* The governor’s trip to New Hampshire generated almost no national and barely any New Hampshire regional coverage. It did get a bunch of local coverage, though. For example, here’s the Sun-Times…
Illinois Gov J.B. Pritzker on Saturday did nothing to quell speculation over a possible run for president as he delivered a self-effacing speech before New Hampshire Democrats — making light of his weight and wealth — and worked to introduce himself as a leader with his “heart on his sleeve” who is willing to fight for the party.
With rampant buzz about Pritzker’s political ambitions — coupled with the fundraising power he brings as a billionaire — the Democratic governor’s latest push for Chicago to host the Democratic National Convention is another sign there’s a trial balloon out there to see if Democrats view the governor of Illinois as a presidential contender. […]
“My friends thought I was crazy to run for governor. They told me state government couldn’t be repaired. And anyway, who would vote for someone like me? Look, I’m a Ukrainian American,” Pritzker said to applause. “I haven’t finished the list yet, and it gets worse from here. A Ukrainian American Jewish Democratic billionaire businessman. That’s not exactly the archetype that the party was looking for to run for governor. That’s okay with me. I know who I am and where I come from.” […]
He painted the national GOP as the party of fear, afraid of everything from workers’ rights, student debt forgiveness — and making high income earners, like himself, pay the highest tax rates.
Pritzker also made his feelings about former President Donald Trump known, reminding the audience that he has loudly called him a “racist, misogynistic, homophobic, xenophobic president” since his stump speeches in 2018.
* Check this out…
The 150 delegates at the Manchester Memorial High School auditorium ate it up, offering a standing ovation.
By the end of his speech, Pritzker had won over a cadre of Belknap County delegates who enthusiastically told a POLITICO reporter that they’d like to see him run for higher office.
“I think he should be our next president,” Johnna Davis, co-chair of the Belknap County Democrats, said as a couple other delegates seated in her row nodded along. “He’s got great energy. He’s perfect.”
Whew. Piling it on thick.
Belknap County’s population is 63,705, a bit larger than a Chicago ward.
* And the schtick continued with Mike Pence’s Chicago visit…
Former Vice President Mike Pence on Monday offered President Joe Biden and Democrats warning shots during a Chicago speech widely seen as part of a test of the waters for a 2024 presidential run. […]
Gov. J.B. Pritzker did not exactly roll out the welcome mat for the former Midwestern governor.
“Mike Pence is a dangerous, homophobic extremist,” the Democratic governor tweeted.
“He represents a party that for decades has sought to take us backward and strip fundamental rights from millions of Americans,” Pritzker tweeted, just two days after giving a speech in New Hampshire that many saw as a trial balloon for his own presidential ambitions. “Today’s GOP has no vision for the future — their only goal is to divide us.”
Folks…
- ILLannoyed - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 9:31 am:
Only question is 2024 or 2028
- Potomac Fever - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 9:34 am:
Someone’s ego just continues to grow and grow and grow. How many zeroes on JB’s check to belknap county Dems?
- ;) - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 9:47 am:
Nothing burger here. “Gov makes trip that no one cares to cover.” lol
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 9:51 am:
On one hand, Pence is a “dangerous, homophobic extremist”
On another hand Pence is described as a moderate to what is the GOP?
Which is it?
- Cardinal Fan - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 9:57 am:
I would take Pence over JB any day of the week.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 9:59 am:
=== I would take Pence over JB any day of the week.===
Be specific, why.
A drive by silly isn’t any sort of explanation
- T - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 10:00 am:
He had them at “billionaire”. Not sure why others couldn’t see he was running for President..
- Politics commentator - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 10:05 am:
“ I would take Pence over JB any day of the week.”
Here here
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 10:06 am:
===Here here ===
Such insightful commentary.
Up your game. This ain’t Facebook.
- Suburbanon - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 10:11 am:
I may be in a minority, but Thank God for Pence refusing to participate in Trump’s attempted coup d’etat.
- New Day - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 10:13 am:
I highly doubt JB is running. There are lots of reasons why he’s playing the national game including the desire to make Illinois the first in the nation primary and winning the convention. Besides, who doesn’t like to have their ego stroked. But will he launch a campaign? Don’t hold your breath.
- frustrated GOP - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 10:20 am:
Let’s remember, Pence isn’t exactly where the country is socially, and after a lifetime in politics agreed to be on the TRUMP ticket after knowing all he knew. He might not be Trump, but helped create the mess. Not sure JB has done a bad job. First order of government, get the trains to run on time and keep things moving.
I’m willing to give him a little room on the covid thing, but bills are getting paid and we are moving forward.
That counts for something.
and we are a long way away from JB versus Pence. I think there are a few people on both sides who might have another idea before that comes to pass
- walker - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 10:24 am:
“”Which is it?”" Both
Pence is an “extremist” on social issues, but at least he believes in accepting the results of our democratic elections.
- Juice - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 10:25 am:
Talking to people who work for the State of Indiana who were there under Governor Pence and stuck around when he left for DC, their experience under Governor Holcomb has been night in day. With the prior boss, you would hear critiques such as “never bothers to listen to facts” and “has no idea what he doesn’t know” and “difficult to get him to move off of his talking points.”
So for those wanting Mike Pence over JB, even a lot of people who know and worked for Mike Pence don’t think he’s a particularly good executive. You do you though.
- allknowingmasterofraccoondom - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 10:27 am:
I agree with New Day. I just don’t see him launching a national campaign. He has had great success here and can continue to succeed. Why break that streak in order to take a national beating? Although I do think based on his recent record and his affable personality, he would be a compelling candidate.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 10:27 am:
===at least he believes in accepting the results of our democratic elections.===
That makes one a moderate?
Yikes. Goodness.
- Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 10:30 am:
Mike Pence gave a 40 minute speech defending the economic policies of the Trump administration that raised family incomes to the highest level since 1967 pre- pandemic and criticizing the failed policies of the Biden administration that have caused inflation to hit a 40 year high and the stock market to drop 20%.
No wonder JB did not defend the Biden administration’s record on the economy he just called Mike Pence sone mean names.
https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2020/09/15/politics/census-median-income-poverty-2019/index.html
- Responsa - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 10:30 am:
The national Dems and donors are trotting out options for when Pres. Biden can’t run for re-election. VP Harris is a no-go/ fail and there are not a lot of fresh options on the bench. It’s not a sure thing that it’s going to be JB but it’s certainly not out of the question. He has both the connections and money.
- Yeah Yeah - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 10:32 am:
“Fundraising power” honest question, has JB ever raised any political dollars or has he been entirely self-funded?
- Roadrager - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 10:32 am:
==On one hand, Pence is a “dangerous, homophobic extremist”
On another hand Pence is described as a moderate to what is the GOP?
Which is it?==
In today’s GOP, it can easily be both. Consider the speed of the acceleration from bathroom bills to Couer d’Alene and “We should be executing gays for treason” in the last election cycle alone.
- New Day - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 10:37 am:
If Mike Pence is a moderate then I’m a potential Center for the Bulls. The GOP has set the bar really really really low and its extremism has redefined the word “moderate.”
- Wowie - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 10:38 am:
My hot take: He’s running for VP not POTUS.
- Jibba - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 10:39 am:
Pence is not and never has been a moderate. His actions on January 6 could be considered patriotic, or perhaps just self-preserving. He has a long way to go before he gets my respect like Cheney or Kinzinger (who are also not moderates and I would not want them representing me), such as testifying about what he knows in front of the committee.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 10:41 am:
===“Mike Pence is a dangerous, homophobic extremist,”===
Yes. Yes he is.
https://politicalwire.com/2022/06/20/exchange-of-the-day-200/
- A-Man - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 10:50 am:
A President Pence turns this country into Gilead.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 10:52 am:
=== can easily be both. Consider the speed of the acceleration from bathroom bills to Couer d’Alene and “We should be executing gays for treason” in the last election cycle alone.===
You think Pence is against *all* of that.
Hmm.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 10:54 am:
- Lucky Pierre -
It is odd how you can both support Trump and Pence.
That’s quite a spectrum, lol
- Laketrail Runner - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 10:56 am:
I’d like to actually watch JB’s speech if there is a link somewhere.
As to the question about his fundraising prowess - he was Hillary Clinton’s national fundraising chairman. You don’t get that distinction if you can’t raise money.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 11:01 am:
Walk is right. Pence is a dangerous homophobic extremist, and that is a moderate position in today’s Republican party. I mean, for goodness sakes, Greitens wants to hunt RINOs - people who actually identify as Republicans. Think about what he’d do to the rest of us who don’t
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 11:08 am:
=== and that is a moderate position in today’s Republican party===
That’s grossly inaccurate.
I can’t think of a position Pense has that under any measure that wouldn’t be considered conservative or worse.
The GOP in so many ways has a cult fixation.
The actual political spectrum of measure, there’s no measure where Pence is a moderate.
- Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 11:16 am:
Simple- like you I am a Republican who supports free market Republican economic principles that have proven to raise the wages and standard of living of all Americans.
The better question is why are you such a staunch supporter of the failed economic policies of Democrats (like 1.9 trillion in unnecessary stimulus) and just respond with name calling instead of actual facts and data.
- Roadrager - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 11:19 am:
==You think Pence is against *all* of that.
Hmm.==
I think he puts his fervent desire to persecute The Other in a polite tone and demeanor and that’s as close to “moderate” as anyone who wishes to be a successful Republican at the national level gets in 2022.
Also, he is rather dumb.
==The actual political spectrum of measure, there’s no measure where Pence is a moderate.
==
I’ve seen a couple of well-compensated establishment Dem thinkers float “sacrifice the trans people to buy the gays and lesbians some time” right here during Pride Month, so I am growing concerned about the broadness of said spectrum.
- SAP - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 11:30 am:
Pence is a dangerous, homophobic extremist, but he believes in the institutional process. He got it correct on January 6, and he deserves credit for that, but that doesn’t make him moderate.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 11:41 am:
===Simple===
If “David Duke” agrees with you on policy, you’re for David Duke.
I can’t vote for “David Duke” and justify it “because policy”
That’s the ball game and where you devolved.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 11:44 am:
===… question is why are you such a staunch supporter of…===
Think “David Duke”
It’s that “simple”
My policy beliefs, stances, who I am, but what I want in policy and politics… a “David Duke” option isn’t an option
- Politics Commentator - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 11:49 am:
“ Up your game. This ain’t Facebook.
My opinion regardless. You seem to be a very angry man, there’s a whole lot more to life than state politics so take a chill pill and enjoy all the world has to offer.
- Ainsley Hayes - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 11:51 am:
“Today’s GOP has no vision for the future — their only goal is to divide us.” Said Pritzker, right after calling the VPOTUS a couplet of insults.
JB Pritzker and his staff have the self-awareness of a baked potato.
Their bald-faced arrogance and bullying style of messaging might work in IL where Dems outvote the GOP almost 2:1.
But if he thinks he can win a national campaign in his current form, a pompous jerk, I think he has some eye-opening pitstops ahead.
- Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 12:17 pm:
The architect of the wildly successful Trump economic agenda was a Democrat former head of Goldman Sachs named Gary Cohn.
Of course the media was not appreciative of this bipartisanship for the good of the country.
They wrote he had to wipe the stink off himself after he left Washington
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/01/gary-cohn-is-a-test-case-for-trying-to-wash-off-the-trump-stink
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 12:31 pm:
=== They wrote he had to wipe the stink off himself after he left Washington===
So, again, you’re defending the Trump Administration, but ignoring the stink, in the end, of racist thinkers and insurrection apologists and sympathizers.
To bring this back to Pritzker, Pence…
Those willing to ignore the damage of the country by an insurrection, even if Pence saved the country, the policies of Pence don’t make Pence a moderate in any way, and choosing to ignore “David Duke” people because they have economic policies that align, that’s bad for America…
… and the rise of national socialists, racist thinkers… one party is embracing or at least not trying to expel such folks
Pence can be as Pritzker described, but where it’s lost is folks in the GOP seem not to care?
- So_Ill - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 12:41 pm:
==But if he thinks he can win a national campaign in his current form, a pompous jerk, I think he has some eye-opening pitstops ahead.==
Yeah, no candidate can win a national campaign being a pompous jerk. /s
- Lurker - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 1:10 pm:
I am in two groups for president:
Never-Trump
Never-Biden
So, yeah, Pritzker checks my needed boxes.
- Cool Papa Bell - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 2:06 pm:
=(like 1.9 trillion in unnecessary stimulus)=
Its always the money the littles get that pushes it too much.
Not the Trump tax cut that was $2.3 Trillion to big business and the super rich. Not the MFP and MFP2 money that needlessly went to farmers after Trump started his own trade war. Not the first round of PPP. Yeah its a couple thousand dollars sent to families who spend that money on things like food, rent, school expenses and maybe even a vacation.
Those are the dollars that pushed us over the top that we didn’t need to spend. Sheesh.
- Mason born - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 2:18 pm:
Question, if JB wins in Nov. would he have to step down from the Governors office to run? I’m just curious I hadn’t ever contemplated an IL Gov running for POTUS.
- Wally - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 2:36 pm:
People like DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Tim Scott et.al. would love to run against Pritzker.
- Anon - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 3:30 pm:
Pence is a less bright and more religious W. His own state was set to oust him. I can’t imagine he’ll make a lot of traction. My best guess is that we’re looking at a DeSantis ticket.
- Just Sayin - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 6:15 pm:
==and we are a long way away from JB versus Pence. I think there are a few people on both sides who might have another idea before that comes to pass==
Case in point, the likes of the Squad and Sanders folks (and in Illinois, the Biss followers in the ‘18 primary) that would likely abhor the idea of a multi-billionaire candidate.