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* Center Square Club for Men…
It’s unclear how much taxpayers will have to pay, if anything, to breach a contract with a country act that has been removed from the entertainment lineup for the DuQuion State Fair […]
[Rep. Darren Bailey, R-Xenia] said there are some questions the Department of Agriculture is going to have to answer.
“There was probably a contract signed, so what did the state of Illinois give up, what is the cost of canceling Confederate Railroad?” Bailey asked.
I asked the governor’s office yesterday and was told the cost of canceling the Confederate Railroad show was $7,500. That’s the full amount the group was promised to play the fair. In comparison, Thomas Rhett’s base contract to play the Illinois State Fair last year was $280,000. But Rhett has had hits during this century.
* The area’s Harley Davidson dealership claims to have booked the band…
Black Diamond is proud to announce the Confederate Railroad band will be on stage September 5th at the Black Diamond Event Center (Black Diamond RV building) in Marion Illinois!
But this is from the Southern’s article yesterday…
After speaking with the band’s agent, McKinney believes the band is receiving at least partial compensation from the state, and remains legally bound to some elements of its contract.
That includes an obstacle to a makeup show: a “radius clause” that prohibits the band from playing any other concerts in the Southern Illinois area within 60 days of the Du Quoin show, McKinney said, which was set for Aug. 27.
That means the soonest the band could play in the region is late October.
The governor’s office will have no objection to the show, I’m told.
* In other developments, a whole lot of people seem to be “unclear on the concept.” Let’s start with this post on the Boycott Du Quoin State Fair Facebook page…
Ok Southern Illinois, this group is for those like me that are tired of the constant censorship and liberal political correctness that is constantly being crammed down our throats. Join me in boycotting the Duquoin State Fair this year due to their canceling of the band Confederate Railroad strictly because of their name and the Confederate flag. Governor Pritzker has stated let this be a “Teachable Moment for Southern Illinois”.
Help me show his regime that we in Southern Illinois don’t need to be taught anything from Cook County or their liberal agendas.
From comments…
Boycott a fair that has been on the chopping block for two decades over a band that hasn’t had a hit single in a quarter century.
I love southern Illinois, but sometimes….
The Illinois Department of Agriculture decided last month to drop the Du Quoin Fair’s $2 daily admission price and make it free after officials heard “many complaints” from locals, according to Fox St. Louis.
So, they’re calling for a boycott of a free event which provides a huge annual economic boost to their area, while the costs are underwritten by northern Illinois taxpayers.
* From my email inbox…
You people are just an embarrassment to this great country of ours! Why must you bring politics into everything done here? I bet if the Confederate Band had a name like LGBQT Band you would have let them play. Again what an embarrassment you are and shame on you!
Um, OK.
* The AP was particularly clueless…
The flare-up in DuQuoin, about 320 miles south of Chicago, rekindles a centuries-old rift in Illinois, whose southern tip reaches far into the confines of the old Confederacy
Kentucky, just to our south, was a “border state” and never seceded. A “rump” legislature in Missouri voted to secede, but it didn’t appear to have the authority or even a quorum to do so.
Yes, southern Illinois is on the same latitude as northern Virginia, but that AP claim is still pretty odd. Also, Virginia narrowly voted for the decidedly non-southern Hillary Clinton in 2016.
* Meanwhile, the boycott page has started to implode…
Well, it sucks, but it’s time for me to leave this group. I joined when it first started to support CR and show my disapproval of the censorship/loss of freedom of speech. I wish you all well and I hope it gets back to what it was originally about. It has become a page of posts wanting to ban another act, which is just more censorship. It has become about black and white, Republican and Democrat, and people wanting to do things that just reinforce what happened and make southern Illinoisans look like a bunch of redneck racists. I hope some of you will start thinking a little more before you post and maybe do some self reflecting. Good luck to the original movement. I hope to see CR playing somewhere close soon. God bless you all.
*** UPDATE *** Tina Sfondeles…
A day after the Pritzker administration defended its decision to bar Confederate Railroad from performing at the downstate DuQoin State Fair, the Democratic governor called the Confederate flag “a symbol of murder, of kidnapping, of rape.”
“The Confederate flag is a symbol of not just slavery, but of treason agains the United States,” Pritzker said at an unrelated press conference in Chicago. […]
“That’s what happened under the banner of the Confederate flag many years ago in this country,” Pritzker said at an unrelated press conference in the Loop. “It is today the symbol of racists, of white nationalists, of the alt-right and so I do not think that the state of Illinois should be sponsoring something that is amplifying that symbol.”
But Pritzker, too, was asked to respond to a lawmaker’s claim that Snoop Dogg, scheduled to perform at the Illinois State Fair on August 16 in Springfield, also has some controversial imagery. The rapper’s latest album, “Make America Crip Again,” features Snoop Dogg standing over a corpse with a toe-tag that reads “Trump.” That comparison was brought up by state Rep. Terri Bryant, R-Murphsyboro.
“There’s a big difference between what I just described and the hundreds of thousands of people [who] died; millions, in fact tens of millions of people, were enslaved. We’re talking about a history, a terrible history in the United States,” Pritzker said. “Death and destruction that took place under that flag — and on the other side, political satire.”
* Related…
* Mystery solved: Montgomery Gentry to do Fair Grandstand show
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 10:44 am
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If they want to officially sound the death knell of the DuQuoin fair, keep ranting. The reasons to do away with it are piling up.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 11:01 am
When LGBTQ people lead the rainbow flag into armed battle against federal troops in support of illegal secession of California from the union, we will ban that flag, too.
Comment by JIbba Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 11:02 am
$7500 doesn’t seem like a lot of money
Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 11:03 am
This whole situation has been a blunder by everyone, and yet everyone wins.
All this does is rile up the base on both sides ultimately driving turnout in the next cycle. It doesn’t cost a Republican or a Democrat a single vote, and apparently it costs only $7500 of taxpayer money. Judging by yesterday’s comment numbers, it sells newspapers too.
Congrats everyone, we all win! Rest assured that your opinion is the best and the most important.
Comment by Lurker Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 11:04 am
Rich used one of my comments.
I feel that I have made the show.
Comment by efudd Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 11:06 am
“Help me show his regime that we in Southern Illinois don’t need to be taught anything from Cook County or their liberal agendas.”
You mean like being anti-slavery? These people are beyond help and their Rep is sticking up for them.
Comment by Give Me A Break Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 11:09 am
Give them money and drop non compete or radius clause. They seem to be the adults in room. Also if free admission who cares if they play elsewhere
I truly wonder how many states in the union have such a serious split between areas
Comment by DuPage Saint Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 11:09 am
This Fair needs to be cancelled. It loses over $2M every year (and some estimate it at over $4M when you consider the maintenance of the grounds year-round … but no one really knows as by statute Maximus only has to provide cost estimates only for the Springfield Fair, which is egregious).
The city of Marion is charging the state to conduct the fair.
The people cannot pay $2 to attend the fair.
Having two fairs that cost the Department of Ag over 10% of their budget and over 20% of their Admin resources is at least one fair too many … and I would argue 2.
etc.
Comment by I Miss Bentohs Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 11:11 am
I love southern Illinois, but sometimes….
Yeah…me too.
Small price to pay…if you ask me.
Comment by Dotnonymous Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 11:13 am
“You people are just an embarrassment to this great country of ours!”
Says an apologist or supporter of the CSA, who fought America and Illinois. The cognitive dissonance is really deep.
Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 11:14 am
Typical Democrats. They don’t see the business opportunity here. J.B. shouldn’t allow the band to play at Harley Davidson unless the band forfeits the entire contract with the State.
Don’t pay the band not to play, and then let them play anyways!!!!!!
Comment by Just Me 2 Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 11:18 am
CR was going to play the gig for just $7500?
This controversy is proving to be quite a boon for the band. I am guessing the Fox News crowd (which covered this) will be clamoring to book them now.
Comment by Henry Francis Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 11:25 am
Illinois was a free state. Maybe just maybe those who protest so much should remember that!
Comment by Reminder Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 11:31 am
Was thinking of starting the rumor all these bonehead comments were just a summer scheme by U of I computer geeks to drive down interest in SIU, but these Gomers was are just too amazing. Perhaps it would be better when the region had little or no internet service — which was not that long ago.
Comment by Annonin' Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 11:35 am
Dig this article from 1994: They picked the name in order to get attention - it was a ploy that the singer said “has been very valuable in creating a marketable image”. Also, he acknowledged from the beginning that “In terms of endorsements, I think the name would present a problem. I’m sure many companies would shy away from us because of our name. I don’t think Coke or Pepsi or people like that would want us selling their products.”
In other words, dust-ups like this are not only expected by them but kind of the point. They’re trolls.
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-05-21-ca-60422-story.html
Comment by Reality Check Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 11:42 am
June 24: A “big-name act that everyone will recognize”
July 10: “Montgomery Gentry to do Fair Grandstand show”
I’ve never felt so betrayed by my government.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 11:43 am
==I bet if the Confederate Band had a name like LGBQT Band you would have let them play.==
That’d be a fascinating experiment. Rename to the Transvestite Siberian Orchestra and see what happens.
Comment by ChrisB Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 11:47 am
The Dem County Chairs should pack a couple of buses of Yankees and make a two day trip out of checking it out - make it a fundraising thing and let people spend money in SOIL. Would be a fun, easy press pop. “Hipsters venture south.”
Comment by Not for Nothing Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 11:48 am
So….the DuQuoin Fair is free? What a bunch of malarkey.
Entry into their fair should cost exactly what the real state fair costs.
They need to live within their means.
Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 11:52 am
For those who object to the band’s cancellation I would suggest going to the fair and having a protest about its cancellation.
Comment by Nonbeliever Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 11:55 am
All of the people protesting/boycotting just make me chuckle because they are so irredeemable. You lost, move along please.
Comment by Glengarry Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 11:57 am
DuPage Saint, it could be the Jared Diamond theory about climate/agriculture/culture changing quicker heading north/south vs. east/west. Similar regional rivalries exist in England & Italy which are also long north\south.
Comment by 62656 Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 12:00 pm
I hope there is media coverage of the Marion concert. I’m sure it will draw a wholesome, polite crowd with no flag waving and no embarrassing or racist behavior. /s
Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 12:01 pm
Just another reason to not go to fair
Just ridiculous
Comment by Nick Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 12:13 pm
For those who are unfamiliar, a little context for why there are two state fairs in Illinois. https://www.sj-r.com/news/20170722/local-business-notes-why-two-illinois-state-fairs-politics-of-course
Some great info for those interested.
Comment by RuralJewel Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 12:31 pm
=== - JS Mill - Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 11:52 am:
Entry into their fair should cost exactly what the real state fair costs. ===
Same for Springfield?
Comment by Cadillac Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 12:34 pm
@ Dupage===I truly wonder how many states in the union have such a serious split between areas===
Many of the western states have a similar dynamic. Seattle V. Eastern Washington, Portland v. Eastern Oregon, Denver/Boulder v. Western Colorado
Comment by Ebenezer Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 12:37 pm
Far Northern California versus the rest of California.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 12:39 pm
==That’d be a fascinating experiment. Rename to the Transvestite Siberian Orchestra and see what happens.==
See that? That’s Wordslinger quality, right there, funny stuff.
But to the post, I’m going to boycott the fair. Where the heck is DuQuoin, anyway, so I don’t accidentally wind up there?
Comment by Stuntman Bob's Brother Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 1:07 pm
That the run down on a run-down-country fair.
The sad state of downstate is bleeding thru.
Comment by vole Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 1:17 pm
==I bet if the Confederate Band had a name like LGBQT Band you would have let them play.==
An idea already tried.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0fzeVbicd4
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 1:37 pm
John A. Logan must be spinning in his grave. Considered one of the very best “civilian” generals of the Civil War, and a radical Republican, it would be interesting what he’d have to say about this, and Terry Bryant’s ridiculous statements.
Comment by The_Equalizer Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 1:47 pm
==This Fair needs to be cancelled. It loses over $2M every year (and some estimate it at over $4M when you consider the maintenance of the grounds year-round== I Miss Bentohs@11:11am
IMB, could you clarify whether that $2M/$4M annual loss figure is for the DuQuoin fair, the Springfield one, or both? Also, would you mind sharing your source with the readership here?
Comment by Dysfunction Junction Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 1:49 pm
If I don’t go to a fair that I wouldn’t have gone to anyway, is it still a boycott?
Comment by Skeptic Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 2:12 pm
Dysfunc Junc: Maximus is required to give a statement/report on the Springfield State Fair each year that can be requested through the Department of Ag or by reading their PIR. No such thing exists for DuQuoin as it was never mandated (Thompson made sure of this as he wanted it to be free and knew it was a money loser) so the $2M is Ags estimate as provided by their CFO. However, ask knowledgeable people within Ag (I’d suggest starting with Warren as he is the most knowledgeable on most everything Ag) and they will quickly point out that DuQuoin has always lost more and mainly because they collect no fees.
Pry for more info from Ag and you will learn they oppose the southern fair and always have. The, main reason is not so much the lost money but that they oppose horseracing as an unnecessary state expense which is why they keeping slashing those employees and that budget. As a prior Director (not me) stated, we are not friends of organized crime.
Comment by I Miss Bentohs Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 2:37 pm
===…the Democratic governor called the Confederate flag “a symbol of murder, of kidnapping, of rape.”
“The Confederate flag is a symbol of not just slavery, but of treason agains the United States,” Pritzker said at an unrelated press conference in Chicago.
…
“That’s what happened under the banner of the Confederate flag many years ago in this country,” Pritzker said at an unrelated press conference in the Loop.===
Here’s the most critical, I feel…
===“It is today the symbol of racists, of white nationalists, of the alt-right and so I do not think that the state of Illinois should be sponsoring something that is amplifying that symbol.”===
Is that clear enough for ya?
Ms. Bryant can learn a thing or three.
Narrator: She hasn’t learned.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 2:45 pm
Black Diamond Harley best remembered for using the owner’s helicopter ferrying GovJunk around on the sneak. Not surprising they book CRR.
Comment by Annonin' Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 2:56 pm
Rich speaks the truth.
13 of the last 15 singles Rhett has released have made the Top Ten Country Singles chart.
Confederate Railroad has had two Top 40 Country singles since 1995.
Comment by btowntruth from forgottonia Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 2:57 pm
Because of the genocidal actions that have taken place beneath the U.S. flag, it should not be flown during the fair. All representations of the U.S. flag need to be banned. It is a brutal reminder to all indigenous people of past and ongoing atrocities.
Comment by Wounded Knee Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 3:02 pm
I’ll look forward to Ms. Bryant to publicly…
…publicly agree with the governor on the confederate flag symbolism
Facebook works, thanks.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 3:06 pm
==“There’s a big difference between what I just described and the hundreds of thousands of people [who] died; millions, in fact tens of millions of people, were enslaved. We’re talking about a history, a terrible history in the United States,” Pritzker said. “Death and destruction that took place under that flag — and on the other side, political satire.”===
I’m really pleased to have a Governor who can clearly get to the heart of a matter. Whether listeners can clearly understand through the haze of culture wars is up to them.
BTW, it is untrue (or unknown) that the Governor said ===let this be a “Teachable Moment for Southern Illinois”.=== Quotes mean something, anonymous Facebook dude. That was an alleged quote from unnamed administration staff, not the Governor.
Comment by Jibba Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 3:20 pm
=Same for Springfield?=
You mean the State Fair? It is $5 to $10 to get into the real State Fair. No freebie except for kids. Why should DuQuoin be free? Because we need to pander to the tender fee-fee’s of southerners?
How much more does the northern part of the state have to subsidize them?
Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 3:24 pm
Moral preening and arrogance.
Comment by Penny Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 3:27 pm
Thanks Rich for telling it how it really is. Garbage reporting down in Southern Illinois. It sounds like Rep. Bryant said alot more than they chose to report……I wish we could get the true story out around the southern part of the state. There was no mention of her crazy people she represents comment in the reports down in the southern part of the state
Comment by Shawnee Solar Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 3:31 pm
I Miss Bentohs @2:37pm: thanks for the info on where I can get more accurate data. I’ve run some numbers and tried to post (with sources), but apparently it didn’t make it through Rich’s filters. Long story short, 97 percent of the IL population does *not* attend either of the State Fairs. But we all pay for it, to the tune of an $8.51 subsidy for every single head that walks though those two downstate gates. And that’s on top of the entrance fees that attendees in Springfield pay just to have access to the fried elephant ears and overpriced food on a stick.
Comment by Dysfunction Junction Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 4:42 pm
“There was probably a contract signed, so what did the state of Illinois give up, what is the cost of canceling Confederate Railroad?” Bailey asked.
The cost is Illinois gets to keep its dignity.
Comment by Under Influenced Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 4:42 pm
Harley Davidson: Motor cycles for white people, and white people only.
It’s one thing for the owners to celebrate and host every right wing politician they can, and it’s another for them to clearly associate their store and their brand with racism.
Comment by Candy Dogood Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 4:52 pm
Even in the South they’re removing Confederate monuments and symbols, so it’s not just Illinois who’s had enough.
Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 4:59 pm
LOL, I got curious and went to Harley Davidson US’ website.
“We are focused on diversifying our customer base within the U.S. as well as expanding our reach outside the U.S. To build on that momentum, we have evolved our customer-led approach to include a deeper understanding of consumer life stages and cultural shifts. These insights are driving a richer, more targeted marketing and product development approach that will help us continue to diversify our customer base and reach the next generation of riders globally. ”
https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/en/about-us/company.html
Comment by Candy Dogood Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 5:01 pm
Sigh, can we consider this issue closed? And please leave southern Illinois alone for a while because SOMEONE (who knows who) in state government SOMEWHERE decided Confederate Railroad would be popular down here? I sure wasn’t asked. Nobody was. The person who decided to book them could work out of Chicago or Springfield for all anyone knows, I sure don’t.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 5:16 pm
Why is it that Iowa can make money on their state fair and we can’t? Why can’t we have nice things?
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2017/08/09/iowa-state-fair-revenue-increases-grandstand/548654001/
Comment by Soccermom Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 5:19 pm
====Why is it that Iowa can make money on their state fair and we can’t?===
As the Great Wordslinger reminded us often;
Corporate sponsors were lacking. No reason for it in Illinois.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 5:29 pm
The cost is Illinois gets to keep its dignity.
Let’s see. We’re the Las Vegas of the midwest, the abortion capital of the country and we’ve legalized marijuana. Yea, we’re just swimming in dignity.
Comment by Birds on the bat Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 6:16 pm
Since the administration feels so strongly about this, do we know who in the administration originally approved the band? Has anyone FOID’d the contract and all emails?
Comment by {Sigh} Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 7:36 pm
I can’t believe they are inviting the Gentry Don’t you know they ignore the rights of the Yeoman? That they oppress the Peasantry? That they abuse their serfs? The commonweal would be better if all Gentry were eliminated
What? It is Montgomery Gentry and they are a country duo?
Never mind.
Comment by G'Kar Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 8:18 pm
Maybe we can lure back the Hambo with about $50 million in state sponsored prize money. Or better yet, bring back the world water skiing competition
.
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 8:40 pm
===Confederate Railroad has had two Top 40 Country singles since 1995.===
Yeh, but Trashy Women is one of the greatest country songs of all time.
When you contract with a band call Confederate Railroad, what do you expect? Sounds like more incompetency at Ag/governors office.
Comment by justacitizen Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 10:10 pm
Okay. Now let’s get the Confederate and Rebel salads a name change at Boone’s Saloon in Springfield. I took a large group of clients there to eat on a busy session day, and was pretty embarrassed when they pointed that out to me. They also pointed it out to the server, but I’m not sure that is the way to get it changed. Anyone?
Comment by ugh Thursday, Jul 11, 19 @ 12:50 pm