* Gov. Pritzker…
Governor JB Pritzker released the following statement after the United States Senate voted to acquit President Donald Trump on the impeachment charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
“Today we saw Republicans in the United States Senate thwart the intentions of the framers of our Constitution and capitulate to this corrupt and untruthful President. The Republican Party now has confirmed it is captive to a political ideology denies the truth and refuses to hear the witnesses that legal and moral precedent demand – and that the vast majority of Americans hoped to hear from.
“Here is the undeniable truth: President Trump used our tax dollars to help his reelection campaign by refusing to give an ally needed aid until they helped his political operation.
“As governor of the nation’s fifth-largest economy, I’m going to continue to make Illinois a firewall against Donald Trump’s assaults on our democracy and hold him accountable on behalf of all the working families he has harmed.
“Illinois will always stand on the side of all the brave individuals across this nation who are fighting to hold the United States of America to its own ideals of liberty and justice for all.”
Take some deep, cleansing breaths before commenting, please.
- Anonasaur - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 3:47 pm:
Could you imagine if the Senate spent that much time discussing the opioid crises instead of impeachment? Or figuring out how to lower prescription drug prices? Hours and hours of coverage with wall-to-wall media coverage and nobody is better off.
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 3:47 pm:
Here is the undeniable truth Governor:
A partisan impeachment process that denied the President due process and the right to cross examine witnesses, has resulted in President Trump’s average approval going up from 41.8% in October to 45%.
It also didn’t do any favors for the Democratic front runner Joe Biden
who finished 4th in Iowa.
Other than that how was the play Mrs. Lincoln?
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president_trump_job_approval-6179.html
- Steve Rogers - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 3:49 pm:
I’m no fan of Mitt Romney, but his explanation for voting the way he did nailed it. Apparently, he was the only one out of 100 senators who listened–everyone else had their minds made up months ago.
- Former State Employee - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 3:50 pm:
Thanks to Governor Pritzker for his remarks. Which State you live in is becoming a barometer of whether human and civil rights are respected. I’m proud to live in Illinois.
- Birdseed - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 3:54 pm:
That was a poorly written word salad.
- JIbba - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 3:54 pm:
This will not set any precedent. The Rs will happily impeach a Dem who does anything like this in the future.
- illinifan - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 3:56 pm:
I fail to understand Republican Senators who said what Trump did was wrong and the house had proven their case but his actions were not meeting the standard of impeachable. Trump had already been impeached in the House. The Senate’s job was to evaluate whether the house had proven the case (Rubio, Murkowski, Collins, Alexander, Romney and others have said the case was proven). If proven thenthis should render a conviction vote. Romney said it correctly. For all intents if they were a jury at a murder trial their statement would be that the prosecution proved the case but as a jury they have decided not to convict. It is beyond unfortunate and it is scary what this means for supporting our constitution.
- Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 3:56 pm:
As is typical with Democrats, they were mostly right on substance and completely botched the performance. They continually let the Republicans control their ever-changing narrative. There will be no one left to blame when the next Democratic president assumes he is also a king.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 3:56 pm:
=== That was a poorly written word salad.===
Example?
To the Post,
It’s a marker I’d expect from those not on the side of the President, and now with impeachment ending, the entrenched sides will take their cases to the voters.
- Nick Name - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 3:57 pm:
===Could you imagine if the Senate spent that much time discussing the opioid crises instead of impeachment? Or figuring out how to lower prescription drug prices?===
The House has passed literally hundreds of bills that McConnell has refused to allow the Senate to consider, including a bill to lower prescription drug prices. Keep up.
https://tinyurl.com/t8w9jmv
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 3:57 pm:
===partisan impeachment===
Bipartisan votes of guilt.
You forgot that.
- Birdseed - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 3:58 pm:
=== - JIbba - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 3:54 pm:
This will not set any precedent. The Rs will happily impeach a Dem who does anything like this in the future. ===
Of course they will. You do understand that President Trump was impeached, right?
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 3:58 pm:
=A partisan impeachment process that denied the President due process and the right to cross examine witnesses, has resulted in President Trump’s average approval going up from 41.8% in October to 45%.
It also didn’t do any favors for the Democratic front runner Joe Biden
who finished 4th in Iowa.=
By his own admission in numerous tweets Trump admitted to obstructing congress.
Trump and his minions also admitted (after denials) that he asked the Ukraine to look into a political rival.
Two basic facts.
Two acts of abuse of power.
Trump will now be completely untethered and no consequences for his actions. If any other president did that….
- Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 4:00 pm:
@Lucky P
Yep, polling more important than the constitution. Got it.
- Heyseed - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 4:00 pm:
Well, we’ll just have to wait and see how the governor’s bold, brave stand on that issue plays politically here in Illinois.
- JB13 - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 4:01 pm:
Maybe, when it comes time to criticize spineless partisans for shirking their duty to bring corrupt autocrats to heel, Illinois Democrats may want to take a knee
- Oak Parker - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 4:03 pm:
If I could sum up the impeachment in one word, it would be: boring. That’s largely why the republicans didn’t allow witnesses. They wanted to keep impeachment boring so no one would watch, and they succeeded.
- Amalia - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 4:05 pm:
Yep, I’m with Pritzker on this. How about if criminal trials of illegal immigrants don’t involve witnesses and we just acquit them, Republicans? yeah, I didn’t think so.
- Ginhouse Tommy - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 4:08 pm:
It is not that I disagree with Pritzker but he should have stayed out of it. Let the voters decide. It is a long way to November and a lot can happen between now and then.
- OurMagician - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 4:10 pm:
Rich-your warning on the bottom should have been given to the Governor beforehand as well.
- Sue - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 4:14 pm:
I guess it’s true- it wasn’t over until the fat guy sings
- Responsa - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 4:16 pm:
“The American people have spoken on this issue through the voices and votes of their elected senators and representatives. Now let’s work together here in Illinois to solve the state’s problems ” would have been a very good announcement from the governor today.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 4:19 pm:
Pritzker is spot-on. Very glad to have him as governor at this time.
- Illinoised - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 4:21 pm:
I applaud Governor Pritzker for stating the truth.
- Just Saying - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 4:23 pm:
Trump is the greatest President ever and Pelosi and Schiff need to be the first ones to go to Mars with no return spaceship.
- Rural Survivor - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 4:23 pm:
The US house has a majority of Democrats.
The Senate has a Republican majority.
I’m not surprised. I figured this would be the outcome from the beginning.
Completely political.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 4:24 pm:
- Sue -
Feel good? Ugh.
I look at the workings of today and this process in this one way pertaining to this Post;
It will be a 3/10 my surprise that this POTUS wins te-election.
It will be an 8/10 my surprise that this POTUS will go down to defeat.
James Carville, whom politically/ideology I have few things in common but I respect his opinion when it comes to the Democratic Party ills, and how to win.
Carville said something that I found so honest to every bit of… everything… even today. To Democrats;
“We win every argument, we don’t win elections”
That’s as real and raw as it gets.
Unless Dems focus on policy and rallying around, unequivocally, their nominee, especially in Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, and North Carolina, and win each and every one of those 4 states… what are they actually talking about?
“We win every argument, we don’t win elections”
That’s impeachment now. You can claim you won the argument, can you win the election?
I dunno, frankly.
That’s not great.
- Jocko - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 4:25 pm:
I can’t wait to see what Wikipedia will say about this event in years to come
==The tapes (transcript moved to a secure server) revealed that Nixon (Trump) had conspired to cover up activities that took place after the break-in (withholding of congressional funds) and had attempted to use federal officials to deflect the investigation.==
- City Zen - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 4:28 pm:
So I guess a federal bailout is off the table.
- West Side the Best Side - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 4:28 pm:
Denied the right to cross examine witnesses? You mean the witnesses the Republicans refused to be allowed to be called? How can there be a trial without witnesses? The denial of due process and cross examination arguments just insult the intelligence of anyone whose brain (and conscience) has not been taken over by their blind loyalty and robot like obedience to Trump. (And that was after the deep cleansing breath.)
- lakeside - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 4:31 pm:
The statement is a little long, and maybe not totally necessary as folks go into session, though I agree with its content.
It will inflame some folks (for instance, Just Saying’s measured request to blast members of Congress into space) in the legislature for not a ton of purpose. There was no question how IL senators would vote, so not who this is speaking to. I’d have given it as a reply if asked, but probably not put out something this detailed proactively.
- Pundent - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 4:34 pm:
I’ve got a lot more respect for Mitt Romney. He’s the only Republican Senator willing to uphold the constitution regardless of the political consequences. I mourn for the loss of the party’s consciousness.
- Commonsense in Illinois - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 4:35 pm:
In the words of Jed Bartlett…What’s next?
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 4:35 pm:
The political/electoral repercussions of this in Illinois will almost certainly not be good for the Trump Party.
- City Zen - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 4:42 pm:
==I’ve got a lot more respect for Mitt Romney.==
Are you still holding his binders?
- AlfondoGonz - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 4:48 pm:
The difference between decent, thoughtful Americans and Trump’s uneducated is always most glaring in the comment sections. Trump’s uneducated point out that the governor is fat, when Trump is obese. They point out the political ramifications of the Democratic pursuit of justice while ignoring the corruption pursued by their president. They offer no original thoughts, just ill-delivered parroting of the president’s own tired and false projections.
Decent republicans will have a lot of work to do to wash off the stain of this presidency. Whether trump is replaced this year or 4 years from now, whomever replaces him, I hope more than anything, has a moral compass. Trump has none, and most disheartening is that his followers have seemingly gleefully abandoned theirs.
Embarrassing time to be an American.
Good on the governor for releasing this statement.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 4:58 pm:
- AlfondoGonz -
Good stuff, and thank you.
Honestly I dunno how the GOP will survive, in a year or 5… unless the old, white, angry, rural folk thinking they’re defending “America” decide that being inclusive and lest cult-like…
- Nieva - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 5:03 pm:
The President won most of the rural counties in Illinois in 2016 and after this farce, he will just increase his support for 2020.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 5:05 pm:
=== won most of the rural counties===
Counties. Don’t. Vote.
We’re still on the “land votes” argument?
(Sigh)
- Really - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 5:12 pm:
Pot? Meet kettle.
- thoughts matter - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 5:13 pm:
Mitt Romney has my utmost respect. He listened, he gave thought to it, and he voted in accordance with what he believed the facts to be. He voted in accordance with what he believed to be right and ethical. He didn’t vote in accordance with the party line. Those are the people I vote for in either party. Its’ why I for first time in years requested a Democratic primary ballot in 2018 and why I didn’t vote for a single Republican in 2018 period. Until we get statesmen and women back in the GOP, I’m done with them.
OW is right. The GOP is failing.
- Donnie Elgin - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 5:48 pm:
Talking points. Check
- Anon - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 5:52 pm:
Trump won again
- Rich Hill - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 5:55 pm:
Art Jones 2024 may get somewhere in the Republican primaries.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 5:55 pm:
The good of today, the fallout of today…
There are those who support a racist president and will use economic or “social” covers to try and hide they support this type of person who is all that is corruptly wrong with the human spirit.
Then there are those who will stand up to this person, but will let his shortcomings hurt, and let that consume them, and this POTUS will win, or those who think they “know” and will let the feeling that the perfect candidate isn’t good enough for them, so they will be the enemy of the good candidate, and that will fail.
If you embrace Trump, you embrace the ugly and despicable he is too.
If you want to defeat him, then dedicate yourself to that task on policy, and do not be that enemy of the good because you don’t feel it’s perfect.
- Blamer - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 6:09 pm:
And yesterday we saw the Democrats politicize an impeachment in the house…
- Justacitizen - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 6:42 pm:
Pritzker’s comments fall on deaf ears on the nationwide stage. Illinois has more than it’s share of legal and moral issues. Pot calling kettle thing.
- Latina - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 6:49 pm:
-Blamer that’s an understatement.
- Blue Dog Dem - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 6:57 pm:
Coming from a guy who would dismantle a toilet to save a few hundred thousand, JBs opinion means a lot.
- Blue Dog Dem - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 6:59 pm:
I may not embrace Trump, but I may for for him. Never. Never. Will I vote for the likes who want to drive us completely to socialism.
- Blue Dog Dem - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 7:02 pm:
Here is the undeniable truth. Governor Pritzker tried to scam the system by disconnecting a toilet to avoid paying his fair share.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 7:05 pm:
Any corruption angle Trumpites push now in Illinois against Democrats can be neutralized, so in that respect, that attack angle can be diminished.
- RNUG - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 7:26 pm:
It was a completely political and predictable process and result by all parties from start to finish.
Most the commentators, including JB, are also politically based and predictable.
And it won’t make a bit of difference to a lot of the voters since both sides are viewing things through their own set of rose colored glasses.
The only thing that will make a difference is if the 2/3’s of eligible voters that usually sit on the sidelines show up in November. Local / statewide GOTV operations will be more important this year than ever …
- Birds on the Bat - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 7:45 pm:
What RNUG said.
- FormerParatrooper - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 8:08 pm:
To the post of the Governor’s statement. It was as predictable as the impeachment, the process of the impeachment and the result in the Senate.
Neither side has the patent on corruption or investigating political rivals. Nor does either Party have any moral high ground to fight on against the other.
One thing that I have heard too much of is calling the United States a Democracy. We are not a Democracy, never meant to be a Democracy, we have a Republic. The people we elect should at least know the form of government they took an oath to.
- revvedup - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 8:19 pm:
Harkening back to Chevy Chase on Sat Night Live:
“Donald J Trump remains President after his trial, and doctors believe he’ll remain that way indefinitely.”
I suspect the Dems are going to have some serious infighting and damage control issues, now that this charade has ended as predicted.
- All This - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 8:21 pm:
== I may not embrace Trump, but I may for for him. Never. Never. Will I vote for the likes who want to drive us completely to socialism.==
A little early in the week to start drinking?
Anyway you’re in luck. There is nobody running in the two main parties who wants to “drive us completely to socialism.”
- All This - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 8:24 pm:
== We are not a Democracy, never meant to be a Democracy, we have a Republic.==
Those two terms aren’t mutually exclusive. We are in fact both a democracy and a republic
- Jay b. - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 9:08 pm:
I did vote for you last election, but now I see your tax tactics and your denial of truth unwillingness to stand on your own morals instead of standing by your democratic buddies , I will vote straight Republican ticket.
- Bruce - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 11:14 pm:
Looks like JB wants to go national.
- DougChicago - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 4:34 am:
Just another case of Trump Derangement Syndrome. He should go get some of his newly legalized weed and chill out.
- 17% Solution - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 6:30 am:
==and nobody is better off.==
I think we’ll all be better off now that people found out how cowardly or brave their senators are. Looking at you Doug Jones and Mitt Romney.
- Concerned citizen - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 7:12 am:
Pritzker is an ultra liberal who does not care about the rule of law. Illinois is in a race with NY and California to be the most “progressive”. Illegal aliens and convicted criminals have more rights than law abiding citizens. Wait until no cash bail, more “early release” prison programs and even higher taxes go into effect. People and jobs are fleeing in droves. IL is becoming a hell hole.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 7:29 am:
- Concerned citizen -
We’ll miss you when you go…
Only an utter fool… would stay in a place they call a $&@# hole.
Leave a forwarding address too.
- RH - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 7:48 am:
Glass houses Governor
- 17% Solution - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 7:59 am:
==Illegal aliens and convicted criminals have more rights than law abiding citizens.==
Both the above have some basic rights. But more? Where is your proof?
- mdmd - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 8:13 am:
I almost spit out my coffee…. The “leader” of the most corrupt state, calling the kettle black. Give me a break. Concentrate on the corruption and wasting of Illinois tax dollars. Fix the pensions…. Then I might listen to what you have to say.
- Pick a Name - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 8:17 am:
Fewest jobs added in the first year in office since Blago. And, this during a time the economy is booming.
- Squints - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 8:17 am:
If you’re lost in the woods start talking about politics and someone will show up to argue with you.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 8:24 am:
Lol, talk about the pot calling the kettle black? It looks like the right wing lost its major talking point against Illinois Democrats—screaming against corruption but now having the burden of defending a corrupt president and national party. Good luck.
- Perrid - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 8:32 am:
The governor is right. Trump has been proven corrupt, and the GOP (minus Romney) decided they don’t care if the President is corrupt as long as he’s on their side.
The House should keep pushing for Trump officials to answer questions about this corruption, even knowing that the GOP will do nothing.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 8:55 am:
==Pritzker is an ultra liberal who does not care about the rule of law==
You’re using an argument about not caring about the rule of law to defend a President who doesn’t care about the rule of law? That’s rich.
==People and jobs are fleeing in droves==
I wish some of you would flee.
- City Zen - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 8:56 am:
==looks like the right wing lost its major talking point against Illinois Democrats==
Luckily everyone else has not.
- Pick a Name - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 9:08 am:
I think most residents of this state will be thrilled if JB can accomplish 10% of what Trump has accomplished while in office.
It appears an incredible 291,000 jobs were added nationally in January.
- AnonAurora - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 9:11 am:
A bulletproof response….bravo…
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 9:13 am:
- Pick a Name -
Please do not whine or complain about the state debt, as the national debt now has risen to $23 Trillion, it’s highest ever.
Supporting a racist president for a thought on money when the debt is at its worst in on brand for Trumpkins.
Can’t be about the economy and then whine about Illinois debt.
Nope.
- Simple Simon - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 9:17 am:
It’s sad that many of the responses above don’t deal with whether Trump actually did what was alleged, but rather argue about process or point to flaws in others. Any opportunity to move forward as a country was lost because there was no attempt to understand what happened and agree on whether his conduct was permissible or not.
- 17% Solution - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 9:17 am:
== Fewest jobs added in the first year in office since Blago. And, this during a time the economy is booming.==
94700 jobs in one year.
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/greg-hinz-politics/illinois-job-engine-suddenly-kicks-high-gear
- 17% Solution - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 9:23 am:
Also jobs are up in all 14 metro areas and unemployment numbers are down. http://www.ides.illinois.gov/SitePages/All%20News%20Items.aspx
- PeoriaDem - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 9:25 am:
I think there should be a state law that says that anyone who posts a “I’m Leaving This State Because XYZ” should have to post receipts or lose their posting rights across social media.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 9:32 am:
@Pick a Name- 10%?
Trump Accomplishments-
1. More people without insurance
2. Tried to get a foriegn government to attack a domestic political opponent. I never knew it was cool for the president to use foreign governments to attack US citizens but I guess the GOP thinks it is cool, Brave patriots. Basically the use of foreign mercenaries against Americans.
3. More lying than any 10 previous presidents.
But the stock market is booming. Not to be conflated with the over all economy which is not the same thing. Moderate economic growth is all we are experiencing, below 3%.
Good luck.