Flop sweat
Friday, Mar 5, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Today’s Tribune headline was brutal: “Brady swings and misses at Quinn - Apparent GOP governor nominee fumbles shot on early inmate releases.”
The lede was just as harsh…
As he warmed up Thursday for his expected acceptance of the Republican governor nomination, state Sen. Bill Brady took a swing at Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn and hit nothing but air.
The story, of course, was about Brady’s botched press conference yesterday over the Quinn administration’s super-controversial early release program that I told you about yesterday. More…
The trouble is, state prison officials later pointed out, the inmate wasn’t among those the Quinn administration released early because he wasn’t eligible.
Brady hadn’t fully checked available public records, including an online list the Quinn administration posted detailing which inmates were let out early after getting sped-up “good time” off their prison sentences. When told there is such a list, Brady offered a short response: “There is?”
The gaffe is the latest controversy for Brady, who likely will be certified Friday by state elections officials as the winner in Feb. 2 primary.
“There is?” That’s my favorite line from the presser.
* Sun-Times hed: “Brady misfires on governor - Republican can’t back claim that Quinn freed murder suspect from prison early.” From the story…
State law allowed [recently accused murderer Jonathon Phillips] to knock off one day from his six-year carjacking sentence for every day of good behavior. He served 27 months in the Western Illinois Correctional Center and received an additional 60 days off his sentence for “meritorious good time” and 196 days of credit for time in the Cook County Jail awaiting trial on the 2007 carjacking charge, Smith said.
“We were told by legal opinion that he likely was [released early],” Brady said.
Asked what he meant by the term “legal opinion,” Brady said, “It means we consulted people with a law degree.”
“We consulted people with a law degree.” My second favorite line.
* The AP gets to the meat of the matter…
Phillips was sentenced to six years for vehicular hijacking in Cook County. The law requires him to serve at least three. He was released early after receiving 60 days good-conduct credit, which the Corrections director may grant to most inmates, in October 2007, Smith said.
Brady questioned whether Phillips was eligible for meritorious good time because of his crime.
State law indicates the credit does not apply when a judge finds that the victim of vehicular hijacking suffered great bodily harm. Such felons must serve 85 percent of their sentences, which Brady suggested should have applied to Phillips.
But the Cook County state’s attorney’s office told the AP in January there was no finding of great bodily harm in Phillips’ case.
The law is worded in a way that could be read to deny meritorious good time for everyone convicted of vehicular hijacking. But criminal defense lawyers contacted earlier by the AP generally said the law appears to have been properly applied in Phillips’ case.
Here’s some inside info for you. Word’s been going around for months about this Jonathon Phillips case. I’ve looked into it, the AP examined it, the Hynes campaign took a long look (after being approached by the murder victim’s mother) and Brady’s people have known about it as well. Everybody but Brady came up empty. Well, actually, Brady came up empty as well, he just didn’t think he did.
…Adding… Some folks I talked to yesterday pointed out that Quinn could now use those “Brady swings, misses” headlines in his own defense when Brady’s early release ads start airing.
* Related…
* Brady’s attempt to link Quinn, murder suspect falls short
* Brady links Quinn prison-release policy to local murder
* Capitol Fax video: Sen. Brady demands Quinn publicize names of prisoners released
* Capitol Fax video: Brady continues to jab Quinn for early prisoner release
- Pot calling kettle - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 8:35 am:
So, if Quinn can just keep quiet until November, Brady will take care of the campaign for him…oh, nevermind.
- (Formerly) Angry Republican - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 8:38 am:
Big deal; so Brady botched a press conference, at least he didn’t botch an early release program like Quinn.
- Carl Nyberg - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 8:39 am:
Rob posted a good line on Archpundit.
“Dumb and Plummer 2010″
- wordslinger - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 8:41 am:
Thanks for the background, it’s very telling.
I’m assuming the Brady folks, too, knew others had checked it out and passed. You would think they would have triple-checked everything before they put their guy in front of a microphone.
- Hank - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 8:43 am:
Is there anyway Dillard can be convinced not to concede?
- Rich Miller - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 8:43 am:
FAP, the problem is you can’t take full advantage of a botched early release program if you botch your attack.
- Carl Nyberg - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 8:44 am:
Does “consulted people with a law degree” mean Brady sought the advice of people who went to law school but failed to pass the bar exam (or was disbarred)?
Because, if I consult with a lawyer about a matter, I say, “I talked to this lawyer friend of mine….”
But maybe Brady’s difference in how he speaks reflects a Downstate dialect or something.
- dupage dan - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 8:53 am:
=Big deal; so Brady botched a press conference, at least he didn’t botch an early release program like Quinn.=
Trouble is, that’s how many people get info to decide who to vote for. Brady keeps this up and PQ will have a cake walk in nov. Brady better get ahead of this learning curve soon or the hapless PQ’s gonna have 4 years to really mess it up. Oh, Prunella.
- Anon - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 8:55 am:
Rich, I think your favorites are reversed. “There is?” is such a simple, but funny, line. But the legal opinion meaning people with law degrees…that one required some thought. I’ll bet those in the room could actually hear the gears in his brain grinding on that one.
- anon - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 8:57 am:
It probably is wishful thinking but how about these guys talking about REAL issues like lack of prograaming in doc, overcrowding, 60% recidivism rate, and a whole host of issues instead of political fearmongering and grandstanding. our system is a mess,getting worse and costs over a billion $ and cost is climbing. somebody, anybody start talking real about some steps to correct this runaway train randle was sanbaggerd by flaws in early release by staff rumor has it. now we hsve all this nonense going on.
- Anon - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 9:12 am:
Im glad I voted for Dillard…I hope Dillard doesn’t concede…Brady is going to make it easy for Quinn in November!!
- VanillaMan - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 9:16 am:
Brady needs to fire those “people with a law degree” who didn’t stop him from this line of campaign attack.
Brady is losing the pity voter, who is now too embarrassed to watch this guy implode before Easter.
- Beowulf - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 9:52 am:
I say, “It was a minor gaffe” caused by an over exuberant staffer. Put away the cross and ladder,hang up the hammer, and put away the nails. If Pat Quinn was taken to task for every minor “screw-up”, the printing presses would run out of ink.
- dupage dan - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 9:52 am:
Maybe Brady could get out of this by committing some vote fraud and stuff the ballot box with Dillard votes.
- D.P. Gumby - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 10:15 am:
Brady is “leveling the playing field” w/ Quinn. Can’t wait to see a debate between these two! The only thing better will be Plummer debating the empty Dem. Lt. Gov. podium!
- Dnstateanon - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 10:34 am:
The guy was let out early when he shouldn’t have been based on the law it’s just a fact. The madia should just check into it rather then showing their Bias.
- Dnstateanon - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 10:37 am:
The trouble is, state prison officials later pointed out, the inmate wasn’t among those the Quinn administration released early because he wasn’t eligible.
There a source for you the people that broke the law in the first place. None of them were eligible when they were release early, Some in the media should at least try to be balanced.
- ArchPundit - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 10:46 am:
===The guy was let out early when he shouldn’t have been based on the law it’s just a fact. The madia should just check into it rather then showing their Bias.
Wrong: He also got a net 60 days of meritorious good time credit in October 2007, long before Quinn became governor, prison officials said. Phillips was on parole when he was arrested following the December killing.
He was let out according to the law. If you don’t like the law, change it and let us know how you plan on paying for it.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 10:46 am:
Dnstateanon, I can see you have trouble writing, so perhaps you also have trouble reading. Try reading the post again R-E-A-L S-L-O-W. Maybe that’ll help.
- Team Sleep - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 11:04 am:
It amazes me that Brady has gotten this far with his inability to speak. I have seen him at several GOP events and his delivery and stump stink. This is nothing new, and it will only get worse as the spring & summer campaign seasons drag on. Luckily, Quinn is equally as inept.
- P. - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 11:06 am:
Quinn was ripped for a lot of gaffes and now Brady has given him a gift. Quinn is clear to say, He’s misrepresented my record and tried to mislead the votes and media about it.
You can’t just start off like this and expect to win in November, but that’s what Brady did/is doing. I mean, these things are stacking up pretty damn fast between Brady and Plummer.
- PPHS - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 11:10 am:
Oh, he was thinking Dukakis, not Quinn. It makes sense now,
- DuPager - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 11:18 am:
So what if Brady made a gaffe - he didn’t release a dangerous felon to go on to commit murder!
Get some perspective people.
As for how we are going to pay for prisons - cut every other item in the budget (the arts, the healthcare, road funds, everything) in order to keep people safe from murderers. Having watched the Dems spend like drunken sailors (quoting a Dem Governor) for years it seems ridiculous to know insist that we would debate prison funding.
Keeping the public safe is the FIRST mission of government.
- Nearly Normal - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 11:32 am:
You will see that Brady often shoots from the hip without all the facts. Those of us in his district have had to deal with this since he was in the House. He’s a good back-peddler but hates to be proven wrong. Can let you see his Irish temper from time to time if you counter him. I’ve been there and seen it.
Two of his former teachers told me he was a good student but was not one to go to any depth in his studies. Just learned enough to get the grade.
- Budget Watcher - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 1:06 pm:
I’ve watched him over the years as he’s positioned himsef for his runs for the governor. Doesn’t listened to those who might help him and says stuff that’s often not factual. He was rarely called out when he spewed nonsense because frankly, no one cared. He’s already living down to my expectations.