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A Republican plant?
Tuesday, Dec 6, 2011 - Posted by Rich Miller * I told subscribers a bit more about one of House Speaker Michael Madigan’s Democratic primary opponents this morning, and Greg Hinz adds to the story…
* I also talked to Jim Edwards today. He said that Roeser hadn’t yet committed to bankrolling Piszczor. But Jon Zahm, whom I quoted in my piece today, says he stands by his original quotes, which were that Roeser “is supporting” Piszczor. Edwards chairs Piszczor’s campaign and also runs Roeser’s Illinois Republican Renaissance PAC (Roeser’s Family Taxpayers Network PAC has been dissolved). That’s no mere coincidence. * By the way, I concur with Greg’s belief (and laid out why to subscribers this morning) that the other two Democratic primary candidates are likely put-ups by Madigan to dilute Piszczor’s vote. They obviously knew Piszczor was circulating petitions. You can’t sneeze in that district without Madigan finding out about it. This, however, is troubling…
Then again, one of my tires was slashed while my car was parked in front of Madigan’s house one night many years ago, back when I briefly lived in the 13th Ward. Hinz also reports that Piszczor hasn’t voted since 2008. * You have to admit that it’s more than a little ironic that Speaker Madigan was repeatedly whacked in the media last year for allegedly putting up a Republican candidate against himself, and now a bunch of Republicans are backing an alleged Democrat against MJM.
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- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 12:29 pm:
First its the tires … next its the garbage not getting picked up. We “laugh” because its funny … we “laugh” because its true.
Next thing we are going to hear is that the house she lives in had work done, and someone pulled the permits to see if the work “broke” any codes.
Nostradamus could have called this, sadly.
- wordslinger63 - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 12:37 pm:
Careful not to rush to judgement, Willie.
It’s the oldest gag in the book for a longshot campaign to throw a brick through its own hq window, then call a presser and rail about how “they must be scared of us, but we won’t be intimidated.”
Put it this way: If you believe her tires were slashed, who, as a candidate, benefits most from that? She does, of course.
Based on reports, she already seems to be less than truthful as to who’s running the show.
- Skeeter - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 12:44 pm:
I’m not sure about that Word. Do you really think that there are voters who would think “I’m sort of on the fence about Madigan, but since his pals slashed somebody’s tires I’m going to look at the alternatives”? Or is it more likely that some low level person would say “Let’s make the primary easy and convince this person to get out.”
If this race was against some ordinary incumbent, then it would benefit the challenger (since most people — including me, I admit, since my own State Rep. moved to a new job — can’t even name their own State Rep). But Madigan is different. It is hard to believe that his name and reputation are not well known to most people in that district.
- OneMan - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 12:46 pm:
Would not be the first Democrat Roeser supported
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 12:52 pm:
===Put it this way: If you believe her tires were slashed, who, as a candidate, benefits most from that? She does, of course.===
I concur she “benefits” … but in that district, and you want to take on Madigan, your best bet is to probably NOT “aggrivate” him TOO early in the process … if they decided to go down “this” road, this early … amateur hour.
You go down “this” road with a few weeks to go, not out of the box, don’t you?
- PublicServant - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 12:53 pm:
Well, given that Madigan seems to be supporting the Civic Committee’s Pension Bill, maybe a republican plant running as a democrat would be preferable to state employees.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 12:56 pm:
Also .. don’t have the consultant “confirm” one thing, and the “money pot” not say anything … What do you get by confirming you ARE helping??
Amateur hour right out of the blocks!
- Dean - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 1:08 pm:
Roeser and Zahm…two reasons to support Madigan right there.
- MrJM - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 1:15 pm:
Some of may interpret your experience as not only failing to rebut Ms. Piszczor’s claims, but actually supporting them!
– MrJM
- LincolnLounger - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 1:27 pm:
MJM should just withdraw now rather than face that high-powered brain trust of Roeser and Zahm.
- just sayin' - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 1:42 pm:
So once again Republicans trying to out sleaze and out fraud the Dems. What a bunch of doofuses.
- digital - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 1:54 pm:
The “Republican” candidate has voted Dem in every primary since at least 2002.
- Jon Zahm - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 1:56 pm:
I love the anonymous wimps who attack me. Rich, you should trace them. I did one time on the old Illinois Leader site thru an IP address and found it was a rival consultant attacking from the computer of the non-profit day job he had. I’m not a Roeser staffer so when we work together it is because I want to, not because I am controlled by the purse.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 1:59 pm:
JZ - Paranoid?
- siriusly - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 2:02 pm:
The sad part to me is that she appears to maybe have had a promising future. But she’s being used badly by people who don’t care about her, and this experience will leave her with many regrets.
- mokenavince - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 2:16 pm:
Madigan has 2 stalking horse candiates to take
away votes from anyone running against him. He wins the primary and beats Roesers canidate, good Lord he’s done it time and time again. Winner and still champ Mike Madigan.
- JBilla - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 2:27 pm:
This all seems to be very raw power gamesmanship. It’s funny that I haven’t heard a single issue she is for.
- Timmeh - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 3:03 pm:
Does Madigan need to dilute the vote? If you were a constituent, who would you rather have representing you? The most powerful man in Illinois politics or the girl fresh out of college?
The idea that Piszczor is running with Republican support makes sense. Why would someone start out their career facing off against Michael Madigan? It sounds really great if you win, but you’ve got to know that you’re not going to win, especially when there are 2 other people on the books who are going to steal away votes from you too.
- wordslinger63 - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 3:07 pm:
–Does Madigan need to dilute the vote? If you were a constituent, who would you rather have representing you? The most powerful man in Illinois politics or the girl fresh out of college?–
It’s counter-intuitive, but it can happen when people are very angry. Rosty was one of the most powerful Congressman of all time, and a committeman to boot, and he got tossed by a nobody. Tom Foley was Speaker of the U.S. House when he was voted out.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 3:14 pm:
===Rosty was one of the most powerful Congressman of all time, and a committeman to boot, and he got tossed by a nobody. ===
Please do not tell me “wordslinger” would make the comparison of Federally indicted Dan Rostenkowski in a general election loss to Michael J. Madigan, Speaker of the Illinois House, in a Democratic Primary, and NOT a Federally indicted candidate …
Apples, meet oranges …
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 3:19 pm:
===Does Madigan need to dilute the vote? If you were a constituent, who would you rather have representing you? The most powerful man in Illinois politics or the girl fresh out of college?===
The difference between MJM and everyone else, he leaves nothing to chance …the more the merrier for an incumbent, if you know you can “run your pluses”….
- wordslinger63 - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 3:19 pm:
Willy, I used another comparison as well with
Tom Foley, but your point is well taken. Rosty isn’t a fair comparison.
Madigan, to my knowledge, has never put senior citizens up on the hood of his Caddy, either.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 3:27 pm:
word63…
Ok, to that “Foley” point … (1) a IL House seat has a ridiculously lower number of precincts to cover than a congressional seat, around a 1/4 to a 1/5. Different ground game, and MJM is a master of the Precinct Game.(2) Foley lost in the General election, not a primary. (3) Foley’s opponent wasn’t a Democrat running as a Republican, put up by “operatives” of the Democratic party.
As for MJM and the senior on the hood … that is not Madigan’s style … Velvet Hammer …
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 3:33 pm:
MJM wouldn’t run over a senior. He’d have Mapes run over a senior.
Just sayin…
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 3:34 pm:
Rich …lol
This is what I WAS going to type ….
That is not MJM’s style … he would have someone ELSE do it, then send flowers. “He has a lot of ‘Buffers’ …”
- lori - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 9:42 pm:
Michele is not a ploy or a “plant” she is the real deal. I know her very well and I have seen her knocking on the doors of those who live in the 22nd district. Her tires have been slashed, her car has been hit while parked in her driveway, she has had unmarked cars following her and all those who helped her collect signatures during the entire process. This is a David and Goliath story. Michele may be David but the pebbles she will throw symbolically at Madigan will be all the unanswered issues and concerns of the people. What is his legacy? What has he done for our state? Instead of bashing her you all should come together to support her. She is doing what no one else has legitimately done in over 35 years and that is…run against Mike Madigan. She has been a democrat all her life. What matters is this woman is out to fight the fight. She is not a coward and for that she should be applauded. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what he is trying to pull here. Do your homework. Now that he has a REAL opponent in Michele all of a sudden we have all these people who live blocks from Mike and houses from each other running. I HOPE SOON you all realize she is the real DEAL and is passionate about helping out her community and furthermore, her state. Look up all the other candidates….where are their websites and info?????? We need honest politicians with integrity representing the people in Springfield. She needs donations in order to beat the machine. This will not be an easy journey for her especially because of who her opponent is so feel free to visit her website to learn more at www.micheleforillinois.com. You can read all of what she has accomplished at such a young age. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see the games of the old political machine at work against Michele. . Michele has brought hope and has been an inspiration to those she has encountered and to the people she met while getting signatures. . You all are smart…or at least I hope you are…. and can put the pieces together. Split the latino vote and any republicans whom would vote for Michele possibly taken away by the so called “republican” candidate who has never voted republican in his life. Come on people. She needs your help!! Don’t fall for the old political machine tricks. People are hurting and are in survival mode right now. We don’t have time for these games.If you guys knew her personally you would know she is the most down to earth caring individual I have ever met. She goes out of her way to help people. SSh elost her house as a little girl and lives paycheck to paycheck so she understands what the people of illinois are going through because she lives it each day just like they do.
GOOOOO MICHELE!!! WE ARE PROUD OF YOU!!
- lori - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 10:37 pm:
Go look at her pictures on her facebook campaign page and tell me how a woman so active in the Hillary campaign with pictures to show for it is a “supposed republican”? please!!! Give me a break!
- lori - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 10:39 pm:
Stop spending your time on nonsense and false allegations when you don’t even know her or what she stands for and go do something productive and go hit her donate button to help her out so she can beat Madigan’s machine and save our state!
- Pot calling kettle - Tuesday, Dec 6, 11 @ 11:36 pm:
“lori” Read the posts. I think many, if not most, commenter would accept your premise that Michele is pursuing her candidacy for her own reasons. However, the support she is receiving from several prominent Republicans suggests that they have a hand in her campaign and their own motives for promoting her. It could well be a case of Michele attempting to take advantage of the Republicans as they attempt to take advantage of her. “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” might be an appropriate quote. Or, perhaps, “Politics makes strange bedfellows.”
Just because Michele is sincere doesn’t mean some of her supporters are not.
- 42nd Ward - Wednesday, Dec 7, 11 @ 3:23 am:
Jim Edwards is Jack Roeser’s chief political hack. It is a Republican plant all the way. But who cares? Democratic operatives have been running as spoilers in GOP primaries for decades in Chicago and suburban Cook County.
- lori - Wednesday, Dec 7, 11 @ 8:43 am:
@Pot calling the Kettle, you know nothing of her campaign. Please, even if Mikey Mouse wanted to donate to her campaign there are limitation thanks to Mikey so he could hold his power. So where you get that she is financially supported by anyone is insane. This girl is still driving with the dent in her own car she got because of doing this. If money was not an issue and so many people have been so called “bankrolling it” I think she could at least afford to fix her dent or have some sort of security right? Again, people are hurting out there and she realizes it. Now she can sit behind a computer like you and everyone else and do nothing but complain about Madigan and in front of crowds…or you can stand up and go against this man like she is and actually do something about it. Don’t just talk the talk walk the walk…. This is why she is going to go to springfield to show you men how to fight like woman! GO MICHELE !!!!