Senator Silvertongue strikes again
In the Dispatch/Argus:
Rhetoric is the lifeblood of Illinois politics, but it's not often you hear a state senator promise to kick someone in the keister.It's apparent now what our senator's literary and television viewing tastes are. He evidently looks to Dr. Seuss's Horton the Elephant and Popeye for his philosophical guidance, though he kind of muddled the two together with, "I am what I am and I say what I think."
But that's what Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline, did Thursday when he told a reporter from KWQC-TV6 that not only does he believe the Thomson prison might soon open, but that he's committed to making sure it happens.
"If that prison doesn't open in 2007, I'm going to make it my business to put my size 12 up somebody's tail end," he said in the televised report.
Jacobs stood by his colorful comments Friday, saying it figuratively illustrates he's going to keep fighting to open the $143 million, maximum-security prison that was completed in 2001, but never opened.
"I am what I am and I say what I think. Would I be better off to sanitize my quotes? Maybe, but that's not what I'm here for," he said.
Paul Rumler, Jacobs' primary opponent, wouldn't comment on the statement, saying only that he supports any effort to open Thomson.
Jacobs contends that could be coming soon. Gov. Rod Blagojevich's office has released a statement listing the project as a priority. As the state's economy improves, finding $50 million a year to operate the prison gets more likely, Jacobs said.
"We believe in the year 2007, we will have the money to open the facility," Jacobs said.
Rep. Mike Boland, D-East Moline, said Blagojevich may be getting more pressure to open the prison, but he hasn't heard of anything definite yet.
That's because it's still too soon to make a decision, said Becky Carroll, spokeswoman for Blagojevich's Office of Management and Budget. "We are hoping to open it. We are in favor of that."
However, she said, "No decision has been made as yet. It's just too early in the budget process."
But Carroll said things are getting better and the state now is at a place where it can begin to look at the prospect of opening the Thomson facility.
(a senator's faithful, even if the plant stinks)?
And the "size 12" up someone's posterior line is a direct rip-off from the very popular program "American Chopper" where father/business owner and tough guy Paul Teutel Sr. frequently issues the same no-nonsense threat to his sons, and yes, it's a "size 12".
Unless Senator Jacobs' happens to wear that size, it proves for whatever it's worth, that he's getting his supposedly off-the-cuff, "I am what I am" campaign talking points from an cable program about building custom motorcycles.
Voters want to know, when will Senator Jacobs "come clean" about his shoe size?
NEW FLASH: An anonymous, and therefore unreliable, commenter has assured us that indeed, Senator Jacobs wears a size 12 shoe. For that we commend him. Perhaps Paul Teutel Sr. stole the phrase from Senator Jacobs?
Jacobs says that "he is what he is". Opinion is decidedly split on whether that's a good thing. The Senator "says what he thinks". OK. What do his various statements reveal about the level and quality of his thinking?
posted by The Inside Dope @ 12/17/2005
16 comments
16 Comments:
I like Mikes style. Sergio Molina and the rest at the DOC have been pussy footing around opening of the prison for years. Mike has made more of an impact with one quip, then all the bus trips down to springfield the last few years have made. Keep charging hard Mike.
Yep. He made an impact alright. Too bad it won't make a damn bit of difference as far as getting the prison opened.
The only impact is finding out that even when he says he "is what he is", he's not, and borrowing tough guy phrases from a TV show.
I called the former all-state high school defensive end and Iowa Hawkeye nose guard and asked him. Mike stands 6 foot 3inches, 237 pounds and wears a size 12 shoe!
I hope this makes you feel better DOPE!
+
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It seems to me like Mike was just looking for some airtime. He made these claims about opening the prison, and the representative from the Gov's office said it was way too early to tell if there would be enough money.
Ask the Bruckner family what they think of the prison not opening, and them losing (practically losing) their entire life savings. Mike Jacobs has been up here and he knows the struggles of the business community. I applaud young Mike for his efforts. Don't denegrate him with titles such as silvertongue, unless you mean it as a term of endearment. Come on dope, stop beating on Mike every chance you get. Applaud his exuberance.
WHY??
Nice try Billy. The first part of your comment is pretty straight and reasonable. But then you go off the rails.
Yes, we do need leadership and substance. The jury is certainly out on whether Jacobs provides those or whether it's the type people want.
Secondly, I don't think I need to take a trip to Caroll county, thanks anyway. I'm sure people are in dire straights up there just as they are elsewhere.
But what does that have to do with Jacobs talking tough about getting the prison opened?
The people who are in charge say that nothing's been decided and it's way too early to even speculate about the possibility.
Yet here's your "go get 'em" senator spouting off his tough guy rhetoric which amounts to nothing but hot air.
You seem to contradict yourself. You say politics shouldnt' be about a "style show", yet go on to applaud Jacobs for shooting off his mouth, in other words, his "style".
You say I should commend him for his "go get 'em" style and then say that style shouldn't have anything to do with it. Which is it?
There's certainly no leadership or substance behind his blustery pronouncements, only more hot air.
Oh, and before I forget, in answer to anonymous 12:29, yeah. Knowing his shoe size makes me feel warm all over. Maybe Paul Teutel stole the phrase from the Senator?
With every quote I read Jacobs reminds me more and more of "W". Hot air in an empty suit.
DOPE, you simply do not understand the legisltive process.
If you did, you would know that Executives porpospes and legisltures act. Consequently, your assertion that "The people in charge say nothing has been decided," is worng-headed.
The fact is Senator Mike Jacobs, Rep. Pat Verschoore, Rep. Mike Boland, Sen. Todd Sieben, Rep. Jerry Mitchell and Rep. Secia are the very people "in charge" of how Illinois spends it's resources.
DOPE, your basic lack of understanding of this point amazes me! If nothing else it shows that you need a refresher course in government! How can you talk about that which you do not understand?
the desperation in Carroll county mostly comes from developers (speculators) who wanted to profit because of the prison - when their speculative business venture didn't prosper they blame the state!
that's the business world folks - there are always risks when it comes to such investements!
People always underestimated George W. Bush as well!
We underestimated just how truly disasterous and incompetent he was.
Are you saying it's the same for Jacobs?
Anon 9:06... sadly, the unfortunate spelling and certain other trademarks which most people wouldn't be proud of identify you as our friend Headusher.
At any rate, I think your notions display a rather gaping ignorance of how things work on your part.
While it may be true that..as you so illiterately state: "Executives porpospes and legisltures act."
(What's all this about executive porpoises? Never mind. Actually, the phrase is "The executive proposes, the legislature disposes". And one would sort of hope that someone IN the legislature would at a minimum know how to spell it.)
Are you saying that Sen. Jacobs could get the prison open at any time simply by getting a majority of his pals in the Senate to vote for it? If that was true, too bad he hasn't been able to do that.
As the following statements show, it's clearly not up to the legislature to vote to open the Thomson prison. It's a matter of finding money in the budget, which the governor clearly controls.
Since apparently you disagree, explain these statements:
"Gov. Rod Blagojevich's office has released a statement listing the project as a priority."
"Rep. Mike Boland, D-East Moline, said Blagojevich may be getting more pressure to open the prison, but he hasn't heard of anything definite yet."
"That's because it's still too soon to make a decision, said Becky Carroll, spokeswoman for Blagojevich's Office of Management and Budget. "We are hoping to open it. We are in favor of that."
However, she said, "No decision has been made as yet. It's just too early in the budget process."
But Carroll said things are getting better and the state now is at a place where it can begin to look at the prospect of opening the Thomson facility."
Sounds a lot like the Governor's office holds all the cards on whether the prison gets open.
If Mikey and friends can do it all by themselves, why haven't they?
Just another sad attempt at a smear. But as usual, it only reveals to people your own ignorance.
Why do you keep doing that?
Dope, now that Rich Miller has revealed he can track down posters by their IPS address, maybe you should do the same. Shaming people from making negative, untrue character assassination of others, by calling them out, may help. I know for one I have been driven from commenting on issues on your blog due to the high level of negativity by some of your posters. Just a thought.
He just doesn't learn does he? He doesn't spell very well either.
Anon 8:59
So true. You'd at least expect a legislator to know how to spell "legislature". Is that asking too much?
Anon 6:01
If I want to take the time and go to the trouble, I could probably find out commenters IP address'.
What this amounts to is a number such as 123.44.254.99
Not much to go on.
I don't want to completely ban anyone from the site, and as John Beydler, who has also been the unfortunate victim of the Jacobs camp comments says, sometimes they should be made public just so people can actually see what they're like.
But it really has gotten to the point where I am considering completely banning anything from Headusher or his many incarnations. They're so easy to spot. They really don't add anything to the blog, even a reasoned argument, and the place would be so much nicer without them.
I don't care if someone disagrees with me, and welcome it, but his comments are on another level altogether and don't contribute to anything.
I hope you reconsider and start posting again. If you read something that is untrue or unfair, by all means you should refute it and show how it is wrong.
We need more rational and reasonable commenters, and if there are enough of them, the few bad apples will hopefully be crowded out. As you say, they should be shamed into stopping their stupidity, and other commenters can go a long way towards that.
That said, I do screen out some of the more reckless and irresponsible comments. I try to do so as little as possible however.
Please continue to comment. Thoughtful commenters are always welcome.
Headusher and his alter-egos (and what an ego that is!) has seen fit to come back around and try their brand of smear again. I apologize if I've risen to the bait and responded.
If it continues, I'll have to just chuck them in the garbage again, as their only purpose is to be stir up trouble and distract people from the issues at hand.
I'll try to do a better job of moderating such things.
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