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* 2:25 -Huge turnout. Speaker and Lisa Madigan are no-shows after all. Secretary of State White and Comptroller Hynrs are also absent.

Nothing but cheering so far but there are lots of AFSCME fills are here.

• 2:50 pm - A few boos when Senate Prez Jones was introduced but the crowd is still mostly well behaved if a bit bored and talkative. Several have already left.

• 3:00 pm - Guv’s speech drowned out by AFSCME members shouting “don’t cut healthcare.”. Blagojevich re protesters: “Theyre lucky to have a job.” Union members walked out and guv is continuing his speech.

Not sure why AFSCME walked out because they had stepped all over the guv’s speech The governor did extend an olive branch after they left, saying they’re on the same side.

3:15 pm - Over and out.

* Related…

* Divided Democrats gather at state fair

* Blagojevich’s speech drowned out at Democrats’ unity rally

* Local Democrats continue to fight

* Madigan coming around to infrastructure plan

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 2:27 pm

Comments

How many were bussed in for the the price of a trip to the Fair, a free lunch and lots of applause?

Comment by Dan S. a Voter and Cubs Fan Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 2:33 pm
Two campaign workers for State Sen. Terry Link (D-Waugekan) indicted for perjury. Allegations of petition fraud. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-petition-fraud-web-aug14,0,2501029.story

Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 3:01 pm
He’s lucky HE has a job.

Comment by What planet is he from again? Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 3:01 pm
Any sign of Terry Link there?

If so, see if you can get some reaction to the indictments for forgery and perjury handed down this afternoon against two of his candidate petition circulators.

Comment by Forge Ahead Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 3:04 pm
So we know who wasnt on stage, can you tell us who was? What did the program look like?

Comment by anon Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 3:04 pm
Rich: The Gov is quoted saying, “theyre lucky to have a job”, did he mean the state afscme workers?

Comment by confused in dupage Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 3:06 pm
“But I signed up as a member of the Democratic Party because it stands for the values and the principles I think help people”

Isn’t this the same guy who proudly talked about having voted Republican in past Presidential races?

Comment by The many faces of Rod Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 3:10 pm
AFSCME only drowned out themselves and those standing next to them.

Was surprised they left, too. Thought they were going to do something bigger.

They should have gone up by the stage or put their signs in front of the camera, or something. They just stood off in the corner by themselves where nobody could hear or are them.

Comment by DumberThanULook Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 3:22 pm
AFSCME is toothless. They’re the ones who got the guy elected (twice). They don’t really want to rock the boat, just give their members something to distract them.

Comment by Spongebob Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 3:28 pm
Blagojevich re protesters: “Theyre lucky to have a job.”

HE’S lucky to have a job.

Comment by Sal Says: Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 3:38 pm
“Luck” has nothing to do with it. Pretty sure a lot of the upper management paid him for their jobs.

Comment by Spongebob Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 3:42 pm
I think SEIU, not AFSCME, is the union the guv
listens to.

Wouldn’t matter what AFSCME did.

Comment by Cassandra Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 4:21 pm
Rich,
This is inaccurate reporting at best, muckraking at worst. The gov was NOT shouted down by AFSCME from where I was standing. In fact I heard some mild protests, then heard AFSCME shouted down by chants of “More Jobs.”
RE: “They’re lucky to have jobs”
You know you took that out of context. The gov was talking about the need to pass a Capital Construction package in order to create jobs for the (his number) 400,000+ unemployed in Illinois.
Seriously Rich, there are enough REAL things to complain about with the Gov, you don’t need to make things up.

Comment by wasthere Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 4:26 pm
Wasthere, Rich didn’t say the gov was “shouted down” and he’s not in the habit of making things up. So while he is away enjoying a deep fried Snickers bar with a lemon shakeup chaser, you have time to brace for a “bite me.”

Comment by Zora Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 4:35 pm
It constantly amazes me when anyone defends Blago.

Comment by Leigh Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 5:02 pm
what Zora said lol

Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 5:03 pm
Easy there Blago staffer. If you were in the front, with all of the Blago plants, you probably had a hard time hearing their shouts. In the back, their shouts were loud and it was a little harder to hear Hotrod. Rich didn’t take the “lucky to have jobs” quote out of context. I am not an AFSCME member, but I thought that comment from Rod was a slap in the face.

Comment by fairrrr Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 5:06 pm
He did not say “They’re lucky to have jobs.”

Did he?

Yesterday, I didn’t think he said he was Emil’s homey and the first African-American governor. But he did.

He needs to get back in the bunker. Is there anyone who can talk to and help this guy? He really shouldn’t be out there right now.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 5:18 pm
Just about everything Blago says or does anymore is either a slap in the face or a foot in the mouth.

Comment by Bookworm Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 5:39 pm
Anon- The Governor and Giannoulias were the only constitutionals there… and maybe Pat Quinn? I’ve already forgotten. Demuzio emceed, Durbin introduced Richardson. On stage were Hoffman, Burris, congressional candidates. At least that’s what I saw. Fairly short program. About a half hour.

I thought the Speaker said he was going? I’m sure the news cameras we very disappointed…

Comment by Bill S. Preston, Esq. Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 5:48 pm
wasthere, bite me. It was not taken out of context, and from where I was the governor was shouted down, as others have reported.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 6:11 pm
It’s really funny to see the difference between his press staff. The new guy let’s him run off at the mouth at will. The sisters kept close tabs.

I don’t know which is better, but he better be careful because he seems quite capable of saying a really, really dumb thing.

Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 6:26 pm
Stick signs in front of the camera? Geez, informational pickets and a few chants, but in-your-face tactics isn’t allowed. We’re not heathens and we’ve bargained all along in good faith while repeatedly kicked in the face. Lucky we have jobs? Yeah, we are lucky to have jobs, we have our ‘job’ and then we have the other two people’s job load that he won’t replace the workers for.

Comment by Princeville Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 6:53 pm
AFSCME had a noticeable prescese, but def not overwhelming. There were alot more people there that were supportive of the Dems - esp Gov. Did Rod bus people in?
I couldnt believe afscme left in the middle of the speech. brilliant.
I find it funny that the head of the state party of illinois was not there. Seriously. Madigan needs to get the dems in line or pass the torch.
This is a downstate event. Hope Hynes or Lisa or Quinn arent gonna count on downstate support because me and my buddies will remember their boycott. Not that they care about us anyway.

Comment by Locked Out Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 7:36 pm
Wasthere must have been seated in the sycophantic section.

Comment by Zora Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 7:42 pm
Secretary White WAS present at the rally, though didn’t speak like he did in previous events over the day. He spent considerable time working the crowd.

Comment by Jason Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 8:16 pm
So the AFSCME people are lucky to have jobs and health care? Talk about the pot and kettle. At least these people tested and got their jobs because of their work ethic and what they know (those who have sponsors or knew someone don’t participate in union events, even if they are members by the fact of their title). Our fool of a governor got his job because he was the Machine’s golden boy, for a while. He did no work as a legislator in Illinois, barely any as a senator in DC and now spends his time in the bunker with Hannah Montana instead of governing the state. It’s no wonder he was a “C” student in law school and is proud of that fact. I wonder if his parents would be proud of the “job” HE’S done.

Comment by Disgusted Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 9:30 pm
Why in the world would Jesse White, Hynes or the Madigans show up when the gov gutted their budgets out of spite? Let’s pretend it never happened? The gov’s cuts actually result in the loss of jobs in those constitutional officers’ offices. More Jobs?

Comment by Perspective Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 9:54 pm
Out of respect to the thousands of other loyal Democrats that made the trip to Springfield to hear all of them?

Comment by Jason Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 10:34 pm
Was there too - good for all the constitutional officers that boycotted this farce and good for AFSCME. Don’t underestimate their rage at this pitiful waste of a Governor. The only friends he seemed to have in the audience were his employees and Jay Hoffman. And a few agency director hacks there sucking up to keep their big jobs. The guy is toast people! He’s ruined the state and the dems. So much for a pep rally for November. The idiots even ran out of hot dogs 1/2 hour after the “event” started. They can’t even do lunch right!

Comment by Disgusted Dem Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 2:09 am
Can’t sleep after today’s excitement with AFSCME. Contest Time! Best sign or t-shirt at Gov Day…I get the first vote! I LOVED the one on the guy that said “Impeach the Madman”. Indeed. Fitzgerald, wake up or we’ll take care of him! Both would be nice. Poor Gov. Richardson. Welcome to Dysfunction Junction.

Comment by Disgusted Dem Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 2:40 am
I am an AFSCME member and was at the Rally. Unless the Teamsters are recruiting 14 and 15 year old Hispanic teenagers, I would say that yes, the Governor shipped in people to hold the signs supporting the Jobs Bill.
Before we (AFSCME) were allowed in the Governor’s lawn, they told us we couldn’t take our signs in, but when we got in the fenced area, they were passing out signs supporting the Jobs Bill.
I support the Jobs Bill and agree that we need the jobs, but what about the jobs of the Lottery employees that will be lost when/if the Lottery is leased. Don’t give take jobs from the Lottery to give them to other Union members. Rod needs to break down and raise taxes. He prides himself upon keeping his promise not to raise taxes, but what about all the other promises he has broken!!!!

Comment by Anon Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 8:41 am
To the deleted commenter: You read way too much into a simple quote. It’s your bias that’s showing here.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 9:03 am