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Former Illinois governor slams Pritzker for ‘malpractice’ as Bears look to flee to red state
Fox News ^ | February 21, 2026 | Madison Colombo

Posted on 02/21/2026 12:44:15 PM PST by MinorityRepublican

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich argued Gov. JB Pritzker got "outplayed and outflanked" as the Chicago Bears look to leave the state for Indiana.

On Thursday, an Indiana House panel approved legislation to help finance a potential new NFL stadium for the team. The facility could be constructed near Wolf Lake in Hammond, Indiana, just across the state border.

"The Indiana legislature did what it did, and it caught our governor asleep," Blagojevich said Saturday on "Fox & Friends Weekend."

"Governor Pritzker really is guilty of gubernatorial malpractice, and this isn't the first time a major business is about to leave Illinois," he added.

Blagojevich blamed the blue state's high taxes as a reason the team may be considering the move, noting other major companies like Boeing and Tyson Foods that have already left.

"He [Pritzker] spent $3 billion on illegal immigrants, migrants, and apparently doesn't have the money or has paid the attention to try to keep the Bears in Illinois," he said.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Sports
KEYWORDS: boeing; chicago; chicagobears; dabears; football; furrymomsaddened; illinois; indiana; indianabears; isitthem; jbpritzker; julianastratton; nationalfelonsleague; nfl; nofansleft; paytoplay; racism; rodblagojevich; sports; tammyduckworth; tysonfoods; whiletheironishot; wwjd
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To: MinorityRepublican

Bury every Pritzker Private Equity Venture. There are hundreds. Buckman Chemicals and Hyatt Hotels, being their crown jewels.


41 posted on 02/21/2026 2:21:26 PM PST by blackdog (The philosophy of the schoolroom in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next.)
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To: Biblebelter

Pritzker wanted the Senate appointment and Blago threw cold water on that idea. Pritzker then dropped hints about wanted the Treasurer position. Tape of the call below.

https://youtu.be/-DBy6wR9XkU


42 posted on 02/21/2026 2:49:59 PM PST by dznutz
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To: srmanuel

And the Washington Whatchamacallits play in Landover, Maryland.


43 posted on 02/21/2026 2:59:59 PM PST by Allegra (We will not be emotionally blackmailed into backing off what we voted for. )
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To: FlingWingFlyer

Pritzker doesn’t need a football stadium for the Bears, he can take pride in the construction of the new Obama Presidential Center instead!


44 posted on 02/21/2026 4:04:02 PM PST by volare737 ( Diversity is something to be overcome, not celebrated. )
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To: dznutz

My point was that the Senate seat was up for sale.

It never got sold.

If it was a question of money, Prickster had more means than anyone else.

In my view the conversations that did get taped made the Feds nervous that Blago as auctioneer would say sold over the phone if not to Fat Boy then to someone else.

It was the Feds and therefore the Deep State’s greatest fear that Barry’s presidency would start off with his senate seat being sold and bought by fellow Illinois Democrats who he was tight with.

Blago was a disgrace and the testimony at his impeachment where aides said he hid in the bathroom to avoid discussing business or he would have aides meet him at bowling alley was the biggest disgrace.

“Selling” the senate appointment was the least of his “crimes” as it’s been common practice forever.

I give Team Barry and the Deep State credit for mitigating the damage by making Blago sole villain here.

There was a lot of dirty Democrat dealing here like Durbin wanting to select the replacement himself and have that replacement serve out Barry’s full term.


45 posted on 02/21/2026 5:37:01 PM PST by Biblebelter
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To: Biblebelter

I think Blago going off the reservation angered the Cook County democratic machine and his father-in-law Dick Mell, who made him. He didn’t want to dance with the one who brung him so they were eager to nail him.


46 posted on 02/21/2026 5:47:13 PM PST by dznutz
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To: dfwgator

Make it “should be” and “during”, and we agree. 😁


47 posted on 02/21/2026 7:04:47 PM PST by SunkenCiv (TDS -- it's not just for DNC shills anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; Bockscar; BraveMan; cardinal4; ...
from the FRchives:

48 posted on 02/21/2026 7:54:52 PM PST by SunkenCiv (TDS -- it's not just for DNC shills anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
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To: libertylover

Joe Robbie and Hard Rock Stadium are the same stadium, Joe Robbie was the stadium’s first name, the stadium went thru a major renovation and was renamed Hard Rock after Joe Robbie sold the team to its current owner.


49 posted on 02/21/2026 8:16:48 PM PST by srmanuel
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To: MinorityRepublican
this isn't the first time a major business is about to leave Illinois,

Uhhh, in FEB 2025, Indiana voted to accept the THIRTY THREE counties... COUNTIES, not businesses... that already voted to abandon Illinois, and join Indiana, and all 33 won by large majorities.

50 posted on 02/21/2026 8:20:54 PM PST by Teacher317
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To: srmanuel; stylin19a; SERKIT

Has anyone asked 1St Bank of Highland Park about the move?


51 posted on 02/22/2026 4:12:05 AM PST by Cletus.D.Yokel (The Democrats' official policy is now, “Hate, Violence and Murder". Change my mind.)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Indiana is quite red when compared to Illinois, which in the top 5 states for unfunded pension liabilities. Chicago must be worse.


52 posted on 02/22/2026 4:31:31 AM PST by dennisw (There is no limit to human stupidity / )
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To: MinorityRepublican

The beautiful thing is that the millions in game day tax money that used to flow into Chicago and Illinois. Will now go into Hammond County and Indiana.


53 posted on 02/22/2026 4:35:14 AM PST by dennisw (There is no limit to human stupidity / )
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To: srmanuel

The redskins play in largo, maryland
The commanders do too


54 posted on 02/22/2026 4:40:48 AM PST by Palio di Siena (Kralik…..you get the wallet)
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