Your morning reading assignment
Thursday, Nov 3, 2011 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Illinois Issues, February, 1980…
The organizer of the Coalition for Political Honesty, Pat Quinn has been called shallow, unrealistic and a hypocrite; yet, a large number of Illinois citizens respond when he makes a call for action. Governor Thompson will not soon forget his tea bag mail.
* The 1980 story is a treasure trove…
“Pat Quinn was one of the most personable, clearly gregarious people in the Walker administration,” commented Rep. Michael McClain (D., Quincy). “His only problem was that he loved power and was vicious in doling out patronage and taking it away. He is not politically naive. The stuff he says now doesn’t jive with the stuff he said then. He’s a guy you’d love to have a beer with and in charge of your own patronage, but he would not get the most Christian guy of the year award, by any means.” Chicago Democratic Rep. James Taylor put it more simply. “He’s got to learn that confrontation politics are out. He’s got the Walker image, and you know how popular he was around here.”
* It is definitely worth a read…
Quinn admits, however, that his reputation has cost him clout. “Lots of times, legislators won’t vote on another legislator’s bill because they don’t like the sponsor, refusing to deal with the bill on its merits. I experience much of the same attitude toward me.” […]
“You’ve got to know your enemy and organize accordingly,” Quinn said. “There’s no nice way of doing things, no subtle way.” […]
“If you’ve got a bill you want passed, I wouldn’t advise hiring me as your lobbyist,” said Quinn.
Some things never change.
Go read the whole thing.
- OneMan - Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 8:02 am:
The irony of this statement knows no bounds…
- Das Man - Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 8:24 am:
==When Quinn was introduced to the House in 1976, House Majority Leader Michael Madigan told Quinn he was not worthy of being called an Irishman==
The otherwise informative article left out the following exchange:
Quinn: “Well, Madigan,” said Pat. “I can’t quite diagnose your case. I think it must be the drink.”
MJM: “Sure, that’s all right, Pat,” said Mike. “I know how you feel. I’ll come back when you’re sober.”
- Flummoxed - Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 9:05 am:
Everyone has known Pat Quinn has been a first class boob since the 1970s (and probably before). So why did so many Democrats slap him on the back, hug him and sing his praises the day Blago was removed from office and Quinn was sworn in?
- Nearly Normal - Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 9:09 am:
The leopard cannot change his spots, can he?
- Anonymous - Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 9:38 am:
–”His only problem was that he loved power and was vicious in doling out patronage and taking it away.–
He says that like it’s a negative thing. In Illinois politics?
Thanks for the link, Rich, it was a good read.
I’ve known Quinn since I was a kid. He’s everything that people say and a lot more. But he’s been taking a beating here lately that he doesn’t deserve.
We live in anxious times, it’s true. Quinn didn’t cause them, and truth be told, any Illinois governor, or even a president from Illinois, can’t go to Diagon Alley, purchase a magic wand and make everything better before the Bears kick off on Monday night in Philly. We’re all in for a long slog, and we better get used to it.
The most common criticism you hear about Quinn is that he can’t get along, go along, move along with the established power structure.
To that I say, GOOD. Bill Cellini could work with anyone in power. He made a fortune doing so. He was the poster boy of the go along, get along Springfield culture. Saint Jim Edgar has been shedding crocodile tears in the papers about how Cellini was a “victim” of his reputation.
Why, in 2011, should we want a governor who will “get along” with a power structure that rewarded and showered riches for decades on a crook like Cellini?
One last thing. A governor can’t transform the economy overnight, but a governor can be a force in advancing civil rights. Quinn signed the bill outlawing the death penalty.Quinn signed the bill allowing civil unions.
Quinn is a strong, West Side Catholic from Fenwick who regularly takes a beating from the cardinal of Chicago for standing up for the rights and freedoms that the pezzonovante would deprive people they don’t like.
That ain’t easy for him, believe me. That takes guts. And that merits respect.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 10:00 am:
I’ll try again.
Some things never change, it’s true.
But one thing that has certainly changed with the election of Gov. Quinn, with his overwhelming support in all of Illinois’four counties, is that for the first time in my lifetime I can say we have a governor that, one, isn’t likely to become a convicted felon, or two, to be dominated by a cheap hustler convicted felon like Bill Cellini.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 10:08 am:
- wordslinger -
WOW! So now here in Illinois we have really lowered our standards for elected officials to anybody that doesn’t get convicted?
- Shock & Awwwww(e) - Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 10:10 am:
My thoughts turn to Rich’s recent piece regarding suspicions Quinn helps create some of our budgetary crises for the purpose of riding in months later and looking like the good guy.
This “Illinois Issues” story portraying a calculating version of Quinn only reinforces my impression that may well be happening.
Coming on the heels of yesterday’s post concerning homeless funding, etc., well… the notion kind of makes me sick this morning.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 10:14 am:
From the article: But Quinn said, “We’re merely asking the politicians to trust the people. When they say the voters are too emotional to be trusted with initiative, they’re really saying they don’t trust the voters to make common sense judgments.”
So, the voters approved the Cutback Amendment. Does that make Quinn right or wrong about his assertion above? Maybe we are a bunch of dufusses.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 10:15 am:
–WOW! So now here in Illinois we have really lowered our standards for elected officials to anybody that doesn’t get convicted?–
How is that lowering the standards? Do you read the papers?
Ryan’s in prison, Blago’s on the way. Cellini was the biggest swinging thing in Springfield under Thompson and Edgar.
I would think any departure from that would be raising the standards.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 10:16 am:
By the way, thanks for calling attention to that Illinois Issues article. Worthwhile reading, especially these days.
- langhorne - Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 10:17 am:
in illinois, the standard for a good governor is one who doesnt get indicted, and for a great governor one who beats the indictment.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 10:46 am:
The last good, honest governor Illinois had was Adlai Stevenson.
The last good governor was Dick Ogilvie (who had a reputed mob guy as his top aide in the sheriff’s office).
For fans of Jim Thompson — in addition to Cellini — please remember this story:
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1987-11-16/news/8703260183_1_bidder-number-auction-today-largest-auction-houses
The state’s history is really pathetic.
- Pot calling kettle - Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 10:53 am:
==So why did so many Democrats slap him on the back, hug him and sing his praises the day Blago was removed from office and Quinn was sworn in?==
Because he was about to be the Governor.
==…we have a governor that…isn’t likely…to be dominated by a cheap hustler convicted felon like Bill Cellini==
Perhaps that is because he has made a career of being a hustler.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 10:59 am:
–Perhaps that is because he has made a career of being a hustler.–
You’re going to equate Quinn with Cellini? Wow.
Let’s count the tens of millions of ways they are quite different.
- reformer - Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 11:00 am:
OneMan
The Cutback Amendment had some untoward consequences — such as one-man rule in the House– but it did not reduce the percentage of women and minorities as Cutback opponents predicted.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 11:04 am:
Reformer — unless you consider independent legislators to be minorities. It sure reduced their numbers.
- GMatts - Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 11:09 am:
If the narrative is turning from Quinn the Inept to Quinn the mean-spirited Inept, his slide will gain speed.
- Marty - Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 11:11 am:
Well put, Rich: Some things never change.
- Aldyth - Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 12:00 pm:
Quinn makes a better gadfly than he does a governor. He’s reached his level of incompetence.
- Pot calling kettle - Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 12:16 pm:
==You’re going to equate Quinn with Cellini? Wow. Let’s count the tens of millions of ways they are quite different. ==
Cellini spent years lining his pockets with money. Quinn has clearly not been doing that; however, he has certainly been hustling. Collecting votes, building up his ego, raising his status; what Quinn is collecting depends on who you ask, as does whether or not his efforts have benefited the state.