CapitolFax.com - Latest Comments in Question of the day

Re: Question of the day

North of I-80 — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 10:05:32 -0000

Winners: Rod - he was right. Legislature incapable of functioning & it was done to [look like] clear the way to hike taxes on us poor fools.

Winner #2: Roland Burris. He won too. He got what he wanted.

Losers: Dem legislature; they are proven to be incompetent. They didn't get impeachment going, didn't call for special election [yes, much earlier] and now have proven that they can't get budget done on time.

Re: Question of the day

Deep South — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 09:27:20 -0000

Winner - Blago...his arguement that he had to go around the legislature to get anything done is given some credibility.

Losers - The Democrats. See above.

LOL - GOP

Re: Question of the day

WOW — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 09:27:06 -0000

winner strangley rod because it shows he was not the problem! loser madigan who once again cannot get a budget done, he is the obstructionist.

Re: Question of the day

Big West — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 08:17:22 -0000

Winners:

Cullerton and Radogno. They proved you can disagree without being disagreeable.

GOP legislative candidates. The IL GOP remains without a quality bench, but if the can find a few more good legislative candidates, those Democratic majorities will be shrinking.

Teachers. They're starting to look like the NRA of a blue state. Though not a single current teacher would be affected, they still managed to wrangle no changes in the pension system.

Losers:

Pat Collins. He should be a winner, but his absolute insistance on purity, along with his less than veiled jihad against Mike Madigan turned him into a paper hero. As in, he's a hero in the papers and nowhere else.

31 brave souls in the Senate. Also should be in the winner list but aren't. Instead of looking legitimately at a tough vote, I expect a lot of House Democratic members said "what a bunch of idiots." No one's ever lost an election for not raising taxes, so they may be right.

Social service providers. Congrats on those big Democratic majorities. Glad they'll stick by your agenda of helping the people. Wait, what? Plausibly no group has gotten more resoundingly screwed as a result of the session than social services.

Re: Question of the day

long time state worker — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 07:18:19 -0000

Really it is clear from these posts that there are differring opinions on what it means to be a "winner". State employees win so far-no two tiered pensions system, the "exempt" people can go on being hired by their friends and family members, great health insurance, and no accountability. This isn't over yet so who loses is out until" it isn't over til its over...

Re: Question of the day

47th Ward — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:03:46 -0000

===Michael J. Madigan owns it all, doesnâ€™t want any of it, and doesnâ€™t think anyone else should have it either.===

Best. Line. Ever.

Thanks VM!

Re: Question of the day

Avy Meyers — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:32:38 -0000

Hi Again,

Posting this because I forget to check the box to get follow up comments. Hope you can make the show.

Re: Question of the day

Avy Meyers — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:13:24 -0000

Hi Rich,

Your personal mailbox is full. As many here have said, the losers are the people of the state of Illinois.
Next TV show, June 10th, Far North Side, would totally love to have you on for an honest in depth conversation. No one covers Springfield better than you.

Re: Question of the day

Old Timer — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 21:59:40 -0000

The state agencies that are stuck with the administrators that were placed in their jobs with no education or experience. It was time that the majority of them were fired. My hopes are crumbled that no real change will come to state government with Governor Quinn.

Re: Question of the day

Anon — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 21:32:03 -0000

Winner - the Speaker, who keeps his power over the rank and file.

Losers - the goo-goos, who mistakenly thought they could change Springfield's image as a moral cesspool.

Re: Question of the day

Anonymous — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 21:10:20 -0000

Republicans win big. They made themselves not only relevant but critical. Became a check on the Dems' reckless spending increases and irresponsible tax hikes. Fought for ethics reform even though Madigan did not want it. Loser: Madigan and the Dems. He's actually beginning to lose total control over his caucus (good for them). I've never voted straight party either way in my life, but i may go straight GOP next year to shake things up - and I bet others will, too.

Re: Question of the day

Cal Skinner — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:23:21 -0000

I don't know about Sen. Mike Noland's flipping on the income tax issue. I do know I expected him to vote for it after hearing him at Carpentersville School District 300 school board legislative briefing.

Re: Question of the day

Mr. Wizard — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:17:54 -0000

Skimming thru the posts, it's interesting that, as the day wore on, MJM moved from the winner category to the other one.....

Re: Question of the day

Quinn T. Sential — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:00:27 -0000

Losers; No question, the people of Illinois, hands down are the biggest losers in this ongoing battle of the inept.

Winners: Springfield hotel operators, restaurants and bars, who will have another extended session or two to continue to capture some per diem spending and lobster dollars.

Re: Question of the day

Douglas — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:07:51 -0000

Winners:
Radogno. Much needed breath of fresh air for GOP. Thoughtful, but still principled.

Bill Black. On message. Didn't threaten to quit or retire. One step away from Danville boat.

Losers:
Democrats. A show of total incompetence the people may not soon forget.

Re: Question of the day

CC425 — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:44:16 -0000

winners: robin kelly--has taken great pr and fundraising action for her run for treasurer

losers: burris--does he honestly expect to make noise for re-election(if you can call it that) with little or no money in his fundraising account?

losers:

Re: Question of the day

Enemy of the State — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:30:03 -0000

If you think there are winners here, you most likely think you can pick up a turd by the good end.

Re: Question of the day

springfieldish — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:27:43 -0000

Winners:
Cullerton: Wow. Could a leader's first Legislature be more difficult?
Hamos: She stood tall when the House needed a Dem to speak up.
Feigenholtz: Holy smokes! I bet she wishes she were in D. C. right now. But clearly healthcare's best advocate in the House.
Bond: Smooth, bipartisan leadership of the infrastructure committee: got it done with quiet proficiency before the doodoo hit the oscillating device at the end of term.

Losers:
Illinois GOP: Thanks for nothin, guys and gals.
Gov. Quinn: How could he have ever hoped to pass an outside commission's reform package when he knew a tax increase loomed? Reform is vital, and deserves more than being relegated to a distraction. Take care of taxes, spending and the budget first. Then lay the groundwork for a reform bill. He forgot that when you go for all or nothin, you often get nothin.

Re: Question of the day

Niles Township — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:26:18 -0000

I posted this on the other stream, but it is more appropriate here. Gre Hinz has the line of day, and sums up my feelings on the losers: "But if the state's rookie governor can be judged not-quite-ready for prime time, Mr. Madigan bears at least as much blame."

Re: Question of the day

Boscobud — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:15:59 -0000

Winners: There isn't any.

Losers: Both the Democrats and Republicans They both couldn't find the opening to a paper bag.

Re: Question of the day

Hon. Cranial Lamb — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:11:54 -0000

candy-gram for Mongo!

So do we want the Speaker of the House to twist arms and ram through policies? Or do we want a more "democratic" body that doesn't have a strong-gaveled leader? Which is it?

People (Collins, Tribune) keep saying that the Speaker has too much power, but when he leaves the members alone and lets them vote their druthers people complain that he didn't show enough "leadership." I think that is baloney. You can't have it both ways.

Re: Question of the day

Mongo — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:56:58 -0000

winners:

Cullerton (set new tone, leads, great leadership team, appears to work OK with Radogno)

Radogno (constructive but on-message R)

Harmon (works hard and was handed some gems)

Hamos (a leader in the House Dem revolt, great interview of her on the Blog site the other day)

Losers:

Speaker Madigan (it does appear to be his lack of leadership...his token yes vote on the tax increase was not accompanied by enough arm-twisting and everyone knew it)

Governor Quinn (too little too late, whining about his projects like light rail, didn't work the GA as he should have)

Leader Cross (appears too much like an obstructionist...I never really heard a viable alternative out of him)

Re: Question of the day

shore — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:48:03 -0000

Winners
-IL GOP, In the words of former arizona cardinals football coach and former northwestern university assistant coach, denny green, "they are who we thought they are". Another disastorous session for a democrat party that forgets it works for us, rather than their political ends.

-Chicago Tribune, excellent series on political clout in education this weekend. Proof that there are some great reporters left in America.

Losers
-Lisa Madigan. Being a woman and daughter of a powerful man won't do you much good if your party is awful at governing. A status quo candidate of a status quo that isn't great doesn't sound so hot.

-Chris Lauzen. People expect corruption from Illinois democrats, not longtime conservative gop senators. His involvement in illini-gate is an ugly mark.

-University of Illinois. A low first tier public school had its reputation badly damaged with these revelations. Wonder how many alumni whose kids couldn't get in there, but read the tribune story won't ever give them another dollar in donations.

Re: Question of the day

Anon — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:38:40 -0000

Kevin McCarthy is one of the most stand up members of the GA. He will always be a winner in my book. Straight shooter who deserves to be there, unlike many of his fellow house dems.

Re: Question of the day

Hon. Cranial Lamb — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:43:44 -0000

Winners:
* President Cullerton - managed to show to his members that he would represent and lead them, while he still maintained positive working relationships with the Governor and the Speaker oh yeah and with Radogno too.
* Companies that manufacture video-gaming machines, many of which are IL based I believe.
* Whoever gets capital funding for their projects: roads, bridges, towns, schools, colleges.
* Rep. Kevin McCarthy - took on the very big challenge of pension reform, repaired his relationship with his caucus - came back from the politically dead
* Chicago Tribune - despite stain from involvement in the Blago scandal - the paper came back from the dead with its way off the mark over the top editorials on ethics reform and investigative reporting on U of I, etc.

Losers:
* Casino interests - when bars and restaurants have gaming machines, casinos lose.
* Senator Link (looked rather pathetic IMHO trying to add 4 boats after the capital bill was already funded with video poker machines)
* Rep. Ken Duncan - 2x century club + no chairmanship, + Blago gone
* Sen. Mike Noland - flip flopped on tax increases, didn't make any friends with how he ran his committee
* Gun control groups - looking rather pathetic in their attempts to move bills in the House. Even with Quinn as Governor, making no headway.