We have a winner, and another photo
Friday, Sep 9, 2011 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The winner of today’s caption contest is Boone Logan Square…
The warning lights come on when the battery dies.
BLS should e-mail me if s/he can come to the barbeque.
* Meanwhile, this photo comes to us via the Dixon Telegraph…
Caption…
An AFCSCME union poster with Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s name crossed out and Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn’s penciled in sits in a vehicle window Thursday outside the Jack Mabley Developmental Center in Dixon. The poster is an apparent protest of Quinn’s announcement earlier in the day that the facility was one of seven he proposed to close due to Illinois’ budget deficit.
Wouldn’t it be wild if the governor responsible for the state’s recall law was recalled?
I seriously doubt it’ll happen. I mean, look at the requirements just to initiate the process…
The recall of the Governor may be proposed by a petition signed by a number of electors equal in number to at least 15% of the total votes cast for Governor in the preceding gubernatorial election, with at least 100 signatures from each of at least 25 separate counties. A petition shall have been signed by the petitioning electors not more than 150 days after an affidavit has been filed with the State Board of Elections providing notice of intent to circulate a petition to recall the Governor. The affidavit may be filed no sooner than 6 months after the beginning of the Governor’s term of office.
The affidavit shall have been signed by the proponent of the recall petition, at least 20 members of the House of Representatives, and at least 10 members of the Senate, with no more than half of the signatures of members of each chamber from the same established political party.
Even so…
- Cincinnatus - Friday, Sep 9, 11 @ 3:28 pm:
Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Sep 9, 11 @ 3:28 pm:
lol
- The Captain - Friday, Sep 9, 11 @ 3:30 pm:
For some reason this has me thinking about the hilarious AFSCME “commercial” that’s made the rounds with the political class. It has some (ahem) language so I won’t link to it, but it’s still hilarious every time.
- wordslinger - Friday, Sep 9, 11 @ 3:35 pm:
The recall requirements are impossible, as intended. OK by me. As we know, if removal is really required, impeachment is actually pretty easy.
- Dirty Red - Friday, Sep 9, 11 @ 3:39 pm:
Recall might be doable in the House. Rich, what about the Senate Dems?
On the other hand, if you are the Republicans, do you really want to recall Quinn? It seems like Quinn is worth more to the GOP as a tremendously unpopular lameduck governor. It gives them something to campaign on when they try to take back the Legislature in 2012 and the Executive Mansion in 2014.
- Cassiopeia - Friday, Sep 9, 11 @ 3:40 pm:
I do not think it is impossible to recall Quinn as soon as the Democrats realize that it is in THEIR interest to remove him.
Recall does not require “grounds”. His incompetence is enough.
- unclesam - Friday, Sep 9, 11 @ 3:42 pm:
At first, I thought the sign was originally from the Dan Walker era. Hiliarious either way, really.
- JustMe - Friday, Sep 9, 11 @ 3:49 pm:
The recall procedure is subject to appropriation, so it will never happen on Quinn’s watch.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 9, 11 @ 3:53 pm:
I would just put that poster on a white “Wipe Board” to make it more professional when changing governors!
I guess if they recall Quinn, Illinois won’t import any more legislators ….are Illinois democratic senators required to go to Missori or something now?
- Stones - Friday, Sep 9, 11 @ 3:58 pm:
We’re on a roll. Why should we stop now?
In all seriousness, as poor a Governor as PQ is I don’t think his lack of effectiveness merits a recall - and I can’t stand the guy.
- Wensicia - Friday, Sep 9, 11 @ 4:05 pm:
Unfortunately, I doubt a recall effort would work. We like to punish criminal behavior by our governors, but we’ll put up with absolute incompetence.
- What's in a name? - Friday, Sep 9, 11 @ 4:12 pm:
I have always maintained you can be crooked, arrogant or incompetent in Illinois politics just not all three at once (see Blago). PQ isn’t crooked or particularly arrogant but he is making a strong case for incompetent. Sadly, he be fine.
- Don't Worry, Be Happy - Friday, Sep 9, 11 @ 4:13 pm:
Are you sure that’s a Scott Walker sign? I had the same reaction as unclesam - my first thought was that it’s left over from the Dan Walker administration.
Kind of eerie that Quinn will likely follow his mentor into the history books as the only governors in recent memory to be defeated in a primary election.
- Cincinnatus - Friday, Sep 9, 11 @ 4:19 pm:
- Don’t Worry, Be Happy - Friday, Sep 9, 11 @ 4:13 pm:
“Kind of eerie that Quinn will likely follow his mentor into the history books as the only governors in recent memory to be defeated in a primary election.”
There are those among us who pray that doesn’t happen.
- Dirty Red - Friday, Sep 9, 11 @ 4:20 pm:
@unclesam
That was my first thought, too.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 9, 11 @ 4:21 pm:
MJM and Lisa will maky Quinn an offer he can’t refuse…there will be no primary
- just sayin' - Friday, Sep 9, 11 @ 4:29 pm:
Do I see a disclaimer, “Paid for by Lisa Madigan for Governor?”
- Michelle Flaherty - Friday, Sep 9, 11 @ 4:31 pm:
Won’t happen. Even the Dems who can’t stand Quinn don’t want him on the 2014 ballot with them. Suicide!
- Team Sleep - Friday, Sep 9, 11 @ 4:58 pm:
I must admit that I am ignorant to the requirements needed to get a recall measure on the ballot. However, very recent history shows us that the Wisconsin recall elections were expensive and not really effective. Only two of the six targeted Wisconsin GOP Senators were recalled - and AFSCME spent a fortune. I think Scott Walker will withstand his recall race. Does AFSCME really want to open up the possibility that Dan Rutherford or Kirk Dillard could win if Quinn is recalled and they run to replace him? Would their lives be any better? In my mind, Quinn has been kinder to them than most leaders would be. I think Dan Hynes would have been much rougher on the unions and state retirees than Quinn has been, and Bill Brady obviously would’ve gone for the kill. As we used to sing in Sunday School, “Count your blessings…”
- jake - Friday, Sep 9, 11 @ 5:50 pm:
Quinn is doing so much to antagonize other Democrats as well as Republicans that he could be flirting with recall. On the other hand, it is probably in the Republicans’ best interests to have him around to beat up for another couple of years, and his level of incompetence, arrogance, and disregard of facts do not quite add up to the degree of malfeasance that would justify recall.
- OurMagician - Friday, Sep 9, 11 @ 8:18 pm:
The only bi-partisan sign in America.
- Just The Way It Is One - Friday, Sep 9, 11 @ 8:36 pm:
Tsk, tsk, tsk–it’s called governance–Quinn’s legitimate decisions and actions are anything but gross incompetence; some may not agree with much of what he does (just like not everyone always, or even mostly agrees with any Chief Exec., from Lincoln to Reagan to former Il. Governors–some of whom were Republican, incidentally–on down…sorry Cassiopeia and others above–a bit WAY too much into overreaction mode to be fielding Recall potential…Quinn–in NO way, shape, or form–is anything even reMOTEly close to the George Ryans and Blagos of the world. Sorry, it just ‘aint so….