Behold the Lord High Executioner
A personage of noble rank and title —
A dignified and potent officer,
Whose functions are particularly vital!
Defer, defer,
To the Lord High Executioner!
Defer, defer,
To the noble Lord, to the noble Lord,
To the Lord High Executioner!
Is this the real life?
Is this just fantasy?
Beware of a landslide,
No escape from reality.
Open your eyes,
Look up to the skies and see,
I’m just the Speaker, I need no sympathy,
Because I’m easy come, easy go,
Little high, little low,
Any way the wind blows doesn’t really matter to me, to me.
“Speaker”, just run the Bill,
Put a vote against this Bill,
Pulled a trigger, if you will.
“Speaker”, “Voting has begun”,
But now I’ve gone and thrown it all away.
“Unions”, ooh,
Didn’t mean to make you cry,
If this Bill fails to Pass this time tomorrow,
“Carry on, carry on” as if reform never matters.
Too late, it’s time has come,
Sent shivers down my spine,
Polling’s aching all the time.
Goodbye, pension debate, It’s got to go,
Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth.
“Speaker”, ooh (any way the wind blows),
I don’t wanna “No”,
I sometimes wish I’d never seen this at all.
(Another Mushroom)
I see a little silhouetto of a man,
Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you reconsider?
Thunderbolt and lightning,
Very, very frightening me.
(Hello Speaker) Sit Down Mushroom.
(Hello Speaker) Sit Down Mushroom,
Hello Speaker, “To the Bill”
Magnifico.
I’m just a Mushroom and nobody loves me.
He’s just a Mushroom from a Target District,
Spare him his Vote from this monstrosity.
Easy come, easy go, will you let me “go”?
Bismillah! No, I will not let you “go”.
(Let him go!) Bismillah! I will not let you go.
(Let him go!) Bismillah! I will not let you go.
(Let me go) Will not let you go.
(Let me go) Will not let you go.
(Never, never, never let me go) Ah.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
(Oh, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker) Mr. Speaker, let us go.
The Speaker’s Crew has a “Challenge” put aside for me, for me, for me.
So you think you can “Vote” me and spit in my eye?
So you think you can love me and leave me to die?
Oh, Musrooms, can’t do this to me, Mushrooms,
Just gotta Vote yes, just gotta Vote this outta here.
(Oh, yeah, oh yeah)
(Speaker) Nothing really matters,
Anyone can see,
Nothing really matters,
Nothing really matters to me.
Master of the house, doling out the charm
Ready with a handshake and an open palm
Tells a saucy take, makes a little stir
Customers appreciate a bon viveur
Glad to do a friend a favor
Doesn’t cost me to be nice
But nothing gets you nothing
Everything has got a little price
“… And I will strike
down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy This Pension Bill. And you will know my name is the Speaker … when I lay my vengeance upon you!”
Speaker Madigan singing a scene from his favorite movie, the Wizard of Oz-
“If I were King of the Forest, Not queen, not duke, not prince.
My regal robes of the forest, would be satin, not cotton, not chintz.
I’d command each thing, be it fish or fowl.”
Oh, wait I already am the King of the forest, silly me.
“I know I was the leader in causing this fiscal mess. But I don’t care! I got to continue to be Speaker. And yes I know the guaranteed funding item is a joke. But again I don’t care. We will spin this so the voters will sing our praise. Just don’t be caught explaining the particulars because that won’t help us.”
And a standing O to OW @ 9:28am. Especially for his pointing out that mushrooms with challenges in the upcoming elections were allowed to vote no.
- 3rd Generation Chicago Native - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 4:06 pm:
Since the session is going on for so long lets take a break and learn a new dance, this one will catch on faster and better than the macarena, it’s the pensionama
You create a problem, let it linger until it is really bad, come up with a bandaid ’solution’ that sorta works, then claim success. That’s the Springfield way.
- Union Man - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 8:58 am:
I’m the leader of the band! (of thieves)
- RNUG - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:00 am:
As I look at this picture, I keep flashing to Meatloaf in concert singing “I want my money back”
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:01 am:
“….the record shows….I took the blows….and did it myyyyyyyyyyyyy wayyyyyyyyyy!”
- Team America - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:01 am:
Duly crediting Gilbert and Sullivan:
Behold the Lord High Executioner
A personage of noble rank and title —
A dignified and potent officer,
Whose functions are particularly vital!
Defer, defer,
To the Lord High Executioner!
Defer, defer,
To the noble Lord, to the noble Lord,
To the Lord High Executioner!
- dupage dan - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:01 am:
The fat lady just sang.
- GA Watcher - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:02 am:
“For unto us a pension bill is born.”
- dupage dan - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:02 am:
Puppetmaster
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:04 am:
Madigan doing his best Denis Leary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrgpZ0fUixs
- dupage dan - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:06 am:
Sir Michael Madigan, director of the General Assembly Opera conducts his version of Gotterdammerung.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:06 am:
See… you pat them on the back with one hand while you choke them with the other. That’s how you burp a State Worker.
- dupage dan - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:06 am:
I’m just a singer in a rock and roll band.
- Name Withheld - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:07 am:
(singing Handel’s Messiah) “for the lord God omnipotent reigneth”
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:07 am:
Never underestimate the power if the dark side!
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:09 am:
“oh mama Mia , momma Mia, pension bill is now. In hand…..”
- Orland (D) - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:10 am:
The Maestro.
- Bemused - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:13 am:
“As you can see there is absolutely no extra length to my nose”
- Ed Observer - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:14 am:
Feeeeegaaaaro!
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:14 am:
Orland, that’s good!
- downstate commissioner - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:15 am:
“ALL together NOW!!”
- Marie - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:16 am:
We need to move on so that we may give tax breaks to the rich and famous
- train111 - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:16 am:
MJM’s being ever compliant and acting just as Bruce Rauner requested.
- Tommydanger - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:17 am:
Why am I shoving this pension bill, the size of a cannoli this big, down the throats of every pension eligible working man and woman? Because I can.
- Tom Joad - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:21 am:
Mike Madigan practicing his air guitar for an upcoming performance.
- OLD BRASS - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:22 am:
A lot of constitutional “OATHS” were broken yesterday…Sad we have come down to this level, but on the bright side….we have an election coming!
- Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:23 am:
Speaker Madigan belts out the Screaming Jay Hawkins classic “I Put a Spell on You!” while accompanying himself on air upright bass.
- Cornerfield - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:27 am:
The Speaker sets the bar in the first annual House belching contest.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:28 am:
Is this the real life?
Is this just fantasy?
Beware of a landslide,
No escape from reality.
Open your eyes,
Look up to the skies and see,
I’m just the Speaker, I need no sympathy,
Because I’m easy come, easy go,
Little high, little low,
Any way the wind blows doesn’t really matter to me, to me.
“Speaker”, just run the Bill,
Put a vote against this Bill,
Pulled a trigger, if you will.
“Speaker”, “Voting has begun”,
But now I’ve gone and thrown it all away.
“Unions”, ooh,
Didn’t mean to make you cry,
If this Bill fails to Pass this time tomorrow,
“Carry on, carry on” as if reform never matters.
Too late, it’s time has come,
Sent shivers down my spine,
Polling’s aching all the time.
Goodbye, pension debate, It’s got to go,
Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth.
“Speaker”, ooh (any way the wind blows),
I don’t wanna “No”,
I sometimes wish I’d never seen this at all.
(Another Mushroom)
I see a little silhouetto of a man,
Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you reconsider?
Thunderbolt and lightning,
Very, very frightening me.
(Hello Speaker) Sit Down Mushroom.
(Hello Speaker) Sit Down Mushroom,
Hello Speaker, “To the Bill”
Magnifico.
I’m just a Mushroom and nobody loves me.
He’s just a Mushroom from a Target District,
Spare him his Vote from this monstrosity.
Easy come, easy go, will you let me “go”?
Bismillah! No, I will not let you “go”.
(Let him go!) Bismillah! I will not let you go.
(Let him go!) Bismillah! I will not let you go.
(Let me go) Will not let you go.
(Let me go) Will not let you go.
(Never, never, never let me go) Ah.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
(Oh, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker) Mr. Speaker, let us go.
The Speaker’s Crew has a “Challenge” put aside for me, for me, for me.
So you think you can “Vote” me and spit in my eye?
So you think you can love me and leave me to die?
Oh, Musrooms, can’t do this to me, Mushrooms,
Just gotta Vote yes, just gotta Vote this outta here.
(Oh, yeah, oh yeah)
(Speaker) Nothing really matters,
Anyone can see,
Nothing really matters,
Nothing really matters to me.
Any way the wind blows.
- Todd - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:28 am:
Oh soooo laa meeeeeeee oh
- foster brooks - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:32 am:
The supreme Court just gave their opinion
- Dirty Red - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:37 am:
Whoa.
- too obvious - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:39 am:
Best cover of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody ever.
- illinifan - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:39 am:
This is how much bigger my pension is from everyone elses, so this bill won’t hurt me…
- Roamin' Numeral - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:40 am:
GA Watcher @ 9:02 beat me to it, but here goes anyway:
“And the government shall be upon his shoulder.”
- Johnnie F. - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:42 am:
Master of the house, doling out the charm
Ready with a handshake and an open palm
Tells a saucy take, makes a little stir
Customers appreciate a bon viveur
Glad to do a friend a favor
Doesn’t cost me to be nice
But nothing gets you nothing
Everything has got a little price
Les Miserables
- Levois - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:48 am:
For some reason I’m expecting him to blow fire.
- bullet - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:48 am:
i’m gonna huff and i’m gonna puff and blow your house down
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:49 am:
“… And I will strike
down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy This Pension Bill. And you will know my name is the Speaker … when I lay my vengeance upon you!”
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:52 am:
I’m playing the violin swan song for all the unions.
- Gator - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:52 am:
Wordslinger, nice one. You beat me to the punch.
- Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:52 am:
Nicely done Willy, except I can’t get that song out of my head…
To the post:
Hark the herald angels sing
Glory to meeeeeeee!
- Thrift Shop Manager - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:53 am:
My boat its got a big dock
- Mittuns - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:53 am:
Zombie Madigan meanders toward beleaguered retirees, with a gutteral utterance of “PENSIONS…!”
- bullet - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:57 am:
i wonder who has a brick house? we know who the pigs are.
- Blue Dog - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 9:58 am:
This is thriller, thriller night and nothing’s gonna save you from the bill about to strike….
- Mittuns - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 10:01 am:
DJ Mic Mad Again masterfully spins his words. Backup vocals by the Supremes.
- Simon - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 10:01 am:
Speaker Madigan singing a scene from his favorite movie, the Wizard of Oz-
“If I were King of the Forest, Not queen, not duke, not prince.
My regal robes of the forest, would be satin, not cotton, not chintz.
I’d command each thing, be it fish or fowl.”
Oh, wait I already am the King of the forest, silly me.
- Irish - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 10:02 am:
“If my mouth is open I’m lying!”
- Former Newfie - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 10:05 am:
Day is done, gone the sun…….
- East Central Illinois - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 10:06 am:
“Now that I got this pension thing passed, I’m gonna make ADM develop an apple that is THIS BIG!”
- Ready To Get Out (soon) - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 10:09 am:
illinifan @9:39 rises above the crowd!
- Mittuns - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 10:11 am:
What do the five fingers say to the pension? SLAP!
- Irish - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 10:12 am:
“I know I was the leader in causing this fiscal mess. But I don’t care! I got to continue to be Speaker. And yes I know the guaranteed funding item is a joke. But again I don’t care. We will spin this so the voters will sing our praise. Just don’t be caught explaining the particulars because that won’t help us.”
And a standing O to OW @ 9:28am. Especially for his pointing out that mushrooms with challenges in the upcoming elections were allowed to vote no.
- Irish - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 10:14 am:
Put an apple in his mouth and bake at 350 for 6 hours. Not much meat there though.
- MrJM - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 10:14 am:
“Once more, children. This time with feeling.”
– MrJM
- Former Titan - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 10:17 am:
If I. Were the King. Of the Forest! Oh wait…
- Jaded - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 10:21 am:
“…they’re magically delicious”
- Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 10:25 am:
What does the fox say?
- Former Titan - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 10:33 am:
Shoot — Sorry Simon @ 10:01 — you beat me to it! Exactly the same image popped into my head…
- Teamster - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 10:35 am:
Do the Funky Chicken White Boy!
- Dancer Mom - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 10:38 am:
Our Pensions THIS BIG, Theirs not so much…..
- Ken_in_Aurora - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 10:46 am:
“Kill the wabbit, kill the wabbit…”
- Empty Suit - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 10:58 am:
“Yes and in the high school band I played the tuba like this..”
- Wensicia - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 11:03 am:
Now it’s time for the seventh inning stretch, everyone stand up!
“Take me out to the ball game…”
- Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 11:19 am:
“I’m gonna pop some tags, only got twenty dollars in my pocket!”
- Dinosaur - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 12:03 pm:
Pensions are too rich, man.
Yubby, dibby,dibby,dibby,dibby,dibby,dibby,dum.
- A. Nonymous - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 12:13 pm:
Is Barbara still sleeping back there?
Good.
Let me tell you about the time we slipped a whoopie cushion on her seat. The echoes were this loud.
- Rudy - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 12:14 pm:
“together we’re going to make the will of the people the law of the land”
- Retiree - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 12:26 pm:
That money DOES NOT belong to the employees and pensioners…..it is MINE….ALLLLL Mine.
- ??? - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 1:03 pm:
Oswego Willy @ 9:28:
Outstanding, sir. Absolutely outstanding. Although that ear worm will stick with me all day.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 1:17 pm:
To - too obvious -, - AA -, Irish -, and - ??? -,
Thank you very much, and apologies for the ear worm.
Caption?
When pressed that Singing is tough to do in front of a crowd, Speaker Madigan bellowed …
“I’m singing, I am standing on the House Floor and I am sinnging…”
- Commonsense in Illinois - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 1:20 pm:
Willy…you have waaayyyy too much time on your hands. Nonetheless, well played, sir.
- Rob Roy - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 1:38 pm:
I want to ride my bicycle… I want to ride my bike….
- Rob Roy - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 1:45 pm:
See… I don’t grow hairy palms…
- pipersls - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 2:33 pm:
(to the of “Lola” by the Kinks)
COLA, we’re gonna cut your COLA,
C-O-L-A, COLA……..
- too obvious - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 3:58 pm:
Okay here’s the definitive answer. Can’t believe no one else had this. Wait for it:
What Does The Fox Say?
- John D. - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 4:05 pm:
The tempo is marked “Legatto!”
- 3rd Generation Chicago Native - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 4:06 pm:
Since the session is going on for so long lets take a break and learn a new dance, this one will catch on faster and better than the macarena, it’s the pensionama
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 4:08 pm:
THIS is how you grab Squeezey by the neck.
- zatoichi - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 6:00 pm:
You create a problem, let it linger until it is really bad, come up with a bandaid ’solution’ that sorta works, then claim success. That’s the Springfield way.
- Toto - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 7:43 pm:
“I am the great and powerful Oz!”
- Just The Way It Is One - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 8:19 pm:
“No no no NO–um, I mean YES!!”
- Political Neophyte - Thursday, Dec 5, 13 @ 12:02 pm:
Figaro! Figaro! Figaro!