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A tale of two fake Madigans

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* Another “fake” Mike Madigan has appeared on Twitter

@MayorEmanuel, the famously profane and famously fake Twitter account created in mockery of then-mayoral candidate Rahm Emanuel, by Chicago writer Dan Sinker, set a precedent for frustrated Illinoisans looking to express their angst towards some of the city and state’s political leaders.

So when Jeff Poole, a Chicago-based comedian and instructor at the Second City comedy club, read a series of stories in the Chicago Tribune spotlighting the alleged misbehavior of the powerful Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, he decided to write several humorous posts about it on his private Facebook page.

He realized though, that the private posts wouldn’t get him any attention, so he started a Twitter account called @KingofIL, and began tweeting satirically from Madigan’s perspective. […]

“If I got money into a Super PAC, I’d love to hire a Madigan impersonator, and take him to Springfield, and run amok a little bit,” Poole said. “I just want to keep pushing the buttons until something happens. Even a cease-and-desist letter from the Madigans would be a victory for me — I just want some evidence that he’s listening.”

* The thing is, though, Poole’s posts are kinda lame. For instance

Saw doc. about Henry Hill on TV last night. Could you imagine being around someone so arrogant they think they’re above the law?

* Poole apparently has no experience with state politics, and it really shows in his work. The other fake Madigan Twitter account, called “Da Speaker” and run by an unknown person or persons, is far wittier and demonstrates an actual understanding of state politics

How can it be claimed that Cullerton disagrees with me when I’ve yet to demand obedience?

Heh.

* Poole, meanwhile, has an ongoing fascination with Madigan’s relationship to his wife, Shirley

I yelled at Shirley until she cried. When I say I’m going to do something I do it, whether it’s needed or warranted.

Umm. OK.

* I much prefer “Da Speaker”

Q. “On his birthday, what do you give the Speaker who has everything?” A. Deference.

And

“One man runs this state and it’s not Gov. Quinn.” Mr Walsh, you say that as if its a bad thing.

And

I support Rep. Bost retaining all mental health benefits.

I don’t know who writes “Da Speaker,” but I do know funny when I see it, and it’s consistently funny. The newcomer ain’t. Not yet, anyway.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 11:15 am

Comments

  1. When it comes to satirizing the Madigans, let a thousand flowers bloom!

    Comment by Rutherford B. Jayes Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 11:22 am

  2. There is nothing like a good feed on “the twitter”. “DaSpeaker” looks good, but gotta keep it up …

    The “other” is pretty dopey. Maybe because we all are too close to all this, or its just not funny. I think it’s the latter.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 11:37 am

  3. I’ll be honest, the new one is kind of crude, and crude is not always funny…..

    Comment by I'm Just Saying Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 11:44 am

  4. DaSpeaker appeals to me because of his (or her) anonymity.

    Comment by Cheswick Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 11:52 am

  5. Knowing who KingofIL is before I even knew he had a Twitter account kind of kills the fun, the mystery, the romance.

    Comment by Cheswick Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 11:54 am

  6. ***Breaking News***

    Twitter account for DaSpeaker has been traced to a smart phone smuggled into into a federal detention facility in Colorado

    Comment by the Patriot Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 12:13 pm

  7. What are the odds DaSpeaker posts here under a different name? Even?

    Comment by Boone Logan Square Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 12:14 pm

  8. Poole is incredibly unfunny.

    His twitter account a) shows that he has no understanding of knowledge of what Speaker Madigan is like, and b) that must be better at improv than writing funny tweets.

    Comment by dave Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 12:16 pm

  9. If he’s a “comedian” and “instructor”, I guess 2nd City will be the next Illinois business needing a state bailout.

    Comment by Michelle Flaherty Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 1:52 pm

  10. === Knowing who KingofIL is before I even knew he had a Twitter account kind of kills the fun, the mystery, the romance. ===

    Indeed. It’s more than a little strange that Poole outed himself as the author even as he only started attracting attention. For an improv guy, he doesn’t have much of a grasp of timing or suspense.

    Comment by Coach Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 2:56 pm

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