Governor’s Day roundup
Thursday, Aug 17, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* The day started at the Illinois Democratic County Chairs’ Association Brunch, Rick Pearson reports…
“They say they want to solve real problems. But then they spend all of their time screaming conspiracy theories about ‘The Purge,’ about Disney, about green M&M’s and space lasers,” Pritzker told several hundred people at the annual Democratic County Chairs’ Brunch.
The festivities, both at the brunch in the downtown Bank of Springfield Center and later on the director’s lawn at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, provided an early look into Democrats’ strategy for the 2024 election, focusing on a platform of protecting democracy and abortion rights a year ahead of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
The vote for president is the only statewide race next year, but the ballot will also include all 17 congressional seats — with Democrats now holding a 14-3 advantage — as well as all 118 state House and at least 20 of the 59 state Senate seats. […]
Pritzker thanked the county chairs for their help in his reelection, saying, “Together, we built a blue wave — a tsunami that swept away the red wall of Uihleins and Griffins and Rauners and Trumps.” […]
“Illinois Democrats have done more in the last five years to push back on the wave of authoritarian, anti-democratic MAGA Republican nonsense than in any other place in the country,” the governor said. “Leave it to us to raise the tallest flag in the fight against modern American fascism.
* Capitol News Illinois…
“Let me make one thing clear: Everyone indicted or accused in America is entitled to a presumption of innocence and every right under the due process clause of our Constitution,” U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, said at the IDCCA event. “But having said that, the charges against Donald Trump are not just another political wrinkle in the campaign – the charges against Donald Trump are the most serious charges ever made against a public official in America.”
Pritzker said Illinoisans rejected Trump and statewide candidates that associated themselves with him because Illinoisans “have a low tolerance for bull—-,” riling up the crowd at the Bank of Springfield convention center.
“You know the old story about the emperor who had no clothes?” Pritzker said. “Well, he couldn’t get 10 feet in the South Side Irish Parade or in the Bud Billiken parade or at the State Fair without someone here telling him he’s naked.”
Pritzker contended that Illinois’ rejection of Trump, along with its actions to bolster unions, protect abortion rights and control guns, all contributed to Illinois being chosen as the site of the 2024 Democratic National Convention.
“We are a beacon for national success,” Pritzker said. “We are Barbie when everyone else is just Ken.”
* Tina Sfondeles for the Sun-Times…
After the brunch, Democrats held a very short rally on the Director’s Lawn at the Illinois State Fair. Afterward, Pritzker told reporters he’s confident the fight for reproductive rights will continue to bring Democrats to the ballot box — and the momentum will not lose steam ahead of next year’s elections.
“Democrats are motivated, and they are all across the nation, not just in Illinois. But I’ll tell you we can already see — and you see this in Ohio, you saw it in Kansas — that one of the issues that’s animating Democrats is preserving reproductive rights for women, and women’s rights are under attack,” Pritzker said. […]
Of his own political ambitions, Pritzker was asked if he’d challenge President Joe Biden in a primary “in a pinch.”
“I’m for Joe Biden. I’m fighting for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris,” Pritzker said. “They’re gonna win in November of 2024.”
* The Pantagraph…
With neither of the state’s U.S. senators or any of its statewide constitutional officers on the ballot next year, the focus this year was decidedly national as Pritzker and Democrats seek to keep Biden in the White House.
However, all state House seats will be up along, with a third of state Senate seats. Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, speaking briefly alongside House Speaker Chris Welch, D-Hillside, touted the gerrymandered legislative maps passed in 2021 that will likely ensure Democrats maintain control of the General Assembly through this decade. […]
Among the attendees of festivities in Springfield Wednesday was Jim Taylor of Decatur, who said it’s an annual pilgrimage for him.
“I always come over here on Democrat Day,” Taylor said. “I’m a die-hard Democrat and I like to be involved as much as I can. Not as much as I used to, but as much as I can.”
* Some stuff from X…
* More…
- Steve - Thursday, Aug 17, 23 @ 10:50 am:
-“We are a beacon for national success,” -
For what the Democratic party is trying to achieve via public policy this is a true statement. Chicago 2024 convention is appropriate. Better here than San Francisco, L.A., or NYC.
- WK - Thursday, Aug 17, 23 @ 10:51 am:
Unpopular opinion: Pork chop on a stick is overrated. It’s a good pork chop, it’s supposed to be easier to eat on a stick, but if you use any sauce, it’s messier than the sandwich served by the same folks. But most of all, it is just a good pork chop, and you can get the same chops and grill them at home any time, and even put them on a stick if you really want. If I’m going to the fair, I want fair food that I can’t have every other day of the year.
Also, someone tell Ben Szalinski that a steer is not a cow.
- Chicago Voter - Thursday, Aug 17, 23 @ 11:04 am:
Good to see Dick Bigger again.
- Anon221 - Thursday, Aug 17, 23 @ 11:13 am:
“It’s a very nice cow named Bill…”
Facepalm.
If you grew up on a farm you will (or should) know why…yeesh (banned punctuation).
- CornfieldCowboy - Thursday, Aug 17, 23 @ 11:14 am:
Pork chop picture is painfully awkward.
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Aug 17, 23 @ 11:20 am:
It’s no longer politically correct to presume the Cow’s pronouns
- Gravitas - Thursday, Aug 17, 23 @ 11:26 am:
Before the rise of digital cameras, shutterbugs used to take multiple photos for safety in case one turned out badly so a better photo could be substituted.
Is Illinois State Fair the only one that is so blatantly partisan and political? In visiting other fairs, some pols do work the crowds trying to gain some publicity, but the scheduled events do not make politicians the headliners for entire days.
In northern Illinois, many folks choose to drive to West Allis.
- hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Aug 17, 23 @ 11:39 am:
This is way too cynical but when I see politicians with a porkchop on a stick I can’t help but think they are doing so just because that’s a less problematic photo than other fair foods, not because they actually want the pork chop, and I don’t like it.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Thursday, Aug 17, 23 @ 12:08 pm:
Never name your future food
- BCOSEC - Thursday, Aug 17, 23 @ 12:48 pm:
I think the Governor really enjoys attending fairs, etc.
I saw him at the Farm Progress show in Decatur when he was campaigning and he seemed to be having a good time.
- Frida's boss - Thursday, Aug 17, 23 @ 1:47 pm:
Good staged picture, actually eating the food would’ve been solid. The other guy in the pic has at least three bites out of his chop?
Rep looks like he doesn’t even want that thing in his hand.
- 32nd Ward Roscoe Village - Thursday, Aug 17, 23 @ 2:10 pm:
My sons raised three lambs and a pig through the Glenview Clovers 4-H program that showed at the Lake County Fair. They did name their future food but understood the process. Re our Governor buying the cow, at the Lake County Livestock auction when my kids were showing, many Pritzker family members were the bidders and supported a lot of the Lake County kids that way.
- Arsenal - Thursday, Aug 17, 23 @ 3:19 pm:
==It’s no longer politically correct to presume the Cow’s pronouns==
There’s Republicans’ one joke again.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 17, 23 @ 3:21 pm:
===politically correct===
… says the person who has problems with a female speech writer?
Physician heal thyself.
- Justin - Thursday, Aug 17, 23 @ 7:02 pm:
I made it to my first ever in-person ILDCCA Brunch, and it was awesome. Got to try a Vose’s corn dog, and it was a gem.