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Governor’s Day roundup

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Addressing more than 2,000 people at the annual pre-fair brunch of the Democratic County Chairs’ Association, Pritzker cited “the insidious danger of a campaign by some elected representatives who suggest that Illinois would be better off divided into pieces — that if you live in one part of the state, that you’re less patriotic or less American than if you live in another part of the state.”

“Illinois’ success relies on all of us,” echoed Kristina Zahorik, the president of the county chairs group. “Democrats will not be divided by race, by gender or by whom they love. We will not be swayed by small-minded Republicans who seek to build a wall against Chicago and strive to use diversity as a political weapon.” […]

In her speech, Pelosi borrowed on Pritzker’s campaign slogan in telling the crowd, “You think big. You get big things done.” She said “persistent, bold experimentation” was the “vitality of the Democratic Party.”

Noting national party concerns over attracting Midwest voters who backed Trump over Hillary Clinton in 2016, Pelosi said Democrats across the country hope to “catch the spark of Illinois, the spark of the heartland of America where our victory in 2020 will spring from.”

* Sun-Times…

The first-time governor painted Illinois as the state that’s doing it right as a battle is underway “for the soul of our nation.”

“Here in Illinois, we built a wall around our country’s most sacred and important values. And we told America that we will keep those values safe until sanity is restored to the White House,” Pritzker said.

“And if Donald Trump wants a piece of that wall, well then he’ll have to go through me,” Pritzker said, and gesturing to the litany of Democrats on hand, including Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, U.S. Represenatives Lauren Underwood and Sean Casten and congressional candidate Betsy Dirksen Londrigan. […]

Pelosi, who never directly mentioned Trump’s name, said the president “has no respect for God’s creation, the land of America.”

* Center Square…

“But right now there is a battle being waged for the soul of our nation, and in the last eight months, Illinois has found its anthem,” Pritzker said.

Pritzker championed the legislative accomplishments he was able to secure with Democratic majorities in both chambers of the General Assembly. Those accomplishments included expanding abortion rights, raising the state’s minimum wage, tax increases to fund a statewide infrastructure bill and recreational cannabis legalization, among other measures.

Pritzker struck a partisan tone Wednesday morning, where he went after Republicans, especially President Donald Trump.

“They put on a red hat and they want to say ‘let’s make America great again,’ ” Pritzker said. “It’s a president who thinks that we are so blind that we don’t see right through his racism and xenophobia.”

* Trib…

Mayor Lori Lightfoot taped a message for the Democratic event that praised Pritzker and legislative leaders for pushing to raise the minimum wage, legalizing recreational marijuana and passed a “real'’ infrastructure bill. She also said Democrats need to fight to unseat Trump. We need to stay united and do everything in our power to defeat Donald Trump and the people around him who look the other way as he undermines the foundations of our Democracy.”

* SJ-R…

Springfield lies in the 13th Congressional District where Democrat Betsy Dirksen Londrigan is trying to unseat incumbent Republican Rodney Davis in what promises to be a hotly contested race. Davis often tries to link Londrigan with Pelosi who can be a polarizing figure in her own right. Asked about being used as a campaign foil by Davis, Pelosi said the Democrats have done quite well despite the attacks.

“In this last election, Republicans had 137,000 ads describing me as a San Francisco liberal, which I proudly am,” Pelosi said. “They are not saying it in a complimentary way. It didn’t work. We won 43 seats. We’ve heard that before.”

Prior to the Democrats’ brunch, Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, said Pelosi’s appearance in Springfield was a plus for Londrigan.

“Nancy Pelosi used to be a polarizing figure. Now she’s the center of the Democratic Party,” Cullerton said.

* Bernie…

(F)reshman Democratic Gov. J.B. PRITZKER framed the picnic he hosted (and paid for personally) at the Director’s Lawn at the State Fair as a bipartisan event, and said he invited all lawmakers, including Republicans.

Well, House GOP Leader JIM DURKIN, R-Western Springs, said he never got an invitation, and ELENI DEMERTZIS, his spokeswoman, said some others in the caucus she checked with didn’t receive invitations either.

JORDAN ABUDAYYEH, spokeswoman for Pritzker, said invitations went out to all legislative district offices on July 22 and a follow-up was sent last week.

One GOP lawmaker who did receive the invitation was Rep. TIM BUTLER of Springfield. […]

If the governor really wants to change the culture of the day, Butler said, the governor’s office “should have done a much better job explaining it,” possibly contacting GOP leaders to get them on board. Butler opted not to go.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Aug 15, 19 @ 10:17 am

Comments

According to JB, Illinois is fighting for the “soul of the nation.”

Yet nothing is being done against Tom Cullerton who is under investigation for making over $188k for being a ghost employee. Instead of heading the Labor Comittee, he got moved to the Veterans Committee so he can continue to take in extra cash in order to pay for legal bills.

If this is the fight for the “soul of the nation” then we’re doing a lousy job.

Comment by Not Under Investiagtion Thursday, Aug 15, 19 @ 10:23 am
When did Tom Cullerton become the argument for the “soul of the nation”?

That’s an interesting spin.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 15, 19 @ 10:27 am
==Yet nothing is being done against Tom Cullerton who is under investigation==

Well, which is it?

Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Aug 15, 19 @ 10:29 am
Democrats across the country hope to “catch the spark of Illinois”

Is that like catching the flu ?

Comment by Donnie Elgin Thursday, Aug 15, 19 @ 10:30 am
“the insidious danger of a campaign by some elected representatives who suggest that Illinois would be better off divided into pieces”

Or destructive folly. Trump and bigotry have been very bad for Republicans in Illinois.

“Those accomplishments included expanding abortion rights, raising the state’s minimum wage, tax increases to fund a statewide infrastructure bill and recreational cannabis legalization, among other measures.”

Beautifully done. If downstate separatists had their way, we’d have more damage to the most vulnerable, students and state vendors, fiscal starvation, exploding debt, union-busting, political warfare and all the other nasty stuff Rauner did or tried to do to Illinois. Downstate overwhelmingly voted for Rauner, even in 2018. Now these people are acting like victims of Chicago liberals after what they did to the state? Puh-lease.

Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Aug 15, 19 @ 10:40 am
It’s good to be King and the Dems are the King in Illinois. These feel good events aren’t about reality, they’re about feeling good and so they succeeded.

Comment by NeverPoliticallyCorrect Thursday, Aug 15, 19 @ 10:44 am
It sounds like Pritzker is going to endorse Biden. That “soul of the nation” line is basically Biden’s main campaign theme.

Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Thursday, Aug 15, 19 @ 10:45 am
The Democrat candidates support for unrestricted access by illegal aliens won’t play well in Central Illinois. The calls for single payer health system will put them squarely at odds with the union households in the region as well.

Comment by Downstate Thursday, Aug 15, 19 @ 10:55 am
===It sounds like Pritzker is going to endorse Biden===

Pretty sure he’s staying out of that primary.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Aug 15, 19 @ 10:56 am
=When did Tom Cullerton become the argument for the soul of the nation?=

Governors own.

“In the past eight months, Illinois has found its anthem.”

If protecting legislators who clearly embezzled funds from Labor while acting as the head of the Senate Labor Committee is “finding our anthem” then we’re in trouble.

Governors own. JB allowed Tom Cullerton to switch to a new committee to keep additional income. That’s not “finding our anthem.”

Comment by Not Under Investiagtion Thursday, Aug 15, 19 @ 11:07 am
Interesting dynamic says it all about the hypocrisy in politics

JB and the Democrats, who are mostly out of power in Washington, rail against the Trump administration at every turn, proudly resisting everything while at the same time lecturing the Eastern bloc Republicans Illinois to just shut up and take whatever policies Cook County Democrats think are correct.

LOL

Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Aug 15, 19 @ 11:11 am
===Governors own.===

Huh?

Maybe President Cullerton for his stances, the voters who elected Tom, I’m just confused how Tom Cullerton is now equates with the “soul of the country”

Is that the *best* y’all can do?

Governor Pritzker didn’t appoint him.

===If protecting legislators===

Pretty sure your beef is with President Cullerton, LOL

===JB allowed Tom Cullerton to switch===

Governors run the Senate?

Who knew, LOL

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 15, 19 @ 11:12 am
===Pretty sure he’s staying out of that primary.===

Ok. It still seems weird to parrot that line completely. If someone was talking about hope in change in 2008, it would be pretty clear who they preferred.

Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Thursday, Aug 15, 19 @ 11:18 am
=Governors run the Senate?=

If JB is so powerless that he allows soon-to-be felons hold leadership positions in the Senate then we’re in deep trouble.

Governors own.

Comment by Not Under Investigation Thursday, Aug 15, 19 @ 11:35 am
===If JB is so powerless that he allows soon-to-be felons hold leadership positions in the Senate then we’re in deep trouble.===

Doubling down on the governor running the Senate? Um, ok, go with that.

LOL

If you went after President Cullerton at least you’d show a true understanding of the branches of government and how they function.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 15, 19 @ 11:38 am
===If JB is so powerless that he allows soon-to-be felons hold leadership positions in the Senate then we’re in deep trouble.===

What’s next, gonna say “King Madigan runs Illinois”?

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 15, 19 @ 11:39 am
The Eastern bloc will pay the political price of rebellion…at the voting booth.

Comment by Dotnonymous Thursday, Aug 15, 19 @ 12:10 pm
==he allows soon-to-be felons hold leadership positions in the Senate==

I wasn’t aware the Governor controlled who held positions in the Senate.

Talk to our friend LP here on this board. He’ll tell that Governors aren’t in control of anytyhing.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Aug 15, 19 @ 1:11 pm
==who are mostly out of power in Washington==

Lol. Well, I guess a guy like you has to have something positive to look at since your team here in Illinois is about as out of power as a political party can be.

==rail against the Trump administration at every turn, proudly resisting everything==

Thsi coming from the guy who rails against Madigan and the Democrats at every turn. You complain about hypocrisy and then in the same comment show how much of a hypocrite you are.

I guess the only good think that can be said about you LP is that you sure are entertaining. Not one to be taken seriously. But certainly entertaining.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Aug 15, 19 @ 1:14 pm
==who are mostly out of power in Washington==

If you consider controlling the House of Representatives and controlling the position in government that is 2nd in the line of succession to the Presidency to be “mostly out of power.”

You’re doing a real good Donald Trump impersonation with your drivel.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Aug 15, 19 @ 1:16 pm
- Lucky Pierre -

I went back, looked, couldn’t find it.

Since we’re talking about Governor’s Day…

When Bruce Rauner told of looking and talking to 4 people to replace him on the ballot… did you feel betrayed.

I couldn’t find your comment to that.

I mean, Rauner, all but admitting he, personally, was gonna get beaten, humiliated even, and there you were, daily, defending him.

Did you feel anger? Do you feel duped now? Are you embarrassed still standing up for a guy who didn’t even want to stand for re-election?

So on Governor’s Day… how do you feel now knowing all that defending and commenting on as for a man looking to quit?

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 15, 19 @ 1:21 pm
==If protecting legislators who clearly embezzled funds== and ==soon-to-be felons==

Talk about chomping at the bit. Calm down, Tom Cullerton will get his day in court and at that time we’ll find out if he was a ghost payroller or not. It’s going to take a paper trail and being tter witnesses than a jailhouse snitch (Coli) to convince a jury.

Haven’t you ever heard Sol Watchler’s quote: “A grand jury would indict a ham sandwich if that is what you [the prosecutor] wanted.”

Comment by 17% Solution Thursday, Aug 15, 19 @ 1:28 pm
==while at the same time lecturing the Eastern bloc Republicans Illinois to just shut up==
Jim Edger is a Democrat?

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 15, 19 @ 1:50 pm
===Jim Edger is a Democrat?===

To:

Raunerites
Trumpkins
Eastern Bloc thinkers

Yep.

That’s how warped things have devolved.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 15, 19 @ 1:54 pm
OW take it easy. LP isn’t even trying to block your punches. Step back and see if his corner throws in the towel.

Comment by don the legend Thursday, Aug 15, 19 @ 2:43 pm
- don the legend -

:)

I’m *just* letting - Lucky Pierre - know I’m paying attention is all.

Be well.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 15, 19 @ 2:51 pm
The Russian collusion hoax impacted the 2018 election Nancy. It is the equivalent of winning a sports contest when you provided the officials and paid them off handsomely.

Then claimed it was because of coaching and your players

Comment by Pick a Name Thursday, Aug 15, 19 @ 4:04 pm
“And if Donald Trump wants a piece of that wall, well then he’ll have to go through me,” Pritzker said…

Strong message…

Comment by Dotnonymous Thursday, Aug 15, 19 @ 4:22 pm
===The Russian collusion hoax impacted the 2018 election Nancy.===

They got the House back, Illinois flipped 2 seats Blue, POTUS was rebuffed.

They played it perfectly to the raw politics.

“Scoreboard”

If POTUS was remotely trustworthy, it would’ve backfired.

As a Trumpkin, you see it different.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 15, 19 @ 4:37 pm
They did Willy, and they will soon pay the price for the hoax and lies.

A corn dog awaits the winner.

Comment by Pick a Name Friday, Aug 16, 19 @ 8:20 am