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* Not good timing, considering the Blagojevich “arrestoversary” and Gov. Quinn’s planned signing of the campaign reform bill today. But this does appear to be an innocent mistake…
The campaign of Gov. Pat Quinn has temporarily halted making automated campaign calls after it came to light that some were going to state office telephones.
The calls to those telephones were inadvertent, said Quinn campaign spokeswoman Elizabeth Austin.
“Apparently some of those calls went to offices because people had used their office numbers instead of their home numbers when they registered to vote,” Austin said, and the automated calls were going to numbers listed on voter registration records.
The calls were stopped as soon as the problem was identified, according to the campaign.
* The video isn’t posted as I write this, but I’m told Gov. Quinn and Comptroller Hynes got more than a little testy with each other during their “debate” before the Tribune editorial board. I’ll post the video when the Trib does.
The governor did a pretty good job of spinning the AFL-CIO’s refusal to endorse in the race, especially considering the audience…
Quinn said the state’s current pension benefits are “far beyond reasonable” and slammed Hynes for failing to support a so-called “two-tier” pension system as both court unions for endorsements.
“I have the courage to tell the unions I am for a two-tier system. That cost me politically and I know that,” Quinn said. Hynes said he doesn’t believe the current basic pension benefits are extravagant, and he called them important for attracting a qualified work force.
As good as those lines were, Quinn will need those unions in the general election, so he shouldn’t go too far with this.
This is just bogus, however, and there should be more push-back against Quinn…
“We’re in a political contest, there should be robust contest there, robust contest of ideas,” Quinn said. “But to take this [short-term borrowing] issue and politicize it, and he has politicized it, is wrong.”
But Hynes said the state can no longer afford to borrow its way out of the fiscal mess, noting Moody’s Investors Service cited a lack of political willpower to fix the deficit when it downgraded the state’s bond rating Tuesday.
The person who really politicized this issue is Quinn. This was a carefully planned political assault and Quinn goofed by pulling the trigger too soon. If he had waited until Treasurer Giannoulias was on board, the attack on Hynes would’ve been devastating. Instead, the governor looks like a mope.
And you knew this was coming…
“They received 21 letters complaining about that [Burr Oak] cemetery and [the comptroller] failed to properly act,” Quinn said, adding he pushed pending legislation to take cemetery regulation away from Hynes’ office because “it did a lousy job.”
As I’ve written before, if Hynes really closes the gap on Quinn I fully expect a nuclear Burr Oak attack.
* Charles Thomas writes about an interesting little development in the campaign…
A sign that Quinn has lost his campaign balance happened [Monday], when the Governor missed the grand opening of a shelter for homeless veterans on the city’s southside. He stood up former Illinois and now-Federal Veterans Affairs honcho Tammy Duckworth who flew in from Washington for the ceremony.
Quinn, perhaps the hardest-working advocate for veterans you’ll find anywhere in politics, was a no-show because he was held over by west side African-American elected officials who had just endorsed him.
Sources say the black pols had the Governor cornered demanding specifics on minority participation in the $31 billion capital bill Quinn signed last summer. The conventional wisdom is that Quinn cannot win the February 2, 2010 primary without the overwhelming support of African American voters.
* Today’s campaign video is, once again, from Gov. Quinn. It’s about the governor’s endorsement by several West Side politicians. Have a look…
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Dec 9, 09 @ 10:06 am
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If Quinn keeps winning and announcing endorsements, he will keep Hynes at bay. Quinn is the establishment Democrat with a history of reform. If he keeps us from considering 2009 when we vote in February, he has the edge over Hynes.
Quinn should have been a better governor. He is banking on our hopes that he will deliver, even though he has not delivered while governor. He really doesn’t deserve the nomination or election. Truman - he is definately not. At a time when things demands a political hero, Quinn has been a political zero.
Hynes has to convince us that Quinn cannot win the General. That is why it Quinn edges him out when little political groups continue to endorse the Governor. These little things keep Quinn in the race and keeps these fears tampered down.
What is interesting is that Hynes cannot really point to an issue where Quinn has done something drastically wrong while serving as governor. The bad news that shows up daily in our faces cannot be laid at Quinn’s feet. Quinn’s refusal to govern over the past year has sparred him. The biggest issue Hynes has against Quinn has been Quinn’s refusal to govern as governor during one of the worse years in Illinois history. Normally, that should be enough, but after Blagojevich, the bar has been laying on the snowy ground for so long, Quinn is easily clearing it. Hynes has to raise the bar enough for Quinn to stumble over it.
I faintly recall what Paul Green told our class years ago regarding campaigns such as the one we are witnessing. He said that the worse the candidates, the uglier the fight. Or something like that. Dr. Green is full of pithy statements like these, and after a couple of years of hearing his lectures, they kinda blend together into a nice feisty insight. Great guy when he is on your side, btw.
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Dec 9, 09 @ 10:25 am
-Quinn said the state’s current pension benefits are “far beyond reasonable” and slammed Hynes for failing to support a so-called “two-tier” pension system as both court unions for endorsements.-
All the economists along with policy and financial professionals that I keep reading about say the “two-tier” system is the only way to begin fixing the State’s generous pension system. What are the fiscal and economic arguments in favor of maintaining the status-quo? If you want to raise taxes and dump all that revenue into a broke system you are just pandering to unions when there are so many other holes to fill. Let’s hear some arguments against the two-tiered approach.
Comment by Big Policy Nerd Wednesday, Dec 9, 09 @ 10:30 am
The phone thing makes no sense. It’s just basic math that if you were making automated calls off a voter file, even if you accept the preposterous explanation that people registered to vote by giving their work number, the odds that you would end up with a large number of these odd ducks in the call list you loaded into your automated dialer has to be about the same as the odds of repeatedly dialing 867-5309. Is Jenny there?
Comment by Scooby Wednesday, Dec 9, 09 @ 10:38 am
I am slightly confused by Charles Thomas here. So Quinn missed a veterans themed campaign event? Personally that is all I hear about him doing. I guess I feel like maybe it is time to focus on issues that matter to the West Side and other issues of that ilk. Maybe I am wrong here, but that doesn’t seem as newsworthy as Thomas is making it seem.
Comment by JILChi Wednesday, Dec 9, 09 @ 10:42 am
Didn’t Hynes’ dad run against Harold Washington for mayor back in the 80’s? I don’t think Quinn would have to do too much to get the Chicago primary black vote against Quinn. It’s certainly not because of his wise and creative stewardship of state government over the past year. No matter how many stellar budget ideas Hynes comes up with, it probably doesn’t matter.
Quinn is talking favorably about two-tiered pension systems because he knows it doesn’t matter-this is a blue state with a strong union presence and the unions, not the taxpayers will decide whether government unions will make the switch. It’s like those state layoffs that never happened. It’s all talk and both the unions and the guv know it. A shadow dance put on for guileless taxpayers.
Comment by cassandra Wednesday, Dec 9, 09 @ 10:42 am
===Didn’t Hynes’ dad run against Harold Washington for mayor back in the 80’s===
It’s kind of a wash given that Quinn was fired as Revenue Director by Mayor Washington and they had a very public falling-out. I don’t think Quinn wants to go down that road.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Dec 9, 09 @ 10:47 am
1. Creating a two-tiered pension system would do nothing to close the CURRENT budget deficit. The new system would only apply to new hires, and so we wouldn’t see ANY benefit for 20 years, when those new hires start to retire.
2. In the meantime, I’d like to caution my Republican friends that a two-tiered “defined contribution” aka 401k plan is a guarantee of a tax increase. That’s because a defined benefit program, where the state holds the workers’ pension funds for 20+ years, creates a de facto rainy day fund that lawmakers can skip payments to and avoid tax hikes. “Defined contribution” is just that, and the state can’t skip payments.
3. Dear Taxpayers for Quinn, ever heard of Telematch? Google it, and get some good phone numbers. If you’re relying on voter registrations for your phone numbers, they’re about 50% wrong.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, Dec 9, 09 @ 10:49 am
Yes, but I think African American primary voters would give most weight to Hynes Sr.’s attempt to
derail Washington’s bid for mayor, given Washington
huge stature among blacks in Chicago political history.
Of course, I’m sure Quinn made some promises too.
We won’t be privy to those, I’m sure.
Comment by cassandra Wednesday, Dec 9, 09 @ 10:51 am
So that’s what Danny Davis looks like. Those of us in his district that live east of Western have never seen him.
Comment by OdysseusVL Wednesday, Dec 9, 09 @ 10:57 am
@===Didn’t Hynes’ dad run against Harold Washington for mayor back in the 80’s===
That was Tom Hynes, who is Dan Hynes dad. Tom Hynes used to be Cook County Assessor and Harold Washington and Tom Hynes got in a huge feud after it was revealed that Tom Hynes was cutting property tax breaks for houses all over the Irish Wards while charging neighboring Black Wards a higher rate- even if their homes were worth less. Tom Hynes also had a testy relationship while they both were in the State Senate. Tom Hynes then went on challenge Harold Washington as an “Independent Democrat” in the general in what was viewed as an attempt to protect the Old Guard. It is old hack stuff, but still fun to reminisce of you were part of the game during those times.
Comment by Italian Beef Wednesday, Dec 9, 09 @ 11:04 am
“Sources say the black pols had the Governor cornered demanding specifics on minority participation in the $31 billion capital bill Quinn signed last summer. The conventional wisdom is that Quinn cannot win the February 2, 2010 primary without the overwhelming support of African American voters.”—Charles Thomas
JILchi, Charles Thomas did not report it on the news. So, you are correct that it is not newsworthy in a technical sense. Thomas is writing for his blog, where tidbits of information such as the one you reference are appropriate. But race and class are in play here.
In my opinion, what it may suggest and re-confirm for some is that Quinn is weak or easily bullied or willing to do whatever to ensure that he wins the primary or all of the above.
A large portion of Quinn’s base are disaffected white males, who describe themselves in terms such as “the little guy” or “regular guy.” These types resent powerbrokers and elite types, but prefer the “Joe Sixpack” type, with they identify and whom they perecive of as “pulling themselves up by their bootstraps” or being “honest” and “hardworking.” Officer Corps vs. Enlistee type of thing.
The disaffected white male type, to whom Quinn appeals, would be bothered that Quinn appears to be acquiesing to Black pols, just as they perceived Quinn to be “selling out” or “jell-o” when after weeks of tough talk decided not to remove the two holdout black U of I trustees. Racism comes into play here because disaffected white males types don’t like the idea of black pols calling shots and making demands.
Don’t believe me on any of this? Ok. Fine, you don’t have to. whatever. But, consider Carol Marin’s Sunday Sun-Times column. She quoted someone who said that Quinn was the type to sit in the bleechers at a baseball game, not a skybox.
Personally, not lacking for self-confidence, I’m not bothered by people who sit is skyboxes as opposed to sitting with the masses, but I can understand how it might bother others. For example, those who are insecure and suffer from low self-esteem etc., which disaffected types often do.
Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Dec 9, 09 @ 11:20 am
Harold’s been gone a long time. I doubt very much whether Tom Hyne’s or Pat Quinn’s contentious past with Harold will have any bearing on the governor’s race.
Don’t forget, Mayor Daley ran against Harold, too, and undermined him at every turn while he was in office. How’s Daley been doing on the South and West sides? Over 50% last time out.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Dec 9, 09 @ 12:14 pm
Is Hynes running against Quinn to have deflected other democratic comers in this race? Is this display of animosity real? What was Hynes promised for doing this, cause he surely will lose? Sorry, I was doing my John Kass impersonation…
WCW: I am not a disaffcted male and support Quinn…so much for your “theories” and pontifications…Quinn grew up in Hinsdale and was educated at Georgetown…he may not be part of the Democratic elite “my Daddy was” club and for me, that’s a very good thing…is it February 2 yet?
Comment by Loop Lady Wednesday, Dec 9, 09 @ 12:18 pm
Seeya at the polls Loopie!
Comment by Bill Wednesday, Dec 9, 09 @ 12:37 pm
There was an interesting article a while back in money or a similair mad discussing why 401(k) plans are not a good way to fund retirments, and were nevere intended for that. I wish I could find it.
SHort version, 401(k) plans were originally intended to go alongside exisitng retirment plans to provide additional retirment money, not to complelty replace retirment plans. The article discusses how the vast majority of these funds end up with way to little money in them to actually support retirement, and we are creating a huge poverty class in our retirees whose quality of life is drastically going down as employer dump retirment plans for 401K plans. They had some interestign statistics about the effects of the makret and the contribution rates resulting in the avergae retiree having less then 100k in their accounts and so forth.
The bottom line, 401(k)’s longterm are not fucntioning as retiemtn plans, they are creating a new poverty class for the edlerly and we are headed the wrong direction with them.
Comment by Ghost Wednesday, Dec 9, 09 @ 12:41 pm
I do not care about what Tom Hynes or Pat Quinn in the 80’s! I care what Dan Hynes and Pat Quinn are doing now! When Gov. Quinn came into office he got rid of most of the high ranking black but kept people like Jack Lavin. While he has replaced some of the blacks with highly competant blacks, his administration has done a poor job of reaching out to the grassroots of the black community!
This is not to say that Hynes has done a good job od reaching out but I think this latest mess up by Gov Quinn over short term barrowing will hurt him as there are many black agencies that have not been paid who are in peril of shuting their doors before the new year! This would be a terrible hit for the Governor and his campaign because the buck stops at his desk!
Comment by Come on now! Wednesday, Dec 9, 09 @ 12:58 pm
I suspect, albeit anecdotally, that quinn is a bit more elitist than he lets on, and leads people to believe. I suspect that he has been this way all along–even before becoming governor. Let me be clear, I think he’s an elitist of the intellectual type (e.g., policy wonkish, as has been noted, and now as we are seeing in recent weeks the “too clever/cute by half” type), as opposed to a mere political or social elitist. So, in that way can exhibit pretentiouness that elite types so often do. His base just isn’t aware.
I gather that for some of you (e.g., loop lady) it is what marin’s column suggested: this race comes down to with whom would you rather have a beer? But, I don’t drink beer. For me it’s more substantive than that.If Quinn had performed better and exhibited the leadership needed, I would (happily) vote for him. But, because he has not, I can’t vote for him.
I’m guessing that things won’t get any easier in Illinois, and (as a result) he won’t get any better. I thought VM’s first post did a pretty good job of addressing and summing up that key point.
Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Dec 9, 09 @ 1:11 pm
@ Come on now, also known as WCW
_While he has replaced some of the blacks with highly competant blacks-
Please take your racist BS diatribes to Illinois Review.
Comment by Italian Beef Wednesday, Dec 9, 09 @ 1:11 pm
Quinn’s “friends” at AFSCME are not impressed by his “courage”. Its all about legislative responsibility to adequately fund the pension system. FYI -average state pension $18,000 per year. State employee head count lowest since 1972.
Comment by Pete Granada Wednesday, Dec 9, 09 @ 1:37 pm
Italian Beef
Nice try but I am a black man! and do not know Will county Women so check your facts and get back to me!!
Comment by come on now Wednesday, Dec 9, 09 @ 3:06 pm