Quote of the week
Well, it's not actually a verbal quote. More like a non-verbal statement. From the Sun-Times:
Asked his impressions of Blagojevich's new ethics proposal, Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago) -- a leading proponent of past reforms -- picked up Blagojevich's press release, crumpled it and handed it back to a group of reporters.
Fritchey is the governor's state Rep. and has worked with the administration on numerous issues. His relationship with the guv has been strained of late, however, as the snippet above clearly shows.
posted by Rich Miller @ 5/12/2005 06:30:00 AM
47 comments
47 Comments...
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I find it interesting The Rod has such "strained" relationships with his fellow Democrats. I know Fritchey to be a loyal Democrat. His actions in this case speak much louder than words.
Could you find a better example of the Guv's political problems right now? Fritchey's not perfect, but he is 1.) smart 2.) a loyal Democrat and 3.) a reliable liberal.
If G-Rod can't count on white, North Side, social liberals with law degrees... who can he count on?
Who can the Gov count on....the same folks he he has been reaching out to...African American voters in the Chicago....the recent poll numbers show it.
A 52 percent approval from African-Americans is terrible for a Democratic governor. Just awful.
And you if know Fritchey at all, him saying nothing could have been the best outcome possible for The Gov.
Somebody answer this - if your own State Rep. is a 'leading proponent of past reforms', why have Phelps who has no experience on these issues sponsor the bill? Don't get me wrong, Phelps is a real good guy, but it just looks like the Guv is going out of his way to snub Fritchey. Or is this just more Mell fallout? Good theater, bad poitics.
Rod wouldn't know Ethics if Ethics came up and bit him in the nose.
Vanilla...you have a better chance of seeing Alan Keyes agree to pose in Playgirl
Good to see the folks from Illinois Leader strayed over to Rich's forums.
If you guys took all this passion for hating the Governor and put it into constructively building a political organization, then you might not have to hit ship your candidates in from Maryland.
Why is anyone surprised that Fritchey has a strained relationsghip with the Gov or that he'd be a thorn in his side? Fritchey's a Mell guy. He's part of the 33rd ward org and won his seat because of Mell. Don't be so naive.
Why Phelps? Where does his dad work---sounds kind of like old fashion politics doesn't it?
12:13..give us a break. Fritchey's ten times smarter than the Guv, has more legislative accomplishments than Blago could ever hope to, better liked (by both parties) and last I checked the headlines, Fritchey's not at the center of any fundraising improprieties.
If you want to prop up your guy Rod, go for it, but you're not going to be able to do it at Fritchey's expense.
LOL..Fritchey's a Mell Guy?! Rod uses Mell and Longo to no end and with no shame, and then turns on them, not because he has an awakening, but because he finds a new crew to try to advance his career...and Fritchey's a Mell guy? The administration has no shame.
I would say Blagojevich's use of Brandon Phelps of the southernmost 118th District isn't surprising.
Brandon and next-door fellow Dem John Bradley are operating on a good cop / bad cop routine. Blago calls Bradley a "wall-flower" and Brandon sucks up to the gov so much he has to wipe off the toilet paper stuck to his face.
Yes, Brandon's uncle is David Phelps, formerly of the 118th, then the 19th Congressional District, and now of IDOT, but don't focus on the family tree so much as Brandon's work history.
Brandon previously worked as an organizer for Ed Smith and the Laborers (that would be the same Ed Smith of Cairo that the guv's appointed to some top boards and whose union is one of the largest donors to Illinois Democrats - and not to mention vote-buying investigations in Cairo).
The Laborers backed Blago early in the Democratic primary in 2002, so did the extended and extremely politically active Phelps clan. Before Brandon ran for Uncle Dave's old seat he ran Gary Forby's campaign for state senate while on the Laborer's payroll.
In case anyone hasn't noticed the Laborers make it a point to hire young Democratic well-connected offspring. Three examples immediately come to mind, one of which was Brandon's brother Brock.
Down here in Southern Illinois nobody likes Blago unless they got a job from him. Rank and file Democrats talk worse about him then the Republicans.
The "wallflower" quote probably, more than anything, will secure John Bradley a long tenure in the legislature. Southern Illinois isn't used to lawmakers picking fights with power. His subsequent anti-gambling measure is only strengthening his reputation.
That brings us back to why is Brandon doing this. It's not the first piece of legislation he's sponsoring for the governor. This is just the latest. As the governor runs out of friends in Chicago he's using the few downstaters who will still talk to him.
But I still think it's the Laborers too. The Gov needs strong labor backing to win. Even if his ethics plan passed (Heaven help us if it did), he would still have an army of workers on his behalf.
Any time someone proposes reform it upsets the people who want to keep the status quo.
When you tell a politician who is use to being able to get as much money as they want from any place that they want that there will be restrictions placed on how they raise campaign cash they get upset. Some say nasty mean things and some just crumple up the paper and throw it away.
Is raising tens of millions of dollars and then deciding to change the system really supposed to be reform? Given that his 'system-rocking' proposal is just a compilation of other people's ideas, why couldn't Rod have done this sometime over the last two and a half years? Oh yeah, too busy with video games and new Panda Express locations.
Down in Egypt - Why shouldn't union organizations hire democrats? And there are plenty of people who don't have state jobs and will still vote for the Governor - Reality - He was handed a REAL MESS - a mess that wasn't made in 2 or 4 years and will take a lot longer to clean it all up!! Patience is a virtue and I believe a few posters could use a little!
Even GWB doesn't consistently blame Clinton for the "mess" eight years left. I voted for Blago once, but never again. I've *never* heard so much complaining from an elected politician why a job *can't* be done.
I voted for Blago because I thought he was the guy to do it -- to clean it up. Now I realize he can't do it.
Hey Anony 4:44 - are you kidding ?! GWB and his right wing cronies blame President Clinton and his eight years of excellence for all the problems the GOP has created. But these are probably gripes better posted on another blog... *grumble, grumble*
Look for Fritchey in the governor's office by 2010
Look for Vallas in the governor's office in '06.
This is in reference to:
5/12/2005 2:40 PM, Anonymous
Are you kidding? Trying to paint Fritchey as an old-school politico who is more interested in keeping the status quo for his benefit is laughable -- Fritchey is a known reformer. The truth is this is just another stunt by Blago and his out-of-state, politically green advisors that is going to blow up in his face... again. Rod is a big phony and it is quite transparent. This is coming from a Dem... not the IL Leader.
Even though I would love to see what would happen if G-Rod and his people push Fritchey too far, if I was them I would stand down and not pick this fight. Now more than ever they need him as a friend not an enemy.
Can't we all just get along :)
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Where's the posse? This could go downhill FAST.
Anybody want to go into the reasons that Rod couldn't stay in Washington any longer?
Hey AA, nobody called him a saint, they called him a reformer, which is accurate. And I don't think you know the Guv too well if this is the path on which you want to travel. Glass houses, glass mansions - they both are very fragile
more like Gov. Blewhiswad
I saw this on a previous post: the best name for this guy is Hypocrovich! Someone correct me if I am wrong, but he has not provided a final draft for this legislation yet, correct? I read that it isn't written yet, the press release just has dot points of what it is going to include. Didn't he announce this a couple of months ago and the legislation still hasn't been prepared? To all of you Blago (excuse me, Hypocrovich) supporters who are still standing behind him, take a break from your reality shows and read some facts on this guy. He has surrounded himself with immature, arrogant, simpletons who don't know how to govern or run an operation. What have these people been doing all this time. Rock my what? This is a sad, sad, sad attempt to divert attention from his bad press. There are sharks in the water and they are not going to quit nibbling at this guy. The media have good reason to be irritated. He continues to stone-wall them when questions are asked and he refuses to give press conferences. Be a man and stand up and answer some questions - these goofy press releases have gotten old and people want some answers to your actions and the actioins of the people you appointed. Again, stand up and be a man, leave the hair brush at home.
Don't forget that Fritchey is married into the connected Banks family.
Devine may run for Governor.
It's hard to believe that former Clinton whiz-kid David Wilhelm has been counseling the Blags through these recent rough waters. Could he have other distractions to worry about besides his future 2008 presidential candidate?
Fritchey is entitled to his opinion. As far as the relevance of his statement, it means nothing. He doesnt get Blago votes in the next election (unlike our downstate friends, very few people in chicago know who their state rep is), nor will blago be able to count on fritcheys vote unless the speaker tells him to vote with blago. Fritcheys gesture is empty and it should be interpreted as such.
As for the big talk of him being a reformer, or in the mansion in 2010, I dont see it. Not that I dislike him, I actually like him, but he doesnt have what it takes to get electedto such a high office statewide. Say what you want about Blago -- he did do it when everybody said it couldnt be done. He will do it again in 2006.
If you think the negative comments about the Governor and his so called "ethics" plan come from Republicans or the Illinois leader, you are fooling yourself. I am a lifelong D and every Dem I have talked to about him can't stand this man and his hypocrisy! I will vote for ANY Republican over him, if I don't have the opportunity to vote against him in a primary. Any Republican, even a crazy right winger would be preferable to this man even for my liberal self.
I agree with the earlier posters. If Fritchey gets pissed, he will tee off big time. And he has a lot of folks (Mell, etc) who would be more than happy to help.
Articulate official+lots of facts and info=trouble for G-Rod
What's funny is that it is so in both of their interests to work together. Listen up you two, I know you both read this.
So why exactly is Fritchey the good or bad guy in this whole thing? For once, he kept his mouth shut. This is much ado over nothing.
'nor will blago be able to count on fritcheys vote unless the speaker tells him to vote with blago'
That's just it - if the Gov was smart, he would have tried to keep Fritchey close to him from the start. Politics 101 - addition, not subtraction
David Wilhelm is one of the brightest stars associated with this current administration. His current focus on creating jobs in rural areas of Ohio, Iowa and Illinois is begining to pay off for the citizens in those regions.
Too bad we can't get all this energy and negative hot air from this blog directed to wind mill energy growth to boost job production in this state.
Oh where Oh where is the Bush-Cheney economic recovery and how I miss the Clinton-Gore economic growth period.
This thread is a great example of why things are imploding like crazy for Dems. It starts with nothing more than an observation that a Rep who happens to have the Gov as his constituent, disses the Gov's release without comment. None of us know what provoked the reaction. Then the majority of the morons here, with their own agendas, either start attacking the Governor or Fritchey for things having nothing to do with the issue at hand. Every Dem that has posted something negative here about either of them should really think twice. When you provoke these things for no reason other than salacious amusement, we all wind up paying the price. Can we move on to a real issue, like say maybe what the proposal does or doesn't do?
This could be the most disjointed thread ever. For the record, these two have never been exceptionally close. Almost like a sibling rivalry. And while they both could benefit if they played nice together, neither one needs the other to succeed. Personally I think that, to date, one of them has been overestimated and one underestimated. But don't we have bigger issues facing our State?
Let's not go nuts, re: Fritchey. I think he's an honest man who means well. But he's also not above going along to get along. He's ambitious; he's a player.
In other words, he's not above letting someone powerful telling him what to do. Maybe that's the most telling part about this. Fritchey wouldn't diss the guv if he thought the guv was important to his political future.
Somebody, anybody, to date, what has Fritchey said against the Governor? Nothing that I can recall reading or hearing. Where the hell is all of this coming from? Is the Administration (where I'm assuming the nasty posts are coming from)this sensitive or threatened by somebody crumpling up a press release? Doesn't this kind of reaction look real bad here? Does this worry anybody besides me about the next cycle?
Fritchey said nothing (at least publicly) bad about the governor while Franks and the Republicans were drooling for the chance to bash him, right? So how does that translate into Fritchey challenging the governor or running for governor later on? There's also no quotes anywhere of Fritchey saying the governor's proposals are bad. Maybe he was just mad he wasn't asked to be the sponsor of this, or thought it was poor form to use a press release to propose such major reform? But he didn't say anything so this blog gets to analyze what crumple means without end, I guess.
re: wilhelm and rural job creation -- are the "opportunity returns" plans done and released yet for all the regions, including all rural parts of the state? no.
is the coal plant in southern illinois or the wind farm the gov touted at the beginning of the session in operation or even under construction? no and no.
has the governor done more for the southern illinois wine industry this year than previous governors did before blagojevich abolished the wine council? no.
Dear Governor Blagojevich:
Show us you really want campaign finance reform. Give back your tainted campaign donations. Start fresh.
Sincerely,
Illinois Voters.
"At 5/12/2005 10:46 PM, Quad Cities said...
David Wilhelm is one of the brightest stars associated with this current administration. His current focus on creating jobs in rural areas of Ohio, Iowa and Illinois is begining to pay off for the citizens in those regions.
Too bad we can't get all this energy and negative hot air from this blog directed to wind mill energy growth to boost job production in this state."
Oh where Oh where is the Bush-Cheney economic recovery and how I miss the Clinton-Gore economic growth period.
Do you know what fees are? How many business has this xx!!!??? ran out of Illinois? As for the Clinton-Gore. That was started by Reagan-Bush polices, and you will see the results of the Bush-Cheney shortly.
Blago seriouos about campaign reform.
LOL
This is a pay to play system just as vulgar as George Ryan.
I must respond to the blogger who claims this Gov was "handed a mess."
I've worked in state government for 20 years.
In those 20 years, I have never seen anything like this. It's difficult to even articulate the arrogance of the leadership, the political partisanship that is overtly demonstrated and stated in the workplace, and, frankly, the ignorance.
All this talk about "changing the system" is coming from the mouths of people and entities (IPAM) that have not bothered to learn the system (i.e. mandated processes, audit-worthy procedures) and that have shown disrepect and disregard for the law.
CMS is the perfect example, and I'm quite familiar with it, firsthand.
The agency that is required to overseen the procurement of contracts blatantly skirted its own rules to award a lucrative deal to IPAM at a time when IPAM didn't exist as a legal entity and the terms of the contract had not been determined or commemorated.
Whatever his faults and transgressions, George Ryan (a real Gov, who, incidentally, changed the world with his death penalty moratorium) hired good people, many of whom were Democrats.
You may want to keep in mind that, after 30 years of waiting, the Illinois Democrats had no one quite qualified enough to become the new Gov's Chief of Staff or Deputy Governor -- so he found his braintrust in NY and CA -- Admit it, this guy eats his own.
So, pay a little more attention, fellow blogger, to what is really going on and not what is out there in a press release.
[Good example -- the Gov's reference to EPA Director Renee Cipriano, how he kept her from the prior Administration, etc -- well, she's very, very qualified and well respected. However, we must question what would have been her fate had she not been involved with her boyfriend-Democrat legislator who made SURE she was kept over.]
Quad Cities 10:46
Wilhelm is a venture capitalist! His firm invests in companies in rural areas not because he is a man of great compassion, generousity and vision, but because that's where the money is. His whole venture capital endeavor, subsidized by union pension funds, is to make money for himself and his idiot partners. Believe me. I've also had the great misfortune to meet his partners and they are horrible, evil people. One of them who lives in the North Shore had the gall to snidely inform me that being a millionaire is not a big deal - it only means you have assets worth a million dollars - and he's ALREADY a millionaire but he wants to be a MULTI-millionaire.
People who credit him with Clinton's win in '94 are very naive. I credit Begala, Emanuel, Carville...a bunch of people, not Wilhelm.
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