The Capitol Fax Blog » *** UPDATED x3 - WIFE SAYS ALLEGATIONS ARE TRUE - Says he owes back child support despite spending binge *** Cohen admits using “injectable steroids”

*** UPDATED x3 - WIFE SAYS ALLEGATIONS ARE TRUE - Says he owes back child support despite spending binge *** Cohen admits using “injectable steroids”

Thursday, Feb 4, 2010

* Scott Lee Cohen admitted to ABC7 today that he used “injectable steroids”…

He confirms his ex-wife’s claim that he was using injectable steroids in 2005 but denies her claim that he confessed to repeated affairs and was abusive.

Yesterday, before the divorce records and everything else came out, ABC7’s Ben Bradley asked Cohen if what had surfaced to date was all of it. “Anything else?” Bradley asked…

“No, you know. Again, it was an unfortunate time,” said Cohen.

Oops.

He also admitted to ABC7 that his wife had an order of protection against him in 2005.

…Adding… Via Zorn, a great line from the ArchPundit…

Dude is like Jack Ryan meets Blair Hull meets Charlie Sheen.

…Adding More… Commenters are saying that Cohen’s wife has been on ABC7 and NBC5 defending him. Nothing yet on their websites.

…Adding Still More… NBC5’s video of Cohen answering a couple of questions about steroid use and his wife…

…And some more… Cohen’s wife reportedly said that she voted for him this week. She said that he was going through a “phase” back then and is fine now.

*** UPDATE - Cohen’s ex-wife speaks *** “He was a different person than he is now.” Watch it…

*** UPDATE 2 *** Oh, man. CBS2’s Mike Flannery’s report is a must-watch. Flannery’s lead-in…

“His own brother Larry had to sue him and got a judgment for 200 thousand bucks. Scott Cohen’s wife told me that prior to his marriage he did try to choke her. Now she’s back in court trying to get back child support that he didn’t pay while he was spending $3 million on his run for lt. governor.”

Oh, man. The end. The end.

Cohen claimed that the wounds on his prostitute ex-girlfriend’s throat were “self-inflicted.” But here’s more from Flannery…

“His wife says, by the way, contrary to his denials, that the things that she alleged occurred.”

Well, that’s it then.

*** UPDATE 3 *** Cohen and his ex-wife are appearing on Chicago Tonight. Turn on your teevees and help us live-blog in comments!

[Comments are now closed on this post. Go here for a fresh thread.]

- posted by Rich Miller

238 Comments

- i'm just saying... - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:12 pm:
I want to see the full divorce file, and I look forward to seeing him on Chicago Tonight, this evening…..

- Screwball - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:13 pm:
The parallels to Sammy Sosa are creepy.

- (Formerly) Angry Republican - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:18 pm:
One thing we can always count on in Illinois is entertaining elections. Sad yes, but entertaining in a reality TV way.

- Avy - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:19 pm:
So lets take down Scott’s home run records. The guy obviously works out, the steriods could explain acting out of character. I have interviewed him 4 times and run into him on other occasions. I like him, he is decent human being looking to do good things.
You guys are ready to do the Spanish Inquisition on him for piddly stuff that happened at a low point in his life and are convicted him for heresay and gossip. Shame on you!

- UI Chancellor - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:21 pm:
Does Celebrity Apprentice still have an open spot for this guy?

- Quinn-Cohen Ticket - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:21 pm:
The ex-wife is defending Cohen now so whatever is in the divorce papers is largely irrelevant, and nothing more than just old news.

- Peoria Joe - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:26 pm:
St. Louis Cardinal fans seem to have no problem with Mark McGwire’s steroid use, after his recent confession.

- Screwball - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:27 pm:
I just hope whoever sets up the fake Scott Lee Cohen twitter account can bring the funny because the possibilites here are endless.

- UI Chancellor - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:27 pm:
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/politics/Sco
tt-lee-cohen-violent-outbursts-steroid
s-83580457.html

Up on NBC Chicago website

- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:28 pm:
That’s an older story. The wife defending him story is the new stuff.

- Park - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:28 pm:
Been reading all the comments all day. In sum: if you look at politics as a spectator sport, this State just keeps getting better and better.

How on earth can this goofiness keep happening? The voters obviously don’t want to change the system that causes all this….witness con-con being overwhelmingly defeated. Everyone expects MJM to make things better, despite the fact that he’s been in charge during most of the State’s decline. Do we really, deep down inside, want a benevolent despot? I think we may.

So now we’ve got a Dem Gov. candidate who’s a true goofball, The R’s (with a golden opportunity) have nominated ?????, who got a whopping 1/5 of the vote. Both LG candidates are, to be kind, ‘untested’. Both won primaries with way too many unknown candidates. The ballot for top constitutional officers is starting to look like a Cook County judicial subcircuit race. How freaking sad for us. How freaking sad.

- Mongo - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:31 pm:
What a lynching. Let the guy breathe a little. Stay tough, Scott. Some of us Dems are behind you all the way.

- Anon - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:32 pm:
Avy, maybe I live in a different world than you in terms of what is and is not “piddly stuff”, but I don’t consider allegations, backed by physical evidence, of domestic abuse to be “piddly”

- Quinn-Cohen Ticket - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:41 pm:
Cohen looks like the guy from the Royal Pawn Shop commercials—the one that doesn’t do any of the talking during the commercials.

- TaxMeMore - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:42 pm:
He’s not going anywhere is he? This is awesome. Run Scott Run.

- Macbeth - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:42 pm:
I dunno, maybe it’s just me, but at least Cohen is not Blagojevich.

Rock on.

- Levois - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:43 pm:
Someone really wants him gone! They must not have had a decent plan A so that we wouldn’t have to see the ugliness.

- Wizard of Ozzie - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:46 pm:
Yikes. This guy is a disaster. I wouldn’t want to leave if I spent $2 mil either. Man is he sleazy.

- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:47 pm:
===Someone really wants him gone===

There’s no “one” person behind this, Levois.

- A Citizen - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:47 pm:
Well, I guess they’ll have to place an asterisk * next to his name on the November ballot! I wonder if he also is a Cub fan?

- Oneman - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:47 pm:
Sorry forcing yourself on a woman and leaving threatening notes is not a ‘phase’. Jerri Ryan defened Jack Ryan too

- Excessively Rabid - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:48 pm:
Capitol Fax, where the hits just keep coming. I wonder what will happen tomorrow.

- UI Chancellor - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:48 pm:
Quinn-Cohen Ticket, the guy you are talking about is Cohen’s brother

- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:49 pm:
When the Sex Pistols’ “Never Mind the Bullocks” album hit Number One in England, the newspapers, under government pressure, inserted a blank space on their top ten lists in that slot. Maybe the Dems could do the same in November. lol

- ToddAF - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:49 pm:
Mike Flannery also has interview with Cohen and his ex-wife online. She looks terrified.

http://cbs2chicago.com/politics/quinn.cohen.comments.2.1470352.html

- Six Degrees of Separation - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:52 pm:
This election kinds resembles the Bears’ search for offensive and defensive coordinators. Rumblin, bumblin, stumblin…

- Anon - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:52 pm:
His kinda resembles a cross between Dick Morris and Ron Turner.

- Quinn-Cohen Ticket - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:55 pm:
This all too funny! UI Chancellor, don’t you think the guy who does talk during the commericals sounds just like Pat Quinn? Whenever the commercials come on, I always look at the t.v. expecting to see Pat Quinn’s face.

- CircularFiringSquad - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:56 pm:
There’s no “one” person behind this, Levois.

Right. Notice this never got up to speed until the Trib’s dream team was blown by the downstate wingnuts, Rutherford and Kirk.

All just a cowinkydink.

- train111 - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:56 pm:
As a confessed political junkie

LEt me say it:

“I love this state!!!!”

train111

- CircularFiringSquad - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:57 pm:
I forgot this sounds a little like the GOPs bashing Senator Link is first campaign until all the players stood up and said he was a good guy.

- Brennan - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:58 pm:
Mike Flannery’s question to Scott Lee Cohen.

“Dude?”

- Anon - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:06 pm:
Well, Rich, you can’t say he didn’t ask for it. Because, he literally asked his wife to speak out. Ouch.

- shore - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:06 pm:
I will be blogging his appearance on chicago tonight. stay tuned 2 minutes

- shore - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:07 pm:
hes here with his ex wife.

wow

- wordslinger - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:07 pm:
If Cohen can make it through tomorrow, the heat might be off for a Super Bowl weekend. But an embarrassed media is going to scorch him but good the next 24 hours.

The general election isn’t until November. He should lam it to Vegas for a couple of months. Actually, he doesn’t have to be around at all. If Quinn wins, he wins.

- IrishPirate - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:09 pm:
SLC is now holding a knife to the throat of the state Democratic Party.

Thank you Mike Madigan, various other pols, and the media for not bringing this to light earlier.

The State Democratic Party needs an enema.

The GOP likely nominated someone too right wing to win the general election and the Dems counter that with a high school drop out, pawnbroker, steroid freak who enjoys violence and the company of hookers.

I couldn’t write this. Faulkner couldn’t write this.

An artist is a creature driven by demons. He doesn’t know why they choose him and he’s usually too busy to wonder why.
- William Faulkner

I’m beginning to believe Cohen is actually a demented performance artist and that barring criminal charges and conviction he will not go.

- shore - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:10 pm:
ponce-describes events

scott-i never touched her I never tried to cut her throat. This was retaliation for me having her locked up. she destroyed my appartment so I had her locked up.

where did scars come from

scott-they were done from her. She would tell you these things

ponce-you never did this to here?

scott-never

ponce-she was arrrested for hookers

scott-never knew her as a hooker she was a mssag therapist. this happened at rough time in my life. I understand it looks bad. I tried to put it out.

ponce-what happedn in appartment

scott-we had altercation. it was a fight. next thing I know she called police.

ponce-how did you meet her

scott-at her massage place-she was my massesuse.

- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:10 pm:
On Chicago Tonight … @ 7:10 ….HOLY SMOKES Direct quote “If we can find her …” HE CAN’T FIND THE EX-GIRLFRIEND PROSTITUTE?????

What the?????

- Dem in Denim - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:10 pm:
Randle Patrick McMurphy: “I must be crazy to be in a loony bin like this.”

Somebody thinks this criticism is a rush to judgment? No, this is another first-class lesson in “If you don’t want to have everyone know everything about your bad news past, don’t run for public office! It’s really, really bad for business!

Scott, your 15 minutes of fame are up.

- Skeptical Cynic - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:11 pm:
This guy is so dumb he just has to be elected to the Cook County Board some day.

- shore - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:12 pm:
scott-we broke up

ponce-as a masseuse, were you lead to believe she was a hooker?

scott-no

I have answered all questions in an honest way. I tried to put this out the day I announced. no one listened.

ponce-gov wants you gone

scott-I am in all the way

ponce-will you quit

scott-i won, I signed up for this. media is bothering my family. I worked hard to get elected. I will work hard as lt.gov I did nothing wrong.

- Old Shepherd - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:15 pm:
I received a mail piece in today’s mail asking me to vote for SLC in the primary.

- Quinn-Cohen Ticket - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:15 pm:
shore, are you ok? did we lose you?

- shore - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:15 pm:
if people didnt want me as lt.gov I step down. time will tell

ponce-you sought restraining order against husband
why

exwife-he was using steroids.

ponce-notes behavior.

scott-I took drugs

ponce-why

scott-bad time in my life-was trying to put muscle on.

ponce-in filings, he confessed to affairs. he tried to force himself on me.

exwife-at the time it was an accurate statement. at the time scott was bad. Now hes different.

ponce-since divorce you’ve been in court dozens of times over alimony.is he supposed to pay alimony.

exwife-we have case

has he been on time

exwife-dont want to discuss on going issues.

- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:16 pm:
The Ex-Wife on Chicago Tonight is absolutely killing SLC

- Anonymiss - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:16 pm:
I feel like we just fast-forwarded 20 years and are watching “The Jersey Shore: Where Are They Now?”

- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:16 pm:
From a pal on AOL…

“she may have had marks…if she did, if she can be found, she can come forward”
“pleaded guilty to something”
repeats “tumultuous relationship”
denies she was hooker

i have answered every question that is in the media in a full and honest way”
“i will not resign i will not step down”
“it’s been hard for my family”
“the media is now bothering my ex-wife, my children. that’s not fair to them”
ex-wife came forward because she wants her privacy respected
(uh what)
“I did nothing wrong”
“I DID NOTHING WRONG”
“if the people of illinois do not want me as their LG” he will step down
“i dont know” how that will happen

wife wont answer if he owes alimony
“we have an ongoing case presently”
wont answer if he pays his child support on time

- Anonymiss - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:18 pm:
He puts millions into his race but can’t pay child support and alimony on time?

- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:19 pm:
Ponce “You have been in court dozens of times”

Ex-Wife ” that is not true”

Ponce asks about Alimony, Child Support et al …

Ex-Wife “its ongoing…”

So, I guess they HAVE been in court dozens of times ….

How is this appearance helping SLC again????

- i'm just saying... - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:21 pm:
She’s killing him……..

- Art - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:22 pm:
“I’m the guy who’s going to help the Governor”

yeesh!

- IrishPirate - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:22 pm:
You tell em’ Scott. You’re the reincarnation of Winston Churchill if Churchill were a steroid freak with hooker issues.

we shall fight on the seas and oceans,
we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be,
we shall fight on the beaches,
we shall fight on the landing grounds,
we shall fight in the fields and in the streets,
we shall fight in the hills;
we shall never surrender

- shore - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:22 pm:
ponce-what other issues are there? it sounds like alimony, child support on

scott-Im not an embarassment to ticket. I have been honest from day one

ponce-you said you are shocked you won.

scott-I am. i was out there everyday.

ponce. yes I saw them. you’ve had tax issues.

scott-yes, like every american I’ve had issues. some business issues went bad. no more tax issues.

ponce-whats with the pawn shop

scott-its ok

ponce-what happens with your pawn shop.

scott-its for people that cant go to banks

ponce what other dead cats are there in your background.

scott-I’ve been honest.

ponce-anything new outthere?

scott-no. I had a legal right to seal divorce file, I had right to squash record-never convicted of anything. I never hid anything. It was there for people to see

ponce-to ex wife. you painted ugly portait of your husband. notes threatning notes, lipstick so kids can see. he sounds like a creep why are you here.

exwife-I’m here, because scott worked hard. I am here to support him

ponce-unresolved issues-has he made promises in exchange for support now

ponce-have you had calls from officials.

scott-no

ponce-do you think you hurt quinn

scott-I am a strength for the party and an honest guy. I didnt hide from anything. It was out there. I believe in transparency.

ponce-what qualifies you to be governor

scott-I am a successful businessman. I turned it around. I am the guy who is going to help the gov.

ponce-you spent 3 million. if dems say here’s 2 million go away would you quit?

scott-its not about money its about people. I have something to offer. No I am in.

ponce-your whole campaign is jobs-whose better. democrats. If your candidacy hurt democrats, would you stay on?

scott-I would rethink. I dont want to hurt people of illinois

no tears, no crying. they were pure ice. wow.

- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:23 pm:
Investigative reporters have the name of the ex-girlfriend/hooker. People are looking for where she is now.

- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:23 pm:
More from my AOL pal…

debra denies any financial deal for her appearing

phil asks if the IL Ds refunded his 2.3M would he go away
“it’s not about money”

phil asks if his candidacy would sink the ticket would he leave
asks to repeat the quesion
“i would seriously think about it”

- shore - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:23 pm:
end.

- Anonymiss - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:24 pm:
First, he had federal tax issues when his business almost went under.

Then, he says he’s qualified to serve the people of Illinois because of his unmatched success in small business.

Huh?

- shore - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:24 pm:
i did every question and response.

- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:25 pm:
shore, keep going with kasper, please

- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:25 pm:
WOW - Kudos to Ponce … Incredible Job!

- Anonymiss - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:26 pm:
Now, John Schmidt and Mike Kasper to weigh in…

- Quinn-Cohen Ticket - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:27 pm:
Scott’s put it all out there, and people can search all they want for more. But, if there isn’t anymore, then today news will be old news by Monday.

Scott should keep a low-profile and work with his policy people so that when/if approached by the media again he can request that the discussions be focused on policy since he’s already addressed all of his personal business.

- Returning Dog - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:27 pm:
”
‘ponce-how did you meet her’
’scott-at her massage place-she was my massesuse.’
”

Sounds like he’s not getting a happy ending in this chapter, that’s for sure.

The allegations are troubling, but am I the only one bothered by the ‘bad time in my life’ stuff? This was just 5 years ago, not something he did in college, or high school; but that’s how he is trying to excuse it - like some youthful indiscretion.

- Anonymiss - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:27 pm:
And, there. Somebody said it. Schmidt says this is a big problem. Quinn won’t be comfortable going to voters and asking for their support when Cohen is only a “heartbeat away” from being Governor.

- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:29 pm:
===when/if approached by the media again he can request that the discussions be focused on policy ===

Been there, seen that. Won’t work.

- shore - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:30 pm:
kasper-this is solid-we can’t get him out. he’s legit. We can’t get him off. I dont do politics. only a lawyer.

schmidt-this is major major bad news. this is a question of whether its tolerable to become gov. This guy does one thing, they become gov and it could happen.

(i hope the gop has this)

kasper-in other states there have been challenges based on beliefs. No precedent for this

kasper-not present for madigan/quinn tete a tete

arruza-we were told that rivals made this aware to quin.

kasper I never heard of this. This wouldn’t have played a role.

arruza-should quinn have reassed this earlier

shmidt-yes, but quinn has bigger issues. they dont want to get involved. it doesnt help us now.

aruza-mark brown wrote about this a year ago. what happened? this guy is a heart beat away. (remember quinn is 60)shouldn’t dems be more responsible.

schmidt-change system. make them run together. we didnt’ have that system. so we have this situation. this guy is unacceptba.

- Jim - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:31 pm:
Kasper-Legal mehanism is unless nominee resigns he/she is the candidate.

- shore - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:31 pm:
where do we go from here?

kasper-this is the party nominee unless he quits. there is no legal mechanism for booting him unless he quits.

shore-this is gold.

Ponce-

- Quinn-Cohen Ticket - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:31 pm:
Returning Dog, I don’t know what cookie-cutter world you live in, but from the teenage years on life can be complicated for a variety of reasons. So, I am not bothered by it by what Scott said. Things happen to different people at different times and under different circumstances.

- shore - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:32 pm:
interviewing stevenson

- Responsa - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:32 pm:
Even if absolutely nothing else was awry he’s a high school dropout. Who needs Bright Start to help pay for DePaul or U of I if a GED gets you elected.

- Art - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:32 pm:
Phil said “erotic” instead of “erratic” behavior when quoting SLC’s steroid use. Heh.

- Give Me A Break - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:34 pm:
Well at least none of you can say our Dem candidates boring. LOL

I’d never head of Cohen until the last couple of weeks prior to the election. Then the flood gates burst. We were hit with direct mailers four times in the last two weeks and last Saturday, his signs sprung up everywhere in the Blessed Sacrament area of Springpatch.

And by the way, we recieved none, nada, zilch direct mailers from the other Lt. Gov. candidates. We did get a door hanger from Link on Sunday.

- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:35 pm:
@ Quinn-Cohen Ticket

-Scott’s put it all out there, and people can search all they want for more. But, if there isn’t anymore, then today news will be old news by Monday.-

There is so much more. Get real and stop kidding yourself.. Subscribe to Rich’s blog and you can see for yourself how much more there is on this guy. The subscriber article has the clues to where to look for more!

- Quinn-Cohen Ticket - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:37 pm:
Responsa, there are people in government who attended some of the most prestigious institutions and look at where Illinois is or Chicago for that matter. So, I fail to see how getting down on Scott for “only” having a GED is fair or funny. Our Georgetown U/Northwestern Law Governor is no prize! And let’s not even get into Mayor Daley’s academic background here.

- Peggy SO-IL - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:37 pm:
Ah, things are looking up in Illinois. 2010 is going to be a good year!

- shore - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:37 pm:
stevenson-council wars were responsible for 86 mess. fairchild was a good wasp name that worked downstate

ponce-what should quinn have done?

stevenson-this is the problem. its not quinns fault.

(this feeds the hynes narrative that quinn is incompetent, that he couldn’t figure this out. Brady can really rail this in.)

ponce-what should quinn do?

stevenson-quinn should do what I did-create a seperate party with support of regular democrat party.

ponce-but you lost

stevenson-its easier to run nowawdays. it takes 25k signatures.

ponce-but a lot of people ended up voting d anyway?

stevenson-that could be a problem anyway. (see hoffman ny23)Voters will think he is a democrat.

ponce-what is advice to quinn?

stevenson-none. his issue.

ponce-what should voters do?

stevenson-election is commentary on systemic breakdwon. Republican candidate is pretty weak no qualifications. plummer bought election. its the systems fault. primary to early. ballots too long. lot of alienation and frustration out there.

end.

- Cheryl44 - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:39 pm:
I just watched the Phil Ponce interview and I’ve changed my mind. We don’t need anyone that delusional near the governor’s office. He has to bow out.

- Returning Dog - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:40 pm:
I’m not saying that life can’t be complicated, or that a bad divorce can’t send someone around the bend, or whatever other bad things adults go through. It can happen at anytime.

Just don’t act like it was something in your wild youth you put behind you when it was only 5 years ago. ‘Running with a fast crowd’? Give me a break. That’s not worthy of office, that’s childish.

- shore - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:41 pm:
final thoughts

-ponce did a decent job. This guy wants to stay. He clearly hasn’t been paying alimony.

-this looks really bad for quinn, the stevenson part and schmidt parts about quinn not putting any thought into his number 2 despite the evidence out there. this is a ready made hit that should be in every reporters mailbox tomorrow morning.

- easy - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:41 pm:
Hey-circular…waiting for chessmaster mike to stand up and say cohen is ok..

- Give Me A Break - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:42 pm:
OK fellow Dems, how soon can we schedule the fundraiser to contribute to refunding Cohen’s money and trip to the witness protection plan?

- Quinn-Cohen Ticket - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:42 pm:
So the media will just keep going on and on about this for the next nine months? Why?

- Bookworm - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:43 pm:
Is it possible that this guy is more delusional than Blago?

- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:45 pm:
QCT, if he stays on the ticket, every time his name is mentioned in a news story, it’ll be mentioned.

Also, if he stays on the ticket, the GOPs won’t EVER consider using that in an ad, right? Never. I mean, this doesn’t further the theme of Quinn incompetence one iota, correct?

lol

Don’t be a fool.

- i'm just saying... - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:47 pm:
Here’s the question at hand, who’s advising him now? Because these Media appearances are burying him more and more, did Granger Terry Bail on him?

- shore - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:47 pm:
-he spent money to take care of his kids on political ads, hit one.

-the federal tax issues-hit two

-pawnbroker-hit 3

-the schmidt comments hit-4

the stevenson part is interesting. there will be automatic vote deductions for quinn if he has to move to a different party. he noted that since not everyone will know who the democrat is.

- Wizard of Ozzie - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:48 pm:
#

- Quinn-Cohen Ticket - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:31 pm:

“Returning Dog, I don’t know what cookie-cutter world you live in, but from the teenage years on life can be complicated for a variety of reasons. So, I am not bothered by it by what Scott said. Things happen to different people at different times and under different circumstances.”

How is Scott Lee Cohen able to post on Cap Fax while being interviewed?

- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:49 pm:
Rich,
you will not believe this, but the State Comptroller’s office has now received “proof of legal service” and is therefore now under a federal court order to release state whistleblower funds to Miriam Santos..
sincerely,

victor m. crown

- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:50 pm:
Uh Oh. Faceboook group is spreading like wildfire!

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=608840051&ref=ts

- Dan S, a taxpaer, a voter and a Cubs Fan - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:51 pm:
I’m sorry Rich, you didn’t like that one? But really where do clowns like this come from?

- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:51 pm:
CFS, that 6:56 post is way over the line, even for you.

- Anonymiss - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:51 pm:
QCT - either you’re related to SCL, are working on SCL’s campaign, or haven’t the slightest inkling about how politics or media work.

I couldn’t help but think while watching Mr. and Mrs. Cohen speak that the camera was going to pan back to the interviewer, and it would be Maury Povich.

- Quinn-Cohen Ticket - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:51 pm:
I’m pretty sure the republicans already have gotten all they today, that is unless or until something new and even more shocking comes out.

It’s kinda like Obama’s admitting that he did cocaine. Once it was out there the Republicans had nowhere to go with it because it was old news by the time he ran for president. I understand that he did cocaine years before he was president and was still in youth, so to speak.

- Bill-O' the Clown - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:54 pm:
How much could Cohen get at a pawn shop for Lt. Governor?

- Quinn-Cohen Ticket - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:55 pm:
Anonymiss,

I haven’t the slightest inkling about how politics or media work. So, oh wise one, please enlighten me.

- Wizard of Ozzie - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:56 pm:
One of the funniest things is his wife saying he’s a different guy. Youthful indiscretions… in 2005!!! Toast. The people at Grainger Terry better enjoy their million because their reputation is ruined. It makes me sick to think that other Democrats worked for/endorsed this freak. Especially one year after Rod. Amazing.

- Ted Kord - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 7:58 pm:
You know, I used to say that between George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich that Illinois was like a Banana Republic or something. Now all this stuff about Scott Cohen? Yeah, I’d like to apologize to all the Banana Republics out there I smeared. We’d be lucky to be a BR at this point.

I quote the great Kent Brockman of Springfield’s very own KBBL-TV, “I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, democracy simply doesn’t work.”

- JOD25 - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:05 pm:
The speaker does not care.Mike Kasper would not have been on that show saying the only way SLC goes is if he chooses to leave.The best interest for MJM is for each member on the ticket to run solo.J.White wins,Lisa wins,He keeps the house and the rest go down the tubes.He’s no fan of Alexi or Quinn.This wipes the slate clear for the next four years and puts all the heavy lifting in these hard times on the R’s.When the smoke clears in four Jesse is 80 and Lisa is the only young superstar left onstage.

- TaxMeMore - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:06 pm:
There should now be camera crews following this guy around 24/7 like reality TV. Scott Lee Cohen is made for TV. He’s going to be a star. Part History Channel Pawn Stars part Jerry Springer part Celebrity Rehab part American Idol Audition and insert any crazy reality show. We love watching human train wrecks on TV.

- Levois - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:10 pm:
Cohen’s people were working very hard in downtown Chicago to get signatures on the ballot during the past fall!

And as for Quinn well, what I have to say for him can only be considered Monday morning quarterbacking. He should’ve had a plan A himself. That means he should have found someone to run in that election to be his running mate.

Too late now :/

- Dan S, a taxpaer, a voter and a Cubs Fan - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:10 pm:
Where in the world do the lefty Dems find these people? One party rule must come to an end. And Barry campaigned for change, well now I know what he meant, it is deffintely time for some changes!!

- Quinn-Cohen Ticket - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:11 pm:
So now it’s Grianger Terry’s fault for accepting business? Isn’t that what businesses do? I could see if Scott Lee Cohen had a criminal record or past for some serious crimes and they TG overlooked it just to get money, but that was not the case. Was it? If it is then the democrat running for Obama’s old U.S. Senate seat better watch out because he and his campaign are in serious trouble once the stuff about Scott Lee Cohen lets up a bit.

- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:11 pm:
Damn I missed the Chicago Tonight interview. Will it be on again? or online?

- Big 19 - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:13 pm:
I have to say, I feel bad for the guy: he (somehow) had no idea this was coming.

That said, the fact that he had no idea this was coming is perhaps the biggest indicator that he’s completely and totally unsuited for a career in public service. Well, OK, that and the tax issues, child support issues, beating women, generally being creepy, going to massage parlors, and dating prostitutes.

- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:15 pm:
Just got off the phone with SLC.

Oy.

- dupage progressive - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:15 pm:
The interview is re-aired at 11pm on WTTW & they will have it online — wttw.com

Love the part where he says he should be elected because he’s a great small business (pawnbrokin’) man. (This right after he says that he went bankrupt.) What a joke.

- dupage progressive - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:18 pm:
correction - repeat on ch. 11 is at 10pm.

- dupage progressive - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:18 pm:
Rich - do tell.

- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:20 pm:
Subscribe and find out all.

- IrishPirate - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:21 pm:
Rich,

a hooker is cheaper than a subscription. What that means I dunno……..

- Elin - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:23 pm:
It looks like Cohen’s American/Illinoisan flag lapel pin is upside down in parts of the ABC 7 interview. Details matter.

- Confused Dem - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:24 pm:
I really don’t understand this whole mess for a couple of reasons. First, many on this blog are blaming many “powers to be” within the Dem Primary for this Cohen Guy. However, I really blame the nearly 213,000 people throughout Illinois who voted for Mr. Cohen. All of these people are suppose to be over 18, registered and went to vote. Don’t people who mark the name Scott Lee Cohen do their reserach on this guy? Because a person spends millions on TV, with either real people or actors talking about jobs in 2010 (the main thing today) do they like what they hear in a 30 second ad and then vote just for that reason? Why are we blaming MJM, Quinn, 47th Ward or whoever. If the people either didn’t bother to vote or vote without researching this person, its the voters problem! Quinn, Madigan or whoever shouldn’t be the “godfather” and run TV ads and/or anyone else warning about Cohen! The main issue is that after Jack Ryan, Blair Hull (who both resigned BEFORE the election), George Ryan and Blago (twice)didn’t teach Illinois Voters anything, nothing will! The Republican Party shouldn’t get over exicted because the lack of jobs across American didn’t occur on Obama’s Watch. Also the White House should weigh in on Illinois and fix this before it will hurt them. Everyone knows that November 2, 2010 will be an election about Barack Obama being U.S. President and the GOP will love nothing more than to win in his backyard. Since January 20, 2009, the President has kept a distance from Illinois, but he really should be calling the shots now. Finally, the Ruling Class of Dems (who I call the God Fathers) of which I’m speaking of the Madigans, Quinns, Daleys, Hynes, Burkes, etc should consider a generational shift. I understand the extreme power all hold in this State, however, really have been dominating Illinois for far to long. Each began their Illinois Rise to Power in the late 60s or early 70s (many are descendants of Bosses of yesterday) but now each are hitting the age of 70 in their face. Chicago, Cook County, the Collars and for that Matter Illinois isn’t the same as what it was on December 15, 1970 when nearly all created the Illinois Constitution. Their Party has changed from Irish, to Hispanic and Black. I agree that Madigan, etc should have seen this coming, but the Illinois Voter should have seen it first!

- Jeff - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:24 pm:
Full, raw video of the interview with ABC is up as well.

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/politics&id=7257870

- IrishPirate - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:25 pm:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=608840051&ref=ts#!/pages/Candidate-Scott-Lee-Cohen-should-resign-for-being-a-women-abuser/198659299974?ref=sgm

Scott, the ride has just begun. You may want to consider jumping off the sled before this gets uglier.

- Nero - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:26 pm:
It just keeps piling up… things have gone from bad to worse for Quinn.

Pingback ArchPundit | Quote of the Day - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:29 pm:
[…] - Rich Miller – Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 6:49 pm: […]

- Anonymiss - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:29 pm:
QCT - I was referring to your comment about this being old news by Monday and suggesting that SCL should just focus on policy. As if the media and the people of Illinois will just be overcome with interest in his plans for unfunded pension liabilities. This isn’t going away. He’s an albatross to Quinn, because while the Governor and anyone else can demand he step aside all they want, the only way to move forward is for him to step aside or for the Gov to run as a third-party. SLC might have been able to chalk any one of those allegations up to a singular moment of poor judgment. But when you add the temper, the prostitute, the drug use, the alleged battery, the skipping child support, the divorce records and allegations of force within it… it’s not going away by Monday. And it shouldn’t.

- i'm just saying... - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:30 pm:
Here is the Progress of Debra Cohen V. SLC

https://w3.courtlink.lexisnexis.com/cookcounty/Finddock.asp?DocketKey=CAAFDCDACED0DR

- Responsa - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:32 pm:
And now that Mike Flannery and Ben Bradley and others have been caught unawares and are somewhat embarrassed, they’re going to want to make amends by doubling down on SLC. OOf.

Pingback ArchPundit | This is an Elaborate Put-On - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:33 pm:
[…] From Shore’s rough transcript of Chicago Tonight: […]

- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:33 pm:
This is going to go viral. Huffington Post Chicago has got a story up too.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/04/scott-lee-cohen-divorce-p_n_450282.html

- TaxMeMore - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:34 pm:
He’s not going anywhere is he Rich? I’m guessing a bit deluded by the oy. That would be wonderful.

He exposes so much about the incompetence in this state from the top all the way down to the voter. Maybe those people that voted for this guy will learn a hugely valuable lesson about their mistake. A lot of politicians are deluded and incompetent, you better check before voting for them.

He might find a way through this, but he hasn’t yet. Admitting he did wrong, showing guilt, showing regret, using it to motivate himself to be and do better. That might fly. I did nothing wrong and I was open about it doesn’t fly. He has little chance now of being anything other than an entertaining spectacle, punchline, and punching bag.

- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:35 pm:
IJS, did you notice something about that case? There’s a hearing set for Feb. 16th. If this is still going by then, it’ll be a madhouse, unless they close it to the public.

Sheesh.

- FDR Dem - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:37 pm:
What makes me sense a certain guy in Bloomington
can’t believe his good luck this week!!

- Newt Rier - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:38 pm:
If using Steroids didn’t stop Arnold from being elected, why should it stop Scottly?

- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:40 pm:
“Activity Date: 12/14/2007 Participant: COHEN SCOTT L
HELD IN CONTEMPT OF COURT - ALLOWED -”

Possible contempt citation? More respect for the law?

Next status is 2/16. Somehow I bet there will be a crowd in and outside Judge Bender’s courtroom that day. I appeared before him in a case years ago, and he struck me as a good judge.

- Way South of the Border - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:41 pm:
What a fascinating discussion. I especially like where commentator Quinn-Cohen Ticket justifies those who helped this battering brute get into office….

===I could see if Scott Lee Cohen had a … past for some > crimes… (my emphasis)===

Because smashing around a woman isn’t serious. Plus she was a masseuse . Or was it a prostitute? Even better.

Dude, thanks for making plain the point that so many others here are missing amidst this steroid-induced feeding frenzy:

Apparently, beating up a woman is only retroactively repugnant. You get a pass if you run for office. Journalists who would normally hold a candidate’s feet to the fire for something like this will give you a pass.

But if you win, Katie bar the door. How reassuring for battered women everywhere. Nice job guys.

- Newt Rier - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:42 pm:
Also, I know something that’s going on in that back of a lot of your heads….

“What kind of God would make this guy a millionaire when I’m just scraping by with my graduate degree?”

- Park - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:42 pm:
I wonder what New York thinks. They threw out a governor for occasionally meeting, out of state, with a higher class hooker. Wow! what do we look like?

- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:42 pm:
Rich, if it’s a routine status call on 2/16 he wouldn’t need to show up. His lawyers better be prepared to deal with the press though.

- A Citizen - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:43 pm:
Just on the Incompetence factor alone he seems well matched to Quinn as a running mate. “Incompetence You Can Count On!”

- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:45 pm:
I personally prefer the slogan:

Vote Quinn/Cohen or We’ll Cut Ya!

- dupage progressive - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:47 pm:
confused dem -
what about the aldermen/ committeemen & township organizations that took his $ to push this guy in their areas. I blame them… they chose to push this guy on all of us. Thanks.
Enjoy your $1,000 - $10,000 respectively.
Gross - so gross.

- Boone Logan Square - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:47 pm:
Maybe the party can pressure SLC to drop out.

Then they can replace him with someone more palatable. Like Mark Fairchild.

- Six Degrees of Separation - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:50 pm:
Here’s the ticket out of this mess. Eliminate the office of Lt Gov before the general with a bill in spring session. Can MJM and Quinn pull it off if they can’t get a quick SLC withdrawal from the race?

- anon - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:51 pm:
Sincere question: Do folks think Team Quinn should reach out to SLC for a graceful exit, or should they keep a distance and continue the negative public pressure for Cohen to voluntarily resign?

- Responsa - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:54 pm:
Dear Chicago media, What we want to know is, in what way does he expect to benefit personally and professionally from being Lt.Gov.? Did someone promise him something? What’s the scheme? Did he think his legal problems would disappear if he holds office?

Most of us probably don’t really see him as a guy who’s dreamed of public service since grade school after his interviews on TV this evening, so what’s the deal?

- cassandra - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:55 pm:
I thought he was signaling that he was amenable to stepping down, with all that talk about not doing anything to hurt the people of Illinois, the effect on the wife and kids, etc. That would be his out. It’s possible he’s gotten enough fame. It’s not all pleasant. They’d better be careful who they send as an emissary though.

And would there be a new election or would the next highest vote total person be up? I see problems, problems….

- Greg - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:56 pm:
Even if SLC drops out tomorrow, how much (if any) negative effect will there be on Quinn’s election prospects. Any ideas?

- Newt Rier - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:58 pm:
I think Scottly needs a more sympathetic interviewer - may I suggest Mike North on Monsters in the Morning? I’m sure a lot of MY GUYS! have gone through problems like him. Plus Mike’s also a guy from the streets who came into the big $.

- wordslinger - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 8:58 pm:
The LG is a constitutional office. It would take a constitutional amendment to eliminate it. An act of the GA on its own won’t cut it.

- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 9:03 pm:
Correct wordslinger. Also there would be a possibility of lawsuits by the current candidates for the position if it was eliminated before or during their terms (ex post facto issues, some claim of entitlement to the position once nominated/elected). The only way to avoid such problems would be to abolish it at the end of a term of office and not hold elections to fill it at the preceding election. It would just go away on Inauguration Day. Too late to do that without lawsuits now.

- phocion - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 9:04 pm:
Cohen won’t quit. Far too arrogant for that. And for the hand-wringing by the media: how many members of the General Assembly have violent criminal records? Care to write stories on that so that the public can know who their lawmakers really are?

- DuPage Dave - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 9:06 pm:
Every election year we hear about how the “professional politicians” are the cause of all our troubles, and we need some hardworking, non-politician “outsiders”, such as businessmen with practical, “real world” knowledge, to replace them. Then everything will be just great, the story goes.

Well, Scott Lee Cohen is not a professional politician, but he is a businessman and “outsider”. And he’s a real piece of work, to say the least. So the next time someone tries to sell us on the “outsider” angle, keep Mr. Cohen in mind.

- anon - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 9:08 pm:
SLC will be the certified primary winner; if he withdraws, a vacancy on the ticket is created…which would be filled by the Dem State Central Comm. Does not go to the second place finisher, though surely there would be pressure to consider Art Turner (and he was endorsed by the State Dem Chairman). Given the importance of the Chicago African-American community in Quinn’s primary victory, along with Turner’s second place finish, it would be hard to deny Turner. In fact, it might be viewed as an insult not to pick Turner. Rickey Hendon would go nuts, which would be fun to watch.

- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 9:09 pm:
Look for AG Madigan or State’s Attorney Alvarez to sue SLC for failure to pay alimony and child support.

- True Observer - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 9:10 pm:
“Just on the Incompetence factor alone he seems well matched to Quinn as a running mate. “Incompetence You Can Count On!””

Oh, please.

Give the guy credit.

With all this baggage, he’s still a millionaire and on a major party ballot for Lt. Governor.

That’s the opposite of incompetence.

- South of the Loop - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 9:12 pm:
Where/Who are they going to import for the Lt Gov post if Cohen quits….as opposed to the Alan Keyes move for the GOP a few years back?

- Jim - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 9:13 pm:
I can already see a commercial quoting Quinn stating that he would be happy to run with any of the lt. gov. candidates.

- Will County Woman - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 9:15 pm:
phocion - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 9:04 pm

Agreed. Just as some people may want to see SLC’s divorce records, then have a look at Quinn’s too. He gets away with saying he doesn’t want to answer what he deems “personal”, but SLC wouldn’t/doesn’t? Of course SLC says he’s willing to answer and be open, but even if he asked the media to respect his privacy, it wouldn’t.

- 47th Ward - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 9:16 pm:
===That’s the opposite of incompetence===

TO, did you watch the interview on WTTW just now?

- South of the Loop - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 9:17 pm:
Who needs reality TV in this State this is better than anything that can be produced for prime time.

- Outsider Looking In - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 9:17 pm:
This is like a bizarro Frankenstein monster of political scandals. A little bit of Jack Ryan (salacious divorce), creepy Blair Hull (ankle biting of ex), messy public battle over alimony (John Edwards) and crazy sex with hookers (Elliot Spitzer).

It is like a Now! Thats What I Call Music compilation of political sex scandal hits!

- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 9:17 pm:
@ South of the Loop

-Where/Who are they going to import for the Lt Gov post if Cohen quits….as opposed to the Alan Keyes move for the GOP a few years back? _

Art Turner he had the support of the majority of the unions and the Dem Central Committee.

- oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 9:17 pm:
Rich, you said you spoke with SLC, when will we here ANYTHING about that convo??

- ABCBoy - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 9:22 pm:
anon @ 8:51

They’ll probably try both tactics. Pressure him from afar via media. Then send in a good cop to offer him some sweetener deal to get him to “gracefully bow out.”

The only problem they may have is if he’s the type to dig in his heels after being attacked. If he is, then the more they try to play hardball, the more he’ll become defiant.

What a fiasco. I suppose this is due to the shorter primary season and a large field. People either didn’t have the time or resources to dig up the dirt on their opponents. Or since the field was so large, there was no clear front-runner and everybody assumed that another candidate was going to be the heavy.

- OneMan - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 9:25 pm:
At this point there is no graceful exit.

Also a man who chokes women or has that kind of coin and is getting sued by his wife for child support isn’t really a man.

- True Observer - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 9:25 pm:
“-Where/Who are they going to import for the Lt Gov post if Cohen quits….”

There is one and only one logical replacement to minimize the damange - Art Turner. He will command a very heavy price for being willing to go on the ticket such as deputy cabinet in Obama administration if the ticket loses in the fall.

- Will County Woman - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 9:27 pm:
after reading the newspapers online e.g., sun times and trib comment sections the reaction of the average joe is interestingly quite different from the reactions expressed here. the commenters here are more inside politics types.

- Some Guy - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 9:28 pm:
Scenario:
Cohen quits or gets removed.
Replace him with… Dan Hynes.
Now you’re cooking.

Hynes waits out Quinn from the Lite Gov. spot, and is motivated to keep doing a lot of good things while waiting for Quinn to get tired and retire. Those two put together would give the repubs a good fight.

Don’t blame me for this mess, I voted for Art.

- Will County Woman - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 9:34 pm:
what is it with you people and art turner?

i saw him on Chicago Tonight and I’m sorry but he’s just typical career politician, and I didn’t find him very impressive at all. one time while he was on just after the stopgap budget passed he said “we shouldn’t be using a credit card to pay our bills,” and claimed to be adamantly opposed to such fiscal irresponsibility. I think it was elizabeth brackett who asked him in reposne to that “isn’t that what was just done.” He looked and said “well yeah.”

he lost the lt. guv race because he was outdone. maybe he’s just too old to compete effectively. the people spoke and he was rejected.

- Hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 9:34 pm:
Park,

NY got rid of their governor for seeing a prostitute, but Louisiana re-elected their senator who saw prostitutes. So as long as we don’t vote SLC into office… we’re still better than Louisiana.

Or something.

- TJ - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 9:35 pm:
….. it’s official. Illinois is no longer a joke state. We’re a parody of a state.

- Will County Woman - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 9:37 pm:
I remember a bit more clearly now…elizabeth brackett asked Art Turner if he supported/voted for the stopgap budget? and he said “well, yeah.”

- Hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 9:45 pm:
It seems like SLC’s friends are calling into CLTV to defend him. LOL.

- Swinging tilc - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 9:47 pm:
Why would Grainger Terry’s rep be ruined? Even though it’s 2010, conventional wisdom in Illinois is that it’s very hard to get elected w/ a Jewish surname. Phil Molfese got someone with a Jewish surname elected, someone who’s a high school drop out, a pawn shop owner and has a DV arrest, involving an alleged prostitute. Scott Lee Cohen hired Grainger Terry to get him elected, and they did their job incredibly well.

- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 9:49 pm:
There is such a thing as responsibility to more than the greenback.

- dznuts - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 9:51 pm:
Interesting idea to pass a bill in the spring to eliminate the office of the Lt. Governor. Even more interesting to put Quinn on the spot to support ending the office itself that got him in this mess. If the office is not worth having, then why did he campaign for it and stay in it? The office does have some important opportunities to develop an incubator model for new programs. The Illinois Main Street program was developed in that office under Lt. Governor Kustra and has proven very successful. Rural Affairs Council, Illinois river/environmental advocacy, higher education, the list goes on. The problem is not the office, but the office holder.

Illinois needs to adopt legislation that the Governor names a running mate instead of electing the position. We need to avoid the Blago/Quinn and Ryan/Wood issues of separation. It needs to be a team approach to solving problems and shared responsbility.

Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.

- Will County Woman - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 9:51 pm:
Confused Dem,
I agree with everything you wrote except the parts about Obama. He needs to stay focused on his work and out of Illinois political issues.

- Medulla - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 9:53 pm:
Scott Cohen should stay in. No question about it. He has committed no crime. He has a PR problem. People with PR problems who legitimately win elections can run for office in this country; they do it all the time. Kasper isn’t shilling for anyone. He’s telling it like it is: this guy is on the ballot if he says he’s on the ballot and there’s no “provision” to remove him.

Huddle up with Axelrod, Adelstein-Liston, Saul Shore, Maury Povich, Grainger-Terry, whoever, Mr. Cohen. You can ride this out. It may be painful for awhile, but eventually Pat will embrace you. Then we can watch the real contest begin . . .

- A Citizen - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 9:54 pm:
Rich, There are also bigtime bar room bets. Springfield got a town drunk elected mayor on a couple of power brokers’ bets about 80 years ago. Problem came when he sobered up and took the job seriously!

- Hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 9:56 pm:
WCW,

Obviously you don’t know anything about Art Turner if you think he’s “too old” at 59 years old.

One bad interview does not undo a whole career of public service. He may not be a good campaigner. He may have not done a very good job of raising money and not have had a good campaign strategy. But he would have brought an informed, experienced background to the back-up gov position and most importantly, would not have embarrassed us as residents of Illinois the way SLC has today.

I’d take a career politician like Art Turner who worked for everything he has over a GED millionaire inheritor of a pawn empire any day of the week.

- Bookworm - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 9:57 pm:
Paging Tim “Get Nieuked” Nieukirk! :-)

- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 9:57 pm:
===but eventually Pat will embrace you.===

You are either clueless, on a payroll or a Republican operative. lol

I don’t usually say things like that about a commenter, but that comment was ludicrous. Period.

- Will County Woman - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 9:57 pm:
SLC’s web site is pretty nice. better than art turner’s that’s for sure! slc clearly worked with professionals and was more effective the career pols he ran against. maybe his background helped him to relate to everyday people.

http://www.turnerforillinois.com/

http://www.scottleecohen.com/

- i'm just saying... - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 9:58 pm:
I wonder if Glenn Selig is looking for another client, this guy is just damn perfect for him

What a stable, Blago, Drew and Scott Lee Cohen :)

- JOD25 - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 9:59 pm:
Stop this already!Rich tell them there is nothing anyone can do if SLC decides to dig his heels in.We as a state elected him live and learn.This nonsense about bringing a criminal charge against this mope is reaching two,three continuances and it would be November.This guy goes on his own free will or doesn’t go at all.To suggest paying him what he spent to walk away just ain’t gonna happen.This man makes his living and seems to do well at it by getting the edge.What do you say to him “hey Scotty wanna be head of tollway ?Walk now and it’s a done deal.Who delivers that kinda message?This is like having a huge zit a week before prom and you know it is not gonna be gone in time.You heard Kasper say he was elected by the voters. Nothing the ticket can do.

- Joe - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 10:00 pm:
Rich, maybe I’m giving you too much credit, but didn’t you talk about this Madigan-style tactic months ago. He’s never wanted PQ to win this race. Does anyone really believe that someone who reads every single bill of every single session religously would possibly overlook a guy who’s spending $3 mil to be the #2 in his party’s ticket? There’s no way he missed something huge like this. He let this guy slip through the cracks, and he saw it coming weeks ago. The only way MJM stays in power is to have a punching bag on the right to blame for leading this state through the hard decisions that need to be made over the next 4 years. Then it’s Lisa’s for the taking in 2014.

- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 10:00 pm:
===Rich tell them there is nothing anyone can do if SLC decides to dig his heels in.===

I have only one idea, but it would get me in huge trouble. The S10 option is all I’ll say. And it’s a joke. Mostly.

- Medulla - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 10:02 pm:
Maybe “embrace” was the wrong word. :) Sorry.

- Will County Woman - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 10:03 pm:
to me he looks older than 59!
I am not a fan of art turner because he’s typical career politican. he has a kid in politics, so elder should just go on an retire in accordance with the wishes of the majority of democrats who opted not to vote for him in the primary.

the people have spoken here. it’s not for lawmakers to cherrypick when they are going to abide by the people’s wishes and when they are not. we have a process that needs to be follwed and respected.

- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 10:03 pm:
Yes, Mr. Cohen has a nice website, but notice the complete lack of a biography. None at all.

With regard to the PR firm, at first glance one would have to question their ethics, both in pushing Mr. Cohen knowing he had so much baggage but also in taking hefty fees from the man if they gave him the false impression that his issues were minor and would not impact his ability to be elected.

- Will County Woman - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 10:10 pm:
Ugggh…are we back to the mike madigan doesn’t like pat quinn and mike madigan is being mean and trying to hurt pat quinn stuff again??????
what is with you quinn people? what’s with these conspiracy theories against pat quinn? you guys swore up and down that mike madigan wasn’t allowing the tax increase to pass so that pat quinn could be hurt and lisa could take pat’s job. yada…yada…yada…

mike madigan allowed for quinn to be slated. despite all of his problems, most of which are hs own doing, quinn won Tuesday.

Mike Madigan made more than 200k people vote for SLC statwide? I know Madigan is powerful, but gee I don’t think he’s that powerful.

- JOD25 - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 10:11 pm:
There is no do-overs in politics you have to ride it out.I bet we don’t hear a peep from Alexi on this cause this Scotty looks to be one of them kinda cats that says that could not be you Lexi that just fired that brick in a glasshouse?

- The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 10:14 pm:
You just gotta LOVE Illinois! lol

- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 10:15 pm:
Actually per the Trib. website, Alexi Giannoulias called for SLC to exit the race this evening.

- Hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 10:16 pm:
JOD25,

Alexi has already made a statement that SLC should step down saying domestic violence has no place in society let alone elected office.

- Dem in Denim - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 10:17 pm:
Given the choice of Grainger-Terry vs. a $19.99 Politics for Dummies book, I’d buy the book. Good grief!

- JOD25 - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 10:18 pm:
Quit blaming Madigan he didn’t ever see this happening.So know he plays with the hand we as voters dealt him.We justed happened to deal him a royal flush!

- Anon - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 10:19 pm:
WCW Tribune commenters does not translate into voters. For every commenter on this site, theiris a voter with influence over many other voters

- Will County Woman - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 10:19 pm:
hmmm…Alexi G. should not have done that. didn’t the white house try to tell him to exit or not get in? the blowback on Alexi G, is going to be pretty intense.

I’ve noticed that the comments are mostly about what SLC should do. But, does quinn just go an take the advice he has been given and form another party? If all of this is bothering him to the extent that he expressed earlier today, he might as well heed the advice.

- JOD25 - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 10:24 pm:
See how far Alexi wants to push Scotty cause SLC is the app and Alexi is the main course as far as the R’s are concerned.You watch if I’m wrong Rich can direct me to donate to any charitable cause you and he see fit.

- IrishPirate - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 10:26 pm:
I’ve been drinking some wine and examining this issue.

I’ve come to one conclusion.

SLC should ask Governor Quinn to step down off the ticket immediately so as to not tarnish SLC’s good name.

- JonShibleyFan - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 10:26 pm:
“the blowback on Alexi G, is going to be pretty intense.”

Geez, come off of it already.

- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 10:30 pm:
This SLC debacle has MJM written all over it! King Madigan strikes again and the State of Illinois will be the laughing stalk of late night comedians for the next six weeks.

- Will County Woman - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 10:31 pm:
don’t just read the tribune commenters. read the suntimes commenters as well!!!!!!

I hear ya, though.

- Charles - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 10:33 pm:
Turner, Hynes, Hoffman, Raja- should be interesting - I wonder what Quinn and Madigan are thinking

- HappyToaster - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 10:33 pm:
“Geez, come off of it already.”

No kidding. Concern troll is concerned.

a. It’s the right thing to do.
b. Short of slapping a woman around in a ‘roid rage, Alexi is now inoculated.

- JOD25 - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 10:41 pm:
It’s not the blowback that will be intense it is SLC issue will kill time while they sit and watch all those things D.H said in the primary come to the forefront. It is what they call the perfect storm.You think the Prez is gonna hop back home to rally the troops in this weather?Lucky to get one ,two downstate ribbon cuttings with D.Durbin[high speed rail} and maybe a rally cry into A-American voters saying make sure you vote.He is not going to be around for Q-A during Rezko,Blago,Bad bank time.Axelrod won’t let that happen.

- Wizard of Ozzie - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 10:43 pm:
“…maybe his background helped him to relate to everyday people. ”

You mean his background of shooting roids, meeting his girlfriends at “massage parlors”, not paying child support, owning a pawn shop, holding knives to women’s throats. Yep, Scott Lee Cohen, he’s just like everybody else.

Scott Lee Cohen isn’t Joe Six Pack. He’s more like Joe Roofie in a Shot of Apple Pucker.

WCW, you never cease to amaze me.

- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 10:47 pm:
WCW, it’s time for a break.

- JOD25 - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 10:47 pm:
Rich please share the S10 joke with the class?

- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 10:48 pm:
Never.

- real - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 10:50 pm:
JOD25.

I’ll give you a hint:

Think of a pony. Then don’t.

Confused? Subscribe.

- Will County Woman - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 10:57 pm:
no wiz. his ability to get out and talk to everyday people about issues. if you bothered to look at his web site and saw that big bus he had, perhaps you would’ve come to the same conclusion that i did. he clearly went around the state and talked to people.

you guys don’t know everything or nearly as much as you think you do. maybe drop the egos and stop being so quick to jump to wrong conclusions about everything thta i write?

- IrishPirate - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 10:57 pm:
- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 10:53 pm:

Just imagine if I were a Republican how much I would be enjoying this.

I’m beginning to think that Illinois needs to secede from the Union, fight a losing civil war with no bloodshed, and be occupied by Federal troops for 1/2 a generation.

This stuff is just plain embarrassing.

- Bill-O' the Clown - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 11:01 pm:
Man, it would be nice if voters could take about twenty minutes out of their American Idol, Big Mac-laced lives to learn something about these “leaders” we are electing…

- JOD25 - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 11:01 pm:
Already am.I mostly just a spectator,but perfect storms don’t happen to often and I am suprised that people are not seeing the whole big picture here.This ticket with a normal SLC was questionable at best now it is shot.
If this primary would have gone till March at least two of these names on the top would have been different.Just my thoughts

- Wizard of Ozzie - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 11:05 pm:
“if you bothered to look at his web site and saw that big bus he had, perhaps you would’ve come to the same conclusion that i did”

Yeah Guys! Give WCW a break. Check out his website. He had a bus. I mean, seriously, a big bus. To travel around. And talk to people.

Get off your high horses and respect the fact that this man, in spite of being a prostitute dating, abusive roid freak, pawn shop owner, RODE A BUS!!! I mean, come on guys. Seriously.

- Amalia - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 11:08 pm:
Fox Chicago had that Madigan called on SLC to drop off the ticket. SLC said that if the people asked him to drop off, he would. we can ruminate forever about how he got there and who dropped the ball. start the petitions and the protests. there should be more than enough advocates against domestic
violence to get it going. it’s not all on Quinn. it will sink other
dems also. get together, point some groups in the right direction and get going. you’ve done it before for other problems, do it for this one.

- Will County Woman - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 11:14 pm:
but what did the others do and how much effort did they make? is my point, wiz. granted slc had more money, but apparently he had more heart too.
this was his first time out and he was more aggressive. same thing on the GOP side with plummer. maybe these two didn’t take anything for granted whereas the career pols may have.

- Little Egypt - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 11:18 pm:
WCW, wow, SLC had a big bus. Is that all it takes to get elected in this state? Apparently so - that and a GED and an ongoing court file.

- Will County Woman - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 11:19 pm:
having worked victims of domestic violence, i think the domestic violence organizations would be wise to stay out of this. this is not their fight or issue, and as many rely on taxpayer funding to provide specific services and programs, going after slc is not within scope or mission of domestic violence organizations. they need to focus their attention on those they serve—that is what they are paid to do!

- real - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 11:19 pm:
WCW - I think the image of the bus was a crafty PR ploy, and you know that. But keep on trying to push your spin.

Look, SLC had more money, plain and simple.

If you talk to voters who voted for him - they talk about the “jobs” ad. He is the only one who had money to run an ad to that large an audience. The fact that Turner got so many votes without such an ad and without the money REALLY shows the ground work (heart?) he had to do to get them.

The heart part for SLC is debatable, the money part isn’t.

- jack - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 11:20 pm:
wcw- heed rich’s advice– give all of us a BREAK with your ramblings…. it is tiresome.

- real - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 11:20 pm:
To that point….

If D.C. folks are looking for a “What does it all mean?” answer for Illinois’ primary?

It is that money can buy elections.

That is especially poignant now in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling.

- Dem in Denim - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 11:22 pm:
This is easy enough a Dummie could get it. This whole situation will not get better. It will only grow bigger. And bigger. It is only one day or so from going coast to coast in punch lines on Letterman. More not-so-fun newspaper headlines are being drafted as we talk. In the text-in Fox Chgo News poll tonight, 2/3rds said it was wrong for SLC to stay in the campaign. SLC can say his focus is on stepping back to work on making things right for the kid(s) involved. Works every time.
PS - Kudos to Rich & all for about 1000 comments today. Wow.

- TaxMeMore - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 11:22 pm:
An angry mob of women following Scott Cohen around with Quit Now You Creep signs is just what this campaign season needs. I’m telling you he needs to be made into a reality show. Planned Parenthood endorsed him and Personal PAC? Is that angry mob going to protest them for endorsing this guy also? This is better than any fiction writer could make up.

If only Rich could afford a couple more interns with cameras, an editor/web dept, and more bandwidth to follow this guy around 24/7 until it ends. People might pay to see that.

- Levois - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 11:25 pm:
Irish Pirate, I miss your wit. :P

- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 11:25 pm:
lol

I have the bandwidth

- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 11:25 pm:
This is going viral nationally….

This is King Madigan doing it again. Lisa will then come in and sue SLC for back child support or tax evasion or something and get all the credit. Then SLC will resign from the campaign and get a slap on the wrist.

On the Front of TPM:

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/02/well_in_that_case.php

Wall Street Journal

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704041504575045242898989112.html

- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 11:27 pm:
Can Irish Bandit, Bill, and Laborguy all get together for a live debate on the blog about SLC? Just let them go at it. Rich, can you moderate?

- Will County Woman - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 11:28 pm:
i am not going to assume it was ploy just you think i should. whatever he did was clearly more effective than what everyone else did. so, how does one really determine what was ploy and what wasn’t?

- Responsa - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 11:30 pm:
Rich says he already has the bandwidth and from the article last week we know he has the dough. You can grow your franchise and call it Capital Papparazzi!

- Downstate - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 11:32 pm:
Rich, you doubt Quinn would embrace Cohen, but you forget he did so to Blago twice.

As a Republican I’m laughing my butt off now. Unless Cohen quits, the Dems are stuck with him, and I can’t believe Quinn would ever make it worse by doing a third-party thing like Stevenson.

The only guy happier than Bill Brady right now is Rich Whitney. I think the Greens just met their 10 percent vote quota to stay on the ballots for the next four years.

- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 11:52 pm:
===Rich, you doubt Quinn would embrace Cohen, but you forget he did so to Blago twice.===

I will bet you $10,000 that Quinn will never embrace Cohen.

- Pot calling kettle - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 11:55 pm:
$3 million says he stays in and continues to tell himself it will blow over in a few days.

- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 11:56 pm:
I’ll take it.

- Bill-O' the Clown - Thursday, Feb 4, 10 @ 11:58 pm:
I think its fairly evident Whitney clear 10 percent.

Whitney could be the biggest obstacle to Quinn retaining the Mansion.

- Anon - Friday, Feb 5, 10 @ 12:02 am:
Let’s back off Jack Ryan a little… Super hot holywood wife. Let’s give the guy a break alreadyl.

- Anon - Friday, Feb 5, 10 @ 12:10 am:
It took Cohen to make Plummer look good. Oh my god, what have we gotten ourselves into?

- Rich Miller - Friday, Feb 5, 10 @ 12:12 am:
Besides all the traffic, I think we’ve broken a one-day record for most comments on one subject, including RRB’s arrest day.

- The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous - Friday, Feb 5, 10 @ 12:14 am:
lol. Your 10:26, Pirate, was priceless. lol

- Loyal Whig - Friday, Feb 5, 10 @ 12:14 am:
Parties have a responisbility to warn their members. We can ignore. Twice in 24 years Dems have been burned. This is a horrible position for Quinn. Political Parties need to warn of wack jobs. Do not count on media. Madigan should never have put the party, not Quinn, in this spot.

- Anonymous - Friday, Feb 5, 10 @ 12:17 am:
WTTW Chicago 11 has the video up of Ponce’s Interview

http://www.wttw.com/main.taf?p=1,4

- Rich Miller - Friday, Feb 5, 10 @ 12:32 am:
Comments closed. Fresh thread here… http://thecapitolfaxblog.com/2010/02/04/cohen-on-chicago-tonight-and-a-roundup/

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