"I'm not goin' away! All right!" - Former Gov Pat Quinn when asked if it isn't time for him to let the next generation to run for attorney general. @wlsam890pic.twitter.com/IOKhRzhY53
Just like with the State, he did not manage his finances well. He needs the job.
- Not a Billionaire - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 12:30 pm:
How can we miss you if you…..anyway it was your miserable failed administration that led to the current miserable failed administration. Go join Biss and Nekritz in political oblivion
I like Pat, but this is a looming disaster for the Democrats. In a year that should be ours for the taking, putting Pat Quinn on the ballot as our nominee for AG is about the only oxygen Bruce Rauner is going to get. And he can remind everybody about how old and tired the Democratic leadership is, which is plain for everyone to see already, before Pat Quinn dodders back onto the stage.
Pat, you’re a former Governor. Use that office as your bully pulpit. You reached the pinnacle, now please retire with dignity. For your sake and for ours, please let this race go, before it’s too late.
I say this knowing that Drury might still be on the ballot, but I am now firmly in the “Anybody but Quinn” camp for Attorney General.
- Not a Billionaire - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 12:31 pm:
- 47th Ward - is 100 percent correct. This is a real problem for the Dems.
“I’m not going away!” Perfect Quinn bumper sticker.
- Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 12:40 pm:
Everything he has done for the last thirty years has been feeding at the public trough, or blatantly maneuvering to feed at the public trough. He has shown no ability or inclination to make a living in the private sector, an uncommon trait among former non-incarcerated governors. Since he clearly didn’t get the message last time, looks like Dem primary voters need to send him another one. The crowded field plays in his favor though.
There was a time when I would have argued this with you O.W. because I don’t know many people who would put over 100,000 miles on their own car to push a constitutional amendment. Unfortunately, he showed his true colors with his outright pandering to anyone who would help him stay in office during the latter part of his gubernatorial tenure. I do think he’ll get a decent percentage of the vote in the primary because of who he was rather than who he is now.
He may very well win the primary. What would then follow could be lots of fun.
- Wayne Biblioteca - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 12:49 pm:
Quinn was taking care of the budget in a strong, systematic way and was a leader on other issues. His return is welcome. I think the AGs office is a good spot for his advocacy.
I don’t dislike PQ, but many of his actions allowed Rauner to win. That has really damaged our state. That is why I won’t vote for him.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 12:55 pm:
“Quinn is all about helping Quinn.”
Amen to that comment.
The man who spitefully handed out mass amounts of pink slips on the way out of the door as Treasurer?
The man who spitefully sat in the Governor’s office on his last day and appointed pals to offices and commissions just before Rauner was sworn in?
The man who took pride in shrinking the size of the Illinois House, allowing the Speaker to consolidate unprecedented power over a record setting period of four decades time?
The man who as governor signed into law the current gerrymandered House, Senate and House of Representative Districts?
He could buttress his savings by mowing lawns in the neighborhood, and then use the down time to talk about the good old days with the neighbors (who would soon be slowly backing away)
- NeverPoliticallyCorrect - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 1:10 pm:
Quinn is the perfect example of the “God Complex” too many politicians develop. Only they can solve our problems. Rarely do they realize that they have become the problem. Quinn has a nice pension, go be a greeter at the Forest Park Walmart and help people find what they want there.
I like Quinn, but that doesn’t mean he’s getting my vote.
- Old and In the Way - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 1:32 pm:
I have known Pat for almost 40 years and consider him a friend. However, there is a time to step aside and allow new blood and ideas into the party and the state. Should he win the primary, as a Republican I can’t vote in the primary, he will be a big distraction for the Dems. No matter what we need Governor Ruiner out of office, and the Republican Party for that matter, his presence on the ballot makes that harder. I like the suggestion of Pat as an “elder statesman” and not AG! Please Pat……..move on. There’s plenty to do fighting the power companies and oil/coal interests in Illinois. Go back to CUB activism.
- Chicago Cynic - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 1:36 pm:
47th Ward is 1000000% correct. And I’ll take it one step further. If Pat is on the ballot, every other candidate will have to answer for his tenure. It’s a disaster waiting to happen.
Never seen so much agreement from all sides about one person and that says a lot on this forum.
Besides the other offenses Louis mentions I will add the last minute pardon he granted to a connected person who hadn’t even gone through the expungement process while passing along the backlog of applications to Rauner.
Squeezy alone should be reason for anyone to laugh at Quinn for trying to portray himself as a serious contender.
Then there was the slew of unqualified “kids” he appointed as heads of Boards and Agencies such as the State Police and Board of Higher Education.
I have never met the man in person but I had always willingly accepted the public perception that PQ is essentially a “good guy”– a plain (if annoyingly and often humorously verbose) man of the people. Several of his actions immediately preceding his loss and then immediately following his loss changed my view of him forever. Those were not the actions of a man with a public servant’s heart.
Common knowledge: Have you read Don Quixote?
Pat: I have-and found myself the hero.
Common knowledge: Be so good as to read once more The chapter of the windmills.
Pat: Chapter Thirteen.
Common knowledge: Windmills, remember, if you fight with them-
Pat: My enemies change, then, with every wind?
Common knowledge: -May swing round their huge arms and cast you down Into the mire.
Pat: Or up-among the stars!
–The man who took pride in shrinking the size of the Illinois House, allowing the Speaker to consolidate unprecedented power over a record setting period of four decades time?–
LOL, still bitter about the Cutback Amendment, Louis? That is the ultimate professional-politician-at-the-trough grievance. Doesn’t come up much in conversation at the tavern.
You know, that wasn’t a Quinn dictate. The people of Illinois, through constitutional process, had something to do with it.
Let’s not forgot the hiring scandals that became public this past year and happened under Quinn. Ryan Croke and Lindsay Anderson both had to leave their U of I posts when these became public.
Quinn would only spell trouble for democrats in the election.
- Colin O'Scopey - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 2:37 pm:
Since some of the folks on this thread, including me, are partial to the best country (and western) song ever: “How Can I Miss You When You Won’t Go Away” when referencing Pat Quinn, I thought I’d add a few other “oldies but goodies” when it comes to ole PQ:
1) “I Keep Forgettin’ I Forgot About You”
2) “If You Don’t Leave Me Alone, I’ll Go And Find Someone Else Who Will”
3) “Thank God And Greyhound (You’re) Gone”
4) “I’m So Miserable Without You It’s Like Having You Here”
I hope in my old age I’m not like Quinn and Madigan and know when to let the next generation take the wheel. I certainly hope I would never be holding my own daughter back.
Hey Pat, I think that I speak for thousands of State employees that you still owe money to since 2011 that there is one constituency that you can forget about. Then there are the employees that you attempted to harm in 2013 with the overturned pension theft. Another constituency that you can forget about. Labor density is down, but pretty loud in the primary process
- Montrose - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 12:28 pm:
There are a lot of ways Quinn could reinvent himself as an elder statesman. This race is not one of them.
- old pol - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 12:29 pm:
Just like with the State, he did not manage his finances well. He needs the job.
- Not a Billionaire - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 12:30 pm:
How can we miss you if you…..anyway it was your miserable failed administration that led to the current miserable failed administration. Go join Biss and Nekritz in political oblivion
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 12:31 pm:
I like Pat, but this is a looming disaster for the Democrats. In a year that should be ours for the taking, putting Pat Quinn on the ballot as our nominee for AG is about the only oxygen Bruce Rauner is going to get. And he can remind everybody about how old and tired the Democratic leadership is, which is plain for everyone to see already, before Pat Quinn dodders back onto the stage.
Pat, you’re a former Governor. Use that office as your bully pulpit. You reached the pinnacle, now please retire with dignity. For your sake and for ours, please let this race go, before it’s too late.
I say this knowing that Drury might still be on the ballot, but I am now firmly in the “Anybody but Quinn” camp for Attorney General.
- Not a Billionaire - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 12:31 pm:
Did he take his pension?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 12:32 pm:
Maybe waking away is the best way to help Illinois…
Quinn is about helping Quinn.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 12:35 pm:
He hasn’t missed a run at state office since 1986. He’s the Nobody Nobody Sent.
I know a lot of people across the spectrum simply can’t stand him. He rubs some people the wrong way like I’ve never seen.
But he gets points from me on gay marriage, the death penalty, and being honest about getting state spending in line (lot of good that did him).
Seriously, he was between Blago and Rauner. And he’s the bad guy? That’s crazy.
- Roman - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 12:39 pm:
- 47th Ward - is 100 percent correct. This is a real problem for the Dems.
“I’m not going away!” Perfect Quinn bumper sticker.
- Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 12:40 pm:
Everything he has done for the last thirty years has been feeding at the public trough, or blatantly maneuvering to feed at the public trough. He has shown no ability or inclination to make a living in the private sector, an uncommon trait among former non-incarcerated governors. Since he clearly didn’t get the message last time, looks like Dem primary voters need to send him another one. The crowded field plays in his favor though.
- regnaD kciN - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 12:42 pm:
“Quinn is all about helping Quinn.”
There was a time when I would have argued this with you O.W. because I don’t know many people who would put over 100,000 miles on their own car to push a constitutional amendment. Unfortunately, he showed his true colors with his outright pandering to anyone who would help him stay in office during the latter part of his gubernatorial tenure. I do think he’ll get a decent percentage of the vote in the primary because of who he was rather than who he is now.
- Keyser Soze - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 12:44 pm:
He may very well win the primary. What would then follow could be lots of fun.
- Wayne Biblioteca - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 12:49 pm:
Quinn was taking care of the budget in a strong, systematic way and was a leader on other issues. His return is welcome. I think the AGs office is a good spot for his advocacy.
- Rutro - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 12:53 pm:
I don’t dislike PQ, but many of his actions allowed Rauner to win. That has really damaged our state. That is why I won’t vote for him.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 12:55 pm:
“Quinn is all about helping Quinn.”
Amen to that comment.
The man who spitefully handed out mass amounts of pink slips on the way out of the door as Treasurer?
The man who spitefully sat in the Governor’s office on his last day and appointed pals to offices and commissions just before Rauner was sworn in?
The man who took pride in shrinking the size of the Illinois House, allowing the Speaker to consolidate unprecedented power over a record setting period of four decades time?
The man who as governor signed into law the current gerrymandered House, Senate and House of Representative Districts?
Saint Patrick he ain’t.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 1:00 pm:
He could buttress his savings by mowing lawns in the neighborhood, and then use the down time to talk about the good old days with the neighbors (who would soon be slowly backing away)
- NeverPoliticallyCorrect - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 1:10 pm:
Quinn is the perfect example of the “God Complex” too many politicians develop. Only they can solve our problems. Rarely do they realize that they have become the problem. Quinn has a nice pension, go be a greeter at the Forest Park Walmart and help people find what they want there.
- Sugar Corn - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 1:12 pm:
Everything wordslinger said.
Of course Quinn’s not going away. Those asking him to do so clearly fuel his fire.
Public service in the public interest is in his DNA.
The anger and animosity he provokes from some here is way, way over the top.
- ArchPundit - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 1:19 pm:
Man, I hope he doesn’t end up on Jake Tapper’s show. That could be embarrassing for him.
- Cheryl44 - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 1:21 pm:
I like Quinn, but that doesn’t mean he’s getting my vote.
- Old and In the Way - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 1:32 pm:
I have known Pat for almost 40 years and consider him a friend. However, there is a time to step aside and allow new blood and ideas into the party and the state. Should he win the primary, as a Republican I can’t vote in the primary, he will be a big distraction for the Dems. No matter what we need Governor Ruiner out of office, and the Republican Party for that matter, his presence on the ballot makes that harder. I like the suggestion of Pat as an “elder statesman” and not AG! Please Pat……..move on. There’s plenty to do fighting the power companies and oil/coal interests in Illinois. Go back to CUB activism.
- Chicago Cynic - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 1:36 pm:
47th Ward is 1000000% correct. And I’ll take it one step further. If Pat is on the ballot, every other candidate will have to answer for his tenure. It’s a disaster waiting to happen.
- slow down - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 1:45 pm:
Things that I believe to be true:
1. Quinn is sincere in his desire to serve the public interest.
2. Quinn has been a public servant who has by and large done a lot of good for our state.
3. It’s time for Quinn to put his own ambitions aside and let a new generation of democratic leaders emerge.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 1:50 pm:
- Pat Quinn on the ballot as our nominee for AG is about the only oxygen Bruce Rauner is going to get. -
47th, I’m generally with you, but are you serious?
I guess you missed all those “Because Madigan” stories.
This election ain’t a referendum on Pat Quinn.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 1:55 pm:
===This election ain’t a referendum on Pat Quinn.===
Yet. Thankfully the AFL-CIO and others are doing what they can to keep it that way.
If you don’t think Bruce Rauner is dying to change “Because Madigan” to “Quinn-Madigan,” you’re nuts.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 1:56 pm:
Never seen so much agreement from all sides about one person and that says a lot on this forum.
Besides the other offenses Louis mentions I will add the last minute pardon he granted to a connected person who hadn’t even gone through the expungement process while passing along the backlog of applications to Rauner.
Squeezy alone should be reason for anyone to laugh at Quinn for trying to portray himself as a serious contender.
Then there was the slew of unqualified “kids” he appointed as heads of Boards and Agencies such as the State Police and Board of Higher Education.
- Responsa - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 2:00 pm:
I have never met the man in person but I had always willingly accepted the public perception that PQ is essentially a “good guy”– a plain (if annoyingly and often humorously verbose) man of the people. Several of his actions immediately preceding his loss and then immediately following his loss changed my view of him forever. Those were not the actions of a man with a public servant’s heart.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 2:04 pm:
That constitutional amendment he drove 100,000 miles for was the worst thing he’s done for this state
- Bigtwich - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 2:04 pm:
Common knowledge: Have you read Don Quixote?
Pat: I have-and found myself the hero.
Common knowledge: Be so good as to read once more The chapter of the windmills.
Pat: Chapter Thirteen.
Common knowledge: Windmills, remember, if you fight with them-
Pat: My enemies change, then, with every wind?
Common knowledge: -May swing round their huge arms and cast you down Into the mire.
Pat: Or up-among the stars!
- Lunchbox - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 2:06 pm:
PQ, please go away.
- Boone's is Back - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 2:18 pm:
“I’m like a bad Penny! OK?”
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 2:20 pm:
–The man who took pride in shrinking the size of the Illinois House, allowing the Speaker to consolidate unprecedented power over a record setting period of four decades time?–
LOL, still bitter about the Cutback Amendment, Louis? That is the ultimate professional-politician-at-the-trough grievance. Doesn’t come up much in conversation at the tavern.
You know, that wasn’t a Quinn dictate. The people of Illinois, through constitutional process, had something to do with it.
- TominChicago - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 2:28 pm:
Anonymous is right. A lot of the dysfunction in Illinois is directly attributable to the demise of cumulative voting for state reps.
- Sue - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 2:28 pm:
AG is a good function for PQ he is an advocate not executive. The Illinois AG serves as the people’s lawyer perfect fit
- Say What? - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 2:29 pm:
Pat Quinn: the Harold Stassen of Illinois politics.
- Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 2:32 pm:
–The Illinois AG serves as the people’s lawyer perfect fit–
Except he hasn’t really practiced law that much, other than some property tax appeals in between governmental stints.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 2:33 pm:
Let’s not forgot the hiring scandals that became public this past year and happened under Quinn. Ryan Croke and Lindsay Anderson both had to leave their U of I posts when these became public.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 2:35 pm:
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2017-11-01/jim-dey-second-ui-worker-cited-hiring-probe-depart.html
- Generic Drone - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 2:35 pm:
Quinn would only spell trouble for democrats in the election.
- Colin O'Scopey - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 2:37 pm:
Since some of the folks on this thread, including me, are partial to the best country (and western) song ever: “How Can I Miss You When You Won’t Go Away” when referencing Pat Quinn, I thought I’d add a few other “oldies but goodies” when it comes to ole PQ:
1) “I Keep Forgettin’ I Forgot About You”
2) “If You Don’t Leave Me Alone, I’ll Go And Find Someone Else Who Will”
3) “Thank God And Greyhound (You’re) Gone”
4) “I’m So Miserable Without You It’s Like Having You Here”
and finally:
5) “I Liked You Better Before I Knew You So Well”
- Ahoy! - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 2:49 pm:
I hope in my old age I’m not like Quinn and Madigan and know when to let the next generation take the wheel. I certainly hope I would never be holding my own daughter back.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 3:02 pm:
Can’t Pat work on designing his tomb instead?
- Cheryl44 - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 3:57 pm:
Speaking of not going away– I got an email from the Quinn campaign. When I tried to unsubscribe from the mailing list I got this 404 message:
Not Found
The requested URL /unsubscribe was not found on this server.
- Redraider - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 4:03 pm:
Hey Pat, I think that I speak for thousands of State employees that you still owe money to since 2011 that there is one constituency that you can forget about. Then there are the employees that you attempted to harm in 2013 with the overturned pension theft. Another constituency that you can forget about. Labor density is down, but pretty loud in the primary process
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 4:15 pm:
When Quinn the Eskimo gets here
Ev’rybody’s gonna wanna doze
Come all without, come all within
You’ll not see nothing like the mighty Quinn
- California Guy - Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 5:38 pm:
Illinois edition of Jimmy Carter