Question of the day
Monday, Jul 9, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I’m trying to catch up on all the stories I missed during my vacation. So, rather than make you wait while I read through all the articles, let’s start the day with a question. The setup…
U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., used a fake name — Hillel Underwood — when he entered a suburban Chicago hospital in January after a stroke that has kept him from the Capitol ever since. […]
Eric Elk, a top Kirk aide, wrote in an e-mail that the senator used the alias to “enhance his privacy” and “reduce the chances of unwanted visitors” when he checked into Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital on Jan. 21.
Elk said Kirk “follows procedures recommended to members of Congress by the sergeant at arms, including using a pseudonym when checking into the hospital.”
Chicago native Terry Gainer, who formerly led the Illinois State Police, is Senate sergeant at arms. Gainer said Friday that he was aware early on that Kirk was going to be hospitalized, but he could not recall when he discussed with the senator using an alias.
“I don’t know that there was a threat, but I know he or his staff was concerned to want that privacy,” Gainer said. In the past, he said, he has counseled senators to use pseudonyms when checking into a hospital.
So, apparently, using pseudonyms is standard practice.
* The Question: What pseudonyms do you think would be appropriate for other state politicians?
- Anonymous - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 9:30 am:
Mike Madigan- Snidely Whiplash
- Mouthy - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 9:32 am:
Gov - Daffy Duck
Madigan - Dr. Strangelove
- Ron Burgundy - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 9:35 am:
Jim Oberweis - Ron Mexico
- J - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 9:35 am:
Someone stop me if this gets too geeky.
Semi off topic, but does anyone else think Kirk used Underwood as the fake last name because Frodo used it in Lord of the Rings?
- thechampaignlife - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 9:40 am:
This one’s open to the highest bidder: Bojack McReynolds
- rc - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 9:47 am:
Frodo’s alias was “Underhill” not underwood.
- Mr.Big Trouble - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 9:47 am:
For any member–Dewey Cheatem
- Wensicia - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 9:49 am:
Michael Madigan — Fast Eddie Felson
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 10:03 am:
Pat Quinn - Johnny Fenwick
Sheila Simon - Adriane Balboa
Jesse White - Matt Tumbler
Lisa Madigan - Leia Skywalker
Judy Baar Topinka - Henrietta Delivers
Dan Rutherford - Timmy Tweeter, Frankie Facebook
Mike Madigan - Michael Corleone
Tom Cross - Al Chervik
John Cullerton - Nicky Newmaps
Christine Radogno - Christine Radogno
and Finally …
Jason Plummer - Kent Dorfman … he’s a legacy.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 10:11 am:
===Ron Mexico===
A Philadelphia Eagle has that copywritten …
- The End Is Near - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 10:12 am:
Jesse Jackson, Jr. — Senate Candidate 5
- wordslinger - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 10:16 am:
Tom Cross: Charlie Brown
Madigan: Lucy Van Pelt
Mike Bost: Moses Lytewate
Pat Quinn: Ron Sequitur
Emanuel: Tiny Kurser
- House of Pain - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 10:21 am:
Cullerton - Doee Cheatem Nhow
Madigan - Outmaway Punk
Cross - Yasir Mistermadigan
Radogno - Lone Ranger
Obama - Imda Taxman
Biden - Biga Mouth Nusa
- House of Pain - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 10:23 am:
Jesse Jackson - Wheres Waldo
- J - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 10:24 am:
rc, you’re totally right.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 10:26 am:
Christine Radogno - Cindy Who
- Colossus - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 10:39 am:
Willy nails it: Plummer - Kent Dorfman.
- Shore - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 10:43 am:
You couldn’t give one to Joe Walsh since I am pretty sure any place he goes his mouth would blow his cover.
Oswego is on target as usual.
- 3rd Generation Chicago Native - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 10:45 am:
Lisa Madigan / Lisa Simpson
Mike Madigan / Homer Simpson
Jesse Jackson Jr / Jimmy Peotone
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 10:57 am:
- Shore -, - Colossus - ,
Thanks…
- Just Observing - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 10:57 am:
I think Kirk needs to work on his alias. He combined a very Jewish first name “Hillel” with a very non-Jewish last name “Underwood” — they just don’t fit. If Kirk was an international spy, his cover might have been blown
- Arthur Andersen - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 11:00 am:
-Kent Dorfman, he’s a legacy-
Brilliant.
- Anonymous - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 11:01 am:
Joe Walsh - Bernie Leadon
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 11:11 am:
===If Kirk was an international spy, his cover might have been blown
===
Kirk blew his cover before you caught the name issue. But after Kirk took the Bible from the Drake Hotel in Chicago.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 11:16 am:
and …- AA -,
Thanks.
- cover - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 11:28 am:
I agree, that Kent Dorfman alias is brilliant!
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 11:35 am:
Some things write themselves, - cover -, thanks!
- Way Way Down Here - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 11:46 am:
Kent Dorfman! I choked on the Tums I was chewing.
- Wumpus - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 11:55 am:
Mike Madigan-Don Corleone
Pat Quinn-Pat O’Quinn
- Cook County Commoner - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 11:57 am:
Louis Lang - Mike Madigan, Jr.
- Excessively Rabid - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 12:09 pm:
Eric Elk = Andy Antelope.
- Levois - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 12:10 pm:
Derrick Smith - Rod Blagojevich lol
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 12:37 pm:
- WWDH -,
Sorry to make you choke. I guess the Kent Dorfman is funny and dangerous.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 12:46 pm:
While everyone is adding, a few from - circularfiringsquad - would be nice to have on this “alias” issue….
- Steve Downstate - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 12:51 pm:
Jason Plummer = Richie Rich
John Shimkus = Sam Palin
Rod Blagojevich = 40892-424 (or St. Rod the Martyr)
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 12:55 pm:
Ald. Ed Burke - Michael Sneed …
Me thinks that they are this/close…
…and then they all went out for dinner with Jay Doherty who is ageless, priceless, and an all around good guy to some restaurant.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 1:04 pm:
Jim Oberweis - Harvey Milk
- 3rd Generation Chicago Native - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 1:31 pm:
Pat Quinn / Cashmier Pulaski
Rahm Emanuel/ Bill Ogden
- Virginia Slim - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 1:41 pm:
Dan Rutherford : Barney Frank
Bill Brady : Ward Cleaver
Kirk Dillard : Larry Tate
Judy Barr Topinka : Gladys Kravitz
- Shore - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 3:05 pm:
Kirk’s Navy name was Rooster.
- Amuzing Myself - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 3:18 pm:
Plummer = Eighty-five
Quinn = Nap Oleon
Simon = Joan Denver
Dillard = Jim Edgar
Jim Edgar = Jesus Christos
- jt - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 3:32 pm:
Anon should be banned for the name submitted.
- Irish - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 3:48 pm:
Pat Quinn-if he picked his own alias- “Govinator!”
What everyone else would choose for him - Homer Simpson
- amalia - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 5:09 pm:
Lisa Madigan - Jane Pauley
- Arthur Andersen - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 5:18 pm:
Willy-these aren’t in your league but had to try.
Bill Cellini-Benedict Christian
Stu Levine-Benedict Arnold or Burgundy Blow
- J. Edgar Hoover - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 5:39 pm:
Lieutenant Chief Director Sergeant Terry Gainer: Vernon Wormer.
- Cheswick - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 7:00 pm:
Meanwhile, back at the ranch…. someone outed Rutherford1 in the SJ-R comments section today as being Dan Rutherford. Maybe.
http://www.sj-r.com/opinions/x537697491/Letter-Cut-lawmakers-pay-benefits
Speaking of pseudonyms, not very creative (if that is you, Dan.)
- One to the Dome - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 7:49 pm:
MJM: Barzinie Allalong
- Mouthy - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 7:56 pm:
Has to be the winner hands down…Jason Plummer - Kent Dorfman … he’s a legacy.
- reformedformerlibertarian - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 8:08 pm:
How about Kenny Powers for the following politician I encountered well outside his district?
I was passing a couple of vehicles while driving the speed limit, when I encountered one of the worst driving jerks I ever have. While I was driving his black GMC pickup, the driver got unreasonably close to me and started flashing his brights at me over and over. Apparently, going the speed limit while passing a pickup & a semi was not fast enough for him because he kept flashing his brights repeatedly for at least a couple of minutes. When I finally had a chance to move over into the right lane, he passed and I noticed he had a special state legislator’s license plate with license number “103.” He also had a personal campaign sticker on his back window. When I got to a computer I looked his name/picture up & do believe that the horrible jerk was the state rep on the sticker
- Cheswick - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 8:36 pm:
His?
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 9:14 pm:
- AA -
The fun is everyone participating. The more the merrier.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jul 10, 12 @ 1:02 am:
http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/lawmaker-news/236733-mark-kirks-use-of-an-assumed-name–last-january-was-not-the-first-time#.T_sjRytDNDs.twitter
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jul 10, 12 @ 1:35 am:
‘Anon should be banned for the name submitted.”
If you were referring to my comments, you might want to consider doing some research. Soon.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jul 10, 12 @ 7:45 am:
- Mouthy -
Thanks …
- Ellen Beth Gill - Tuesday, Jul 10, 12 @ 8:18 am:
I had given Kirk the benefit of a doubt that he did not choose that name because as a Jew, I find it offensive that he should use the name of a beloved ancient Jewish leader. However, it now appears that Kirk has used that name before. http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/lawmaker-news/236733-mark-kirks-use-of-an-assumed-name-last-january-was-not-the-first-time
- zatoichi - Tuesday, Jul 10, 12 @ 8:49 am:
Can’t Kirk’s secret name be nothing more than a nod to his musical tastes: rock (Hillel Slovak from Red Hot Chili Peppers) and country (Carrie Underwood). He is at the right age for both of them. Yeah, it’s a stretch.