Posted on 07/25/2014 3:33:37 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
If you want to know which individual political race has the biggest stakes in 2014, look no further than the Land of Lincoln.
The Illinois governors race pits incumbent Pat Quinn, a Democrat, against upstart non-politician Bruce Rauner. Why are the stakes so huge? Because Illinois is arguably the worst-run state in America. Its a blue state that has been run for many years by corrupt and bungling politicians including Rod Blagojevich, who went to jail for trying to sell a U.S. Senate seat, and Mr. Quinn, who has run the states finances into the gutter.
This year shows no improvement. Even as the national employment picture has improved, Illinois actually managed to lose more than 15,000 jobs throughout the first half of 2014. In June of 1998, Illinois had 5.07 million private sector jobs. In June of 2014, Illinois had just 4.98 million. Somehow, Illinois managed to lose jobs during this 16-year time frame.
If Illinois were to elect a reform-minded governor in a deep blue state thats hemorrhaging cash, it would be a thunderbolt to the political class around the nation. Illinois could become a laboratory experiment about whether conservative ideas can work in a state that has been ruled by teachers unions and a self-serving political machine in Springfield and Chicago.
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalreview.com ...
“Bruce Rauner may take the governorship of Americas worst run state.”
Wow, the bar is pretty high - so many to choose from.
Worst run state? Yeah, well he’s got some stiff competition from Jerry Moonbeam Brown here in Cali. He’s an absolute Jackwagon.
NY, Mass, Maryland, Cal ..etc.
The up side is that the trophy would really mean something in such a competitive field.
RE: Worst run state? Yeah, well hes got some stiff competition from Jerry Moonbeam Brown here in Cali. Hes an absolute Jackwagon.
______________________________
You are right. According to this list, Illinois is only the third worst run state. California tops it.
Your article is too late, Stephen Moore. The chance for Illinois to do all of that was during this year's primary election.
Now we're stuck with a liberal combiner candidate & Rahm Emanuel pal as the "Republican" nominee. He is neither "reform minded" nor conservative. Illinois is screwed regardless of who wins in November.
In fact, we went through this whole song and dance four years ago, when national conservative pundits claimed electing Mark Kirk to the U.S. Senate is "deep blue Illinois" would "embarrass Obama", "kill the lame duck session" "stop Harry Reid", and "cancel out liberal Dick Durbin's vote so Illinois has balanced representation in the Senate". Oh, and of course, "show that FISCAL conservatism works"
Has it?
Anybody know if they have reserved a jail cell for Quinn yet...After all, isn't that the requirement to be the Illinois Governor...
Four of the last seven have served time...
Isn’t Illinois the state where the cops have to pay cash for gas, because no one will accept the state credit card?
Yep. What you said. Rauner also thinks it’s OK for moms to kill their unborn children. By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept ...
If it was up to me they would have clicked the cuffs on him the minute he took the oath of office.
Illinois: The only state where your license plates are made by former governors.
He’s a RINO. Couldn’t give a crap.
Illinois has had three failed governors in a row. There is no way Quinn deserves another term. Would Rauner be any better? He couldn’t be worse. If Quinn wins, it shows the utter hopeless of Illinois, not so much because of him, but because of the kind of people who would re-elect him.
*hpoelessness*
Aren't they all in Prison?
Ryan was. Blagojevich is. Quinn hasn’t gone yet, but he is the third failure.
That’s us. Wait till the EBT cards stop working.
Here is a add:
Quinn ... dear God, ANYBODY has got to be better.
Be careful what you ask for.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.