* I kidded Tom Cross a little last night about this story, which is too cute not to share…
“We definitely like to have lunch together. We were at Cracker Barrel not too long ago,” [Gov. Pat Quinn] told reporters Wednesday. “I ate carrots, lots of carrots, green beans. And we were eating healthy.”
The same was true for Cross (R-Oswego), as they chatted about pensions, gambling and capital spending at the Cracker Barrel off Weber Road in Bolingbrook off Interstate 55, a location Cross said he chose and the governor readily complied.
“I had turnip greens, pinto beans, fried okra, and I must’ve had green beans. I did have one of their nice biscuits. This was my idea,” Cross told the Sun-Times.
“The governor sat down at the table and said, ‘Excellent. I don’t need a menu,’” Cross said. “We’re just a couple of Cracker Barrel guys.”
“We’re just a couple of Cracker Barrel guys.”
If only session could be this cordial.
Wait. I’d be out of a job.
Never mind.
Continue bickering!
LIVE session coverage...
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 27, 12 @ 10:49 am:
“Would either one of you like some fresh Apple Pie”
“NO!”
———-
“The Gentleman at that table wanted me to give you both an Apple and say, ‘See you during… Veto?’…”
- Ray del Camino - Tuesday, Nov 27, 12 @ 11:01 am:
Or just a coupla crackers . . .
- Cincinnatus - Tuesday, Nov 27, 12 @ 11:07 am:
Did they pull up in motorhomes?
- Norseman - Tuesday, Nov 27, 12 @ 11:10 am:
The beginnings of the Cracker Caucus. Where the barrel-rolling (instead of logrolling) gets accomplished.
- Responsa - Tuesday, Nov 27, 12 @ 11:12 am:
Actually–this may not be the best advertising for the Cracker Barrel company.
- Mr. Barrel - Tuesday, Nov 27, 12 @ 11:20 am:
Quinn paid for lunch. Source has it.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Nov 27, 12 @ 11:32 am:
Quinn is more of a Tollway Oasis kind of guy. Cracker Barrel is fine dining for him, especially the “lots of carrots” thing. I usually picture him downing a quarter pounder with cheese, so I’m kind of suspicious of this story.
- Cincinnatus - Tuesday, Nov 27, 12 @ 11:37 am:
So far, the only reported “food” has been veggies. I don’t believe this for a moment! What are these people not telling us about the proteins consumed? Were the veggies fair trade and free range? Taxpayers have the right to know!!!
- Dave Dahl - Tuesday, Nov 27, 12 @ 11:39 am:
I prefer Bob Evans myself, as does my boss.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Nov 27, 12 @ 11:44 am:
===I usually picture him downing a quarter pounder with cheese, so I’m kind of suspicious of this story. ===
Me too. I asked about it. Was told Quinn had pork chops.
- Liberty First - Tuesday, Nov 27, 12 @ 11:53 am:
Had I been there, I could have videotaped it….
- Third Reading - Tuesday, Nov 27, 12 @ 11:54 am:
Whew. I feel a snark contest coming on!
First, it was “Super 8, the official motel of Governor Pat Quinn.”
And now — Cracker Barrel is his official restaurant?
Just think of the endorsement possibilities!
Farm and Fleet, the official haberdasher……….
White Castle, the official hamburger………..
I’m outta here.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Nov 27, 12 @ 11:55 am:
An observer reports that Quinn left five pegs, while Cross left four.
- Just Me - Tuesday, Nov 27, 12 @ 12:03 pm:
Good one, Willy.
Anyone else having trouble getting the password to work on their mobile device?
- Pot calling kettle - Tuesday, Nov 27, 12 @ 12:05 pm:
==An observer reports that Quinn left five pegs, while Cross left four. ==
Madigan left none.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 27, 12 @ 12:12 pm:
- Just Me -
Thanks…
I would love to have been a fly at that table …
- WayOutWilly - Tuesday, Nov 27, 12 @ 12:45 pm:
If they had only spent some time together in the rocking chairs, I’m sure they could have solved the pension crisis.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 27, 12 @ 12:56 pm:
I am going to create the “Willy” Caucus for all the posters with the handle “Willy”, new and old.
I will be the Chair, which means I will then collect from the Caucus members their goals.
The overall fundraising goal is $500,000.00.
Make checks payable to “Todd Stroger Missing Money Fund”, East Bank Club, Chicago.
Next event will be a golf outing, following golf we also will meet at the Cracker Barrel.
Thank you.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 27, 12 @ 1:06 pm:
“We’re just a couple of Cracker Barrel guys.”
When told of this meeting, Speaker Madigan Quipped.
“I’m more of an ‘Apple…bees’ kind of guy.”
- Crime Fighter - Tuesday, Nov 27, 12 @ 1:09 pm:
When ordering each assured the other that it was a free lunch, then they both bickered about paying the tab, blaming Cracker Barrel employees for the cost of the lunch.
- walkinfool - Tuesday, Nov 27, 12 @ 1:11 pm:
Hmm. And he vacations in Paris? Must not have been the food.
- crow04 - Tuesday, Nov 27, 12 @ 1:12 pm:
This thread wins just for the line “the official haberdasher”
That’s a phrase that should e used more often
- Wensicia - Tuesday, Nov 27, 12 @ 1:21 pm:
“We’re just a couple of crackers from the bottom of the barrel; you know, where we hide from Squeezy.”
- Observing - Tuesday, Nov 27, 12 @ 1:38 pm:
Cute, but not nearly as good as the Pulp Fiction diner scene with Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson’s dialog about eating “swine”.
- Wumpus - Tuesday, Nov 27, 12 @ 2:04 pm:
No Dairy Queen?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 27, 12 @ 2:34 pm:
What was NOT reported was that Tom Cross had a Half Lemonade, Half Ice Tea … yes, an Arnold Palmer.
- CircularFiringSquad - Tuesday, Nov 27, 12 @ 2:51 pm:
We would ahve picked the White Castle also at I-55 & Weber Road…Billboards always seems like a sliders kinda guy
- sal-says - Tuesday, Nov 27, 12 @ 4:22 pm:
quinn: “I ate carrots, lots of carrots, green beans….”
cross: ““I had turnip greens, pinto beans, fried okra, and I must’ve had green beans….”
Uhhh ….. No wonder this State is so screwed up.
Continue bickering!
Uhhh ….. No. Just get ALL the stakeholders involved in budget decisions FOR ONCE.
You’ll still have a job, Rich. Why? Junior wannabees for a start.
“We’re just a couple of Cracker Barrel guys.”
Uhhh ….. No. ‘We’re just a couple of cracker guys.’ Closer to it.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Nov 27, 12 @ 4:31 pm:
What do these two have to talk about, anyway? What common, achievable goals, do they have?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 27, 12 @ 4:47 pm:
@PutterOfTomCross - hey @TomCrossNews! I thought we were gonna golf that day. You ditched me for @GovernorQuinn? Not many golf days left. #RustyPuttersNeedUse
- Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Nov 27, 12 @ 5:34 pm:
“an Arnold Palmer.”
“I don’t know if we serve those here at Cracker Barrel, sweetie. We have Pepsi products, though.”
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 27, 12 @ 5:41 pm:
“Ma’am, it’s ice tea and lemonade …It’s just named after a golfer.”
- Esteban - Tuesday, Nov 27, 12 @ 8:12 pm:
The “Cracker Barrel” summit?