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Inaugural Ball pics

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Illinois

These were taken with my Treo last night, so they’re not the highest quality.

A commenter here once called them “The three horsewomen of the apocalypse” and they all thought it was pretty funny, so we had to get a pic…

Deputy Governor Sheila Nix with her husband. See? She’s a human being just like you or me…

Himself. He said something to me, but I didn’t quite catch it…

Doug Scofield, the calm one of the bunch…

Alexi’s new chief of staff, Rep. Robin Kelly…

Frankie!

Should we announce their engagement here? Yeah, let’s do it. Quite a rock on that finger…

I still say he looks like Joe Birkett…

Roland was looking quite dapper…

My good pal Bob and his MUCH better half…

I hope this doesn’t get him in trouble with Rod, but if I had to pick a favorite director, Chuck would be it…

Carol Marin currently has more jobs than some people have in a lifetime…

Could be a big day today for Jimmy’s property tax bill…

Let’s see… The IFT people were there, but the IEA never got an invitation. Must’ve been lost in the mail. Yeah, that’s it…

Too much fun…

Timmeh…

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 10:19 am

Comments

Bollywood Tuesday?

Comment by Pat Hickey Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 10:27 am
Rich, I thought surely there would be a picture here of Bill.

Comment by Little Egypt Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 10:50 am
I saw Bill last night - a drink in each hand - but when I got into “taking pictures mode” I couldn’t find him.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 10:53 am
I tried to say hi last night Rich, but you were too busy working! Bumping (literally) into Emil Jones was interesting, but he was a sport about it and talked for a minute. By the way, was MJM even at the ball?

Comment by Bombers91 Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 10:57 am
If you’d caught what he said to you Rich, you probably couldn’t have printed it anyway!

Comment by Jaded Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 11:01 am
I think we should have a contest. What could have Blagojevich possibly have said to Rich Miller?

Comment by Squideshi Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 11:11 am
Who are these people? You told us who some are, others are easily recognizable, like Marin and the Gov. But the rest…

Comment by jerry Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 11:27 am
Rich-How about identifying some of these people? I would guess that your favorite director is Chuck Hartke of the Illinois Department of Ag? Is that who “Chuck” is? Who are the two ladies whose caption said that they were “having too much fun”? Who is “Timmeh” that is standing next to you? How about the “Three Horsewomen”? They look like they could be cast members of “Desperate Housewives” or some other attractive movie stars.

Carol Marin is easy to pick out. One of my regrets is that she isn’t one of our political leaders down in Springfield. Carol would certainly qualify as the brightest and best looking politician down in our state capital.

My guess is that what Rod asked you for was “a donation” to help the Illinois taxpayers defray the cost of the party. You know that he is always looking out for us Illinois taxpayers.

Comment by beowulf Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 11:43 am
How many MP on your camera, 2?

Mr. Burris looked pretty good indeed.

Comment by Pat Collins Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 12:11 pm
If you don’t know who they are, then the post probably isn’t meant for you.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 12:50 pm
beowulf-Timmeh is Mayor Tim Davlin of Springfield. You’re correct about Chuck Hartke. I spoke to Hartke last night for a few minutes. He made a couple cracks about being in the House of Commons, not in the House of Lords (a friend incorrectly said he was in the State Senate).

Comment by Bombers91 Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 12:54 pm
Isn’t that Wyma just over Doug’s shoulder—hard to tell because of the lighting…

Comment by Cornelius Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 1:01 pm
Yep. Wyma was in town this week.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 1:02 pm
Rich you’ve been stating for months now that
“Itâ€™s gonna get real fun, real soon, campers”.
Well, will it been this year? Maybe that’s what Rod said to you.

Comment by Willie Stark Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 1:15 pm
Kinda like the little devil on Doug’s shoulder…

doubt you meant it to look like that Rich, but it’s pretty funny.

Comment by Cornelius Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 1:24 pm
Which Horsewoman is which? Becky Carroll is my pick for the Pale Rider, a moniker which I hope she’d wear with pride.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 1:38 pm
I tried to watch this on the news but there was not much coverage. No one cares anymore. Been there, done that, boring.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 3:07 pm
Itâ€™s all glitter for the Moguls of Spin,
But the gold may soon turn to tin.
Eat and drink hearty,
For itâ€™s the end of the party
When the Feds begin moving in.

Comment by Limerick Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 3:30 pm
I tried to get in but the bomb sniffing dogs found my FBI wire.

Just me and Mell sitting there explaining away to the cops - how embarrassing!

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 4:08 pm
More like Desperate Spokeswomen…the ball was perfect for all the spinning they due.

Comment by Scoot Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 4:39 pm
Amazing those spokeswomen can stomach the administration that lacks so much integrity and honesty. You can play with your Blackberry all day and look important, but if you’re working for an dishonest boss you’ll sink with that ship.

Comment by values matter Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 4:49 pm
Senate rejects prison board member, says he’s too ‘harsh’
Last Updated 1/9/2007 5:25:38 PM

The Illinois Senate rejected a prison-board appointee of Gov. Rod Blagojevich as too “harsh” and then turned down another appointee as a message to the Democratic governor Tuesday.

In the House, the governor got approval for a two-week delay in presenting his plans for a new state budget. Republicans suggested he needs the extra time because the state budget is in turmoil.

The center of the Senate debate over Blagojevich’s appointments was former Peoria Police Chief John Stenson. Blagojevich appointed him to the Prisoner Review Board in 2004 and was asking the Senate to confirm him for another appointment until 2011.

But Sen. Rickey Hendon, a Chicago Democrat who chairs the Executive Appointments Committee, said he’s heard complaints for a year or more about the 61-year-old Stenson. Other board members have told Hendon that Stenson is “hard to work with.”

Hendon would not specify the problems but said prison-reform groups had multiple complaints. Sen. John Cullerton, D-Chicago, said he was told Stenson refused to recuse himself from voting on parole for a prisoner Stenson had arrested.

Stenson did not return a message left at the Prisoner Review Board.

Republicans complained that with a four-decade law enforcement career, Stenson was highly qualified for the job on the board, which considers parole, clemency and other appeals from state prisoners.

They said Stenson, who makes $72,950, was being “railroaded” because Hendon doesn’t like his votes to deny parole.

Stenson’s confirmation failed on a 25-25 vote. Another appointee - Shonda Morrow, an assistant director at the Department of Central Management Services - was rejected 11-36.

Hendon said Morrow lacks the “zest or zeal” for the job but was rejected mostly to show displeasure over Blagojevich appointing her when the Senate was not in session and not consulting with lawmakers.

Blagojevich spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch said some concerns about Stenson “were new to us” but that Blagojevich aides continue to try to communicate with committee members on appointees. CMS spokesman Justin DeJong called Morrow “a highly competent professional.”

Rejected nominees may be resubmitted but Rausch was unsure whether Stenson or Morrow would be.

The House voted 66-40 to grant the governor’s request to delay his annual budget address by two weeks, to March 7. Becky Carroll, the spokeswoman for his budget office, said the fall election, personnel changes and even construction in the House chamber have contributed to the need for a delay.

But Republicans suggested Blagojevich is having trouble figuring out how to make the budget balance.

When he was sworn in Monday for a second term, the governor said he has solved the state’s financial problems. But other experts say serious problems persist. One recent study found a $6 billion shortfall, plus $106 billion in long-term debt.

“This governor can’t seem to get it together,” said Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro.

Blagojevich’s request for a budget delay now goes to the Senate.

Comment by MIDSTATE Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 5:39 pm
you mean to say that spokespersons spin and use blackberries? say it ain’t so. sounds like some GOPers are still a bit sore from beating they took in november.

Comment by demgrrl Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 5:43 pm
Hey Rich, didn’t your mom always tell you that you are judged by the company you keep. You need to hang with a better class of people.

Was this inaugural ball as boring as the first one?

Comment by Disgusted Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 5:56 pm
Man, I thought Republicans were homely….

Comment by Whoof-Whoof Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 6:07 pm
Well, I’ll be darned. Rod’s hair looks…perfect.

Fancy that. Who’d a thunk it?

Comment by Angie Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 6:22 pm
Wow did Houlihan drop the ball or what
He could have had his big taxreliefapalooza on the GRod’s desk, but failed to get the Senate to act. Now it will be May or June. And who knows what John Harris’ lateast antics will do to derail the train.

Comment by Capt. Obvious Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 7:03 pm
Serious question….

Was Alderman Mell in Springfield for any of the festivities?

Comment by Establishment Republican Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 8:27 pm
Hack Lavin looks like Brickhead Joe? Is that what you’re saying? Hmmm…need to add glasses….

Comment by Jacques Strappe Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 8:30 pm
What do you mean he needs more time to get the budget done, I thought he solved all our problems and we had so much extra money to spend on things like healthcare for all Illinoisans, more & better schools, minor league ballparks, raises for the legislative branch, and catch up with fully funding all pension obligations. Oh wait, what was I smoking?

Comment by Concerned Voter Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 9:48 pm
Snark aside…

I assume that he is still doing a state of the state speech, as well as a budget address. They probably just want to space those out so they aren’t crammed together.

Comment by JohnR Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 11:00 pm
…finishing my thought.

Since he just had an inauguration speech, he probably will do his state of the state a little later, which would thus push the budget address back a little later.

…just a thought. Didn’t he do that the first time around?

Comment by JohnR Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 11:01 pm
Party now, pay later. I can’t wait until Pat Quinn gets sworn in. I guess its safe to bet that Fitz stayed away…?

Comment by Criminal Enterprise Called Illinois Tuesday, Jan 9, 07 @ 11:57 pm
That was the funniest post, caption or comment ever made on CapFax. Whatever: I do what I want!

Comment by Cartman Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 12:39 am
Our Man Tim Nieukirk appears not to have been there.im

Comment by Truthful James Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 8:11 am
Rich, did you notice if Alderman Dick Mell was at the party?

Comment by beowulf Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 9:21 am