Perhaps her finest moment
Thursday, Dec 11, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Rest in peace, JBT…
…Adding… From Oswego Willy in comments…
If I couldn’t tell someone about Judy Baar Topinka, and I could only be able to show a video to demonstrate all that made her special, can’t think of a better one;
She spoke from the heart.
She gave credit to others, deflecting her own role.
She talked and praised cooperation.
She reminded us all it’s about accomplishing something.
She talked about doing the right thing.
She used humor.
She was brutally honest about failings.
She laughed. She was a cheerleader. She was reflective.
She was also concise.
Judy Baar Topinka, in less than 4 minutes, gave us everything that made her so special, so unique, so precious.
This video of Judy Baar Topinka crystallized her persona in one special moment.
I was choked up watching it. This was arguably Judy Baar Topinka’s finest hour, and arguably the best enduring image of who Judy Baar Topinka was, and how lucky, how incredibly lucky, we were to have her working to make Illinois better.
I’m going to miss her something awful.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Dec 11, 14 @ 10:13 am:
If I couldn’t tell someone about Judy Baar Topinka, and I could only be able to show a video to demonstrate all that made her special, can’t think of a better one;
She spoke from the heart.
She gave credit to others, deflecting her own role.
She talked and praised cooperation.
She reminded us all it’s about accomplishing something.
She talked about doing the right thing.
She used humor.
She was brutally honest about failings.
She laughed. She was a cheerleader. She was reflective.
She was also concise.
Judy Baar Topinka, in less than 4 minutes, gave us everything that made her so special, so unique, so precious.
This video of Judy Baar Topinka crystallized her persona in one special moment.
I was chocked up watching it. This was arguably Judy Baar Topinka’s finest hour, and arguably the best enduring image of who Judy Baar Topinka was, and how lucky, how incredibly lucky, we were to have her working to make Illinois better.
I’m going to miss her something awful.
- ??? - Thursday, Dec 11, 14 @ 10:19 am:
After watching that, I adore her even more. RIP, Judy. I miss you terribly already.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Dec 11, 14 @ 10:24 am:
I’m honored to have attended to have attended that event and fortunate to have heard her speak. She stood up courageously and with a big heart. She pretty much won me over that day, even though I didn’t know much about her.
- dr. reason a. goodwin - Thursday, Dec 11, 14 @ 10:32 am:
Classic JBT. RIP
- Legal eagle - Thursday, Dec 11, 14 @ 10:36 am:
The Best in every way possible she will be missed
- Team Sleep - Thursday, Dec 11, 14 @ 10:38 am:
Great speech. I remember her speech when President Bush came to Springfield in early November 2002. “You gotta watch the money, honey, or else we’re in trouble!”
I remember when she attended the bill signing and spoke. Quite a few people I know were questioning how a GOP official could “break with the party platform”. My response was simple: creating a party with a big tent means not closing off the entrance to the tent. Growing our party means embracing everyone - even if the “platform” gets knocked down.
I’m going to miss JBT tremendously.
- anon - Thursday, Dec 11, 14 @ 11:28 am:
What is significant is the courage she showed in doing what she felt was right, even though it incurred right-wing wrath. I’ll never forget how her ‘06 campaign was undermined by the far right in her party.
- Will23 - Thursday, Dec 11, 14 @ 11:53 am:
Definitely had some tears watching that.
- Sunshine - Thursday, Dec 11, 14 @ 12:09 pm:
One can only imagine the line of folks waiting to greet her on the other side. Our loss, their gain. She will be sorely missed!
- MrJM - Thursday, Dec 11, 14 @ 12:48 pm:
And if you needed a single picture to say 1,000 words, this one from the Tribune’s Nancy Stone hasta near the top: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B4gCvymCMAEfakh.jpg
– MrJM
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Dec 11, 14 @ 12:50 pm:
Yup.
The had been the only thing going after Ryan and Blagojevich which showed us that the Illinois GOP had a pulse.
The Illinois Republican party lost their best. Judy had to fight those stone cold old white men with the Grinch hearts just to be included on a campaign flier for ILGOP. I remember hearing remarks from the GOP about how she embarrassed them. She was on her own among those nabobs, but fortunately not on her own within Illinois. I never could figure out why they had no respect for their female candidates as they should.
ILGOP didn’t deserve the ladies who worked hard to succeed within it over the past 30 years. They had a female US Senator with Loleta Didricksen and a female Illinois governor with Judy. They deliberately sabotaged both and proved that they would rather lose an important political office with a man nominated than win one with a lady.
ILGOP deserves it’s Whig status.
- Barton Lorimor - Thursday, Dec 11, 14 @ 1:18 pm:
Well said, OW.
- workerbee - Thursday, Dec 11, 14 @ 1:34 pm:
That was great. Thanks for posting it.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Dec 11, 14 @ 2:07 pm:
Thanks Barton, appeciate that.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Dec 11, 14 @ 2:14 pm:
Thank you Rich for placing my comment in you updated post.
Your choice in video was very powerful, I’m glad it’s out there for all of us to remember.
- Black Ivy - Thursday, Dec 11, 14 @ 3:32 pm:
With all due respect to the late, great Judy Baar Topinka, I would not call supporting same sex marriage as her finest moment. Many in her party opposed this movement on moral and religious grounds and she opted to be co-opted by this movement, rather than stand for her party.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Dec 11, 14 @ 3:37 pm:
===she opted to be co-opted by this movement, rather than stand for her party.===
LOL
Another goofball heard from.
She shoulda put party over principle, eh?
- Demoralized - Thursday, Dec 11, 14 @ 3:40 pm:
==Many in her party opposed this movement on moral and religious grounds ==
So. She’s not allowed to have an opinion. You a member of the purity police waiting in the wings to beat down anybody that doesn’t agree with the party platform 100% of the time?
==rather than stand for her party.==
I think that says a lot about her . . . and you. That you value party above all else while she was a genuine person who wasn’t afraid to do what she felt was right, regardless of her party label.
==she opted to be co-opted by this movement==
You don’t think she might of, you know, actually agreed with the movement? That a foreign concept to you?
You are a grade A dope.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Dec 11, 14 @ 3:49 pm:
Attention - Black Ivy -
Your political party, it isn’t your religion.
Purity is a religion thing, diversity of thought is a healthy political thing.
Judy Baar Topinka, almost single-handedly, rebuffed a stigma that is touted by a 4-62 ILGOP GA voting against SSM.
If you choose party of your principles you deserve neither a strong diverse party or having any principles to lead it.
- Just an Ordinary Lawyer - Thursday, Dec 11, 14 @ 4:16 pm:
It takes a special person to bring tears of sadness to the eyes of cynical political commenters. I hope we all have Judy Barr Topinka moments in our lives
- Anonymous - Thursday, Dec 11, 14 @ 4:26 pm:
My view is that her greatest moment was in July 1991 when she publicly challenged the attempt by Sen Emil Jones to have City Treasurer Miriam Santos removed as “ex-officio” member of the city employees pension board. Her successful challenge led to Gov. Edgar’s veto restoring Santos to the position. Then, later in 2013 as State Comptroller Ms Topinka certified financial evidence to clear Santos — in effect, going against Rahm, Rauner, Sanguinetti, and her own Party. Ms. Topinka was is DEFINED by those things.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Dec 11, 14 @ 4:54 pm:
Here is a HuffPost article on JBT and gay rights, which links this thread and mentions Willy’s great comment. Awesome.
http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/6310764?ir=Chicago&ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000059