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The origins of “Pritzkerville”

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• Illinois
• YouTube

* From the debate…

Q: Senator Bailey, over the course of your career, you have at times called for the City of Chicago to be separated from the rest of Illinois. You also in this studio in the Sspring referred to Chicago as a crime-ridden corrupt hellhole. You also have called it the OK Corral and an unruly child. If you’re elected, what is your specific plan for Chicago within the powers of the governor’s office?

A: To let the people know that help is on the way and things can be better. And I want to remind you four and a half months ago as I stood right here and made that comment within six hours later a homeless man was put on fire in Chicago. So I’ve been thinking about that since you keep bringing it the situation up and I’ve got a new name for Chicago. I’m gonna call it Pritzkerville, because every one of Governor Pritzker’s extreme policies are destroying the city. Out of control crime, devastated education, the fact that corporations are packing up and leaving every day. No, I think Pritzkerville fits quite well because Governor Pritzker, it’s time for him to own it. Chicago is the nightmare called Pritzkerville and it’s still two weeks from Halloween.

* His evasive non-answer was eaten up by reporters. Here’s one example…

* Some bird app response…

John Amdor’s thread is a must-read.

* Pritzker was asked about Bailey’s comment in the spin room…

We live in a great global city. I am happy to rename Chicago Pritzkerville as he has, but the fact is we have challenges. There’s no doubt I’ve talked about those challenges and how I would address those. He hasn’t. He just calls Chicago names, wants to throw it out of the state. Again, no solutions from Darren Bailey.

* It turns out that this isn’t an original Baileyism. From an October 13 op-ed by ILGOP Chair Don Tracy…

Illinois is more than its elected officials. Each of us adds something to our community, town, state, and nation. As the clumsy angel Clarence told George Bailey in the Capra classic “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?” This could be said of Chicago, too.

Policies pursued jointly by Pritzker, Lightfoot, and Foxx, such as not prosecuting crime, not backing police, and imposing imprudent and illegal lockdowns by fiat scare people and businesses away. The “hole” created by people leaving is filled by criminals who further ruin Chicago.

Now, mobs of teens led astray steal from stores on Michigan Avenue, day in and day out; thugs chase cops and beat them in the West Loop; and drag racing and drifting competitions are becoming common at night in heavily populated areas of our city. […]

Call it Pritzkerville – eerily like Potterville from “It’s a Wonderful Life,” with pot stores and a massive casino planned to fill the holes ripped in Chicago due to the loss of great businesses and decent people pursuing their dreams. […]

Pritzkerville is the dystopian version of Chicago: a dystopia of high taxes, rampant crime, and Democrat corruption. Pritzkerville is Chicago losing its “soul.” It doesn’t have to be this way. Urban life has challenges, but these challenges have long been met – and still are in thriving cities like Miami.

* Back to Bailey…

I’ve picked up on some of the lingo and one of the words that I’ve found that was used many years ago is the word chumbolone. It means lacking common sense. It pertains to the people who are being duped by their elected officials. But in this case, I believe that elected officials are the fools here because JB Pritzker and Lori Lightfoot and Kim Foxx, well, they’re the chumbolones of Chicago. They’re responsible for the crime, the corruption and the chaos that exists today and it’s got to change.

I don’t get it. But, hey, nice shout-out to a noted Indiana resident by a guy being backed to the hilt by a noted Florida resident.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 10:15 am

Comments

1. Bailey truly operates in a world where nobody likes Chicago, and thereby tagging someone as being Chicago is the ultimate putdown. And that certainly works in plenty of dreggish circles.

   But meanwhile among the millions of Illinoisans that love Chicago (even while disliking or even hating aspects of it), that’s just such a juvenile and petulent move.

   Enjoy being a footnote as a big time statwide loser, bum.

   Comment by TJ Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 10:19 am

2. Darren is so street with the slang. Maybe he heard it riding the elevator down to The Cheesecake Factory.

   Re Trussell, maybe Republicans shouldn’t consistently vote against programs to improve minority neighborhoods.

   Comment by Big Dipper Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 10:20 am

3. Pritzburg was there for the taking.

   Comment by City Zen Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 10:22 am

4. Bailing using nicknames and name calling to try and get his goofy points across. Who does that sound like. Jeesh.

   Comment by Baloneymous Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 10:23 am

5. I think it really is funny in some ways a good laugh. The trouble is neither JB or Bailey will be able to clean up the issues and violence in Chicago. Violence is all over up in and most places. It is going to take a change of heart and tempers. Possibly in the present climate no one person running for government office has that quality.

   Comment by clec dcn Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 10:23 am

6. After being taught how to navigate the google, it appears Pritzkerville is nowhere nears Downstate.

   Comment by Blue Dog Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 10:24 am

7. Jack Kass is so unoriginal that he must get his inspiration for the made up word “chumbalone” from a mafiosa wannabe and the term “the Chicago Way” from an amusing gangster film, “The Untouchables”.

   Comment by Anon 9:11 Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 10:26 am

8. Seems like this could totally backfire on Bailey, much like trying to make “Obamacare” a negative nickname.

   No question there are issues in Chicago but if that guy thinks the problem is pot stores and a casino he sure is out of touch.

   And when has the city had a “lockdown”? I’m not sure what he’s even referring to.

   Comment by The Velvet Frog Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 10:27 am

9. Does it make me a bad person that I had to look up who Trussell is?

   Comment by The Velvet Frog Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 10:30 am

10. That line was so dumb it was political malpractice. I guess Bailey wasn’t content to just repel Chicago voters away from him, he had to affirmatively associate them with JB.

    Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 10:31 am

11. The Kassian stylings by Bailey are like empty calories, they fuel the social media and reporters with things for content, but the emptiness to Pritzkerville, Pottersville, it’s not a sugar rush. Sugar rushes gin up than have a letdown, empty calories seem filling, but only add weight not muscle, and the need to carry that weight takes away to why you coined the phrase to begin with.

    Kass could not win a race for Mayor of Chicago or Governor of Illinois because his brashness, anger, and flippantly racist thoughts are tells to a smaller man.

    Why Bailey thinks being Kassian is a plus…

    It’s this, this post, Rich’s thoughts to the gobbling up of this bit…

    Campaigns forget.

    Your challenger candidate is being elevated on a stage to an equal to the incumbent, this time, the governor of the 5th largest state in America where the 3rd largest city exists. This elevation is a gift to allow a side by side “equality” that is likely only seen in debates. It’s a chance to allow voters to see the challenger in the job the incumbent is trying to keep.

    Wasted time and effort for social media memes when the real opportunities exist in winning the day, I’ll never understand the forced memes as opposed to the zingers that change votes.

    At the end, this debate, Bailey, like Kass, was small except to the silly meme, and if winning memes versus changing votes was the goal… what exactly was gained?

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 10:32 am

12. Turnin’ to the founder of Tracy Park and Kassamoron. That seems even sadder than BigWords and CommandoIves as creative strategists.

    Comment by Annonin' Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 10:33 am

13. Daryn claims to be such an upstanding “xtian”. Well time to send him to remedial “It’s A Wonderful Life” school. The most important part of the movie is when George Bailey finds out what his life would have been if certain events DIDN’T happen.

    Comment by Jerry Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 10:33 am

14. == a massive casino planned ==

    Uh… didn’t Don Tracy chair the Illinois Gaming Board for years?

    Comment by Homebody Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 10:35 am

15. Actually, many of us living in LoriLand would jump at the chance to change it to Pritzkerville.

    Comment by northsider (the original) Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 10:44 am

16. ===Pritzburg===

    Perfect.

    I think Darren is trying to evoke the It’s a Wonderful Life image of Potterville, with Darren in his own mind as George Bailey. But on a good day, Darren is closer to Uncle Billy than George.

    Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 10:46 am

17. Trussell’s picture is a gas. The worst scene she can find in Chicago is a vacant but intact commercial block with a historic buidling? Please.

    Comment by Benjamin Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 10:47 am

18. ==Trussell’s picture is a gas==
    Agreed. I could find a worse picture down in Baileyburg.

    Comment by Vote Quimby Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 10:53 am

19. Re: Pritzkerville v Pritzburg:

    Pritzkerville would be an easy substitute for Wrigleyville on those special Cubs jerseys/shirts.

    Maybe Darren has trouble reading script (my kids do too), and thought they did say Pritzkerville.

    Comment by Chris Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 10:54 am

20. To me, the best question of the night was to give a grade to Mayor Lightfoot. The Guv ducked it, as he should have. I was wondering how he would do it instead of pointing out the real limitations a governor has in addressing an Illinois municipality’s crime issues or being snarky a suggesting that Bailey should run for mayor of Chicago. I want a new mayor so, so bad.

    Comment by levivotedforjudy Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 10:55 am

21. Ah Pritzkerville - that lesser-known Jimmy Buffet destination.

    Comment by Name Withheld Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 10:56 am

22. It’s funny that Stephanie Trussell posts a pic of “black” Pritzkerville with what looks to be a BMW 7 series parked on the street. Doesn’t she live in DuPage County? And when Bailey lived in the “inner city” of Chicago did he stay in “black” Pritzkerville? No, Bailey lived in one of the most iconic buildings in the entire country, in an elite neighborhood like the people that Stephanie calls out in her tweet. Ridiculous.

    Comment by Baloneymous Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 10:56 am

23. Bailey - “…help is on the way”. Where’s the beef? as Judge Dearie would say

    Bailey’s got nothing but the politics of hate.

    Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 10:56 am

24. Engaging in name calling of the place where a ton of voters are, to have a laugh with your buddies where the voters are not, is an interesting strategy to attempt to win the Governorship.

    Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 10:58 am

25. I wonder where exactly a “Baileyville” would be, if Chicago is Pritzkerville? And how many voters would be able to find it on a map?

    Comment by lollinois Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 11:01 am

26. I am renaming the SAFE-T Act the “NO BAIL-EY Act”

    Comment by Moved East Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 11:07 am

27. –had to look up who Trussell is–

    If you were lucky, you stumbled across Duncan instead.

    But to the post, the Bailey campaign had to come up with a new name because ‘people kept bringing up’… the last name he came up with.

    I’m picturing his campaign office is similar to a cartoon where a character keeps repeatedly stepping on rakes that swing up and smack them in the face.

    Comment by TheInvisibleMan Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 11:11 am

28. The only people thinking about Kass at this point are those of us who still make fun of him and a small slice of the conservative information bubble. It’s a great example that several states where statewide candidates are so caught up in the conservative information bubble that they make no sense to anyone who isn’t. In Illinois, of course, that’s not a majority of voters.

    Comment by ArchPundit Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 11:15 am

29. ==I’ve picked up on some of the lingo and one of the words that I’ve found that was used many years ago is the word chumbolone.==

    Ive lived in Chicago my entire life and never once heard the word chumbolone. Darren made it out to seem like it was a common term.

    Comment by low level Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 11:16 am

30. “Trussell posts a pic of “black” Pritzkerville with what looks to be a BMW 7 series parked on the street.”

    Let’s not embellish. Pretty sure that’s a BMW 5 series and not a 7.

    Comment by New Day Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 11:17 am

31. The Bailey campaign is nothing more than really bad performative art. Which is not surprising as the GOP seems to think that governing is nothing more than delivering insults and coming up with catch phrases. Owning the libs and trash talking Chicago is more important than winning elections.

    I did not think the ILGOP could dig a deeper hole coming out of the Rauner years, and yet they’ve managed to do so. It’s gonna be a long road back.

    Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 11:20 am

32. Asked my 80-year old Italian father-in-law, who grew up on 26th Street. He’s never heard the term “chumbolone.” Quoting John Kass is a great way to demonstrate you have zero Chicago street cred.

    Comment by TR Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 11:24 am

33. @lowlevel: I prefer a chumbolone with cheese but others like them plain.

    Comment by Jerry Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 11:25 am

34. Anyone want to grab some file photos of Trussell’s “Pritzkerville” back when it was, say, Raunerville, or Ryanville, or Thompsonville?

    Comment by Roadrager Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 11:27 am

35. “Quoting John Kass is a great way to demonstrate you have zero Chicago street cred.”

    Exactly and it shows all he knows how to do is preach to the choir. In this entire campaign, Bailey has yet to materially reach out to voters that are not already with him. It’s kind of pathetic.

    Comment by New Day Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 11:33 am

36. “#Priztkerville”

    Ms. Trussell, your dorky hashtag doesn’t really do anything if you spell it wrong.

    Comment by The Opinions Bureau Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 11:33 am

37. –I’ve picked up on some of the lingo–

    Bailey ain’t any sort of Grabowski, Capiche? He’s more of a dupa yash.

    Comment by TheInvisibleMan Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 11:34 am

38. “I prefer a chumbolone with cheese but others like them plain.” And here I thought chumbolone *was* the cheese.

    Comment by Skeptic Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 11:35 am

39. Is Kass one of Bailey’s clever advisors?

    Comment by Dotnonymous Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 11:37 am

40. Royko must be spinning in his grave.

    Comment by The Velvet Frog Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 11:38 am

41. Bailey is such a stunad.

    Comment by West Side the Best Side Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 11:40 am

42. Pretty sure I could find much worse looking places in Xenia…home of Bailey. Just looked up their downtown area on Google Maps…not sure that’s anything to be proud of.

    Comment by Scott Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 11:46 am

43. When Bailey loses the election, Pritzker should appoint Darren as the new Director of DCFS. Since Bailey has an answer for everything, he can use his skill set to bring change to DCFS.

    Bailey’s experience on the school board and his involvement with Full Armor would impact the programs and policies at DCFS. And, yes, I am being facetious.

    Comment by Rudy’s teeth Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 11:46 am

44. When you’re down by 22…you may as well quote Kass…for what it’s worth?

    Chumbolone is lame.

    Comment by Dotnonymous Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 11:55 am

45. Xenia is a state of mind.

    Comment by Dotnonymous Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 11:57 am

46. It will never stop being funny to me that a man from Xenia, IL constantly makes fun of the city of Chicago.

    Comment by So_Ill Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 11:58 am

47. Funny how Bailey thinks his wacky school is off limits for discussion but he can take cheap shots at JB’s family.

    Comment by Big Dipper Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 12:00 pm

48. Same whine. Same cheese. From J. Kass, resident of Indiana.

    Comment by Rudy’s teeth Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 12:02 pm

49. No one is fixing Chicago from either party. Truly. It’s a year or two being LAX and SFO. Truly. It’s a gorgeous city but it’s going to continue to decline.

    Comment by Bolingbrook party of 7 Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 12:02 pm

50. ===LAX and SFO===

    Chicago is gonna be an airport?

    “Okay”

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 12:08 pm

51. ===continue to decline.===

    … and yet, 6 years running Condé Nast, best large city to visit, Chicago is ranked #1 for business relocations too.

    Maybe sneak out of Bolingbrook and the eight of ya can see what the world sees… not Pottersville or Pritzkerville, but a global city recognized as a leader.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 12:13 pm

52. I work there every day. Been carjacked too. Riding it out until retirement in IL.

    Comment by Bolingbrook party of 7 Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 12:17 pm

53. The media just ignores. Four separate incidents of people ABDUCTED and robbed in Wrigleyville last weekend should get some attention…

    Comment by Bolingbrook party of 7 Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 12:22 pm

54. ==I wonder where exactly a “Baileyville” would be==

    Baileyville is already the name of an Illinois community (it’s unincorporated but has a post office). Between Freeport and Forreston, right on the Ogle-Stephenson county line.

    Comment by AcademicUnionStateEmployee Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 12:41 pm

55. ===The media just ignores. Four separate incidents of people ABDUCTED and robbed in Wrigleyville last weekend should get some attention…===

    How exactly did you hear about this?

    …

    No further questions.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 12:43 pm

56. ==Anyone want to grab some file photos of Trussell’s “Pritzkerville” back when it was, say, Raunerville, or Ryanville, or Thompsonville?==

    You forgot Edgarville (and its neighboring community Celliniville).

    Comment by AcademicUnionStateEmployee Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 12:43 pm

57. here’s a recipe

    https://www.cookingwithnonna.com/italian-cuisine/ciambellone3.html

    Comment by very old soil Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 12:53 pm

58. Tracy commented that Miami is meeting urban challenges and thriving. I googled crime rates and found that Bestplaces.net shows the 2022 violent crime rate is essentially the same with Chicago at 49.9 and Miami at 48.8. For property crime, Miami is significantly higher with Chicago at 46.3 and Miami at 62.7.

    I also have to add that Miami is putting its head in the sand regarding climate change and rising sea levels.

    Comment by City Guy Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 12:57 pm

59. Not sure what he thought the chumbolone comment was going to do for him. The Venn diagram of “people who still think about John Kass” and “Chicago area residents voting for Bailey” was a circle before the debate. Then again, this is a guy who thinks the Mag Mile is the inner city.

    Comment by Anon324 Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 12:59 pm

60. “The media just ignores.”

    And yet there are plenty of news stories about the incidents you mentioned.

    Comment by The Velvet Frog Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 1:06 pm

61. Bailey sure gets tetchy when anyone questions his school’s teachings…eh?

    Comment by Dotnonymous Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 1:35 pm

62. Using name calling and nicknames?
    Does that remind anyone else here of a certain ex-President that Bailey loves?

    Comment by btowntruthfromforgottonia Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 2:13 pm

63. The closest word in Italian is ciambellone which means donut

    Comment by very old soil Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 3:17 pm

64. Pritzkerville

    sippin on Chardonnay
    Watching the Pride Parade
    All of the dancing men covered with oil
    And fruit loops, and signs, and beer

    Smokin my cannabis
    Behind my porch lattice
    Smell those Chicago dawgs, hey they’re beginnin’ to broil
    Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle, sizzle

    Wastin’ away again in JB Pritzkerville
    Searchin’ for my lost shot of Malort
    Malort, malort, malort

    Some people claim that there’s a woman to blame
    And I know this is somebody’s fault

    With apologies to Vanillaman, forever will he rein.

    Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 4:16 pm

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