DISQUS

John Bambenek · 6 months ago

"Fresh new faces; same old gridlock"

If It Walks Like a Duck... · 6 months ago

The Sisyphus Session. The graphic design: a large pork barrel being rolled up a hill.

tired · 6 months ago

The never ending story ...

Louis G. Atsaves · 6 months ago

Arrow Pointing Strait Up:

Below that: "HOPELESS!"

Louis G. Atsaves · 6 months ago

Oops! "Straight"

Sorry about that!

Kevin Highland · 6 months ago

The FY2010 Business as Usual Tour!

bored now · 6 months ago

"i'd rather be fishing"

Concerned Observer · 6 months ago

"Overtime? Beats eating bugs in the jungle."

TJ · 6 months ago

Third time's the charm?

sleepless in chicago · 6 months ago

Who will emerge from the meetings with their body parts intact?

Anonymous · 6 months ago

Atleast we aren't Illinois. Oh wait nevermind.

anon · 6 months ago

One day closer to a Republican majority!

Commonsense in Illinois · 6 months ago

Get me outa here...I'm a taxpayer!

OneMan · 6 months ago

I would rather be in the jungle with Patty
Is that Rod I hear laughing
Half a fiscal year is better than none
It's like Deja Vu all over again
I don't know nothing about no tax increase
So it wasn't Rod and Emil's fault after all?
I hear Foghat is playing the state fair

George · 6 months ago

"I'm a Legislator... get me outta here!"

Capitol View · 6 months ago

sketches of Laurel and Hardy saying their stock phrase: "this is another fine mess that you have gotten us into"

but the faces being Quinn and Madigan

GPS · 6 months ago

ILLINOIS POLITICS

It's not for sissies or anyone with a sense of duty and resposibility!

Scooby · 6 months ago

"I'm Madigan as Hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!"

South Sider · 6 months ago

Summer in Springfield....bleeping golden

Boscobud · 6 months ago

I Love Taxes

Gregor · 6 months ago

Budget overtime 09:
Lather,
Rinse,
Repeat.

Yellow Dog Democrat · 6 months ago

I think you've got to have several different branding campaigns:

For the Pro-Tax Increase Crowd:

Look at the bright side: If you lose your re-election for raising taxes, atleast you'll have your summers back.

For the Just-Cut-A-Deal Crowd:

The road to Compromise is a two-way street."

For the Anti-Tax Increase Crowd:

Nee! Nie! Non! Nein! كلا! !לֹא いいえ！ 不是! нет! δεν! không!

What part of "NO new taxes don't you understand?"

dupage dan · 6 months ago

I voted for Rod and all I got for it was this lousy.....

ahem · 6 months ago

"Get a bigger bag, there's too much manure!"

Rich Miller · 6 months ago

===Nee! Nie! Non! Nein! كلا! !לֹא いいえ！ 不是! нет! δεν! không!===

As we used to say in Germany: Nix, nein, Frankenstein.

biographer · 6 months ago

Landed in Special Session again! Can I take a Mulligan?

SLICK NICK · 6 months ago

HEY LOOK A KITTY!

wordslinger · 6 months ago

The Doors Morrison Hotel album cover as visual, featuring Madigan, Quinn, Cullerton, Cross and Radogno (yes, some license is being taken to get them all in).

Captions:

"Madigan Hotel"

"StateHouse Blues 2009"

The Future's Uncertain and the End is Always Near."

SLICK NICK · 6 months ago

READ MY LIPS, No New,
No, Hold that thought!

Rich Miller · 6 months ago

Pat Quinn as Carlo Rizzi...

"Please, don't do this to me, Mike. Please, don't."

Madigan...

"No, you're out of the family business, that's your punishment. You're finished. I'm putting you on a plane to Vegas."

Scooby · 6 months ago

"Nothing is over until we decide it is."

Anonymous45 · 6 months ago

Fear and Loathing the '09 edition...

Rich Miller · 6 months ago

Madigan as Moe Greene to Pat Collins...

"Do you know who I am? I'm Michael J Madigan! I made my bones when you were going out with cheerleaders!"

Irish · 6 months ago

Picture of capitol building.
slogan: Illinois Government - Nothing is done here


Picture: An exterminator
slogan: New fumigation plan "Anyone who does not do their job." Vacancies - House 118 - Senate 59

Jake from Mell-y-wood · 6 months ago

Front of Shirt-
Picture of Quinn and Madigan smiling

Back of Shirt-
"Buddy, can you spare $12 Million?"

Jake from Mell-y-wood · 6 months ago

Um. . .Billion

Easy · 6 months ago

Overtime 2009: Year of the Common Denominator-Michael J Madigan.

Irish · 6 months ago

slogan
Want a reason for recall?
Illinois budget 2003 - 2010

Yellow Dog Democrat · 6 months ago

Things could be worse.

Rod could still be Governor.

Rich Miller · 6 months ago

NO TAX HIKES! *

* Except for booze, candy, iced tea, dandruff shampoo and driver services fee increases.

NO GAMBLING EXPANSION! *

* Except for legalized video poker in every tavern, truck stop and VFW club in the state.

wordslinger · 6 months ago

"No, we can't!"

Big West · 6 months ago

The Chicago Tribune Editorial Board Players present Summer Stock 2009

David Starrett · 6 months ago

Picture of a crowd of South Park-style lawmakers with their hands out, state capitol in the background.

Slogan: "CHANGE!"

anon 58 · 6 months ago

picture of the lady in the middle of the capital with her hands out. caption- YEAH. Were going to need a little more this year.

ahoy · 6 months ago

The Madigan Fiasco

or

"Budget, We don't need no stinking budget"

Vote Quimby! · 6 months ago

It's too easy, but The Who's "meet the new boss, same as the old boss" lyric with Quinn's face should be part of the shirt....with a line "smile and grin at the change all around."
But The Doors are always a good choice....I was listening to Morrison Hotel on the way into work this morning....

ahoy · 6 months ago

oh oh, whoever wrote "Summer in Springfield….bleeping golden"... I like that one.

Third Generation Chicago Nativ · 6 months ago

No recess until the Budget mess is less.

David Starrett · 6 months ago

Group picture of the Governor and four tops.

Caption: "You're probably wondering why we called you all here..."

bob the builder · 6 months ago

Oh when I look back now
That summer seemed to last forever
And if I had the choice
Yeah - I'd (always crossed out)never wanna be there
Those were the (best crossed out) worst days of my life

Back in Summer of ('69 crossed out) '09

Obamarama · 6 months ago

"Third quarter revenues at the Globe expected to beat last year's mark."

ahoy · 6 months ago

A picture of Quinn with the caption

"It's Mike Madigan's world, I just live in it.

Vote Quimby! · 6 months ago

"Rod Was Right...Its A Tax Hike Conspiracy!"

anonymous1 · 6 months ago

It's not overtime...it's sudden death.

OneMan · 6 months ago

Is that Rich Miller I hear saying Cha-Ching?
If we taxed suits more the lobbyists could cover the whole deficit
I am a legislator, get me out of voting for this

VanillaMan · 6 months ago

"Illinois Government Is Proof That God Has A Sense of Humor"

Just Sayin' · 6 months ago

"Illinois Government" is an oxymoron

OneMan · 6 months ago

Hey how about Video Poker at Starbucks?

Play Video Poker so they don't raise my taxes?

Good thing they can't tax being awesome because I would be broke

Hey lets save money by turning off the A/C at the Capitol that will get us a budget!

VanillaMan · 6 months ago

"Paralyzed Goverment Is So Overtaxing"

Just Sayin' · 6 months ago

"Illinois Government" is an oxymoron
Barack left just in time
Ethics is in the eye of the beholder
Madigan, grinning with gavel, looking at Quinn with 42 votes on the board: "Have all voted who wish?"

VanillaMan · 6 months ago

"Hey Barack, How About Bailing This Out?"

Bluefish · 6 months ago

Budget deficit...$12 billion
Pork projects for legislators...$1.5 billion
Money for many social services...$0
Yet another summer in Springfield...Priceless

Yellow Dog Democrat · 6 months ago

Take Some Advice from Costanza
"I always have tuna on toast. Nothing's ever worked out for me with tuna on toast. I want the complete opposite of on toast. Chicken salad, on rye, untoasted ... and a cup of tea."
Whatever You've Been Doing, Do the Opposite.

Been There · 6 months ago

===Madigan as Moe Greene to Pat Collins…
“Do you know who I am? I’m Michael J Madigan! I made my bones when you were going out with cheerleaders!” ====

Don't forget what happened to Moe. I think just the opposite will happen and my money is on Mike (or his family) being around the statehouse longer than Collins.

zatoichi · 6 months ago

TAXES! It's a state of mind.

Ghost · 6 months ago

Madigan as Peter Clemenza:
Leave the budget, take the capital plan

Quinn as Sollozzo:
Bene. Don [Madigan]. I need a man who has powerful friends. I need [12 billion] dollars in cash. I need Don [Madigan] and all of those politicians that you carry around in your pocket like so many nickels and dimes.

VanillaMan · 6 months ago

"Pray For Me: Not Only Do I Pay Illinois Taxes - I Also Own GM Stock"

Been There · 6 months ago

To parapharse Koko Taylor
Wang, Dang, Doodle all session long.

Wumpus · 6 months ago

The Celtics vs. Bulls have nothing on us.

Wumpus · 6 months ago

The Celtics vs. Bulls have nothing on us. VMan, we all own GM stock now!

Levois · 6 months ago

Overtime in heaven? 2009 Edition!

VanillaMan · 6 months ago

"Is Quinn Corrupt Enough To Win In Illinois?"

SLICK NICK · 6 months ago

ILLINOIS - BANKRUPTCY
2009 - ?
"Its' not just for the little guy!"

South Side Mike · 6 months ago

Overtime 2009: We have not yet begun to work.

Ghost · 6 months ago

TII
we have our own Cross to bare

picture of the state being weighed down by Tom Cross.

SLICK NICK · 6 months ago

Balanced Budget!
We don't need no stinking
Balanced Budget!

Curious Observer · 6 months ago

What this sport needs is sudden-death overtime.

47th Ward · 6 months ago

71 + 36 = 12,000,000,000

prairiestatedem · 6 months ago

Summer Session 09...Its not just for psuedo intelliectual, narcissitic elvis obessed chief executives anymore

VanillaMan · 6 months ago

"Don't Think Of It As Overtime - Think Of It As A Extra Little Scoop of Corruption For Your Tax Dollars!"

Old Shepherd · 6 months ago

My vote goes to Wordslinger!

VanillaMan · 6 months ago

"This Overtime Session Is Proof That Impeachment Doesn't Fix Everything"

been there · 6 months ago

I'm with Wordslinger too. And the sketch can be an ostrich with its head in the ground, maybe in front of the capitol.

OneMan · 6 months ago

My State Rep and State Senator left a 12 Billion dollar deficit and all I got was this lousy t-shirt.

Rich Miller · 6 months ago

Illinois budget plan, 2019...

"Now we have the unions, we have the gambling; and they're the best things to have. But narcotics is a thing of the future. And if we don't get a piece of that action, we risk everything we have. I mean not now, but, ah, ten years from now."

OneMan · 6 months ago

As for a design

How about only half of the capitol dome...

or

Just Rod's hair like it was a wig

what the? · 6 months ago

SSDD
(Same S***, Different Dems)

VanillaMan · 6 months ago

"It's All Blago's The GOP's Illinois Voter's Fault!"

Rich Miller · 6 months ago

That wordslinger thing could work. How about "No, We Can't" accompanied by "headline" type phrases such as: "Record deficit" "Phony reform" "Another Overtime Session" ?

Das Man · 6 months ago

You can fool some of the people all of the time
And all of the people some of the time
But you can't get the General Assembly
To do much of anything at anytime

L.S. · 6 months ago

One door saying "Tax Increase" one door saying "Meltdown"

Caption: "Where There's No Will, There's No Way"

LisleMike · 6 months ago

Increased Taxes!?!?
Taxes is already the biggest state
Huh?
Nevermind....

wordslinger · 6 months ago

With Rich channelling the Corleone Family today, I can't believe we missed:

"Just when I thought I was out... they pull me back in."

Maybe because it's from III.

LisleMike · 6 months ago

Corleone reference again
Madigan to Quinn:
"Don't ever ask me about my business!"
as he closes the door to his office

Steve · 6 months ago

Same Old Blue.

SouthernIL · 6 months ago

Black Bull squating with dung heap underneath his rearend encompassed with the BIG RED CIRCLE and SLASH....slogan...NO MORE!

the ole preceinct captain · 6 months ago

Illinois, I think you need protection. About $12 Billion worth.

Ghost · 6 months ago

The Meeks will inherit the School System

=== That wordslinger thing could work. How about “No, We Can’t” accompanied by “headline” type phrases such as: “Record deficit” “Phony reform” “Another Overtime Session” ? ====

No, We Can't
TII!
Record Deficit
Phony Reform

Erickson · 6 months ago

--“Now we have the unions, we have the gambling; and they’re the best things to have. But narcotics is a thing of the future. And if we don’t get a piece of that action, we risk everything we have. I mean not now, but, ah, ten years from now.”--

So we legalize medical MJ, eliminate addiction treatment...HEY, WE HAVE A PIECE OF THAT ACTION!!

Old Shepherd · 6 months ago

How about a picture of the Old State Capitol with "Yes We Can!" and a picture of the new (current) Capitol building with "No, we can't!"

Old Shepherd · 6 months ago

...props to wordslinger, of course.

Secret Square · 6 months ago

No contest -- Old Shep and Word win.

D Wareham --- Taylorville · 6 months ago

Ilinois Politicians
It is a painful thing to look at your own trouble and know that you yourself and no one else has made it.

Larry Mullholland · 6 months ago

I voted a straight D ticket and all I got was this lousy t-shirt and they want it back!

Courser · 6 months ago

Meet the new boss...same as the old boss.

OneMan · 6 months ago

The Illinois General Assembly, now we know why they passed medical MJ

BatMan · 6 months ago

Second verse, same as the first

Belle · 6 months ago

Wordslinger has it. How about 'No We Can't (make a hard decision, please don't make us!!!) with a graphic of a dominatrix dungeon. You fill in the faces of the 'clients' with assorted politicians faces with velcro on the back....

Bluefish · 6 months ago

Overtime in Springfield...A Tradition Since 2007

Jechislo · 6 months ago

"Don't stare down here, the boobs are in session".

Vote Quimby! · 6 months ago

"Change You Have To Deal With"

Abe's Ghost · 6 months ago

Illinois Government--Puts the Summer Fun in DysFUNctional!

lady · 6 months ago

I am King of Illinois - Michael J. Madigan (Steve Brown)

OneMan · 6 months ago

Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue.

ahem · 6 months ago

"A billion here, a billion there... sooner or later that adds up to some real money." - Everett Dirksen

joker fte · 6 months ago

mike madigan as a principal exclaiming to Quinn and the other legislative leaders (as kids) "no recess for you!"

D Wareham --- Taylorville · 6 months ago

Patrick Henry railed against taxation without representation. He should see it with representation.

Boscobud · 6 months ago

Asking Illinois to fix the economy is like asking Blago to tell the truth.

Arthur Andersen · 6 months ago

AA agrees that word has the winner. Rich, please don't forget "Fumigation" (or even "Yesterday's Tomatoes") for your headline list.

One of the 35 · 6 months ago

Illinois - can you say disfunctional?

Third Generation Chicago Nativ · 6 months ago

We are staying until the Illinois State Fair

Leave a light on George · 6 months ago

Quinn as Slim Pickens in Blazing Saddles " What in the wide, wide, world of sports is goin' on here?"

Lefty · 6 months ago

"What we have here is a failure to communicate!"

state employee · 6 months ago

A large, cartoon of Speaker Madigan holding a pie and sticking his tongue out like a child,
"na na!", with the Representatives who voted NO on any tax increase, like Tom Cross, all Republicans, and many Democrats, behind him.

All these figures standing over a large crowd of people holding them up on their backs (and they're falling over and being crushed and dying), hoping for crumbs to fall from the pie: state employees, disabled people, seniors, children, homeless, sick patients, poor.

state employee · 6 months ago

...the Representatives who voted NO, behind him, also smiling, and drooling.

state employee · 6 months ago

Dark depiction, isn't it? This is how it is for millions of people in Illinois.

walkinmyshoes · 6 months ago

Oops - we're doing it again!

Gregor · 6 months ago

Don't print this on a t-shirt: it needs to go on a Moebius strip:

"...Nonewtaxesbutwecan'tcutanthingsolet'sraisetaxesbut..."

B. Gone · 6 months ago

t-shirt

Would the last state employee turn out the lights and remove all shoe boxes

DundeeDad · 6 months ago

I Survived "Change" and "Reform"

Six Degrees of Separation · 6 months ago

Don't get MADigan...

(picture of Alfred E. Neumann at a video poker machine)

Just Get Even!

Anonymous · 6 months ago

"This is the song that never ends . . . "

But, after seeing Ghost on the tube tonight, I think BatMan hit it on the head.

Crazy Capital · 6 months ago

Elvis has left the Building...who's to blame now

Ghost · 6 months ago

Oneman

please dont call me shirley