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FYI: Bad News; Good News; Todd’s Huge Smile…

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Bad News

Today’s MS is very sub-par. I got most big stories, but have very few quotes or smaller stories. Sorry.

I would have produced a better work product, but to be totally honest: I way overslept and no loner have the time to do a proper job. Plus, I have a massive hangover.

It has been a very long week for me, so all I have to say on the matter is TGIF

Good News

On the plus side, Rich will be back next week to provide the high level of professional analysis you have all grown so accustomed to.

Todd’s Huge Smile: NRA vindicated.

It pains me to have to say this -not because I want the story to have been correct- but because I have to admit that NRA Lobbyist Todd Vandermyde was completely right yesterday in his objections to Carol Marin’s article on the CDC and NRA. (Marin ran the retraction found below) What can I say, the man apparently knows his stuff - must be why they pay him the big bucks…

* I was dead wrong about CDC and NRA

I incorrectly reported in Wednesday’s column that the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta did not, thanks to NRA pressure on Congress, track suicides by gun, thus limiting conversations about guns deadly power.

I couldn’t have been more incorrect.

The CDC does do that.

Again, I owe an apology and correction to both.

posted by Mike Murray
Friday, Aug 7, 09 @ 9:40 am

Comments

I like Carol Marin but she makes a LOT of mistakes in the factual accuracy department. Can’t her bosses afford a fact checker. Or is fame and fortune making her both sloppy and arrogant.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Aug 7, 09 @ 9:44 am
Nicely done Todd. And yes, BigMurr, Todd does indeed know his stuff.

P.S. Did you get that big a hangover on only $20 worth of booze??

TimB

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Aug 7, 09 @ 9:54 am
This is the kind of reporting MSM people complain about bloggers (not CapFax, of course)….I think she should do MUCH more than this for an apology.

Comment by Vote Quimby! Friday, Aug 7, 09 @ 9:59 am
I knew the bar tender and thus had the hook up at the bar. So while it should have been a pricey night, it actually cost me way less then the $20 currently in the Citizens Against a Thirsty BigMurr Fund. LOL.

Comment by Mike Murray Friday, Aug 7, 09 @ 10:01 am
Rich is gone? I thought he was back from his how to be amazing conference wearly..but that was Mr. Murray.

Comment by Wumpus Friday, Aug 7, 09 @ 10:07 am
What’s a “Rich”?

Comment by Scooby Friday, Aug 7, 09 @ 10:10 am
LOL. U flatter me.

Comment by Mike Murray Friday, Aug 7, 09 @ 10:13 am
BiggMurr headaches are SOP, no big deal.
Let’s report the mailing address for the Moolah For Murr Fund before Capt Fax looks in and cracks down like a ruthless Chinese warlord he can be.

Comment by CircularFiringSquad Friday, Aug 7, 09 @ 10:15 am
It’s about time Todd got something right…

Comment by first hand Friday, Aug 7, 09 @ 10:18 am
Mike, the trick to avoiding a hangover is to Not stop drinking.

Comment by A Citizen Friday, Aug 7, 09 @ 10:18 am
===is to Not stop drinking===

I tired that but passed out at 4:30ish. I was planning on pulling an all-nighter. But its been too long of a week for me I guess.

I woke up still drunk and the hangover set in as I started working. Its in full force now though.

Comment by Mike Murray Friday, Aug 7, 09 @ 10:32 am
Mike, you sure seem to function quite well while “drunk” - you definitely have a future in politics as that ability is a prerequisite.

Comment by A Citizen Friday, Aug 7, 09 @ 10:38 am
===Mike, you sure seem to function quite well while “drunk” - ===

I guess I have Rich to thank for that. LOLOL -it’s funny cuz it’s true

Comment by Mike Murray Friday, Aug 7, 09 @ 10:43 am
I didn’t know Rich imbibed.
That’s hard to believe.

Comment by Bill Friday, Aug 7, 09 @ 10:47 am
QOTD:
Mike Murray: Best guest blogger ever or bestest guest blogger ever?

Comment by Obamarama Friday, Aug 7, 09 @ 10:48 am
Who’s Todd?

Comment by Bill Friday, Aug 7, 09 @ 10:56 am
Bill, possibly Todd Vandermeide (sp) - NRA Lobbyist?

Comment by A Citizen Friday, Aug 7, 09 @ 10:58 am
@Bill: In that case, I have a bridge I want to sell you…

Also, Citizen is right about who Todd is. I’ll throw his full name and title in above

@Obamarama
Sweet QOTD. LOL. Too bad I am not pompous enough to post it. (Hard to believe but true)

Also, do I win by default? I will have to ask Rich, but has he had a guest blogger before? There have not been any in my short tenure at Cap Fax.

Comment by Mike Murray Friday, Aug 7, 09 @ 11:01 am
Todd also lobbys for those who believe it is their right to ride motorcycles w/o helmets
Nice Mix

Comment by CircularFiringSquad Friday, Aug 7, 09 @ 11:01 am
Mike, your efforts are appreciated. Don’t be too hard on yourself.

Comment by Capitol View Friday, Aug 7, 09 @ 11:09 am
===has he had a guest blogger before?===

If so, we will get your competition’s petitions challenged and have them removed from consideration.

Comment by Obamarama Friday, Aug 7, 09 @ 11:27 am
that be me.

And FH, I get a lot more right than the otherside or some people want to admit.

you may dissagree with my point of view, but i must do somehting right to win arguements against all the lawyers on those Jud committees.

Wanna go shooting?

Comment by Todd Friday, Aug 7, 09 @ 12:16 pm
Carol is a professional. She is never too big to let others know when she has made an error. That is one of the many reasons why I (and so many others) like her.

Comment by Beowulf Friday, Aug 7, 09 @ 2:03 pm
Mike, Obamarama is hitting you with a Colbert Report joke… surley you watch the Report!!!!

Citizens Against a Thirsty BigMurr Fund…
CAT BMF?

Comment by Ghost Friday, Aug 7, 09 @ 2:50 pm
“Plus, I have a massive hangover.” Then don’t complain to us.

Comment by Lefty Friday, Aug 7, 09 @ 3:32 pm
Marin is a professional and admitted when she was wrong. Too bad the NRA is incapable of doing the same.

Comment by Disputo Friday, Aug 7, 09 @ 3:50 pm
Here’s the latest from the gov.

From: Quinn, Pat
Sent: Friday, August 07, 2009 2:43 PM
Subject: Message from Governor Pat Quinn

August 7, 2009

Dear State Employee:

The State of Illinois faces difficult choices during a time of unprecedented budget crisis. Tough, but necessary budget choices were made to ensure that our children, seniors, veterans, and most vulnerable citizens receive the vital services they rely upon.

To reduce current spending and to ensure that the public health and safety are preserved, I am ordering all agencies under my jurisdiction to establish a formal furlough plan. All non furlough-exempt employees must take twelve unpaid furlough days before June 30, 2010, to be scheduled subject to the operating needs of the agency. Five of the required twelve unpaid furlough days must be taken before January 1, 2010. This directive also applies to my staff and cabinet.

By implementing a furlough program, the State anticipates that it will save millions of dollars for each furlough day taken by the State’s workforce. Further information to agencies from the Director of Central Management Services about the furlough program will be forthcoming this week.

Thank you for your cooperation as we work our way through this difficult period. We will meet the challenges before us and emerge as a stronger State. Thank you for your dedication to the people of Illinois.

Pat Quinn

Governor

>

Comment by Retired State Employee Friday, Aug 7, 09 @ 4:16 pm
Chicken Sh*t Gov does on a friday afternoon. No one in his office or anywhere in state gov know
what a non furlough exempt employee….
geez..

Comment by Reggaeman Friday, Aug 7, 09 @ 4:52 pm
Ghost,
I was aware it was a Colbert Joke. LOL.
CAT BMF is a joke from yesterday. CircularFiriingSquad tried to start a collection fund for me and pledged an initial $20

Lefty, I was not complaining to you. I was simply providing info to you as to why MS was sub-par. Lighten up.

Comment by Mike Murray Friday, Aug 7, 09 @ 4:56 pm
Good job “Guesting” Mike - Come back soon! I heard Blago was really in a snit you got the job instead of him.

Comment by A Citizen Friday, Aug 7, 09 @ 5:06 pm
===Todd also lobbys for those who believe it is their right to ride motorcycles w/o helmets
Nice Mix===

Todd’s record as a lobbyist speaks for itself, he’s very good at what he does.

And the weird NRA - ABATE coalition makes perfect business sense: gunshot victims sometimes require replacement organs donated by brain dead helmetless riders.

Is it true that organ donations rise in Illinois when the weather is warm, or is that a talking point?

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Aug 7, 09 @ 9:50 pm