As the many, many reservations I had about Candidate Rauner, at no time, at NO time, did I even think another term of Pat Quinn would be a real alternative to actively cast a vote for on Election Day.
Don’t make me quote the singing of Kelly Clarkson again, although for the yeoman work Emily Miller is doing, I’ll just leave it, for her at…
I may not miss the man, but I do miss pension payments being made, budgets passed in a reasonable amount of time, non profits being funded, and vendors being paid, among other successes. Yes, things can get worse.
With all the increases costs due to the impasse, taxes will ultimately be higher than they would have been had the tax increase continued. So, “for now” sounds about right.
- northernwatersports - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 11:13 am:
If the choice is Yes/No…I’ll pick yes.
We have the ability to see the result of our citizens choice to change and ’shake things up!’ and therefore, the ability to quantify the BR administrations actions as well as their deliberate mis-direction about their ultimate goals and ambitions. Given what we know about how things were with PQ, and how things are now with BR….I advocate for the slow crawl of PQ paying the debts that were (and are still) owed to the pensions, paying down the back-log of unpaid bills, and NOT causing the wide ranging and devastating damage that’s being done by BR.
While PQ may have bumbled his way along the leadership path of Governor, he DID govern. BR has not.
Summary…Be careful what you ask for….you just might get it.
Ask the working poor who need childcare. Ask the drug addicted who need treatment. Ask the poor folks who rely upon the social service safety net. I am confident they would answer in the affirmative.
This mindset disturbs me. Do I miss bad because we have worse? I’m tired of settling for the less incompetent candidate for Governor as my only choice. Illinois deserves better.
I had to hold my nose to vote for him, but now I’d do it gladly and proudly. The government was not good, but incomparably much better to what we have now.
State vendors who aren’t getting paid miss the Quinnster. I bet the road builders and their employees whose projects stopped July 1 miss him too. Had Quinn been elected, the legislature would’ve extended the income tax hike, instead of acceding to Rauner’s demand.
- Not quite a majority - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 11:30 am:
Going from the frying pan into the fire doesn’t really make you miss the frying pan all that much. But you surely appreciate the relative coolness of the hot cast iron to the flames you’re in.
=If they make it retro-active you’ll wish you hadn’t procrastinated.=
Good point. I’m not procrastinating though, these things take time. Trying to talk my father into selling his house and farmland as well. IL real estate/housing is going to take a huge hit in the coming decade.
Reminds me of when I saw the “W miss me yet” sign. Why drag unpopular former leaders into this discussion? Was Pat Quinn a better governor? Yep. Would I prefer someone be governor other than Pat Quinn? Pretty much.
We must not forget that the state ran deficit budgets for at least a decade and resorted to year-after-year of magic tricks, borrowing, gimmicks, one-time revenues, and deferrals to pass what we charitably called a “budget.” Programs were being funded, but there’s a shelf life for how long poor fiscal practices can continue. Many people didn’t care because at least the wheel continued to turn. You can’t do that forever. In the end, math wins. Those that support additional revenue from an income tax increase should at least acknowledge that it should have been done early last decade when it became clear that spending was outstripping revenues and the pension payment was increasing. Those with power chose to wait, and then passed a temporary income tax increase with a promise that it would phase-out. They also chose to wait before beginning to cut spending. These were all choices and time is money. Returning to deficit budgets and just trying to hold things together from one year to the next instead of resolving significant structural issues is not something worth returning to. The poor choices made over the last 15-20 years is why the state is in its present predicament. Had the structural revenue issues been resolved last decade, there wouldn’t be a Governor Rauner. Politically and economically, the system was crashing and was ripe for a “correction.” If Quinn were still Governor, we MIGHT have a balanced budget this year based upon an income tax increase extension, but the same dynamic would have continued going forward and spending would likely have continued to outpace revenues (i.e., pension payment) despite the passage of annual budgets. We need a long-term plan for our state, not a “let’s get through this year and the next election” approach. Didn’t work. Won’t work. We deserve better.
You see, it is important that we always reflect on our past, because our past is what we are, and what we are can tell us where we are going, and the place we need to be going is not the place that we are, and in order to get to that we need to focus on the work, and Pat Quinn is working night and day until we get to that place, and that place is where the will of the people is the law of the land, and Pat Quinn knows what the will of the people is, and when he makes his return to public life, if that is he has ever really left it, he’ll be working night and day until the place we are going is the place we need to be.
===Sort of like asking Sox fans if they miss Ozzie Guillen.===
Ozzie is like that crazy girlfriend that you break up with. Then you start dating the normal, really boring Robin. You really start missing the crazy, even though it is not good for you. And knowing that the crazy girl is still single and in-town just drives you crazy. In reality, we need a girlfriend (Sox Manager) who is neither the crazy or the normal boring girl. We just haven’t met her yet….
Rauner is shakin’ and hammerin’ at those lib fossils and their insider earmarks ! When the chattering Springfield political class starts cryin you KNOW you are doing something right ! GO RAUNER !
That old girlfriend says she’ll change when you agree to take her back. Is Ozzie able to cut out the part that was not good? I miss him, and would welcome him back with that promise. He’d break it of course, but you kind of know that when the promise is made.
No, I don’t miss him. I appreciated his financial responsibility but not his lack of leadership. Here’s a better question: are any of other than puppy-rights activists sorry we didn’t vote for Bill Brady back in 2010?
If the only options are Quinn and what we have now…I would rather have Quinn. But, there are any number of other Democrats I’d rather have instead of Quinn. So…no, I don’t miss Quinn, but I also don’t want what we have now.
Gov. Quinn cared little about the disabled and those most vulnerable. He put many into situations where they were abused and neglected, under is plan to “rebalance” the Department of Human Services. Do not miss him one bit! Thanking God every day that he is gone.
Just because I need to break up with my current girlfriend doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to start dating my most recent ex-girlfriend.
Plenty of fish in the sea.
- Student from 10th District - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 1:29 pm:
I supported Rauner. I thought that if Pat Quinn stayed, the Democrats would continue to kick the can down the road. He was the most responsible of the crew down there but I ain’t getting rid of my state legislator. My school says its honoring my MAP grant, but I don’t know how long that will last. I do like that if the Democrats don’t get their act together in 2018-2022, they know we’ll give them the “gift” another Bruce Rauner, we’ll cry uncle together. Do I miss Pat Quinn? Yes. Do I regret voting against him? No. Would I vote for Pat Quinn over BVR in an election today? Yes sir. That being said, I’d give a lot of Democrats in the state legislature the stink eye if they ran against BVR. Bruce might get my vote again, if only to put some piety into the Democrats’ caucus. Lord knows they need it.
Quinn and the Democrat state central committee caused a Gov Rauner victory. They should have selected another dem candidate to run because Quinn was a disaster. Sounds as if the “Greater Palatine area democrats” still don’t get it.
This is like trying to decide which pig farm smells the worst. Are we really to the point where we are longing for the days of prior incompetence to get away from current incompetence?
When it is a choice between incompetence and insufferable I will take incompetence thank you. At least squeezy wasn’t sleazy. In contrast, yes, I miss P.Q.
“Miss Pat Quinn”
I thought this was some type of Katrlyn Jenner swipe.
As a Republican- absolutely don’t miss him. RUN PAT RUN.
- Under Further Review - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 2:07 pm:
I do not miss Quinn. I am not 100% on board with Rauner, but Madigan shares the blame for the current stalemate.
I have friends, including one who formerly interned with a prominent Democratic Congressman. The man is quite liberal, but he told me that he could not support Quinn in good conscience for another term. He did not support Rauner, but he admitted voting against Quinn simply to put him out of office.
I hoped for better days once Blagojevich was impeached, but Quinn proved to be a huge disappointment in his own right for different reasons.
If Dorothy Brown goes down, will Quinn get muddied up in the process? Maybe, maybe not.
- Allen D - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 11:01 am:
NO! I personally do not miss him one bit.
- walker - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 11:01 am:
“Miss a budget yet?”
Better question for the public.
- @MisterJayEm - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 11:03 am:
Never ask a question to which you do not know the answer.
– MrJM
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 11:03 am:
As the many, many reservations I had about Candidate Rauner, at no time, at NO time, did I even think another term of Pat Quinn would be a real alternative to actively cast a vote for on Election Day.
Don’t make me quote the singing of Kelly Clarkson again, although for the yeoman work Emily Miller is doing, I’ll just leave it, for her at…
You had your chance, you blew it…
- Union Man - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 11:03 am:
Absolutely! The previous incompetence wasn’t intentional.
- chi - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 11:05 am:
Yes. No need to be a PQ fan, no need to even like or respect the man or the job he did, to answer affirmatively.
- AC - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 11:05 am:
I may not miss the man, but I do miss pension payments being made, budgets passed in a reasonable amount of time, non profits being funded, and vendors being paid, among other successes. Yes, things can get worse.
- AlabamaShake - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 11:08 am:
In a word: yes.
- Robert the 1st - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 11:08 am:
Nope. Loving the tax cut for now.
- AC - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 11:11 am:
==Loving the tax cut for now.==
With all the increases costs due to the impasse, taxes will ultimately be higher than they would have been had the tax increase continued. So, “for now” sounds about right.
- northernwatersports - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 11:13 am:
If the choice is Yes/No…I’ll pick yes.
We have the ability to see the result of our citizens choice to change and ’shake things up!’ and therefore, the ability to quantify the BR administrations actions as well as their deliberate mis-direction about their ultimate goals and ambitions. Given what we know about how things were with PQ, and how things are now with BR….I advocate for the slow crawl of PQ paying the debts that were (and are still) owed to the pensions, paying down the back-log of unpaid bills, and NOT causing the wide ranging and devastating damage that’s being done by BR.
While PQ may have bumbled his way along the leadership path of Governor, he DID govern. BR has not.
Summary…Be careful what you ask for….you just might get it.
- nona - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 11:13 am:
Ask the working poor who need childcare. Ask the drug addicted who need treatment. Ask the poor folks who rely upon the social service safety net. I am confident they would answer in the affirmative.
- Robert the 1st - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 11:14 am:
=With all the increases costs due to the impasse, taxes will ultimately be higher than they would have been had the tax increase continued.=
They sure will. That’s when I, and many others will simply move.
- Ahoy! - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 11:15 am:
Not at all, we would have a budget, but we would still have the same problems with no end in sight.
- Timmeh - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 11:19 am:
+1 to AC, and I also liked gay marriage and med-mar getting passed.
- @MisterJayEm - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 11:22 am:
“That’s when I, and many others will simply move.”
Don’t wait! Beat the rush!
– MrJM
- Cubs in '16 - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 11:27 am:
“Miss Pat Quinn yet?”
This mindset disturbs me. Do I miss bad because we have worse? I’m tired of settling for the less incompetent candidate for Governor as my only choice. Illinois deserves better.
- UIC Guy - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 11:28 am:
I had to hold my nose to vote for him, but now I’d do it gladly and proudly. The government was not good, but incomparably much better to what we have now.
- Stuff Happens - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 11:29 am:
Yes. Although I think they meant ’still’, not ‘yet.’
- nona - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 11:30 am:
State vendors who aren’t getting paid miss the Quinnster. I bet the road builders and their employees whose projects stopped July 1 miss him too. Had Quinn been elected, the legislature would’ve extended the income tax hike, instead of acceding to Rauner’s demand.
- Not quite a majority - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 11:30 am:
Going from the frying pan into the fire doesn’t really make you miss the frying pan all that much. But you surely appreciate the relative coolness of the hot cast iron to the flames you’re in.
- Anonymous - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 11:31 am:
“That’s when I, and many others will simply move.”
If they make it retro-active you’ll wish you hadn’t procrastinated.
- nixit71 - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 11:32 am:
Must be some sort of beauty contest. Instead of a crown, the winner gets Squeezy the Pension Python draped around her neck.
- Wensicia - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 11:35 am:
Since Quinn more or less enabled Rauner to the office of governor: NO!
- nixit71 - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 11:35 am:
==With all the increases costs due to the impasse, taxes will ultimately be higher than they would have been had the tax increase continued.==
The over/under is 4.75%. Place your bets now. Just be aware Madigan keeps the vig.
- Robert the 1st - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 11:36 am:
=If they make it retro-active you’ll wish you hadn’t procrastinated.=
Good point. I’m not procrastinating though, these things take time. Trying to talk my father into selling his house and farmland as well. IL real estate/housing is going to take a huge hit in the coming decade.
- Mattman - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 11:37 am:
== Not at all, we would have a budget, but we would still have the same problems with no end in sight. ==
Perfectly said Ahoy!
- Chicago Cynic - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 11:39 am:
Hell to the no.
- Ducky LaMoore - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 11:42 am:
Reminds me of when I saw the “W miss me yet” sign. Why drag unpopular former leaders into this discussion? Was Pat Quinn a better governor? Yep. Would I prefer someone be governor other than Pat Quinn? Pretty much.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 11:52 am:
Here’s a Yes AND a No.
I miss Pat Quinn’s decency as a man. I think he is compassionate and cares about people.
I don’t miss his governing.
- Anonymous - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 11:58 am:
Seriously?
- Illannoyed - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 11:58 am:
We must not forget that the state ran deficit budgets for at least a decade and resorted to year-after-year of magic tricks, borrowing, gimmicks, one-time revenues, and deferrals to pass what we charitably called a “budget.” Programs were being funded, but there’s a shelf life for how long poor fiscal practices can continue. Many people didn’t care because at least the wheel continued to turn. You can’t do that forever. In the end, math wins. Those that support additional revenue from an income tax increase should at least acknowledge that it should have been done early last decade when it became clear that spending was outstripping revenues and the pension payment was increasing. Those with power chose to wait, and then passed a temporary income tax increase with a promise that it would phase-out. They also chose to wait before beginning to cut spending. These were all choices and time is money. Returning to deficit budgets and just trying to hold things together from one year to the next instead of resolving significant structural issues is not something worth returning to. The poor choices made over the last 15-20 years is why the state is in its present predicament. Had the structural revenue issues been resolved last decade, there wouldn’t be a Governor Rauner. Politically and economically, the system was crashing and was ripe for a “correction.” If Quinn were still Governor, we MIGHT have a balanced budget this year based upon an income tax increase extension, but the same dynamic would have continued going forward and spending would likely have continued to outpace revenues (i.e., pension payment) despite the passage of annual budgets. We need a long-term plan for our state, not a “let’s get through this year and the next election” approach. Didn’t work. Won’t work. We deserve better.
- a drop in - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 12:00 pm:
Sort of like asking Sox fans if they miss Ozzie Guillen.
- steve schnorf - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 12:03 pm:
Bye-bye Robert
- Just Me - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 12:06 pm:
You see, it is important that we always reflect on our past, because our past is what we are, and what we are can tell us where we are going, and the place we need to be going is not the place that we are, and in order to get to that we need to focus on the work, and Pat Quinn is working night and day until we get to that place, and that place is where the will of the people is the law of the land, and Pat Quinn knows what the will of the people is, and when he makes his return to public life, if that is he has ever really left it, he’ll be working night and day until the place we are going is the place we need to be.
-Anonymous Capital Fax reader
- Ducky LaMoore - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 12:12 pm:
===Sort of like asking Sox fans if they miss Ozzie Guillen.===
Ozzie is like that crazy girlfriend that you break up with. Then you start dating the normal, really boring Robin. You really start missing the crazy, even though it is not good for you. And knowing that the crazy girl is still single and in-town just drives you crazy. In reality, we need a girlfriend (Sox Manager) who is neither the crazy or the normal boring girl. We just haven’t met her yet….
- @MisterJayEm - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 12:23 pm:
“Miss Pat Quinn”?
http://cdn.meme.am/instances2/500x/2806945.jpg
– MrJM
- Hedley Lamarr - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 12:24 pm:
Rauner is listening to the Sirens song of “Stay the course” and sailing the ship of state right into the rocks.
- DonorClassic - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 12:26 pm:
Rauner is shakin’ and hammerin’ at those lib fossils and their insider earmarks ! When the chattering Springfield political class starts cryin you KNOW you are doing something right ! GO RAUNER !
- Lincoln Lad - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 12:30 pm:
That old girlfriend says she’ll change when you agree to take her back. Is Ozzie able to cut out the part that was not good? I miss him, and would welcome him back with that promise. He’d break it of course, but you kind of know that when the promise is made.
- Earnest - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 12:31 pm:
No, I don’t miss him. I appreciated his financial responsibility but not his lack of leadership. Here’s a better question: are any of other than puppy-rights activists sorry we didn’t vote for Bill Brady back in 2010?
- sal-says - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 12:40 pm:
== In A Word: No. ==
Absolutely miss Quinn !
The IL Government actually FUNCTIONED !
He made payments, understood the needs to incr revenues, and other POSITIVE things
- Anonin' - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 12:40 pm:
Thinkin’ PQ not really missable, but Stermer and his posse kept the place runnin’
The U-turn train wreck are gettin’ hard to take.
- Cheryl44 - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 12:56 pm:
At least Madigan talked to PQ.
- Handle Bar Mustache - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 12:59 pm:
Yes absolutely yes.
Rich, disappointed by your “in a word” dismissal. You are one of the last informed advocates for nuanced analysis in the capitol.
I defy Rauner or any of his supporters to explain to the public how things are better today than they were during Quinn’s tenure.
- Hamlet's Ghost - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 1:00 pm:
@Illannoyed
Bruce Rauner has not proposed any structural reforms that would balance revenue with expenses.
- Scott - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 1:01 pm:
If the only options are Quinn and what we have now…I would rather have Quinn. But, there are any number of other Democrats I’d rather have instead of Quinn. So…no, I don’t miss Quinn, but I also don’t want what we have now.
- Anonymous - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 1:13 pm:
Gov. Quinn cared little about the disabled and those most vulnerable. He put many into situations where they were abused and neglected, under is plan to “rebalance” the Department of Human Services. Do not miss him one bit! Thanking God every day that he is gone.
- pool boy - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 1:17 pm:
No. I do miss the opportunity to vote for a candidate that believes in upholding the constitution.
- Anon - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 1:27 pm:
Just because I need to break up with my current girlfriend doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to start dating my most recent ex-girlfriend.
Plenty of fish in the sea.
- Student from 10th District - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 1:29 pm:
I supported Rauner. I thought that if Pat Quinn stayed, the Democrats would continue to kick the can down the road. He was the most responsible of the crew down there but I ain’t getting rid of my state legislator. My school says its honoring my MAP grant, but I don’t know how long that will last. I do like that if the Democrats don’t get their act together in 2018-2022, they know we’ll give them the “gift” another Bruce Rauner, we’ll cry uncle together. Do I miss Pat Quinn? Yes. Do I regret voting against him? No. Would I vote for Pat Quinn over BVR in an election today? Yes sir. That being said, I’d give a lot of Democrats in the state legislature the stink eye if they ran against BVR. Bruce might get my vote again, if only to put some piety into the Democrats’ caucus. Lord knows they need it.
- Kathryn - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 1:44 pm:
Quinn and the Democrat state central committee caused a Gov Rauner victory. They should have selected another dem candidate to run because Quinn was a disaster. Sounds as if the “Greater Palatine area democrats” still don’t get it.
- Demoralized - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 1:48 pm:
This is like trying to decide which pig farm smells the worst. Are we really to the point where we are longing for the days of prior incompetence to get away from current incompetence?
- Anonymous - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 1:55 pm:
Who’s Miss Pat Quinn?
- ottawa otter - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 1:56 pm:
When it is a choice between incompetence and insufferable I will take incompetence thank you. At least squeezy wasn’t sleazy. In contrast, yes, I miss P.Q.
- Anony - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 1:58 pm:
“Miss Pat Quinn”
I thought this was some type of Katrlyn Jenner swipe.
As a Republican- absolutely don’t miss him. RUN PAT RUN.
- Under Further Review - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 2:07 pm:
I do not miss Quinn. I am not 100% on board with Rauner, but Madigan shares the blame for the current stalemate.
I have friends, including one who formerly interned with a prominent Democratic Congressman. The man is quite liberal, but he told me that he could not support Quinn in good conscience for another term. He did not support Rauner, but he admitted voting against Quinn simply to put him out of office.
I hoped for better days once Blagojevich was impeached, but Quinn proved to be a huge disappointment in his own right for different reasons.
If Dorothy Brown goes down, will Quinn get muddied up in the process? Maybe, maybe not.
- Empty Suit - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 2:33 pm:
Yes. I also miss the shingles and root canal.
- Cannon649 - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 2:52 pm:
Do the taxpayer miss a crony capital “kick the can” run up the debt machine politician - Hell No
Quinn was not a bad person but he could never solve the problem.
He should enjoy his taxpayer paid retirement.
- @MisterJayEm - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 3:00 pm:
“I thought this was some type of Katrlyn Jenner swipe. As a Republican…”
No kidding?
– MrJM
- ArchPundit - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 3:14 pm:
And remember death is not an option….
- Arthur Andersen - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 3:22 pm:
No. Not at all. Thanks for asking.
- Anonymous - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 4:40 pm:
Personally I miss Tio Hardiman and Kirk Dillard /s
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 5:45 pm:
1. Just because Rauner is wrong doesn’t mean Pat Quinn was right.
2. Just because Rauner is a problem doesn’t mean Quinn is the solution.
3. If you are looking for someone to blame for Rauner, blame Quinn. L
- anon - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 5:48 pm:
Yes. Everyday!
- DuPage Grandma - Monday, Nov 9, 15 @ 8:44 pm:
Yes! In fact I am starting to miss Blago..