The Capitol Fax Blog » Birkett backing away from AG race? Sure looks like it

Birkett backing away from AG race? Sure looks like it

Thursday, Jul 9, 2009

“”Right now, obviously, the plan is the plan,” Birkett said. “I didn’t formally announce, but I was indicating I would not be a candidate for governor and was looking at the attorney general’s race, and that’s the way it stands right now.”

Really? That’s what he said?

Um, no.

This is from the e-mail Birkett sent out last week…

I’ve made the decision to remain a prosecutor and to run for the Office of Illinois Attorney General in 2010.

There was no “indicating” that he wasn’t running for guv and “looking” at the AG’s office. He announced for AG. Watch his campaign video if you don’t believe me. It’s entitled: “Joe Birkett Announces for Illinois Attorney General.”

Yet, the local paper described his comments as: “hedged a little.” That’s more than a little.

* Birkett said he’s now going to have to talk to his supporters to see what they want him to do…

“Lisa Madigan’s decision to retain that office is something I have to speak with my supporters about and assess the possibilities. But anybody can be beat.”

Hat tip to a commenter.

…Adding… With all the flip-flopping today from Quinn and now Birkett, I think I need some Dramamine.

Just sayin…

- posted by Rich Miller

32 Comments

- Anon - Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 4:21 pm:
Well if he has to “talk to his supporters” he ought to be able to call both of them and decide by tomorrow.

- CircularFiringSquad - Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 4:22 pm:
Capt Fax is just too quick…especially on the days he lays off the silly sauce until after 5ish
THis was posted below, but will edit and move up

This should go in the county election non-stories ( i.e. Houli a candidate for anything other than retirement and a long ride with the FOI filly).

But it is too desperate since it suggests BrickheadJoe will not run for AG.

“Right now, obviously, the plan is the plan,” Birkett said. “I didn’t formally announce, but I was indicating I would not be a candidate for governor and was looking at the attorney general’s race, and that’s the way it stands right now.

Now this suggest the Brick’s announcement video wasn’t meant to be an announcement video. Fire the cameraman for putting words into the Brick. Give him a Cruz to the big house.
So disregard.
Also note that the Brick’s in-house Daily Herald PR person, Christy G., did not pen this so who knows what the actual news could be. Remember
these are DuPagers who have already picked the AG.

- Rob_N - Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 4:27 pm:
Anon, methinks you’re being “two” generous. ;)

It’s one thing for a politician to walk something back if they think their original statement isn’t on tape somewhere, but Birkett actually taped himself saying he decided to run for AG and then he posted it on his campaign site and he entitled it “Joe Birkett Announces for Illinois Attorney General.”

‘Fraidy cat.

- Levois - Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 4:28 pm:
OK Birkett! Whatever, back off if you want I could respect you if you were going for it.

- OneMan - Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 4:29 pm:
Umm get ready to zuke

Sun Times (Sneed) is reporting Burris will not run for re-election

- Easy - Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 4:29 pm:
With all due respect, his first announcement was so poorly timed and executed that he should get a do-over.

- Professor Quincy Adams Wagstaff - Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 4:30 pm:
So, bottom line here is that we don’t yet know who Dillard should apologize to.

- Inquisitor - Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 4:31 pm:
Does anyone else’s head feel like its about to explode?

- Joe B - Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 4:31 pm:
what a tool

- Lincoln Parker - Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 4:32 pm:
Off Topic, but worth noting, according to Sneed Burris won’t run again:

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/burris/1659702,roland-burris-senate-reelection-2010-070909.article

- Macbeth - Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 4:32 pm:
==
Sun Times (Sneed) is reporting Burris will not run for re-election
===

Wow. He got the title he wanted for the tombstone.

Nice!

- OneMan - Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 4:34 pm:
From the Sun Time item
“After 20 years in government service, Burris didn’t want the last four months in office to be that legacy,”

Too late my man

- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 4:38 pm:
We have a Burris post up now. Please go there to comment on that topic. Thanks.

- Rob_N - Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 4:45 pm:
Professor, ya made me spit out my dang soft drink. roflmao

Clearly, Dillard needs to apologize — immediately — to Proft’s cat.

- Yellow Dog - Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 4:48 pm:
=== So, bottom line here is that we don’t yet know who Dillard should apologize to. ===

If Republicans are smart, Madigan will be unopposed for Attorney General.

Dillard had it right the first time.

- Robert Brandt - Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 4:56 pm:
From Joe’s website:

“Welcome to the race, Lisa

Lisa Madigan’s announcement does not change my plans. I look forward to offering Illinois voters new leadership in a state that desperately needs it.”

- anon - Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 5:02 pm:
Hey Rich, The Daily Herald is more than just a local paper, it’s the third-largest newspaper in the state.

- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 5:06 pm:
And they always seem to act like a homer on Birkett.

- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 5:09 pm:
Rich -

It’s not flip-flopping, it’s REVERSE SPIN!

;-)

- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 5:11 pm:
Oooo. Clever.

- cousin ralph - Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 6:26 pm:
Senator Birkett or Justice Birkett?

- NICE KID - Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 7:07 pm:
JOE IS AFRAID OF A GIRL!! HAHAHAHA!!

- MrJM - Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 7:27 pm:
Bawk… bawk… bawk… Bawkett!!!

– MrJM

- Chi Gal - Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 9:08 pm:
OMG! Birkett didn’t formally announce? I’m reading the Trib online tonight and at the end of an article is a Google ad for “Joe Birkett for AG” and a link to the “Joe Birkett for AG” website — http://www.joebirkett.com/get-involved/volunteer/ You will also find a link there to his 1:31 second video he placed on YouTube formally announcing his plans!

- Google Ad Spotted! - Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 9:18 pm:
Ads by Google
Elect Joe Birkett
Help elect Joe Birkett Illinois Attorney General
www.JoeBirkett.com/getinvolved

- VanillaMan - Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 11:01 pm:
I am not a fan, and he needs guys like me for support. He might as well stay where he is until something else looks more promising. He isn’t old. He can run in 2014 for something. Perhaps voters won’t remember the silly things he has had to endure.

- Just sayin - Friday, Jul 10, 09 @ 12:05 am:
Birkett really needs to go away. It’s not even like he’s done a great job where he is now.

- T.J. - Friday, Jul 10, 09 @ 12:17 am:
I am a big fan, but it makes no sense to run against Madigan again.

- the ole precinct captain - Friday, Jul 10, 09 @ 5:52 am:
Another fine mess by the Republicans (Circular Firing Squad). It is no wonder that the Dems keep rolling with nothing tom stop them with this type of behavior. This should be a banner season for the Republicans with the Dems current problems but it will not happen.

- MyTwoCents - Friday, Jul 10, 09 @ 9:47 am:
What Joe doesn’t realize is that trying the Brian Dugan case will only remind everyone how the DuPage State’s Attorney’s office let a confessed killer loose which allowed Dugan to kill two other girls. It will also remind everyone that two men were wrongly accused and placed on death row.

Finally, it will remind everyone of Birkett’s very active role in supporting the DuPage Seven, including requesting the DuPage County Board to pay for legal fees in advance, wearing a D7 lapel pin and sitting on the side of the DuPage Seven in the court room. A prosecutor had no business taking these actions, especially the state’s attorney in that jurisdiction. In fact, it crosses the line…

DuPage County is known far and wide for royally botching up the Brian Dugan case from Day One until the present. DuPage is a joke because of it. For some reason, Birkett remains in a bubble and creates his own reality that he’s actually doing great things. And the Daily Herald has played a major role in boosting Birkett’s inflated opinion of himself.

- wordslinger - Friday, Jul 10, 09 @ 10:17 am:
Joe seems to walk around with a dark cloud over his head. Not exactly the Happy Warrior.

- MyTwoCents - Saturday, Jul 11, 09 @ 12:59 pm:
Joe Birkett might have a chance of winning the race if he exposed all the problems with the Rolando Cruz case and the DuPage State’s Attorney’s office.

It would be bold and daring.

It would mean cutting loose loyalties to Jim Ryan and others associated with the case. It would probably mean making some personal apologies, starting with the families of the victims.

He would then be taken seriously as a candidate who is unafraid of admiting mistakes and of fighting corruption within his own party and circle of friends.

He’d come across as a true leader, a true hero and a true prosecutor.

If…

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