* The Tribune’s Christi Parsons spent nearly an hour yesterday afternoon with President Obama and three of his former Illinois Senate colleagues, Denny Jacobs, Larry Walsh and Kirk Dillard. The published story is here. The full video is here. And the official White House transcript is here…
THE PRESIDENT: Now, the one thing — last thing I should say is I especially want to thank Larry and Denny — I can’t thank Kirk for this, but these two contributed to the early college fund for Malia and Sasha. (Laughter.) Through our poker games. I saw Tommy Walsh, one of the Republicans that played, and Dave Luechtefeld and those guys contributed as well. But Malia and Sasha, they got a good seed fund for their college, because these guys, I took them for all they were worth. (Laughter.)
DILLARD: I said to Denny in the motorcade over here, Mr. President, I said, do you think the President still carries cash. (Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: Oh, absolutely. I mean, we can get a — now, probably –
WALSH: I got a deck. (Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: Part of the secret of beating these guys, though, is I would just nurse my beer, and these guys — you know. So the longer the game went on, the looser their betting got. (Laughter.)
WALSH: Now, don’t you go telling too many stories here, Mr. President. (Laughter.)
- Chicago Cynic - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 10:32 am:
“THE PRESIDENT: Part of the secret of beating these guys, though, is I would just nurse my beer, and these guys — you know. So the longer the game went on, the looser their betting got. (Laughter.)”
This is the whole secret to winning in Springfield. Let everyone else get drunk while you stay sober and take advantage of their intoxication. That’s been your key to success, right Rich?
- Just Jack - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 10:37 am:
Loved this!
- Six Degrees of Separation - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 10:38 am:
I tried to get some good stories about O from Larry Walsh once, but he just smiled and gave me that poker face.
- Red Ranger - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 10:40 am:
So awesome, what a conversation!!! Sad thing is, I bet the Superstars see this sort of friendship as part of the problem with Springfield.
- Not it - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 11:00 am:
Red Ranger is exactly correct. See Dan Proft’s Twitter yesterday as an example.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 11:02 am:
This was the ‘fun’ part referred to by the Presidents spokesperson. Policies aside, Obama is very likable, and not put on. We will miss that….coming soon
- walker - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 11:03 am:
One of the coolest things Riopell reported was on O stopping his motorcade to get out and give Dave Sullivan a hug on the sidewalk. Another Republican Senator he liked working with.
- Worth It - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 11:05 am:
So how do interpret “I can’t thank Kirk for this, but these two contributed to the early college fund for Malia and Sasha”. Did Dillard win more often than he lost or did he not play? Inquiring minds want to know.
- hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 11:08 am:
What a great piece.
Also cant be the only one who read that thinking I wonder what things would be like if Dillard couldve beaten Rauner… lol
- crazybleedingheart - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 11:10 am:
Was “thuggish” a word choice of Dillard’s or Parsons’?
- The Historian - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 11:47 am:
Worth It: Dillard was not among the poker players; Denny and Larry were senatorial regulars, along with Terry Link. Sometimes Dave L. & Bill B. from among Republicans.
- West Sider - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 11:54 am:
What a remarkable conversation.
- Sine Die - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 12:18 pm:
I was in those games a time or 2 myself! Fun stuff.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 12:29 pm:
More proof that Obama was the second coming of Warren G. Harding!
- wordslinger - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 12:32 pm:
What a score for Parsons.
- door gunner - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 1:45 pm:
Listen, back when the senate was republican for years, i was the only D at the poker table. Who says you cant pass bills in the minority.
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 2:45 pm:
Always liked reading Christi’s work. Being president of the White House Correspondents’ Association didn’t hurt her chances to land that interview.
- Emily Booth - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 2:47 pm:
Springfield should be proud to have produced 2 great Presidents, Lincoln and Obama.
- Angry Chicagoan - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 4:06 pm:
I will miss this president.
- scott aster - Thursday, Feb 11, 16 @ 11:11 pm:
What a JOKE Rich and we elected this guy to run our country with an on the job training program. and now the Dems put up 2 weak folks to suceed him. this country is in the ditch.