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* Here you go…
…Adding… Press release…
Cheryl Bruce, campaign manager for Secretary of State candidate Anna Valencia, released the following statement after Alexi Giannoulias released a new video “re-introducing” himself to Illinois voters after a 12-year absence:
“We noticed a few key pieces were left on the cutting room floor, so allow us to fill in the gaps: Alexi Giannoulias was senior loan officer for a bank that loaned money to convicted mobsters, he engaged in reckless lending practices that led authorities to seize his family bank, and he lost millions of dollars in college savings for thousands of Illinois families. Illinoisans rejected Alexi when he lost Barack Obama’s Senate seat to an opponent plagued by scandal. Now, Alexi on the ballot risks losing Jesse White’s Secretary of State office, too. Alexi’s ‘re-introduction’ video is a sorry attempt to paper over his checkered history in which Illinois families lost big when he served our state. As Jay-Z says, ‘this is all fact, I’ll never change.’
“Now, Alexi is refusing to be transparent with Illinois voters about what he’s been up to over the last twelve years while he worked as a Wall Street banker, including for a big bank with close ties to gun manufacturers, coal companies and even North Korea. While Anna — who was raised by working class parents in a union household and has delivered bold and innovative ideas as Chicago City Clerk — was fighting for our communities during the Rauner and Trump administrations, Alexi helped rich people get richer. His commitment to transparency and accountability is worth nothing as long as he refuses to come clean about his clients and investments from the last decade-plus. Illinois voters are waiting.”
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 8:01 am
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Are you sure that’s not John travolta
Comment by Blue Dog Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 8:06 am
basically says JW didn’t do a good job in his role during the pandemic. fair criticism I would say.
solid B
Comment by MaddyMoon Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 8:10 am
1/10
Why? Boring content badly delivered.
The Illinois Secretary of State has almost nothing to do with elections.
He also needs to learn to button his shirt. He’s running for Secretary of State, not head bartender at Aura.
Comment by well... Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 8:11 am
tl;dr
Comment by PublicServant Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 8:11 am
C
Record as Treasurer was so poor it had to hide in the middle.
Repeal time tax? How Tom-Cross-ish.
Awkward phrasing made it sound a little mushy. Who wrote this?
Comment by Springfieldish Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 8:11 am
On its face it’s a solid B. Under the surface, it notes he was inspired by Pres. Obama but doesn’t state an endorsement. He then says Jesse White is “amazing” but trashes how his office has been run the past two years, and doesn’t use his image (because he endorsed Anna Valencia). That struck me as odd. Also trying to walk the line between cleaning up government and reminding people he used to be in it for the experience factor.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 8:11 am
Wordy. Has too many unconnected messages. What’s the basic theme?
In the end, all I remembered was “first post-COVID Secretary of State,” “time tax,” Obama, and immigrant parents.
Comment by walker Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 8:14 am
Good thing to remind folks you’ve been gone for a decade after we rejected you.
Good stuff there.
Rate?
It’s a B…
Reintroduce himself?
Friend, the last time we saw you, we as a state rejected you… so where were ya? You were a rainmaker in the banking industry. After your failure with Bright Start, and your “connection” to Broadway Bank, I dunno if reintroducing yourself as a “Alexi Come Lately”… “Look at me, I’m back, did you forget you rejected me? Hope so”
And let’s be very clear;
Alexi is the rejected Obama version of Arne Duncan.
Merely compare Duncan to Alexi… that’s all you need to know about where his mentor rates Alexi.
It’s a B…
But it’s also a B for “boring”, “begging” and “bereft”… bereft of any substance of service after being rejected… a decade ago.
(It’s still a B)
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 8:15 am
Meh
Comment by OneMan Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 8:15 am
It takes nearly a minute to find out what office he’s running for.
and “first ever Post-COVID Secretary of State”? Seriously?
I stopped there.
Comment by JoanP Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 8:16 am
Sounds like during the stay-at-home orders, if Alexi was SOS two years ago at the beginning of COVID, he would have kept the offices open and all employees coming to work even while others were working.
And no mention of the presence of online services either.
F. Alexi, please go away like your buddy Quinn.
Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 8:16 am
Tough crowd…
Comment by Droppin gs Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 8:23 am
=== Tough crowd…===
I gave him a B…
If you’re an “Alexi Come Lately” and truly a phony to what you’ve been, where you’ve been, what does Alexi expect, sunshine and lollipops.
The only one missing Alexi seems to have been Alexi.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 8:26 am
B+
I think it would be a solid A if he showcased his family a bit more. The hater crowd around here will hate, but that’s to be expected. Those of us who spend our days on this blog are not “normal” voters. Normal voters will like this, I believe.
Comment by McGuppin Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 8:27 am
==He also needs to learn to button his shirt. He’s running for Secretary of State, not head bartender at Aura.==
I think it shows some authenticity. This is how every Greek guy I know wears their shirts, except he doesn’t have the jungle of chest hair most do.
Comment by ElTacoBandito Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 8:27 am
==first ever Post-COVID Secretary of State==
Sounds like if he’s elected on Day One he will be taking down the plexiglass protective windows at drivers facilities and repealing whatever remaining COVID safety measures still exist in the office.
Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 8:28 am
===Normal voters will like this===
Um, normal voters won’t spend two minutes watching a campaign video months before a primary that they may not even realize is happening. Stuff like this is basically designed for y’all.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 8:29 am
“I know every basketball court in Illinois.”
Does that include the ones in abandoned schools’ gymnasiums? Or those on private properties? That sounds like an embellished claim to me.
Also, if he “knows every basketball court in Illinois,” then why didn’t he ever play in the NBA?
Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 8:32 am
He has an “ethics plan.” An unexpected twist.
Comment by Keyrock Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 8:32 am
===Normal voters will like this===
What about voters in Bloomington?
Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 8:32 am
like my favorite artist jay z says before cutting off to a clip with Obama? it’s giving hillary trying to relate to young people in 2016 by saying let’s pokemon-go to the polls and selling ‘yas hillary’ tshirts on her websit. I’m good, next.
Comment by hyperbolic liberal Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 8:34 am
I would give it a B-. It’s too long and all over the place. It cobbles together a bunch of messages and attempts to speak to different voting block but does it clumsily. I don’t see Alexi reintroducing himself as much as I see an attempt for him to reinvent himself. For Alexi the past has always overshadowed his future.
Comment by Pundent Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 8:38 am
Rate C
Alexi delivers his message without a single “you know.”
That’s a plus.
Comment by Rudy’s teeth Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 8:41 am
I think it’s really well done. The Time Tax thing will resonate with anyone who has teenagers or who have tried getting a real ID for the last 3 years.
Of course this group won’t like it because he’s not the establishment candidate and this comment section has shown itself to be anything but objective.
A-. My non-political wife liked it as well.
Comment by DuPage Moderate Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 8:42 am
I’m glad he doesn’t have a Madigan or Rahm connection like Anna. Too many people stood were complicit to Madigan and Rahm because they were appointed or received help from these corrupt politicians.
Comment by NoMoreMadigoons Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 8:44 am
== I think it shows some authenticity. This is how every Greek guy I know wears their shirts ==
Ahhh. If only all voters were Greek. /s
Comment by sal-says Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 8:45 am
Time Tax? Corruption Tax?
I’d like to repeal the Failson Tax.
Comment by Humboldt Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 8:51 am
It’s probably fine. I have some gripes (he should either shave or grow a goat, “basketball courts” only makes sense if you know him pretty well, the SoS really does barely anything at all about voting rights). OTOH, the “time tax” is an intriguing rhetorical device, and the unstated criticism of COVID lockdowns, while not working *for me*, could play well with other voters.
One thing that really bugs me, though, is that he says he’ll have metrics to assess his performance and that if he doesn’t meet them he won’t even run for a second term, but then he *doesn’t say what those metrics are*. C’mon, dude.
Comment by Arsenal Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 8:52 am
If you had “I know Barack Obama” and “played basketball” on your bingo card, you’re a winner!
Comment by Bud's Bar Stool Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 8:56 am
Blah, blah
Comment by Raising Kane Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 9:00 am
Breaking news: Would-be SoS Alexi is repealing the ‘time tax!’The IL voter will be thrilled.
I think Mr. Alexi should focus on his ethics package due to his previous baggage while state Treasurer and due to his failed family-run bank.
I thought his promotional re-introduction video was a B-; not the best.
Lastly, President Obama has not endorsed your candidacy; you simply played pick-up b-ball with him many years ago. Don’t give the illusion (indirectly) that he’s supporting you! I highly doubt that he would give his endorsement…
Comment by Pizza Man Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 9:08 am
==The Illinois Secretary of State has almost nothing to do with elections.==
And they haven’t for almost 50 years (ever since the creation of the State Board of Elections).
Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 9:12 am
=== And they haven’t for almost 50 years (ever since the creation of the State Board of Elections).===
* Motor-Voter enters the chat *
Alexi is stretching the relationship between elections and the office, but voter registration as a function is a pretty important function.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 9:14 am
I just can’t even.
That’s my rating. Can’t even. That might as well be the motto of his political career. I will only even if he wins the nomination because the Illinois GOP isn’t a democratic political organization anymore.
Comment by Candy Dogood Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 9:15 am
Hey, Tony from Scarface…get your tie on! Look professional; look the part!
You’re not applying to be a bouncer at a downtown nightclub.
Comment by Pizza Man Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 9:19 am
C+. The “conversational” style comes off as sloppy. The ad is fine it’s just somewhat odd and long winded yet saying nothing. Thankfully no one really watches things like this. It’ll exist on YouTube with sub 5,000 views for eternity.
Comment by Lakefront Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 9:19 am
==Repeal time tax? How Tom-Cross-ish.==
If Tom Cross sucessfully repealed the time tax, then that means he’d have more time to play golf with OW.
Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 9:24 am
==Are you sure that’s not John travolta==
==You’re not applying to be a bouncer at a downtown nightclub.==
I’m surprised the ad didn’t have “Stayin Alive” blaring in the background.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 9:26 am
So first he praises Jesse White, then subtly criticizes him for the amount of time it took the SoS and other state officials to provide services during COVID? That makes no sense.
Comment by low level Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 9:45 am
===Of course this group won’t like it …===
LOL…
This is embarrassingly pathetic.
Sincerely.
Alexi is a victim?
The dude is an “Alexi Come Lately”, I gave the “thing” a B, Alexi is not a great candidate, his story helps no one, even Jesse White chose not to endorse him.
===…more time to play golf with…===
Cross knows how to find me.
:)
Finally… this…
===President Obama has not endorsed your candidacy; you simply played pick-up b-ball with him many years ago. Don’t give the illusion (indirectly) that he’s supporting you===
When it mattered… when it really-really mattered… it was Arne Duncan that was chosen to go be on Obama’s “traveling team”… it was NOT Alexi.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 9:47 am
===I’m glad he doesn’t have a Madigan or Rahm connection===
Let me introduce you to… “Jaws”, lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 9:48 am
-So first he praises Jesse White, then subtly criticizes him-
Didn’t seem subtle to me. /s
Comment by Ron Burgundy Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 9:54 am
==I’m glad he doesn’t have a Madigan or Rahm connection==
Well, of course he does, but if those connections are slightly less than Valencia’s are, he supplements them with connections to organized crime and failed banks.
Comment by Arsenal Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 9:59 am
To “we” average voters, not to you politicos, this is a good, very good ad. If he is able, and is allowed, to get beyond what we common folk hear is his brothers Broadway Bank catastrophe, give us a believable and sincere explanation of what happened while he was treasurer, geared not towards the professional politicos, but towards we the every day folk, he might pull this thing off and be the SOS candidate.
Ms. Valencia, I would want to be THE Dem candidate for some statewide office of significance. I wish there would have been better coordination between the various fractions of Dems.
Perhaps we average voters, already exhausted after Trump and worried about Ukraine are weary of battles and muck and don’t get over divisive primaries, then what?
Comment by The Hills 60010 Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 10:03 am
===…supplements them with connections to organized crime and failed banks===
Alexi is reintroducing himself to why folks were glad he was gone and why folks aren’t thrilled he’s back.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 10:04 am
===are weary of battles and muck and don’t get over divisive primaries===
So you like your “democracy” pre-baked?
Isn’t the goal of democracy to have sides wage campaigns as let voters decide?
I’m not weary of democracy.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 10:06 am
Who advised him that 1. this would be a good idea and 2. that this video is actually good? There’s just too much to dislike in this video. You also can’t fake being authentic and he’s anything but.
Comment by Shytown Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 10:25 am
Isn’t this Alexi 5th attempt to rebrand himself. He must be getting really worried he is going to lose again.
Comment by Glen Ellyn PC Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 10:28 am
==Isn’t this Alexi 5th attempt to rebrand himself. He must be getting really worried he is going to lose again.==
I will say Alexi hasn’t quite got up to the “perennial loser” status that the likes of David Gill, and locally Sam Cahnman, have achieved long ago.
Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 10:32 am
===He must be getting really worried===
Oh, for crying out loud. It’s just a YouTube video.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 10:36 am
==To “we” average voters, not to you politicos, this is a good, very good ad.==
I mean, if you’re posting on CapFax, you are not at all an “average voter”. Not saying we’re better than anyone, but we are willingly exposing ourselves to way more information about IL politics than the vast majority of voters ever will.
Comment by Arsenal Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 10:54 am
“give us a believable and sincere explanation of what happened while he was treasurer, geared not towards the professional politicos, but towards we the every day folk”
You mean the everyday folk whose money he lost in the Bright Start program? Yup - let’s hear more about the everyday people he screwed.
To the ad, I also give it a B. As I’ve mentioned before, not getting endorsed gives him license to discuss how bad the office is and how much it needs to be reformed. So the time tax is clever.
That said, the lies about how the IL SOS is the first line of defense on voting rights is unadulterated BS. No, it’s not. Not at all. So as a video I give it a B. But if I fact checked it I would give it three Pinocchios.
Comment by New Day Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 10:55 am
- Oswego Willy - “So you like your “democracy” pre-baked?
Isn’t the goal of democracy to have sides wage campaigns as let voters decide?
I’m not weary of democracy.”
Surely you jest? What democracy?
The means of getting to a candidate matter, or should matter.
The voters don’t often get to decide from amongst the best. Access to money pots, political machines, tribal affiliation, under handed back room deals, and being the best and most effective donkey hinny kissers faker til they make it is how we get far too many of these candidates, but change is coming.
Comment by The Hills 60010 Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 10:56 am
==Who advised him that 1. this would be a good idea==
==He must be getting really worried he is going to lose again.==
An intro video is a pretty standard campaign piece. I wouldn’t read too much into it. The only thing I would read is that while we weirdos have been seeing Alexi pile up endorsements and money for months and months now, even he knows that this campaign is just beginning.
Comment by Arsenal Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 10:56 am
=== To “we”===
Please try only to speak for yourself, thanks.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 11:10 am
===To “we” average voters, not to you politicos===
Oh, please. If you were an average voter you wouldn’t have posted almost 100 comments this month. And speak for yourself here, not for all humankind unless you have data.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 11:17 am
===The voters don’t often get to decide from amongst the best===
lol
You looked at Congress for the past couple hundred years?
Please. Who’s gonna decide what person is “best” for voters? You? Some democracy you got there, pal.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 11:24 am
too long, scattered issues, button your shirt.
Comment by flea Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 11:26 am
- The Hills 60010 -
I read your comment
I think Rich’s response speaks to my thoughts as well.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 11:32 am
G-Money has 99 problems, and Anna Valencia is just one of them. Two or three of those missing shirt buttons are a few more.
Comment by Nas Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 11:46 am
Since Alexi is basically the Democrats’ version of Aaron Schock (if we’re rebranding politicians from the Blago/Quinn era), then I would not be surprised if Alexi is shirtless and showing his abs (if he has them) in a future ad. Like Schock did in a magazine while in Congress.
Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 11:58 am
There is one political ad that makes people trust the candidate less than this one, and it was that lady in Delaware running for Senate who SPENT MONEY TO GO UP ON TV TO TELL VOTERS SHE WAS NOT A WITCH.
Some Hot Takes:
What the insiders think of this ad: “Man Alexi is really re-writing his own narrative, this is great, I feel really good about endorsing him during that contentious Cook Co Slating meeting”
What regular people thing of this ad: “Man this guy sucks, if he wins the Democratic Primary, he’s going to use the office to get rich and be a typical scumbag politician.”
What I think of this ad: “Bro, put on an undershirt and/or button up one more button. Nobody needs to see your waxed chest.”
Comment by Twisted Knickers Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 12:33 pm
I wouldnt waste any time with - The Hills 60010 -
Just, whatever dude.
Comment by low level Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 1:31 pm
“…first post covid Sec. of State.” wtafriggin weird phrase is that? basketball boys. gag. oh and Jesse endorsed Anna. Hard pass Alexi.
Comment by Amalia Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 2:06 pm
==As Jay-Z says, ‘this is all fact, I’ll never change==
I’m surprised Alexi didn’t do a further rebrand and decide to officially start calling himself Lex-E.
Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 2:28 pm
I really liked it. I would give it a B plus.
Comment by Panther Friday, Mar 18, 22 @ 2:38 pm