36 Comments - Pat Hickey - Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 10:27 am: Bollywood Tuesday? - Little Egypt - Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 10:50 am: Rich, I thought surely there would be a picture here of Bill. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 10:53 am: I saw Bill last night - a drink in each hand - but when I got into “taking pictures mode” I couldn’t find him. - Bombers91 - Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 10:57 am: I tried to say hi last night Rich, but you were too busy working! Bumping (literally) into Emil Jones was interesting, but he was a sport about it and talked for a minute. By the way, was MJM even at the ball? - Jaded - Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 11:01 am: If you’d caught what he said to you Rich, you probably couldn’t have printed it anyway! - Squideshi - Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 11:11 am: I think we should have a contest. What could have Blagojevich possibly have said to Rich Miller? - jerry - Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 11:27 am: Who are these people? You told us who some are, others are easily recognizable, like Marin and the Gov. But the rest… - beowulf - Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 11:43 am: Rich-How about identifying some of these people? I would guess that your favorite director is Chuck Hartke of the Illinois Department of Ag? Is that who “Chuck” is? Who are the two ladies whose caption said that they were “having too much fun”? Who is “Timmeh” that is standing next to you? How about the “Three Horsewomen”? They look like they could be cast members of “Desperate Housewives” or some other attractive movie stars. Carol Marin is easy to pick out. One of my regrets is that she isn’t one of our political leaders down in Springfield. Carol would certainly qualify as the brightest and best looking politician down in our state capital. My guess is that what Rod asked you for was “a donation” to help the Illinois taxpayers defray the cost of the party. You know that he is always looking out for us Illinois taxpayers. - Pat Collins - Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 12:11 pm: How many MP on your camera, 2? Mr. Burris looked pretty good indeed. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 12:50 pm: If you don’t know who they are, then the post probably isn’t meant for you. - Bombers91 - Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 12:54 pm: beowulf-Timmeh is Mayor Tim Davlin of Springfield. You’re correct about Chuck Hartke. I spoke to Hartke last night for a few minutes. He made a couple cracks about being in the House of Commons, not in the House of Lords (a friend incorrectly said he was in the State Senate). - Cornelius - Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 1:01 pm: Isn’t that Wyma just over Doug’s shoulder—hard to tell because of the lighting… - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 1:02 pm: Yep. Wyma was in town this week. - Willie Stark - Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 1:15 pm: Rich you’ve been stating for months now that “It’s gonna get real fun, real soon, campers”. Well, will it been this year? Maybe that’s what Rod said to you. - Cornelius - Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 1:24 pm: Kinda like the little devil on Doug’s shoulder… doubt you meant it to look like that Rich, but it’s pretty funny. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 1:38 pm: Which Horsewoman is which? Becky Carroll is my pick for the Pale Rider, a moniker which I hope she’d wear with pride. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 3:07 pm: I tried to watch this on the news but there was not much coverage. No one cares anymore. Been there, done that, boring. - Limerick - Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 3:30 pm: It’s all glitter for the Moguls of Spin, But the gold may soon turn to tin. Eat and drink hearty, For it’s the end of the party When the Feds begin moving in. - VanillaMan - Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 4:08 pm: I tried to get in but the bomb sniffing dogs found my FBI wire. Just me and Mell sitting there explaining away to the cops - how embarrassing! - Scoot - Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 4:39 pm: More like Desperate Spokeswomen…the ball was perfect for all the spinning they due. - values matter - Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 4:49 pm: Amazing those spokeswomen can stomach the administration that lacks so much integrity and honesty. You can play with your Blackberry all day and look important, but if you’re working for an dishonest boss you’ll sink with that ship. - MIDSTATE - Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 5:39 pm: Senate rejects prison board member, says he’s too ‘harsh’ Last Updated 1/9/2007 5:25:38 PM The Illinois Senate rejected a prison-board appointee of Gov. Rod Blagojevich as too “harsh” and then turned down another appointee as a message to the Democratic governor Tuesday. In the House, the governor got approval for a two-week delay in presenting his plans for a new state budget. Republicans suggested he needs the extra time because the state budget is in turmoil. The center of the Senate debate over Blagojevich’s appointments was former Peoria Police Chief John Stenson. Blagojevich appointed him to the Prisoner Review Board in 2004 and was asking the Senate to confirm him for another appointment until 2011. But Sen. Rickey Hendon, a Chicago Democrat who chairs the Executive Appointments Committee, said he’s heard complaints for a year or more about the 61-year-old Stenson. Other board members have told Hendon that Stenson is “hard to work with.” Hendon would not specify the problems but said prison-reform groups had multiple complaints. Sen. John Cullerton, D-Chicago, said he was told Stenson refused to recuse himself from voting on parole for a prisoner Stenson had arrested. Stenson did not return a message left at the Prisoner Review Board. Republicans complained that with a four-decade law enforcement career, Stenson was highly qualified for the job on the board, which considers parole, clemency and other appeals from state prisoners. They said Stenson, who makes $72,950, was being “railroaded” because Hendon doesn’t like his votes to deny parole. Stenson’s confirmation failed on a 25-25 vote. Another appointee - Shonda Morrow, an assistant director at the Department of Central Management Services - was rejected 11-36. Hendon said Morrow lacks the “zest or zeal” for the job but was rejected mostly to show displeasure over Blagojevich appointing her when the Senate was not in session and not consulting with lawmakers. Blagojevich spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch said some concerns about Stenson “were new to us” but that Blagojevich aides continue to try to communicate with committee members on appointees. CMS spokesman Justin DeJong called Morrow “a highly competent professional.” Rejected nominees may be resubmitted but Rausch was unsure whether Stenson or Morrow would be. The House voted 66-40 to grant the governor’s request to delay his annual budget address by two weeks, to March 7. Becky Carroll, the spokeswoman for his budget office, said the fall election, personnel changes and even construction in the House chamber have contributed to the need for a delay. But Republicans suggested Blagojevich is having trouble figuring out how to make the budget balance. When he was sworn in Monday for a second term, the governor said he has solved the state’s financial problems. But other experts say serious problems persist. One recent study found a $6 billion shortfall, plus $106 billion in long-term debt. “This governor can’t seem to get it together,” said Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro. Blagojevich’s request for a budget delay now goes to the Senate. - demgrrl - Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 5:43 pm: you mean to say that spokespersons spin and use blackberries? say it ain’t so. sounds like some GOPers are still a bit sore from beating they took in november. - Disgusted - Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 5:56 pm: Hey Rich, didn’t your mom always tell you that you are judged by the company you keep. You need to hang with a better class of people. Was this inaugural ball as boring as the first one? - Whoof-Whoof - Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 6:07 pm: Man, I thought Republicans were homely…. - Angie - Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 6:22 pm: Well, I’ll be darned. Rod’s hair looks…perfect. Fancy that. Who’d a thunk it? - Capt. Obvious - Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 7:03 pm: Wow did Houlihan drop the ball or what He could have had his big taxreliefapalooza on the GRod’s desk, but failed to get the Senate to act. Now it will be May or June. And who knows what John Harris’ lateast antics will do to derail the train. - Establishment Republican - Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 8:27 pm: Serious question…. Was Alderman Mell in Springfield for any of the festivities? - Jacques Strappe - Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 8:30 pm: Hack Lavin looks like Brickhead Joe? Is that what you’re saying? Hmmm…need to add glasses…. - Concerned Voter - Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 9:48 pm: What do you mean he needs more time to get the budget done, I thought he solved all our problems and we had so much extra money to spend on things like healthcare for all Illinoisans, more & better schools, minor league ballparks, raises for the legislative branch, and catch up with fully funding all pension obligations. Oh wait, what was I smoking? - JohnR - Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 11:00 pm: Snark aside… I assume that he is still doing a state of the state speech, as well as a budget address. They probably just want to space those out so they aren’t crammed together. - JohnR - Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 11:01 pm: …finishing my thought. Since he just had an inauguration speech, he probably will do his state of the state a little later, which would thus push the budget address back a little later. …just a thought. Didn’t he do that the first time around? - Criminal Enterprise Called Illinois - Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 11:57 pm: Party now, pay later. I can’t wait until Pat Quinn gets sworn in. I guess its safe to bet that Fitz stayed away…? - Cartman - Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 12:39 am: That was the funniest post, caption or comment ever made on CapFax. Whatever: I do what I want! - Truthful James - Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 8:11 am: Our Man Tim Nieukirk appears not to have been there.im - beowulf - Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 9:21 am: Rich, did you notice if Alderman Dick Mell was at the party? Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.