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The last of the spin sisters is out the door

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Illinois

* Abby’s leaving…

Abby Ottenhof, top spokeswoman for Gov. Rod Blagojevich, is leaving her job in July and says she’s proud of the work she’s done for the administration.

Lucio Guerrero. a former Chicago Sun-Times reporter who recently has been deputy assessor in the office of Cook County Assessor James Houlihan, will take over the job as the governor’s communications director, Ottenhoff said. Pay for the position will remain $120,000, she said.

Guerrero starts today, Ottenhoff said, and she expects there to be “a couple weeks of transition before I move on.”

Ottenhoff, 35, of Chicago, said it was her idea to leave. With spring legislative session over and being in the middle of the governor’s second term, now is “a pretty natural time to make a transition,” she said.

* Sneed…

Although Ottenhoff told Sneed she wanted to travel and was eager to “do something different after 10 years in state government,” it’s left political wags wondering if it’s the beginning of a bailout due to feds fine-tuning their gun sights on Gov. Blago.

Abby, Sheila Nix and Rebecca Rausch were simply burned out. And, yes, the multiple federal investigations undoubtedly contributed to that burnout. Abby and Sheila both worked the campaign, and neither really had a chance to decompress because the campaign led directly to a never-ending war with House Speaker Madigan and never-ending corruption revelations. So, try not to put on your tinfoil hat today.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 8:37 am

Comments

Abby is really an undercover agent with the FBI, they are pulling her out for the final debrief.

After which she has been promised a secret position within the combine.

Comment by Ghost Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 8:42 am
Looks like there are not many “life boats” left, the ship is going down and hopefully the captain will go to the bottom with it.

Comment by Dan S, a voter and Cubs Fan Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 8:45 am
As I said on my blog, Abby proved that the job could be done without being shrill or offensive. She is a class act all the way around. I wish her the best.

Comment by Rep. John Fritchey Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 8:46 am
Good luck to Abby. Glad to see she is making the escape. The Houlihan guy will be a great fit for Fumbles and Slick Willy. He has a great nickname, but I let one of his friends share it.
Capt. Fax did you leave SpinSister Stats (Becky C.) out on purpose? She blazed the escape route trail for the crew.

Comment by Reddbyrd Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 8:46 am
I second Rep. Fritchey’s motion.

These spokeswomen (and, arguably, Nix) made Blago, in many instances, look a lot better than he deserved.

Comment by Frost Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 8:51 am
Anyone that knows her, knows tha she is the best. A true class act.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 8:52 am
Seriously, the Governor should be forever indebted to Abby because she lent him her credibility! Good luck to her. Some of us wish she had left sooner because we know that she’d be better off elsewhere.

Comment by Napoleon has left the building Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 8:53 am
Abby was the best. she will be missed.

Comment by anon Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 8:55 am
Just move Greenlee into the all-around “last man standing” role. He’ll be the last one there, anyway.

Comment by Macbeth Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 9:03 am
Abby–you’re the best. She did a hell of a good for Madigan and a great job for the Gov. Go have some fun!

Comment by Thanks for taking my call Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 9:04 am
Best wishes to Abby for every success in her future endeavors.

Comment by Gus Frerotte's Clipboard Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 9:12 am
Bye,Abby, and good luck!
You’re the greatest.

Comment by Bill Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 9:15 am
Ms. Abby is no doubt leaving at the top of her game and the taxpayers have benefited from her tenure. She has a bright future.

Taxpayers would be better served if more public employees, including state of Illinois employees, left at the top of their respective games. Alas, we are stuck with tens of thousands of lifers hanging on for their (nice) pensions, who haven’t had a creative idea since their probationary period. In the 21st century, state government is still in the 19th century, maybe earlier.

Comment by Cassandra Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 9:18 am
After her years being with Rod Blagojevich as his spinmeister, Abby doesn’t need to be debriefed by the FBI, she needs to go into detox to recover her sense of balance. Even the best, which Abby is, can lose perspective handling a nut case like this governor on a daily basis.

You earned the rest!
Great Job!

Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 9:20 am
Abby is one of the few good things that the Governor’s p.r. team had going for it.

To say that she will be sorely missed is an understatement, but she’s right, ten years in non-stop political mode is more than enough.

I hope the fly-fishing is grand wherever she’s headed.

I know she’s a Westerner, but I suggest Nova Scotia, one of my grandfather’s favorite spots.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 9:22 am
For those who say the Spin Sisters can’t be replaced, I think that Muhammad Saeed al-Sahhaf is looking for a job.

– SCAM
so-called “Austin Mayor”
http://austinmayor.blogspot.com

Comment by so-called "Austin Mayor" Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 9:37 am
Dear Abby, Dear Abby,

Your service is done.

The fat lady’s sang.

Your race is all run.

You spun like a champ,

You’re a hall of fame flack.

While the getting is good, get gone, don’t look back.

Ssssssiiiiiiiggggggnnnnneeeedddd

Wordslinger

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 9:37 am
This is no shot at anyone. No offense intended, but what rat gets ON a shinking ship. I understand the ones racing to get off, but really wonder about the sanity of folks replacing these fine ladies. Flipping burgers would seem a better career choice.

Comment by Scratching My Head Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 9:42 am
Will Blago be the next to resign? Maybe sometime before the end of the year? Monica Crowley, even though she badly mis-pronounced Blago’s name, predicted the Guv would resign during her appearance on PBS’s McLaughlin Group this past week. Did anyone else see that?

Comment by Deep South Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 9:48 am
I thought Lauren Beth Gash’s committees would have been enough to burn Ottenhoff out. If she survived those, this administration was a cake walk.
Good luck Abby.
But I keep expecting the Scooby-Doo crowd to pull of her mask and reveal …
Dennis Culloton!?
“And I would have got away with it to if it wasn’t for these meddling statehouse reporters.”

Comment by Frank Booth Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 9:49 am
Among the departed “Spin Sisters,” don’t forget Becky Carroll.

Comment by DeepFriedOnAStick Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 9:50 am
While we’re on a John Prine kick:

“But it gives me the blues when I’ve got some bad news, and you’re not there to spin it through.
’cause you’ve got gold - gold inside of you.”

Comment by Anon Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 9:52 am
While Abby certainly worked a lot of endless weeks and put up with untold stress, it’s a shame she and the other top folks in the administration get raise after raise while some of the lower-level employees who work for Blago keep getting the shaft. It’s sad that the governor won’t start out the press person at a lower salary so other staff could get raises.

Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 9:52 am
The natural thing to do is to heap praise upon Abby as she exits the revolving door; however, there have been many posters here, myself included, who had nothing good to say about her when she was spinning Blago’s diatribe at about 8,000 rpm. So what qualifies her for sudden sainthood? The fact that she has come to her senses or sees the ship going down faster than originally peceived? She may have done a masterful job at spinning Blago’s mantra but I for one value my integrity more than to work for some one such as Blago in the first place, nevermind the $120K per year.

Comment by Little Egypt Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 9:55 am
Abby’s “Prine” reply to “wordslinger”

Wordslinger, wordslinger
I have no complaint
Rod is what he is, and he ain’t what he ain’t
So listen up Buster, and listen up good
Accused of no wrongdoing,
But he’s knockin’ on wood
Siiiiigggned Dear Abby

Comment by Hunterdon Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 9:58 am
First Houlihan puts Messina in to run the Property Tax Appeals Board then he puts Guerrero in as Blago’s chief spokesman. Houlihan is “thisclose” to Blago. Maybe all the advice Houlihan is giving Blago is part of Blago’s problems!

It is important to remember its Houlihan who has totally screwed up the Cook County Assessors office. Now it looks as though he is also contributing to the mess in Springfield.

Blago, you need better advice than what Houlihan has to offer ! This guy has a hard time finding his home after a “hard day at the office”.

Comment by MOON Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 10:00 am
As they say, “the truth will set you free.” She must have finally told the truth because now she is free.

Good Luck

Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 10:03 am
who ARE all of you? Reporters?

Comment by Go Bearss Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 10:20 am
I agree with Fritchey and some of the above comments regarding Abby… she’s always been “top shelf” and a class act. I have worked with her prior to her position with the Gov., and she has always handled herself professionlly regardless of the position she was placed in… I wish her all the best in her future endevors!

Comment by Rep. David Miller Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 10:21 am
Don’t read too much into her departure. She had been there from the start, it was her turn. After watching folks like Cheryle Jackson, Bradley Tusk, Rebecca, Gerardo and others leave for bigger pay days I’m glad she is finally moving on. Say what you want about her but she was very loyal to Rod, and it must have been tempting to bail on so many occasions so the length her stay with the administration is something I always respected.

Comment by wndycty Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 10:23 am
Echoing a lot of what’s been said already on the blog, Abby did a very good job. We may not have always seen eye to eye on a story, but she always treated reporters with the utmost respect and professionalism. Good luck in your future endeavors, I’m sure that the Gov is going to miss you.

Comment by Kevin Fanning Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 10:32 am
I here rumors that she may be going to work for Obama.

Comment by FYeye Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 11:01 am
not true

Comment by Go Bearss Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 11:34 am
Don’t post goofy rumors here, please. Thanks.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 11:34 am
Good luck Abby. Couldn’t imagine it all without you.

Comment by Rebecca Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 11:58 am
GoBearss,
Long time no blog!

Comment by Bill Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 12:29 pm
Good luck and enjoy the travel, Abby.

Comment by Lurker Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 12:39 pm
Congrats Abby. You did a fine job in very difficult times.

Comment by DHouser Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 2:04 pm
G. Oddwin, you knowingly broke Godwin’s Law (obviously, considering your posting name), so I took your post down.

Don’t be ridiculous.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 2:15 pm
that’s not fair - the electeds don’t have nicknames

Comment by Go Bearss Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 2:18 pm
At the risk of being snarky… someone on another blog once said that Abby’s real last name was “Denied” because the phrase “Spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff denied…” pops up in so many stories about the governor. I can see where she would get burned out purely on having to use that word over and over again. Hopefully she will find a place to use her talents more creatively.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 2:59 pm
Deep South — Monica Crowley is a New York-based pundit. Every poster on this blog has probably forgotten way more than Crowley could ever hope to know about Illinois politics. I suspect she was drawing conclusions based on what East Coast governors like Spitzer and McGreevey did when they were caught up in (very different) scandals.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 3:04 pm
=== Every poster on this blog has probably forgotten way more than Crowley could ever hope to know about Illinois politics===

Exactly, and that’s why I chose not to even bother discussing her “prediction.”

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 3:21 pm
Abby is one of the best. She will be sorely missed because in many ways, she kept ship Blago afloat. Abby, my friend, better days are coming.

Comment by FlackerBacker Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 6:20 pm
YDD

Your dad should have gone the extra 90 miles east to Newfoundland. Pristine waters, can eat anything caught. Salmon everywhere, could get with dip net if allowed. Moose, bears, and clean air. I miss it.

Comment by Disgusted Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 6:33 pm
There is definitely the sense in these back-slapping farewells that these PR flacks have zero culpability for their support of Blagojevich’s blatant and scurrilous lies, lies that set this state back significantly, that cost the state money, credibility, prestige. And I really don’t get it. You wouldn’t let a spokesman for any corporation get away with that if they were caught in the wrong. Why are these folks different?

I feel it is a double standard, to hold the boss liable but not his minions, and that they are no more deserving of such adoration than the reps for tobacco companies.

I’m sorry, but they got paid, and paid well, to lie to us all, to deceive us, to put their partisanship above the good of the state. Maybe they didn’t know what Rod was when they first signed on, many of us got taken in, but once they really knew, they stayed anyhow. For years. They chose to stand by a liar and a crook.

I’m sorry, but I just can’t celebrate that. I can’t admire “professionalism” coupled with such a lack of ethics.

I only hope they find more honest work in their next jobs.

Comment by No free passes Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 7:14 pm
Lucio has experience with a sinking ship.

It’s called the Chicago Sun-Times.

Rich has The Fax, Ebert & Roeper have the moo-vies and Bob Novak will find a place to hang his hat.

Many other talented columnists and reporters will ultimately be dragged down by the non-talented shrills who currently populate the 16 pages of text that still exist with the 40 pages of car ads.

I will miss the Sun-Times. I do not want to live in a one-newspaper city. I still miss the four-newspaper city we had.

But the hyperbole-laden content, articles that do not support the crazy headlines, stories that are not stories, etc., are driving people away in droves.

Comment by Chicago's American Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 7:43 pm
Disgusted, one of my favorite feel-good books of recent years (can’t remember the title, it’s probably in storage somewhere) was about the airline passengers who got diverted to Gander on 9/11 and how the residents welcomed them. Sounds like they have great people there too!

Comment by Bookworm Thursday, Jun 19, 08 @ 10:39 pm
Rich - Would do you have to say about Ms. Ottenhoff’s successor? Is Mr. Guerrero making a good career move? You know the game better than anyone and he clearly has ambitions to become well-known throughout IL and beyond.

Comment by Sophie D. Friday, Jun 20, 08 @ 12:29 am