The Capitol Fax Blog » Blagojevich: “No” on con-con *** UPDATED x1 ***

Blagojevich: “No” on con-con *** UPDATED x1 ***

Friday, Oct 31, 2008

* Thanks, governor!!! And I truly mean that….

Gov. Rod Blagojevich said [yesterday] that he doesn’t support a convention to rewrite the state’s 1970 constitution because he fears attempts to strip some of his executive powers. […]

“Thank God that the constitution gives the executive branch a lot of power to get around the legislative branch,” Blagojevich said, adding that without his ability to issue executive orders or use his amendatory veto power there would be no free mass transit rides for seniors or free breast and cervical cancer exams for women.

“If the constitutional convention were to occur and there was an effort to erode the executive branch’s ability to do those things, then I think less good things would happen for people,” Blagojevich said.

The governor just gave us the best reason yet to vote “Yes.” And he tied his horribly damaged reputation to the “No” campaign. What a break. Hopefully, this gets picked up by every major news outlet in Illinois.

If he was standing here right now I’d kiss him.

* Yet another goofy and false anti constitutional convention spam e-mail forwarded to me by one of my newspaper editors…

CON-CON is the Constitutional Convention vote that will take place on the Nov. 4th Ballot. One of the changes that the CON-CON will provide is the taxing of pensions in the State of Illinois.

Every public school teacher/administrator should get the word out to vote NO!!!!! Do not let the State tax our pensions.

Tell all your Illinois friends that on Nov. 4th vote NO to CON-CON.

Jeffry B. Nelson, Ed.D.

Peoria County Assistant Regional Superintendent of Schools

The confidence expressed by opponents that some radical thing WILL ABSOLUTELY HAPPEN if the convention is approved is simply absurd.

I attempted to contact Nelson yesterday without success.

* Meanwhile, Roland Burris has done an anti con-con radio ad. Listen here. It’s got a funky beat, so I wonder if they put this on African-American stations.

* Here’s another anti ad called “Waste.” Also, “Respect.”

* And I can’t help but wonder whether the groups that helped pay for this Jim Edgar TV ad may be doing some harm to incumbent legislators they are otherwise supporting…

Thoughts?

*** UPDATE *** Oops. I forgot to post the “Yes” group’s TV ad…

- posted by Rich Miller

17 Comments

- archpundit - Friday, Oct 31, 08 @ 10:37 am:
Tied it not only to him, but to specific abuses of power–admittedly not the part that will capture the average voter, but a wonderful bit of irony

- Dan S, a Voter and Cubs Fan - Friday, Oct 31, 08 @ 10:40 am:
Every day we get a new revelation fron Gov. Goofy.

- Levois - Friday, Oct 31, 08 @ 10:42 am:
Wow, he really thinks his strategy of going around the legislature is really a good thing? He must really not believe in this idea of division of powers. He must think the governorship should be a lord over the legislature.

- Six Degrees of Separation - Friday, Oct 31, 08 @ 10:43 am:
The gov’s stance is one of the few potential “positives” in the last week for the pro-con’s. I still think it is going to be an uphill battle.

- wordslinger - Friday, Oct 31, 08 @ 10:48 am:
–“Thank God that the constitution gives the executive branch a lot of power to get around the legislative branch,” Blagojevich said.–

This guy kills me. King Midas in reverse!

I saw a pro Con-Con spot on Fox Chicago this morning. The production values were pretty bad, especially the sound. It focused on Blago and recall.

The three people in the spot — white dude with beard, black woman, white woman — all looked familiar, but I couldn’t put names to them.

- Vote Quimby! - Friday, Oct 31, 08 @ 10:50 am:
I saw the Edgar ad on St. Louis TV last night, and I thought it sounded like a ‘throw the bums out’ argument. Like Rich posted a while back, this basically insults voters that you are too stupid to elect quality leaders. Thanks a lot, Jim!

- Vote Quimby! - Friday, Oct 31, 08 @ 10:51 am:
==white dude with beard, black woman, white woman==
Rich Miller, Oprah, Cindy Canary?

- The Doc - Friday, Oct 31, 08 @ 10:52 am:
Priceless. Will history look back on Blagojevich as the governor that helped reform IL?

I like Fritchey’s blog post on this topic - did Blago come out against a con-con but secretly, deep down wants it? Too funny.

- Don't Worry, Be Happy - Friday, Oct 31, 08 @ 10:54 am:
“If he was standing here right now I’d kiss him.”

Well, at least give him a hug.

- culatr - Friday, Oct 31, 08 @ 10:55 am:
This reminds my of how Dick Durbin was first elected to Congress:long-time Congressman Findley was defeated for his association with the PLO and Yassar Arafat. Tying Rod to a No vote on the Con-Con looks like the same kryptonite to me.

- BandCamp - Friday, Oct 31, 08 @ 10:57 am:
Like I mentioned yesterday, the stuff that comes out of his mouth is priceless…however, I still support the “no” position, regardless Gov. Soundbite’s position.

===The confidence expressed by opponents that some radical thing WILL ABSOLUTELY HAPPEN if the convention is approved is simply absurd.===

Just as you are correct by identifying something radical “absolutely” will happen is false, the opposite stands true. There are no guarantees that something good will “absolutely” come from a con-con. But if your crystal ball cracks or breaks, I’ll sell you a new one.

I maintain were the year 1996, and everyone was buying stock and making money, this con-con stuff wouldn’t even be first section news.

I’m trying hard to not solicit a “bite me” right now…and I could be wrong about my position. But only time will tell. You can’t condemn my position today.

- Captain Flume - Friday, Oct 31, 08 @ 11:04 am:
The Governor has probably done himself a favor by his statements. He himself may not be popular, but the “No Con-Con” crowd is making the anti-con-con position a popular one. And of course, the Governor’s statment about the “good things” he has done for people (the hard-working people of Illinois, I mean) by not using the legislature is a nice touch. It’s a Democratic tenet to expand health care and take care of the less fortunate.

From what we have been seeing, the Dem legislators will be back in force for the next session. Not too many “bums” appear to be getting thrown out for enabling the Governor’s actions, or for not more assertively disabling his actions.

Bottom line is, IMO, the Governor said the right things for anti-con-con cause and it won’t suffer because of his support.

- Arthur Andersen - Friday, Oct 31, 08 @ 11:13 am:
If you Vote Yes on Con-Con, the useless offices of Regional Superindents of Education WILL ABSOLUTELY BE ASOLISHED!

- Anon - Friday, Oct 31, 08 @ 11:14 am:
== The confidence expressed by opponents that some radical thing WILL ABSOLUTELY HAPPEN if the convention is approved is simply absurd. ==

And, of course, nothing in the constitution prohibits taxing of pensions now. The only thing preserving our pensions from being taxed is (drum roll please):

a video of Dan Rostenkowski’s limo driving off with a little old lady hanging from the hood ornament, after he tried to raise medicare taxes on the elderly.

And that is almost certainly enough.

- 2ConfusedCrew - Friday, Oct 31, 08 @ 11:42 am:
SHow of Hands
Anyone out there still is anything but a rock solid, 100% sociopath?
As a reminder, here are the keys:
Profile of the Sociopath
This website summarizes some of the common features of descriptions of the behavior of sociopaths.

Glibness and Superficial Charm

Manipulative and Conning
They never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors as permissible. They appear to be charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used. They may dominate and humiliate their victims.

Grandiose Sense of Self
Feels entitled to certain things as “their right.”

Pathological Lying
Has no problem lying coolly and easily and it is almost impossible for them to be truthful on a consistent basis. Can create, and get caught up in, a complex belief about their own powers and abilities. Extremely convincing and even able to pass lie detector tests.

Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt
A deep seated rage, which is split off and repressed, is at their core. Does not see others around them as people, but only as targets and opportunities. Instead of friends, they have victims and accomplices who end up as victims. The end always justifies the means and they let nothing stand in their way.

Shallow Emotions
When they show what seems to be warmth, joy, love and compassion it is more feigned than experienced and serves an ulterior motive. Outraged by insignificant matters, yet remaining unmoved and cold by what would upset a normal person. Since they are not genuine, neither are their promises.

Incapacity for Love

Need for Stimulation
Living on the edge. Verbal outbursts and physical punishments are normal. Promiscuity and gambling are common.

Callousness/Lack of Empathy
Unable to empathize with the pain of their victims, having only contempt for others’ feelings of distress and readily taking advantage of them.

Poor Behavioral Controls/Impulsive Nature
Rage and abuse, alternating with small expressions of love and approval produce an addictive cycle for abuser and abused, as well as creating hopelessness in the victim. Believe they are all-powerful, all-knowing, entitled to every wish, no sense of personal boundaries, no concern for their impact on others.

Early Behavior Problems/Juvenile Delinquency
Usually has a history of behavioral and academic difficulties, yet “gets by” by conning others. Problems in making and keeping friends; aberrant behaviors such as cruelty to people or animals, stealing, etc.

Irresponsibility/Unreliability
Not concerned about wrecking others’ lives and dreams. Oblivious or indifferent to the devastation they cause. Does not accept blame themselves, but blames others, even for acts they obviously committed.

Promiscuous Sexual Behavior/Infidelity
Promiscuity, child sexual abuse, rape and sexual acting out of all sorts.

Lack of Realistic Life Plan/Parasitic Lifestyle
Tends to move around a lot or makes all encompassing promises for the future, poor work ethic but exploits others effectively.

Criminal or Entrepreneurial Versatility
Changes their image as needed to avoid prosecution. Changes life story readily.

Happy Halloween!
P.S. I think Blagoof really voted “yes” on the ConCon con ’cause he wants to abolish the legslative branch.

- Squideshi - Friday, Oct 31, 08 @ 12:09 pm:
I’m actually a lot more concerned about the power of the Illinois Judiciary. For a long time now they have tried to operate secretively and they enact Supreme Court Rules which have the force of law, and at least in regard to important judicial issues such as who can practice law or who can represent themselves in court, which supersede public laws approved by the legislature and governor. There is no recourse. What are you going to do, sue the Illinois Supreme Court?

- Irish - Friday, Oct 31, 08 @ 3:13 pm:
So JE and RB agree on something?

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