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* I’m feeling more relaxed today. What’s on your mind?

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 8:41 am

Comments

NIU did it again.

Comment by very old soil Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 8:46 am
The reality of a truncated session is hitting home. Between LRB deadlines and possible sponsors unsure what they want to carry, time off during the holidays is looking less likely.

Comment by Give Me A Break Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 8:47 am
I hate the stress of car problems. Hope yours in on the mend, Rich.

Comment by Downstate Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 8:50 am
New day, and good vibes your way, Rich.

I was reminded by a Hannah Meisel tweet… it’s been a year, today;

Mike McClain, Anne Pramaggiore, John Hooker, and Jay Doherty all indicted a year ago, today.

With the splash, the summer shoutout by the feds to help with Madigan, a “hotline”, a million documents, likely hours of tapes, it all came to a peak to indictments… a year ago… today.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 8:56 am
Huskies MAC West Champions after going 0-6 last year with one of the youngest rosters in the BCS 8-3 so far this year.

Comment by OneMan Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 8:57 am
Bright and sunny but just 32 degrees in beautiful DuPage County today. If the powers that be could bump that up to about 45 it would be a terrific day to be out and about.

Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 9:01 am
just curious when others may jump in the race for that open new Latino leaning congressional seat? the alderman announced this week if others rumored like Omar and Delia are interested they may want to get out there sooner rather than later?

Comment by 10th Ward Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 9:04 am
Tragedy yesterday at Springfield’s Lanphier HS on the north end. An 18-year old student was stabbed to death after an incident outside the school yesterday afternoon.

https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/2021/11/17/lanphier-high-school-students-stabbing-death-injury/8659304002/

Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 9:05 am
===Bright and sunny but just 32 degrees in beautiful DuPage County today.===

Any Tom Cross sightings on the links?

Comment by Anyone Remember Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 9:07 am
Feel the pain on vehicle, quick oil change yesterday turned into $858 in additional repairs.

Congrats to Deere employee’s/Company.

Comment by BTO2 Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 9:07 am
I hear it’s Charlie Wheeler’s 80th birthday. Hope he has a banned punctuation-worthy day.

Comment by Ghost of the mezzanine pressroom Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 9:13 am
Will CRT finally give the Republicans an issue that trumps the pro-choice issue in the suburbs and parts of the City of Chicago?

Comment by Kate Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 9:19 am
Why are they playing football at Wrigley Field this weekend?

Comment by Cheryl44 Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 9:21 am
CRT is not taught K-12. it’s not. if you are trying to scare history out of history, stop.

Comment by Amalia Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 9:21 am
===pro-choice issue===

National polling on abortion isn’t helpful to Illinois Republicans, add two SCOTUS cases that will have decisions in 2022, gonna be tough. “Republicans are dangerous to women’s health” will be in mailboxes in Illinois.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 9:24 am
==Will CRT finally give the Republicans an issue that trumps the pro-choice issue in the suburbs and parts of the City of Chicago? ==

Probably not. Remember, Youngkin’s ads weren’t focused on CRT, but on giving teachers raises, increasing the education budget, and McAuliffe’s bone-headed anti-parent gaffe. So it’s not really CRT.

Now, this does show that there’s something there if Republicans can get to Dems’ left on education. But…c’mon. In IL, with IFT and IEA, If Republicans start talking about teachers’ raises, Dems are going to say “great, and in fact, let’s double it.”

Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 9:28 am
=== Why are they playing football at Wrigley Field this weekend? ===

They want to see a win by a Chicago area team every once in a while.

Comment by PublicServant Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 9:31 am
Odds are… if you’re “swayed” by CRT… it’s probably because you don’t want to say out loud it’s about race for you… and you weren’t voting for Dems anyway.

Since Illinois doesn’t teach CRT it’s a red herring… but abortion rights that will be under SCOTUS review will be a real thing.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 9:32 am
==it’s about race for you==

I agree generally with this notion but Bill Maher seems to be analyzing and discussing the issue in a way that could relate to groups of voters that denounce racism.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/bill-maher-trashes-critical-race-theory-says-racism-is-not-essence-of-america/ar-AAQQSKR

Comment by Kate Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 9:46 am
=== but Bill Maher===

Annnnnd…. You should really stick to Facebook.

Odds are… if you’re “swayed” by CRT… it’s probably because you don’t want to say out loud it’s about race for you… and you weren’t voting for Dems anyway.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 9:48 am
==They want to see a win by a Chicago area team every once in a while.==

And don’t forget that Northwestern is “Chicago’s Big Ten Team.”

Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 9:49 am
Willy is right. If the Supreme Court overturns Roe in June, CRT will be overshadowed. Maybe it won’t be as big of a deal here in Illinois, given the expansion of abortion rights the legislature has passed in recent years. But many states still have trigger laws on the books that will make abortion illegal if Roe is repealed. This will be a big deal in states with sizable suburban populations like Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona and Texas. Might help save the Dems from a midterm disaster.

Comment by Roman Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 10:02 am
Very glad today is off to a better start for you, Rich. Some days just scream for a do-over.

As to the poster citing Bill Maher, I will just second OW:

==Annnnnd…. You should really stick to Facebook==

Comment by Leslie K Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 10:04 am
OW - I was hoping to hear that Maher might be overreacting to the Youngkin win in Virginia.

Comment by Kate Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 10:06 am
=== I was hoping to hear that Maher might be overreacting to the Youngkin win in Virginia.===

I’m sure on Facebook you could find that.

A year in politics is an eternity. The long term ramifications and short term politics to the Texas and Mississippi cases that SCOTUS will hear and rule on will have a longer shelf life than any Bill Maher take.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 10:10 am
This Huskies heart is bursting with pride. Great to see the growth of both the very young players and the staff. Still quite a bit of room to keep on growing as well.

Comment by Lt Guv Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 10:12 am
Rivian is making the news all around the world. I hope they are successful long term, some people are concerned they will be facing fierce competition in a couple of years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8u_T9TOm9E&list=PLEmTPQdwS4s8-gx4z4iE6aJSHhhtxPgR2&index=6

Comment by DuPage Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 10:12 am
Welcome to Springfield, a place that likes to flush TIF money down the toilet. This time for a rooftop bar for Floyd’s Thirst Parlor downtown.

https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/2021/11/17/downtown-springfield-tavern-floyds-thirst-parlor-get-rooftop-bar-full-kitchen/8646109002/

Why can’t the city leaders cut out the fluff and aggressively seek out and try to poach real jobs (e.g., factories, intermodal) which could employ several hundreds of people at least? That would be a much better use of TIF funds than a bar downtown.

Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 10:15 am
Maybe it’s just me, but I am stunned that Anna Valencia is not getting more endorsements. Not that endorsements are the holy grail, but she has been there since 2017. Opinions anyone?.

Comment by 14th ward Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 10:27 am
===Why can’t the city leaders cut out the fluff and aggressively seek out and try to poach real jobs===

One way to attract jobs is to have a vibrant and interesting nightlife. Springfield has let itself slide. Not endorsing this project, just saying. Move the UIS campus near downtown and watch what happens.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 10:39 am
SOS office race seems to be a two-person contest so far. I thought Anna Valencia would wrestle some endorsements away from Alexi since she has been in office since 2017 locally?.

Comment by City remap vortex Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 10:42 am
== Move the UIS campus near downtown and watch what happens. ==

This is why Madison, Wis., thrives. UW-Madison is part of the downtown; that synergy was unbeatable when I was there (in a previous century) and remains so.

Comment by Northsider Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 11:00 am
As a Veteran and State employee I was disappointed that our Governor and some Agency Directors never sent out an email on Veteran’s day. There are allot of state employees that are Veterans or currently serving in the National Guard. I wonder what the reason was, I have never seen that during the 15 years working for the state. Shame on them.

Comment by Marcus Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 11:27 am
Taking three grandkids deer hunting this weekend. Pray for me….

Comment by Blue Dog Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 11:40 am
hawks have won four in a row. Ok, against other weak teams, but you play the teams on the schedule. Had to watch the highlights. the “west coast swing” games start too late for me. DeBrincat had the Gordie Howe hat trick. a goal, an assist and a fight.

Comment by obiter dictum Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 12:05 pm
RE: Urban college campuses-

As a former Badger myself with 2 kids at a major urban university on the east coast, I heartily endorse Mssrs. Miller’s and Northsider’s stance.

We try to get to a Badger football game every fall. Last weekend we walked from the Capitol Square (center of government and business), down State Street (center of downtown retail), and across campus to Camp Randall Stadium to observe a sound thrashing of Chicago’s Big Ten team. A great day with all the amenities and no cars, taxis, or ride shares.

Comment by Lefty Lefty Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 12:11 pm
Scott Reeder has his take on “Being Blago” in today’s Illinois Times:

https://www.illinoistimes.com/springfield/rod-blagojevich-is-not-a-changed-man/Content?oid=14364356

Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 12:20 pm
“They want to see a win by a Chicago area team every once in a while.”

Must not be talking about the Bears or Northwestern. NU is going to get smoked by Purdue.

Comment by Huh? Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 1:12 pm
“Taking three grandkids deer hunting this weekend.”

How fun. Hope one of them shots the big buck. Make them field dress and skin the deer. My nephew treasures the jack knife I gave him to field dress his first deer.

Comment by Huh? Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 1:17 pm
Hope you are not dealing with three novice hunters. Dress warmly.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 1:54 pm
==Must not be talking about the Bears or Northwestern. ==

Most likely next Thursday (Thanksgiving) will be the only remaining Bears win this season, if they’re lucky. Even though it’s the Lions.

Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 2:23 pm
A win from a Chicago team at Wrigley? this weekend? not likely.

Comment by Amalia Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 3:02 pm