CapitolFax.com - Latest Comments in Credibility seriously damaged

Re: Credibility seriously damaged

ChokingCub — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 22:24:29 -0000

What is really disturbing here is that being dishonest is becoming the norm. I have grown tired of people lying and going back on their word and then someone justifies it as "politics". That isn't politics, and we shouldn't tolerate this behavior in our leaders (or the peope who should be leaders). I would also add that this quality seems to be common in the people surrounding this Governor. The people running Illinois' government are very poor examples for our youth.

Re: Credibility seriously damaged

A Citizen — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 20:02:41 -0000

The reality is that Jones has not YET doublecrossed the members or Madagin He still has the opportunity to redeem his honor and trustworthiness after the Gov signs the AV Bill. I would much rather doublecross a doublecrosser than the folks I depend on for my effectiveness and reputation. Come on Emil, You KNOW what the honorable and right thing is to do!

Re: Credibility seriously damaged

Korn Fed — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:54:07 -0000

Senate Pres Jones will survive this. Deals will still need to be made, issues addressed, special interests greased. His only referendum is number of seats that the Senate Dems hold after Nov 2008. Great news for Sen. E. Jones.

Re: Credibility seriously damaged

Truth — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:34:33 -0000

Jones's members should be furious. He's gained nothing for them and made them look bad. When he's in bed with Rod, they're all in bed with Rod. Can't trust any of them now.

Re: Credibility seriously damaged

L.S. — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 18:02:27 -0000

what's ironic here is that for a while, Jones was in control of this session. He had manuvered himself to be the swing position. Both the Speaker and the Guv were working to get him away from the other. He could have done any number of things with that position. I don't like the man but for a couple weeks I really respected how he played his hand. And then he blew it all by going back on a deal. This will resonate for a long time. Few things sting like a double cross. PS - how lame does Jones' fake anger at Watson over the capital bill look now. Bad acting to cover a poor decision.

Re: Credibility seriously damaged

Moderate Repub — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:39:44 -0000

yellow Dog.

YOur missing several other accounts for Senate Dems, your $ numbers are not even close, besides that has nothing to do with who would be in the running.
The obvious fact people are missing is that Jones has plenty of time before there will be any talk of replacement, and these continuing battles are not over. Emil may not have played his full hand yet. Speculation on replacement is uber over zelous at the moment, but lets play anyway.
Everyone in the senate Dem caucus (obviously not everyone, but a good number of people) would like to succeed Jones. Claybourne (where yellow dog got state wide asperation I have no idea) is one, followed by Hendon (who doesnt have a chance, but doesnt mean HE doenst think so), Link (who has two other accounts you missed Yellow dog), DeLeo, I would say is the front runner outside of the the nomonee of the BLack caucus, followed by cullerton. The problem is that the Black caucus would have to get behind one of their own, but I dont think they can at the moment. It all depends on who they back. It might not nececarily be a black, but I think it WILL be someone from the CHicago area.
I think the Dark horse is DeLeo at the moment, becasue of the Black caucus. IF the Black caucus is fractured, he has a good chance if he makes a deal with the hispanics (someone to put as majority leader) and with downstate members (also make someone Majority leader, a Sullivan or Haine). THese are total hypatheticals.

Re: Credibility seriously damaged

Rich Miller — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:20:00 -0000

This talk of Jones getting an admin job is a bit off. He makes a decent buck as Senate Prez, which could be hard to top in an admin position.

Re: Credibility seriously damaged

Little Egypt — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:17:30 -0000

Just speculating here Rich, like all of us are, about what motivated Jones to do what he did. I still feel Blago has promised Emil something. I'm surprised, however, that with Emil's political experience, if this is the case that Emil would fall for it. The only thing that comes to mind is that in January Emil will bow out of politics and land some cushy job for the remainder of Rod's 3 year term, and perhaps even stretching an appointment to 4 years. I understand the legislature has a pretty sweet pension, so would he gain much by going out of the legislative arena for 3-4 years? Emil Jones didn't get where he is by being stupid but he may turn out to be the governor's biggest casualty thus far. I've never thought he was the sharpest knife in the drawer, he certainly isn't the caliber of MMadigan when it comes to playing chess, but this whole alliance with Blago is really befuddling. I'm beginning to believe Blago could charm a snake.

Re: Credibility seriously damaged

Justice — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:58:51 -0000

I think Madigan did keep his word, and like the class act he is, hasn't pounded on the table with his shoe and shouted to the world that he was falsely accused. It would appear that Jones knew well in advance that he couldn't win the battle on the capital bill. He must have thought he could simply force it through on short notice and was brought up short by the many not voting to pass. It all eventually came down to trust and more people did not trust Jones than did. Madigan was simply an easy way for Jones to pass off his weakness and ultimate failure as a leader. And too, he may very well have been working in concert with the gov. That I believe. I believe also that this miscalculation will go down in Illinois political history as a first and as a low for our legislature. We are better than this and we can elect better representatives of this great state. I stand by Madigan on this one.

Re: Credibility seriously damaged

Rich Miller — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:05:31 -0000

ids, calling someone "evil" is not satire. It's unacceptable. And if you don't like the rules, perhaps you should just leave. Thanks.

Re: Credibility seriously damaged

ids — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:48:12 -0000

Political satire is as dead as democracy around here, both put to rest under the rubric of 'decorum,' otherwise known as Communism. One day, the people will rise-up.

Re: Credibility seriously damaged

Rich Miller — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:24:55 -0000

I'll talk about it in the Fax soon. So, subscribe if you haven't.

Re: Credibility seriously damaged

Captain America — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:22:09 -0000

Rich, who do you think has the votes to succeed Jones? I honestly have no idea.

Re: Credibility seriously damaged

FAN of CAP FAX — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:10:16 -0000

Goodbye and good riddance to Mr. Jones and the hateful bunch of people who support him. Can't wait till they're replaced and the work of the people can begin in earnest.

Re: Credibility seriously damaged

Fan of the Game — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 13:49:29 -0000

"Who steals my purse steals trash;
'Tis something, nothing.
'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands,
But he that filches from me my good name
Robs me of that which not enriches him,
And makes me poor indeed."

Who knew Senator Jones was prone to self-impoverishment? Did the senator offer a job to Iago?

Re: Credibility seriously damaged

i d — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 13:40:31 -0000

I've stayed away from commenting since I said that I was going to, but I just want to make it clear that I am NOT "ids", whomever that may be. Still enjoy reading the comments.
Thanks i d... independent downstater

Re: Credibility seriously damaged

Truth — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 13:29:22 -0000

Senator Jones wanted to be the Education President. When the final chapter is written, he may have just been the Emil Jones President.

Re: Credibility seriously damaged

Levois — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 12:51:17 -0000

Motivation for Sen. Jones. It could be that he's always been Gov. Blagojevich's guy. Or at least that's the way it will seem.

Re: Credibility seriously damaged

Rich Miller — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 12:33:15 -0000

YDD, you're making the same mistake that the goo-goos make. Everything is not always about money.

In this instance, votes count more.

Re: Credibility seriously damaged

Yellow Dog Democrat — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 12:31:07 -0000

Rich, great column, and thanks for the insight on the collapse of the capital bill. I was wondering why Jones didn't just simply delay the vote. Now, I know.

Your word is all you have in politics, its really that simple. All anyone can conclude from Jones' behavior over the past year is that he doesn't plan to be in politics much longer. Ultimately, that hurts Jones the most. Folks now know that they don't have to deal with him much longer, they can just wait him out, and that really limits what he's able to accomplish.

Meanwhile, a look at Senate checkbooks:

Emil Jones - $1,411,000

James Clayborne - $690,000
Jim DeLeo - $600,000

Lou Viverito - $335,000
Bill Haine - $270,000
John Cullerton - $250,000
Debbie Halvorson - $235,000

Don Harmon - $160,000
Carol Ronen - $130,000
Terry Link - $75,000

Clearly DeLeo and Clayborne are in the best position financially to succeed Jones, but I think they have other issues that would prevent them from making that run. DeLeo likes his current job, while Clayborne clearly has statewide ambitions.

I was surprised to find Viverito so close to the top of the list, and I think a Viverito bid for President would be great political theatre, but Viverito supposedly has his eyes on the pastures of retirement. Too bad, like I said, lots of fun to watch.

Unfortunately for Haine, the only time he's really demonstrated leadership is by helping enact medical malpractice caps, and I think being a pro-life, pro-gun lawmaker from downstate Illinois makes it nearly impossible for him to become President. But, he could definitely move up into leadership.

Ronen is tainted by her allegiance to Blagojevich - and is also widely rumored to be job-hunting in the Blagojevich administration - so I think she's probably out.

The big surprise is Link, who I always assumed would be a serious contender. But if he doesn't start proving he can raise money, he'll be out of this contest before it starts.

That leaves Cullerton and Halvorson, with Harmon as the dark horse. I really like Cullerton, and think he's got alot more political courage than Halvorson. However, A little less testosterone in the Four Tops meetings would be a good think, and Halvorson certainly couldn't do any worse than Jones has.

Re: Credibility seriously damaged

Anonymous — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 12:23:59 -0000

I think the plan crafted by Blago and agreed upon by Emil worked out as planned sort of...towards the end of the marathon overtime, I couldn't understand why Emil was participating in the budget talks with Madigan...the scenario of Emil saying he was double crossed by Watson on the capital bill was when the plan went awry...no bait and switch was posible capital plan=healthcare monies...Jones' career is over...who's next in line...Rich?

Re: Credibility seriously damaged

Rich Miller — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 12:11:08 -0000

"ids," please back off the over the top rhetoric and inappropriate name-calling or face banishment. Thanks.

Re: Credibility seriously damaged

JW — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 11:56:37 -0000

Jones actions this past year speaks for themselves, wife a big pay raise, step-son multi million dollar state contracts and his betrayal all point to his planned retirement and soon (I heard January for what it may be worth).

Re: Credibility seriously damaged

Silent Majority — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 11:42:37 -0000

It's also possible that there was no deal between Blago and Jones when Jones reniged. It could be that when Watson tried to stall for time and Jones heard of the phone calls between Madigan and Watson, Jones just flipped out. He and Blago feel that they've always been dumped on by Madigan anyway. He thought that the same was happening again and reacted without thinking that night. Jones isn't the brightest bulb in the fixture.

Re: Credibility seriously damaged

Ghost — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 11:37:34 -0000

So we are about to set a record for the longest lame duck legislature pending Jones coming up for election.

Democrats are doing more to rebuild the republican party then the republicans. Finally there were opportunities to work from a position of control, but these have all now been squandered. Jones has not only lost credibility, has has breached his leadership obligations to fellow democrats. He needs gone, and his little family too.