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The debate debate

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The State Journal-Register editorial board was not impressed with Monday night’s debate.

We suspect you are wondering who won Mondayâ€™s gubernatorial debate between Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka.

Had there been a debate, maybe we could issue an opinion of who won. But there was no debate on Monday. Rather, what those who tuned into the Illinois Radio Network-sponsored â€œdebateâ€ heard were two politicians engaged in mudslinging and memorization. [,,,]

It would be interesting to see a more formal debate between the candidates, one in which they had to carefully detail their answers and stay on the question asked. We arenâ€™t sure the Geneva Conventions would allow for the use of the necessary implements to achieve this, however.

And Eric Krol made several points about the debate in his Animal Farm bloglike thingy. Here are his first two:

What a difference a few months makes. During their first debate at NBC-Ch. 5 in late May, Republican challenger Judy Baar Topinka batted Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich from pillar-to-post. Blagojevich looked rattled as Topinka steamrollered him on ethics. On Monday night in Decatur, Blagojevich was more calm and focused, sticking to his talking points and even scoring a few points of his own on ethics by pointing to what he said were no-bid contracts in Topinkaâ€™s treasurer office.

*With only two debates scheduled, Topinka needed a strong performance to close a gap in the polls. Youâ€™ll probably be hard-pressed to find a pundit in Illinois this morning whoâ€™ll say that she delivered. As we pointed out in our story today, Topinka came out nervous, fumbling her pass at the ethics question before recovering to score some later points on ethics and the state budget situation. When we saw her before the debate, we thought perhaps the new hairdo might be the sign of a new Topinka, a turning point for her in the race. Maybe sheâ€™ll be that candidate come Oct. 26, when the two debate at 7 p.m. on WTTW-Ch. 11. The question is, will it be too late? The election is Nov. 7.

Meanwhile, John Patterson of the Daily Herald had a funny piece today.

He’s sure the $1,500 check to his 7-year-old daughter was a birthday gift.

That is unless it was a christening gift for the newborn.

Then again, he’s not quite sure what or which daughter it was for, although he’s certain it was legit and ethical and properly disclosed on the required state forms, albeit a year late and conveniently following a tÃªte-Ã -tÃªte with federal investigators.

Meet Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a Chicago Democrat seeking re-election in November.

She called her Republican rivals a “bunch of morons,” later clarifying that one of them, in fact, was not a moron. Then, to stick the landing of her political flip, she apologized, saying they weren’t morons after all, she was just tired and cranky at the end of a long day’s work. And more recently she quipped about beating the sitting governor with a rolling pin.

Meet state Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka of Riverside, the Republican nominee for governor.

He eventually gets around to the YouTube thing. Go read it, and make sure to check out the companion piece, “Sticking to the script may work.”

Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich often gets caught saying one thing to one group and something else to another, while Republican nominee Judy Baar Topinka has a habit of saying a little too much.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 9:03 am

Comments

Is this really all that surprising? With two corporate-sponsored candidates, muzzled and gagged by their campaign contributors, did anyone really expect a real debate? Now, had Rich Whitney been invited, there would have been a real debate. Too bad unethical journalists like Jim Anderson, over at the Illinois Radio Network, allow Blagojevich and Topinka to manipulate the media.

Comment by Squideshi Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 9:11 am
Why don’t the rules of debate include no mud slinging and have questions pertaining to the problems that are crippling this states economy.SQUID quit trolling WhittyBoy is going to go down as “also ran”

Comment by DOWNSTATE Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 9:16 am
All political debates these days are watered down and worthless! Monday’s debate was a prime example…. Nobody wins, the voting public are the biggest losers.

Comment by Guy Fawkes Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 9:24 am
Debates are not perfect but they add to voters’ store of information about the candidates. They are far more useful than ads or the clamoring of advocacy groups. They are no substitue for doing one’s own research but that is time consuming.

It is possible to improve one’s debating skills.
Both candidates could use improvement but Topinka will have the greater challenge. She also has access to excellent coaching resources if she has the humility to acknowledge that she needs to improve substantially before the WTTW debate.

Comment by Cassandra Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 10:21 am
I wonder if the state has any contracts with IRN.
Further, I wonder if the state has any ‘no-bid’ contracts with IRN.
It’d be interesting to see if IRN left out Whitney b/c RB or JBT has a publicity contract with them.

Comment by Full of Wonder Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 10:26 am
If these candidates are the best we have its all over for the next generation as our state continues to decline. Kentucky and Missouri look better everyday. Illinois politics is failing to amuse me.

Comment by Eagle I Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 10:33 am
At lunch listened to Rich Whitney ANSWERING questions after the debate. (Rich, thanks for putting link on your post.) Get the key in my first sentence - he ANSWERED the questions, unlike the other 2 candidates who just went through their usual games of slamming each other and not actually providing the listeners with REAL answers. Debates don’t mean much if the moderators don’t make them stick to the question at hand an answer it without mudslinging or replying with pretty words. Guess JBT was trying to compete with Rod as she got herself a new hair cut, whatever she still comes off mean and cranky. Rod as I read previously described as a doll with a pull-string, just repeats the same things over and over. Boy, what have we got ourselves into in November? I’m all for out with the old (Blagojevich and Topinka)and in with the new (Whitney). Later

Comment by Judy, Judy, Judy Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 12:58 pm
“Debates donâ€™t mean much if the moderators donâ€™t make them stick to the question at hand an answer it without mudslinging or replying with pretty words.”

Debates don’t mean much if the candidates get to decide who gets invited, or what questions get asked either. In fact, because Topinkavich has such influence over the Illinois Radio Network, it could be argued that this “debate” was really nothing more than free airtime, contributed to the campaigns of Blagojevich and Topinka, on the behalf of the Illinois Radio Network affiliate stations.

Comment by Squideshi Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 1:29 pm
This election is going to boil down to this: Will voters prefer a three time State Treasurer who is not known as “Public Official A” (for all of Ryan’s crookedness, Judy has come away unscathed, otherwise, she would’ve been under massive investigation like Rod’s current administration is), or someone who may be a little too–you know–preoccupied with the investigations?

Oh, and just a reminder: Isn’t the Levine shoe about to drop soon? The Topinka campaign sent out campaign emails stating there would be some “surprises” during the campaign. Well, the bus tour wasn’t a huge surprise (lots of pols do bus tours on the campaign trail), so I’m sort of wondering if perhaps they know more than anyone is letting on? Will we find out soon? Heck, Carol Marin has been asking that question. Perhaps the answer lies with the District Attorney?

The suspense is maddening, but I doubt voters want an investigation-riddled administration in charge.

Heck, we might as well just put up a big sign at the state border that reads “Welcome to Illinois where EVERYONE goes corrupt!” lol

Seriously. Judy survived the Ryan mess. That’s why I think she’s the much better choice. She’s been through it all and come out as the GOP front-runner for the gubernatorial spot, she’s on a well-balanced ticket (a more conservative fellow paired with a more moderate Republican), she’s not going to tick off supporters of the 2nd amendment, she’s sensible on parental notification even though she’s pretty much pro-choice, and on top of it, she’s clearly doing more with less money, which shows how she’ll govern around here. We need help very badly in Illinois, not a slick-dressing, Aquanet job that falls apart when not on the script, as we saw in the famous “check” ad.

And once again, why not take that $1500 and pay some of the state’s backlogged Medicaid bills with it already? I know that’s a concept, but why not? There’s plenty backlog to be paid, Rod!

Comment by Angie Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 1:54 pm
This election is quite like deciding between searing abdominal cramps or the dry heaves.

Comment by Buck Flagojevich Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 2:55 pm
There won’t be another debate.

Comment by B Hicks Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 4:52 pm
Damn, no-talent, “C” average cowards. Is there ANYONE who will tell the truth to the Illinois voter? Why do we keep getting such egotistical incompetents. Stop voting the party and examine the man.

Comment by Martha Mitchell Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 6:36 pm
Why not? Is Rod going to jail? Pray tell?

Comment by Angie Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 6:39 pm
Rod going to jail? Only if he’s in a good mood and feels like going down to bail crazy aunt judy out of the clink for slashing people with her sword of justice.

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 7:13 pm
Except for 1990 when Neil Hartigan got knifed in the back by Eugene Pincham, Richard Daley, and Mike Madigan, Illinois voters, when given the choice between two candidates, one who tells the truth about spending and taxes, and one who talks flim flam about eliminating waste, they ALWAYS vote for the flim flam artist. ALWAYS! And until we voters quit rewarding flim flam BS artists, we will get what we have always gotten. If we want politicians who tell the truth, then we have to vote for them, not against them because of some short sound bite on “cutting waste vs. raising taxes” … .

Comment by Smitty Irving Wednesday, Oct 4, 06 @ 9:35 pm