* Public Policy Polling asked Illinoisans about whether two imprisoned former governors should be pardoned. They don’t want it…
Do you think President Obama should pardon former Governor Rod Blagojevich, or not?
He should……………………………………………….. 15%
He should not………………………………………….. 75%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 10%
Do you think President Obama should pardon former Governor George Ryan, or not?
He should……………………………………………….. 20%
He should not………………………………………….. 70%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 10%
* Meanwhile, I was a bit surprised by the large number of Illinoisans who don’t have an opinion of US Sen. Mark Kirk in the latest PPP poll…
Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Mark Kirk’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 34%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 19%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 47%
Kirk has been mostly out of the public eye for months because of his stroke which is undoubtedly contributing to the results.
* But this is just silly stuff…
If the candidates for Senate in 2016 were Democrat Michelle Obama and Republican Mark Kirk, who would you vote for?
Michelle Obama………………………………………. 51%
Mark Kirk………………………………………………… 40%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 9%
Mrs. Obama has made absolutely no moves whatsoever toward this race, which is four years away, for crying out loud.
* From the pollster…
If Michelle Obama decided she wanted to follow the Hillary Clinton route once her husband leaves office in 2016 and go to the Senate, she’d have the upper hand on Mark Kirk. She leads him 51/40 in a hypothetical head to head. Kirk’s approval numbers are ok with 34% of voters approving of him to 19% who disapprove. But those numbers are no match for the first lady, who’s seen positively by 60% of voters to 33% with a negative
one.
* On a lighter note, there aren’t a lot of Rams fans in Illinois…
Is your favorite NFL team the Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers, or St. Louis Rams?
Bears …………………………………………………….. 63%
Cowboys………………………………………………… 1%
Packers………………………………………………….. 10%
Colts ……………………………………………………… 2%
Patriots ………………………………………………….. 1%
Giants ……………………………………………………. 1%
Steelers………………………………………………….. 4%
Rams …………………………………………………….. 2%
Someone else/Don’t have a favorite team …… 17%
* And Cutler gets a plurality of support…
Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Jay Cutler?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 41%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 15%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 45%
* Democrats and independents like him more than Republicans do…
- Just Observing - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:08 am:
I’m surprised the St. Louis Rams did not get a lot more support considering St. Louis’ proximity, and considering many central/southern Illinoians are Cardinals fans. Then again, I know nothing about sports.
- Precinct Captain - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:10 am:
Maybe the GOPers don’t know that Jay is one of them.
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-11-05/sports/chi-chicago-bears-jay-cutler-backs-mitt-romney-20121105_1_mitt-romney-jay-cutler-show-bears-quarterback
- Spliff - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:10 am:
Rich how many people were surveyed in the poll? I was one of the respondents and I am curious just how many the 4% of us Steeler fans actually got called.
- Pot calling kettle - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:11 am:
Did they poll Michelle Obama for mayor of Chicago, Governor, President, Illinois Secretary of State, Bears QB, White Sox Manager and a dozen other offices as well? I just need to know…
- shore - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:13 am:
I don’t think Kirk runs again in 2016. It was a hike in 2010 when he had alexi running against him in a heavily gop year without the presidential stuff. 2016 he’ll have presidential stuff (and look what that did to people like george allen in va and scott brown in ma), now he will have health issues and probably a tough challenger. He’ll want to run again, but he had a hard time connecting with voters before the health issue and I think it will get tougher in 2013.
bears fans have seen the smacking cutler has taken for 4 years, those hits overcome his immaturity.
- amalia - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:15 am:
and here I thought Michelle Obama was going to replace Anna Wintour as editor of Vogue when Anna becomes and ambassador. that’s more the world of Michelle.
- D.P. Gumby - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:20 am:
Rams have made no effort to recruit the former football Cardinals fans. Rams are still identified w/ LA. It would have been interested to see what figures would have been if Az Cardinals had been included in the list.
- anon - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:21 am:
Even in polls, Republicans are less likely to like things. I never thought that numbers could look like crusty, old, white men, but these numbers do!
- Six Degrees of Separation - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:21 am:
I think the results of this poll regarding Michelle Obama prove that we in Illinois (and probably the USA) are ready for a monarchy. Who knows, it might be better than what we have now. God Save the Queen.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:25 am:
===are ready for a monarchy===
You’re nuts.
- Avg Joe - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:26 am:
I lost all respect for Dick Durbin when he asked President Bush to pardon Ryan, but has never asked President Obama to do the same.
Playing politics with an old man’s life is pretty slimy stuff.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:28 am:
Avg Joe, there’s a big difference. Durbin asked GWB to pardon GHR at the end of Bush’s second term. That’s usually when the most controversial pardons are issued.
- Wensicia - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:38 am:
The odds of Michelle running for Senate are about the same as Barack’s, about .oo1%. It’s ridiculous for some to assume she’ll follow the same path as Hillary.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:42 am:
You’re nuts.
Just a light hearted observation that we (the voters) tend to create our own dynasties in this state and nation, rather than endorse the “citizen legislator” concept of limited public service. How many “juniors” and “III’s”, or spouses or children of office-holders are there in office, here and elsewhere?
To his credit, our president had to start without benefit of a “dynasty”.
- CLJ - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:43 am:
I think the Rams numbers are skewed by the Bears numbers. In a “pick only one” question, many downstaters will go with the Bears, but will root for and attend more Rams games during the season.
- Meanderthal - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 11:08 am:
Barack Obama will break all records for post-presidency income and that will be just fine with the former First Lady Michelle. Mark Kirk may not win, but it won’t be Michele Obama who runs and beats him.
- Skeeter - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 11:23 am:
I understand a lot of the undecideds on Kirk. I’m one of them. He’s shown a bit of independence, but not a lot. And he’s been out of commission for a while.
As he makes votes and starts speaking on the issues again, that number will go way down.
Kirk, assuming he recovers sufficiently, has a ton of potential. If he shows independence, he can hold that seat for a long time.
Right now, I have no opinion at all on him. It is way too early.
- Deep South - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 11:41 am:
The poll must not have included many here in the Deep South.
Lots of Rams fans in the Deep South. Of course, when they were Super Bowl winners (and contenders) there were a lot more people who admitted to being Rams fans. Virtually no in the Deep South perceives them to be from L.A. Yes, we were once Cardinal football fans, but that was a in a different era.
Here in the Deep South, there are a lot of Tennessee Titans fans. When the Rams and the Titans were in the Super Bowl, it reminded me of the Bears-Packers silliness that one often sees upstate. Lots of Indy Colts, fans, too - but not so much lately. There are Bears fans, of course, but we don’t get them on TV very often….I suppose in Chicago, they’re on TV every week. We do get the Rams every week…and a lot of Titans games.
- bongofurry - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 11:50 am:
Michelle running for Senate against Rahm in the primary. No dice.
- cover - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 12:00 pm:
Here in Central Illinois, this is definitely Bears territory. Yes, there are some Packers (?), Steelers, and Cowboys fans around here, but there isn’t much visible support for the Rams.
On Sunday afternoons, if both the Bears and the Rams are playing at the same time and the same network (CBS or Fox) has both games, we’ll get the Bears. This seems to be regarded by the networks as a home territory for the Colts as well, but since they are in the AFC, a TV conflict is less likely. The Bears would certainly take precedence over the Colts, but I’m not sure what happens if the Colts and Rams are on the same network at the same time.
- The Captain - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 12:16 pm:
The problem with the Cutler question is that you can simultaneously think he’s a jerk and also think he’s the best QB the Bears have had in a long time and the question doesn’t account for the difference.
- Cheryl44 - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 12:25 pm:
Pot, Michelle’s not a Sox fan. So that should be “manager of the Cubs.”
- chuddery - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 12:31 pm:
Given Cutler’s general level of apathy, “not sure” is probably just another way of showing support.
- Wensicia - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 12:46 pm:
Good news, looks like Kirk is ready to go back to Congress. Now, maybe people will quit demanding he step down.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-kirk-to-return-to-senate-on-jan-3-20121206,0,7181037.story
- Bluejay89 - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 12:46 pm:
Will Michelle promise to serve a full 6-year term, rather than opting to run for president after 4 years?
- wordslinger - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 1:02 pm:
There’s 37% of Illinoisans who aren’t Bears fans — you’ll never persuade them to wear the Blue and Gold.
Many of them just wait for free gifts, handouts of cheese curds and fuzzy socks. They see themselves as victims, and express their rage with phrases such as “yah, hey dare” and “you betcha.”
We’re not going for them.
- Langhorne - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 1:11 pm:
Hey wordslinger, it’s blue and ORANGE for the Bears. Blue and gold is cub scouts.
- Team Sleep - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 1:13 pm:
I can’t see Kirk running again. I know several of his staffers and they have told me that the stroke was serious enough to make the Senator consider stepping down because he was unsure if he would ever be able to walk up the steps of the Capitol. I’m glad he’s going back but I think four years of representing the fifth or sixth largest state and traveling to D.C. and around the state will be a grind. Kirk’s lasting influence could be helping the state GOP get over the hump in 2014 and capture the Governor’s Mansion and Senator Durbin’s seat. Don’t be shocked if Durbin calls it a day.
- Langhorne - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 1:16 pm:
Hey wordslinger, it’s the blue and ORANGE for the Bears. Blue and gold is the cub scouts.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 1:17 pm:
Langhorne, wow, my bad. I’m so ashamed. As punishment, I’ll wear my kid’s Brett Favre jersey tomorrow and walk down Michigan Avenue.
- Langhorne - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 1:18 pm:
Sorry for the double post. Time for a practice nap
- shore - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 1:25 pm:
“Now, maybe people will quit demanding he step down.”
-the people calling for kirk to step down fell into 3 camps all of which were bad a) the chicago press corps which dislikes republicans, suburbanites, and suburban republicans b) jesse jackson supporters who thought kirk’s issue=their guy’s issue (since resolved) c)parties favorable to people who want the kirk seat, namely the playboy prince he beat, among others.
He’s coming back, but he’s going to be in the hot seat and we’ll see then what happens.
- OswegoWilly - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 2:27 pm:
George Ryan question was a bit surprising. Not that he lost, but at such a high clip.
I still can’t believe 15% for Rod! Thought that would be a bit lower, heck wasn’t Rod only polling about 15% when he got impeached and removed?
Apathy for Cutler …
Great story on that “internet” about Cutler was in a lavatory in a drinking establishment, and some Vandy fan, while Cutler was doing his “business” at the urinal, was raving about being a huge fan from when he attened Vandy when Jay attened. As the fan continued, with accolades, as the story goes, Jay tilted his head way back and yelled, “Don’ Care …Don’t Care …” over and over …
That kills!
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 3:23 pm:
Willy, Rod and George’s 15 and 20% “approval ratings” really don’t reflect too well on Pat “25″ Quinn, who chalked up his bad score yesterday to “having to clean up the mess I inherited from my two predecessors who happen to be in prison.”
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 3:26 pm:
- AA -
Quinn followed that statement with the following quote while leaving the podium …
Quinn: “You have to understand, by the time I was sworn-in, the 3rd envelope was already read…”
- Six Degrees of Separation - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 4:20 pm:
Hey wordslinger, it’s the blue and ORANGE for the Bears. Blue and gold is the cub scouts.
For a minute there, I didn’t know if word was talking about the Bears…or the Rams, who DO wear blue and gold. Incidentally, my wife is from SoCal and still a die-hard Rams fan. The worst day of our marriage is when we went to a Rams-Bears game at the dome in StL and Devin Hester ran wild, with about 2/3rds in attendance being obnoxious Bears fans who were being glared at by the locals.
- RichR - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 6:36 pm:
What’s the deal with independents? Republicans and Democrats both look more sympathetically on Ryan than Blago, but independents answered almost exactly the same for both.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 9:09 pm:
The Bears used to be in Decatur, that gives them a leg up.
A Sox/Cubs/Cardinals poll would have been much more interesting.
And I’d like to know where the Yankees fans are concentrated, so I don’t accidentally move there.
- ArchPundit - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:56 pm:
The Rams are on their way out of Saint Louis so while they had a lot of ‘fans’ during the good years, everyone paying attention sees they are on the way out of Saint Louis and probably back to LA.
Good riddance and with any luck I’ll get some Bears on the TV. The downside is the great fathers in Saint Louis will open the public treasury to rent another team for a while. At least Bidwell demonstrated his disgust at fans in a straightforward way.
- ArchPundit - Thursday, Dec 6, 12 @ 10:59 pm:
==Quinn: “You have to understand, by the time I was sworn-in, the 3rd envelope was already read…”
LOL. Did the previous Guv order it resealed?
- Anonymous - Friday, Dec 7, 12 @ 7:28 am:
- Arch Pundit -
I think it’s safe to say Rod didn’t have time to make the 3 envelopes, and I think we are all quite sure Rod opened all three, but Impeachment and Removal happened, thus no new 3 envelopes….
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Dec 7, 12 @ 7:29 am:
Yep, that was me above.
Sorry.