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Squeezy the Python inspires others
Tuesday, Nov 20, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller * Created by a close friend…  * The Illinois Policy Institute was so inspired by Squeezy that it created its own new mascot…  * ArchPundit muses about potential adversaries for Squeezy. Kung Fu Congressman…  Mike the AFSCME Mongoose…  * From a post on the This is My Illinois FB page…  * Squeezy has a Twitter account, created by a “fan”…  * Heh…  * And Kyle Hillman asks a very good question…  Your turn.
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- Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 4:53 am:
Maybe this measure of spit in the ocean will help all boats rise with the tide:
http://m.dailyherald.com/dailyherald/db_32314/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=tjvMaAEJ
- x ace - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 4:57 am:
Big Mouth, Small Brain, Cold Blooded , …….
( obvious hungover mad man creation - don’t pay the bill)
- Squeezy - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 6:30 am:
Just spotted your pic of “Madigan the Mongoose”. Got to go!!!
- Excessively Rabid - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 6:49 am:
Glad to see we’ve finally raised the level of discourse at the state house.
- MathCounts - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 6:54 am:
I think the Thanksgiving musings of Rich’s close friend hits the nail on the head.
No one in Illinois will be discussing the public pension squeeze over Thanksgiving dinner. Or any dinner.
For those of us who frequent Capitolfax, the governor’s public education campaign seems remedial, to put it kindly.
We know all this stuff.
But as I’ve pointed out in the past, we are not Normal here.
Only half of Illinoisans know what the largest source of state revenue is. Or the largest expense.
And the pension system? LOL.
I had a circuit judge call me once to complain that state retirees don’t pay any income taxes on their pensions.
Judge, I said, NO ONE in Illinois pays income taxes on their retirement.
Okay, so maybe Squeezy is a bit too orange, and the Narrator is a bit too animated.
But outside of Mick Dumke and Rich Miller, who in Illinois is dedicated to helping the public understand how public budgets work?
Go look at the polls. Year after year, the public strongly opposes cuts in programs, and mostly opposes the revenue to pay for them.
Someone’s got to help them understand why that position is untenable, and I don’t think it can be done in a 140 character tweet or 30 second campaign-style ad.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 7:15 am:
Quinn IS the cartoon. His self-image created by his too oft visits to his alternative universe, without filter or brakes. What a legacy for his tombstone -
At Least I Was Better than Blago
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 7:16 am:
–Go look at the polls. Year after year, the public strongly opposes cuts in programs, and mostly opposes the revenue to pay for them.–
You’re kidding? The majority of those polled want more, but want to pay less? Is this a recent phenomenon?
Squeezy, save us!
C’mon man, that has nothing to do with nothing, least of all governing.
“Look at the polls.” The majority of those polled would toss out the Bill of Rights if given the chance. It means nothing.
- ah HA - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 7:17 am:
Wow. I was just at the site. This shows of dumbing down of Illinois citizenry. Not much was said on why the State’s pension payment was not being made. No mention of state employees being forced to pay more into pension.
This site looks like it was geared toward children. We are NOT children.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 7:34 am:
–This shows of dumbing down of Illinois citizenry.–
No, just those that “created” it.
- Plutocrat03 - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 7:34 am:
Starting to look like a real life episode of Idiocracy
- Anonymous 45 - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 7:41 am:
the inmates are running the asylum folks…
- Squeezy - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 7:42 am:
==Squeezy, save us!==
No way. You’re on your own. Parting advice: Ask The Mongoose what he’s going to do, because that is what will matter.
- What planet is he from? - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 7:47 am:
And Squeezy’s more edible sister, Cherry:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/theweekinpictures/9684132/The-week-in-pictures-16-November-2012.html?frame=2395757
- Liam - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 7:58 am:
From Squeezy’s website:
•When Social Security was enacted in 1935 and set the standard for retirement age at 65, the average life expectancy at birth was 58 for men and 62 for women. Now the average life expectancy is 76 for men and 81 for women!
Now that’s a good pension system! Set the benefit age at 65 when the average life expectancy is 58. Can’t really lose money that way.
- Huh? - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 8:10 am:
Once again the kung fu congressman goes out on medical leave. This time for breaking his fourth and fifth metacarpals due to the incorrect position of his hand as he attempts to execute a punch.
- Hank - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 8:16 am:
I’m against discussing pension reform at Thanksgiving dinner……too many sharp objects on the table!
- Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 8:16 am:
Heh. Freudian snake said “tip.”
- TooManyJens - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 8:41 am:
“When Social Security was enacted in 1935 and set the standard for retirement age at 65, the average life expectancy at birth was 58 for men and 62 for women. Now the average life expectancy is 76 for men and 81 for women!”
Oh, this really gives me confidence that this is going to be an intellectually honest and data-driven educational campaign.
- OneMan - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 8:47 am:
I think
“Governor Quinn’s Petting Zoo Of State Issue Animal Mascots”
is going to be hugely popular at the state fair this summer.
Come for Squeezy The Pension Python and stay for Ben The Bad Bond Rating Beagle.
- Raaalph - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 8:48 am:
Another brilliant idea from our clueless governor, “Schmucky the Clown”.
But seriously, didn’t at least one low-level staffer ask, “is this really a good idea?”
- archimedes - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 8:59 am:
The quote about social security from the website is misleading. From ssa.gov: The average life expectancy for men 58 and women 62 is due mainly to infant mortality. For life expectancy (in 1935) after attaining adulthood(age 21) - 54% of men lived to age 65 and would collect social security for 13 years (higher for women). Since social security is funded by employment tax, this is the relevant statistic - not life expectancy from birth. Plus, there were already 7.8 million Americans in 1935 that were eligible for social security in 1940 if they worked the minimum eligble quarters (if youre retired in 1960 you got back $7 for every $1 you paid - now it is about dollar for dollar). Social Security is an entitlement - not an earned retirement benefit.
It isn’t as simple as creating a cartoon website and throwing around a bunch of one liners.
- MathCounts - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 9:06 am:
wordslinger -
It has EVERYTHING to do with EVERYTHING.
Public opinion drives policy-making.
When 80%ish of the public opposes cuts in education, health care, human services, and in many polls say we should be spending MORE on those three major areas…
…and 50%ish oppose raising taxes to pay for the things they want…
Lawmakers are left with only one path: Borrow. Borrow from the retirement system by skipping pension payments. Borrow from next year’s budget by extending the payment cycle. Borrow from vendors by not paying our bills at all.
Borrow, essentially, from our capital budget by not making needed investments in our public infrastructure of roads, bridges, schools.
Until the public has a better understanding of how these dots are all connected, we are going to keep making bad choices.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 9:16 am:
–Public opinion drives policy-making.–
Sure.
The latest polls show a vast majority of Americans in favor of spending $5 billion a month and seeing their sons and daughters killed to protect the world’s heroin lords in Afghanistan.
And spending $60 billion a year on the Fifth
Fleet to protect oil shipments to China from Iran from attack by…… by….. by…..
Capt. Jack Sparrow?
All very popular policy positions driven by public opinion.
- Anon. - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 9:22 am:
Forty years of contracts to “consultants” for vague deliverables and outright failure will show you where the money went.
- Pot calling kettle - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 9:33 am:
–Public opinion drives policy-making.–
One of the key features of having a representative democracy is that we elect folks to study the issues and make decisions for us. While public opinion is a factor, it cannot be the driver in more complex issues such as this.
- ArchPundit - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 9:36 am:
===But seriously, didn’t at least one low-level staffer ask, “is this really a good idea?”
Has that ever stopped Pat Quinn?
- Ray del Camino - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 9:38 am:
What an enormous insult to our collective, adult intelligence. Among the obvious implications of this stupid effort is that the governor is surrounded by yes-persons, none of whom said, as mentioned above, “are you sure this is a good idea?” Good heavens. Get ready to see the plagiarized python in an anti-Quinn attack ad.
- Pot calling kettle - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 9:43 am:
Perhaps we should resign ourselves to reality; the GA and the gov will quibble and quibble and nothing will be solved.
My nominee for the mascot of this debacle: Droopy Dog
Tag line (delivered deadpan): “You know what? That makes me mad.”
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 9:46 am:
===But seriously, didn’t at least one low-level staffer ask, “is this really a good idea?”===
Do we really want to blame Staff on this one? Yes, staff may have helped develop this, but it is a Pat Quinn Special, form the time it took to get this far, the roll-out, to the Fall-out.
Not saying anyone is blaming Staff … I am just saying, none of us CAN blame Staff
- horseracer - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 9:47 am:
After pension reform passes - it would be weird to see the python in an attack ad. But I agree we might still be laughing about its introduction into the very serious discussion on retirement benefits for public workers.
- One of the Grey Panthers - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 9:48 am:
Squeezy the Pension Python is the most creative idea so far in the discussion of Illinois’ fiscal mess.
That’s so sad.
- Sunshine - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 9:48 am:
Until the average voting citizen understands the real facts about where the pension money went, all the cartoons in the world won’t help.
Perhaps a saturation of informational billboard ads, newspaper ads, radio informational ads, and talk shows explaining that the pile of pension money contributed was absconded with by our legislators to feed other projects, then and only then will the beneficiaries of the earned retirement be helped…through budget cuts and tax increases on all.
It was we the citizens looking away that caused this mess and now we all should be looking to paying up to those that earned their way; not punishing them for doing what was right.
The cartoons are simply a diversion to obscure the facts and truth. Now comes the pain to all citizens for not paying attention and holding our legislators and ourselves accountable.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 9:50 am:
I still think the Guv’s Office should have asked CapFax to run a contest for the “winning animal and name”
Boy, I would have liked a shot at that.
Now, who the heck can top this debacle.
If someone submitted this, we would have thought the Snark in it, WAS the Snark, and would have called the Snark …genius.
“No, I am being serious …”
And that is why you can’t run that contest now, but boy, I would have loved to make a run at it.
- MikeMacD - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 9:53 am:
When I first saw this yesterday I didn’t know what to make of it.
With time, a night’s sleep, and fresh eyes, I’m disturbed that my incomprehension contines.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 9:54 am:
@FakeJasonPlummer - Hey @Capitolfax, does my animal have to be Orange? Art should let me choose whatever color I want. Just asking. #RichGivesToughHomework
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 9:57 am:
As the pension crisis worsens, will Gov. Quinn be afraid that Squeezy will be used against him in the attack ads in the 2014 primary?
Will Gov. Quinn have to move on from Jungle Book? If so, what will the Governor turn to next?
Peter Pan? 101 Dalmatians? Or is he waiting for the Lion King to send help from DC?
Tune in next week, for another episode of the Cartoon Governor.
- TooManyJens - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 9:57 am:
MikeMacD, I think you should be more disturbed if it ever makes sense to you.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:00 am:
You nailed it MathCounts.
“Until the public has a better understanding of how these dots are all connected, we are going to keep making bad choices.”
The question, then, is how to create a better understanding of the issue. The governor is trying cartoons. Another way might be making more of us to pay for the social programs enacted over the years. If more of us were asked to pay higher taxes to fund these programs at the time they were proposed, some of them might not exist.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:02 am:
I defend Quinn against a lot of stuff (and BTW, in case you forgot, Illinois GOP, he beat you, how does that feel?).
But Squeezy is out-and-out crazy, disturbing really. How do you go to all that work to produce that junk, think it’s a good idea and put it to the public?
Willie, the buck stops with Quinn, true. But wasn’t there any sign-off along the way, from some certainly well-paid and presumably smart folks, who continue to manage state government?
Did not ANYONE scream about how stupid this was?
C’mon folks, this ain’t 8th grade Speech class, doing your homework on the bus to school. You guys are supposed to be at the top of your games.
- OneMan - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:10 am:
== I defend Quinn against a lot of stuff (and BTW, in case you forgot, Illinois GOP, he beat you, how does that feel?). ==
Depressed, but then we see stuff like this and realize there is hope….
- OneMan - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:13 am:
Does anyone, seriously anyone, think the whole social media grassroots thing had been given more than 10 seconds of thought before Quinn blurted out the idea?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:13 am:
@FakeJasonPlummer - Can the Animal be imaginary or does it have to be real like “Squeezy”? #AdultsNeverUnderstandCartoons
Thinking about this, I would run a 2 min cartoon of “Squeezy” trolling downtown Springfield, but in a homage to “The Flintstones”, after the 4th new building, the buildings themselves recycle, along with the trees.
The music? Maybe monotone with a high note kicked in, like slithering around.
“Squeezy” keeps repeating… “Leave the Pension Money … Leave the Pension Money ..SSSS”
The End? “Squeezy” eats the Cannoli from a box labeled “Poison” with a Skull and Cross Bones.
Fake Cartoon Explosion … “Squeezy” ’s Eyes turn all kinds of colors and spiral …
A real person then enters the frame …
“Don’t be fooled by explosive Cannoli. When having your coffee and eating a delicious pastry this thanksgiving, think about the life and death … of ‘Squeezy’ … You can learn alot about Pension reform … and you don’t need … an exploding Cannoli.”
I am just spitballing … but I think this is a way to salvage “Squeezy”
- Pot calling kettle - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:15 am:
For me, the python we’re dealing with seems more like Monty Python. I’m just not sure which is the most appropriate sketch.
The Cheese Shop? Just substitute suggestions for a fix to the pension problem for the various cheeses requested.
The Argument Clinic, the Ministry of Silly Walks, or perhaps Nudge, Nudge…
“Your pension plan, is it solvent, know what I mean, know what I mean, say no more, say no more…”
How about “I’m a Governor and I’m OK, I sleep all night and I work all day. I sign some bills, I eat my lunch, I go to the lavatory, on Wednesdays I go shopping and draw a new Squeezy.”
- MathCounts - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:16 am:
=== One of the key features of having a representative democracy is that we elect folks to study the issues and make decisions for us. While public opinion is a factor, it cannot be the driver in more complex issues such as this. ===
Pot & Wordslinger -
That’s great in Theory.
The reality is that many in the public expect their elected leaders to do what is popular, atleast what is popular with them individually.
As a meek aside, many in journalism expect the same.
Go look at the press coverage following the temporary tax increase.
How much of the coverage explored whether it was good public policy, and how much focused on its popularity or the politics?
- al gore - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:16 am:
And people made fun of me for talking about lock boxes..
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:19 am:
===I defend Quinn against a lot of stuff (and BTW, in case you forgot, Illinois GOP, he beat you, how does that feel?).===
I hadn’t forgot, i just didn’t want to go down that road since we are all enjoying “Squeezy” so much.
I hear ya, - wordslinger -, and I know and I understand the signoffs. It is just easier for me to buy that ONE person signed off and justified all this insanity, than MANY people signed off and wanted to promote this insanity.
Then again, these are the guys who beat the ILGOP insanity and that was a collective failure against Pat Quinn … so you may be on to something - wordslinger -.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:19 am:
OneMan, the thing is, a lot of work actually went into Squeezy.
Many folks did many things — script, video, casting, graphics, press conference rollout, etc. And no one, apparently, ever said, “this is really, really stupid.”
It’s shocking that so much could be devoted to something so stupefyingly bad.
And remember, Squeezy was the winning creative concept. Can you imagine the ones that were rejected in favor of it?
- Mike - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:21 am:
How about using the honey badger. He doesn’t care about your pension. Or any other concern you might have.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:23 am:
===
== I defend Quinn against a lot of stuff (and BTW, in case you forgot, Illinois GOP, he beat you, how does that feel?). ==
Depressed, but then we see stuff like this and realize there is hope….===
Oh - Oneman -, that was nice. Wwe should go tell that to our re-nominated Veto-Proofed Irrelevent GA Leaders. Then, we can …
Now I’m depressed again.
58 degrees in Oswego. I have a meeting with Tom Cross between the “5 Green” and “6 Tee” …Something about Golf shirts I was told …
- Irish - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:25 am:
I don’t think you can blame staffers or even wonder why someone in his administration didn’t speak up on this.
All you have to do is look at PQ’s track record with people who disagree with him. AFSCME and other unions stood up to him on the issue of PSA’a not being eligible for unions. That question hinges on one question. Are PSAs in policy making positions. The absolute answer is, NO! That makes them eligible. We see how Quinn has reacted to the unions telling him no. He took away the pay of the employees that had the loudest voice. And now he is waging a full scale war on those employees.
Look at the battles he has had with Rahm, MJM, and others who have disagreed with him. He is a patronage fanatic because he does not want to hear disagreements with his policies and actions from those in his administration.
He is the same type of egomaniac that his predecessor was. So no his people are going to let him do what he wants. The ones that aren’t drinking the kool-aid are going to keep mum and probably start shopping their resumes in early 2014.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:27 am:
I will say one thing … “Squeezy” can’t wear the “jacket”. Having no arms works in “Squeezy’s” favor … this time.
“Dear Capitol Fax Posters,
Concepts are difficult at times to see them through. What looks good on paper, or in discussions, sometimes fails. Give the Staff a break.
Signed,
The ‘New’ Coke & the Edsel Designers”
- Irish - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:30 am:
Adding - And they will probably state on their resume they were at Mayo clinic the last four to six years, or in prison. Either one an excusable position for politicians and bureacrats. Much more excusable than being in PQ’s Administration.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:31 am:
I just think they were pressed on time. This Pension Grassroots thing was rushed. The turnaround time was ridiculous. Everyone makes it seem like Pat Quinn has been sitting on this, and sitting on this….
- RNUG - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:33 am:
wordslinger @ 10:19 am:
You’re onto something talking about the rejects.
I’d suggest Rich have a QOTD to identify the rejects; while we’d have fun Rich would probably have to spend the entire day censoring it
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:33 am:
This just in …
Cartoon Villians Local #650 convinces “Squeezy” that his role as “villian” in this debacle is making all villians in the Local look bad, and is prepared to back “Squeezy” if he plans to walk out … er, slither away … from being the face of the progam …
Developing …
- Secret Square - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:35 am:
“the python we’re dealing with seems more like Monty Python. I’m just not sure which is the most appropriate sketch.”
How about, “Spam, spam, spam, pension reform, eggs, and spam?” Or we could add “My pension plan is full of eels” to the Hungarian Phrasebook…
- Irish - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:36 am:
One thing PQ should have realized was; “A snake in the grass(roots)” has negative connotations.
- uniongal - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:36 am:
That’s not an excuse Willy. Turnaround time is always ridiculous in government. That said, they could’ve given themselves another week at least by simply waiting until after Thanksgiving.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:37 am:
@FakeJasonPlummer - @Capitolfax, I think I am done with my picture. Is there a drawing to pick the winner, or does everyone get ice cream. #IceCreamForTheWinner
- KurtInSpringfield - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:40 am:
Pot Calling Kettle,
I came up with this name before reading your post:
Monty the Python’s Pension Circus because this is all such a big joke.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:41 am:
- uniongal -,
I was mocking it.
Quinn’s Crew have been leading Rich on for weeks and weeks and weeks …
- Ready To Get Out - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:41 am:
“Squeezy was put on this earth to accomplish pension reform and it will be done. It is the will of the people.”
Pat Quinn, I am the governor.
- Irish - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:46 am:
As long as we are using cartoon characters as icons I suggest we use Fozzie Bear in place of all pictures of Pat Quinn. There is a very good resemblence even down to the purple tie. I tried to put a picture of each in my post but it wouldn’t take it.
“It is time for all good people of the Land of Lincoln to get involved. Every one in, no one left out. Wakka Wakka!”
- Cheryl44 - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:47 am:
Oh please. Everything seems to think Pat Quinn had anything to do with this beyond okaying its release to the public.
Which was stupid enough, but he didn’t design it.
- OneMan - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:48 am:
Wordslinger…
Yeah I get time and effort was spent on this whole concept…
My question is does anyone think BEFORE Quinn opened his mouth in August that any thought had been given to a grassroots thing?
Highly doubtful, heck the domain wasn’t registered until Oct-31st…
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:49 am:
===Oh please. Everything seems to think Pat Quinn had anything to do with this beyond okaying its release to the public.===
You know we ARE talking about Pat Quinn, right?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:54 am:
===Highly doubtful, heck the domain wasn’t registered until Oct-31st… ===
The were holding it to “Gear Up” or however Mike Cys told us how holding domains work.
- dupage dan - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:54 am:
I have to admit that I am pleased at the state of the pension remorm process. I am hoping to retire from state employment (rule of 85 is in my sights) in the near future.
In the past I had hoped that some form of sanity would eventually prevail and some sustainable changes would be put into place. I had reconciled myself to the liklihood that I would probably have to put off my retirement as a result. Even tho I had nothing to do with the pension debacle I understaood that all good citizens of Illinois would eventually accept that there would be shared sacrifice.
No more do I believe that. I want there to be confusion and a lack of progress until I can jump ship. I accept that wordslinger is right and that my pension is safe because people will still buy Illinois bonds and Illinois has never defaulted on a payment yet.
I believe that Quinn will likely be re-elected because he believes he is the herald of real change and that people in this state have deluded themselves into thinking that also.
After all, we re-elected Blagojevich.
- dupage dan - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:54 am:
remorm? sheesh.
- ArchPundit - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 10:58 am:
Let’s remember, this isn’t just a weird snake, it’s a bad roll out
-Holiday week when no one is paying attention except those of us obsessed
-No call to Action
-Bungled Hashtag
-Facebook page doesn’t directly link from the web site
-too long video that is boring and doesn’t offer any possible solutions
-isn’t collecting e-mails for later action
-no actual grass roots.
It’s a miserable failure of an idea and trying to defend it as ’starting a discussion’ is missing the point. It’s botched from concept to implementation.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 11:01 am:
–It’s a miserable failure of an idea and trying to defend it as ’starting a discussion’ is missing the point. It’s botched from concept to implementation.–
So, are you saying “Sqeezy” will not be this holiday season’s “Tickle Me Elmo?”
- story time - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 11:02 am:
I’m laughing at the lame attempts to say, “people are talking about it, so it’s effective.” People talk about failures all the time. Like we weren’t going to be talking about pensions again?
Even their counter spin is ineffective.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 11:03 am:
===-Holiday week when no one is paying attention except those of us obsessed
-No call to Action
-Bungled Hashtag
-Facebook page doesn’t directly link from the web site
-too long video that is boring and doesn’t offer any possible solutions
-isn’t collecting e-mails for later action
-no actual grass roots.===
Other than that … roll it out!
- ArchPundit -, I think you are being a bit too critical. The snake around the Dome makes up for many sins, you just don’t see it.
- zatoichi - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 11:03 am:
Last night on Pawn Stars: Rick is upset because he catches the Old Man starting to use a pristine BBQ cooker from 1960.
Rick to Chumlee: “Why didn’t you stop him?”
Chumlee to Rick: “I am a salaried employee and he is the Boss. Boss, need some ketchup on that?”
Squeezy mentality is everywhere.
- ArchPundit - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 11:06 am:
===The snake around the Dome makes up for many sins, you just don’t see it.
LOL–okay, get a big Blow Up Squeezy around the actual dome and I’ll admit I’m wrong.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 11:07 am:
===So, are you saying “Sqeezy” will not be this holiday season’s “Tickle Me Elmo?”===
Maybe … Garbage Pail Kids?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 11:12 am:
=== ===The snake around the Dome makes up for many sins, you just don’t see it.
LOL–okay, get a big Blow Up Squeezy around the actual dome and I’ll admit I’m wrong.===
“…Yes, yes … a BIG one … big enough to cover the Dome of the State Capitol… There are electrical plugs there .. No, don’t bill Oswego Willy, bill ‘State of Illinois’ … can you get it up there by Veto session?…. I can hold….”
We will see about that, - ArchPundit -, we will see
- TooManyJens - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 11:16 am:
My family may well be talking about Squeezy around the Thanksgiving table, but probably not in the way Quinn would prefer.
==LOL–okay, get a big Blow Up Squeezy around the actual dome and I’ll admit I’m wrong.==
Somebody please, please do this.
- ArchPundit - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 11:17 am:
And ignore all the comments on post its from the guy who keeps wandering around changing his mind.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 11:22 am:
===And ignore all the comments on post its from the guy who keeps wandering around changing his mind.===
I want to see the ultimate crash and burn! I ahve not wavered one bit! I have been mocking in agreement with you.
The more they can try to fix this, the more fodder it is. Get that blowup snake. Make a dozen cartoons! Keep this train wreck rolling.
I am on the side of Folly at this point.
This “Squeezy” does nothing it was intended to do, is completely irrelevent and sad, and i want more of it to mock.
Since finding the solution to the problem in 56th on the list of things to do in attacking the problem.
- walkinfool - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 11:25 am:
I disliked it at first sight.
Now I am warming to the idea it just might be simple/stupid enough to encourage awareness and discussion. The python is not that bad a concept. The execution, yikes!
- sal-says - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 11:29 am:
“Does anyone, seriously anyone, think the whole social media grassroots thing had been given more than 10 seconds of thought before Quinn blurted out the idea?”
Yes. This is quinntesential we’re talking about. 10 seconds; probably more like 10 weeks.
- soccermom - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 11:30 am:
This whole “it’s the voters fault” thing gets tiresome. It is the responsibility of elected officials to make their case to the voters.
Look at California, where voters approved Gov. Jerry Brown’s plan to raise income taxes on the wealthy and raise the statewide sales tax to fund K-12 schools and help balance the state budget.
Brown took his case to the people of his state, and he won. It can be done — it’s just not easy.
- dupage dan - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 11:43 am:
Hey, don’t you try to compare Illinois to California. Those people are nuts out there! Here in Illinois, we are much more sane and logical. We didn’t elect some idiot as governor.
Ooops.
- Anonymice - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 11:46 am:
Pot calling kettle — How about,
“And no for something completely indifferent”?
- Loop Lady - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 11:51 am:
If the legislators don’t do something about this soon, (read: Madigan and Cullerton) we are headed to an IL version of the fiscal cliff. They underfunded the pensions for decades. Time to act like responsible leaders. I am a union member who has been very patient with this debacle. If Quinn thinks he can dump it on the unions, he’ll regret it…he also needs to employ people over the age of 25 who aren’t afraid to buck him…
- Norseman - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 12:06 pm:
Gosh, this is too entertaining. I need to get some housework done or we won’t be talking about Squeezy on Thursday.
- @SqueezyPython - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 12:09 pm:
I’m only 13 followers behind the official Twitter account of ThisIsMyIllinois.com.
So after @GovernorQuinn & Oswego Willy sign up, I’ll just need a dozen more to pass @ThisisMyIL.
https://twitter.com/SqueezyPython
- wishbone - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 12:17 pm:
Road. Can. Kick.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 12:18 pm:
While i am in favor of you moving ahead, I am afraid of “The Twitter” and “The Facebook”.
You do not want my outright endorsement, heck, Jim Edgar refused my endorsement so what does that tell you.
I will take a few peeks now and then. count on it.
BTW, I read that my fiction was not up to snuff for you, @SqueezyPython. What do I have to do, wear a Squeezy costume during my mocking?
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 12:28 pm:
Kyle Hillman is very funny.I love the tiger.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 12:33 pm:
Anon, the tiger is Shere Khan, and that’s a scene from “Jungle Book,” which was my favorite movie as a kid.
- WhoKnew - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 12:37 pm:
I can’t believe no one has Photo Shopped Quinns head on the Python — guess will have to wait for the next election cycle!! @SleazySqueezyPython
- Truthy Tiger - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 12:41 pm:
You cats may not like the governor’s social media push - but looks like execs at Twitter do:
http://twitter.com/twittercomms
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 12:44 pm:
===but looks like execs at Twitter do: ===
LOLOL!!!
From the link supplied above…
===Public policy use of @twitter: Illinois @GovernorQuinn seeks action on pension reform, asks citizens to weigh in. http://thisismyillinois.com===
Do they like it? Or are they just mentioning it? I see the latter.
- soccermom - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 12:44 pm:
I suddenly had a vision of the python squeezing the Capitol while it was wearing “the hair” from Andy McKenna’s memorable ad. And the hair popping off…
I think I need to go eat something.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 12:47 pm:
===python squeezing the Capitol while it was wearing “the hair” from Andy McKenna’s memorable ad===
Yes! “The Hair.” Quite possibly the absolute dumbest ads ever about the problems Illinois is facing… until now.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 12:47 pm:
Gov. Quinn as Mowgli? Was Quinn raised by wolves? Or do the jungle animals just regularly take things from him?
When will Baloo the bear come to teach Gov. Quinn how to defeat the python?
- OneMan - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 12:51 pm:
Here is the response from Mike Madigan when shown the Squeezy concept and the video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hfYJsQAhl0
- Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 1:04 pm:
OMG “The Hair.” Had blocked that away. Time for a break.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 1:18 pm:
“Ok, Governor … work with me … ‘Squeezy’ … with the hair from McKenna’s Ads?”
“No, I just like the Python. The hair on ‘Squeezy’ might not make it work.”
And THAT is why “Squeezy” is bald.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 1:21 pm:
Hat tip: - soccermom -
- What planet is he from? - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 1:46 pm:
Hey, maybe, just MAYBE we have the wrong book? Quinn isn’t channeling the Jungle Book, he’s actually Harry Potter (who speaks parseltoungue) talking with the serpents? But if Quinn is Harry, then who is Voldemort?
- east central - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 1:51 pm:
I wonder if they thought about this inviting representations as The Cartoon Governor in the next election cycle.
The image of Homer Simpson with his feet up on the console and eating donuts while the reactor melts down comes to mind.
Of course there are discrepancies. For example in the Simpsons Homer lives in Springfield.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 2:00 pm:
The “activity” of the last few days gives me the impression this year’s, and probably next year’s, pension COLA for state retirees is ssssssss-afe.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 2:04 pm:
Harry vanquished “Squeezy” yesterday …
Quinn denied it, but theere was a press release.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 2:24 pm:
I think yesterday was the day that Gov. Quinn jumped the shark.
Hmm, a python jumping a shark. There may be a cartoon there.
- chicagopublius - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 2:36 pm:
Squeezy will be no more effective than Ho-Dar and L. E. Jack. . . . Anyone remember that CTA debacle?
- Pot calling kettle - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 2:49 pm:
We need Lassie! C’mere girl. Lassie, we have a big pension debt and we need help! Lassie, grab the pensions and pull them out of the quicksand!
- Pot calling kettle - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 2:52 pm:
Oh, no! Bugs Meany has put our pensions into a debt spiral! We need Encyclopedia Quinn, boy detective, to figure out the Mystery of the Pension Deficits.
- Pot calling kettle - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 3:04 pm:
Perhaps we require a bored little boy to hop in his toy car, drive through the tollbooth into the lands beyond to find the answers to the pension problems (Rhyme & Reason have clearly been banished.)
He will certainly have to avoid jumping to Conclusions, deal with the Senses Taker and the Terrible Trivium.
Pat Quinn is either King Azaz or the Humbug
Madigan is the Mathemagician or Chroma
Cross is Dr. Dischord
- Dirty Red - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 3:58 pm:
Wow. Two days in a row of 100+ comments.
* The makers of Vanilla Coke proudly present…
* “Governor Quinn, sir, I came up with an idea for that grassroots campaign you’ve been talking about while I was at home alone last night.” - Intern
* HEADLINE: ARI EMMANUEL OPTIONS SQUEEZY
* “Lulz” - Kelly Kraft
* “Lulz” - Mica Matsoff
* “Lulz” - Bob Reed
* “Lulz” - Elizabeth Austin
* “Motherfu…” - Abdon Pallasch
- soccermom - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 4:48 pm:
@Dirty Red
I spoke to Ms. Austin earlier today. She did not say Lulz. (Although she did make a witty suggestion for a hiphop version featuring Young Squeezy.)
- Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 5:23 pm:
Mister Ed would keep his mouth shut better than most of the Quinndergarten.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 5:40 pm:
Abdon Pallasch,
The first round is on me … no hard feelings(?)
- Most politicians are in it for themselves - Tuesday, Nov 20, 12 @ 6:22 pm:
Until politicians stop spending our money on pork projects to get re-elected, the financial problems of this state and nation will continue. Don’t blame the workers for this mess! They did their time and paid their dime….