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* From the Sun-Times interview of former Gov. Jim Edgar…
Pritzker’s biggest political vulnerability is: “There will be people mad about the way he handled the pandemic. I think he did a pretty good job.
“… There’s no doubt he’s, he’s more liberal, probably on some issues, than I think probably the state is … and his party is more liberal, too.”
While Republicans have a “long -term” problem with the Trump wing, “I think the Democrats have a real problem with the far left” with Democrats “even farther left to Bernie Sanders. So Gov. Pritzker has to deal with that, and I think that that can be an issue. I think he’s the favorite going into this race.
“An incumbent governor, unless they really mess up, and I don’t think he’s messed up really bad — there are some things I disagree with — they have an advantage.”
And “he’s not going to lack money. We know that. And he’ll spend it.”
* Meanwhile, the state GOP claims the wheels are falling off…
The wheels really are coming off for Pritzker
Another day, another bad story for JB Pritzker.
In case you missed it, Pritzker’s disastrous Tollway reorganization took another wrong turn last week as the governor’s Madigan-approved tollway board chairman resigned following what the Chicago Sun-Times called a “tumultuous tenure.” It’s another case of promises made, promises broken from JB Pritzker.
In 2019, Pritzker asked the Illinois General Assembly To pass legislation that would allow him to fire the entire Illinois Tollway board and replace them with people of his choosing. The legislature obliged and Pritzker appointed a new board in February 2019, claiming “our new leadership will uphold the highest ethical standards.
Pritzker selected former Peoples Gas President Will Evans to serve as the chairman of the Tollway and the new board selected former Chicago Housing Authority Chief Operating Officer Jose Alverez to be its new executive director. Both picks were “strongly endorsed” by former ComEd executive John Hooker, who was charged in 2020 “with orchestrating an elaborate bribery scheme with utility giant Commonwealth Edison that allegedly funneled money and do-nothing jobs to Madigan loyalists.”
Evans would soon come under fire from the General Assembly for firing the Tollway’s chief procurement officer and its chief administrative officer, and for putting himself in direct oversight of procurement and other operations.
Pritzker has never accepted responsibility for the mess at the Tollway today – even though the reorganization was his idea and Evans was his Madigan-approved chairman.
News of Evans resigning was the latest embarrassment in a series of problems plaguing Pritzker.
Last week, the governor melted down when asked about his culpability in rising crime in Illinois. Pritzker refused to answer questions about a politically-connected arsonist he pardoned. The governor started to sweat a bit more as a federal court denied a motion to dismiss in the ongoing Madigan corruption trial (speaking of Hooker and Comed!). And a state appellate court sided against Pritzker’s school mask mandate after the legislature voted to reject the governor’s emergency rule.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 10:27 am
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You just know that any press release that starts with “In case you missed it, Pritzker’s disastrous Tollway reorganization” is going to be a banger
Comment by 47th Ward Friend Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 10:32 am
== In case you missed it, Pritzker’s disastrous Tollway reorganization took another wrong turn last week as the governor’s Madigan-approved tollway board chairman resigned following what the Chicago Sun-Times called a “tumultuous tenure.” It’s another case of promises made, promises broken from JB Pritzker. ==
What is this word salad supposed to me. Is the now-resigned Tollway chairman good or bad? Presumably from the ‘Madigan-approved’ language, they would think he is bad. But now he has resigned… and that is also bad?
Basically “everything is bad no matter what” appears to be their entire playbook for everything.
Comment by Homebody Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 10:34 am
“The wheels are really coming off…”
Funny stuff. If this is the best they can do, good luck with that.
Comment by New Day Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 10:34 am
==Basically “everything is bad no matter what” appears to be their entire playbook for everything. ==
Well, it’s probably the best message you could use in running against an incumbent.
Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 10:37 am
The GOP needs to move on Madigan Madigan Madigan Madigan Madigan Madigan Madigan Madigan
Comment by move on Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 10:39 am
Wish more Republican leaders from the past were willing to vocalize what we all know… as well as current elected officials who know better.
Comment by Lincoln Lad Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 10:41 am
Getting voters to care about internal drama at the Illinois Tollway?
Good luck.
Comment by NIU Grad Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 10:43 am
Hey give them some credit
They only mentioned Madigan four times in that statement
Comment by Nick Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 10:43 am
“News of Evans resigning was the latest embarrassment ”
Voters: Who? What?
Comment by walker Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 10:44 am
Yeah I agree the wheels are coming off … because JB rocked so hard. Boom.
Comment by P. Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 10:46 am
Edgar is sneaky smart to the quiet truths of Illinois politics and her landscape.
Always a good touchstone when Edgar is willing to share his observations.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 10:47 am
The far left wants healthcare for everyone and to fund more programs for poor people.
The far right murdered police when they raided the Capitol.
One is committed to improving lives. The other is committed to a maniac. The two threats are not the same.
Comment by DisappointedVoter Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 10:48 am
==While Republicans have a “long -term” problem with the Trump wing, “I think the Democrats have a real problem with the far left” with Democrats “even farther left to Bernie Sanders.==
Jim, please give me the number of Republican politicans publicly pledging fealty to Donald Trump compared to the number of Democratic ones going ride-or-die for this unnamed person to the left of non-Democrat Bernie Sanders. Exact numbers are not necessary; rough estimates will suffice. Percentages may be even easier and better, in fact.
Comment by Roadrager Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 10:54 am
Hey Al, exactly when did JB raise the income tax?
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 10:59 am
JB’s line is “The state economy is finally getting fixed and we’re turning the corner on the pandemic”
The response: TOLLWAY-MADIGAN! ARSONIST-MADIGAN! JOHN HOOKER COMED-MADIGAN!
I’m not saying the Gov doesn’t have significant liabilities going into November but what exactly is the focused message from the GOP?
Comment by High Socks Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 11:01 am
IMHO - the head of DCFS being found in contempt of court for a fourth time would be a bigger hit against JB than the tollway changes.
Comment by Henry Francis Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 11:02 am
If the ILGOP thinks the wheels are falling for Pritzker, I’d love to hear the analogy they would come up with for their own…situation.
The fact is that this state is in infinitely better shape than it was under Bruce Rauner, and that is a pandemic that has ravaged the entire world. If the ILGOP can come up with some way to reconcile that, maybe someone will listen.
Comment by AlfondoGonz Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 11:03 am
==raised income taxes==
When did Pritzker raise income tax?
Comment by The Velvet Frog Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 11:05 am
Department of Veterans Affairs, Unemployment Insurance, DCFS, the Illinois State Tollway System, endless negotiations with public sector unions over pandemic issues, the agony of reopening public schools, CPS CTU walk outs that were once called strikes, all have made some headlines, and not in a positive way under Pritzker’s watch. Add pardons and and a few other things that are going bump in the night to this list. It just won’t be crime, mask and race issues.
The Governor’s record remains fair game. How many Governor agency appointments are languishing in the State Senate awaiting confirmation? How many vacancies in various agencies now exist?
Edgar also speaks the truth when he states Pritzker and his party are more liberal on some issues than the state is.
Comment by Louis G Atsaves Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 11:06 am
===Edgar and Pritzker both raised income taxes and expanded gambling.===
When did Edgar raise the income tax?
He made permanent the temporary income tax increase, taking the proceeds away from local governments and giving them to local schools. And he ran in 1990 on that policy. He tried in his second term (swapping property taxes for income tax), but Pate Philip scuppered that.
Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 11:12 am
I agree with that assessment. Pritzker hasn’t messed up that bad, one important blemish will be the pandemic. There are some things with that I do disagree with. He’s the favorite, just whether or not Republican voters in this state will be able to put up a real contender that can make this a really close election.
Comment by Levois J Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 11:14 am
I think Edgar’s opinion is no longer valued in the Republican Party. He’s never going to take a position to upset any of his left wing Edgar Fellows.
Comment by MetroEast Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 11:19 am
Also … good lord Jim Edgar makes beige sexy
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 11:23 am
===The Governor’s record remains fair game.===
Bring the absolute phony you are - Louis G Atsaves -, a governor who refused to sign budgets for three years, actually refusing a budget entirely for a whole GA… and yet you supported that governor, record and all… I mean, I know you made out on the deal, but you might be the last person who could play “record” as a reality to look at any incumbent governor, lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 11:24 am
==While Republicans have a “long -term” problem with the Trump wing==
Meanwhile, Edgar never had a problem with the Cellini-Irv Smith wing of the GOP.
Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 11:30 am
===upset any of his left wing Edgar Fellows===
lol
Dan McConchie, Sen. DeWitte, Rep. Tony McCombie and many others thank you for being branded commies.
Go take a nap.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 11:30 am
==MHO - the head of DCFS being found in contempt of court for a fourth time would be a bigger hit against JB than the tollway changes.==
Except Patrick Murphy is the one issuing the orders and is a well-known gadfly.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 11:34 am
11:34 was me.
Comment by Big Dipper Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 11:35 am
The problems with the Republicans is everything they say starts and ends with Madigan Madigan Madigan. And even in there own party when they disagree or have a primary opponent the other candidate is a Madigan person. They don’t offer up solutions or accomplishments it’s just my opponent is a Madigan person. Eventually that will begin to fail just like the boy who called wolf one to many times.
Comment by Long time Independent Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 11:41 am
Edgar likes his 3% COLA
Comment by Tom Clancy Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 1:34 pm
As usual, Edgar is correct. I also believe he is trying to keep the Rauner team, behind Irvin and the state party, in check. It drives Z crazy when Edgar starts talking about good government.
Comment by Primate Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 1:56 pm
===Edgar likes his 3% COLA===
Those who get it today probably would rather have it indexed to inflation, like a real COLA.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 2:09 pm
“ The wheels really are coming off for Pritzker”
Wheels…Tollway….pure subtle craftsmanship
Comment by Langhorne Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 2:52 pm
Jim Edgar is a RINO S/
Comment by Bruce( no not him) Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 3:56 pm
Primate - Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 1:56 pm: “It drives Z crazy when Edgar starts talking about good government.”
On point, perfectly. Experienced it myself. The guy bristles at the thought.
Comment by allknowingmasterofraccoondom Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 4:38 pm
Old and isolated as he is, Edgar is not afraid (maybe a little) to state what is obvious to everyone. The hollowing out of the state gop (along with once-in-a-lifetime national weirdness) has yielded the amazing cast of characters we see in the primary. Rauner’s money was more of a symptom of long-term decline than the cause. But it sure didn’t help. One wonders what wacky billionaire will be the next one to play with the ILGOP for a cycle or two.
Comment by 47th and Lake Park Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 4:57 pm
== He’s never going to take a position to upset any of his left wing Edgar Fellows.==.
LOLLLOLOL. You cant be serious… or are you?
Comment by low level Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 5:42 pm
What’s a tollway?
Comment by Alton Giant Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 6:44 pm