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Question of the day

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* SJ-R

Abe’s right arm temporarily joined the backlog of repairs and maintenance at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield earlier this month.

The 30-foot, fiberglass statue of a young, ax-carrying Abe Lincoln has stood inside the Main Gate on Sangamon Avenue for 50 years. Illinois Department of Agriculture spokeswoman Rebecca Clark said Wednesday fairground workers believe age simply took its toll.

“We do not believe this is related to storm damage or vandalism, rather just routine wear,” said Clark. “While repairs were underway, the decision was made to give Abe a fresh coat of paint so he can welcome visitors to the Illinois State Fair.” […]

The department called on the expertise of Ernie Ball at Ernie Ball Auto Body of Springfield to reattach the arm and repaint the statue.

“It’s fiberglass, just like a Corvette. I’ve been working on them for years,” said Ball. “It took about a day and a half.”

* The Question: There’s gotta be an Illinois government analogy here somewhere, so can you come up with any?

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:16 pm

Comments

  1. Even Abe Lincoln is trying to keep the dysfunction in Springfield at arm’s length.

    Comment by Whatever Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:18 pm

  2. How much did Abe’s arm injury repair compare to the national average? (Just reminded me of the earlier thread today)

    Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:20 pm

  3. The Abe Lincoln statue is therefore entitled to an average award of $439,858 because this injury happened on the job. Had Lincoln’s arm fallen off in Indiana or Kentucky while on the job, then Mr. Lincoln would receive an estimated $169,878, according to Mark Denzler of the IMA.

    Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:22 pm

  4. The recent purge is like Rauner cutting his own right arm off. First I cut off one arm and then the other and I’m not a good butcher.

    Comment by Baloneymous Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:23 pm

  5. “I’d give my right arm for a budget” - Abraham Lincoln

    Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:26 pm

  6. Too much arm twisting in Springfield.

    Comment by Joe M Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:30 pm

  7. “I’d give my right arm for the governor and legislature to agree on something.” “Ok then, give me my right arm back.”

    Comment by Steve Rogers Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:30 pm

  8. Abe gave an arm; would Brucie give a leg?

    Comment by d.p.gumby Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:30 pm

  9. If you say Rauner is extorting Illinois again, I’ll have Abe’s arm broken…

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:31 pm

  10. You can have a budget or Abe’s arm intact, you can’t have both.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:31 pm

  11. Ernie Ball not making guitar strings anymore? /s

    Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:32 pm

  12. Abe’s name and image is used by so many politicians he was everyone “right hand man”

    Comment by Texas Red Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:35 pm

  13. “They broke Abe’s arm and left it in disrepair… It was in retaliation for Santa Anna’s leg… and a lot of other things… “

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:35 pm

  14. Not an analogy, but Ernie does some fantastic work. They picked a good shop to fix that up.

    Comment by Fixer Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:36 pm

  15. CHARLIEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!! THEY TOOK MY ARM!!!!!!!!

    Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:38 pm

  16. Fixed arm, new coat of paint?

    Rauner got some structural reforms after all!

    Comment by Shark Sandwich Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:39 pm

  17. Shark Sandwich takes the lead!

    Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:40 pm

  18. The IG is looking into this. Lincoln claimed the injury occurred while splitting rails at the Fairgrounds on Monday. Turns out, the IG has a witness who will testify that Lincoln’s injury stemmed from an arm-wrestling match in a Springfield tavern over the weekend. I don’t think we’ve heard the last of this case just yet.

    Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:42 pm

  19. “Bruce V… You make me break your arm for Bruce V?… “

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:45 pm

  20. Governor Rauner did apologize. The loan had a 3 year ARM and Abe was there to oblige…

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:47 pm

  21. “Cullerton was on his way to my office when he got a phone call from Madigan telling him to go to the Fairgrounds and rip Abe’s arm off”

    Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:47 pm

  22. Illinois, just like a Corvette.

    Comment by Michelle Flaherty Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:48 pm

  23. Sadly proven, Abe got the overrides needed, finally secure a budget, with one arm tied behind his back.

    After 2 1/2 years, no circulation, no movement, and gang green setting in, the last casualty turned out to be… Abe’s arm.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:50 pm

  24. Ernie is famous for painting flames on vehicles… did he paint flames on Abe? Illinois is on fire.

    Comment by libertas Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 3:52 pm

  25. Holy smokes, Rich Miller! A reference to “The Pope of Greenwich Village.”

    Whoa!

    Comment by Reality Bites Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 4:05 pm

  26. Illinois Government - just like a Corvair - unsafe at any speed…

    Comment by Banker13 Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 4:06 pm

  27. On second thought, leave the arm off, paint a mask on Lincoln and allow slots at the Fairgrounds. Old Abe can be the one-armed bandit mascot and everybody wins. Except Ernie. Ernie doesn’t win in this scenario because we aren’t fixing the arm. And most people who play the slots won’t win. So everybody except Ernie and 98% of the slot jockeys will win.

    Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 4:10 pm

  28. “This is going to cost an arm (and a leg).”
    When will Ernie Ball actually get paid?

    Comment by Lurkin' MBA Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 4:10 pm

  29. the first infrastructure project of the Rauner Administration…

    Comment by Capitol View Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 4:14 pm

  30. Lincoln: “I know it was you Rauner. You broke my arm. You broke my arm!”

    Comment by wensicia Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 4:17 pm

  31. Abe=
    Ernie Ball can’t hear worth a darn. I said “I’ve give my right arm for a Corvette”.

    Comment by A guy Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 4:45 pm

  32. Ole Slip and Sue has nothin’ on Honest Abe…

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 4:46 pm

  33. “I told Mary Todd not to worry and I forgive her”.
    It’s Illinois, they’ll blame the injury on the weather. No one will press charges against you”.

    Comment by A guy Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 4:46 pm

  34. Abe Lincoln does a “127 Hours” to escape the Republicans in Springfield.

    Comment by Amalia Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 5:12 pm

  35. Welcoming all those people whom come to the fairgrounds all year took a toll on old Abe’s arm. Will Abe get any workman’s comp for temporarily losing his arm?

    Comment by Mama Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 5:39 pm

  36. If only the head of the Illinois House could be made acceptable as easily.

    Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 9:21 pm

  37. Gop extreme right wing lacks moral fiber, whitewashing the party

    Comment by Rabid Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 9:49 pm

  38. Honest Abe severs relationship with the lying right arm wing nuts

    Comment by Rabid Thursday, Jul 27, 17 @ 10:46 pm

  39. Without a school funding bill there will be Arm-ageddon in Illinois schools

    Comment by NorthsideNoMore Friday, Jul 28, 17 @ 1:08 am

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