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I think for the first time since he ran for the state’s highest office, Gov. Rod Blagojevich did not attend Chicago’s Gay Pride parade last Sunday.
Blagojevich was, however, apparently represented by some flier-toting folks who tried to undercut some of his fellow Democrats. Rep. John Fritchey fills us in…
So in the latest effort to attempt to work with Democratic House members, the Governor’s office was behind an anonymous flier that was distributed to attendees at yesterday’s Pride Parade. […]
[The flier] essentially calls out Sara Feigenholtz, Greg Harris and me by name for voting for the House budget and tells people to call us about it. But it does so in such a clumsy way that it is almost laughable. Almost. […]
The frosting on the cake is that the Governor’s office, directly and through another legislator, denied having any knowledge of the flier. Without wanting to put anybody in a bind, let me just say this. They’re lying.
More than one group that receives state funding has indicated that they were contacted by the Administration and asked to assist in the effort. I’m believing them.
Memo to the Administration: If you’re going to go after legislators (especially ones from your own party) on issues, have the decency to stand behind it. Otherwise you’re just making a bad move worse.
Strong-arming not-for-profits that receive state money to hand out politically motivated fliers at a public event might not be totally on the up-and-up. This is just bad all around.
* It won’t help solve the budget impasse because goofy stuff like this just hardens positions.
* It demonstrates, yet again, that the governor judges political right and wrong by how people feel about his ideas. He’s supposedly a history buff, so the guv ought to look into how that very same supremely arrogant attitude led directly to Woodrow Wilson’s failure to get his League of Nations idea approved by the US Senate. There were other factors involved, of course, but the Senate was tired of being pushed around.
* As I told subscribers this morning, the divisive move offers up a stark contrast to the supposedly un-Democratic House Speaker, who just recruited a Republican to walk across the aisle.
* And, finally, why not just give the US Attorney a handwritten invitation? Stupid, stupid, stupid.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jun 26, 07 @ 9:49 am
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Has any state ever had back to back governors indicted?
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Jun 26, 07 @ 10:32 am
Blago need not go through all this grief. Why doesn’t he just stay in Chicago, tell the legislative leaders to call him when the budget is done and he will sign it as long as there is no income or sales tax increases. State what he wants and let them fight it out. He seems to have a knack for doing and saying the dumbest things that only serve to p-off everybody. He needs to get some new handlers.
Comment by Garp Tuesday, Jun 26, 07 @ 10:34 am
Bet Milo gets that invitation before Labor Day weekend.
Comment by Northside Bunker Tuesday, Jun 26, 07 @ 10:41 am
How many ways can we say this stunt is stupid?
How is this helping anything?
Like his approach to the GRT, Blagojevich is out to burn bridges with those he labels an enemy even before they end up as one, and by doing stupid things like this, he creates more enemies.
Geez! The Blagojevich adminstration is so amateur isn’t it? What? - Like this approach worked for someone in high school, so they’re trying it out?
History buff? Since when?
If Blagojevich is a history buff, he should remember that the last two Democratic governors ended up in jail. With a record of accomplishments like that, he should careful not to make it three in a row.
If he is a history buff, he should consider how he could help Illinois from looking like Louisiana or New Jersey in the Government Hall of Shame.
He has no time to be a governor, but he has time for this? Honestly, having the governor’s office empty right now would be an improvement, wouldn’t it?
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Jun 26, 07 @ 11:01 am
Oh Northside, how I wish you were correct. I’m beginning to believe we will get to listen to Bill brag about Elvis’ accomplishments when the next campaign comes along. I don’t know what’s taking the Feds so long but I hope they have an ironclad case when they do bring THE indictment.
Comment by Little Egypt Tuesday, Jun 26, 07 @ 11:18 am
Hey Vanilia Man, you need not worry about Illinois looking like Louisiana or New Jersey in the Government Hall of Shame. Our state has long since surpassed those two pikers!
Comment by fedup dem Tuesday, Jun 26, 07 @ 12:05 pm
Sister Muhammad’s Spiritual Leader talks about washing the streets of Jerusalem with blood because of a Gay Pride parade, and then Illinois Liberals are surprized by some anonymous fliers at the pride parade.
That’s the kind of Liberal they’ve elected themselves. Be careful…
Comment by Bill Baar Tuesday, Jun 26, 07 @ 12:06 pm
I’d like more than the word of a rep with an ax to grind against the governor as evidence that the governor was behind the ploy. Maybe the gov–a known liar–did do it. But make it stick. Naming anonymous but reliable sources is something the NYT would do…
Comment by Ferdy Tuesday, Jun 26, 07 @ 12:06 pm
As a proud Louisiana native, I must protest that Illinois has actually _passed_ my state in government shame. It’s in strong contention of course. But Rod hasn’t been busted with $90,000 of marked cash in his fridge - NOT YET …
Comment by ZC Tuesday, Jun 26, 07 @ 12:51 pm
we can only hope gov elvis gets indicted before he does anymore damage to the state.
Comment by fed up Tuesday, Jun 26, 07 @ 1:15 pm
Any one see Skipper (Blaggo’s new name) since last Thursday? He may or may not be coming to SPI today, but what about Fri-Mon….How much Milffle….opps wiffle ball can you play.
Comment by Mr. W.T. Rush Tuesday, Jun 26, 07 @ 1:41 pm
Actually, our esteemed governor’s new name is apparently “Scar.” And has anyone CHECKED Scar’s fridge?????
Comment by S. Illinois Tuesday, Jun 26, 07 @ 1:46 pm
Why don’t you guys go earn your checks for a change.
Comment by Bill Tuesday, Jun 26, 07 @ 2:15 pm
Bill, that’s all you got?
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 26, 07 @ 2:17 pm
Bill, that comment is right up there with the Gov chastizing legislators for not working hard enough.
Comment by S. Illinois Tuesday, Jun 26, 07 @ 2:27 pm
Seriously, Bill, you’re off your game today.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 26, 07 @ 2:37 pm
Rich,
Go ahead, rub it in.
Comment by Bill Tuesday, Jun 26, 07 @ 2:53 pm
A history buff with, by his own admission, an ACT score of 18. His knowledge of history probably runs more toward the League of Justice than the League of Nations.
Comment by puzzler Tuesday, Jun 26, 07 @ 4:02 pm
Cruel, but funny. Thanks for the chuckle.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 26, 07 @ 4:04 pm
We all know that rumors about investigations and indictments are all over the place, but it seems to me that there is now a certain feeling of “not if, but when” among media types. Two weeks ago on Chicago Tonight one of the panelists said that “everyone knows that they are just waiting until they have to deal with Governor Quinn.” No other panelists even challenged him and I haven’t seen any reaction from the Blago camp to the televised comments either.
Of course the panelist who said that was a sports guy, but it struck me as a bold statement if it was totally baseless.
Rich are you getting that same sense from other reporters you talk to?
Comment by Napoleon has left the building Tuesday, Jun 26, 07 @ 4:40 pm
When it comes to the mind and intentions of the US Attorney, the vast number of reporters, myself included, know little more than you do. Keep that in mind.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 26, 07 @ 4:59 pm
Bill, why dont you go earn your paycheck for a change? I always post after working hours. It figures that the two Blago defenders here would resort to rumors–trying to portray everyone that has issues with the governor as being a Republican or “someone’s” (never defined) payroll. If those are the only people you think have issues with your boss, than you are even more clueless than I originally thought.
Blago blew it BIG TIME on this flyer. For him to have John Fritchey (his own state rep) so opposed to him is indicative of how clueless this administration really is.
Lets see: who are the Governor’s people in the legislature? I count two: Rep. Jay Hoffman and Sen. Carol Ronen. 2 out of 177. Pathetic.
Comment by some former legislative intern Tuesday, Jun 26, 07 @ 5:17 pm
Little E: That’s precisely why it’s taking so long - they want an iron-clad case. Geo. Ryan took forever but they had him locked in when they finally lowered the boom. Here’s hoping they’re close.
Comment by Disgusted Tuesday, Jun 26, 07 @ 5:44 pm
Blago is a disgrace to this state. Hardly a day goes by that he doesn’t make our state the laughing stock of the nation.
BLAGO MUST GO
Comment by Blago Must Go Tuesday, Jun 26, 07 @ 5:47 pm
No offense, BMG, but how did that drive-by comment add to the debate here?
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 26, 07 @ 5:50 pm
I just cvan’t imagine who drams up these stunts on the Governor’s behalf. Obviously, this effort backfired - incredibly sophmoric.
Comment by Captain America Tuesday, Jun 26, 07 @ 6:11 pm
I just can’t imagine who dreams up these stunts on the governor’s behalf.Obviousuly this effort backfired. Attacking popular and effrective state legislators like John and Sara reeks of desperation and is incredibly sophomoric, as well as counterproductive. It foreshadows Rod’s apparent intent to try to blame others for the budget impasse.
The Governor must be really feeling the heat from the feds and the media to skip the Gay Pride Parade. I remember the time I was marching in Rod’s vicinity in the Pride parade in the early 1990’s when Rod was in Congress or running for Congress:Some male voice screamed out to Rod: “I want to have your baby!” It was hilarious, but I guess you had to be there.
I marched with Alderman Vi Daley who coincidentally was marching with John Fritchey. Edwin Eisnedarath was tagging along with John and Vi for some reason.
Anyway, for those of you who haven’t seen the Gay Pride Parade, it’s quite an entertaining spectacle. If you’re open-minded about sexual orinetation issues, you would really enjoy it. I remember how shocked I was in 1974 - my first full weekend in Chicago after college - when I unexpectedly encountered the “gay liberation” parade. I had never heard of Stonewall and didn’t know there was a gay power movement.
(Hit the wrong key accidentally on my previous post before I was finished. Captain America is a truly terrible typist.)
Comment by Captain America Tuesday, Jun 26, 07 @ 6:49 pm