CapitolFax.com - Latest Comments in Question of the day

Re: Question of the day

Captain Flume — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 09:29:35 -0000

If John Filan is in Quinn's office, you can be assured there will be temper tantrums and violent outbursts. That's Filan, no matter who he is working for.

Re: Question of the day

Jechislo — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 09:17:40 -0000

Fear: He will go off on an "environmentalist" tangent.

Hope: He will have the guts to stand up to Madigan and demand true campaign finance reform.

Re: Question of the day

We Can Hope — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 22:49:39 -0000

Biggest Hope - Reform, such as getting politics out of hiring by ending the "Graded" job application system (Grades of A, B, or C) and replace it with numbered graded tests (scores of 100, 99, 98, etc. - with online testing, it is doable). With Veteran's Preference it should kill off politically connected hiring for Rutan covered jobs.

Biggest Fear - He will draw upon his colleagues from the Walker era. Specifically, John Filan. If Filan comes back, it will be Blago only less the outbursts and temper tantrums.

Re: Question of the day

avarus — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 22:44:09 -0000

Biggest Hope: He can root out corruption and return the state to normalcy.

Biggest Fear:Too entrenched in his activist mentality to actually govern, almost like an incompetent Gov. Moonbeam which may leave the state even worse off.

Re: Question of the day

You Go Boy — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:33:16 -0000

= Fear: "reduce the size of gov't"=

There are 4 maybe five or six who dictate what happens in this state...I wouldn't worry about the great loss of "representatives".

Re: Question of the day

Bookworm — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:09:35 -0000

Fear: that true to form, he will be the "man of 1,000 ideas" and try to push them all no matter how half-baked they may be.

Hope: that true to form, he will work hard, campaign effectively without a lot of formal fundraising and continue to have staffers who respond promptly to all inquiries.

Re: Question of the day

Park Shasta — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:55:01 -0000

Biggest fear: Party leadership on both sides, media stonewall Quinn not because they disagree with him, but because they dislike him.

Biggest hope: A breakthrough in the gridlock between branches. Cooperation in state and with the feds brings progress in schools, health care, and jobs.

Re: Question of the day

Old Timer — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:58:30 -0000

Biggest Hope - removing any state employee who was not selected through the competitive interview process.

Biggest Fear - nothing changes and the incompetent keep their high paying positions.

Re: Question of the day

"low level paper pusher" — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:55:03 -0000

Biggest Hope: every single Blago appointee is removed.

Biggest Fear: Illinois will pass some sort of limitation on campaign contributions, similar to the Federal limitations (i.e. Osterman legislation)

If/when that happens, that will benefit incumbants only, as challengers will have to spend all their time raising money $1000 a pop, or whatever the limit happens to be. Does anyone wonder why over 95% of the U.S. Congress is made up of millionaires?

When the "reformers" come calling, watch out.

Re: Question of the day

Toast Man — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:50:52 -0000

Biggest hope - that he removes Blago's high paid, do nothing, appointed minions.

Biggest fear - he doesn't remove Blago's bozos.

Re: Question of the day

Six Degrees of Separation — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:39:00 -0000

Chiatty - you have very good reason to fear, then.

Ivy - From Webster's: very steep, perpendicular, or overhanging in rise or fall.. I predict the governor's removal from office will be precipitous, indeed.

Re: Question of the day

bluedog demo — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:34:11 -0000

Steve is right. Southern Illinois is WRONG. The Golden Goose, state retirements at 50, has been slain. When the stock market went pop so did the idea of " 50 yrs. and out " regarding state pensions. Makes no difference if it the system had been " fully funded " by whomever it was way to much of a parachute. Those heady times are over. Thank the young for they will pay for it all !

Re: Question of the day

Larry Mullholland — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:16:35 -0000

Biggest hope is that State Government will get back on track and begin to give the agencies back to those who have a passion to run the programs correctly. This assumes of course that there is anyone left to cares about their programs adn know how to run them....

Re: Question of the day

Larry Mullholland — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:14:30 -0000

My fears are tax increases and Quinn Keeping Rezko/ Blago lovers on board.

Case in point Jack Lavin. Lavin was a Rezko team member when they defrauded GE capital of $10 Million. Lavin was also point man and facilitator to place many of those Rezko sponsored. Sorry Jack you've got to go now....

Re: Question of the day

Black Ivy — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:59:49 -0000

I'm with Chiatty - the fact that we are even presuming that Pat Quinn will be Governor is precipitous in my opinion.

My fear is that justice will not served and Quinn takes the post.

I've got to give additional thought to any feeling of hope.

Re: Question of the day

IrishPirate — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:58:04 -0000

Hope: That Quinn has less attention deficit disorder than I perceive him to have and ends up being focus on being Governor.

Fear: That MJM and his desire to have Lisa be Governor interferes with the give and take that a sane governor should have with the legislature.

If Lisa Madigan runs for Governor in February 2010 then what incentive does MJM have for working with Quinn?

Inquiring pirates wanna know.

Re: Question of the day

MYTHOUGHT — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:51:51 -0000

biggest fear: let's everything go to his head and acts like blago. doesn't go back on his word.
biggest hope: doesn't go back on his word and puts the fund back in for state parks and historic sites.

Re: Question of the day

chiatty — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:45:01 -0000

Biggest fear: that it comes to pass.

Biggest hope: that he doesn't get re-elected.

Re: Question of the day

Ugh — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:42:26 -0000

Hope - That we have positive change in Illinois government.

Fear - More of the same just new names.

Re: Question of the day

True Observer — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:39:16 -0000

Lisa gets aced out of Senator and Governor.

What's left?

Mayor 2011.

Re: Question of the day

eastern illinoisan — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:26:19 -0000

Greatest Fear: Similar to several other posters that Quinn will focus on insider reform ideas that are far removed from the concerns of the everyday person eg. jobs, healthcare, quality education, clean air and drinking water and won't take on the hard issues that need addressing such as what is the appropriate level of funding for government as a whole, are we going to leave lots of people uninsured and for those relying on state programs are we going to ensure their access by paying providers on time and adequately? How can government work better for the people?

Greatest hope: that new Governor will look very carefully at existing agency heads and their top staff and get rid of those who are underperforming, especially those who have gladly gone along with questionably legal programs (ISAVE, FAmilyCAre etc) and incurred multiple audits for mismanagement. Some agencies have been well run and some staff high up have been very competent but a thorough review needs to take place based on job performance not their ties to ward organizations or other political considerations.

Re: Question of the day

ivoted4judy2 — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:42:27 -0000

Biggest hope - EVERYONE who was appointed or received a state job or promotion under blago adminastration NEEDS to be removed or their said appointment/promotion looked into.
Biggest fear - That he would leave these agency director, CFO, CEO etc, etc, who NEVER worked for the state before blago keep their job and messing up state goverment because they have a high enough job title to let them. The state workers with years of service under their belts who don't make the big bucks have to sit by and watch these inexperience boobs keep running agency's into the ground!

Re: Question of the day

Carbon Deforestation — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:35:58 -0000

Biggest fear: that he is so tarnished by being Blago's running mate that despite accomplishing things in the next 18 months he is still beaten by the GOP in 2010 and Dems lose control of the state for another 30 years.

Biggest hope: fixes the state's fiscal house by doing many things, including raising income taxes on those making more than 150k and providing property tax relief

Re: Question of the day

PPHS — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:24:54 -0000

Biggest hope - that he does not play ball with anyone named Cellini and that the auditors take a close look at the Presidential Library from day 1 to the present.

Biggest fear - that he doesn't know what he is doing and the State of IL. can't attract competent staffers anymore to help him.

Re: Question of the day

Cassandra — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:23:50 -0000

Actually, let's be fair, Blago tried to make some pension reforms but couldn't get legislative support.

Not sure pensions are the biggest problem here.

I suspect the challenge will be making good use of the billions forthcoming from the feds. There will be a lot of Democrats with their mouths open ready to grab some of the federal largesse. Pay to play will really take off. Will Quinn be able to spot the pay to players and will he be able to stop them and the pols before they start grabbing our money. Does he have any financial experts in his entourage. Or will he be relying on our Blago's folks.