1. - Ghost - Friday, Dec 21, 07 @ 1:23 pm:

   reading between the lines, the court seem somewhat unimpressed with this case. Kelly, like whats his name with Ryan, may make them try the case and previal before he considers it to be leverage.




2. - anonymiss - Friday, Dec 21, 07 @ 1:36 pm:

   R.Kelly… Chris Kelly… this is all very confusing, Rich.




3. - Tunes - Friday, Dec 21, 07 @ 1:41 pm:

   That is most unfortunate- if Ghost is right- which wouldn’t surprise me)- as I don’t think he will turn on his dear ole buddy- dear ole Blago- until he knows he is going down the river- BIGTIME- even then, we can only hope and pray that he takes this “joke of a governor” down with him.




4. - Anonymous - Friday, Dec 21, 07 @ 1:41 pm:

   Ghost - That would be the biggest mistake Chris ever made. The government does not bring these charges without proof and they do not lose.




5. - A Citizen - Friday, Dec 21, 07 @ 1:47 pm:

   Perhaps Kelly can later serve as a consultant (sole source) on gambling addiction that results from the state’s expanded gambling/casinos. A win win, so to speak!




6. - GoBearsss - Friday, Dec 21, 07 @ 1:55 pm:

   Dashing through the snow,
   In a big white cadillac,
   Back to Springfield we go,
   Laughing all the way - ha! ha! ha!

   Bells for session ring,
   Calling all reps in sight,
   Oh what fun it is to laugh and bring,
   Our paycheck home tonight…

   Oh session calls, session calls,
   Sessions all year long,
   Oh what fun it is to call
   The Assembly back to town.
   Session calls, session calls,
   Sessions all year long,
   Oh what fun it is to call
   The Assembly back to town.

   Emil calls, Madigan growls,
   Steve Brown lays an egg (stinky!),
   The Democratic party,
   Is real naughty,
   But Blago gets his wayyyyyyyyyyy




7. - bored now - Friday, Dec 21, 07 @ 1:59 pm:

   i’m not surprised that daley is worried about bennett. the question is, will they spend the resources to stave off the challengers. the difference between bennett and pera, and kelly and sullivan (in 2006) is that these guys are raising serious money and doing some significant field work. they may indeed divide up the anti-incumbent vote, but they have the potential to eat into the lipinski vote, as well. by being visible, and getting into voter’s faces, they show that lipinski is vulnerable. the dissension (if it exists) in the lipinski campaign that we talked about here a week or so ago seems to be about how to respond. the fact that there is more than one credible challenger may confuse the lipinskis in trying to address that question…




8. - Jaded - Friday, Dec 21, 07 @ 2:33 pm:

   So now that he is indicted he has a gambling problem. Huh, funny how that works. I think rather than a gambling problem he has a money problem, that is TMM (Too Much Money).

   So let me get this straight, the Governor’s appointed gaming czar is a problem gambling. That is a hoot.




9. - VanillaMan - Friday, Dec 21, 07 @ 2:36 pm:

   Gee, has anyone told Pera that George Bush is NOT running for re-election? Isn’t it time he come up with something new? You have to be pretty simple minded to swallow the crap on that flyer.

   And the “Governor for a day” schedule failed to include time for temper tantrums.




10. - GoBearsss - Friday, Dec 21, 07 @ 2:37 pm:

    Rich -

    The Republicans must have copy and pasted that from an old George Ryan daily schedule.




11. - Clarice - Friday, Dec 21, 07 @ 3:04 pm:

    State and County employees who worked with Pera
    do not respect the guy for his intelligence or
    his work ethic. If Bennett really has that support,
    he would be worth a look as the real alternative
    to Little Lipper. Pera is all flash and little
    substance, re those who did all the work for him.




12. - North of I-80 - Friday, Dec 21, 07 @ 3:10 pm:

    Hope that it includes a good replica wig and that the media covers it. This should be followed by all media since Mike Messuck will be just as productive as Governor Blagojevich… actually it’ll be cheaper since he won’t be flying.




13. - Anon - Friday, Dec 21, 07 @ 3:16 pm:

    Here’s my treatment: stay out of casinos. That will be $300, please.




14. - A Citizen - Friday, Dec 21, 07 @ 3:18 pm:

    And maybe stay away from those mobbed up bookies! They don’t pay taxes and don’t withhold yours.




15. - Mr. Cub - Friday, Dec 21, 07 @ 3:24 pm:

    The creativity behind the Gov. for a Day event gives me hope that one day the Republican Party will return to life in Illinois … and that might hold the Dems. accountable.




16. - prairiestatedem - Friday, Dec 21, 07 @ 3:34 pm:

    This shedule is preposterous….

    Rod never gets up and going before 10 AM and it begs the question will they provide the entourage of lackeys to accompany him?




17. - leigh - Friday, Dec 21, 07 @ 3:45 pm:

    Texas just started a ‘Pole Tax”. I am not sure if we have many of those sort of clubs in Illinois, but perhaps the tax could be used for health care?




18. - Little Egypt - Friday, Dec 21, 07 @ 3:46 pm:

    I hope the family gets to sit with the Blackhawks president at the game Wednesday night. I’m sure Mike and his family will have a blast. Perhaps the the media will follow them for the day - you can bet the GOP will with videocams in hand.

    Merry Christmas Guvna from Mr. and Mrs. Little Egypt. We are definitely laughing all the way.

    Bill, Merry Christmas and congrats on blogger of the year. LE appreciates your honorable mention but I’m not worthy at all of this honor.




19. - yawn - Friday, Dec 21, 07 @ 3:50 pm:

    Christmas gift from Andy McKenna and his State GOP to the Democrats: silly stunts and no reason for any Democrat to worry in Illinois.

    What a ridiculous waste of contributor money.

    Most people would probably rather be one of those Fat Cat Republicans for a day. Blago may be lazy, but at least he’s not lining his pockets, as far as we know.




20. - Snidely Whiplash - Friday, Dec 21, 07 @ 4:04 pm:

    I found Pera’s claim in the mailer that he fought against big oil to be hilarious. That’s actually funnier than claiming that big oil owns the Little Lipper. $42k in 2 terms is peanuts to those guys, and I’d suspect that most centrist Dems garner similar such contributions.

    Pera needs to present a real platform. “Lipinski sucks so vote for me ’cause I’m not Lipinski” is hardly convincing.




21. - Levois - Friday, Dec 21, 07 @ 4:10 pm:

    That is a great song!




22. - Pot calling kettle - Friday, Dec 21, 07 @ 4:18 pm:

    Lame schedule and completely off base. This is closer, no?

    Wake up at 5 am and work the phones and e-mail.
    5:15 - back to bed (no one seems to be at work)
    10:00 - head out for a jog
    10:30 - call in to local sports station to discuss Cubs
    11:00 - black suburban to airport, fly to Springfield
    12:30 - arrive at Capitol Bldg loading dock, take back elevator to office
    1:00 - Have press conference in Rotunda outside of office. DIscuss how Mike Madigan is hold back progress on something.
    1:15 - retreat to office, call Jay Hoffman
    1:16 - call Emil Jones
    1:20 - take back elevator to loading dock and exit Capitol via black suburban, fly back to main office location
    3:00 - meet kids at home
    6:00 - dinner & drinks with Sen. DeLeo (gov’s treat)
    7:30 - Blackhawks game




23. - P. - Friday, Dec 21, 07 @ 4:29 pm:

    So you’re saying that picture of Dan Lipinski isn’t funny?




24. - Bill - Friday, Dec 21, 07 @ 4:31 pm:

    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everybody. Rich, thanks for a great year. You make all of our jobs so much easier. Get some rest and fugettabuutit all for a while.
    Have fun and remember we will all be back on Jan.2…and a special Southern Illinois holiday greeting to Little Egypt.




25. - Bookworm - Friday, Dec 21, 07 @ 4:32 pm:

    Since this is our last chance to post for the year, just wanted to say, it’s been one heckuva year and thanks Rich for keeping us up to date. Merry Christmas and Happy 2008… even though ‘07 never really ended :)




26. - Arthur Andersen - Friday, Dec 21, 07 @ 5:46 pm:

    Merry Fitzmas, Bill.




27. - NoGiftsPlease - Friday, Dec 21, 07 @ 6:24 pm:

    Taxing Poles? We should do way better than texas. Seems a little unfair, though, maybe we ought to throw in the irish, too?

    As a consitituent in Lipinski’s district, I can say I still feel robbed of a vote in this matter and intend to keep voting against him any chance I get. I feel the same way about Todd Stroger, and by the way, doesn’t Hastert have any children? Oberweis?




28. - Trafficmatt - Friday, Dec 21, 07 @ 7:31 pm:

    I think a simpler answer for Mr. Kelly would be to just deny bail. There is really not a huge problem with out of control gambling in the State Pen.

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