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Hey, Uihlein, you helped get the guy nominated, so maybe do something to help him now?

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Illinois

* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…

The two days of partisan political events during the Illinois State Fair are like miniature, stripped-down, informal versions of national political conventions. They serve as a sort of kickoff to our fall campaign season, so they are usually closely watched by reporters who cover campaigns and by insiders.

The speeches and organized theater are usually allowed to dominate coverage. Last week, gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey was driven to the Republican Day event on a large John Deere tractor, a tailor-made image for TV and print reporters alike. He then capably delivered his well-written speech, which mainly attempted to paint the incumbent Democratic governor as an out-of-touch billionaire with soft hands who lives in a bubble and has no clue what average folks are going through.

The “hands” image was at the core of Bailey’s speech. “With our hands, and our sweat, we nurture life, we strengthen our families, and we feed the world,” he said. “Take a look at your hands. They’re probably like mine, a little swollen, a little calloused, got scars on ‘em,” he said before relating the life of a farmer.

“Companies are leaving, families are leaving. Some people are just throwing their hands up and giving up,” he said later in his address. “But I mentioned your hands earlier. Look at them again. You and I are hands-on people. We fix problems all day long. Now, we’ve got to turn our attention to fixing this great state,” he continued.

And then he contrasted “our” hands with the wealthy governor’s. “On Tuesday, I milked a cow,” Bailey said, which, of course, involves his hands. “Last week with J.B. Pritzker, he took a picture with the butter cow. Now don’t get me wrong. The butter cow is amazing. … But J.B. and his soft billionaire hands was safely on the other side of that protective glass, far from the work. Kind of like in his billionaire bubble. I say he doesn’t care. But I want to tell you something. Maybe he just doesn’t know.”

The hands metaphor was also used as a means of political action: “You can’t clear a field of weeds if you don’t pull them out by the roots, friends, and the only way to fix Illinois is to fire J.B. Pritzker and get the problem out by the roots.”

Clever.

But images and speeches rarely make an impact with news media coverage alone. A candidate needs money to put those images and zingers in TV ads and to amplify them throughout the online world.

And Bailey still has no money to do that. His principal backer, billionaire Richard Uihlein, came in relatively late but big during the primary. So, maybe he’ll eventually do that again. Bailey has not yet shown any ability to raise substantial money on his own, either before the primary or since. Bailey’s only reported contribution last week was just $1,000.

Since the primary, Uihlein has contributed $20 million to Dan Proft’s People Who Play by the Rules PAC. Proft, a talk-radio host and political activist, aired some super-solid TV ads on Bailey’s behalf during the primary, so at first, I didn’t think it was a huge deal. Instead, Proft has reverted back to running the type of ads that didn’t win many elections when he was involving himself in legislative races (mainly with Uihlein’s money). His past few ads, costing $1.8 million at the time of this writing, simply feature unknown people who appear to be talking to an unseen interviewer just off-camera.

None of Proft’s independent expenditure ads mention Bailey by name. Pritzker isn’t even featured. If, as I suspect, Uihlein ultimately wants Proft to take the helm of Bailey’s campaign, then Proft isn’t auditioning well. Bailey’s own Uihlein-funded primary ads were infinitely superior to what’s on TV now. The GOP ticket situation is currently in near-disaster mode, with Bailey under siege, but it’s gonna be the apocalypse if somebody doesn’t do something soon.

Individual candidate speeches usually matter far less after the state fair fades to black. And Bailey showed last week that he is not quite capable of taking reporters’ questions.

Asked about his specific plan to address gun violence, for instance, Bailey said, “it would be nice if we would start obeying and following the laws that we have.”

Bailey’s speech and his Q&A were filled with divisive, unsubtle code words about hard-working people being victimized by their leaders who must now rise up as one and smite their abuser.

But it’s still much more effective than the stuff Uihlein is paying good money for right now.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 9:00 am

Comments

It’s gonna turn out that Uhline just really hates Aurora and anyone and anything from it.

Comment by OneMan Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 9:05 am
Bailey “talks” about his hands, but have we actually been given any evidence that his hands are anything but soft? if they are anything like his mind I am guessing they are pretty soft millionaire hands.

Comment by JS Mill Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 9:07 am
Quite possible that Uihlein’s support for Bailey was driven more by disdain for Irvin and his failure to pass a conservative purity test. Uihlein may well know that Bailey’s chances in the general are slim to none. But that hasn’t stopped him in the past from throwing his money away.

Comment by Pundent Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 9:12 am
Uhlein just dumped 10K into the Kane County treasurer race, 3K into the Lake County sheriff race, 6K into the IL 66th District House race, 6K into the 9th District Cook County commissioner race, 6K into the 53rd District House Race, and nearly 150K into the IL 26th District Senate race.

He hasn’t given a penny to Bailey since the primary.

All Proft has produced with the PAC money are a bunch of low quality ads starring GOP consultants and failed former GOP candidates. It’s shockingly incompetent, and yet somehow squarely on-brand for Uihlein and Proft. Uihlein burns a pile of money and Proft skims his share in fees. Like a blind shark and a clever remora.

Comment by Skokie Man Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 9:13 am
Another problem for Bailey is even all the earned media from the Fair focused on the “Hellhole” remark, not his criticism of Pritzker.

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 9:14 am
Shorter Bailey: We should elect people based upon how much physical labor they’ve had to do. Also, a daddy’s boy rich kid from NYC who spent his life exploiting working people is our god king now. All of this is coherent.

Comment by Larry Bowa Jr. Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 9:16 am
Good writing. Got my money!s worth out of my Times subscription Sunday morning.
Comparing the article to the TV coverage was like the experience of reading a book and seeing the movie. The book always seems to be a better experience.
The article seemed to put me right at fair hearing the speech as opposed to 5 seconds of a talking head covering it on TV.
Great example of why we should support our newspapers.

Comment by Back to the Future Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 9:18 am
Maybe Uihlein has soft hands, like so many other people who also work hard but leverage their mind.

From this post I mostly just feel bad for that cow he milked.

Comment by XonXoff Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 9:25 am
Were there any crudites at the Bailey event, Rich?

Comment by PublicServant Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 9:31 am
We have no complaint with rich whack jobs spending their money, but it would be fascinating to understand what the decision making process looks like. How does the guy who gave oodles to Roy Moore shell out tons to PAC PROFT then vanishes. Reminds us of Joe Novack engineering Glenn Poshard and acknowledging there was no plan for the general. Meanwhile poor Dan Brady explains he does not want to off your dog.

Comment by Annonin' Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 9:35 am
*he = Bailey (in my comment above)

Comment by XonXoff Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 9:43 am
Feels like Uihlein’s goal was just to push out Ken Griffin

Comment by hisgirlfriday Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 9:50 am
“Also, a daddy’s boy rich kid from NYC who spent his life exploiting working people is our god king now.”

Donald Trump is the ultimate example of a Capitalist…exploiting Capitalism…as designed.

Comment by Dotnonymous Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 10:02 am
why is it that we allow the two political parties to hijack the state fair? it’s bad enough that they ruin small town parades.

Comment by Blue Dog Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 10:03 am
Unless applying for government subsidies toughens one’s hands up, I’m betting Bailey’s hands are soft as warm butter.

Comment by Wading in... Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 10:12 am
I’ve heard about Bailey’s focus on swollen, calloused, hard-working hands and have to conclude I can’t vote for him. I’ve worked in offices for 40 years and have soft typing hands.

Comment by Curious citizen Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 10:13 am
Just saw a “people who play by the rules” TV ad along the lines of criminals coming to rural America because of Pritzker and the bail reform law in 2023. The ancient GOP way, scare the daylights out of the base.

Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 10:17 am
Another example of why most people don’t trust the media to be fair.

“Earned media” is not focusing on incumbent Governor Pritzker’s record but sideshows.

Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 10:18 am
- Lucky Pierre -

You only have THREE choices;

Pritzker
Bailey
Undervote

If you support Bailey and his vile and disgusting views on comparing abortion to the Holocaust, or that Chicago is a “&@$# Hole”, then own up to the support of the racist thinkers, conspiracy theorists, and insurrection apologists Bailey has supporting and/or with him.

Uihlein, bringing it to the post and your ridiculousness, isn’t helping Bailey or allowing Bailey to fight back or go on the offensive.

If you support Bailey and are voting for Bailey, you should be angry at Uihlein too.

Bailey is your only “candidate” choice

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 10:33 am
==“Earned media” is not focusing on incumbent Governor Pritzker’s record but sideshows. ==

Did you just start following politics a few minutes ago? “Earned media” is not a group of people who decide what to cover, it’s the attention you get for making actual news as opposed to buying ads.

Bailey called Chicago a “hellhole”, so all of the attention he got focused on that. And you can’t complain that the attention ignored Pritzker’s record, because Bailey ignored it, too- I can just scroll up to see that Bailey’s speech was, bizarrely, focused on JB’s hands.

You guys have no substance. Whine all you want, but no one is going to create it for you.

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 10:33 am
Gosh LP, maybe they would focus on Prtizker’s record if the guy you’re voting for could talk about that at length and stop shoving his spotless work boot in his mouth by spouting Holocaust comparisons and calling a fifth of the state’s population a hellhole.

Mind you, if Darren ran solely against JB’s record instead of bravely campaigning as the Last Great Culture Warrior, you’d be seeing the same results come November.

Comment by Roadrager Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 10:34 am
==why is it that we allow the two political parties to hijack the state fair?==

It’s too bad Rich Whitney couldn’t sustain the Greens as an established party, else we might have a Green Day too

Comment by 48th Ward Heel Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 10:34 am
Bailey’s hands were slick enough to take in and count millions of PPP and farm subsidy dollars from the federal government. Probably got callouses from handling so much cash.

Comment by The Old Man Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 10:35 am
Rich, when you have an extra couple of minutes, would you please compile a chart of Proft’s W/L record? TIA!

Comment by Soccermom Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 10:36 am
==why is it that we allow the two political parties to hijack the state fair?==

We don’t. It’s 2 out of 10 days, and it’s all pushed into a corner of the Fairgrounds that nobody goes to otherwise.

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 10:38 am
“Why isn’t the media covering the substance of the Bailey campaign?”

Because there is none. He first came to prominence talking about kicking Chicago out of the state. Then he did a bunch of stunts about not wearing a mask (while requiring his employees to do so). His crime plan is “stop breaking the law”. His big speech was “I have better hands than JB”.

His whole career is acting like a clown. You can’t get mad that people treat him like it.

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 10:45 am
OW I have said many, many times Bailey can’t win.

Does this mean that JB’s record as Governor is not up for debate?

OW do you support any Republicans currently running for office or all they all racist thinkers, conspiracy theorists and insurrectionists?

Do you condemn all of the elected Democrat election deniers who claimed the Republican wins for the Presidency in 2016, 2004 and 2000 were illegitimate and stolen?

Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 10:48 am
=== I have said many, many times Bailey can’t win.===

The question was if you support him. Reprogram yourself. You have three choices

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 11:01 am
Gotta hand it to him, Bailey’s remarks were, hands, about hands. I prefer politicians who use their brains and heart more than their hands.

Comment by Sir Reel Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 11:03 am
=== this mean that JB’s record as Governor is not up for debate?===

The choice is Bailey if Pritzker.

You chose Bailey, then you are embracing all the vile and disgusting things Bailey says, even about Chicago, let alone about abortion or comparisons to the Holocaust.

It’s like embracing David Duke thinking because on “policy” you agree.

You should be mad at Uihlein for not supporting Bailey, if you agree so much on things.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 11:03 am
=== Do you condemn===

This last and alone…

This only works if you wholly agree that the election was stolen, racist thinking is acceptable in the GOP, and the insurrection was warranted.

It only works that way.

If you embrace all that, it explains a great deal to you devolving…

… and to bring it back to the post, Bailey’s own downward spiral by lack of Uihlein help to fight bank or push forward… Bailey’s own character is so flawed, it’s why Proft runs ads without saying Bailey’s name.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 11:06 am
Surprised to see pictures of Candidate and Missus Bailey at North Avenue Beach on Saturday during the Air and Water Show.

As Bailey’s labeled Chicago a hellhole, why would he step foot in Chicago. Smiling, shaking hands, and posing for pictures…what’s hypocrite.

Comment by Rudy’s teeth Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 11:07 am
“Does this mean that JB’s record as Governor is not up for debate?”

Then Bailey should talk about that instead of the Governor’s silky-smooth hands.

“do you support any Republicans currently running for office or all they all racist thinkers, conspiracy theorists and insurrectionists?”

At best, they have all elected to remain in the party of racist thinkers, conspiracy theorists and insurrectionists.

“Do you condemn all of the elected Democrat election deniers who claimed the Republican wins for the Presidency in 2016, 2004 and 2000 were illegitimate and stolen?”

If such people existed, I would condemn their doing so.

– MrJM

Comment by MisterJayEm Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 11:07 am
“…so maybe do something to help him now?”

Actually, Mr. Uihlein, please don’t.

Comment by Bourbon Street Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 11:13 am
To bring this fully back to a great piece Rich wrote, how is this NOT “ball game”?

=== Since the primary, Uihlein has contributed $20 million to Dan Proft’s People Who Play by the Rules PAC. Proft, a talk-radio host and political activist, aired some super-solid TV ads on Bailey’s behalf during the primary, so at first, I didn’t think it was a huge deal. Instead, Proft has reverted back to running the type of ads that didn’t win many elections when he was involving himself in legislative races (mainly with Uihlein’s money). His past few ads, costing $1.8 million at the time of this writing, simply feature unknown people who appear to be talking to an unseen interviewer just off-camera.===

If you’re like - LP - and want to talk “issues”, these ads are like going down to the tavern and the loud person at the end of the bar givin’ lip.

No one cares, no one is paying attention, it’s not adding to a discussion or a movement.

Bailey, as an entity, unlike the Fair Tax, isn’t palatable.

If above was ball game, this is post game perfection to what is clearly seen.

=== None of Proft’s independent expenditure ads mention Bailey by name. Pritzker isn’t even featured. If, as I suspect, Uihlein ultimately wants Proft to take the helm of Bailey’s campaign, then Proft isn’t auditioning well. Bailey’s own Uihlein-funded primary ads were infinitely superior to what’s on TV now.===

Even Proft isn’t “allowed” to market “New Coke”, it’s “Pepsi things are bad”

Proft is failing

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 11:17 am
==do you support any Republicans currently running for office or all they all racist thinkers, conspiracy theorists and insurrectionists?==

I mean, there’s Dan Bailey who just can’t remember if he’s a racist thinker, conspiracy theorist, or insurrectionist.

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 11:17 am
I have never said the election was stolen, I have condemned the raid on the Capitol and have never made any racist comments but I am a frequent critic of the Governor and his administration.

Republicans like you and I are supposed to have principled differences of opinion with Democrats and call them out when they are hypocritical.

Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 11:18 am
*helps Bailey in primary*
“My work here is done.”
*refuses to elaborate*
*leaves*

You want it to make sense, but it doesn’t have to.

Comment by Correcting Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 11:22 am
I also like this implication that focusing on JB’s record would really teach him a lesson or something. Dude loves to talk about his record. And it ain’t perfect, but it’s pretty good? Balanced budgets and credit upgrades, infrastructure bills and new jobs, labor peace, selling the Thompson Center, protecting abortion, legalizing pot. There’s problems, too, and any given person may not like all of those things, but there’s a reason JB has put out so many ads about them.

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 11:28 am
=== Republicans like you and I are supposed to have principled differences of opinion===

Friend, you refuse to agree on the facts.

How can you and I have a different opinion when our facts at hand are where the differences begin?

The Fair Tax (Flop, even) was about issues, and framing them, even incorrectly, allowed an issue to be the crux.

Bailey is an E-Van-Gel-Eye-Cal hypocrite who can’t quote scripture right, thinks Chicago is a “&$@%# Hole”, wants abortion ended, and is willing to compare abortion to the Holocaust in a sickening and vile way, diminishing both.

That’s the ball game.

You can support Bailey, or not.

Proft can’t even run ads for Bailey at this rate, so it seems, and Uihlein isn’t financially helping a candidate likely to have another tent revival misstep the next time the Tee-Vee is on.

The party is Bailey, not Kinzinger. You picking up what I’m dropping, as - Wordslinger - would say…

Think on who, not what. That’s what this election is, and even Uihlein is seemingly leery?

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 11:31 am
Maybe Richard Uline just got into the primary because he wanted to buy Ken Griffin’s Waldorf Astoria Chicago condo?

Occam’s Razor.

– MrJM

Comment by MisterJayEm Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 11:36 am
JB’s record is “pretty good” as far as Democrats are concerned because he is a progressive who despite his wealth never crosses the base of his party.

He doesn’t need the campaign contributions from the Democratic special interests but he sure governs like he does.

He is severely underwater with independents, which is one of the reasons why he is the 37th most popular Governor in America and had to spend 30 million to run a moderate Republican out of the Republican primary

Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 11:37 am
= It’s too bad Rich Whitney couldn’t sustain the Greens as an established party, else we might have a Green Day too =

Because the state has been a Basket Case since Blago was in office. (Couldn’t resist the dad joke, I’ll see myself out now.)

Comment by cover Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 11:41 am
Let us be honest:: Bailey comes from a Rich, millionaire family, by no means are either Darren or Cindys parents poor. Farm work is hard,long days etc. Granted. But the Baileys are not poor…

Comment by Save Illinois Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 11:57 am
=Republicans like you and I are supposed to=

And what are republicans like you supposed to do? You should demand your candidates be honest at the bareest of minimums. You don’t.

Comment by JS Mill Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 12:05 pm
Candidate Bailey moves through the ranks of State Representative, then State Senate, and now makes a bid for the governor’s office.

Yet, an old Scotch proverb comes to mind…”You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.”

Comment by Rudy’s teeth Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 12:16 pm
=== He is severely underwater with independents, which is one of the reasons why he is the 37th most popular Governor in America===

Couldn’t pick, if I could, a better example of your failure to grasp the political reality of “Bailey v Pritzker”

Neither Bailey nor Pritzker need to beat 36 other seated governors in America… it doesn’t matter if Pritzker is more or less popular than governors in North Dakota, North Carolina… New Mexico, or New York… Pritzker only needs to be more popular (as in the popular vote) than Bailey… and with 51-44 approval, that’s above water, that’s a good start to do so.

Uihlein wont even drop cash for Bailey to try to be… likable, a positive ad.

Friend, your facts and seemly confusing wonder why we can’t agree to disagree, you can’t even bring facts for me to contemplate that are relevant.

Maybe Proft has it right; run sub-par ads, cash checks, play golf in Florida.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 12:16 pm
LP,

JB has the best record of an incumbent governor in decades. He was hired by voters to reverse the damage of the Rauner years. He’s responsibly managed the state’s fiscal situation and earned six credit upgrades. The economy has turned around and we’re creating lots of jobs - 30,000+ just last month. What was down is up and what was bad up (like unemployment) is way down. Has he solved all the problems of the state? No. But he has quite a few really big wins. And yea, most people including independents think he did a great job managing Covid.

Oh yea, and you’re citing a poll from April when a newer one is available showing better results, so let’s thrown on some intellectual dishonesty points for fun.

You want to talk JB record? Knock yourself out. It won’t go well for your side.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 12:30 pm
==JB’s record is “pretty good” as far as Democrats are concerned==

Do only Democrats like balanced budgets and more jobs?

==who despite his wealth never crosses the base of his party==

And here we go. Your real problem with JB is that he doesn’t hurt Democrats enough. Because as much as you whine about “principles”, your only principle is “hurt Democrats”. The problem for you is that the voters didn’t elect JB to hurt Democrats, and they don’t want him to. If they did, they’d pick a Republican. If they did, his approval ratings would be underwater right now.

This isn’t a substantive criticism of his record at all, this is just more unprincipled partisanship.

==He is severely underwater with independents==

But still over 50% overall.

==he is the 37th most popular Governor in America==

But still over 50% overall.

Whine as much as you want, he’s not going to cater to a minority of the state who didn’t even vote for him, and no one else would expect him to. You don’t even actually expect him to, you’re just still crying that Rauner lost and trying to backfill some explanation why.

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 12:31 pm
=== run a moderate Republican out of the Republican primary===

No…

56% plus of the voting Republicans in the primary took out Irvin, and the FOUR other candidates.

All five… lost to one candidate, “roughly” 56-44…

Your beef is with this cult you seemingly align yourself with that’s masquerading as a party you want to be seen as “accepting”

Uihlein and Pritzker both… they found the GOP Party base voters.

They targeted the elements that also are used to attract the worst elements of society, weaving that in quite easily, “smile and nod” things.

The 44% or so ain’t victims, they are the collateral damage.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 12:32 pm
Oh, and one more thing. Using the Fair speech to rekindle the hellhole controversy was an idiotic unforced error. He invited the press to spend time focusing on hellhole instead of the supposedly awful record. This is 1000% on your candidate (and yea, he’s the GOP nominee who got 56% so he’s your candidate).

Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 12:32 pm
Seriously, it’s really revealing in a hilarious way that the main criticism of JB’s record turns out to be “he doesn’t hate Democrats enough”.

I mean, true enough, I guess.

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 12:35 pm
BTW, still no answer on if LP is going to vote for Bailey.

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 12:35 pm
// Let us be honest:: Bailey comes from a Rich, millionaire family, by no means are either Darren or Cindys parents poor. //

Also making for a great place to park additional farm subsidy monies for later, methinks.

Comment by XonXoff Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 12:38 pm
Sounds like Bailey is running against a stereotype, not against the Pritzker folks around the state know and respect. Lost his parents as a child, came to Chicago for law school, came up through the business, political, and civic ranks by finding a way a contribute at every turn. Guy has taken nothing for granted and found a way to make other people’s lives better at every turn. His hands have helped a whole lot of people, and they aren’t soft. If Bailey actually focused on making Illinois a better place, as JB has for 30+ years, he’d be doing a whole lot better. And he’d raise more than $1,000 per week.

Comment by Chicago Adam Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 12:40 pm
Oof, @Chicago Adam really pounds the nails in the Bailey sarcophagus.

More to the point, and something the LP and others struggle with:

=because he is a progressive who despite his wealth never crosses the base of his party.

He doesn’t need the campaign contributions from the Democratic special interests but he sure governs like he does.=

The reason he does what he does is that he believes in it. He is a progressive and looks out for the little guy in ways that bailey cannot even conceive because bailey looks to blame while Pritzker looks to fix.

Comment by JS Mill Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 12:49 pm
== principled differences of opinion with Democrats==

Since when has anything you said been “principled?” As far as I can tell you only whine about everything.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 12:55 pm
- He doesn’t need the campaign contributions from the Democratic special interests but he sure governs like he does. -

That’s called having principles.

- had to spend 30 million to run a moderate Republican out of the Republican primary -

That’s called playing to win. The IL GOP should give it a shot sometime.

Comment by Excitable Boy Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 1:20 pm
=== still no answer on if LP is going to vote for Bailey.===

Here’s how this kinda/sorta ties in with… Uihlein?

- LP - wont say he will vote for Bailey, also says…

=== I have said many, many times Bailey can’t win.===

Starting to see similarities?

Ok, last one; - LP -…

=== Does this mean that JB’s record as Governor is not up for debate?===

So, won’t say they support Bailey, seemingly acts as though Bailey can’t win, wants to arbitrarily discuss Pritzker’s record in a vacuum, without Bailey as the comparison.

“Is that you Mr. Uihlein?”

:)

I would like - Lucky Pierre - to say he supports or doesn’t support Bailey, which was the question at hand.

Uihlein is answering with his money, or lack there of to Bailey?

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 1:36 pm
=and had to spend 30 million to run a moderate Republican out of the Republican primary=

Keep telling yourself that. Bailey won the primary because he was the candidate that appealed the most GOP primary voters by a HUGE margin. Bailey did that. The Gov’s money helped some, but Irvin was terrible and had no backing from the grassroots of the party and the same with Sullivan. Because it’s not like Irvin didn’t have as much money to spend too.

You must not really think much of the 454,000 Republican voters who picked Bailey and crushed Sullivan and Irvin in the polls. We’re they just fooled by JB’s cash? Or do they (as shown at the polls) by far support Bailey and his political and social stances over anyone else?

Comment by Cool Papa Bell Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 1:38 pm
~ Skokie Man ~ interesting that he gave 6k to the candidate in the 9th district Cook County Board race but nothing for Morrison in the 17th. So that’s either because he’s still mad Morrison went against Jeanne Ives four years ago or he is mad that the Cook GOP just lost 8 candidates because of incompetence on Morrisons part.

Comment by Old time Independent Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 1:52 pm
So much gaslighting here.

It is JB who must not think much of his record if he had to interfere in a Republican primary spending an unprecedented 30 million dollars.

Does he still believe the Citizens United ruling is a threat to our democracy?

Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 2:06 pm
=== It is JB who must not think much of his record if he had to interfere in a Republican primary spending an unprecedented 30 million dollars.===

“Why take a chance”

- Remo, “Casino”, maybe.

Still, 56% plus of Republicans agreed with Pritzker, lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 2:12 pm
=It is JB who must not think much of his record if he had to interfere in a Republican primary spending an unprecedented 30 million dollars.=

Interfere?? He ran ads AGAINST Bailey. Maybe the meaning of words escapes you.

Are you trying to say GOP voters are too dumb to make up their own minds? Wow. Just. Wow.

Comment by JS Mill Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 2:17 pm
=== the 37th most popular Governor in America===
Only has to be the most popular in 1 state.
The other 49 don’t matter, till he runs for President.

Comment by Bruce( no not him) Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 2:24 pm
==The reason he does what he does is that he believes in it.==

Also, *it’s what the voters wanted*. JB was pretty upfront about who he was- pro labor, pro choice, anti racist, etc. He never promised to “cross” the Democratic Party. And voters said, “Yeah, gimme some of ‘dat”. They even had a Republican on the ballot, one with a proven track record of fighting Democrats on just about everything, and they went with the big guy.

So, to turn around now and say his record is poor because he’s not doing something he wasn’t hired to do is a slap in the face to the voters. LP, I think your problem is nobody else is buying this “heads I win tails you lose” game you’re trying to set up here.

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 2:26 pm
Wow just Wow?

Either millions of dollars in campaign spending is a threat to our democracy or it isn’t.

Can’t have it both ways and also argue Griffith’s ads against the fair tax hoodwinked Illinois voters who were too stupid to vote the way Democrats wanted.

Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 2:27 pm
== It is JB who must not think much of his record==

Except that he’s run a bunch of ads touting it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLrbsh9WYoU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzwpUE0-UXo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HJ3IuL0_E8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Moa92WZcul4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFvGT9zGu0M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjylSEBqDeY

You once told us that nobody would care about ads focused on JB’s record, so it’s really funny to hear you lament a lack of focus on it now.

==So much gaslighting here.==

Indeed, and so long as you keep doing it, we’ll keep calling you out for it.

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 2:30 pm
Anyway, LP, you gonna vote for Bailey, or nah?

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 2:31 pm
“It is JB who must not think much of his record if he had to interfere in a Republican primary spending an unprecedented 30 million dollars.”

JB spent millions during the primary to clearly explain why Darren Bailey is an extremist who is utterly unfit for office.

The vast majority of GOP voters responded by saying “Yep. That’s our guy.”

That’s on your party, not JB.

– MrJM

Comment by MisterJayEm Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 2:38 pm
=== Can’t have it both ways and also argue Griffith’s ads against the fair tax hoodwinked Illinois voters who were too stupid to vote the way Democrats wanted.===

You had no problem with that, as I recall?

Gaslighting the Gaslighting?

I kid. I kid.

No thoughts to this?

So, - Lucky Pierre -, you won’t say you support Bailey, seemingly act as though Bailey can’t win, you want to arbitrarily discuss Pritzker’s record in a vacuum, without Bailey as the comparison.

This election ain’t no referendum, it’s a choice, and Bailey IS the alternative.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 2:44 pm
==Can’t have it both ways and also argue Griffith’s ads against the fair tax hoodwinked Illinois voters who were too stupid to vote the way Democrats wanted. ==

Who’s arguing that? Big making up a guy to be mad at energy.

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 2:59 pm
I should give Bailey credit for the two-fer.

“Jewish Hands” is an antisemitic meme in its own right.

https://www.adl.org/education/references/hate-symbols/the-happy-merchant

Ironically, Bailey is from Xenia, as in “xenophobia”, the fear of or prejudice against foreigners.

Comment by Thomas Paine Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 3:03 pm
Folks, the only appropriate response to LP at this juncture is to continue asking if he’s supporting Bailey.

Every thing else is a waste of your time and feeding a known troll

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 3:10 pm
LP - Are you supporting Bailey, Pritzker or none of the above?

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 3:10 pm
Except Xenia is Greek for offering hospitality to strangers and is literally the opposite of xenophobia

https://www.princeton.edu/~aford/terms.html

Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 3:11 pm
===Are you supporting Bailey, Pritzker or none of the above?===

Yep. We’re back to that.

Uihlein is supporting Proft, Proft takes his cut, but are any of these three actually supporting … Bailey?

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 3:14 pm
For the record, I’ve got both callouses and scars on my hands from decades of manual labor and I wouldn’t vote for Bailey in a million years. I don’t care what JB’s hands look like, he’s done a good job over the past four years. Not perfect, but good enough for my vote.

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 3:18 pm
LP

If you are so up in arms about the Governor’s record not getting out there then talk to your Republican candidate and stop whining about it. All you ever do is whine. Grow up.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 3:33 pm
Did you characterize the negative comments during the Rauner administration as whining or do your gentle ears just object to Republican criticism?

Can everyone please start their comments by stating their name and who they are voting for like an AA meeting? It’s essential for our democracy.

Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 4:02 pm
So far Bailey doesn’t have the resources to tell his story. Meanwhile Pritzker has a record to run on & the resources to do an all of the above approach to ads, as Arsenal pointed out. Legalization of marijuana, a gaming bill, a capital bill, credit upgrades, the rainy day fund, COVID, criminal justice reform, more cops on the streets (ISP troopers), etc. Like or hate his record, what Pritzker managed to accomplish in his first term with COVID impacting half of it is pretty darn impressive. Even if Uihlein poured resources into Bailey to make it more of a contest, I’m not sure it would be enough to beat Pritzker, not with throwing the overturn of Roe into the mix as well.

As for Pritzker’s spending in the primary, he couldn’t have spent a dime & Bailey still would have won. Maybe not by as large of a margin, but Irvin was a flawed candidate whose campaign didn’t know how to win a GOP primary in 2022. But maybe Pritzker just wanted to go toe to toe with Griffin, who’d been bad mouthing him forever, and beat his candidate in the most embarrassing way possible while also ensuring resources are available for the general. The less he has to spend on his campaign the more to spread around to other candidates. Maybe as Oswego Willy said, he didn’t want to take any chances. Unless we were there when the decisions were made about spending money on the GOP primary, it’s all conjecture.

Comment by MyTwoCents Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 4:41 pm
Remember that Bailey was escorted out of a House session by his fellow Republicans for being obnoxious. Most of them still can’t stand him. Besides, how much farming could he be doing while running for office and pretending he’s a public servant? And don’t forget his parochial school. I’d bet that that tractor ride entering the fair was the first time he’d actually been on a tractor in years.

Comment by Sally Forth Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 4:43 pm
- do your gentle ears just object to Republican criticism? -

Lol, you’re whining about being gaslit on an online comment section and everyone else has gentle ears? You’re a loser of such epic proportions you should hire yourself out to make people feel better about themselves.

Comment by Excitable Boy Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 6:39 pm
Same movie, different election cycle.

1.) Uihlein spends millions shoring up some “Tampa Dan” Proft PAC.

2.) Proft, Hughes, Besler, et. al., put together 1996-era television ads, drop a couple of D-level mail pieces.

3.) The Republican candidate(s) get blown out by 10+ points.

4.) Companies connected to the aforementioned principals collect a fortune. (See D-2s & 990 Forms)

5.) Dan tells Dick, “Sorry, it just wasn’t your year.”

6.) Next cycle: Repeat.

Comment by Ice Scream Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 7:21 pm
===Can everyone please start their comments by stating their name and who they are voting for ===

It’s really only the GOP who need to hide their vote for a guy who leans into white Christian nationalism and supports undemocratic demagogues. Most Dems are proudly voting to reelect JB based on his record (as well as objecting greatly to the other guy). So how about it, LP?

Comment by Jibba Monday, Aug 22, 22 @ 8:08 pm
===Can everyone please start their comments by stating their name and who they are voting for like an AA meeting? ===

Narrator: “LP” has yet to declare he supports Bailey.

What an utter phony. You ain’t no victim, - Lucky Pierre -

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 12:32 am
I’m the Honorable Don G. and I am a big fan of our governor. I am proudly voting for Pritzker.

Are you supporting Bailey, Lucky P.?

What’s the Greek word for “quibbling question dodger”?

Comment by Hon. Don Gerard Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 1:43 am
Congratulations Don!

That should surprise no one as you were an elected Democratic Mayor of Champaign.

Have you ever voted for a Republican?

Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 8:14 am