Friday, December 23, 2005
Only six Governors in the country have worse approval ratings than Blagojevich. Forty-one percent of Eisendrath's "Fact Sheet" on Blagojevich
Only six Governors in the country have worse approval ratings than Blagojevich. Forty-one percent of Democrats disapprove of the Governor’s job. In head to head match-ups, Blagojevich loses the general election to State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka and State Senator Steve Rauschsenberger.
Governor Blagojevich has lost the confidence of the people of Illinois, and they are ready for a change. A small sampling of comments from around the state:
63 percent of independents, 61 percent of Republicans and 51 percent of Democrats believed that the governor had made no difference in corruption. 61 percent of males and 55 percent of females said he had made no difference. 21 percent of southern Illinoisans believed he had made it worse. Just 26 percent of Chicagoans, 30 percent of Democrats, 6 percent of Republicans and 14 percent of independents believed he cleaned it up.
– Posted on Capital Fax Blog, November 9, 2005
Like a kid on the playground, he called legislators, lobbyists and reporters names. In an apparent attempt to depict himself as independent, he perpetuated a nasty public feud with his father-in-law, a Chicago ward boss who was his political mentor.
– Aaron Chambers, Rockford Register Star, November 26, 2005
“I think it's pretty clear that this administration has politicized the public information operation much more so than any other administration in my memory,” said Charles Wheeler III, a former Statehouse reporter who has covered governors dating to the 1960s and now heads the public affairs reporting program at the University of Illinois at Springfield.
– Chicago Tribune, November 27, 2005
But, what Tusk failed to mention and what the story reported is that the overall quality of jobs has shown a steady decline over the last six years and the median income for Illinois households fell by $6,000 during the same time span. The report showed Illinois has lost more than 200,000 high-paying manufacturing jobs during the past decade and more than 100,000 service jobs in the past five years.
In his column Tusk closed by saying: “Punditry will always be a component of politics, but as far as helping people is concerned, the numbers speak for themselves.”
I couldn't agree more, Mr. Tusk, particularly when considering the drastic decrease in annual income in Illinois and the fact that many people are unable “to maintain a household,” the numbers certainly do speak for themselves.
– Jim Muir, The Southern Illinoisan, November 29, 2005
“Deja vu in Springfield”
Ryan's successor as governor has become mired in charges that jobs and contracts have been handed out as political goodies, en route to the governor amassing a $14 million campaign fund. Gov. Rod Blagojevich's office and agencies under his control have been hit with a barrage of federal subpoenas in recent weeks.
There's a distinct sense of deja vu in all this: An election looms and a big gray cloud hovers over the race.
— Chicago Tribune, November 13, 2005
The governor’s expensive tastes must explain why Illinois’ tollway bosses are giving him such an expensive gift this year. It cost $271,000.
They let him unwrap the first present before Thanksgiving. Maybe you’ve seen it. It is hanging like a giant ornament at the new Irving Park Toll Plaza on I-294 near O’Hare International Airport.
“Open Road Tolling — Rod R. Blagojevich, Governor.”
Regardless of whether anyone will raise their eyebrows over the expensive tollway gift, I’m afraid Blagojevich may be overestimating the benefits of his name being hung on a project that amounts to public pickpocketing.
— Chuck Goudie, Daily Herald, December 5. 2005
Naturally, the Blagojevich administration sees nothing wrong with using state workers to promote the boss. To them it's called outreach.
— Peoria Journal Star, November 13, 2005
If parole officers' jobs are to inform the public about new laws, as one Department of Corrections official said, maybe we have too many parole officers…We didn't know they had become public relations agents for the governor. No wonder they're so busy.
– The Daily Eastern News, November 7, 2005
However, Anderson questioned the “new” IDOT approach. He said the current administration has placed many people in upper levels who know nothing about highways, but are instead hired because of nepotism or party affiliation.
“Decisions about our highways need to be made by experienced engineers, not experienced politicians,” Anderson said. “It appears this administration wants more work to go to consultants. Consultants provide campaign contributions; most civil engineers do not.”
– The Southern Illinoisan, December 7, 2005
The report said two top Blagojevich aides gave favorable treatment to a former Democratic state representative and the brother of a current Democratic state representative who both work for the Department of Corrections.
– Peoria Journal Star, November 13, 2005
A grand jury has been convened regarding allegations of criminal allegations of three state workers – the director and deputy of the governor's Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and the deputy director in charge of hiring at Department of Children and Family Services.
– Associated Press, November 3, 2005
www.eisendrath2006.com
To return to McHenry County Blog, click here.
Governor Blagojevich has lost the confidence of the people of Illinois, and they are ready for a change. A small sampling of comments from around the state:
63 percent of independents, 61 percent of Republicans and 51 percent of Democrats believed that the governor had made no difference in corruption. 61 percent of males and 55 percent of females said he had made no difference. 21 percent of southern Illinoisans believed he had made it worse. Just 26 percent of Chicagoans, 30 percent of Democrats, 6 percent of Republicans and 14 percent of independents believed he cleaned it up.
– Posted on Capital Fax Blog, November 9, 2005
Like a kid on the playground, he called legislators, lobbyists and reporters names. In an apparent attempt to depict himself as independent, he perpetuated a nasty public feud with his father-in-law, a Chicago ward boss who was his political mentor.
– Aaron Chambers, Rockford Register Star, November 26, 2005
“I think it's pretty clear that this administration has politicized the public information operation much more so than any other administration in my memory,” said Charles Wheeler III, a former Statehouse reporter who has covered governors dating to the 1960s and now heads the public affairs reporting program at the University of Illinois at Springfield.
– Chicago Tribune, November 27, 2005
But, what Tusk failed to mention and what the story reported is that the overall quality of jobs has shown a steady decline over the last six years and the median income for Illinois households fell by $6,000 during the same time span. The report showed Illinois has lost more than 200,000 high-paying manufacturing jobs during the past decade and more than 100,000 service jobs in the past five years.
In his column Tusk closed by saying: “Punditry will always be a component of politics, but as far as helping people is concerned, the numbers speak for themselves.”
I couldn't agree more, Mr. Tusk, particularly when considering the drastic decrease in annual income in Illinois and the fact that many people are unable “to maintain a household,” the numbers certainly do speak for themselves.
– Jim Muir, The Southern Illinoisan, November 29, 2005
“Deja vu in Springfield”
Ryan's successor as governor has become mired in charges that jobs and contracts have been handed out as political goodies, en route to the governor amassing a $14 million campaign fund. Gov. Rod Blagojevich's office and agencies under his control have been hit with a barrage of federal subpoenas in recent weeks.
There's a distinct sense of deja vu in all this: An election looms and a big gray cloud hovers over the race.
— Chicago Tribune, November 13, 2005
The governor’s expensive tastes must explain why Illinois’ tollway bosses are giving him such an expensive gift this year. It cost $271,000.
They let him unwrap the first present before Thanksgiving. Maybe you’ve seen it. It is hanging like a giant ornament at the new Irving Park Toll Plaza on I-294 near O’Hare International Airport.
“Open Road Tolling — Rod R. Blagojevich, Governor.”
Regardless of whether anyone will raise their eyebrows over the expensive tollway gift, I’m afraid Blagojevich may be overestimating the benefits of his name being hung on a project that amounts to public pickpocketing.
— Chuck Goudie, Daily Herald, December 5. 2005
Naturally, the Blagojevich administration sees nothing wrong with using state workers to promote the boss. To them it's called outreach.
— Peoria Journal Star, November 13, 2005
If parole officers' jobs are to inform the public about new laws, as one Department of Corrections official said, maybe we have too many parole officers…We didn't know they had become public relations agents for the governor. No wonder they're so busy.
– The Daily Eastern News, November 7, 2005
However, Anderson questioned the “new” IDOT approach. He said the current administration has placed many people in upper levels who know nothing about highways, but are instead hired because of nepotism or party affiliation.
“Decisions about our highways need to be made by experienced engineers, not experienced politicians,” Anderson said. “It appears this administration wants more work to go to consultants. Consultants provide campaign contributions; most civil engineers do not.”
– The Southern Illinoisan, December 7, 2005
The report said two top Blagojevich aides gave favorable treatment to a former Democratic state representative and the brother of a current Democratic state representative who both work for the Department of Corrections.
– Peoria Journal Star, November 13, 2005
A grand jury has been convened regarding allegations of criminal allegations of three state workers – the director and deputy of the governor's Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and the deputy director in charge of hiring at Department of Children and Family Services.
– Associated Press, November 3, 2005
www.eisendrath2006.com
To return to McHenry County Blog, click here.
# posted by Cal Skinner : 7:49 PM
