Question of the day
Wednesday, Mar 30, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller
* We talked about this yesterday within a broader context. Here’s our great pal Tina Sfondeles…
A day after losing his battle to keep two of his appointees on the Illinois Prisoner Review Board, Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday delivered an impassioned defense of the “incredibly thankless job” they do and a blistering attack on their Republican critics — comparing them to QAnon conspiracy theorists.
Just as local Republicans are following the soft-on-crime strategy being used against Democrats nationally, Pritzker is taking a page from the Democratic playbook, dismissing dissenting Republicans as a bunch of wild-eyed disciples of former President Donald Trump. […]
“Now, to have Republicans attack them and their character and their biographies, to have Republicans essentially trying to tear apart this agency of government — I mean this is what the GQP has been all about, tearing government apart,” Pritzker said at a Springfield news conference where he commemorated the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Illinois State Police.
The Democratic governor pronounced the GQP acronym slowly and carefully in response to a reporter’s question about the Senate vote the day before. His staff said they haven’t heard him utter the acronym before. But it’s been used by some Democrats nationally to label Republicans as the “Grand QAnon Party,” more interested in dismantling government and chasing dark conspiracy theories than governing.
Full disclosure: “GQP” is on my list of banned commenting words. QAnon doesn’t appear to be a big problem in the General Assembly, aside from the occasional kook, yet it was being used all too regularly by a few folks and I eventually decided to stop it. I’ll take it off the banned list just for today to facilitate discussion.
* The Question: Was Gov. Pritzker’s use of “GQP” appropriate for this topic or not? Please explain your answer. Thanks.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 12:41 pm:
I don’t think so. Those Democrats that didn’t bother to vote are just as much of an issue here. The Governor really just needs to move on from this PRB issue as quickly as possible and find some people to nominate that aren’t going to make this worse.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 12:42 pm:
It was appropriate because of all of the stuff the ILGOPs have made up about Pritzker over the last few years. The crazy anti-masking, anti-vax stuff that has found its way into Illinois politics needs to be called out as crazy conspiracies because that’s what they are. Qanon is the source for a lot of this madness, so this is totally appropriate.
And I can’t help but notice how it’s Democrats that get called out when they use a mild criticism of the other side, while the Republicans can say nearly any vile thing about Democrats and it’s no big deal.
The double standard isn’t new, but it’s especially galling when some of these same Republicans pretend to recoil in horror when Pritzker gives them a little taste of their own medicine.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 12:43 pm:
===while the Republicans can say nearly any vile thing about Democrats and it’s no big deal===
They get called out here. Take a breath.
- Chicago Blue - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 12:43 pm:
I think it’s a perfectly valid criticism of the party, especially knowing that one of the key bankrollers working to elect Kevin McCarthy speaker with his insurrectionist supporting majority is also spending millions to pit Irvin against Pritzker. I just don’t think this was the time or moment to use that criticism; it seems like bad political instincts.
- Keyrock - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 12:45 pm:
No. As someone who thinks the term “GQP” is often a fair description of much of the Republican Party, I think this isn’t a fair use.
The PRB affair was a traditional Republican election scare tactic before an election, using the Nixon/Agnew/Reagan playbook. It has nothing to do with QAnon.
- FormerILSIP - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 12:46 pm:
Frankly, no. Regardless of your opinion on Republicans, it was an obvious feint to draw attention away from his feckless leadership on this issue. This was more akin to Otter’s speech in Animal House but with none of the humor or charm.
- Pot calling kettle - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 12:47 pm:
It was appropriate. The Q indicates the use of a playbook that is is founded on completely ignoring the reality and utility of a policy approach developed over decades and replacing it with gross distortions meant to mislead the public in a scorched earth manner that burns important bridges.
In this case, the PRB’s job is to follow the law and carefully consider each person’s case on a variety of circumstances (as set up by the legislature). The PRB serves an important role, but under the banner of “tough on crime,” the Republican playbook (created by the GQP side of the party) now seems to be that everyone in jail needs to be sentenced to the maximum penalty and then stay in prison forever. Any sentence less than the max and any prisoner released is an indicator of being “soft on crime.” Unfortunately, many Democrats (and Republicans) have decided to go along rather than educate the public on how the system works and why it was set up that way. This will have long-lasting, negative consequences.
- Perrid - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 12:47 pm:
No, not really. As you say I don’t think most of the GOP in IL believes much in the whole “All liberals are child molesters” type stuff that makes up QAnon. Now, I would say he’s right to dismiss every single one of their complaints about Dems being soft on crime. If legislators want life without parole to be mandatory for certain crimes, pass the bill. If not, then they’re just being partisan about an issue they don’t really care about, that happens to do huge amounts of harm to people (criminals are people, though some of us seem to forget that).
I’d also say I’d have liked if JB took a swing at cowardly Dems who cave to accusations of being “soft” and decide it’s a good idea to get into a competition to see who can be more cruel to inmates, just to win an election. It’s disgraceful that some many politicians stand for absolutely nothing except for themselves.
- Dankakee - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 12:48 pm:
Substantively, is GQP out of bounds when they support everything but the Q rhetoric? If they support the Q president, goals, and legislative agenda, isn’t it fair to brand them Q until they denounce it? The Mary Miller’s of the world have been rebuked, but aren’t they still in the caucus? Q is and Q does.
- well... - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 12:50 pm:
Not appropriate in this context. He was complaining about Republicans (and a lot of Democrats) rejecting his PRB appointees. You can have a policy argument about whether their opposition was fair, but it wasn’t based on unfounded conspiracy theories. So the GQP line was not appropriate, and really just showed that he doesn’t know how to respond to criticism on his crime record.
- Sterling - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 12:51 pm:
In this context, I don’t think it was warranted. In many, many other contexts that will come up in the next few months, it likely will be. JB should’ve kept his powder dry.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 12:51 pm:
As governor decorum matters.
I used to use the term myself but stopped when I realized that I was becoming no better than our enemies.
- Gruntled University Employee - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 12:51 pm:
Heck yes it was appropriate, if the shoe fits, wear it.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 12:52 pm:
===appropriate===
The argument to the term “appropriate” in the context, no, it was not appropriate in context to the argument, especially when the governor was goaded by politics to take his eye off the ball to an appropriate type answer to the issue of appointments here, and *that* specific political context in the senate.
Q as a major prong in the national Republican discussion, that’s undeniable, and here in this state… even Chairman Tracy flat out refuses to call out Q, racist thinkers, even the insurrectionists and sympathizers.
Until here in Illinois the GOP condemns, wholly, unequivocally, and completely Q, it’s a major part of the GOP nationally so it’s influence here in Illinois is there.
But, was it appropriate? Not in the context.
- Righteous Brothers - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 12:53 pm:
Gary Rabine is running against JB and Rabine is proud to have been endorsed by Michael Flynn, Donald Trump’s former national security advisor.
As one of many, many examples of GQP thinking, Flynn has claimed that COVID 19 was created to distract from the 2020 election being stolen from Donald Trump.
Can’t get much more GQP than that.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-covid-conspiracy-election-b1852174.html
- Lake Villa Township - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 12:53 pm:
I think it pushes the envelope but compared to how vaccine cynic Darren Bailey is still a member of the senate health committee I don’t mind.
- Mary - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 12:57 pm:
No. It is a “dog whistle” term and the issue where Pritzker failed was not one of those. It involved mismanaging an issue over which he has complete control, involving a Senate where his own party governs and likewise was opposing him. It adds to the perception that he is petulant when confronted, and not statesmanlike.
- vern - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 1:09 pm:
I don’t know how to parse it on a spectrum of appropriate to inappropriate. It was certainly a non-sequitur, as this issue didn’t pertain to anything particularly QAnon related. But as I’ve commented before, I think that Pritzker’s constant blaming of the Republicans on PRB issues is gobbledygook as long as progressive Senators in safe districts keep walking away from his nominees.
But I am sympathetic to 47th Ward’s argument. The Republican Party has been on a 40-year project to integrate their own epithets into ordinary discourse. Every time a Republican uses “Democrat” instead of the grammatically correct “Democratic,” they are working off of messaging advice that encourages association with words like bureaucrat, autocrat, plutocrat and even just rat. It’s a cultivated habit and an announcement that insulting their opponents is more important than basic English.
I’m not convinced that “GQP” is the most effective response, and it’s definitely not the most dignified. But fighting back is always more dignified than rolling over, and even this baby-deer-level assertiveness is preferable to “I respectfully disagree with my friend from the other side of the aisle who called me a child abuser.”
- H-W - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 1:13 pm:
No, in multiple contexts, it was not acceptable. Primarily though, its use by the chief executive of the state demands that citizens choose sides - Republican OR Democrat. Either/or, not neither, not both.
In addition, to assert that Republican politics defines all Republicans, and to define Republican as antithetical and the enemy, is dangerous. It invites the very forms of hate and contempt that we all should find problematic.
That said, I will treat this incident as I did the Will Smith incident. I expect an apology, a sincere one, and I will attribute it to the fact that we all make mistakes.The difference is that good people own their mistakes intentionally. And since this Governor must own, to paraphrase OW, this Governor may as well intentionally own this mistake, lest he lose moderates.
- Occam - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 1:15 pm:
No. Didn’t JB have plenty of votes to approve these people from his own party? Weren’t the republicans completely irrelevant to this process? Does JB also link the members of his own party that didn’t approve these appointees to QANON as well?
- Wensicia - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 1:20 pm:
I don’t think Pritzker should sink to the level of some of his opponents in the state GOP. Besides, Q is a GOP problem, not something Democrats should be focusing on.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 1:21 pm:
I’m not sure the Governor should’ve used it in a public forum - I just don’t know if that’s helpful.
That said, I think it’s a perfectly acceptable term for Republicans in general. If you choose to throw your lot in - or your votes in - with people who believe insane conspiracy theories and that the election was overturned, you’ve made your bed. Now you get to lie in it.
Rich, a question. I personally have used this innumerable times in comments here. Is this a shadow ban where I can see it but no one else can? I ask because I’ve been able to see every one of those comments.
- Occasional Quipper - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 1:26 pm:
No, it is not appropriate. 41 of the 59 Senators are Democrats. Eleanor Wilson got 15 Yes votes. The problem is not the Republicans.
- Louis G Atsaves - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 1:28 pm:
I angrily commented on this yesterday. The Governor was wrong to equate all Republicans to Q-Anon in defending his failure to push his appointments across the finish line. An equal number of Democrats refused to vote for those nominations Governor. Q-Anon? Get real. Either that is a huge problem with your staff in communicating with the Illinois Senate or a huge problem with your appointments. Either way, the problem here is you. Stop looking under the bed for imaginary monsters Governor.
- Captain Obvious - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 1:29 pm:
No. And his use of it is indicative that his critics are hitting the bullseye. When you can’t refute the argument, resort to a personal attack/name calling.
- Candy Dogood - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 1:30 pm:
===Was Gov. Pritzker’s use of “GQP” appropriate for this topic or not?===
Yes. The QAnon folks have successfully integrated themselves with the Republican Party. Advocates of conspiracy theories are running for office in their party’s primaries, some of them already hold office, and like Representative Chris Miller, some of them are certainly inspired by conspiracies to support attacks on our national government while declaring war on the American people.
Republican leadership has failed to stand up against this mob specifically and failed to harshly condemn it’s advocates. They have traded whatever shred of dignity they have left for support from lunatics. Given the Republican policy plans it’s pretty clear that they don’t actually have anything that resembles good government to run on. Just bigotry, hate, and conspiracy theories.
If the Governor’s use of GQP was inappropriate, where exactly is the media addressing the repeated slurs and slanders used by Republican elected officials? Case an point, people who call it the “Democrat Party” or the Republican elected officials that use coded terms like “globalist.”
Governor Pritzker is calling them what they are. The Republican Party wants to repurpose our justice system into a system of state sponsored revenge and is fundamentally out of touch with the concept basic concepts of Liberalism — like the notion that we have rights.
===Full disclosure: ===
That makes sense. There was at least one post where I couldn’t figure out the naughty word, but I trust you as an editor, Rich.
- Pundent - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 1:31 pm:
Using terms like this reflexively, when there’s a legitimate beef with a policy or decision, doesn’t help Pritzker. There can be a time and a place to use terms like this effectively, This wasn’t it.
- Biker - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 1:32 pm:
It’s appropriate because much needed sentencing and policing policy reforms are being blamed for a host of societal ills. Any attempt to change the status quo of arresting, prosecuting and incarcerating our way to a more just society is met with ridicule and more racism. Jobs, education, social services, healthcare-inclusive of mental well-being, and hell, dental as well (cuz teeth are part of healthcare), and restorative justice programming are the path forward. They just are. And no amount of mouth breathing and in the particular case here of pretending anyone advocating for these much needed changes “just doesn’t get it” will change an American incarceration rate (#1 at 2 Milly plus) and total prison population (#1 at 629 per 100,000) unfathomable in any other country in the entire world. The “GQP” is correctly called out as stupidest when it comes to criminal justice reform. Russian government psy-ops want us hating each other on every existing fault line, and the biggest one we got is racism. So I think this is a fair moment to get huffy. And I sincerely hope that Pritzker follows this up with actionable plans that borrow from Denver to fund social workers responding to mental health calls, creating a state wide free healthcare system, make community college free, and
- OneMan - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 1:33 pm:
It’s a bit like blaming the refs for losing a game when half your team decided not to show up.
You lost on this because your own party didn’t come through for you. So yeah, use the term, but at the day the L is on you and all the GQP in the world isn’t why this happened.
- SWIL_Voter - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 1:34 pm:
If it’s appropriate to label every Democrat with Defund the Police even though only one Democrat ran on such a thing, I can hardly see how GQP could be inappropriate. Seems like a gross double standard. Especially given how Democrats constantly denounce the activists while the GQP tiptoes around theirs.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 1:37 pm:
=== The Governor was wrong to equate all Republicans to Q-Anon===
- Louis G Atsaves -
Do you condemn Q?
If your issue is “equating all”, where do you fall?
Just an aside, since you take offense to the equating.
- Vote Quimby - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 1:37 pm:
==As governor decorum matters.==
I would prefer our governor –whoever they are and regardless of party affiliation– to steer away from childish name calling. Perhaps at a campaign event or similar, but not at what was supposed to be an event honoring the centennial of our state police. Do better.
- Biker - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 1:38 pm:
Last part got cut off. *creating a state wide free healthcare system like in Washington state, and make community college free like in Tennessee. It’s important to follow up this criticism with what Pritzker is going to do about it.
- SSL - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 1:51 pm:
If that’s honestly how JB feels, and I believe it is, then it’s appropriate.
- Who else - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 1:53 pm:
==You can have a policy argument about whether their opposition was fair, but it wasn’t based on unfounded conspiracy theories.==
I get this, and I’m not totally down with the use the Qanon reference because this was something Democrats chose to do. And this anti-PRB train is really a policy question about the function of prisons. Is it to punish and contain people (which mostly does not deter the behavior) or is it to rehabilitate people (which can work and sometimes doesn’t)?
But white supremacy is the ultimate unfounded conspiracy theory, and that’s what fuels the flames of the tough on crime crowd who are executing the anti-PRB/anti-parole/anti-clemency/anti-Pritzker operation. It’s just that in this case, it’s not just Republicans pushing the conspiracy. It’s Senate Dems.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 1:55 pm:
I am with @Candy Dogood 100%. The gop has not pushed the Q element out of the party or ostracized them in anyway. So GQP is appropriate.
Louis, OW asked you a simple question. Crickets.
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 2:01 pm:
Outside of political junkies not many people really know what was qanon is because it is a fringe right wing movement
There are fringe left wing movements too that don’t appeal to mainstream Democrats
Tarring an entire party as fringe conspiracy theorists after a crushing defeat is taking a page out or Rules for Radicals
538 confirms it it is a fringe movement
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/why-its-so-hard-to-gauge-support-for-qanon/amp/
- Occasional Quipper - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 2:04 pm:
It appears that a lot of folks who are commenting that it was appropriate here are doing the exact same thing the governor did. Using it as an excuse to bash Republicans, when Republicans had nothing to do with his failure to get this appointment through.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 2:08 pm:
- Lucky Pierre -
Same question;
Do you condemn Q?
If your issue is “equating all”, where do you fall?
Just an aside, since you take offense to the equating.
Here’s why, and it goes to the *core* of if it was appropriate or not appropriate…
… you can’t be offended by a “whole party” type of take and you, yourselves, refuse to denounce Q.
How can you be offended if you yourself refuse to condemn it.
The problem that Q is acceptable to the ILGOP, which has refused to condemn Q, and the GOP as a party nationally has refused to condemn… how can one be offended if the party refuses to condemn, or if you, now you both, refuse to condemn.
The reason Pritzker likely felt he could let off steam to the blanket statement, where is the condemning?
Also, I have my comment above, I said it was inappropriate, and I also condemn Q
- northsider (the original) - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 2:09 pm:
As long as the Illinois Republican party refuses to forcefully, loudly and in no uncertain terms renounce Qanon, its lies and all its followers,every Democrat, including the Governor yesterday, should use the term GQP because it is accurate.
- ArchPundit - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 2:13 pm:
It was a poor use of it–there will be plenty of times to bust that out during the campaign later
. Also as Governor, it’s on him to know where his party’s caucus is.
- TheInvisibleMan - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 2:26 pm:
Deb Conroy would probably disagree that Qanon isn’t much of a problem in the General Assembly.
While there may not be a problem with a significant number of members holding seats who are openly Q, the ILGOP has absolutely no problem mobilizing them on cue(no pun intended)as bad actors. The ‘concentration camp’ language used to rile up the antivaxxers is pure Q. Many in the ILGOP have no problem inviting them to campaign events, or partnering up with them on social media.
The ILGOP doesn’t get to wash it’s hands of this now because they don’t like the association made by the governor. When the ILGOP was in charge of making the association, they were just fine with it.
So is it appropriate in this context. I think it is. I think it’s appropriate in every context from here on forward.
- MisterJayEm - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 2:38 pm:
“Was Gov. Pritzker’s use of ‘GQP’ appropriate for this topic or not?”
Appropriate? Sure.
Rhetorically effective? No.
– MrJM
- lake county democrat - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 2:42 pm:
Yes, for the “not enough to stay silent” reasons given by others above. You don’t get to let your party send “Dems love child porn” shout-outs to Q-anon for a week without a whiff of dissent, throw Adam Kinzinger out for daring to be faithful to the Constitution, and then whine that the label is unfair because at the state level you’ve managed to stay clear of such things.
- Candy Dogood - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 2:42 pm:
We’re commenters on a blog that focuses on state political issues. I don’t think anyone loses anything by specifically denouncing a political organization they don’t agree with. None of our nicknames are on the ballot. Just throw Qanon under the bus and move along. The “both sides” argument still works if you address Qanon but I like to think that we’re a little above just simple whataboutism here. It’s possible to both think the Governor’s choice of language is inappropriate and that Qanon is a Republican Party problem they need to address.
Though if you’re clutching pearls about Governor Pritzker’s comment as some kind of assault on decorum and weren’t doing that throughout the Trump Administration it doesn’t really seem like decorum is your priority.
- Motambe - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 3:01 pm:
When we need a leader who can solve this problem the Governor resorts to name calling. This is sad in several ways, involving PRB decisions deserving criticism, Democrat legislators hanging Pritzker out to dry, and Republican legislators and Gov. candidates looking for or creating any opportunity to criticize the Governor. This is a mess.
- Occasional Quipper - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 3:01 pm:
The question was “Was Gov. Pritzker’s use of “GQP” appropriate for this topic or not?”
It wasn’t an open-ended question asking if it is ever appropriate to use this term. It was referencing “this topic”. Again, for everyone taking this as an opportunity to bash Republicans, please explain how Republicans had anything at all to do with this appointment failing to pass. 26 Democrats did not support the governor. Why are they not being bashed? Are you saying the Republican speeches on the floor were so eloquent and logical that they actually changed Democrat members’ votes? That would be a first.
- Pundent - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 3:03 pm:
=It’s possible to both think the Governor’s choice of language is inappropriate and that Qanon is a Republican Party problem they need to address.=
The party leaders and defenders know that they can’t win without Qanon. So the pearl clutching and whataboutism is nothing more than a convenient way of denying this reality. Acknowledging “the problem” comes at the price of winning elections.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 3:04 pm:
===It wasn’t an open-ended question asking if it is ever appropriate to use this term.===
It is important to grasp as one condemns the governor for it’s use in this context, are those same folks condemning it also condemning Q?
How can you condemn the governor using it if you can’t condemn Q too?
- Leeroy Jenkins - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 3:11 pm:
===It’s disgraceful that so many politicians stand for absolutely nothing except for themselves.===
Very sad and absolutely true. The public is often times an afterthought.
- vern - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 3:21 pm:
=== Are you saying the Republican speeches on the floor were so eloquent and logical that they actually changed Democrat members’ votes? That would be a first. ===
Perfect example of the point I made. Quipper, fwiw I did roast the Governor for blaming Republicans for his PRB nominees failing. But on the broader point of party epithets, you used one yourself. Surely you meant “Democratic” members, not “Democrat” members, right?
- Occasional Quipper - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 3:22 pm:
== How can you condemn the governor using it if you can’t condemn Q too? ==
Easy. Because it doesn’t matter what my opinion of the Republicans and Q is. The question was simply was it appropriate for the governor to use the term for this topic. But it seems like folks are taking it further and using this thread as a launching point for a whole other conversation. People are saying it’s okay for the governor to use the term because they believe it to be true, but they’re completely avoiding the original question about whether it was appropriate for the topic. That’s all I’m saying.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 3:27 pm:
=== Easy. Because it doesn’t matter what my opinion of the Republicans and Q is.===
It actually does, lol
If you feel JFK Jr. is alive *and* are upset by the Governor’s remarks, that makes zero sense.
=== but they’re completely avoiding the original question about whether it was appropriate for the topic. That’s all I’m saying.===
The context of the slight is important, since the governor was also condemning the GOP for welcoming those same conspiracy theorists, so are they upset by the use or the fact the governor is attacking them and their beliefs.
It’s not hard to condemn Q. That’s easy too.
- Occasional Quipper - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 3:30 pm:
== Surely you meant “Democratic” members, not “Democrat” members, right?==
Yes, I stand corrected.
- Occasional Quipper - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 3:33 pm:
== If you feel JFK Jr. is alive *and* are upset by the Governor’s remarks, that makes zero sense. ==
If the governor has 41 Democratic members in the Senate and only gets 15 of them to support his nomination, and then blames Republicans, that is what makes zero sense.
- PublicServant - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 3:36 pm:
If the Q fits, wear it. I was, however, not the smartest thing to say politically. Honesty-wise, it was spot on.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 3:37 pm:
=== If the governor has 41 Democratic members in the Senate and only gets 15 of them to support his nomination, and then blames Republicans, that is what makes zero sense.===
Asked and answered, keep up.
I mean, the state GOP, the national GOP still feel this need to have Q in its ranks.
Are folks complaining about the use, which is the question, but their own reason for the angst is telling… like, “we don’t condemn Q” kind of silly.
It’s an easy question. One of the main tenets is a belief a president’s deceased child is alive, lol
- Drake Mallard - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 4:56 pm:
He could have said a senior lady begged him to say it, and then ride a motorcycle a couple blocks before he got into a limousine.
But, that would probably be lost on the State Repubs.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 5:13 pm:
More than half of Republicans believe the 2020 election was stolen.
It is, by definition, a party of conspiracy theorists.
Donald Trump is enlisting Putin for political help in his conspiracy theory pursuit of Joe Biden’s son, and Trump still remains wildly supported by Republican officeholders in Illinois.
Does that make every member of the party a kook? Nope. But the sane folks within the GOP are apparently unaware what their party truly believes, and JB is right to tell them.
The Prison Review Board is based on long-held Judeo-Christian principles that the GOP used to embrace.
- ANNON'IN - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 5:28 pm:
Yup. When you walk and talk like a duck you are. Let the GOPies prove otherwise.
We would ban appropriate for the rest of ‘22
- Amalia - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 5:44 pm:
No. Although many of them are off that deep end. But it is a perfect way to deflect from the lack of support by Democrats. Crime is a big issue and pushing back against Republicans while he figures out the best way to handle things is important. Dialogue is fierce on the issue and let’s just say that Sunday’s slap fest did not help tone down the rhetoric.
- Lincoln Lad - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 6:00 pm:
Not appropriate… but he can’t hardly call out the dem senators who seem willing to do anything to avoid being called soft on crime. My, my how things have changed. I guess we don’t care as much about right and fair and justice as we used to. At least not when an election is 8 months off and you’re running in fear.
- charles in charge - Wednesday, Mar 30, 22 @ 7:00 pm:
I think the “GQP” insult is more appropriate in other contexts than this one. But until the party actually rejects the kookery of QAnon instead of continuing to cultivate support from it, they deserve to wear the label.
Also want to lift up Perrid’s comment with which I wholeheartedly agree:
==I’d also say I’d have liked if JB took a swing at cowardly Dems who cave to accusations of being “soft” and decide it’s a good idea to get into a competition to see who can be more cruel to inmates, just to win an election. It’s disgraceful that some many politicians stand for absolutely nothing except for themselves.==