- facts are stubborn things - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 9:33 am:
1.2.3.4 …..The 5th reason we have passed a bill to reduce pension benifts is to avoid blame for the mess we created because keeping my majority is all that really matters.
I know what you’re thinking. “Did he fire six shots or only five?” Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of lost track myself. But being as this is my thumb, the most powerful thumb in the world, and can blow your legislation clean off docket, you’ve got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?
Madigan: Now, are you sure you want to have a fight? Because I’m only gonna use my thumb.
Quinn: Thumb?
Madigan: My left thumb. Right one’s much too powerful for you.
And now in respect of my colleague in the Senate, I’m offereing a choice for those pensioner type people…either my thumb in your eye, or your own thumb up your…
- Joe from Joliet - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 10:21 am:
If you think this is a stern facial expression, you ought to see me when I go thumbs down. You know what I mean, Cross, the one the one you always see.
All state employees/retirees may now kneel down and kiss this thumb and give thanks that I have been instrumental in leaving you any pension to live on….I didn’t want to.
- Arthur Andersen - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 11:17 am:
“That Oswego Willy is really a funny fellow. I approve of his jocularity 100 percent.”
“I happen to get that letter signed by all those Democratic County Chairmen backing Quinn. Thanks for making it easier to know who to target. Well done!”
Having just flipped a coin to determine whether to give state employees a haircut when it comes to pension reform, Speaker Madigan called it in midair: Heads, they lose. Tails, they lose. (trick coin).
- What's in a name? - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 1:07 pm:
Contrary to our previous Governor, Speaker Madigan does have “Up” days.
- 3rd Generation Chicago Native - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 1:08 pm:
Using my thumb like a site on the end of a barrel I am picking my next target, or GOP who wants to come up with something silly I need to shoot down, and not literally of course.
“When I vote…I vote yea!” Stay thirsty my friends…
- The unknown poster - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 4:16 pm:
See my thumb? Gee you’re dumb.
- one day at a time - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 5:25 pm:
“I can look you straight in the eye and tell you none of this pension mess is MY fault”
- Just The Way It Is One - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 5:28 pm:
Speaker Madigan, upon motioning the Gazette’s Photographer to come up close, blurts out upon passage of the latest House pension reform measure, “To all Illinoisans–you have my word–IT’ll get done alright, but as I already told the Governor, Senate, and ANY Republican ’round here with the guts to KNOW it’s true, it’s MY way, or the HIGHway!!!GET IT???!!!”
- Just The Way It Is One - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 6:36 pm:
“I MEAN it!”
- Just The Way It Is One - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 6:37 pm:
“You heard it here FIRST!” There, got ya to a HUNDRED Posts, Rich–always looks better, even if folks only have time to read some of ‘em!!! Have a nice weekend!
LIVE session coverage...
- Carl Nyberg - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 9:24 am:
Another defeated Republican. God bless the Democratic Party.
- Bluefish - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 9:25 am:
“Why is it every time I give a thumbs up to something Miller uses it for one of his silly caption contests?”
- Really? - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 9:25 am:
My Thumb… You are under it.
- South of Sherman - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 9:27 am:
You want concealed carry? Weapons don’t get much more concealed than the one I’m holding right now.
- Anonymous - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 9:30 am:
Your pension has to stay smaller than the size of my thumb.
- RonOglesby - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 9:32 am:
I am Caesar, you may live.
- facts are stubborn things - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 9:33 am:
1.2.3.4 …..The 5th reason we have passed a bill to reduce pension benifts is to avoid blame for the mess we created because keeping my majority is all that really matters.
- nobody - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 9:33 am:
Be afraid. Be very afraid!!!
- Quizzical - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 9:34 am:
What a good boy am I!
- Roadiepig - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 9:34 am:
No I won’t smile for your camera. Wouldn’t want the retirees to really see how much happiness I am feeling right now
- Rich Miller - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 9:34 am:
I usually prefer coffee to cola, but I’ll take one today, thanks.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 9:35 am:
“So get yourself a ‘Madi-Knife…for a healthier …YOU!”
- Stu - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 9:39 am:
OK, Lisa…prepare to explain this one to the Illinois Supreme Court
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 9:39 am:
Mushroom Tested, Speaker Approved
- just sayin' - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 9:40 am:
All clear for Lisa to be your governor for the rest of your inconsequential natural lives.
- nobody - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 9:40 am:
I know what you’re thinking. “Did he fire six shots or only five?” Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of lost track myself. But being as this is my thumb, the most powerful thumb in the world, and can blow your legislation clean off docket, you’ve got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 9:40 am:
“Look at that board behind me. Questions?”
- Huh? - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 9:41 am:
Madigan: Now, are you sure you want to have a fight? Because I’m only gonna use my thumb.
Quinn: Thumb?
Madigan: My left thumb. Right one’s much too powerful for you.
- foster brooks - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 9:41 am:
From the south town economist “speaker madigan thanks his political diners from the civic federation and Commonwealth Edison”
- Demoralized - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 9:42 am:
This is an obscure reference to an old comedy show but maybe some of you will get it. . .
“I’m crushing your head. Crushing it.”
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 9:43 am:
“Do you like Apples? I asked, ‘Do. You. Like. Apples?’ Look at the board, how about those Apples?”
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 9:48 am:
“Freshman..no matter what, you did the ‘Right’ thing…”
- Leave a Light on George - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 9:49 am:
One, two, three, four. I declare a thumb war!
- Captain Illini - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 9:50 am:
And now in respect of my colleague in the Senate, I’m offereing a choice for those pensioner type people…either my thumb in your eye, or your own thumb up your…
- kimocat - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 9:53 am:
Oops! Used the wrong digit.
- frank - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 9:55 am:
eat my thumb!
- Calhoun Native - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 9:57 am:
Hey state retirees, you know where you can stick this.
- Small Town Tax Payer - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 9:58 am:
I am number one.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 9:58 am:
“Oberweis STILL going after Brady? This day is getting better and better, ‘Go for it, Jim!’…”
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 10:01 am:
“Well, there has been Thompson,…then Edgar….”
- Dirty Red - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 10:02 am:
Keep calm and Speaker on.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 10:05 am:
“I want to wish all the ‘unauthorized’ ‘No’s’ the …. best… of luck next cycle.”
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 10:07 am:
“Hey, Bill Daley… Smart move. We’ll talk soon, well done.”
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 10:10 am:
“Bruce…Bruce Rauner! Love that shutdown the state talk. Do not stop talking about it, we Democrats love it. Thanks.”
- SAP - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 10:10 am:
The Un-COLA
- BentheDem - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 10:11 am:
“Who’s got two thumbs and owns Illinois? This guy…”
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 10:11 am:
“Miller. I saw that video of Oscar yesterday. Great stuff!”
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 10:14 am:
“Well, if you really want to talk about, the first was Brent Hassert….”
- Todd - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 10:14 am:
1,2,3,4 I propose a thumb war..
- Darienite - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 10:14 am:
“Under My Thumb” is my favorite Rolling Stones tune.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 10:17 am:
“You tell Cross… This guy will sponsor a hole at his golf outing…”
- A Citizen - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 10:20 am:
Bite me Miller, Bite Me!
- Joe from Joliet - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 10:21 am:
If you think this is a stern facial expression, you ought to see me when I go thumbs down. You know what I mean, Cross, the one the one you always see.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 10:22 am:
“I might let this pass, but you don’t vote my way again, start looking at the Senate as your next stop…”
- The unknown poster - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 10:23 am:
Ok you little bugs, prepare to be squished.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 10:23 am:
Saputo’s cooked, Speaker approved
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 10:28 am:
“Hey Clarke, if I forgot…thanks for the Map.”
- mason - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 10:29 am:
“Are you asking me to shave my head?” White guys that shave their heads looks like my thumb.
- Amalia - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 10:30 am:
Mike Madigan, 3D, 4D, 5D, 6D……..
- SirLankselot - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 10:32 am:
“Why do you think I’m not excited? This *is* my excited face.”
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 10:35 am:
“This…is the thumb… that votes the ‘Mr. Speaker’ buttons…”
- ash - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 10:35 am:
You state workers don’t even deserve the middle finger.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 10:37 am:
“You’re going to be fine…”
- Why Not - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 10:37 am:
No one beats me at marbles!!!
- A Citizen - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 10:40 am:
Yes, it is insured for a million bucks!
- Cincinnatus - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 10:42 am:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYYTLJ8YHi4
- zatoichi - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 10:43 am:
This thumb, your eye. Got it?
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 10:43 am:
Darth Madigan signals his approval.
- John A Logan - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 10:51 am:
A photo of one of the many reasons Illinois is a failure.
- PM31 - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 10:55 am:
“Okay, let me explain this to you ONE LAST TIME. You can either vote the way I say you should, or I will take this thumb and gouge out your eyes.”
- WazUp - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 11:05 am:
“I once fixed a door that wasn’t even broken yet.”
- Mason born - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 11:06 am:
Sure i’ll take the extra part in the Walking Dead. Makeup i don’t need any Stinkin Makeup.
- Midstate Indy - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 11:09 am:
Successful General Assembly Ruling 101: At all times maintain a vantage point that keeps all lemmings smaller than a thumb nail.
- Chicago Cynic - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 11:12 am:
“Which part of ‘you will vote YES on this bill’ did you not understand?”
- Huggybunny - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 11:16 am:
All state employees/retirees may now kneel down and kiss this thumb and give thanks that I have been instrumental in leaving you any pension to live on….I didn’t want to.
- Arthur Andersen - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 11:17 am:
“That Oswego Willy is really a funny fellow. I approve of his jocularity 100 percent.”
- Anonymous - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 11:33 am:
“Up yours, State retirees!” “Constitution? We don’t need no stinking constitution.” “BOHICA, retirees, we’re not done with you yet.”
- TiredofMike - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 11:34 am:
The big Gooser wins again.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 11:39 am:
“Hey AA! I saw your NCAA bracket. ND in the Final Four, well done!”
- AA - your Beaver’s “Post” was awesome.
“Nice move McCaskey family, not signing Urlacher… That will help with the fan base, good move.”
- Joe M - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 11:40 am:
I told you so - I’m always right!
- unclesam - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 11:46 am:
Yes, I will take the MacIntosh for lunch…thanks!
- Mama - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 11:46 am:
Vote with me or go home!
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 11:52 am:
“I happen to get that letter signed by all those Democratic County Chairmen backing Quinn. Thanks for making it easier to know who to target. Well done!”
- WhoKnew - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 12:03 pm:
“I still say — Talk to the Thumb, cause the rest aint Listening”!!
- Former Titan - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 12:25 pm:
“D’Amico! Get your thumb out of my head shot!”
And Demoralized - Totally got the reference. Lol. “Crush your head. Crush.”
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 12:26 pm:
“Pat Brady (pause) those strawberries were good…”
- Jake From Elwood - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 12:33 pm:
MJM has never looked more elf-like.
- Anon - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 12:36 pm:
Having just flipped a coin to determine whether to give state employees a haircut when it comes to pension reform, Speaker Madigan called it in midair: Heads, they lose. Tails, they lose. (trick coin).
- Mouthy - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 12:49 pm:
“Eyes up, don’t look at the tie”
- What's in a name? - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 1:07 pm:
Contrary to our previous Governor, Speaker Madigan does have “Up” days.
- 3rd Generation Chicago Native - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 1:08 pm:
Using my thumb like a site on the end of a barrel I am picking my next target, or GOP who wants to come up with something silly I need to shoot down, and not literally of course.
- hotshot - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 1:10 pm:
“Miller wouldn’t dare tell ME to keep it nice and clean. Everyone knows where this thumb goes.”
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 1:12 pm:
“Bill passes House…’Check’… Your move…”
- WiseGuyFromTheEast - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 1:18 pm:
“I killed a man… with *this* thumb.”
- LisleMike - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 1:42 pm:
I decide what is truth. And Truth?! You can’t handle the truth!!
- Arthur Andersen - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 1:44 pm:
“Mr. Mapes, please remove Mouse and Duck from the recorded vote.”
- 47th Ward - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 1:55 pm:
What eats apples and has 66 votes for pension reform? This guy!
- Anonymous - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 1:55 pm:
“I’m so excited I can hardly speak. Yippeee!”
“What? No, I’ve never had surgery on my face. I’m just naturally restrained.”
- zatoichi - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 2:11 pm:
…and when the Great Madigni opened his hand, the coin was gone. The crowd was amazed.
- Pale Rider - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 2:36 pm:
Who has a thumb and blames the pension problems on everyone but him self? THIS GUY!
- Kerfuffle - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 3:12 pm:
So I stuck in my thumb and I pulled out a plum - wait a minute where’s the plum?
- Come on man! - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 3:12 pm:
No comment just this should go on Thumbs and Ammo blog spot http://thumbsandammo.blogspot.com/
- Arthur Andersen - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 3:46 pm:
(using thumb as microphone, silently humming)
“..Could that someone..be Mike the Knife..ta Dah!”
- ChicagoDem - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 3:51 pm:
“UNO”
- Siyotanka - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 4:11 pm:
“When I vote…I vote yea!” Stay thirsty my friends…
- The unknown poster - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 4:16 pm:
See my thumb? Gee you’re dumb.
- one day at a time - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 5:25 pm:
“I can look you straight in the eye and tell you none of this pension mess is MY fault”
- Just The Way It Is One - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 5:28 pm:
Speaker Madigan, upon motioning the Gazette’s Photographer to come up close, blurts out upon passage of the latest House pension reform measure, “To all Illinoisans–you have my word–IT’ll get done alright, but as I already told the Governor, Senate, and ANY Republican ’round here with the guts to KNOW it’s true, it’s MY way, or the HIGHway!!!GET IT???!!!”
- Just The Way It Is One - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 6:36 pm:
“I MEAN it!”
- Just The Way It Is One - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 6:37 pm:
“You heard it here FIRST!” There, got ya to a HUNDRED Posts, Rich–always looks better, even if folks only have time to read some of ‘em!!! Have a nice weekend!
- county chairman - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 7:21 pm:
hey lisa i got us another state grant for our district
- county chairman - Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 7:23 pm:
i am in chapter one of bill c new book coming later