Blago shows a sense of humor, something you will never see from Bush!

[wndycty]

Blagojevich accepts anti-Blagojevich shirt from College Republicans

-snip-
The group wore blue T-shirts emblazoned with an anti-Blagojevich slogan ("Blagojevich sucks") to protest a decision that could put some of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission's student loan portfolio up for sale.
The governor announced the program and touted its potential to provide student aid to more students. Then he looked at the College Republicans and said he wanted a T-shirt. In Blagojevich's words, "I promise you if I get a blue one like that, I'll wear it when I go out jogging."

The College Republicans quickly handed up a blue T-shirt and posed for pictures with the governor.
-snip-

[kevsand]

1. Here's a link to the News-Gazette story,

with a similar (but slightly larger and brighter) photo:

"Students blast Blagojevich's aid initiative"
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2006/05/10/students_blast_blagojevichs_aid_initiative

[WildEyedLiberal]

2. OMG, was that the press conference he gave on the UI quad?

Damn it I had class! x(

That would have ruled!

[Mace_Windex]

3. so?

As if that makes up for that fact that this guy has crippled the Illinois economy and will take ten years to get us back where we were before he took office.

[FrancesPete]

4. And now the FBI is in his office

The FBI and Fitzgerald are now investigating his administration's hiring practices...the guy is a loser.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0607010095jul01,1,7950280.story?coll=chi-news-hed

[mopinko]

5. can you all hook me up? i could use some cash.

y'all seem to have a nice gig, stirring up shit. need any help there?

[newyawker99]

17. Hi FrancesPete!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Critters2]

6. And he's the Dem candidate again

I'm worried.

[dogman]

7. No

He took over an economy that was crippled by the GOP attempts to buy votes.

[olkaz]

8. errr

He still hasn't accomplished much of anything. Nobody downstate likes him at all.

It would help if he lived in Springfield. Doesn't leave much to the imagination on where his priorities lie.

[dogman]

9. And if he raised taxes, they would like him less.

He has reversed the anti-worker trend that the GOP was undertaking and he has established some progressive programs in our state. How does sleeping in Springfield make a difference? That is just GOP smoke to obscure real issues. It is apparent that his priorities lie with our future, the children. What would your solution to the states problems be, considering Ryan and his GOP had spent the funds long ago? Topinka is the state treasurer and her latest gas tax proposal defies mathematical logic. Returning control of the purse strings to the GOP would devastate Illinois' finances.

[newyawker99]

18. Hi olkaz!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[kaleagal]

19. Southern Illinoisan for Blago here.

"He still hasn't accomplished much of anything."
He and our legislature have worked well together to accomplish A LOT and Illinois has PROGRESSED in so many ways, and inspite of the recent era of reduced help from the Federal Gov., because of his aggressive and productive style of governing.
some examples- Drastically reducing the deficit inherited from the Republicans, Stem Cell Research Grants in Illinois, Guaranteed Access to whatever your doctor prescribes for you, All Kids Health Insurance, Cleaner energy initiatives, Expanding preschool, Raising the minimum wage

"Nobody downstate likes him at all. It would help if he lived in Springfield. Doesn't leave much to the imagination on where his priorities lie."
This outdated argument is fast approaching urban mythology.
I know I speak for enough of my fellow Southern Illinoisans that we don't care where he lives. We care more that he's doing his job, which he is doing. He just scored big the other day by putting his foot down in the Metro East by saying No Tolls to the Missourians and pushing a less expensive bridge alternative. We've been seeing more companies coming here from Missouri, which will build up the Illinois economy and add jobs. But even with that, we need more alternative routes for crossing the Mississippi.

[olkaz]

29. -

[newyawker99]

16. Hi Mace_Windex!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[terrya]

28. I believe it was George Ryan who left a $5 billion deficit

But whatever.

[WildEyedLiberal]

10. Where did all the Judy Baar Topinka trolls come from?

[dogman]

11. I think they wanted to see their picture with the Guv.

What else would there be for them here?

[mopinko]

12. sock puppets on parade

really, i wonder how you get these jobs. money for nuthin'. what a gig.

[Baltimore]

13. T-shirts

This shows Democrats aren't afraid of the people. Bush only appears before hand-picked cheerleaders who've signed a loyalty oath and been strip-searched.

[kevsand]

14. Now there's a job...

Strip searcher for Dubya...

[davsand]

15. Who would you have to piss off to get stuck in that job?

Every day could feel like a Monday with that job!









better yet:

[olkaz]

20. Corruption's a 'comin.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

I'm not a Judy Baar Topinka troll. I'm a democrat, and I don't like Blagojevich. At all. The hiring debacle will not look good.

If that's true about businesses setting up shop in East St. Louis, that is fantastic news. With the educational funding in Illinois coming strictly from property taxes (take a look at the facilities of Byron or Braidwood sometime), maybe the districts there can finally buy some books and fix the leaks in the roof.

Quick idea, instead of pointing the stinky finger and shouting "witch", consider the fact that there do exist members of your own party with different views than your own. We're not lockstep Republicans, remember?

[dogman]

21. If you read post 3 above you will see GOP talking points.

Which like most GOP talking points, have no basis in fact. Corruption is not coming, it's been here. See George Ryan. While many of us would like to see more reforms, it has decreased. If by no other means than the fact there are fewer people to corrupt. Is it your view that Topinka is corruption free, an island of honesty in a sea of GOP corruption? We are not Republicans at all here, and it is against DU rules to use this forum to campaign for Republicans.

[olkaz]

22. dissent is patriotic?

George Ryan was corrupt, indeed. Do you assume that corruption has since been stamped out? It certainly doesn't appear to be the case, at least with this hiring scandal.

I don't support Topinka at all. Does not liking a specific Democrat representative make me a Republican? That certainly seems like the type of black-and-white thinking that conservative shills utilize.

I was pointing out that I would expect members of my own party to be more tolerant of differing views, as opposed to those in lockstep. Not a difficult concept to grasp, and certainly has nothing to do with "use(ing) this forum to campaign for Republicans".

My original reply was a bit troll-ish, which I regret. I just expect better out of our governor. I didn't realize that this stance would be so harshly recieved, especially since I know plenty of folks that are displeased with the current situation.

[WildEyedLiberal]

23. It looks trollish because

It looks trollish because three posters with under 20 posts came in and attacked Blagojevich in tandem with one-liner cheap shots. Why would your first post on DU choose to be devoted to attacking a Democrat? Why did three people with tiny post counts suddenly show up and kick a long dormant thread and feed off of each other to attack a Democrat?

I'm sure you agree how suspicious that looks. Trolls like to work in pairs or groups and establish a "dialogue" with each other, usually about how much a certain Democrat sucks.

I'm far from Blagojevich's biggest fan, but I know when something smells funny.

[dogman]

24. Explanation, not accusation.

I wrote that I would like to see further reform, I don't believe corruption will ever be stamped out. Removing money in the campaigns would still leave room for individuals seeking personal wealth and power. However I criticized post #3 because it was a false statement, not because it was critical of the Gov. If you looked into prior posts you would find many of us were hoping for a qualified challenger to Blag in the primary. We are now beyond the primary and have a contest between a Dem and a GOPer. It is now a choice to be made. DU rules do not allow support for the other side. As far as I know, the hiring scandal is just that. Until a trial has been held, finding guilt, I look on this as just more politics. How do you think the employees that Blag replaced got their jobs to begin with? Do you remember Ryan making changes before he left to make his picks permanent for the next administration? The bottom line is that Topinka is a bushco supporter and would undo all of the good things the Dems have done since taking control of the state. It is easy to criticize but one must have a sound basis for criticism and should offer workable alternatives.

[mopinko]

25. thugs get away with murder, dems are hanged for

misdemeanors. and we often weave our own ropes. as an electorate, we have to learn to be more discerning. dems are good people, tending to be honest, and expect the best of our leaders. but we have to find a way to get over this business of throwing them overboard every time someone digs up a little dirt on them. in a bureaucracy as big as the state of illinois, there will always be some dirt to be found. we have to find a way around this, as a party. i think it is our achilles heel. there is a fine line between demanding good government, and living in fantasy land. we have to grow up.

[kaleagal]

26. Dissent is patriotic, but...

...it is not how partisan politics works in the general elections. The two should not be confused. I know a real confused guy here in the Metro East, who keeps calling himself an Independent Democrat, because he backs Republicans too. He's just an independent. I know how hard it is. I just joined the Democrats in '04. But, you have to look at it more like a sports team. The time to reform the Party is between the general elections and the primaries. Once we pick our team in the primaries, we have to play with it. You can't have people making points for the other team.

But, olkaz, I think you've put out an olive branch. And I'll accept it. I think it's looking like others want to give you a chance, too. I've experienced it before, where this one-dimensional, sound bite-ish format creates problems in communication. Like dogman is basically saying, watch out for GOP propaganda. And remember, with the investigation of the IL admins., you gotta give it a chance. Fitzgerald is a fair guy. If he finds anything to be concerned about, we'll take the next step then, not before.

[olkaz]

27. You're right

I'm part of the team, just made my first few posts too negative to give an accurate representation of myself and my values. Thanks for understanding.

And as for our governor, I was told yesterday that sometimes you just have to hold your nose and vote party. I made it too complicated.