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Topinka and Birkett held a press conference at the Statehouse today. Quite a few good questions were asked. I had to convert the files to mp3 to use here, so I’m not sure how many I’ll upload of the four. You might want to check bacck later, though. Thanks much to Ben Yount for the audio files.
The first is Topinka’s opening statement. Topinka demands to know what gifts Tony Rezko gave Gov. Blagojevich. “He’s answered questions for the FBI, but he refuses to answer questions for the people who entrusted him with the great responsibility of leading this state.”
Next is Birkett’s statement. He makes a good point about Blagojevich’s disclosure policy.
And here’s the governor’s latest Internet ad. I’m not sure yet if this will be put up on TV, but I’ve heard it may.
*** UPDATE *** OK, here are the other two.
Birkett and Topinka take questions (long clip… 15 minutes).
More questions, including more stuff about Mrs. Blagojevich.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Here’s the Blagojevich campaign’s Internet-only ad on veterans’ issues that has caused somewhat of a stir.
*** UPDATE 3 *** Here’s the Blagojevich campaign’s Internet-only ad on veterans’ issues that has caused somewhat of a stir. The Tribune has finally posted the entire Blagojevich-Topinka “debate” online. It’s audio-only.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Oct 12, 06 @ 2:39 pm
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I saw this stupid Blagojevich ad which attacked Topinka because she “wants to cut VA benefits”. That statement was followed by Judy saying, “You know, you have to do more than just go to funerals.” Okay, what the heck? The ad made absolutely no sense. What is the deal???
Comment by Lovie's Leather Thursday, Oct 12, 06 @ 3:01 pm
I think that add was ludicrous, especially given the fact that her only son is in the military.
That VA add reeks of desperation, as does the new add interviewing a “doctor/nurse” about how she wants to take healthcare away from kids.
Newsflash: your Allkids program is nothing but a diversion from paying Medicaid bills that would provide the state’s kids with better healthcare than the supposed program does. Oh, and by the way, every doctor I know and talk to (which is over a hundred) refuses to use the Allkids program.
His ads are nothing more than grasps at straws
Comment by ANON Thursday, Oct 12, 06 @ 3:27 pm
Interesting that this ad talks about how the “right wing” killed stem cell funding. In Illinois, HotRod had to sneak stem cell funding into back-to-back budgets over the objections of legislative members of his own party…I wonder if Gary Hannig knows he is part of the “right wing”?
Comment by SangamoGOP Thursday, Oct 12, 06 @ 3:37 pm
Rich, I love the audio postings here. I always said Judy should show up with Flat Rodney and this is what has happened. However, it is 2x’s worse than Elvis could have imagined because he is getting it from both sides, from both Judy and Joe. Joe has a pretty formidable presence and can sure handle himself well in front of a microphone. I guess it’s the prosecutor in him. But he is sure answering questions in a way that leaves no room for doubt about what Elvis is/has been up to.
Go get ‘em Judy and Joe. The more I hear of this press conference, the more I think those two make a great team and will be a great Governor and Lt. Governor for the next 4 years.
Don’t just read postings here people. Take the time to listen to the press conference. Yes, it takes a little bit of your time, but it’s well worth it.
Comment by Little Egypt Thursday, Oct 12, 06 @ 3:45 pm
Most people hung thier head when Ryan was sentenced.When this lying creep gets sentenced there will be cheering in the street.
Comment by DOWNSTATE Thursday, Oct 12, 06 @ 3:59 pm
Does all this mean no more debates?
Just slick Blago ads for 25 more days.
Comment by Guy Fawkes Thursday, Oct 12, 06 @ 4:21 pm
Blago is going to hide and use the money from the state jobs and state contracts he sold to run nonstop campaign ads. I think he might be able to pull it off because he has such a huge amount of money. (unless he decides to save the money for his criminal defense attorney that he refused to talk about with the tribune). He is slick on commercials and that may save him
Comment by fed up Thursday, Oct 12, 06 @ 4:52 pm
Guy Fawkes:
This means Nov. 7 will be IL’s own groundhog day. Blago will be in hiding until then, when he will come out and either see his shadow (i.e. the sun comes out & votes make an intelligent decision) or he sees nothing (voters trip over their own feet again and we have 4 more years of corruption)
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 12, 06 @ 5:11 pm
GoverNOT Hairdo may run ads unless the Feds freeze his campaign funds like they did GRyan. Hope springs eternal.
Comment by Little Egypt Thursday, Oct 12, 06 @ 5:24 pm
The Governor and the Democrats who supported the state budget the last two years voted to cut over $700 million from the Illinois Veterans Rehabilitation Fund and the Military Affairs Fund.
We have the worst veteran compensation benefits in the country and a serious veteran homeless problem.
And then the Gov’s people run this sick misleading (down right lies) ad. Shameless!
Comment by WHAT A HYPCRITE Thursday, Oct 12, 06 @ 5:38 pm
Rich, are you sure the vets ad is internet-only? I swear I’d seen it on broadcast TV.
Comment by RickG Thursday, Oct 12, 06 @ 7:07 pm
Well, if Blago would stop crapping on the veterans preference, some of those vets could get a state job w/benefits. And the wonderful Pat Quinn is oh so quiet on that front.
What caused a stir? Saying going to funerals is not enough? If TEabag Pat had spent less time trying to censor a bunch of idiots and talking to his sugardaddy, maybe the vet preference would have been honored.
Comment by Wumpus Thursday, Oct 12, 06 @ 7:11 pm
Little Egypt his ads will still run whether he is indicted or not because they are already paid for.
Comment by anon Thursday, Oct 12, 06 @ 7:31 pm
WAH:
Don’t we have the Republican-led federal government to thank for why we have among the worst benefits for vets in the country? I thought a Trib report on the disparity of federal benefits showed that.
Comment by Rattlehead Thursday, Oct 12, 06 @ 7:34 pm
Topinka doesn’t mention that her son was or is in the JAG corps, a lawyer. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
The point is it’s doubtful he’s actually been in harm’s way. I could be wrong, but that’s usually what JAG entails - well behind the lines.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 12, 06 @ 8:04 pm
The funerals quote is completely out of context, it is from her talking about the duties of Lt. Governor Quinn. Typically, negative spots seek to take a quote and put the worst possible spin on it, but this spot is trying too hard to imply false connections. Then again, it’s a mirror of how Blago has operated all along: twist the debate to make everything about “we’re good, they’re bad, we’re righteous, they are evil”. Oversimplify every issue to make it sound like Rod’s way is the obvious only sane course to take.
This one may blow up in Rod’s face: judy can counter with the stats about unfunded veteran’s homes and veteran’s preference for hiring being circumvented, those issues are easily proven and will have traction. Drop over to the VFW hall and pop a brewski with the old guys there and ask them what they think of a guy who puts his friends in high paying state jobs by deliberately avoiding hiring a vet, and who won’t fund the veteran’s home enough so the residents get only one bath a week. Then we’ll see about the veteran’s vote. Rod is lucky that Quinn has been there for the vets all along, it may just keep them from lynching Rod.
Comment by The utter mendacity Thursday, Oct 12, 06 @ 8:38 pm
That veteran’s spot is poorly done, you can smell the desperation all over it. Judy should do one set in a veteran’s hall, talking about those issues mentioned above. If she only had more money to play the ads as much as Rod’s. Nobody will know the truth if they don’t see it.
It bothers me greatly that we voters have to count so much on the press to review and rate the truths of such advertising; without newspaper and Tv station “truth squads” dissecting each message for the facts and fables, the default result is the lies that get the most airplay become truth in the eyes of uneducated voters. This vital watchdog function is in constant danger from shrinking budgets at papers and TV stations. Not to mention that the media outlet’s personal interests are in conflcit with criticism of mega-million-dollar ad buys.
We could use Ebert and Roeper to rate these political ads, and say “thumbs down” on the ones that lie, like this veteran’s spot.
Comment by Gregor Thursday, Oct 12, 06 @ 8:54 pm
to anonymous 8:04
Her son did serve before he became part of the JAG corps. You can’t just join the JAG corps as a civilian. You work your way up to it. So yes, he has served his time.
But good job making yourself sound like a condesending liberal idiot. You play the part well
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 12, 06 @ 9:27 pm
If dishonesty was a crime, he’d be in jail already. His ads are the type of crap that make people hate politics and politicians, because they are flat out lies. Seriously, who is against veterans? What a pathetic joke. Watch for the next ad, the one where Blago criticizes Topinka for being Tony Rezko’s Treasurer.
Comment by Truth Thursday, Oct 12, 06 @ 10:33 pm
Judy’s son did serve in Iraq. And anybody that ends up there deals with being in “harms” way due to IED and such.
I seem to remeber a bunch of guardsmen killed behind enemy lines in 91 with a scud missle.
The fact is Judy’s only son went to war. blago cut benefits for vets by raiding the funds.
Blago then went on to say that all of us vets are no better than convicts by giving them equal treatment with veterans for jobs.
Buck Flagojevich
Comment by Dozer Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 12:10 am
So this website is where all the IL GOPers hang out these days - I was wondering where you guys were. After Fitz convicted George Ryan and 70+ of your leaders and rank-and-file, you guys were no where to be found.
Its cute to read your rantings and ravings about the Governor.
And Downstate at 3:59, you wrote “Most people hung thier [sic] head when Ryan was sentenced.” By “[m]ost people,” you probably meant your fellow IL Republican crooks (sorry for the redundancy), but, sorry, most Illinoisians did not shed a tear for your patron saint of corruption and political sponsor George Ryan. They guy is a scum bag, convicted for his crimes against the people of Illinois.
So, please, spare me the tears for your poor George Ryan as you foam at the mouth against Blagojevich.
What a bunch of dishonest hypocrites.
Comment by Bill Baar's Physician Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 1:58 am
Re: “So this website is where all the IL GOPers hang out these days - I was wondering where you guys were. After Fitz convicted George Ryan and 70+ of your leaders and rank-and-file, you guys were no where to be found.”
Frankly, we would all be better off if Fitz ran for Illinois Governor as an Independent!!
Because that would really clean this place up. I think we now have two parties, the Whichever One Is Corrupt Today, D or R, Doesn’t Matter Party versus the voters who want a Corruption Free Party and Make That as Soon as Possible Please Party.
When Fitz is done booking the crooks, someone get him to run. I’m so serious.
Comment by Angie Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 3:05 am
I thought Rod’s new “attack Washington” ad is pretty good.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 10:55 am
Bill Barr: nice spin, that was about as ridiculous as a Blago ad. He didn’t mean people cried when George Ryan was convicted, he meant they hung their head in shame. Are you that ignorant, or just that much in denial about our current governor, and I can tell you that after living around Springfield the last few years, people will be cheering in the street when this guy is either a.) indicted or b.) not reelected.
the only votes this guy gets is from morons like you and the unions/groups he pays to vote for him
Comment by ANON Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 2:11 pm
So let’s see, we now have a Governor soon to be indicted with heavy connections to Rezko who has very strong ties to Syria. If I were a veteran, I would be outraged and definitely vote for any other candidate. I wonder how much money Rezko has embezzled has been sent to the Middle East to aid the terrorists. It makes me sick!!! I am appalled that the Govenor would try to use the vets to get a vote!
Comment by p.od Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 10:01 pm
po.d wrote “So let’s see, we now have a Governor soon to be indicted with heavy connections to Rezko who has very strong ties to Syria.”
Yes, and not only that, but Rodney previously made an appointment of a one time top aide to Louis Farrahkan (the guy who refers to people as “bloodsuckers of the poor” and “white devils”) of the Nation of Islam to a panel on hate crimes.
Why is no one terrified of the mess that Rod has made? He cavorts with people who cavort with people who have gone on global hate tours to visit with all of the dicators of the world. And the Topinka campaign can’t figure out how to nail that point in?
None of these people can run a campaign, here. Knocking Rod out would be EZ if only they realized how to do it already. Geez.
Comment by Angie Saturday, Oct 14, 06 @ 10:39 am