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News-Gazette reporter and occasional blogger Jim Dey loved Governor Rod Blagojevich’s speech yesterday.
Blagojevich, who was repeatedly booed during his appearance at the University of Illinois basketball team celebration, shared the stage Tuesday with some heavy hitters at the dedication of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield.President Bush was there, as were Illinois’ two U.S. Senators, Dick Durbin and Barack Obama. Members of the congressional delegation also were in attendance, including House Speaker Dennis Hastert and U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood.
Luminaries were everywhere, many of whom addressed the large crowd in attendance. Most shouldn’t have said a word or kept it short.
In my humble view, Blago gave the best speech, both in terms of substance and delivery. Obama was second, and Bush third.
There’s plenty more. Go have a looksee.
(Link via Illinipundit)
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Apr 20, 05 @ 1:51 pm
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Unfortunately for the Gov, Pope Benedict pushed the Lincoln library down to the bottom half of news coverage in the Chicago market.
We can have a spirited debate about the governor’s campaign style, although most people agree with Dey that the gov is a good campaigner.
The big question is whether the gov’s lack of substance catch up to him by election day.
If I was a bookmaker, and maybe someone will launch a website making book on the Gov’s race, I would say today he’s still a 60-40 favourite to win.
But that’s really horrible for a democratic incumbent in a democratic state.
Anybody else want to lay out odds on this? What about his odds in the Dem primary, or Judy’s or the rest of the field in the GOP?
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, Apr 20, 05 @ 2:36 pm
He apparently didn’t care that the governor mentioned his own ACT scores.
Obama had the best speech by far. Have you read it?
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 20, 05 @ 3:59 pm
It scares me to read some of what Rod has said in public. Telling the kids he was a “C” student and he became governor. Give them something to aspire to, and work hard for.
Will enough people remember promises made, kept, not kept? How about his dependence on so many others to make important decisions? And has he really led this state in a positive direction?
I can’t wait to see what the next year brings and what names get brought up. Even my 11 year old is severely disillusioned by Rod, and he thought the world of him when he was on the campaign trail. The kid keeps up on politics, got to love that.
I make no bets on this, but I’m also not going to hold my breath.
Comment by Tessa Wednesday, Apr 20, 05 @ 4:03 pm
My high school senior son was at the speech with some of his friends too. They’re all neophyte Democrats and they thought the Governor’s speech was goofy, especially the ad lib about his mediocre ACT score. I said it yesterday and I’ll repeat it today. Blago is an embarrassment. I give him odds of 50/50. If he didn’t have $10 million for the next campaign I’d give him 30/70.
Comment by ChicagoDog Wednesday, Apr 20, 05 @ 4:35 pm
If Jim Dey thought Rod gave the best speech then I think he must have been celebrating 420 a little early. The speech was mediocre, especially for the occasion. Obama and Durbin were much better.
I wrote more about my thoughts on the speeches and the audience response on my blog if anyone is interested.
http://downleft.blogspot.com/2005/04/impressions-of-dedication-speeches.html
Comment by DownLeft Wednesday, Apr 20, 05 @ 5:34 pm
The most interesting thing that I observed was that former Gov. Jim Edgar got the loudest round of applause of all the people introduced. I also saw former Gov. Ryan who looked, in my opinion, like he had aged 20 years since leaving office. I guess all the trial stuff is catching up with him.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 20, 05 @ 7:54 pm
Maybe the Guv should have announced Jim Dey’s ACT scores.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 21, 05 @ 2:43 am
DOn’t worry about your ACT scores if you marry well.
It is called the “lucky I DO club”
Rod would have been a nobody in terms of politics if it weren’t for Dick Mell.
He is completely unlike Honest Abe.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 21, 05 @ 7:03 am
The Guv may have a big pot of gold for reelection but don’t underestimate the Chicago Machine. Mell has plenty of foot soldiers who do his bidding and since Blago has p–sed off Daley, Mell, Jones, etc., I think he’s going to have a run for his money for reelection. One can only hope! The man has the skin of a rhino and ba–s as big as the globe ride at Epcot. Add that to his “C” average, his foot-in-mouth disease and a staff that can’t seem to censure him (or themselves)before they speak or even recognize their gaffes and it is a recipe for disaster.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 21, 05 @ 7:15 am
Lincoln married well, too. Mary Todd was a member of the social aristocracy.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Apr 21, 05 @ 8:35 am