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* What “super hero” do you think the four “big” statewide candidates (Pat Quinn, Bill Brady, Alexi Giannoulias, Mark Kirk) have patterned themselves after? Explain, please.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 1:05 pm

Comments

Alexi Giannoulias is Bruce Wayne.

Dapper in tux, filthy rich (although we’re not quite sure how), and very Progressive in an anti-Gotham (read Washington) sorta way.

(Dick Durbin in supporting role as Alfred the Butler)

Comment by bmcchgo Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 1:13 pm
Quinn reminds me of Blankman. Constantly screwing things up and answering questions by trailing off. Alexi and Kirk remind me of Mario and Luigi. You may not really like either one, put you have to pick one to play. Brady reminds me of Mr. Plow because he’ll have to clean up after Quinn.

Comment by Davey Boy Smithe Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 1:17 pm
Pat Quinn - Robin, you know, after Batman gets killed or something. Gee Whiz!

Bill Brady - Underdog. Wants to be Superman, can’t quite pull it off, just not an authentic superhero.

Alexi Giannoulias - Aquaman. Looks great, but what does he actually do? Swim?

Mark Kirk - Superman. Unfortunately for the Lt. Cmdr., Illinois is made of Kryptonite.

Comment by Thoughts... Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 1:17 pm
Brady and dogs…no.

Kirk.the flash-his big mouth gets him in trouble
Brady-one that does not wear socks
Quinn-Cyclops=always tryign to be Mr. Popular
Ali G-Wolverine-deeply flawed

Wumpus-Wumpus

Comment by Wumpus Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 1:20 pm
Pat Quinn is the Green Lantern but his knock-off power ring is on the fritz and he cannot turn anything into green.

Bill Brady is the character from Frogger trying to get across the road with tons of moving obstacles.

Alexi is Mr. Monopoly with his pockets outturned.
He is hoping you will land on Community Chest.

Mark Kirk is PacMan and his military lies are the ghosts that chase him.

Comment by Jake from Elwood Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 1:24 pm
Kirk = Captain America. Injected with the top secret “Super Soldier Formula,” he wears a flag costume.

Giannoulias = Mr. Fantastic. This is the leader of the Fantastic Four, the one who can stretch into any position imaginable. Picturing Giannoulias in the Senate is kind of a stretch.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 1:36 pm
Quinn: The Greatest American Hero–kind of bumbling but means well

Alexi: Green Arrow–rich, suave, liberal, and an outsider

Kirk: Robin. Just kind of looks like Dick Grayson.

Brady: Booster Gold. Comedic and shallow.

Comment by ArchPundit Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 1:40 pm
Me still think Kirk just like me. Kirk puffs up real big and can’t control self. Kirk also can leap from Afghanistan to Kuwait to Iraq with just one leap!

And nobody know who real Kirk is.

Comment by The Hulk Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 1:42 pm
Qiunn is Inspector Gadget, he has no powers, usually screws it up!

Comment by ohhboy Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 1:49 pm
Quinn: Handi Man (Damon Wayons, Living Color, no explanation needed.)

Brady and Kirk: Zan & Jayna (kind of ancillary superheros, neither of which really does much. Form of a mocking bird, form of a bucket of tepid water)

Alexi: Scrappy Doo

Comment by Piling on Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 1:58 pm
brady- superman
quinn- ramblin willy
mark kirk- zorro
ali g- barack obama

Comment by west side don Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 2:01 pm
Pat Quinn=Elmer Fudd
Alexi Giannoulias=Doug Neidemeyer (Animal House)
Mark Kirk= Lt. Parker (McHale’s Navy)
Bill Brady= Earl Sheib (TV pitchman)

Comment by WRMN politics Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 2:01 pm
I would say all of them are the Tick, they would be hilarious if they were cartoon characters and not running for office.

Comment by Ahoy Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 2:09 pm
Quinn is Dexter in his laboratory who is soon to be shown that it is all just a figment of his imagination.

Brady is the ?Question Mark?

Kirk and Gio are Alphonse and Gaston, respectively. (2 characters from an ancient funny pages cartoon. “After you my dear Alphonse”, “You first, my dear Gaston”)
Part of a slew of cartoons that were popular in the beginning of the last cent…….oh, who cares.

Comment by dupage dan Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 2:09 pm
Pat Quinn: Dragonfly (superhero the movie)
Bill Brady: Master Shake from auqateen hunger force
Alexi Giannoulias: Kick Ass (well meaning but keeps getting in over his head and beat up)
Mark Kirk: Bananaman (english parody of superman with popeyeesque use of banans, weakness to moldy ons, superhero bumbler with an inflated sense of his own abilties)

Comment by Ghost Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 2:10 pm
Quinn is Aquaman.

He’s so far down you can’t see him.

Comment by Irishpirate Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 2:12 pm
ohhboy- If the Quinn campaign wanted an out there strategy they could sell this Inspector Gadget thing and make Sheila Simon the character Penny flying around the state defeating Dr.Claw trying to steals jobs while Inspector Quinn justs flails around. It would probably fail, but it would make for some fun campaign commercials.

Comment by kj Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 2:18 pm
I thought about linking them to characters in the Watchmen:

Quinn: Dr. Manhattan (good intentions, but slowly ruining everyhthing)
Brady: Oxymandius (he’s planning to blow everything up, after which everyone will come together)
Kirk: The Comedian
Giannoulias: wants to be the Nite Owl (but isn’t

Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 2:23 pm
Rich Whitney: maybe he’s Rorshack

Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 2:25 pm
As a comic book geek, I have to put it out there: most of you wouldn’t know a superhero if one flew out of the sky/swam up from the lake/appeared out of thin air right in front of you.

As Comic Book Guy would say: Worst. Responses. Ever.

Comment by Lefty Lefty Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 2:27 pm
LOL is Mark Kirk related to James T. Kirk? Will we ever know?

Comment by Levois Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 2:28 pm
Quinn: Beavis
Brady: Butthead

Comment by Retired Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 2:32 pm
Quinn: Daredevil. Wants to help the little guy, but is blind.

Brady: Punisher. Extreme measures are the only way.

Kirk: Superman. Thinks he’s It, but even a normal human like Batman can take him out since he’s not a tactical thinker.

Giannoulias: Aquaman. Wants to hang around with the real super-powered types, but really–swimming? That’s it?

Comment by Lefty Lefty Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 2:33 pm
The Justice League (take your pick) because they all hate the dreaded villian Blago.

Comment by Highland, IL Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 2:41 pm
Mark Kirk….Spiderman….dorky!
Bill Brady….American Dad…overblown, thinks he’s
smart, but is really dumb
Pat Quinn….Homer Simpson….radioactive
Alexi……Bat Man, the tv version, cheesy and dumb

Comment by Amalia Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 2:44 pm
“Is Mark Kirk related to Capt. James T. Kirk?”

I suppose it’s still possible, since Captain Kirk isn’t supposed to be born for, what, another 100 years or so?

Comment by Secret Square Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 2:49 pm
Pat Quinn-Commissioner Gordon-has the power to run the city but needs to call Batman for help all the time (or Mike Madigan)

Bill Brady-Wonder Woman-looks good but all the superpowers (jets, ropes, budget cuts) are invisible

Alexi G.-Aquaman-he didn’t really talk to any of those guys that Broadway Bank gave loans to even though he was in charge of the lending-he used his mental telepathy

Mark Kirk-Tommy Flanagan (think Jon Lovitz on SNL-yeah, yeah-That’s the ticket!)

Comment by ourMagician Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 2:55 pm
“The Justice League… because they all hate the dreaded villain Blago.”

How about putting the Justice League up against a fearsome alliance of villianous, mutant “X-Governors”?

Comment by Secret Square Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 2:55 pm
I’m not sure about the “top” four. But Lisa Madigan is definately Wonder Woman.. you know, “fighting for your rights”.

Comment by Chathamite Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 2:55 pm
Quinn: Pat quinn Bob Parr. He wants to do good things, but he doesn’t realize his best days are behind him and he needs a good team around him to accomplish anything.

Brady: Let’s face it, Bill Brady is Willie Ames’ Bibleman. ‘Nuff said.

Kirk: Mark Kirk is Metamorpho, the Element Man. You never can quite pin him down on anything.

Giannoulias: Aquaman? No. Nite Owl? No. Dollar Bill is more like it. Hired by the bank to be the front man, the face of the institution. Gunned down when his cape got caught in the revolving door.

Comment by Barry Allen Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 2:57 pm
Q - Underdog “There’s no need to fear, Underdog is here”
B - Superman - Mild-mannered, ability to make cuts with super speed
K - Batman - he really can’t fly
G - Daredevil - blind to family’s shady lending practices

Comment by Joe from Joliet Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 3:01 pm
The Katzenjammer Kids

Comment by SAP Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 3:16 pm
Kirk - Robin, the boy wonder who thinks he can be a hero all by himself. Doesn’t see his own weakness.

Brady - Superman - not even his off-center voting record and history of strange remarks can slow down his campaign this year. He’s invincible, for now.

Alexi - Aquaman - speaks to creatures in another world. He’s the king in his own small part of the universe, but doesn’t quite measure up to other “real” heroes.

Quinn - The Hulk - well intentioned and very smart guy who has a few loyal friends, but when he gets going he’s clumsy and breaks lots of stuff.

Comment by siriusly Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 3:19 pm
Quinn is Thermoman. Google it if you don’t know this guy. He is really funny.

Comment by jake Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 3:35 pm
Quinn: The Mighty Quinn
Brady: Shady Brady
Kirk: Daredevil
Giannoulias: Superboy - he’s young and he’s trying to emulate B-Rock who some call Superman

Comment by The Shadow Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 3:39 pm
=== As a comic book geek, I have to put it out there: most of you wouldn’t know a superhero if one flew out of the sky/swam up from the lake/appeared out of thin air right in front of you.====

ormaybe we dont feel any of these folks are worthy of wearing the monickor of the super heros you are thinking of

Comment by Ghost Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 3:42 pm
Pat Quinn: Howard the Duck - “Trapped in a World He Never Made”
Bill Brady: Conan the Barbarian - “Conan! What is best in life?” “To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women.”
Alexi Giannoulias: Mon-El - Looks kinda like Superboy… but he ain’t Superboy.
Mark Kirk: Uncle Marvel - Claimed to have superpowers but when asked to make use them, he would complain that his “shazambago” was acting up and was interfering with his powers.

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 3:51 pm
Reference this handy list to find great super hero’s

http://popcultureaddict.com/comicbooks/lamestsuperheroes-htm/

Comment by Living in Oklahoma Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 3:53 pm
Pat Quinn = Mermaid Man (Spongebob Squarepants)

Comment by in the know Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 3:58 pm
the problem is that I can’t envision any of them as any kind of super anything! If you had said just cartoon character, well….PQ–Dagwood Bumstead, Kirk–Snoopy, Brady–Mr. Burns, Alexi–Archie.

Comment by D.P. Gumby Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 4:00 pm
Kirk: Sometimes I say Bond, but Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery is much closer.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 4:04 pm
Rich, are you trying to make superheroes feel bad about themselves?

Comment by Aldyth Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 4:30 pm
I don’t see superhero in any of them, but going by what they’re promising, they feel more like the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 4:34 pm
Kirk - Aquaman for his Sunfish rescue tale circa ‘76

Brady - Superman from the right here to clean up Illinois

Alexi - Batman, caped crusader, chicks dig his mysterious coolness

Quinn - Robin Hood

Comment by downstater Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 4:45 pm
Quinn - Zoiberg
Alexi - The Joker
Kirk - Beetle Bailey
Brady - Dudley Do Right

Comment by Cincinnatus Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 5:18 pm
Alexi is the little engine that could. he keeps facing climbs and chugs his way to the top.

bill brady is, of course, bobbie brady. no explanation required.

mark kirk is benedict arnold. i’ll be happy to expound upon, if necessary.

pat quinn? pat quinn is pat quinn. who else could he be? there’s no one like him…

Comment by bored now Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 5:28 pm
Shemp, Moe, Larry and Curley…just pick any combination.

Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 5:47 pm
SAP: Katzenjammer Kids once a great bar on Lincoln Ave. I don’t know. . .how about Tales fom the Crypt.

Comment by Way Way Down Here Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 6:24 pm
Brady: Clark Kent
Quinn: Jor-el (Superman’s disembodied daddy)
AG: Jimmie Olsen (Olson?)
Kirk: Clark’s Smallville dad.

Comment by Park Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 6:40 pm
Quinn is the Lone Ranger and he keeps hoping for a Silver Bullet.

Comment by Justice Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 7:14 pm
They are all Shrek

Comment by Lefty Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 7:35 pm
Brady = Bibleman for his creationist leanings and related voting record on abortion and birth control. Plus, he already has that unsettling televangelist vibe with the hair and the vacant smile that promises everything, with no way to deliver it.

Quinn *Wants* to be Captain America, what with his veteran’s shtick, but is barely Bucky the sidekick, in terms of execution. All the Blago holdovers in his government bureaucracy are actually Skrulls, and this explains a lot about our state’s woes. I think Quinn is probably closest to Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four: really smart, thinking about super-abstract galactic-level stuff all the time, but he never really deploys his powers for solving good, practical down-to-earth problem stuff for the average joe; too tied up in knots bending like rubber to suit changing political winds and whims.

Alexi and Kirk are the Wonder Twins: both useless and interchangeable. “Form of: a POT!” “Shape of: a KETTLE!”

And Squideshi’s Green Party candidate is obviously
Captain Planet.

Comment by Big Daddy and HitGirl Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 8:40 pm
And Speaker Madigan is Galactus.

Comment by Big Daddy and HitGirl Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 8:41 pm
===#As Comic Book Guy would say: Worst. Responses. Ever.

I think Booster Gold gives me some bonafides.

Comment by ArchPundit Thursday, Aug 26, 10 @ 11:38 pm