Question of the day
Thursday, Sep 15, 2011 - Posted by Rich Miller
* After waiting months to pay off his own bet to Wisconsin’s governor, Gov. Pat Quinn now wants a former governor to pay off his bet…
Illinois governor Pat Quinn is still waiting on the former governor of Pennsylvania, Ed Rendell, to fulfill a bet the two placed on the Stanley Cup finals between the Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers in 2010.
The loser of the bet was to travel to the other’s state, wear a jersey of the winning team and work at a local food bank. The Hawks beat the Flyers in six games in June 2010 to snap a 49-year Stanley Cup drought.
“I had to do a similar thing in Wisconsin when the Bears lost to the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs last season,” Quinn quipped on Wednesday morning at the opening of ESPNChicago’s new street-level studios. “I went up there and wore a Packers jersey, though I had (a) Gayle Sayers jersey on underneath. I think Governor Rendell needs to do the same here.”
Rendell left office last year and contends it’s Quinn’s fault the bet was never paid off.
“There were two dates set and Governor Quinn canceled both of them for business reasons,” Rendell responded Wednesday afternoon. “However, if the governor is obsessed with me coming in, I will do so even though I am no longer governor and we are no longer Stanley Cup rivals.”
I know he was just joking, but Quinn canceled on Rendell twice and he still expects him to pay up? By the way, in case you’ve forgotten, the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup about 15 months ago.
* The Question: Should Rendell keep his commitment? Why or why not?
- MrJM - Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 9:42 am:
No.
Keeping a commitment would set a bad precedent that we may not be able to afford in light of the current economic downturn.
– MrJM
- Stones - Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 9:45 am:
The fact that PQ gives this any thought at all frightens me. I think we have bigger fish to fry in this state.
- Ghost of John Brown - Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 9:45 am:
I would rank the payoff of the “debt” about 13,432 on the list of things that our Governor should worry about. I would back Rendell if our Guv. cancelled out twice.
- Bulbous 1 - Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 9:48 am:
No.
Does the Gov. really want someone to start bringing up all the old debts the state owes vendors…real cash…not photo opp fluff!?!
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 9:48 am:
No. Rendell offered and Quinn cancelled twice. Drop it and do something important.
- Spliff - Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 9:49 am:
With Rendell no longer in office I would say that since the trip is subject to appropriations and since the GA did not see fit to fund that line item then the former Gov does not need to show up.
- Bill - Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 9:50 am:
I hope he does so Quinn can see what a real governor looks like and how one should act.
- Esquire - Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 9:58 am:
Rendell should travel to Illinois and honor the commitment and use the occasion to remind us all, once again, that Quinn is a fool.
- dupage dan - Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 10:15 am:
Illinois would continue be the laughingstock of the USA but for the fact that people got tired of laughing and it started hurting. What is with this guy? The level of outright obtuseness is breathtaking. Anybody out there gonna vote to re-elect this guy? Anybody? Why?
- amalia - Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 10:19 am:
yes. cause we want Ed here. he’s a good Dem. he’s a total hoot. having Ed Rendell in town doing something would make me laugh and smile.
- OneMan - Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 10:27 am:
Yeah, if for no other reason than to bust Pat’s chops.
- Peter Snarker - Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 10:28 am:
Well, 15 months… sounds about right for Illinois to be paying off debts… Isnt that about what the Comptroller’s back-log is these days? It isnt really late based on our standards.
- Georgie Synodinos - Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 10:34 am:
I thought Quinn postponed going up to Wisconsin a few times because he thought it best to wait until the Wisconsin legislators left Illinois.
I can’t tell if politicians enjoy the sports bets with each other or let the press lead them into it or both.
- ArchPundit - Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 10:36 am:
Yes, imagine those two having a joint press conference. It would be an incredible feast for the press and bloggers.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 10:37 am:
IL GOVERNOR CALLS OUT MI GOVERNOR ON OLD WAGER
AP - Springfield, IL - The corpse of former Illinois Governor Charles S. Deneen has issued a press release from “Beyond”, claiming the corpse of former Michigan Governor Fred M. Warner failed to fulfill the bet THEY made regarding the 1908 World Series between the victorious Chicago Cubs and the American League Champion Detriot Tigers.
The bet was the losing governor had to wear a (gasp) bathing suit that “exposed the bare chest” on the others Lake Michigan lakeshore AND the winning governor would recieve one case of genuine Sarsaparilla from the loser.
The Gubernatorial Spectre also stated he had not forgotten about the slight.
“I would normally say, ‘I can wait a lifetime for Governor Warner to pay up’, but I guess now I can say I can wait eternally!”, said Governor Deneen, through a New Age clad woman named “Orbit”.
Governor Deneen was summond to respond to the press release, but the connection to the other side was lost, or as “Orbit” said, “blocked by the demons who are waiting first.”
###
- Wumpus - Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 10:40 am:
Quinn cancelled twice! He should come to town when the Iggles play the Bears. he should visit a dog rescue and stage a dog fight. He should then have battle of the flash mobs on Michigan Avenue.
- shore - Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 10:43 am:
absolutely dead beat governors are awful
- Justice - Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 10:44 am:
Two cancelled appointments…debt paid!
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 10:49 am:
I am an obvious “No” … Snooze ya Lose, Pat.
Gov. Deneen’s Spirit is a “Yes”, so this post is a “wash”.
- Radical Moderate - Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 10:50 am:
No - that’s what Quinn gets for being unable to keep an appointment. Hasn’t every politician in Illinois been through canceled meetings with Quinn multiple times?
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 10:56 am:
Running low on questions Rich? Maybe you should invite reader suggestions in tomorrow’s QOTD. Snark heavily encouraged!
- Ray del Camino - Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 11:07 am:
Rendell is off the hook. Somebody please help me understand Pat Quinn.
- sal-says - Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 11:16 am:
1) Doesn’t Quinn have better things to do FOR IL?
2) Maybe Quinn needs a life besides politics?
- CircularFiringSquad - Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 11:17 am:
Come on Capt Fax, it is hockey no one really cares either way.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 11:22 am:
47th, yesterday you complained about the lack of a question. Today you complain about the question? Perhaps, dear friend, you might considering starting your own blog.
Just sayin…
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 11:32 am:
It’s more of an observation than a complaint on my part, but your point is well taken.
- D.P. Gumby - Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 12:18 pm:
Schedule Rendell in to handle Quinn’s pressers and let Quinn do the soup kitchen!
- Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 12:45 pm:
I’m beginning to understand why Pat Quinn is single.
- JBilla - Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 2:01 pm:
Why does Quinn need to be there? Seems to me the bet is for Rendell to go volunteer at an Illinois food bank. They need to start betting cornished hams or something, because this stuff is a total sideshow. Otherwise, we need to make it cleaning up the sides of highways or something. Something entertaining to watch.
- Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 2:03 pm:
Let’s make a real bet, like if we win the taxpayers of the loser state have to pay our pension debt.
- siriusly - Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 2:14 pm:
Surprise, Quinn is totally at fault here and looks like a goof. Nobody would know he had cancelled twice or even let this go this long if he didn’t bring it up. What the fudge.
The whole point of a grudge bet is to rub it in the other guy’s face while you celebrate your win. PQ should have dragged him here quickly, not wait a whole season and a half.
Classic Quinn: good sentiment, sloppy execution.
- Mike O'Malley - Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 2:59 pm:
Pretty funny over 30 comments here (a good portion negative, see siriusly for an example) but only 8 comments on the China story, which appears to be a positive Quinn story, and much more importantly should help the non-Cook County citizens of our state. But what the hell…fry him for a comment on ESPN!!!
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 3:01 pm:
MO’M, there’s this thing called the space time continuum. Meaning: that post has been up for far less time than this one. Ergo, a big reason for fewer comments. Also, it’s the afternoon, a slow period around these parts.
And, finally, lighten up, Francis.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 3:03 pm:
Also, from the time it took you to write that comment, comments on the other post almost doubled.
Still feeling smug and above it all?
- Tommydanger - Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 3:32 pm:
I see Governor Quinn trying to decide which shoes to wear to the weekend barbecue while his house burns down around him. Some people are just socially awkward frequently saying the wrong thing. Perhaps Quinn is just governing awkward.
- Mike O'Malley - Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 3:42 pm:
There was no smug intended in my post, just in my opinion the tone here has taken on more of a “XXX is an idiot” line. Nothing wrong with a little grief giving, just saying some of these responses are starting to sound like Tribune posts…
- lincoln's beard - Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 4:14 pm:
I would like to vote “present”. Firstly, I’m confused as to why Rendell needed Pat Quinn’s permission or scheduling help to work at a food bank for a day. If he agreed to do it, he should just do it, whether or not Gov. Quinn has the time to properly train, supervise, and taunt him.
Secondly, it’s a very very very lame bet, involving no real humiliation, no real winnings, no food, and makes doing charity work a penalty. Those are all reasons it shouldn’t have happened in the first place.
- Slick Willy - Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 4:20 pm:
I would like Rendell to show up - if anything to show PQ how one keeps their word…
- Michelle Flaherty - Friday, Sep 16, 11 @ 8:49 am:
As for Quinn going to China, I would like to in advance express my sympathy for the translator who gets stuck trying to keep up with one of Quinn’s rambles.