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“That’s leadership”

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* The governor’s press secretary didn’t much care for my characterization of our last three governors that I posted earlier today…

Ryan was a convicted felon, but was a solid governor.

Blagojevich was a convicted felon, and was a horrible governor.

Pat Quinn will never go to prison, but he’s no leader.

* Her response…

Give me a break.

Real leadership requires honesty and making hard but necessary decisions for the common good. Real leadership requires telling the truth, looking at the big picture and doing what’s best for generations to come. Prior governors got things done like approving big early retirement initiatives, pension holidays and unaffordable contracts that helped create the crisis we’re in now. Gov. Quinn has gotten things done like pension reform for new hires, Medicaid restructuring, the first capital bill in a decade, worker’s compensation reform and more.

That’s leadership.

Discuss.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 10:58 am

Comments

Leadership means doing what’s necessary in a political environment to get things passed.

Comment by tubbfan Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 11:01 am
@tubbfan

That’s quite a Blagojevichian attitude, no? Make deals with insiders? Aren’t those same insiders the ones who got this state into the ditch it’s in?

Amen Brooke. You tell ‘em.

Comment by Empty Chair Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 11:03 am
Very funny response. Must have come after a dose of silly sauce…the spokesette might want to check the handiwork of some the Blagoofian holdovers before intoning that first sentence

Comment by CircularFiringSquad Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 11:04 am
Real leadership is showing leadership and leading the State and the General Assembly to fix its problems….not sitting in an ivory tower declaring “I”M THE GOVERNOR!!” and expecting people to worship you.

George Ryan grew up through the legislative process and knew the art of meeting with legislators, finding common ground, making deals, and sticking to your word. Quinn knows how to have a press conference. Big difference.

Comment by Just Me Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 11:04 am
@Empty Chair:

You aren’t aware of how government works are you. Real leadership requires the ability to compromise and make deals. Quinn is not a leader.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 11:07 am
A leader must be loved or feared. Pat Quinn is mocked and ignored.

Also, let’s translate into English what the mouthpiece says are Quinn’s achievements. Apart from the capital bill, which improves roads and creates good construction jobs, the other three are:
*cutting retirement security for teachers and police,
*throwing poor and disabled folks off health insurance, and
*reducing help for workers hurt on the job.

That platform is how an incumbent gets smoked in a Democratic primary.

Comment by A Naughty Moose Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 11:07 am
Leadership means directing outcomes via the legislature. Quinn jumps on board every and any possible bill for pension reform but cannot bring himself to sign a gaming bill that will create jobs and direct payments to the State for the licensing of new gaming. The Illinois racing board has no funding because of the lack of leadership by Quinn to at least ask the legislature for a bill to extend ADW wagering on horse racing in Illinois. Arlington Park may not be able to race this summer because no funding for stewards, State vets and other necessary officials. PAT QUINN cannot “lead” himself out of a paper bag without directions and has to be one of the least effective Governors in the history of this State!

Comment by Nickypiii Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 11:08 am
For Quinnikins to come out and say which pension proposal he favors would be a sign of strong leadership. A strong gov would have come out foursquare for one or the other, and would be working hard to see his favored bill pass.

Comment by The Elderly Man You Once Loved Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 11:08 am
Sitting on the sidelines and offering vague veto threats is not leadership.

Quinn has been an honest, but horrible, governor.

Comment by HenryVK Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 11:09 am
Congratulations, Empty Chair, you just proved my point. Y’all are clueless.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 11:11 am
By the way, let me amend that.

Quinn has something of a history of apparently using government appointments for political purposes. Dr. Gill is the latest in that line.

As such, my post above should read “relatively honest.”

Comment by HenryVK Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 11:11 am
I remember Quinn introducing pension underfunding his first year but he couldn’t pass it. He wanted to pay normal cost plus an additional 9% each year. Would have been a disaster.

Comment by Lil Squeezy Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 11:11 am
This is the same press secretary who boosted Gery Chico’s campaign for Mayor of Chicago by welcoming a Tea Party endorsement.

Comment by lake county democrat Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 11:11 am
Taking credit for the capital bill is laughable.

Comment by Sun Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 11:11 am
I cannot even believe the Gov’s office responded to those comments. Quinn and Blago were best buddies when Quinn needed Blago to retain his office. Quinn knew of all the corruption and still endorsed Blago for the 2006 election. Quinn didn’t stand up for what was right. Qiunn plays too many games.

Comment by WOW Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 11:12 am
Yesterday was cheesecake day at the Comptrollers & today is apparently Kool-Aid day in the uv’s Office.

Quinn is a nice man, with good intentions, but he is far from a leader. Being the leader means actually taking the lead on an issue. It seems like everytime a new pension proposal comes out Quinn wants to pass it……it just makes him seem desperate for a victory.

Comment by TCB12 Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 11:13 am
@Demoralized:

My only point was that approach was a favorite of past Governors, and wasn’t it their terrific leadership that got us into this big ol’ hole that we’re in today?

Maybe we need to have a conversation about whether or not our state government “works.”

Comment by Empty Chair Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 11:13 am
Governor Quinn is a good man and he does mean well and the Press Secretary makes many good points in defense of the Guv.

Good leaders are also excellent communicators, whom use their personality to their advantage.

For all the Governor’s positive traits, he is challenged with charisma and articulation.

Comment by Endangered Moderate Species Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 11:14 am
Rich

I didn’t see your original post but that is probably the best description of the last three Governors we have had.

I have told my friends that work for the State that they should thank the lord everyday Quinn is so incompetent. A competent Governor would play the Pension messaging game in a way that would have the Constitution amended already. I mean it isn’t very often you can say the Sky is Falling and actually have evidence it is about to fall. However Quinn can’t get out of his own way.

Comment by Mason born Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 11:17 am
Quinn’s major problem, as reflected in the press secretary’s statement, is he believes he’s a good governor and refuses acknowledge his weaknesses and failures.

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 11:20 am
“Real leadership requires honesty and making hard but necessary decisions for the common good.”

Indeed, it does. Bless her little heart.

Has Quinn done any hard but necessary decisions to reign in horrible deficit spending? Has he made any moves to tackle unsustainable pension “obligations”?

Credit where credit is due: he has nibbled around the edges. A little.

But he’s also been busy negotiating the next gambling boat, gay marriage and marijuana legislation.

Is it any wonder Illinois is in such straights?

Comment by John Boch Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 11:23 am
So the governor’s press secretary believes honesty and cheerleading are tenets of great leadership?
Leadership infers influence. The governor has none.

Comment by Diogenes in DuPage Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 11:25 am
If no one is following, there isn’t any ‘leadership’

Comment by Bobbye Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 11:32 am
=== Give me a break…Gov. Quinn has gotten things done like pension reform for new hires, Medicaid restructuring, the first capital bill in a decade, worker’s compensation reform and more. ===

I think it is the Gov’s press secretary is the one who needs to give me a break! Just because something gets done while he is in office doesn’t mean that he had ANYTHING to do with it. Ask the legislators that voted for those bills what influence the governor had on their votes. Their answers would truely show how much of a “leader” the governor has been.

Comment by Fred's Mustache Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 11:32 am
A good “flack” makes the arguement against the perceptions others have, and in doing so, gets the narrative of their Boss out there for discussion.

Rich has even gone to that step and asked us… to discuss.

To that point,

Being an effective governor includes understanding and working with the General Assembly, and crafting legislation, be it for pet projects to Budgets, and have a STRONG working relationship that can lead to progress.

Gov. Quinn lacks “floor leaders”. (Name them if ya know them), Gov. Quinn lacks respect from the Leadership, (How did Speaker Madigan end the LAST General Assembly again?), and Gov. Quinn lacks the personal leadership, leadership of taking ownership of legislation, being able to cobble enough votes to pass it in both chambers, and sign it without fear of an Override, all the while calling it in the Open, a “Quinn” Bill.

It is, what it is.

As an aside, and no snark, I appreciate the Spokesman’s attempt, and while making “arguable” points, they do not end the arguement.

With respect.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 11:35 am
Rich, I thought you were being kind. The press secretary is simply TRYING [emphasis intended] to defend her incompetent boss. Like writers on a comedy show, that’s what she’s paid to do.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 11:37 am
Quinn is not a leader because he panders to the wealthy and powerful and is willing to harm those without power. That isn’t leadership. But that is what we have come to expect from government.

Comment by doedoa Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 11:37 am
Willie is right. Quinn has less clout with the legislature than any governor in living memory.

Comment by reformer Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 11:39 am
hmmm, seems to me that the governor’s office is equating integrity with leadership. there are not the same thing. pat quinn should be congratulated for bringing integrity to an office that has clearly been without that characteristic for too long. but leadership is a whole other animal. one can have integrity without demonstrating strong leadership skills. and one can be a phenomenal leader without having an ounce of integrity.

it’s clear that the governor of illinois in the 21st century has to have both qualities to be an effective administrator of state government. arguing that returning one quality necessitates having the other is a bit disingenuous, though…

Comment by bored now Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 11:40 am
I believe that you nailed it with your comment

Comment by ParisIllini Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 11:43 am
Eh, I think better examples of the Governor’s leadership are the facility closures and rebalancing of mental health care, administering the capital program efficiently and fairly, preparing Illinois to implement the ACA, and negotiating a tougher contract with state employees.

It’s easy to say other leaders could have done a better job on the pension problem, but we’ll never know because none of them did.

Call me clueless all you want, but I’m just fine with the Governor’s leadership.

Comment by Small Town Liberal Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 11:44 am
Quinn is the weakest governor in memory. Even when the issues are simple, he finds a way to cave and botch things up. Chicago State University has become a shambles and Quinn has rolled over when presented with two opportunities to clean up the university’s board of trustees. Patsy wants a votes from the South side, so he has abdicated his authority and has allowed former State Senate President Emil Jones to call the shots at CSU.

Comment by The Jello Governor Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 11:45 am
“political gadfly” - always was, always will be!

Comment by WhoKnew Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 11:55 am
Lets take a look at some of the stuff that was referenced…

Gov. Quinn has gotten things done like pension reform for new hires

Yeah, screw the new guys, that was hard to pass in the grander scheme of things.

Medicaid restructuring,

Well I will give him part of that..

the first capital bill in a decade

Funded by video poker with a roll-out that was screwed up beyond all recognition, led by a guy who seems to strongly dislike gaming as a concept and structured such that the local incentive is so low, the largest city in the state is not participating…
Brilliant!

worker’s compensation reform

Yeah, this states premiums are still sky-high. That is sort of like a fat guy bragging he lost 10 pounds, fact is he is still fat.

Comment by OneMan Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 11:56 am
Real Leaders doesn’t waste time or taxpayer’s money on defending their public/political “image” over an opinion.

Comment by Iamthepita Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 11:57 am
There are many folks who truly hold the reins of power in IL and Pat is not one of them. Now power doesn’t mean leadership, so unfortunately we’re screwed in IL in both capacities. Quinn has done some heavy lifting, (closing prisons) and he’s honest.

I don’t get everyone’s regard for George Ryan. I have friends who worked for him in the SOS office and their recollections of what went on under his
tenure were at best sleazy, and at worst, corrupt.

When I started work for the State in 2003, Ryan’s relatives at the agency were stacked up pretty deep.

Comment by Loop Lady Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 11:58 am
Tubfan is correct. PQ is hamstrung (in my opinion) by years of trashing the establishment. Now that he is the establishment, he is learning it’s easier to stand on the sidelines and complain about the calls than be the actual referee on the floor.

Comment by Stones Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 12:03 pm
===Real Leaders doesn’t waste time or taxpayer’s money on defending their public/political “image” over an opinion. ===

If you are losing the arguement of perception, you can’t lead if others see/think of you as “weak” or something worse.

That is why “flacks” work for governors, congressmen, even presidents.

It is not a waste of one dime if the Elected Leader can win the arguement of perception, and that is why really good “flacks” are hard to find, and harder to keep before going to make 3 times as much in the private sector…

Winning the perception arguement, at any level, on any number of fronts for an Elected Offical is never a waste of money, but a very important part of the politcal/governing process.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 12:04 pm
I think “doedoa” got it right. In his mission to find a path, Quinn caters to the 1% at the expense of all the rest. But let us not forget the self appointed dictator of Illinois and the damage caused over decades. Both Madigan and Quinn must go!

Comment by BMAN Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 12:08 pm
“has gotten”
(sigh)

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 12:10 pm
Good leadership includes ethics. Not honouring contracts and attempting to get legislation passed that is unconstitutional is not an indication he has ethics.

Comment by State Worker Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 12:17 pm
- BMAN -,

If you get the “Fire Madigan” t-Shirts ready, I will get the “Fire Quinn” mugs and golf shirts.

Quinn catering to the 1%, that may be a bit far-fetched…

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 12:18 pm
Rich,

Perhaps a poll on what people think of Quinn is in order.

Comment by Cassiopeia Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 12:20 pm
Rich is correct.

In fact, Rich was being polite. Which isn’t something you always get from Rich when you are being wrong at the top of your voice.

Comment by Aldyth Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 12:21 pm
Fred’s Mustache beat me to the punch. I agree with your comment verbatim.

Moreover- real leadership requires a vision, and a path to accomplish that vision. Not childish scolding of legislators during a frantic state of the union address, a briefcase full of scrambled notes to be lost into the abyss, and a veto pen to reclaim attention. (Which by the way seems to be becoming less effective by the day).

Comment by Boone's is Back Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 12:22 pm
Gov Quinn cancelled another trip to southern Illinois (Marion) this morning because of “legislative issues” that came up in Springfield. I guess it didn’t have anything to do with the “welcoming party” that had formed and all of the state facilities he has closed there.

Comment by Rusty618 Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 12:42 pm
OneMan

The entire cost of living in the Greater Chicagoland Area is sky-high - why should medical costs be different?

Comment by Anyone Remember? Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 12:45 pm
“Ryan was a convicted felon, but was a solid governor.”

Sorry Rich, I just can’t get past those dead kids.

Comment by wishbone Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 12:46 pm
If you put it in basketball terms, Quinn’s “leadership” consists of flailing around at the center court, yelling at the guys who are busy setting a pick to throw him the ball… while he changes into his Team Mascot uniform. His occasional 3-pointer attempts miss the backboard and bruise random people in the stands. He rebounds for the wrong team. At game’s end, the team all throw him their dirty towels and laundry on the way to the showers, while he crows to the sideline radio announcer what a good “equipment manager” he is.

Comment by Gregor Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 12:50 pm
Don’t get the love affair with Ryan. He seemed to me to represent the worst of politics, and that was apart from his corruption. My vote for him was one of my absolute worst.

Comment by Jim Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 1:00 pm
Gov. Quinn cancelled his appearance in Williamson County today 20 minutes before he was supposed to arrive. His office cites pressing business in Springfield. People here in the Deep South probably don’t have much use for his “leadership” at this point.

Comment by Deep South Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 1:01 pm
===Sorry Rich, I just can’t get past those dead kids. ===

I don’t blame you. And not to split hairs, but that happened while he was SoS.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 1:07 pm
Never thought I would be kind of defending Quinn …

I’ve been fairly vocal about Quinn’s shortcomings and the fact he’s disappointed me by not fully growing into the job. He had potential, and he may still live up to it but I’ve lost that hope.

His heart is (mostly) in the right place, except when he villianizes retirees while pretending to defend seniors. His ethics personally are OK but his failure to clean house of the Blago holdovers is a black mark.

He inherited a mess and, even with his faults, he’s managed to muddle through it.

I think OW pretty much nailed the reasons. And as far as the press flack goes, that’s what they’re paid for … to make their boss look good.

In summary, Quinn isn’t as bad as most his detractors but he isn’t as good as his supporters believe either.

And if Rich is going to do a QOTD, there should be 3 choices: good, so-so, bad.

Comment by RNUG Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 1:13 pm
Squeezy, the Pension Python says it all..

Comment by Mouthy Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 1:14 pm
I’ve known Pat Quinn for nearly 25 years. I supported him in both his 1990 and 1994 state races, but not his 1996 U.S. Senate Primary. I am severely disappointed in his incompetent management style, and other than the former Legislator, Gary Hannig, in his selection of top staff personnel. After working nearly thirty years to elect a Democratic Governor, I am totally disgusted with the failure of the Democratic Party to provide effective executive leadership. I never thought I’d say this, but Pat Quinn makes Jim Edgar look good.

Comment by Louis Howe Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 1:15 pm
I’ll say this much for Quinn: It’s my understanding right now he favors the pension plan being set forth right now by MJM in the House.

If Quinn was just being a pure politician, he’d be railing against that plan and rallying to Cullerton, because that plan is going to majorly PO a chunk of active Democratic primary voters in 2014, voters who might just take out their anger on Michael J Madigan’s daughter, if Quinn presented them with a clear contrast.

Quinn doesn’t appear to be even trying to do that. Maybe my political calculus is off. But that’s worth … something, in Quinn’s defense.

Comment by ZC Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 1:18 pm
I agree with Rich that Gov. Quinn is not a leader.

But his spokeswoman makes a legitimate point at the start of her defense: “Real leadership requires honesty and making hard but necessary decisions for the common good. Real leadership requires telling the truth, looking at the big picture and doing what’s best for generations to come.” - I think he has done that, and is more willing to make hard choices and is more honest than the average public servant.

But leadership requires more than doing the right thing for the right reasons. It requires working with, and motivating others. On that front, he comes up well short. Simply put, if people aren’t following you, then you aren’t a leader.

Comment by Robert the Bruce Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 1:19 pm
===Simply put, if people aren’t following you, then you aren’t a leader.===

By far the best line in the whole thread.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 1:22 pm
Typical reaction when you criticize a liberal democrat…show your thin skin by immediately trying to prove to everyone why they should like you. In reality, if you are a leader, you don’t usually have to shout it out loud.

Comment by So. ILL Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 1:22 pm
I’m not sure Ryan was a solid governor, while he could get things done, I’m not sure they were all good things. Of course when it comes to Quinn and Blago, he looked good, maybe we just have too low of standards anymore?

Rich you are correct, Quinn is not a leader, in order to be a leader you have to have some followers and Quinn just doesn’t have any. He doesn’t deal well, he doesn’t negotiate well and he simple can’t get things done. He draws the line in the sand on stupid issues (see gambling bill, his appointment on the sports commission, etc). While he’s not a bad guy and he’s come in at a time of eternal crisis, he’s been mediocre and best and not able to cut a deal on large legislative initiatives.

Comment by Ahoy! Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 1:24 pm
=== I’m not sure they were all good things===

Of course not. But you’re not supposed to agree with everything.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 1:27 pm
Wishbone…Ryan is not responsible “for those dead kids.” The case was well litigated and the facts showed the real cause for the death of “those kids.” End of story. The same abuses that took place while Ryan was the SOS, have been reported during Jesse White’s tenure.

Comment by ChicagoDem Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 1:36 pm
Real leaders have followers.

Comment by Keyser Soze Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 1:48 pm
What Medicaid restructuring? The program still has all the same problems and we’re already back at “pre-restructuring” spending.

Comment by Big Guy Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 2:17 pm
ChicagoDem: Beg to differ…the SOS office is relatively a well run entity (as compared to the past) that still has its issues, but employees I know say there is much less arm twisting and malfeasance under Jesse…

Comment by Loop Lady Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 2:31 pm
All that is being said against him maybe true. But he did take the lead on raising taxes in an election year. He even campaigned on the issue. Just think were the state would be if that had not passed. It took some pretty big kahunas.

Comment by over the top Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 2:34 pm
over the top @ 2:34 pm:

It’s didn’t require quite that much because, as passed, it was mostly temporary. And he failed to get the associated bonding bill passed.

Comment by RNUG Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 2:37 pm
Oswego Willy and the list of things Quinn lacks (floor leader, respect, etc) - nails it. exactly.

I immediately thought of Squeezy also, as a previous person mentioned, after I read her response. A real leader would have fired the person (whoever it was) that came up with that idea, much less let it get off the drawing board.

Always remember: Quinn was a Dan Walker guy. He can’t shake that background. And as my dad always said, Walker wasn’t so much a Democrat as he was just goofy.

I can’t say for sure, but I have a very good feeling that if the same thing had been said about MJM in the original set up, Steve Brown’s reaction would have been (insert sound of crickets). There would not have been a response.

THAT’s leadership.

Comment by low level Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 2:38 pm
@John Boch - nibbled? Really? Quinn has cut discretionary spending - what the state controls - more than any Republican Governor I remember. Ask the folks who rely on state Dollars. Did Edgar, Ryan, Thompson, Blago do that?

How about the AFSCME contract. The Guv was hounded by green shirts for a year and ended up with nearly a billion in healthcare savings.

You gotta give the guy credit for a helluva lot more than nibbles.

Comment by Blue's Clues Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 2:57 pm
Blue’s Clues @ 2:57 pm:

I wouldn’t count that health care savings yet …

Comment by RNUG Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 3:09 pm
- Reformer - and - low level -, Thanks, appreciate it. There are a ton of good points, but thanks for pointing mine out…

but, - Robert the Bruce - broke it all down in one sentence and that is really good stuff.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 3:13 pm
Anyone in SPI knows that this Governor has absolutely nothing to do with the passage of big bills. He holds a press conference for the bill signing if he thinks he’ll get a press pop…that’s about it.

Comment by Lotta Liaison Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 3:27 pm
Good for Brooke. Compared to Ryan and Blago, there is no comparison. The obstacles thrown in Quinn’s way and he just plods along and moves them is commendable. After all, isn’t Madigan’s daughter coveting the governorship and it would behoove dad to make Quinn look bad. Grant, Quinn doesn’t always make it easy. On the whole, he has shown leadership and keeps pushing for pension reform.

Comment by MrGrassroots Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 4:05 pm
Reality check: a governor’s working relationship with the legislature in the past has largely relied on their willingness and ability to dole out jobs, contracts and programs to curry favor.

even if he wanted to, Quinn does not have a budget that would allow him to “make friends.”

And you can blame Quinn if you like, but Madigan clearly has a much better track record when there is a Republican in the mansion. Coincidence? Maybe. But also food for thought.

Obama doesn’t exactly have a huge string of legislative victories. Does that make him a bad leader or bad president? i don’t think so.

There is a fair political argument to be made that it was a mistake for Quinn to get mired in pension reform, as some argued Obama got bogged down in health care.

Quinn could have ignored the problem like Ryan, pushed a half-baked solution like Edgar, or actually made things worse like Rod.

Has Quinn been out on a limb by himself alot? Sure. More times than he would like? Definitely.

Obama didn’t have alot of company when he was denouncing the war in Iraq, either.

Time is the best judge of leaders. usually, their greatness or failure can’t be judged in real time, but only much later. if nothing else, the string of corporate failures and scandals over the last two decades has tought us that.

Comment by Juvenal Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 4:25 pm
=== The obstacles thrown in Quinn’s way and he just plods along and moves them is commendable. After all, isn’t Madigan’s daughter coveting the governorship and it would behoove dad to make Quinn look bad. Grant, Quinn doesn’t always make it easy. On the whole, he has shown leadership and keeps pushing for pension reform. ===

Quinn’s problem with the General Assembly predates any plans by Lisa to run for Governor. When the Speaker sees a void in leadership, he fills it.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 4:40 pm
She is talking about some worthwhile personal traits, but not leadership.

Leadership encourages, focuses, and empowers followers to achieve goals. Hard to find that evidence for the good PQ.

Comment by walkinfool Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 4:40 pm
Actually Willy, he had lots of good staff in the Governor’s office, many of whom came with him from SoS-Bob Newtson, Diane Ford, Bridget Lamont. et al, and many who didn’t-Tom Jerkovitz, Matt Bettenhausen, Jess McDonald, Brent Manning, Howard peters, et al.

Comment by steve schnorf Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 4:47 pm
- steve schnorf -,

No snark, you might be suprised, …but actually I do know that.

I made a terrible generality of a “trait”, and that blanket statement was very wrong, especially to be something covered as an “all”, and a generality like “every”.

I was wrong. I am sorry.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 5:01 pm
A great leader and a great politician are two different things — almost mutually exclusive.

The American political system has produced very few great politicians who were also great leaders, and we should not confuse the two.

The most important trait of great leaders is personal humility, not a terrific trait for a political candidate. In fact, in today’s culture it is often misjudged as a sign of weakness.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 5:22 pm
and… - RNUG -,

Thanks for the “Props”…My Bad.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 6:04 pm
>> Obama doesn’t exactly have a huge string of legislative victories. Does that make him a bad leader or bad president? i don’t think so.

Actually, Obama does. Just to note in passing because it’s not really the thread, but compared to -other presidents- his record of significant domestic legislation is above average … at worst.

We don’t recognize that enough I think because we tend to contemporaneously focus on everything someone -didn’t- accomplish while in office, and only later history reflects more fairly on what they did do. Maybe there’s some solace for Pat Quinn in there.

Comment by ZC Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 6:05 pm
As always, well said, YDD. Of course, there were and are great leaders who were lacking in humility; LBJ is the first example that comes to mind.
People can argue this all night, I suppose, but I don’t see a great deal of personal humility in Pat Quinn. From the “I am the Governor” rants, to the ham-handed and shoddy personnel and appointments dealings, to these reflexive, rote responses to comments like Rich’s, I see a person very concerned with image and title and not with the job of leading State government.
And what a lousy move to stiff Southern Illinois on 20 minutes notice after not traveling there since last August.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 6:40 pm
I actually wrote a grad school paper on this. Leaders are judged by the actions of their followers. Let’s look at what Quinn’s followers are doing to decide how well of a leader Quinn is.

Comment by Just Me Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 9:01 pm
Sorry Rich, but can’t agree with ya on this one. Pat Quinn is a great Leader in not all, but many ways, and HAS proven it many times through the years, but, obviously, there’s no convincing you, so I won’t bother to try….

Comment by Just The Way It Is One Thursday, May 23, 13 @ 9:44 pm
Being a good leader includes adhering to moral and ethical principles. I think Governor Quinn is a decent individual, but lacks moral and ethical principles when it comes to such things as his support on pension reform.
The proposed pension legislation violate the Illinois Constitution since the legislation would diminish retiree’s pensions. By supporting pension legislation that would violate the Illinois Constitution, the Governor is not adhering to his sworn oath of defending the Illinois Constitution.
By doing this, the message I am receiving is that
he is demonstrating a lack lack of integrity which is so important in political leadership roles

Comment by Earl Shumaker Friday, May 24, 13 @ 6:03 am