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Question of the day

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Illinois

* I’m trying to catch up on all the stories I missed during my vacation. So, rather than make you wait while I read through all the articles, let’s start the day with a question. The setup…

U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., used a fake name — Hillel Underwood — when he entered a suburban Chicago hospital in January after a stroke that has kept him from the Capitol ever since. […]

Eric Elk, a top Kirk aide, wrote in an e-mail that the senator used the alias to “enhance his privacy” and “reduce the chances of unwanted visitors” when he checked into Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital on Jan. 21.

Elk said Kirk “follows procedures recommended to members of Congress by the sergeant at arms, including using a pseudonym when checking into the hospital.”

Chicago native Terry Gainer, who formerly led the Illinois State Police, is Senate sergeant at arms. Gainer said Friday that he was aware early on that Kirk was going to be hospitalized, but he could not recall when he discussed with the senator using an alias.

“I don’t know that there was a threat, but I know he or his staff was concerned to want that privacy,” Gainer said. In the past, he said, he has counseled senators to use pseudonyms when checking into a hospital.

So, apparently, using pseudonyms is standard practice.

* The Question: What pseudonyms do you think would be appropriate for other state politicians?

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 9:21 am

Comments

Mike Madigan- Snidely Whiplash

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 9:30 am
Gov - Daffy Duck
Madigan - Dr. Strangelove

Comment by Mouthy Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 9:32 am
Jim Oberweis - Ron Mexico

Comment by Ron Burgundy Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 9:35 am
Someone stop me if this gets too geeky.

Semi off topic, but does anyone else think Kirk used Underwood as the fake last name because Frodo used it in Lord of the Rings?

Comment by J Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 9:35 am
This one’s open to the highest bidder: Bojack McReynolds

Comment by thechampaignlife Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 9:40 am
Frodo’s alias was “Underhill” not underwood.

Comment by rc Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 9:47 am
For any member–Dewey Cheatem

Comment by Mr.Big Trouble Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 9:47 am
Michael Madigan — Fast Eddie Felson

Comment by Wensicia Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 9:49 am
Pat Quinn - Johnny Fenwick
Sheila Simon - Adriane Balboa
Jesse White - Matt Tumbler
Lisa Madigan - Leia Skywalker
Judy Baar Topinka - Henrietta Delivers
Dan Rutherford - Timmy Tweeter, Frankie Facebook

Mike Madigan - Michael Corleone
Tom Cross - Al Chervik
John Cullerton - Nicky Newmaps
Christine Radogno - Christine Radogno

and Finally …

Jason Plummer - Kent Dorfman … he’s a legacy.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 10:03 am
===Ron Mexico===

A Philadelphia Eagle has that copywritten …

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 10:11 am
Jesse Jackson, Jr. — Senate Candidate 5

Comment by The End Is Near Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 10:12 am
Tom Cross: Charlie Brown
Madigan: Lucy Van Pelt

Mike Bost: Moses Lytewate

Pat Quinn: Ron Sequitur

Emanuel: Tiny Kurser

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 10:16 am
Cullerton - Doee Cheatem Nhow

Madigan - Outmaway Punk

Cross - Yasir Mistermadigan

Radogno - Lone Ranger

Obama - Imda Taxman

Biden - Biga Mouth Nusa

Comment by House of Pain Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 10:21 am
Jesse Jackson - Wheres Waldo

Comment by House of Pain Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 10:23 am
rc, you’re totally right.

Comment by J Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 10:24 am
Christine Radogno - Cindy Who

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 10:26 am
Willy nails it: Plummer - Kent Dorfman.

Comment by Colossus Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 10:39 am
You couldn’t give one to Joe Walsh since I am pretty sure any place he goes his mouth would blow his cover.

Oswego is on target as usual.

Comment by Shore Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 10:43 am
Lisa Madigan / Lisa Simpson
Mike Madigan / Homer Simpson

Jesse Jackson Jr / Jimmy Peotone

Comment by 3rd Generation Chicago Native Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 10:45 am
- Shore -, - Colossus - ,

Thanks…

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 10:57 am
I think Kirk needs to work on his alias. He combined a very Jewish first name “Hillel” with a very non-Jewish last name “Underwood” — they just don’t fit. If Kirk was an international spy, his cover might have been blown

Comment by Just Observing Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 10:57 am
-Kent Dorfman, he’s a legacy-
Brilliant.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 11:00 am
Joe Walsh - Bernie Leadon

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 11:01 am
===If Kirk was an international spy, his cover might have been blown ===

Kirk blew his cover before you caught the name issue. But after Kirk took the Bible from the Drake Hotel in Chicago.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 11:11 am
and …- AA -,

Thanks.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 11:16 am
I agree, that Kent Dorfman alias is brilliant!

Comment by cover Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 11:28 am
Some things write themselves, - cover -, thanks!

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 11:35 am
Kent Dorfman! I choked on the Tums I was chewing.

Comment by Way Way Down Here Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 11:46 am
Mike Madigan-Don Corleone
Pat Quinn-Pat O’Quinn

Comment by Wumpus Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 11:55 am
Louis Lang - Mike Madigan, Jr.

Comment by Cook County Commoner Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 11:57 am
Eric Elk = Andy Antelope.

Comment by Excessively Rabid Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 12:09 pm
Derrick Smith - Rod Blagojevich lol

Comment by Levois Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 12:10 pm
- WWDH -,

Sorry to make you choke. I guess the Kent Dorfman is funny and dangerous.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 12:37 pm
While everyone is adding, a few from - circularfiringsquad - would be nice to have on this “alias” issue….

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 12:46 pm
Jason Plummer = Richie Rich
John Shimkus = Sam Palin
Rod Blagojevich = 40892-424 (or St. Rod the Martyr)

Comment by Steve Downstate Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 12:51 pm
Ald. Ed Burke - Michael Sneed …

Me thinks that they are this/close…

…and then they all went out for dinner with Jay Doherty who is ageless, priceless, and an all around good guy to some restaurant.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 12:55 pm
Jim Oberweis - Harvey Milk

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 1:04 pm
Pat Quinn / Cashmier Pulaski

Rahm Emanuel/ Bill Ogden

Comment by 3rd Generation Chicago Native Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 1:31 pm
Dan Rutherford : Barney Frank
Bill Brady : Ward Cleaver
Kirk Dillard : Larry Tate
Judy Barr Topinka : Gladys Kravitz

Comment by Virginia Slim Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 1:41 pm
Kirk’s Navy name was Rooster.

Comment by Shore Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 3:05 pm
Plummer = Eighty-five

Quinn = Nap Oleon

Simon = Joan Denver

Dillard = Jim Edgar

Jim Edgar = Jesus Christos

Comment by Amuzing Myself Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 3:18 pm
Anon should be banned for the name submitted.

Comment by jt Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 3:32 pm
Pat Quinn-if he picked his own alias- “Govinator!”
What everyone else would choose for him - Homer Simpson

Comment by Irish Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 3:48 pm
Lisa Madigan - Jane Pauley

Comment by amalia Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 5:09 pm
Willy-these aren’t in your league but had to try.
Bill Cellini-Benedict Christian
Stu Levine-Benedict Arnold or Burgundy Blow

Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 5:18 pm
Lieutenant Chief Director Sergeant Terry Gainer: Vernon Wormer.

Comment by J. Edgar Hoover Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 5:39 pm
Meanwhile, back at the ranch…. someone outed Rutherford1 in the SJ-R comments section today as being Dan Rutherford. Maybe.

http://www.sj-r.com/opinions/x537697491/Letter-Cut-lawmakers-pay-benefits

Speaking of pseudonyms, not very creative (if that is you, Dan.)

Comment by Cheswick Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 7:00 pm
MJM: Barzinie Allalong

Comment by One to the Dome Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 7:49 pm
Has to be the winner hands down…Jason Plummer - Kent Dorfman … he’s a legacy.

Comment by Mouthy Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 7:56 pm
How about Kenny Powers for the following politician I encountered well outside his district?

I was passing a couple of vehicles while driving the speed limit, when I encountered one of the worst driving jerks I ever have. While I was driving his black GMC pickup, the driver got unreasonably close to me and started flashing his brights at me over and over. Apparently, going the speed limit while passing a pickup & a semi was not fast enough for him because he kept flashing his brights repeatedly for at least a couple of minutes. When I finally had a chance to move over into the right lane, he passed and I noticed he had a special state legislator’s license plate with license number “103.” He also had a personal campaign sticker on his back window. When I got to a computer I looked his name/picture up & do believe that the horrible jerk was the state rep on the sticker

Comment by reformedformerlibertarian Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 8:08 pm
His?

Comment by Cheswick Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 8:36 pm
- AA -

The fun is everyone participating. The more the merrier.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 9:14 pm
http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/lawmaker-news/236733-mark-kirks-use-of-an-assumed-name–last-january-was-not-the-first-time#.T_sjRytDNDs.twitter

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jul 10, 12 @ 1:02 am
‘Anon should be banned for the name submitted.”

If you were referring to my comments, you might want to consider doing some research. Soon.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jul 10, 12 @ 1:35 am
- Mouthy -

Thanks …

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 10, 12 @ 7:45 am
I had given Kirk the benefit of a doubt that he did not choose that name because as a Jew, I find it offensive that he should use the name of a beloved ancient Jewish leader. However, it now appears that Kirk has used that name before. http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/lawmaker-news/236733-mark-kirks-use-of-an-assumed-name-last-january-was-not-the-first-time

Comment by Ellen Beth Gill Tuesday, Jul 10, 12 @ 8:18 am
Can’t Kirk’s secret name be nothing more than a nod to his musical tastes: rock (Hillel Slovak from Red Hot Chili Peppers) and country (Carrie Underwood). He is at the right age for both of them. Yeah, it’s a stretch.

Comment by zatoichi Tuesday, Jul 10, 12 @ 8:49 am