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Blagojevich ‘06, Quinn ‘0? * Updated x1 *

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Neil Steinberg asks a question that pretty much every insider has been mulling recently.

So when do we start viewing the gubernatorial race as being not so much between Judy Baar Topinka and Gov. Blagojevich as between Topinka and Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, who would take over the job should his boss find it necessary to, ah, spend time elsewhere?

Quinn strikes me as an affable goof, a view formed during his grass-roots consumer and environmental activist days. The sort of do-gooder who usually never gets within spitting distance of public office. He might surprise us. I have a good feeling about Quinn. Wouldn’t it be ironic if both Judy and Rod end up in history’s Dumpster, digging for chicken bones with meat still on them, while Quinn is putting his feet up in the governor’s mansion? Stranger things have happened.

Marie from Disarranging Mine sent me this photo last week, which she snapped somewhere in Springfield. Other people are getting the idea as well.

Meanwhile, the Northwest Herald has endorsed Pat Quinn for reelection. Trouble is, the paper based the endorsement at least partially on the completely false assumption that the lt. governor is elected separately.

Lieutenant governor is an independent office, and we are confident Quinn could work with a Republican or Democratic governor.

Oops.

*** UPDATE *** The meme spreads. Monday’s editorial in the Belleville News-Democrat is entitled “Look beyond Blagojevich.”

Quick, who’s the Illinois lieutenant governor?

A lot of people probably don’t know. But anyone thinking about re-electing Democrat Rod Blagojevich ought to find out.

If for any reason Blagojevich couldn’t finish his term, his lieutenant governor would take over. And as the federal corruption investigation into the Blagojevich administration expands, the idea of Blagojevich being forced out of office increasingly seems a possibility. […]

Blagojevich’s running- mate is Pat Quinn, a politician with a reputation for integrity. He likely would do a fine job as governor.

But do people really want to vote for a candidate who could be on his way out before he’s even in? That’s another question would-be Blagojevich voters need to answer.

And, perhaps reflecting his greater importance in Illinois politics, the Sun-Times put LG Quinn on Monday’s front page.

posted by Rich Miller
Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 11:25 am

Comments

This scenerio is scary. You just locked in my vote for Topinka.

Comment by Anonymous Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 11:31 am
It should be a mandatory window sticker for all state vehicles including the Illinois Tollway.
Since Blago likes his name plastered all over the state reminding everyone who he is.
Should play well for this lying egomaniac !

Comment by The Townhall Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 12:03 pm
That’s my hometown daily.

Comment by Cal Skinner Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 12:46 pm
I’ve been making that exact point for the past few weeks.
I have no use for either Blago or JBT, but if Blago is not indicted, I would be shocked.

Quinn will make a fine governor, and is the reason that I will be voting for Blago.

Comment by Skeeter Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 1:48 pm
Quinn will be better than Topinka? That’s all we need, somone who comes up with half brain ideas such as the tea bag fiasco and stands by quiet when Blago gives jobs away to campaign donors instead to Illinois veterans.

Comment by ChiCountryGuy Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 1:55 pm
Speaking of “completely false assumptions,” I would say the same about those who conclude Blago’s going to be indicted. Those who make that assumption should come clean and tell us what will be the charge(s). Obviously those people know more than the Feds do.

Blago’s not even mentioned in this latest Rezko indictment. But Topinka’s long time crony Bill Cellini is, as “individual A”. Again, as John Kass says today in the Trib, Rezko’s yesterday’s news. Bill Cellini’s prominent mention in the indictment is the real news.

And good lord, years ago everyone was saying Lee Daniels was going to be indicted. We’re still waiting.

Comment by RealClear Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 2:07 pm
This makes me laugh. Oh hey ya’ll I have the first coverage of the Judy Baar Topinka Conference on you tube. I’ll giveyou the links pretty soon.

Comment by JakeCP Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 2:13 pm
Heres the first part of the conference:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7HjeG3rqcE

Heres The Second Part:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6LVR4FMJxI

Comment by JakeCP Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 2:20 pm
Quinn isn’t just “an affable goof.” He’s the idiot that decided the old system of three reps in each Illinois House district was inefficient and spearheaded the drive to get rid of it. By so doing, he cemented the influence of “The Four Tops,” and proved profoundly destructive to minority party representation all over the state. It also resulted in enhancing the influence of unelected staffers. All in all it was a sad day for two-party democracy, and it was Quinn’s fault. Which doesn’t mean he’s not a goof. He’s just a dangerous one, not an affable one. Me, I plan to vote for whichever candidate is the most degrees of separation away from a criminal investigation. Right now, that’s Judy.

Comment by RAM Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 2:30 pm
RealClear is a little fuzzy today. You know he’s under investigation about 15 times over? You read about the wire taps? You listening closely to what Fitzgerald says? You heard what his own father-in-law said? You think Rezko is actually doing business in Syria? You know the Attorney General of his own party who also investigated the Gov won’t even endorse him? Are you aware of the $1,500 check? Did you notice his own Inspector General quit on him after what she saw going on? You think he raised $50 million because people like him?

If you know all this and you still think he’s going to walk, you are as naive as the Governor wants to pretend he is.

Wipe the sleep out of your eyes, your boy is going to be indicted. I don’t know when, I don’t know on what charges, but it will happen. I’d bet my house on it.

Comment by Truth Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 2:37 pm
RealClear, you are an idiot.

The feds knew what thet were doing a year ago when they named Elvis Public Official A. You “clearly” haven’t read the Rezko indctment.
Who do you think is the “public official” that is described as the beneficiary of the fundraising schemes, the person who reappointed Levine, and on and on it goes? Nixon?

As for Kass, maybe he can work up such a fine column when his pal Vrdolyak takes the fall.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 2:53 pm
I have to stare at Rod’s name all over the toll plaza during the week, and I’m starting to mentally imagine the whole thing morphing into “Rod Blagojevich, Indicted” now. Gives me a good chuckle every now and then.

When are the rest of the indictments coming, Fitz? Hurry up!

Comment by Angie Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 2:54 pm
A vote for Blago is still a vote for corruption; and if Blago isn’t indicted, then you’re stuck with a corrupt governor, in my opinion. That’s why I’m voting for Rich Whitney. A vote for Rich Whitney is a vote for Rich Whitney, and that’s a vote for clean government AND a clean environment.

Comment by Squideshi Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 3:13 pm
I have been talking about Quinn coming in as the the clean-up crew for some time. Because he would be unlikely to get to run for the spot again, he could ignore a great deal of the fundraising and deal-making and just GOVERN for the rest of the term. What a refreshing alternative!

He could also do a lot to heal the divisions Blago created, and bring things down to a lower simmer. Him falling on the sword and cleaning up the Blago mess creates a cleaner slate for Lisa to try for the seat afterwards.

Because he’d be essentially a lame duck thanks to Blago’s mess, he’d have to be more bi-partisan in his legislative agenda, but this fits in with his personality anyway, and would be good for the state.

This is not the same Pat Quinn who was treasurer, he has mellowed and gotten wiser, more statesmanlike. While still a populist, his choices of the things he supports are all very good ones, that define a good character. The fact he was supporting these things before he was Lt. Gov, and still after Blago looked at and rejected them asn non-profitable politcally or financially, only endears him to me more.

As to ragging on him for reducing the size of the legislature, those who complain must have selective memories of how “efficient” or “responsive” those extra reps were. They were neither; the house was a friggin’ zoo, with factions deadlocking on every penny-ante issue, even within a district. Great if you want to reduce government’s ability to DO anything. And Super-great if you’re a lobbyist, with so many more people to work on. True, the system has been gamed to the point where the 4 tops dominate too much… but they were given that influence by their own members. If the caucuses really wanted to, they could stand up for themselves. Next con-con that comes around, we should look into defusing the powers of the tops, not in growing the bureocracy of the legislature.

Comment by Gregor Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 3:27 pm
Quinn or Topinka, we win either way.

How about we hold Emil and Mike’s feet to the fire about their backing of crookovitch. They are the ones propping him up. We should all demand a statement from both of them, Monday.

Comment by Epic mendacity Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 3:43 pm
To speak on this topic I just want to say that Pat Quinn is very annoying and I would never want to see him as my governor.

Squideshi: Did you vote in my poll and get other Rich Whitney supporters to vote in my poll? Because Rich Whitney is leading by about 20% right now.

Comment by JakeCP Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 4:03 pm
Cellini may very well be a Topinka crony. But, think back a ways.

Say he represents certain interests, or vendors if you will, who had done business with the state (with the Republicans) for something like 25 years before Blago takes office.

Suddenly there’s a changing of the guard and with that the threat of no more business as usual. Those interests were about to be locked out. Were about to lose - possibly their lifeblood - big time.

What would you expect Cellini to do to protect his clients? Was he held hostage by this new guard? Play the game, or else?

I’m not condoning what he did, or making excuses, assuming he is Individual A. Just saying there are still some dots to be connected here.

Comment by Murky Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 4:11 pm
JakeCP, yes, I did vote in your poll; but I don’t know how many other Whitney supporters did. Obviously, enough Whitney supporters voted to put him over the top by about 20%; and I expect that the same will happen on election day.

Comment by Squideshi Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 4:30 pm
weird, I was just thinking this same thing and posted over at Illinoiz without reading this…

Quinn will be under crushing pressure to show a break with Blagojevich and I don’t know exactly how he does that short of wholesale sacking of those not indicted…. I think he’s going to be crippled from the get go… if he’s well intentioned or not… he’s going to have a very hard time of it.

Comment by Bill Baar Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 4:38 pm
The inaccuracy of the Northwest Herald’s editorial (that LG is an independent office) serves as further proof of the inanity of their editor(s) who post(s) those snidely pompous job ads on journalismjobs.com.

Comment by Anonymous Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 5:15 pm
Vote for Rich Whitney, at least you’ll know what you’re getting!

Comment by Anonymous Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 6:01 pm
You’ll recall the NW Herald as the paper that made Jay Leno’s headlines a while back for a headline over a story about the Enola Gay, the plane in WW2 that dropped the bomb on Hiroshima…the paper actually ran the headline “Atomic Bombers Upset Over Enola Homosexual Exhibit.”

Comment by Jacques Strappe Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 6:05 pm
Wake up folks …. This whole story {as demonstrated by the bumper sticker} could be a very REAL reality. Talk about screwed up for the next 4 years !!!! & besides what role if any does Quinn play in the Bladgo scheme of things ?? Either he’s really in-effective & doesn’t matter or he’s in it too !! ??????

Comment by annon. Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 6:12 pm
What break is there to show? Look at the campaign signs, Topinkas all share about equal space ebtween her name and Birkett’s.

Now look at a Blago campaign sign… notice what’s missing? ANY mention of Quinn. is is because of Blego Ego, or because Quinn asked not to have to stand too close to the steaming pile of reform and renewal? Blago dumped Pat way before now, so there should be few tears shed if he steps out on his own. For the good of the party and the state, Quinn is the better of the two to serve.

Comment by Gregor Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 6:15 pm
Gregor,

The only signs that I’ve seen that show Topinka and Birkett on the same sign are the pre-primary signs. For the primary, through a quirk of the election process, Governor and Lt. Gov. are separate ballot lines. In theory, Topinka could’ve ended up with Rauchenberger for LG.

Bottom line — you’re looking at leftover signs from the primary. Either pack-rat Republicans had them in their garage all summer or the Topinka campaign is cheap and is re-using them now. Maybe both.

All the Topinka signs I’ve seen out here in NW Cook just say Topinka.

So, go back to the drawing board on your weak talking point there Gregor.

Comment by NW burbs Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 6:25 pm
Neil Steinberg is a racist,drunken twerp who beats his wife. I can’t believe that he still has a job.

Comment by Bill Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 7:06 pm
Well, my imagination is sure seeing a lot of them around here, ‘burbs. And fresh ones each day. Maybe it’s different where you live. I think my question still stands.

Comment by Gregor Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 7:17 pm
What a dumb newspaper!

NWBurbs, I am pretty sure that I am from the same area as you and *all* the Topinka signs are the combo ones with Birkett’s name on them as well. Those are the only kind I have seen at local GOP HQ and the only ones on people’s lawns.

Contrast that with the Blagojevich signs, none of which I have seen in front of anybody’s actual home but on the side of the road and places like that, which are *all* without the name Quinn on it.

Comment by Establishment Republican Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 7:29 pm
Bill, down to “attack the messenger?” How far the mighty spin machine has fallen.

You realize that there are many Illinoians who say the same thing about your boy Rod-”I canâ€™t believe that he still has a job.”

Comment by Arthur Andersen Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 7:39 pm
Quinn is going to need a lot more then having his signs hidden in this campaign. Illinois will be devastated with another indictment of a gov… and the question will be either Quinn complicit or Quinn dumb. The only way he survives that, and I don’t think he will… Illinois gov will just freeze up and he’ll exit humiliated and the end of his term… but the only chance as a wholesale dumbing of anyone associated with Blagojevich.

He’ll have to purge unmercifully. That’s his only chance.

It will be heck for the state… nothing will get done… he’ll be as weak a Gov as they come.

Comment by Bill Baar Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 7:41 pm
wholesale dumping, not dumbing…

Comment by Bill Baar Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 7:42 pm
Ok I really hate doing stuff like advertising and all of that but can you please vote in my poll. The poll is at jakeschicagopolitics.blogspot.com it’s the new Illinois Governors Race Poll that I just started right after the indictment. So far Rich Whitney is getting 60% of the votes and you can make your own assumption on how Blao,JBT and Undecided/other is doing. Oh also why is this such a heated topic about Quinn.If some of you are really supportive of Quinn then get him to run for governor in 2010 (if Blago loses and isnt indicted). For those of you Quinn supporters switch onover to vote for Topinka. She isn’t that conservative.

Comment by JakeCP Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 8:11 pm
The “oops” endorsement was just duplicated by the Kane County Chronicle. Who writes these endorsements?

Comment by Illini4 Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 8:54 pm
Cellini and Topinka are not cronies, those of you who continue to insist they are show your ignorance.

Kass’ column this morning was another example of him taking the square peg of the facts and pounding them into his preconcieved round hole; nothing but a bunch of garbage and his theory of the evil combine. Next he’ll have Kjellander as the shooter on the grassy knoll.

Comment by steve schnorf Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 9:26 pm
All of the idiots need a good reason to vote for Blago… and this isn’t even a good reason. In the face of the most awful governor the state of Illinois has ever known (yes, I am fully aware that George Ryan was our last governor), the people who complain most about the corrupt system are making excuses to vote for corruption. Daffy Duck could be our Gov’s lite gov and you would be talking him up big time. That is because you know the inevitable, just like everyone else. If you want Quinn, have him. The resurgence for the moderate-to-liberal GOP is back in swing in Illinois… and I am not talking about ‘06. I am talking about 2008 and 2010. The worst thing for the Democratic party in Illinois is to reelected this governor. Far be it from me to try to help out the democrats. I don’t care. But when Blago is indicted, and he will be, it would be disasterous for him to be in office. George Ryan was out of office and look at what it did to the GOP. It will be 1994 in 2008.

Comment by Lovie's L:eather Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 9:34 pm
Quinn’s successful plan to cut 3 reps to 2 did backfire, but his heart was in the right place. Blago immediately cut Quinn out of the loop after he won election… his cronies would not allow ANY discussion so I think he’s clean this time around. While I was in Springfield a few weeks ago I stopped by the Sang County Dem HQ to inquire about a Quinn for LG sign. The response? ‘’ If you can find one you’re a better man than me. I can’t even get a campaign phone number for Quinn. ‘’ Blago’s got the millions… let him spend it then Quinn steps in when (not if) the indictment comes down. BTW in the Metro East ALL Judy signs also mention Birkett. Trivia question: who was the last governor/LG in Illinois to serve from different parties?

Comment by Troy News Guy Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 9:40 pm
Trivia Question answer: a whipper-snapper named PAUL SIMON was elected Lt. Governor in 1968, serving alongside Republican Governor Richard Ogilvie for the first (and last) opposing-party leaders in state history. I believe the new Illinois constitution linked the parties on the general election ballot.

Comment by Troy News Guy Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 9:43 pm
A vote for Rod is a vote for Quinn? I believe they are one in the same. Demos that want your guns,kill babies,tax you to death,and would vote for their own like family. We know you screwed up Roddy but you are all we got and we must keep the Republicans out or they will rule for thirty more years!!

Comment by NIEVA Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 9:47 pm
NIEVA,
That pretty much sums it up. Let’s see who wins!

Comment by Bill Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 10:07 pm
Here’s my question. How many of the Blago haters on here even give a damn about corruption, and how much of the reckless talk about Blago being indicted on here is just about petty hatred over “what he hasn’t done for me lately?”

For example, if Blago had given all state workers 15% raises per year, would the state workers on here be hoping for his demise? Not bloody likely.

Point is, I suspect nearly all the reckless pontificating on here has more to do with political wishful thinking, than any sort of moral outrage.

Topinka and Blago are both just like that. Both are trying to use corruption as a political sword to gain advantage, but obviously neither really gives a damn about doing anything about it. Neither is really troubled about anything going on in this state.

We probably all need to think about that, even if Blago and Topinka won’t.

Some Deep Thoughts for a Sunday.

Comment by RealClear Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 10:37 pm
Well, let’s see now, why did the GOP rule Illinois for 26 years? Could it be that before that time, a Dem, Walker, was governor and he turned out to be a crook too. You dems can’t be trusted in office. You can’t take things slow and easy and build up your patronage. You have to have it all in the first year and that gets your proverbial butt in a sling. I won’t deny that Topinka will have to raise taxes. There are no more funds to raid, hardly any state assets left to sell or lease, pension funds have been raided as much as they can be, prisons not opened, head count of prison guards down, head count of state employees down, HEAD COUNT OF INTERNS AND CONTRACUAL EMPLOYES WAY UP, and more INDICTMENTS on the way.

Vote Topinka and Birkett - like the signs all over southern and central Illinois say.

Comment by Little Egypt Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 10:40 pm
I don’t recall Walker building up a patronage on the scale of Blago’s, but I do remember those “ghost” employees. The main reason Walker got defeated, if I recall correctly, is that he was on the outs with the Chicago machine (he ran on an anti-Daley platform) and they withheld their support. Walker was an incumbent governor of IL who did not win his party’s primary; Mike Howlett won, and was handily trounced by Thompson in the general.

Speaking of corruption:

Amazingly, Walker defeated Paul Simon, who is widely though of as the cleanest politician in recent state history, in the 1972 primary in his inaugural run for gov. Just think of how history might have changed if Simon had won the primary and then the general election that year.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 11:03 pm
No lie, I was once googling stuff about Illinois governors, and the quotes I was getting back all sounded like critiques of Blago, until I checked the dates of publication and read them all the way thru. Carbon-copy of Walker in all the worst ways, including the arrogance and misuse of state resources, particularly state media assets. He will end up the same, only faster and worse.

If we could hold a seance and raise Paul Simon to run, we would. Barring the return of Vallas from his remote exile, or Poshard or any other likely candidate, we must work with what’s left. Lisa has potential but needs to build a longer track record in the job she has and build an organization of her own. Her dad could have had that job any number of times, but knows he’s more powerful and longer-lived where he he is at. No matter who is available, that’s over four long years away.

Quinn is the man at the nexus now; assuming a Blagojevich victory in November, if he can stay apart and untainted from the self-destructing Rod long enough, he can take over and ride the rest of the term for 2-3 years, doing the thankless job of cleaning up, cutting the deadwood, and rebuilding a foundation for a future dem comeback.

To do that he will have to burn so many bridges in the party, tic off so many people with their hands out, he can never expect to get re-elected, but it won’t matter: he will have done the most important work in that office in a generation. Like Moses, he won’t get to walk into the promised land, only to get his people there.

Yes, that’s super-corny to say, but you know, Rod surfed in on a tidal wave of people’s deep desire for reform. That desire burns brighter than ever, and if Quinn walks the walk, they will come around for him like nothing short of religious zealotry.

I know I would.

Comment by Jiffy Luber Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 11:37 pm
RealClear, Republican kvetching about corruption seems a tad insincere since the party has become Cult Bush.

Republicans are outraged about abortion, but stripping U.S. citizens of their constitutional rights and torturing him is A-OK as long as Bush labels the guy an “enemy combatant”.

Pat Quinn was wrong on the Cutback Amendment, but he stacks up pretty well against Blagojevich, Topinka and Whitney.

Comment by Carl Nyberg Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 11:42 pm
Rich,
Thanks for keeping this open all weekend.

Comment by North of I-80 Sunday, Oct 15, 06 @ 11:52 pm
Unfortunately, if you thought the legal proceedings dragged on forever in the George Ryan case, just wait until the feds actually try to bring Blagojevich, a SITTING Governor, to justice. You may eventually get a Governor Pat Quinn, perhaps a week or two after the 2010 Primary. By that time, the state may be in such a mess that winning the Governor’s election will be little more than a booby prize.

RANDALL SHERMAN
Secretary/Treasurer, Illinois Committee for Honest Government
Chicago

Comment by Randall Sherman Monday, Oct 16, 06 @ 12:13 am
It is funny how this meme spread. People had been posting a vote for Blagojevich is a vote for Quinn as Gov. Between Rezko and the Trib poll it really looked like that’s the way things are going to unfold and maybe it’s time to start asking about Quinn and what the heck he’s going to do.

Comment by Bill Baar Monday, Oct 16, 06 @ 6:30 am
As a Republican, I have never given much thought to or about Pat Quinn. So, I thought that I would ask one of my friends who had served down in Springfield about Pat Quinn. His reply surprised me.

My Democrat friend said that he and many others from the Democrat Party down in Springfield had wished that Pat Quinn had been their candidate for Governor instead of Rod Blagojevich. Governor Blagojevich, however, was the incumbent and that happens to be a very valuable commodity. My Democrat friend said that he and other Democrat politicians felt Governor Blagojevich was a s.o.b. but at least he was “their” s.o.b. so he and the other Democrat troops “held their nose” and rallied behind him.

And, there you have it.

Comment by Beowulf Monday, Oct 16, 06 @ 7:02 am
Rich:
Thanks for keeping this open all weekend…Looks like JudyBore keep her entire field operation on the computers to whine about GRod.
Meanwhile lets remember this about Whitney —while he is not the Brickhead, he is for concealed carry. So he gets no votes.
Is Game #4 over yet? t

Comment by reddbyrd Monday, Oct 16, 06 @ 7:26 am
Oh man Whitney is all right if he’s for concealed carry.

Oh BTW, Beowulf, that says it all doesn’t it. In fact I wonder if they said that after the primary in 2002.

Comment by Levois Monday, Oct 16, 06 @ 7:50 am
There are some interesting assumptions the Blago Kool=Aid Kids (of which there do seem to be fewer lately) make in their posts:

-Any one who challenges their parroted talking points or other nonsense is either a State MC employee, a JBT shill, someone who hates Rod, or all of the above.

-JBT was named in the Levine and Rezko indictments just like Rod and we just didn’t notice it because we’re blind to corruption.

Well, first of all, AA is none of the above. The blindness and rote recitation to the Blago script by some of you is almost scary-are you not capable of independent thought?

Real Clear, the MC employees I know would not be happy with Blago regardless of their pay rate. They would still have low morale, insufficient front line staff, idiot bosses, and programs to run that are absloute jokes in many cases.

You just showed up on this blog a couple weeks ago pandering for Blago. Hit the archives here and you’ll find plenty of moral outrage. Or, maybe read the presser TRS put out last week and see what that Board thinks of Blago’s attempts to send “reform and renewal” to their agency via Tony Rezko.

Take your deep thoughts and scram.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Oct 16, 06 @ 8:02 am
A great ploy to keep the vote for Blogo is to pretend that itâ€™s really for Quinn. Wowâ€¦who are you kidding. Why not Whitney? He seems the better choice and option if you donâ€™t want Blogo or JBT. I think the concealed carry is a great idea, especially around the political hacks and cronies, except that which is concealed should be intelligence so one will appear to be dumbed down enough to actually carry on a conversation with the Blogo hacks and cronies. No one should buy on to the â€œa vote for Blogo is a vote for Quinnâ€ theme. Thatâ€™s a sorry proposition. Whitney is looking better and better.

Comment by Justice Monday, Oct 16, 06 @ 8:14 am
AA: Well said.

Another “assumption” talked about on here frequently is the one that assumes Blago will just “step aside” if/when he gets indicted. Do you truly believe he will???

If nothing else, he’s shown the ME FIRST attitude from day one. He’s not about party loyalty, he’s not about doing the right thing. He’s about looking in the mirror (or to a TV camera) and convincing the person that sees him what a great guy he is.

He could EASILY refuse to resign, force his impeachment and hope for eventual “innocence”. When it comes to facts, he’s kept his head buried in the sand for the last four years, why does everyone assume he’ll pull his head out of it for an indictment???

Another note, as to why major newspapers aren’t “jumping” on him: Rod’s future problems will sell a lot of papers.

Look at all the headlines they were able to create with G Ryan. Imagine the daily headlines if a SITTING GOVERNOR (who refuses to step aside) gets indicted, prosecuted, etc. You’re talking YEARS of headlines, controversy, and speculation: $$$$$$$$$

With (approx.) 12 federal investigations ongoing Rod is a newspaper publisher’s dream, why do anything now to cook your “golden goose”…

Comment by Animous Monday, Oct 16, 06 @ 8:19 am
I am holding my breathe to vote Rod in hopes of getting Quinn. Rod & Judy are both card carrrying members of the combine. Either one as Gov for a full term would make me sick.

Comment by Niles Township Monday, Oct 16, 06 @ 8:52 am
Happy to vote for Quinn for both Lt Gov and Gov so I will vote Blago and Quinn

Comment by Way Northsider Monday, Oct 16, 06 @ 9:24 am
As I’ve Been Saying…

And a lot of others……

Trackback by ArchPundit Monday, Oct 16, 06 @ 9:36 am
Niles/Way,

Essentially you’re going to hold your nose and hope that Rod will do the right thing and resign if indicted. See my earlier post–He won’t!

Blago will drag down the whole ticket for at least 8 years and the party for the next 20! Nice to see the repubs will have a new Dan Walker to run against for the next 20 years (George who??)…

Comment by Animous Monday, Oct 16, 06 @ 9:48 am
Animous-I agree with you. No way Blago steps down voluntarily.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Oct 16, 06 @ 9:56 am
Nice to see all four Witney voters are regulars here.

Also, it was great hearing JBT express outrage over the negative campaigning this weekend. Apparently she approved her own ads without seeing them.

Does anybody REALLY believe that if JBT is elected, anything but the names will change?

Comment by Skeeter Monday, Oct 16, 06 @ 9:58 am
Arthur Andersen, your online handle is very appropriate. You have the name of an accounting firm thrown on the scrap heap of history for helping to perpetuate massive fraud on the public.

Comment by Real Clear Monday, Oct 16, 06 @ 10:18 am
Gregor and Est. Repub. –

Whether or not Topinka’s campaign is actively adding Birkett to current signs is a silly point.

You’re trying to play it up as that she cares about her LG running mate and that somehow Blago doesn’t. Let’s all get touchy-feely and fall in love with Birkett because Topinka did — is that what you’re saying?

If the Topinka campaign is adding him, it’s out of an attempt to attract votes, likely from conservatives who still like Birkett. All 2 or 3 of them.

And Establishment, I doubt you’re from the same area as I. I haven’t seen any Topinka-Birkett signs around here since February and even then it was only one lonely sign amongst a bunch of Oberweis signs (tells you a bit about my neighbors).

There are now about a handful of Topinka only signs, no Blago signs whatsoever (there weren’t for the primary either, though there were a few Eisendraths).

Comment by NW burbs Monday, Oct 16, 06 @ 10:19 am
We have the TOPINKA/BIRKETT signs all over down here.They are red white and blue with a shadow of the state of Illinois in blue by Birkett’s name.

Comment by DOWNSTATE Monday, Oct 16, 06 @ 11:49 am
Rich maybe he’s on the front page cause he’s next!

Comment by One_Mcmad Monday, Oct 16, 06 @ 12:01 pm
Real Clear, I picked the handle on purpose. To symbolize the example of what happens to a fine, respected institution when greed trumps values. You know, like the Blago “administration.”

Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Oct 16, 06 @ 1:34 pm
Yes Arthur Andersen, very appropriate.

Comment by Real Clear Monday, Oct 16, 06 @ 1:39 pm
The Northwest Herald has since pulled the offending editorial from its website. However, I had gotten a chance to read it, and I must say the editorial (and comments on this thread) bring to mind the razzing and condemnation Quinn received earlier in the election cycle for not speaking out against Blagojevich’s administration. More to the point, the faux pas serves as a keen reminder as to WHY Quinn has been mum on Blago’s scandals. He can’t beat up on the Blago without stymying his own re-election.

Comment by ChicagoPundit Monday, Oct 16, 06 @ 3:14 pm
What began as a whispered rumbling to “Vote for Blagojevich so that we can end up with Quinn” has evolved into a public cry among the “Give us a Democrat, ANY Democrat” faithful, as well might have been expected. It has reached the ears of everyone in the state by this time, making one group conspicuous by it’s silence. Where is the Illinois Democratic establishment? Where are the Madigans and Jones, Hynes, and White? Where are Durbin and Obama? Where is Daley? Where is Quinn himself? One would think that they, as party leaders, should be pointing out that while Pat Quinn is a “fine man”, the nominee of the party for the office of Governor of Illinois is Rod R. Blagojevich, and that he deserves re-election for his accomplishments. Anybody hearing that? The Quinn for Governor-by-Proxy logic cheapens (if such a thing is possible) the Blagovich campaign still farther; yet the party leadership is mute, and their tacit endorsement of this “movement” is damning. I wonder exactly what they know that the rest of us can merely speculate on? Their silence is truly deafening.

Comment by Casey Jones Monday, Oct 16, 06 @ 7:48 pm
If the Treasurer is somehow culpable for the actions of the Governor (Blago weak argument). Shouldnt the Lt. Governor who is even closer to the Governor be even more liable for the action of the Governor.

Comment by snake pliskin Monday, Oct 16, 06 @ 8:16 pm