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* This copy was recorded by someone with a mobile phone…
* Script…
Illinois has the highest taxes in the country, costing the average family more than $9,000.
I’m Jesse Sullivan.
And with budgets and taxes this high, you don’t bring a scalpel, you bring an axe. I’ll slash gas taxes, saving folks on average $200. Burn down the grocery tax and pledge to veto any tax increase that comes in front of my desk.
When Illinois families are suffering, you take action, you slash and burn. Let’s go save Illinois
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, May 6, 22 @ 9:49 am
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Next commercial: “When the deer population becomes too big, you take out your rifle and cull the deer. It will save them in the long run.”
Ugh.
Comment by Colin O'Scopy Friday, May 6, 22 @ 9:51 am
C.
He tries too hard here to solidify his rural bona fides. Silly message too. “We” pay $9000 in taxes. So he’ll save us $200 in fuel taxes and no mention of how much the grocery tax will save us.
But I guess its a better message than waste, fraud and abuse.
Comment by Cool Papa Bell Friday, May 6, 22 @ 9:52 am
“I want to turn Illinois into a state that doesn’t have any money for anything. I want to let our roads crumble to gravel, killing the economic engine of society. I’m jesse sullivan and I approve this message.”
Comment by Huh? Friday, May 6, 22 @ 9:54 am
Actually, Anthropologists have long known, and environmentalists long shown, that slash and burn agriculture is an inefficient method and dangerous practice.
Comment by H-W Friday, May 6, 22 @ 9:54 am
So much for the credit rating improvements under JB.
Comment by Big Dipper Friday, May 6, 22 @ 9:56 am
Allow me to translate-
“I either have no idea how much small municipalities rely on MFT, or I don’t care. What was so wrong with cobblestones anyway?”
Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Friday, May 6, 22 @ 9:56 am
Would you buy a used car from this guy?
Comment by Leigh John-Ella Friday, May 6, 22 @ 10:00 am
This guy started his campaign pretending to be somehow measured, level headed, and a breath of fresh air. He has turned into a caricature of every other Republican who has every run for anything in the last 40 years.
Despite that, he is still polling at like 10 percent.
Comment by Homebody Friday, May 6, 22 @ 10:00 am
D
We don’t need money? That is the message? What if we do?
Comment by JS Mill Friday, May 6, 22 @ 10:01 am
Nothing says leadership like “slash and burn.” C-.
Comment by Montrose Friday, May 6, 22 @ 10:01 am
B
Sullivan already defined by Richard Irvin as a never Trumper and Sully campaign fading fast.
Comment by John Lopez Friday, May 6, 22 @ 10:01 am
That’s an awful ad. It’s totally unrealistic and it seems like Jesse is struggling to figure out who he is.
Comment by B Team Friday, May 6, 22 @ 10:02 am
This guy should be investigated for fraud. How did he get anyone to hand over their money to his sham campaign?
After his Roe v. Wade tweet, it’s hard to take anything he says seriously.
D-
Comment by So_Ill Friday, May 6, 22 @ 10:05 am
It’s a C-
It’s performance art for a guy trying to relate to a bunch of fringe folks, and throw in religion, and gimmicky props to “stand out”
There’s no real call to vote for him, why him winning makes things better, and why Sullivan is better.
It’s C-, it’s a windfall for the grifters making bank on the California Cash.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, May 6, 22 @ 10:06 am
-it seems like Jesse is struggling to figure out who he is.-
Yep. Is he the Crypto Bro, or the farmer out working his land, chopping down a tree and burning it for show? Is he the moderate to liberal globalist he appeared to be in college; or the valor-claiming, flag-waving, constantly God-invoking conservative he claims to be now?
As an aside, what’s one of those four wheelers go for these days? $15-$20K?
Comment by Ron Burgundy Friday, May 6, 22 @ 10:06 am
Is that an outtake from Idiocracy II?
Comment by Moe Berg Friday, May 6, 22 @ 10:07 am
I know that ego is involved but why do people have to try and start at the top? Wouldn’t he have been better off trying for state rep or senate or (maybe) a congressional seat? He’s going to waste all this money and not make much of an impression on the electorate. Just seems crazy to me.
Comment by Paddyrollingstone Friday, May 6, 22 @ 10:07 am
Who dreamed this mish mash up? Single Mom? Petroleum Marketers love the plan….they keep gas tax in their mitts. Food tax largely abolished decades ago…no one noticed. Pretty sure passing tax hikes without Gov support not possible.
Comment by Annonin' Friday, May 6, 22 @ 10:09 am
A-
Great ad the the GOP base, pretend tough and rugged rural guy bit plus utter fairy dust of slashing taxes to save the state. Can’t compete against Griffin’s millions and the pretend toughness of Irvin.
Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, May 6, 22 @ 10:10 am
Let’s cut the gas tax, added bonus we can fix those rural roads…
Is ’slash and burn’ ever considered a positive thing?
Comment by OneMan Friday, May 6, 22 @ 10:12 am
And pray tell, how would he manage to do that with Dems having a super majority? All of the GOP candidates make these silly promises that they could never keep, knowing full well that their words are empty lies. They’re all delusional, Sullivan more so that most.
Comment by Manchester Friday, May 6, 22 @ 10:13 am
D
“B~~~~ R~~~~~, he’ll take the hammer to Springfield.”
(Sledge photo)
“J~~~~ S~~~~~~~, deadwood is everywhere in this state, so it will take an axe.” (Hacking a dead tree)
Things are terrible, let’s make it worse, so we can all save Illinois.
Comment by Langhorne Friday, May 6, 22 @ 10:13 am
A axe to a hedge clipper fight
Comment by Rabid Friday, May 6, 22 @ 10:24 am
F.
I simply don’t believe him.
Comment by Cheryl44 Friday, May 6, 22 @ 10:25 am
This dude is the oddest duck of all the gop candidates. He’s like Irvin in that he’s trying to be something that he never had been before, but his message is so disjointed and incomprehensible. Did I miss the gratuitous references to Christianity in this commercial?
Comment by Henry Francis Friday, May 6, 22 @ 10:31 am
The Republican pivot to prop comedy about the budget messaging is weird.
Comment by Arsenal Friday, May 6, 22 @ 10:33 am
What’s it with these axes and giant hedge clippers, chopping wood and raging fires and we also had Rauner’s goofy sledgehammer? Is it because they can’t show their big guns in a tv ad?
I’m sure this rhetoric plays well in rural and outdoorsy downstate, but it’s an F ad for just being plain silly.
We’re voting for Governor not a manly Bear Grylls reality show. This looks like a Tiktok video.
Comment by Baloneymous Friday, May 6, 22 @ 10:36 am
It’s a D. Illinois doesn’t have the highest taxes in the country, as anyone with access to Google and about 15 spare seconds would know.
Comment by duck duck goose Friday, May 6, 22 @ 10:36 am
As a campaign ad - F
However, I am left with the sense that I should be seeing the words ‘only 99.95 while supplies last’. So it’s not bad if it was an ad for a small market undercoating and rustproofing business.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Friday, May 6, 22 @ 10:37 am
Ron Burgundy-
A cheap side by side starts at around 10 grand these days.
Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Friday, May 6, 22 @ 10:38 am
F. Right idea, terrible execution. Illinois taxpayers paying $9k a year, I’m here to save you $200. Should’ve left the numbers out since they’ll show how little taxpayers will actually save.
Comment by AD Friday, May 6, 22 @ 10:42 am
Rating D
So Jesse Sullivan portrays Paul Bunyan and Richard Irvin imitates Edward Scissorhands.
Quite the ride, Jesse. Not impressed.
Comment by Rudy’s teeth Friday, May 6, 22 @ 10:42 am
===you slash and burn===
How’d that work out for Rauner?
Comment by Nick Name Friday, May 6, 22 @ 10:44 am
This is performance art, right? A+ for performance art.
If this isn’t performance art and this is actually intended to be a commercial for a real campaign and not an effort dedicated to Andy Kaufman I would like to submit for consideration a new grade category, N. Grade N for Not going to work, Not effective, and Not going to win.
Otherwise I would give this a solid F. He looks like he’s trying to convince you he’s not a villain on a 1990s sitcom.
Look at JD Vance. No one suspects that he would be on his way to kidnap the Halliwell sisters. Jesse looks like he’s after the Charmed Ones. Why would anyone think this ad is going to make him more likeable?
Comment by Candy Dogood Friday, May 6, 22 @ 10:44 am
F
Years ago, the Doonesbury comic strip had a running gag that the Republican answer to every problem was “tax cuts for the rich.”
When a candidate has zero new ideas, he or she seems to fall back on that old tax cuts mantra.
There’s a basic dishonesty in saying you can get roads and bridges, police and fire protection, public libraries, snow plowing, and other government services without paying for them through taxes.
To quote Abe, “You can’t fool all of the people all of the time.”
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Friday, May 6, 22 @ 10:44 am
D. Rauner redux.
Comment by up2now Friday, May 6, 22 @ 10:53 am
Utility vehicle? Check.
Boots? Check.
Axe? Check.
Mention something about taxes? Check.
Yep, looks good.
Actually, I wish candidates would stop it with the side-by-side utility vehicles. To a lot of voters who wish they had the money to buy the UTV and the land on which to ride it, you might as well film your commercial aboard a yacht.
Comment by Southern Friday, May 6, 22 @ 10:55 am
As far as a GOP primary ad goes, its a C. “We pay $9000 a year and his plan is going to save us $200(banned punctuation)” But an aesthetically pleasing white guy with an axe always sells, right?
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Friday, May 6, 22 @ 10:56 am
I give it a D. Taking an axe to the problem gets you a 2 percent return?
He should’ve gone all ‘Marshal Lucky’ and brought a shotgun.
Comment by Jocko Friday, May 6, 22 @ 11:01 am
Nothing says “man of the people” like a rich guy riding off into the woods in his gator, takin’ a few swings at a tree with an axe. Choppin’ wooood.
Um. No.
Comment by Huh? Friday, May 6, 22 @ 11:05 am
==A cheap side by side starts at around 10 grand these days==
That is way, way low. More like $18K to $25K — for a base model.
Comment by Southern Friday, May 6, 22 @ 11:07 am
Jesse Sullivan’s main campaign message: “I work out.”
Comment by NIU Grad Friday, May 6, 22 @ 11:18 am
His entire campaign almost seems to be a parody. It’s like he’s taking himself so seriously that he’s not taking himself seriously. Given the recent polls, 90% agree that he’s not a serious candidate.
Comment by Steve Rogers Friday, May 6, 22 @ 11:21 am
The “I’ll cut/slash/veto taxes” arguement stereotype comes up every election. Jesse will save 2%. Wanna cut, then also explain what goes away. D-
Comment by zatoichi Friday, May 6, 22 @ 11:21 am
==This guy started his campaign pretending to be somehow measured, level headed, and a breath of fresh air. He has turned into a caricature of every other Republican who has every run for anything in the last 40 years.
Despite that, he is still polling at like 10 percent.==
He seems to be hoping for the JD Vance trajectory, unaware that he is missing a key ingredient to it.
Comment by Roadrager Friday, May 6, 22 @ 11:35 am
==Given the recent polls, 90% agree that he’s not a serious candidate.==
What’s crazy is that given how fakakta that primary is, 60% won’t even take the winner seriously.
Comment by Arsenal Friday, May 6, 22 @ 11:40 am
=== Given the recent polls, 90% agree that he’s not a serious candidate.===
Was the question…
“Is Sullivan a serious candidate?”
If you could cite that, I’d appreciate that
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, May 6, 22 @ 11:43 am
Lowering the bar here, but he got his name out, looks fit, young and energetic so I will give it a C.
Also he always seems happy and some of the other commercials highlight some pretty crabby characters yelling at me.
Getting the feeling that he can do more push ups than Pritzker or the other candidates, but really not going to vote for Governor on who can do the most push ups although a lot of folks are into healthy living and maybe he is after that vote.
Comment by Back to the Future Friday, May 6, 22 @ 11:52 am
Some quick math: ($200 / $9000) * 100 = 2.2% savings on average. Must be bringing a pretty tiny axe to accomplish such dramatic results.
Comment by Scurvydog Friday, May 6, 22 @ 12:05 pm
What does he think will happen to the bond rating upgrades if this happens?
Comment by Nathan Friday, May 6, 22 @ 12:10 pm
I’d give this ad a C or C- . His other ad he’s been running featuring his wife and kids is better. The man has a beautiful family, can’t deny that.
Comment by The Dude Abides Friday, May 6, 22 @ 12:11 pm
==deadwood is everywhere in this state, so it will take an axe==
Will he say in the next ad, “I am the new Lincoln.”
Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Friday, May 6, 22 @ 12:24 pm
If sullivan were in the Boy Scouts, his totin chip badge would be yanked for unsafe axe handling.
Comment by Huh? Friday, May 6, 22 @ 12:30 pm
Well, you know, this manly brand of individualism worked on the wild frontier. With horse, mule and oxen traction. Sullivan missed his chance by 200 years.
Comment by vole Friday, May 6, 22 @ 12:35 pm
D
A chiseled chin a man does not make.
Comment by AlfondoGonz Friday, May 6, 22 @ 12:54 pm
Where is Jesse’s OSHA approved protective eye wear?
Perhaps the glasses are in the trunk along with Bailey’s masks for his farm workers.
Comment by Rudy’s teeth Friday, May 6, 22 @ 12:55 pm
F. Amateur hour. “I’m Jesse Sullivan and I promise to do finish what Rauner started - turn Illinois into Mississippi.”
Comment by Out Here In The Middle Friday, May 6, 22 @ 12:55 pm
Didn’t Irvin have an axe the other day?! What do we think Bailey will have?
Don’t have to think that hard for Rabine’s equivalent #Pave
Comment by Anthony Friday, May 6, 22 @ 12:58 pm
===Didn’t Irvin have an axe ===
Pruning shears
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, May 6, 22 @ 12:58 pm
Why don’t these “I’ll cut taxes” candidates go whole hog. I’ll cut all taxes! (Even those I don’t control.) Things will be great!
Comment by Sir Reel Friday, May 6, 22 @ 1:03 pm
Hey, maybe you didn’t know this, but he’s playing to the axe-owning demographic. His pollsters showed nobody else is addressing the axe-owner agenda of cutting down tiny sapling trees before they can get to a threatening size. And here you thought it was all metaphors.
Comment by Give Us Barabbas Friday, May 6, 22 @ 1:29 pm
It would have been better to use full auto Ar-15 to cut the tree down and then napalm to burn it.
If your gonna burn it down, go all the way.
Comment by Bruce( no not him) Friday, May 6, 22 @ 1:41 pm
Bailey will have a chainsaw with a 36-inch bar.
Comment by very old soil Friday, May 6, 22 @ 1:53 pm
He says budgets and taxes are too high. If he can tell me the details of what costs he will cut that are equal to the tax cuts, you get my vote. Hell, I’ll campaign for you.
But the truth is, no Republican has legitimately offered a true reduction in over 20 years; let alone one equal to the tax cuts they tout.
Comment by Lurker Friday, May 6, 22 @ 2:33 pm
=And here you thought it was all metaphors.=
You are on a roll.
Sullivan is a cliche and a caricature rolled into a demagogue.
Comment by JS Mill Friday, May 6, 22 @ 2:34 pm
Governor Slash and Burn? Now that’s a general election slogan the Eastern Bloc can embrace. The other 80% of Illinois? Not so much.
Comment by New Day Friday, May 6, 22 @ 3:31 pm