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Open thread
Tuesday, Aug 9, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller * A buddy of mine and I are taking my camper out to the fairgrounds this afternoon, so blogging will likely be non-existent for the rest of the day. Talk amongst yourselves, but please be decent to each other and keep it focused on Illinois. If you want to argue about presidential politics there are plenty of websites out there that would love to have you. Thanks. Also, FYI, my wrenched ankle has felt a whole lot better since lunchtime. It may not last, but at the moment I feel like I’m healing faster than expected. Two friends just warned me not to get too confident and hurt myself by trying to do too much, and I plan to comply - which is why I asked a buddy to help me move my camper. I’m really excited to be attending the Illinois State Fair this year. You’ll recall that I missed much of the fair last year because of a health issue. No way was I gonna allow an ankle injury to keep me away this year. Also, I’ve been invited to participate in the “Celebrity Beef Showmanship” event this coming Friday. I haven’t shown a steer since my 4-H days many, many, MANY moons ago in Iroquois County, so I’m pretty stoked. Hopefully, my ankle will be all better by then. * Anyway, enjoy.
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- burbanite - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 3:44 pm:
Has the butter cow lady been paid from last year yet?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 3:45 pm:
Have fun, Rich, and seriously don’t push. Glad you’re feeling better, hope it continues…
- Mr.Black - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 3:45 pm:
I’m mostly excited about Lovie Smith in Champaign.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 3:46 pm:
The “Fix Illinois” ads…
More about the term limits or more about Rauner getting on the Tee-Vee?
I’ve seen the ad now like 4-5 times.
- Dr X - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 3:47 pm:
Would you swap Blago for Rauner?
- illinois bob - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 3:48 pm:
Who’s the favorite to win the cow chip throwing contest this year? OW, your trophy is waiting….
- Cubs in '16 - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 3:49 pm:
Hey Rich, better double check that invitation isn’t for the “Celebrity Beefcake Showmanship” event.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 3:51 pm:
No swap for Blago with Rauner…
Rauner may have serious ethical issues and a difficult time being truthful… and his agenda is more important than Illinois…
Rauner isn’t criminal. Blago was criminal in the governing.
- Ron Burgundy - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 3:57 pm:
As someone with a chronically tricky ankle, my advice is to be extra careful on uneven or rocky ground. Gravel and rocks are the worst. Could be walking along fine, hit a rock the wrong way and whammo.
- Honeybear - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 4:01 pm:
So here is a question. Do you think Terranova is gearing up for the next skirmish in the labor war by encouraging folks to leave the union OR is he just trying to get some folks out because they know they’ve already lost the game?
- kimocat - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 4:04 pm:
Okay Rich, now you have my curiosity going. You’re from Kankakee and had some years growing up in Iroquois county. Me too. Maybe that partly why I like your blog so much.
- thechampaignlife - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 4:07 pm:
Historical question of the day:
If you could interview anyone from the past two administrations about the issues, events, and legislation that they were party to, who would it be? Would any secretaries or other workhorses of the office make the list? I imagine they have some great stories as the fly-on-the-wall to the sausage-making.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 4:08 pm:
- Honeybear -
I defer to - steve schnorf - and his astute observation with a ridiculous amount of institutional knowledge that getting more people to choose Fair Share and drop Union membership was the overt move, the smart, calculated, and direct move.
Come November, disgruntled Labor members that don’t Vote Acvordingly is as important, if not more important to Rauner right now in these 90+ days.
Remember Mr. Potter? He offered 1/2 the value to Bailey Building and Loan shares to weaken George.
More people leave Labor, hopefully with or without a contract, Rauner hopes to keep the second shoe of defeating Raunerites will just wilt and die.
I understand why you’re myopic (not a criticism, honest) in this, but Rauner is trying to leverage and take full advantage if two birds with one stone here.
- Cubs in '16 - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 4:15 pm:
Honeybear—My guess is they’re gearing up. I just don’t see Rauner folding now when he’s all in.
- Amalia - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 4:17 pm:
Rich, once you get the go ahead from the doc to start moving nicely, here’s a tip on ankle rehab that I got from a men’s hoops college player….write the alphabet with your foot. make the motions in the air. it works all angles of the ankle. helped me in rehab. sprains can be worse than breaks.
- Chicagomom - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 4:17 pm:
Physical therapist here-even if it feels ok do NOT push the ankle. Chronic ankle sprains are a thing and at some point they don’t recover.
- Todd - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 4:17 pm:
would someone please alert the Fair Officials and the rascal rentals that Rich is coming.
I’m waiting for the AP pic of his riding one of those things around the fair
- free time - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 4:18 pm:
Honeybear, if they felt 100% that you had “lost the game” they wouldn’t even bother with this and just do as they please. They are definitely going with a divide and conquer strategy to try to weaken the union.
The most important thing for public employees to do is to stand together, regardless of what the final decision may be.
- free time - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 4:20 pm:
I misread what you wrote. I definitely don’t think they have decided they’ve lost yet.
- @MisterJayEm - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 4:27 pm:
Last night, I saw Robbie Fulks and Jon Langford play together at the Hideout. Sally Timms joined them for a handful of Mekons songs, and two Men of Gwent played the finest post-punk poetry out of Newport, Wales.
Plus some funny stories and a dirty joke.
All for ten bucks.
tl;dr- Chicago, Illinois is still alright by me.
– MrJM
- JoanP - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 4:39 pm:
Enjoy the fair, don’t eat TOO much fried food, and please take it easy with the ankle. It may feel better, but it’ll still be weak and if you push it, you may damage it further.
- Cubs in '16 - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 4:47 pm:
===Has the butter cow lady been paid from last year yet?===
No and because of that we get the butter cow apprentice this year. However, she requires no monetary compensation because her labor is required for a school project so it’s all good.
- Annonin' - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 4:52 pm:
Maybe we coukd SEIU to assign tou a personal assistant
- Honeybear - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 4:53 pm:
Excellent point OW and man I had not thought of it from the “vote accordingly” angle. It’s why I asked you all the question. What did you call it a while back, “working the margins”?, or something like that. He’s chipping away at our gains in 2/5. Wow, excellent point. God, I feel like I just got caught with my pants down on this thought. Well chalk that up to a “good learning” today.
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 4:57 pm:
Anyone else wonder if Rich is really working on the push to include “wrenched ankles” as eligible for medicinal marijuana.
- DHSJim - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 5:04 pm:
It’s like I told my fellow union members at a meeting last Friday. If we stick together we’ll win - or at least we won’t lose. Rauner and Terrenova know this. Hence divide and conquer strategy.
- Precinct Captain - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 5:08 pm:
Go Cubs!
- DHSJim - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 5:10 pm:
I’m calling it.Cubs World Series and AFSCME Lives to Fight Another Day Contract.
- Molly Maguire - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 5:28 pm:
I love the State Fair, and I am glad to hear you will be taking some time to enjoy it. Loved it as a kid when my Grandma would enter knitting in the state-wide contest, and come home with ribbons; loved the carnival barkers from down in the “Gulch” calling out “Big Bad Mama, You Got to Go Now” (Grandma and Grandpa would never dream of letting me go, which was probably for the best); loved the open wheel Grandstand auto race with all the big stars such as AJ Foyt and Al Unser, including the tailgate picnic of homemade fried chicken. The state fair is a great thing, and it’s the kind of thing we need more of in this day and age. I will be back again this year for auto racing and ZZ Top.
- walker - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 5:32 pm:
Is Wordslinger OK? or just fed up?
Miss him.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 5:35 pm:
===Is Wordslinger OK? or just fed up?===
I’m hoping he’s just on vacation…
- sal-says - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 5:35 pm:
Golf cart races this year?
Just wondering……
- Molly Maguire - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 5:35 pm:
C’mon folks, let’s get real: Afscme will not strike, that’s not going to a happen for a variety of reasons–mostly because their members won’t take a strike. And Raunerites are not smart, savvy and engaged enough–and haven’t shown themselves to be completely intractable on labor issues–to force a strike. The two sides will eventually reach an agreement without a big raise or big cut, with most things in place as they are. Or, the whole thing will be punted to the next governor.
- Jc19pd2 - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 7:27 pm:
I’m willing to discuss term limits only if Rauner talks campaign finance reform. I mean it’s ridiculous how Rauner is positioned himself as this white knight. By that I mean a Koch brother ally.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 7:42 pm:
It’s all good - Honeybear -, all good.
Keep your eyes open. You’re doing fine.
- blue dog dem - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 8:08 pm:
Rich, promise me one thing. Do not cave in and eat a deep fried Oreo.
- Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 9:01 pm:
Rich, I need a food chaperone for the fair if you know what I mean. Help a buddy out?
- Bear Down! - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 9:13 pm:
Anyone excited for Foxy’s team to take the field on Thursday?!
- Cletus Purcel - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 10:40 pm:
#PrayForBarton