* Lede of the day…
Not even a former United Nations ambassador could quell feuding among Illinois Democrats Wednesday.
With former diplomat and current New Mexico governor Bill Richardson on hand for a day of Democratic rallies, the sniping that’s marked Democrats tenure at the helm of state government continued.
* The “first African-American governor of Illinois” continued the schtick…
“Like the civil rights activists who’ve given Barack Obama a chance to run for president, they didn’t take no for an answer. We shouldn’t take no for an answer when we push to create jobs and give every family in Illinois a chance to be able to have a job and live the American dream,” the governor said.
* The governor did his best to avoid direct confrontation with Speaker Madigan. The two men started out on a positive note…
‘’Let’s come together, put aside our differences,'’ Blagojevich said. […]
‘’Our goal is to bring Democrats together. That’s always my goal. Division just helps the opposition,'’ said Speaker Madigan.
* And…
House Speaker Michael Madigan says he’s taking a new look at the governor’s idea of privatizing the Illinois lottery to pay for a statewide construction program.
* The Republicans didn’t see things in such a “positive” light…
But as Madigan spoke optimistically, state Republican leaders held a rival news conference to blast the Democrats for calling special sessions then taking no action. They even drew up a “Help Wanted” sign with a picture of New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, inviting him to take over here because there is an executive mansion in Springfield “available for immediate occupancy … hasn’t been used in six years.”
* But later in the day…
Blagojevich has suggested bringing lawmakers back to work throughout September to get education funding and the capital program resolved. But Madigan stressed his chamber won’t be rushed in its work.
“Speaking for the members of the House, we’re not prepared to have things dictated to us, and everybody in the building ought to understand that,” Madigan said.
* And, of course, there was this…
Governor’s Day at the Illinois State Fair, featuring an afternoon rally of the Democratic faithful, indeed had Gov. Rod Blagojevich in attendance.
Missing, though, was the chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party, House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, who has had sharp differences with the governor for the past two years.
Also absent were Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Comptroller Dan Hynes. Quinn was attending the funeral of an Illinois soldier killed in the Middle East. Lisa Madigan said she had to tend to work at her office. Hynes said he simply didn’t want to go.
“I really don’t want to participate in some sort of campaign demonizing Democrats,” Hynes said. “It’s lost its traditional role of being an event where Democrats come together and unify and speak of our common values and goals. Now it has become the governor’s latest tactical maneuver.”
Hard to argue with that.
* And don’t forget the protest…
Hundreds of state government workers showed up at Governor’s Day at the Illinois State Fair on Wednesday to protest the Blagojevich administration’s demand that they pay a lot more for their health insurance.
Members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees clustered around entrances to the fairgrounds passing out leaflets detailing their objections to paying higher health insurance costs. […]
“They’re lucky to have a job, and they have health care,” Blagojevich said of the state workers. “They’re going to keep their jobs and keep their health care. Now, start helping us create jobs for other people and provide health care to other people.”
After his speech, Blagojevich said AFSCME’s complaints about health-care coverage “is a negotiating ploy. There’s no question they will keep their health care.”
It’s not about losing health care, it’s about paying a whole lot more for the health insurance they have.
* The last word…
Richardson, meanwhile, deflected questions about the discord in Illinois, saying the Democratic Party is always in a state of ‘’controlled tension.'’
‘’We’ve got a lot of strong personalities,'’ Richardson said. ‘’Sometimes there’s a little rivalry, a little debate, and that’s good.'’
Richardson said he doesn’t believe the dissension in Illinois will rub off on Obama as he travels the country in search of votes.
‘’I see no effects of maybe some divisions within the party,'’ Richardson said.
Speaker Madigan agreed.
‘’I think the people of America are going to decide about Barack Obama and McCain without regard to the Illinois Democratic Party,'’ Madigan said.
* Related…
* Madigan taking new look at leasing Ill. lottery
* Madigan coming around to infrastructure plan
LIVE session coverage...
- wordslinger - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 10:10 am:
The governor’s earlier invoking of Bishop Tutu and now civil rights activists to position himself in what is essentially a run-of-the-mill political brawl is distasteful.
Those who stood against Apartheid and Jim Crow risked everything and in many cases gave the last measure of devotion. There’s nothing like that at stake here.
- Anonymous45 - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 10:15 am:
Madigan may pass a “shell” (read: lo approp) bill in the veto session and pump it up after Fitzgerald gives all Illinoisians an early holiday gift…wishful thinking? God yes!
- Bookworm - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 10:19 am:
Is it just me or does the gov’s statement that AFSCME members will “get the healthcare they deserve” sound like a threat? Because we all know how “deserving” he thinks state employees are, particularly in Springfield.
- Ghost - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 10:22 am:
Blago is falling back on what he percieves to be his only remaining base, the african american community. He is trying to shore up minority support hoping he can lock it in and ride it to a victory in the upcoming primary which will otherwise (potentially) be split amongst several contenders.
I am surprised more leaders in the African american community are not torpedoing such shallow pandering to a group the Gov has done very little to help during the vast majority of his term in office. if anything the Govs cuts of programs like cease fire, the reduction of support for drug treatment programs, his refusal to actually work on education funding reform, etc impacts minorities in a very negative way.
- Cassandra - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 10:29 am:
Well, given that the Dems are fully in control of Illinois politics (and thus fully responsible for its state government travails), this isn’t a bad time to have a, shall we say, less than high-performing governor. With a defunct Republican party, the Dems can carry our Blago even through a third term. The Republicans are no threat, they are so not done with their long retreat from state power.
- Anonymous45 - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 10:35 am:
Cassandra,
Oh stop it…we all share your disgust, but I refuse to beleive this is part of a grand scheme.
Paranoia anyone?
- Fan of the Game - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 10:53 am:
“I think the people of America are going to decide about Barack Obama and McCain without regard to the Illinois Democratic Party,” Madigan said.
Democrats had better hope the American public makes its decision about Sen. Obama without regard for the Illinois Democrat Party. If voters in the rest of the nation see the environment in which Obama’s politics were born, they may run away in droves.
- One of the Lucky - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 10:54 am:
Thanks, Rod.
I owe you, I owe you, I owe you, I owe you, I owe you, I owe you, I owe you, I owe you, I owe you, I owe you, I owe you, I owe you, I owe you, I owe you, I owe you, I owe you …
I can’t afford to contribute financially to you, but if I do this 25,000 times, can I get a raise after 5 1/2 years?
- Captain America - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 11:29 am:
I had conversations with a couple of State
legislators and a constitutional officer while in Springfiled for Governor’s Day.
The collective prognosis was gloomy. We’re essentially stuck with the current level of dysfunction until 2011 barring outside intervention by Fizgerald.
I am now very angry at all three
of the top Democratic leaders in Springfield: Governor Pinnochio, Godfather Jones and Speaker Nicoli.
It’s time for all the Capitol Fax bloggers to fully recognize that the Speaker bears major responsibility fot the gridlock that prevails in Springfield this session. The original sins may have been committed by the Governor and the Senate President last year.But the Speaker is equally responsible for the complete failure of the legislature to accomplsh little of nothing of significance this last session. Obstruction appears to have become Speaker Madigan’s primary agenda.It’s a classic example of an arrogant leader completley unconcerned about the human consequnces of gridlock and governmental
meltdown
Should Speakere Madigan continue this obstructive posture, then I believe Lisa Madigan’s candidacy for Governor has been undermined and will continue to erode. It’s going to be hard to argue that Lisa is the
best candidate for Governor when she does not speak out about the shameful level of dysfunction and gridlock in Springfield. I realize that this failure to speak up is circumstantial becuse her own father
her is guilty of obstructionism.
A sosiopath and two megalomaniacs are doing a very poor job governing, legislating and meeting the real needs of the citizens of Illinois.
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 11:45 am:
well said, word.
This latest piece of Blago tripe is the most arrogant, obnoxious thing to come out of the mouth of an IL elected official (and there have been plenty) since Roland “Mr. Ethics” Burris tried to trump Abraham Lincoln when he said, “someday in Illinois the license plates will read ‘Land of Burris.’”
- Little America - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 11:49 am:
Not so fast captain; one man;s obstructionism is another’s well-considered conservative (in the classic sense) stewardship. If Madigan just rolled over and let Rod have his way on everything, sure, the legislature would *look* “productive”, but the damage done, short and long-term, would come close to destroying this state. Madigan is assuredly not a saint. But he’s doing God’s own work, holding back governor Antichrist from doing more damage than he already has.
- Anonymous45 - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 11:50 am:
the capt. is right on target–throw all the bums out–sinking to your opponents level is not laudatory…
- Long time listener, first time caller - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 11:52 am:
I was listening to WLS’s news headlines just now, and their take on the day was pretty brutal: they led with the governor being booed by union workers, and followed up with a long list of all the constitutionals that did NOT attend the “unity” party on the Director’s lawn. I don’t think Rod got the press pop he so dearly wanted out of the day, but he won’t care, because he lives in an echo-chamber of his own awesomeness.
- Bill - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 11:57 am:
Watch out Captain!Here come the Speaker-o-philes.
- Bill S. Preston, Esq. - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 12:00 pm:
I’m sorry, but could Hynes whine a little bit more? His speech at the chairmen’s breakfast yesterday was full o’ whine. Then he skips the rally. “But mom, I don’t waaaaanna sit up there with the Governor.” Gimme a break. Stop whining and be a leader.
- Cassandra - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 12:15 pm:
I’m not paranoid. I actually think Blago had some good ideas, his failure was in implementation. His personality is irrelevant, except that it seems to make it harder to implement programs.
I’m just saying, if I were a Dem honcho, I’d be saying to myself, if we have to have this particular govenor in time, what better time than now. I don’t think they planned him and I actually think some high level Dems foresaw the problem with him. What they may not have foreseen is the
combo of a not-up-to-the-job governor and the complete demolition of the opposition party. As I’ve said before, when they’re at home, I bet
a lot of them are praying for some viable (but not too viable) Republicans. As we should all be praying for a viable opposition.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 12:23 pm:
As we should all be praying for a viable opposition.
As a wise Norwegian matriarch once told me, “Wish in one hand and (defecate) in the other, and see which one gets filled up first.”
- The Doc - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 12:25 pm:
I reserve the right to bash MJM contingent upon the details of the lottery lease proposal. I’m struggling trying to determine how leasing a historically dependable revenue stream for pennies (or nickels, dimes, whatever) on the dollar is fiscally responsible.
Having said that, his so-called obstructionist agenda is a good and necessary idea as long as RRB maintains the title of governor. MJM is most definitely the lesser of two evils.
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 12:27 pm:
==“They’re lucky to have a job, and they have health care,” Blagojevich said of the state workers.==
Once again we have a governor so disrespectful of civil servants he thinks that they’re lucky to have a job and health care.
No wonder he is so despised and government moral so low. No wonder Blagojevich thinks nothing about shifting them from their homes to another city to satisfy his political itch. No wonder he passes ethic laws that only cover them. No wonder his staff is so disrespectful to those they must work with.
I cannot recall another governor who put everyone else around him in such low esteem. It doesn’t matter if you are a judge, a legislator, a civil servant or a prison guard, this governor thinks little of your performance and consider you just lucky to serve him.
- Captain America - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 12:32 pm:
I disagree strongly with Bill S Preston.
Dan Hynes didn’t whine, he hit the nail on the head. We’d be better off if more people and so-called leaders would buck the system and speak truth to power. Apparently they are afraid to do so.
I sense genuine despair among conscientious rank and file legislators and others about the situation in Springfield. Everyone apparently feels powerless to rectify the situation. At least, Dan Hynes spoke up publicly to voice the concerns of the silent majority of legislators and Democrats, who honestly wish that our top leaders would set aside thoir personal animosities and poltical agendas to compromise on important public policy and fiscal issues.
Blago, Jones and Madigan have screwed things up pretty badly in Springfield. I think everyone knows that, particularly the legislators. Little or nothing is getting done in Springfield. I realize that people of good faith can differ in their assessments of which official or officials are most responsible for the impasse.
- Ghost - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 1:34 pm:
Yes CA, that dang madigan keeps stopping a corrupt Gov from getting billions in contracting that can be sold to the highest bidder. Tah silly madigan has also been impeding giving a vindictive Gov who can no be trusted to spend State dollars in the manner designated by the legislature (as held by one court recently) by trying to put in place limits that prevent abuses.
If only Madigan would let Blago sell of contracts for 25k checks, and provide billions in funding that can be withheld or distributed to blackmail legislatures into voting the way the Gov will pay them to vote.
We need to get rid of madigan now, before he stops more corruption and wrongdoing, or if you prefer, “progress”.
Afterall becuase of that obstructionis Madigan the State is no longer going to pay the legislature and the Gov a huge pay raise during a State fiscal crisis, we need to stop such obstrucionist blocking of State funds! Next thing you know madigan will be using his obstructionist ways to try and get the Ethics legislation the Gov has not signed into play to obsturct the ongoing pay toi play happening. When will Madigans madness of proetcting the taxpayers end!
- Captain America - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 2:20 pm:
We have three corrupt leaders in Springield: an ethically and legally corrupt Governor
,who probably is a future felon: and a
megalomaniacal Senate President and House Speaker,who are corrupted by absolute power over legislative affairs,in the truest sense of Lord Acton’s observation that “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
Of the three corrupt leaders, it is clear to me that Speaker Madigan is the most competent. I have been relatively sympathetic to Speaker Madigan as the most responsible and competent of the three. However, when everything grinds to a halt for the second straight year, when drug treatment programs are eviscerated, when poison pill amendmants are deliberately attached to meritorious bills, unrelated to the controversies between the three Democratic leaders, and when the House fails to pass anything approximating a balanced budget, then I think Speaker Madigan must begin to share some of
the blame for the dysfunction and gridlock.
There is absolutely no reason that selective targeted funds sweeps could not have been used to prevent some of the most egregiuos cuts in state services, except the will of Speaker Madigan.
I think the citizens of Illinois
would be better served if we had a new Governor, a new Seante President, and a new Speaker of the House. Its time to start cleaning house in Springfield. I blame them all now, not just
Governor Pinnochio and Godfather Jones. Nicoli Madigan must be considered culpable too.
Politics is the art of compromise,and compromise just isn’t on the agenda of Blago, Jones, and Madigan. So let’s get rid of all three of them as soon as practically possible.
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 5:00 pm:
Captain, “show us the money.” Give us ignoramuses an executive summary of your “selective targeted funds sweeps” that would have a)not hosed the people, groups, or businesses that bulked up the funds and b) raised enough dough to cover the “most egregious cuts.”
AA’s going to the Fair. A Lemon Shakeup sez your list won’t be done when I get back.
- Captain America - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 6:32 pm:
Represenative Feigenholtz and Senator Shoenberg were trying to put together a package of targeted funds sweeps. Another credible state rep - not a Blago mouthpiece - told me that sufficient unused special purpose funds were available to reduce the impact of some of the most egregious cuts like the unconscionable addiction services funding reductions. What was lacking was
not the means,but the political will to do so.
I don’t konow the numbers myself. But I can recognize the stench of political corruption and failure. Pinnochio, the Godfather and Speaker Machiavelli have failed to do the best they possibly could for the citizens of Illinois because of their egos and their separate political agendas. I’m not saying I could do a better job, but there ate other legislators who could do better than the present leadership in getting constructive things done.
Nothing herein should be considereed an endorsement of our gubernatorial sociopath’s miserable performance as our chief executive. I’ve been bashing Governor A and Senator Jones regularly. But the truth is that Madigan should be criticized too. None of our three Democratic emperors has any clothes.Each and every one of them is a petty despot, although Madigan is certainly far more capable at his job than the other two.
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 10:06 pm:
Captain, Schoenberg is one of the biggest self-promoters in the GA. If there was enough cash to make his idea work, he would have had more than enough “political will” to call a couple press conferences and tell the world that he has raised “ethics, transparency and accountability” to Olympic record levels. He’s a little light on those after his last fund sweep bill (which he called “like the hospital assessment act”) turned out to have a couple ’secret codicils.”
The only thing transparent about Schoenberg is usually his motivation.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 10:26 pm:
Cap, everybody’s frustrated, but the state constitution, based on the fed, gives us separation of powers precisely to keep a corrupt, despotic or lunatic executive from screwing it up too much.
Read your Federalist Papers, your Franklin, your Washington. They didn’t come up with that document in Philly because they all thought they were a bunch of cool cats that could be trusted to do the right thing. They came up with it because they couldn’t trust one another as far as they could swing a cat.
Given all that’s happened, and what we’re all pretty sure is going to happen in the near future, why in the world should Madigan play ball with this guy? It doesn’t make a lick of sense. He gets points for holding the fort until Blago is gone.
Illinois has been an ongoing enterprise for more than 150 years. We can wait Blago out.
- RFK fan - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 11:35 pm:
Giannoulias did well, showing up but speaking the truth. He’s turning out all right.
- Captain America - Friday, Aug 15, 08 @ 8:16 am:
Ghost, Arthur Andersom, amd WordSlinger and others
We’re all kibbitzers here - I assume many know a whole lot more about Springfield/Stste politics than I do becasue I have never worked there.
For the record, I respect Michael J. Madigan, but I don’t think he is above criticism with respect to the current stalemate. Referring to him as Speaker Nicoli or Speaker Machiaivelli doesn’t seem like an insult to me - it’s kind of a left-handed compliment.
What I heard from casual conversation with several elected officials while i was in Springfield was that we’re bascially stuck unitl 2011, unless Patrick Fizgerald intervenes. I just find the status quo level of dysfunction unacceptable.
It seems to me that the Democratic triumvirate in Sprinfiled ins heck-bent on descirediting and/or destroying each other rather than taking care of the people’s business.
Notwithstanding the poisoned political atmosphere and the bizarre extralegal and extraconstitutional gubernatorial behaviors, I beleive we could be doing better than we are.
Respectfully, CA