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Neanderthal comment won’t die

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Illinois

The governor’s over the top “defense” of his wife’s business dealings with people connected to state government won’t go away. The guv defended her by attacking critics as “Neanderthals.” The result is the governor’s campaign took a story buried on the same Friday that Stu Levine pled guilty and kept it alive for almost a week by injecting a bogus claim of sexism into the equation.

Topinka added more fuel to the fire yesterday.

Republican governor candidate Judy Baar Topinka on Wednesday proposed restricting outside income for the families of statewide elected officials, citing the real-estate business of First Lady Patricia Blagojevich.

Topinka’s proposal was in response to a recent Tribune report that found Patricia Blagojevich received $113,000 in real estate commissions on behalf of a longtime no-bid state contractor whose husband also had bank regulatory issues pending before the state. The four commissions were the only ones she made so far this year. […]

Kent Redfield, a professor of political science at the University of Illinois at Springfield, said it had nothing to do with sexism, but with the appearance of a conflict of interest.

That’s the very same appearance of conflict that all state employees are warned to avoid. It’s the same conflict that all attorneys, reporters and just about anyone with any common sense avoids. And since Mrs. Blagojevich only did the one deal this year, it shouldn’t be asking too much of her to check to see if there were any potential conflicts of interest.

This is the old way of doing business. The very old way.

Here’s more from a Southern Illinoisan columnist (I assume it’s Jim Muir, but I didn’t see a name listed).

When questioned by the media about those obvious connections, the governor responded in a way that shows exactly how the political game in Illinois is played these days. Blagojevich said that anybody who questions or suggests that his wife landed the deal because he is governor is a “Neanderthal.”

In other words, politicians these days don’t have to answer questions about things like people who are under state contract doing business with family members of elected officials. They simply discredit the person asking the questions and label them as a “Neanderthal.”

I suppose that would mean that any person asking questions about $1,500 birthday gifts, “endemic hiring fraud,” federal investigations into hiring and contract irregularities at multiple state agencies, 60-year-old interns who were given preference over military veterans and that growing list of indictments would also have to be labeled a “Neanderthal.”

Meanwhile, the Tribune editorial board is sick of the governor’s attacks on Topinka.

It’s not fair, though, to portray Topinka the way Blagojevich has–as a loathsome consort of criminals. Blagojevich has spent millions of dollars crafting his phony image of Topinka as the kind of little-bit-nutty woman that her own son should be embarrassed to love. […]

If this gutter strategy pays off, get used to it.

The governor, incidentally, says his vile attack ads merely differentiate him from Topinka.

How convenient that Blagojevich is racing to his own defense. He won’t have to stand in line.

Topinka struck back against some of the attacks yesterday. NBC5:

Republican candidate for governor Judy Baar Topinka began her day Wednesday hopping mad, her voice shaking as she blasted Gov. Rod Blagojevich for an ad taking her to task for her history with veterans.

“He has yet to show up with veterans groups and then he has the gall to sit there and take me on, when my kid’s been to Afghanistan and back,” she said.

A Lee Newspapers article, not a column, compared the governor to George Ryan.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich appears to have ripped a page from his predecessorâ€™s playbook as he seeks to seal up support for a second term.

Over the final two months of the campaign season, the Chicago Democrat has crisscrossed Illinois distributing state dollars for everything from a wind farm in central Illinois to a river research facility near Alton.

An informal tally of the dollars heâ€™s handed out indicates Blagojevich has spread an estimated $45 million around the state through a series of high-profile announcements â€” just in time for voters to head to the polls.

The spending on new snowmobile trails and expanded Amtrak service is similar to what convicted former Gov. George Ryan did during his tenure as chief executive, which Blagojevich roundly criticized when he ran for governor in 2002.

Blagojevich campaign spokeswoman Sheila Nix said the governorâ€™s announcements are not the same as Ryanâ€™s.

And Kristen McQueary wonders what’s up with the female vote?

Alas, impossible-to-please women voters are to blame for forcing female politicians to downplay their feminine attributes, even though we gossip about them anyway.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 9:28 am

Comments

I still think the comparison with Jayne Thompson speaks volumes. Jayne, an attorney, did no work in state courts. She only had a federal practice.

Comment by Cal Skinner Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 9:36 am
Trib editorial: Didn’t Jim Edgar come out early against DCN? I seem to recall ads blasting her and the property tax swap - which he later tried to play as his own. So the Trib doesn’t like it when Dems do it, but when their endorsed candidate does, well that’s just fine.

Comment by babs Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 9:41 am
babs is right on the mark.

Comment by bench coach Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 9:48 am
I wonder if Blago’s wife should be required to take the Ethics Training required of all state employees. She would at least learn what a conflict of interest is.

Comment by KenoMan Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 9:56 am
I’d like to see the score of GoverNOT Hairdo’s ethics test. Anyone have access to that. Probably not because my guess is he didn’t take it. Oh Tuesday, please come soon. Vote people, vote. And vote this crook out of office. He has gone around the state passing out $45 million of OUR money, using it as his campaign war chest. That makes for a pretty costly election in my view and he has crossed the line using MY money to do so. Save this guy from himself and vote for JBT.

Comment by Little Egypt Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 10:10 am
Ethics does not appear to be in the Blagojevich’s household vocabulary. Training would be useless.

Comment by smack-o-cratic Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 10:11 am
Good follow up story in the Trib today on Mrs. Blagoyevich and her friends, with Topinka making a good point.

Comment by Backyard Conservative Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 10:18 am
Sorry, typo, how could I misspell Blagojevich?

Comment by Backyard Conservative Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 10:19 am
Questioning someone’s *ethics* is neither neanderthal nor sexist — and it’s what, apparently, state employees are required to do.

What might be neanderthal and sexist — and what, perhaps, Blagojevich might have thought he heard — would be someone suggesting that his wife *not* conduct real estate deals — and should spend more of her time at home with the kids.

Sure, that would be both neanderthal and sexist. But the interesting thing about this particular issue is how Blagojevich misheard the comment. To me, this mishearing — and Blagojevich’s subsequent odd outburst (and the method of complaining, getting in the SUV, pausing, then getting out of the SUV, and complaining some more ) — says quite a bit about the governor.

First and foremost, it says he’s not a particularly good listener. This is a bad thing.

Second, it says he’s not a particularly quick thinker. This is a bad thing. Even Blagojevich supporters would agree, I think, with this one. Even if the comment was neanderthal and sexist — it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to spout off something like “neanderthal and sexist.” That’s the sort of soundbite that’s easily remembered and probably media-effective — but it has a disturbing whiff of “playground antics” to it. The mine-is-better-than-yours type of thing.

And third, it says (to me, at least) that he’s been warned to choose his words very carefully. The getting in the car and getting out again — says that despite his better judgement (or the better judgement of his handlers) he couldn’t let this one go. It was burning like a slow fuse in his head.

It’s all very weird. But it also points to the fact that Blagojevich is under a lot of pressure — even though he’s pretending it’s all nonsense. And the pressure that he’s feeling — downstate, from the Fed, from nearly everywhere — is not, apparently, anything he’s prepared to admit — yet, at least.

Ultimately, my reading is that Blagojevich knows — but won’t admit — that it really *is* a house of cards, at this point. He can’t admit that, of course. But even he’s surprised. And that’s not a good thing. If I’m right, then that’s someone who’s really grasping to keep everything together.

Not a good sign, I’d say.

Comment by Yvette Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 10:43 am
Oh, please. What is “Neanderthal and sexist” is Rod hammering a woman and mother with negative attack ads when he knows she has a lot less money to defend herself with.

I draw an analogy to a guy beating up on a woman who is weaker than he is, only this is political. Political violence, I tell you! What a Neanderthal.

Comment by Angie Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 10:58 am
LOVED the Tribune editorial today. Wow, that packed a punch.

Comment by Just me Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 11:07 am
Yvette, your posting here should become an editorial in all Illinois newspapers. You have summed up this guy perfectly. If everyone else would just get it, we would be able to send this Neanderthal packing.

Don’t you just love it when a politician sticks both feet in his mouth. It would have been fun watching him hop into the SUV with one foot in his mouth but that wasn’t enough. He hopped back out and promptly placed the other foot in too. What a sight, watching him climb back into the SUV with both feet in his mouth only to get hit over the head by his campaign manager for being a classless idiot.

Comment by Little Egypt Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 11:23 am
Perhaps it’s because Jay “Punkin Head” Hoffman was the guy inside the SUV.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 11:38 am
“Business as Usual”; what’s new in the State of Illinois?

Comment by One_Mcmad Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 11:50 am
Arthur,
How mature!
Hoffman is one of Illinois’ best legislators. If you don’t like him he must be a quality person.

Comment by Bill Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 11:55 am
what’s annoying is - employees & immediate family members of the Dept of Revenue can not participate in the state lottery…employees & immediate family members of CMS can not participate in surplus auctions….but the Governor’s spouse can accept money (6 digits to boot - a lot more than any of these state employees makes), from a no-bid contract vendor of the state? And seriously, how much work did she really put into these real estate deals that netted her over $100,000???

Comment by Anon Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 12:24 pm
Does Patty have to take the state ethics test? It’s pretty darn clear in the test that such business dealings are unethical. BUT I’m a Neanderthal, so what do I know?

Comment by Just me Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 12:49 pm
Little Egypt - Right on! The Gov makes everyone else do the the Ethics test, but refuses to follow it himself, then charges that 10,000 or so took the test too fast (even though they passed the stupid thing - uh, so freaking easy you could take it without reading the whole thing before answering the questions, thanks).

Yvette - You have SO summed up this man who thinks he knows everything. Without his handlers, he is a loose cannon. Without someone telling him what to say, with a microphone in front of his face, he’s going to get himself in big trouble. Much bigger than sexist and Neanderthal.

To that, I say, Bring it on. Let him be himself for once, so that the voters get a taste of what Blago is truly like. Then they can make a true choice when they vote. He doesn’t deserve to be the leader of this state.

Comment by Tessa Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 12:54 pm
A lot of people who are planning to vote for Rich Whitney are not just dissatisfied with Blagojevich. They see bothTopinka and Blagojevich as being unwilling to tackle the real issues in Illinois: inadequate and unequitable funding of education, modernization of our outdated taxation system, a woefully underfunded social services infrastructure, too many people without adequate health care coverage (although Rod has done some very good things in this area), meaningful economic development, etc. Both candidates are too beholden to special interests and political cronies. Both represent “business as usual” to many voters. That’s why Whitney will probably get 10-15% of the vote.

Comment by Will County Wiseguy Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 1:23 pm
For someone who brags about his skill memorizing 47 legitimate words (a weird thing to brag about, but that’s another issue) — the words he chooses let drop like bricks are a peculiar bunch:

– Drunken sailors
– Testicular virility
– Neanderthal and sexist

and so on …

A couple of points I realized about just these three sets of words above: they’re strangely out of character for a man who has to “get back to reporters” about what book he’s read recently. Anyone who’s able to range from “testicular virility” to “Neanderthal and sexist” sounds like he’s read a thing or two.

I mean, these aren’t phrases you pop off in conversation — and they’re not phrases you come across on billboards or even on TV. I can’t even remember the last time I heard the word “Neanderthal.” It’s a good word, but it’s unusual. Even if you have a couple of young kids, you’re not hearing “Neanderthal” on Blues Clues or whatever.

Now, if you’re a reader — if you make a habit of reading — you acquire a nice little vocabulary in your head. You might spout words like “plethora” or talk about a “dearth of selection” or whatever. Readers tend to like words and tend to use odd words here and there — because they have a larger vocabulary, whether they realize it or not. (Readers also check themselves — sometimes avoiding big words based on the crowd they’re hanging with — and this “checking” sometimes makes for awkward turns of phrase. You check yourself, use a smaller word because it’s more effective for your audience, but your midway through the sentence, so the small word doesn’t quite flow with the sentence. So you sound like you’re confused when you’re really just thinking a few words ahead of what you’re speaking.)

But the other thing about readers is that they like to talk about *what* they’re reading. I don’t know a single reader who, if you ask them what they’re reading, they not only give you the title and author — but they start talking about the plot. “And this guy, he works for the CIA, and, well, he’s not really an agent, because that’s the thing … they don’t *know* he’s an agent, but he does it anyway … ”

So I’m not buying that Blagojevich is able to spout off these nifty phrases and not be able to spout off the latest Elmore Leonard (or whatever) book he’s read.

And the fact that Blagojevich offers up something along the lines of: “Well, I could say ‘Democracy in America,’ but everybody spouts off Tocqueville.”

First, no one spouts off Tocqueville. The only reason you start spouting off Tocqueville is because you’ve actually read it and you realize how enjoyable Tocqueville’s writing is. But no one is going around bluffing about reading ‘Democracy in America.’ It’s a pretentious bluff, and you’re easily called on it. So it’s not worth it. Blagojevich could have easily said, well, I’m reading Mike Royko or something — anything to get a couple more Chicago votes. But he didn’t.

No, what he did was try to outthink the reporter. He’s pulling a ‘Level 3 thinking’ moment (or Level 3?) — trying to outthink what his opponents think by saying he could say X, but he won’t say X, because everybody thinks he’ll say X. But the response to *this* moment is to say Y — not that “he’ll get back to the reporter.”

So by attempting to do some fancy footwork, he actually just blunders into what everybody knows to be true in the first place — that’s he’s not particular deep thinker. If you’re gonna think deeply, then think deeply — don’t just wade back into shallow waters and wait.

Listen, the *last* book I’d ever expect someone like Blagojevich to read is Tocqueville. I mean, Elmore Leonard? Sure. DaVinci Code? I’m sure Rod’s all over it. But when we start getting into Adam Smith/Tocqueville/Alexander Hamilton territory — then I know Rod is making a bluff.

Which gets back to my original point: for a guy that can memorize baseball stats, Elvis songs, and 47 legitimate words — who therefore has an ability to focus (albeit selectively) — he clearly thinks that he knows what everybody else is thinking about him and continues to delude himself into thinking that we aren’t savvy enough to know that he thinks he knows what we’re thinking.

It’s quite weird — but always entertaining.

Comment by Yvette Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 1:53 pm
Isn’t it interesting how Blago now claims that it’s ok for close family members to earn a living off state connections when he railed on and on about how his father-in-law, Richard Mell, used his connections to further the waste-site business of his distant cousin. Hey, Blago even got a law passed prohibiting close relatives of state constitutional officers from owning interests in waste sites. For more on this enlightening subject, check out this Google link: //www.google.com/search?q=Blagojevich+MELL+FEUD&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

Comment by anon Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 2:38 pm
I think it is funny, all the editorial boards coming out to tell us how much of a flake Rod Blagojevich is. The Northern Star in Dekalb had a little blurb in their editorial section about the governor. Now, just for a little backround… the Northern Star editorial board is liberal, whacky, condescending, and extremely ideological. When I read this, I almost died. Common sense from that editorial board is once in a life time… here you go.

From the editorial board | Gov’s proposed wage hike
Blago needs Econ 101

As we move into the final stretch of this fall’s midterm elections, it is important not to become distracted by last-minute vote pandering.

We are speaking, of course, about current Governor Rod Blagojevich verbally announcing last Saturday his intent to raise the state’s minimum wage if he is re-elected.

We personally can’t think of a more desperate ploy the governor could use to once again secure Illinois’ highest office.

Blagojevich said he would introduce the measure in next month’s veto session - though he had the entire regular session, but did not address it then. Under his proposal, the state’s minimum wage would increase to $7.50, $1 more than the current wage and $2.35 more than the nation’s paltry offering.

Though at first glance, more money would sound appealing, but this measure would hurt Illinois’ economy because employers may slow growth in Illinois due to higher labor costs than those in neighboring states

It also will drive up the state’s cost of living and increase unemployment. In local terms, NIU would have to decrease the number of hourly employees it hires because it would have the same budget but still have to pay a higher wage.

Not to mention the number of businesses that would most likely relocate because of increased operating expenses.

Though the prospect of another dollar - before taxes - sounds enticing, we don’t believe Blagojevich’s sincerity in proposing this measure because it will not even be debated until after the election.

And here is the weblink.
http://www.northernstar.info/articles/?id=34052

Comment by Lovie's Leather Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 2:46 pm
If Lovie and Yvette debated Rod, he’d be toast.

I mean, really. If you took a bunch of people from this forum and sat them down to actually debate Rod, what would become of him? He’d be made out to be the royal moron that everyone who has a clue knows he is. Heck, the papers are already pointing that out for everyone, so hopefully, all of the non-readers will take some time to actually try doing it within the days leading up to the election.

But no matter what happens, I think we can all sleep better knowing that Fitz is on the case. It is just that it will be so particularly embarrassing for our state if the voters themselves don’t pull through and get this guy out of office before Fitz does. We will be the absolute laughingstock of the nation. So keep that in mind, you undecideds who actually plan to vote. Will you help us keep rotating the crop of new contenders for reform in Illinois until we get some winners, or will you embarrass us all on election night? Ball’s in your court, folks.

Comment by Angie Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 3:18 pm
A.A.
Calling Hoffman “Punkin head”, well, you’re just..just being a Neandrathal and an anti-vegetite! What did a punkin, or any squash for that matter, ever do to you, I ask?! It’s just silly!
(Angie, I have friends from out of state who are actually snickering at us now from all the media reports of corrupt politicians…convicted and otherwise) *sigh*

Comment by Walking Wounded Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 3:52 pm
Yvette, I don’t think the question was about the last book read, but something along the lines of “What book should every American read” or something like that.
Neanderthals - aren’t all government employees - state, federal and local, advised that spouses or domestic partners must meet ethics regulations? Even here in the big, bad City - ethics training includes many references to family ties. Does that make Da Mayor a Neanderthal - for promoting ethics? How can the Gov not get tarred and feathered by the media for this ridiculous comment?

Comment by babs Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 3:59 pm
Yvette, I donâ€™t think the question was about the last book read, but something along the lines of â€œWhat book should every American readâ€ or something like that.

Fair enough. I was writing the response without the interview in front of me. Still — this makes Blagojevich sound like a pompous twit.

Whenever anyone talks about “books Americans should read” Tocqueville is *always* cited. And for good reason — there’s no better book about America than the book about America written by a Fremchman. But Blagojevich doesn’t say this — and he doesn’t even acknowledge this minor paradox — no, he says, well, this is what I’m supposed to say, but I’m not going to say it — can I get back to you?

That’s crazy. A better response is to respond to your own point. If it’s not Tocqueville, fair enough. Then what is it?

“Wait — I need to think about it.”

Good grief. Then mention a *book*. A reader would mention a book — even if it’s the last book he or she read. The fact that Blagojevich doesn’t mention anything means he can’t remember the last book he read — and, in fact, he can’t really remember any book. Who can’t remember a book — any book?

Someone who can read but doesn’t. A literate but uncritical thinker, that’s who.

This is the dude who’s close to getting another four years?

At least Bush talked about reading a “couple Shakespeare.”

Give the ol’ POTUS credit for even mentioning Shakespeare — and perhaps attempting one (if not two) “Shakespeare.”

Comment by Yvette Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 4:36 pm
If Barney (Fife or the big purple thing) debated Rod, Rod would be toast.

Comment by Buck Flagojevich Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 4:39 pm
Anon 12:24 - very good point.

Comment by Rex Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 5:09 pm
I apologize to all pumpkins, living or deceased, for my Neanderthal and antiVegan commentary.

Notwithstanding that the “GoverNOT Hairdo” (there you go, Little Egypt!) of Illinois can’t answer a simple ethics question without assistance and Bill & Co. seem to be ok with that..

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 5:47 pm
Correction, Bill: Hoffman was one of Illinois best legislators, until he got mixed up with his hommie Rod.

Lou Lang or Barb Currie - one of these two are Illinois best legislators (with the exception of the Speaker, of course, but he is the best Illinois has seen in at least 50 years, if not in the history of the state.

Comment by Mike Williams Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 6:59 pm
Thanks AA. I use GoverNOT Hairdo pretty frequently because weeks ago, Bill let me know where his goat was tied. Elvis is a good one too. I’m just praying that we don’t have to write those for very much longer.

Comment by Little Egypt Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 7:47 pm
Little Egypt, I think when the election is over… and Blago gets indicted, we need to call George Ryan “The old one” and Rod Blagojevich “The young one.”

Comment by Lovie's Leather Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 11:29 pm
Walking Wounded, I’ve got friends in Texas who may not even come in for the Holidays because they’re so embarrassed! lol

Comment by Angie Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 11:31 pm
Comment by Anonymous Saturday, Nov 18, 06 @ 1:59 am