* I’m not sure how they even came up with the idea for this, but check out the Decatur Herald & Review’s online reader poll…
And the responses as of 11:13 this morning?
- posted by Rich Miller
- Jake From Elwood - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 11:17 am:
Is it that surprising that the public believes that the known Ryan corruption will in time be grossly overshadowed by the Blagojevich corruption–both known and unknown? I am not surprised by this poll.
- A Citizen - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 11:21 am:
I’m amazed at how many votes blags is getting - what with his abominable poll numbers and childish antics!
- steve schnorf - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 11:22 am:
I’m interested by the fact that Decatur is a union town, though mainly blue-collar unions.
- Esteban - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 11:31 am:
Rumor has it that the Blago supporters actually voted twice……
- Angry Chicagoan - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 11:31 am:
Everyone’s come to the point where corruption is an assumed starting point for Illinois politicians. So, controlling for corruption, who is the better governor? Pretty easy if you ask me.
- Esteban - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 11:32 am:
Blago actually managed to lose Macon County to Topinka if I remember correctly.
- Territory Ahead - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 11:35 am:
Blagojevich’s state sponsored censorship of the truth will eventually become crystal clear. TIME is on the People’s side.
- Secondhand Bookworm - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 11:44 am:
Decatur is Democratic enough to have been rather painfully gerrymandered into the 17th Congressional District (look at any map of the Ill. congressional districts). However, I’m sure the H&R circulation area also covers a lot of rural, GOP leaning areas. Not to mention there are probably many state workers commuting to Springfield from the western reaches of Macon County.
- Shelbyville - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 11:54 am:
You could also ask: Which one would you let babysit you child?
Which one would you buy a car from?
And the one that my father always judged a man by “Which one would you want in your fox hole?”
George George George
- SpfldPolitico - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 12:04 pm:
I think its funny how many people are complaining about Blago even though most of them are the ones that voter for him over JBT. Now we are all stuck with him. Good job voters of IL! JBT would have made a great governor and our state would not be in the mess its in now because she would have been direct and hardnosed on the budget issues and a resolution would have came about. She would have been a GOP governor with Democratic legislature and i guarantee she would have put a budget deal together before an overtime session even began, let alone ran this late. Again, great job IL voters! you really showed your ignorance when you elected him the first time(even though Jim Ryan was a horrible choice on the GOP side I know), and then showed your denial when you elected him a second time.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 12:06 pm:
===I think its funny how many people are complaining about Blago even though most of them are the ones that voter for him over JBT===
I’m not sure that’s true, but I do think that most of the complainers here about George Ryan are Republicans.
- Undercover - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 12:16 pm:
Not surprising in the slightest! As time wears on, people tend to forget the foibles of corrupt politicians. Blagojevich is in our face, wreaking havoc at the moment. Plus, the bravado and arrogance he displays so openly is more annoying than anything George Ryan ever did.
- The Nam - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 12:23 pm:
One thing is certain, I wouldn’t of wanted Rod Blagojevich anywhere near me in Vietnam. Good thing he was to young to be drafted.
- L.S. - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 12:28 pm:
Blago is losing by 140 votes to a guy who is going to prison with the memory of a preist’s dead children haunting him.
- Bankman - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 12:31 pm:
A very good example that we need a third alternative
NONE OF THE ABOVE
- S. Illinois - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 12:39 pm:
Within the first couple weeks of the Blagojevich administration I had the Who line running through my head, “Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.” The difference I noticed at the time was that Ryan was a crook, but he was a smart crook. Blago is a dim bulb and much more dangerous.
- Shelbyville - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 12:40 pm:
I thought of another one: Which one would you rather see in prison?
- What can I say? - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 12:40 pm:
Even if they are both equally as guilty of corruption, which remains to be seen, at least Ryan was able to manage government, budgets, etc. He was also able to work WITH members of the legislature, not against them.
- Crimefighter - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 12:46 pm:
Uhhhh…that poll should have had Judy Baar’s name instead of George’s.
- BigDog - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 1:18 pm:
I’d like to see a similar poll with the added options of Judy Baar Topinka and Paul Vallas. Not that I’d need to see the results - the best choice is obvious and was the cause of this traditional Republican to register as a Dem for the first time ever in the 2002 primary. If only more had seen the wisdom of my ways…
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 1:33 pm:
BigDog, if George is beating him, I figure just about anyone is - at least on that nonscientific reader survey.
- winco - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 1:55 pm:
This is a dumb idea. You could also ask: Who would you rather have as governor of Illinois, Dick Cheney or Rod Blagojevich? And the results would be the same. Kim Jong Il or Rod Blagojevich? The results would be about the same. etc.
It is a nice way to try to send a message to Blago that the people are not happy with his “leadership,” but if it came down to it, that is not how the vote would be.
We all know it is the most unscientific “poll” there is, so I hope people don’t really think that is how such an election would actually turn out.
- Levois - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 2:26 pm:
We did have our chance last year to not vote for him again and we fell for it. Unfortunately.
- Doodles - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 2:41 pm:
Most probably figured that, even with Ryan locked up in a Wisconsin prison, he’d spend about as much time in Springfield over the next 3-4 years as Blagojevich will.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 2:49 pm:
This is merely the confirmation of an unfortunate truth: Voters prefer competent crooks over incompetent ones.
- WhatChaHiden' Rod? - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 3:17 pm:
Maybe Illinois will get a huge Christmas present this year, when Governor Blagojevich frees up all those secret federal subpoenas that haven’t done Illinois or anyone any harm.
- 312 - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 3:22 pm:
Wow, now it’s 61% Ryan to 39% Rod. Wonder if an email went out to all the state employees telling them to participate if they want their paychecks on time…
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 3:26 pm:
A better question is to ask Democrats, knowing what they know now, if they would have voted for:
- Rod Blagojevich - Roland Burris - Edwin Eisendrath - Paul Vallas
I bet Vallas wins that one.
- Jaded - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 3:30 pm:
People really don’t like either one, so it is like a guy torturing you asking you which little toe he should cut off first. You have to give an answer, but you know there is really no good answer.
George was about 10 times the legislator, governor, and leader that Blagojevich is/was, but that is not why he is leading. He is leading because folks are sick and tired of the current guy, so anybody looks better by comparison.
- Gucci Dreams - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 3:36 pm:
Wonder if that fashion plate Rod could beat any cartoon characters?
- Jaded - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 3:49 pm:
Oh, by the way, I just voted for Ryan.
- GettingJonesed - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 4:32 pm:
Here is the latest at quitting time Knowing what we know now, which one would you vote for in a governor’s race? George Ryan (460 Votes, 60%) Rod Blagojevich (302 Votes, 40%)
- A Citizen - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 5:48 pm:
Out of all the hundreds of thousands or million who voted for blags last election ONLY 302 would do so now. What a downfall . . . shameful!
- anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 7:01 pm:
If we make the praise or blame of others the rule of our conduct, we shall be distracted by a boundless variety of irreconcilable judgments, be held in perpetual suspense between contrary impulses, and consult forever without determination. — Samuel Johnson: Rambler #23
- A Citizen - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 7:08 pm:
- anonymous - I surmise that quote means gov is a loser - like the poll said! Guv doesn’t even have enough staff left in the area to load up the “poll”. Sad, very sad.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 7:19 pm:
The margin is closing somewhat.
- A Citizen - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 8:34 pm:
Rich, they vote once at the state computer then again at home/hotel. Just halve the number. But either way, there just are so few votes for blags! Maybe the poll is just not an attention grabber? Just seems a low turnout.
- JakeCP - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 8:35 pm:
Haha I truly am not surprised. Seeing that I was too young to really remember Ryan, I can’t really form an opinion of his actions as governor. However after reading the comments I believe I would’ve preferred him over Blagojevich any day!
- 9:05 pm - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 9:10 pm:
Since Rich posted this at 11:13, Blago has won the vote, 313 to 243. But it hasn’t been enough to overcome George’s early lead. George is still ahead, 53% to 47% (which is almost Blago’s percent of the popular vote in 2006, isn’t it?)
- Gregor - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 9:18 pm:
Don’t blame me, I voted for “close this window”. I think he was the Green party candidate…
- Captain America - Wednesday, Nov 14, 07 @ 6:55 am:
I agree with the previous bloggers that the primary issue reflected in this tongue-in-cheek poll is competence versus incompetence. Ryan was a competent politician/Governor who happened to be a crook. After his dismal performance since his reelection, Blago is widely perceived as an incompetent and political irrational Governor who may be a crook. Given a choice between a competent crook and an incompetent,widely perceived as dishonest, they voted for Ryan.
- Recent Numbers - Wednesday, Nov 14, 07 @ 8:54 am:
Knowing what we know now, which one would you vote for in a governors race?
George Ryan (620 Votes, 48%)
Rod Blagojevich (666 Votes, 52%)
Another bad poll done by another bad paper. Is this the same 1200 that voted in the Tibunes dumb poll?
- anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 14, 07 @ 9:02 am:
A Citizen, you didn’t read that quote correctly. You need Cliff Notes
TrackBack URI
Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.
Quick Links
