* This will be the first of a few Illinois State Fair photos that we’ll do captions for today. Hey, it’s Friday, so I’m gonna try to keep it light today.
Governor Quinn Declares August 14 as “Toby Keith Day”
Keith presented with a proclamation
WHEREAS, Illinois is a leader in supporting the arts, and has always been an important component of the artistic fabric of our state; and,
WHEREAS, there are few forms of music more purely American than the country music genre; and,
WHEREAS, country music, with its themes of rural life, family, hard work, and love for country speaks to Midwestern ideals and Illinois residents can relate to its message; and,
WHEREAS, a country musician who has experienced great success in this genre is Toby Keith; and,
WHEREAS, Toby Keith was born in Clinton, Oklahoma to parents Joan and Hubert; and,
WHEREAS, Toby Keith began playing music at a young age after being inspired by musicians who worked at his grandmother’s supper club; and,
WHEREAS, prior to starting a career in music, Toby Keith worked in the oil industry and played in the USFL football league. His debut album, “Toby Keith,” produced the most played country song of the 1990s, “Should’ve Been A Cowboy”; and,
WHEREAS, his follow up records, Boomtown and Blue Moon, were equally successful due to hits “Who’s That Man” and “Me Too”; and,
WHEREAS, Toby Keith’s 2002 album, Unleashed, sold 3 million copies and included a duet with Willie Nelson, “Beer For My Horses”; and,
WHEREAS, Toby Keith’s albums have sold more than 36 million copies, ranking him among the top-selling genre artists on Billboard’s Top 200 artists of the Decade; and,
WHEREAS, Toby Keith, aside from enormous commercial success, has received critical acclaim and industry awards including the Songwriter/Artist of the Decade distinction from the Nashville Songwriters Association International as well as the American Country Awards’ Artist of the Decade distinction; and,
WHEREAS, Toby Keith is strongly committed to our nation’s veterans and in 2008 played 18 shows for U.S. troops in the Persian Gulf as a part of a U.S.O. Tour; and,
WHEREAS, Toby Keith will perform at the Grandstand of the Illinois State Fair on Wednesday, August 14th at 8:00 pm; and,
THEREFORE, I, Pat Quinn, Governor of the State of Illinois, do hereby proclaim August 14, 2013 as TOBY KEITH DAY in Illinois in recognition of his tremendous musical success and contributions to the country music genre and industry.
* Keith thanked the governor for the honor during his concert the other night. He seemed genuinely touched. Quinn presented the proclamation to him backstage before the show. The photo…
- OneMan - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 9:54 am:
Mr. Keith was surprised to find that the presentation also included an appointment to the board of Metra…
- ChicagoR - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 9:56 am:
The singer of “A Little Less Talk and a Lot More Action” comes to “Opposite Day” at the state fair.
- Norseman - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 9:56 am:
Thanks for the paper Gov, now give me my $300,000.
- Anonanon - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 9:57 am:
“Quinn plays trump card after Rauner lays down his Carhartt jacket”
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 9:57 am:
Tonight, I’m gonna dedicate a song to my good friend Governor Quinn here… “A Little Less Talk and A Lot More Action!”
- Mr. Jim Lahey - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 9:57 am:
WHEREAS, in honor of Toby Keith day, the first Monday following August 14th of each year shall be a State Holiday.
- John A Logan - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 9:58 am:
Toby Keith Participates in a ceremony officially announcing him as Pat Quinn’s running mate.
- Sox fan - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 9:58 am:
Thank you, Governor. Now where do I find the beer for my horses?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 9:59 am:
“With this proclamation, I congratulate Speaker Toby Keith!”
Glorious Leader Quinn gives Toby Keith a Proclamation after re-writing the state song titled, “Pat Quinn”
Bill Zwecker congratulates Toby Keith on his proclamation, as Gov. Quinn giggles off camera.
- Anonymous - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 10:00 am:
“That’s what you do when you do what I do.”
- Give Me A Break - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 10:00 am:
Mr. Keith smiles unware he has just been proclaimed the Gov’s running mate.
- Give Me A Break - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 10:01 am:
Sorry John Logan, didn’t see your post until after I posted.
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 10:02 am:
“Blue Solo Guv
Can’t Get No Love
From His Own Part-yyyyyyyy”
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 10:02 am:
“Pat Solo Dem…”
- MrJM - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 10:02 am:
‘Cos we’ll put a foot in our mouth, it’s the Illinois way.
– MrJM
- SIUPROF - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 10:02 am:
Governor Quinn presents Toby Keith with a copy of his veto that withholds his pay for the performance at the Illinois State Fair until after he sings about pension reform.
- BleugrassBoy - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 10:03 am:
Sadly, this is among Governor Quinn’s top 5 accomplishments so far.
- Reality Check - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 10:04 am:
MrJM +1
- OneMan - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 10:04 am:
As much as he tried to smile about the fancy form it came in Mr. Keith was not thrilled to find out he would be paid in 95 days…
- dupage dan - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 10:04 am:
One Man - that’s a good one!
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 10:06 am:
- Ron Burgundy -,
Apologies, you beat me to it.
Geez, everyone is on their game big-time this morning!
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 10:08 am:
Indeed Willy. No sweat, I tripped over ChicagoR myself earlier.
- Dirty Red - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 10:10 am:
“Thank you, Governor, and thank you to the communications intern that wrote this proclamation while everyone else in the office was enjoying this beautiful day at the fair.”
A spokesman for John Mayer said he could not repeat the performer’s reaction.
“I got the idea for my proclamations shortly after I learned they reuse the butter every year.”
- Bill - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 10:13 am:
The frame we really wanted was out of stock at Hobby Lobby.
- Rufus - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 10:13 am:
Toby Keith smiles as he is unaware that 4% of his $300,000 check was taken out for his pension. “When he qualifies for the rule of 85, he can retire.” Says Gov. Quinn. “That should be around 2057.”
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 10:19 am:
Toby Keith poses with the winner of the State of Illinois’ “All Hat No Cattle” Contest.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 10:20 am:
Gov. Pat Quinn presents Toby Keith with Squeezy the Pension Python’s breeding papers, after Mr. Keith won with the highest bid. Squeezy himself will be shipped to Mr. Keith’s home after the Fair ends.
- Tommydanger - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 10:25 am:
The Governor is pictured deeding over the State of Illinois to Toby Keith on behalf of George Thorogood for the rights to the song, “One bourbon, one scotch, one beer”. Said Keith, “I think George got hosed on this one.”
- x ace - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 10:30 am:
Campaign Directive : Photo Shop Plaid Shirt and BassPro Hat on PQ and Circulate Heavy So. of I -70
- Anon. - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 10:31 am:
Former reformer Pat Quinn hands Toby Keith his Illinois voter registration.
- wordslinger - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 10:33 am:
“I ain’t as goo-goo as I once was.”
- AlphaBettor - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 10:34 am:
A country music star who’s also a Democrat. This is Pat Quinn’s dream running mate.
- Nuclear Badger - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 10:35 am:
“So you’re saying, that because you’re giving me this proclamation, I won’t get paid for another ten months.”
- The End Is Near - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 10:35 am:
On a related note, Sheila Simon announced yesterday that she plans to run for banjo player in Toby Keith’s band and will begin a month-long listening tour of Toby Keith concerts next week.
- Anonymous - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 10:37 am:
‘Cause pensions are the one thing
You should always fund
You gotta saddle up your boys
You gotta draw a hard line
If the Speaker’ll call it,
We’ll sing a victory tune
And we’ll all meet back
At Boone’s saloon
- Arthur Andersen - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 10:39 am:
“What do you mean, I’m getting paid in Pension Obligation Bonds?”
- Voice of Reason - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 10:43 am:
How did Rauner get the Ford logo in the background??
- Dan S, a Cubs fan - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 10:51 am:
Now I’ll smoke weed with Willie again.
- Todd - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 11:04 am:
ah toby about that boot in the ass it’s the American way thing, how do you do that? I want to try it.
- Mason born - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 11:07 am:
Quinn desperate to show he can accomplish something anything in office proclaims Toby Keith Day. Toby smiles takes sheet and get’s the Hello out of IL.
- Endangered Moderate Species - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 11:08 am:
“I should’ve been a cowboy.”
- Just Sayin - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 11:11 am:
No offense to mr Keith, but why an out of stater? Alison Krauss is from il, and a better signer and musician to boot
how about we recognize some of our homegrown talent in il as part of promoting our state!
- Rich Miller - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 11:14 am:
===No offense to mr Keith, but why an out of stater? ===
Oh, for crying out loud. Some people will complain about anything.
- zatoichi - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 11:19 am:
It’s the 43 photo of the meet and greet and Toby is still working it for the camera. A real pro.
- Calhoun Native - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 11:27 am:
Not a caption but a little nugget:
After his appearance at the State Fair, Brian Hyland (”Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini”, “Sealed With A Kiss”) was said to be so impressed with our fair city he penned a song about Springfield.
Here’s a link: http://www.45cat.com/record/4517105
Ok Toby, the pressure is on now.
- My Thoughts For Whatever - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 11:57 am:
Maybe Governor Quinn could join Toby and Jimmy Buffett on their new song “Too Drunk to Karoke” !!
- OneMan - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 11:58 am:
== No offense to mr Keith, but why an out of stater? Alison Krauss is from il, and a better signer and musician to boot
how about we recognize some of our homegrown talent in il as part of promoting our state! ==
Well as I hope you realize Illinois celebrates Cheap Trick day every April 1st as well as it should.
Also not being a country music fan but as someone who has seen REO Speedwagon and Styx on the same bill at the fair I just have to say,
Really dude…
- Anonymous - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 12:20 pm:
As John Kass coo’s.
“I’m just a middle-aged, middle-western cattle herdin’ man.
I got a little, 2 bedroom trailer here in Middle Madiganistan.
Things used to be real nice and they got out of hand when they moved in.
They call themselves the Outfit, man
(ooooo yeah the Outfit,man)
- unclesam - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 12:27 pm:
Toby Keith smiles as he shows the official documentation that Pat Quinn is of no relation.
- Mouthy - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 12:48 pm:
“My horse eats these”.
- Dirty Red - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 12:58 pm:
= No offense to mr Keith, but why an out of stater? =
Because Wilco was previously committed.
- Friday night! - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 1:18 pm:
Pq: where’d you get that shirt, this one Daley gave me shows my pits.
Tl: Dude, that shirts not gonna fix you problems.
- Precinct Captain - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 3:07 pm:
Toby, I know you’re a country music star and all but occasionally, I wanna talk about me!
- Just The Way It Is One - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 3:57 pm:
Boy, over the years, left and right, the Gov. does really like/get a kick out of passing those Proclamations out! Good for Toby/glad it made his day!
Hey, I know–maybe, better yet, Pat Quinn should award one to his annual, personal-favorite CAP FAX Commenter, or, even BETter than that, something to the effect of: “WHEREAS many of us here who live and work and/or play in the Land of Lincoln and actually take the TIME to give a hoot to COMment on matters of interest and importance to the esteemed Citizens of Illinois, to “ALL Capitol Fax.com Commenters, and to the BlogMaster” of course as well, pick your day, Guv., and issue a “Proclamation” to All of Us…! (Or do ya have to be or do something ultra-special, like be famous or popular, or sing on the Main Stage of the State Fair or somethin’–not fair)…?!
- Hickory - Friday, Aug 16, 13 @ 4:22 pm:
Toby - When do I get my $300 grand?