Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Today’s quotable

Posted in:

Illinois

* US Sen. Mark Kirk in the Trib…

Early in his first Senate term, Kirk spoke with concern about Illinois’ financial picture. He said that his companion, Dodie McCracken, had urged him to explore a 2014 run for governor. Kirk said he told her, “If I lose, I will commit suicide, and if I win, I will also commit suicide.”

Heh.

But that’s pretty much why I automatically question the sanity of anyone who wants to run for governor these days.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 2:13 pm

Comments

Having no conscience must help.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 2:15 pm
Sometimes leaders are called, are chosen reluctantly.

Illinois may just need that “reluctantly called” leader before its too late.

A leader willing to make tough choices, to find comprises first and last, and willing to see governing and politics as honorable. Honorable enough to keep his/her word, and honorable enough to see partners where others may see adversaries, when it’s so much harder to see the latter than the former.

I can get behind that leader, whenever that leader decides to emerge.

Right now, it’s about saving things and moving forward more than pushing things that exaserbate where comprise does not exist.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 2:22 pm
The sooner Kirk is gone from the public eye, the better.

Comment by DuPage Dave Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 2:22 pm
Hmmm for some reason Kirks comment reminds me of Lady Acton saying to Churchill “If you were my husband, I’d poison your drink.” He replied, “If you were my wife I’d drink it”

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 2:23 pm
Wonder if the companion was supportive saying, “I’ll support you either way”.

Totally kidding! /s lol

Comment by A guy Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 2:25 pm
Mark should have taken a bow and retired. This is a problem with many pols….never know when to hang it up and move on.

Comment by scott aster Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 2:31 pm
I wonder if Kirk’s politics declined because of his poor health. That particular quote is accurate though. Who would want the job besides Rauner and Quinn?

Comment by Old Timer Dem Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 2:39 pm
Three of the first five commenters find it necessary to dump on Kirk. Does that make you feel better about yourself?

Comment by Winnin' Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 2:42 pm
Oswego Willy - Kirk Dillard is thatbkind of person. Respected by Dems & Rep.

Comment by Former DuPage Mayor Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 2:49 pm
- Former DuPage Mayor -

The $50 million Rauner just dumped in his coffers today negates Dillard.

Sadly.

Sadly, but it does.

With respect.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 2:56 pm
==The $50 million Rauner just dumped in his coffers today negates Dillard.==

The ne..gate was closed tens of millions before that.

Comment by A guy Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 2:59 pm
- A Guy -

Rauner $50 million is the “cost of occupation”

Occupying forces are expensive.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 3:02 pm
Winnin’ - none of that surprises me. One of the reasons I failed to nominate anyone for best commenter - and one of the reasons I quit commenting on this site for several months - is because people in this business have become hyperpartisan and way too cynical at all times. I can still get along and have a dialogue with many political types but the tone has changed.

Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 3:10 pm
OW, what was the cost of occupation before he came along? And, who did the occupyin’?

Comment by A guy Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 3:20 pm
===what was the cost of occupation before he came along? And, who did the occupyin’?===

Democracy reigned.

Now it’s an occupation force or Rauner, and the $50 million to make sure the minority forces are funded against the majority.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 3:23 pm
Um, Winnin’ and Team Sleep, Kirk’s funny, funny joke about suicide sort of set the table for commenters.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 3:26 pm
A great interview and article by Pearson. Lester of the Daily Herald also had an outstanding interview with Kirk earlier this week.

A classy individual who was repeatedly tarred and feathered while holding office for not being conservative enough, for not being liberal enough, for being a fake moderate and being a RINO.

The shallowest amongst us were never able to overcome that superficiality and recognize how intelligent and thoughtful the man actually was and continues to be.

I for one am glad that Kirk didn’t make an effort to run for Governor. Springfield is the land of superficiality where realism is unwanted and the status quo admired and fought to the death. He would have been miserable there.

Thank you for your years of service to Illinois and this Nation Senator Kirk!

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 3:29 pm
3:26 - my take on his quip was a) it was meant tongue-in-cheek and b) for some of the stuff Kirk has said this was pretty middle of the road.

Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 3:34 pm
–”I think now the party is one and the same with Donald Trump — that the moderate establishment that I represented very much has a distance from the president-elect,” said Kirk, who unendorsed the incoming president over controversial remarks on immigration. –

I give Kirk a lot of credit for being part of The GOP Resistance. The Trump True Believers, at least you know where they’re coming from.

It’s the Vichy GOP, the ones who called Trump unfit for office and are now kissing his tukkus, they’re the ones that make my skin crawl.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 3:44 pm
==Democracy reigned.===

To quote De Niro “you kiss people with that mouth”. lol.

Democracy reigned for the 12 years before the “Rauner Occupation” (as you refer to it)????

If that’s what democracy looks like…your utter confusion has become clearer to me.

It’s the same game OW (sadly) It’s just gotten a lot more expensive. Fear not. To date, those democracy angels from the decade before have found the means to keep up. They just divide the balls equally in all of the pockets. Always check those side pockets Willy! lol

Comment by A guy Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 4:13 pm
===Democracy reigned for the 12 years before the “Rauner Occupation” (as you refer to it)????

If that’s what democracy looks like…your utter confusion has become clearer to me.===

Occupational funds ($20 million in 2015, $50 million in 2017) is not even remotely the same.

Raunerites will vote Raunerite. No free think the the Raunerite Caucuses.

Elections are now about Raunerites and the Rauner anti-Illinois agenda, not about the state, her people or institutions like Higher Ed.

I’ve seen this movie before.

===It’s the same game OW (sadly) It’s just gotten a lot more expensive. Fear not. To date, those democracy angels from the decade before have found the means to keep up. They just divide the balls equally in all of the pockets. Always check those side pockets Willy===

It’s not the sand game, governing after democracy was always the game… before Rauner.

Now it’s destruction and scorched earth… and $70 million so there’s no $&@#% problems.

It’s like you ignore the truth your own eyes see.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 4:19 pm