Franks won’t endorse Blagojevich
Wednesday, Jul 26, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
This was not unexpected.
A Democratic member of the Illinois House who has been harshly critical of the administration of Gov. Rod Blagojevich said Tuesday he does not back the governor for re-election.
“I am not going to support the governor,” said Rep. Jack Franks of Woodstock, who is unopposed in his bid for a fifth two-year term. “I don’t think he’s done a good job … fiscally.” […]
“I think his relationships with the legislature are poor,” Franks added of Blagojevich. “I don’t appreciate the fact that he, quite frankly, has disdain for the legislature and doesn’t respect it as a body. … I’ve also got a problem with a governor who refuses to come to the state capital and live here.”
- DOWNSTATE - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 2:42 pm:
Man 0 man I can here that train picking up steam.The TOPINKA EXPRESS has left the station.
- Niles Township - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 2:43 pm:
I agree with Jack Franks in not support Blago, but is Jack doing it for the apparent reasons? Maybe there is a story behind the story here.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 2:45 pm:
Niles, it started in earnest when the governor tried to link him to the Stu Levine scandals in order to save his own political hide for a news cycle. Nothing ever came of it on Franks’ end, but Franks never forgot it.
- Lovie's Leather - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 2:49 pm:
Your right, Rich. This isn’t unexpected. I don’t think it will make much difference, though. Franks has been a malcontent long enough and this won’t be a big story except in the blogs. If everyone read the Capitol Fax, it would make a difference. But if everyone read the Capitol Fax, nobody would be voting for Blagojevich….
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 2:51 pm:
Except it wasn’t initially published on a blog, LL, it was published in a paper.
- Shamus - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 2:51 pm:
Dick Mell is not supporting Blago, Manny Flores is with Topinka and working with the 1st ward Repub committee back from Iraq, Schulter and O’Connor 47 and 40 are with Topinka
lots will be with Topinka
- Timbuktu - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 2:54 pm:
Rep. Jack Franks of Woodstock will not be the first or the last Democrat to abandon Governor Blagojevich in the coming months, indictments or not.
- I like Jack - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 2:56 pm:
Good going Jack! One of the few legislators (actually, the only legislator)on the Dem side to publically state his outrage with the governor this way, even though it may be for personal reasons. I wish the rest of them - and they are a lot of them in his own party - would do the same as Jack. Jack’s a dead man walking no more. Do you think he would have said the same thing had he an opponent?
- Minion - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 2:58 pm:
Timbucktu-right on target. Whether public with it or not, many will leap off.
- Disgusted Democrat - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 3:03 pm:
I was Blagos constituent when he was a state rep and a member of congress. He was a mediocre state rep and a mediocre congressman. He has proved to be an even more mediocre governor.
I won’t vote him or JBT.
- Guv Mansion Express, 2010 - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 3:15 pm:
If Franks sees an opening two or three years hence, he’ll be running for governor. In the primaries versus Lisa?? Ooooooh!!!, (shudder, smirk).
Let it be known now: Jack is a knave, not a knight.
- Jack - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 3:15 pm:
I wonder if Franks would have done this to Sleazovich if he had a General election opponent? Can you imagine Rod’s henchmen like Brad Tusk going after Franks in November?
- Political Hack - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 3:23 pm:
Disappointed in you Jack. I don’t necessarily like the job Rod is doing, but he is a dem. Reminds me of the liberal A-holes who backed Ryan over Poshard.
- Bill - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 3:32 pm:
Jack,
Don’t come around anymore crying about the big, bad Repubs trying to take you out with all of their money.
We’re done! Maybe you can get Mell to help you from now on.
- Jaded - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 3:37 pm:
I could understand why a guy with the nickname “Political Hack” would be dissapointed in people who have an independent thought process. Political Hacks prefer sheep that they can order around. Nice job Rep. Franks.
I have a question if anyone (Rich?) can answer it. Can anyone remember a major office holder (Governor, US Senator, President,) winning re-election with a disapproval rate above 50%? I would have to think that would be incredibly rare, except maybe in a three way race. Any thoughts?
- Cammie - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 3:52 pm:
Hey Bill –
When you say “We’re done!”, who exactly are you speaking for?!?!?
- Bill - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 3:59 pm:
Jack knows…ask him
- Cammie - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 4:01 pm:
I would, but I don’t know him. Are you afraid to say????
- Jack - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 4:27 pm:
Rich, do you think Franks will punished by Micheal Madigan for his anti Blago stance?? Or do you think the Speaker would like Blagoevich to lose also?
- ?????? - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 5:30 pm:
Ok, tell me this, when did Franks become a democrat? One Republican endorsing another isn’t news.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 5:49 pm:
Blah-Blah abandoned the Democrats the first day he walked in…..um, well, you know, whatever door, wherever it was.
- Former Minion - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 6:00 pm:
After hearing Rep. Fritchey on Jeff Berkowitz’ show not too long ago, I wouldn’t be shocked if the Governor’s own state rep isn’t going to endorse him either. Now it’s starting to get entertaining.
- anon - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 6:09 pm:
This isn’t news. I feel sorry for Jack’s District; his relentless grandstanding to advance himself will not help them.
- Anon. - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 6:18 pm:
Good for Jack.
- fed up dem - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 6:38 pm:
Political Hack. I hope you’re not comparing Blago to Poshard. Glen was a man of great integrity who got screwed by a lot of powerful Dems because they knew they could deal make their deals with Ryan. Blago is something else.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 7:56 pm:
Nobody could have expected Franks to endorse Blagojevich, and the Speaker surely doesn’t care. Franks would have helped himself, however, if he hadn’t based the non-endorsement primarily on the Governor’s fiscal management — considering that, if memory serves, he voted for the budget every time, and even got pork out of it (that’ll end if the Governor gets re-elected, for sure). The other reasons would have surely been sufficient, but by criticizing the “fiscal management” he voted for himself, he makes himself sound like a hypocrite.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 9:22 pm:
Franks’ district is 60% GOP, and what has Rod Blagojevich done for McHenry County?
If Franks HAD endorsed Rod, THAT would be news.
Great timing by Jack Franks….where do you think the Chicago t.v. cameras will be tomorrow night? Maybe at Jack Franks’ fundraiser at the Berghoff? Chatting with Franks, Ed Burke and Dick Mell?
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jul 26, 06 @ 11:06 pm:
One more self-serving egomaniac for Topinka.
Should be good for another point or 2 in the polls for Blago.
- Criminal Enterprise Called Illinois - Thursday, Jul 27, 06 @ 2:52 am:
We can only hope that more Democrats (and voters) will get on this band wagon. What a pathetic disappointment Blago is. The Dems finally step up to bat after 26 years and they strike out, over and over. Foul ball!
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 27, 06 @ 9:00 am:
Unfortunately for you Criminal E, a big majority of Illinois voters disagree with you.
- Dejavu - Thursday, Jul 27, 06 @ 3:16 pm:
Former Minion - Fritchey is very close to Mell. Blagojevich has destroyed the Mell family. Fritchey being a Democrat will not publicly endorse Judy. But like most of the northside Aldermen they will have to pass out the palm cards with Rod’s name on it. They will not be knocking on any doors and even mention his name to voters.
- Just Observing - Thursday, Jul 27, 06 @ 3:22 pm:
Madigan will do nothing toward Franks. First, Madigan is lucky as hell a Dem holds that seat in the first place and secondly Madigan probably wants Rod to lose to make way for Lisa in four years.
- anon - Thursday, Jul 27, 06 @ 10:05 pm:
Madigan doesn’t need the Franks seat.
- anon - Thursday, Jul 27, 06 @ 10:07 pm:
And…dems do not need Franks. Tryon and Althoff do a better job of representing dems interests. Jack represents his own.