51 Comments - bored now - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 6:12 am: no matter what, they will endorse brady. their jihad against democrats in contested races has already made that clear. republicans didn’t even have to turn their questionnaires in OR SHOW UP to their endorsement sessions to get endorsed. all they had to do was get on the ballot. the trib’s no better than faux news… - really - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 6:48 am: If Quinn was at an AFSCME “town hall” when was he at the endorsement meeting? - gadfly - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 7:13 am: COHEN: The governor made it very clear to me that he was going to take away my responsibilities, put me in a room with nothing to do. Um, yeah Scott, that’s called being Lt. Governor. - wordslinger - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 7:28 am: What an odd format, with everyone stepping all over each others statements. Was the editorial board drinking beer and eating hot dogs during this cage match? - phocion - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 7:42 am: wordslinger…LOL! Actually, this editoral board format was not atypical. You nailed it. - bored now - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 7:47 am: well, the word to the statewide candidates was that they were going to “open up” the endorsement sessions and allow candidates to question each other. doesn’t matter. the tribune will endorse chairman mao before they endorse a democrat in a competitive race… - Sue - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 7:48 am: God help us- Illinois is so deep in the red and niether Quinn nor Brady have demonstrated any leadership on the problems confronting the State- What we need is someone willing to take on the public sector unions who now seemingly control both our politics and our finances- Several states have confronted their pension problems by reducing benefits for existing employees and letting the courts determine the legality- absent reducing the costs associated with pensions and retiree health care, and forcing those changes through our Union friendly legislature( see Chris Christie)Illinois WILL NOT bounce back even assuming the economy recovers - Raising Kane - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 7:54 am: I think there should be a quiz at every polling place in the state. Voters should be asked who they are going to vote for and if they say Cohen they should be forced to watch this video. That guy is the biggest sleazeball to ever run for Gov…and that includes Blago (though a close call). It just boggles the mind that polling shows him getting anywhere from 4 to 14% of the vote. - the Patriot - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 8:17 am: What was Quinn looking at. No matter what Brady did, Quinn was always down and away. Sort of represntative of his leadership style. Brady should run adds in business journals reminding people that Governor Quinn wants business owners to pay taxes, even if they don’t owe them. How does that conversation go at home anyway. Honey, instead of putting that extra 10K in the kids college fund, lets just give it to the government. Don’t know about Brady’s wife, but mine would slap me. - shore - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 8:24 am: I thought the liberatarian did the best job by far. - Deep South - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 8:39 am: That Cohen clip is priceless! - Chubs Mahoney - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 8:40 am: The last video especially is a harsh indictment of Bill Brady’s career in politics. Really, Senator? One community college? Then silence? Wow. - cassandra - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 8:44 am: I thought both Cohen and Rich Whitney did well on budgeting/tax issues-better than Quinn, actually. Quinn did a good job of mining the enormous advantages of incumbency (I did this about this and that about that). Brady did better than I thought he would but actually I thought he was the weakest debater in the room. He allowed himself to get sandbagged on the jobs program extension, surely knowing that Quinn would portray him as anti-jobs, throwing people out on the street, and so on. He seemed to spend a lot of time looking at Quinn rather than the camera, making him look more like a supplicant. Practice, practice. I guess he didn’t. Again, I’d have to say, if I didn’t know the history, I’d vote for Cohen. - Anonymiss - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 8:44 am: Only beside SLC is Quinn the more concise and articulate one in a conversation. “Next question.” - Chubs Mahoney - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 8:49 am: After watching, there were a few images that came to mind – Brady: a sanctimonious boss Quinn: a co-worker who knows how to get things done and has been working there forever. Brady: used car salesman. Quinn: your buddy down the street who you helped convert his pickup into a bio-fuel vehicle that runs on corn cobs. Brady: empty suit. Quinn: living, breathing human being Brady looked at Quinn through the entire debate wagging his finger. Quinn never looked at Brady and always looked at the camera and the audience. Brady comes across well initially, tall, business-man like, etc. But Quinn’s criticisms of him (especially on conflict of interest problems, and the fact that he has zero big accomplishments in 17 years in the GA, for which Brady has no serious responses) are spot on and badly erode Brady’s credibility. - Fed up - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 8:59 am: Quinn seems more like a silly hack. Partner to Blago who has picked up where blago left off. Selling appointments and handing out favors and state money for union backing. No job cuts if you endorse me, I’ll help you win this strike for 500k yeah Quinn was taking notes when blago was wheeling and dealing. - Fed up - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 9:02 am: Raising Kane you say Cohen is the biggest sleeze ball since blago. What’s interesting is the phony reformer who was the runningmate of both blago and cohen - Lincoln Parker - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 9:04 am: The Tribune will obviously not endorse Quinn, I don’t see how they can endorse Brady either though. Their best move would be to just make no endorsement in that race. - wndycty - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 9:21 am: Did you notice how Brady seemed to invade Quinn’s space a lot. - CircularFiringSquad - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 9:22 am: Gotta wonder if the Trib has the same publishing schedule on Brady that they used on Cohen? Remember run the bad stuff AFTER the election? What do they know now about Brady Homes? Rush street? BTW the Trib “endorsement” of StateWideTom is a real rib tickler….”84th District (far southwest suburbs) — If Republicans took control of the House…. Minority Leader Tom Cross of Oswego… We think Illinois would be proud of his leadership….Huh… Cross has encouraged genuine debate in the GOP caucus….Ask Biggins and Black…. The son of a minister, Lee Daniels roomate &close pal of Blagoof…he leads by setting an example and takes campaign cash from non reporting group and rich big wigs….not by imposing his will on others…Actually it is Skip’s….will… He has also steered the Republican Party back to its basic principles: smaller, effective government…..that’s why he wanted video poker and the wildly important Sunshine Commission. Let’s be real honest StateWideTom, NoTaxBill, Gags Brady & CommandoMakeItUp have become one big high school prank and the Trib is their bathroom wall. Fire,Aim, Ready - OneMan - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 9:25 am: == The governor made it very clear to me that he was going to take away my responsibilities, put me in a room with nothing to do. == Ummm Dude, have you read the state constitution? There isn’t much the Lt. Governor gets to do by law. There is a reason if the office is vacant it remains vacant. - Vote Quimby! - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 9:26 am: “I Heard A Rumor” - Bananarama (or Rep. Turner) Who needs friends who never show I’ll tell you what you wanna know I could have saved a broken heart If I’d found out long ago - Hamburgler - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 9:36 am: @ Fed Up - what are you talking about? Name one major success Brady has had in his 2 decades in Springfield. - Chicagoan - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 9:37 am: Brady did a horrible job answering what he has done as a Senator. Other than an abysmal voting record, he has done nothing. - Richard Afflis - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 9:38 am: I would have a drinking game on how many times Quinn says “I think it’s important…”, but I don’t think many of us on our best night would not end up in the hospital:) - movin - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 9:40 am: Quinn deastroyed brady. Quinn may not be the greatest candidate in the world, but hopefully the people are beginning to learn who Brady is. Brady came off as insane during the debate, shoving his finger in Quinn’s face. Brady’s answer on his accomplishments really says it all, then was even an awkward silence in the room as people expected him to go on and he didn’t or couldn’t. - cassandra - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 9:55 am: I’m always surprised that Whitney doesn’t do better in a blue state like Illinois. He is articulate, presents himself well in settings like debates, and he supports positions such as more progressive taxation and single payer health insurance which are of high importance to liberals. Yet it seems that liberals go with Dem candidates like Blagojevich and Quinn when they pull the lever. I understand the concept of not wanting to throw away your vote but there is also the idea that a respectable showing by a 3rd party candidate might pressure politicians in power not to discount these views. Even in blue blue Illinois, it hasn’t happened. - Fed up - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 9:57 am: Hamburglar, Where do I say anything about Brady.? I just point out Quinn learned from Blago how to turn appointments and doing favors into campaign cash. He loves to talk that he’s a reformer but everything from a phony senate campaign fund (he never ran for the senate) that he profited from to taking 500k from the road construction unions to help their strike to 75k from the mckormick pl unions to write the work rules to help them to his questionable use of a star employee ie budget director to get a political endorsement show he is just like Blago with bad hair. - Can't Say My Nickname - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 9:58 am: It is very disturbing to me that no one knows how many taxpayer funded programs are in the state of Illinois. Auditor General Holland doesn’t even know. Wow! How can any candidate develop a sound budget without knowing this key factor? This issue should be top priority. - Fed up - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 10:04 am: I ment state employee not star. Damn I phone little keys. - Louis G. Atsaves - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 10:08 am: Just finished watching the Quinn filibuster. Nuff said! - hizzoner 80 - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 10:09 am: Cohen Witch Trials! Its amazing how much all the jealous wonks are of SLC, just shocked someone not of their “uppity” caliber is running for office.. I’m a lex guy, but sheesh leave the guy alone and talk about the economy already.. that trib session was a joke! no wonder they’re bankrupt - Anonymous - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 10:16 am: Wow. What a disappointing display by Brady. Weak. Of course, Quinn winning a debate does not erase his abysmal incompetance as Governor nor his continuing to play footsie with the unions. Maybe I will vote for Whitney. I did that before instead of Blagoof. I just wish he had even a remote chance of winning. :/ Yuck. We could have had Dillard (or Hynes, for that matter). Instead we have these nimrods. - wordslinger - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 10:27 am: Cassie, I think it’s a misnomer to call Illinois a Blue state. Illinois tracks the country closer than any other state economically and demographically. Dems have enjoyed recent success here, but they have nationally as well. It’s not a permanent condition by any means. I mean,do you really think Mike Madigan and Rich Daley are liberals? I think the “Illinois is a Blue state” fiction came about as an excuse by the state GOP leaders who demonstrated such vision in importing Alan Keyes. I’d try to pass buck on that brand of leadership, too. - soccermom - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 10:29 am: Fed Up – Check the Google. Quinn ran for Senate in 1996. - Anonymous ZZZ - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 10:30 am: ==He loves to talk that he’s a reformer but everything from a phony senate campaign fund (he never ran for the senate) that he profited from== Fed up, I believe Quinn ran for the Senate in 1996 and lost in the primary. - Bill F. - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 10:38 am: That Cohen exchange is surreal. - irisheyesrsmilin' - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 10:40 am: An editorial WWE is more like it. Hey guess what guys, Cohen announced his Budget Solution for Illinois at this session, but don’t mind that. That won’t get covered. Not sexy enough for Enquirer, I mean, Trib. - unspun - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 10:50 am: 31 days to go. Still waiting on Brady’s plan for the budget (beyond the “dime on every dollar”. The Trib asked him the pointed question about his plans very early in this debate, but ultimately let him off the hook—as they have done all year. Kudos to Quinn for NOT looking at Brady one time, even during Brady’s numerous meandering lectures. This is the first time I’ve heard Cohen speak. Duly unimpressive. - Piling on - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 11:01 am: Taking the SLC message to the absurd … If voters only cared about jobs and business expansion and nothing about criminal background, we should elect the gang/drug lords to run the state. They’re only concerned about the bottom line and keeping their turf. Nothing else. AFSCME better have my money or I’m gonna come down hard, and we aint talkin layoffs. - Fed up - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 11:13 am: Correct he ran for the senate in 96 my mistake still he kept the campaign fund open tell 2009 making money off it that doesn’t seem to be very ethical or reform minded unless we count reforming his low bank account - Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 11:19 am: The next thing, SLC is going to go all “Stripes” on us and say he joined the Army befor he got drafted! - unimpressed ... with The TRIB - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 11:29 am: I’ve been looking for an excuse to cancel my subscription to the Trib … this ‘editorial board’ has given it to me. Where is the clarity of the candidates positions? What a joke1 I’ll be looking for information elsewhere from now on. - Rahm's Parking Meter - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 11:33 am: The Tribune Editorial Board is horrible, did I hear Zorn shush Cohen. This is just bad journalism. Between the Ed Board and the uneducated editorials on their endorsements, they are a shame to read. They even through Sarah Feigenholtz under the bus today when endorsing her opponent, just to give her a push. Give me a break Mother Tribune. They have become shock journalists. - Honorable Discharge - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 12:44 pm: What accomplishments has Brady done in the past 17 years? Cheif Sponsor of the Mass Euthanization of puppies. Not just a supporter of the bill but the Chief Sponsor, good job Brady. - Squideshi - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 2:14 pm: “I understand the concept of not wanting to throw away your vote but there is also the idea that a respectable showing by a 3rd party candidate might pressure politicians in power not to discount these views.” I absolutely agree with this statement and would like to extend it to organizations that give endorsements. I have been highly critical of the Illinois Education Association for refusing to even consider Rich Whitney during its endorsement process. I argue that, by doing so, they missed a golden opportunity to encourage the candidates to actually compete for their endorsement, rather than just taking their endorsement for granted. The leadership over at IEA has a so-called “electablity” policy that is really just code for the concept that they won’t endorse anyone other than a Democrat or a Republican. Even though Green candidates, like Rich Whitney, have positions much closer to IEA’s platform, the Democrats know they don’t need to do much to secure IEA’s endorsement–they just need to be only slightly better than the Republicans. They take the IEA’s endorsement for granted. Now, if the Democrats had a little fear that the IEA might endorse someone else–a Green candidate that actually has a better education platform–maybe the Democrats (and others) would feel the need to actually adopt more of the ideas in the IEA platform and compete for the endorsement, rather than just taking the IEA for granted. The fact that IEA seems to ignore this logic indicates to me that something else might be going on here. I personally suspect that Democratic party operatives are at the top leadership levels of the IEA. That just seems, to me, like something that the Democratic Party would do. - dumb ol' country boy - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 3:01 pm: Probably the Gov called Cohen and whined like he has been doing in this debates, having to listen to that constant whining would make anyone jump out of a race, window or whatever. As far as the AFSCME mtg. there was no town hall, it was an endorsement mtg. I know people that were there. The Gov is liar. As far as Brady, why doesn’t he release my specifics about his plan to balance the budget, is it because of his lead in the polls? - Squideshi - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 3:11 pm: I also noticed that Whitney, with his comment regarding taking a drink every time the word “Ford” was mentioned, was the only one that got the Tribune Editorial Board to laugh. I think it’s good to get them to laugh occasionally. - NRA associate - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 6:02 pm: The video w/Quinn concerning “ethics” and the union made me sick. He talks the talk (barely) and still has blago hacks holding down two jobs (one MC and one Union …for when Quinn loses so they can slide into the union) when others are were getting laid off. I am sick to death of this s&%#, I hold on to the hope that they are (the politicans) not all alike. I still see hacks sitting at their desk with nothing to do and laughing all the way to the bank. Ugh….Maybe the inspector general should be underneath the auditor general…..Aging sucks! - ShadyBillBrady - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 11:21 pm: Patriot …. My wife likely wouldn’t slap me, but she might take away my Porsche. And Pat didn’t say business owners should pay taxes they don’t owe. He said taxpayer paid elected officials should pay taxes on their government salary. - Rick - Saturday, Oct 2, 10 @ 7:40 am: God Help Us Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.