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* ABC7’s I-Team has a perhaps unintentionally hilarious story about tracking down House Speaker Michael Madigan. I heard late yesterday morning that the Speaker was back in his ward office, and apparently Chuck Goudie did as well. So Goudie and the I-Team got all sleuthed up and headed to the Southwest Side. Check out the video...
* From the story…
American flags, bright flowers and perfectly manicured greenery surround the Madigan home here on the Southwest Side.
This afternoon, speaker Madigan and his wife drove up in separate cars- the speaker surfacing for the first time since last weekend when the general assembly recessed for summer vacation without solving the state’s financial crisis.
When he pulled up in front of his house to pick up his wife, ABC7’s Chuck Goudie wanted to ask Mr. Madigan about the Illinois pension debacle and other unfinished legislative business. Mr. Madigan declined and left briskly, even leaving his wife behind in the garage.
Madigan apparently not interested in addressing the state’s credit rating that at that very moment was being lowered by Moody’s. […]
Speaker Madigan retreated a few blocks to his precinct office. When we arrived here, staffers refused to answer the door, even though they could be seen scurrying behind glass and heard on the phone asking for direction.
During the two hours we were in the hallway, constituents showed looking for help and they got the same treatment. No one let them in. A pregnant woman and her son rang the bell for a half hour and the youngster banged on the glass. But they were all ignored by Mr. Madigan and his staff who were inside.
One staffer left with his head covered, another was deployed to the parking lot and could be heard signaling that “the coast is clear.”
Speaker of the House Michael Madigan came down the rear stairs to a waiting car that kicked up a little gravel and he left.
* The optics of Madigan’s “disappearance” have been absolutely horrible. It’s hurt his pension reform push and is spilling over into the governor’s race. Of course, no matter what he does, this is all supposedly designed to help his daughter. But if it is, he’s not helping her, he’s hurting her. Another ABC7 report…
* Story…
“He’s calling the special session because he’s trying to look dynamic, trying to take control of the situation, but Mike Madigan really has all the power in the Illinois General Assembly. And he’s choosing for some reason not to use it right now,” said Laura Washington, ABC7 political analyst.
Leading some political observers to question whether the 2014 gubernatorial race is behind the pension impasse.
Tonight, while speaking at a gathering of lawyers, the speaker’s daughter, Attorney General Lisa Madigan, who’s mulling a run for governor, denied her father is trying to weaken Gov. Quinn to benefit her.
“There’s absolutely no credence to that. Everybody recognizes that the number one priority - not just this year but, truth be told, for the past several years - has been to resolve the pension crisis,” said Lisa Madigan, Illinois Attorney General.
“She’s got a really big father problem. Now and later, she’s going to continue to have to deal with her father and the shadow of her father in everything she does going forward,” said Washington.
* The station also sat down for a friendly chat with the governor…
* Story…
In an exclusive interview, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn said he realized a special session would be necessary to address the $100 billion pension debt crisis last week.
Gov. Quinn called the special session on Thursday after Moody’s downgraded Illinois bonds. Lawmakers should report to work on June 19.
“There’s only one way to comprehensive public pension reform and that’s for the General Assembly to convene in Springfield, our state capitol, they’re going to be there on the 19th of this month and we’ve got to get this job done. The legislature has to do its job which is to put the bill on my desk so I can sign it into law,” Gov. Quinn said.
The governor wants the legislative leaders from both parties to work with him until the 19th to build consensus on pension reform. He says he talked to Republican leaders and Democratic Senate President John Cullerton, but has yet to speak with House Speaker Michael Madigan, who has not returned the governor’s phone calls.
“I left a message with his staff, top assistant. I left a message on his wife’s cellphone. I’m hoping to be talking very soon to Mike Madigan,” Gov. Quinn said.
* And the station talked with Bill Daley…
Perhaps sensing an opportunity, former Obama Chief of Staff Bill Daley today sounded increasingly like a candidate for Governor, blaming the pension mess on the man he might want to replace.
“Legislators don’t forge the compromise. The governor has to forge the compromise,” said Daley.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 8:52 am
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I’ve rolled my eyes in the general diection of “The I Team” since channel 7 marketeers decided they needed a name.
Comment by Chavez-respecting Obamist Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 9:03 am
I offered to buy him a cellphone and a two year contract worth of service - haven’t heard back yet.
Comment by lake county democrat Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 9:04 am
It was an I-Team classic. Chuck really musked up good on that one.
Madigan should be a lot smarter than to duck Chuck. There’s no reason to. Answer Chuck’s two questions and you’re done.
Quinn looked good, MJM looked bad, Lisa looked upset and Daley looked like he might mean it. Quite entertaining.
I love lamp.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 9:04 am
Remember Rostenkowski fleeing from the senior citizens? Great visual, that.
Comment by tubbfan Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 9:06 am
Not sure I would call it “hilarious” Rich. What alternatives are currently available for solving this, if the Speaker can’t come to the table?
Comment by Illinoise Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 9:07 am
EXCITING! This was like an episode of “Cheaters” -
Pat, the Oak Park helpless vicitim.
Mike, a Southside bad-boy. The no-good snake-in-the-grass.
Pat: “But you were supposed to call MEEEEE!”
Mike: “And where were you when I was around 24/7 for WEEKS?”
All the things Mr. Speaker has done over the years, and this one phone call comes back to bite? I will forever deeply respect the concept of karma.
Comment by anonymoose Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 9:07 am
If the IL GOP had any money, it could buy the footage from ABC 7 of Madigan fleeing and have one awesome negative ad on its books for 2014.
Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 9:09 am
Madigan will let things get so bad with time, that he will force the opposition to allow him to have his pension plan pass!
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 9:10 am
“A pregnant woman and her son, who waited at the door for a half-hour…”
But look, ALL that matters on the pension reform “controversy” is what Laura Washington wrote: “Mike Madigan really has all the power in the Illinois General Assembly. And he’s choosing for some reason not to use it right now.”
Comment by lake county democrat Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 9:10 am
I think it is a trademark of democrats to run away, it happened in Wisconsin, Indiana and now here, they act like children don’t want to do their homework
Comment by nldev Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 9:13 am
@anonymoose - have to say I giggled at the “cheaters” analogy.
Bill Daley had soundbites on WLS too all over Quinn for not bringing the leaders together. I just can’t help getting the impression he’s a madigan stalking horse.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 9:16 am
Chuck Goudie has a flair for hyperbole. The little boy was hardly banging on the phone. The “staffer” simply had his hood up and wasn’t skulking away. And the peel-out that Chuck describes? I’ve seen better on senior citizens’ scooters.
Comment by Knome Sane Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 9:16 am
It’s times like these that makes me think the D.C. political circus comes in a poor second to Illinois’.
Comment by Wensicia Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 9:16 am
=The little boy was hardly banging on the phone=
Obviously, I meant “door”, not “phone”.
Comment by Knome Sane Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 9:16 am
Ask him about how his personal grudges hurt all the Illinois teachers…..
Ask him about all the pension holidays her went along with for 40 years
Ask him how he was for the constitution before he was against it
And best yes ask about the UNO -A lot
Comment by RNUG Fan Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 9:27 am
What is Goudie trying to accomplish by making a surprise visit to the Speaker’s house? Is this what journalism has come to? If Goudie wanted to be taken seriously, he would have tried to set up a time to discuss the matter with the Speaker instead of trying to get some idiotic “GOTCHA” moment.
Comment by Fred's Mustache Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 9:28 am
How poorly handled was this by Madigan and his staff? Just tell them “no comment, go away I have consituents to talk to, I’ll see you in Springfield in two weeks” and leave it at that. They really made this a story (although a stupid one) by the way they handled it. Kinda “bush league” for the vaunted Madigan orgnization.
Comment by Jaded Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 9:32 am
This is only a taste of what’s to come if Lisa runs — and the GOP is loving it! Mix in the never-ending news stories about the Madigan family’s takeover of Illinois politics with the evitable non-stop attack ads by both Rauner and Quinn over the next year, and suddenly the Illinois GOP is breathing again!
Comment by Truth teller Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 9:34 am
Is Steve Brown on vacation? Wow, very poorly handled.
Comment by Whatever Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 9:35 am
“..and suddenly the Illinois GOP is breathing again!”
Yes it’s fun to pretend.
Comment by too obvious Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 9:36 am
Not sure that Steve Brown is the one to blame; he works for Speaker Madigan, not the other way around.
Comment by Robert the Bruce Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 9:50 am
=Perhaps sensing an opportunity, former Obama Chief of Staff Bill Daley today sounded increasingly like a candidate for Governor=
Prediction (and you heard it here first, folks): Bill Daley will announce his bid for governor next week. The day before he makes that announcement, Lisa Madigan announces that she is not running. And here is the shocker…she’ll announce she is not running for re-election, either.
At least, that’s how I read the crystal ball.
Comment by Nosmo King Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 9:55 am
I loved the part where Madigan left his wife stranded to avoid Chuck, and how he slipped out the back door of his 65th and Pulaski office, and left his car overnight and had a staffer in an older Toyota pick him up and spin his wheels taking off!
Also the interview with Quinn saying he has called his wife’s cell phone, and called his office etc.
If anyone from out of town was in and put our local news on and saw this they would think this state is out of control.
Comment by 3rd Generation Chicago Native Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 10:14 am
Couple take-aways from this;
Always have a “wheel man”, and a “chaser car”. A good “wheel man” with the help of the “chaser” car would have never been found by Goudie
Never go to the office. Ever. If you are going to avoid, avoid everyone. Being seen at the office ignoring constituents is “bad form”. I would suggest MJM should have pulled a Two-Putt” and hung at a private country club long enough for another car to whisk MJM away in a train of cars.
Lastly, Goudie, bud, I get what you are trying to do, but isn;t the story about Quinn calling all these meeting to talk about “Seifeld”, uh, I mean, “about nothing”? You, Chuck Goudie, are helping with the idea that Quinn is useless, and I believe you said in the piece that MJM is …”all-powerful”… so, going after MJM, ge it, good for you, you got him looking bad, but now what? No snark, you got JMJ on the “run”, so…ok… that is about two dteps above Frank Mathie looking for Ghosts on Halloween in Chicago hot haunting spots!
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 10:24 am
As insufferable as Chuck Goudie is, at least someone is finally treating Mike Madigan like he was just another Chicago politician, which he is. This is the largest issue facing the state in a generation and Madigan is one of the key players. Who does he think he is that he can duck legitimate questions?
I kind of enjoyed watching the Speaker take some heat for once.
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 10:27 am
That Goudie video is super dumb and super hilarious at the same time.
Also hilarious is the is the last few seconds of the 3rd clip. “So it’s not that he left his cellphone behind when he went on vacation… he just doesn’t have a cell phone?”, Charles, “That’s right. He doesn’t have a cell phone.”
Comment by WizzardOfOzzie Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 10:37 am
–What is Goudie trying to accomplish by making a surprise visit to the Speaker’s house? Is this what journalism has come to? If Goudie wanted to be taken seriously,–
Chuck wants to keep taking those checks home every two weeks. Call it journalism, call it showbiz, doesn’t matter, those are serious checks.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 10:37 am
Media Relations 101: Never run from a TV camera.
Comment by Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 10:51 am
This is Madigan’s own fault. He should have available to discuss this with the governor & the media. This behavior is not how a leader acts.
When has Madigan ever made himself available to the media ? Good luck trying to set that meeting up.
“What is Goudie trying to accomplish by making a surprise visit to the Speaker’s house? Is this what journalism has come to? If Goudie wanted to be taken seriously, he would have tried to set up a time to discuss the matter with the Speaker instead of trying to get some idiotic “GOTCHA” moment.”
Comment by AFSCME Steward Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 10:51 am
Wow - this is way worse than I imagined. I don’t think this helps Quinn as it makes him look weak, but wow does it make Madigan look bad. Leaving Shirley in the garage and the pregnant lady with child banging on the door. Ouch!
This helps Republicans and hurts both Madigans. Definitely highlights how difficult it is going to be for the Speaker to keep his job while she seeks the big chair.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 10:52 am
Staffers should have been smarter. Never lock your door to individual constituents. Not fully answering press questions is easier to handle than flight from reporters.
Of course, Washington’s “Madigan really has all the power in the General Assembly” is stupid and false, and leads to all sort of disfunction when people believe it. One has to realize what power he does and doesn’t have, and encourage him to use what he has.
This isn’t a game, and Madigan believes the House bill is the best way to realistically attack the problem. The only way he will be moved, is not by member statements to the press, but by enough of them convincing him they will lose their seats if he doesn’t move. He usually tries to get the best available solution; but it can be trumped by political pain. That is his Achille’s heel — probably as it should be.
Comment by walkinfool Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 11:20 am
Didn’t the Speaker have an orange Ford of some variety previously? That would have been a far better visual.
Comment by ArchPundit Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 11:28 am
===He’s calling the special session because he’s trying to look dynamic, trying to take control of the situation, but Mike Madigan really has all the power in the Illinois General Assembly. And he’s choosing for some reason not to use it right now,”
Ummm…if he had all the power he could have passed his plan. The Speaker is powerful, but not as much as people like to pretend.
Comment by ArchPundit Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 11:29 am
Agreed, Archpundit. Perhaps he lacks enough power to get his own plan into law, but he does have enough power to effectively stop anyone else’s plan from passing?
Comment by Robert the Bruce Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 11:37 am
Over the top? Gotcha? Oh I think it was a great tongue in cheek piece from Goudy using words like “elusive”, “milk carton” and “screeching tires” with great effect to accompany actual footage of Madigan and his staffers looking foolish and out of touch. Absolutely hysterical and well done visual commentary. Any viewer of any political persuasion should find it pretty interesting and pretty funny. Hard to decide which part was best–the kid and his mom futilely looking through the locked glass door– Madigan furtively stealing down the back metal steps toward the getaway car– or taking off and leaving his wife in the garage.
Comment by Responsa Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 11:48 am
Ah! MJM’s “sleight of hand” abilities are not as honed as his skill at being “two moves ahead.”
Comment by mid-level Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 12:12 pm
This was hilarious. And not in a “good” way for the state or for the Madigans.
@ChuckGoudie deserves credit for not only putting together the most sadly amusing report seen in some time, but for reporting and highlighting one fact overlooked by many:
the Speaker was not “on vacation” or “out of town” as many assumed or implied when he skipped the pension meeting with Quinn & Cullerton.
He appears to have been “in town” with easy access to a land line. He may have been sitting in his kitchen at home, asking Mrs. Madigan to “take a messsage”.
===
Michael Madigan.
Sitting at the kitchen table.
Drinking a cup of coffee. With the shades drawn.
Asking his wife to please screen his calls.
===
Not the image many had in mind of a calm, cool and calculated operator.
Especially during the past few days.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 12:14 pm
shrinking tyrants always look even smaller in a tv investigation scandal watch. on the same playing field as sun tanning judges. gak.
Comment by Amalia Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 12:14 pm
The first time I’ve really seen MJM blunder and look bad politically.
Brown referred to Blagojevich when speaking of Quinn, well this reminds me of the same.
Comment by Way Down South Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 12:31 pm
this is like watching an egg cook in a teflon pan, you know that nothing is going to stick when its all done…..
Comment by Ghost Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 12:32 pm
This one provoked a bit of an argument in the Soccerhousehold.
Soccerdad: “It’s clear that Madigan is holding up pension reform because he wants to make Quinn look bad and help Lisa.”
Soccermom: “And if he had pushed through pension reform, what would you say?
Soccerdad: “I don’t know…”
Soccermom: “That he was doing it to solve the big problem and make life easier for Lisa after she’s elected?”
Soccerdad: “Maybe…?”
Soccermom: “And the moral of the story is?
Soccerdad: “You were easier to get along with before you started grad school and staying up so late to do your homework?”
Comment by soccermom Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 12:51 pm
that was excellent!
Comment by Shore Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 1:07 pm
The speaker is a state rep first and foremost and for him to approve his staff not responding to constituents during office hours is inexcusable. Just a weasel move regardless of what Goudie was trying to do.
Comment by E town Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 1:11 pm
@soccermom - I picture @soccerdad frantically seeking a getaway vehicle a la Madigan during your exchange.
That “grad school” comment was the equivalent of Madigan’s driver peeling out of the parking lot, leading him to freedom.
Smart man, that @soccerdad is. And amusing.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 1:15 pm
Watching Madigan race away both times reminded me of the Knights in “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” When things get sticky, they shout “Run Away!” and run away on their pretend horses, Silly and absurd!
Comment by Nearly Normal Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 1:20 pm
The person who posted that Democrats runway is absolutely moronic. The fact of the matter was Chuck wasn’t invited I would you feel if reporters, Or anyone else for that matter suddenly came up to your car was you were trying to do something at the house I’m sure you’re your reaction would’ve been similar. It’s Dems that do their homework that’s why they why they win
Comment by Low level Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 2:44 pm
=== I’m sure you’re your reaction would’ve been similar. ===
To panic and flee, leaving my wife standing in the garage to fend for herself?
Then ordering my office to shut down constituent services?
No. Most people would not react in similar fashion. Especially if they were confident of themselves in the situation.
If they were feeling really wild and crazy, they might even say something like “No comment” as they walked by the reporter.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 3:07 pm
Madigan’s evasion–basically running away to answering questions which the PUBlic has of him VIA the Media–was both a Joke and utterly embarrassing to the Madigans, no matter how much Lisa tries to minimize, sugarcoat, and deflect the real ISsues–Power-Ego-Trip/Control issues her Pop truly suffers from…they ALL looked bad and he is decimating his own daughter’s chances by such repulsive, irresponsible, adolescent-type behavior while ALL Illinoisans suffer to the tune of losing $17 MILLION DOLLARS A DAY–all while he’s pulling recklessly away in his ritzy car from Reporters and running away from the Camera like some scared Rabbit! Sheez–it was like something out of the Roadrunner Cartoon or some old Laurel and Hardy movie for land’s sake!!! Just truly shameful conduct…!
Comment by Just The Way It Is One Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 4:10 pm