73 Comments - PublicServant - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 10:42 am: The 2nd photo looks like he’s used to burying his head in the sand. Not healthy for the state, or, if he stayed there long enough, him either. - Anon - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 10:42 am: The money raised is fantastic. But it was raised so we could see you plunge! I’d say you owe us a Cunningham-style faceplant! - circularfiringsquad - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 10:43 am: what a beautiful way to remember this important charitable event - VanillaMan - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 10:46 am: Hey - some folks go full submersion during a baptism and some go for a sprinkle. It is still a baptism, sir! I am also not seeing you singing, “Shall We Gather By The River” when you are doing this either - so forgo the holier-than-thou. Rich - you are saved. At least ankle down. - I'm New Here - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 10:46 am: Rich, I don’t think the water made it above your ankles. We’re used to broken promises from elected officials. But from our favorite statehouse reporter? - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 10:49 am: I never promised to go all in. Not once. Not ever. - Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 10:50 am: “Sen. Bill Cunningham was treated and released from Northwestern Hospital after accidentally falling into Lake Michigan this morning face-first during the annual “Polar Plunge.” - Nearly Normal - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 10:50 am: Caption: Anybody see my contact lens out there? Let me see if I can find it. - Old Shepherd - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 10:50 am: “Frightened swimmers flee in fear when a great white senator was spotted in Lake Michigan.” - PublicServant - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 10:52 am: When someone says they were in the top 15, you can be pretty sure that means that they were in 15th place, but we were in the top 15 sounds a lot better. Congratulations in any case Rich. I’m just sensitive to rankings having just gone through my 3rd child’s college application process…again. - Bill Cunningham - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 10:53 am: You’re right, Rich. The Special Olympics will probably take your fundraising ability over my belly-flopping prowess any day. I’ll kick in $200 in the name of the caption contest winner. And kudos to the other General Assembly members who took the Polar Plunge: Fran Hurley, Ann Williams, and John Mulroe. - Frosty-The Snowman - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 10:55 am: They say “Real men” only splash water in their face unless they can see huge blocks of ice the size of icebergs floating in the water alongside of them while polar bears swim nearby. Our senior ladies sewing circle totally understands your timidity and hesitation to “catch a cold”, Mr. Miller. Now you make sure that you eat the chicken soup that we girls are sending to you. - A guy... - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 10:55 am: Caption: See Bill Cunningham searching for Rich Miller’s ankles”. - 3rd Generation Chicago Native - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 10:57 am: Look at everyone running away they must think he is some sea/lake creature. - Stones - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 11:00 am: “Sen. Cunningham still picking sand from between his teeth. Note to self: next time try diving into something deeper than 3 inches” - Credibility - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 11:01 am: -I never promised to go all in. Not once. Not ever.- Probably should’ve put that disclaimer in there. Did you violate the pure language of plunge? Maybe not. But you certainly violated the spirit of the plunge. Kudos on the fundraising, it’s truly admirable, but the credibility issue may cause some folks to ask questions the next time you solicit donations in exchange for something you say you will do. - logchain - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 11:02 am: I think helping to raise money for charities is a great thing, but this seems to me to be a risky way to do it. Just wondering how many people will get sick from doing it! It AIN’T a normal thing to do! Rich, you are the smartest one of the bunch. LOL - Midstate Indy - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 11:04 am: Bill Cunningham: the only thing in Illinois government more underwater than GARS. - OneMan - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 11:06 am: Senator Cunningham discovers the most effective way to get away from political ads for the next two weeks. - Norseman - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 11:07 am: Another legislator flops as the people head in the opposite direction. - OneMan - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 11:08 am: Well Senator you can either listen to Governor Quinn talk about what he wants to do for the people of Illinois, fine and true or go jump into Lake Michigan…. - OneMan - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 11:09 am: Senator can you pose for a picture with Governor Quinn… - teddy salad - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 11:13 am: COMMINIG TO THEATERS….. March 2….. AQUA SENATOR II……. RISE OF THE FACE SPLASHERS. - Loop Lady - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 11:13 am: “Dammit, that fish took my bait again”… - S&P - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 11:17 am: Credit ratings aren’t the only thing sinking in Chicago. - Superanon - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 11:17 am: Senator… Senator, this committee owes an apology! This committee owes an apology, Senator!” - PERPLEXED - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 11:17 am: “If the Pension Reform I voted for doesn’t pass constitutional scrutiny…I’ll just drown myself! - lake county democrat - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 11:20 am: My mom asked if my friends jumped off a bridge would I do it too - take that mom! - 47th Ward - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 11:21 am: It’s an old Sicilian message. It means Senator Cunningham sleeps with the fishes. - Timmeh - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 11:23 am: Caption: “SHARK!” - Mokenavince - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 11:23 am: Your quote Rich reminds me of the great statesman Bill Clinton’s I never had sex with that woman. It’ all good fun and the Special Olympics did great. - Under Further Review - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 11:26 am: Rich Miller was an “Army of One.” He got his feet wet for charity and that is good enough. - Ryan_W - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 11:27 am: Senator Bill Cunningham found himself underwater at Tuesday’s Polar Plunge, but unlike the State of Illinois, he was able to get back out. - AFSCME Steward - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 11:34 am: The old debate: Are you a sprinkler or a dunker ? - vttk17a1 - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 11:35 am: “Now where exactly did that money go that we saved with Senate Bill 1?” - Mittuns - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 11:37 am: They all float down here, Georgie… - AFSCME Steward - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 11:39 am: Swamp Person Bill Cunningham practicing bare-handed Alligator catchin’ - LincolnLounger - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 11:42 am: Going the wrong direction and over his head, Sen. Cunningham sets an example for members of the Illinois General Assembly in the 2014 Polar Plunge. - OneMan - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 11:51 am: The senator was disappointed that even fully submerged he was unable to see the 2 square inches of skin Miller got wet… - AFSCME Steward - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 12:00 pm: Senator, so if someone tells you to go jump in the lake… - Mittuns - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 12:03 pm: In an alternate reality where state obligations were met, Sen. Cunningham wades into the shallow waters of the state’s pension “problem” - r - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 12:19 pm: This is what can happen when southsiders head North of Madison. - Stones - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 12:23 pm: Marco / Polo - Michelle Flaherty - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 12:24 pm: Everytime Sen. Cunningham pushes his “green” button in the Senate, these images run through his mind. - Michelle Flaherty - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 12:32 pm: Bill Cunningham demonstrates what it’s like to vote against the Speaker. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 12:33 pm: Unknownst to the crowd, Sen. Bill Cunningham was the 2014 choice to begin preparations in Chicago to turn the Chicago river green for the St. Patrick’s Day parade by taking the temperature of the Lake. Days after, Chicago announced the river will run green even if it is frozen. - KGB - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 12:36 pm: Sen. Cunningham is still searching high and low for answers to the budget crisis. - Pete - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 12:41 pm: After spotting something shiny, Bill dove in with hopes of another Saddle Ridge Hoard! - Republicrat - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 12:49 pm: Mr. Miller tells Sen. Cunningham “bite me.!” Sen Cunningham goes in search of his ankles to complete the task! - Nuclear Bozo - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 12:51 pm: Sen. Cunningham decides to look for an early smelt run. - Sangamon GOP - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 12:55 pm: As the rest of the Illinois GOP primary moved on, Dan Rutherford was left in an awkward position. - MrJM - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 12:56 pm: “Legislator!” “Legislator?!? Aaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!” (With apologies to Brian Doyle-Murray, Harold Ramis and Douglas Kenney.) – MrJM - Jeff Trigg - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 12:59 pm: Does freezing Lake Michigan water stimulate the growth of hair? Ask Sen. Cunningham. - VanillaMan - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 1:23 pm: “Splish Splash” written by Bobby Darin, enhanced by VanillaMan Splish, splash I was diving for cash Long about a Saturday morn… yeah! Rub-a-dub Just pretendin’ I’m a sub Almost as naked as the day I was born. Well… I stepped into the lake And my knees began to quake But I made the kids a promise And God knows I’m not a fake. And… then-a… squash, squish My nads then made a wish Well… how were they to know The Polar Plunge was on. They were freakin’ and a shreakin’ Reelin’ with the feelin’ Freezing into jelly Tryin’ to get into my belly… yeah! Bing, bang I saw the whole gang Pretending to be having fun… yeah… Slip slop The lifeguards a Chicago cop Figurin’ how to work a frozen gun. There was Tiny Dancer with-a Jimmy Fallon He’s wearing a business suit and really yellin’ A-well-a…. swim, swum My feet got really numb And I tripped, falling onto my face… yea! I was a freakin’ and a shreakin’ Reelin’ with the feelin’ The icy water freezin’ I’m finding Miller n’ teasin’… yeah! Yes… I was a posing for some selfies Playin’ on ice shelfies Yeah… I was a movin’ and a groovin’ … woo! We were a reelin’ with the freezin’… ha! We were a rollin’ and a strollin’ Movin’ with the groovin’ Splish, splash… yeah! I was a splishin’ and a splashin’… one time… I was a splishin’ and a splashin’… woo-woo! I was a movin’ and a-groovin’… - Nonplussed - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 1:26 pm: The Senator as a child. http://i.imgur.com/UFowGyM.gif - Boone's is Back - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 1:26 pm: Sen. Cunningham face-plants on fundraising efforts - Jake From Elwood - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 1:40 pm: “State Rep puts his head in the sand amidst troubled waters” - RNUG - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 1:45 pm: From “The Luckiest” written by Benjamin Scott Folds … I don’t get many things right the first time In fact, I am told that a lot Now I know all the wrong turns The stumbles and falls brought me here - RNUG - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 1:52 pm: Sen. Bill Cunningham auditions for shortstop with the Chicago Cubs - A guy... - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 1:57 pm: The GPS says Chuck Goudie is here. - Bonsaso - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 2:10 pm: On Day 2 of Senator Cunnigham’s swimming lesson, he works on floating. - Commonsense in Illinois - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 2:25 pm: Damn…it looked shallower…! - Commonsense in Illinois - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 2:25 pm: From “A Christmas Story”… stuck, Stuck, STUCK!!!! - Anonymous - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 3:02 pm: I`m going face noddel ever aisan carp in here. - Robo - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 3:10 pm: “I’m sure the list says this is your voting address.” - Siriusly - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 3:21 pm: “Look there’s a Tyler Flowers baseball card down there!” - Anonymous - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 3:25 pm: 3:02 (every) - zatoichi - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 3:46 pm: Hey, that is sand! - dupage dan - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 3:54 pm: Wrong Way Cunningham begins what turned out to be his first epic swim across Lake Michigan. With the Lake covered nearly 100% in ice, however, this amounted to a 200 yard medley. Obviously, the freestyle leg is not his strongest stroke. - 1776 - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 4:00 pm: The first Asian carp spotted in Lake Michigan. - Walker - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 5:30 pm: “Boodling? I thought you said noodling.” - constituent - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 6:38 pm: trying to tell his a** from a hole in the ground as far as pension reform. - ppanda - Wednesday, Mar 5, 14 @ 7:03 pm: Caption: “Sen. Cunningham (1976-2014). Survived by a loving family, friends, constituents, and 5 inches of water.” Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.