circles.
How we can expect any decent governmental policies from Frankensteins? We hope that deep within their bolted heads lie a kernel of intelligence and decency to steer the ship of state. Or we hope their employed teams of self-annointed experts will keep their monster from wrecking havoc.
The weakest link however is how we have set up these elected offices in such a high position that they are allowed to rule our lives. And the hope never stops! When life hits us with unemployment, we want others to help us find employment, give us enough money to survive, and hope we can continue our lifestyles without inconvenience. When we get sick, we want others to pay for our health care, provide us the best medicine can offer, and hope we can continue our lifestyles without inconvenience. When we have children, we hope others will help raise them, educate them and pay their costs so that we can hope to continue our lifestyles without inconvenience.
The Frankensteins lie to us, and we then lie to ourselves - and the cycle continues. They pretend to be King of the World, and when their solutions fail, (as all solutions eventually do), we rediscover that when we pass our life’s responsibilities to another, they will make decisions that benefit themselves, not you.
Government is to be limited, citizens are to be empowered to succeed or fail, so that we risk less and make better decisions as a society.
- Springfield Alum - Monday, Oct 27, 08 @ 12:04 pm:
Rich:
I know at least a dozen people that have taken advantage of early voting. I know this is not a proper statistical sampling, but all of them indicated that they voted in favor of a Con-Con. Their primary motivation was a backlash at either the Governor or the dysfunction in Springfield.
- wordslinger - Monday, Oct 27, 08 @ 12:39 pm:
What’s always amazed me about Blagojevich is that he has conducted himself as governor the way he has while the Ryan investigations and prosecutions were ongoing. The recklessness and arrogance is simply baffling.
- Phineas J. Whoopee - Monday, Oct 27, 08 @ 1:17 pm:
When all is said and done all elected Democratic officials in this state will owe a debt of gratitude to Speaker Madigan for somehow not allowing Blago’s party to wear the hat for this failed administration. I not sure how he has done it, but some Repubs are taking the heat more then anyone. Ozinga for one.
- Just P. Tired - Monday, Oct 27, 08 @ 2:39 pm:
The longest investigation in memory. How long will this Blago mess go on? Hurtgen’s trial got bumped to March. I haven’t heard a thing on the Kelly trial but odds are Rezko is singing…still here sits the Gov…and sits…and sits.
- Squideshi - Monday, Oct 27, 08 @ 7:06 pm:
Someone needs to tell Tom Cross that biPARTISAN is still PARTISAN. He needs to instead focus on working in a MULTIpartisan or NONpartisan manner.