Perhaps it was misread off the teleprompter? It should have read “The governor of Illinois, Pat Quinn, is now in the house. He had been outside standing.”
- Springfield Skeptic - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 9:00 am:
Interesting. The words Quinn and outstanding governor in the same sentence. I really can’t think of anyone that would use them together. MJM included.
- Springfield Skeptic - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 9:01 am:
Sorry, Rich. That was snarky. Feel free to delete it.
Was this statement followed by thunderous peals of raucous laughter?
Maybe the President was playing the role of a stand up comedian while making introductions. Did he follow up his recognition of Governor Quinn with “Here’s Caleb Hanie the outstanding starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears…”???
What do you expect him to say? As the Prez/Dem team leader/hometown guy, particularly as the new election cycle kicks in, he has to keep the troops engaged. He can’t get away with a Colbert routine without some lingering PR later. Standard stuff. Make nice with the locals and move on to the message.
Well, he could have introduced him as a governor with no indictments and no convictions. The former is an accomplishment for an Illinois governor. The last two words could describe a number of Illinois politicians.
Considering some of introductions (and disses) Quinn has encountered over the years, last night’s salutation was downright generous.
“When Quinn was introduced to the House in 1976, House Majority Leader Michael Madigan told Quinn he was not worthy of being called an Irishman. Independent Chicago Democratic Sen. Dawn Clark Netsch, one of Quinn’s former law professors at Northwestern University’s Law School, once said Quinn should be strung feet first from the brass rail encircling the third floor of the Capitol rotunda. House Speaker William Redmond said he wanted to get Quinn slated as a congressional candidate two years ago to ‘either get him elected or, more surely, get him out of our hair.’” http://www.lib.niu.edu/1980/ii800204.html
And there’s the standing boo-vation he was accorded fully thirty-six years ago. “Quinn, 54, first made a name for himself in 1976 when he and the Coalition for Political Honesty managed to end the practice of lawmakers collecting their entire annual salary on their first day in office.
‘A couple weeks after it passed in the Legislature, I was sitting in the gallery of the House minding my own business and some guy spotted me,’ Quinn said. ‘The whole Legislature stood up and booed me. A standing boo-vation. But a nod from them is a plug for our efforts.’” http://www.governing.com/blogs/politics/Pat-Quinn-A-Gadfly.html
I am sure Obama loves Quinn. In fact, I heard he went on to say:
“I love Pat Quinn, he didn’t try and sell my Senate seat, and he makes me look like a great chief executive. Pat your welcome at my events anytime, but please put the notebook away.”
Better quote is that Obama said he would “…make my opening very, very brief…” which took 14 minutes. Setting up statement as fact, Mr. President? Fudging on polite recognition of those in attendance, including calling Sen. McCaskill a “carpetbagger,” isn’t much to hang a quote of the day on.
- The People Speak - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 11:20 am:
Considering what Governor Quihn inherited when he was first appointed governor, then re-elected Governor, he has done an outstanding job.
If he had yuked it up with everyone, the party animal, he may have received better ratings for his performance.
It takes courage to stand up to some of the “outstanding” legislators and leaders. It takes courage to stand by one’s conviction — no matter what the consequences.
The problem with politicians these days is that they have no courage for anything or anyone.
It’s unfortunate that many people seem to speak for him, which sometimes brings about what appears as confusion and his positions on the issue might appear to need clarity.
However, he is fixing that problem, and if those in the media would call his official spokesperson for comment, as oppposed to calling their “contact” or who they may perceive as his spokesperson, they may get the best and most accurate response.
Considering that Quinn is facing the same problems that other states are facing — economic — he has had to prevail over the gubernatorial scandals — many expect him to fail — but in spite of these obstacles, he has had victories.
I applaud President Obama for making it plain — sticking to his guns — it shows courage — I’m sure he knows that Lisa Madigan wants to run against Quinn — and she was in the room too.
It is a real stretch for many of us to forget how Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn constantly boosted Rod Blagojevich particularly on the campaign trail in 2006. We cannot buy that Quinn was blindfolded for so long that he did not know anything was amiss. Quinn wanted to remain in politics, so he played along.
I think that we (the people posting here) are all entitled to have some fun too. Quinn does say and do some silly things on a more frequent basis than many politicians in Illinois.
i got to say, i’m proud of having voted for quinn. i just didn’t have the stomach to vote for blago, so it was nice to finally be able to cast a vote for governor in illinois…
He also called Reps. Davis and Schakowsky outstanding public leaders, he said Durbin was one of the best Senators in the universe, then said, “…And our Cook County Board President, President Toni Preckwinkle.” Wha wha wha whaaaaaaaaaaa.
- Ray del Camino - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 8:55 am:
Gov. Quinn still embodies the bright, shining quality for which I voted for him: He is not Bill Brady.
- ChicagoR - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 8:56 am:
Maybe he was out standing in the hallway at the time Obama was speaking.
- How Ironic - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 8:56 am:
Perhaps it was misread off the teleprompter? It should have read “The governor of Illinois, Pat Quinn, is now in the house. He had been outside standing.”
- Springfield Skeptic - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 9:00 am:
Interesting. The words Quinn and outstanding governor in the same sentence. I really can’t think of anyone that would use them together. MJM included.
- Springfield Skeptic - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 9:01 am:
Sorry, Rich. That was snarky. Feel free to delete it.
- Fed up - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 9:02 am:
Obama admires the way Quinn lied about the tax increase and his support for the death penalty to get elected.
- OneMan - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 9:03 am:
However we are not going to let a picture of the two of us be taken
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 9:04 am:
Given recent history, Quinn certainly is an improvement. I’ll bet the farm he never does anything that will get him thrown in prison.
- Fed up - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 9:09 am:
Wordslinger
Quinn shook down a state employee union for 50k and an endorsement in exchange for a no layoff pledge. Not exactly a bastion of ethics and morals.
- Esquire - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 9:13 am:
Was this statement followed by thunderous peals of raucous laughter?
Maybe the President was playing the role of a stand up comedian while making introductions. Did he follow up his recognition of Governor Quinn with “Here’s Caleb Hanie the outstanding starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears…”???
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 9:15 am:
At least President Obama didn’t say…
“Of all the Illinois Governors, Pat Quinn is one of them … Pat Quinn, ladies and gentleman.”
- Lefty - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 9:15 am:
Oue “outstanding Governor” because “he won’t end up in prison.” Our standards are as low as our credit rating.
- MrJM - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 9:15 am:
out·stand·ing adj. Standing out among others of its kind, prominent
Well, unlike so many “others of his kind” Pat ain’t in prison.
– MrJM
- Holdingontomywallet - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 9:17 am:
Wow. I guess when your view of “improvement” is not getting thrown into prison the bar for “outstanding” can’t be very high. Welcome to Illinois…
- phocion - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 9:17 am:
Has the bar been set so low that all a Governor need do is avoid going to prison to be termed “outstanding?”
- Davey Boy Smithe - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 9:19 am:
First he calls Todd Stroger a good progressive, and now he’s calling Quinn an outstanding governor. He must’ve hired Jay Leno’s joke writers.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 9:21 am:
“I also want to acknowledge #367596 … Rod Blagojevich … awaiting hie April college trip … welcome …”
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 9:21 am:
–Wow. I guess when your view of “improvement” is not getting thrown into prison the bar for “outstanding” can’t be very high.–
In your view, is having a governor who will not be thrown in prison not an improvement? Gotta crawl before you can walk, daddio.
Please spare us the self-pity about how rotten you have it here. You have choices.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 9:23 am:
“How about our House band for tonight! … Yeah …Speaker Madigan and the Mushrooms …”
- Lakeview - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 9:25 am:
Out standing in a field of soybeans?
- Stones - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 9:30 am:
Meaningless political jargon. How else would you expect for him to introduce the Governor at a political function?
- mokenavince - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 9:33 am:
Every thing is a matter of opinion.
- zatoichi - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 9:35 am:
What do you expect him to say? As the Prez/Dem team leader/hometown guy, particularly as the new election cycle kicks in, he has to keep the troops engaged. He can’t get away with a Colbert routine without some lingering PR later. Standard stuff. Make nice with the locals and move on to the message.
- Bitterman - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 9:38 am:
Can’t get tossed for using “political puffery”…
- Aldyth - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 9:40 am:
Well, he could have introduced him as a governor with no indictments and no convictions. The former is an accomplishment for an Illinois governor. The last two words could describe a number of Illinois politicians.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 9:41 am:
Rejected intros of Pat Quinn:
“The ever pithy, Pat Quinn.”
“A man who needs no introduction, so I won’t …”
“I know him as ‘Chatty Patty’, you know him as governor … Pat Quinn.”
“In the audience tonight, in his alter-ego garb as Governor Pat Quinn, Soy-Boy”
- Pot calling kettle - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 9:48 am:
==Quinn shook down a state employee union for 50k and an endorsement in exchange for a no layoff pledge. Not exactly a bastion of ethics and morals.==
I thought the complaint was that the union shook down the governor.
- Wensicia - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 9:52 am:
Stands out due to lack of corrupt acts? Yeah, in this state, that is something.
- Mighty M. Mouse - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 9:54 am:
Must be a slow news day. What do you expect him to say? This is like an invitation to the Quinn haters to crow at the morning sun. Too predictable.
- Dirty Red - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 10:21 am:
What else do you call the DNC Treasurer?
- Irish - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 10:22 am:
Let’s look at it from a different perspective.
A quote calling the Governor “outstanding” elicits 30 comments in one hour. That’s not exactly something for PQ to put on his resume.
- Irish - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 10:28 am:
He could introduced him as “Pat Quinn, the governor who DIDN”T tell his employees he was going to shank them.”
or “the FIRST Governor to release dangerous inmates.”
- Dooley Dudright - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 10:39 am:
Considering some of introductions (and disses) Quinn has encountered over the years, last night’s salutation was downright generous.
“When Quinn was introduced to the House in 1976, House Majority Leader Michael Madigan told Quinn he was not worthy of being called an Irishman. Independent Chicago Democratic Sen. Dawn Clark Netsch, one of Quinn’s former law professors at Northwestern University’s Law School, once said Quinn should be strung feet first from the brass rail encircling the third floor of the Capitol rotunda. House Speaker William Redmond said he wanted to get Quinn slated as a congressional candidate two years ago to ‘either get him elected or, more surely, get him out of our hair.’” http://www.lib.niu.edu/1980/ii800204.html
And there’s the standing boo-vation he was accorded fully thirty-six years ago. “Quinn, 54, first made a name for himself in 1976 when he and the Coalition for Political Honesty managed to end the practice of lawmakers collecting their entire annual salary on their first day in office.
‘A couple weeks after it passed in the Legislature, I was sitting in the gallery of the House minding my own business and some guy spotted me,’ Quinn said. ‘The whole Legislature stood up and booed me. A standing boo-vation. But a nod from them is a plug for our efforts.’” http://www.governing.com/blogs/politics/Pat-Quinn-A-Gadfly.html
- Cincinnatus - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 10:53 am:
Photo analysis revealed that Obama’s nose grew 3 inches…
- Jaded - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 10:57 am:
I am sure Obama loves Quinn. In fact, I heard he went on to say:
“I love Pat Quinn, he didn’t try and sell my Senate seat, and he makes me look like a great chief executive. Pat your welcome at my events anytime, but please put the notebook away.”
- Jaded - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 11:00 am:
Sorry I’m sure he meant “you’re”
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 11:12 am:
Better quote is that Obama said he would “…make my opening very, very brief…” which took 14 minutes. Setting up statement as fact, Mr. President? Fudging on polite recognition of those in attendance, including calling Sen. McCaskill a “carpetbagger,” isn’t much to hang a quote of the day on.
- The People Speak - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 11:20 am:
Considering what Governor Quihn inherited when he was first appointed governor, then re-elected Governor, he has done an outstanding job.
If he had yuked it up with everyone, the party animal, he may have received better ratings for his performance.
It takes courage to stand up to some of the “outstanding” legislators and leaders. It takes courage to stand by one’s conviction — no matter what the consequences.
The problem with politicians these days is that they have no courage for anything or anyone.
It’s unfortunate that many people seem to speak for him, which sometimes brings about what appears as confusion and his positions on the issue might appear to need clarity.
However, he is fixing that problem, and if those in the media would call his official spokesperson for comment, as oppposed to calling their “contact” or who they may perceive as his spokesperson, they may get the best and most accurate response.
Considering that Quinn is facing the same problems that other states are facing — economic — he has had to prevail over the gubernatorial scandals — many expect him to fail — but in spite of these obstacles, he has had victories.
I applaud President Obama for making it plain — sticking to his guns — it shows courage — I’m sure he knows that Lisa Madigan wants to run against Quinn — and she was in the room too.
- Esquire - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 11:31 am:
@The People Speak:
It is a real stretch for many of us to forget how Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn constantly boosted Rod Blagojevich particularly on the campaign trail in 2006. We cannot buy that Quinn was blindfolded for so long that he did not know anything was amiss. Quinn wanted to remain in politics, so he played along.
I think that we (the people posting here) are all entitled to have some fun too. Quinn does say and do some silly things on a more frequent basis than many politicians in Illinois.
- RMWStanford - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 12:01 pm:
Yea I dont think I would try and associate myself Quinn if I was running for anything
- Say What - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 12:07 pm:
Not only were they serving kool-aid, they were handing out rose colored glasses. Oh the party faithful.
- truthman - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 12:14 pm:
It doesn’t mean anything. Barry said the same thing about Blago before he was arrested…..
- Louis G. Atsaves - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 12:23 pm:
Did Obama say this before or after he announced that Pat Quinn would be his new Chief of Staff?
- northernIL - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 1:25 pm:
Rich, I think this is one of the best posts I’ve ever read on here.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 1:41 pm:
Sometimes, northernIL, the simplest setups are the best.
- Retired Non-Union Guy - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 2:06 pm:
Pure political rhetoric …
Either that or he was demonstrating his extreme in-depth knowledge of Illinois politics /snark off
- Hickory - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 2:24 pm:
Tells you the ability of the Presidents judgement.
- D.P. Gumby - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 2:41 pm:
And don’t forget the waite staff! They were wonderful.
- bored now - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 2:44 pm:
i got to say, i’m proud of having voted for quinn. i just didn’t have the stomach to vote for blago, so it was nice to finally be able to cast a vote for governor in illinois…
- P. - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 3:38 pm:
He also called Reps. Davis and Schakowsky outstanding public leaders, he said Durbin was one of the best Senators in the universe, then said, “…And our Cook County Board President, President Toni Preckwinkle.” Wha wha wha whaaaaaaaaaaa.
- Cincinnatus - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 3:53 pm:
Actually, Quinn was not in the house, he was at the Motel 6.
- been there - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 4:20 pm:
“outstanding” has always been a favorite fudge word of politicians. it doesn’t have to mean anything good.
- OurMagician - Thursday, Jan 12, 12 @ 5:19 pm:
What are words that don’t go together? I’ll take Inane Polticial Complements for $400, Alex.