142 Comments - Hack - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 5:11 pm: Rich, I dig the live blog but you should also Skype with someone in the WTTW viewing area. Just have the person you are Skyping with point their web camera at the tv. That way you could view the debate over the internet. I’d volunteer to do it for you but I have another engagement. - shore - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 6:20 pm: I will see if I can skype it. - Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 6:28 pm: A Public Policy Polling survey of the Illinois governor and senate races pretty much mirrors a Chicago Tribune/WGN poll released yesterday: On the GOP side, state Sen. Kirk Dillard leads with 19 percent followed by former state GOP chairman Andy McKenna at 17 percent, former state Attorney General Jim Ryan at 13 percent and businessman Adam Andrzejewski at 11 percent. Seventeen percent are undecided. The margin of error for the Republican race is 4.1 points. - Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 6:29 pm: http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_Ill_126.pdf - shore - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:03 pm: round 2. - shore - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:03 pm: ponce is moderating. expect a question on public transpo. - Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:06 pm: Kirk Dillard already namechecked Jim Edgar. - Anon - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:07 pm: Ouch. Mckenna says he has a conflict and cannot attend. We sent out invitations in November says Ponce - shore - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:08 pm: question 1. spending. where will you cut without hurting people. dillard-edgar reference first words out of his mouth. plan to cut 5 billion from medicaid. need new pension system. 2 tiered system ponce-stick with budget. hwo to do without hurtinsg social services. dillard-2.2 billion in efficiencies. we got into this over many years. wont take one year. destination economy plan. edgar reference to his work. ponce-can you cut your way into balanced budget. ryan-I agree with dillard. hits democrats on spending and taxes. we need to cut spending. its a spending problem. ponce-brady a spending problem? brady-ryan and dillard wanted tax increases. I have a proven track record-I call for tax cuts. ponce-is 10 percent cut is ham handed? brady-departments will ahve to come up with zero based budgeting. im a biz guy, I know how to cut. - Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:09 pm: McKenna’s conflict may have nothing to do with another event on the same date and time - shore - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:09 pm: brady-hits dillard and ryan again. adam-everyone has raised taxes-all have voted for tax increases. increased spending is tax increase. (they all have too much war paint on) adam-brady voted for a number of spending increasse adam and brady going after each other. - Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:09 pm: Ponce is asking the panel how realistic it is to balance the budget without raising taxes. Ryan bashed Democrats for spending too much money and raising taxes. Brady bashed Ryan and Dillard for raising taxes. Adam A. bashed Brady, Ryan, and Dillard for raising taxes. I sense a theme. - Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:10 pm: Proft-Flat rate cut is “intellectually lazy - Anon - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:11 pm: Dan proft “10 percent across the board intellectually lazy” - Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:11 pm: Proft-High Speed Rail = “Boondoggle” - shore - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:11 pm: proft-they are talking about orderly going out of business sales. brady is intellectually lazy. ponce-but you want a tax cut. is that doable? proft-it is necesseary. cites rauchenberger. talking about need to spend more for developmentally disabled. we are spending too much on patronage, ryan-its a matter of spending cuts, that take gov with guts that will make cuts. ryan looks really old. need to create more jobs. stimulated economy will create jobs. - Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:12 pm: Jim Ryan claims “a stimulated economy” and deep spending cuts will close the gap in the state’s deficit. - Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:12 pm: Ryan is proposing a 2 year budget? - bwana - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:12 pm: Ryan agrees with Dillard more than himself - Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:13 pm: Dillard-Infrastructure is critical to job creation - Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:14 pm: Dillard-No tax increase pledge = “gimmick” - Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:14 pm: Ryan just claimed he took a no-taxes pledge. - Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:14 pm: Dillard wants to look at “tax fairness” - shore - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:14 pm: ryan-shouldnt raise taxes. ponce-y or n to justify taxes ryan-no proft-no brady-no dillard-no I’ve never voted for tax increase (isn’t answering question. Dillard getting beat up by everyone ponce dillard-I want the full slate of options. I need wiggle room, whiuch might mean increases. I want tax fairness. You dont take pledges because its a gimmick ryan unloads on dillard, I’ve made pledges, I wont raise taxes. adam-unloading on dillard. proft-boards of mystics-they have had 15 years to do something. they havent done it. - Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:15 pm: Adam A. was the first to bring up Mike Madigan. - babs - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:15 pm: Adam would zero out DCEO. - Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:16 pm: Dillard brings up his newspaper endorsements as evidence that he can “get things done” despite Madigan. - shore - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:17 pm: ponce-what would you cut adam-fire commerce department. I have toughest policies. My opponents cuts need help of madigan so these guys work is dead. (this thing is a mess) ponce-how will you take down madigan. dillard-stimes endorsed me because I can actually get it done. edgar and thompson rerferencs. ponce but will madigan say no to you. dillard-i made him minority leader. 3rd edgar reference. crains endorsement. I am a proven leader. ryan-we will get seats after election. as ag, i had to deal with speaker. I passed more legislation than any other ag in history. madigan is not a branch of government. he is his own branch. - Anon - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:18 pm: Dillard wants to name drop and give his political resume and not answer questions directly - Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:18 pm: Ryan is determined to work with Madigan, but will take his case to the people of Illinois if Mike won’t play ball. - Obamarama - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:18 pm: Dillard refers to a “Democrat” General Assembly. Hey Republics, Democrat is a noun, Democratic is an adjective. - shore - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:20 pm: adam-this is hot air. I posted my tax returns. references bobby jindal. I called on everyone to post tax returns. dan proft-madigan will be real impressed adam put his tax returns online. dems know who their constituencies are-north shore liberals (team america). brady-hits dillard, hits dillards record as cos. never balanced a budget. dillard fighting back. brady unloading on dillard and ryan for admitting they cant balance budgets. - Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:20 pm: If you had Bill Brady calling himself a businessman in a drinking game, you are starting to get a buzz. Brady’s focused on attacking Dillard and Ryan on the budget. - Obamarama - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:21 pm: Bill Brady refers to himself as a businessman for the 907th time in 15 minutes. Businessman, go negative, businessman, go negative, rinse and repeat. - CircularFiringSquad - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:21 pm: Oh the torture…only thing worse than 2 Ds is a zillion Rs…this is like radio without the audio….Capt Fax please make them stop! - Anon - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:21 pm: Brady I will put 401 K pensions in place. Not without an amendment to the state constitution Bill - Wow... - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:21 pm: geeze they sound like a bunch of guys vying to take the prettiest girl in town to the dance. -Miss Scarlett, I’m gonna inherit my pa’s plantation someday. -Miss Scarlett, I’m attending university. -Miss Scarlett, I play a mean fiddle. -No, you don’t! I’m the best fiddler in town! I’m a champion fiddler player. -Well, I own my own store and I got it without going to university. -Miss Scarlett have you ever been to Paris, France? - bwana - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:22 pm: Brady just wants to attack the % leader issue lack of experience. Ponce could lose these guys quickly. - Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:23 pm: Ponce asked Dillard about complimenting Obama. Dillard mentioned that “anytime a Democrat works with me on a Republican issue like ethics, I’ll say nice things about him.” Goes on to discuss his support for McCain, and that people are sick and tired of partisan politics. Disagrees with Obama on “95% of policy.” - Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:23 pm: Brady and Adam now bashing Dillard for Obama comment. - Levois - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:24 pm: They are pouncing on Dillard. Circular firing squad in progress! - Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:24 pm: Proft-Sun-Times likjes Republicans who are Democrats - shore - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:24 pm: brady-I will do it year one. I will fumigate appointees. adam-government needs to cut spending. forensic audits. ponce-sounds criminal brady-adam needs an audit because he doesnt know what hes doing. adam-you are lazy. brady-I call for a surplus. we have to pay down debt. ponce-here are your weaknesses dillard you are an obama guy. dillard- I was his bff on ethics bill. obama worked with ME. head of mccain campaign said nice things about me this afternoon. people are tired of partisna politics. adam-that should lose him the election. he rebuilt the democrat party. brady-unloads on dillard-you had conference call with democrat county chairman. brady-name one newspaper endorsement from someone who didnt raise taxes. proft-sun times likes gop who are democats. brady-unloading on dillard adam-lets not be nice to mckenna (dillard is getting destroyed. Stuart levine. - Todd - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:24 pm: dillard looks a bit stiff, brady is swinging for the bleachers mustthink this is his last chance - Todd - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:25 pm: Age and time have not been kind to Ryan - Levois - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:26 pm: Ryan pouncing on Dillard for an Edgar appointment vote! - Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:26 pm: Ponce asks Ryan about Stu Levine. Ryan responds with Daily Herald endorsement of Ryan’s “impeccable honesty.” Doesn’t see a problem with getting a lot of money from Levine, didn’t see the bad side of Levine’s “double life.” Brings up own role as a prosecutor to bolster his law-abiding reputation. - Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:26 pm: Dillard is searching the old memory bank on voting to confrim Stuie Levine appointments - bwana - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:26 pm: Someone needs to go after McKenna!!! That would be a feeding frenzy!! - Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:28 pm: If you had Adam A referencing Bobby Jindal in a drinking game, you are starting to feel a little queasy. - shore - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:28 pm: ryan daily herald knows me, they love me, they say I am honest ponce- how did you not know about this. ryan he led a double life-hes a secret agent. I’ve never been indicted. I’ve prosecuted both parties. I didnt do antying for stu levine. Dillard voted for stu levine. edgar nominated. is kirk honest? yes. and so am i. this is poltiical bologna. adam-jim just detailed all the relationships. all the friends. this is why we need a fresh and clean break ryan-you are a neophyte. ponce-you havent provided your net worth. adam-im more transparent. I said I am worth low 8 figures. I am not a government insider. 2 democrats have done it. ponce-proft you got contracts from cicero. proft-this is sop and legit. - Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:28 pm: Proft-Cicero no bid contract question PR FLACK = “professional service contract” - Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:29 pm: Proft now attacking Adam A, some crosstalk among two candidates in single digits. - Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:29 pm: 1 Adam-12 Why does government need a PR firm? Cut it! - shore - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:29 pm: adam-why does government need pr? I’d cut tis it proft-this is someone who doesnt get it. adam-I am leading you in this race. proft-you are the kid on the playground. ponce-would you fire your flack? adam-dan gave a quote on a cat in the tree. - Levois - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:29 pm: Proft and Andrejzeski (sp?) bickering! Who knows policy and who can advance the flag! - Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:30 pm: 1-Adam 12 Cicerto paid hundreds of thousand of $$$$ for Proft to comment on a “cat up a tree story” - bwana - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:31 pm: Andy…..Proft is way outta your league son, best shut it down a little. - Obamarama - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:31 pm: Adam A claims his net worth is in the low 8 figure but refuses to reveal a solid figure. Proft explains (the truth) that his no-bid contracts were for professional services which are not subject to competitive bidding statutes. He goes on to say contracts in the City of Chicago are bid out but often rigged. Adam interrupts. Proft calls Adam “the kid on the playground that gives himself a nickname.” Proft says Adam is ignorant about what he is talking about. Bill Brady gets called out for a suspect granting of a state scholarship, says he would do away with the program, but continue to participate in the meantime. - shore - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:31 pm: proft-there is no there there. you are ignorant. ponce-you gave scholarships to a donor. brady-i am clean. I am a job creator. praises ford announcement today. - Anon - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:32 pm: Brady ” WE ned to bring in more business llike Ford. Isn’t Quinn taking full credit for that? - Obamarama - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:33 pm: Jim Ryan looks like the wrong end of the Nixon/Kennedy debate. - Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:33 pm: Ryan: Andy McKenna wants to be governor. What has he ever accomplished in his public life? Criticizes McKenna on the poll issue. - shore - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:34 pm: ponce-mckenna inquiry. what would you ask andy ryan-what has he ever done publicly? the man was state party chair and was a code violator. rehashing the poll. birkett endorsement. birkett hates mckenna. (ryan is awful) proft-his dad grounded him. - Anon - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:34 pm: Finally, Anyone wish to attack the frontrunner? - Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:34 pm: Republican 0poll using partyb $ with McKenna’s name in the poll. What would you ask McKenna Ryan-what have you ever accomplished in public life? Including McKenna’s name in poll is “self dealing” - Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:34 pm: Proft: McKenna’s dad grounded him for raising money illegally (that’s why he’s not here). Proft takes credit for making poll issue public. - Obamarama - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:34 pm: “My understanding is that his dad grounded him for raising money illegally.” Proft on McKenna. Oof. - bwana - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:35 pm: Its chum line time, - Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:35 pm: Proft-McKenna’s name in polling is “coversion of funds:” which in the private sector would be prosecuted - shore - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:35 pm: proft-I know the scams that are run. its illegal. hes raising money from bad guys. ponce why is he doing well in polls dillard- because hes rich. why doesn’t he campaign. we campaign. where is he? if he wont show up, how will he govern? he’s a chicken. - Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:35 pm: Dillard: McKenna is spending millions and millions of his and his father’s and his family’s money. Question: Where is he? If he can’t face us, can he face the Democrats? “You can’t be a mole.” - Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:36 pm: Dillard-McKenna is using daddy’s money to campaign on TV, and will not show up anywehre to campaign in person - Responsa - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:36 pm: Regardless of how one feels about their individual policy proposals these guys clearly have thought about the state’s problems and have some concrete ideas to put forth that go beyond the vague platitudes we heard last night. McKenna is a coward for not showing up. Maybe it’s not too late for the Trib to undo their endorsement. Led by Proft they’re all eviscerating McKenna right now. Good. - Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:36 pm: Would you take stimulus money? All said yes. - Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:36 pm: Computer re-districting- Yers unanimous - Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:37 pm: Casino gaming- No-unanimous - Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:37 pm: Repeal video gaming-yes -unanimous - Anon - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:38 pm: Dan Proft Lift Death penalty Moratorium but repeal the death penalty. I’m against the D.P. Way to stand out - Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:38 pm: Lift death penalty moratorium- Ryan-no Asks Brady; you have been in legislature all these years and have done nothing - Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:39 pm: Most would lift death penalty moratorium. Ryan would not until scope of death penalty is limited. Proft would lift it, but would also work to abolish death penalty. Brady criticizes Ryan, saying “you can’t have it both ways” and claiming Ryan is like Blagojevich. Ryan says Brady is playing political games. - bwana - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:39 pm: Bradys looking like a whinning brat - Irish Eyes - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:39 pm: Bill Brady and Jim Ryan fighting about the death penalty. Jim Ryan tells Brady he has never accomplished anything as a legislator. Ponce bring up the Cruz conviction. - Todd - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:39 pm: is it me or does ryan sound like hes slurring his speech? - shore - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:40 pm: ryan just opened himself up. oof - Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:40 pm: Ponce tees up a softball to Ryan on Rolando Cruz case; nice job of framing the question and teeing it up - Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:40 pm: Ponce raises the Rolando Cruz case. Did this inform Ryan’s stance? Ryan “no court has ever criticized me for my actions in this case” but he will be “a better governor because of that experience.” - Obamarama - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:40 pm: Jimmy gets Rolando’ed. Brady invokes Brian Dugan. Jimmy is starting to loose his cool. He looks 20 years older than in 2002. - Todd - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:40 pm: RTC yes but for ryan - Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:40 pm: Conceal carry- yes except for Ryan - Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:41 pm: Ryan does sound like he’s slurring. A nonpolitical viewer here wondered if he has Parkinson’s. - Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:41 pm: Pro-Life yes; unmanimous Proft-born 9 months before Roe v. Wade, and put up for adoption. Different circustances may have yielded different results for him - Todd - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:42 pm: proft gets points for the “fusalage” of the party - Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:43 pm: Dillard-I’m a Ronald Reagan conservative with a moderate tone - Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:44 pm: Ponce wonders if moderate electorate will be scared off from rightwingers in the fall. Adam A, Proft claim Democrats are the fringe, we espouse (Proft) “sensible public policy.” Brady claims he was conservative before those guys thought it was popular. Dillard: My support is broad-based, I’m a Reagan social conservative with a moderate tone. Black people like me. Latinos like me. Brings up clippings that he’s most electable Republican. Proft: Bashes Dillard with Judy Baar Topinka. We need a contrast. - Anon - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:44 pm: Dillard “I had an African American fundraiser” - bwana - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:44 pm: Brady a fiscal buisness man????…. will somebody PLEASE ask Brady the current state of his buisness…..end of story - Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:44 pm: 1-Adam 12 Split in the party is not pro-life vs. pro-choice, but insiders vs, outsiders - Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:45 pm: Adam A repeats that he’s the outsider running against business as usual. Proft: I’ll turn Springfield upside down. These two could go on the road as a comedy act. - Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:45 pm: Ryan- conservative Republican can get elected statewide. I did it twice; non one else here has. - Todd - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:46 pm: ryan doen’t take well to being challenged by the upstarts - Irish Eyes - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:46 pm: Jim Ryan says he lost to Blago because his last name was Ryan. He doesn’t look like his old self. Adam hits him for patronage corruption, Ryan tells him he won’t take a lecture form him. - Todd - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:46 pm: Ryan I didn’t leave I retired — no you LOST - Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:47 pm: Ryan went back to teaching to try to re-shape the next generation with respect to government - Anon - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:47 pm: Adam A is getting spanked by everybody as the ill informed snot nosed child in the room. Ryan “Adam, I don’t need to be lectured by you - Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:47 pm: Brady just compared himself to Scott Brown, though admits he hasn’t posed in Cosmo. - Irish Eyes - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:48 pm: Bill Brady compares himself to Scott Brown. Adam asks him what his accomplishment in the legislature was. Brady talks about pensions. Not good. - bwana - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:48 pm: Boy does Andy have a BAD COMB OVER OMG - Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:49 pm: Dillard: I will close my political fund when I’m sworn into office. Will govern, not fundraise. - Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:49 pm: End culture of corruption Dillard will close political campaign fund, when sworn into office, and lead by example - Anon - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:49 pm: Dillard would end corruption by closing political fund after election - Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:49 pm: Proft: Expand the Open Meetings Act. Ponce: That takes the legislature. - Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:50 pm: Proft; subkject budget negotitaans to FOIA and Open Meetings Act - Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:50 pm: Brady: Constitutional amendment for term limits. - Anon - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:50 pm: Proft Expand open meetings to budget negotiations Brady term limits - Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:50 pm: Brady- Constitutional Amendments term limits - Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:51 pm: Brady attacks Dillard on contributions. - Anon - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:51 pm: Ryan “embrace the Pat Collins report” - Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:52 pm: Ryan- Clean up state politics in the Governors office and the 57,000 jobs the Governor controls. Embrace the Collins report. New Jersey elected a prosecutor, and raise the standard - Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:52 pm: Ryan: I can clean up state politics in the governor’s office. Embrace the Collins report. Brings up Greylord, Operation Silver Shovel. Compares himself to NJ’s Christie. Will imprison corrupt employees. - Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:52 pm: All of these guys are claiming others as role models: Scott Brown, Chris Christie, Bobby Jindal. - Irish Eyes - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:53 pm: Ryan brings up the “license for bribes” scandal as an example of something wrong with state government. I ain’t even going to comment on that. It is too easy. - bwana - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:53 pm: Brady has been practicing as a heckler at a comedy club - Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:53 pm: Who would you vote for if not running Dillard-Ryan Adam-Proft Ryan-whacks McKenna instead - Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:54 pm: Dillard and Proft would support Ryan as second choice. Ryan: I like everybody here. Everybody here is honest. We need to cool the rhetoric. Attacks McKenna as unethical, he can’t clean up state politics. - Responsa - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:54 pm: They’re actually doing a fair amount of good natured laughing at each other. Ryan calls it banter. Looks like the EMTs and ambulance that were on call at the WTTW studio last night will not be needed for the debate tonight. - Todd - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:54 pm: this wasn’t a deabte it was a free for all - bwana - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:55 pm: Nice fini’ by Ryan - Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:55 pm: I don’t think Brady answered the question, but somebody else said Ryan too-was that Proft, I was not looking at the tube - Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:57 pm: A brief poll of the casual observers in the room where I saw this: Dillard most affable, Adam A most obnoxious (and worst hair), people felt sad for Ryan and didn’t think he looked healthy. - Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 7:58 pm: McKenna is not going to let these guys define him; he is going to do it for himself in 30, and 60 second segments, repeatedly, over and over again between now and Tuesday, and he is going to strategically target a broader audience that will likely vote, but would not tune into the debate. - Responsa - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 8:02 pm: For Republican voters who were watching I think Proft helped himself a lot tonight. For Republican voters who were watching, McKenna hurt himself a lot tonight: first by not showing up and thereby second, by not being able to respond to the universal (but well deserved) bashing. - Anon - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 8:05 pm: Impressions. Jim Ryan is the well respected elder statesman candidate who as Proft put it is the “old Guard of the Party. Dillard is a career politician who loves to name drop. Brady is just angry. Adam is a rookie who is not prepared for governor but should have tried a lesser position first. Proft is entertaining but I don’t know about Governor - The Court Jester - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 8:10 pm: Ryan looked old proft looked smart Brady looked happy Adam (can anyone spell his name?) looked mad Dillard looked full - Reformer - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 8:12 pm: Brady and Ryan were the only ones who refused to identify their second choice for gov if they weren’t running. My impressions from tonight: Ryan’s day is past. Dillard was a frequent target, indicating his competitiveness. Adam is out of his league. Proft is a better pundit than candidate. - Irish Eyes - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 8:31 pm: I am going to miss Proft’s one-liners when this is all over. Too bad there can’t be one more hurrah where he can just spend an hour bashing AA. It was nice how Proft showed respect to Ryan, who just might not have enough gas left in the tank to be in full campaign mode if he makes it out of Tuesday’s primary. - cassandra - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 8:49 pm: I agree on Profitt. Definitely the entertainer of the evening, although Brady has more charm than I thought from reading about him in the paper. Ryan–older statesman, didn’t project much energy. Made some good points though. The old prosecutor is still there. Adam needs to take debating lessons. He’s so young he has ample time to improve. Dillard looked rather jolly. I came away thinking Brady or Profit would be more fun if they were to win on a fluke but I’d probably be responsible and vote for Dillard if I were taking a Repub ballot (I’m not). - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 9:02 pm: Great job again, people. I had a business meeting tonight, so I couldn’t watch the blog. I got a real feel for being there. We definitely need to do this more often, if y’all have the energy. - shore - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 9:16 pm: Dillard’s people should have put him on a diet, in the tv age you cant look like that, he looks like what you think a springfield insider would look like. The last question was brilliant. You could see how Ryan is revered. I thought adam did the best on it, backing proft shows his true colors as a reformer. The guy looks like a younger brother or the kid in home alone that has a pepsi accident before the mccallisters go to france, but he’s honest. I would love to see him take on melissa bean or foster or halvorson. I think mckenna gained by not being there, he would have been a target. Without him there, dillard clearly lost as he took the hits for mckenna and himself on establishmentarians. I don’t know much about wttw’s audience but I would gather it is mostly upscale trevians, braves, giants, warriors and wildkits, but I think Republicans that saw it would probably like proft, adam and ryan the best. This is 2 out of 2 great debates by ponce and carol marin was good last night. WttW made abc 7 look like amateurs and calloway would have been proud. - anon - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 9:47 pm: Court Jester cracked me up. Dillard looked full — nice. Did anybody notice Jim Ryan sweating? It gathered on his lip and he had to wipe. As a dem, I would love to face jim ryan again. I thought dan proft was impressive. - trafficmatt - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 9:53 pm: Ryan filibustered a lot - definitely the elder statesman whos time is past. Adam A. was just so out of his league. The money line came from Ryan when Adam kept sniping at him “I don’t need to be lectured by you” Proft was impressive. Whoever wins should seriously think of putting him on staff. Brady came across the best Dillard did his typical namedropping and yep, he looked full……of it. - independent - Tuesday, Jan 26, 10 @ 11:20 pm: bottom line—the gop’ers blew it again… lil andy ducked the debate, and they let him off by attackin each other w/o nailin hin for bein a coward… where is the empty chair for him? mckenna should not be let off so east–but it happened again.. oh well… another missed opp Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.