17 Comments - wordslinger - Monday, Dec 23, 13 @ 12:25 pm: Action-packed on a lot of fronts: – Big-time legislation with pensions, gay marriage and c-c. – The entrance of Rauner in the GOP. Not just another rich guy, but a rich guy with a national fundraising network who can shut down funders for other GOP candidates. – The End of the 14-year MJM/Lisa-for-governor conspiracy (in rational minds, anyway). - Rich Miller - Monday, Dec 23, 13 @ 12:31 pm: The Year of Oscar the Puppy. ‘Nuff said. - Ghost - Monday, Dec 23, 13 @ 12:34 pm: Every new year I think, well after this year, next year is going to look a little lame…but it never does…. I thought we had peaked with blago stuff, and I was wrong - A guy... - Monday, Dec 23, 13 @ 12:43 pm: 2013 will be more interesting to look back at in 2015 than now. We could have witnessed a pretty remarkable policy shift all around, but amid the chaos of it all, missed it. No matter what, retirements are going to cause a lot of change in the next GA. By November there will be a few blood races in the GA, but the biggie will be for the throne. The situation might create a race toward (not to, but toward) the middle after primaries are over. There may be a more remarkable lame duck session than we’ve seen in a long time. Until then, I’m predicting “crickets”. It’s too early to recap 2013. It may have really been one of the more quantum shift years in a long, long time. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Dec 23, 13 @ 12:43 pm: The Year of New Beginnings. HGOP. Pensions. SSM. New era in statewide politics with Lisa staying, Sheila leaving, Rauner running, and Bill Daley stopping. Oscar ’s entrance trumpeted a new era in how all these new beginnings are covered, mocked, observed, reported, and seen. Moments of Zen made all the newness tolerable and “warm”. Thanks, Oscar. New Beginnings. - RNUG - Monday, Dec 23, 13 @ 12:56 pm: It was one hell of a ride. Lots of major stuff got done, even though some of it will have to be done over next year. The only issue that didn’t really get resolved is the coming income tax sunset. Lots of people surprised us. Lisa pulling out. MJM possibly showing a crack or two around the edges. Quinn ending up looking like a leader; if he ever sheds Blago’s pinstripe patronage, he might actually meet the early hopes I had for him. Judy not running for Gov. And looking ahead, 2014 may be just as exciting. I’ve always maintained IL politics is a great spectator sport if you can look at it objectively. - Todd - Monday, Dec 23, 13 @ 1:05 pm: more twists and turns that a roller coaster in Orlando - Mighty M. Mouse - Monday, Dec 23, 13 @ 1:42 pm: ===– The End of the 14-year MJM/Lisa-for-governor conspiracy (in rational minds, anyway).=== – The End of the long-running Bill Daley-for-governor soap opera (in rational minds, anyway). - Wensicia - Monday, Dec 23, 13 @ 2:16 pm: The change with the Democratic leadership supporting anti-union/anti public worker legislation surprised me the most. Will this affect voter turnout next year? - Upon Further Review - Monday, Dec 23, 13 @ 2:44 pm: I cannot wait to change the calendar and toss the 2013 calendar in the trash. 2014 has to be better! 2013: Bill Daley’s Last Waltz! - wordslinger - Monday, Dec 23, 13 @ 2:55 pm: –2013: Bill Daley’s Last Waltz!– Don’t worry about him. As long as he doesn’t change his name, he’ll continue cashing big checks. For something, I guess. “Last Waltz?” Gets me to thinking. The worst-kept-secret in my house, as my family is out generally blowing all of my hard-earned pay, in support of the War on Christmas, is that some sort of state-of-the-art HDTV and sound system is coming my way for football and hockey. With good sound, “The Last Waltz” and “Stop Making Sense” are definitely on the playlist for the long weekend. Any other good concert flicks? I’m usually underwhelmed. - Ray del Camino - Monday, Dec 23, 13 @ 3:07 pm: Word–I’m really looking forward to seeing the DVD “Sunshine Daydream,” previously unreleased Grateful Dead show. Would look great on your new rig, if you’re a fan of the long, strange trip. - walkinfool - Monday, Dec 23, 13 @ 3:24 pm: 2013: When years of difficult work finally came to fruition, on marijuana, on marriage, on concealed carry, and on pensions. When the compromisers outshone the ideologically pure. 2014 Hopes: The year we finally produce a viable long-term financial strategy, including formal spending controls, and the beginnings of revenue reforms. Also when MJM makes clear his own limits. - Grandson of Man - Monday, Dec 23, 13 @ 3:25 pm: I think it’s been an excellent year for Illinois, for reasons some of us mention over and over. I personally feel like the state began picking itself up off the ground and trying to regain its strength. I don’t agree with all of the decisions of those for whom I voted, but they did almost all of what I wanted. The pension reform leaves somewhat of a bitter taste in my mouth, but there was enormous pressure to do it, and there is a legitimate chance to have it repealed and replaced with something more favorable. I envision a worse scenario with pension reform, and until I have something better, I will try to cool off about it. I think next year will be very exciting. I think Democrats went far enough to the right and should now begin tilting leftward. They should support either keeping the income tax increase or a progressive income tax. They can also push for raising the minimum wage, which is very popular. They should absolutely reject any more anti-union legislation, like right to work, and I think they will. I hppe Madigan’s rejection of wholesale corporate tax breaks signals the party’s leftward turn. - Give Me A Break - Monday, Dec 23, 13 @ 3:42 pm: There were days it seemed I had moved strange new world where the GOP was bemoaning union workers pension cuts, Dems were doing pension reforms and rest of the world was simply watching. I know its popular to talk about lawmakers doing nothing but when you look at the following, no matter what you think of the issues, there was some heavy lifting done by the GA in the last year. 1. Marriage Bill 2. CC 3. Pension Reform 4. Medicaid Expansion Been a heck of a year. - RNUG - Monday, Dec 23, 13 @ 4:25 pm: One last thought about 2013: national platforms don’t always translate locally … and the entire year here in Illinois served as an example that all politics is local. - wordslinger - Monday, Dec 23, 13 @ 4:45 pm: –Word–I’m really looking forward to seeing the DVD “Sunshine Daydream,” previously unreleased Grateful Dead show. Would look great on your new rig, if you’re a fan of the long, strange trip.– Always hit and miss with the Dead at their shows. I hope some editing with their movies. I remember one great show at Alpine and one at Soldier Field. Otherwise, on-the-nod shows at Tinley Park, Poplar Creek or anyplace indoors. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.