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The Southern Illinoisan has posted its Q&A from a recent interview with Judy Baar Topinka. It ends this way:
SI: If Illinois residents asked collectively, ‘why should I vote for Judy Barr Topinka?’ How would you respond?TOPINKA: First of all I don’t need a road map to get here. I know where Southern Illinois is, I’ve spent a lot of time here. We have done a lot of low interest loans here through the treasurer’s office to help business and industry here. I’m thoughtful in terms of trying to make things happen and I’m honest. I respect Springfield as the state capitol and I plan to live there, where I’ve lived half of my life. I’m a former Girl Scout and I still believe in public service and doing good for its own sake.
She really needs some better lines.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 2:24 pm
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If she starts giving away free Girl Scout cookies she’s got my vote.
Comment by homer Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 2:47 pm
Was that a homerun or what.Got to respect someone who speaks the truth.Judy is getting ready to run clean over double talk Blago.
Comment by DOWNSTATE Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 2:48 pm
I agree with you, Rich. She definitely needs some better lines.
Comment by uiucleader Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 2:54 pm
“Was that a homerun or what.Got to respect someone who speaks the truth.Judy is getting ready to run clean over double talk Blago.”
Really? You should never complain about any Blagojevich apologists again.
Also, we’re still waiting on the link to that poll with JBT +3.
Comment by BuckTurgidson Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 3:06 pm
Only a very dishonest person constantly tries to tell people she’s a honest person.
And wait, which is it? I thought Topinka says Blago’s killing jobs, but then she says she’s done all this great work with her low interest loans.
This thing’s about over. Blago coasts in unless he’s indicted. And he won’t be.
Comment by Anon Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 3:09 pm
This is exactly why she is not ready for primetime. She has no plans about what she is going to do to make our lives better. Just saying “Im not Rod†isn’t enough because I know this isn’t a shocker, but a vote for Topinka is not that great of an alternative.
At least Blago can say that he passed universal preschool, All Kids Health Insurance, raised the minimum wage, and finally made open road tolling a reality. Plus he didnt raise my taxes. Topinka acts like she CANT WAIT to raise taxes all of which will be forced upon the hard working men and women of the state. Just look at that Sparta Shooting complex. Topinka blasted it saying that she didn’t think southern Illinois deserved it and a week later she cant wait to try and go shoot a gun there. Does she even know what she is talking about?
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 3:12 pm
Rich:
My first reaction to your piece was that you were correctly suggesting that Judy should have prepared a policy and programatic response to the question. Her response cited policy and incumbent performance matters. The subject of geographic representation of southern Illinois and time spent in Springfield are none the less important issues, especially in the minds of southern Illinois voters.
Comment by one of the 35 Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 3:12 pm
The interview reminds me of a salesperson who tells you mostly everything you want to know about the product they’re selling, gets you to the point where you’re almost ready to buy but then stumbles by forgetting to give you a reason to buy it when it’s time to close the deal. Given all the material that would pursuade a downstate voter to support her, her final pitch was weak.
Comment by Bluefish Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 3:13 pm
will not lie…
worked for Carter
worked for Walker. (I remember him telling me at a formu at Rosary College. He was wearing his blue work shirt and red bandana.)
Comment by Bill Baar Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 3:20 pm
well if you live in southern Illinois it’ll make you feel better that she won’t ignore your region nor that she’ll live in the Governor’s Mansion is in Springfield. Blago really stuck it to those in southern Illinois who helped him win the primary in 2002.
otherwise, yes, it’s a really weak message she is conveying. Come on JBT, sack up and get yer message out, if you have one.
Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 3:37 pm
When I first read this blog, I strongly agreed with Rich. Then I began to think about just who she was trying to speak to, and realized that it was not the political junkies and policy wonks like we who frequent this blog. She was speaking to the common people, about herself, and who she is. There is value to that in a campaign.
I still think she should have tossed in more substance, but she can do that in debates.
Comment by Bubs Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 3:44 pm
Good point, Bubs. It’s the issue of the medium vs. the message. The message can be, and usually has to be tempered to match the requirements of the medium, whether it is a newspaper, TV or live debate.
Comment by Anon Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 3:53 pm
We have heard double talking substance for 4 years now from someone who wouldn’t know substance if it hit him in the head. It seems to me when the Feds come sniffing around and issue subpoenas, that is when most people stop lying and would at the very least KEEP THEIR BIG MOUTHS SHUT. But GoverNOT Hairdo continues to add fuel to the Feds fire. Good for him. He didn’t have sense enough to suck up to his father-in-law and he won’t have sense enough to shut up when it’s important to do so. He could continue compaigning but NO, he has to keep telling everyone how honest he is. Don’t pi$$ down my back and try to tell me it’s raining ARod. This election is for Judy to lose. I don’t give a rats behind about polls. The only poll that counts is the vote count after the polls close. And southern Illinois won’t fall for Blogo’s crap again. Any poll that shows he is “slightly” behind is southern Illinois is laughable.
Comment by Little Egypt Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 4:03 pm
Thats the problem the real people are going to vote not the blogs.She is throwing this out to the people that has been screwed over for 4 years.As far as the bloggers if you have 30 bloggers you might get 2 to leave thier computer and vote.Now before you get on here.Rich sorry to go national but in Ohio the bloggers were going to stop Bush in his tracks and no one showed up to vote.Good message plain talk for plain people.HOMERUN!!!!
Comment by DOWNSATE Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 4:05 pm
Bubs stated: When I first read this blog, I strongly agreed with Rich. Then I began to think about just who she was trying to speak to, and realized that it was not the political junkies and policy wonks like we who frequent this blog. She was speaking to the common people, about herself, and who she is. There is value to that in a campaign.
I still think she should have tossed in more substance, but she can do that in debates
I think you should still agree with Rich. JBT is the Republican nominee for all of Illinois. She needs to speak with some substance. That whole blurb had no substance just plenty of aw shucks and tough girl mentality. I personally like a professional, well spoken, informed lady. I can get the other stuff anywhere.We are going to need to polish this apple up for November if we plan to win.
Comment by Confused Republican Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 4:08 pm
CR-
You ought to read Blago sometime, particularly from 2002.
Comment by Bubs Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 4:15 pm
Her Ted Kennedy moment
Comment by Niles Township Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 4:22 pm
Though, CR, in fairness, I do agree that JBT has to get busy winning, and showing that she is the better Governor, rather than “I’m not Blago” and waiting for him to lose.
She is beginning to do that, but it’s coming on slowly, maybe too slowly, but only time will tell.
I continue to be suspicious of early conclusions in election campaigns, whether pro or con to my candidate, and continue to state that few will recall who led the horse race in the first turns. Anything can happen, and that goes double - maybe triple! - for this one.
Comment by Bubs Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 4:26 pm
Seriously, homerun?
Sadly sycophantic.
Honestly, if you’d have called it a bunt single or a safe on throwing error, maybe one could take you seriously. A ground-rule double would have been a stretch.
Call it plainspoken if you want to. But it takes her six sentences, including the non-sequitur about being a Girl Scout (so what?) to say almost nothing. Her programs as Treasurer, the only thing close to a real message to Southern IL voters is sandwiched in-between a lot of pap.
It was clearly an improvised answer to the most elementary of softball questions. If you don’t have a concise, snappy answer to that question, it calls into judgement your political abilities. Period.
And what about that poll? JBT +3. Remember?
Comment by BuckTurgidson Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 4:28 pm
hey buck that was last week.You need to try to keep up because the Topinka Express is picking up steam.
Comment by DOWNSATE Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 4:36 pm
Anonymous Wrote, “At least Blago can say that he passed universal preschool, All Kids Health Insurance, raised the minimum wage, and finally made open road tolling a reality. Plus he didnt raise my taxes.”
Yeah, he loves to pass stuff. He loves to have his press conference, playing to the cameras, then leaves specifics, like where is the cash coming from to pay for these things, his campaign contributors maybe?
He has also said back in his state of the state address, that he is for expanding better healthcare to veterans. Now that’s another great
idea, but again, how you gonna pay for it?
Check out this article on how “Governor Blago’s All Kids Program” isn’t quite what it is cracked up to be, http://www.southernillinoisan.com/articles/2006/07/21/top/16994134.txt
Comment by Concerned Voter Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 4:54 pm
“hey buck that was last week.”
Sorry. What do you intend to invent this week?
“…the Topinka Express is picking up steam.”
Oh. Never mind.
Comment by BuckTurgidson Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 5:20 pm
Actually, with 9 concurrent federal investigations. I repeat 9 CONCURRENT FEDERAL INVESTIGATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think “I’m not Blago actually works”.
She has a long history of solid public service. I think she’ll do just fine, but Illinois will be financially dead if that deadbeat wins again.
Ashur Odishoo
Candidate
State Representative 11th District
Comment by Ashur Odishoo Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 5:22 pm
I agree that readers of the blog should be mindful as to her audience. Having lived in both regions of the state, I can assure you that in southern IL, the #1 concern is that south of I-80 won’t be forgotten for the next four years. The average resident of Illinois could care less about specific policies. Most people have an intense dislike of politics and just want to be assured that if they have a need, it will be addressed. The mere fact that Blago doesn’t live in Springfield is insulting enough to those of us in southern IL. It creates yet another divide between northerners and southerners…even if it’s by perception only.
Comment by Stephanie Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 5:38 pm
Blagojevich’s worse mistake in seeking the Governor’s office was that it put his pettiness and venality on full display for all of Illinois to see. As a backbencher in the General Assembly and the US Congress, he could hide behind 117 or 434 other legislators who actually did more than answer for roll call and cash their checks.
Topinka adopted the role of class clown in the General Assembly (House and State Senate) and it worked as long as she was running for a bottom of the ballot position on the state ticket. Being Governor demands accountability and leadership and Topinka is not ready for prime time. She has played the fool so well for so long that she cannot be taken seriously. When she tries to talk seriously it comes across as shoot from the hip jive. Topinka, who has been divorced and not remarried for decades, has benefitted from a double standard. How many male officeholders could put their steady dates on the payroll and not be villified in the media? Topinka has done just that and barely a peep was heard.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 5:53 pm
Ashur,
Pardon me, but how do you know exactly how many federal probes currently are targeting the Blagojevich administration? Did you have lunch wiht Patrick Fitzgerald?
We all have read multiple stories about subpoenas and so forth relating to hiring and fundraising over the last couple years. But where on earth are you getting this ‘nine concurrent investigations’?
I can’t recall any official ever giving such a count.
Can you list them and distinguish one from the next?
Comment by 'The Gay Governor' Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 6:07 pm
I think she’s honest, doesn’t mix words playing the word games some like to play. She is what Illinois needs NOT four more years of the lies we’ve had to put up with. GO JUDY!
Comment by State worker Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 6:15 pm
Does Judy think Springfield is in Southern Illinois? It sounds like she does. Typical Chicago suburb attitude.
Comment by Springfield Resident Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 6:25 pm
Oh, I don’t know…I kind of liked her response. It was simple, direct and plain. Nothing fancy, nothing flowery. It’s kind of refreshing.
Comment by Emily Booth Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 6:32 pm
Policy-schmolicy. This is a political campaign, not high high school debate team meet. Sure, I want Blagojevich to govern based on sound policy, but sound policy does not win campaigns. George Bush won two campaigns totally ingnoring policy or inventing it like fairy tales. What policies did Barack Obama campaign on in his primary and general election victories.
I agree Topinka’s message is unrefined, but I’m not sure how far off it is. I’ve talked to many people from Central and Southern Illinois who don’t like the governor, and when you press them on why, many bring up the fact that he doesn’t live at the Capitol. So many people in fact, that I kept pressing the Gov’s staff on why he doesn’y just move, just to make it go away.
Is it crazy? Yes. But people aren’t computers that rationalize everything. They’re emotional creatures. Truth is, I don’t think they really know why they don’t like Rod, I think it’s just “something about him,” and they just say the first thing that pops into their head.
Topinka is trying to empathize with voters; the same way Clinton felt their pain, she is trying to feel their anger. It remains to be seen if she’ll end up like Bob Dole, ranting “Where’s the outrage?” to a disconnected electorate.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 6:32 pm
There was nothing wrong with her comments. Maybe she strays - I like that though, more down to earth - non-rehearsed. Her “savy” financial mind is what Illinois needs right now. Judy knows how the money operates and at least she will be able to work with all involved in putting together a sound fiscal budget.
Comment by Anon. Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 6:37 pm
This woman simply can’t be Governor. And other women are the first ones to say that.
What an embarrassment!!
Comment by Anon Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 6:45 pm
Oh yeah the Marlboro Woman forgot the most important thing. She can get her cigarettes alot cheaper down here. Smoke em if you gottem.
Comment by Anon Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 6:56 pm
Anon 6:45,
You say about JBT “What an embarrassment!!” What would you call Blagozo? A success?
Comment by Buck Flagojevich Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 7:23 pm
anon- 6:56 Marty is that you?
Comment by pike Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 7:32 pm
Judy’s handlers need to be sure that she does not continue to come off a the crazy old bird that she was in the first debate.
Someone in her camp needs to remind her to stick to the issues, stick to the script and not be so flighty. This campaign is hers to lose and she is really making an effort to do so.
Has she or anyone in her camp come up with an answer to any problem besides, “We don’t want to roll it out without thinking”?
Comment by Tired of the Mess Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 8:43 pm
Blago in Monday’s NYT stem cell story…
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/25/us/25stem.html?hp&ex=1153800000&en=54641d610a5421a7&ei=5094&partner=homepage
“Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California, a Republican who helped Mr. Bush win a second term but has long disagreed with him on this research, cited the veto as he lent $150 million from the state’s general fund to pay for grants to stem cell scientists. In Illinois, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich, a Democrat opposed to most every White House initiative, offered $5 million for similar grants in his state.”
Comment by OrangeCrush Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 9:30 pm
Come up with better lines? At least she did not say in southern illinoiis “I will not balance the budget on the back of state workers, I will hire only the most qualified individuals if I am gov, I will run the most ethical adm. if I am gov.”
These are all things that Blago said when he was down here. Unfortunately, I believed him. Not this time, I agree with downstate, Judy hit a home run off of the pitcher blago.
Comment by Hank Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 9:39 pm
Its time we have a plain spoken, honest, unvarnished leader who is proud to be a public servant. That’s JBT. We have two choices in the coming election (one of these two people will be elected). I have to believe the people of Illinois are outraged enough to make the current Governor a footnote in Illinois history. Another former Illinois Democratic Governor who ends up in prison. Before any of you Blago loyalist fire back at me - I’m sure that he and George will be on the same cell block in a federal pen. But if memory serves me right isn’t it generally the fate of ex-Democratic Governors to retire to a federally funded vacation spot.
Comment by ChicagoDog Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 9:43 pm
she knew her audience. her answer was fine. some are reading way too deeply into this.
Comment by colt 45 Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 9:48 pm
Can we just skip August and get down the campaign? Ladies & Gentelmen start your engines.
Comment by the ole precinct captain Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 9:58 pm
Lest I be misunderstood, it takes alot of practice to sound unrehearsed, and to stay on message when it seems you’re speaking off the cuff.
If the Topinka team has decided that the message that they need to deliver in Southern Illinois is what Topinka said, that’s fine by me, but she needs to be repeating that message every time.
Politics is theatre, not improv.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 10:17 pm
Short of Blago or one of his closest buddies getting indicted by November, Topinka is dead meat.
Blago may be absolutely corrupt, he may care about nobody but himself and he may even be a bumbling idiot who couldn’t give a persuasive legal defense for an old lady charged with driving 3 mph over the speed limit on the Dan Ryan.
But Topinka is proving with each passing day that she can’t articulate her way out of a perfectly sturdy cardboard box. She is not giving anybody, other than those relatively few folks who are so pissed at Blago that they’ll vote for Bozo the Clown over him, any reason to support her.
She was a Girl Scout? She doesn’t need a map to find southern Illinois? She wants to disband DCEO (like this means anything to anybody other than a handful of insiders and businessmen)?
Whoooooooop-Deeeeeee-Doooo!!!!!
Who gives a flying $@&#?
Let’s review. What do we know about Topinka? That she has just as many cronies as Blago lining up to line their pockets once she gets in. Oh, and that she’s the candidate who refused to take the no-new-tax pledge. Oh, and that she doesn’t have command of any detail of anything she’d like to do as chief executive of the fifth largest state in the union.
She may have a grande vision, but we would not know about it. She isn’t capable of spelling it out.
If she can’t win a race against an incumbent who promised change yet perfected business as usual, who promised transparency yet refused to release even the most routine public documents, who promised populist politics yet doesn’t show his face in public, who promised honesty yet lied, lied, lied, then she and the Illinois GOP ought to pack up their (torn and tattered) tent and go to Indiana.
They ought to stop wasting our time.
Comment by 'The Gay Governor' Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 11:05 pm
Okay, but I can’t explain (or even unravel) this Topinka explanation:
SI: There was some initial criticism about your plan to disband the DCEO. Explain exactly how this would work and also would any part of the agency remain intact.
TOPINKA: The underlying agency will remain, you will still have the workers but the management is where the changes will be made. The movement will be different about where they go, what they do and how they do it. There will also be more responsibility in terms of management to make sure that we are creating jobs and not drifting off into all these diversions that this particular agency gets into. Right now the effort is diluted, it has to be about jobs and it has to be laser-like focused on nothing but creating jobs.
Hello?! WHAT??
How about a laser-like focus on answering the question?
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 11:39 pm
I read the whole thing through and after her shotgun-blast of topics at the beginning, she settled down and made perfect sense.
I think if I were her, I’d push the imagery that Rod has run up all the state’s credit cards, then paid the bill with a payday loan, then put the remainin money on a roulette wheel. She would come in and in a manner of speaking cut up the credit cards, get the state back to living within it’s means, and then see what can be done in PARTNERSHIP with the legislature to fix revenue growth and pay down the long term debts in a sensible way. Citizens can understand that and relate to it in their own lives.
Comment by taxpayer A Tuesday, Jul 25, 06 @ 12:43 am
I read the entire southern illiniosan article. I thought that the newspaper’s questions were vacuous. The Governor is the CEO of the State of Illinois government. They didn’t ask anything about SIU, state prisons, and state parks, three state responsibilities over which the guv is in charge, and areas where our region’s economic interests are the greatest in terms of employment and tourism. They didn’t ask anything about running state government, front line services, or program priorities. Pathetic effort on the newspaper’s part.
Comment by Spartacus Tuesday, Jul 25, 06 @ 8:55 am
Yellow Dog, DOWNSTATE would say that meandering answer was a home run (or HOMERUN!!!).
More like for White Sox and Cardinals broadcaster Harry Caray liked to say:
“That was a home run in a phone booth.”
Comment by BuckTurgidson Tuesday, Jul 25, 06 @ 9:33 am
“I don’t need a map to find Southern Illinois…”
She could have made the point without the crass tone and the condescension. It also begs of overstatement– the typical Southern Illinoisian will look at her and see “Chicago” plastered all over her face and leaching out of every word spoken. I agree that the pitch to disaffected Southern Illinoisians (many of whom, by the way, loyally vote Democratic) could be an effective one under the present circumstances, but delivery and message content count every bit as much.
Comment by anon Tuesday, Jul 25, 06 @ 9:37 am
If you people think being plain spoken and not getting caught up in a policy wonk type discussion with the Southern Illinois voters does not work, then you clearly have never heard Senator Gary Forby speak (or should say utter a sentence,The man can not articulate a one syllable word and is loved in Southern Illinois. and trust me he isn’t mumbling any great policy ideas.) I think some of you Blago supporters on here are as far removed from So.Il. you wouldn’t know what a pol should say to voters down here.
Comment by just watching Tuesday, Jul 25, 06 @ 9:48 am
My my everyone of those Blago-maniacs have been screaming about JBT doing nothing and when she comes out swinging and gives the Gov. a black eye they start squealing so loud this place sounds like a mega hog farm.Suck it up the Topinka Express is picking up steam.Check back it was Stae employees and So. Illinois that put the Gov. over the top last time.It won’t enjoy that edge this time.
Comment by DOWNSTATE Tuesday, Jul 25, 06 @ 10:50 am
Hello spinmeisters! Back to earth here!
This election is about Blagojevich, not Topinka. Blagojevich has not earned another term. His continued relationship with the Feds will turn sour. He will be useless if re-elected, fighting off continued investigations and possible indictments.
Illinois is in free fall. Our budget is busted. Why do you continue to dibble? Give Topinka a chance. There is no option here people!
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Jul 25, 06 @ 10:59 am
It just cracks me up listening to all of the Blagophiles whine and moan. Meanwhile, JBT keeps it simple for the common man (which NO ONE can accuse Blagohair of being). Pay attention to the audience is a key rule for politicians.
Face it, all the polls will tell you is the opinions of those WHO ANSWER THE POLLS. This is a very different group from those who actually VOTE, which is the only poll that matters. Pollsters won’t tell you that because it makes their job worthless.
Come the election, JBT will crush the governor-in-absentia in the downstate precincts. Then we’ll read headlines about the “surprising victory”.
Comment by Southern Illinoisian Tuesday, Jul 25, 06 @ 3:53 pm
“Face it, all the polls will tell you is the opinions of those WHO ANSWER THE POLLS. This is a very different group from those who actually VOTE”
HOLY GOD!?!? How many times do we have to have the poll argument?
Comment by BuckTurgidson Tuesday, Jul 25, 06 @ 4:59 pm
I agree, Buck, and I think I’m gonna start deleting those posts from now on, and maybe even banning the posters. It is such a ridiculous argument that it has no place on a blog like this. Maybe I can convince them to head to the new Illinois Leader Board, otherwise known as the SJ-R’s comments area.
BTW, good to have you back, Buck.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jul 25, 06 @ 5:27 pm
Eep. Haven’t been to SJ-R. Don’t know if I want to go (though like a good car wreck, now I’ve got to see it).
Good to be back.
Comment by BuckTurgidson Tuesday, Jul 25, 06 @ 5:36 pm
There is something to be said for any lady or man who keeps it simple to understand and not to confusing to understand (which most times is the disguise the greedy use when they are about to compromise their character.)
JBT spoke about SIllinois with respect as well as our Capital City. Her message is that she respects Illinois, not just Chicago and does nto have her head so far up her rear end to be aware of the big picture of the future of Illinois.
Contrary to popular political beliefs she is secure enough in character to rebel the fakeness of being plum full of political correctness all the time.( aka as I said above too confusing to understand) Simple things LIKE JUST SAY NO hold a lot of credit. A good candidate won’t always stroke to the north.
Comment by Simple American Woman Wednesday, Aug 2, 06 @ 11:56 am