Joe Shoemaker, Communications Director for U.S. Senator Dick Durbin issued the following statement on the death of the Durbin’s oldest daughter.
“Christine Ann Durbin, daughter of Senator Dick Durbin and Loretta Durbin, passed away today from complications relating to a congenital heart condition.
“In addition to her parents, she is survived by her husband Marty Johnson and son Alex; brother Paul (and wife Jamie); sister Jennifer (and husband Michael).
“For sixteen years she worked in the Emerging Markets Division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington.
“Chris Durbin, 40, fought a heroic lifelong battle with heart disease and our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Durbin family.
“Funeral arrangements are pending.”
My heartfelt sympathies go out to the entire Durbin family. What a tragic thing. Parents are not supposed to bury their children.
* Gov. Rod Blagojevich told a Fox St. Louis reporter this week that he didn’t use the state plane enough. And then he compared himself to Sara Palin.
I kid you not.
When asked about how he has spent about $290,000 on the state plane in the past year and a half the governor said…
“I don’t think I use it enough. I should probably get around the state more often on the plane… Because it’s important for a governor to get around the state.”
Pressed further, Blagojevich said…
“I would point out, I’m not the only governor in America who’s chosen to live at home with his kids and his wife. Gov. Palin in Alaska has done the same thing.”
When informed that Gov. Palin sold her state plane, Blagojevich kinda stuttered a bit (also just like Gov. Palin) and said…
“Well… but… but she lives at home.”
When asked whether he would consider selling the plane, the guv tried to share the blame…
“The legislature has to approve something like that. I don’t have the power to do something like that by myself.”
Oh, look, a kitty.
* I told you yesterday about that new Dan Seals radio ad featuring Barack Obama. Listen below…
* This is what passes for an Obama temper tantrum? Really?
Barack Obama lost his famous cool Friday afternoon when he became annoyed at the press while out walking to a Halloween party in Kenwood with daughter Sasha. […]
“All right guys. That’s enough. You’ve got a shot. Leave us alone. Come on guys. Get back on the bus,” Obama said, looking irritated as he walked north on Greenwood near 50th Street hand-in-hand with 7-year-old Sasha.
Finally, a few words to and about Cook County Board President Todd Stroger. He had barely finished his speech to the City Club of Chicago on Wednesday when people started texting and e-mailing me his remarks.
“I’ll tell you right now, I think Carol Marin is working for Forrest Claypool,” chirped Stroger. “She’s just his PR person.”
Claypool, one of a small band of independent county commissioners, gives the president fits. Claypool — along with colleagues Mike Quigley and Tony Peraica — demands fiscal accountability. The most recent case is Project Shield, a $41 million federal Homeland Security grant, the spending of which the feds are investigating.
Accountability is an oxymoron in county government.
But for the record, Mr. President, I’m not on anybody’s PR payroll. Not his. Not yours.
