Question of the day
Thursday, Jul 27, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* SJ-R…
Abe’s right arm temporarily joined the backlog of repairs and maintenance at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield earlier this month.
The 30-foot, fiberglass statue of a young, ax-carrying Abe Lincoln has stood inside the Main Gate on Sangamon Avenue for 50 years. Illinois Department of Agriculture spokeswoman Rebecca Clark said Wednesday fairground workers believe age simply took its toll.
“We do not believe this is related to storm damage or vandalism, rather just routine wear,” said Clark. “While repairs were underway, the decision was made to give Abe a fresh coat of paint so he can welcome visitors to the Illinois State Fair.” […]
The department called on the expertise of Ernie Ball at Ernie Ball Auto Body of Springfield to reattach the arm and repaint the statue.
“It’s fiberglass, just like a Corvette. I’ve been working on them for years,” said Ball. “It took about a day and a half.”
* The Question: There’s gotta be an Illinois government analogy here somewhere, so can you come up with any?
- Whatever - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:18 pm:
Even Abe Lincoln is trying to keep the dysfunction in Springfield at arm’s length.
- Anon221 - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:20 pm:
How much did Abe’s arm injury repair compare to the national average? (Just reminded me of the earlier thread today)
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:22 pm:
The Abe Lincoln statue is therefore entitled to an average award of $439,858 because this injury happened on the job. Had Lincoln’s arm fallen off in Indiana or Kentucky while on the job, then Mr. Lincoln would receive an estimated $169,878, according to Mark Denzler of the IMA.
- Baloneymous - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:23 pm:
The recent purge is like Rauner cutting his own right arm off. First I cut off one arm and then the other and I’m not a good butcher.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:26 pm:
“I’d give my right arm for a budget” - Abraham Lincoln
- Joe M - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:30 pm:
Too much arm twisting in Springfield.
- Steve Rogers - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:30 pm:
“I’d give my right arm for the governor and legislature to agree on something.” “Ok then, give me my right arm back.”
- d.p.gumby - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:30 pm:
Abe gave an arm; would Brucie give a leg?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:31 pm:
If you say Rauner is extorting Illinois again, I’ll have Abe’s arm broken…
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:31 pm:
You can have a budget or Abe’s arm intact, you can’t have both.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:32 pm:
Ernie Ball not making guitar strings anymore? /s
- Texas Red - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:35 pm:
Abe’s name and image is used by so many politicians he was everyone “right hand man”
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:35 pm:
“They broke Abe’s arm and left it in disrepair… It was in retaliation for Santa Anna’s leg… and a lot of other things… “
- Fixer - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:36 pm:
Not an analogy, but Ernie does some fantastic work. They picked a good shop to fix that up.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:38 pm:
CHARLIEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!! THEY TOOK MY ARM!!!!!!!!
- Shark Sandwich - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:39 pm:
Fixed arm, new coat of paint?
Rauner got some structural reforms after all!
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:40 pm:
Shark Sandwich takes the lead!
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:42 pm:
The IG is looking into this. Lincoln claimed the injury occurred while splitting rails at the Fairgrounds on Monday. Turns out, the IG has a witness who will testify that Lincoln’s injury stemmed from an arm-wrestling match in a Springfield tavern over the weekend. I don’t think we’ve heard the last of this case just yet.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:45 pm:
“Bruce V… You make me break your arm for Bruce V?… “
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:47 pm:
Governor Rauner did apologize. The loan had a 3 year ARM and Abe was there to oblige…
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:47 pm:
“Cullerton was on his way to my office when he got a phone call from Madigan telling him to go to the Fairgrounds and rip Abe’s arm off”
- Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:48 pm:
Illinois, just like a Corvette.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:50 pm:
Sadly proven, Abe got the overrides needed, finally secure a budget, with one arm tied behind his back.
After 2 1/2 years, no circulation, no movement, and gang green setting in, the last casualty turned out to be… Abe’s arm.
- libertas - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:52 pm:
Ernie is famous for painting flames on vehicles… did he paint flames on Abe? Illinois is on fire.
- Reality Bites - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 4:05 pm:
Holy smokes, Rich Miller! A reference to “The Pope of Greenwich Village.”
Whoa!
- Banker13 - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 4:06 pm:
Illinois Government - just like a Corvair - unsafe at any speed…
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 4:10 pm:
On second thought, leave the arm off, paint a mask on Lincoln and allow slots at the Fairgrounds. Old Abe can be the one-armed bandit mascot and everybody wins. Except Ernie. Ernie doesn’t win in this scenario because we aren’t fixing the arm. And most people who play the slots won’t win. So everybody except Ernie and 98% of the slot jockeys will win.
- Lurkin' MBA - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 4:10 pm:
“This is going to cost an arm (and a leg).”
When will Ernie Ball actually get paid?
- Capitol View - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 4:14 pm:
the first infrastructure project of the Rauner Administration…
- wensicia - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 4:17 pm:
Lincoln: “I know it was you Rauner. You broke my arm. You broke my arm!”
- A guy - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 4:45 pm:
Abe=
Ernie Ball can’t hear worth a darn. I said “I’ve give my right arm for a Corvette”.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 4:46 pm:
Ole Slip and Sue has nothin’ on Honest Abe…
- A guy - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 4:46 pm:
“I told Mary Todd not to worry and I forgive her”.
It’s Illinois, they’ll blame the injury on the weather. No one will press charges against you”.
- Amalia - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 5:12 pm:
Abe Lincoln does a “127 Hours” to escape the Republicans in Springfield.
- Mama - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 5:39 pm:
Welcoming all those people whom come to the fairgrounds all year took a toll on old Abe’s arm. Will Abe get any workman’s comp for temporarily losing his arm?
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 9:21 pm:
If only the head of the Illinois House could be made acceptable as easily.
- Rabid - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 9:49 pm:
Gop extreme right wing lacks moral fiber, whitewashing the party
- Rabid - Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 10:46 pm:
Honest Abe severs relationship with the lying right arm wing nuts
- NorthsideNoMore - Friday, Jul 28, 17 @ 1:08 am:
Without a school funding bill there will be Arm-ageddon in Illinois schools