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Here comes the Kingfish

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* Gov. Blagojevich’s own state Rep., John Fritchey, compares our top office-holder to Huey Long…

While there were some invocations of Long brought up by people following Gov. Blagojevich’s class-dividing budget address last year, I’m not sure that anybody has really thought about the extent of the similarities. Or if they have, I may have missed it.

* Fritchey offers up these items about the former Louisiana governor, with his own comments in parentheses…

In 1929, Long called a special session of both houses of the legislature to enact a new corporate tax, in order to help fund his social programs. The bill met with a storm of opposition. (can you say GRT?)

Denying that his program was socialistic, Long stated that his ideological inspiration for the plan came from the Bible. (where have we heard this recently?)

Long became ruthless when dealing with his enemies, firing their relatives from state jobs and supporting candidates to defeat them in elections.

* Here’s the big difference that Fritchey doesn’t mention: Love him or hate him, Huey Long was generally a success. He got things done. He was a builder. His means had actual ends. Yes, he was ruthless, dictatorial and maniacally self-obsessed, but after he was gone his supporters could point to real progress. Blagojevich may have the same schtick, but he hasn’t yet been able to close the deal.

Still, I’d take an ineffective Long wannabe like Blagojevich over an actual Huey Long any day. I don’t want to have to start my car with a broom handle every morning.

Does Blagojevich remind you of any other historical figures?

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 9:15 am

Comments

Dan Walker

Comment by Objective Dem Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 9:22 am
“I don’t want to have to start my car with a broom handle every morning.”

???

Comment by Levois Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 9:26 am
Charlie Chaplin….without the genius of intentional humor and pathology.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 9:26 am
Use your imagination. It’ll come to you.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 9:27 am
Rich must have fancy push-button ignition

Comment by Greg Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 9:27 am
Rich,

As I tried to convey, maybe unsuccessfully, my comparisons weren’t intended to be either negative or positive, but rather, I just thought that some of the parallels were pretty interesting.

As you point out, Long did a lot of things, and a lot of good things, at a critical juncture in Louisiana’s history.

He went to the mat to provide textbooks for kids, breathed new life into LSU, and seemed to be a sincere advocate for empowering those who didn’t enjoy ‘insider’ status.

How he accomplished many of those goals may not win him any statesmanship awards, but as you point out, at least he got them done.

Comment by Rep. John Fritchey Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 9:28 am
John, that wasn’t meant as a jab at you. It was an interesting take that I just built upon.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 9:31 am
Judas

Comment by Patriot Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 9:32 am
A young Dennis Kucinich…or Alfred E. Neuman

Comment by Common sense in Illinois Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 9:36 am
That spoiled kid from “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” who just screams and pouts until she gets what she wants.

Comment by S. Illinois Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 9:41 am
No jab taken, build away

Comment by Rep. John Fritchey Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 9:43 am
Wile E. Coyote)

Comment by Beep Beep! Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 9:59 am
Britney Spears………..”A flake” Doesn’t know right from wrong; thinks his position in life entitles him to do whatever.

Comment by MOON Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 10:06 am
Blago reminds me more of a cartoon character than an historical character.

I look at Blago and see Eric Cartman: “Screw you, I’m going home” and, of course, “You must respect my AUTHORITAAYY.” Just remember that, like Blago, Eric Cartman has shown an ability to lead an angry mob of ignorant rubes and, like Blago, he usually loses in the end.

Comment by Skeeter Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 10:08 am
I think that is an insult to Dennis Kucinich.

Comment by Levois Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 10:09 am
Prime Minister Charles Townsend who in 1767 passed the Townsend Act that was one of the factors of the Revolutionary war. And caused the “No Taxation without Representation.” campaign.

Comment by He makes Ryan Look like a Saint Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 10:10 am
Napolean….without any of the redeeming qualities.

Comment by My thought Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 10:11 am
Little Lord Fauntelroy….”Waaaaa, Waaaaa, I WANT MY KINGDOM!!!”

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 10:21 am
A combination of Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt, Bill Clinton and John Fritchey, with a little Rich Daley and Dick Mell thrown in.

Comment by Bill Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 10:30 am
Don Quixote

Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 10:31 am
Hey RICH,

instead of starting your car with a broom how bout riding the broom. Halloween beckons. It is a good thing that reporters generally don’t need to fear physical retaliation in this state.

For my next yoke.

Blago reminds me of Dan Walker, but without the brains. Ed Vrdolyak without the fast part. Only time will tell but I doubt Blago will spend decades skirting Federal charges. He ain’t fast enough. Then again, Eddy V wasn’t fast enough recently himself.

What amazes me is that the man is so obviously not interested in the nuts and bolts of government.

The Democratic officials and organizations that supported Blago over Paul Vallas owe this state an apology. I won’t be holding my breath.

Comment by irishpirate Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 10:43 am
William McKinley

Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 10:44 am
The Democratic officials and organizations that supported Blago over Paul Vallas deserve a civic award and the key to the state.

Comment by Bill Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 10:54 am
Is Bill back on the boat?

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 10:57 am
I think the Boat has come to Bill.

Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 11:00 am
Bill -
The problem we are having is the fact that those knuckleheads have the key to our state. Check the vaults, they are empty!

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 11:01 am
I am split -

As much as the Governor has failed to do, he has actually done a lot.

I just don’t know if it is enough to meet expectations originally and continuously set.

Comment by GoBearsss Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 11:01 am
I should clarify - expectations HE HIMSELF originally set and continuously sets.

Comment by GoBearsss Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 11:02 am
Rich,
Lol, Maybe just for today. Old habits die hard.

Comment by Bill Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 11:06 am
It would have to be Henry VIII. He acts like a spoiled child and doesn’t realize he was not crowned.
The big question is who is Anne Boleyn ?

Comment by Lula May Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 11:11 am
How about Nero? Fiddling away at pet projects (numerous huge unaffordable health care expansions) while the basic infrastructure and finances of Illinois burn.

Of course, this could be said for Richie (Olympics) and Toddler (any employment expansion in Cook County) as well.

Comment by South Side Mike Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 11:20 am
Bill, please come clean and identify yourself, Governor.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 11:25 am
Mayor “Big” Bill Thompson!!!

Comment by Levois Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 11:29 am
I’m not Governor…..luckily for Illinois. You think taxes are high now???

Comment by Bill Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 11:35 am
“Does Blagojevich remind you of any other historical figures?”

Well, that depends. Do you consider Shemp to be a historical figure?

Comment by BigDog Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 11:37 am
Bill is not the governor, but perhaps we can run him in the ‘10 primary as “our” candidate.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 11:38 am
I accept!
My first legislative initiative will be to rescind income, sales and property taxes on businesses which convey political information via fax and the internet.

Comment by Bill Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 11:42 am
Bill has my full editorial support.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 11:46 am
He is Andrew Johnson.

Johnson liked to campaign, and was a great crowd pleaser. He could read a crowd brilliantly and instinctively knew how to win them over. He was a fighter. Johnson was a Jacksonian Democrat so he believed in democracy and saw the political power in the common voter’s support. Conversely Johnson disassociated himself from other voters; those he considered aristocratic and wealthy. Although Johnson’s political successes brought him wealth, slaves and fame, he felt that he represented the common man.

Johnson, like Blagojevich hated those who opposed him. Instead of using his incredible charm to compromise with his political opponents, he would heap as much wrath as possible upon them and bully them into submission. Both men come from humble roots, Johnson, more than Blagojevich, and there appears to be a similar gut-level need to turn every political battle into a personal death struggle. Both men are fighters with no-holds-barred ferocity.

Both Johnson and Blagojevich see their offices as demanding respect and loyalty and hate being challenged by others due to their positions. What both men failed to understand was how mastering their offices skillfully would win them enough political support to carry their policies. Both men failed to learn their jobs, and went gleefully into legislative blood baths as angry fathers fighting rebellious children, instead of utilizing the executive branches trump cards to carry the day.

Both men couldn’t be trusted in agreements made with those they felt beneath them. Johnson and Blagojevich had such an enourmous opinion about themselves, they have difficulties listening to anyone they view as unworthy of their attention. And why shouldn’t they feel this way? After all, they were the elected leaders, and won mandates from whom they saw as common people. Both men suffered under a perception that only they represented typical voters, and those opposed to them represented wealthy special interests.

Johnson ended up falling out of favor with the country due in great part to his inability to compromise. The courageous stands he took to win offices failed to shift when the majority of voters saw the need to end sectional conflicts by accepting new realities. This is quite similar to what Blagojevich has been undergoing. Milrod’s political self image is conflicting with the fiscal realities in Illinois, yet he fails to change what has won him elections in the past.

Both men’s careers actually don’t end up badly. So far, Blagojevich is still in office, and Johnson was reelected to the US Senate before his death. Both men discovered that taking strong stands and defending them at all costs, pays dividends whenever the public feels a need to reach for a politician with these traits. Their failures as executives is due to their unwillingness to learn their jobs, refusals to compromise and inabilities to respect others enough to listen and win them over.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 11:49 am
Nice post VM, with a couple of exceptions. Unlike Johnson, Blago did not win a mandate from the people, he didn’t even win a majority of the vote.

And the book is very much out on how Blago’s career is going to end, but it sure isn’t going to be the way that he had planned. It could well wind up ending like George’s, which I guess is better than ending like Long’s.

Comment by Johnson he ain't Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 12:02 pm
Francis Urquhart. “You might well think that. I couldn’t possibly comment.” Anyone in politics must see “House of Cards,” “To Play the King” and “The Final Cut.”

Comment by 32nd Ward Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 12:05 pm
So noted -

We repeatedly see successful candidates become horrific administrators. What wins elections isn’t what wins once in office. Johnson, Blagojevich and other great candidates repeatedly show this weakness in our electoral system.

OH- and Johnson didn’t win a Presidential mandate either - Lincoln died, but won many mandates over the years. Blagojevich’s political future depends on him and what Mr. Fitzgerald uncovers, doesn’t it?

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 12:09 pm
FU is intelligent, RB isn’t.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 12:10 pm
King Canute

Comment by Pete Speer Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 12:36 pm
This isn’t an historical figure, but I pick Greg Stillson, the politician in Stephen King’s “The Dead Zone”, because he’s one person I would really, really never want to see become president and get ahold of the nuclear button. He’s not an exact match in every detail, of course, but fans of the book and movie might see some parallels.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 12:40 pm
Herb Tarlek, salesman from WKRP in Cincinnati

Comment by Ernest T. Bass Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 12:49 pm
Hey Bill, can I be your Lite Guv? I promise-no Websites.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 1:16 pm
AA,
Ok if you promise not to have Edgar and Schnorf hanging around all the time.
Actully, chief of staff would probably be better for you.
We could let A Citizen be Lt.Gov. He does not get bored as easily.

Comment by Bill Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 1:27 pm
I’m on bored - Let’s do it!

Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 2:05 pm
Blagojevich wants to be Huey Long. However, Blagojevich isn’t as powerful as Long. Blagojevich wants to be reborn as a populist. Long rose to the top being a populist, not marrying into political royalty.

If there’s a modern political figure who deserves to be compared with Huey Long it’s Hugo Chavez of Venezuela.

Comment by Carl Nyberg Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 2:49 pm
VanMan,
Excellent. But you give Blago far too much credit. He certainly is no “fighter”. A “fighter” give the impression of one who stands up to his opponenets face to face or mano a mano. And that is certainly not Blago’s way. He hides behind others or he let’s others do his dirty work and then gives you that “Huh?, me?” expression when confronted.
He’ll get his due one day. And then he will rot in jail and after that in Hades.

Comment by dknight Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 3:01 pm
Bill and A, you have a deal.

Who should be our budget director?

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 3:23 pm
Van Man was persuasive in his presentation about Andrew Johnson in terms of ignominious political flaws and failures, but I laughed out loud when I saw the reference to WKRP’s Herb Tarlek due to certain characterological similarities. I thought the Big Bill Thompson suggestion was also good

Huey Long was a larger that life rogue/ demagogue who inspired one of the great all time American political novels. Maybe one of our creative bloggers should write a comic book about Blago’s political career because Long was omparatively a giant and Blago is a pygmy. Given their reapective propensities for demagoguery, I see why John Fritchey noted the parallels.

Comment by Captain America Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 4:04 pm
Rep Fritchey sure can be political when he wants to be. Sayin’ he didn’t mean anything negative when he compared Blago to the Huey Long?

Here is part of the synopsis from the movie Kingfish.

“the life of Huey P. Long (John Goodman), whose corrupt political machine dominated Louisiana for years. The movie opens with a 1930’s newsreel giving a report on Long’s plan to a run for U.S. President while depicting him as a demagogue in the tradition of Hitler and Mussolini.”

Nothin’ negative there.

Comment by Garp Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 4:09 pm
- Arthur Andersen -
Bill will insist on being close to the money . . . very close. We will be taxing business and the upper middle class, however no one 60 or older, widows, and orphans will pay any taxes.

Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 4:19 pm
Blago is more like Huey Lewis than Huey Long.
♫♫We’re not happy to be stuck with you.♫♫
Yes, it’s true.

Comment by Jake From Elwood Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 4:41 pm
Arthur,
Cassandra would make an excellent budget director. The unions will love her. Hey, I won’t have to move to Springfield, will I? The property taxes are too high and there is no way I’m living in that dump by 4th Street.

Comment by Bill Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 5:00 pm
I’m for the new slate since there will be no taxes for anyone 60 or over. I’m not that old yet but I’ll go to Little Village in Chicago and get a fake ID saying that I am.

Comment by Silent Majority Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 6:10 pm
We will only honor fake IDs from campaign donors. I’m sure you understand.

Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 6:46 pm
Sheesh. The dream is over already.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 7:05 pm
Stay right at home, Guv. We’re sellin’ that joint on 4th to the highest responsible donor, er, bidder.

Alternatively, it would make an excellent state-run “niche” casino. We’ll have to quick-take Edgar’s old church across the street for parking and that will be that.

Our CMS director, Bill Cellini Jr., will be right on top of that project.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 7:08 pm
A Citizen - Don Quixote was basically a good man who was nuts. blago isn’t a good man but he is nuts.

Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 7:21 pm
Rich, we will always double honor your ID. As our editorial supporter we will be in your debt and we keep our word!

Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 7:30 pm
- Arthur Andersen -
We could also try putting a Red Light in the South Portico and see what develops. Might work out better than the GRT, especially during legislative sessions. Casino niche on top of that and we can all retire!

Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 8:21 pm
Ummm - Better make that the North Portico.

Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 8:34 pm
A, excellent idea. Coupled with the other revenue raisers (hedge fund tax, raise lobbyist fee to $250,000) we’ll be sitting pretty. Cassandra will be working overtime outsourcing most of state government. Do you think we could shutdown IIS, LIS, and LRB, and outsource to Capt. Fax?

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 8:35 pm
Rich, how do you call Huey Long successful? His Presidential ambitions were dashed, his biggest programs never realized, and he was assassinated in office. If that’s success, I’d rather be mediocre.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 9:01 pm
See,
Its easy. Just surround yourself with the right people and delegate. They have already solved all of the state’s problems. Let’s have a fundraiser. I want to buy an Elvis wig.

Comment by Bill Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 9:04 pm
Want to compare Rod Blagojevich to a historical figure?

How about George W. Bush?

The comparisons are ample, the biggest difference being that Illinoisans don’t elect Governors who run our state into the ditch President.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 9:05 pm
- Arthur Andersen -
“outsource to Capt. Fax?” Absolutely! We are men of honor and repay loyalty with . . . our word, which just may be as good as gold. We couldn’t have gotten here without Rich. We owe him a lot!

Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Oct 23, 07 @ 9:19 pm
Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus more commonly known by his nickname Caligula.

Comment by Evil Vessel Wednesday, Oct 24, 07 @ 8:49 am