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* I seem to be using him a lot today, but Zorn has posted a Pat Quinn quote…
I” have a mandate, I think, to serve Illinois for the next four years…I think there are those who understand that the election returns gave us a lot of support”
Well, he did run on a tax increase platform during a tea party (TEA=Taxed Enough Already) year and won. That’s certainly something. Yet, he hardly scored a resounding win.
* The Question: Does Gov. Quinn have a mandate? If not, explain. If so, to do what?
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 11:47 am
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Quinn does not have a mandate, by any means. This is a cliche, but now is the toughest of time, and I’m hoping that both parties can get along enough to forge a plan to implement economic recovery.
Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 11:51 am
No modern American election that takes three days (or more) to resolve generates a mandate. Quinn had better watch his behind or else the electorate will test the efficacy of the recall amendment on him.
Comment by Josh Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 11:53 am
I sucked it up and voted for Quinn because of Brady. But he received far from a mandate. he needs to look around and say “wow, if i would have run against anyone other than Brady I would be boxing up the underwear at the mansion.” he and his staff both need to take a long hard look at the numbers before leaping into happyness mode.
Comment by WOW Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 11:53 am
PQ was the lesser of two evils, not the 1st choice for a mandate. Nonetheless, he did win and his agenda did include a tax increase. Expect him to combine deep, necessary cuts coupled with a revenue increase. Remap privileges will ease the pain for Dems while a few Repubs might deal for a favorable map too.
Comment by anon sequitor Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 11:53 am
He doesn’t have increased political power that will allow him to push people around. I’m not sure that it matters. I think events are going to dictate actions more than the political players.
The “waves” that swept in Obama in 2018 and the GOP in 2010 were both aftershocks from the financial system collapse. That still isn’t sorted out.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 11:54 am
Absolutely not.
Comment by Aldyth Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 11:55 am
Any candidate who runs on the platform of a tax increase in this day-and-age and wins can make a pretty good case for a mandate.
Comment by George Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 11:55 am
A mandate to do what?
Comment by Dirt Digger Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 11:55 am
DD, that’s the question.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 11:57 am
The governor has a mandate in exactly the way he described “to serve Illinois for the next 4 years”. A sufficient number of people support, supposedly, his platform. In fact, it would be hypocritical for him now NOT to attempt to enact everything for which he and his public platform stand. I would think the governor should think it mandatory to try and lead the state to go the way his platform advocates. If enough of us don’t like the way he has led us over the next 4 years, then a sufficiently large proportion of us should give someone else the mandate to lead. The mandate is leadership, and that is not something affected by how lopsided the win was.
Comment by SafeAggie Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 11:57 am
Gov. Quinn’s mandate is to fix the state with his half-assed plan, rather than Sen. Brady’s quarter-assed plan.
Comment by Northsider Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 11:59 am
PQ is going to need to mind his P’s and Q’s. Certainly he won, and will be able to push some of his agenda, but just like Brady in the primary, more people voted against him than for him. He’s going to need to compromise some, but probably more with Madigan than with Republicans given the make up of the legislature.
Comment by 815 Ω Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 11:59 am
Gov. Quinn is free to do what he can within the confines of the IL Constitution. Mandates and unicorns are not real.
Comment by MikeMacD Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:00 pm
Oh sure. I’ll bet the Speaker just gives him whatever he wants.
Comment by The Captain Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:00 pm
A majority of voters voted against him and his plan to raise taxes. If that equals a mandate, then I guess I need to look that word up because it apparently doesn’t mean what I thought it means.
Comment by Downstate weed chewing hick Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:00 pm
Just as a former Gov. said yesterday, who won by even a slimmer margin, “A mandate is not the number of votes you won by, but who’s sitting in the chair when they open the door.”
This state has a huge number of politicians, but very few leaders. Election margins don’t make a leader. It’s time to lead.
Comment by Timber, Ho! Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:00 pm
I agree with George. Say what you will about PQ, he didn’t equivocate on the need for a tax increase and he was elected in today’s T(axed)E(nough)A(lready)age despite it. I think that shows support for his idea and the realization that many in the state have come to accept that this is a necessity.
Comment by Just Sayin' Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:01 pm
Pat Quinn’s mandate is not to be Bill Brady. No, there’s no mandate.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:03 pm
Whatever his mandate, the GA does NOT have a mandate, so unless he finds a way to increase taxes without legislative approval, he’s more on probation than riding a mandate.
Comment by gfalkes Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:03 pm
I would not call it a mandate, but to win this year while running on a tax increase is impressive. If PQ wants to call it a mandate that is fine.
However, have any of you ever heard the Speaker give his speech about the legislature being a separate and Equal branch of Government? He may not define it as a mandate.
Comment by Hank Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:03 pm
Quinn should feel lucky to still have a job and not interpret his razor-thin victory as any kind of “mandate”. If he does, he’ll engage in the same arrogant, over-reaching behavior that has destroyed the Obama Administration and led to a massive voter backlash.
Comment by Whatever Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:07 pm
What’s the definition of a mandate? I think that’s the real question. Plurality? 50% +1? 60%? 70%? I think you’d get different answers from different people, and it would depend in large part upon what side of the political spectrum they fall.
My initial reaction was no, he doesn’t, for many of the reasons stated above. But really, he does have a mandate to govern, right? I mean, he won. And that means he gets to govern as he sees fit within the bounds of our executive-legislative-judicial government. If he gets to govern, then he’s got a mandate to do so. Everyone may not agree what that means, but really, it’s for him to decide.
Comment by Thoughts... Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:07 pm
He has a mandate to fix everything North of I-80. The rest of the state is seceding.
Needless to say, he needs to get Rahm aboard as soon as possible if we are ever to get anything accomplished
Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:12 pm
Quinn’s mandate is this: You almost lost this election because of your total inability to solve any of the problems in this state the last two years. Lucky for you, the Tea Party candidate you were up against was an extreme far right, anti-woman, anti-gay, puppy hater who said he would cut every important program in this state. Be very careful before you believe the delusional state you were in before this election carries over into the next four years. Prove you deserve the job.
Comment by Wensicia Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:12 pm
He certainly has a mandate from the public service unions and the needy class to go forth and protect their special interests…but from everyone else? I would think not. Most people are still waiting for a post Blago administration. One that is conducted in the sunlight, administered by honest, competent, independent and dedicated appointees. If the Governor turns the page on his first 18 months and becomes who we all hoped he would be, he will earn a mandate.
Comment by walter sobchak Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:13 pm
Pat Quinn: “I won. I have a Mandate!”
Inigo Montoya: “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”
Comment by Rubbernecker Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:14 pm
In summary:
- People who voted against Quinn = he has no mandate
- People who voted for Quinn = he has a mandate
I don’t know if either side will concede
Comment by George Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:14 pm
Given his landslide victory, it is clear that the majority of people in Illinois want every last program and tax increase he proposes. It is also abundantly clear that Speaker Madigan will bend over backwards to support this mandate. I hear the Battle Hymm of the Republic playing in the background.
Now to the serious side. Governor Quinn won the election fair and square. I think the majority of Illinoisans hope he and the general assembly succeed in bringing more jobs to Illinois and responsibly addressing our deficit. I hope that he weighs (not to the point of paralysis but to a reasonable degree) the voices in ninety eight of 101 counties before proceding as far as the legitimate concerns about raising taxes and other issues surrounding our financial viability. To paraphrase the president yesterday “I want the best ideas regardless of whether they come from democrats or republicans.”
Comment by Richard Afflis Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:16 pm
The really important question is does Mike Madigan think that Quinn has a mandate?
Comment by Aldyth Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:17 pm
A mandate would have been a win where he really talked about raising taxes in firm terms, not in those vague well perhaps as part of property tax relief.
He didn’t run on taxes he ran on Bill Brady is an icky bad millionaire social conservative.
I don’t recall a single ad about raising taxes from Quinn.
Also even if he won by 200,000 votes he still has to deal with Madigan.
Comment by OneMan Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:18 pm
An electoral mandate can mean either a “command” or an “authorization” depending on the size of the vote. Quinn can legitimately claim he has an authorization because he won the election. But the small size of the win and the uneven geographic distribution of his support clearly do not move anything into comfortable “command” territory for him. Nevertheless, he is Governor of a failing state, he has a Dem state legislature to back him, and basically everyone with a brain knows the can kicking has got to stop.
Be brave enough to cut bait with some of the special interests trying to influence you and propose what YOU feel you gotta do to be a real leader for all of Illinois, Pat. That is what you are authorized to do. If it works, if the average Joe can make it through the next few years, and if the state moves toward getting out of intensive care you will be a hero even as you make some enemies. If it does not work then somebody else will get a mandate to do something else in 4 years.
But for goodness sake DO SOMETHING.
Comment by Responsa Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:19 pm
===I don’t recall a single ad about raising taxes from Quinn.===
Yeah, but how many did you see about that Quinn tax hike issue from Brady? And Kirk?
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:20 pm
Well in a year that should have been huge for the GOP here, a 30,000 vote or whatever win smells like mandate to me.
Hey, Bush LOST the popular vote in 2000 but he didn’t let that slow him down much.
Comment by just sayin' Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:21 pm
The test for Quinn is whether HE believes what he’s saying. If he does, then he’ll stand up to Madigan. If he doesn’t, then he’ll fold — like he did in the Spring. We’ll see.
Comment by Corduroy Bob Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:21 pm
Sure Quinn will be going on a “man-date” with Mike Madigan. Lunch in front of cameras at some burger joint in Springfield perhaps.
Mike will tell Quinn what to do and Quinn will appear flummoxed on camera.
Comment by IrishPirate Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:21 pm
“Does Gov. Quinn have a mandate? If not, explain. If so, to do what?”
Yes. But only to to maintain the minimum wage and keep mass-euthanasia of pets illegal. There’s no “mandate” beyond that.
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:22 pm
Gov Quinn would be wise to understand the lesson of the Illinois poet, Carl Sandburg, when he wrote:
When things go awry, two conditions can always be found - he forgot why he began; he forgot what brought him along.
I hope the election reminded him “why” he began and he never forgets the PEOPLE OF ILLINOIS who brought him along.
Comment by a fan of Cap Fax Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:25 pm
The only mandate he has is a “date” with the “Man,” and we all know that the Speaker is the Man.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:26 pm
I wouldn’t be so quick to knock MJM over with slaps on the back. He was virtually no help to the statewide offices, lost the Senator and a bunch of Congressmen. Except for Dan Biss, there were no new winners from the State Reps and I’m sure Biss ran away from MJM.
I’m not saying he’s not formidable but this was not his finest hour.
Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:28 pm
No, he does not have a “mandate.” This was hardly a landslide victory. Even if it was a landslide, I do not believe that any elected official is “given” any mandate. They need to stay in touch with what the constituency wants and needs. In the current political climate, Quinn needs to be careful not to honk off the majority to make certain individuals or groups happy. Stating he has a mandate doesn’t come off as the words of a humble servant of the people. It sounds more like the speech of an exalted ruler. All of us in this business must exercize caution in this arena. I wish Governor Quinn well.
Comment by Say WHAT? Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:28 pm
I don’t know if he has a mandate, but he certainly now owns the future condition of the state. He and the Democrats in Springfield will not be able to duck that responsibility. I wish them luck, they should be prepared to go it alone since I doubt they will get much help from the Republicans.
I also accept full responsibility for a bad prediction in this race, having predicted a strong win for Brady. I hold the Republican establishment in DuPage County directly accountable for Brady’s loss. DuPage County underperformed, having only a 51% turnout in what should have been a much stronger year for Republicans.
Comment by Cincinnatus Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:28 pm
I think Quinn has two mandates in particular: (1) to pass civil unions and (2) to protect a woman’s right to choose. He won this race because suburban women were scared of Brady’s anti-choice stances (thanks to Personal PAC’s efforts) and the LGBT community was energized by Quinn’s stance on civil unions and fearful of Brady’s anti-gay stances (thanks to EQIL, TCRA and HRC). These are the two main places where Quinn outpaced Guiannoulias and the reason he won while Giannoulias lost.
Does he have a mandate for a tax increase? Not so sure. But he does have a mandate to balance the budget and even the Civic Committee recognizes the need to raise taxes to do that.
Comment by lakeview lawyer Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:28 pm
I don’t think Governor Quinn has a mandate — it was one of the closest gubernatorial elections in history, and much of the vote (I believe) was a protest vote against ‘the other guy’. Or in some cases, against both.
But what Quinn DOES have is a chance. Any rational observer sees the state needs both more revenue (tax hikes) and lower expenses (cuts). Quinn has about two years to get this done, and they’re pretty risk-free years. Two years from now, President Obama will be back on the ballot, which will most certainly lead to strong Democratic turnout (even if everything goes to pot from here out, this IS the President’s home state). Statewide officers aren’t on the ballot, so they’re safe…there’s no US Senator on the ballot…and state House and Senate candidates will be able to ride Obama coattails.
So this is a free pass for Quinn, and Madigan. Hopefully he/they will take advantage of it.
Comment by Concerned Observer Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:29 pm
He has a mandate to be Governor of Chicago or anywhere else where his vote total exceeded 50 per cent.
So that means he has a mandate in Cook County. Rule the Loop wisely my friend! Mayor Washington is rolling in his grave.
Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:29 pm
A mandate to keep putting out fires…he’s been unable to do anything else.
I’m interested in how a tax increase will overlay redistricting…he has to sign the map at the end of the day….
Comment by Leroy Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:30 pm
Quinn may have a mandate, but I am not sure. Assuming he has this mandate I have to assume the Senators and Representatives also have a mandate. The question is ” do all concern have the same mandate ” ? I doubt they do !
Comment by MOON Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:30 pm
Hapless Pat’s mandate is to send puppies and kitties into the gas chamber one at a time. That won him the gentle old lady/Humane Society vote, which put him over the top. That’s the sum and total of Hapless Pat’s mandate, along with the AFSCME/IEA, and ‘downtrodden poor’ votes (bought with DNC ‘walking around money’).
Comment by Mary, Sterling Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:32 pm
From Merriam-Webster.com: Mandate 2: an authorization to act given to a representative
That’s it. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mandate
By the textbook definition, the winner of the election has the mandate of the voters. It was pretty clear Quinn intended to increase taxes, so I would include that as part of his mandate. It is also pretty clear he gives long, rambling speeches, so we can expect more of those. If you talk to people who voted for Quinn, a common reason given is “He’s not Bill Brady,” so we should expect him to continue to not be Bill Brady.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:32 pm
@ Lakeview Lawyer - 12:28
—————————-
Mandate to protect a woman’s right to choose? By nominating pro-choice candidates to U.S. Supreme Court?
Civil Unions - I thought most states, especially “progressive” states like Illinois, had moved on from civil unions years ago… ha ha. How in the hell can Illinois have all D’s for past ten years (roughly) and not have civil unions yet? I mean civil unions? Really? That was the concept in other progressive states about 10 - 15 years ago.
Which brings me to this - why havent these issues been moved along?
It is always stated how “blue” Illinois is, but civil unions is a perfect example. How blue is Illinois really, when you think about it?
Yes, maps, jobs and so forth are controlled by the Dems, but policy wise, we’re not exactly a cutting-edge progressive state.
Maybe Quinn will use his mandate (he believes he has it) to push such issues?
Comment by Mike Ins Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:35 pm
Quinn has a mandate, to do whatever the legislature will allow him to do. I guess the reality is if quin gets 47% or 67%, Quinn has to get past Madigan … and we all know the “Madigan Rules” …There is not enough public “political capital” to make MJM think twice, so …
without snark this time:
No Mandate for Quinn.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:37 pm
Pat can amuse himself with this minor delusion. But he better remind himself that the electorate is not amused. Pat has “won” only by default — the consequence of a seriously dysfunctional political system. He cannot claim that he rose to the top when the entire system sank to the bottom.
Comment by Vole Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:39 pm
he was open about raising taxes for education. so he has a mandate to raise taxes, so he’ll raise taxes if the legislature cooperates.
and then voters will get angry at him for doing what he said he’d do, and then he’ll be recalled.
Comment by Robert Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:39 pm
Phineas said:
“I wouldn’t be so quick to knock MJM over with slaps on the back. He was virtually no help to the statewide offices, lost the Senator and a bunch of Congressmen.”
I chuckle - you really think MJM gave a hoot about Alexi or Congressman? Madigan lost net-six. In this environment (tea party, fiscal condition, Obama), he should’ve lost 10 or more and shouldn’t have picked up any. He kept the house, his $250k may have helped Quinn over the line, he kept Kilbride and he gets to draw the map with impunity. That’s a loss? I think he’d take that loss every day this year and twice on Tuesdays.
Comment by Thoughts... Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:41 pm
All kidding aside, Quinn may not have a mandate but he has the responsibility to fix the State’s fiscal mess as best he can. He needs to attack Medicaid waste with a vengeance, cut any other state waste, finally get rid of Blago holdovers and fix the rest with temporary revenue enhancements.
It doesn’t matter whether he has a mandate-he has the job.
Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:43 pm
I was more saying that whether he has a “mandate” is irrelevant, as that presumes Quinn has an idea of what he wants to do and at least an outline of how to do it.
Comment by Dirt Digger Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:43 pm
As many commenters have already stated, Quinn has a mandate to do whatever MJM tells him.
Comment by Angry Republican Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:45 pm
Mandate may be too strong, but his victory legitimizes at least SOME income tax increases in solving the budget mess. You can bet if Brady won even by 1 vote the GOP would claim the election was about tax increases vs. no tax increases.
Comment by lake county democrat Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:45 pm
== Yeah, but how many did you see about that Quinn tax hike issue from Brady? And Kirk? ==
That would be a bit like saying that if Brady and Alexi won then there was a mandate not to pay income taxes…
Also if there was a mandate to raise taxes we would be talking about senator elect Alexi.
It’s one thing for others to say it about you vs. you saying it yourself.
Comment by OneMan Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:45 pm
He should take a play from Bush, who took the Presidency w/ less votes than Gore got in 2000 –
pretend it was a mandate, a win’s a win, act with authority
unlike Obama, who acted like a typical Democrat, they acted like they were on the ropes even when he won handily
Comment by NikkiTaMere Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:53 pm
I would hardly call his margin of victory a mandate. He won by default because Brady was not a great candidate.
Comment by Stones Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:53 pm
Quinn may SAY that he has a mandate but the
key question is: does he really believe it?
The answer to that question will determine
what he does over the next four years.
Comment by Esteban Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 12:59 pm
Let’s try something new… Quinn can only raise taxes equal to the percentage spread of the final vote totals.
Comment by you Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 1:01 pm
I have alot of respect for MJM but he will be dealing with a different Governor Quinn. It will be a duly elected Governor who doesn’t owe the Speaker too much for his victory.
Of course, he will need to work with MJM to get things passed but the Speaker needs to respect Quinn’s position too. He is not Blago. I think he will be serious about fixing the State and won’t be taken lightly.
I hope they can work together. We need it.
Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 1:04 pm
No, he does not have a mandate, unless you think like President Bush, the second one, and his supporters who screamed mandate. Pat Quinn is the Governor. More people voted for him. But he has to remember, like Mark Kirk says, that half of the people are against him. So, I think Quinn has a mandate to govern with a strong sense of good judgment.
Comment by Amalia Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 1:06 pm
PQ may end up with a MAdigaN DisAsTEr in the GA
Comment by Das Man Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 1:07 pm
PQ was elected in a GOP wave year after publicly saying the only way to fix Illinois is to raise taxes. That’s his mandate. Do what you think needs to be done to get the state back on the rails.
Comment by Vote Quimby! Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 1:12 pm
Quinn would have a mandate if he won 60 rep districts and 30 senate districts.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 1:17 pm
46.5% does not a mandate make. His role for the next four years is to be a weak governor, so the General Assembly can push him around like they have the last two. He only needs to sign the map and the income tax hike, then he can leave the governing to Madigan, Cullerton and their respective caucuses.
And I’m only half kidding.
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 1:23 pm
If he meets BB for a beer he can have his Man Date.
I voted for him as the lesser of two evils.
Winning by half of one percent and less than 50% is not a mandate.
He is a good guy but needs to drop the rhetoric the election is over.
Comment by Five Head Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 1:24 pm
Hardly a mandate. Yet, it is the beginning of a new term and a new legislative session. He has been talking about raising the income tax since the day he took over from Blago.
I think the voters very clearly know what he wants to do.
Comment by siriusly Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 1:27 pm
This is just a typical Quinn quote. It is Quinn being Quinn. The same Quinn qualities that make you shake your head are also the same qualities that make him affable enough to win. It is hard to figure.
Comment by "Old Timer Dem" Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 1:29 pm
No he doesn’t have a mandate. He squeked out a win with less than 50% lost seats in both chambers lost both open statewide offices and still doesn’t go more than a few days without waffling.
Comment by Fed up Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 1:30 pm
So many (especially modern) politicians assume getting elected is a “mandate” for their platform when reality it’s a vote against their opponent. IMHO the 1994 “Republican Revolution” and their “Contract with America” is a perfect illustration of that. No, no mandates for Quinn. And it’s not like he’s been steadfastly for or against anything anyway.
Comment by What planet is he from again? Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 1:46 pm
The label “mandate” should only be a conversation piece for candidates with 50.01% or more of the vote. Mandates are not to be doled out like halloween candy, they are earned. No majority = no mandate.
The margin was also too thin for anyone to call this a mandate.
Perhaps Quinn meant “mandrake” a/k/a the poisonous and hallucinogenic plant favored by pagans.
That explanation would make more sense to this observer.
Comment by Jake from Elwood Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 1:50 pm
Even if he had a mandate he wouldn’t know what to do with it. He can TALK about it but can he/will he DO anything? I seriously doubt it…
Quinn has shown little backbone in his time in office to date and it has been sad to watch. It would be astounding to see him break from the past, be tough and “man up” (God - I hate that term) and take on the serious problems that we are faced with. But that would require him to take on so many who, to date, he has cowtowed to thus far.
I have little confidence Quinn can do the job, oh how I wish he could but I just don’t think he has it in him.
Comment by Wondering... Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 1:52 pm
Voters had a very clear and well articulated choice in approach to solving the state’s fiscal woes. A combination of budget cuts and increased revenue through an income tax increase or unilateral, harsh cuts to state services, and tax cuts for businesses and the wealthy. More chose the former and Gov. Quinn won. I don’t know about mandate but Quinn has a duty and a responsibility to each and every one of his voters to try to keep his promises and raise taxes, make some more humane cuts ( he has already cut 3 billion, more than any governor in history), pay the state’s bills, and keep promises made by past politicians to our public servants.
He has to do so despite obstruction from some in his own party and almost all repubs. I wish him well. Illinois needs you, Pat.
Comment by Bill Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 1:55 pm
The President SEIU and Preckwinckle dropping 2 million on GOTV in Cook county in the last 7 days is why Quinn won.
The GOP is playing a different game and are amateurs. If the GOP does not figure out how to get boots on the ground through out the city and suburbs especially in areas that have very few Republicans this will continue to happen.
Comment by votecounter Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 1:57 pm
votecounter, that’s not what the Brady campaign just told me.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 2:00 pm
I would not say he has a mandate, but he is perfectly within his rights to say that he can and should move forward on a tax increase. If you throw in Whitney’s small vote total, I think you get to over 50% of the voters are ok with a Governor that will raise the income tax.
What he did definitely get was a second chance. A chance to learn from the mistakes. He is no longer the accidental governor. He asked for this, voters gave it to him. No more excuses. He has to lead. He has to get people around him that will challenge him. He has to listen to those people.
Here’s hoping you can teach an old dog new trick.
Comment by Montrose Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 2:04 pm
Quinn has a mandate to do the job that is required for anyone who becomes Governor and that he has accepted. That includes working with the GA to get Illinois out of this financial mess. Was the election a ‘mandate’ from the people? Hardly. He was the survivor that squeaked by at the end. Still, he has the job and it is his responsibility to succeed. Step One: Be in Springfield whenever the GA is in session and be working the members.
Comment by zatoichi Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 2:18 pm
In my humble opinion, he has no mandate and he certainly has no power. And as long as nearly all state legislators (and members of Congress, as well) care only about getting elected, hard decisions will be tabled and our problems will not be addressed rationally. The whole nation is in a funk, and our politicians bicker and stonewall. “The people” want lower taxes and less spending, but don’t want to sacrifice anything. So it’s true: we get the government we deserve. And I think I noted that the sky was, indeed, falling.
Comment by wordonthestreet Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 2:24 pm
Mandate? Really? He has merely the right to be the fall guy for the tax increases and cuts that are sure to come. It will be hard to fashion a stalling stand-off for four years.
Comment by JustaJoe Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 2:28 pm
@ Mike Ins:
Protect a woman’s right to choose by passing the Reproductive Health and Access Act and passing civil unions as a first step toward full marriage equality like Vermont and others, which should be done in the veto session. You are right we are behind. The problem with Illinois dems (Madigan) is that they want power for power’s sake not to move forward a progressive agenda. I think Quinn is an exception (and Sheila Simon moreso), but we’ll see whether he has the actual power to do anything.
Comment by lakeview lawyer Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 2:33 pm
The winner of any election has the mandate to govern.
Comment by Justica O ! Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 2:37 pm
==he has no mandate and he certainly has no power==
He has it if he chooses to use it. So far, he has not been willing to exercise his powers and that has weakened him. If Quinn decides to make a threat (based on his powers as Gov) and then follow through…
Comment by Pot calling kettle Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 2:49 pm
Quinn sought to raise taxes. He campaigned on raising taxes.
The Republicans ran on opposing taxes. The Democrats won.
It’s time to raise taxes and solve the budget crisis.
Is it a mandate? Meh. It’s reality. The state needs more revenue to cover its expenses.
Members of the General Assembly get paid well. It’s time for them to do their jobs.
Comment by Carl Nyberg Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 3:02 pm
He has a mandate- a duty, even!- to push for the policies he campaigned on, including the tax hike. C’mon, even if he didn’t run any ads on it, everyone knew it was exactly his plan.
But I dunno if that’s enough to pass it over any objections the GA may have. How many of them ran and won on a platform of FIGHTING tax hikes?
Well, I suppose we’ll find out.
Comment by colby Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 3:08 pm
Quinn needs to be humble and moderate like Bush was when he was installed by the USSC.
Comment by SteveBreeze Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 3:30 pm
To restate briefly what I said on EZ’s blog, I wouldn’t read too much into one remark made during one interview. Personally, I don’t care if we call what Governor Quinn has a mandate or a ring-tailed possum. I’m with those who say he has a responsibility to govern the state to the best of his ability, and at this juncture that means, first and foremost, starting to get Illinois back on track financially. And that means raising the income tax, along with whatever cuts need to go with that. God bless him if he has the guts and savvy to manage that, God help him if he doesn’t. I wish him well.
And as a side note, it will be interesting to see what Sheila Simon manages to do with the Lieutenant Governor’s office.
Comment by RAStewart Friday, Nov 5, 10 @ 3:41 pm