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* I was standing there when Rep. Rich Brauer ponied up and jokingly encouraged him to sponsor another keg, but was shocked when I heard the price. Finke…

Belated credit is due to Brauer for helping to bail out Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair.

Both Republicans and Democrats have some similarities in their annual political gatherings at the fair. Namely, they have food, soft drinks and beer available for the party faithful. And the one thing you don’t want to do is run out of food, soft drinks or beer. Particularly the latter.

“They said we’re shutting down. We’re out,” Brauer said. “There were quite a few people left there. I said put me down for one.”

That’s one as in one keg of beer. Brauer said he offered to buy the keg of beer to keep the festivities going. Or in Republican Day political parlance, Brauer said he offered to sponsor a keg. The price tag was $240.

Both Brauer and I flinched a little when the price was announced. We were told that the State Fair gets a big cut of every keg sold. Ouch.

* Meanwhile, the Du Quoin State Fair opened last week. Gov. Pat Quinn was there for a bipartisan ribbon cutting…

Caption?

Quinn also publicly hugged Glenn Poshard during his visit, which was odd considering that the two men have been at each others’ throats over the SIU board of trustees for a year or so. Bygones be bygones and Quinn has a tough primary ahead, I suppose.

* Related…

* DCFS to honor the Poshard Foundation for Abused Children at Du Quoin State Fair

* Du Quoin State Fair sets opening day attendance record

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Aug 26, 13 @ 10:35 am

Comments

Afterwards Quinn asked Simon to please remove the scissors from his back.

Comment by OneMan Monday, Aug 26, 13 @ 10:46 am
$240 for keg?… State Fair gets a big cut… What a euphemism for state government.

Comment by Rufus Monday, Aug 26, 13 @ 10:47 am
– Brauer said he offered to sponsor a keg. The price tag was $240.–

Good on the fair for charging the politicians retail prices, too. That’s what keeps the gates open.

It’s the same at any restaurant, tavern, ballgame, hockey game, football game, etc. The margin on the booze keeps the doors open.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Aug 26, 13 @ 10:53 am
–$240 for keg?… State Fair gets a big cut… What a euphemism for state government. –

What, do you think that politicians should get a sweet deal so they can act like big shots giving out free beer? I suppose that’s “conservative” in your mind.l

The price of the booze keeps the entrance fees down on the little guys. You want a beer, pay the price.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Aug 26, 13 @ 10:56 am
From left to right:
Wants to be governor
Don’t want to be governor
Will be governor in 2046
Doesn’t know how to be governor
What else can I do without being the lite governor
Glad she skipped this whole governor mess in 2014

Comment by Bluefish Monday, Aug 26, 13 @ 11:00 am
Traitors to the left of me
jokers to the right
here I am, stuck in the middle with you….

Comment by sing it Monday, Aug 26, 13 @ 11:06 am
Outa my way, kid, I’m the governor…SMILE…

Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Monday, Aug 26, 13 @ 11:09 am
You can just feel the awkwardness of this photo coming out of the monitor.

Comment by SirLankselot Monday, Aug 26, 13 @ 11:29 am
red, white, and green with envy for the position of governor.

Comment by Amalia Monday, Aug 26, 13 @ 11:43 am
Young waif fills in for Judy. Surprisingly, no one notices.

Comment by SAP Monday, Aug 26, 13 @ 11:52 am
Kegs cost about $125. I would have supplied it for $175…

Comment by Cincinnatus Monday, Aug 26, 13 @ 12:02 pm
Between PQ and Jessie White they appear to be giving the young lady a whole 1/2 inch of ribbon to cut. LOL!

Comment by Stones Monday, Aug 26, 13 @ 12:16 pm
Did anyone mention CousinBrucey running out of hot dogs?

Comment by CircularFiringSquad Monday, Aug 26, 13 @ 12:29 pm
“How come they gave us all Kiddy Scissors?”

Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Aug 26, 13 @ 12:49 pm
Hey Kid! If you’re smart you won’t grow up with these folks as role models. Just do the opposite and you will be ok!

Comment by BIG R. Ph. Monday, Aug 26, 13 @ 1:02 pm
Illinois Lt. Governor, Sheila Simon, shown just seconds before she accidentally cut off her left index finger at a county fair opening, thus ending her career as a banjo player and severely hampering her future ability to use an adding machine.

Comment by And I Approved This Message Monday, Aug 26, 13 @ 1:16 pm
Illinois State politicos find few new construction projects in state; must resort to cut ceremonial ribbons at opening of county fair.

Comment by Jake From Elwood Monday, Aug 26, 13 @ 1:18 pm
Our thanks to Jo Poshard and the Poshard Foundation for Abused Children for their tireless work.

Over the past 14 years, the foundation has raised $3.5 million for programs from Centralia to Cairo that help ensure safe, loving homes and brighter futures for kids.

It isn’t just the dollars - which the foundation raises in gifts big and small from local families and businesses. The foundation’s backing is a seal of approval for the roughly 50 groups they support each year, encouraging others to give, volunteer and act.

Comment by Dave Clarkin Monday, Aug 26, 13 @ 1:18 pm
If you enlarge the picture you can see they must have rounded up some GOP volunteers to make this bipartisan. Is the young lady JBT’s granddaughter filling in for her?

Comment by 3rd Generation Chicago Native Monday, Aug 26, 13 @ 1:29 pm
Rutherford, while crashing the Democrats Unity Day festivities-

“This is as close as I am going to get to governor.”

Comment by Joe from Joliet Monday, Aug 26, 13 @ 1:32 pm
$240 is alot for a guy who is currently going without a paycheck

Comment by TCB Monday, Aug 26, 13 @ 2:04 pm
After riding Cooger & Dark’s carousel, Judy went to the ribbon cutting.

(Hat tip to Ray Bradbury.)

Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Aug 26, 13 @ 2:12 pm
–$240 for keg?… State Fair gets a big cut… What a euphemism for state government. –

Talk is cheap.
Whiskey costs money…

Comment by MarkT Monday, Aug 26, 13 @ 2:18 pm
==$240 is alot for a guy who is currently going without a paycheck ==

Not if it comes out of his campaign fund. Maybe this was the only way he could afford to buy himself a drink.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Aug 26, 13 @ 2:26 pm
–$240 is alot for a guy who is currently going without a paycheck–

Oh, the humanity.

I feel like I’m trying to be released from Egypt — let my people go (h/t to Rep. Bost).

The fair takes a beating in some circles for not making a buck, and it takes a beating in the same circles for not giving a break to a politician who wants to act like a big shot giving away “free beer.”

What’s the margin on the beer the working stiff buys on his dime at the fair? It’s through the roof. That’s what pays the bills.

For crying out loud, where’d you all go to school, Monkey Wards?

I’ve been tough on fair management over the years for its lack of corporate sponsorship. A lot more hustle needs to be done there.

But I have nothing but contempt for the Illinois corporate hogs at the taxpayer trough who won’t give up a tiny bone to support a once-a-year good-clean-fun experience for the folks they make their fortunes off of.

How in the world is that CME or CBOE, or Tribune Co., or Lee Enterprises, or John Deere, or Corn Products, or Blue Cross, or Walgreens, or McDonalds, or Kraft, or Hillshire, or Grainger, or ITW, or Abbott, etc., can’t kick in a few bucks.

Good civic leaders, until the rent is due.

Not to mention the do-nothing bond underwriters and law firms like Mayer Brown that are first in line at the trough.

Ty, can you help us with that? You’re a civic leader, right? You don’t look like you’ve too missed many meals.

So you should appreciate the vital and historic role that the men, women and children of Illinois have done feeding the world, one of the greatest advances in human history and, as a civic leader, you’re right in the middle of it.

Put your time to good use, big boy. For the people, that you are so concerned about.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Aug 26, 13 @ 2:40 pm
Gee whiz, cutting ribbons is a lot easier than cutting teacher’s pensions!

Comment by Cod Monday, Aug 26, 13 @ 3:11 pm
Rufus -
Euphemism? I was thinking “Filan-esque” … . Didn’t all sorts of things get “increased” Blago’s first year? Wasn’t there talk of making Vose’s Corndogs bid / pay more for their spot as part of that effort?

Comment by Smitty Irving Monday, Aug 26, 13 @ 3:16 pm
“…. pounds on ribbon… “I am the governor!”

“Pandemonium occurs at state fair when Quinn attempts to fix Sheila Simon’s ‘do’ with scissors.”

After the debacle, Quinn said “I should have used a hedge trimmer”.

Comment by Judgment Day Monday, Aug 26, 13 @ 3:20 pm
I think the caterers or beer distributor gets the money for the kegs, not the fair. if I’m incorrect please explain

Comment by PoolGuy Monday, Aug 26, 13 @ 3:46 pm
Squeezy’s velcro ribbon connectors break as planned. The perfect item for any event opening. Available for checkout at CMS in 5 yard sections. Returnable.

Comment by zatoichi Monday, Aug 26, 13 @ 3:50 pm
How did Brauer ponying up for another keg (without asking for any recognition) turn into an anti-corporate GOP bashing contest? Jeez…someone by these guys a beer.

Comment by Phenomynous Monday, Aug 26, 13 @ 4:07 pm
Rich,

Glad you enjoyed my “Tom ‘Two-Putt’ backstory”

To the Caption,

For Immedate Release

JASON PLUMMER CENTER OPENS ‘JUST LIKE DAD PROMISED’ WITH IL’S “GOV’T POWER RANGERS”

In a Bi-Partisan manner rarely seen for such a private event, Treasurer Rutherford, Secretary White, Governor Quinn, LG Simon, and Attorney General Madigan help dedicate, for Jason’s Dad, “The Jason Plummer Center for Government, Politics, and Slurpees” or as every other Illinoisan will know it as “Mock Government for the Rich, Bored, Kids and Slurpee Stop”

Along with unlimited Slurpees for all paying guests, there is a walk through of the Faux Illinois House and Faux Senate Chambers (with a GOP Speaker and a GOP Senate President for Jason) a rotunda for Dodge Ball games, Hearing Rooms for movies and puppet shows, a Petting Zoo for a Mock State Fair every Summer, and ..,

Office Space for Jason Plummer, the “Office of ‘Da Man’, Dog!”, which is the only thing out of place, since Jason begged for that Faux Oval Office, no matter what the Capitol looks like ‘for realz'’.

Mr. Jason Plummer thinks its real, so if you see Jason Plummer, congratulate him. Each Constitutional Officer attending got two passes for life. Comptroller Topinka, not pictured, is talking to Robert Plummer away from the ceremony, telling him all the Statewides thank him for doing this for Jason, in hopes Jason never runs for office again, ’cause Hopefully Jason will be having too much fun here.

###

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 26, 13 @ 7:07 pm
“And, see, Honey, this is how Leaders in Illinois can act like we ALL LIKE each other when we need to be around each other for something important like this Fair, and that we ALL get along just fine, when, well, (as the Governor whispers), really we DON’T. It may seem a little fake, I know, but, well, WE LEADers you see, we call it ‘Civility!”

Comment by Just The Way It Is One Monday, Aug 26, 13 @ 7:38 pm
OW, it looks like you have some Plummer issues you need to work through.

Comment by DanL60 Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 8:16 am
Look, - DanL60 -,

I am running low on my Plummer meds…

Also, Jason, allegedly, is active in the Grogan for Treasurer campaign, so it’s like I am “welcoming” Jason to the campaign season.

Don’t worry, Jason likes the attention.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 8:35 am