There's a bat loose in the Capitol and it really likes the hall of Governor's portraits. It ignored the other obvious pun, though. It landed on Big Jim Thompson's portrait instead of Bruce Rauner's pic.twitter.com/tUWFOZe2tz
- Just Another Anon - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 12:07 pm:
Can the Capitol Bat be detained under the Safety Act?
Headline: Capitol Bat files excessive force complaint against Capitol Police.
I’ll show myself out….
- Excitable Boy - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 12:08 pm:
I hear Durbin called JB and advised him that if everyone avoids looking at the bat or attempting to catch or otherwise disturb the bat, with any luck it might just go away and not hurt anyone.
(Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na)
Bat naaaaaabed
(Na na na na na na na na na na na na)
Bat naaaaaabed
(Na na na na na na na na na na na na)
Bat naaaaaabed
(Na na na na na na na na na na na na)
Bat naaaaaabed
(Na na na na na na na na na na na na)
Bat nabed Bat nabed Bat nabed
(Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na)
Bat nabed Bat nabed Bat nabed
Da da da da da da da da da da da da da
Bat naaaaaabed
I want to believe that the guy who caught it was just a camo hoodied bat Samaritan bystander whose everyday carry includes bat catching gloves and a bat catching net. Do not disabuse me.
- NoUseForAName - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 12:32 pm:
I’ve seen them in there a few times the last year or two, but always later at night when they typically awaken to go hunt and when there aren’t many folks left in the building. I assume the construction disrupted them.
I struggled with an analogy then, too, Rich. Best I could come up with was something along the lines of having more Capitol inhabitants who did their best work under cover of darkness than we were previously aware of.
I love the animal control or DNR or whatever dude catching a bat (which is not a dignified procedure) with this giant fascinated audience. I mean, it’d be the highlight of my day too and I’d definitely be watching, but it’s still funny.
I didn’t know Illinois was home to any bats. A few years ago I saw a bat crawling around on Madison Street in the West Loop area. Had no idea there were any in even the Chicago area.
Found at the rail, with the rest of the blood suckers.
- Peoples Republic of Oak Park - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 1:25 pm:
In the news today: A blood sucking pest was found roaming the halls of the Illinois capitol. And after the break a bat was also picked up by animal control.
- The Dude Abides - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 1:25 pm:
@Levois
Growing up in Decatur, I remember my parents dealing with a bat in the house several times.
My current house (~1mi from the Captiol), I’ve had to evict two bats in as many years.
=A single big brown bat can eat between 3,000 and 7,000 mosquitos in a night, with large populations of bats consuming thousands of tons of potentially harmful forest and agricultural pests annually=
Bats are much more efficient than the bureaucrats and elected officials in Springfield - the little bugger was probably dying to get out.
- Just Another Anon - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 12:07 pm:
Can the Capitol Bat be detained under the Safety Act?
Headline: Capitol Bat files excessive force complaint against Capitol Police.
I’ll show myself out….
- Excitable Boy - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 12:08 pm:
I hear Durbin called JB and advised him that if everyone avoids looking at the bat or attempting to catch or otherwise disturb the bat, with any luck it might just go away and not hurt anyone.
- Northsider - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 12:17 pm:
Just curious, where was Rep. Gabel?
- @misterjayem - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 12:18 pm:
(Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na)
Bat naaaaaabed
(Na na na na na na na na na na na na)
Bat naaaaaabed
(Na na na na na na na na na na na na)
Bat naaaaaabed
(Na na na na na na na na na na na na)
Bat naaaaaabed
(Na na na na na na na na na na na na)
Bat nabed Bat nabed Bat nabed
(Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na)
Bat nabed Bat nabed Bat nabed
Da da da da da da da da da da da da da
Bat naaaaaabed
(music by Neil Hefti, lyrics by Rich Miller)
- Marty McSorley - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 12:24 pm:
All Mark Batnick wanted to do was advocate for pension reform. Capturing and releasing him back into the wild might be a much.
- a drop in - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 12:26 pm:
Did Adam Niemberg check to see if this bat used the proper Bat-room?
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 12:26 pm:
Illinois government is moving like a bat out of h*ll since Trump tried to freeze all Medicaid spending.
- Rabid - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 12:27 pm:
It’s always midnight with big Jim
- srb - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 12:31 pm:
I want to believe that the guy who caught it was just a camo hoodied bat Samaritan bystander whose everyday carry includes bat catching gloves and a bat catching net. Do not disabuse me.
- NoUseForAName - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 12:32 pm:
I’ve seen them in there a few times the last year or two, but always later at night when they typically awaken to go hunt and when there aren’t many folks left in the building. I assume the construction disrupted them.
I struggled with an analogy then, too, Rich. Best I could come up with was something along the lines of having more Capitol inhabitants who did their best work under cover of darkness than we were previously aware of.
- Suburban Mom - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 12:48 pm:
I love the animal control or DNR or whatever dude catching a bat (which is not a dignified procedure) with this giant fascinated audience. I mean, it’d be the highlight of my day too and I’d definitely be watching, but it’s still funny.
- DuPage Saint - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 12:52 pm:
I hope they checked the belfry
- Chito - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 12:52 pm:
Are Jen Walling and the enviros demonstrating a new, pesticide-free form of pest control in the Cap?
- TJ - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 12:55 pm:
A few dozen reps and lobbyists were seen visibly sweating upon hearing the news that the authorities were on hand to round up a bloodsucker.
Real talk, though. Fruit bats are adorable. Vampire bats are demonic monsters.
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 12:55 pm:
If Blago sees these images he will probably be thinking, “I’m glad I’m not in the Hall of Governors.”
- Levois - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 1:07 pm:
I didn’t know Illinois was home to any bats. A few years ago I saw a bat crawling around on Madison Street in the West Loop area. Had no idea there were any in even the Chicago area.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 1:19 pm:
Found at the rail, with the rest of the blood suckers.
- Peoples Republic of Oak Park - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 1:25 pm:
In the news today: A blood sucking pest was found roaming the halls of the Illinois capitol. And after the break a bat was also picked up by animal control.
- The Dude Abides - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 1:25 pm:
@Levois
Growing up in Decatur, I remember my parents dealing with a bat in the house several times.
My current house (~1mi from the Captiol), I’ve had to evict two bats in as many years.
- Donnie Elgin - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 1:35 pm:
=A single big brown bat can eat between 3,000 and 7,000 mosquitos in a night, with large populations of bats consuming thousands of tons of potentially harmful forest and agricultural pests annually=
Bats are much more efficient than the bureaucrats and elected officials in Springfield - the little bugger was probably dying to get out.
- ChrisB - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 1:39 pm:
Who would have thought that after all these years, Big Jim still has some rabid supporters?
- Give Us Barabbas - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 1:44 pm:
It escaped from 214 because it didn’t want to die in committee.
- Squib Kick - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 1:54 pm:
representing ComEd, record of appearance only
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 1:56 pm:
Squib Kick wins. That is all. /s
- Annonin' - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 2:27 pm:
While Capt. Fax named a winner. Did anyone ID what arm of law enforcement sent the cammo guy?