* I kid you not. From a Belleville News Democrat editorial…
House Speaker Michael Madigan uses neither e-mail nor a planner.
Lack of a planner might that explain why we are 263 days into the 2016 budget year and still have no spending plan. No day planner, no calendar, Madigan simply doesn’t realize the budget is overdue.
Lack of a planner might explain why the House took off a month when there were so many issues left hanging. Without a planner, how is Madigan to realize that budget and pensions and overdue payments and college expenses all need attention.
Lack of e-mail might explain why there is no movement on reforms or the budget or anything else of substance. All those Google calendar invites from Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office have been evaporating into cyberspace because mike.madigan@il.house.gov just doesn’t exist.
Only the Unabomber was farther off the grid than Madigan, and he, arguably, did less damage.
The hate is more than just palpable, folks. And it’s gonna crank up even higher by November.
- Anon - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 9:42 am:
Crikey — it’s not even his job to introduce a budget, and Rauner also refuses to use email.
- burbanite - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 9:45 am:
Umm the Gov doesn’t have email either.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 9:46 am:
Great.
Now instead of wishing for hurricanes newspapers believe connecting a terrorist bomber to the “reign” of Madigan is going to help in the governing.
===All those Google calendar invites from Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office have been evaporating into cyberspace because mike.madigan@il.house.gov just doesn’t exist.===
Are we missing the point that Rauner has no email to send invites… or…
It’s going to keep getting worse. This is an opening salvo.
- Trolling Troll - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 9:46 am:
The irony is laughable.
- Harry - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 9:46 am:
The whole email/planner riff is just bizarre and silly.
The Unabomber thing is odious.
Someone in Belleville needs a long vacation.
- kimocat - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 9:50 am:
What a lame excuse for a “news” article.
- Norseman - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 9:56 am:
The Belleville News Democrat must be a Trump paper or at least an adherent to his ideals. Trump said he likes the uneducated and the editorial board certainly qualifies.
- Abe the Babe - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 9:58 am:
A good rule of thumb for any editorial board is to read your own newspaper…
http://www.bnd.com/news/state/article21163842.html
Also, when comparing politicians to homegrown terrorists, please use a few examples beyond lack of a planner and no state budget. On the latter, be sure to remind your readers (after you remind yourself) that Illinois has a governor who is slightly more than important than a wallflower when budget time comes around.
- South Central - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 10:01 am:
Illinois has had a budget every year Madigan has been in the House, until now. Something has changed…hmmm, wonder what it is? /s/
Comparing Madigan to the Unabomber is such a dumb, contrived analogy.
- Markus57 - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 10:06 am:
Their just padding their resumes as it reads like an audition for the Tribune Companies.
- In the Middle - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 10:10 am:
This is embarrassing… utterly embarrassing on so many levels.
- Fiercely Independent - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 10:11 am:
Wow. just…wow
- Honeybear - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 10:16 am:
BND has had fever-sweats for quite some time. Pathetic
- Curious - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 10:23 am:
Scary part is there are probably people out there who agree with that statement.
- jim - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 10:26 am:
how dare anyone pick on Madigan. Look at all he’s done for Illinois. We’re lucky to have him, right?
- Century Club - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 10:28 am:
Thank God nobody reads newspapers anymore!
- NSideLady - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 10:28 am:
What an irresponsible use of copy. That editorial board should be ashamed of themselves. The irony is mind-blowing. Since when does the Speaker introduce budgets?
- No Longer A Lurker - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 10:28 am:
Wow is right. I bet there are more than just a few newspaper editorial boards that feel the same way.
- Mr. Smith - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 10:38 am:
The person who “wrote” this dreck seems to have no concept of who is actually responsible for submitting a budget. They ignore the fact that BVR also eschews the use of email. Not to mention the fact that it was not MJM who has vetoed attempts to pass a spending bill to fund the needs that they are lamenting.
And while lots of people don’t like MJM, and would wish him gone, comparing him to the Unabomber is over the top to a degree that is astonishing even from an independent blogger, much less a reputable newspaper. Are we sure that one of BVR’s aides is not writing editorials for hire now?
I don’t think that I have ever read an editorial more completely or willfully ignorant of fact. They are either auditioning for a spot on the Tribune or the News-Gazette editorial staff…
- Bongo fury - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 10:41 am:
Did John Kass just take a job in Belleville?
- Annonin' - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 10:48 am:
Maybe they are doin’ a tryout to write for Proft’s pubs?
Beter pay than the Tribbies….or the whackjobs at the CNG
- Soccermom - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 10:51 am:
If the Governor’s office is relying on Google calendar invites to set up meetings with the leadership, I think I have figured out the real problem with the budget.
hey, Superstars — those plastic things on your desk are “telephones.”
- Facts are Stubborn Things - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 10:53 am:
The reason there is no budget is that Rauner insists on a “turn around agenda” before a budget can be crafted. MJM has said virtualy every day, that the number one problem facing Illinois is the budget and that he wants to pass one with a combination of cuts and revenue. Rauner has not allowed the budget to be negotiated because he is holding it hostage with his non budget items, many of which are at the core of the democratic party.
- Facts are Stubborn Things - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 10:57 am:
MJM continues to play chess, while Rauner and his superstars are trying to figure out this game called checkers. MJM stands on the fact that he does not name call and that nothing is solved in the extreme but rather in moderation. He announcing almost daily that he pledges to work cooperative and professionally with Gov. Rauner. While MJM makes this clear, Rauner is holding the budget hostage hurting real people and calling MJM names.
- Facts are Stubborn Things - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 11:00 am:
freedom of speech is the only defense of this over the top rubbish.
- Phoenix - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 11:26 am:
The ultimate “vote” is the spending of your dollars. If you live in that area and disagree with their blatant hyperbole, get your news elsewhere. Don’t support or encourage that foolishness.
- walker - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 11:35 am:
Pure ignorance on display. Agree with 360, it would help if editorial writers read their own paper’s news reporting.
- Jack Stephens - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 12:15 pm:
Shouldn’t they worry about SIU-Edwardsville closing?
- cgo75 - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 12:38 pm:
Reading drivel like this is shocking. Hard to believe that anyone could think this way….conservative or liberal; this is just insane.
- aufjunk - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 12:45 pm:
=Pure ignorance on display=
walker at 11:35 - you’re so right.
For 40 years, I’ve been a resident of the Belleville area, where the Belleville News-Democrat is the most widely read paper. When former IL Governor Ogilvie passed away back in 1988, the headline across the top of the front page in the early editions of the BND read:
FOMER GOVERNOR DIES AFTER ATTACK
That’s right, the first word of the headline on the front page of the paper was misspelled, and you had to actually get into the article to learn that it was a heart attack and not an assassination that caused Ogilvie’s death. It hasn’t gotten any better since then. The BND divides its efforts about equally between comically misunderstanding the issues and misrepresenting the events that concern people in the outside world, and fanning the flames of bigotry by making sure that every other day’s editorial cartoon is a cheap shot at President Obama. The difference between the BND and the Onion (aside from the Onion’s better spelling and grammar) is that when people laugh at the Onion, they don’t shake their heads in pity.
- Anyone Remember - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 1:10 pm:
Perhaps the BND’s Editorial Board should meet with the surviving family members and friends of the 3 people the Unabomber killed, and the 23 he injured.
- Anonymous - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 2:13 pm:
Ummm at least the Gov uses a mobile phone and can text as well. Madigan has been trying to run one chamber, a statewide political party, and help run the state without e-mail or a mobile phone. It is remarkable.
- NeverPoliticallyCorrect - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 3:13 pm:
I believe The Gov. has introduced a budget, twice. It is the inability of the General Assembly to pass one that is the problem. Sound too simple, maybe but it’s the truth. Maybe if the Democrats would actually do their job instead of spending all their time moaning about how they are the victim something would get done. Always remember-they have spent us into financial ruin, not Rauner. Can anyone else find it in their heart to actually admit that?
- Pinhead - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 3:19 pm:
The unabomber thing is hyperbole. Well known to those folks that like to compare Donald Trump and George Bush to Adolph Hitler. Nitpicking over petty stuff like this isn’t helpful.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 3:20 pm:
Oh - NeverPoliticallyCorrect -
Rauner never proposed a “budget”, let alone a balanced one, which he required to do by the Constitution.
Please, do keep up, and when you finish with your garbled talking point rant, please, end with “Fire Madigan!” It helps.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 3:22 pm:
===Well known to those folks that like to compare Donald Trump and George Bush to Adolph Hitler===
What Illinois newspaper editorial boards have done that? We’re not talking blog commenters here. We’re talking local opinion leaders.
- West Side The Best Side - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 3:22 pm:
Guess that rag is not one of the Democrats Madigan controls.
- Norseman - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 3:26 pm:
=== I believe The Gov. has introduced a budget, twice. It is the inability of the General Assembly to pass one that is the problem. Sound too simple, maybe but it’s the truth. ===
You can’t handle the truth!
The truth is that by Raunerite standards, Rauner has introduced 0 balanced budgets and the General Assembly has passed 0 balanced budgets. Based upon real actions, Rauner has introduced 2 budgets and the General Assembly has passed 1 budget. None are labeled balanced by independent observers.
When Rauner decides to give up his hostages we might be able to get a budget.
- Enviro - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 3:28 pm:
The governor is the one who is required to submit a budget. He is causing the state of Illinois far more damage than the GA or any individual.
“The hate is more than just palpable…”
Just ignore the haters.
- btowntruth - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 4:11 pm:
So the BND hired Katrina McQueary to write the editorials now?
That is sort of what it looks like.
- wordslinger - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 5:38 pm:
–I believe The Gov. has introduced a budget, twice. It is the inability of the General Assembly to pass one that is the problem.–
Ignorance is bliss, eh, Happy?
- Anonymous - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 6:29 pm:
& this lop sided editorial failed to mention Rauner doesn’t use email.. and question a calendar.
- Yesterday's Chairman - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 9:20 pm:
The BND is really desperate for a new Big Bad Politician now that Jerry Costello has retired. This is a rag that despises all forms of government– including public colleges and social service agencies. No one in the Metro-East has much respect for this bunch.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 9:03 am:
Comparing our Speaker of the House to the Unabomber is inexcusable. Someone wants to be fired.