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Gubernatorial debate live blog

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* Let’s use this post to discuss tonight’s gubernatorial debate. The festivities begin at 8 o’clock. Live video is here and live audio is here.

In the interim, do you have any drinking game phrases we could choose? “Land of Lincoln” and “Deconstruct and reconstruct” seem two likely choices for the two main party guys. Anything else?

Also, Gov. Pat Quinn was asked today about the puppy killer Intertube video he has up now, which is just a trimmed down version of an earlier video…

“It has to do with a world-view,'’ Quinn said today, when asked about the appropriateness of the ad, during a meeting with the Post-Dispatch editorial board. Mass euthanasia of animals is “very cruel . . . It’s revolting to the people of Illinois.'’

* The Southern is also liveblogging.

* 8:00 - And here we go.

* It’s so fun watching them dodge questions about the budget. Actually, it’s not fun at all. Quinn: More jobs will balance the budget. True, in a few years, yes. If, that is, we get those jobs. And that’s a big if.

Brady went full circle, talking about funding schools, public health, public safety, social services, but without saying anything about what he’d cut. I hope there’s an opportunity for follow-up because so far it’s just somebody says something and then they move on.

* And, now, on to jobs. Brady: “Level the playing field by being ‘pro job’ by being ‘pro business.” Quinn uses “Ford” and “Navistar” for the kabillionth time, while making the good point that those companies chose Illinois, not Indiana. “The best way to fight poverty, the best way to fight crime” is jobs. No specifics, of course, on how we get those.

* So far, this isn’t a debate, it’s three separate press conferences held together without any real interaction and no follow-ups. It’s all talking points. They’re not even looking at each other.

* Brady actually said “There you go again, Gov. Quinn.” I wrote a while ago that this campaign looked a lot like Carter vs. Reagan, but I wasn’t expecting the guy to actually lift Reagan’s quote.

* Ah, finally, rebuttal.

* Brady, in response to Quinn, just said he claimed there would be a “natural rise in property valuation” not a natural rise in property taxes when questioned at the State Fair by reporters. I’m going to have to find that video soon.

…And here is the video. Brady’s actual quote: “Well, there’s some natural property taxes that will go into effect.” So far, that’s the only news out of this debate except for the fact that Rich Whitney has pretty much outclassed both of the major party candidates.

Brady: “Taking taxpayer dollars to put people to work in the private sector is no solution… Let the private sector deal with creating jobs.”

Whitney: Ethanol is a “delusion,” and more about “enriching Archer Daniels Midland” than helping farmers. Wants more local food production for local use.

* Quinn just called himself “Mr. Soybean” again. Sigh. Is there a talking point not used yet?

* Brady, re tax hikes: “Gov. Quinn has been a politician so long that he can’t remember what he was for and now he is against.”

* Closing statements. Quinn mentions a veteran he spent some time with today. I was wondering how long that would take.

Brady: “If you like the way things are today, then one of these two candidates is your candidate.” He paints his ten percent cuts as “fair” because he won’t single out education and public safety for attack. Very nice spin. Beats the truth, which is that everybody is gonna get whacked hard.

* End.

* If you missed the live debate, you can watch the replay by clicking here.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 7:01 pm

Comments

“Forensic audit” for Brady.

“Pets” for Quinn

Comment by just sayin' Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 7:08 pm
Dang. I was going to do “forensic audit.”

“Honest” for PQ. I’m planning on getting drunk…

Comment by Soccermom Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 7:13 pm
Quinn: “I believe in__________”.
Brady: “Blagojevich”.

Comment by Give Me A Break Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 7:21 pm
“kick the can down the road” for Brady. Though he has been laying off that one recent (praise be).

Comment by haverford Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 7:56 pm
OK, everybody. Here we go. I am in the adjacent studio.

Comment by Barton Lorimor Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:00 pm
Go Pat!!

Comment by VoterUSA Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:02 pm
Brady’s smile is so thick, you can pour it on a Waffle.

Comment by VoterUSA Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:03 pm
If no one has to get up early tomorrow morning and you have plenty of Advil on hand, take a drink everytime they say “The people of Illinois” (as if we need reminded that they are running to represent Illinoisans and not, say, people living in Maine…)

Comment by Pat Quinn's Eyebrows Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:05 pm
Quinn:
“The plan is to keep cutting the budget.”
Says he cut his own pay and office expenses.
“I don’t want radical cuts in our schools.”
“Jobs follow brain power.”

Brady:
“People are tired of that (promoting tax increases).”
Says his administration would be open and transparent unlike Quinn’s.

Whitney:
“Easy to say let’s cut the waste. I’m the only candidate promoting a forensic audit.”
“We have an unfair tax system.”
Pass SB750
Create a state bank.

Comment by Barton Lorimor Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:08 pm
Quinn:
Drops the Obama bomb. Says he’s been working to bring new federal dollars to Illinois.

Brady;
Again attacks Quinn for wanting to increase taxes. Says Quinn attacked for social service payments.

Whitney:
Goes after Brady. Says his cuts are a fantasy.
“We can’t rely on fantasy economics.”

Comment by Barton Lorimor Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:11 pm
got to say…Rich Whitney is coming off good.

Comment by VoterUSA Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:12 pm
Whitey wants to have a transactional tax. No more transactions, no more taxes

Comment by Quinn T. Sential Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:12 pm
Whitey has solved the Bright Start problem.

Everyone goes to college for free.

Comment by Quinn T. Sential Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:15 pm
Brady:
Other states have created jobs without raising taxes. “We’re going to tackle medical malpractice.” “We’re going to tackle the health care crisis.”

Whitney:
What business wants to come here?
“We have to rediscover the truth about our own history.”
Invest in public works. Invest in education.
Promotes tuition free higher education.

Quinn:
“I’m not a naysayer about the people of Illinois.”
Brings up Ford, Navistar, Boeing, UPS.
“Small business tax credit is working.”
Says Brady would cut “Put Illinois to Work!”
“I am the jobs governor.”

Comment by Barton Lorimor Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:15 pm
How the hell is this not on TV in Chicago?

Comment by JBilla Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:15 pm
Apparently Quinn isn’t creating enough jobs for Indiana since their unemployment is higher than ours. Not unexpected though, Brady seems like he’s really struggling to remember his lines, I’m sure that was an honest mistake…

Comment by Small Town Liberal Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:16 pm
The Cover it Live program is the BOMB

Comment by Quinn T. Sential Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:17 pm
Good question JBilla…

Comment by VoterUSA Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:17 pm
Quinn is touting the STAR BOND Program. Good Grief Charlie Brown

Comment by Quinn T. Sential Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:18 pm
Whitney:
Need a green capital bill. Manufacture green energy good here.

Quinn:
My efforts got the capital bill passed.
Promotes STAR Bonds (created in a couple towns over from here)
“The only way we’re going to recover is to have faith in everyday people.”

Brady:
“Governor, you have to be realistic.” Can’t create jobs when there’s a jobs deficit. Plans Quinn for jobs lost during his tenure.
Proposes “New jobs tax credit.”
Supports coal mining and agriculture.

Comment by Barton Lorimor Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:18 pm
Bill,
How do you do a $50 BILLION Pension Bond, and not increase the costs fo DEBT?

Comment by Quinn T. Sential Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:20 pm
I love how Brady says “insiders”.. dude, you have been a Senator for 17 years.

Comment by VoterUSA Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:20 pm
How do you solve the problem of constitutionally protected items?

Have a Constitutional Convention; or introduce Constitutional Amendments

Comment by Quinn T. Sential Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:21 pm
Brady:
Quinn admin has not dealt with waste spending.
People deserve a good pension. “I’ll fund the pensions.” “But we have to change it.”

Whitney:
Won’t cut entitlement programs.
Need a real fiscal plan. Fundamental problem is a broken tax system.

Quinn:
I put a budget together. Again says he’s cut more than any governor in history.
Need a governor who can go to Washington and bring money back.
“Constitution says we must fund our schools.” Attacks Brady for wanting to cut education. “That’s not a way to balance the budget.”

Comment by Barton Lorimor Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:22 pm
Pssssst Quinnn,

The money from Washington is money we have already sent there from Illinois. If you increase their costs, then they increase our taxes.

There is no fairy dust in Washington

Comment by Quinn T. Sential Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:23 pm
Whitey wants single payer health system.

Managed euthenasia

Comment by Quinn T. Sential Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:24 pm
Brady looks like Hoodey Doodey…

Comment by VoterUSA Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:25 pm
Whitney:
Advocates single-payer health care system.
Supports HB311.

Quinn:
“We are reforming the medicaid system.” Cites passage of Whistleblower act.
Attacks Brady for accepting $500,000 in contributions from insurance companies.

Brady:
“There you go again, Gov. Quinn.” Claims he helped pass mammogram bill.

Comment by Barton Lorimor Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:25 pm
I hate to say this, but 20 minutes into this, the guy who makes the most sense, sounds the most reasonable and is the least negative is the guy who can’t win — Rich Whitney

Comment by Illannoyed Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:26 pm
Brady reminds me of a ventriloquist’s dummy with that smile, creepy.

Comment by Small Town Liberal Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:27 pm
VoterUSA - You beat me to it.

Comment by Small Town Liberal Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:28 pm
Quinn:
Maintain investment in K-12 education. Again attacks Brady for wanting to cut education.

Brady:
Quinn is the one who cut education in the last budget.
Quinn puts special interests in front of children’s interest.

Whitney:
Illinois funding for education is “shameful.”

Comment by Barton Lorimor Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:29 pm
Quinn wants to attack the PROPERTY TAX SYSTEM, but I believe has endorsed BERRIOS.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA

Comment by Quinn T. Sential Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:30 pm
Quinn half-way rebuttal:
Education is the way. Went to Washington…yeah, he’s pretty much said this stuff already.

Brady half-way rebuttal:
“Let’s focus on the fairy tale of Gov. Quinn’s budget cuts.”
“This election can’t be about secrecy.” Accuses Quinn of not being transparent.

Whitney half-way rebuttal:
“I agree we need a governor with a heart, but we also need a governor with a plan.” Attacks both Quinn and Brady for proposed cuts. “When are we going to hear some numbers that make sense?”

Comment by Barton Lorimor Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:32 pm
I knew Bill Clinton. You are no Bill Clinton. Please stop the “governor with a heart” stuff.

Comment by I (want to) like Pat Quinn Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:34 pm
Whitney:
“It’s absolutely pathetic that in a wealthy state in a wealthy nation we do this.” “State is not broke.” (Sounds a little like Dan Proft’s campaign slogan, no?)

Quinn:
We need to build on university campuses. We need scholarships.
“I’m running against Senator Brady…”

Brady:
AND BRADY DROPS THE BLAGO BOMB! Says Quinn attacks higher education. Will support MAP program.

Comment by Barton Lorimor Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:36 pm
Why hasn’t ANYONE talked about elimninating legislative scholarships?

A no Brainer Layup

Comment by Quinn T. Sential Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:37 pm
==Please stop the “governor with a heart” stuff.==

Agreed. I’d be more happy with a governor with a brain. Or one with some courage. Wonder if the Wizard of Oz can provide either one?

Comment by Pat Quinn's Eyebrows Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:38 pm
QTS, because at least one of those guys doesn’t want to go anywhere near that subject right now, and it ain’t Quinn or Whitney.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:39 pm
Quinn:
“If you’re breathing, I want ya workin’.”
Says again that Quinn would eliminate Put IL to Work

Brady:
“No, governor.” Put IL to Work “was just a ploy to get you through the election.”
Wants to create permanent jobs, not temporary tax funded jobs.

Whitney:
Promotes the idea of creating a state bank like in North Dakota. (Rep. Flowers sponsored a bill to create one of those. Can’t remember the bill number.)
“Everyone wins in this scenario.”

Comment by Barton Lorimor Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:39 pm
HEMP!!!!!

Comment by VoterUSA Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:42 pm
Brady:
Corporations that want to invest in agriculture should be able to cut through the red tape.
“I’ll focus on bio-fuels and ethanol.”

Whitney:
“Ethanol is a delusion.” “We need a much better policy than that.” (So much for the downstate vote.)
Economy would improve if we use our own food.

Quinn:
“We can feed the world.” “We can heal the world.” with bio-technology.
INDIRECT SOY BOY REFERENCE!

Comment by Barton Lorimor Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:43 pm
Mr. Soybean yes!!

Comment by I'm Just Saying Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:43 pm
Quinn drops the Soy Boy bomb!

Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:43 pm
Whitney reminds of a poly sci prof lecturing freshman state govt class.

O, No soy boy has come back. LOL

Comment by Give Me A Break Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:43 pm
Oh, so now Pat Quinn’s nickname is “Soy Bean” instead of “Soy Boy” (after that unfortunate Urban Dictionary definition of “soy boy” surfaced)? Haha.

Comment by Pat Quinn's Eyebrows Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:43 pm
Rich,

Thjat’s all the more reason why the other two should want to go there. Nobody is thinking on their feet here

Comment by Quinn T. Sential Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:44 pm
Getting union concessions?

Pat Quinn; who you crapping?

Comment by Quinn T. Sential Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:45 pm
Whitney is the best because he has nothing to lose and everything to gain. Quinn & Brady are both just hoping not to lose any votes. That said, Whitney sounds like a better potential governor than either of the other two.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:45 pm
More concerned about your campaign catastrophe than our fiscal catastrophe!

LOL

Comment by Quinn T. Sential Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:46 pm
The unions conceded that they would rather have Quinn than Brady.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:46 pm
How can Quinn limit an answer to less than 30 seconds?

Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:47 pm
Does anyone else think Bill Brady looks like a TV anchor in Nebraska in 1970?

Comment by I (want to) like Pat Quinn Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:50 pm
Quinn: “I believe in little baby ducks…in trucks, and trains… and rain….

Whitney is running for School president

Brady on the defensive, trying to tag Quinn with negatives and insults but not offering anything substantive himself.

Comment by Newsclown Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:51 pm
Brady reminds me of MAX headroom…

… ok so still with Quinn, but Whitney did good.

Comment by VoterUSA Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:53 pm
This was like watching the student council argue over the color of the streamers at prom.

Quinn: I believe in pretty streamers.
Brady: Cut 10% of the number of streamers.
Whitney: Roll the streamers up and we can smoke em.

Comment by Give Me A Break Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:54 pm
Not a very good debate format. Jak can ask tougher questions than this, I’ve seen him. Whitey, er WHITney, came off very well, but I think that’s because he only had time for some surface impressions; if you dig deeper into his positions, they show a lot of flaws. That forensic audit jazz is nonsense; the Auditor General carefully explained that this is like one guy trying to paint an entire battleship; the results you get will never be timely enough to directly have an influence on policy direction.

Comment by Newsclown Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:58 pm
Looked like the gas chamber puppy-killing advocate was doing a lot of sweating.

Comment by (618) Democrat Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 9:00 pm
Amazing - this state is sinking into the mud and few people want to discuss the hard issues that could revive the state.

I find it difficult to live in a state that meanders from one funding crisis to another and refuses to work together to find a solution.

The Dems flittered away a golden opportunity. The Repubs remain the party of NO. Consider Whitney as a logical agent of change.

Comment by Doug Dobmeyer Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 9:05 pm
Great job by the Narrator and Panel members! Otherwise, probably nothing to make any voter change their mind.

Comment by Macoupin Observer Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 9:09 pm
“…Rich Whitney has pretty much outclassed both of the major party candidates.”

Nuff, said. Lose these other two jokers.

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 9:09 pm
Whitney sounds reasonable in small doses. But I look at how he’s run his campaign, and I gotta wonder would he be any better as a governor trying to work with a legislature.

Comment by Gregor Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 9:12 pm
Sorry, got sidetracked by elementary school homework.

Give me a Break; that was priceless

Comment by Quinn T. Sential Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 9:12 pm
Even though I am not going to vote for Whitney, I REALLY like his idea of a State bank as presented tonight. I am not sure Illinois with it’s corruption on both sides of the aisle can pull it off, but it sure appears worth at least taking a look at.

Comment by Richard Afflis Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 9:14 pm
Whitey sounded like the voice of reason; unless you actually listened to what he was saying.

Free college tuition; and a chicken in every pot

Comment by Quinn T. Sential Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 9:14 pm
If we could just forget about party affiliation and listen to content, Rich Whitey would run away with it. It’s really a shame.

Comment by anonymouse Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 9:16 pm
I think Whitney more than proved that he should continue to be included in future debates. Can you imagine just listening to the Brady/Quinn talking points the entire time? The man is introducing legitimate, *better*, ideas into the campaign. It’s just a failure of democracy at this point if the best candidate is excluded for having a poor campaign.

Comment by Sacks Romana Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 9:26 pm
Whitney made both Quinn and Brady look bad. The two majors came off as hackneyed mudslingers. I won’t vote for Whitney because that would be a wasted vote, but when I go into the voting booth next month, I won’t make my selection based on which candidate, Brady or Quinn, would be the better governor (neither) but which would be the lesser of two evils.

Comment by Illannoyed Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 9:28 pm
Is it bad I stopped watching, and started watching the liveblog of Reid-Angle

Comment by kj Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 9:29 pm
This blog should create a running list of of cuts Brady doesn’t intend to make… maybe then we can pinpoint what exactly he does intend to do about budget and spending by elimination, since evidently ‘the People of Illinois’ are not going to be told before 11/2.

Comment by Sb Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 9:59 pm
Also, an hour isn’t enough for a two way debate of any subtance between two candidates much less three. The format enabled the event to run like three parallel press conferences rather than a debate.

Comment by Sb Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 10:02 pm
Thanks everybody, especially Barton. I just got home and missed this live. Having read through all of the comments, it was like I was there in the audience. Well done.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 10:16 pm
Whitney definitely stole the show.

Comment by dr. reason a. goodwin Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 10:35 pm
Whitney sounded pretty good… too bad he’s a loon and boy did he do himself in with that cannabis line. Lost all credibility and made his idea of free college sound like a pipe dream… that he subsequently smoked.

Brady is a marshmallow… you either like him or you don’t… but in the end, there’s no real substence there…and when you put the pressure on, he expands with hot air. Man…Quinn’s luckly it wasn’t Dillard.

As for Quinn… he’s like the ugly chick in the bar at closing time… you would have liked more options, but hey, nows not a time to be picky. Make your move before they turn the lights on.

Comment by N/A Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 11:15 pm
What 47 said. Barton, as always, outstanding work. Salud.

Whitney was good, but all talk. He wss Pat Quinn from 30 years ago. I like what he had to say, but I have no respect for some ego-tripper who can’t put it all together. We’re a republican democracy and it’s a zero-sum game in a real tough neighborhood; deal with it and get something done.

I’ve always liked Quinn as a person, and I like him a lot more as a governor after tonight. Very, very tough job, and strangely enough, he’s the grownup in the room. Three words, Pat: Chief of Staff. It’s a big, tough job, brother, get some help.

Brady is the definition of a lightweight. I’m sure he’s a a good neighbor and would help you change a flat tire, but he’s either “naive,” like Edgar said, or a very robust prevaricator. That’s the nice way of saying it. He comes in third.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 11:20 pm
Note to Gregor: All I can say is that if Whitney were to be elected Governor, the individual members of the General Assembly would be forced to start acting like responsible legislators, instead of yielding 99%+ of their authority and decision-making ability to their leaders.

Comment by fedup dem Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 11:29 pm
==I won’t vote for Whitney because that would be a wasted vote==

If everyone who was thinking that this time around actually voted for the guy, he’d come pretty close.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Friday, Oct 15, 10 @ 12:00 am
In case you couldn’t watch it live, you can watch the debate online http://bit.ly/cXOu3b

Comment by Roger Suski Friday, Oct 15, 10 @ 12:21 am
==If everyone who was thinking that this time around actually voted for the guy, he’d come pretty close.==

PCK, Whitney has my vote; and he has a lot of other people’s votes too. Just vote for the best candidate, and everything will work itself out.

Comment by Squideshi Friday, Oct 15, 10 @ 12:38 am
Jack and Coke - good. Governor’s debate - bad.

Comment by Jim F. Friday, Oct 15, 10 @ 2:45 am
The Quinn and ugly chick at the bar at closing time is a great analogy.

Comment by Tony Friday, Oct 15, 10 @ 2:52 am
Wordslinger, how have you liked Quinn as a Governor for almost 2 years(performane) and how did you like him as co-chairman of the Re-elect Blago campaign in 2006?

Comment by Fred Friday, Oct 15, 10 @ 11:01 am
Fred,

I think you’re wrong on Quinn co-chairing the RRB re-elect campaign.

Comment by soccermom Friday, Oct 15, 10 @ 11:08 am
Fred it’s been tough times and he’s not a great manager. He needs a strong Chief of Staff. He’s a Fenwick grad, so I think he can learn (hopefully).

As far as 2006 goes, I’d say he, many deep-thinking editorial boards and 1.7 million Illinoisans were wrong. I voted for Whitney. But it’s now 2010 and Blago is gone.

Choices aren’t great, but if you’re going to make a choice….

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Oct 15, 10 @ 11:11 am
“Rich Whitey” might be the best thing that has happened to Whitney all year.

Comment by Way Way Down Here Friday, Oct 15, 10 @ 11:38 am
Brady is a Bloomington Central Catholic grad. Maybe they can have a debate about Catholicism!

Soccermom—Madigan and Quinn were co-chairmen of the Blago re-election campaign in 2006.

Comment by Fred Friday, Oct 15, 10 @ 2:24 pm