43 Comments - OneMan - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 8:45 am: Christmas With Rich Miller…. Sometimes the jokes will write themselves… Wish I could make it. - Wordslinger - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 9:03 am: Thank goodness for the Hawks and Bulls. Takes the sting out of the worst Bears team — offense, defense, special teams — in our lifetimes. Cubs and Sox have made the hot-stove league interesting, too. - circularfiringsquad - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 9:09 am: Hope Rahm or Sheriff Dart do the police escort to keep Capt Fax on schedule….maybe chopper? - Norseman - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 9:38 am: Yesterday, Rauner said he might keep some agency directors. I can’t think of who that would/should be. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 9:48 am: Anybody else having issues with the stream? - OneMan - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 9:57 am: Working for me… - ??? - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 9:58 am: It’s working for me, too…. - Namaste - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 10:02 am: Norseman, try not to paint all directors with the same brush you apply to the legislature and executive; there are very good directors out there doing very tough jobs. Sure they’re appointees, but most are experts in their fields and committed to serving the people. - Norseman - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 10:10 am: Namaste, name a couple. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 10:15 am: Bluestream was not working for me. Would lag after about 2 minutes. Tried in Safari and Firefox. Switched to WGN stream and it has been working fine. Odd. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 10:21 am: Where is the stream link? - Namaste - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 10:23 am: Rocco Claps, Department of Human Rights Hiram Grau, State Police Larry Matkaitas, Fire Marshall Mark Miller, DNR - Knome Sane - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 10:23 am: Norseman, I’ll name one: Rocco Claps, Director of the Department on Human Rights. Director Claps has transformed that office and served admirably. He deserves to stay on, should that be his preference. - Give Me A Break - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 10:32 am: I will add DHS Secretary Michelle Saddler to the list of those I hope are kept. She has held DHS togother through millions of dollars of budget cuts while the demands for DHS services increased. And you won’t find a more honest or caring person to serve the population DHS serves. - x ace - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 10:40 am: ” Think About It, Emulate It ” powerful message from Mr. Miller - Peoria Guy - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 10:52 am: Sometimes we get so cynical about state government that we want to condemn all that work there as incompetent political hacks. That just isn’t true. There are many good, hard working and competent state employees. - Del Clinkton - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 11:27 am: Bruce’s experience as a pizza parlor manager should help him in determining which staff should stay or go, when he starts the new job. - walker - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 12:06 pm: Usually don’t pay much attention to hot stove league hype. But this year I am actually sucked in to the idea that the Sox might have one of the best pitching staffs top to bottom, and good hitting. They will contend. - Mokenavince - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 12:06 pm: ==== Peoria Guy=== Name a few that aren’t hacks. - Demoralized - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 12:42 pm: @Mokenavince So basically what you are saying is that everybody in state government is a hack. Did I get that right? Dope - Toure's Latte - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 12:51 pm: Geez, Rich ducks out to do a few talks and the kids start hitting each other. Relax guys. Go get a toy and take it to your favorite charity. - Team Sleep - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 1:07 pm: Moke - pretty sure Peoria Guy was referencing the entirety of the state workforce. I can see Rocco Clapps staying on. Jonathan Monken would definitely make sense - as would Rodrigo Garcia. But other than that - who? I am not basing that on ability or on what we think should happen. I am looking at it from a clearly political and pragmatic standpoint. Rich, you did a great job today. Awesome speech and very heartfelt. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 1:19 pm: Moke. In just one sentence you’ve defined your personality - Worth It - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 1:33 pm: Rich, you did a very nice job today at the service. - William j Kelly - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 1:40 pm: Great job Rich! - Nikkyname - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 1:41 pm: Rich, You were great at the service! - Richard Afflis - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 2:08 pm: Rich, Great job today. You brought the much needed intelligent wit and reverence to the occasion. Judy is probably giving that warm, loving smile to you right now. - phocion - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 2:26 pm: Rich was good. But I think JBT would be laughing harder at Roe Cahn’s comments. - Stones - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 2:51 pm: Mokenavince - Bite me! - Arizona Bob - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 2:53 pm: @ Peoria guy =Sometimes we get so cynical about state government that we want to condemn all that work there as incompetent political hacks. That just isn’t true. There are many good, hard working and competent state employees.= I agree Peoria. I would agrue, though, that the higher up the org chart you go, the more political, and more incompetent, the employeees become….. - 21st State - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 3:11 pm: City Club address was once-again one for the archives — everyone be sure to check out the podcast and be there March 1st for the Polar Plunge to benefit Special Olympics you are a treasure Rich — thanks for your dedication to your immensely important work — my law students wouldn’t learn the same without it! to your challenge re JBT: I will try emulate her belief in her self and her abilities merry+happy everyone — here’s to the Christmas w Rich Miller address in December 2015! - Anonymous - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 3:19 pm: Julie Hamos at HFS. Has done more for that agency than anyone since Edgar. The lobbyists for the special interest hospitals did everything they could to destroy her. She held to HER principles and the State of Illinois is better for it. - walker - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 4:02 pm: Also a Julie Hamos fan. She got serious pressure from all sides, while dealing with big funding and policy challenges, and she moved forward for the good of the state. - buckle up - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 4:10 pm: You gave the best remarks for JBT’s Memorial. Funny and from the heart. - Amalia - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 5:15 pm: it is difficult to deliver remarks at a memorial service, and even more difficult when one is in the midst of a bunch of well known public figures. you showed your feelings well, Rich. - Wordslinger - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 5:21 pm: Couldn’t tune in today. But reading Rick Pearson’s story just now, Big Jim and Bill Holland went yard, taking it beyond parties, beyond politics, beyond personalities, and putting it on all of us: What are you doing for the folks right now and how are you going to leave it better than you found it for those that come after you? Really, those are the only questions for all of us, always. Splendid behavior. Appropriate. Give it a think and act accordingly. - Norseman - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 5:30 pm: === Julie Hamos at HFS. Has done more for that agency than anyone since Edgar. The lobbyists for the special interest hospitals did everything they could to destroy her. She held to HER principles and the State of Illinois is better for it. === I like Julie too, but you’ve outlined some of the reasons I don’t believe she will be a holdover. I also seem to recall Rich relating stories about her feuding with black caucus. Not a good thing since Rauner will be looking to please black friends where he can. I’m not impressed with Saddler when I’ve been to meetings she has attended. - sss - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 5:40 pm: No chance Hamos survives. Keep a Democratic former legislator in the largest or second-largest agency? Not gonna happen. If anything, she will be replaced by a Republican legislator. Nice pay bump. - DaBears - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 6:38 pm: JIMMY CLAUSEN *clap clap clap clap clap* - Wordslinger - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 7:03 pm: Heard on the radio today that Daniel Snyder wants to trade for Jay Cutler. It’s a Festivus Miracle! Can’t think of two people who deserve each other more. A match made in mediocrity. Tried to think of a better Christmas wish…….. Peace on Earth? How about Jay Cutler and Peace on Earth for Kirk Cousins? Or just Kirk Cousins? Maybe we can get Peace on Earth in the draft. Let’s not get greedy and take any chances on unloading Cutler. - A modest proposal - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 7:09 pm: Imagine that roster, Kirk cousins, jay cutler, and Rg3 - railrat - Wednesday, Dec 17, 14 @ 8:41 pm: Nice sincere remarks Rich, interesting had to take place where the Mayor of Chicago is considered “Judas” the Governor elect of Ill. has been denigrated verbally and openly by this union 150, but I guess illusion and money do define Illinois politics. - Wordslinger - Thursday, Dec 18, 14 @ 10:30 am: Jay is like Jeff George. Million dollar arm, ten cent brain. Never had the discipline or commitment to master his craft. I actually seek out Packer games for the pleasure of watching Aaron Rogers do his thing. How sick is that? Just heard the former Golden Domer golden child gets the nod versus the Lions.Mr. Clausen, Meet Mr. Suh, lol. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.