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Jacobs opinion

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A hot and cold editorial on newly appointed state Sen. Mike Jacobs (who replaced his father, longtime state Sen. Denny Jacobs) from today’s Quad City Times:

Mike Jacobs brings that family experience and more. He has worked side-by-side in Springfield with his father, witnessing first-hand the creation of the Illinois gambling industry Denny Jacobs can rightfully take credit for. […]

At age 44, Mike Jacobs has the genes, education and experience to be an excellent state senator. He has every credential his father ever had, save one.

Mike Jacobs never has been elected to anything. […]

If Mike Jacobs was a careful student, he will be well prepared with the legislative and street smarts handed down through his family.

But he gets this job without ever passing the only test required for public office: An election.

Passing voter approval is infinitely harder than winning family approval.

Voters get their chance when the seat comes up in 2006. We wish theyâ€™d have been given first crack at this fine candidate.

posted by Rich Miller
Saturday, Feb 12, 05 @ 4:58 pm

Comments

Mr. Jacobs is an extremely lucky young man. His appointment allows him to leapfrog over a bunch of talented folks in the QC area.

Comment by Anonymous Sunday, Feb 13, 05 @ 2:58 pm
Sounds like sour grapes if you ask me….I don’t think becoming a politician is exactly lucky!!!! I must say that some should take a hard look at themselves and quit judging other people. Shame on all of you!!! Good luck Senator Mike Jacobs… you will do a fine job as a Senator. Keep your head up. Show them what you got….

Comment by Anonymous Sunday, Feb 13, 05 @ 7:48 pm
Denny Jacobs worked hard, got things done and served the people of his district well. Mike Jacobs learned the ropes of Springfield from the best and all of the doors Denny opened will be open to Mike. The Quad Cities will not have to wait two years for a new State Senator to figure out where the right doors are, let alone how to get in. We have another tough budget cycle and we are lucky that if Denny has lost the passion to fight for us that Mike is willing and ready to take on that challenge. Mike Boland, who I guess counts himself as one of the 100 people more qualified for the position, has been ineffective as a legislator and done almost nothing for the Quad Cities. It’s time for Boland to retire as well, and allow someone else with fresh ideas to work with Mike Jacobs and State Rep. Pat Verschoore who brings a lifetime of experience fighting for working families.

Comment by Anonymous Sunday, Feb 13, 05 @ 10:14 pm
The last comment from anonymous made some fine points. Denny Jacobs leaves a legacy of having gottent the job done for the area, so if those doors remain open for Mike Jacobs the area will benefit.
And teamwork is important. The area needs all legislators rowing together, rowing together along the shores of the Mississipi River, to help get results for this fine area.

Comment by Anonymous Sunday, Feb 13, 05 @ 11:22 pm
I wonder who these hundreds of “talented folks” are in the quad cities who would be better suited to fill Denny’s shoes? Mike Boland is only one man. Who are the others? Let’s give Mike Jacobs a chance. God knows he’s got big shoes to fill without all this petty local politics as usual.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Feb 14, 05 @ 2:48 pm
Well from reading the previous posts, I can see the entire Jacob’s family has responded. Do you people actually think Quad Citians believe that crap.

Denny Jacobs (while in office) was virtually a republican who laid in bed with every special interest group out there. For GOD’s sake, he fought against bills banning slave labor, while promoting the expansion of gaming, claiming prostitution should be legalized, and supporting legislation that lifts safety regulations on fireworks. What a great man!

Pat Verschoore is worthless. I heard he’s even afraid to talk on the house floor - how about that for leadership? He will basically do whatever the Jacobs tell him to do. “Pat, get some stones!”

And, Mike Jacobs? Are you kidding?
The only art he has learned from his father is the art of the crooked deal (Whoops! I meant the backroom deal). Granted, he is good at managing losing campaign efforts, stealing campaign signs, lying, and letting the air out of people’s tires, but I don’t think most voters look at those as electable characteristics for a senate candidate.

Get real, people!

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Feb 15, 05 @ 3:36 pm
OK, people, calm down.

The vitriol inspired by this post leads me to repeat my suggestion that somebody ought to start a politics blog for the Quad Cities (there are QC blogs, but they’re not very political).

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Feb 15, 05 @ 3:42 pm
If the entire Jacobs family responded there would be very many more than comments than what I’m reading…

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Feb 16, 05 @ 2:59 pm
You’re right, the Jacobs family are like rodents, they populate way too quickly!

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Feb 23, 05 @ 1:10 pm
Aren’t the Jacobs family lucky to be blessed with children. Don’t be so jealous.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Feb 25, 05 @ 10:08 am
is it true that “old man” Jacobs got a job lobbying for SBC? - of course that should surprise no one since he’s literally been in bed with Ameritech from the beginning of his career. Is SBC paying Mike Jacob’s Springfield rent too - like they did for daddy?

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 8, 05 @ 5:23 pm
“Sounds like sour grapes if you ask me..”
No you are wrong there– more like a sour stomach for trying to reconcile this kind of leapfrogging!!!

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Mar 9, 05 @ 4:07 pm
“Sounds like sour grapes if you ask me..”
No you are wrong there– more like a sour stomach for trying to reconcile this kind of leapfrogging!!!

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Mar 9, 05 @ 4:08 pm
leapfrogging - rofl - isn’t that a good term for it?

it was especially funny to see Denny at the St. Paddy’s day parade with the “next generation” of Jacobs - his son the “Senator” - rofl again

it’s almost as good as a “who’s on first” routine - make no doubt who’s running the show - Denny “Old Man” Jacobs was heard to say - “I’m working harder now that I’m retired than I ever did when I was elected.”

that statement speaks volumes in ways Denny will never understand - but the voters will!

Comment by Anonymous Sunday, Mar 13, 05 @ 10:45 am