Question of the day
Wednesday, Nov 29, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller * Some of you noticed today that a guy named Terry Getz of Dupo just filed to run for governor as a Democrat. I tracked him down on Facebook. He’s a corrections officer at Southwestern Illinois Correctional Center in East St. Louis. Getz said he didn’t file any signatures today and he doesn’t yet have a running mate. He said he would file signatures as soon as he got a running mate. I asked via Facebook messenger what issues he’d push and Getz replied: “Top issue being a state budget.” Any other issues? “Everything else will be addressed in person,” Getz promised. * For some reason, this development reminds me of an interview I saw with Chicago Mayor Harold Washington back in 1983 or so. Maybe it’s because Washington died thirty years ago this month and I’ve been thinking about him lately. Walter Jacobson asked Washington after his first election something along the lines of “Did you ever in your wildest dreams think you’d be mayor?” Harold’s reply has stuck with me ever since: “In my wildest dreams, I thought I’d be president!” * The Question: What is your political dream job? Make sure to explain.
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- Saluki - Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 2:12 pm:
United States Ambassador to Ireland. Good pay, nice scenery, plenty of good beer.
- Uhh - Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 2:13 pm:
So he needs to find a running mate and 5,000 valid signatures by next Monday with no or very little campaign infrastructure? Must be the dems version of William J. Kelly.
- Nick - Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 2:13 pm:
Not an answer to your question, but how did he file without signatures? I thought signatures were required at the time of filing?
- Perrid - Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 2:14 pm:
Dream job would be POTUS. Well, my dream would be to be anywhere near competent enough to do the position justice. I have lots of big ideas but talk is cheap. I know talking about competency sounds really ironic with Drumpf currently demeaning the office, but it’s how I see it.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 2:16 pm:
My dream job would be benevolent dictator of the US. Since that is not real I would love to be a USSC Justice.
- A guy - Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 2:18 pm:
Did I inspire Walter Jacobson here, or just an amazing coincidence?
Political Dream Job? Being a spokesperson for an elected official who doesn’t necessarily need one.
That way, you could really focus on important things.
- Gruntled University Employee - Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 2:21 pm:
Governor. You get to ride your Harley around the state and wear goofy costumes, every day is Halloween.
- Try-4-Truth - Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 2:24 pm:
To misquote subscriber-only Capitol Fax content in a fundraising email. /s
- ughhh - Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 2:25 pm:
Ambassador to (insert tropical island nation here)
- BucknIrish - Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 2:25 pm:
Senior strategist to POTUS. You’re privy to the most important conversations, you voice actually means something to the president, no glaring spotlight on you, and you don’t have to sell your soul to get there…probably.
==United States Ambassador to Ireland. Good pay, nice scenery, plenty of good beer.==
But I’m tempted to second this.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 2:25 pm:
Tea/coffee server for Oval Office.
- Just Observing - Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 2:26 pm:
1. Lt. Governor: Nice title, good amount of staff, a cool state police detail, and you get to just make up your job with no real responsibilities.
2. Cook County or collar county sheriff: You get to be a cop — the top cop at that — without all the annoying police training or hard work of rising through the ranks. I would just do ride alongs and jump out of the car after the real deputies took control of the scene.
3. Benevolent President/Monarch of a tiny, tiny country like Palau or Andorra: Again, less responsibility than a big country but still head of state. I would, though, act with an inflated ego and issue threats of war against much larger countries that wouldn’t take me seriously.
- Try-4-Truth - Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 2:26 pm:
In reality…. City Administrator of a medium-sized city. All of the exciting world of government administration, less of the politics (I know there will be some, but not having to run for my job would be attractive).
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 2:30 pm:
Benevolent God-King of Illinois.
I have lots of answers to some long-simmering policy issues but zero patience of the time-consuming, collaborative approach to building consensus around proposed solutions. I’d prefer to tell folks to just shut up and do what they’re told.
But I’d be nice about it.
- pto - Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 2:36 pm:
Small town mayor. Would be able to know my constituents and make a difference.
- A guy - Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 2:41 pm:
==But I’d be nice about it.==
You had me until you added the last line.
- illini - Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 2:42 pm:
It has been close to 30 years ago now that I became very involved in running two partisan congressional primaries in downstate Illinois. A friend and respected elected county official had his sights on a higher office and had assembled a great core of supporters.
Given the demographics of the district at that time winning the primary made winning the general a certainty. Yet, coming in a close second both times foiled my somewhat optimistic aspirations of going to DC and becoming a Chief of Staff for my friend and possibly eventually becoming a highly paid consultant.
Wishful thinking, I know - and I am still here in Southern Illinois.
- Belle - Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 2:42 pm:
Ambassador to Morocco because it’s my fav county. Runner up is Ambassador to Mexico.
- DuPage Bard - Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 2:46 pm:
THE Rich Miller, Illinois’ most followed political reporter and blogger
Sorry Rich had to do it
- Honeybadger - Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 2:47 pm:
Mayor of Bolingbrook
- Honeybadger - Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 2:49 pm:
Ooops.. sorry. Mayor of Bolingbrook, cuz it is one of the coolest villages in the southwest suburbs. Plenty of shopping, places to eat and a great infrastructure. Oh and you get a pretty cool office at the village complex and the Bolingbrook Golf Club.
- Pot calling kettle - Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 2:52 pm:
POTUS! (I have a long list of things I want to “fix.”) After eight years, I would move into Chief Justice of the Supreme Court until I retire. Those are two of the top four political jobs in the U.S. Speaker of the House and Senate Majority leader both involve herding cats; I love cats but have no desire to herd them.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 2:56 pm:
Well I wouldn’t be nice to you. But everyone else, sure.
- A guy - Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 2:58 pm:
I’m flattered.
- Cheswick - Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 3:23 pm:
The staffer who tweets for Mike Madigan.
- Amalia - Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 3:37 pm:
President. The Federal Budget needs a makeover in a Dave sort of way.
- Texas Red - Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 3:53 pm:
Circuit Judge - the pay/pension are good and the hours are great in by 9 and out by 3. It basically is a life appointment as the retention elections are a joke, they all are retained regardless of merit.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 3:54 pm:
Scarlett Johansson’s political adviser.
- titan - Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 3:55 pm:
Does he not have sufficiently knowledgeable advisers to tell him that he can’t amend the petition after filing it? He would have to withdraw the filed petition and file a completely new one.
- Downstate - Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 3:56 pm:
Site selection committee member for the Olympic Games, Soccer World Cup, even Dem./Rep. convention committee.
Travel to a variety of locations, being feted by the locals, while being offered the finest of food and accommodations.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 4:24 pm:
Rich Miller’s bartender.
- oneholeoff - Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 4:54 pm:
–47th Ward: “Rich Miller’s Bartender–
I’d pick something easier.
- My New Handle - Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 6:26 pm:
Dream political job? Most are nightmares anymore. No thanks. My dream political job is voter
- Serviam - Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 8:14 am:
Vice President of the United States. Not to Underwood anything, mind you. However, I would like to run the Senate (aside from their standing rules, of course). The idea of being in both the Executive and Legislative branches of government is an interesting concept. It speaks to my desire to see a more Westminster form of operation at the state levels; using the Senate as the test lab.
- Union Babe - Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 11:34 am:
United States Secretary of Labor
- http://www.bjkclh.com/ - Wednesday, Dec 13, 17 @ 12:31 am:
Amazon Net Companies is an Equal Opportunity Employer. http://www.bjkclh.com/comment/html/?87486.html