You’ve already had your share of birthday presents, what with Lisa and Bill Daley dropping out, and pension reform done. So just count your blessings and enjoy the day.
@FakeSheilaSimon - Happy Birhtday Pat. I sent a card, tried to call, wen to your office, seems as though this might be the only shoulder that ain’t cold. #YeahYourLGUntilBailing
@FakeBruceRauner - Pat Quinn, Happy Birthday. Which gift do you want, the Snow Globe or the Sledgehammer. I can get Rahm to sigh either too. #HammerAndShake
@FakeRutherfordDan - Happy Birthday Governor. I checked in Unclaimed Property and found the food your fridge was missing. Your Welcome. #BirhtdayCakeToo
@FakeBillBrady - I gave you your gifts 4 years ago; I ignored cook County and ran with Jason Plummer. Again, you get nothing from me this year. #HaveDrapeMeasurementsIfYouWantThose
@FakeKirkDillard - As a former Chief of Staff to Gov. Edgar, I know you are getting lots of well wishes, so my gift to you is to be the opposite of what I was in the 1990’s. #NewMeMeansBetterChanceForYou
@FakeGeneralAssembly - Pat, we had planned to get you a gift, but when you took our checks, we decided to just give you a copy of the IL Constitution and a smile. Don’t spend all your salray in one place #NewPurpleTies
Nice to see you reinstated your check. I guess you have enough money now since you robbed state employees.
- Grandson of Man - Monday, Dec 16, 13 @ 11:40 am:
Happy Birthday, Gov. Quinn.
I hope that when you open your presents, there’s something actually in there, unlike the guaranteed back-wages we deferred and for which we had to fight a legal battle to get. We’re still fighting that battle.
That being said, I understand that pension reform is a very serious issue in Illinois, and you did what you thought was best for the state. For that I can’t totally fault you. I believe that there are worse alternatives, and if it’s between you and Rauner next November, I will vote for you without a problem. Politics to me is not always about what’s ideal, but it’s about making the best out of bad choices. This sounds defeatist, but if I don’t get off my half-moons and support a candidate who should take your place, I have much less reason to beef.
Are you a Democratic “purist,” like the tea party and its fiscal jihadists, who would wreck the country to rebuild it in its own image? Nope. And for that, I am grateful. I don’t want the party I support to do my bidding exclusively. How can I then criticize my opponents who do this when I’m doing it myself? Can I ask wealthy people to pay more taxes if I myself won’t pay more of anything? Can I ask you to be a union puppet when I criticize conservative organizations who appear to me to be not much more than shills for the super-wealthy? I don’t think so.
Congratulations and thank you also, for passing SSM and MMJ. I feel like 2013 was a very good year for the state, and I feel optimistic about our future.
I just ask you to not make promises you can’t keep.
- Mighty M. Mouse - Monday, Dec 16, 13 @ 12:10 pm:
Always be nice to your mother (remember, you wouldn’t be here if not for her) and as long as I have your attention could you please explain one thing to me — why exactly you (and others) want to be governor? Do you like being in a meat grinder?
Those of us working/retired from public service will never forget your hand in our pockets and pompous grandiosity. This is what we were put on earth to say to you.
@FakeGeneralAssembly - Pat, we had planned to get you a gift, but when you took our checks, we decided to just give you a copy of the IL Constitution and a smile. Don’t spend all your salray in one place #NewPurpleTies
Rich- To answer your question “How’s come?”, it’s simple. The governor has declared war on state employees (particularly merit comp employees) and now retirees. No one wants to wish him a happy birthday or happy holidays or happy anything. When someone declares himself to be your enemy you don’t wish him well.
Quinn has given members of his own staff lavish raises, witness Kelly Kraft with a $40,000 plus raise, and David Vaught with a $20,000 plus raise, all the while telling other non-union workers they had to take 24 unpaid furlough days, a 9.5 percent pay cut. Quinn ended regular merit comp reviews and salary increases when he took office.
Now Quinn has backed cutting pension payments for existing retirees and future retirees. This is just too much to take. Enough is enough.
In the past I always said that Quinn was a bumbler but basically a good guy whose heart was in the right place. I no longer believe that to be true.
So no happy birthday for him this year. Perhaps he will redeem himself with better behavior next year, but I’m no holding my breath.
Happy Birthday, Gov Pat.
I grow dizzy with the prospect that, if the GOP nominates another nut case, I may wind up having to vote for you, the “statesman” who ripped off my pension.
“Help me; I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!”
- Chicago Cynic - Monday, Dec 16, 13 @ 10:57 am:
You’ve already had your share of birthday presents, what with Lisa and Bill Daley dropping out, and pension reform done. So just count your blessings and enjoy the day.
- A guy... - Monday, Dec 16, 13 @ 11:03 am:
Happy Birthday.
- VTTK17A1 - Monday, Dec 16, 13 @ 11:04 am:
Happy Birthday Governor Quinn! Here’s to wishing that you celebrate next year’s birthday as a private citizen.
- Wensicia - Monday, Dec 16, 13 @ 11:05 am:
Well, I wish for him a big hug from Squeezy.
- walkinfool - Monday, Dec 16, 13 @ 11:08 am:
Take a vacation. You deserve it.
And the GOPers will figure out a way to hurt each other, with or without your input.
- DuPage Dave - Monday, Dec 16, 13 @ 11:08 am:
Be a good guy, Pat and let merit comp employees have some comp this year.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Dec 16, 13 @ 11:10 am:
@FakeSheilaSimon - Happy Birhtday Pat. I sent a card, tried to call, wen to your office, seems as though this might be the only shoulder that ain’t cold. #YeahYourLGUntilBailing
@FakeBruceRauner - Pat Quinn, Happy Birthday. Which gift do you want, the Snow Globe or the Sledgehammer. I can get Rahm to sigh either too. #HammerAndShake
@FakeRutherfordDan - Happy Birthday Governor. I checked in Unclaimed Property and found the food your fridge was missing. Your Welcome. #BirhtdayCakeToo
@FakeBillBrady - I gave you your gifts 4 years ago; I ignored cook County and ran with Jason Plummer. Again, you get nothing from me this year. #HaveDrapeMeasurementsIfYouWantThose
@FakeKirkDillard - As a former Chief of Staff to Gov. Edgar, I know you are getting lots of well wishes, so my gift to you is to be the opposite of what I was in the 1990’s. #NewMeMeansBetterChanceForYou
@FakeGeneralAssembly - Pat, we had planned to get you a gift, but when you took our checks, we decided to just give you a copy of the IL Constitution and a smile. Don’t spend all your salray in one place #NewPurpleTies
…
- Sparky - Monday, Dec 16, 13 @ 11:15 am:
Nice to see you reinstated your check. I guess you have enough money now since you robbed state employees.
- Grandson of Man - Monday, Dec 16, 13 @ 11:40 am:
Happy Birthday, Gov. Quinn.
I hope that when you open your presents, there’s something actually in there, unlike the guaranteed back-wages we deferred and for which we had to fight a legal battle to get. We’re still fighting that battle.
That being said, I understand that pension reform is a very serious issue in Illinois, and you did what you thought was best for the state. For that I can’t totally fault you. I believe that there are worse alternatives, and if it’s between you and Rauner next November, I will vote for you without a problem. Politics to me is not always about what’s ideal, but it’s about making the best out of bad choices. This sounds defeatist, but if I don’t get off my half-moons and support a candidate who should take your place, I have much less reason to beef.
Are you a Democratic “purist,” like the tea party and its fiscal jihadists, who would wreck the country to rebuild it in its own image? Nope. And for that, I am grateful. I don’t want the party I support to do my bidding exclusively. How can I then criticize my opponents who do this when I’m doing it myself? Can I ask wealthy people to pay more taxes if I myself won’t pay more of anything? Can I ask you to be a union puppet when I criticize conservative organizations who appear to me to be not much more than shills for the super-wealthy? I don’t think so.
Congratulations and thank you also, for passing SSM and MMJ. I feel like 2013 was a very good year for the state, and I feel optimistic about our future.
I just ask you to not make promises you can’t keep.
- Mighty M. Mouse - Monday, Dec 16, 13 @ 12:10 pm:
Always be nice to your mother (remember, you wouldn’t be here if not for her) and as long as I have your attention could you please explain one thing to me — why exactly you (and others) want to be governor? Do you like being in a meat grinder?
- Judgment Day - Monday, Dec 16, 13 @ 12:21 pm:
Ah, a Twitter version of a ’selfie’ (staff to governor). Does our accidental governor even know how to tweet?
- Amalia - Monday, Dec 16, 13 @ 12:35 pm:
the happiest of birthdays for a nice life…of a most successful upcoming campaign.
- Anonymous - Monday, Dec 16, 13 @ 12:52 pm:
Happy Birthday, Mr. Quinn.
- Pensioner - Monday, Dec 16, 13 @ 12:59 pm:
Those of us working/retired from public service will never forget your hand in our pockets and pompous grandiosity. This is what we were put on earth to say to you.
- NotYetRetired - Monday, Dec 16, 13 @ 1:05 pm:
Oswego Willy - this is good -
@FakeGeneralAssembly - Pat, we had planned to get you a gift, but when you took our checks, we decided to just give you a copy of the IL Constitution and a smile. Don’t spend all your salray in one place #NewPurpleTies
- Arthur Andersen - Monday, Dec 16, 13 @ 1:12 pm:
@FakeJasonPlummer-Happy Birtday Governor Quinn. Still waiting on that invite for a “sleepover” at the Mansion. #teddybearpacked
- Rich Miller - Monday, Dec 16, 13 @ 1:22 pm:
Kind of a light response so far?
Y’all no like the guv? How’s come?
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Dec 16, 13 @ 1:22 pm:
As I mock, I do wish the Governor a very Happy Birthday and best wishes.
- DuPage Dave - Monday, Dec 16, 13 @ 1:46 pm:
Rich- To answer your question “How’s come?”, it’s simple. The governor has declared war on state employees (particularly merit comp employees) and now retirees. No one wants to wish him a happy birthday or happy holidays or happy anything. When someone declares himself to be your enemy you don’t wish him well.
Quinn has given members of his own staff lavish raises, witness Kelly Kraft with a $40,000 plus raise, and David Vaught with a $20,000 plus raise, all the while telling other non-union workers they had to take 24 unpaid furlough days, a 9.5 percent pay cut. Quinn ended regular merit comp reviews and salary increases when he took office.
Now Quinn has backed cutting pension payments for existing retirees and future retirees. This is just too much to take. Enough is enough.
In the past I always said that Quinn was a bumbler but basically a good guy whose heart was in the right place. I no longer believe that to be true.
So no happy birthday for him this year. Perhaps he will redeem himself with better behavior next year, but I’m no holding my breath.
- Abandon Ship - Monday, Dec 16, 13 @ 1:53 pm:
I hope that you enjoy a long life in retirement, so we will not be subjected to any more meaningless Sunday press conferences.
- Buster - Monday, Dec 16, 13 @ 2:13 pm:
Happy Birthday, Gov Pat.
I grow dizzy with the prospect that, if the GOP nominates another nut case, I may wind up having to vote for you, the “statesman” who ripped off my pension.
“Help me; I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!”
- Formerly Known As... - Monday, Dec 16, 13 @ 4:13 pm:
On your birthday, why not flip the script and give the state a gift?
Retire.
- Arthur Andersen - Monday, Dec 16, 13 @ 4:51 pm:
Happy Birthday, Governor Quinn.
Looking forward to celebrating our retirement together next year.
- Hans Sanity - Monday, Dec 16, 13 @ 10:22 pm:
“Twas the week before Christmas and all through the House
Not a creature was stirring, not even……..”
We get the picture, but get ADW authorized anyway.
- dupage dan - Tuesday, Dec 17, 13 @ 9:58 am:
My birthday is also in December. That, in and of itself, is proof positive that there ain’t nothing to that Astrology crud.
Happy Birthday, sir. We are on opposite sides of the political spectrum but I wish you well, nonetheless.