Fox Trot
Dane Placko and Fox News just ran a real nice piece on Dome-icile on the 9 p.m. news tonight. Titled 'Political Revolution', it focused on this blog, and more importanty, about how blogs by elected officials could change the face of politics as we know it. While I greatly appreciate the exposure, I think that getting the idea to a wider audience is going to help the very concept of political blogs and greater communication between public servants and the people they represent.
Many thanks to the Dane and the folks at Fox for reaching out to me and doing this piece.
Many thanks to the Dane and the folks at Fox for reaching out to me and doing this piece.
posted by Rep. John Fritchey @ 8/19/2005
7 comments
7 Comments:
Dear Sir,
I saw the nice story on Fox and it was very exciting. I am a suburban Republican, who drives a Hummer and is an executive in the oil business. My point being I think you and I would be very interesting next to each other on a long distance flight. I wanted to just say Great Job! Intelligent people can disagree and debate. I find it often very sad how uninvolved the majority of the general public is in our political process. It is my belief that we all, from me as a private citizen, to you as a public official have a duty to engage and be informed in our government. I truly hope that you blogging catches on and captivate others to ask questions, form opinions, participate in our freedom. I may be seeing the glass half full but, I didn't agree with the part of the story that said this could back fire. Being that you are accountable for your postings it is most likely you will keep them informative and upbeat. Most of the political blogs are very negative and angry, often losing the facts through the argument. Best of luck sir...AND GO BLUE!
Tom,
You and I are on the same page, figuratively and literally. I look forward to your hopeful participation on the site in the future.
And I'm already getting fired up for the football season. Ranked #4 and poised to win!
Oh no...not Michigan fans! I thought I left you guys at home.
Fritchey my man, I have to say that whether it's issues or politics, you always seem to be one step ahead. Some could call it opportunism, some could call it luck, but at the end of the end, they're going to have to admit it's hard work and skill. Keep up the great things!
John,
With all due respect, what good is communication 'between the Rep and the voters' when the Rep is forced to do the bidding of the leadership.
In the current configuration, the idea that the Representative actually represents his district is a mere pretense. (this is true of both parties & virtually all districts)
There are two factors that create this state of affairs. The first is the "Four tops" system that destroys any "real" independence from the Caucus.
The Second is the corrupt practice of redistricting.
Without going on for too long, various aspects of state distrcts, combined with the 4 tops/caucus system, make "representation" pretty much a joke.
This doesn't mean the people in your district don't like you or that you aren't doing what "most" of them want you to do.
It's just that you ability to "lead" is effectively cauterized. Step too far out of line, and the Caucus will find & fund a challenger. Get too popular to be beat, and the system will redraw the map to cut up your base (regardless of which party is in control of that process).
Like campaign finance reform, all electoral reforms are smoke screens to make the "system" even more inscrutable.
So yeah, your blog is nice, but if you get into hot water with it by being too honest, or making a statement here that allows a potential challenger an opening, you'll rue the day you played it straight.
John,
When that guy with the Hummer said "go blue" I thought he was talking about the democrats in the next election.
All in all, I think it was a good session and that you and the others did a credible job. Payday loan legislation was passed, the genocide ed bill got through, meaningful discussion between sides on the choice issue took place. Funding for state services continue with increases for k-12 ed and health care. Was the pension bill fiscally sound? No. I favored issuance of pension obligation bonds which Im sure would have proven to be a good fiscal move by the state. But it did lessen the burdens that would have had to have been borne by state employees and teachers who have been promised a comfortable retirement in exchange for decades of dedicated service and by the senior citizens, school children, and the less fortunate in our great state.
If we are to continue to provide our citizens with the excellent state services to which they have become accustomed it is obvious that we will have to enhance revenues in Illinois.
With this critical issue in the forefront, I have enough faith in the voters in your district to believe that they would not sacrifice your leadership on these and other issues because of anything you write on this blog.
Come on, now...First blogger in the StateHouse?!? How about Cross?
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