* Gov. Pat Quinn was on a tour of Illinois flooding over the weekend when his helicopter landed on some very wet ground in North Aurora. The chopper sank into the mud and got stuck. A friend snapped a pic…

* Flooding news…

* IDOT: Road Closures

* Rivers well above flood stage in much of Midwest

* More rain, snow could lead to more flooding

* Rain, snow to hammer Midwestern towns already hit by floods

* ‘Weather whiplash’ swamps Midwest

       

84 Comments - Willie Stark - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 9:04 am: Quinn 2014 fueled and ready for takeoff, sir! - Dirty Red - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 9:05 am: This is why we can’t have nice things. - wordslinger - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 9:07 am: Fortunately, Chopper Jim, on his way home from patrolling Soldier Field, was able to give the governor a lift. - 47th Ward - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 9:08 am: All my friends know the low rider. - Old Shepherd - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 9:09 am: D’oh! - RonOglesby - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 9:10 am: Illinois Governor stuck in the mud, just like the Illinois economy. - Are Ya Kiddin' Me? - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 9:10 am: A snap shot of the Quinn re-election bid? - Are Ya Kiddin' Me? - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 9:11 am: Leave the Chopper, take the cannoli… - Tommydanger - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 9:14 am: When I said, “nose to the ground, shoulder to the wheel,” I was speaking methaphorically. - Hank - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 9:14 am: Gov Quinn once again winds up in Madigan’s quicksand trap - Homer J. Simpson - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 9:17 am: That’s what he gets for letting the legislators drive. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 9:17 am: “Governor, the Attorney General just asked if we needed a lift back to the City.” “Governor, we forgot that you circle the stadiums, not land on the playing field.” “This never happens to Adam A. I bet…” “This was revenge for singing the ‘Jerry Clarke Map’, and alot of other things …” “Really, you couldn’t land 50 yards south in the completely empty parking lot?” “Next time the ‘Advance Staff’ wants to land in a wet, soggy, grass area for effect, ignore them!” “Good news? You are super close to the reporters. Bad news? We may be here for quite sometime…” “Just pretend we meant to get stuck, wait for ALL the reporters to leave, get some IDOT spotlights out here and move the helicopter!” “I would say the governor is taking it a bit far… the analogy he is a stick in the mud and all” “Well, governor, landing a helicopter for real, and doing it on your PC at the Capitol are too different things, aren’t they?” @FakeJason Plummer - @FakeGovQuinn, just hit the ‘reset’ button and the game relaods, and your helly-copter is all free and in the air! #LifeIsJustLikeVideoGames - Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 9:18 am: - Are Ya Kiddin’ Me? - Well played - Chris Sale Fan - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 9:21 am: Who’s Chopper is this? PQ Who’s PQ? PQ’s the gov, baby. PQ’s the gov. - Colossus - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 9:21 am: This contest was done in one, as far as I’m concerned. - Arthur Andersen - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 9:22 am: “Governor, we told you it was a bad idea to set down here to talk to the guy on the pink ‘floatie.’ Please take us seriously next time.” - Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 9:25 am: “Governor, this is not like a 10 speed bike, we leave the front wheel ON! Who is going to take a helicopter?” “Goveronr, we don’t think you need the step stool to get out this time …” “Not to fear, Governor Quinn, we have a hot air balloon at the ready …” “Hey .. do you guys see the ‘Flag Guy’ who was helping us land?” (Governor looks back, shakes his head … hits the ‘alarm’ on the keys, all lights blink twice) “Beep-Beep” “Whew, thank good nes this one’s a rental!” “Senator Oberweis wants to know where ‘Slytherin 1′ is Governor!” - Arthur Andersen - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 9:25 am: “This never happens when I play Microsoft Flight Simulator.” - Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 9:26 am: - Arthur Andersen -! Spit take on the laptop, nice synergy! - Arthur Andersen - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 9:27 am: “Tell me this happened to Thompson, right? Edgar?” - Arthur Andersen - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 9:31 am: Willy, that’s all AA could think about since I heard the “Flood Tour” had entered Day 3. “Whoa, landing heavy! Someone empty out the towel rack at the last Super 8?” - Knome Sane - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 9:31 am: “My machine, she’s a dud, I’m stuck in the mud, somewhere in the swamps of North Aurora…” - Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 9:33 am: “As you can see, the ground is a bit …saturated” “Quickly, to the ‘Bat-Boat’ …” “You see Governor, this is what you get when you play ‘Ride of the Valkyries’ like Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore…” - Knome Sane - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 9:34 am: OW: More aptly: “Quickly, to the ‘PAT-Boat’ …” - Amalia - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 9:35 am: Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in. - Blago's Hare - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 9:35 am: Thank you, Rich, for making me laugh on this fine Monday. Did not have to read past the first comment. - OneMan - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 9:36 am: Everyone get into the chopper… (Quinn in his best Arnold voice)… Well if Rick Perry was on that chopper it would not have been an issue since he is a lightweight. Governor we would rather land on a parking lot someplace… No, I got to show I care land here… Some Kane County Republicans after seeing Quinn’s chopper sink blamed Chris Lauzen for the incident. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 9:37 am: “Governor, it might be a great place to surf, but not the best place to land, now you agree, right?” “Who is going to call THIS one in to CMS?” “That wasn’t a ‘Landing Marker’, it was a pink raft with a bunch of empty beer cans and ONE golf shoe …” “Someone call AAA…” “ - OneMan - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 9:37 am: “Can’t we just have people hang on the back to lift the front and start the engine like I used to do with my car? No Governor that blade in the back would pose an issue. - Anonymour - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 9:40 am: I’m sure the Governor has been working night and day to get the chopper out of the mud. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 9:41 am: - Knome Sane -, Agreed! - Arthur Andersen - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 9:51 am: “To the Bat/Pat..Boat”. O/T but the State back in the 60s actually maintained a few boats under IDOT to “inspect bridges, conduct water flow studies, and other essential state functions. A new IDOT Sec comes in and wants a ride on the boat. He finds the boat to be aging, but in great interior and external condition. At some point later the boat launched for a cruise down the mighty Illinois, during which time the ol’Boat almost sank in the river. That marked the end of IDOT Naval Operations - Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 9:52 am: “So … Governor Perry wants to play ‘rough’ eh? Well, we will just steal the front wheel of his helicopter!” - Jake from Elwood - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 9:52 am: “You mean the Super 8 doesn’t have a helipad?” - Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 10:00 am: “You are right, Governor, next time we should go by canoe. Sorry.” - HenryVK - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 10:03 am: Bill Brady announces we need to form a commission to get the helicopter out of the mud. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 10:05 am: “Honestly, we thought DNR had a Canoe House here somewhere …” “…’The skids on a helicoper are dated, the goveror of Illinis needs wheels to look cool’ … last time we listen to a Chopper salesman!” Quinn, “It’s North Aurora’s Catalina Wine Mixer” Staffer, “It’s North Aurora’s Catalina Wine Mixer” N. Aurora Mayor, “It’s North Aurora’s Catalina Wine Mixer” Brennen and Dale, together, “It’s North Aurora’s Catalina Wine Mixer” - OneMan - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 10:08 am: OW The sound of the mayor of N. Aurora, great guy by the way, saying It’s North Aurora’s Catalina Wine Mixer is cracking me up - zatoichi - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 10:09 am: ..but the landing pontoons were there before! A little water, some fertilizer and that zoysia grass grows faster than kudzu. - Anonymour - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 10:12 am: I checked Google, and there are a number of stories of pythons coming out in floods. - Robert the Bruce - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 10:17 am: I will work day and night to develop a comprehensive solution to everything wrong with this helicopter, and every other helicopter in this state. - Commonsense in Illinois - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 10:19 am: Patronage strikes again! - Arthur Andersen - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 10:28 am: “As God is my witness, I thought pythons could fly!” - Dirty Red - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 10:28 am: http://cdn.gagbay.com/2012/06/keep_calm_and_get_to_the_choppa-100345.jpg - Judgment Day - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 10:31 am: We’ll be working day and night to get “Quinn One” back in the air!”. …..as it tips over onto it’s side….. - Arthur Andersen - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 10:34 am: “There are a couple of kids here offering to pull us out with their car. A Pacer. Say they’re big fans of the Governor’s. What? What’s a hotbox? No, tell Wayne and Garth thanks, but we’ll just wait for ‘AAA’” - Wensicia - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 10:38 am: “When the levee breaks, mama you got to move… Go’n’ to Chicago, Going down, going down now…” - Judgment Day - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 10:38 am: Ok, now we got to get back on tour… So, here’s the plan. We need concrete blocks. Lots of concrete blocks. And get a couple of bottle jacks. Oh, and shovels. Cause we got to dig the nose out. Maybe we can give CAT a call and see if they have a spare end loader over in Aurora that we can borrow. We’ll have this baby back up and airborne in no time. After all, I’m the Governor!” - Judgment Day - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 10:43 am: “Governor, just because the kids were landing RC helicopters here yesterday, doesn’t mean that you could land a full size helicopter here today.” - Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 10:44 am: - Arthur Andersen -… “DopeyGovernorWhoGotHisHelicoperStuckInTheMudSays, ‘what’ …” “What?” “Excellent” - OneMan - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 10:50 am: What do you mean the nearest helicopter tow truck is in Naperville… - Logic not emotion - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 11:00 am: As goes the state, so goes the chopper… - Judgment Day - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 11:02 am: “What do you mean the nearest helicopter tow truck is in Naperville… ” No, Governor, there are no I-PASS lanes for helicopters… - Anonymous - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 11:25 am: “I told the pilot he just passed over a perfectly good SOYBEAN field, but did he listen to me?” “Heck No!” - BleugrassBoy - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 11:30 am: “Quinn endorses Earth Day, vows to bury gas guzzling state fleet” - 3rd Generation Chicago Native - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 11:44 am: hmm…what is this going to cost the taxpayers? It’s not easy to get a helicopter out of the mud and they are expensive. - Anonymour - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 11:59 am: What do you mean the towing company said 18 months for paying the bill won’t work? - dupage dan - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 12:27 pm: “My Heart Will Go On”…..but for now the chopper stays. - zatoichi - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 12:36 pm: Just plant 4-5 more state choppers in a circle for Chopper Henge. They are out of commission, then charge admission to pay off the pension. - Dry Blanket - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 12:38 pm: “Let the will of the chopper be low to the land.” - Rich Miller - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 12:43 pm: Dry Blanket may have just won. lol - Former WRMNpolitics - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 12:49 pm: No Gov. Quinn, you cant play Stringfellow Hawke in the remake of Airwolf ! - Arthur Andersen - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 1:13 pm: Nice one, Blanket! - Jasper - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 1:19 pm: This one has muddy tires…..get me a new one. - Judgment Day - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 1:23 pm: “In the never ending battle between airspeed and the ground, the ground has yet to lose”. - Judgment Day - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 1:24 pm: Above is attributed to an unknown pilot. - Boone Logan Square - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 1:28 pm: “No worries, Squeezy will pull us out!” - Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 1:29 pm: - Dry Blanket -, Very well played, indeed! I grab some lunch, your caption was like a dessert. - Boone Logan Square - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 1:30 pm: “Hi there, wanna hand me the mike? Great, thanks.” “Yes, this is chopper number…what chopper are we?” “Five-five.” “This is chopper number fifty-five…we’re in a lawn.” - Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 1:48 pm: - Boone Logan Square - lol, “Orange Whip?” - 47Chief - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 3:04 pm: “His state, frankly, is water-challenged,” Quinn said, adding the coup de grace: “Any company that’s thinking of going to Texas had better check on their water. We know how to do things and we don’t particularly need Rick Perry’s advice.” - Ghost - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 3:07 pm: Vk and demoralized, allow me to mediate The fun lobby does not need to come to the table. They have no actual voting rights. If they don’t want a day in the bill that’s up to them. It sure seems like a good idea for them to sit at the table though, I believe Brutus showed us the error of walking away from a debate. - Ghost - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 3:21 pm: Oops wrong spot - Norseman - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 3:57 pm: I thought they said the Governor was a stick in the mud. - Endangered Moderate Species - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 4:16 pm: White Sock Down! - Judgment Day - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 4:39 pm: “I though you said this was going to be as easy as landing on the infield grass at US Cellular. Oh. It is…” - Arthur Andersen - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 4:46 pm: Since Rich probably has a winner, indulge me.. “I said call Triple A, not AA! He’ll tell everybody.” - Arthur Andersen - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 5:15 pm: “By thy rivers gently flowing, Illinois, Illinois..” - Du Jour - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 7:28 pm: Yoda: Do… or do not. There is no try. [Using the Force, Yoda effortlessly frees the helicopter from the mud] Pat: I don’t, I don’t believe it. Yoda: That is why you fail. - Just The Way It Is One - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 7:31 pm: A nearby flooded Resident yelled out (respectfully) to Pat Quinn as he continued his tour through flood-ravaged Communities throughout all regions of Illinois, his Official State Helicopter landed in the flood-inundated Aurora field and immediately sunk, “Now you know how it REALLY feels, Governor!!!” Upon departure from the aircraft and proceeding to muddy his shoes, as is his habit, Mr. Quinn, in his Patriotic, heart-felt gesture, immediately placed his right hand over his heart, waved at the gentleman and blurted, “Got the message there, Sir, and just ’slip-slidin away’ over here, like Paul Simon once sang when he went solo, and, well, if I only had big ol’ SQUEEZY about now to rescue me outta THIS mess, at least he’d be 1 for 2!!!” - Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 10:32 pm: - AA -, “For Best Use of the State Song in a Caption Contest, the Nominees are….” lol - Arthur Andersen - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 10:50 pm: Willy, finally! #nightynight - skyking - Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 2:42 pm: Just pull up on that thing by your left hand and lets get out of here before anybody notices who we are! - Buford Gooch - Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 5:33 pm: Hold my beer and watch me lift the AstroTurf off of this whole field with my helicopter. 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