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Judy Baar Topinka goes after Gov. Blagojevich in George Will’s latest syndicated newspaper column and goes out of her way to distance herself from President Bush.
[Blagojevich] is, [Topinka] says, the person referred to as ‘’Public Official A'’ in one or more of five ongoing investigations by Illinois’ Inspector Javert - Patrick Fitzgerald, the Chicago-based federal prosecutor who also is the pursuer of Scooter Libby. Topinka merrily says ‘’there is no loyalty in (Blagojevich’s) administration whatsoever.'’ His ‘’own staff rats him out'’ and ‘’some of his staff have been wired.'’Topinka speaks about her opponent with a Chicago vigor: He is ‘’slick'’ and ‘’has little weasel eyes.'’ He also has big liberal spending plans for the state (e.g., universal preschool) and for the private sector (a $7.50 minimum wage, $2.35 above the federal minimum). Although Blagojevich, 49, in his clear-sighted youth voted twice for Ronald Reagan, he has become a standard-issue contemporary Democrat whose base is the public employees unions. His creative accounting includes counting as current revenues some savings he forecasts in future pensions.
Topinka’s task is to tap into, or perhaps foment, voter anxiety about the suffocation of the state’s economy by the state’s government. She says Illinois ranks 45th among the states in job creation. Actually since February 2005 it is 38th, which is bad enough. She charges that 15 trucking companies - ‘’They have assets on wheels'’ - have fled the state to escape new fees.
Topinka says Karl Rove urged her to run, hoping to offset in Illinois a probable gubernatorial loss in New York. Would she like President Bush to campaign for her? An aide says, not exactly: ‘’We just want him to raise money.'’ Topinka does not demur as the aide adds: ‘’Late at night.'’ Pause. ‘’In an undisclosed location.'’
Maybe Illinois Republicans have found their John McCain. Now they will find out whether such ‘’straight talk'’ works.
“…whose base is the public employees unions.” Um, George, AFSCME endorsed Topinka.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 7:06 am
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The only thing Topinka and McCain have in common is they’re phony.
Comment by Tim Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 7:21 am
George Will, the Urbana Savant, getting something wrong? Never! (rolleyes)
Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 7:28 am
Now Rich,
As you well know, Afscme only endorsed Judy in the PRIMARY not the general.
Given the rest of the Repub field, that was understandable.
Comment by The original Bill Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 7:32 am
“Shockingly,” I thought Will’s column was spot on, as always. To the point of the AFSCME, I don’t think he was wrong so much as he didn’t clearly articulate the point: public employees unions WERE a large part of Blago’s base, until he decided to screw around with their pensions….proving once again that there is no individual or group too key to his earlier success to not throw under the bus when it suites his legislative or political needs.
Comment by grand old partisan Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 7:48 am
OUCH HIT HIM AGAIN JBT AND TO THINK THIS IS JUST THE START OF HER CAMPAIGN.
Comment by DOWNSTATE Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 8:11 am
George Will, the corporate shill, pumping out a fundraising column for an elephant in a blue state? Who would’ve thunk it?
Over the weekend he also had a column that said the real problem with global warming is that people are actually thinking and talking about it, instead of blithely ignoring it, even if the facts are right. Classic head-in-the-sand know-nothing party flacking.
PS to Rich: Please tell us that JBT’s jab at Rod’s eyes opens this blog forever to personal editorial comments on her appearance. People who live in glass houses… Ah, never mind, it would be way too easy and would only give her unwarranted attention.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 9:16 am
Fascinating. Anyone who believes this piece amounts to George Will endorsing Topinka is sorely mistaken. Not once in the piece does he offer so much as an ounce of support, rather, in a detached manner, he describes her. So much for rallying the base.
Comment by Veritas Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 9:27 am
Veritas, what’s the problem? It certainly was a postive, albeit objective article for Topinka.
It is interesting that JBT is now getting national attention, which can only help her. The recent poll numbers likely have a lot to do with that.
Comment by Bubs Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 9:48 am
SEIU also has a large number of public employees. And they are Blago’s base.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 9:49 am
Bubs,
This race is going to be a horse race throughout, affording republicans on the national scene a potential high profile victory. I expect at some point the national media will begin to take greater interest. However, George Will is a local boy; it’s not surprising his attention would drift early to Illinois. But to insist this is a positive piece…I think maybe you should look at prior instances of Will using his column to support candidates and then compare that to this piece. In no way does this amount to George Will cheerleading for JBT.
Comment by Veritas Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 10:05 am
Gee, Downstate, in another post you directed a comment to Redbird that you were taught as a child to avoid name calling. But it is clear here in your caps-lock fest that you applaud Topinka’s sound strategy of saying Blagojevich “has little weasel eyes.”
Sounds like someone’s a flip-flopper.
Comment by SenorAnon Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 10:25 am
NO WHERE IN MY STATEMENT WAS ANYTHING ABOUT HER STATEMENT OF HIS LOOKS.MY COMMENT WAS DIRECTED AT THE OFFICAL A STATEMENT.SORRY SENORANON NOT THIS TIME.NO I DO NOT BELIEVE SHE SHOULD OF MADE THAT COMMENT ABOUT HIS FACIAL FEATURES BUT YOUR BUDDY CAN NOT TYPE 2 WORDS WITHOUT CALLING SOMEONE A NAME.
Comment by DOWNSTATE Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 10:35 am
I’m sure the White House and Rove are going to love that JBT wants the president to give her money, just not appear with her.
She’s all class isn’t she?
Comment by Rove's first cousin Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 10:46 am
I don’t think anyone’s ever accused Judy of being classy.
Comment by Veritas Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 10:59 am
Dude, on the middle row of your keyboard, just to the left of the “A” key, is the Caps Lock key.
Hit it. Proceed.
Comment by SenorAnon Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 11:25 am
Let me rephase an earlier comment.I have watched JBT sit back and take one shot after another from this Governor. Finally she has come out and hit him on one of his weakest spots and that is all of the investigations that are swirling around him and his administration.It looks like she has come out swinging and landed a solid punch to the guy that was suppose to clean up what is wrong with state government.
Comment by DOWNSTATE Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 11:37 am
I don’t like George Will. Sanctimonious is the word that comes to mind. But when even HE thinks the Republican party needs to start talking ’straight’ or lose what little respect they still have, then I find that telling. I do disagree with his ploy that Judy winning would change how we vote for President in this State. I don’t think it would affect that too much - depends on the candidate. If this wasn’t the strongest endorsement, who cares? The last two paragraphs just won her a lot of crossover votes from folks like me who don’t like George Will.
Comment by Dem Voting R Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 11:45 am
I’m sure Rove will really enjoy Nancy’s cheap comment, as will the base.
Comment by AngryGOP Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 12:09 pm
And just how, pray tell, do you know who the ‘aide’ was? I thought it was funny. Also very very real. Last thing she needs is to be seen with the Current Occupant.
Comment by Dem Voting R Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 12:21 pm
Downstate, please calm down. I know that the writing is on the wall but just relax. It will all be over in five years.
Comment by The original Bill Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 12:52 pm
The Bush folks have to realize how blue this state is, I’m sure they could care less what this aide said….from the looks of today’s headlines, they’re more worried about what Libby’s said.
Comment by passing through Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 2:45 pm
Dem Voting R - in all fairness, I don’t think Will suggested that a Topinka victory would change how Illinois votes for President. He was pointing out that despite Illinois’s strong D tilt in the Presidential contest there is no reason to think that a Republican can’t win for Governor….just as they have in NY and CA.
Comment by grand old partisan Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 3:07 pm
What we have to remember here people, is that George Will is an Illinois graduate. He is also a Republican. Further, he is also an opinion columnist. He must have really enjoyed writing about this. Would you call it an endorsement? I would because we for two reasons: there was no serious criticizing of Topinka and there was no response from Rod or one of Rod’s people.
Any one who does not like George Will’s writing, I can understand. But nobody can say that he is unintellegent… and be credible.
Comment by Lovie's Leather Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 7:45 pm
There’s a difference between “straight talk” and just being a walking embarrassment.
Alan Keyes will look like the stable, reasonable one by the time this is over.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Apr 7, 06 @ 7:25 am