Joe Morris on TV this week: Grading Blago-- Trolls across the Board
Joe Morris: It’s a bipartisan grade [for Governor Blagojevich] for people in Illinois politics. Trolls across the board… I think he [Blago] has wasted a lot of his opportunities… He has insulted downstaters by his conspicuous dislike of—for most of Illinois south of I-80… He may still be re-elected, because we’ve got the George Ryan trial-- coming later this fall. We have any number of idiot Republicans ready to… launch new scandals, I’m sure.
***********************************
Morris: Paul Vallas has a clean reputation, a lot of accomplishments in the education area. He’s been out of the state for a while, not making enemies, both these guys [Vallas and State’s Attorney Devine] could mount serious challenges [to Gov. Blagojevich].
**********************************************
This week’s suburban edition of “Public Affairs,” features Joe Morris, Chairman of the United Republican Fund of Illinois. Morris, a senior level official in the Reagan Administration, ran for Cook County Board President under a reform, Republican banner in 1994. Although picking up almost a half million votes, Morris was not only ahead of his time, but ahead of his Party—as a reformer. Morris is usually thought of as the conscience of the conservative wing of the Illinois Republican Party, such as it is.
This show will also air throughout the City of Chicago [in the regular “Public Affairs,” City of Chicago time slot] on next Monday night, August 1 at 8:30 pm on CANTV, Cable Ch. 21 in Chicago.
**********************************************
A partial transcript of the show with Joe Morris is included, below.
*************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: …Rounding [out your bio], Joe Morris, you are married to Kathleen Morris? Right?
Joe Morris, Chairman, United Republican Fund of Illinois: That’s right, my highest accomplishment.
Berkowitz:…Joe, let’s give report cards to people… The governor, for instance, has been there for almost three years. Rod Blagojevich. When’s the last chance you’ve had to give the Governor of the state of Illinois a grade?
Joe Morris: Not since Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince came out and, your viewers will know that there’s, now, this whole new report card system based on Harry Potter’s grades at Hogwarts, where, apparently, the wizarding levels run from outstanding down to troll. I think that’s-- I think that’s just fantastic. So, I’m ready today to award some “outstandings” and some “trolls.”
Berkowitz: Okay. But, … you can’t do it as a partisan—we know you are that, but if you were at the University of Chicago, if you were writing an essay, if you were going to be graded on how fair and balanced and objectively you graded [Governor] Rod Blagojevich, give him a grade for the first two and a half years.
Joe Morris: It’s a, it’s a bipartisan grade [for Governor Blagojevich] for people in Illinois politics. Trolls across the board. Rod Blagojevich came into office with a tremendous head of steam- um, facing a Republican establishment beset with scandal. I think he has wasted a lot of his opportunities. He has made enemies out of rank-and-file Democrats as well as Democratic Party leaders. He has insulted downstaters by his conspicuous dislike of-- for most of Illinois south of I-80-- and for-- certainly for Springfield. He’s the first governor in memory who, with respect to whom legislative leaders in both parties require signed, side memos to make sure that they—that they’ve pinned the governor down on the deals that they make in, typical Illinois legislative fashion, at the end of-- at the end of [the legislative] session. Rod Blagojevich ought to be on his way-- on a cake walk to re-election. He may still be re-elected, because we’ve got the George Ryan trial, uh-- coming later this fall. We have any number of idiot Republicans ready to, ah, launch new scandals, I’m sure.
Berkowitz: Idiot Republicans? Really?
Joe Morris: Yeah. Yes
Berkowitz [laughing]: Any you want to name? Of those idiot Republicans?
Joe Morris: Sure. Well, the- the Republican Party, no less than the Democratic Party in Illinois, desperately needs reform. And-- and we have a walking embarrassment right now in our [Republican] national committeeman, Bob Kjellander, who has this yet unexplained eight hundred thousand [dollar] plus, uh, commission for, for unidentified services rendered.
Berkowitz: Oh, no. He told me just this week. You have to keep up with my blog.
Joe Morris: Oh, I’ve read your blog.
Berkowitz: … Didn’t you read what Mr. Kjellander said about that [$809,000 fee from Bear Stearns, See here].
Joe Morris: Yes, and I was unimpressed. So-
Berkowitz: He [Kjellander] worked months and months-
Joe Morris: Oh. I’m sure he did.
Berkowitz: Sometimes spoke to the folks at Bear Stearns four or five times a day-
Joe Morris: I’m sure he did.
Berkowitz: He can’t count up the hours.
Joe Morris: I’m sure he can’t.
Berkowitz: He [Republican National Committeeman Kjellander] doesn’t do lobbying, doesn’t do legislative work. He said that …He denied unequivocally that he had secured Republican votes for that Democratic bill [the 10 billion dollar Blagojevich Bond legislation]. You doubt the word of your Republican national committeeman? Bob Kjellander?
Joe Morris: I’m a bit skeptical.
Berkowitz: You are?
Joe Morris: I’m a bit skeptical.
Berkowitz [Big smile]: I’m shocked.
Joe Morris: And, I’m-- I have to say I don’t think that Bob Kjellander’s role in that transaction or others have been explained to the satisfaction of Illinois voters.
Berkowitz: All right… We’re kind of digressing. We were going to grade-
Joe Morris: No, you asked me for grades. So, I’m giving trolls across the board.
Berkowitz: … no, come on, give me a [letter] grade for [Governor] Rod Blagojevich.
Joe Morris: At this point I would give him, I would rate Rod Blagojevich a “D,” uh, a “D”
Berkowitz: A “D?” You’re a tough grader.
Joe Morris: Uh, he may face a primary challenge from within the Democratic Party. Uh, if he wins re-election it will be because my party throws the election. Not necessarily, not necessarily intentionally, simply with characteristic Republican incompetence.
Berkowitz: You think he [Blago] may [face a challenge]? Do you think Dick Devine might challenge him? [Cook County] State’s Attorney Dick Devine?
Joe Morris: That’s certainly one name I’ve heard. I’m glad that you’ve heard it, too
Berkowitz: [Former Chicago Public School System CEO] Paul Vallas?
Joe Morris:. That’s another name that I’ve heard.
Berkowitz: Jack Franks?
Joe Morris: That’s yet another name I’ve heard.
Berkowitz: But, it seems more like Vallas or Devine? What’s your bet? Vallas will do it?
Joe Morris: One or both of those may do it.
Berkowitz: You think. And, if they do, one or both could actually beat Rod Blagojevich and his fifteen to twenty million dollars?
Morris: Money does not always define outcomes in politics. Dick Devine has an outstanding reputation for cutting across ethnic and racial lines in Cook County. A great organization, people forget that before he was state’s attorney, he was, uh, deeply involved in political ward organizations in Chicago [and worked for a short time for the Mayor Richard J. Daley Administration, and for a longer period of time as the First Assistant to then State’s Attorney Richard M. Daley]
Berkowitz: Okay.
Morris: He defeated Jack O’Malley [for State’s Attorney in 1996], in an upset.
Berkowitz: You like State’s Attorney Dick Devine.
Morris: Paul Vallas-
Berkowitz: You like Paul Vallas.
Morris: Paul Vallas has a clean reputation, a lot of accomplishments in the education area. He’s been out of the state for a while, not making enemies, both these guys could mount serious challenges [to Gov. Blagojevich].
**********************************************
Joe Morris, recorded on July 17, 2005 and as is airing on the Suburban edition of Public Affairs this week [week of July 25] and on the City of Chicago edition of Public Affairs on Monday night, August 1 at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21. See, below, for a detailed suburban airing schedule.
*******************************
Joe Morris debates and discusses with Show Host and Executive Legal Recruiter Jeff Berkowitz grades for Gov. Blagojevich and President Bush; the successes and failures of Bush’s domestic and foreign policies, the ability of President Bush to communicate; the correctness, or lack thereof, regarding Pat Buchanan’s and others’ criticism of the Bush response to terrorism; the Karl Rove, Joe Wilson and Valeria Plame issue; likely Democratic and Republican candidates for President in 2008 and much, much more.
*******************************
The suburban edition of "Public Affairs," is regularly broadcast every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.
The suburban edition also is broadcast every Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m. on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northfield, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Wilmette and every Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m. on Comcast Cable Channel 35 in Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Glenview, Golf, Des Plaines, Hanover Park, Mt. Prospect, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Prospect Heights, Schaumburg, Skokie, Streamwood and Wheeling.
*****************************************
Transcript drafts prepared by Amy Allen, who also does research for “Public Affairs,” and has her own political blog [See here].
******************************************
Jeff Berkowitz, Host and Producer of Public Affairs and an Executive Recruiter doing Legal Search, can be reached at JBCG@aol.com
***********************
***********************************
Morris: Paul Vallas has a clean reputation, a lot of accomplishments in the education area. He’s been out of the state for a while, not making enemies, both these guys [Vallas and State’s Attorney Devine] could mount serious challenges [to Gov. Blagojevich].
**********************************************
This week’s suburban edition of “Public Affairs,” features Joe Morris, Chairman of the United Republican Fund of Illinois. Morris, a senior level official in the Reagan Administration, ran for Cook County Board President under a reform, Republican banner in 1994. Although picking up almost a half million votes, Morris was not only ahead of his time, but ahead of his Party—as a reformer. Morris is usually thought of as the conscience of the conservative wing of the Illinois Republican Party, such as it is.
This show will also air throughout the City of Chicago [in the regular “Public Affairs,” City of Chicago time slot] on next Monday night, August 1 at 8:30 pm on CANTV, Cable Ch. 21 in Chicago.
**********************************************
A partial transcript of the show with Joe Morris is included, below.
*************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: …Rounding [out your bio], Joe Morris, you are married to Kathleen Morris? Right?
Joe Morris, Chairman, United Republican Fund of Illinois: That’s right, my highest accomplishment.
Berkowitz:…Joe, let’s give report cards to people… The governor, for instance, has been there for almost three years. Rod Blagojevich. When’s the last chance you’ve had to give the Governor of the state of Illinois a grade?
Joe Morris: Not since Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince came out and, your viewers will know that there’s, now, this whole new report card system based on Harry Potter’s grades at Hogwarts, where, apparently, the wizarding levels run from outstanding down to troll. I think that’s-- I think that’s just fantastic. So, I’m ready today to award some “outstandings” and some “trolls.”
Berkowitz: Okay. But, … you can’t do it as a partisan—we know you are that, but if you were at the University of Chicago, if you were writing an essay, if you were going to be graded on how fair and balanced and objectively you graded [Governor] Rod Blagojevich, give him a grade for the first two and a half years.
Joe Morris: It’s a, it’s a bipartisan grade [for Governor Blagojevich] for people in Illinois politics. Trolls across the board. Rod Blagojevich came into office with a tremendous head of steam- um, facing a Republican establishment beset with scandal. I think he has wasted a lot of his opportunities. He has made enemies out of rank-and-file Democrats as well as Democratic Party leaders. He has insulted downstaters by his conspicuous dislike of-- for most of Illinois south of I-80-- and for-- certainly for Springfield. He’s the first governor in memory who, with respect to whom legislative leaders in both parties require signed, side memos to make sure that they—that they’ve pinned the governor down on the deals that they make in, typical Illinois legislative fashion, at the end of-- at the end of [the legislative] session. Rod Blagojevich ought to be on his way-- on a cake walk to re-election. He may still be re-elected, because we’ve got the George Ryan trial, uh-- coming later this fall. We have any number of idiot Republicans ready to, ah, launch new scandals, I’m sure.
Berkowitz: Idiot Republicans? Really?
Joe Morris: Yeah. Yes
Berkowitz [laughing]: Any you want to name? Of those idiot Republicans?
Joe Morris: Sure. Well, the- the Republican Party, no less than the Democratic Party in Illinois, desperately needs reform. And-- and we have a walking embarrassment right now in our [Republican] national committeeman, Bob Kjellander, who has this yet unexplained eight hundred thousand [dollar] plus, uh, commission for, for unidentified services rendered.
Berkowitz: Oh, no. He told me just this week. You have to keep up with my blog.
Joe Morris: Oh, I’ve read your blog.
Berkowitz: … Didn’t you read what Mr. Kjellander said about that [$809,000 fee from Bear Stearns, See here].
Joe Morris: Yes, and I was unimpressed. So-
Berkowitz: He [Kjellander] worked months and months-
Joe Morris: Oh. I’m sure he did.
Berkowitz: Sometimes spoke to the folks at Bear Stearns four or five times a day-
Joe Morris: I’m sure he did.
Berkowitz: He can’t count up the hours.
Joe Morris: I’m sure he can’t.
Berkowitz: He [Republican National Committeeman Kjellander] doesn’t do lobbying, doesn’t do legislative work. He said that …He denied unequivocally that he had secured Republican votes for that Democratic bill [the 10 billion dollar Blagojevich Bond legislation]. You doubt the word of your Republican national committeeman? Bob Kjellander?
Joe Morris: I’m a bit skeptical.
Berkowitz: You are?
Joe Morris: I’m a bit skeptical.
Berkowitz [Big smile]: I’m shocked.
Joe Morris: And, I’m-- I have to say I don’t think that Bob Kjellander’s role in that transaction or others have been explained to the satisfaction of Illinois voters.
Berkowitz: All right… We’re kind of digressing. We were going to grade-
Joe Morris: No, you asked me for grades. So, I’m giving trolls across the board.
Berkowitz: … no, come on, give me a [letter] grade for [Governor] Rod Blagojevich.
Joe Morris: At this point I would give him, I would rate Rod Blagojevich a “D,” uh, a “D”
Berkowitz: A “D?” You’re a tough grader.
Joe Morris: Uh, he may face a primary challenge from within the Democratic Party. Uh, if he wins re-election it will be because my party throws the election. Not necessarily, not necessarily intentionally, simply with characteristic Republican incompetence.
Berkowitz: You think he [Blago] may [face a challenge]? Do you think Dick Devine might challenge him? [Cook County] State’s Attorney Dick Devine?
Joe Morris: That’s certainly one name I’ve heard. I’m glad that you’ve heard it, too
Berkowitz: [Former Chicago Public School System CEO] Paul Vallas?
Joe Morris:. That’s another name that I’ve heard.
Berkowitz: Jack Franks?
Joe Morris: That’s yet another name I’ve heard.
Berkowitz: But, it seems more like Vallas or Devine? What’s your bet? Vallas will do it?
Joe Morris: One or both of those may do it.
Berkowitz: You think. And, if they do, one or both could actually beat Rod Blagojevich and his fifteen to twenty million dollars?
Morris: Money does not always define outcomes in politics. Dick Devine has an outstanding reputation for cutting across ethnic and racial lines in Cook County. A great organization, people forget that before he was state’s attorney, he was, uh, deeply involved in political ward organizations in Chicago [and worked for a short time for the Mayor Richard J. Daley Administration, and for a longer period of time as the First Assistant to then State’s Attorney Richard M. Daley]
Berkowitz: Okay.
Morris: He defeated Jack O’Malley [for State’s Attorney in 1996], in an upset.
Berkowitz: You like State’s Attorney Dick Devine.
Morris: Paul Vallas-
Berkowitz: You like Paul Vallas.
Morris: Paul Vallas has a clean reputation, a lot of accomplishments in the education area. He’s been out of the state for a while, not making enemies, both these guys could mount serious challenges [to Gov. Blagojevich].
**********************************************
Joe Morris, recorded on July 17, 2005 and as is airing on the Suburban edition of Public Affairs this week [week of July 25] and on the City of Chicago edition of Public Affairs on Monday night, August 1 at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21. See, below, for a detailed suburban airing schedule.
*******************************
Joe Morris debates and discusses with Show Host and Executive Legal Recruiter Jeff Berkowitz grades for Gov. Blagojevich and President Bush; the successes and failures of Bush’s domestic and foreign policies, the ability of President Bush to communicate; the correctness, or lack thereof, regarding Pat Buchanan’s and others’ criticism of the Bush response to terrorism; the Karl Rove, Joe Wilson and Valeria Plame issue; likely Democratic and Republican candidates for President in 2008 and much, much more.
*******************************
The suburban edition of "Public Affairs," is regularly broadcast every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.
The suburban edition also is broadcast every Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m. on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northfield, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Wilmette and every Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m. on Comcast Cable Channel 35 in Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Glenview, Golf, Des Plaines, Hanover Park, Mt. Prospect, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Prospect Heights, Schaumburg, Skokie, Streamwood and Wheeling.
*****************************************
Transcript drafts prepared by Amy Allen, who also does research for “Public Affairs,” and has her own political blog [See here].
******************************************
Jeff Berkowitz, Host and Producer of Public Affairs and an Executive Recruiter doing Legal Search, can be reached at JBCG@aol.com
***********************
<< Home