Home | Subscribers Only | AIM | Contact | Mobile | Subscribe | Classifieds | Calendar | Resumes
To subscribe to Capitol Fax, click here. Subscriptions are $350 per year. To advertise on the Capitol Fax Blog, please click here.
Obamarama - NYT on our country bumpkin legislature

Monday, Jul 30, 2007

* The lede of the latest Barack Obama in Springfield profile succinctly sums up how the national press corps too often views us lowly “flyover” types…

There was something improbable about the new guy from Chicago via Honolulu and Jakarta, Indonesia, the one with the Harvard law degree and the job teaching constitutional law, turning up in Springfield, Ill., in January 1997 among the housewives, ex-mayors and occasional soybean farmer serving in the State Senate.

[Emphasis added.]

From reading the story, it looks like NY Times reporter Janny Scott spent at least some time in Springfield. So, you’d think Scott would have noticed that there is more to the General Assembly’s makeup than what was reported. However, it is, after all, a citizens legislature. Pardon us for not measuring up to the standards of the eastern elite.

As is usual with these Springfield stories emanating from the big outlets, almost nothing new was reported. You got yer Denny Jacobs quotes, the Emil Jones as his mentor stuff, congressional bid against Bobby Rush rehash, highlights of his push for ethics reforms, lowlights of his tiffs with a couple of his fellow African-American Senators, blah, blah, blah. It’s mainly the standard fare.

There was one tiny new revelation, though…

(Sen. Rickey) Hendon, who says he is writing a book on electoral politics called “Backstabbers,” …

I’d read that book.

- posted by Rich Miller


20 Comments
  1. - VanillaMan - Monday, Jul 30, 07 @ 10:24 am:

    The NYT article is really weird.
    IT is so full of empty claims and has been edited and rewritten to fit space and deadlines, it reads poorly. It fills in no blanks. It is not at all enlightening.

    Jones comes off like some kind of ignorant boob, unaware of his own power. Jones is told by Obama that he is a powerful man? Since when did that fantasy story start?

    Listen - Obama has been a senator for about 34 months, yet he stands next to 30 year plus government veterans running for the Democratic nomination and claim that only he knows what would be needed as president? He stood at the last debate, literally looking down his nose at everyone around him. He put on his TV face when the red light went on, and spouted Hallmark Card sentiments without stumbling, but c’mon!

    Even if he was able to surgically remove his ears, could he get his big head through a doorway? Even if I was voting in the Democratic primary this time, and I voted for him twice before in 2004 - I can see right through his transparent sound bites and see the bloated ego behind them.

    Maybe thats why this article is show crummy. There is only so much hot air you can pump into a little balloon before it pops.


  2. - Captain America - Monday, Jul 30, 07 @ 10:29 am:

    I thought the most salient and insightful comment in this Obama article in this was about Illinois politics and government

    Kent Redfield (UIC Springfield):

    “It’s power poltics, and it’s poltics as business, and its winning and control. The mind-set is that it’s not the public’s business. That’s part of the culture. It’s about the politicians, and the politicans own the company.”

    Ths quote succinctly captures how our government operates in the State,in Cook County, and in Municipality of Chicago. It not about the citizens/constituents, the policy issues, or ideology - it’s all about them - the political leaders.

    This is really what ails the body politic in Illinois from top-to-bottom. We - Democrats and Republicans and independents - need to change this corrupt and demented political culture somehow when the torch is passed to the next generation of political leaders, whomever they may be.


  3. - Dan Vock - Monday, Jul 30, 07 @ 10:42 am:

    Not to mention that there was already a Harvard Law grad in the Illinois Senate at the time Obama joined: Carl Hawkinson.


  4. - amy - Monday, Jul 30, 07 @ 11:01 am:

    the article is fair and pretty accurate. but the
    point of the article is to begin the look at
    the record of the man who represented Hyde Park.
    and from the looks of the article, there’s more
    to come. from Nan Talese taking on Oprah, to
    Howard Wolfson swatting flies off his shoulder…
    “debating” David Axelrod on Hardball, to any
    look at Obama’s actual record vs. Hillary, New York is in punch out mode. for anyone with
    ideas of a general election with Obama, read
    today’s Trib op ed page with Charles K. Florida
    numbers for Hillary are booming after the
    utube obama oops.


  5. - Drew - Monday, Jul 30, 07 @ 11:17 am:

    Hendon’s writing a book entitled “Backstabbers?” I seem to remember him pulling the trigger on the Forby electric utility double-cross. “Do as I say…”


  6. - South of I-80 - Monday, Jul 30, 07 @ 11:24 am:

    I didn’t know it Hendon was writing an auto-biography.


  7. - cermak_rd - Monday, Jul 30, 07 @ 11:41 am:

    Now that book, I would stand in line at midnight to buy!


  8. - Captain America - Monday, Jul 30, 07 @ 12:35 pm:

    John Kennedy was elected President when he was 43 years old because his father used all his resources, contacts and money to get him elected. As far as I know John Kennedy’s legislative career as a Congressman and Senatot was undistinguished. Kennedy defeated a much better qualified candidate, Richard Nixon. Kennedy had style, brains, great speechwriters, and good oratorical skills. Nixon eventually disgraced the Presidency.

    Our current President never accomplished anything in his entire career that didn’t happen because he was his grandfather’s and his father’s son.

    Barack Obama is a self-made man. He’s achieved his curent position in life strictly on his own merits, ability and character, not because of who his father was. His meteoric ascent to competing for the nation’s highest elective office is remarkable.

    I think Obama’s experience, intellect, character and charisma compares favorably to John Kennedy’s.

    Our current MBA President has turned out to be a complete and utter failure. Barack Obams is better prepared intellectually to be Presdident than Karl Rove’s creation/one of America’s worst President’s is right now. Bush has disgraced America in the eyes of the rest of the world. Our international standing has nver been lower, althogh we still are feared.

    People are looking for inspiration and change after 16 years of polarization, and 8 years of the most ideologically-driven Presdency in history. Every politican in America wishes they had Barack Obama’s intangible appeal to the American public.

    So eat your heart out Vanilla Man. Win or lose, this time around, Obama’s got a tremendous future ahead of him.

    Newt Gingrich is predciting a Clinton-Obama ticket. Newt’s definitely an intelligent guy. He’s seeing something in Obam that yoy don’t. Given your conservatism, you may have some respect for his prediction/opinion.


  9. - Jerry - Monday, Jul 30, 07 @ 12:46 pm:

    Yesiree New Yawk Times! We is just a buncha country bumpkins. We don know nuttin about your high-falootin’ big city life, and we don know nuttin bout profeshnal politickin the way thems big boys do!

    Sorry. I hate those kind of stories that portray “flyover” territory as if its a wilderness filled with savages and morons.


  10. - The Real Captain - Monday, Jul 30, 07 @ 1:38 pm:

    I love how Capt America suddenly respects Newt because he’s saying Clinton/Obama may share a ticket. First of all, fast chance. You think the Clinton’s want to be over shadowed by Obama? No way.

    Get a clue, then post CA.

    Jerry, uh, yea..you’re right. I’ll take the NYTs any day over a Illinois paper.


  11. - fedup dem - Monday, Jul 30, 07 @ 1:49 pm:

    Contrary to the comments posted earlier, Joseph Kennedy did not use all of his contacts and resources to get his son John elected President in 1960. JFK explained it best on the campaign trail:

    “I just received a telegram from my father, which says, ‘Don’t spend a dollar more than neccessary. I’ll be damned if I’ll pay extra for a landslide.’”


  12. - Squideshi - Monday, Jul 30, 07 @ 2:03 pm:

    A people’s legislature? How do you figure, Rich?


  13. - Rich Miller - Monday, Jul 30, 07 @ 2:21 pm:

    Citizens, not peoples.


  14. - JonShibleyFan - Monday, Jul 30, 07 @ 3:04 pm:

    Fedup, you know that was a joke Kennedy used, right?


  15. Pingback Fly overs and leap years « Illinois Reason - Monday, Jul 30, 07 @ 4:04 pm:

    […] Rich Miller gives us the short version of a NYT Obama bio piece, saying the Times thinks we Prairie Staters are country bumpkins…  calling then State Sen. Obama’s fellow legislators “housewives, ex-mayors and [the] occasional soybean farmer”. (This New York Times “reporter” missed the sherriffs, teachers and CPAs — where’s Tribuner-turned-Timeser Jeff Zeleny when you need him?) It’s not as if the New York state legislature doesn’t also have its share of housewives, ex-mayor and farmers — let alone the Congress itself. […]


  16. - A Citizen - Monday, Jul 30, 07 @ 5:13 pm:

    At least we have the good sense to elect our idiots and morons to state government and get them out of the general population. They would just be monkey wrenches in the machinery of progress not to mention our economic engine.


  17. - Captain America - Monday, Jul 30, 07 @ 5:28 pm:

    Real Captain,

    Unlike our current President, Newt has a brain/some creative intelligence. He can think on his feet and speak the English language coherently. His ethics,especially in terms of his relationships with women,are reprehensible. But none of our elected officals are saints.

    I give Gingrich credit for the 1994 revolution. Too bad he could not govern effectively when he graduated from being a backbencher.

    Although I have nothing but contempt for Dubya, I do not have similar hostile feelings about all conservatives. In fact, I consider the Cheney-Bush adminstration to be radicals rather than conservatives It’s case-by-case with me. Although i’m sure Dennis kucinich is a decnt man personally, I consider him a political “whack job.”

    I wouldn’t vote for Newt for dog catcher myself, unless he was running against Todd Stroger. I was just trying to point out that not all conservatives think Barack Obama is as worthless as the Van Man and many other conservative commnentators on this blog think.


  18. - Captain America - Monday, Jul 30, 07 @ 5:45 pm:

    Fed-up Dem,

    I do not dispute the accuracy of your quote, but i believe if you were familiar with the complete historical record, you would agree that Joe Kennedy was obsessed with at least three things: making money any way he could; fornicating with beautiful women - “like father-like-son”, I guess; and getting one of his sons elected POTUS.

    Joe Kennedy was a very successful guy. He usually got what he wanted, one way or another.


  19. - Disgusted - Monday, Jul 30, 07 @ 10:14 pm:

    It always amuses me when those whose residence is NYC, Chicago or LA point their collective noses skyward when talk turns to the Heartland. They think they will never get old or wrinkled, will always be thin and wear black (three cities full of mourners), will always pay mega bucks for a taxi ride and a bottle of Pellagrino (which we now can surmise comes from the NYC public water system). We all get 6 ft. folks, when we go, unless you want to be cremated. You can’t take your money, your over-priced apartment and your snooty behavior with you. So lower your noses and take a look at good, honest, hardworking men and women, who are thankful they don’t live where you do, physically or philosophically.


  20. - Loop Lady - Monday, Jul 30, 07 @ 10:23 pm:

    Relax folks–what was written about Obama amounts to an semi endorsement of said candidate by the liberal intelligentsia out east–not a bad thing at all–I have lived on the east coast in two cities and we ARE Midwesterners–The Times is rough on politicians, movies, and theater–Consider the source and consider it a thumbs up–


TrackBack URI

Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.


ON THE BLOG TODAY...
* Reader comments closed until July 30 or 31
* Question of the day
* Notes to readers
* Excuses, ethics and a bit of fun
* Beyond the pale *** UPDATED x1 ***
* Morning Shorts
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today's edition of Capitol Fax
** Yesterday's blog posts

Support The Capitol Fax Blog
Visit our advertisers...

"Google Ads"

Search This Blog...

Search the 95th General Assembly By Bill Number
(example: HB0001)

Search the 95th General Assembly By Keyword

Quick Links

"Google Ads"



Main Menu
Home
Illinois
YouTube
Pundit rankings
Obama
Subscriber Content
Durbin
Polls

Archives
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004

Blog*Spot Archives
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005

Syndication

RSS Feed 2.0
Comments RSS 2.0
WordPress
 

  
  » Share Apps Between iPhones - No Hacks
  » WinPwn 2.0.0.3 successfully jailbreaks iPhone 3G for Windows
  » Treo 800w Voice Dialing Over Bluetooth - Coming Soon
  » iPhone OS 2.1 beta reveals possible turn-by-turn directions
  » 800w Threads are Churning
  » iPhone Game Roundup: Critter Crunch, Zen Pinball, Imangi, and More
  » MacRumors: Hints at iPhone Copy and Paste in Firmware 2.1? [Update]
  » Apple Changes Name Of MobileMe to MobileMess
  » Pac-Man for iPhone
  » Belkin Mini Surge Protector with USB Charger Review
  » PdaParts Disassembles the Centro
  » Better than ICE... Setting WW Standards for Emergency Contact Info
Supported by feed dot informer dot com

  » This Week's Top Downloads [Download Roundup]
  » DIY Floppy Disk Pen Holder [Tip Testers]
  » URLInfo Reveals Hidden Web Site Server Details [Web Utilities]
  » Cool Off with a Frozen Drink [Recipes]
  » Knight Rider KITT Attack Mode Revealed
  » How Coverville's Brian Ibbott Gets Things Done [Exclusive Lifehacker Interview]
  » NASA Image Library Now Available To The Public
Supported by feed dot informer dot com

» Late-inning heroics common for Sox
» Missed It By That Much
» Big innings do damage in White Sox win
» White Sox may stand pat at Deadline
» Hall of Fame class ready for induction
» Konerko out of White Sox starting lineup
» Gossage anticipates emotional day
» Brushing Up On Justin Verlander
» Game 103: White Sox (58-43) @ Tigers (52-50)
» Negro League wages discussed
Provided by feed.informer.com


  » Race disparity sharper in city traffic stops Minority motorist ... - Chicago Tribune
  » Lampe: Plugging the hole - Peoria Journal Star
  » Finke: Ethics bill could block Blagojevich's fundraising - Peoria Journal Star
  » Seneca offers ‘Safe Havens' for unwanted newborns - Morris Daily Herald
  » ‘Saving Pontiac Prison’ - Pontiac Daily Leader
  » Logan Co. businessman trying to clear his name after lawsuit - Bloomington Pantagraph
  » Daley: State needs compromise on capital program - Chicago Tribune
  » Let USSSA games begin - Northwest Herald
  » Blago Calls On Bush To Sign Housing Package - CBS2 Chicago
  » Illinois reduces funding for county fairs - Urbana/Champaign News-Gazette
In Association with feed dot informer dot com


  » News Minute: Here is the latest Illinois news from The Associated Press
  » Man survives jump from bridge
  » UPS driver gets special, final delivery
  » Pujols' 2-run homer in 14th lifts Cards past Mets
  » White Sox hold off Tigers 7-6 for 4th straight win
  » Pitcher charged after minor league brawl in Ohio
  » Obama defends tour, says McCain shifting on war
  » Comets beat Sky, 79-65
  » Lottery Glance
  » Explosion on the Mississippi, 6 survive
Succoured by feed.informer.com

  » Daley eyes taking control of commercial trash pickup
  » Chicago, state see Q2 foreclosure filings jump
  » S&P downgrades United, American, Northwest
  » Santo retiring from MB Financial
  » Federal Signal posts Q2 loss
Supported by FeedInformer


  » Blame drivers for most dangerous intersection
  » Cops tow van thought to belong to Mya's dad
  » O'Hare's new full-body scanners spur questions about privacy
  » Family, friends, teachers honor 'respectful, conscientious' teen
  » Ex-pal dares Drew to hit him
  » 1919 all over again
  » Obama shows caution on Middle East, rabbi says
  » Misspellings, grammar errors put county mag on ice
  » Holy Name to resume weekend rites Aug. 30
  » Few takers for Mell's gun-register amnesty
Supported by feed.informer.com


  » Chicago's gun turn-in program brings in 6,000 weapons
  » Taking city's pulse on a 24-mile artery: Western Avenue
  » Man killed in single-car accident in Batavia
  » Kids get free back-to-school checkups, supplies on West Side
  » Slain girl's father 'a little offended' by police tactics
  » Daley won't rule out layoffs in tough budget times ahead
  » Motorists to pay freight
  » Canadian National deal no deterrent to Metra, Amtrak, report says
  » Bush in Illinois today
  » Male skeleton found in Stickney near water plant
Generated by FeedInformer


  » Obama to Speak to Journalists in Chicago
  » Local Performer Helps College-Bound Students
  » POW/MIA Families Meet with Pentagon in Chicago
  » Congressmen Head to Iowa to Look Into Raid
  » Illinois Foreclosure Filings Jump from Last Year
  » Foreign Business Boosts US Companies
  » Busloads of Chicagoans to March in Iowa
  » Does Chicago’s Gun Turn-In Work?
  » Suburbs Get Rid of Gun Ban
  » Hester Shows Up
Provided by FeedInformer


  » Different expectations sink east-side community center
  » Carlinville plans more efficient hospital
  » Bush told Schock fundraiser crowd he plans to sign bill for Africa
  » Children’s race kicks off annual Springfield Tri Fest weekend
  » Chicago to hold fourth gun buyback
  » Fix receives full-ride, four-year scholarship
  » Six disaster-recovery centers to shut down
  » ISU officials dedicate new alumni center
  » Local foods trend sprouts up in Illinois
  » Hurdle looms for IDOT move
Brought to you by feed dot informer dot com


  » To thieves, laptops are gold
  » Bring back the Metro? Gas prices boost some older cars' popularity
  » Beer War MillerCoors has eye on 'The King of Beers' crown
  » Scholar: Timing, rules decided pitch of primary battles
  » Inaugural Dale Day spreads message of nonviolence
Brought to you by Feed Informer


» Maryville at 125: A look back, and ahead
» Courage and inspiration: Teacher and singer battles MS diagnosis
» Aurora University houses large collection of historic prophetic charts
» Tardy utility payments to towns another sign of tough economy
» Neuqua grad places fifth in nation for archery Olympic trials
Generated by feed.informer.com


  » typetext
  » The Heat is On
  » Abboud Reports $13,755 Available for Campaign as of July 1st; Paying Canvassers
  » GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - July 25, 2008
  » Blagojevich & Jones: Dumbest Budget Cuts Ever
  » Part 5 - Pervasive Problems at Cook County Jail - Access to Medical and Dental Care
  » GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - July 24, 2008
  » Blagojevich's Lost Fundraiser
  » Mexican Consulate Sets Up Shop in Harvard; Drawns Demonstrators; Voter Registration
  » Wingnut Alert!
Powered by Feed Informer

» Let Johnson retire, recover - Sioux Falls Argus Leader
» Who's partisan in the 10th District? - Chicago Daily Herald
» Greenberg honest and intelligent - Chicago Daily Herald
» Vrahnos rallies, among opening day winners - The Times of Trenton - NJ.com
» Bachus to speak in Clanton Aug. 5 - Clanton Advertiser
» Peoria Welcomes Chicago Mayor Richard Daly at Peoria Civic Center - Associated Content
» Critics: Postville raid a political ploy - DesMoinesRegister.com
» Senate passes housing bill to rescue homeowners, mortgage firms - Sioux Falls Argus Leader
» New law allows emergency calls over internet - WJBC News
» Illinois/Wisconsin briefs - Dubuque Telegraph Herald
Supported by FeedInformer

» Presidential hopefuls take time on VP picks - Lansing State Journal
» Not president yet - Belleville News Democrat
» Manmohan, Bush created WTO breakthrough: report - Thaindian.com
» George Diaz | COMMENTARY - Orlando Sentinel
» Democrats hope to unseat Rep. Roy Blunt - News-Leader.com
» Obama’s Workout Makes Others Sweat - Pajamas Media
» Some letters shouldn't be printed - Allentown Morning Call
» Staged campaigns don't give hope - Allentown Morning Call
» Buying Cars In China: The Quick And Hard Sell - Anorak.co.uk (satire)
» Stealing Meaning From Obama's Western Wall Prayer - Beliefnet.com
Brought to you by FeedInformer

» Weekend Session Starts With DeMint, Durbin Sparring - Roll Call (subscription)
» Washington Will Miss Ray LaHood - U.S. Daily
» Budding teachers train at IMSA - Chicago Daily Herald
» The Fawning Of A Candidate - Tampa Tribune
» BELTWAY ROUNDUP: Landmark housing legislation approved - MyWebTimes.com
» Environmental impact projected for new suburban rail traffic - ABC7Chicago.com
» Annual Livestrong Summit underway - News 8 Austin
» Senate readies housing bill for passage - United Press International
» Senate GOP Blocks Oil Speculation Bill - RTT News
» Safety Policy Must Allow Producers 'A Livelihood' - FarmWeek
In Association with feed dot informer dot com

    » Open microphone: Post your Barack Obama jokes here
    » Links for 2008-07-26 [del.icio.us]
    » McCain Bashes Obama or How Not to Run a Campaign
    » Democratic Party Leadership Ushers in Unemployment Spike Statewide
    » Weekend Comic
    » The country's top political Web sites
    » Congressman Shimkus' Bill Signed Into Law
    » Analysis: US now winning Iraq war that seemed lost
    » Let's Have Some Weeke