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State of the State address

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Illinois

* Use the comment section to live-blog, offer instant analysis on the speech, or predict how the address helps or hurts Gov. Quinn, Dan Hynes, the Republicans, etc.

The address begins at noon. You can find a live feed at the GA’s website or at numerous other TV and radio sites.

I’ll try to update this post with any big news, but I’m going to be pretty busy, so help everybody out in comments if you can. Thanks and have fun.

• 12:08 pm - Quinn is speaking from notes, not a prepared text. And it shows. Repeating thoughts and words.

• Quinn said he wants IL to be an “inland port” and talked about improving transportation infrastructure during the past year and in the coming year.

• Some news would be nice.

Keep in mind that 99.9% of Illinoisans won’t watch this speech. His coveraged is based on new proposals, new ideas. So far, this is all retreaded press conference material.

• 40 minutes into the speech and absolutely no new ideas have come out of his mouth. No new plans for government, the economy, nuthin.

• “I do believe we need more revenue” - a gingerly reference to his tax hike hopes.

• Now he’s throwing DoC director Randle under the bus… But said the buck stopped with him, as in Quinn. Says he wants “clear rules” for prison policy. Not a lot of explanation about what those rules would be. He did talk about examining the issue of sentencing for non-violent offenders “who still must be punished.”

• End. Lots of syrupy sentiment, including when he cried at the end (the news). But there were no new ideas and little vision.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 11:30 am

Comments

Which local TV channel is carrying the speech? thanks

Comment by culatr Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 11:42 am
ABC news 20 in Springfield

Comment by UISer Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 11:57 am
He’s off to a pretty good start, but I hope he doesn’t dwell on Blago and national economic woes.

Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:09 pm
Are there better democracies on other planets? If so, cool!

Comment by Sewanee Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:10 pm
Talk about a Governor of the people… is that yellow legal pad? Go Pat.

Comment by UISer Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:15 pm
LoL. Quinn calls for civility and no-name calling, particularly among public officials, but how many times did he call Hynes and ankle-biter last year?

Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:16 pm
…and there’s your scripture passage.

Comment by JonShibleyFan Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:21 pm
important, important, important….democracy, work together…this is what you get when you don’t have a speech prepared.

Comment by heet101 Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:21 pm
“landmark”

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:22 pm
Want a big applause line? Turn to Jesse White.

Comment by UISer Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:22 pm
Quinn sounds like a man completely overwhelmed, somewhat debilitated and more than a little scared. Not surprising, I suppose.

Comment by Coach Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:23 pm
It looked like when he walked in he could not find the podium!!

Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:23 pm
Where is that scripture passage? As a Bible student, I am still looking for it.

Comment by bored on 1 Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:24 pm
I love when Quinn quotes scripture. He should do that everyday. Also like the shot out to the Jesse White Tumblers! Say what you will about Quinn, but I like this “freestyle” approach… Going with the note pad instead of some canned speech written by a fellow hack.

Comment by Big Policy Nerd Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:25 pm
“Dr Angela Philiips, a doctor.”

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:26 pm
So what’s the state of the State? Nice campaign speech so far.

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:26 pm
Am I the only one who finds the Signer to his right more interesting than the Governor?

Comment by Lazy Intern Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:26 pm
The Burr Oak scandal was “horrific”? Really? I think that’s a stretch. Seems more like he’s trying to subtly take a shot at Hynes.

Comment by Sonic Infidel Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:27 pm
I think that horrific is a pretty appropriate description.

Comment by dave Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:28 pm
That was subtle?

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:28 pm
I agree with policy nerd. It isn’t that bad, and it isn’t focus grouped all to hell.

Comment by UISer Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:28 pm
OK, now veterans…come on, Gov.

Comment by JonShibleyFan Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:28 pm
Quinn technically misues “democracy.” For a politician of his level, that’s bad.

Wow, he go biblical about life and is pro-choice. He touts fewer traffic related incidents. hmmm…
Releases DUI convicts early from prison only to be reminded by MADD that it was inappropriate to relase DUI convicts early because it sent the wrong message, from a public saftey issue.

Yay! Jesse White!!!! whatever.

Flowery language overkill.

I thought Mayor Hebbler of Thomson bought the idea for federal usage of the near vacant state prison to Quinn. Quinn has stated this before, as has Hebbler. But now he is putting it on Obama???? It was Obama’s idea???? hmmm…

Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:29 pm
lazy intern, I can’t see it. I’m listening to it though. Is Quinn reading from a paper script or telepromoter?

Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:31 pm
Easy, WCW.

Comment by JonShibleyFan Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:31 pm
WCW - he isn’t reading a script at all. He just what looks like written notes, but no script.

Comment by dave Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:33 pm
“You ain’t seen nothing yet!”

OH NO!!!!!!!!!!

When he says stuff like that be afraid, be very afraid.

Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:33 pm
Go high speed rail!

Only, it’s not really “high speed” - at least not in the sense that it would travel more than 30 miles an hour faster than the existing rail.

Comment by Coach Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:34 pm
Oh wait, he said “super fast rail.”

Now we’re talking!

Comment by Coach Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:35 pm
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Comment by zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:35 pm
Is high speed rail to Champaign-Urbana new? I thought Bloomington, Springfield to St. Louis was the only high speed under consideration?

Comment by GMK Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:36 pm
Seriously, is this a state of the state or a campaign stump speech? There are no specifics about future plans. He’s just going through a list of things he’s passed or tried to pass last year. He keeps saying “plan this, plan that.” What plan?

Comment by Izzy Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:36 pm
“We cannot have a governor who sees just a day or two ahead.”

That’s classic, given his myopic and thoroughly bungled handling of the DOC snafu.

Comment by Coach Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:36 pm
Going with notes and not a prepared speech is a bold move. It helps to show that Quinn isn’t just another pol. Quinn does what he feels is right, not just what is politically expedient. Good for him.

Comment by studious Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:37 pm
Quinn has a floksy way of talking. He reminds of Sarah Palin in that way.

Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:38 pm
Well the signer is extremely expressive with her hands and face, which she has to do in order thoroughly transmit the Governor’s message. If the Governor were this expressive with his rambling remarks I would not be on Facebook and doing other things.

By the way this speech is from some note but no one on the staff of the Office of the Governor though to give him a outline some form of a linear thought with transitions.

Comment by Lazy Intern Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:38 pm
Yes, the plan to put high-speed rail through Champaign is totally distinct from the plan that everybody has been talking about in recent months.

As I understand it, the plan through Champaign would actually be true “high speed” - traveling upwards of 200 mph.

Comment by Coach Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:38 pm
Quinn takes credit for expansion for expansion of breast cancer testing? That was enacted under blago!!

Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:39 pm
Weatherization? Come on, PQ. There are much bigger issues to talk about. How about that budget deficit?

Comment by Sonic Infidel Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:39 pm
So far on style I give him an A.
On substance I give him a C.

he has a B average for the moment.

Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:40 pm
GMK-Midwest High Speed Rail Association study released last June said the route should be through Champaign rather than Bloomington-Normal.

Comment by DKB Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:40 pm
Go Governor Soy Bean Go!!!

Comment by Lazy Intern Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:41 pm
Quinn to youth: Embrace caulk

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:42 pm
Exactly right Governor Quinn! Mark kirk= heroic! puts on a uniform and puts himself in harms way to help the United States.

Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:44 pm
His nickname is soy boy? Who calls him
boy, let alone soy boy? And why would anyone “admit” this?

This just in: soy paint keeps da fishes cool!

Good luck to da reporters who have to quote from this speech. I’m predicting a lot of ellipses!

Comment by Frankie Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:45 pm
Wow, 40 minutes into the speech and he has yet to talk about the budget. Interesting….

Comment by Really?? Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:46 pm
It honestly feels like he has no idea what he’s going for. That he hasn’t come up with a platform or an actual list of what he wants to accomplish. He’s just rambling. It’s like the old SNL writers trick- just throw it at a wall and see what sticks.
Weatherization, soy beans, the shedd aquariam, afghanistan, etc.
I get that it’s bold to talk without a script, but at least put some thinking into what you’re going to say. There’s no planning or structure to this “state of the state.”

Comment by Izzy Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:46 pm
Quinn’s style and the way he is delivering this speech highlight his top quality- that you can hurl the kitchen sink at him and it will only leave a small scratch. People in the real world relate to him and trust him to get the job done.

Comment by Rapid Responder Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:46 pm
so he’s no Blago in the speech giving department…if you want style over substance, RBB was your Governor…

Comment by Loop Lady Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:47 pm
This is Quinn’s State of Mind Speech…He’s in campaign mode and is using the General Assembly as a prop…

Comment by Louis Howe Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:47 pm
This is brutal. Nothing of substance on the issues that really matter. Kissing the tushes of those loser legislators is another act of subserviennce to Madigan and Cullerton.

Comment by Skeptical Cynic Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:48 pm
pick up a caulk gun….classic.

i know a trial lawyer who thinks that Quinn’s style is very appealing to average folks. if any of those folks are listening
right now, he’s hitting on that vibe.

Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:48 pm
“Wow, 40 minutes into the speech and he has yet to talk about the budget. Interesting…. ”

Perhaps he plans to address the budget in another speech, say, the Budget Address.

Comment by JonShibleyFan Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:49 pm
Amalia, average people are at work and have no idea this is even going on.

Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:49 pm
- Michelle Flaherty - Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:42 pm:

Quinn to youth: Embrace caulk

How is this one okay but mine wasn’t?

Comment by heet101 Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:50 pm
Every time he says “…we need a Governor who…”, or “…that’s what a Governor does…”, that’s a blatantly political statement, and has no place in a state of the state address.

This is why you usually have a prepared text

Comment by ILPundit Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:50 pm
Wow. he just threw the social service provider protesters that shut the capitol down last summer totally under the bus for the students and families that came down to protest over MAP.

Wow.

Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:51 pm
And he’s mentioning MAP… no mention that it was actually partially his fault that the program’s funding was cut in the first place. Any mention of legislative scholarships that the editorial pages hate? Or the lack of school funding?

Comment by Izzy Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:51 pm
Quinn certainly is planning to spend a lot of money for a guy in charge of a state with a $12 billion budget hole.

Comment by Coach Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:51 pm
State’s over $10 billion in debt and he hasn’t even talked about it. How are we going to do any of these things we keeps talking about? This guy has lost all tough with reality.

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:52 pm
He talks education and how it is an economic driver, and he talks jobs. But the jobs that he is likely to only create are seasonal construction jobs, as those were the only jobs he created last year. What good does that do someone who went to college for four years or more to study things totally unrelated to construction?

Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:54 pm
“Perhaps he plans to address the budget in another speech, say, the Budget Address.”

True, but as this is the State of State address, I’m thinking the budget plays a huge role in that. The state of Illinois is in a state of fiscal disrepair. I think it is pretty important stuff right now…and we shouldn’t have to wait until March.

Comment by Really?? Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:54 pm
The Hynes Campaign is going to have a field day with this speech.

Comment by Sonic Infidel Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:55 pm
He just blamed Blago for the budget crisis. And what cuts has he made? Every time he cuts something, the cut victims protest and he caves…

Comment by Nikoli Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:55 pm
can he say something besides “important” or “very important”?

Comment by truthman Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:55 pm
I think you could get the same affect of listening to this speech by bashing your head against the wall.
He needs to address the budget. Anything else is just wallpaper.

Comment by Izzy Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:56 pm
**And what cuts has he made?**

There were at least $2B in cuts to this current year’s budget.

Comment by dave Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:56 pm
*effect. same effect. oops.

Comment by Izzy Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:56 pm
I thought there were only about $1 billion in cuts, I know he proposed about $2 billion but he didn’t get all of them passed.

Comment by Izzy Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:57 pm
The governor’s mission is NOT to rescue people. See, that’s one of his problems right there!

Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:59 pm
This really is the least focused, rambling speech I have ever heard. Does he have even the slightest clue what is going on in this state? Soy Boy needs to get it in gear and come up with some solutions and rally the troops. Caulking guns and bio conferences wont cut it.

Comment by wise guy Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:59 pm
So now he is admitting is in fact in favor of people making less than 50K or 60K to paying a tax increase.

Look Governor, you told an editorial board that people making 14K should pay a tax increase.

Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:02 pm
He just talked about his Super 8 VIP card again!

Comment by Nikoli Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:02 pm
A budget is meaningless when no money is there to pay bills to service providers for half a year. Those with disablities and needs are rapidly losing their supports.

Comment by Midge Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:02 pm
I’ve been told that Super 8 card doesn’t accept that card anymore. Sorry, PQ.

Comment by Sonic Infidel Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:03 pm
Oh, ok— he’ll use that Super 8 card WHERE APPROPRIATE. So once or twice a year and all other times he’ll stay at the Ritz Cartlon????

Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:03 pm
Good heavens man!
SAY SOMETHING GUBERNATORIAL!

He is droning!

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:03 pm
“The Hynes Campaign is going to have a field day with this speech.”

How? By telling people that the governor didn’t say anything in a speech they had no idea he was giving in the first place?

Plenty of people saying he’s saying nothing.

Probably a sign of Pat Quinn’s growth as a candidate. PQ1.0 = damn the torpedoes, I’m saying what I’m thinking. PQ2.0 = three weeks until the election, and I’m not saying anything I haven’t already said.

Comment by JonShibleyFan Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:04 pm
Sorry but he’s still dodging on the early release issue.

style= B
substance=D+

Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:05 pm
This “Stream of Consciousness” delivery is worse than water boarding. Stop the rambling!

Comment by Eurepedes Pantsoff Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:07 pm
He must be wrapping up now that’s he’s invoking the National Guard.

Comment by GA Watcher Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:08 pm
There’s the vets/military mention. All boxes checked.

Comment by JonShibleyFan Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:08 pm
I came into this speech fairly open, and I don’t have a problem with it. He seems like an intelligent person, and doesn’t seem like a hack or a sleeze (which is how most politicians come off to me). Maybe it is too much detail?

Comment by WhatsTheProb Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:09 pm
Potentially 4 more years of this? Quote some Elvis!

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:09 pm
it’s not too late for Quinn to join the national guard and serve, since he seems to like it so much when others do it, is it?

Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:10 pm
As I understand it, he really didn’t “cut” the budget below last years level.

He just reduced the proposed increases.

There’s a BIG difference

Comment by PalosParkBob Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:11 pm
Gov. Patty Promises …

Comment by P. Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:11 pm
Ack! Who is advising the Gov on the matter of speeches that could ensure your election? Someone? Anyone? HELP!!!

Comment by Loop Lady Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:11 pm
What ever to that big ol’ whopping $100 that Quinn signed into law to be given to national guard upon their return to Illinois?

Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:12 pm
JonShibleyFan: Hynes will be able to capitalize on the fact that Quinn is avoiding budget issues because of the upcoming primary.

Comment by Sonic Infidel Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:12 pm
Rich, if all that matters are the stories, the first runs look pretty good.

Trib:
“Speaking in a conversational tone far different from his predecessor’s often bombastic speeches,”

“He hailed a string of reforms approved post-Blagojevich”

And I think Quinn learned a lesson from his predecessor - if you talk about a whole slew of new ideas, the coverage will all be about “how are you going to pay for it.” Better to wait until the Budget Address for that, so you can talk about “how you are going to pay for it” at the same time.

Comment by George Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:12 pm
Quinn did a great job with this speech actually talking about what he has done and what he hopes to do in the future. This wasn’t a bunch of rehashed rhetoric, he clearly just said what he felt was important. Given the political and economic climate, Quinn was handed one of the hardest jobs in the country and he has performed admirably. For someone speaking from notes, basically off the cuff, this was a great speech.

Comment by Illinoise Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:14 pm
76 minutes and counting…..

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:16 pm
Illinoise, it is rehash. Much, if not all of it, has been said by Quinn before.

“Given the political and economic climate, Quinn was handed one of the hardest jobs in the country and he has performed admirably”

Quinn wanted and lobbied for the job. So, please.

Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:17 pm
“JonShibleyFan: Hynes will be able to capitalize on the fact that Quinn is avoiding budget issues because of the upcoming primary.”

And in a tight race, that might make some small impact. Hynes needs a game changer, and “Pat Quinn didn’t adequately address the state budget in a speech he gave” is not a game changer.

Comment by JonShibleyFan Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:17 pm
Speech might be a little long. But I give him credit for doing it from the notes and reflecting on his personal conversations with people throughout the state. If you have seen other candidates at the City Club, press conferences, or other public functions, they open up their binders and give some robotic-canned answer written by a campaign hack instead of actually offering a personal thought.

Comment by Big Policy Nerd Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:18 pm
in closing I give Quinn’s SOS a C+ / C.

Oh, it’s tears now is it? Nice ending. I respect Quinn’s father’s service in the Navy, but tears? Really? What would your father think of the SPA Trial Lawyers ads and your more questionable behavior while in the governor’s office? and remember, you brought him up.

Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:20 pm
He cried at work, just like Glenn Beck.

Comment by heet101 Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:21 pm
He spent more time talking about servicemembers and the military than the budget. I get that people are just glad that he’s not Blagojevic and that he’s not bombastic, but isn’t that a really low threshold? I like that he’s not the typical politican but he keeps falling in my eyes every time he avoids having a serious conversation about our state’s finances.

Comment by Izzy Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:21 pm
Memo to soy boy: If you are not going to say anything in your speech….please take less time to say it.

Comment by wise guy Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:22 pm
HA! Did anyone else just hear Mike Madigan complaining about the speech length on the open mike?
“His people said it was going to be a 40 minute speech. It’s 1:21.”

Comment by Nikoli Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:22 pm
I approve. We need human beings in government, not Teflon shields who protect themselves from any risk by never taking on tough issues (like prison reform) (or raising taxes). I hate to say it, but our legislators (Democratic and Republican) aim to be Teflon shields who want to be re-elected. Hence, they have no foresight. They jump on sensational issues. That’s about it.

Comment by WhatsTheProb Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:23 pm
What a visionary

Comment by rich winston Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:23 pm
“What would your father think of the SPA Trial Lawyers ads and your more questionable behavior while in the governor’s office?”

What?

Comment by JonShibleyFan Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:23 pm
Did anybody catch the Speaker before he shut off the microphone? He said, “His people said it would be a 40 minute speech.” He pointed at the clock at the podium and then said, “1:21.”

Comment by GA Watcher Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:24 pm
Sounds like MJM didn’t know the mike was still on and said “his people said the speech would be 40 minutes and ended up 1.21.” and then the mike went off……

Comment by Interested Observer Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:24 pm
JonShibleyFan: Fair enough, but Quinn’s avoidance of the budget problems may be enough to sway voters who feel it deserves more attention.

Comment by Sonic Infidel Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:24 pm
Did I hear MJM complain in the background that “his people said the speech would only be 40 minutes”?

Comment by Bluefish Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:25 pm
while I don’t agree with Quinn on everything, and I find the early release mess quite troubling, it’s kind of nice not to have a teleprompter speech from an elected official. sure, it’s kinda rambling, but I think you hear what he thinks and feels and it gives a good picture of who he is. Soybean Pat, no electric power needed to say what he thinks.

Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:26 pm
Why did WBEZ have some young republican girl first up to give the republican post commentary?????

Thank goodness for Dale Rider! he should have been first up.

Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:28 pm
It seems we’ve become so accustomed to lunatic politicians, we find someone who is down to earth boring and clumsy. I’m not a dem, but I find Quinn sincere. As for the rest, I say clean up the dome with your vote!

Comment by Wow.. Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:28 pm
“Quinn’s avoidance of the budget problems may be enough to sway voters who feel it deserves more attention.”

Maybe, but I doubt it. Look, I’m not saying it was a great speech — it wasn’t. But it is exactly the speech a governor in a contested primary gives three weeks before the election when the Constitution requires he give a speech.

He wants to raise taxes. And to plug a $12 billion hole, probably has to. But he’d have to be nuts to say that in this speech.

Predictable speech. Predictable responses.

At least he didn’t talk about the steroid problem in baseball.

Comment by JonShibleyFan Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:32 pm
So wow, you bought the tears at the end bit?

Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:33 pm
Hey WCW — You can go ahead and make fun of the Governor for choking up when he talks about his dead father. But when you say he is secretly a Ritz-Carlton kind of guy — clearly, you don’t know Pat Quinn.

Comment by soccermom Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:33 pm
Long, but effective. Didn’t know where he was going for a while but was honest about the budget, addressed prisoner release, and was Pat Quinn. About as much as anyone would expect.

Comment by Little Lebowski Urban Achiever Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:33 pm
P.S. Hynes camp PLEASE, whatever you do, don’t attack the tears at the end bit.

Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:34 pm
I am not making fun of the Governor or his dad. But from the Quinn that I’ve seen over the course of the past year, the same quinn who brings his 90 something y.o. mom to a 100+ degree heat Springfield protest and what he did after being caught on tape falling asleep at a debate, I’m sorry but…

Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:37 pm
WCW, Hasn’t the Hynes campaign attacked every aspect of Quinn during this campaign? I can’t see them stopping anywhere. I’m waiting for their press release.

Comment by UISer Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:37 pm
WCW, your asking the Hynes campaign to attack him for choking up when talking about his father? You truly are something special.

As a Quinn supporter, I hope they follow your advice. They will by 30 instead of 15 if they do. I would love it you became one of their political consultants. I hear a position is open now that the guy who stole $100,000 in tax payer money had to go.

Comment by Little Lebowski Urban Achiever Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:40 pm
Long speech. One thing that the Governor does have going for him (after months of taking an absolute beating in the press) is that he is able to connect to ordinary people and understands what is going on in there day-to-day lives. That speech demonstrated this. We will see how the press spins it…

Comment by Burrito Bandit Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:44 pm
Little…

re-read what I actually wrote and go by that, not just what you want to believe and see.

Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:44 pm
Egad. Sorry. I meant “their” not “there”. Don’t snipe me!

Comment by Burrito Bandit Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:45 pm
I see that the political junkies keep bringing up Quinn’s use of previous material. As a non-junky, and as an independent leaning toward Republican — this was the first State of the State I ever heard and I was very favorably impressed. I could see he used presidential State of the Union speeches for rhetorical ideas, but so what. I see Quinn as an honest man who cares about the state. The budget problem is #1 and everything else is secondary, and I think he will work hard to solve that problem.

Comment by Rod Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:47 pm
If he were interested in the travails of ordinary people he’d be trying to figure out a way not to increase their income taxes in the middle of a recession which as yet has no clear end.

I guess he figures we’ll forget our shrunken pocketbooks and give up the cash if he sheds a tear or two. Give our Illinois history of voting against our own interests, it’s a rational choice.

Comment by cassandra Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:51 pm
It was everything I hate about PQ–cloying, folksy-ish, populist in all the wrong ways, vacuous, superficial–and everything that made him a success w/ the cut-back and CUB.

Comment by D.P. Gumby Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:52 pm
Cassandra… still waiting for your ideas of how to cut $12 billion from the state budget.

Comment by dave Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:53 pm
That was brutal. Go ahead Quinnsters and act like the “real people” like a guy who can’t talk and has no substance whatsoever. Bawl a little bit at the end and you’ve got a winner. What a joke! If Quinn wins the primary Madigan will finally get the Repub governor he has been wishing for.

Comment by Bill Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:56 pm
@ WCW

It would be nice to be able to read what thoughtful, informed commentators from both sides of the aisle thought of the speech without having to read your incoherant, rambling,
childish shrill every five comments. I know you don’t care, but most of us can do without your noise pollution. Thanks and have a wonderful day!

Comment by Large and in Charge Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:57 pm
Sorry I missed the speech. Can anyone estimate for me the number of Lincoln references he used? That seems to be his safe place, and given that he was working off notes and not a teleprompter, I would guess he’d go to Lincoln at least ten times. Did anybody keep track for me?

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:58 pm
@ Bill

- If Quinn wins the primary Madigan will finally get the Repub governor he has been wishing for.-

Bill, care to do us a favor and tell us who that GOP nominee is going to be? Inquiring minds want to know.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 2:03 pm
i see that the tribune wants to give Quinn a pass on early release now because he says he is accountable.

in essence he’s still not taking responsibility for green-lighting the secret plan in the first place. all he said today is my worker did something wrong and i am accountable for fixing what he (my worker) did wrong.

what obama said about failures under his administration were totally different and the context no where near the same. Obama had reason to believe and expect that the Bush administration had did what it was supposed to do with TSA. Obama did not implement or agree to implement TSA, but Quinn agreed to and oversaw the implementation of the secret release program.

Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 2:03 pm
I gotta’ say… if WCW is giving it a C+, that must mean that Quinn did quite well.

Comment by dave Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 2:07 pm
dave

I think cuts can be made (and Quinn hasn’t made them yet) but I’ve never said that additional revenues aren’t needed. I object to Quinn’s approach, which is most definitely not “shared sacrifice” as promised. His income tax hike proposal is not progressive (and became less progressive as budget discussions proceeded the spring) and it favors corporations (his corporate tax increase decreased over the past spring). And despite all the hype, there is no evidence that he will try to close any corporate loopholes, scrub the state’s $16 billion worth of contracts for fraud and waste, or implement much needed service taxes. He wants the middle class to pay for everything-in the worst economic climate in decades. The guy is living back in the 60’s, when helping “the poor” was all the rage. Now, it’s the middle class that needs help—or at least, to be left alone to recover economically. But our Pat is on a Robin Hood crusade–to transfer more middle class wealth (what’s left of it) to “the poor” and to state bureaucrats and pols.

Comment by cassandra Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 2:13 pm
Really I give him a C. I’m not a fan of politicians using pathos, but I don’t believe others know/see it when it is happening.

If I had given him anything less than a C then that would only give his supporters, most of whom are emotional types, an opening. I graded on a curve and put him at a C+ / C boarder to keep his supporters from getting all emotional and going off the deep end.

Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 2:16 pm
There’s an appealing sincerity and folksiness in PQ’s delivery that came across. But much of the speech also came across, at least to me, as a political speech, not a true State of the State overview speech. With this in mind will the other candidates demand equal time?

Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 2:18 pm
Anybody know where I can get an on-line copy of the speech?
The State of Illinois web site seems to be down?

Thanks

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 2:19 pm
Folksy charm (and Quinn legitimately has it) works in a state of the UNION address because ordinary people actually watch the president on primetime television give that speech. If a million Illinois homes tuned into this speech on TV tonight I’d say it was a great day for the Gov. In speaking without a script he came across as likable, down to earth, and honest.

But no one watches a state of the STATE address except reporters and political geeks like us. And for that reason, this speech was a failure. He had the dance floor to himself today and should have used the opportunity to make some news — positive news. Checking out the initial media coverage, it seems the lede is “Quinn calls for taxes again.” Not good.

Comment by Sam E. Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 2:20 pm
Quinn seems to speak the way he governs - rambling, ineffectively, no vision, no substance….I hope he wins in Feb so he can lose in November.

Comment by RobRoy Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 2:43 pm
Interestingly, no less substantive than anything any of the Repub. 7 dwarfs have said, so it will be amusing to hear how they attack it–which they will.

Comment by D.P. Gumby Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 3:04 pm
An artistic triumph!
Pat Quinn demonstrated why he is considered one of America’s best performance artists today!

Instead of a hard hitting, informative and detailed statement of leadership and resolve, Mr. Quinn used this annual occassion to enact a gubernatorial version of the classic Radiohead album “Kid A”.

His performance opened by reminding listeners why he was elected Lt. Governor. His practiced nonchalance soothed his audience with his soft droning tenor voice. Each word uttered had been practiced repeatedly in rehearsals until Quinn’s sentences sounded ad-libbed and non-rehearsed.

Quinn’s 1:21 minute performance was carefully choreographed by famed choreographer Twyla Tharp and used dance elements Tharp pioneered in her bravura art piece, Still Life at Burr Oak, where her dancers stood motionless for three hours as water dripped slowly upon her audience. Her work with Quinn demonstrated how well she is able to make even a gadfly appear substantive.

During his final act, Quinn, as well as his listeners, were in tears. His shocking revelation that he was near the end of his performance piece, a work of art that clearly demonstrated the power of nothingness in leadership, moved both the gubernatorial artiste, and his captive audience. The recognition that they have witnessed one of the most controlled acts of rhetorical theatre brought many stinging tears to the eyes of Illinois Democratic supporters.

After his performance, Quinn, through an interpretive mime, announced that his performance today was filmed to be used at a Black Eyed Peas concert, when the band performs “My Hump” during this years summer concert tour.

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 3:42 pm
I laughed, I cried, it became a part of me.

Comment by wise guy Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 3:59 pm
Quinn’s soy-liloquy whitewashed the sugar coated video poker plums in the Capital Bill Pudding.

Comment by Das Man Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 4:07 pm
I have to say I “teared” up a little bit at the end of his speech. God Bless our troops. We lost a couple more soldiers today.

Comment by anon Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 4:22 pm
“I think health is important.” Oh, really! A terrible, terrible speech. Absolutly no substance, void of any ideas or legitmate proposals. Is this the nonsense we have to look forward to in 2010?

Comment by A Springfield Veteran Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 4:29 pm
[…] Read more about the speech here and here. […]

Pingback by State of the State, not so great | IEANEA Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 5:03 pm
Mr. Quinn’s brother at the Bar of Illinois:

http://www.mrlincolnandnewyork.org/inside.asp?ID=14&subjectID=2

Comment by Anon III Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 5:45 pm
I think I heard the ghost of Clara Peller flittering around the Capitol yelling, “Where’s the Beef!”

Comment by Great Caesar's Ghost Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 7:55 pm
Well, THAT was a blown opportunity. He could have set a clearer agenda, that was a bit scattershot. It also veered off into campaign rhetoric a time or three.

I saw Quinn was using a handful of paper sheets to do his speech from, instead of the teleprompter like everybody else uses. Listening to the speech though, I can’t help but wonder if on the way to the podium, he dropped the papers and they all got scrambled in their order. Man was all over the map.

This could have helped Pat a lot but instead did little or nothing to boost his opinion ratings.

Comment by Gregor Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 8:54 pm
Quinn’s speech was a disappointment. I was expecting a little bit of drama due to the state’s fiscal condition.

Comment by Can't Say My Nickname Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 9:16 pm
Gregor’s right. He should have set a clearer agenda. I, to, was having a hard time following what he was saying.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 10:11 pm