49 Comments - INADAZE - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 5:46 am: BLAGO, because he must be from another planet. - Rod Blagojevich - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 5:54 am: Rich Miller - for refusing to serve on the Illinois Hate Crimes Commission. - DOWNSTATE - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 6:20 am: Obie the canidate who can’t. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 7:19 am: Alan Keyes…. Oh, never mind. - Anonanonanon - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 7:32 am: Jim Oberweis!! - Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 7:33 am: Myself — to Fiji. - House Republicans - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 7:41 am: Mike Madigan for the three bill limit - Leroy - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 7:44 am: Way to cut and run, Yellow Dog DEMOCRAT. Saddle up all of us with debt from give away pork programs, and then cut and run, leaving others to pay the bill. Nice. - Marta Elena - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 7:44 am: Louis Farrakhan. He’s an equal opportunity hater. I see nothing positive coming from his organization. I had a college educated family member join him for a year in the early 90’s - and we are an inter-racial family. We had spirited debates during family gatherings - but we were so glad when he finally wised up within a year and left the organization. - ISU REP - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 8:25 am: Only one?! Sooo many choices..Have to go with Rod and his hairpiece from outerspace, perhaps that could fill the hole in the ozone layer - DOWjones - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 8:26 am: Let me add a condition: if I had the power to deport AND had a time machine, I would go back a month or two and deport Blago, so that we would have a different Democratic candidate for gov. this election. Then the Dem. side of the primaries would be interesting, or at least funny, like the Rep. side. - cell mate - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 8:33 am: Anyone named Cellini. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 8:34 am: Leroy - Let’s not blame the Democrats for borrowing and spending. It took 26 years of Republican leadership to get our pension system in the shape it’s in, and state spending exploded under George Ryan, from about $36 billion a year to $50 billion a year, about a 39% increase. Under Blagojevich, state spending increases have slowed to a relative trickle — about 5% a year. That’s pretty good considering that there’s alot of health care inflation built into the budget. If government had continued to grow at the rate it did while George Ryan was in charge, our budget would be over $70 billion right now. But, if it makes you feel better, you are welcome to join me in Fiji. - Cassandra - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 8:39 am: John Stroger. Sorry, but the corruption in Cook County government is overwhelming and I don’t think Claypool can beat him. One example—the Audy Home, Cook’s juvenile correctional facility and a pork farm for Stroger Democrats. Various groups have complained about physical abuse, inadequate programming and filthy conditions at the facility but Stroger hasn’t budged. For the Democrats, politics trump the kids, every time. Democratic leading lights (Daley, Blagojevich, Rahm Emmanuel and so on) have been absolutely silent on the conditions at this facility. - DOWNSTATE - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 8:49 am: Sorry YYD but you have your facts backward this guy Blago has borrowed 21 BBBBillon since being in office. - scoot - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 8:49 am: The Guv A.S.A.P. - OberweisforGovernorofMars - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 8:54 am: The former Illinois Leader people; if they screw up Rauchy’s campaign, much in the same manner they screwed up the Ryan Senate race as well. - Lovie's Leather - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 9:04 am: Dusty Baker… “My name is Dusty, not Messiah.” Worst manager ever! - Pete Granata - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 9:20 am: Martin Kovarik for his cheap shot directed at JBT. - Bill - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 9:31 am: I would have to say Obie since he just unable to be a staight shooter. The Republicans in the primary need to realize that there is something bigger than themselves. That is doing what is right for the party. If you are unable to win with your message well, you should not win. - Superior - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 9:56 am: Mike Quigley - Skeeter - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 10:08 am: My choice is Cardinal George. I didn’t expect the Cardinal to live up to the standards of his predecessor. However, I did not expect the complete lack of respect for the individual churches and congregations that we see from Cardinal George “The Corrector.” Too bad he won’t correct himself when it comes to the abuse matters. Hopefully our Illinois courts will take care of that for him. - Mike Lawrence fan - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 10:19 am: Glen Poshard Without the First Amendment, religious minorities could be persecuted, the government might well establish a national religion, protesters could be silenced, the press could not criticize government, and citizens could not mobilize for social change. The First Amendment ensures that “if there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein,” as Justice Robert Jackson wrote in the 1943 case West Virginia v. Barnette. And as Justice William Brennan wrote in New York Times v. Sullivan in 1964, the First Amendment provides that “debate on public issues … [should be] … uninhibited, robust, and wide-open.” - Papa Legba - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 10:28 am: Blago… for allowing state bond debt to climb from 7 to 23 billion dollars in three years. That, among numerous other things. - can't imagine - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 10:32 am: Oberweis has got to go. It is absolutely time he withdraw from the race. He is a LLLOOOOOSER! - Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 10:48 am: I’m a Mike Lawrence fan too, but when did Glenn Poshard say he’s against the 1st Amendment? - Stavros Popodopolis - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 11:18 am: The guys at the Rathskeller cafeteria. I said “No cheese.” - donchicago48 - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 12:23 pm: Kjellander - ron - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 12:25 pm: deport yellow dog democrat and other spinners/twisters of facts. under ryan administation state budget had four years of surpluses. general fund budget grew by 29% not 39% in four years. the other expenditures were for infrastructure financed by bond issues and special fees and revenues. in three short years under blago administration two of the largest deficits in history have occurred, the third budget was close to the record ,with a fourth whopper on the way. states debt outstanding has more than doubled in three years. - Central IL Stater - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 12:30 pm: Only one. You are taxing what little brains I have. However, if you want one, I would say Oberweiss. He’s embarassing the people of Illinois. Yesterday was a sad day in IL politics. Blago will self destruct and we won’t have to worry about him, he’ll retreat into Chicago never to be heard from again. lol Okay I cheated. Sorry. - Randall Sherman - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 12:40 pm: Governor Blagojevich, although Rod is just one of a number of political cancers afflicting the people of Illinois in general and the Democratic Party in particular. - Working Immigrant - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 12:58 pm: Obie. Can I use his helicopter to drop him over the border? Please? - Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 1:20 pm: Ron, I do apologize. The last Edgar budget (FY 99) was $38.3 billion. The first Ryan budget (FY 00) was $42.8 billion. The last Ryan budget (FY 03) was $54 billion. That means spending increased during the Ryan administration went from $38.3 billion to $54 billion, an increase of $15.7 billion or 41%, not 39% as I originally guessed. And yes, Ryan’s budgets were “balanced”, but only after the largest tax increase most of us can remember in Illinois, and some last-minute accounting magic, like inflating revenue estimates and the same delay in Medicaid payments that budget hawks like Rauschenberger like to criticize the Governor for. BTW, Rauschenberger voted for the spending increases, tax increases, and the accounting methods. And Ron, I already deported myself, but I’m right on the facts and you’re just plain wrong. Even George Ryan’s press releases say so. - VanillaMan - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 1:27 pm: Sorry, but the answer is Blagojevich. His single term in office has saddled our state with a budgetary nightmare waiting to hijack our wallets for years to come. He created a nanny state when progressive states are shedding welfare programs. He demanded total control over every tax dollar for his discretionary use. He has set Illinois back a generation with his ignorant bumbling 20th Century mentality. He drove businesses away from Illinois, and lost jobs. He makes us pay for his re-election, by promising give-away programs for votes. He set a standard for governors that includes being late to every function, playing ignorant to justify incompetance, and backstabbing most supporters. Blagojevich needs to go immediately. - ron - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 2:34 pm: yellow dog democrat yournumbers are still being spun. blago budget shows an operating budget of 45.7 billion for fiscal 2007. so you are tell me blago administration has reduced the budget from ryan’s 54 billion, per you, to 45.7 billion in four years, while doubling the state’s debt. i am sorry, your numbers do not add up. please compare apples to apples. there is a difference between operating, capital and special budgets. spinnnn. - Brock Rockenhamer - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 2:41 pm: Blagojevich of course. Many Governors campaign on their achievements while in office, Blagojevich just campaigns. - LittleEgypt - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 3:54 pm: Blago - we can’t afford him for another 4 years without a tax increase. He has already robbed every fund known to man to keep his election promise of no TAX increase but yet there are a gazillion FEE increases. If it looks like a tax increase and acts like a tax increase - then it’s a tax increase. You can call it what you want but it is still more money out of my pocket. - Bill - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 4:41 pm: Little Egypt- You are actually right. We need a tax increase. I am hoping that Rod is BS-ing, for once, on the pledge and will raise to personal income tax 5% with a larger increase for businesses. Then it will be happy days in Illinois. Bring it on! - Democrate - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 6:02 pm: Anyone in chicago with the last name Daley, period. Need I say more? - NIEVA - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 6:03 pm: Lets get rid of the mayor. I hear Bagdad is looking for a new head man!! - State worker AFSCME - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 6:24 pm: Oberwise, and does it count as two if he’s carrying Blago? - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 6:28 pm: Thanks for cleaning that up. - CookCountyVoter - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 7:41 pm: Rep Lipinski…no more crooked politicians in the District please!! - "Swept" - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 8:24 pm: John Filan’s most valuable employee, Fundsweep Freddy … . - Illinois Democrat - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 8:32 pm: Tom Cross…That is all That needs to be said !!! - Anonymous - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 9:17 pm: The Guv (and the party “leadership” under a blanket) in Obie’s chopper! Davis and their state democratic party “leadership” put Arnold in office through their bumbling and it looks like the same script here. - Vegancannibal - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 10:17 pm: Dusty Baker - Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 11:53 pm: ron - I’m comparing total budgets to total budgets. Spending is still spending, even if you borrow to do it. We’d love to not count credit card spending as spending, but we can’t. The Governor has proposed a $45.4 billion budget and hopes to pass a $3.2 billion capital budget, so the Governor is calling for $48.6 billion in spending in FY 07 — $5.4 billion less than George Ryan’s last budget. Even if we borrowed as much as George Ryan did and passed a capital budget that was as large as his — about $6 billion I think, Blagojevich is still way under the Ryan cap. - A numbers person - Thursday, Mar 9, 06 @ 12:42 am: For comparison purposes, you really need to include the $12 billion increase in bonded debt and the $1 billion increased in unpaid Medicaid bills (borrowed from medical providers) since Blagojevich took over. And you probably need to remember that next year the pension obligation grows by $1.6 billion over this year. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.