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* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…
If I had to choose a word to describe the Democrats’ nominating speeches for House Speaker Michael Madigan’s re-election last week, it would be either “defensive” or perhaps “joyless.”
The speeches seemed directly aimed at Madigan’s toughest critics – and there are plenty of those out there. The nominators at times angrily justified their own votes for Madigan and their continued willingness to support him while under siege by a hostile kabillionaire governor and much of the state’s media. They literally cannot go anywhere without being asked about why they continue to back Madigan.
For the most part, these were speeches from an all-too-real bunker.
Rep. Dan Beiser (D-Alton) told a touching story about how Madigan dotes over his grandchild, but began his speech with an anecdote about how he figured the child would get him in trouble by playing with a toy car in Madigan’s office – a clear acknowledgment of his leader’s fearsome reputation. It was an attempt to humanize a man who has been turned into a cartoon caricature of an evil villain. But it was too little, too late.
Beiser, by the way, was a Tier One campaign target last year who was repeatedly forced to distance himself from Madigan. His nominating speech was the clearest indication yet that he won’t be running for re-election next year. Former Rep. John Bradley lost his House race last year partly because the Republicans aired an ad that used video from one of his own Madigan-nominating speeches. Beiser’s speech was likely not so much an act of courage in the face of overwhelming retribution, but a way to show his thanks to the top dog on his way out the door.
While House Democrats repeatedly lashed out at the opposition to Madigan, Senate Democrats were heaping praise on Senate President John Cullerton for being, in the words of Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-Olympia Fields), “uniquely qualified at building bipartisan bridges because, above everything else, he has demonstrated a love for this state.”
Contrast that with Rep. Elgie Sims’ (D-Chicago) speech, which began with a story about how a friend warned him against seconding Madigan’s nomination because the Republicans would bash him with tons of negative ads.
The strong sense of political danger about the vote was a sentiment widely shared by Sims’ fellow Democratic House members. But in the end, the members did their grim best to power their way forward.
Madigan began his own speech by asking for bipartisanship, but then defiantly refused yet again to participate in any “race to the bottom” with Gov. Rauner and appeared to dismiss out of hand any attempt to reform workers’ compensation insurance, a key component of the compromise brewing in the Senate.
Madigan’s speech was nothing like Senate President Cullerton’s, who mildly complained about the fact that the Senate is often ignored by reporters because “if there’s no conflict there’s no coverage.”
Cullerton talked about the advances he and Senate Republican Leader Radogno have made together. The two were elected to their leadership roles as the divisive end of the Rod Blagojevich era was coming to a tragic end. “We’ve seen some pretty bad times and we’ve gotten through them by working together,” he said.
“How about we just try governing for a little bit?” Cullerton gently asked near the end of his speech after saying the non-stop campaign-style messaging needs to stop. “That’s what the people have sent us here to do.”
That same sentiment was expressed much more forcefully in the House, where Republican Leader Jim Durkin angrily demanded an end to the Democrats’ “gotcha” games of holding endless roll calls purely designed to be used in campaign ads.
Watching the two ceremonies was truly a study in contrasts. The Senate was brimming with hope that it can finally lead the way out of this horrific two-year impasse. The House, meanwhile, is still mired up to its collective neck in the stalemate with no clear way forward.
And then there was the lone “Present” vote by Rep. Scott Drury (D-Highwood), who issued a long and rambling press release afterward predicting that he will likely face “repercussions” for his (mostly meaningless) act, and claiming that “Illinois is in a free-fall into the abyss.”
Despite his usual melodramatics and penchant for self-aggrandizement, Drury’s statement was almost the perfect cap for a joyless and grim afternoon. It is clear, he wrote, that “a majority of the General Assembly is not ready for a new Speaker.”
That is very true. Last week, the House Democrats continued the age-old political practice of dancing with the one who brung them. But there were few smiles to be seen.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 8:24 am
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I attended parties held by members of each caucus. In short, the republicans were gleeful, and the democrats were demoralized. It seems that republicans believe that the Speaker is more vulnerable now than ever, and his demise is within reach. Democrats seemed trapped by the Speaker. They cannot imagine order without him, while they fear for their political future when theyre near him. It will make for an interesting session in 2017.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 8:32 am
“How about we just try governing for a little bit?” they should engrave that in stone above the entrance to chambers
Comment by oneholeoff Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 8:38 am
I give Drury credit for his “mostly meaningless” act. It is only “mostly meaningless” because no one joined him. At least he voted his constituency. By the tone of the article, it would seem others may wish to have joined him.
Comment by Mod Dem Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 8:48 am
Over the years, Madigan allowed himself to be turned into a cartoon character. Perhaps he thought that “all-powerful” fantasy image served him well.
But if you go along with the ridiculous and false narrative of being “all-powerful,” you end up wearing the jacket for everything. Careful what you pretend to be, someone might believe it.
Any politician, especially an alleged 3D chessmaster, must realize at some point that allowing yourself to get beaten down to an approval rating somewhere in the 20s, without offering any real public defense, was not a good idea.
It’s not like the coordinated “Because Madigan” efforts of the Frat Boys, tronclodytes and IPI/Proft propaganda arms were that slick or even coherent. They were simply unanswered.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 9:02 am
As someone living in Beiser’s district, I would love for him to not run again. Dude doesn’t do anything.
Comment by jono Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 9:03 am
In reality Scott Drury is a more “celebrated” Ken Dunkin, and even less popular than Dunkin, and that’s saying something.
You wouldn’t want to be in a foxhole with Drury, and while Dunkin was ridiculously self-serving, Drury’s ego of self worth and teaching things he knows nothing about is even more comical than Dunkin.
The only thing Drury has on Dunkin is the fewer “Century Club” awards, due, in my opinion, that Drury’s self-worth is fragile and seeing votes go down in flames like that are fat worse than Drury pretending he’s a leader, but knowing he’s not, without the public embarrassment.
That Ives-Drury trade, the Dems would “win” that trade. That says it all.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 9:03 am
Perhaps everyone should have gone to a wake afterwards…just to lift their spirits a bit. /s
It’s reached a nadir. The Speaker’s caucus doesn’t even know what their fighting for anymore. He won’t leave, so we’ll all be subject to a sad spiraling downward a few seats at a time. Illinois will follow the rest of the country…but lag seriously behind.
Comment by A guy Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 9:14 am
Interesting to see what the House does after the Senate sends it’s work over there.
Difficult to defend taking no action on legislation that will pass in a chamber with a supermajority of democrats with bipartisan support that finally addresses many of our state’s problems.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 9:26 am
=The Speaker’s caucus doesn’t even know what their fighting for anymore.=
I agree with the spirit of your post, but I think they do know what they are fighting (if not the “for” part) and that is Bruce Rauner. I think a lot gets lost in the though. Until things change (like a message that resonates in a positive way) they are purely on the defensive.
Being ton the defensive, or only fighting against Rauner isn’t much of a position and isn’t much to cheer about.
In that regard I think you are correct, they have lost their way. They need a message and a strong unified presence on social media. That message cannot just be more taxes and more spending either. It has to have a broad appeal or Illinois will remain a seesaw of business/wealthy vs. middle class/working class and Illinois will continue with stunted growth.
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 9:41 am
–It’s reached a nadir. The Speaker’s caucus doesn’t even know what their fighting for anymore.–
Gee, if you’ve reached a “nadir” while you’re still in the majority, where does that leave the House GOP caucus? Double-Secret-Probation nadir?
As many have pointed out, the “Mike and Bruce Don’t Like Each Other” reality show is a big hit in the media, but is meaningless when it comes to Rauner’s agenda.
There aren’t the votes for it, whether Madigan is there or not. If there were, Rauner/Griff could flip the votes with their money.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 9:45 am
Ah Sling.
Read the top again. It’s not my observation. That doesn’t look like winning to me. They own a dilapidated house…only the assessor sees value in those.
Comment by A guy Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 9:47 am
“At least he voted his constituency.”
…in that his constituency…exists?
Comment by AlfondoGonz Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 9:49 am
Perhaps Represenative Drury is voting for what his constituents want in a true swing district
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 9:56 am
Guy, I was responding to your “observations,” such as they were.
If you’re going to use big-kid words like “nadir,” you should probably know what they mean. It’s not possible to be in the majority and have reached your “nadir.” By that logic, the House GOP has reached its zenith in the minority.
And I’m pretty sure the House Dem majority know they’re fighting against Rauner’s agenda, and would do so whether Madigan was there or not.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 9:57 am
Amen, Word. Rauner does not have the votes to pass his agenda, even if Madigan retired today. It’s not Rauner vs Madigan, it’s Rauner vs the House Dems.
Comment by Joe Biden Was Here Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 9:58 am
Sorry the last session of the General Assembly was most certainly it’s nadir. A 7 billion dollar deficit budget passed in the waning hours of the session, with virtually no debate that was not reconciled with the Senate.
You wouldn’t call that a zenith would you?
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 10:02 am
===A 7 billion dollar deficit budget passed in the waning hours of the session, with virtually no debate that was not reconciled with the Senate.===
… and yet you continually and purposely ignore Rauner signing a stopgap budget with $8 billion of deficit and over $10 billion in backlogged bills.
This is the first time I’m reminding you of the $8 billion is more than $7 billion. We’ll see if you ignore that later.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 10:04 am
Alfondo - it is possible that a clear majority of Rep. Drury’s constituents who called about Speaker Madigan asked him to either vote no or present. I remember handling constituent calls in large numbers and it was pretty easy to spot trends and, at times, media pushes (i.e. cap & trade). My guess is that in Rep. Drury’s neck of the woods the media in general was banging the “Fire Madigan” narrative. Just a hunch or thought.
Comment by Team Sleep Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 10:05 am
–Sorry the last session of the General Assembly was most certainly it’s nadir. A 7 billion dollar deficit budget passed in the waning hours of the session, with virtually no debate that was not reconciled with the Senate.–
Yes, your dazzling spin over placeholder House legislation that did not become law.
But your misfiring synapses always miss the bipartisan legislation, pushed and signed by the governor, that did become law: an FY17 budget with an estimated $13 billion deficit.
Keep your shoes and socks on, no need to count toes, I’ll just tell you: thirteen is more than seven.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 10:10 am
==If you’re going to use big-kid words like “nadir,” you should probably know what they mean. It’s not possible to be in the majority and have reached your “nadir.”===
Gee Sling. I wake up every morning wishing I had your command of the language and sunny disposition.
I would concede to you that they are still in the majority. I would submit to you that I still think they’ve reached a nadir. In fact, they’re a bit like you. They’re ahead, but so unhappy.
Comment by A guy Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 10:24 am
===I would concede to you that they are still in the majority.===
You’re conceding to basic math, or…
na·dir -ˈnādər,ˈnādir/ noun
the lowest point in the fortunes of a person or organization.
Controlling 60 votes right now is the HDems lowest point.
Wasn’t that when Madigan was Minority Leader, or as they all called it “Democratic Leader” those 2 years.
To the Post,
I guess if it were “me”, and if I were a Democratic legislator and I knew I needed to hang with my Caucus and even if I voted against Madigan, if I were a Tier One target, voting for Madigan or not, “BossMadigan.Com” and RoboCalls were 100% coming.
Drury gets his pass like Franks and Dunkin did. They weren’t rewards, Rauner needs foils since Raunef still can’t get 60.
I’d be “depressed” too voting and being “who I am” and still Rauner will go after me, “caving” or not.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 10:32 am
If Madigan was suddenly no longer around (pick your own reason), would the Dems suddenly be totally lost/swamped by the Reps or would someone/group step up to organize the Dem camp? Pretty hard to believe that some form of leadership would not develop quickly that follows the basic game plan. Without the Madigan focus, it seems that most of the Rep/Rauner camp really does not have much to offer except ‘No’, Rauner money, robocalls, pithy statements, and negative emails. Seeing Cullerton and Radogno do something together is a good step that in reality has always been available while the verbal jousts made the news. Time to govern.
Comment by zatoichi Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 10:43 am
Yes OW the stopgap included the extra funding for CPS which you support. Try to stay consistent I know that is hard for you
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 10:44 am
If Madigan were not there….you’d see a new brand of chaos. That’s not to say they would suddenly be cooperative. And it’s not to say they wouldn’t. I do think a somewhat different philosophy would emerge.
Comment by A guy Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 10:53 am
===the stopgap included the extra funding for CPS which you support===
… so did the Governor… until he purposely Vetoed funding, and hurting Chicago Students.
So Rauner sees Chicago students as pawns, willing to hurt them to teach lessons?
===Try to stay consistent I know that is hard for you===
You should ask yourself and the Governor to be consistent.
I’ve explained to you, at times 3 times in a single Post the Rauner Veto, governors solely own their vetoes…
I try to be consistent. If you like to use more than a single sentence to explain yourself… lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 10:53 am
The Governor supported the extra money for CPS on the condition of statewide pension reform which is also supported by President Cullerton, which would save over 1 billion dollars a year.
I am being consistent, don’t leave out the inconvenient fact from your argument.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 10:56 am
===The Governor supported the extra money for CPS on the condition of statewide pension reform which is also supported by President Cullerton, which would save over 1 billion dollars a year.===
Rich Miller, personally, in comments, went chapter and verse on this specific issue.
Again, your continued ignoring what you are told daily and having to re-learn the same, sometimes the same day, different Post isn’t making any type of argument.
Again, then why are you cheering the Veto, a Veto the purposely hurt Chicago students, if you tout this “lesson”?
Willfully ignorant.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 11:00 am
“Again, then why aren’t you cheering the Veto, a Veto the purposely hurt Chicago students, if you tout this “lesson”?”
Apologies.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 11:00 am
It is willfully ignorant not to mention that pension reform is part of the Senate compromise legislation. Speaker Madigan has not weighed in yet.
I am cheering a solution while you are ignoring it
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 11:02 am
===It is willfully ignorant not to mention that pension reform is part of the Senate compromise legislation===
You brought up CPS.
Rauner Vetoed, hurting CPS.
What am I missing? lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 11:06 am
The anti-MJM chorus shows how well the BR and IPI smear campaigns have worked. It seems as though MJM’s prepared remarks and SJ-R editorial have been ignored, giving way to the simplistic characterization of this “Epic” struggle as a battle of 2 people and not the more fundamental match between the Legislature versus Executive Branches of Government. Does anyone think that the ever-changing turnaround agenda won’t continue to grow and the role of the Chief Executive expanding beyond control. The sole focus on MJM is misguided.
Comment by Ret Analyst Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 11:20 am
>They literally cannot go anywhere without being asked about why they continue to back Madigan.
I’d be glum too if I was part of a group that couldn’t get together a strong answer to a question they know they will be asked continually for the next two years.
Comment by Earnest Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 12:10 pm
The Governor and Senate President trying for compromise and the Speaker resisting
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 12:17 pm
===The Governor and Senate President trying for compromise and the Speaker resisting.===
… and yet the Speaker wrote that Op-Ed in the State Journal Register and the Governor welcomed the words of the Speaker.
You seriously need to take a few steps back, actually look at what is happening in real-time, and see how the actors in this react to each other.
Your comment is outdated by nearly a week.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 12:21 pm
The madigan answer is. If not mike who do you want? Why are you afraid of an old man with no supermajority?
Comment by Rabid Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 12:33 pm
So if it was time for Madigan to go who would replace him? Say if it happened in next year’s election.
Or might Republicans be ready to score a majority in the state house for the first time since 1994. And even then who would step up to be the state house speaker?
Comment by Levois Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 12:47 pm
Nothing in the Speaker’s op ed about pension reform or workers comp
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 1:49 pm
===Nothing in the Speaker’s op ed about pension reform or workers comp===
Then “you” need to ask the governor why he was welcoming to it? LOL…
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 1:52 pm
Yes and the fact is that the Speaker represents Chicago and should be interested in getting state money for CPS but has been unwilling to hold up to his end of the bargain.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 3:32 pm
===Yes and the fact is that the Speaker represents Chicago and should be interested in getting state money for CPS but has been unwilling to hold up to his end of the bargain.===
I thought it was Cullerton that didn’t uphold the “bargain”
You don’t even know what you’re saying.
Get back to everyone once you get recalibrated.
You’re embarrassing yourself.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 3:48 pm
Both have to keep the their end up. The Senate President looks like he is moving towards a compromise
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 4:15 pm
- Lucky Pierre -
It was Cullerton
Rauner signaled he liked Madigan’s op-ed
Governors own vetoes
Please either contribute to discussions…
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 4:17 pm
Yes you denying both have to pass legislation to get the CPS funding is not contributing to the discussion
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 4:43 pm
- Lucky Pierre -
Rauner purposely hurt Chicago students with his Veto.
This is the third time you’ve ignored the facts to reiterate a talking point that has no relevance.
If you’d like, I’ll pull Rich Miller’s comment in the post on the issue.
You’re tiring due to willful ignorance.
Stop.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 4:47 pm
And Cullerton and Madigan failed Chicago by not passing statewide pension reform
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 5:14 pm
–And Cullerton and Madigan failed Chicago by not passing statewide pension reform–
What dollar figure are you attaching to “statewide pension reform,” in light of Supreme Court rulings? Please show your work.
Surely, that must be quantifiable, even in your world. Otherwise, what’s the point?
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 5:20 pm
See Senator Cullerton’s work and his opinion on the consideration model.
You understand this is Democrats legislation not the Governor’s
OW sounds like a fan of the band Dire Straights
Money for nothing ….
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 5:47 pm
–See Senator Cullerton’s work and his opinion on the consideration model.–
You yammer on about it so much all day, every day, I would have thought the numbers would just fly off your finger tips.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 6:08 pm
Try reading it Cullerton says 1 billion dollars a year
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 6:13 pm
LOL, LP, yeah I knew that. Shouldn’t you have looked it up months ago, you’ve been such a proponent?
You realize, of course, that’s a projection going forward, hoping enough people play ball and it’s not tossed by the courts. The liability to date remains on the books.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 6:17 pm
===You understand this is Democrats legislation not the Governor’s
Money for nothing ….===
Then you should applaud Rauner’s veto and Rauner purposely hurting Chicago students.
You are literally cheering the students being hurt here.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 6:43 pm
Yes and if there was any urgency about solving this enormous problem it could have been passed 2 years ago and we might have some savings this year.
But seeing as this is Springfield only a pressure point like CPS school funding has forced a resolution
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 6:43 pm
–But seeing as this is Springfield only a pressure point like CPS school funding has forced a resolution–
Geez, missed it. When did that happen?
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jan 17, 17 @ 6:47 pm