57 Comments - Nick - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 11:55 am: This has gotten more dramatic than I imagined it would at the start. Or maybe I’m just naive. - NIU Grad - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 12:02 pm: I can’t imagine what it’s like for Democratic Party operatives from other states who move to Illinois and have to readjust to all of the quirks that are built into our system. On most days I’m proud of how unique of a state we are, but sometimes it just gets plain exhausting. - Moe Berg - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 12:04 pm: The GOP’s decision to embrace the Big Lie about the 2020 election and general disregard for facts that conflict with its preferred narrative is enraging. To see such an approach from the Kelly camp and her supporters is mystifying and also quite upsetting. The factual legs have been kicked out from under them, yet they think their standing tall. Ya got beat. You didn’t do your homework. Take the L or find a different horse. - Former Dem Staffer - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 12:06 pm: Interesting to note that Ald Harris’ daughter is the Chicago director for Sen. Duckworth… - Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 12:06 pm: Regardless of who the next chair of the DPI is, it will be nice to see if the party moves into operating like a 21st century organization. If Representative Kelly is the next chair at least the DPI will be forced to create some kind of apparatus that will move it out of it’s current model and allow it to become a modern organization that resembles other state political parties. - Back to the Future - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 12:06 pm: As has been said numerous times, one candidate is supported by Pritzker/Madigan. If you trust and support them then vote for their candidate. The same trust issue came up in the progressive tax vote in that the key issue was trust in the Pritzker/Madigan team to use the additional tax money wisely. Voters rejected the idea of trusting them. Thinking it would be wise for the Democratic Committee folks to follow the lead of Illinois voters and vote for change. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 12:07 pm: Kelly should be looking for an off-ramp instead of continuing this. Her own counsel made clear Kelly can’t wholly fulfill the duties of the job. It’s embarrassing towards her to continue to put herself as a legitimate option when even those close to her say… she can’t do the job. It’s Durbin v. Pritzker. The fallout so far is Kelly’s own career, and how her own words are going against her own folks’ thoughts. It’s… wow. - Dan Johnson - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 12:07 pm: Isn’t the idea from Robin that the entire committee will develop and approve the budget and plan instead of just having the Chair do it? So a more small-d democratic state central committee…with maybe an actual in-person convention and elected (not appointed) DNC automatic delegates (super-delegates that each state party gets). - Northsider(the original) - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 12:08 pm: Am I stupid? It seems that the Congresswoman cannot legally perform an essential part of the job requirement. She’s lovely, smart, kind and well liked, but her own counsel is telling her she can’t legally raise certain funds. It’s like having an Illinois lawyer you like & trust, but she can’t represent you in Wisconsin because she’s not legally allowed to practice there & it would be illegal. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 12:10 pm: ===the entire committee will develop=== lol Go with that. - Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 12:10 pm: ===she can’t do the job=== She can change what the job is. I can’t be the only person that expects the party to be unable to continue in the manner it did when Madigan was chair. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 12:10 pm: ===Madigan=== (Sigh) If in the end it’s Pritzker’s choice, this idea it’s “Madigan” is crippling not to Pritzker, but is crippling to those held hostage to their own “Madigan under the bed” thinking - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 12:13 pm: === I can’t be the only person that expects the party to be unable to continue in the manner it did when Madigan was chair.=== The “thing” is… it was just a thing, namely a mail indicia for HDem mailings. So, no matter who wins, it’s gonna be different … by default. - Been There - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 12:17 pm: I know Durbin and Pritzker are busy with their day jobs but you would think by now they could cut some kind of deal. I don’t know what Morrissey’s long term plans are but maybe she could stay as Chicago ED and let Houlihan be the Downstate Director? Or if Mary is not staying then have a minority as ED in Chicago? Just spitballing ideas but either way a deal should be cut. - Bigtwich - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 12:18 pm: It looks like Sheila Stocks-Smith’s vote should be 1.49% not 1.73%. - Moe Berg - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 12:19 pm: Appreciate Oswego Willy trying his best yesterday and today to help my fellow Dems on this thread see reason and skewering their wishful thinking, whataboutism and “But Madigan.” - SpringSider - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 12:20 pm: @West Wing Ask the party of Rauner how that went for them. And if they go with Kelly you expect JB to generously bankroll them after rejecting his candidate? I’m sensing several flaws in your logic. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 12:27 pm: === She can change what the job is.=== … and yet the money rules haven’t and won’t change. That’s the issue. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 12:31 pm: (Tips cap to - Moe Berg -) === And if they go with Kelly you expect JB to generously bankroll them after rejecting his candidate=== Which of the 36 folks voting has that worry of Pritzker? They are the ones that matter. - Frumpy White Guy - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 12:32 pm: Is It time for a consensus candidate to be selected Chairperson of the DPI? - bored now - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 12:38 pm: === In many states and even for the national Democratic Party, the person at the top of the ticket gets to choose who leads the party operations === hmmm. i can’t think of “many” states that do this. all of the big states elect their party chairs by a much larger group than the 36 people on the illinois state central committee. but that’s politico so… - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 12:42 pm: === i can’t think of “many” states that do this.=== Check it out, report back what you find. - Montrose - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 12:49 pm: To those that say the job will change under Kelly. I think Rich’s point stands - she needs to explain exactly how things will work given the law necessitates she play a different role than Madigan did. Folks clearly are having a hard time wrapping their head around a different structure, so it is her job to lay it out for them. The whole “trust me” gambit just won’t work in this scenario. - bored now - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 12:59 pm: === If elected, Robin Kelly can’t be involved with raising or spending non-federal “soft money.” That’s huge. Beyond that, it’s just spin, some more clever than others. === i’m sorry, but i don’t take the perkinscoie memo at face value. HAD it been asked to give a fair and honest appraisal, it would have included the fact that this exact situation exists in other states and outlined the means by which those states dealt with it. but it did not. so touting the pc memo has remotely definitive is bizarre. iirc, madigan basically starved the dpi, raising enough to do what he wanted and raising the rest in his friends committee. which worked. and i do think michelle can raise the amount of money that madigan previously raised for dpi — starving it for her term, as well. i think it’s weird that we are thinking in terms of the old way that dpi funded its programs. michelle’s deficiencies in fund-raising would perpetuate the inadequate revenues for dpi and make it even more reliant on the kindness of others. i don’t see why anyone would think that acceptable. the reason why i don’t think the soft money issue is as problematic is because we have seen how it has been successfully mitigated in georgia. the democratic party in georgia is *a lot* stronger, inclusive, and in the field than dpi. and it has permanent structures in place. which i would hope dpi would want to do, as well. it’s difficult for me to believe that harris would suddenly bec the able fund-raiser that is needed to create long-term structures to help elect democrats year-in and year-out. not sure i buy that harris would have functional control of dpi’s independent expenditure efforts, either. but a fair and honest opinion of the rules in place and how they are dealt with in this particular situation was not provided here. it’s spin, plain and simple. but throwing people off the ballot is the chicago way. let’s just tear the bandaid off and move beyond that archaic vision. it’s time… - bored now - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 1:02 pm: Oswego Willy: since none of the big states do it (on the democratic side) and i can’t really see democrats wanted to compare illinois to, say, wyoming, there’s no need. all the states that illinois would compare itself to elect their chairs. - McGuppin - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 1:04 pm: Feels to me like the hardball tactics aren’t working. Harris’ numbers staying flat while Kelly’s numbers climb. - bored now - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 1:12 pm: === To those that say the job will change under Kelly. I think Rich’s point stands - she needs to explain exactly how things will work given the law necessitates she play a different role than Madigan did. === i don’t disagree. but that needs to come from robin. coming from anyone else is pointless. harris’ people are eager to get this over with, so robin speaking publicly when i would hope she would be spending her time talking to actual voters doesn’t seem likely. doesn’t make my point less valid. robin would bring a whole new vision to organizing (and funding) the dpi. she is listening to the ideas that current members (voters) have and i would bet she would incorporate many of those ideas, starting w actually meeting again! but robin has to speak for herself. had we had a normal state democratic party org in illinois, your request would make more sense. i’m not even sure if the candidate speeches tomorrow will be broadcast publicly… - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 1:13 pm: ===i’m sorry, but i don’t take the perkinscoie memo at face value=== Robin’s memo said the same thing. You’re gonna need a chiropractor after all these twists and turns. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 1:19 pm: === since none of the big states do it (on the democratic side) Neither did Rod or Quinn. My point? The governor wants to have a chair he wants. Sen. Durbin wants a chair he wants. Pretending this is a battle on policy, vision, a “new party” is embarrassingly so off what’s going on, it’s Pollyanna, frankly to the raw politics right now. Like this… my goodness… lol ===…the reason why i don’t think the soft money issue is as problematic is because…=== … you’re wholly ignoring two legal opinions, one from Kelly’s own counsel. Your “wishing and wanting” can’t wish or want away the truth that Kelly is not able to fully fulfill the job as chairman… and her own counsel has said as much. It’s a fun read you have going, but it’s more “fan fiction” that any “political reality or honesty” to not only what’s at play but also to what it could be, and what Kelly can’t do. The AFL-CIO stating the obvious embarrasses Kelly as much as her own legal counsel’s concurrence to Kelly’s lacking. - Responsa - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 1:27 pm: Its always about perceived power and money in politics, isn’t it? Always. Has the governor’s failure with fair tax and some of the other obvious and egregious and newsworthy agency mess-ups from his administration weakened him internally more than outsiders may have realized? This DPI dustup is quite fascinating. - bored now - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 1:34 pm: === Robin’s memo said the same thing. You’re gonna need a chiropractor after all these twists and turns. === ya play the hand you’re dealt. i hadn’t read dorf’s memo until just now (i already knew about the ie restriction from a dnc delegate), and he takes a different stab at it than i have. but, here are the relevant points of his memo: “As detailed below, there is no legal obstacle to Congresswoman Robin Kelly serving as Chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois.” “Federal officials such as yourself may assist in raising funds for all three types of accounts, but with limitations.” “We have acknowledged from the beginning of your campaign for DPI Chair that Section 300.62 would limit the full exercise of powers ordinarily given to the Chair of a party committee. However, we have also recognized that a fundamental premise of your campaign is the rejection of the autocratic model that has constituted DPI’s governance for many years, and that, instead, you have called for a more inclusive decision making model which, for the first time, would empower the members of the State Central Committee with true decision making authority. Pursuant to this philosophy of governance, I believe that policies and procedures can be constructed to permit you to serve as Chair within the provisions of federal law.” “I previously recommended that, once we have set forth the proposed new decision making structure for DPI, we seek an advisory opinion from the FEC with a set of questions and a list of proposed activities for you as Chair.” i would hope my arguments reflect these points. i had rec’d the fec bulletin for years so i definitely knew that rules and regs that, on their face, say one thing have evolved through advisory opinions and rulings. which is why i have argued that the fec regs aren’t exactly set in stone. moreover, most of the most contentious questions before the fec in the last decade or so (before the absence of a quorum) ended in tie votes that did not punish candidates and office holders for perceived violations of the rules. the perkinscoie memo is spin that ignores how these situations are actually dealt w… - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 1:36 pm: === ya play the hand you’re dealt=== Friend, you fold that losing hand. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 1:40 pm: - bored now - So.., you think Kelly’s own counsel is wrong… and further… the likes of the AFL-CIO see this all wrong? Your fan fiction is entertaining, I’ll give you that. - Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 1:47 pm: I think my favorite part of this is that we’re all acting like the DPI is known for it’s fund raising like we’ve all been to it’s annual dinners or Speaker Madigan had dedicated call time to individual donors for the state party. Meanwhile it’s the first time in decades that the state central committee has definitively mattered for the direction of the future of the Democratic Party of Illinois and instead of talking about what kind of major reform can be achieved and how we’re debating the merits of whether or not one of the two apparent major contenders can call up a labor organization and ask for a $500,000 contribution without even asking the obvious. A contribution to do what, exactly? That’s what their candidates for chair should be discussing, because frankly there are other options for running mail pieces. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 1:51 pm: ===debating the merits of whether or not one of the two apparent major contenders can call up a labor organization and ask for a $500,000 contribution=== As I continue to point out, this is a highly misleading argument because it ignores spending that money. And you can’t talk about what you’re gonna spend the money on until this very basic concept is addressed. - bored now - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 1:56 pm: Oswego Willy: you’re adorable. i absolutely agree w dorf that “there is no legal obstacle to Congresswoman Robin Kelly serving as Chair.” i already knew that “Federal officials such as yourself may assist in raising funds for all three types of accounts” and that robin “called for a more inclusive decision making model which, for the first time, would empower the members of the State Central Committee with true decision making authority.” so, no, i don’t think mike is wrong. i am not sure i agree with him that svoboda “has not been given all the relevant facts by his client” but i definitely agree with mike that “some of his conclusions may be misguided.” you are arguing your point (perpetuate the chicago machine) and i am definitely arguing against that. i suspect we both agree that the chicago machine will continue to atrophy, and i certainly see that as risky for illinois democrats. but i want illinois democrats to succeed. but always ready to entertain you! - Heat Wave - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 1:59 pm: Looks like the committeemen and committeewomen who represent Lake County are going to have a big say in the final outcome of this, which seems appropriate given how many Dem seats they have gained in the last few cycles. 5/6 have not declared, or 12.21% of the undeclared vote. - Hannibal Lecter - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 2:00 pm: Candy — Just curious. What would you like to see done at DPI? - Hannibal Lecter - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 2:07 pm: === I think my favorite part of this is that we’re all acting like the DPI is known for it’s fund raising like we’ve all been to it’s annual dinners or Speaker Madigan had dedicated call time to individual donors for the state party. === And you sound silly by making this comment. Many of us on this page (like myself) has been to the DPI fundraisers. Also, MJM also does have call time where he will call donors to thank them for their contributions. Just because you haven’t participated doesn’t mean that it hasn’t happened. - bored now - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 2:07 pm: Hannibal Lecter: that’s a great question and i would hope it would be more broadly applied, allowing all democrats in the state have an opportunity to answer it in a designated time period… - Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 2:11 pm: === And you can’t talk about what you’re gonna spend the money on until this very basic concept is addressed. === This can be addressed pretty easily by hiring an executive director and then creating the authorization for spending by having a plan/budget, et al, approved by the State Central Committee. - Hannibal Lecter - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 2:12 pm: Bored now - Im all ears. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 2:12 pm: ===This can be addressed pretty easily by hiring=== From Michael Dorf’s memo: “In addition, the DPI would be prohibited from spending soft money to the extent that you directly or indirectly “controlled” DPI.” So, no. - bored now - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 2:17 pm: Hannibal Lecter: you understand that i am encouraging a broad, open call for democrats to advise the dpi about what they would like to see in efforts to reform and revise dpi, right? other states do this institutionally, by holding partisan conventions at the state level. the dpi scc doesn’t even meet (before the pandemic). it certainly does not currently encourage advise from us peons in the cheap seats… - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 2:18 pm: How can one argue that a party needs new ideas and such and not be like “the past” and then argue against the opinions of how it can do things by trying to skirt things you can’t skirt? So the new way is to ignore the legality of how this new way can’t work? - Ferris Wheeler - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 2:18 pm: === but she was not up front about her inability to raise and spend soft money if she was elected and has not yet explained how she intends to get around that and who would be making those major multi-million-dollar decisions in her stead. === I don’t think Robin has been withholding information, I think Robin was unaware when Durbin recruited her that she would not even legally be able to send out an email encouraging people to donate. I am gonna give Durbin’s Staff the benefit of the doubt for now that they didn’t know either. Because you would have to be pretty low to the ground to con someone into stepping into this role knowing they would not be able to do 90 percent of the job. So I am going with incompetent. But what’s happened since the memo was released is troubling. Instead of admitting they made a mistake and apologizing to those who they have solicited for support or misled in the media, they have doubled down with the claim that “Robin Kelly as the unpaid spokesperson” was their plan the whole time. It’s an insult to our intelligence and an insult to Robin’s authenticity. She had more autonomy as a State Rep than she will as Party Chair. - Hannibal Lecter - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 2:22 pm: Bored now - so you don’t have an opinion? I was giving you an opportunity for you to provide your opinion. As it relates to the structure of DPI in the future, I do not have an opinion so I do not care if they do conventions or meet as a state central committee. But I do want to know what those that want reform want to do in order to get more democrats elected in this state. Cuz at the end of the day, that’s the bottom line. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 2:31 pm: - bored now - ===In its most basic interpretation, Section 300.62 would prevent you from raising or spending soft money in state and local elections. In addition, the DPI would be prohibited from spending soft money to the extent that you directly or indirectly “controlled” DPI.=== Kelly’s own counsel agreed. Ignoring these things isn’t you and I having different ideas. You want “alternative facts” I don’t. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 2:33 pm: ===(perpetuate the chicago machine)=== That’s inherently false, unless you think following FEC rules is “machine politics” At least try honesty to your arguments. - bored now - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 2:45 pm: sure i have opinions on it. in general, i’d like to see the democratic party in illinois normalize. have a fully functional staff, and specifically one that is in charge of, and assist users, VAN. i would like to see the party duplicate the national party’s caucuses (some of which send delegates to the nominating convention) that would encourage participation from democrats across the state to get involved, not just run for office. i would like to see dpi have an official sub org or regional districts that could allow democrats to better compete outside of the chicago metro area. i think the party would benefit from an annual state convention and discussion of a platform. there are tons of things that democrats outside of illinois do that encourage activity and participation. illinois needs to allow people to invest and buy into the party, not just at election time, but especially for election time. etc. i’ve attended dnc regional meetings where the number of illinois democrats who participated was less than 2 dozen. iowa sent more. minnesota sent more. wisconsin sent a lot more. “that’s illinois” is no longer an excuse. just as importantly as increasing involvement in the party, we should realize that there are things that illinois can teach other states (precinct org, for ex) and *should* be teaching other state parties. it’s a two-way street. but illinois democrats have to re-imagine the party org. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 2:53 pm: === i suspect we both agree that the chicago machine will continue to atrophy, and i certainly see that as risky for illinois democrats. but i want illinois democrats to succeed. but always ready to entertain you=== Honestly, your mental gymnastics to “seem” righteous while arguing against fundraising rules will be something I’ll keep in mind long after this. - Hannibal Lecter - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 3:26 pm: Bored now - Interesting perspective. Thanks for sharing. - Anon - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 4:00 pm: bored now has hit the nail on the head. I became a precinct committeeman to push for change in IL. If Harris wins, I’ll walk as committeeman. I don’t need to stick around and pretend that she is anything more than the current machine. - McGuppin - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 4:05 pm: Yes agreed. Good points Bored. DPI needs an infusion of ideas & talent & transparency. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 4:09 pm: I will be revisiting this post Rich has and yesterday’s and wait for the responses to the “new” chairman. It’ll be wild. - Anon - Tuesday, Mar 2, 21 @ 9:29 pm: I do not know how anyone outside of the City of Chicago would want or could defend having a Chicago Alderman as the party chair. Pritzker has not been well served by staff with multiple staff members with a minimal understanding of state. Why would the state central committee members feel the democratic interests would be supported with yet another bad choice? There is no reason that DPI could not be revamped to actually be something to many. - @misterjayem - Wednesday, Mar 3, 21 @ 7:09 am: The inability to spending soft money is disqualifying. The inability to raise money from organized labor is disqualifying. We may wish it were otherwise, but it’s not. – MrJM Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.