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* Illinois’ political world irreversibly changed for the worst…
RIP JBT
— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) December 10, 2014
I miss her every day…
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 9:19 am
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We could use a little humor and bipartisanship right now - that’s for sure!
Comment by Stones Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 9:22 am
I saw that, when I looked at my flashbacks this AM, she was one hell of a woman, things would have been so much better, she would have slapped folks about the head
Comment by Someone you should know Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 9:23 am
I wish she could have been granted another year of making a difference and bringing sanity to insane situations.
But, sometimes we have to learn to do that on our own. Godspeed, Judy.
Comment by Aldyth Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 9:25 am
Amen.
All sides might benefit to ask themselves: “What Would JBT Do?” wwJBTd?
Comment by Reformed Public Servant Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 9:27 am
I often wonder what our current state of affairs would be like if she was still with us.
Ps. Great photo! Made me smile this morning.
Comment by Centennial Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 9:29 am
I spy Darlene Ruscitti, Heidi Holan and Gwen Henry in this pic. Must have been an event in DuPage. I miss her too, probably personally even more than politically. She just had a way of making you feel very good about being a Republican, a Precinct Captain, and a person. Magically, she made thousands of people feel the same exact personal and emotional connection. Once in a generation this kind of transcender comes along. When I think of her, I smile inside and outside.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 9:30 am
Rich we all miss her. Her pragmatic way of solving problems is sorely missed in the present taxpayer hostage crisis.
Comment by Roadypig Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 9:31 am
BTW, while she would definitely, without a doubt, have a tempering effect on everyone, she’d be supporting the Governor. It might just look a lot nicer than it does without her presence.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 9:32 am
Great picture. She looks happy.
Comment by Huh? Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 9:33 am
Rich - I could not agree more. She was unique in many ways. Could she have been instrumental in preventing the quagmire we have now? I don’t know, but the discussion would certainly have been different. Regardless of your politics you had to respect her.
Comment by illini Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 9:35 am
The picture says it all….
Comment by downstate commissioner Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 9:39 am
My thoughts today are for her son, his family, and the political Crew of Judy Baar Topinka, which were more family to her than a Crew.
Rich’s post says it all.
I miss her for completely selfish reasons, for Illinois, but my heart, and thoughts, goes out to her families, both of them, that she loved so very much.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 9:39 am
I still think back and wonder what this state would look like had Jim Ryan or JBT won their races for Governor. Seems like such large people are becoming more and more scarce in government. ==sigh==
Comment by Anon Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 9:40 am
I sat through an IEA meeting in Rosemont in which the state officers awarded Topinka a posthumous “Friend of Education” award and sang her praises.
I could not help, but wonder why the IEA doubled down on endorsed Blagojevich in 2006 when Topinka was the goof’s opponent.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 9:41 am
“…she’d be supporting the governor…”
I don’t know. But she’s not here to say for herself. So you shouldn’t.
God rest her soul.
Comment by Handle Bar Mustache Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 9:44 am
===…while she would definitely, without a doubt, have a tempering effect on everyone, she’d be supporting the Governor.===
Please, stop speaking for her.
Thank you.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 9:45 am
Best votes I’ve ever cast.
Comment by Belle Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 9:58 am
I had the good fortune to meet her (for about fifteen seconds) once.
I think I voted for her every time she ran for a statewide office. Can’t think of another person about whom I can say that,
Comment by thunderspirit Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 10:00 am
The Governor has repeatedly proven his congenital inability to listen to anyone with governing experience and proven abilities. His monomaniacal drive seems to block reason. Seeing Illinois fail doesn’t bother Rauner. Seeing Illinois convulse seems to only make him feel that he is having a cathartic effect. He has convinced himself that only he knows how to solve our government’s problems. Rauner might have enjoyed Topinka’s thrift shopping outings, but I highly doubt that he would have given any of her advice any credence. Bruce Rauner cannot be charmed or reasoned out of his goals. He sees compromise as failure.
I believe that if Judy was still with us, dealing with Bruce Rauner would end up killing her. She understands government, politics and loved it. He understands only conquest.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 10:05 am
I miss JBT because she supported unions and was on the stage and spoke during the SSM bill signing ceremony. I’m sorry she is not here, supporting union rights.
Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 10:06 am
She was a one of the kind. We lost an giant in more ways than one.
Comment by mokenavince Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 10:08 am
VanillaMan - Well stated, and you effectively answered my earlier query.
Comment by illini Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 10:10 am
She was fair, did not allow partisanship to dictate her stance on issues. I greatly admired JBT.
Comment by illinoised Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 10:17 am
She was the model for what a politician and public servant should be. Indeed, she took the works “public servant” seriously, unlike some other office holders.
There are some people who can be OF a party, yet go BEYOND party. They are rarer than they should be. JBT was one.
Comment by JoanP Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 10:28 am
=== Oswego Willy - Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 9:45 am:
===…while she would definitely, without a doubt, have a tempering effect on everyone, she’d be supporting the Governor.===
Please, stop speaking for her.
Thank you.===
Offering an opinion, and not the least bit interested in starting an argument with you. I’m entitled to my own view, just as you are. That’s a long way from “speaking for her”. She’d have been helpful. She’d have been a good team player with the GOP. That’s my opinion. She had already moved a fair amount of staff his way. Please don’t engage in the high roading business here. My opinion is that she’d slap you for that. I love and miss her as much as anyone else.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 10:28 am
In my opinion we would have a budget by now if she was still with us. She had such a long track record of working with both sides & may have been uniquely qualified to resolve this impasse… RIP
Comment by low level Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 10:32 am
===My opinion is that she’d slap you for that.===
Words fail me.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 10:35 am
A guy: “My opinion is that she’d slap you for that.”
Wow, not only speaking for her (saying “without a doubt” is much different than “IMO”).
Taking the high road also. You sound like the Gov Legislative Liasion. Oh well.
Comment by low level Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 10:37 am
===I love and miss her as much as anyone else. ===
OK, so let’s all move along then.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 10:38 am
Wonderful photo. Illinois lost one of the best public servants and political critters it ever had when it lost Judy Baar Topinka.
Comment by PolPal56 Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 10:38 am
Aw, that photo makes me smile. Thanks for posting it, Rich. She is missed.
Comment by haverford Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 10:44 am
“Don’t feed the Trolls”
Comment by illini Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 10:46 am
It’s been a horrible year without her common sense approach to politics. She is definitely missed by anyone that knew her, even a little.
Comment by Big Joe Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 10:58 am
Gotcha Rich. Moving along. No offense intended.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 11:01 am
Miss her. Seeing that picture made me wonder, “What if?” just like everyone else. But who knows? The true legacy of JBT is that we all think the state would have been better off today if she were still around.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 2:34 pm
She was one of a kind, only saw her once at the Thompson Center for an event. To think the citizenry could have spared themselves of a second helping of Blago…”what were they thinking?” And they got what they deserved.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 2:52 pm
Lost a dear friend of 46 years last year. Judy was one of the most honest individuals I have ever known. I have been proud to call her my friend all of these years. Illinois lost a true jewel when she passsd away.
Comment by D Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 4:46 pm
May she rest in peace…
Comment by ah HA Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 9:33 pm
May she rest in Peace. It was very thoughtful of you thinking of her. Best of Health to you in 2016!
Comment by anon Thursday, Dec 10, 15 @ 11:24 pm
===My opinion is that she’d slap you for that.===
What a weird thing to say, on many levels.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Dec 11, 15 @ 7:39 am