* Possible gubernatorial candidate Bill Daley spoke at yet another high-profile event yesterday and said pretty much exactly what he’s been saying for weeks…
Former White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley says he still hasn’t made up his mind about a potential run for the governor’s office.
“I’m no further than what I’ve said publicly,” he said Tuesday at the Misercordia Home breakfast.
“I’m doing a lot of things that go into making a decision,” said the son and brother of two former Chicago mayors. “I’m talking to a lot of friends and elected officials and people that involved in community activities and getting their sense of what they think is needed and whether or not, in the end, I think I can add something to the debate. As I’ve said repeatedly, Pat Quinn is a very decent and honest guy who came in at a time time but has been there for 12 years as the number one or number two elected official in the state and one has to look and say, ‘What’s happened in those 12 years?’”
Daley said he’s got a lot to consider before he makes a decision on the 2014 race but said he hasn’t traveled to other key cities in Illinois and hasn’t done any fundraising.
* But Daley did add one new twist, possibly to ensure media coverage…
“I think there ought to be serious thought to basically a nonpartisan election,” Daley told reporters after he appeared on a panel at a fundraiser for the Catholic charitable organization Misericordia, which assists the developmentally disabled.
“The American people and the people in Illinois and Chicago, everyone is desirous of effectiveness and efficiency in government,” said Daley, who served as chief of staff to President Barack Obama and commerce secretary for President Bill Clinton. “If it takes basic changes, whether it’s term limits or others to kind of shake this system up, we’ve got to do that because I think most people would say, ‘Right now, it may not be working anymore.’”
Daley said he still is pondering a challenge to Quinn. His only criticism Tuesday was to say the incumbent has been either governor or lieutenant governor since 2002, “and one has to look and say, ‘What’s happened?’”
Quinn, speaking later Tuesday at a diversity event at the University of Chicago’s Gleacher Center, said he thought the California “top two” law was worth looking at, though he has favored an “open primary” system in which voters would not have to declare a political party to obtain a primary ballot.
“Some of our more political people have opposed that in both parties, and I think it’s time to maybe open up the door at least to (an) open primary,” Quinn said.
* Also…
[Daley] said it’s easy to throw stones if you are on the outside. He talked about a lack of civility in politics.
“Our society has gotten much less civil,” he said. “What’s popular on TV? Reality TV shows, where people act like total fools.
“But maybe our politics, which should always be better, is becoming reflective of our society.
“Maybe we need to think about that first before we just blame politicians for acting kinda goofy at times.”
* Steinberg doesn’t think he’ll jump into the race…
But later, in discussing the multitude of woes facing the state beyond owing Misericordia, he added something perhaps telling.
“This is not an easy job,” Daley said, referring to politics. “Legislators, aldermen, the mayor. These people sacrifice beyond anything in the private sector. I’ve spent my life around politics. It’s a brutal job, a brutal existence.”
Telling, though I’m not sure what it tells. Does that mean he’ll skip the baby-bussing nightmare of campaigning, preferring the far more private, more lucrative corporate world where he excels? Or is Daley laying the groundwork for his selfless sacrifice of actually running? My guess? He won’t run.
* Quinn’s 2010 primary opponent Dan Hynes also weighed in…
“There’s certainly a referendum that can be had about whether we are better off than we were four years ago or three years ago,” said Dan Hinz, (D) 2010 candidate for governor.
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- OneMan - Wednesday, Jan 16, 13 @ 10:28 am:
And people are worried Hynes would have name recognition problems this time around…
- MrJM - Wednesday, Jan 16, 13 @ 10:30 am:
Did I miss the part where Bill Daley touted his many accomplishments as White House Chief of Staff?
– MrJM
- Norseman - Wednesday, Jan 16, 13 @ 10:32 am:
=== “I think there ought to be serious thought to basically a nonpartisan election,” ===
This is code for the Republicans are irrelevant in Illinois.
- Belle - Wednesday, Jan 16, 13 @ 10:32 am:
I am so sick of the Daley Family and all that they represent which I hope is not the best of what Chicago can be.
- Rudykzooti - Wednesday, Jan 16, 13 @ 10:33 am:
No thanks, I have had enough of the Daley’s for one lifetime…
- Cassiopeia - Wednesday, Jan 16, 13 @ 10:37 am:
I think having an adult in the Governor’s mansion would be welcomed.
Quinn is just not up to the job.
- cassandra - Wednesday, Jan 16, 13 @ 10:39 am:
I think if he could be crowned governor, he’d accept the crown. No tedious campaign stuff though.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jan 16, 13 @ 10:41 am:
Bill Daley can’t possibly believe that lieutenant governor is the “number two elected position in the state.”
But, as he keeps talking about himself, he probably does keep any other possible Dem challengers to Quinn, except for Lisa, from raising any money.
That’s probably the real objective.
- just sayin' - Wednesday, Jan 16, 13 @ 10:42 am:
No primaries? Wow, Bill Daley actually found a way to make people in 101 of the 102 counties even more suspicious of him. Well played Bill.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Jan 16, 13 @ 10:46 am:
I think Bill Daley would be a great governor, if he decides to run, which I’ll believe when I see it.
This governor’s race is going to be an interesting process. This will be the first time ever that gubanatorial candidates in primaries have to select running mates. Assuming Quinn stays with Simon, who runs with Bill Daley? Or with Aaron Schock, Bruce Raunner, Kirk Dillard, Dan Rutherford, etc.
That’s going to be an interesting QOTD sometime soon.
- dupage dan - Wednesday, Jan 16, 13 @ 10:56 am:
=== But, as he keeps talking about himself, he probably does keep any other possible Dem challengers to Quinn, except for Lisa, from raising any money.
That’s probably the real objective ===
So, those who know what is best for Illinois are working to steer the political process so as to limit who would end up as the “slated” candidate for governor.
And look how well that has been working out.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jan 16, 13 @ 11:10 am:
–So, those who know what is best for Illinois are working to steer the political process so as to limit who would end up as the “slated” candidate for governor. –
Did I say that? I don’t think so.
I have no reason to believe that Bill Daley “knows what’s best for Illinois” and I don’t think the state party does slating anymore (they picked Sheila Simon after Madigan made Cohen an offer he couldn’t refuse).
- walkinfool - Wednesday, Jan 16, 13 @ 11:13 am:
He might be an OK place-holder, with some good management skills. He has not been the typical “Daley” in his career, and shouldn’t be punished for any perceived shortcomings of his kin. But he just hasn’t got the personality to take charge in this environment.
- dupage dan - Wednesday, Jan 16, 13 @ 11:17 am:
word, I didn’t claim in my post that you said anything about slating or who knows what is best for Illinois - I said that.
Pray tell, what reasons could Bill Daley have for the type of objective you suggest? It sounds somewhat nefarious. It seems suggestive that he may be trying to clear a path for Ms Madigan - otherwise, why mention her name?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 16, 13 @ 11:23 am:
===Pray tell, what reasons could Bill Daley have for the type of objective you suggest? It sounds somewhat nefarious. It seems suggestive that he may be trying to clear a path for Ms Madigan - otherwise, why mention her name?===
I agree with - wordslinger - that Bill Daley is the best stalking horse a candidate like Lisa could hope for, and while Bill Daley may/may not be specifically doing the stalking specifically for Lisa, Bill is going to stave off Dopes who think “I can take out Quinn” and are as clueless as Quinn is at leading Illinois from the Mansion.
Good observation, and agree.
Who besides Lisa at this point can raise high six digits with Bill Daley also hedging about running in the race you are?
Yeah, that’s what I thought.
- shore - Wednesday, Jan 16, 13 @ 11:39 am:
the misspelling of the hynes name is pretty bad especially when covering a DAILY family member for a news outlet that publishes on a DALEY basis.
- Will Caskey - Wednesday, Jan 16, 13 @ 11:40 am:
I like that Daley both wants to run without a primary and also doesn’t like that politics has gotten so mean.
Looks like someone doesn’t like how his personal negatives look in D primary polling.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jan 16, 13 @ 11:53 am:
===the misspelling of the hynes name is pretty bad===
Maybe it was Greg’s brother.
lol
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jan 16, 13 @ 11:54 am:
DD, to freeze any money that might go to someone other than Quinn or Lisa.
It’s possible he may want to run, but I doubt it — I’ve seen this movie before.
DD, buy the way to you have a link to that Secret Service report you referenced earlier: “Evidence in a recent Secret Service report that the bad guys forgo attacking what they perceive as a hard target in favor of soft one.”
The google can find no evidence of its existence. Nothing like it on the Secret Service site, either. Perhaps its a Double Secret Probation Service Report.
- IrishPirate - Wednesday, Jan 16, 13 @ 11:54 am:
I’ll believe the Bubbly Creek Hamlet is running when he formally announces and files the papers. I’m not holding my breath.
To be, or not to be: dat is da question:
Whether ‘itz nobler in da mind to suffer
da slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a lake of troubles,
And by opposing end dem? To run. To talk about running. To stay as a banker and get paid millions for giving da speeches and movivational talkies…….dere’s da rubbr.
- Meaningless - Wednesday, Jan 16, 13 @ 11:58 am:
What IF Daley REALLY wanted to be governor and not a pawn of Madigan? Would Chicago’s two famous and powerful political families actually be able to work together, especially with Lisa waiting in the wings?
- Small Town Liberal - Wednesday, Jan 16, 13 @ 12:07 pm:
- whether we are better off than we were four years ago or three years ago -
Well, unless you completely ignore the facts, the answer to this question is yes. You can argue all day about whether we could improve faster, or whatever, but we’re clearly better off than 3-4 years ago.
- western illinois - Wednesday, Jan 16, 13 @ 1:07 pm:
I dont think there is any stalking horse going on lisa Madigan doesnt need one. i agree with the “Daley Would like it but doesnt want to do anything hard ” position.
Interesting that Hynes is readily available. Id vote for him. My wife did …as i am reminded about ….a lot
- dupage dan - Wednesday, Jan 16, 13 @ 1:33 pm:
word, I took a reference from another site regarding what the report said. In that article the folks referred to the 2002 Safe School Initiative completed by the Secret Service. It is more about events involving students in a particular school but does discuss, in limited ways, how to make a school more safe. I am not computer savvy enough to attach a link but I found the report fairly easily. re the double secret probation reference - bite me.
I just read the report and found no specific hardening target info in the report. I went back and tried to find the specific reference to “hardening” the target and found references on different sites that mentioned how folks are reviewing the events with an eye towards preventing attacks or lessening the number of victims. This included information about the kinds of procedures that were implemented at Sandy Hook - locking doors to classrooms, good communications within the school and the like. One such resource (npr.org - I searched under “to survive a shooting, students learn to fight back”) discussed how students have been taught to hide and wait - possibly making them easier targets.
In the various reading sources I thought I had nailed down that the secret service report as the source but got sources confused. Trying to do too many things at once - mea culpa. However, as I mentioned above - there was an actual secret service report on safe schools. So there.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jan 16, 13 @ 1:45 pm:
– However, as I mentioned above - there was an actual secret service report on safe schools. So there.–
Yes, I know. I quoted from it and linked to it in regards to your original claim that there was a Secret Service report that attackers choose “soft” rather than “hard” targets.
There is no such Secrete Service report.
Here’s a link to the actual report, again.
http://www.secretservice.gov/ntac_ssi.shtml
All the attackers studied were either students or formers students at the particular schools and chose them because they had grievances with people at those schools.
- D.P. Gumby - Wednesday, Jan 16, 13 @ 3:41 pm:
Is there any chance that the Daley stalking horse is evidence that The Speaker hasn’t decided whether he will have to retire if Lisa runs?
- Empty Chair - Wednesday, Jan 16, 13 @ 3:55 pm:
RM or anyone else - quick question:
If Daley does commission a poll, and uses personal funds to pay for it, and at the end of the day doesn’t report it as an in-kind donation to whatever political committee he may or may not form - isn’t that a violation of campaign finance law?
- wishbone - Wednesday, Jan 16, 13 @ 10:38 pm:
Ineffective Chief of Staff. Boring.
- John Parnell - Thursday, Jan 17, 13 @ 9:34 am:
The first time in history the Democrats have held the Governors position for three straight terms and Bill Daley wants to throw that advantage away?