Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Going for the soft coverage - Updated x1

Posted in:

Illinois

After avoiding reporters for close to a week, the governor did a fly-around today for his campaign. But not everyone got the heads up. this is from a print reporter in Springfield

FYI,

Blago did a flyaround today - hitting Rockford, Rock Island and Marion (at 4 p.m.).

His campaign did not contact a single print or radio outlet that I can find.

They contacted only TV outlets in those towns (even, in the instance of WSIL-TV in Carterville, sending a full-blown press release).

And a radio guy told me that radio reporters in the Quad Cities and southern Illinois were not clued in.

*** UPDATE *** From a southern Illinois radio guy.

Just so you know, we WERE clued in — at 3:38. He was on the podium at 3:58. 20 minute heads’ up on what turned out to be a pretty busy day here bomb threats, interstate traffic crashes, armed robberies, etc).

We made sure he got asked the question, though, about the check. He gave the standard “childhood friend, member of my wedding party” response (I’m paraphrasing) — but at least HE said it, not Sheila Nix, ya know?

He also said, when asked about the Carterville school’s movement on the list…

“My respose to [critics] is, ’sue me. We’re putting them there.’” That’s a direct quote.

Wow. He was on time.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 4:31 pm

Comments

What a great way to run for Governor - run scared. Wow.

Comment by Centrist Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 4:48 pm
VERY funny Centrist.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 4:51 pm
Wow first the voters don’t read all our gripping accounts of how this governor is so much worse than the last five.
Now there are fly arounds and we don’t get a call.
Guess we better fire our sources….opps maybe we don’t have sources.
O.K. lets just yell some more about the gov. and pretend someone is listening

Comment by JohnnyDeadline Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 5:04 pm
RUNNING SCARED / NO EXCUSES / GUILTY

Comment by Taos Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 5:09 pm
This one is up to the media… When Sister Muhammad mess happened he hid and tried to change the subject. He hid long enough that it went away. Why shouldn’t he try that again?

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 5:15 pm
You don’t need to look pretty for radio, there goes all his substance.

Comment by The 'Broken Heart' of Rogers Park Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 5:15 pm
515 is right. It’s up to the media to make him answers questions about the check.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 5:21 pm
What his adminstration really cna’t see is that ducking and hiding from the public (news outlets) only make him look guilty.

As if there isn’t already a story to write about or air on the news.

In fact, the Chicago Suntimes today’s editorial is news worthy and the fact that he chose to fly around today to avoid the news media is a story in itself.

You can run when you’re in power, but hiding when you’re the Governor is like getting impeached; YOU’RE NO LONGER IN POWER!

Comment by One Man Can Make A Difference Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 5:26 pm
I am sick of this guy. I guess that he doesn’t understand that as governor he works for the citizens of Illinois. It is the taxpayers who pay his salary. Instead of hiding behind his spokespeople he needs to be front and center and be accountable to the voters. Does anyone know when his last press conference was?

Comment by Downstater Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 5:27 pm
NOT SUE ME——–HOW ABOUT “INDICT ME”?

Comment by One Man Can Make A Difference Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 5:28 pm
Mr. Deadline let’s not pick on the media too much. Remember they are all hostages to editors wo think Katie’s ratings and Meridith hand twitch is news.

Comment by Reddbyrd Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 5:39 pm
Maybe if the media woudl actually cover the issue that the press conference was held for then they would get invited… But, heck, I dont know how these thigns work.

All I know is that the Governor was announcing he endorsement of the Fraternal Order of Police for his re-election and THAT IS BIG NEWS, but probably not as interesting or sensationlist enough to be a story on its own…

The police endorsing the governor has to be a huge hit to topinka.

Comment by Roomie Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 6:58 pm
The FOP State Labor Council endorsed Blago. From what I’d heard, the State Police voted against endorsing him and for myself, I was never given the opportunity to say yay or nay. I called my union reps about it and gave them an earful. It’s just another way of ARod to promote himself and not have to answer hard questions.

Comment by Walking Wounded Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 7:16 pm
BTW, do you really believe that the hard working front line police would actually want to endorse someone who is under so much investigation and scrutiny a/k/a Public Official A?

Comment by Walking Wounded Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 7:19 pm
At the Rock Island Press conference he announced the FOP endorsement and not a single cop stood behind him. What a waste.

Comment by Former National Guard Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 8:02 pm
Hey Roomie,

Get a life! Cops didn’t even show up at Blago’s supposed “news conferences.” That’s how enthusiatic the cops are about the endorsement.

Comment by DeepFriedOnAStick Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 8:42 pm
Well, I didn’t mean to start a media-bashing. But of course that is a time honored part of our democracy….

My only point was that Rod has perfected the tactic of “ignore it and it will blow over”. It always works for him.

Of course it seems to work well at the White House too.

Comment by Formerly Anonymous Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 8:55 pm
Hah, I waiting for the day that he says that the state workers are behind him. I bet you will not see one real state worker supporting this guy.

Comment by state worker #1 Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 9:09 pm
This endorsement by the State Lodge FOP was a travesty manufactured by Ted Street, the FOP President. The State Troopers and the Chicago Police, the two largest unions in the FOP refused to endorse this governor. The State Lodge President refused to allow Topinka/Birkett the opportunity to speak to the Board and failed to send out questionaires to the rank and file to poll their members. A union boss in a suit endorsed Rod Blagojevich today, not police officers. The rank and file dislike this governor, and the rank and file distrust this governor. That is your story.

Comment by proud state copper Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 9:14 pm
Another flawless plan executed by Bladgo & his tribe. Who’s plane did they use ??? & will {if the states} be re-imbursed. What ever he had to say was as the result of the latest calamity, usually without substance or merit..no longer effective or in power…that train has long left the station !!!

Comment by annon. Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 9:19 pm
Wasn’t there a promise to give money to the schools on the first list out there. Doesn’t that amount to a verbal contract? I hope the schools that were on the original list take him at his word and sue him for breach of contract.

Comment by Martha Mitchell Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 9:25 pm
I think Governor Blagojevich is doing a fairly good job, considering the mess he inherited from over 2 decades of Republican mismanagement and neglect. The folks on this blog complaining and spreading rumor and wreckless allegations are the very same people who voted for George Bush. FYI-you have absolutely no credibility! I hope you all keep complaining because it just reinforces what Democrats think about Republicans, you all complain, whine, cry, rumor-monger, and then make up outlandish lies and yell at the top of your voices until someone says, specifically, where is the beef! No question mark needed for that because there is no, “0″ truth to the smearing and rumor-mongering going on in Republican circles. I have said many-a-times on this site over the last several months that Illinois is a Blue state, and we will continue to be. We Democrats are fed up with Right-wing propoganda and will support the party, period. Over 40% registered Democrats in this state, so my fellow bretheren, I say-Vote Democrat and keep this state moving forward. Ethanol, bio-diesel, clean coal technology, stem-cell research, nano-technology, pre-school for all 3 and 4 year olds, education tax breaks for middle class families, health care for veterans, and universal health care for children are key areas of growth and necessity for our state, and Democrats are right on those key issues that are most important to the people of Illinois. To not support and advance these basic, sound principles is unacceptable in the year 2006. Democrats are for these principles; Republicans are against them. Vote Democrat! The Fraternal Order of Police endorsed the Governor, along with a couple of Education unions, SEIU, etc., etc. As for AFSCME, they most likely will not endorse either candidate, just like in 1990 and 1994. State employees have discovered a new case of amnesia in the dept. of corrections. The Republicans did “everything” in their power to privatize state prison, ie. dietary and tore down the fences at Sheridan CC. The Gov. attempted to open many of the closed prisons, but the last admin. left us $5 Billion dollars in the hole. Whackenhut private prison corp. was the Republicans largest contributor in the last gen. elect. Give me a break about state employees. You need to put this in perspective. So, the Gov. does not give everything he promised, welcome to the real world. The other party not only tried to privatize 100’s of dietary jobs, they even made new uniforms that says Illinois Corrections, rather than Dept. of Corrections. Why? So the private prisons could not only have your jobs, but your uniforms too. Keep things in perspective, look at the big picture. Republican philosophy is supposedly all about “keep gubment” out of our lives’, including privatize everything except the military; and even then the right-wing fringe have their own supposed military-the good ole’ fashioned militias. You get the point. Things in Illinois aren’t perfect, but they are as good as can be expected considering the mess we inherited and the limited support coming from the Bush admin., you know “Wyah” and the federal govt.

Comment by SilverBackDemocrat Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 9:46 pm
Geez, Silverback Demo…..what’s your freakin point? Blago is a liar and deceptive. Yeah, Keep the movement forward. I have no doubt that Patrick Fitz. will keep his movement forward, too. J.C., I can’t wait for this whole matter to be over.

Comment by Walking Wounded Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 9:53 pm
Silverback, you forgot

“This message was paid for by Friends, er Cronies of Rod Blagojovich”.

Comment by Wumpus Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 9:56 pm
Sounds like the Gov is kicking the press’ collective ass!

Reminds me of the quote from The Honorable Deputy Governor Bradley Tusk, in which Bradley prophetically? proclaimed that he had dealt with the New York Press core in the past, therefor, he can certainly handle the Illinois Press Core.(insert a couple of snickers and two hee, hees here)

So is is possible this guy can use their ink radio and telivision waves to promote himself and not answer any questions. Sister Muhommad? The Check? The vets list of the over looked veterans-CORRECTIONS. How many agencies have been interviewed by the FBI? Ascarids’ qualifications? How about a list of vets in Dupage who were passed over to hire the dog washer? ……..WOW!!

Comment by Larry Mullholland Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 10:04 pm
Silverback Demo: Calm down and take a deep breath. As I understand your main point; you hate republicans, they’re the cause of everything wrong in America and Illinois, and you will support Democrats come hell or high water because they will fix everything. Um, I’m sorry, but what have you been smoking? I’m a conservative (read: conservative, not Republican). I will support any candidate from any party that most closely matches my beliefs and priorities, and does it in an ethical and financially-responsible way. If they fail me, I will vote for a candidate against them that hopefully will do better. Lately, many candidates from both parties have been failing me. Blago has also PROVEN that he is not the person who meets the ethical and financial requirements, just as Ryan did before him. Is Topinka the right person? I don’t know, she still has to show me a little bit more that she is. Is Whitney? I don’t know, let’s hear a little bit more from him. Maybe none of the candidates are good for Illinois. My point (I’m trying not to do the “verbal vomit” thing; it’s not a very good persuading tactic) is that it’s your right as an American to support any candidate you want. But, please, for the love of God, people, stop being a “party hack” just because that’s what you’ve always done. The radical fringes seem to be taking over both the Republicans and the Democrats. This is why I think polls are becoming so skewed and unpredictable of the last 4-6 years. Most people are waking up to this fact and looking away from the party and at the candidate. It’s true that Blago has had no charges or indictments levied against him (yet), but, as the old adage says, where there’s smoke, there’s fire. If there’s even a suggestion of impropriety, take it with a grain of salt. But when there are 4 years of multiple hints of impropriety, there just might be something behind it. As you stated, this is a Blue state; if there’s a conspiracy against Blago, that’s pretty amazing, isn’t it? I’m sorry; I did end up rambling. I’m done now.

Comment by schroedk Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 10:21 pm
silverback–you da man or da woman. I’d hate to replay the instance on our nice blog when uncle or aunt Buck took offense

Comment by anonymous Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 10:37 pm
Question - can the police officers have fair share membership in FOP? A large move from full membership to fair share would send a message to the union leaders who are SUPPOSED to represent you.

Comment by Cat Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 11:03 pm
Hey, Silverback.

I have a beautiful parcel of land near Moss Point, Mississippi for sale. Cheap too! Interested? I’m sure there are a few other people there who may want to join in with you lamenting the current administration.

Comment by Buck Flagojevich Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 11:25 pm
Silverback, as a lifelong dem I gotta say there comes a time when party loyalty must give way to what’s best for the people of the state, and while I will probably vote dem down the rest of the ballot, I can’t wait to vote Topinka for governor. I voted for Rod once and never again. He wouldn’t even make a good dog catcher.

“sue me” he says!?!?!?! We’d have to get in line, between the half million plus paid out from the video game lawsuit, to the illegal firings of state workers, to the various charges of malfeasance, heck, it would take a 4-year term just to wait in line to sue this guy.

There’s a reason he tries to ditch the print and radio reporters. He is counting on the laziness of TV media, which will only show a pretty 90-seconds of him in some pre-arranged setting that will make him look like he’s doing something and that people are loving it. With lackluster voice-over copy the lazy Tv “reporter” cribbed form the press releases Rod’s people handed out. TV reportage is so shallow and has such a mayfly attention span it’s easy for him to just run the clock out quoting his own platitudes into a microphone, and not deal with real Q & A.

Comment by Gregor Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 11:30 pm
For those that are saying no cops were at blagos endorsement youa are wrong. There WERE cops there, but depending on the county/municipality they cannot WEAR THEIR UNIFORM AT A POLITICAL EVENT.

If that endoresement is so easy to get then why didnt Topinka get? Oh yah, because she compares assault weapons to rolling pins which makes light of the fact that people die every day from assault weapons.

Comment by Roomie Friday, Sep 15, 06 @ 2:18 am
Silverback and roomie,
They just don’t get it. They are all soooo much smarter than the general public. Anyone who supports the governor and his programs just must be on Rod’s staff and getting paid or be a “hack”. Shame on the gov’s staff for not informing the “press” so they could ambush him and detract from the whole point of the event. They want to set the agenda and try to prevent the gov from getting his message out about his programs and his fine record as governor.
On election day, they will all be here at good ol’ capitolfax insulting the voters for returning to office the best governor this state has possibly ever had.
After all of the whining about the gov ignoring “downstate” when he does go to present his record to the real public they want to be told in advance so that they can prevent Rod’s constituents from hearing the real truth directly from the governor.They would much rather that the voters only hear and read the same stuff that they spew here.
All of the events went really well. The real people love Rod.

Comment by Bill Friday, Sep 15, 06 @ 5:47 am
Bill, Roomie, Silver…

Blago may be (?) a decent person but his administration is EXTREMELY flawed. Sorry, but he has to accept responsibility for what occurs during his term.

Silverback- don’t speak for all dems. I, for one, am a registered dem, can’t stand “dubya” and voted for Blago the first time. I don’t like the current choices but I’ve seen firsthand (and close-up) what Blago’s admin has done to the state and can’t in good conscience vote for him again. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only dem that feels this way. Unfortunately, I think there will be 4 more years of Blago. I can only hope that the economy improves or he will bankrupt this state.

Comment by Shallow Pharnyx Friday, Sep 15, 06 @ 7:11 am
Once again lifetime Democrats will back a Democrat.A new system needs sit up where the rank and file members vote as much money as these unions rake in it could be down.It would be a lot more legit.I wonder if he gets indicted if these so called police officiers will issue an apology to the members and general public.

Comment by DOWNSTATE Friday, Sep 15, 06 @ 7:56 am
Shallow,
I don’t think the gov is trying to shirk any reponsibility for the last four years. The economy in Illinois is on the upswing and revenue growth is increasing yearly. The number of new jobs in Illinois is increasing monthly. The gov has sponsored and signed ground breaking legislation during his first term. He has instituted benefit reforms at the state pension plans and decreased the number of state employees so that more state resources can go for programs in public safety, education, and, most importantly, health care.
The entrenched state bureaucracy has been shaken up and during this period of change, some long term employees may have been forced to change their method of operations. From the many posts on this site, I assume many of them don’t like their new bosses and the new policies and procedures that have been instituted.
The gov has tried to streamline government so that more state resources go to the citizens. He wants state gov’t to work for the people, not the other way around.
While I may not agree with his stance on not raising taxes, I think that the opportunity to institute new programs for the people during a second Blagojevich administration is too good to pass up. We need to look to the future. We need to work together with the governor to make Illinois a leader in the country in providing services to its citizens. The governor has the pieces in place and needs at least 4 to 8 more years to get the job done.

Comment by Bill Friday, Sep 15, 06 @ 7:58 am
He’s going to need 4 to 8 years to get something done. I’m not sure it’s the job.

Comment by Centrist Friday, Sep 15, 06 @ 8:18 am
Bill,

Man, it’s hard to deal with your take on reality, but I’ll give it a shot:

Re: Gov not shirking responsibility; He’s stayed in Chicago, slept in and gone for a “jog” while every other elected state official was in Springfield rolling up their collective sleeves to truly tackle some of the most contentious budgets it state history…

Re: Groundbreaking legislation; only when it wasn’t controversial and he could get “good press”. When he couldn’t, he proposed it after the legislature adjourned, or more recently 3 1/2 years into his term.

Re: Entrenched Bureaucracy; If history has proven anything in Illinois, its not that the “bureaucracy” is the problem in government–its the elected leaders and their “inner circle” that creates corruption and mistrust. Blago has done nothing to address this issue, and in fact has taken the problem to levels not seen in the last 20 years.

Re: New bosses; The administration solution to operational issues has been something I saw once on a bumper sticker: GOVERNMENT PHILOSOPHY: If it isn’t broken, fix it til it is…

It would have been nice if the new appointees stopped to ask the question “is this program working effectively” before they went on to change it.

Re: 4 to 8 years; Don’t worry, he’s going to get at least 4 to 8 years; To those of us that have been around long enough to compare a number of administrations and their “missteps”, He better hope that 8 is all he gets.

Comment by Animous Friday, Sep 15, 06 @ 8:45 am
Bill,

When you post something like this;

“He has instituted benefit reforms at the state pension plans and decreased the number of state employees so that more state resources can go for programs in public safety, education, and, most importantly, health care.”

How do you explain the $5 billion deficit that currently exists in Illinois? Can you explain where the almost $15 billion in new bond debt went? Sounds like a bang up job fixing the finances in Illinois.

Comment by Buck Flagojevich Friday, Sep 15, 06 @ 9:55 am
I’m not sure I like Blagojevich, but I will be voting for him again. First of all, he’s a Dem and it’s still too close to 2000 for me to be able to vote for a GOP, and I just don’t like the Green guy.

But then there are things I like about his administration. He signed the human rights bill which I bet Topinka would have done too, but he went out on a limb to demand women’s access to contraception. That’s a biggy to me, because around the world, it is always the right that opposes women’s right to determine if they will or will not be mothers. I’m not sure Topinka would have fought that fight.

As to corruption, the Feds have had a good 2 years to indict them. That they have failed to do so leads me to believe they have nothing on him, same with Topinka and the investigation into her office. I certainly have misgivings about prosecutors who name people as unindicted co-conspirators (decoder ring says, we have nothing on them, but we really want to slime them in the media).

Comment by cermak_rd Friday, Sep 15, 06 @ 10:41 am
How many years did Operation Safe Road go on before the Feds went up the “food chain” to Ryan? More than two for sure. They work at their own pace. It’ll be a shame to have Blago voted back in and then have him indicted after the fact. Another question, does anyone know of anyone the US Attorney deemed Public Official A, who wasn’t indicted?

Comment by Walking Wounded Friday, Sep 15, 06 @ 11:13 am
Steve–

My point, perhaps not made clearly enough, is that the sale of state jobs and contracts for
political and campaign fund support is epidemic in Illinois and has been for as long as anyone alive can remember. It’s so entrenched that Illinoisians accept it is as part of the political landscape. A candidate totally new to the Illinois political arena might be able to get some outrage going but neither of the current gubernatorial candidates fills that bill.
Whitney doesn’t count but his low poll numbers suggest that there isn’t an outraged electorate out there waiting to be led on the corruption issue.

And maybe it makes people uncomfortable, but yes, giving political supporters state jobs in violation of Rutan (and Shakman) and giving political donors lucrative state contracts is selling them. There is no other way to put it.

Comment by Cassandra Friday, Sep 15, 06 @ 11:52 am
I do believe Karl Rove was “Public Official A” and guess what, he wasn’t indicted! Imagine that-go figure; smear tactics work both ways, but of all of the slime balls who actually are most likely to be guilty, it is Karl Rove. But, I suppose the Right-wingers believe he is 100% inocent. Hypocrites!

Comment by SilverBackDemocrat Friday, Sep 15, 06 @ 5:38 pm