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* I was reminded this morning of far-right conservative Jack Roeser’s long ago threat to state Sen. Bill Brady. Roeser was convinced that Brady was “planted” in the 2006 GOP governor’s primary to help Judy Baar Topinka, and his Family Taxpayers Network vowed revenge…

Mr. Brady just needs to understand that if Topinka does win on Tuesday, and Brady finishes no better than third his name is Mud. He’s done. And he WILL have a Primary challenge for his State Senate seat in 2008… there will be a lot of time for holding the duplicitous accountable.

* So, how did that one work out? Well, Brady has no primary opponent, so I guess it was just yet another empty threat.

And why am I reminded of Roeser’s huffing and puffing? This…

With former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert announcing his endorsement of Republican congressional candidate and dairy magnate Jim Oberweis on Thursday, at least two local Republicans say they are not surprised by the move.

Local business mogul and conservative activist Jack Roeser posted a letter Thursday saying Hastert’s “controversial record” will not help Oberweis win his election bid. Roeser goes on to say Republicans should distance themselves from both men.

In the letter, Roeser — who owns Carpentersville-based Otto Engineering and is president of the politically powerful Family Taxpayers Foundation — blasts Hastert for “unchecked federal spending, selfish earmark legislation and many Congressional corruption scandals — all of which culminated with (current Democratic House Speaker) Nancy Pelosi taking over the helm.”

* Roeser supported Oberweis for governor, but now backs Sen. Chris Lauzen against Oberweis for Haster’s seat. You can read Roeser’s letter here…

I was once proud to support Hastert on many conservative causes. For many years I held out hope that he would rise to the occasion and become a great leader.

Similarly, I supported Oberweis last year for Governor, believing he was the best of an otherwise disappointing lot. I was the largest single financial contributor to Oberweis’ gubernatorial bid.

I supported Oberweis last year because he ran as a reformer. Sadly, after he came up a little short in that crowded primary, Oberweis changed his tune. He quickly sought to jump back in bed with the very power brokers he previously claimed to oppose.

Like Brady before him, I’m sure Hastert is quaking in his boots.

* And, now, the question: Who is the biggest blowhard in Illinois politics? Explain fully.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 11:06 am

Comments

Blago is the biggest blowhard in Illinois politics. To be specific just review his record. Blago is constantly putting his foot in his mouth but can never deliver. His failures include the GRT, supporting public transportation thru sales tax on fuel, health insurance,calling special sessions but not coming up with a plan for legislatures to consider, etc.

Comment by MOON Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 11:12 am
Rich Millllleeeerrrrrr!

He is how the Windy City got its name.

And is why the wind always blows from the Southwest.

Comment by GoBearsss Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 11:15 am
Bill Black is the biggest blowhard in Illinois politics. I will not miss his ridiculous partisian rantings on the House floor. A close runner up is Ricky Hendon.

Comment by Bill Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 11:20 am
Well, since Blago is in a class by himself, perhaps the question should be rephrased as “Who is the biggest blowhard in Illinois politics other than the Governor?”

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 11:20 am
Jack Roeser, for all the reasons you mentioned, and because he just can’t get that when he makes his threats in statewide races and Cook County races, they mean absolutely nothing in that right wing Republicanism has no hold except in very isolated pockets. He also seems to miss the fact that these pockets are shrinking every year.

I would not characterize Blago as a blowhard. He very often backs up his threats by executive actions of questionable legality and/or authority.

I give honorable mentions to Bill “the Hog” Beavers, Emil Jones (less so these days since he got control over the state senate) and Tony Peraica.

Comment by Snidely Whiplash Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 11:21 am
Blow-gojevich!
Who else would propose a scheme like his health care fiasco and the GRT just months after being re-elected during which he never mentioned either. He spent millions on television alone, yet never mentioned that he would spend 2007 wasting everyone’s time.

And YEAH BILL!

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 11:22 am
How about Jan Schakowsky, who can be so poisonously partisan on every single issue; and who has limited her effectiveness as a result.

Comment by Legal Eagle Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 11:27 am
I don’t know if partisanism qualifies one as the biggest blowhard. If that were the case, half of Illinois’ politicians would qualify. Many are put into a bad situation in that if they practice partisanism, they’re blasted for it; yet, if they engage in bipartisan cooperation, they’re characterized as either traiters or shills. We have a lot of problems with our two party system, and partisanism is probably the biggest one.

Comment by Snidely Whiplash Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 11:33 am
I have to vote for the Governor, and not because the other nominees don’t deserve the honor (especially Hendon) but because the contest is for the biggest.

How many times has he failed to follow through on something he has said he was going to do. Where is the special session on property taxes he promised us this year for Christmas? Why didn’t he keep the GA in session until they solved the transit problem? The list goes on and on and on.

Simply said, he opitimizes the saying “all blow, no go”.

Comment by Jaded Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 11:43 am
If you have parties, there is going to be “partisanism.”

Unless you weaken the power of parties in official government roles, you will never get rid of it.

Look at Illinois - the caucus leaders control their members. And the government structures it that way.

We empower this behavior in law and rule. Not to sound all Squideshi, here, but there is truly an endless cycle of partisanship behavior, and governmental support of partisan structures.

Comment by GoBearsss Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 11:44 am
I would say Jack Roeser but he is so irrelevant that who the hell cares what he says. I will say Blagojevich too, after all of his big talk of Armageddon till he gets what he wants and the way things turned out, it would be almost comical, if it hadn’t screwed over the public.

Comment by RMW Stanford Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 11:51 am
by far the Gov.

Comment by ahoy! Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 11:51 am
Does Alan Keyes still count?

Comment by Tom Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 11:52 am
Blago - by far. But the sad thing is he’s so stupid he would not recognize why he got the award if it was given to him.

Comment by Joe Schmoe Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 12:20 pm
Danny Davis, Blah, blah, blah

Comment by anon38 Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 12:23 pm
Cook County Commissioner William Beavers. The hog with the big nuts will be a eunuch after he loses his committeeman race.

Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 12:24 pm
No question–the governor. He frequently makes threats that he can’t carry through on, talks about stunning losses as if they were victories (GRT comes to mind), and often makes statements that often aren’t true, or tells us he can do something when he can’t–the flu vaccine fiasco comes to mind.

Comment by ChampaignDweller Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 12:25 pm
Dick Durbin:

I have come to understand that was a very poor choice of words. I tried to make this very clear last Friday that I understood to those analogies to the Nazis, Soviets and others were poorly chosen.

Comment by Bill Baar Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 12:36 pm
Blow gojevich is spot on VanillaMan. He started off loud and boisterous of how he was going to change the way government operated, and did just that. Little did we realize the he wasn’t intending to improve the way it worked, just change it. In his and our case , just to the worst. He dreams up deals that no one will support, wants people to do as he says, not as he does, and rants on and on about helping us, when in fact he is helping himself to a jail cell with George Ryan. Sorry bout that George. A Blow Hard would be putting it mildly when referring to Blagojevich. This bag of wind can’t be trusted to do the right thing. It is no wonder he spends all his time at home, hiding.

Comment by Justice Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 12:39 pm
Blago is currently GOV!
ROesser is a has been, only influences a few
Durbin, Rush,
I would say Oberwies cause he keeps running and running like the energizer bunny. Perhaps he can change his positions enough where someone would elect him Dog Catcher.

Comment by Wumpus Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 12:50 pm
Blagojevich is such as easy target, let me go a different direction…

Jesse Jackson, Sr. (not Jr., I think he is doing ok).

Jesse has never seen a camera he didn’t like. Show up at every politically sensitve situation, scam companies for contributions, and make every case have something to do with race. When you make EVERYthing about race, the truly significant cases seem less compelling.

I would give Al Sharpton a close second, but is he considered an Illinois blowhard, or does he only qualify for New York? “Do this or that or else you won’t get the Olympics”.

Get a grip, Al.

Comment by Trafficmatt Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 12:54 pm
I’m going a completely different direction….what about the democrats in the Congress. Have they delivered any of the issues they have been beating the drum about for the last 5 years.

Comment by downhereforyears Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 1:12 pm
My vote is for the Governor and Commissioner Bill Beavers in exactly that order. Why should be obvious all you have to do is go to the news. For the governor much further for Bill Beaver try 2006. Though I’m sure some old-timers could go back further!

Comment by Levois Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 1:26 pm
Rod Blagojevich
State Sen. Ricky “Hollywood” Hendon
Ed Murnane - Illinois Civil Justice League
Illinois Family Institute - David Smith

And for media hyperbole:

Belleville News Democrat
Peoria Journal Star
Dennis Byrne

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 1:38 pm
YDD,
Dennis Byrne isn’t a blowhard.
He’s just an angry pathetic old man.
Leave the guy alone.
Since you and I are the only people reading his “work” we should be nice to him.

Comment by Skeeter Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 1:43 pm
A Visit With Old St. Nick

HE - YOU WERE GREAT, Mr. VanillaMan!! As HEAD ELF here at Santa’s Workshop at Water Tower Place, I speak for all the elves! Thank you for having volunteered to be our SANTA this evening!! You were WONDERFUL!!

VM – Thanks! I’m exhausted! How many kids did we see tonight?

HE – My counter shows 212 sittings! AND all those groups! Mr. VanillaMan, I bet you had almost 600 kids sitting on your lap over the past six hours! Oh, and sorry again about not getting your suit dry cleaned before you had to use it.

VM – I haven’t had this much barf on me since college. So, we’re closed and I’m finished?

HE – Oh, not yet. Tonight is VIP after-hours night. You’re going to see some famous people!

VM – You’re kidding. You mean like Oprah? Or Steve Bartman?

HE – Oo! Oo! Shhhh! Oh my gosh! It’s the Governor!!

VM – No way. If he comes here, tell him Santa needs to see a man about a reindeer.

HE – Straighten up, Mr. VanillaMan! Here comes the Governor!!! Isn’t he HANDSOME!

VM –Make him go away! I don’t need any more pee or barf on me! You never know with politicians!

Gov – Santa?! HELLO Santa!! It is me, Rod!

VM – HO! HO! HO! Merry Christmas! MY! You’re a BIG BOY! Did you come here just to see me?

Gov – Yes I did Santa. I have a bone to pick with you.

VM – With me? HO! HO! HO! Santa has YOU on the naughty list this year, my boy! Uh - can you switch legs?

Gov –Santa, you really let me down this year. You were supposed to help me pass a GRT and health care bill, remember?

VM – OH REALLY? Hmmm… Santa doesn’t remember you mentioning either one of those wishes in your re-election campaign. If you really wanted those wishes, you probably should have told voters you were going to ask… uh – Santa, for them. Secondly, Santa can’t help you if you don’t show up at your office. You DO remember where your offices are, don’t you? Finally, Santa isn’t happy that you cannot play nice with the other kids. You’ve been a bully. Santa isn’t happy.

Santa and Mrs. Claus have been watching you from the North Pole and have been wondering if you’ve been hitting the eggnog a little too often. Going to a Blackhawk’s game instead of working? Does Mrs. Claus need to call an intervention, or impeachment?

Gov – Listen carefully Santa! If you don’t help me get what I want, I will pass a tax bill with no exemptions for North Pole organizations. You paid ZERO corporate income tax last year, and I can put an end to that. I need $8 billion and I’m sitting on the pee stained lap of the guy with the loot to pay for my proposals!

VM – I AM SANTA! NOT YOU! Being a governor doesn’t earn you the right to promise free stuff. Santa doesn’t tax money away from boys and girls in order to be Santa Claus. I am A symbol of Christmas by reminding people to do the right thing and give to their neighbors. That’s encouraging morality. You force people under penalty of law. That’s not encouraging anything except corruption. AND speaking of CORRUPTION YOUNG MAN!…There isn’t enough COAL in the world to fill the bottomless hole in your stocking!

Gov – Just a second, Santa! You can either deliver voluntarily, or pay up in court. I’m going to start running television commercials about how you deliberately shortchange our poor citizens. I’ve got a mandate!

VM – Your mandate doesn’t over-ride my rights! You don’t just take money appropriated for other government services and use them as you see fit. There is this thing called a constitution…

Gov – PLEASE Santa! I see health care as a disaster!

VM – The only disaster Santa is seeing right now is on his lap!

Gov – Look, I have people Santa!

VM – You’re not still talking about Chris Kelly, are you? Are you really going to smear Santa Claus on television? Who sent you? The HEAT MISER? How popular are you going to be if you start attacking me? Your approval numbers will fall lower than the temperature at the North Pole in January before Al Gore started heating up the place.

Gov – Listen…I’m sorry, Santa? I’m desperate! Please. Do it for the children! Do it for the Democrats! Think of just how hard it will be for all those supporters of mine who believe that we can have it all? We believe government can be just like you and Mary Poppins, rolled into one colossal Nanny state! If you don’t make it happen, who will?

VM – You have a point. This is a time for dreams and a time for hope. If I can promise a World Series win for Lou Piniella, a Senate seat for Dr. Sauerberg, and another new heart for Dick Cheney, I can’t turn you away. It is Christmas.

Gov – It’ll be OUR crusade! Keep hope alive Santa!

VM – While I don’t have much hope for you, I have hope for others. So, just between you and me, Santa will make your health care plans come true. And Santa and Mrs. Claus will ask that perky happy elf over there to cut a check for you tomorrow in the amount of $8 billion dollars. Ask Dan Hynes to wait for our check. You know how much he loves hearing from you.

Gov – REALLY! OH Thank you Santa! Uh, Santa – one more thing before I go…

VM – Are we still thinking about the White House?

Gov – Gosh Santa! You DO know me!

VM – Well Rod, while Santa cannot exactly promise you the White House, Santa thinks that there is another Big House for you in the future!

Gov – Lots of former Illinois governors go there?

VM – You have no idea.

Gov – Thank you Santa! Now, can you just sign this Memorandum of Understanding?

VM – HO! HO! HO! - and some folks believe you haven’t learned anything!

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 1:48 pm
VM - Perky elf? Did he leave!

MM - PERKY ELF!

VM - Michael Madigan!

MM - I heard it all! He’s toast!

VM - This is Christmas! Peace! Goodwill to men - uh, and women! Can you make it happen Michael?

MM - You have no idea what Rod Blagojevich is going to find in his stocking this Christmas season.

VM - Good stuff?

MM - YOU have NO IDEA!

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 2:09 pm
PE - OK Mr. VanillaMan, the Governor AND the Speaker has left. Mr. Madigan was angry.

VM - I thought he was you. But I can see now that you are taller and a shade greener. I got a feeling that my property taxes are going to go up, and Mr. Blagojevich is going to go down.

PE - Merry Christmas Mr. VanillaMan!

VM - Easy for you to say, I still live in Illinois.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 2:19 pm
My dictionary widget says a blowhard is “a person who blusters and boasts in an unpleasant way.” Blago blusters but is smart enough not to boast a lot. Roeser takes the cake based on the contents of Mr. Miller’s post.

Lately, a certain ex-governor named Thompson keeps getting in the news for no reason other than to make excuses for his friends (and maybe get “Winston & Strawn” in the papers). He may not be the biggest blowhard in Illinois, but he is trying.

Comment by Lefty Lefty Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 2:46 pm
Illinois politicians as a group — they spew enough hot air to service a fleet of Navy blimps for a year.

Rich — we need a new survey. Who is the least effective illinois politician. (Roeser does not count. He is beyond politics.)

My selection would be the man tho has led the Illinois Republican Party to oblivion.,,the one, the only Andy McKenna.

Comment by Truthful James Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 2:56 pm
How about Jill Stanek and the rest of the Illinois Review crowd? They are always Very Angry and Morally Outraged, but nobody, especially Illinois voters, pays much attention to them.

Comment by Skeeter Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 2:57 pm
Jill Stanek? No one pays attention to her? George Bush does. Ever hear of the Born Alive Infant Protection Act?

Comment by RightGirl Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 3:13 pm
Right Girl,
That says more about Mr. Bush than about Ms. Stanek. He is more interested in an extremely rare procedure than in reading NIEs.
But to the point: Every time Stanek supports a candidate, the candidate is sure to lose. It happens in Illinois and now, she has extended her reach to back losers in PA.
Remember — the Stanek/Illinois Review people were the same people who thought Alan Keyes was the answer for Illinois.

Comment by Skeeter Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 3:31 pm
Barack Obama. With no apparent qualifications — executive, diplomatic, national security or military — he’s somehow talked his way into believing he is the most qualified person in the country to be President of the United States at a time of war. Platitudes, he’s got.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 3:38 pm
VM, LOL, but you’ve got too much time on your hands.

Comment by steve schnorf Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 3:53 pm
wordslinger - remind me again what George Bush’s qualifications were when he was installed into office into 2000? Oh yeah, he served six years as part-time Governor of Texas.

And Hillary Clinton? Oh yeah, she’s held pubic office for seven years, exactly FOUR YEARS LESS than Barack Obama.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 4:03 pm
Ricky Hendon. He is Pathetic. Rants about nothing, injects race into everything and hopes to be a somebody. Word on the street is he has the race of his life.

Comment by Old School Dem Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 4:20 pm
How about Bill?
He defends us —granted not very well — but defends and we are pathetic.

Comment by DumberThanYouThink Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 4:47 pm
How about Dumber?

He defends Madigan - though no very well - but defends and he is pathetic.

Comment by GoBearsss Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 5:02 pm
I looked up the definition of blowhard, and it can mean either a braggart or a windbag. If we’re going with the first definition, I’d agree with those who said Blago and Beavers.

If we’re going with the second meaning (windbag), I would say Vanilla Man. Dude, enough with the exhaustive posts already.

Comment by KIZ Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 5:13 pm
Pat Quinn- the king of the staged Sunday afternoon press conferences. This man has never met a microphone he didn’t monopolize and he soaks in television camera attention like the skin soaks in melanin. I guess that’s what populists do.

Comment by Jake from Elwood Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 5:29 pm
I’d say it is Jack Franks. He can’t get anything done for the district. It’s funny, this guy thinks he’s a statewide contender and can’t even get the AFL-CIO endorsement.

Comment by Lucy Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 5:55 pm
The Illinois Review/Stanek people thought Allen Keyes was the answer to Illinois?!?!? You gotta be kidding me, none of them sit on the state central committee, it was them that thought he was right for Illinois, remember, they brought them in.

Of course, being the conspiracy theorist that I am, I think Judy Barr Topinka did it for her own good. If they put the #2 Jim Oberweis up there, he’d surely (maybe?) get more than Allen Keyes did and that wouldn’t sit well with the establishment when he ran for Governor in 2006 as he was destined to do.

Comment by Re: Illinois Review/Stanek Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 6:16 pm
Is there a way to measure the emptiness of a political group? The Jack Roeser “Family Taxpayers Foundation” consists of how many members? I suspect mostly Jack and about 30 other people.

The same with many other “taxpayer” groups and “family” groups and “concerned” groups. Roeser is quite a blowhard, but not unique among this category of political players. I always wondered why so much attention is given to them. In part, they write press releases and work the phones to get attention, and ceaselessly repeat the same points, which all add up to variations on “the sky is falling!”

Comment by DuPage Dave Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 7:34 pm
Pat Quinn is not a blowhard, unless you count getting things done for people who have had little voice in the nefarious business that passes for state government of late…I nominate Jessie Jackson Sr., “King” of self promotion…be fair Jake!!

Comment by Loop Lady Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 7:55 pm
Blowhard may be a bit gratuitous for Mr. Blagojevich. Perhaps, “Blowsoft” would be more of an appropriate description. Rod huffs, and Rod puffs, and Rod tries to blow the Madigan House down but Mike Madigan certainly knows how to build a solid house of bricks.

Emil Jones would have to be a close second to Blagojevich. Emil is a ” wanna be” pontificator who lacks the ability to match the verbal propensity of his friend, mentor, and the man who feathers his and Emil’s family members and friend’s beds.

I was surprised to learn that Jack Roeser was supporting Lauzen instead of Oberweis for Hastert’s slot. That simple fact makes me think that perhaps Jack Roeser does sometimes back winners rather than losers. And, I use the term “losers” witout any disrespect meant toward Jim Oberweis. I like Oberweis but Jim is not the best fit for Dennis Hastert’s position in Washington. We need an individual that won’t “succumb to the dark side” like many politicians do once they taste the power and greed that is prevalent in Washington politics. Lauzen may wind up jousting at windmills once he is in Washington but at least we know that his heart is pure and his motivation is noble.

Comment by Aaron Slick Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 8:52 pm
Hollywood Hendon and Danville Black are clearly the legislative leaders in blowhardism. I’d love to hear them debate each other some time.

Comment by Cicero Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 11:11 pm
I have to agree with Trafficcmat, Jesse Jackson Sr. and Al Sharpton totally. So is the governor of course. If Dorothy Tillman were still in office I would mention her too. Here’s the list:

Jesse Jackson Sr.
Al Sharpton
Dorothy Tillman (If she was still employed)
Luis Guiterrez
Joe Moore
James Meeks
and plenty more

Comment by JakeCP Monday, Dec 17, 07 @ 11:31 pm