Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: Question of the day
Next Post: Here we go again…
Posted in:
* Apparently, Mark Kirk can’t adjust the auto-response feature on his mouth…
Illinois Congressman Mark Kirk is predicting a primary loss for longtime Senator Arlen Specter. He says today’s primary could represent “a pretty big earthquake in Pennsylvania politics.” […]
When asked this morning if the anti-incumbent attitude of voters could hurt his campaign, Kirk deflected the question, instead taking the chance to attack his opponent.
KIRK: Well, Alexi Giannoulias was inside the Broadway Bank, made the risky decisions to bet on hot brokered money and loans to convicted felons and mob figures and was the insider of our treasurer’s office.
A few years back when state Sen. Gary Forby was (again) fighting for his political life, he was asked a question on live TV about some tricky campaign issue or another and he paused for a few seconds before saying “I’m pro life.” The reporter turned to the camera and said, somewhat dumbfounded, “There you have it, folks. Gary Forby is pro life.”
I called Forby and asked why he responded that way. “Well, Rich, I had to get my message out.”
He won.
* Sometimes, I just wanna tear my hair out. Check out this analysis of the news that Dock Walls will run for governor as an independent with Ed Scanlan as his running mate…
The addition of yet another Democrat turned “independent” is bad news for Quinn.
Maybe, but first Dock and Ed have to get on the freaking ballot. Walls dropped out of the Democratic governor’s primary in December right before he was about to be tossed off for lack of sufficient signatures. Scanlan was kicked off the ballot back then because he didn’t have enough signatures. The two men only needed 5,000 valid signatures to qualify for the primary, but now they need 25,000. So, let’s not get ahead of ourselves, please.
* Ummm…
If you’re really looking for insurgent outsiders, I can think only of two who might qualify this year: Forrest Claypool for county assessor and Scott Lee Cohen for governor.
Cohen is an insurgent? Is that because he proposed shooting all the elected politicians? I don’t quite get it. And putting him in the same category as Claypool? I predict an update to Scott Cisek’s Facebook page in three… two… one…
* Speaking of Facebook, Scott Lee Cohen just announced on his FB page that he wants to collect 100,000 signatures for his gubernatorial bid…
Petitions are ready! If each friend fills just one sheet, we will be almost half way to our goal of 100,000 signatures! If you are able to help out please go to www.scottleecohen.com to download a petition! Thanks so much for your support!
Cohen’s petitions have 15 signatures on each page. He has 2,073 Facebook friends. 2,073 times 15 equals 31,095. Not exactly half way to 100K, but he never claimed to be good at math.
Also, since many of his “friends” are just there to be entertained, are there to monitor his weirdness or may not even know they are his friends - Andy Shaw, the Illinois Chamber, the FAIR Map Coalition (and its arch nemesis Sen. Kwame Raoul), Jesse White, Robin Kelly, Ray Long, myself, Amanda Vinicky, Ben Bradley, Chuck Goudie, Chris Wills, Carol Marin, Illinois Review, Dan Proft, Sen. AJ Wilhelmi, Sen. John Millner, Rep. Connie Howard, Rep. Dan Burke, Rep. Will Burns, Miguel del Valle, Ald. Joe Moreno, Ald. Sandi Jackson, Todd Stroger, Sheriff Tom Dart, Dock Walls, Walter Dudycz, Congressman Bobby Rush, Chris Kennedy, Tom Cullen and our old pal Jerry Morrison from SEIU - I seriously doubt he has a chance at getting everybody on that list to circulate.
* And, finally, this isn’t quite snark, but do you notice anything missing from yesterday’s press release?…
May 17, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today named Deputy General Counsel John Schomberg as Acting General Counsel for the Office of the Governor effective May 21. Schomberg is replacing General Counsel Theodore T. Chung, who is returning to private practice.
“John Schomberg is an essential member of my office’s legal team, and I look forward to working with him as Acting General Counsel,” said Governor Quinn. “In addition, I want to thank Ted Chung for all he’s accomplished as General Counsel and wish him every success in the future.”
Schomberg has been with the Office of the Governor since 2009, when he was hired as Deputy General Counsel. During his tenure, Schomberg has been involved with the major issues the Governor’s legal team has managed and worked on.
Prior to joining the Office of the Governor, Schomberg, 37, was an Assistant Corporation Counsel at the City of Chicago Department of Law and an Associate at Chicago-based Mayer Brown LLP (Background Information).
Before being named General Counsel to Governor Quinn in February 2009, Chung, 43, served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, a Deputy Chief of Staff in the Chicago Mayor’s Office, the First Assistant Corporation Counsel in the City’s Law Department, and a partner at a private firm in Chicago.
The answer: Not a word from Chung.
Also, four days’ notice? Strange.
…Adding… From Bob Reed…
Ted gave at least five weeks notice to governor, not four days, to ensure a smooth transition.
Chung got a job at Jones Day.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, May 18, 10 @ 3:40 pm
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
Previous Post: Question of the day
Next Post: Here we go again…
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
Kirk’s and Forby’s poorly timed punchines remind me of Admiral Stockdale’s classic debate moment: “Gridlock!” Giuliani and “9/11″ also come to mind.
Not sure why they said what they said, but it’s clear they each had a message to send and couldn’t wait long enough for the proper context to present itself.
“Gridlock!”
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, May 18, 10 @ 3:56 pm
the chung presser does not mention his work on the reform commission. strange?
Comment by not sure Tuesday, May 18, 10 @ 4:02 pm
maybe Chung saw the ship sinking because of the insurgent campaign of Dock Walls? Snark
Comment by huh Tuesday, May 18, 10 @ 4:03 pm
So, Rich, how’s your petition circulating going?
Comment by God's Country Tuesday, May 18, 10 @ 4:15 pm
Gary Forby: Not as dumb as they would have you believe.
Comment by A Naughty Moose Tuesday, May 18, 10 @ 4:16 pm
Weird. This has been posted for several minutes now and still no comment from Jerry. Do you think he’s stuck beneath a heavy object? Laborguy, if you can read this, knock three times.
Comment by Anonymiss Tuesday, May 18, 10 @ 4:16 pm
When asked this morning if the anti-incumbent attitude of voters could hurt his campaign…
Why would anyone think a candidate is going to honestly answer a question about the viability of their campaign?
The question was stupid, so the answer was stupid too.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, May 18, 10 @ 4:17 pm
ANM, you’re right about that. But Gary sure does have a way with words.
Two cycles ago, he criticized his opponent for being a “double dicker.” He repeated the “double dicker” slam over and over, adding how “double dickin’” was just plain wrong.
I’m still laughing about that one.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, May 18, 10 @ 4:29 pm
You’re right VM
Several incumbents are talking about throwing the bums out, apparently hoping it goes unnoticed that they were one of the bums. Bill Brady’s sudden call for term limits comes to mind … and his attack on Quinn for being a “career politician” … I guess 18 years and counting does not a career make?
Kind of like the Republican calls for less regulation, and yet there seems to be an effort by some, Schock included, to now cry “there was not enough regulation and government oversight” leading up to the BP disaster.
Convenient memory? Duplicitous?
Comment by ShadyBillBrady Tuesday, May 18, 10 @ 4:35 pm
Careful Rich, you might get deleted…
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, May 18, 10 @ 4:37 pm
True enough. I stretched the envelope on that one, for sure.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, May 18, 10 @ 4:47 pm
Chung’s exit is an intriguing story. It is reminiscent of when Susan Lichtenstein suddenly, and without explanation, left as Blago’s chief counsel in 2004. This was the first indication of big trouble in the Blago administration.
Comment by Quiet Sage Tuesday, May 18, 10 @ 4:48 pm
But when Alexi was asked questions about Broadway and responded by attacking Kirk, that was OK?
Every Kirk utterance is the subject of snark but there’s always an excuse for poor little Alexi.
Comment by Adam Smith Tuesday, May 18, 10 @ 4:56 pm
AA, there’s a reason your comments don’t always make it through the screen. You only see what your squinty little hyperpartisan eyes want you to see. Try looking at two posts below on AG’s weird non-response on the Highland Park question.
Don’t be such a tool. It’s unattractive, sweetheart. lol
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, May 18, 10 @ 4:59 pm
I like Forbey’s claim that he opposes abortion except for “rape and incense.” Again, he won. I love the guy.
Comment by anon Tuesday, May 18, 10 @ 5:04 pm
–The school has sent students to China.–
What could anyone possibly learn by experiencing half one quarter of humanity lives?
Basketball tournament in Ariz/China.
I get it.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, May 18, 10 @ 5:18 pm
Also from the post on Dock Walls:
“He was also unsuccessful in defeating U.S. Representative Bobby Rush in 2008, but that certainly isn’t a predictor of future success.”
Yes. Dock Walls is exactly like Barack Obama. Of course, Dock Walls has more in common with another candidate who has lost to Rush: Ray Wardingly.
Let’s start with the fact that both are clowns.
Comment by JonShibleyFan Tuesday, May 18, 10 @ 5:25 pm
Rich, you are absolutely right on Walls. Any reporter, newsreader or columnist who would imply that Walls is anything more than a publicity-seeking buffoon should be fired from their job on the spot for gross incompetence!
Comment by fedup dem Tuesday, May 18, 10 @ 5:33 pm
[…] (h/t CapFax) Blogroll […]
Pingback by Mark Kirk worried about his Bush and DC ties? « Illinois Reason Wednesday, May 19, 10 @ 9:10 am
In the last Paul Simon/Charles (or do you say Chuck) Percy debate, neither one of them even remotely entertained the questions. They just pounded each other relentlessly.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, May 19, 10 @ 9:22 am
[…] Speaking of Miller, his story about Gary Forby made me laugh. […]
Pingback by Blago Billed DCFS for Legal Work | chicago.rssible.com Wednesday, May 19, 10 @ 12:33 pm