* I’m coming late to these ads. Sorry. Press release…
Today, Ted Dabrowski, conservative candidate for governor, released a new ad that will air on television, digital platforms and radio. Dabrowski takes Gov. J.B. Pritzker up on his challenge that dares anyone to end his protection of illegal alien criminals. Pritzker’s protection comes at the expense of the safety of Illinois families and literally at the expense of residents in terms of taxpayer-funded health care, rent and college-tuition for those illegally residing in Illinois.
Dabrowski, the son of parents who emigrated to the United States legally from Poland and Ecuador, is the candidate endorsed by Angel Parents like Joe Abraham, Katie Abraham’s father, because he represents the sharpest contrast to Pritzker on immigration and public safety issues. He is the only candidate for governor who has committed to go all-in on repeal of the state’s sanctuary law and a restoration of the rule of law in Illinois.
“If you come for my people, you come through me.” (Pritzker)
That was Pritzker’s challenge to President Trump.
But who are Pritzker’s people?
They’re the more than 1,700 illegal alien predators Pritzker helped escape from ICE.
They’re the people whose health care, rent and college tuition you pay for.
Well, I have a message for you, Governor.
I’ll be coming for you and going through you.
Your days and the days of sanctuary living for “your people” are over.
* And now for something completely different…
Today, State Representative Margaret Croke released new ads in her campaign for Illinois State Comptroller. The ads highlight Croke’s commitment to increasing transparency, eliminating waste, and ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently. “That’s A Lot” and “Hide and Seek” are now running across digital platforms statewide.
“I’m running for Comptroller because I want Illinois to be the best place for every child to receive a quality education, find a job, and raise their own family, because that’s what I want for my own three children,” said State Representative Margaret Croke. “As Comptroller, I will be a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars and lead everyday with transparency, accountability, and efficiency. I look forward to continuing to share that message with Illinoisans across the state in the final weeks of this campaign.”
Margaret Croke: The Illinois state budget is over $55 billion a year.
Mary Pearl Croke: That’s a lot!
Margaret Croke: But do you know how it’s actually spent?
Hattie Croke: I don’t!
Margaret Croke: I’m Margaret Croke.
PJ Croke: She’s our mom!
Margaret Croke: As a State Representative, I worked to make things more affordable by eliminating the tax on groceries. Now I’m running for Comptroller to get rid of the waste in Springfield and use your tax dollars wisely. Because as a mom of three, I know something about oversight.
While not mentioned here, I found an ad for Rick Heidner on YouTube recently and am sort of relieved he removed references as being a Trump Republican for Governor. Not sure that helped him here.
- I’ll shine a light on where our money goes, eliminate waste and fraud, and ensure that Illinoisans can track every dollar spent. -
So you’re taking JBT’s and Sheila Simon’s 2014 campaign messages and combining them, how original.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 8:47 am:
I don’t want to vote for someone with obvious ties to the fake money industry, especially for a financial office, but it would not surprise me if Croke’s deploying toddler cuteness strategy ends up working.
===taking JBT’s and Sheila Simon’s 2014 campaign messages===
Not to defend her ad, but why is that such a bad thing? Look, if you support another candidate, fine, but try to come up with better objections than this. Makes you look petty.
- Pot calling kettle - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 9:14 am:
Ted: “A” for the base; “F” for mis-characterizing what is in the graphic on his ad.
Croke: “B+” Feel-good kids, explains what the Comptroller does, shows Croke as a relatable person. The only reason I did not give an “A” is because neither ad provides anything other than what Mendoza is already doing.
- That Train’s Never Late - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 9:18 am:
“than what Mendoza is already doing.”
Twas ever thus. There’s only so many ways they can say they’ll do the same thing - only different.
Isn’t not that good: it’s not that bad. Illegal aliens do cost money and that’s a point to get across in the GOP primary.
- here we go again - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 9:32 am:
Re Croke ad: Never been a fan of politicians leveraging their young children for political advantage. But people keep doing it so it must work.
Re Dabrowski ad: I get it why his handlers feel the need to butch up their vertically challenged candidate. But I’m not buying the tough guy schtick from a policy wonk who has been sitting in an office for years cranking out data analysis and who has never run for anything before.
Neither of these ads explain why the candidates are any different from other candidates (except that Croke’s kids are hers and not her challengers’). The platforms are not remotely unique. To Rich’s point, there’s a reason these platforms are so common. But mostly, these ads telegraph that they’ve got money for TV.
- Remember the Alamo II - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 10:02 am:
Why is everyone so concerned about the uniqueness of the message?
Croke is trying to succeed Susana Medndoza, who has done a fantastic job as Comptroller. Why is it a bad thing for someone to be saying we will continue to do a good job? People need to get over themselves. Not every voter is a political animal.
===Why is everyone so concerned about the uniqueness of the message? ===
Because it’s all they’ve got.
- Excitable Boy - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 11:25 am:
- but try to come up with better objections than this -
I can admit to being petty, I don’t support Croke. But I also find this message lazy and tiring. I don’t like the implication that there’s a huge amount of waste and fraud in our state spending, and we already have a public site to be able to track expenditures.
Tell me something new, like how you’re going to inject some sanity in our payment cycle so we’re not throwing away millions in interest every year.
The Croke “That’s a lot” ad is actually cute and it gets her name out there for comptroller in a non-annoying way. Did she get inspired by the 4 Seasons Plumbing and Furnace ads I wonder? Rating: A
The Croke “Hide and Seek” ad with the flashlight was pretty meh. One with kids and one ad without the kids would probably have been better. Rating: B-
The Ted ad, an A for his voting group. but, yikes.
The Margaret ad I think B+ just because I can’t stand the use of kids of a candidate. otherwise it hits on message that her voters want to hear.
- Paddyrollingstone - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 12:14 pm:
I think Croke’s ad is great. Everyone who comments on this website is, almost without exception, very astute regarding the State, politics, etc. Almost everyone is else is, almost without exception, not. This is the kind of political ad, especially for an obscure (to the general public) post that seems to really work well. I’d give it an A.
- Dotnonymous x - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 12:23 pm:
Is there a double secret message in Dabrowski’s ad?…for his “people”.
- Dotnonymous x - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 12:30 pm:
I think the Croke ad will resonate well with voters…A.
The Tad Ad is an F. He starts with a lie (They’re the more than 1,700 illegal alien predators Pritzker helped escape from ICE.)
As a center right independent he could have a winning message with me on immigration enforcement if it was reasonable, humane, and legal. But he doesn’t. It would be even better if he talked about smart immigration reform like making it easier for people to become US citizens. All he has is the same “I am coming for you” shtick.
Tad also cannot own the “law and order” hill because his parties standard bearer is a convicted felon and repeatedly violating laws and the USSC in the open.
If he only want to campaign to the limited maga base, sure it is an A. But they won’t make him governor. He needs swing voters and this doesn’t earn my vote.
==Tell me something new, like how you’re going to inject some sanity in our payment cycle so we’re not throwing away millions in interest every year.==
The problem is, the remit of the office is so limited that there’s just not much “new” you can promise, and what there is- like the very good point you bring up- is very technocratic and counter-intuitive. Things like that are hard to sell.
=== like how you’re going to inject some sanity in our payment cycle so we’re not throwing away millions in interest every year===
Um, the payment cycle is like 14 days last I checked.
Sheesh, go take a nap.
- Pot calling kettle - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 1:30 pm:
Mendoza has done an excellent job as Comptroller and as a state-wide official. The candidates running for Comptroller need to show voters that they will keep doing a bunch of stuff Mendoza did (transparency, paying bills on time, prioritizing payments in a logical way); they need to show they understand how the office works and can hit the ground running. But then what? They need to indicate some incremental improvements; the office is running well so let’s take the next step…which is…
Answering that question well could put someone over the top in a closely matched primary. The Croke ad does not do that last bit.
I would give Dabrowski’s ad a B. He seems to overlook his immediate competition and I’m not sure how this ad closes the gap with Darren Bailey. And I suspect that his approach to immigration isn’t fundamentally different than anything we’d hear from Bailey or Heidner.
With respect to Croke’s ads, I’d give the first a B. Eliminating the grocery tax wasn’t a big policy victory particularly since many municipalities are still collecting it. Having the kids makes her relatable and for the office she’s running that’s probably more important given general lack of awareness with the role. People still fondly remember Mendoza’s soccer ads.
I would give the second ad a C. I’m beyond tired of having every politician tell me that they’re going to eliminate waste and fraud. It’s either incredibly disingenuous or an impossible task. I’ll go with the former. And it strikes me as odd for a Democratic candidate to use this as a platform when their party controls every branch of state government.
- Keeping IT Real - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 4:25 pm:
=As a center right independent=
I noticed you love to say that. Your posts though tell a much different story. Kinda weird….
Dabrowski gets an A for the primary. A C+ for the State as a whole. Remember, the topic of immigration is a reason that Trump is the current POTUS. Can’t just ignore it.
Croke gets a B for both of hers. They are solid. The Comptroller has one goal. No need to reinvent the wheel. Just keep it rolling forward. Ads show she’s a down to earth normal family person. Gets her name/face out there. That’s good to me.
- Levois - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 8:42 am:
While not mentioned here, I found an ad for Rick Heidner on YouTube recently and am sort of relieved he removed references as being a Trump Republican for Governor. Not sure that helped him here.
- Excitable Boy - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 8:46 am:
- I’ll shine a light on where our money goes, eliminate waste and fraud, and ensure that Illinoisans can track every dollar spent. -
So you’re taking JBT’s and Sheila Simon’s 2014 campaign messages and combining them, how original.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 8:47 am:
I don’t want to vote for someone with obvious ties to the fake money industry, especially for a financial office, but it would not surprise me if Croke’s deploying toddler cuteness strategy ends up working.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 9:06 am:
Dabrowski-F. Usual right-winged fearmongering. My God, do these people ever have a remotely original idea?
Croke-B. No fearmongering just here’s how I’ll show you how your money is spent. Not original by any means, but at least it’s sans boogeyman.
- City Zen - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 9:10 am:
==eliminating the tax on groceries==
Oh no, she’s doing it too.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 9:11 am:
===taking JBT’s and Sheila Simon’s 2014 campaign messages===
Not to defend her ad, but why is that such a bad thing? Look, if you support another candidate, fine, but try to come up with better objections than this. Makes you look petty.
- Pot calling kettle - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 9:14 am:
Ted: “A” for the base; “F” for mis-characterizing what is in the graphic on his ad.
Croke: “B+” Feel-good kids, explains what the Comptroller does, shows Croke as a relatable person. The only reason I did not give an “A” is because neither ad provides anything other than what Mendoza is already doing.
- That Train’s Never Late - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 9:18 am:
“than what Mendoza is already doing.”
Twas ever thus. There’s only so many ways they can say they’ll do the same thing - only different.
- Steve - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 9:24 am:
Ted: ‘B -’
Isn’t not that good: it’s not that bad. Illegal aliens do cost money and that’s a point to get across in the GOP primary.
- here we go again - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 9:32 am:
Re Croke ad: Never been a fan of politicians leveraging their young children for political advantage. But people keep doing it so it must work.
Re Dabrowski ad: I get it why his handlers feel the need to butch up their vertically challenged candidate. But I’m not buying the tough guy schtick from a policy wonk who has been sitting in an office for years cranking out data analysis and who has never run for anything before.
- Socially DIstant Watcher - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 9:49 am:
Neither of these ads explain why the candidates are any different from other candidates (except that Croke’s kids are hers and not her challengers’). The platforms are not remotely unique. To Rich’s point, there’s a reason these platforms are so common. But mostly, these ads telegraph that they’ve got money for TV.
- Remember the Alamo II - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 10:02 am:
Why is everyone so concerned about the uniqueness of the message?
Croke is trying to succeed Susana Medndoza, who has done a fantastic job as Comptroller. Why is it a bad thing for someone to be saying we will continue to do a good job? People need to get over themselves. Not every voter is a political animal.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 10:18 am:
===Why is everyone so concerned about the uniqueness of the message? ===
Because it’s all they’ve got.
- Excitable Boy - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 11:25 am:
- but try to come up with better objections than this -
I can admit to being petty, I don’t support Croke. But I also find this message lazy and tiring. I don’t like the implication that there’s a huge amount of waste and fraud in our state spending, and we already have a public site to be able to track expenditures.
Tell me something new, like how you’re going to inject some sanity in our payment cycle so we’re not throwing away millions in interest every year.
- Responsa - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 11:26 am:
The Croke “That’s a lot” ad is actually cute and it gets her name out there for comptroller in a non-annoying way. Did she get inspired by the 4 Seasons Plumbing and Furnace ads I wonder? Rating: A
The Croke “Hide and Seek” ad with the flashlight was pretty meh. One with kids and one ad without the kids would probably have been better. Rating: B-
- Amalia - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 12:06 pm:
The Ted ad, an A for his voting group. but, yikes.
The Margaret ad I think B+ just because I can’t stand the use of kids of a candidate. otherwise it hits on message that her voters want to hear.
- Paddyrollingstone - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 12:14 pm:
I think Croke’s ad is great. Everyone who comments on this website is, almost without exception, very astute regarding the State, politics, etc. Almost everyone is else is, almost without exception, not. This is the kind of political ad, especially for an obscure (to the general public) post that seems to really work well. I’d give it an A.
- Dotnonymous x - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 12:23 pm:
Is there a double secret message in Dabrowski’s ad?…for his “people”.
- Dotnonymous x - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 12:30 pm:
I think the Croke ad will resonate well with voters…A.
- Think Again - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 12:34 pm:
Dabrowski ad - rate it a B+, a bit strident for my tastes - but good red meat for the GOP base - which is key in the primary.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 12:35 pm:
The Tad Ad is an F. He starts with a lie (They’re the more than 1,700 illegal alien predators Pritzker helped escape from ICE.)
As a center right independent he could have a winning message with me on immigration enforcement if it was reasonable, humane, and legal. But he doesn’t. It would be even better if he talked about smart immigration reform like making it easier for people to become US citizens. All he has is the same “I am coming for you” shtick.
Tad also cannot own the “law and order” hill because his parties standard bearer is a convicted felon and repeatedly violating laws and the USSC in the open.
If he only want to campaign to the limited maga base, sure it is an A. But they won’t make him governor. He needs swing voters and this doesn’t earn my vote.
- Arsenal - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 1:06 pm:
==Tell me something new, like how you’re going to inject some sanity in our payment cycle so we’re not throwing away millions in interest every year.==
The problem is, the remit of the office is so limited that there’s just not much “new” you can promise, and what there is- like the very good point you bring up- is very technocratic and counter-intuitive. Things like that are hard to sell.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 1:15 pm:
=== like how you’re going to inject some sanity in our payment cycle so we’re not throwing away millions in interest every year===
Um, the payment cycle is like 14 days last I checked.
Sheesh, go take a nap.
- Pot calling kettle - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 1:30 pm:
Mendoza has done an excellent job as Comptroller and as a state-wide official. The candidates running for Comptroller need to show voters that they will keep doing a bunch of stuff Mendoza did (transparency, paying bills on time, prioritizing payments in a logical way); they need to show they understand how the office works and can hit the ground running. But then what? They need to indicate some incremental improvements; the office is running well so let’s take the next step…which is…
Answering that question well could put someone over the top in a closely matched primary. The Croke ad does not do that last bit.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 1:31 pm:
===Answering that question well could put someone over the top===
Tell me you understand nothing about mass advertising to an audience that doesn’t even know what a comptroller is without telling me.
- Excitable Boy - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 1:33 pm:
- Um, the payment cycle is like 14 days last I checked. -
Yeah, we should slow it down for large vendors. And I’d love to, but it’s not allowed in my office.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 4:03 pm:
===Illegal aliens do cost money…===
Not that facts will convince you, but here is the Cato Institute’s report from last week. Cato is hardly a left-leaning organization.
https://www.cato.org/white-paper/immigrants-recent-effects-government-budgets-1994-2023
- Pundent - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 4:10 pm:
I would give Dabrowski’s ad a B. He seems to overlook his immediate competition and I’m not sure how this ad closes the gap with Darren Bailey. And I suspect that his approach to immigration isn’t fundamentally different than anything we’d hear from Bailey or Heidner.
With respect to Croke’s ads, I’d give the first a B. Eliminating the grocery tax wasn’t a big policy victory particularly since many municipalities are still collecting it. Having the kids makes her relatable and for the office she’s running that’s probably more important given general lack of awareness with the role. People still fondly remember Mendoza’s soccer ads.
I would give the second ad a C. I’m beyond tired of having every politician tell me that they’re going to eliminate waste and fraud. It’s either incredibly disingenuous or an impossible task. I’ll go with the former. And it strikes me as odd for a Democratic candidate to use this as a platform when their party controls every branch of state government.
- Keeping IT Real - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 4:25 pm:
=As a center right independent=
I noticed you love to say that. Your posts though tell a much different story. Kinda weird….
Dabrowski gets an A for the primary. A C+ for the State as a whole. Remember, the topic of immigration is a reason that Trump is the current POTUS. Can’t just ignore it.
Croke gets a B for both of hers. They are solid. The Comptroller has one goal. No need to reinvent the wheel. Just keep it rolling forward. Ads show she’s a down to earth normal family person. Gets her name/face out there. That’s good to me.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 5:39 pm:
=I noticed you love to say that. Your posts though tell a much different story. Kinda weird….=
Oh please, don’t be coy please share some examples with the class. I’ll wait…
- low level - Thursday, Feb 19, 26 @ 7:03 pm:
Margaret has kids. Congrats. C
Tad is same old stuff. F