CapitolFax.com - Latest Comments in Question of the day

Re: Question of the day

Churchhill — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:21:20 -0000

Quinn gets a B for having the courage to push for an income tax increase which hasn't been done since Ogelvy. Dawn push for it in 1994 and was beat by Jim Ryan. The next three Republicans and then Dem Blago helf the line. After 40 years of regressive taxation on the backs of property owners and sales tax what do you expect? Check out the records for Democrats who voted no against an income tax hike---they listen mostly to the powerful leaders M & Curie. They should go to detention with failed grades

Re: Question of the day

Wondering — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:37:31 -0000

"Better than Rod"

That's setting the bar pretty damn low.

D-

Re: Question of the day

Jack-Athens — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:35:03 -0000

I would have to say a D. If I were in the same situation, I would have went to the Legislature, admitted that there were gross inefficiencies in the exective branch, blamed it on Blago, and asked for a temporary 2-3% increase until I could get Blago's mess cleaned up. The "temporary" increase would expire after the 2010 election and get reduced down to a permanent 1% increase after the election when the economy was likely better. Then I would take credit for the tax reduction as my first major accomplishment after winning the 2010 election

Re: Question of the day

jake — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:06:31 -0000

A for good intentions, honesty

D for not having and implementing an effective strategy to make the case for doing what is necessary to move towards solving the state's problems.

But two things need to be said:

1. The Governor had lots of company in not getting the necessary done. This could include all the Republicans, the Democrats in the House who voted against the tax increase, the Speaker who did not do all he could do to pass the tax increase, and the Attorney General, who has the popularity and the credibility such that her voice in support could have made a difference.
2. The game is not over yet, so the grade is not final for the course.

Re: Question of the day

state employee — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:48:16 -0000

F for not completing his work ON TIME.

Re: Question of the day

Quizzical — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:17:54 -0000

C+ He is much better than his predecessor, and he came into a tough situation. However, he is having trouble moving from the gadfly role he has played for so long. I don't know if he can function as an administrator or if he has the political skills to make things happen. Right now I'm doubtful.

Re: Question of the day

I am not a crook — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:30:27 -0000

I am unimpressed, D. As noted, we cannot ignore the role of Madigan, Cullerton and Cross in this mess. Govenor Quinn is showing nothing in the way of political savvy or courage. If he fails to pull away from this game of chicken, the consequences for the human service infrastructure are catostrophic, not to mention a huge jump in abuse and neglect of children, unemployment numbers, psychiatric hosptial admissions, foster care admissions, etc.

Re: Question of the day

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:12:34 -0000

F ... He's as schizo as the consultants he's surrounded himself with. He was given a gift and has trashed it: No plan, no accomplishments, no leadership. The state is a mess and there's no way he has the skills to clean it up.

Re: Question of the day

Bill — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:48:43 -0000

F. He is less effective than Blagojevich.

Re: Question of the day

K-Verity — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:42:31 -0000

C- of course he's starting from behind, but I'm not impressed that he's done his homework. Maybe we need to elect a movie star, they don't do any better in the office, but they get more press so we'd get more pity.
The questions should be, how much are Illinois residents willing to take before they actually do something?

Re: Question of the day

Refoemer — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:33:46 -0000

B+ Quinn inherited the budget crisis. He proposed a responsible way to address it, with significant spending cuts combined with an income tax hike. He was too trusting, however, that he could cajole some Republicans into supporting the tax hike. He should've insisted on no capital bill until after the budget was passed.

Re: Question of the day

Justice 2 — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:30:29 -0000

F - for not (F)umigating, not (F)ollowing up on ethics and bowing to the powers that run our state, (F)ailing to remove BLAGO HACKS, and also (F)ILAN, (F)ISCALLY IRRESPONSABLE, (F)URLOUGHS by state workers only, (F)ollowing Blagos lead, and (F)INALLY.....(F)ORGETTING THE LESSONS OF PRIOR ADMINSTRATIONS!

Re: Question of the day

State Worker — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:05:10 -0000

C+. Quinn has good intentions and has honesty and personal integrity. He has not been forceful or proactive in dealing with legislative leaders. His newly hired top staff is intelligent and sincere, light years ahead of their counterparts in the Blagojevich administration. His greatest failure is his inexplicable refusal to remove John Filan. But the bottom line is that Madigan is not giving him a chance.

Re: Question of the day

Abe's Ghost — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:54:22 -0000

Incomplete...and that may be the best grade he can get. It doesn't seem that he has any ability to close a deal on his proposals or form any alliance w/ Madigan. But one must doubt whether anyone between Lisa and the Gov's office would be able to do any better.

Re: Question of the day

One of the 35 — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:16:13 -0000

A "B" for good intentions and honesty. An "F" for poor judgement in retaining the products of the corrupt previous administration. (Filan and Lavin)
An "F" for faulure to understand that huge cuts and program roll backs, in addition to a huge tax increase are all necessary to plug the budget hole. It would appear that he does not have either the intention or the stomach to roll back programs.

Re: Question of the day

Six Degrees of Separation — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:48:13 -0000

For not being Blago - A
For sometimes forgetting the lessons of Blago - D
For having his heart in the right place - A
For administering, assembling a management team and doing the grunt work and negotiating required of a CEO of a 70,000 employee empire- D-

Re: Question of the day

avarus — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:36:04 -0000

C- some minor reforms passed, but budget still not passed on time. Hard to do when working with Boss Madigan.

Re: Question of the day

Wow — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:30:36 -0000

Haha, actually no Rich :)

Re: Question of the day

Rich Miller — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:28:53 -0000

===Man, some of you people are brutal.===

You just noticing this? lol

Re: Question of the day

Wow — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:20:22 -0000

Man, some of you people are brutal. How about at least a 'B' for, well, for not making all of you so crazy and hungry for blood like the previous Governor did? And why no accounting for that budget the legislature tossed Gov. Quinn's way? I know it wasn't in the question but still, that should at least make this a grading scale with a curve don't you think?

Re: Question of the day

doc — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:16:29 -0000

D - He talks big a lot, and always backs down.

Re: Question of the day

Maximus — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:57:37 -0000

I give Quinn an A for trying to do the right thing.

His legislative session was an F though. I dont think he has the right people around him.

Re: Question of the day

Shelbyville — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:36:21 -0000

Attendance - A
lives in the mansion - A
Hasn't been indicted - A
Plays well with others - B

In all seriousness, Quinn had little going for him in the first place. He is the accidental governor. I thought that maybe all of the enemies that he made 30 yrs. ago would be gone by now, but evidently people have long memories.

Re: Question of the day

Pot calling kettle — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:22:19 -0000

I would give him an incomplete, because he was just recently tossed into the Governor's office. BUT, he has been involved in(some might say gadflying about) state government in Illinois since the 1970's. He ought to have been able to do a better job over the last four-five months of getting through the budget crisis.

It should have been framed as a "Rod got us into this" crisis (even though it is soooo much more than that). He should have been called the four tops in for a weekly dinner at the mansion starting week one. (Topic of discussion: the budget.)

The Rod thing gives everyone cover, throw in some cuts, declare a structural deficit, propose a choice of tax increase OR serious cuts in March at the budget address and start sending out the notices then, not in June.

He should have known all that and acted on it immediately.

Also, if he really cares about the state the way he has always said he does, reelection concerns would have taken a back seat.

D- (and I'm being generous.)

Re: Question of the day

Dan S, a Voter and Cubs Fan — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:17:09 -0000

F- All he had to do was maintain until the next election and he's just continueing the Blaggof legacy with Blagoof clowns.