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It certainly appears that there will be no more debates. The Sun-Times starts us off.
Producers at Chicago’s major public television station figured it was official when Gov. Blagojevich and Republican challenger Judy Baar Topinka agreed months ago to participate in a live TV debate in late October.“It is confirmed,” a Blagojevich campaign aide wrote to a WTTW-TV producer in an e-mail in July.
So WTTW officials were surprised to learn last weekend that Blagojevich is not planning to be in the Oct. 26 debate.
“That’s the first we heard that our debate is off the table,” said Jay Smith, producer of ‘’Chicago Tonight.'’ “So that makes us a little bit confused.” […]
But the governor didn’t take the bait, telling reporters the WTTW debate was just part of “a whole series of proposals that we put forth,” while Topinka has done nothing but complain, stall and nitpick over details since he first proposed doing 10 of the joint appearances after the primary.
The governor is not exactly telling the truth. Here’s the e-mail exchange referenced above between WTTW and the governor’s campaign. I’ve taken out the actual e-mail addresses and put it in chronological order.
From: Jay Smith [mailto:XXXX@wttw.com]
Sent: Thursday, July 20, 2006 10:28 AM
To: XXXX@friendsofblagojevich.com
Subject: WTTW Chicago TonightGood morning Brian,
I understand that Shelia and our Executive Producer Mary Field spoke this morning and that Governor Blagojevich has agreed to appear on our program with Ms. Topinka on Thursday, October 26 at 7pm. We are pleased that we will be able to provide this forum for the voters to get a better understanding of the candidates and their positions on key issues.
Please send me an e-mail confirming the Governor’s acceptance of our invitation. I look forward to talking with you soon.
Jay Smith
Producer, Chicago Tonight
——————————-
From: Brian Daly [mailto:XXXX@friendsofblagojevich.com]
Sent: Thursday, July 20, 2006 1:50 PM
To: Jay Smith
Cc: ‘Sheila Nix’
Subject: RE: WTTW Chicago TonightJay, it is confirmed. I look forward to working with you as well.
Brian Daly
Here’s part of Copley’s story:
Incumbent Blagojevich issued a “final” offer last week to meet with Topinka at two forums - an Oct. 13 radio debate in Chicago and an Oct. 15 debate in southern Illinois - and set a response deadline of Monday morning. Topinka, who offered a counterproposal that her opponent’s campaign rejected, told reporters that Blagojevich was issuing an “ultimatum” and trying to control the terms of their meetings. […]“I don’t think he ever wanted to do the debates, and this has just been horseplay right along the line,” Topinka, a three-term state treasurer, said before she walked past parade spectators along Columbus Drive. “He has not negotiated in good faith. An ultimatum is not a negotiation.”
Blagojevich told a different story, and his campaign said the door is closed to any more joint appearances with Topinka beyond a candidates’ interview today before the Chicago Tribune editorial board and an Oct. 18 event sponsored by the Commercial Club of Chicago.
ABC7:
The League of Women Voters is hesitant to blame one side or the other, but it’s safe to say a governor who is leading in the polls and has millions to spend on TV probably needs and wants debates less than an under-funded challenger, but Topinka is pledging to truck on.
Christopher Mooney, a professor of political science at the University of Illinois at Springfield, said further debates could only become an impediment to Blagojevich, who is leading in the polls and in campaign fundraising.“He could only be hurt by a debate,” Mooney said. “He’s vulnerable on a couple of fronts.”
At the same time, Mooney said he did not understand why Topinka didn’t agree to any changes Blagojevich offered. The debates, he said, would have provided her with a free platform to counter the governor’s huge TV advertising budget.
“She needs everything she can get at this point to get her message out,” Mooney said.
Short answer to Mooney’s confusion: She can’t stand Blagojevich, so she won’t let him dictate terms.
Discuss.
*** UPDATE *** You can watch last week’s Illinois Radio Network debate at C-Span’s website by clicking here (.rm file). [Hat tip: Inside Dope]
*** UPDATE 2 *** Topinka and Blagojevich will square off in front of the Tribune’s editorial board today. Apparently, the governor’s team refused to allow the Trib to tape the proceedings and the paper caved.
*** UPDATE 3 *** Good news. The Tribsters confronted Gov. Blagojevich directly at the editorial board meeting and he agreed to let them videotape audiotape the “debate.”
*** UPDATE 4 *** The Trib story on the edit board “debate” is up.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich said Tuesday that scrutiny of his administration is “not necessarily a bad thing,” but he would not say whether he has retained a criminal defense attorney to handle federal and state investigations into allegations of wrongdoing involving hiring, contracting and fundraising. […]The governor said he saw nothing wrong with accepting the check, which was eventually disclosed on state ethics forms. Asked if Michael Ascaridis had given his children any other large checks, Blagojevich demurred, saying, “You’re asking me to reconstruct a 40-year relationship with somebody and I’m not going to even try to speculate on that.”
The governor repeatedly refused to say whether he had hired a criminal legal defense lawyer.
“One of the things I’ve learned since I’ve been governor is that…what you need to do in modern politics today is you need to have political consultants, pollsters and a whole bunch of lawyers,” Blagojevich said. “You get sued every single day, and, uh, people make accusations and reckless charges and you have to deal with those. So I have all the appropriate lawyers that a governor in the modern world today ought to have.”
I hear they asked him the criminal lawyer thing over and over again. Not totally sure why.
*** UPDATE 5 *** Check out the Trib photo that accompanied the debate story. [Hat tip to a commenter]
*** UPDATE 6 *** CBS2:
Blagojevich insisted the Tribune session not be videotaped or recorded for broadcast purposes. The board up until now has been recording their sessions, but agreed not to, saying the governor probably would not show up if they did.
[Comments closed. Move over to Wednesday’s story please.]
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 3:05 pm
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
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Judy, swallow your pride and take the debate. You do not have enough money to be this picky. Or just debtate Rich Whitney and have an empty Jailhouse Rock Elvis Costume (in time for Halloween) where Blago should be.
Comment by Wumpus Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 8:39 am
Schedules change. Big deal.
That email from Daly was on July 20th. That is over a month and a half ago.
As far as Topinka not being able to stand the Governor… If I were as under funded as she was I would give a little ground just to get on TV to debate. Free media and all.
However, we all that what is closer to the truth is that while she knows she NEEDS to debate, she isnt that great of debater and it only hurts her.
Anyone who heard her on the Decatur debtae knows that.
Comment by Roomie Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 8:44 am
She needs to show and allow questions Blago’s handlers are afraid he will screw up.
Comment by DOWNSTATE Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 8:59 am
Topinka’s been terrible at these things, or any live event where she’s challenged for that matter. It’s pretty clear that her strategy is to try to object to everything so she can get as much free press out of the debate debate without having to endure any more “she was lousy at last night’s debate” stories.
Comment by Snark Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 9:10 am
The “Weasel Factor” is alive and flourishing within the Blagojevich camp.
Illinois historians are writing all this down Rod!
Comment by Guy Fawkes Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 9:12 am
Nixon, like Blagojevich didn’t want to debate either, so no debates were held in 1968 or 1972. When a candidate has something to hide and can’t convincingly lie to the camera, they stick with their advertisements and run from the press.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 9:23 am
I think this report by CBS 2 explains everything.
http://cbs2chicago.com/video?id=26683@wbbm.dayport.com&cid=48
Just look at Topinka’s response. Is it any wonder her staff doenst want her to debate???
Thats exactly why people dont like her… She is snarky, uncouth, and unprofessional. Her response smells of desperation.
Comment by Roomie Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 9:31 am
Topinka should quit while she’s only 10 points behind. Debates only let more people see how classless and unqualified she is.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 9:41 am
Rod is and should be deathly afraid of any more debates, which give him a chance to screw up live and un-edited in front of Chicago voters. He only wants to run out the clock until November. Such a brave, brave man.
Comment by Gregor Samsa Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 9:41 am
Blago has been calling for debates since the day after the primary. It has been Topinka who has said that she “wanted to wait until after labor day when voters were paying attention.” What a bunch of bull. She knows that she is a lightweight and that she has no substance to sit on the same stage with blago and debate policy. She has no plan except for blago to get in trouble and for her to be there when he goes down. If there are no more debates, she has nobody but herself to blame.
He’s not going down. Instead of complaining about blago all summer, she should have been raising money so that she could beat back the blago advertising juggernaut. She has been defined. This race is over — debates or no debates. Goodnight Judy — four more years ROD!
Comment by Topinka's hair dye Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 9:49 am
I just can’t believe that there is not more outrage about the Governor’s responsibility in this debate situation. Yes, Topinka has more to gain in terms of getting her message out, and thus the Governor would like to limit her exposure, but whatever happened to being Gubernatorial and defending your reign. It appears that the media is just giving him a pass because he is the perceived front runner and has more money. It should not be this way. Illinois loses again. Be a man Governor and the media should grow some nuts to truly press the issue!
Comment by Outraged Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 9:53 am
Let’s hear it for Governor “Chickenman” Blagojevich. (Insert your own choice insult here.)
Comment by fedup dem Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 10:05 am
Governor Blagojevich is such an easy target but, as I’ve said all along, Governor Blagojevich has the media in his hip pocket. These reporters live in Illinois too, you’d think they’d care about their own state. Maybe they’ve been promised plum jobs if they play nice.
Comment by Guy Fawkes Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 10:10 am
“Guy Fawkes” I don’t know which state you live in, but Gov. Blagojevich absolutely does not the Illinois media in his “hip pocket.” Far from it. I sure hope that was sarcasm.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 10:20 am
You know what, Rod had challenged Judy to debates all summer but she said ‘no’ because she was worried that every time she opened her mouth, Rod would follow-up with a negative TV ad. Now they complain? Thanks for the memories Judy! Thanks for playing! NEXT!
Comment by Juice Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 10:38 am
Rich, while Blagojevich may not have the media in his hip pocket, surely you must admit that he has been able to manipulate the media. For example, his implicit threat to withdraw from the debates forced the Illinois Radio Network to exclude Rich Whitney. You yourself just wrote that the Tribune caved into his demand that today’s appearance not be televised. At the very least, it’s unethical journalism.
Comment by Squideshi Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 10:43 am
Oct. 26th would be a perfect day for a debate. It’s the same day Stu Levine talks, and will just add to the grease fire. Pub Official A will have some explaining to do!
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 11:06 am
It is becoming more clear to me the closer we get to the election …the press doesn’t seem to matter any more. It money that matters only money.
You can raise money from any where (even illegally) buy the air time needed to deliver your message and pull the wool over the idiot voters. This is our system we deserve what we get…I for one am ashamed
Comment by Larry Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 11:07 am
This is why we need to short-circuit the TV-money connection, by making the TV stations air the ads free to all official candidates. It should be the station’s civic duty and not a profit center. All the financial shenanigans we see with political campaigns ultimately comes down to raising money for media buys. Instead of citizens voting, it’s the richest contributors that make all the real decisions. Make this one change and it would revolutionize our process like nothing else.
Comment by You can't stop the signal Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 11:21 am
THEY CAVED?! THEY CAVED?! What kind of two bit media outfit is this Tribune Co? It looks like they are as weak as their two bit baseball team! OMFGoodness. I know Rod is gov, but them not taping the Q&A is a travesty of journalism.
Comment by Wumpus Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 11:33 am
Update #2 provides for another example of the media giving treating the Governor with white gloves. Would you please put some pressure on the guy already instead of playing into his game. You did the same thing to Glen Poshard and now to Topinka. The media has some responsibility in this too. When is it going to end.
Comment by Outraged Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 11:43 am
Blago can’t do anything on his own and with guys like Brian Daly having his nose in things, GOD help us. It is sad to think that we probably will have four more years of these people. I guess the people of Illinois will get what we deserve with Him in office for another term. Get with it Fitz!!
Comment by WARDOG Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 12:32 pm
Speaking of free media, thanks to Juice, Roomie, and Snark for today’s Blago talking point. (Bill must be mixing today’s batch of Kool-Aid.)
I hope that “Roomie” is not on leave from OMB or a legal post somewhere given this whopper: “That email from Daly was on July 20th. That is over a month and a half ago.”
Actually, Junior Genius, that WAS over TWO and one half months ago. Nice number crunching.
More importantly, does this mean that after a given time period, statements, commitments, etc. from Blago & Co. become “inoperative” to use a great Nixon era term?
That’s certainly been the case with a number of his zillion campaign promises, aka puffery.
What a sad excuse for a Governor.
I kind of understand their position with the Trib. As many of their people are already “on tape” so to speak, they may be gunshy about allowing any more recordings they don’t control to be created.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 12:43 pm
Sorry Rich,
But to hear what many of the governor’s operatives are saying, it would lead one to believe that, that is just what is happening, everything’s is in the bag according to them. It just seems at times that Blagojevich and his posse dictate everything. You just wouldn’t believe the arrogance……
Comment by Guy Fawkes Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 1:17 pm
John Chase, a reporter from the Tribune, was asked last night on Chicago Tonight if the “debate” would be videotaped. Chase said that it is a policy at the Tribune that their Editorial Board endorsement sessions NOT be videotaped for public viewing.
So who is right - John Chase from the Tribune or all the media outlets that are saying Blagojevich is to blame.
Has the Tribune ever allowed cameras into an endorsement session before and then allowed the session to be viewed by the public? If so, can anyone recall when?
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 1:18 pm
Anon 1:18, the Peraica-Stroger Trib board “debate” was videotaped and broadcast on the Internet, as was another one that escapes my mind at the moment. You may have misheard.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 1:20 pm
-Arthur Andersen, What a sad excuse for a Republican challenger - feeling proud? I thought not…
Comment by Juice Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 1:21 pm
I was wrong, Anon. Three debates were videotaped, not two. Cook Co. board prez, 6th CD and 8th CD.
You can access the vids here.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 1:23 pm
I was told by the Tribune that this appearance would not be broadcast. I was also told that the reason that Whitney was not invited was because he actually answered all of the questions on their questionaire the first time around; and they only invited Blagojevich and Topinka because those candidates had not, and they felt like they needed to get more information.
Comment by Squideshi Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 1:43 pm
Funny how Dick Mell and Mayor Dailey seem to of distanced themselves from Blagojevich & Company.
Wonder why? TICK! TICK! TICK!
Comment by Illinois Tollway Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 3:07 pm
Rich Whitney just issued a renewed gubernational debate challenge at the Illinois State Capitol.
“Let me be perfectly clear so that there is no mistake about this; I am issuing an unconditional challenge to the other two candidates in this race to debate me at the time and place of their choosing singly or together as long as I have 24 hours notice and the terms of the debate are fair and equal for each candidate.”
Comment by Squideshi Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 3:08 pm
So let me get this straight. This guy can name the starting line-up for the 1964 St. Louis Cardinals (a team of which he admitedly is not even really a fan of), but can’t tell us if his best friend wrote him more than one $1500 check!
Also, what is this 40 year realtionship crap? His oldest is what, 7, he can’t remember how many $1500 checks have been written to him (not to his campaign, but to him) from his best friend in the last 7 years. Maybe he really is rainman…”I’m a terrific driver..terrific driver”.
Comment by Jaded Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 3:24 pm
Governor Robot was at it again apparently with the Tribune. “You’re asking me to reconstruct a 40 year relationship…” ad nauseum. Does this guy have one single original, off-the-cuff comment?
Comment by Little Egypt Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 3:37 pm
Governor Robot was at it again apparently with the Tribune. “You’re asking me to reconstruct a 40 year relationship…” ad nauseum. Does this guy have one single original, off-the-cuff comment? Stick to the script Hot Rod, stick to the script. I would have loved to be a mouse in the conference room at the Trib.
Comment by Little Egypt Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 3:38 pm
Squid, after that, i am not ever votign for Whitney. Looking for this gov in Springfield? Waht a maroon!
Jaded, I agree. It is 7 years, not 40 unless the gov has additional kids out there. Either he is lying or receiving $1500 checks from people who end up w/state jobs is standard for him.
Of course he eventually disclosed the gift..when he was caught.
Comment by Wumpus Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 3:40 pm
Politicians are more sensitive about allegations that are true than the untrue ones.
Comment by Carl Nyberg Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 3:45 pm
I have a pretty good idea of every birthday gift my kid has got in eight years, I don’t need to reconstruct 40 years to figure that out. And you could double the amount of years and I’d STILL remember a fifteen-hundred-dollar check given to my kid for a birthday, if I remembered nothing else.
Rod needs to “reconstruct” a better excuse.
Maybe a subpoena could help his memory.
Comment by You can't stop the signal Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 3:51 pm
Why bother with another debate? All we could expect would be more evasion, bickering rather than thoughtful debate, and personal attacks on each of two candidates.
This is the first time in the 34 years I’ve been voting that I refuse to soil my hands voting for either “honorable” gubernatorial candiate.
Perhaps the debate in which we should all be more interested is a Quinn/Birkett debate, since it seems there may be a better chance that one of them will be governor in 2008 instead Blago or Topinkaryan considering Topinka’s non-existent base and Blago’s legal issues.
Comment by PalosParkBob Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 3:54 pm
I find the entire attitude from Blagojevich and his campaign to be really weird.
It acts like he is cornered. He shuns the press. He shuns any debates. He won’t answer some questions. He doesn’t want to be videotaped. He doesn’t want to be audiotaped. He is running for re-election and acting like this?
The Tribune board’s questions about him hiring a criminal defense attorney are completely appropriate. Considering all the criminal investigations ongoing within his administration for the past three years, it would not surprise anyone if he has a lawyer. Who wouldn’t at this point?
Additionally, this would explain why he is shunning everyone when he is four weeks from his re-election. Perhaps he is protecting himself from further perjury charges? Why in the world is this guy ACTING like this?
If he is innocent, he sure isn’t acting like it. How in the world can Democrats support a man behaving like Nixon in the summer of ‘74?
It isn’t right. The idea that Blagojevich thinks he can tell eveyone to just shut up and watch his million-dollar TV commercials while he runs out the clock shoveling mud at Topinka is completely insane.
What’s he thinking? If he is re-elected, all these criminal investigations will just go away?
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 3:59 pm
Debate - No debate; who cares? Neither option changes the outcome. The electorate thinks they are both terrible choices.
The only people who are following the day-to-day events are the media and the junkies. It won’t take much to cause the electorate to forget to vote. If the Bears keep winning, that’s all the Northern IL news will be about.
Comment by RBD Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 4:02 pm
Priceless picture that goes with that trib story link: Rod wagging his finger, Red with a “can you BELIEVE how deep he’s piling this?” expression.
I wonder why they did not press for a better answer regarding the check.
If they kept asking him the lawyer question three times, the question will have some significance down the road, you can bet on it. Much like Peter denying Christ.
When I think my kid is lying to me, I reply: “Now, I’m going to pretend you didn’t answer me yet, and I want you to really think about what happens when you lie and we already know what the truth is… now, what was your answer again?”
Rod, now what was that answer, for the record?
Comment by Gregor Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 4:06 pm
Oh great, Art is going to dumb-up this thread, too.
Dude, why are you always mentioning Bill in your comments? Is there something you want to tell us, Mark?
Comment by B Hicks Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 4:22 pm
It sounds like the Tribune already knows the answer to the “lawyer” question.
Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 4:27 pm
Re: *** UPDATE 5 *** Check out the Trib photo that accompanied the debate story. [Hat tip to a commenter]
To funny, this picture says it all….
Talk about looking guilty as hell Rod!
Time for Rod’s handlers to put bag over his head and hands….
Comment by Guy Fawkes Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 4:30 pm
The Chicago Tribune lied to me this morning.
Cornelia Grummen at the Tribune told me that this morning’s “endorsement session” with Blagojevich and Topinka would not be available to the public and was for internal use only. Turns out that, in reality, this “endorsement session” is now being broadcast as a “debate”; and transcripts will be available on the Tribune website.
Comment by Squideshi Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 4:31 pm
The Tribune paid a price for its partisanship and the fact that nobody takes the paper’s endorsement seriously.
If the Trib endorsement wasn’t merely a rubber stamp for the GOP nominee the paper might have some leverage over Blagojevich if he skipped their session.
But the Trib is just a Republican rubber stamp. I wonder why Dem candidates even bother. Republicans candidates rarely respond to candidate questionnaires from Dem-leaning organizations.
Comment by Carl Nyberg Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 4:31 pm
Thought we were spending a lot of IL tax $$ to video tape the Governor doing all kinds of lightweight and pretty things past few years. Maybe there’s a new rule that the only ones who can tape him now are his campaign contributors that we taxpayers are paying?
Comment by North of I-80 Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 4:33 pm
Let me say it again. Republicans who want to tarnish Blagojevich as being corrupt or Nixonian have no credibility if they can’t bring themselves to criticize Bush.
You guys built a party around an individual. You then proceeded to polarize the electorate as much as possible. Now you want Dems to swing over for JBT and Peraica.
Whatever.
Comment by Carl Nyberg Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 4:35 pm
Squid,
The Tribune lies to everyone every morning.
Comment by Bill Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 4:39 pm
Here’s a Trib headline?
Lawyering Up? Blagovich Won’t Say
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 4:48 pm
Poor, poor sensitive Bill.
Comment by Guy Fawkes Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 4:54 pm
I have never heard of politicians who won’t let cameras tape them when they are debating. This is the stupidest most insipid election I have ever been a part of. The governor of Illinois can’t even be trusted to be seen lest he embarrass himself. absolutly priceless.
Comment by Garp Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 5:04 pm
Actually, as much as Bill irritates me, you gotta give the man props for never surrendering. There aren’t many people like Bill who can always manage to stay on message. That isn’t easy.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 5:06 pm
It is when you’re the Governor
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 5:10 pm
Rich - Guess the question is, is Bill comments/messages at the taxpayer’s expense?
Comment by Guy Fawkes Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 5:14 pm
On the first post by Wumpus. ROFL!!!!
And Judy isn’t as well-trained in debating like Rod. Her background was as a journalist. She went to Northwestern’s Medill school while I do believe that Rod got a legal education from Pepperdine. That said, after his extremely lame rebuttal of the “Public Official A” comment where he talked about being “absent” or “asleep at the switch,” you wouldn’t know he ever made it through 1L. Face it, Rod wasn’t all that great himself, and certainly not in front of the reporters over the infamous check issue.
Hopefully, the undecideds will break from the incumbent. What could it hurt to try someone new?
Then again, maybe they want Pat Quinn if Rod puts on the Jailhouse Rock costume, I don’t know. lol
Comment by Angie Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 5:24 pm
I am ashamed to be living in a state with such a base coward as our governor. From the reports listed here Rod Blagojevich has once again clearly shown his complete and fundamental unfitness to serve as Governor of Illinois. I suspect that even many of the Democratic Party leaders realize that if re-elected, Blagojevich will likely be indicted on federal corruption charges in the near future.
I, and the membership of the Illinois Committee for Honest Government, are of the opinion that having a sitting governor be indicted and then standing trial (a process that almost certainly will drag on longer than the George Ryan case) will have a devastating effect on this state and state government.
A Blagojevich indictment would likely soon result in a lowering of the state’s bond rating, at a time when Blagojevich’s reckless budget gimmicks will be forcing the state to borrow more and more money. While the ICHG and I agree that Lt. Governor Pat Quinn would make a fine Governor, we do not believe the state can wait out the two or even three years of a judicial circus a Blagojevich trial might take (if the length of the George Ryan proceedings are any indication). Therefore, I’ll be voting for Judy Baar Topinka, the endorsed candidate of the Illinois Committee for Honest Government.
Comment by Randall Sherman, Secretary/Treasurer, Illinois Committee for Honest Government Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 5:30 pm
Well, old AA has learned a few things today.
-”Juice” is not an English major. “What a sad excuse for a Republican challenger - feeling proud? I thought not…” That is almost like bad haiku, but with extra words and all strung together. Clearly not a talking point.
-Rod clearly is lawyered up. Dan Webb, maybe?
-Mister Hicks thinks I’m Mark Gordon! Not even close. I have more hair. He writes better, though.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 5:44 pm
AARP has a good recommendation in TV ads running in the Chicago area this week.
DON’T VOTE, DON’T VOTE, DON’T VOTE.
DON’T VOTE IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHERE THE CANDIDATES STAND ON THE ISSUES.
I think this means ‘No debates, No votes.’
Comment by Larry McKeon Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 5:51 pm
“Carl Nyberg - Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 3:45 pm:
Politicians are more sensitive about allegations that are true than the untrue ones.”
Excellent post.
It is very true. The people/person with the most to hide are usually the ones who scream innocent the loudest.
It reminds me of the time when my children were young. My son was about five and he scrawled my three year old daughters name on a wall. When I asked him about it he yelled out “I DIDN’T DO IT!!”
Problem was, my daughter didn’t know how to write yet.
We must be dealing with a five year old child’s intellect when dealing with our current Governor.
Comment by Buck Flagojevich Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 5:52 pm
I believe Elvis is between a rock and a hard place. He is definitely lawyered up. Who wouldn’t be with all the crap going on with him? There are several high profile people in his administration who should be lawyered up at this point as well. He is not good with off the cuff comments and that’s why his people try to keep him on script, making him look robotic. I think the guy has to watch and weigh every single word he utters unless it has been drilled into him. That’s why he did so poorly with the reporter in Chicago. He was trying to think before he spoke and avoid saying something that would further harm him. But his hesitation to answer is what really ended up harming him. No he won’t debate and he won’t do a live press conference. It’s not because he’s so far ahead in the polls that this thing is in the bag. It’s not because he’s afraid he will lose the election by showing JBT to be smarter than he is. It’s because he’s trying to minimize his prison sentence. HE’S IN DEFENSE MODE!!!
Comment by Little Egypt Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 6:01 pm
Little Egypt,
Try again. Lying to the media is not a crime, and media reports are considered hearsay at trial. It’s highly unlikey that the feds will charge Blago with perjury for contradicting himself in his statements to the media.
Comment by DeepFriedOnAStick Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 6:06 pm
I wish they would just hurry up and indict him already.
Comment by Squideshi Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 6:25 pm
DeepFriedOnionOnAStick - I wouldn’t want you to be my legal representative. Don’t bet the ranch on what the Feds can and cannot do. Lying to the media about something the Feds are already sniffing you out about is not good on any day.
Comment by Little Egypt Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 6:29 pm
I thought everyone knew the ‘64 Cardinals….McCarver, White. Javier. Groat, Boyer, Flood, Kolb, James,Gibson, Washburn, Sadecki and Broglio
Who did Bob Uecker and Lou Burdette play for that year?
This is much more interesting than the silly debate rant.
Gotta love the Tribune
Comment by Reddbyrd Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 6:41 pm
Wow Reddbyrd. It only took you three hours to look up and find the ‘64 Cards lineup. Quick as a cat, like your man Rod.
Comment by Buck Flagojevich Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 7:02 pm
I have been in the Trib editorial boardroom, and it reminds me of what a CIA interrogation room might look like. The place is wired to record every little twitch. I’ll bet if Blago’s security team didn’t check it for bugs, there’s probably something recorded somewhere.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 7:07 pm
Larry,
I think everyone knows where the governor stands on the issues. I didn’t hear many issues being discussed in the last debate which featured Judy yelling public official a and Deja vu, all over again, and worrying about someone playing keno while she was eating her pork chops. Governor Blagojevich, outlined his accomplishments in office, including increasing the per student foundation funding level more than any other governor in history, streamlining state gov’t so that the state works for the people rather than the other way around, about instituting health insurance programs for children, veterans, seniors, about supporting legislation instituting pre-school for all children,about supporting a woman’s right to choose, about supporting benefits for domestic partners, about working to find a way to help seniors afford their prescriptions so they don’t have to choose between medicine and food, all without raising sales or income taxes. It would be quite easy to beat Judy in a debate and it is most likely that she would say something stupid, as usual, and cost herself some more votes. Since she is not an incumbent and she is far behind in the polls, and since she doesn’t have any money it would be in her best interest to accept a debate on any terms .At least it would be free media time. Too late now. What’s she thinking?
Squid,
Just keep waiting for those indictments. Since the governor has done nothing wrong, there won’t be any.
Comment by Bill Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 7:10 pm
Blago is just a little lying weasel and is afraid to debate a woman who can rip him a new one on all the federal investigations on his corrupt administration. Keep up the work Judy and get him good!
Comment by Illinois is #1 Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 7:19 pm
Sheila… Ummm… I mean Bill. It must be difficult for you to say that with a straight face; or then again, maybe not!
Comment by Squideshi Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 7:41 pm
keep enlightening the masses brother Bill…
Comment by Ronnie Dobbs Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 7:52 pm
I can kinda understand why Blago doesn’t want to waste his time with someone who’s as lost in space and nasty as Topinka. As the clock runs out on her career she’s getting more and more snarky.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 7:53 pm
Bill,
You have provided yet another example of why Blago & Company appear to be so adeptly waltzing into another four years of reform & renewal… All while being doggidly chased by Judy Baar, the press, and even the ever so silent Patrick Fitzgerald. At the very beginning of the first days in office, Blago and the rest of the your team have created a poll & fundrasing based policy agenda, supported the agenda by press releases. Which at times the policy has been little more than a press release. Raised a gazillion trillion and are simply buying your way past the media filters and selling your message. The voters will come to regret their support of this administration. Unfortunently a bit too late for the short term future of Illinois.
Ps. I would have loved to see the Illinois GOV. debate on C-SPAN. We could be soooo proud of team Illinois…unless of course you are not so proud.
Comment by Larry Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 9:04 pm
LittleEgypt,
By all means, don’t let legal precedent get in the way of spewing your random thoughts into cyberspace.
Comment by DeepFriedOnAStick Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 9:10 pm
Arthur, I think Bill’s dig at you was a subtle way of suggesting you were like Congressman Foley in some aspect of your character.
I think the Trib should have done what the Governor does; agree to no tapings, start the debate, tape it and release the tapes, stating
A: It was all just puffery and not meant to be taken as a serious promise.
B: It was never put in writing.
C: That promise was made by some junior staffer and is void.
D: The other newspapers tape interviews way more than the Trib does, why not start the investigation and complaints there?
E: The feds are already recording everything anyway.
Comment by Gregor Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 10:40 pm
The more I read the scripted rantings from Bill and his cohorts, the more I laugh. God, I hope he realizes that when the Blagovich hits the Feds radar screen (can you say indictments?), everyone one of us is going to remind him of his comments. He reminds me of Cub Fans- who (though they finished in last place, the third worse record in baseball)- only ask Cardinal Fans “how many games did we beat you this year”!
The other think that still sort of pisses me off- the realization that I need to get some better “best” friends. Geesh- for my son’s seventh birthday, my best friend bought him a freaking toy Pirate’s ship! I looked through the hold, inside the cannon, everywhere- looking for a $1500 check. Arggggggg.
Comment by Roy Slade Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 10:55 pm
DeepFried - If you don’t want to read me or anyone else spewing random thoughts into cyberspace, what are you doing here? I could give you a few suggestions for other ways to pass your time. Good night all. I look forward to when this election is over and all we have to talk about are Hairdo’s indictments.
Comment by Little Egypt Tuesday, Oct 10, 06 @ 10:56 pm
Here’s the Tribune’s official line:
“The third candidate on next month’s election ballot, Green Party candidate Richard Whitney, was not invited to participate in the editorial board meeting. The Tribune editorial board said Whitney had been clear in his positions in answering questionnaires sent to the candidates and wanted to further question Blagojevich and Topinka.”
Comment by Squideshi Wednesday, Oct 11, 06 @ 1:02 am
Litte Egypt wrote that “That’s why he did so poorly with the reporter in Chicago. He was trying to think before he spoke and avoid saying something that would further harm him.”
You mean like…snap at the reporters? Oh yead. I’d ask him to shut up, too. He is apparently “lawyered up” with those who can’t teach him how to debate and play defense properly. Plea bargain lawyers on his team, perchance? Because then that would explain his poor performance in the debate.
“George Ryan’s treasurer.” I can’t believe he is still on that, as if he hasn’t just insulted every voter who ever voted for JBT all three times. But hey, the hair looks great, and at least we know he’s probably wearing nice Bruno Magli shoes as he inserts them into his mouth.
Comment by Angie Wednesday, Oct 11, 06 @ 1:36 am
Gregor, that’s the second time he’s done that. Or the third if you count a similar bigoted, homophobic slam against a local legislator.
BTW, it’s not Bill. He plays fair. It’s actually B Hicks, Or Mr. Hicks as he advises he prefers to be addressed by people he can’t confirm are like him. Hmmmm, looks a red neck showing above that white collar, Mr. Hicks?
I just ignore it.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Oct 11, 06 @ 6:53 am
Let’s move the discussion to Wednesday’s debate post, please.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Oct 11, 06 @ 7:26 am