* We’ve never done one of these on Big Jim, so let’s give this a try. The former governor is holding a rare duck decoy, which he bought last year at an auction for $100,625. I kid you not…

Winner gets a free ticket to the July 25th White Sox game.

       

127 Comments - Give Me A Break - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 5:54 am: Yep, 100,000 large for this Duck, seems like I still work for the State. - Danny B - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 6:48 am: If it looks like one, walks like one and quacks like one, it must be… - Retired Non-Union Guy - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 6:51 am: Oh look, a duck! - How Ironic - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 6:51 am: And the winner of the 2011 “Lame Duck Governor” goes to Pat Quinn. Quinn is unable to attend today, although he did send a rambling 87 minute acceptace speech. Accepting the trophy is ‘Big Jim’. - Retired Non-Union Guy - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 6:51 am: If you think it wasn’t a good deal, print it … - Dooley Dudright - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 7:00 am: “Wanna buy a duck?” — Joe Penner http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Penner - OneMan - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 7:03 am: After years of scrimping and saving former Governor Jim Thompson purchased ‘quacky’ the magical duck who guided him to getting elected state wide as a Republican for Governor… Quacky who had been passed down from Thompson to Jim Edgar to George Ryan had been ‘lost’ during the Ryan administration after a party was held at the governors mansion. Years later a mysterious man with really nice hair had pawned it, saying ‘Sam says I need more money’ the pawn dealer (ironically SLC) did not realize it’s value or it’s power sold it to a guy for $50. This mystery solitary man, was informed by ‘quacky’ of his true power and realizing he could never be elected governor due to his snarky comments on a blog, put his up for auction hoping his moderate Republican idol would buy it and help return balance to the state. - OneMan - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 7:04 am: Former Governor James Thompson holds his $100,000 duck illustrating why top legal talent costs so much per hour. Someone has to pay for daddies duck habit. - nieva - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 7:08 am: Is gift wrapping free?? - Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 7:10 am: In a surprising bit of detail, reporters learned Thursday the entire case against Blagojevich hinges on recordings made on a novelty duck phone. Desperate for success, federal authorities early in the investigation approached former federal prosecutor turned undercover agent Jim Thompson with the task of convincing Blagojevich to use it. In recently unsealed memos, Thompson reported to top FBI brass that the only difficulty was teaching Blagojevich which end to talk into. - thechampaignlife - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 7:17 am: Bleeping golden done right - This Guy - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 7:18 am: “Why a duck?” - LJC - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 7:21 am: Disenchanted with the newly-minted Mayor Emanuel’s handling of the flash mob crisis, Quaxelrod defects to the Republicans. - I don't want to live in Teabagistan - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 7:33 am: “I bought this with my pension money” - Easily Entertained - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 7:45 am: “A woman is an occasional pleasure but a cigar is always a smoke.” - Wensicia - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 7:47 am: What, you’ve never heard of the famous Trojan Duck? $100,645 is a bargain! I beat out Blagojevich, he was stuck using that stupid football to hide his hairbrush. - South Side Mike - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 8:02 am: Having found the first sucker to purchase the counterfeit decoy, the State of Illinois only needs to sell 79,592 more to fill its $8 billion deficit. 79,503 - Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 8:03 am: The fowl odor of success. - Way Way Down Here - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 8:10 am: “It’s a wonderful bird. Very folky,” - Cincinnatus - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 8:10 am: Duck. Duck. Goose! - just sayin' - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 8:13 am: L.L. Bean denim jacket: $95; rare duck decoy: $100,625; George Ryan keeping his big trap shut about all the stuff we worked on together: Priceless. - one day at a time - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 8:14 am: “I bought this with Rod’s fees…d*cking golden” - ChicagoR - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 8:17 am: See? I don’t give a duck anymore. - Kerfuffle - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 8:17 am: Breaking News - Jim Thompson was indicted today for money laundering. Federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald said it was the most Daffy scheme he had ever seen in all of his years as a federal prosecutor. He was quoted as telling Thompson, “You’re disssthphicable!!!!!” - Bucko - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 8:21 am: More wasteful spending. - Peter Snarker - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 8:25 am: Decoy Ducky you’re the one… You make bath time Lots of fun! Decoy Ducky I’m awwwwfully fond of you! - Faux Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 8:29 am: It was so nice of that state contractor to get me this present. He said he found it on a special shelf at a gallery. - Bill - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 8:36 am: How do you cook this… It has to be better than the crow I use to eat - Tom - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 8:38 am: “$100,625 for a duck!”, yes but it came in a very nice box - Hawk Harrelson - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 8:42 am: 100,000 cans of corn were not bought due to this duck snort. - railrat - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 8:43 am: I may have failed the AFLAC tryout but I got the Duck !! - nothin's easy - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 8:43 am: Wanna guess what’s inside? - 47th Ward - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 8:45 am: Big Jim: Well that is a lot of money. OK, go ahead and send me the bill. Salesman: Umm, Governor Thompson, for $100,625, you get the whole duck. - Tommydanger - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 8:45 am: Even the duck, in either an apparent display of embarassament or disgust at the price, turned his head away from the former governor - Wumpus - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 8:47 am: I bought this with my 3rd pension. or This was less of a waste of money than defending George Ryan Pro bono - wordslinger - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 8:48 am: When you already have the Golden Goose, $100K for a duck is chicken feed. - BIG R. Ph - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 8:50 am: Recession? What Recession? - Not So Quick . . . - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 8:54 am: This year’s Hallowed Foul award goes to former Illinois Governor Jim Thompson for his efforts to duck media questions and demonstrated skill in using decoys to bemaze his political foes. - frustrated GOP - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 8:56 am: “If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, looks like a duck, it must be a duck” Except in Illinois where our leaders current and former can be convinced it is a golden egg laying goose. - Obamarama - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 8:56 am: “Just folks” - Old Shepherd - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 8:58 am: This just goes to show how addictive snorting quack can be. - Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 8:59 am: Former Gov. Jim Thompson receives a wooden duck to remind him of his testimony in the Conrad Black case. - frustrated GOP - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 9:00 am: “Former governor does his best to help the state by paying sales tax on ridiculously overpriced dust collectors.” - 8thRep - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 9:00 am: Hmmmm, I wonder if it floats, think I’ll give it a toss in the Chicago River. - WhyMe - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 9:00 am: I’ve traded in my edifice complex for a fondness for my feather friends. - unclesam - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 9:01 am: Big Jim: Which decoy is more “real” — this duck or the Governor? I’ll tell you this much, at least the duck will be effective. - Sonic Infidel - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 9:01 am: The duck stops here. - Meanderthal - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 9:05 am: Duck you! - dupage dan - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 9:05 am: Baby Huey shows off his new toy duck. - Abandon Ship - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 9:06 am: Partners at the law firm of Winston & Strawn were shocked to learn that their expected end of year bonuses were canceled, once again, due to the extravagances of the firm’s flamboyant chief managing partner. Antique Road Show purchases ate into the the firm’s profits for a sixth consecutive year. - Jimmy CrackCorn - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 9:06 am: Following the Gilbert Gottfried twitter incident, representatives of Aflac have decided to go in a DRASTICALLY different direction with their choice of former Governor Jim Thompson as the new voice of the Aflac duck. - OneMan - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 9:06 am: Former Governor Rod Blagovich was quoted as saying about Former Governor Thompson’s purchase of a collectible duck decoy. Wow, you know the number of suits you can buy for that or ties? - Wensicia - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 9:10 am: Why $100,625 for a decoy duck? Seller, US Dept of Defense. - foster brooks - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 9:11 am: I’m spending my pension money so you dont have too - Former Titan - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 9:13 am: Preeners unite. - The Dood - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 9:16 am: “I was the longest serving Governor in Illinois history and all I got was this stupid duck.” - JL - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 9:18 am: What unfunded pension liabilities? Oh… Did you see my duck? - Bill Cameron - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 9:19 am: The duck stops here. - Boone Logan Square - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 9:20 am: “Did you know that time on the auction magically stopped for a few minutes so I could come up with the money to buy this duck?” - walter sobchak - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 9:25 am: Quack is not just an inner city problem. - Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 9:30 am: So that’s what two in the bush are worth. - zatoichi - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 9:30 am: ‘Woodcarver’s Investments’ coming to PBS this Fall. - Apple - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 9:33 am: In this, the crowning achievement of my political career, I leave you with this parting wisdom. ‘Quack.’ - x ace - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 9:42 am: Down the Slide , With a Duck ! - Cincinnatus - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 9:46 am: “I’d like to thank the Academy…” - anonymoose - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 9:50 am: some of these quips are priceless…. “Known for his collection of fine antiquties, former Gov. Thompson generously donates a rare decoy duck to help cover roof repairs at the Dana-Thomas House. Thanks Governor, in these hard times, for giving a duck.” - Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 9:51 am: So yeah, I went out partying with Willie Nelson after his Sparta show and next thing you know I own a $100,000 duck. No idea what happened. Reminds me of hthe time I briefly became the owner of the Farnsworth House. - Rahm's Parking Meter - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 9:52 am: This duck is a better investment than the GOP Remap! - Bemused - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 9:52 am: As duck hunters will, he later regaled everyone with the old Duck Sausage joke. - PublicServant - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 9:53 am: Madigan’s neck is gonna look like this decoy when I get done with him. - Pot calling kettle - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 10:00 am: If I can get six more of these ducks, I’ll trade them all for a lamp! - Nuance - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 10:06 am: What the duck did I buy! - Pot calling kettle - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 10:14 am: This decoy is ducking golden! - insert witty name here - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 10:22 am: “I’ve got this thing and it’s ducking golden, and, uh, uh, I’m just not giving it up for duckin’ nothing. I’m not gonna do it. And, and I can always use it. I can parachute me there.” - Easily Entertained - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 10:28 am: Big Jim: “If you’ve heard the story of how I bought this duck before, don’t stop me, because I’d like to hear it again.” - Quid Pro Quota - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 10:32 am: “Three (maybe four) ex-Governor’s walked into a prison, Thompson ducked.” - Small Town Liberal - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 10:38 am: This is going to make my duck collection pretty impressive, but not as impressive as my collection of friends and supporters still working for the state. - Angry Chicagoan - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 10:39 am: “I purchased this as a good luck charm for the Illinois Republican Party. When I saw this for sale, I quickly realized that it’s the most effective possible use of the money for reviving the party!” - Huh? - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 10:42 am: I could be wrong, it looks like a Perdew decoy made in Henry, IL. - Grumblinman - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 10:45 am: “I told you, in Illinois Politics you ALWAYS have to watch your behind” - ZC - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 10:49 am: A successful Illinois Republican knows when to duck. - South Side Mike - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 10:53 am: Having taken care of himself while in office and afterwards, former Governor Jim Thompson focuses on feathering someone else’s nest for a change. - ZC - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 10:57 am: Big Bill in retirement displays his prize duck, Khartoum. “Madigan tried, but I was there.” - Mike Huntoon - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 10:57 am: Everything’s just Ducky because I’m NOT the Governor who’s in jail! - Not What You Think - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 10:58 am: So the duck says “This guy pays $100 grand for me. I think everything will be ok, but when I turn my back to say goodbye to my family, he then grabs me by the throat! Then this other guy starts teasing me by tickling my underbelly. Then to top it off, the first guy sticks his fingers up my you know what. They are laughing and smiling. I hear them say they learned all this in someplace called Springfield. Now I am worried. I think they have plans to make duck sausage out of me. But they forgot I am a decoy. I was just floating in the pond at Madigan’s House.” - Wondering if - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 10:59 am: I traded my coveted major award leg lamp for this? - Blue Dog - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 10:59 am: Demonstrating the type of fiscal discipline Illinois governors are known for, Jim Thompson buys an old wooden duck for over $100,000. - D.P. Gumby - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 11:00 am: After all these years, Citizen Thompson finally locates his lost childhood toy “Roseduck”. - Ghost of John Brown - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 11:00 am: A happy seller, an antique loon, and a duck decoy. - Cincinnatus - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 11:04 am: Now all I need is an orange, and I got dinner! - Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 11:09 am: I sold my state for my collectibles, but boy, was it worth it. Look at this beauty! - Jake From Elwood - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 11:14 am: Illinois Republicans continue to pass the duck no matter the price. - Hunterdon - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 11:14 am: “I don’t have a Senate seat, but I’ve got this rare “backwards head” duck decoy. At 100 large, it’s bleeping golden, and I’m not giving it up for nothing!” - soccermom - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 11:21 am: I think LJC is the winner. And might I remind all of you that the pun is considered the lowest form of humor? - WazUp - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 11:23 am: $100k? Shoot that’s nothing. You should of seen what I paid for the wooden fish! - PaGo - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 11:25 am: They say pets resemble their owners. - Lisle Mike - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 11:25 am: Big Jim always loved “My Fair Lady” but never heard the lyrics clearly. Here he is singing: “With a little bit of duck…with a little bit of duck…With a little bit of duck you’ll give right in.” - wordslinger - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 11:34 am: “So Billy Bob Thornton, Gov. Thompson and a duck walk into a bar….” - Boone Logan Square - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 11:38 am: Quaxelrod switches parties. Every duck has his price. - Justice - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 11:40 am: I say “Boy, is that one weird duck.” Big Jim says “It sure is.” I say “I was talking to the duck.” - NeveroddoreveN - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 11:44 am: Big Jim: “is this the actual duck phone that those Jersey Shore kids used?” - Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 11:46 am: A local man poses with two wooden figures that have been kept in the attic for a long time. - Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 11:48 am: “What do you mean this duck doesn’t dance? What the heck did I just pay for then?” - wordslinger - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 11:53 am: “After the pro-bono Ryan defense, I couldn’t afford the Golden Goose, so a wooden duck…” - tada - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 11:54 am: “I’m here today to announcement that I have decided to endorse this rare Ellison decoy as the Republican nominee for Governor in 2014.” - Cincinnatus - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 11:56 am: The Duck Family (left to right) Scrooge, Donald, Daffy - Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 11:57 am: Former Gov. Thompson displays the newest member of the Combine. - vole - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 12:05 pm: The cost of entry into elite duck hunting circles is very high. So high I think we need to lower their tax rates. - Lisle Mike - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 12:14 pm: Jim Thompson accepts the famous Republican “What the Duck!” award with it’s head looking backwards to the glory days…. - 3rd Generation Chicago Native - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 12:21 pm: This reminds me on how Ducky a Lame Duck General Assembly can be. - Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 12:46 pm: The co-chair of Rod Blagojveich’s transition team sent a message of support to Blagojevich prior to Blagojevich’s recent cross-examination, telling Rod to duck all incoming questions from prosecutor Reid Schar. - hammer - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 1:08 pm: $100,000?! Just put it on his bill. - Redbird - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 1:14 pm: Behind the Scenes at “American Pickers.” Antique duck picked for $25. Sold for $100,625. Profit $100,600. - SAP - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 1:48 pm: A Duck, a Schmuck, and a Mucket-Muck - Spring - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 2:00 pm: If only the duck could talk - Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 2:12 pm: I dunno what happened. I was polising it and out popped this big guy in a blue jacket. - OneMan - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 2:58 pm: Like A Boss - John A Logan - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 3:21 pm: Without reading the story I would guess that the decoy is a “Mason.” Which are very rare decoys, especially on that is in a preening posture such as this mallard hen is in. This wont win the contest, but I would think my extensive knowledge of duck decoys and species should count for something. - Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 3:35 pm: Human factors involves the study of all aspects of the way humans relate to the world around them, with the aim of improving operational performance, safety, through life costs and/or adoption through improvement in the experience of the end user. Here is an example of what a mere $100,625 investment in Research produces. Several chapters of an operations manual were recently condensed into one visual that effectively conveys a single word in response to the question: “What should one do when someone else yells ‘INCOMING!!!’ outside the context of mail call?” - Wonder..... - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 4:51 pm: Cheaper than a Senate Seat! - CLJ - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 4:52 pm: What a loon! - Robo - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 5:06 pm: Say the magic woid… - KeepSmiling - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 5:14 pm: It’s not the duck, it’s the access. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 5:21 pm: JRT: “This’ll make a great ashtray!” - Ain't No Justice - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 5:57 pm: AFLACK!!!!!! - waitress practing politics... - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 6:52 pm: Where is Harpo? We are ready for duck soup! - Jimbo - Thursday, Jun 16, 11 @ 10:26 pm: You’ve gotta be ducking me. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.