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* Governor Rod Blagojevich wallows in self pity…

The Democratic governor also defended the budget cuts he made to erase a massive deficit, saying he struggled with the difficult choices but ultimately did the right thing.

“You know, you ought to walk a mile in my shoes, OK? Sit there and look at $2.2 billion in deficit and decisions you have to make. It’s not easy,” he said during an appearance at the Illinois State Fair.

* Poor guy. He has such a tough job…

That didn’t sit well with an administrator of a drug-counseling program that will have to slash services because its state support is drying up.

“I would love for him to walk a mile in the shoes of someone who has gone though addiction and gone through the recovery process,” said Neli Vazquez-Rowland, vice president of A Safe Haven in Chicago.

She invited him to visit the program, which has already cut housing for 52 mothers and their children and could end up kicking out 400 people.

* One of the more inappropriate question ever asked of an Illinois governor was lobbed at him during the State Fair on Friday…

The governor, who has been making more frequent public appearances recently after curtailing them the past two years as the federal probe deepened and investigative newspaper stories dropped, also mulled a new way to raise money for his long-stalled statewide construction program: a trip to the dunk tank.

“Isn’t that what you guys do to me almost every day?” said Blagojevich when asked if he’d get drenched at the fair to raise some of the $25 billion he’s seeking for new roads, bridges and schools.

“Give me a number, how much we could raise,” Blagojevich responded to a follow-up question. “I’ll look at it.” […]

“Why don’t you give me the pledges and then we’ll put it towards healthcare. I might consider that.”

He took it in good humor and offered up a pretty good retort. Right on message.

* This comment has been getting a bit of national play…

Blagojevich was asked if he will be attending the Democratic National Convention in Denver later this month. Yes, indeed, he said.

“I’ve got a big speaking role,” Blagojevich said. “I think it’s something like four o’clock in the morning in the men’s room of the convention center speaking to a handful of voters. I’m hopeful I can persuade them and we can carry Colorado.”

But Finke points out this is a retread…

Here’s what Blagojevich said in 2004 when Obama stole the show at that year’s Democratic convention. He was asked how his role in that convention compared to Obama’s.

“The Democratic National Committee invited me to speak at 4:30 in the morning in the men’s room of Faneuil Hall,” Blagojevich said.

* Bernie quotes the governor on the Springfield react…

“The people’s feedback is always generally mixed here in Springfield,” he said, again with a laugh, “but it’s honest, and you’ve gotta love that.”

* But the best quote goes to Sen. Michael Noland, who said this when askd about the prospects of passing anything meaningful during this week’s special sessions…

“And I think we’re going to cure cancer, and win the war, both of them - Afghanistan and Iraq,” said state Sen. Michael Noland,

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Aug 11, 08 @ 7:33 am

Comments

LOL, the quote from Rod might be a re-tread, but I still have to give him kudos, I needed that.

Comment by Speaking At Will Monday, Aug 11, 08 @ 7:39 am
I would have to take the lifts out before I could walk a mile. Oh, and completely submerge my sense of ethics and respect for government and the legislative process. In his head, Blago is starring in his own movie, where he’s the action star who can do no wrong, facing impossible odds and an evil super villain. Too bad his script is so incoherent and we can’t afford his special effects.

Comment by Gregor Monday, Aug 11, 08 @ 8:02 am
The sad thing is, the Gov is wasting money on these special sessions which could instead be given to the drug abuse programs and shelters. If there is no money for these progrmas, then how can there be money to pay for these special sessions? I am sure any one of these programs would be happy to have the cost of these special sessions placed back in their budgets.

ALso L Madigans office brings in far more money then it takes. Her office is more then self funding. Yet the Gov cut L madigans budget, which effectively reudces State Income! This was not a “difficult” choice is what purley vindictive. It would have made more sense for the Gov to cut his own staff and other porgrams which do not generate money for the State.

Comment by Ghost Monday, Aug 11, 08 @ 8:37 am
It’s not that it didn’t sit well. I understand the Governor must make difficult decisions with the Budget Deficit. However, as part of the State Legislature due diligence, I think it would help if they each took a tour of a successful Recovery program (over 70% clean and sober at ASH benchmark: 3 years) the payback to the State is exponential. After the tour, then decide if making people (including women with children) homeless and cutting them off of sustainable recovery services and economic development opportunities including job training, job placement and affordable housing, as is the case with our clients, is a good business decision decision for the State. We welcome any and all State Legislators to tour A Safe Haven at anytime, including weekends. Please call my cell 630-606-9997 anytime, I will personally make the arrangements. Thank you.
To learn more about ASH visit www.ASafeHaven.com

Comment by neli vazquez-rowland Monday, Aug 11, 08 @ 9:03 am
How about this: if the GA does not deliver a balanced budget each year by 6/30, they will be charged $100/day against their legislative salary (after all they did not perform the job they were “hired” for)and they do not recieve renumeration for any special sessions? If a contractor does not do the work contracted for, he does not get paid. No difference for these clowns.

Comment by wizard Monday, Aug 11, 08 @ 9:28 am
WIZARD

Just to keep the record straight, the House passed and sent 3 budget bills to the Senate . The first was a “Bare Bones” budget which was balanced. The second was something slightly higher, and the third was the one the Senate choose to pass. At the time the Senate passed the third option they knew full well it was not a balanced budget!

Given these circumstances, let the Senate come up with a way of funding the deficit budget, and get Blago on boared to support the funding needed to balance this budget.

Comment by MOON Monday, Aug 11, 08 @ 9:48 am
WIZARD

I meant “board”

Comment by MOON Monday, Aug 11, 08 @ 9:51 am
Since the Rezko trial ended, the governor certainly is out and about more. Does he think he’s in the clear.

Now that the trial is over, have any reporters asked him why Rezko had such influence on hiring in his administration? Why he had such sway over the The Health Facilities Planning Board?

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Aug 11, 08 @ 9:52 am
MOON: I don’t disagree with you. My main point is the elected officials are not doing the job we elected them to do. Why should they get overtime, per diem, and expenses paid for extra sessions? In the real world a large majority of them would have been fired.

Comment by wizard Monday, Aug 11, 08 @ 10:24 am
===In the real world a large majority of them would have been fired.===

Did you vote for your legislator in November of 2006 or February of 2008?

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Aug 11, 08 @ 10:27 am
== In the real world a large majority of them would have been fired. ==

This IS the real world,make no mistake about that.

Comment by Captain Flume Monday, Aug 11, 08 @ 10:28 am
And finally, Pat Quinn has pulled up his horts and speken on the Pay Raise.

Comment by Truthful James Monday, Aug 11, 08 @ 10:34 am
Actually I voted against the incumbants the last 3 elections (unfortunately they still got in-big surprise). One should not complain if he is not trying to correct the problem.

Comment by wizard Monday, Aug 11, 08 @ 10:58 am
MOON,
Try to be honest for once. The Senate passed a balanced budget. The House did not pass the revenue bills needed to fund the spending increases that they passed.
While you may not like the revenue bills, they did pass the senate making the current budget balanced. It was the House that messed it up (or “improved it” depending on your point of view.) It is true that they also passed a no growth budget and sent it to the Senate. I guess that they like to play government by multiple choice.
Chill on the Speaker worship. To quote a great American philosopher, “…Nobody’s right and everybody’s wrong…”

Comment by Bill Monday, Aug 11, 08 @ 11:23 am
Someone aught to tell Senator Noland that it would help if he would represent his district instead of going down with Rod!

Comment by Please!! Monday, Aug 11, 08 @ 12:33 pm
BILL

The budget bill passed by the Senate calls for tax increases. Blago says he won’t raise taxes. How will the budget passed by Senate be funded?

Comment by MOON Monday, Aug 11, 08 @ 12:59 pm
===How will the budget passed by Senate be funded?===

The Senate funded it with pension obligation bond and fund sweeps.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Aug 11, 08 @ 1:01 pm
…but it was still not balanced.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Aug 11, 08 @ 1:02 pm
RICH

You prove my point. Lets hope BILL takes note!

Comment by MOON Monday, Aug 11, 08 @ 1:04 pm
Of course I can’t say for sure that we inspired that dunk tank question, but just FYI, from the Beachwood Reporter’s “Blago’s Special Session” on August 7:

* Fundraising idea: Dunk the governor! This would come close to closing the budget gap.

www.beachwoodreporter.com/politics/blagos_special_session.php

Among our other prognostications:

* The governor proposes that Illinois set its clocks back two hours instead of one to “save more” in the fall.

* The governor puts the entire state budget on Papa’s Mustache in the fourth.

* The governor reneges on his promise to knock over the milk bottles to supply stuffed animals to every kid in the state.

Comment by Steve Rhodes Monday, Aug 11, 08 @ 1:42 pm
Blanced budget is a misnomer anyway. All that means is that the speculated State income matches the line item expenses. If those guesses of State Income are off then all the spending built on those guesstimates are way off as well.

The Gov has projected millions over his terms from various closing of loopholes etc that never produced anywhere near the projected income.

its interesting that we all start the current discussions by assuming the projected income figures, from all sides, are accurate. Just like we use the highest end of the shortfdall range as if it is an exact figure.

Comment by Ghost Monday, Aug 11, 08 @ 1:51 pm
Poor,Poor Governor Pinnochio. Speaker Gepetto is pulling his strings. We’re all getting “jonesed” by the internecine political warfare.

Comment by Captain America Monday, Aug 11, 08 @ 4:35 pm