Caption contest!
Friday, May 18, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* OK, we just have to use this pic. But you must all do your very best to keep your answers clean. From Treasurer Dan Rutherford’s Facebook page…
* Rutherford’s own caption…
toilet seat at Chicago apt needed be replaced because the hinges had deteriorated (age & water calcium). I bought a new seat in Spfld (sales tax cheaper outside of Chicago) & took it to Chicago. This is my Facebook & I’ve decided to post what my life is really like, not what some expect to hear. Putting on the new toilet seat I need to tell you that when cleaning around the bowl to be sure & take off your neck tie; if not it will definitely end up in the bowl water when you lean over.
Again, keep it clean, people. Thanks.
- Shore - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:14 am:
Look I see my political future.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:15 am:
“Pongee clogged the toilet again. Must not eat Ethnic food in Chicago anymore Pongee. #Pongeeclogsthetoilet”
“Why did I flush those Unclaimed cufflinks???”
“Treasurer Rutherford reacts to idea of challenging delegates in court…”
- chitownHV - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:16 am:
“Why did I try to out-drink Miller?”
- Oswego Willy - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:18 am:
“I am the Treasurer of Illinois, not the “Super” of this building …”
“I think it goes ‘clockwise’ North of Springfield, and ‘counter-clockwise’ south of Sprinfield … let’s see if I am right. #Flushing101″
- Happy Returns - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:18 am:
I’ve got no caption, I’m just glad to see a politician buying a seat instead of selling one.
- CircularFiringSquad - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:19 am:
While we want to pretend anyone cares about DandyDan’s “real life” how about some links to what is actualy before G8 and NATO ( unlike the volumes of sloppy coverage on so-called protests). Might help Midwesterners learned a little more about the world.
Two Summits To “Offer A Test” Of Obama’s Leadership Foreign policy takes center stage this weekend with summits of both NATO and the G8 economic powers taking place. Though major questions concerning Afghanistan are on the NATO agenda, the broadcast networks ignored the issue Thursday evening. Coverage of the European financial crisis, which is expected to dominate the G8 meeting, was broader, with one television report and several print stories and commentaries.
The Washington Post provides an overview, saying that President Obama hopes to use the high-profile summits “to develop some consensus around an international response to both the European debt crisis.” The summits will “offer a test” of “Obama’s leadership at a time of great uncertainty in several of his administration’s core foreign policy challenges.” Officials indicate Obama “will share his vision of a comprehensive approach to containing the fallout from Greece’s ongoing financial meltdown.” Prior to heading to Camp David Friday, Obama will meet with new French President Francois Hollande, “whose campaign for economic stimulus to help contain the financial fallout by sparking growth has contrasted sharply” with German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s push for austerity. Obama “does not intend to exploit the differences between Hollande and Merkel.”
At NATO Summit, US Hopes To Clarify Afghan Support, Handover Terms The Washington Post reports that beginning Sunday in Chicago at the NATO meetings, “the chief topic will be the timeline for NATO’s hand-over of security responsibility to Afghanistan’s forces.” Since a 2010 agreement for handover in 2014, “public disapproval of the war has risen and the coalition has become increasingly anxious to test Afghan force capabilities.” Defense Secretary Panetta and others have indicated there could be an “accelerated” transition “and that all of Afghanistan will be under Afghan security control by the end of 2013.” The goal of the summit, according to one unnamed US official, is “a comprehensible statement that doesn’t confuse everybody” regarding the transition to Afghan control.
McClatchy says “Obama and other leaders want a more orderly withdrawal, and they fear that an immediate exit by France could feed hunger to depart too soon.” Therefore, they “hope to convince” President Hollande “to slow down his promised rapid withdrawal.” Analysts view the joint goal as turning over control to Afghans “by next year but keep a large allied force there into 2014 to back them up and make sure they succeed.”
The Financial Times reports that the Obama Administration is negotiating aggressively to persuade allies to make financial support pledges for the Afghan security forces. Officials have acknowledged that the security forces level, currently at 350,000 but to be reduced to 230,000, will be in part determined by funding level.
The Wall Street Journal notes that Obama is set to meet with Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Sunday prior to the summit kicking off. NATO is attempting to draw consensus for a plan that would give Afghan security forces about $4 billion a year, of which the US will provide about $3 billion. However, significant pledges are not expected from European allies in light of the ongoing financial crisis.
The New York Times says that as US officials “prepare a list of benchmarks they can cite as achieved in the war effort — expect to hear much about strategic partnership agreements and assurances that the Afghan people have not been abandoned.” US officials acknowledge that the bar has been lowered since the US became engaged in Afghanistan, and “the phrase ‘Afghan good enough’ has been making the rounds at the White House, State Department, the Pentagon.”
- Oswego Willy - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:21 am:
“Got the budget projections from the Guv’s Office. I filed them. #toiletsareforfiling”
“Dan, for this video, we need to make sure you seem like a “man of the people”, so get down and look like you are fixing the toilet … hey, get Dan’s glesses and put a scrwdriver on the top… ok… now glare at the toilet, like “I am going to fix you” …ok … ready …”
- OneMan - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:24 am:
Mayor Emmanuel today is asking the legislature to approve a new bill that requires all Home Depot and other hardware stores in eqnuire where purchases will be installed and collect Chicago Sales Taxes on items that will be used within the City of Chicago.
We will fight this obvious Chicago tax avoidance with every fiber of our being. Those NATO fences are not going to pay for themselves skippy….
- wordslinger - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:25 am:
ChiTownHV beat me to it.
“Treasurer Rutherford graduates from social media navel-gazing to social media toilet-gazing.”
“Some men stand. Some men sit. I take the road less-traveled. And that has made all the difference — and quite a mess.”
- Northsider - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:25 am:
Gonna be tough to top chitownHV @ 10:16, but here goes:
“Yeah, Mitt Romney makes me sick, too. Also.”
- Nieva - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:26 am:
This is as close as I am going to get to a throne so I got to keep it looking nice!
- Oswego Willy - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:27 am:
“Someone ‘used’ my toilet seat. I read that Madonna has her own toilet seat she brings everywhere. She may be on to something. #havethronewilltravel”
“Making the Treas’s Office and Comp’s Office is more than just talk. #oneseatbeginsinbathrooms.”
- Freeman - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:28 am:
Pictured above: Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford, metaphorically cleaning up Illinois government.
- photo courtesy of Pongee, AP
- Oswego Willy - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:29 am:
“Never have a staff party @ your OWN place. #notapartyunlesstoiletseatbreaks”
- Rich Miller - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:30 am:
chitownHV is behind the curve, unfortunately. I gave up drinking whiskey for a month on April 1st. I did have some mint juleps at the Derby and gave myself one other whiskey day this month. Other than that, I’m mostly just drinking wine, Spo-Dee-O-Dee, drinking wine. And going to bed early.
Too many whiskey jokes at the roast, I guess.
- jt - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:32 am:
The GA needs to pass a law on ties and toilet restrictions.
- Nearly Normal - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:32 am:
Er, too much information, Dan!
- South of I-80 - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:32 am:
Damn………………there goes the budget!!:(
- Irish - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:33 am:
Pat are you down there?
- Kid Kansas - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:34 am:
A union card? Oh please!
- MrJM - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:34 am:
“Okay… I’ve cleaned the bowl and changed the seat, but I still don’t know what Miller meant by, ‘I left a double-decker in your bathroom.’”
– MrJM
- Responsa - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:36 am:
Ugh! Being a pol I should have known that the verbiage to the consumer always makes the problem seem much easier to fix than it turns out to be.
- John Galt - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:38 am:
No caption, but man, that guy is the king of over-sharing. It’s going to be one of the things that limits his upside potential. There’s a fine line between candor and exhibitionist, and he’s prone to crossing it.
- Nearly Normal - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:38 am:
Hmmm, that grout between the floor tiles is looking a little grimy. Some of my guests must have missed the “target” at last night’s party. Must get a rag and some spray cleaner to take on that project.”
- OneMan - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:40 am:
spodee-o-dee — Looked that one up, so it is the bourbon version Rich?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:40 am:
“For those who think I share too much, I am just showing me fixing a toilet. Don’t follow me if you think I have no filter. #bathroomhasadoorforareason”
- OneMan - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:42 am:
Also it may be a bit of TMI, but I think in the new social media world it might be helpful long term…
- wordslinger - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:44 am:
“Stay tuned — I’ll post pictures of me giving it a test spin in just a few minutes.”
- Oswego Willy - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:44 am:
“Doing ‘Undercover Boss’ was not a good idea. #toiletsnotinthejobdiscription”
- Jason - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:44 am:
Does “this is what my life is really like” mean he has someone on hand to take photos of him when not at work?
- 3rd Generation Chicago Native - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:45 am:
Rutherford “I am rolling up my sleeves and doing jobs my constituents do to get better in touch”
- Give Me A Break - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:45 am:
This the last time I go with a CMS suggested plumber.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:46 am:
“I can see why others might think someonetaking a pic of me doing this is too much. #2inabathroomisodd”
- BIG R. PH - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:47 am:
As the last remaining state employee, Dan Rutherford in charged with maintaining all state facilities.
- Jimmy - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:49 am:
You can bet that this is THE last time I ask Pat Brady to hide a gun for me.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:49 am:
“A ’shout out’ to Chicago Journeymen Plumbers, Local 130. #unionsupporter”
- Oswego Willy - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:51 am:
“According to the manual, I am doing this correctly. #noplumbersbackside”
- Boone Logan Square - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:52 am:
Dan Rutherford prepares to ask Joe Ricketts for campaign help.
- Wensicia - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:53 am:
Stay tuned; I intend to change the light bulb over the sink next.
- Jake From Elwood - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:54 am:
Pretty dressed up for toilet repair.
Is his tie off, or dangling precariously over the bowl?
Does he sleep in dress clothes too?
- Jake From Elwood - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:56 am:
Oops just read the caption closer.
- NIref - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:58 am:
Things have not been the same since Joe Wurzelbacher ran for Congress.
- TwoFeetThick - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 10:59 am:
Treasurer Dan Rutherford, dress shirt firmly tucked-in, demonstrates how to avoid unsightly Plumber’s Crack while working on his toilet.
- Bluefish - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 11:00 am:
No more coins left under Pat Quinn’s sofa cushions? Let’s try back here instead.
- Joe from Joliet - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 11:03 am:
I guess if you want to be governor of Illinois you have to get used to sitting on a toilet with no seat.
- OneMan - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 11:04 am:
A Pat Quinn sat quietly in his office, wondering how Rich Miller got that story about the slot machines, looking out the window and thinking, who said something, who talked… He fired up Internet Explorer and went to CaptiolFax.com and saw the picture of Dan doing work in the bathroom and paused…
Wait, that repairman in the office who did the work in the bathroom, I thought he looked familiar, the mustache seemed a little too perfect and what kind of plumber wears a dress shirt.
“It was Rutherford” Quinn exclaimed as he jumped up from his chair, he was inside the bathroom “working” during the meeting, he heard everything and proceeded to tell Miller. Thinking back, Quinn realized many times when things have gone wrong, that same man was near by sometimes doing plumbing work, sometimes fixing a chair… It was Rutherford’s fault, all of the gaffs, all of the leaks it was Dan…
“I will show him” Quinn cried out to no one in particular….
Meanwhile Dan Rutherford, leaned back in his chair with a glass of Rich Millers now mostly unneeded Scotch and smiled, knowing that he was getting into Pat’s head…
- Quoteproquo - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 11:04 am:
This isn’t a caption as much as a question. What jerk was standing there taking the picture instead of helping out?
- mokenavince - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 11:05 am:
The toilet seat was made in China and gave out from overuse. This guy is no light weight.
- Siriusly - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 11:08 am:
“Flush and done. Now let’s see them just try to FOIA my mailing list of top donors who get my special Treasurer’s report! “
- Deep South - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 11:08 am:
Hellllooooooo Illllinooooooiiis, is that you down there?
- Been There - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 11:09 am:
===I bought a new seat in Spfld (sales tax cheaper outside of Chicago) & took it to Chicago.===
Dan, since you brought it up, I think you might owe a Use Tax to Chicago. There is a $25 annual exemption so you may still be under the threshold. Otherwise pay up.
“Under the terms of the Chicago Use Tax Ordinance, a purchaser or user is
liable for the Chicago Use Tax if an item of nontitled tangible personal property is
purchased at retail from
a retailer located outside the city for use in the city. See Code § 3-27-030(A). For
purposes of the Chicago Use Tax, an item of nontitled tangible personal property is
purchased at retail if the purchaser acquires ownership of, or title to, the property through
a sale at retail.”
- Ann - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 11:11 am:
He does get a $25 annual exemption on the use tax, but does he make a habit of shopping in Springfield? Is he keeping track of all that sales tax he’s saving?
- Scott McCoy (ICRN Talk Radio Host) - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 11:13 am:
“My chances of becoming the next Governor of Illinois…”
(Who is taking this photo?! And why?)
- Dark Side of the Moon - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 11:14 am:
staff just briefed me on the state budget….
- Oswego Willy - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 11:16 am:
“I am just posting a picture of me fixing a toilet, in my bathroom, with someone taking the picture. #notcreepy”
- Coach - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 11:17 am:
Dan Rutherford appeared at Speaker Madigan’s annual fundraiser at the lake and quickly decided it wasn’t enough to kiss the Speaker’s ring - to truly display his gratitude and respect, he insisted on cleaning the Speaker’s personal toilet.
- Coach - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 11:23 am:
Whoops, I meant …
Dan Rutherford appeared at Speaker Madigan’s annual fundraiser at the lake and quickly decided it wasn’t enough to kiss the Speaker’s ring - to truly display his gratitude and respect, he insisted on cleaning and fine tuning the Speaker’s personal toilet.
- Way Way Down Here - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 11:24 am:
===Putting on the new toilet seat I need to tell you that when cleaning around the bowl to be sure & take off your neck tie; if not it will definitely end up in the bowl water when you lean over.===
Important safety tip. Thanks Egon.
- phocion - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 11:24 am:
Gotta give it to Jimmy. Brilliant movie reference.
- Anonymous - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 11:29 am:
This just in:
“Illinois Treasurer Confirms that State’s Finances are in the Toilet”.
(While cleaning tanks recently at the Shedd Aquarium, Rutherford previously determined that Illinois’ finances are, indeed, under water.)
Hey. Wait. For the openly stated purpose of avoiding Chicago/Cook sales taxes, DR bought and imported a toilet seat from Springfield. What kind of example is that?
- Dan Duffy's Right Foot - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 11:31 am:
I will never drink the GOP Kool-aid again!
- mark walker - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 11:37 am:
“OK bond rating agencies, you get what I’m saying?”
- Bigtwich - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 11:37 am:
I keep hearing this “giant sucking sound”.
- Wumpus - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 11:43 am:
Surprised no one has filed a union grievence of some sort.
- Bill - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 11:49 am:
Circi,
Are you letting Mike play with Google again?
- wordslinger - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 11:50 am:
“Of course, if it’s after six, you should remove your black tie to fix the toilet.”
- justbabs - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 11:54 am:
Saved a lot on sales tax but the photographer cost a fortune. (Had to have the right lighting…)
- Mom - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 12:06 pm:
Typical man. They do one chore around the house, and they call a press conference to brag about it.
- Dave Dahl - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 12:09 pm:
MrJM 10:34 - I think what you are talking about is an “upper-decker.”
Don’t ask me how I know that.
- Ahoy! - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 12:15 pm:
Rutherford tries to fix the Illinois budget.
- Former Titan - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 12:17 pm:
The right tool for the job.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 12:29 pm:
“I am not afarid to be like the ‘little people’ I work for as Gove ..er … Treasurer of Illinois. #Fakingit”
- just sayin' - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 12:29 pm:
Dan Rutherford checks out where money spent on gubernatorial run will go.
- just sayin' - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 12:30 pm:
Yes this is really your State Treasurer.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 12:32 pm:
“Tweet me what other household chore you want a picture of me doing. #lookatme”
“Honsetly, I post these so people will see the real me, in real life. #beggingforattention”
- just sayin' - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 12:34 pm:
Dan Rutherford decides that Pongee thing wasn’t weird enough.
- laughing - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 12:37 pm:
I know I can get that penny out of there. I just don’t get why Judy does that every time she comes over.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 12:38 pm:
“This type of social media attention will move me from the Treasurer to Governor. Count on it. #naive”
- Quizzical - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 1:01 pm:
We can pay next month’s bills if there are three tons of cocaine in the plumbing flushed by a previous owner when police were at the door. It’s worth checking and as good a plan as anybody else has proposed.
- just sayin' - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 1:20 pm:
I don’t know why Mitt Romney won’t accept my Facebook friend request.
- amalia - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 1:47 pm:
around and around and around it goes, where Dan’s career stops, nobody knows.
- Anonymous - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 2:13 pm:
I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt: this is probably his attempt to distract people and allay their fears over the bad publicity the NATO Summit has been getting. He’s probably hoping tht people will stay glued to his facebook page until he finally reveals what his new seat looks like.
Quite clever, Dan.
- Anonymous - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 2:15 pm:
Clever, but I’m not sure it’s going to work.
- Limerick - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 2:17 pm:
There once was a Treasurer Dan,
Who was pictured while fixing a can.
But no reason to fret,
He was just checking our debt,
’Cause the budget has just hit the fan.
- BW - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 2:25 pm:
People had not seen Dan hug a toilet like that since his undergrad days at ISU!
- bobo - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 2:31 pm:
There is a diff between what I see here vs what I see in the capitol. This is much cleaner!
- Oswego Willy - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 2:45 pm:
“I won’t do windows. #chorelimits”
- OT - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 2:59 pm:
Perfect. . . this is my shot at being the new icon of the Republican wave, only with more hair, more Romney and less McCain-Palin. Eat this Joe the Plumber. #justtakethepictureRomney#
- Pot calling kettle - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 3:02 pm:
Dan Rutherford addresses the 99% on behalf of Mitt Romney, who was unable to find them.
- Pot calling kettle - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 3:03 pm:
Treasurer Dan Rutherford shows where he found the money that was missing from the college savings plan.
- Anonymous - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 3:07 pm:
*raises eyebrows and shakes head, thinking:*
“Another great publicity week for the GOP: Dan’s photographed fixing his toilet in ‘real life;’ Aaron’s running around the capitol in his pink socks. Please, Lord, please. Let this week go by without an update from the third esteemed gentleman from Illinois.”
- titan - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 3:25 pm:
“You know, that does look just like Illinios’ financial picture.”
- Highland, Il - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 3:45 pm:
Treasurer Dan finishes his how-to video by reminding everyone why the plumber never bites his finger nails…
- too obvious - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 4:00 pm:
Amazing that Rutherford would think anyone cares and even more amazing that Rutherford thinks posting this stuff is normal.
- Rich Miller - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 4:06 pm:
OK, people, I’m shutting down a bit early today, so let’s get this thing to 100 comments ASAP!!!
- Rich Miller - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 4:14 pm:
…Or not.
- Anonymous - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 5:44 pm:
=Please, Lord, please. Let this week go by without an update from the third esteemed gentleman from Illinois.=
HE is probably responsible for that drone flying over Elgin.
Pfft.
(Was that 100, Rich?)
- Huggybunny - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 6:11 pm:
Gee, I wonder if I’ll get more “likes” on my Facebook page by posting this pic of me pretending to be one of the working class!!
- Just The Way It Is One - Friday, May 18, 12 @ 6:59 pm:
Only fitting I guess. When I think of the mess Illinois’ finances are in, I too often think of THIS! And at least I can do MY part by openin’ it up and lettin’ folks see what I’M usually lookin’ at. And then I’ll just do what I can, and cover the lid over the whole mess again!!! Sheez!
- tmnec - Saturday, May 19, 12 @ 10:16 am:
Wait, I think I see the pension funds!
- Phineas Fogg - Sunday, May 20, 12 @ 8:05 am:
Upon hearing Bill Brady is planning to run again as a GOP candidate for governor, Dan Rutherford was heard to shout, “Dear God, not again! It is my turn.” as he quickly ran to the bathroom.
- Tommydanger - Monday, May 21, 12 @ 7:19 am:
The fact that he would have to say make sure you take off your tie, places him squarely in the 1%. The other 99% of us are not doing any toliet repairs with our dress shirt and suit pants on.