* I told subscribers about this several days ago…
The state fair got its start Thursday night with the Twilight parade through the north end of the capital city. It’s an annual tradition. But indications are that another tradition, a Democratic party rally, will not continue this year. […]
[Gov. Pat Quinn’s] big day at the ten-day state fair is Wednesday - Governor’s Day.
Traditionally, it’s a time for lawmakers and candidates from the Governor’s party to rally - so in this case, the Democrats.
But not this year.
“Going to the fair in the afternoon should be about kids and family and fun.” [Quinn told reporters.]
Quinn denies that the change is because Illinois Democrats are so fractured.
“Fractured” is definitely a word for it. Quinn has a serious primary challenger in Bill Daley, who obviously can’t be allowed on stage. Quinn’s own lt. governor won’t endorse his reelection bid. US Sen. Dick Durbin, who is up for reelection next year and would usually be expected to speak at the annual rally, says he’s not endorsing anyone in the governor’s race, either.
Then there’s the lawsuit filed against Quinn by the state’s two Democratic legislative leaders.
Fractured, indeed.
* I never hide the fact that I love the State Fair. Back when I was a 4-H kid in Iroquois County’s Milks Grove Township, we looked at the State Fair as the “big show.” You do well in your county competition then move up. I made it to the big show once, as an emcee for the “Share the Fun” contest, which was basically skits, often musical, performed by local clubs. I missed out on a ticket to the State Fair another time when - my granddad was convinced - somebody cheated by entering an ineligible steer. It might sound funny now, but, trust me, it wasn’t so funny back then.
* The governor loves the State Fair as well…
* From a Quinn press release…
New features at this year’s fair include the Budweiser Clydesdales, who will parade through the fairgrounds every day at 4 p.m. and stay in the Gate 2 area the rest of the day; the Happy Hollow “Concert on the Hill” series, live at 5:30 p.m. daily; the Conservation World “Puddle Duck” races August 17 that challenge kids to make and race their own toy boats; a CrossFit team competition August 10; and the return of the popular Cheer Classic cheerleading competition August 17.
This year’s Grandstand concert lineup includes Billy Currington, REO Speedwagon, Styx, John Mayer, The Band Perry, Toby Keith, Ke$ha, and Journey. The Grandstand will feature two free concerts as well, one by New Odyssey and the Illinois Army National Guard 144th Army Band August 12 and another by local high school show choirs August 15. The fair also offers a wide variety of free entertainment – from magic shows to musical acts – on 14 stages throughout the fairgrounds.
I’m hoping to see The Band Perry, Toby Keith, Billy Currington and John Mayer. All good.
You?
* I’ll also be checking this out…
For the third year in a row the [Rolling Meadows Brewery], based on a family farm just outside of Springfield, will have their flagship beers available including: Springfield Wheat, Lincoln’s Lager and their award-winning Abe’s Ale.
You can buy 22 oz bombers of each, to-go, for $8 apiece, get a full pour on tap for $4 or get a sample of one — or all three — for $1 each.
Rolling Meadows is on Central Avenue, across from the Miller Tent and Food-A-Rama, at the Illinois Wine Experience tent.
Lincoln’s Lager is excellent stuff.
* Of course, no State Fair visit would be complete without the butter cow, which is still under construction and will be finished during the fair…
* Last night was the Twilight Parade, the annual event which opens the Fair. Treasurer Dan Rutherford was there…
* As always, state Sen. Andy Manar had a big crew…
* From a photo posted by Sen. Kirk Dillard…
Dude, please do something about that sign. “Lard” may not be the message you intend to send, but it’s becoming the received message.
- walkinfool - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:32 am:
I’ll miss the masses of green and purple shirts.
- OneMan - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:33 am:
Just missed making it with the skit I was in for Share The Fun. Considering our 4-H group was in Dolton/Riverdale there wasn’t much farming in the area…
Still can remember trying to visualize what it would have been like to make it to fair…
- OneMan - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:34 am:
“Going to the fair in the afternoon should be about kids and family and fun.”
And not AFSCME getting up in my business…
Also he want’s to make sure nothing prevents him from catching Ke$ha
- Keep Calm and Carry On - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:36 am:
Quinn must be having flashbacks to the warm reception union members gave him at last year’s “rally”.
If Madigan wants to have some fun, he should go ahead and schedule the rally in accordance with tradition through his role as head of the Illinois Democratic party.
- Old Shepherd - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:37 am:
I tried to convince my politically-aware 10 year old daughter that The Band Perry was made up of Katy Perry, Rick Perry, and Perry the Platypus, but she wasn’t buying it.
- wordslinger - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:37 am:
Wow, the weather the next few days in Springfield looks perfect for the fair.
Very envious. The timing just hasn’t worked for me in recent years. Boys always had two-a-days in football and this weekend we’re packing them both up to take them to college early next week.
Drag. Everyone else have a cold one for me.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:38 am:
Quinn can NOT be seen as a Co-Equal to Bill Daley, period, return, new paragraph. I do find the Irony of the “Glorious Leader” is dictating Governor’s Day, but this is an instance Quinn can flex his political muscle and it is perfectly acceptable, warranted, and savy.
As for Populist Quinn’s not necessarily Co-Equal governmental partners that are of the same, um… Party(?) I think(?)…
Quinn’s lack of followers in government, and lack of Allies, is just screaming out for everyone to see with “Glorious Leader” Day at the Fair, even if its for all the right political reasons, as it shines a very harsh light on Governor Quinn and his tremendous leadership faults and warts.
A “No-Win” for either Quinn you point to, but Populist Quinn can NOT give way to Governor Quinn, otherwise both Quinn’s will start down a road to Private Citizen, or “Lame Duck” Quinn come NEXT state fair
- Anonymour - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:38 am:
Ah - D. Lard. “I can smell that meat acookin’”
- RNUG - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:39 am:
Fun parade last night. Watched most of it and marched in part of it for a GOP candidate.
The area where I sat and watched most of the parade gave a very cool reception to the Democratic candidates except for Jesse White. Admittedly, the party I was at is mostly state retirees / long time employees and their family members … but it was more than our small group giving the Dems a cool reception.
I’m not a Sheila Simon fan, but I will give her credit for wading in and trying to make a good impression on us.
As to the rest of the fair, I’ll go a day or two to keep the wife happy and take the grand kids, but I could skip it with no regrets.
- wordslinger - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:39 am:
Geez, what don’t the Dillard people understand about “LARD?”
The shot above is framed to emphasize it.
- Plutocrat03 - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:40 am:
If he moves the state over, it will change to IL(L). Not much better.
On the other hand it might be a subtle comment on all the pork barrel funding in the state.
- Timmeh - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:41 am:
I made it to the fair twice with computer science exhibits and my sister made it twice to their sewing/fashion show.
- Calhoun Native - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:42 am:
My life is not complete without a Vose corn dog, a lemon shakeup, a trip around the hobbies and crafts building and a look at the butter cow.
- RNUG - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:43 am:
Dillard should shrink the state and move it in front of Governor.
- Keep Calm and Carry On - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:43 am:
Dillard’s in a pickle regardless of which end he stands near in the pic.
You either get “Dill” or “Lard”.
- CircularFiringSquad - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:43 am:
jRYAN didn’t worry about those silly signs so why should Kirk
What day is the celeb horserace?
- Pot calling kettle - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:44 am:
Cancelling the rally at the fair seems silly since they’ll all be up front together at the morning brunch.
I was hoping to see a bunch of state legislators try to match the performance the unions gave last year. That would be fun.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:46 am:
Nothing like a great photo ruined by horrible staging.
How about this?
No more pictures I’m front of the name “Dillard”…
Seriously, please stop staging pictures … IN… FRONT … of signage. Please just stop, honestly.
Have the sign uninstructed, in front of the Principle or others, or … NO…SIGN….at all.
Sooner or later, it will be more people than Capitol Fax posters pointing out. … The Lard….
Yikes!
- RNUG - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:47 am:
The thing I enjoyed the most last night was dinner after the parade in the Ethnic Village. Jambalaya w/hot sauce, bratwurst w/mustard & sauerkraut … skipped the beer because I was the driver.
- Small Town Liberal - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:54 am:
I don’t get the obsession with Vose, Miller’s are far superior.
I’ve heard that some candidates are happy that Governor’s day is more of a relaxed hangout rather than a rally this year. They all have to speak at the chairman brunch earlier, some weren’t thrilled about making duplicate speeches back to back.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:54 am:
“obstructive” - hate auto-correct
- Rich Miller - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:55 am:
===I don’t get the obsession with Vose, Miller’s are far superior. ===
Absolutely. And, no relation.
- Franspoon - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:58 am:
There WILL be a Democratic Party rally at the crown plaza on Tuesday morning — all of the Democratic pols will make speeches, there will be whooping and hollering, etc. they won’t have to repeat their speeches on the fairgrounds.
- wordslinger - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:58 am:
On a frustrating note, check out the link of sponsors for the fair below.
Some mighty conspicuous names missing don’t you think? Here’s a game — find the Civic Committee members who are sponsors (you can stop at “1″).
How about the world’s largest ag futures exchanges — the ones who shook down taxpayers at the height of The Great Recession?
Maybe an iconic but struggling retailer who was also at the trough with the exchanges? The country’s largest drug store chain, born in Chicago, based on the North Shore and that recently got some state help for rehabbing its corporate campus?
Maybe one of the world’s largest food processing giants, also with an hq on the North Shore?
Maybe state insurance carriers? Underwriters? Fortune 500 corporations who have benefited from tax breaks and handouts?
And why no soft drink? Makes no sense to me.
http://www.agr.state.il.us/isf/sponsor/
- train111 - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:58 am:
I have to really chuckle about “Lard” I have deceased cousin who went by the nickname “lard” all of his life. Kind of brings back good memories. Doesn’t do squat in a political race however.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 11:00 am:
Living in Kendall County, I am more of a fan as I talk to more people about their memories, and I share my all too few memories.
I wonder how GOP Day will be, with all 4 Guv hopefuls, Two-Putt talking about how he loves being Leader …LOVES… being leader.. you know, typical fair stuff.
- Small Town Liberal - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 11:03 am:
- And, no relation. -
I can vouch, I used to work with a member of that particular Miller family.
- langhorne - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 11:14 am:
i dont go to grandstand acts anymore. i just dont care for that venue. but i was really hoping for some deliciously awkward moments st the dem rally.
my food choices always include the shrimp on a stick, and some selections in the ethnic area–gyro, and fried anything. maybe a little fudge.
- Responsa - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 11:14 am:
Maybe a close friend or relative designed Dillard’s logo and he knows that his changing or repainting it would very much hurt their feelings? It’s hard to imagine why he persists with the lard thing. A sign gaffe is much easier to fix than the types of problems many candidates go into campaigns with: prior votes-personality issues-too little experience-too small a campaign fund, etc. etc.
- Calhoun Native - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 11:15 am:
“I don’t get the obsession with Vose, Miller’s are far superior.”
It’s not about who’s the best, for me anyway. It’s about the tradition of going there when my kids were toddlers. It’s about remembering them take their first bite of a corn dog. It’s about the smile that brings to me when I stand in line there waiting my turn for food on a stick. The best tasting drink or thing on a stick fall short of the happy place Vose takes me every year.
- Anonymous - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 11:15 am:
Don’t forget the DuQuoin fair at the end of the month.
Here’s the entertainment lineup:
“The 2013 Du Quoin State Fair Grandstand Line-up features something for everyone. Acts include: Billy Currington, Darryl Worley, Sawyer Brown with Lee Roy Parnell & Grace Askew, Matt Maher with Brittany Loyd, Gretch wilson with Aaron Owens, Theory of a Deadman with Trapt, Montgomery Gentry with Drew Baldridge and Kansas with The Fabulous Thunderbirds.”
http://www.agr.state.il.us/dq/
See ya there!
- low level - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 11:15 am:
This is the same Quinn who criticized the Legislature for not working hard enough on pension reform?
Not only this, but he sure has found the time to make it to White Sox games this summer. So much so, he went to the radio booth to visit Ed Farmer and Darrin Jackson - and spent more time calling the game!
His choice of baseball teams is good. His criticism of legislators not doing enough work is really chutzpah
- Bemused - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 11:20 am:
The wife is a Springfield native who feels the world may come to an end if she misses the State Fair Parade. So I was a bit surprised when she complained that it seemed to have an even larger percentage of the Pols walking this year. I think it may have felt that way because little else stood out. Two or three floats made an impression but beyond that little else. We like the food but miss Cowboys Barbeque. Saturday sounds like a good day to go back. We like to park around the back side at the Animal Protective League parking. Easy way to help a good cause.
- Anonymous - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 11:24 am:
Some things you just can’t make up.
Chris Lauzen is staging his annual Porky Picnic tomorrow.
Among the guests: Kirk Dillard.
https://docs.google.com/a/kanegop.org/file/d/0B_jcq026c590eWc0RXd0dGh3QXc/edit?pli=1
- Keep Calm and Carry On - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 11:39 am:
In reviewing Wordslinger’s list, I find the politicians handing out those precious tax dollars as goodies to be equally upsetting.
If your local bank or credit union hangs up signs reading:
- “Free Money”
- “We’re Giving Away Our Customers’ Money (Maybe Then You’ll Hire One of Them)!”
- “We Just Increased Customer Fees (So We Can Give You Their Money)”
Do we simply fault the entities asking for some of that money?
Or do we also fault the bank/credit union/State of Illinois for hanging up those ridiculous signs in the first place and then giving way all that money?
- Iamthepita - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 11:53 am:
For a minute there, I thought AFSCME was endorsing Rutherford with the folks wearing green shirts in the picture. A hidden message maybe?
- Anonymous - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 12:23 pm:
Anonymous 11:24 must have just learned about Lauzen’s “Porky Picnic” and is as intrigued by the name as I was when I heard about it.
BTW, I like the photo.
- zatoichi - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 12:27 pm:
REO Speedwagon, Styx, Head East and, last year, Cheap Trick. Local bands who did the central Illinois bar circuits for years before the big time. Hard to imagine I used to see these guys regularly at Ted’s Warehouse in Charleston a long time back.
- RNUG - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 12:33 pm:
Bemused @ 11:20 am:
I seem to remember reading somewhere that only 20 entries out of about 80 were deemed political, which is actually less than other years.
- Keep Calm and Carry On - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 1:08 pm:
In keeping with Wordslinger’s point concerning Illinois corporations taking handouts but not giving back to the state, much less supporting the state fair:
7/16/13: Navistar CEO Praises Quinn, Lawmakers for $64.7 million in subsidies - www.illinoisobserver.net/2013/07/16/navistar-ceo-praises-quinn-lawmakers-for-plant-upgrade-help/
8/09/13: Navistar to “cut ‘a few hundred jobs’” and “more than 140 contractors” - www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-navistar-job-cuts-20130809,0,4412878.story
Guess we won’t be seeing their name on the list, either.
- Chicago Cynic - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 1:21 pm:
I don’t think fractured is the right word. The party is pretty united in their distaste for our current governor.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 1:46 pm:
So does this mean Rich won’t need a golf cart to get around on Wednesday?
- Robert the Bruce - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 2:08 pm:
That LARD candidate is schooling everyone on branding consistency. Once you pick a color, font, language, and placement, do whatever you can to remain consistent - online, on your van, on your mailers, everywhere - so that nobody forgets who you are.
- Bemused - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 2:14 pm:
RNUG 12:33
The wife and I have made most of the last 20 Fair Parades
AS I said in the previous post it only felt like a larger concentration POls this year. This was my very subtle way of agreeing with Wordslinger. This is the State of IL Fair Parade. You would think there would be more Commercial type floats from those who do business in and with the state. Some of best out there this year were from Budweiser, Knight’s Action Park and the Gay and Lesbian Community. I just feel there should have been more.
- Norseman - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 2:48 pm:
RNUG, hopefully your guy is on the right side of THE issue.
- Mason born - Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 4:10 pm:
@Bemused
I have a question for you. A friend was at the fairgrounds for the parade. According to him Quinn was having a hard time finding someone to shake his hand. Did you notice anything like that? He said he even saw a mom pull a little boy away from him. I wonder how that affect Populist Quinn’s personal belief? I mean they can’t all be AFSCME, NRA, or Lawmakers families right?