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* I’m still listening to it, but Gov. Blagojevich was on the Don & Roma show this morning and was trying to explain what he claims is a $2 billion budget deficit “that the House Democrats really are responsible for. They passed that.”
But then the guv went into kindergarten mode…
“$2 billion, Don and Roma, is two hundred million times ten.”
I kid you not.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 11:26 am
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Rod’s losing it….. Is he medicated?
Comment by Wacker Drive Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 11:27 am
2 Billion Don and Roma is
20K a week for a long time
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 11:29 am
That reminds me of the episode of the Simpsons where they have Barney on t.v. repeating “2 + 2 is four, 2+ 2 is four.”
Comment by Kevin Fanning Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 11:29 am
Well he may have skipped constitutional law class when in law school, but it appears he did show up for multiplication class in grade school. I wonder how his attendance was for civics?
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 11:30 am
Explains how bad public education is in Chicago.
Comment by Belle Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 11:30 am
I wish I had learned to multiply millions and billions in kindergarten…
Comment by Stumped Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 11:32 am
Let’s remember we are under a lot of pressure this week….And 2 billion is 2500 times more than KJ got on the last POB…wonder he is/was going to score this time?
Comment by DumberThanYouThink Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 11:33 am
I’ve got an idea: let’s give the $2B to seniors!
Comment by Ahem Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 11:38 am
Without a script or spokesperson. Rod is an embarassment.
Comment by Northside Bunker Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 11:40 am
Gosh, that’s like a gajillion dollars!
Comment by the Other Anonymous Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 11:41 am
Why can’t the Governor understand that if the
budget is balanced, then revenues should equal expenses and the deficit amount would be . . . zero? Then why do FY 2006 the Illinois audited finanial statements report an $800 million deficit?
Comment by Truth in Accounting Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 11:42 am
A more effective analogy would have been, “$2 billion is $150 for every man, woman and child in our great state.”
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 11:44 am
Hey Steve, I just told my boss that I was sending an intern to all of my meetings this afternoon…and he fired me! Any tips for how you made this work?
Comment by Just Fired Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 11:45 am
Rich, of all the things he talked about on that call, why do you need to share this with your readers who couldnt listen for themselves? It was a great interview and you made it look ridiculous with your little comment.
I just dont understand sometimes. I guess you need to keep feeding the haters.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 11:47 am
So, you’re comparing the Majority Leader to an intern? Seriously?
Look, I think MJM should go to the meetings, but BFC and Hannig are no mere interns.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 11:47 am
Why doesn’t Blago do his job and veto what he doesn’t think is kosher?
Comment by MouthofBabes.. Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 11:48 am
===why do you need to share this with your readers who couldnt listen for themselves?===
They can listen for themselves. You ever heard of a hyperlink? It’s in the post. It’s an mp3 file. See, you just click on that link and you can listen to the entire interview for yourself.
As to why I highlighted it, everything else is rehash as far as I could tell.
Also, lighten up. Have a bit of fun.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 11:49 am
For those who were wondering, 2 billion IS actually 200 million times 10.
Just checked.
Comment by problem Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 11:53 am
Rich - and I’m not the Speaker of the House. I have very good, intelligent interns that can do a lot of things on my behalf. But I would not send them to important meetings to discuss the future of the company. I am not comparing my intern to the majority leader, but would you send Kevin (or Paul) to create InsiderzExchange while you are lounging a few floors up?
Comment by Just Fired Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 11:57 am
Rich could have reviewed the entire interview, but how many different ways can you repeat “It’s all about the working people” in a summary.
Comment by Bluefish Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 11:57 am
Just Fired, again, you’re comparing an intern to legislators with decades of experience. Did you happen to see this post earlier today? Start making comparisons based on reality and I’ll respond, because your comparison is just not sane.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 11:59 am
The budget/capital chatter proving to be a nice distraction from the impending Rezko verdict.
BTW, anyone see Donne Trotter on Chicago Tonight last night? Not exactly the type of legislator I’d want representing my district or state.
Comment by The Doc Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 12:01 pm
O-K, the gov can do basic math. Can’t/won’t lead, can’t/won’t govern, but he can do basic math. Goody!
Comment by BehindTheScenes Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 12:04 pm
Just imagine the pre-show prep work.
“OK, it’s $200 million times a hundred, right?”
No, times ten.
“Right. I keep forgetting. Can you write it on a card for me?”
We already did, governor.
“Oh. Yeah. Right. Did Thompson call yet?”
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 12:04 pm
“…but would you send Kevin (or Paul) to create InsiderzExchange while you are lounging a few floors up?
Isn’t that exactly what happened? That’s what Kevin said.
Comment by Bill Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 12:05 pm
It would have helped if Rod had given life to the numbers. “$2B is $200M that we could give to 10 hardworking, uninsured Illinois families.”
Comment by Greg Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 12:05 pm
===Not exactly the type of legislator I’d want representing my district or state.===
Actually, Trotter is a heckuva legislator.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 12:05 pm
and 200 Million is 200 times the money I mistakenly gave to a questionable school, lost, and never did anything to get it back….
It was radio, you just could not see the line of children protecting him from the media (Don & Roma). His explanation was for the benefit of his child shield wall.
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 12:06 pm
HAHA! That’s all I can say about his quote.
Comment by Team Sleep Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 12:11 pm
OK, I will concede that the comparison is not apples to apples. I wish I could say my interns had decades of legislative experience, but let’s face it, I don’t pay THAT well. That said, these are LEADERS meetings. To not go because they are “not productive” is ridiculous. That excuse would get anyone else fired - Even if they sent their top staff instead.
Comment by Just Fired Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 12:12 pm
I agree he should go, but I also agree that they are completely unproductive. Were you around last year?
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 12:15 pm
Anon, The guv also talked about people feeling pain. The only time I feel pain is when Rod always blames someone else.
Comment by Bman Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 12:18 pm
*Actually, Trotter is a heckuva legislator. *
Well, his appearance on CT left much to be desired. He seemed more interested in defending the actions of the GA, and dodged some of the more pointed questions from Carol Marin.
Comment by The Doc Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 12:18 pm
===He seemed more interested in defending the actions of the GA===
Well, he and Hannig drafted the budget, so I’d expect him to defend it.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 12:20 pm
Yes, yes I was. And I still have the battle scars. But so were Cross, Jones, and Watson. Yet they still manage to show up.
Comment by Just Fired Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 12:21 pm
Again, I think MJM should go to the meetings. He should return the guv’s phone calls as well.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 12:23 pm
Steve - What are your thoughts?
Comment by Just Fired Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 12:27 pm
*Well, he and Hannig drafted the budget, so I’d expect him to defend it. *
Fair enough. Perhaps my expectations for our elected officials are too lofty. But then, Trotter also defended the parlor trick the GA is using to get their raises. An 11% raise for a mediocre job (at best) is unacceptable, whether the state is buried in red ink or flush with cash.
Comment by The Doc Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 12:27 pm
I can’t blame Speaker Madigan for not attending the chats. Last one I remember him attending last year they turned Rickey loose on him with all Rickey’s crudeness in full glory. Why attend a meeting when one can’t be trusted, another broke a deal, and you can send your right hand man/woman who excells on the issues. It’s a waste of the Speaker’s time considering the past meetings. Has anything changed to think any new meetings would be any different?
I’m real curious if Rod would have made all this fuss over the budget if the CP would have passed. If the CP had passed would Rod have just picked up his pen and started slashing the operational budget away?
Comment by Princeville Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 12:31 pm
Mike Madigan passed a budget that is $2 billion over. Mike Madigan, what was he thinking?
Comment by Rod b Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 12:43 pm
Do you realize, Don and Roma, that the state would have to sell 80,000 jobs at $25,000 each to make up that deficit?
Comment by Vote Quimby! Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 12:52 pm
This is starting to turn into Michael Jackson creepy. His brain just died right along with Elvis. And I don’t think any leaders should talk to him. They should all meet and decide what they are going to do, tell the governor that is what they are going to do, and if the governor doesn’t like it too bad, because they won’t come back for a special session. We have put up with Rod’s crap for far too long. It is finally the time when the democrats realize there is no hope for this man.
Comment by Heartless Libertarian Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 12:54 pm
Madigan remembers, while obviously most of you have forgotten - last year.
Since when have you people started believing Rod Blagojevich? And why?
Your naivete is, (how does Rod say it?), breathtaking!.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 12:54 pm
Is Rodnocchio trademarked yet?
Comment by Vote Quimby! Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 12:57 pm
“$2 billion is $200 million x 10″
Can’t blame the Governor for that one. Do you know what morons make-up the listeners for Don and Roma?
Comment by Steve Dahl Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 12:57 pm
At $25,000 per job, thats like 800 state jobs
Comment by anon Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 12:57 pm
I would actually feel quite comfortable having Kevin and/dor Paul attend any legislative meeting. They are a lot smarter and have better insight than the ones we have elected.
Comment by Little Egypt Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 1:01 pm
Did Rod get a haircut or is that the real shape of his head?
Comment by Dirt Guy Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 1:12 pm
Really, Don and Roma, I learned that naught from naught is naught at the Jethro Bodine School of Cyphering.
Comment by If It Walks Like a Duck... Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 1:14 pm
It’s three a.m. and your children are safe and asleep. But there’s a phone in the Speaker’s Office, and it’s ringing. Will Michael Madigan answer it?
Comment by Just Fired Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 1:25 pm
We could raise revenue if we just got rid of pay to play bans and auctioned off each state job to the highest bidder….
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 1:29 pm
Just Fired,
sometimes when there is really bad blood between 2 individuals it’s more productive when one of them sends someone else, so their personal antagonisms don’t get in the way–not that there’s any reason to expect a leaders meeting to suddenly be productive after so many failures, but if Curry or Hannig is there it at least avoids Blago and MJM glowering at each other
Comment by A real financial analyst Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 1:45 pm
Second quote of the week from Blagojevich in June 3rd SunTimes article by Steve Patterson, Gov Optimistic About Reaching Budget
“I hope that talks will be productive,” he said. “They ought to be productive. Why wouldn’t they be productive?”
Comment by Princeville Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 2:01 pm
== Did Rod get a haircut or is that the real shape of his head? ==
Tinfoil hat hair maybe?
Comment by anon Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 2:01 pm
Just fired- Based on history, and analyst’s pointed post, MJM sending competent budgeting colleagues to meetings to accomplish things is less offensive to me than the gov not showing up for things like his own prayer breakfast or the holocaust survivor’s function and a gazillion others events he misses. Sure there’s no dire financial decisions to be made, but it’s not the like gov makes any of those anyway. But regular voters, especially survivors don’t merit his presence?
Comment by Mad Brown Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 2:07 pm
Actually, up until sometime early in the Edgar years, Madigan sent Jim McPike to the budget negotiations.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 2:09 pm
A torts exam question for future 1Ls: An Illinois tax-payer reads a Capitol Fax post that includes a statement by Rod Blagojevich and then injures himself by violently smashing his head against the nearest brick wall — which of the following should the tax-payer sue for damages and why?
a) The governor,
b) Rich Miller,
c) the State of Illinois,
d) Al Gore for inventing the internet,
or e) Jessie Ventura for increasing the tax-payers gubernatorial expectations.
The correct answer: The tax-payer should sue Patrick Fitzgerald for failing to indict this guy already.
– SCAM
so-called “Austin Mayor”
http://austinmayor.blogspot.com
Comment by so-called "Austin Mayor" Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 2:24 pm
He said the same exact thing at about 6:00 this morning on the Spike O’Dell show. G Rod is not the first thing you want to hear when the alarm clock goes off.
Well — maybe Rod should be my alarm, his voice got me to get up and shut the radio off in a hurry instead of doing the snooze thing.
Comment by imback Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 2:32 pm
Lets see:
$2 Billion out of $58 Billion.
See We still got 56 out of 58 right.
That’s still an -A-!!
Mom & Dad Taxpayer What more do you want me to get?
Comment by BIG R.PH. Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 2:40 pm
It’s not about the productivity of the mtgs, or whether Hannig and Currie can get the job done. As Princeville said, it’s about a lack of trust and resoect for some of the other people in the meetings, mostly the Governor. Why would you show the Governor the respect of your presence when he has either by ommission or commission violated so many of the standards of respect, decorum, and tradition of his office? Would you sit down at a table to shake hands and negotiate with someone who had sat across hthe table from you several times before and either lied right to your face, or made a commitment and then reneged on it? Frankly, I don’t know why any of the leaders meet with the Governor. You can’t even say, “Well you’ve got to at least respect the OFFICE he holds”, because he himself has not shown any respect for the office he holds, or respect for the process or the other officeholders.
Comment by Town Monument Blob Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 2:44 pm
Because of the Gov’s math/accounting skills, that is probably the reason Rezko was helping him keep the books! Darn, maybe his defense team should have used that argument.
Comment by South of I-80 Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 2:44 pm
We (the Institute for Truth in Accounting) have studied Illinois’ budgets and financial statements in detail. Does anybody in Springfield (strike in Springfield) at the State of Illinios building in Chicago have any math/accounting skills? According to their calculations 20 x $0 = $44.5 billion. For 20 years the public have been told the budgets have been balanced, so the deficits should have been $0. Now we find the state is $44.5 billion in debt and that doesn’t include the amount we owe state employees for post retirement benefits. See: http://www.truthinaccounting.org/pdf/publications/IL_Trifold_2006-singlepage.pdf
Comment by Truth in Accounting Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 3:44 pm
All the leaders go to the meetings including MJM for the following reasons. The taxpaing voters of Illinois are sick and tired of the lack of interest, lack of understanding, and arrogance generally shown by the lawmakers and administration of the state. What they need to see are adults standing up and doing their job to commence getting this state working again. Everyone needs to see this. It does not help investments in Illinois by business when there is no leadership. The general populace needs to get their confidence in the system back so they feel better about spending money. It is time for Leaders to be leaders. The one thing they should do, however, is to have a factual, informative, non-combative, joint press conference after every meeting to spell out what the discussions were, what was accomplished, and what was not accomplished. The Gov should not be included in this press conference. Let the people know who is leading and who is not. I think we know where the roadblocks will come from but the more light that is shone on the proceedings might make them more productive. Am I smokin funny mushrooms? maybe, but what would it hurt. They have to at least try to lead.
Comment by Irish Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 4:20 pm
So, the question is, if Hannig or Currie came back from the ‘Leaders or Lieutenants meeting’ and said “This plan that everyone else agreed on, is actually really good, and it does make sense to do it now, even though Rod would get years of ribbon cuttings,” what would Madigan say?
Comment by Just Fired Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 4:20 pm
Well, Just Fired, to me as Ms. John Q Public my first thought would be not is it a good deal and it makes sense to do it now (the CP plan) but instead would be great, a decent plan, timing right, but how’s the trust issue coming along?
I don’t get the big ribbon cutting theory. If you think people don’t pay attention now, what’s make you think they will even notice a press moment of Rod cutting a ribbon. Odds are those first ribbons will be up in the Chicago area anyway and likely will not even make downstate newspapers more than a tiny blimp. Really think that ribbon cuttings will make everyone suddenly stop and say “hey, that guv, what a guy, we should vote him in again” ?
Comment by Princeville Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 4:40 pm
Stay on script Roddy my boy !….reminds me a little of the episode of the Addams Family when Morticia asked Gomez to teach the children the ‘value of money’. 5 pennies = nickels 2 nickels = dime & so on. At the end Gomez proclaims “now children ..you know the value of money”…kind of approp. in the case with a Rod “Pugsley” Bladgoviech. “naught + naught is naught”
Comment by annon Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 4:56 pm
“2 billion. That’s all your fingers and toes, 100 million times. Except if you’re Ron Santo, because he doesn’t have real toes anymore. Or except if you’re Antonio Alfonseca. He was that reliever on the Cubs who had 12 fingers and 12 toes. 12 plus 12 is… 24, not 20. I wonder if he was born that way…”
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 5:03 pm
Is he serious about talking about governing? Surely no one would call what he’s been doing governing.
Comment by Levois Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 5:49 pm
….and that 2billion, if I gave it back, NO! I mean! if I could find it! could reduce the carbon footprint of Illinois by paying the unemployed to leave the state and become somebody else’s burden, NO! I mean poor unfortunate person that I fight for….
Comment by Belle Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 7:35 pm
Yawn…I wish the jury in the Rezko trial would hurry it up already…I wonder if a guilty verdict on all counts will force Rod into the corner where he can hide until further notice until the Feds come calling…
Comment by Loop Lady Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 7:43 pm
I think, after what is it now? 5 years? People know he’s not a poster child nor a recruiter for Mensa — but this quote is abso-friggin-lutely the dumbest thing he’s ever said in a micrphone. This makes Dan Quayle look like a Blackburn College Valedictorian.
Bottom line - it’s funny in Springfield, but his five remaining hard core loyalists will say it’s just a reflection of the stress of governing. Whatever that means.
Comment by TallyWhacker in FL Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 7:48 pm
Just for the record, even though I was curious, I’m not going to listen to the interview now because Rich never bought me a meal…and I read and comment on his blog all the time.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 8:00 pm
ACtually I am almost relieved that we don’t have an effective guv. My goodness, imagine the havoc they could create if we had a functioning guv. Whew!!!
Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Jun 3, 08 @ 8:32 pm
Your absolutely correct A CITIZEN….imagine if this guy was actually involved {at whatever involved is to him} more than he is with that mind set ! reeking havoc !! Gezzzzz????????
Comment by annon Thursday, Jun 5, 08 @ 6:27 am