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* Gov. Pat Quinn’s budget spokesman was asked this week when Quinn was going to launch his plan to “activate the grassroots,” which he announced in August and has kept putting off since then…
Pallasch said Quinn’s plans to wage a grass-roots campaign to get voters on board with pension cuts will start after the election and before lawmakers are set to return to Springfield at the end of November.
* The governor was asked in Champaign-Urbana yesterday about the grassroots campaign. He had initially put it off until after the presidential conventions, then came up with more excuses for why it hadn’t yet launched. Check out his very Quinnesque response…
“Well, we’ll be talking about that very shortly. I think we’ll let the election take place on November 6th. That’s got everyone’s attention, obviously, and it’s very, very important to our country and our democracy.
“Right after that, our Illinois legislature and government will be coming together to deal with the issue of pension reform and we’ve got to get it done in the best traditions of Lincoln’s democracy.”
The “best traditions of Lincoln’s democracy”? OK. I can’t wait to see that.
Listen…
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 9:21 am
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This personifies cowardice in leadership, and that is simply unacceptable.
Comment by Sunshine Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 9:25 am
Comment? What can one say about him anymore.
Comment by western illinois Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 9:26 am
At this point with these fools I’d prefer the best traditions of Jacksonian democracy, complete with dueling. Lots of dueling.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 9:28 am
What a buffoon. Maybe he’s just waiting to see how many plum job deals he’s got to dole out in the lame duck sessions to get the needed votes….
Comment by Mouthy Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 9:31 am
When he starts closing those universities, the grassroots will go crazy. I’m sure of it.
Comment by LincolnLounger Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 9:32 am
Can’t wait to see the “coming together” part …
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 9:36 am
As far as the “grass-roots campaign”, Quinn is still waiting for the seeds to sprout … probably needs to use some more fertilizer!!!
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 9:38 am
I think that
“The best traditions of Lincoln’s democracy”
Should be the tagline on everything Quinn says…
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 9:39 am
“I’d prefer the best traditions of Jacksonian democracy, complete with dueling.”
Actually, Lincoln did once (almost) take part in a duel, in which the guy who challenged him gave him the choice of weapons. Lincoln chose broadswords, which with his height and reach gave him a huge advantage — and prompted the other guy to call the whole thing off.
www.lib.niu.edu/1995/ihy950248.html
Comment by Secret Square Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 9:40 am
Forty days and 7 hours ago,
I pulled a grass roots idea out my hat..
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 9:40 am
–The “best traditions of Lincoln’s democracy”–
A war to preserve the Unions, perhaps?
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 9:40 am
I swear he was even confused about the person he was there to honor.
I about fell out of the La-Z-Boy when I heard this live last night.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 9:41 am
Leadership to Quinn means screw your employees and steal their retirement
Comment by Liberty First Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 9:42 am
I can see banners all over Springfield in offices everywhere
“Is this in the best traditions of Lincoln’s democracy”
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 9:43 am
Well, PQ was instrumental in getting the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) to be the powerhouse grassroots organization it is today.
Now, with his new campaign, which some think is delusional, PQ is coming out with a new group, Statesmen On Xtasy.
Please don’t hate the messenger.
Comment by dupage dan Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 9:44 am
==the best traditions of Lincoln’s democracy==
When the speaker or president yells “quorum call,” all the Republicans jump out the nearest window?
Comment by Anonymice Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 9:45 am
Quinn is not now and never has been a leader. He’s a demagogue - and an inept one at that.
Comment by Brendan Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 9:46 am
Anonymice @ 9:45 am:
trap door …
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 9:47 am
“grass roots” efforts are not going to affect this issue. that recent poll showed the public has a pretty good grasp of things, so educating the public is not the problem. rank and file arent going to move on anything that doesnt have the approval of the leaders and enough votes to pass. what is lacking is the political will and actual leadership. and a constitutional plan would be a plus.
Comment by langhorne Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 9:56 am
The more goofy Quinn becomes the more I begin to believe that he has some sort of early dementia. Otherwise he has become stunning delusional or just outright incompetent.
Madigan and Cullerton, for all their past flaws in contributing to the financial problems, are the only hope for adult solutions. Maybe the Republican’s can come to their senses as well.
Comment by Cassiopeia Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 10:04 am
==the best traditions of Lincoln’s democracy==
When State employees and retirees start objecting, will they be referred to as “pigs” and will a “writ of quietus” be requested?
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/news/10484
Comment by Anyone Remember? Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 10:19 am
I guess this does not rule out suspension of habeas corpus…
Comment by soccermom Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 10:22 am
=I guess this does not rule out suspension of habeas corpus…=
At first I thought this was funny, then I thought about who would be wielding it here in Illinois.
Comment by dupage dan Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 10:25 am
It is generally not the top leader (even if it is a hypothetical top at that) who calls for a grassroots movement, because well he can lead. He doesn’t need others to call for change when he has things he can do to bring about change.
A leader in fact leading that is…
the best traditions of Lincoln’s democracy
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 10:26 am
Talk about coming full circle. Quinn won his last election because of the late endorsement by AFSCME which put money in his campaign and boots on the ground. This “grass roots” effort was bought with an agreement not to cut pensions or close facilities, now he is going to use “grass roots” to cut pensions and close facilities. If you are part of Quinn’s grass roots, keep your hand on your wallet.
The one good thing is Quinn can minmize the damage the Madigans can do. Mike can stay ahead of any rational plan of action, Quinn’s lack of rational thought must be perplexing.
Comment by the Patriot Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 10:46 am
PQ (Aka Governor Dufus) has been taking credit for CUB for almost 30 years. It’s a myth! There was an actual grassroots movement that resulted in the creation of CUB. PQ was there but really just another player. Many others did much more. Still, in his delusional universe this was his moment. It’s why every issue gets the same mythological grassroots movement strategy. Grassroots movements by definition come from the ground up…..not the top down. If PQ had actually been that instrumental in the creation of CUB he know that. As it is we all have to suffer him reliving this fantasy…….
Comment by Old and In the Way Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 10:49 am
In “the best traditions of Lincoln’s democracy” governments honor their contractual obligations and legislatures pass laws that are constitutional.
Comment by SIUPROF Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 11:05 am
I’m afraid that Gov. Quinn lacks the popularity and respect to lead an effective grassroots campaign.
Republicans don’t trust him and refuse to give him credit even when they actually agree with what he’s trying to do with pensions.
Government workers don’t trust him because he’s trying to impose on them the costs of the state’s debt, with no negotiations.
In short, Quinn’s potential constituency is small and shrinking, along with his reputation.
Comment by reformer Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 11:06 am
Given the drought IL is experiencing it’s not surprising the Governor’s grassroots campaign isn’t germinating.
Comment by Sir Reel Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 11:47 am
The IL governor is just ‘undersized’. Buddies only; decisions with NO logic (prison media visits). No semblance of continuity of thought. Just ‘undersized’. Can’t cure it.
And how great is it? IL’s ‘leader’ pits one group of citizens he represents (State workers and retirees) against another group (everybody else). Thanks for the discrimination, gov.
Comment by sal-says Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 11:59 am
God help us, Quinn just finished watching Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter. When the legislature meets in November, everyone there should be on the lookout for a man dressed like Abe carrying wooden stakes.
Comment by AC Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 12:11 pm
Alternatively, his grassroots campaign might invole legalizing a certain product for medicinal purposes taxing the proceeds, and using those to fund the pension debt.
Comment by AC Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 12:21 pm
You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today. Abraham Lincoln
Comment by Scottish Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 12:24 pm
Waiting for him to promise us that he will “rock the system”
Comment by siriusly Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 12:30 pm
I thought Rod was going to rock the system. Quinn was going to “fumigate” the system.
Comment by Leave a Light on George Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 12:44 pm
Quinn is waiting to see if Amendment 49 passes so he can go in and squash the pensions of teachers and state employees!
Comment by Rusty618 Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 1:02 pm
I was thinking about this the other day. Who is the “grass roots” he’s talking about? The grass roots campaigns I’ve seen actually make a mark here are usually made of up things like labor unions, community orgs, people like that. I don’t think they are going to get too riled up for pension reform efforts. One model could potentially be the efforts that HDems did with CUB during the rate hike fights in 2007-2008. But even that was AARP and others trying to protect seniors from paying more, a much easier and cleaner cause than what we are talking about here. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think Quinn’s people could pull this together even if they wanted to, but I’m just wondering where the email and phone blasts to legislators and rally participants are actually coming from when they start.
Comment by L.S. Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 1:15 pm
LS — As I recall, Pat Quinn waged a strong and relentless campaign against the rate hike as well, and worked with the HDems to achieve real savings for Illinois ratepayers.
Comment by soccermom Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 1:26 pm
“As I recall, Pat Quinn waged a strong and relentless campaign against ”
Ahh…quinn’s gadfly days of yore?
Now quinn wants to wage a ‘relentless campaign against’ his own employees. Far cry from CUB.
Comment by sal-says Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 1:58 pm
@Secret Square: And do you know what later became of the man who tried to kill Lincoln in a duel?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Statuary_Hall_Collection
Comment by Not It Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 2:11 pm
I would gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.Wimpy.
Comment by Bill Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 3:47 pm
Bill 3:47
You’ve summed up Jim Edgar’s 1995 pension law in one sentence … except, of course, it would be a heart healthy buffalo burger … .
Comment by Anyone Remember? Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 5:03 pm
I believe the “grass roots campaign” will start when Quinnblago has to pay all the back wages from breaking a labor contract and will use that $$ amount to try to turn the public, yet again, against union workers.
Comment by Maxine on Politics Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 5:13 pm
Not It @ 2:11 pm,
Amazing the things you learn on this blog. Thanks for that detour …
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 8:01 pm
Maxine on Politics @ 5:13 pm:
Or when Quinn has to ask for a supplemental appropriation to pay the retiree health insurance he already took out of this year’s budget … I’m too lazy to look it up at the moment, but it was either $400M or $800M he cut.
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 8:05 pm