Four more years!
Thursday, Jul 18, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* John Kass has been writing pretty much the same thing forever as he did in his June 16th column…
Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has already made it plain what he wants. The political boss of the state wants his daughter Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan installed as governor of Madiganistan.
What father wouldn’t like to make his daughter the governor? It’s way cooler than giving her a pony, but maybe a bit messier.
* After AG Madigan decided to run for reelection, Kass simply doubled down…
Now Lisa Madigan wants to avoid the street fighting during this election cycle, be anointed AG for another term, and let others do the heavy lifting to solve the state’s terrible fiscal mess. And when it’s all over, she’ll waltz in on glass slippers and pick up a scepter.
He’s consistent, at least.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 3:15 pm:
There is more money in Fiction well done that non-fiction that is boring.
Wonder what actor could portray Kass in his movie, “Combine”
He is consistent, consistenly … “out” there?
- railrat - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 3:17 pm:
may be “consistent” but NEVER Royko
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 3:27 pm:
The Never-Ending Conspiracy. It will be 16-years-old in 2018, old enough for a driver’s license.
I try to follow things, but I missed the part where MJM made it plain that he wants Lisa to be governor. Usually, when he makes something “plain,” I understand it.
You’d think someone who was “all-powerful” could have gotten it done by now.
But I love the sunny optimism that others will “do the heavy lifting to solve the state’s terrible fiscal mess” over the next four years. Kass is a man of great faith in Illinois lawmakers.
Personally, I don’t ever recall a time when there wasn’t some kind of terrible mess that made being governor a rough job, so I look forward to the better days of 2018 when Kass tells us it will be safe for Lisa.
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 3:29 pm:
Willy, Joe Pesci hasn’t had a hit in awhile. He would make a great Kass.
- MrJM - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 3:34 pm:
It would be tough to choose between Wreck-it-Ralph and Shrek…
– MrJM
- shore - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 3:34 pm:
kass is the only columnist in the city who says more than one not nice thing about lisa madigan a year. please. I can’t think of a single pol who’s gotten more glowing coverage over the last 12 years in Illinois than her. there isn’t exactly a VRWC against her.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 3:36 pm:
John Kass is the Michael Sneed of his genre. Zero independent research, constantly rolling out the same stuff, same characters and same schtick.
Wonder why he never wrote about convicted ex-Niles Mayor Nicholas Blase. Right, because he was John’s relative and family stuff is off-limits.
- Downstate - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 3:40 pm:
Flash! Detroit just declared bankruptcy.
You can now return to singling out one hapless reporter, rather than focusing on the economic problems in this state. It’s time much better spent.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 3:42 pm:
Downstate, we’ve had two posts today talking about unemployment and bond ratings.
And Detroit isn’t in Illinois.
So, stop being such a doofus.
- So. ILL - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 3:42 pm:
Who does he think is going to go in and fix all the problems we have so that it is easy street for Lisa in 4 years? And, if someone fixes all of Illinois’ major problems in 4 years, does he think they won’t get re-elected? What does this guy put in his coffee?
- Chicago Cynic - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 3:44 pm:
Kass = no talent plagiarist hack. Has he had an original thought yet?
- Tim Elenz - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 3:49 pm:
I think Lisa took one for the team. First who wants to run for Gov. it is going to be a blood bath for the next year. Every time you walk outside there will be people following you. People will be going through your garbage. Talking yo ex s. Trying to find any dirt they can on you. Also can you imagine a Republican as Attorney General say Tom Cross? That would be interesting would you say. Do you think the office would focus on other things then consumer affairs?
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 3:51 pm:
===Do you think the office would focus on other things then consumer affairs? ===
His people told me recently that Cross wouldn’t be focusing on indicting politicos if elected AG.
- it'smyopinon - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 3:52 pm:
MrMJM,
Don’t insult Shrek. He’s a nice ogre.
——————–
I think the way Kass is painting the whole thing is just really sexist. Has Lisa Madigan never achieved anything on her own? Was it all about her last name? Obviously she’s had a step up, but going a little far saying it’s like her Daddy giving her a pony. Come on.
- Tim Elenz - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 3:55 pm:
so Rich you think Democratic leadership would be Ok with Tom Cross as AG? No Problem? lol
- transplant - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 3:56 pm:
Bitter much? Did Lisa snub him to go out w/Fritchey in high school?
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 3:56 pm:
Tim, I was just passing along what they told me.
- Independent - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 4:01 pm:
Kass lives rent free in the minds of Capitol Faxers.
- Tim Elenz - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 4:02 pm:
I guess he might wait till the statue of limitations run out so he doesn’t have to appoint a special prosecutor?
- Mason born - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 4:02 pm:
Kass reminds me of my son when he was one. He just kept trying to shove that square block through the round hole. Of Course my son got smarter. Will Kass?
- Timmy - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 4:03 pm:
The difference between Royko and Kass is that Royko touched the heartstrings and emotions of his readers. Kass just touches his own.
- Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 4:04 pm:
He’s also apparently noteworthy and popular enough to frequent attention from Illinois politicos and fellow media.
But yeah, after reading most of the comments above, he’s clearly a no-talent hack.
- David P. Graf - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 4:08 pm:
I may not go along with the intricate conspiracy described by Kass. However, there’s no doubt that Mike Madigan wants to see his daughter move on to bigger and better things. Plus, he’ll use his clout and money to bring that about. Right? And so, at some time and in some way Mike Madigan will try to pull the strings for his daughter. Since Mike doesn’t want to walk away from his position, that pretty much shuts her out of running for Governor. Almost any other position at the state level would be a demotion of sorts. And so, I wouldn’t be surprised if her next move would be for Jim Kirk’s Senate seat in a few years. However, I suspect that by then her Dad will be swamped by scandals and investigations. We’ll see then if she can make it without her father’s help.
- Tom B. - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 4:10 pm:
Or a nutjob
- Capitol View - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 4:13 pm:
I agree that Speaker Madigan will need six years, not two, to clean up our outdated revenues system. Let him clean up the budget messes that he allowed to be created (never was a fiscal guy himself),and then retire with a functional state government again and a restored State Capitol Building.
The only remaining question in six years will be - where to put the Madigan statue on the capitol grounds.
- Chavez-respecting Obamist - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 4:15 pm:
And Detroit isn’t in Illinois.
And Kass isn’t a reporter.
Who doesn’t want their kid(s) to move on to bigger and better things?
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 4:18 pm:
I don’t know. I still have that funny feeling that “state focus” isn’t going to be enough. Just like the Daleys eventually attempting to expand their horizons and circles of influence outside of Chicago and the state. Tough challenge that, and whether those from “these here parts” have managed to succeed or fail is probably a matter of opinion. I bet that the Madigans would have the confidence to believe that they’d be one of the few able to succeed in a very obvious way, and they might be right.
- Wensicia - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 4:19 pm:
Kass is a drama queen, not to be taken seriously.
Lisa shouldn’t have brought up his name, though I’m sure she was trying to make a joke. Like many of us have learned, you don’t feed the troll.
- Precinct Captain - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 4:22 pm:
==Wonder why he never wrote about convicted ex-Niles Mayor Nicholas Blase.==
Kass did write about Blase once.
I guess goodie two shoes corruption screeds are only tough when it is the family of a reporter, not anyone else’s family (like the innocent children of corrupt pols).
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2006-06-11/news/0606110291_1_blase-corruption-excuses
- Skeeter - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 4:35 pm:
People like to bash Kass here — with good reason — but we should probably start bashing him more for the fact that’s he not a very good writer.
Has anybody ever read a column by Kass and thought “I don’t agree with what he wrote, but I sure do like the way he turns a phrase.”
That’s the real shame. The Tribune should replace him with a talented writer.
- Skeeter - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 4:37 pm:
But to the merits –
Has anybody heard, directly from Lisa or from people close to her, that she wants some other office?
I keep reading that she’s going to run for some other office — Senate or Gov most often — but as far as I have found the comments never come from her.
Give her a break. She claims she wants to serve in her current position. If she wants to run for something else, she can tell us.
- whetstone - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 4:37 pm:
A well-informed person I know floated the possibility of Lisa Madigan running for Durbin’s seat when he steps down (or against Kirk, but that seems unlikely). He doesn’t have inside info, just spitballing, but it seems like a plausible alternative, and less thankless than being the governor.
- Amalia - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 4:39 pm:
kass the controversy is so not important.
- Rod - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 4:39 pm:
Many of the theories that Mr. Kass presents to the public were developed after long thought down at the Billy Goat. Some think they actually came from the fry cook who yells Cheezborger, Cheezborger, Cheezborger. No Pepsi, Coke. No Fries, Cheeps, but I doubt that is true.
Others believe it is a cosmic connection with the sprit of Mike Royko on a binger. Some on this blog would violently disagree with the Royko theory however believing even in his most drunken state Royko’s theories including those put forward by psychiatrist Dr. I.M. Kookie were more logical than those presented by Kass.
- whetstone - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 4:43 pm:
–”Has anybody ever read a column by Kass and thought ‘I don’t agree with what he wrote, but I sure do like the way he turns a phrase.’”–
When he’s not ax-grinding he can write a good column. But when he’s ax-grinding he falls back on his snide schtick (”Princess Lisa,” “Little Bike People”), and it’s been all ax-grinding for awhile. His editors have to share some blame–a good editor will take the edges off a writer’s bad habits, and he has some bad ones.
- low level - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 4:45 pm:
The best thing to do is to simply ignore him.
- too obvious - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 5:05 pm:
Once the Trib put Kass’ column behind the pay wall I went from rarely reading Kass to never reading Kass.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 5:15 pm:
–He’s also apparently noteworthy and popular enough to frequent attention from Illinois politicos and fellow media.–
He has a column on Page 2 of The Trib. He’s going to get noticed writing haiku.
The Trib is nowhere near as read or as influential as it used to be, but it’s still the biggest paper in the state.
- A Casual Observer - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 5:18 pm:
Personally, I like Kass and his column. When he seems to be dwelling on a particular political personality or event, it is usually only because he has morphed into his role of Cassandra. He is simply trying to awaken others to the upcoming political scandal or political train wreck that he sees coming. When you have a sliver under your fingernail, it is pretty hard to turn your attention to anything else but that sliver (until it is removed or taken care of). That is all that Kass is guilty of–Being the Chicago Town Crier. Thank goodness for town criers is my opinion.
As far as who would have been a great actor to portray John Kass, I think the actor Peter Falk would have been a great actor to portray John Kass. I had the privilege to meet and talk to Mr. Kass once. To me, he reminded me of the television police detective, Lieutenant Columbo. He was even wearing a rumpled topcoat (just like Columbo) the evening that I was introduced to him.
Kass always goes after the Republicans as well as the Democrats if he feels they are using and abusing the citizens of Illinois. He was a great replacement for Mike Royko.
- Skeeter - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 5:24 pm:
Kass is not in Royko’s league.
Royko was an obnoxious drunk but one hell of a writer. I remember nights in Lincoln Park with a crowd of bar patrons following Royko out the door to try to make sure he got home in a manner other than his own car. How he survived, I never knew.
A few times I also recall him making comments to girls I was with and that’s another reason I wondered how he got home in one piece.
But with all his flaws, the words flowed. Columnists should be required to read his stuff to learn the craft.
Kass just wasn’t born with that talent.
- CircularFiringSquad - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 5:29 pm:
Let’s be honest.
Kassamoron is a bloated, chain smoking lightly read space filling Tribbie. No one ever says “did you see what Kassamoron wrote today?”
Even rolling him over to WLS-AM has not sparked interest. In fact the Big 89 has fallen out of the top 20 ratings…actually the FM does better.
Keep in mind Kass’ prism is through the eyes of convicted hustler Ed Vrdrolyak and little else.
Even the other Tribbies will tell you they don’t read it.
But for the attention from Capt Fax the Kassamoron ends up in the dead letter box.
- low level - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 5:36 pm:
“He was a great replacement for Mike Royko”.
Sorry, not even close.
- Jim - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 5:39 pm:
Rich, why don’t you just settle your personal resentment of Kass by challenging him to a duel?
- low level - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 5:40 pm:
For all the criticism Royko had for RJD, he never resorted to the juvenile name calling that Kass seems unable to do without. Kass must resort to this to make up for a lack of talent and a lack of class. Mike Royko never had these deficiencies.
- Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 5:44 pm:
=== He’s going to get noticed writing haiku. ===
Living up to the name, as usual, wordslinger. Talk about turning a phrase
.
The underlying point? He must have that column on page 2 for some valid reason other than being a no-talent, unpopular hack.
One does not simply wake up one day to discover their work gracing page 2 of the largest newspaper in a state the size of Illinois.
Perhaps he is on page 2 because he is more talented than most and remains popular after so many years - even if we occasionally do not like what he has to say.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 5:53 pm:
===personal resentment of Kass ===
LOL
I’m not in third grade.
We’ve talked.
- Jim - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 5:57 pm:
come on, it has to be personal. you constantly are harping on Kass? who cares about him? read him or don’t read him? why not zorn, mark brown and mary schmich?
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 5:58 pm:
===why not zorn, mark brown and mary schmich?===
I’ve had far more posts about what Zorn and Brown have written over the past six months than Kass.
Give it a rest.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 6:06 pm:
–The underlying point? He must have that column on page 2 for some valid reason other than being a no-talent, unpopular hack.–
They were rotating Kass, Zorn and Schmich out of there for a while.
I think the boys from Wheaton back then thought Kass could fake the Royko, who was a money-maker, had neighborhood cred, and was the undisputed champ.
Of course, the boys from Wheaton wouldn’t know a pierogi from a punchki, so….
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 6:06 pm:
Also, I think you’re being a little hyper protective of your hero. I just pointed out how he’d doubled down. Yet somehow this is over the top? Weird that.
- CircularFiringSquad - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 6:26 pm:
Kassamoron was desperate to have the AG run for governor so he and Fast Eddie could trash the Madigan day after day…They don’t get their wish
Pop Quiz: which days does the Kassamoron slop appear?
- Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 6:30 pm:
=== They were rotating Kass, Zorn and Schmich out of there for a while. ===
I noticed that as well. If memory serves, they threw Huppke in there once in a while as well.
Interesting theory regarding “fake the Royko”. You just may have something there. Can’t improve on the original (Royko)? Find the best replica you think you can.
- low level - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 6:42 pm:
It is rather odd the hypersensitivity of some Kass followers.
The actual facts not matching up to his far out version of reality, they get nervous it seems. I’d have thought that they would have thicker skin, seeing how their hero is tough, tells it the way it is, etc.
- MrJM - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 6:49 pm:
The sad thing is that Kass wasn’t always a joke.
Getting that page two gig was the worst thing that ever happened to him.
– MrJM
- Kasich Walker, Jr. - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 7:22 pm:
“I feel strongly that the state would not be well served by having a governor and speaker of the House from the same family and have never planned to run for governor if that would be the case…”
Now she tells us.
Why did it take so long?
If the unlikely occurs and the Speaker steps down or is removed, does she say claim her candidacy for Governor is safe for Illinoisans?
- Not fair… - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 7:44 pm:
It’s not fair to completely to forget about Lisa Madigan’s record as A.G. and paint her with this broad brush of being her step-dad’s pawn. Lisa is running on her record of accomplishment. She has been at the head of the pack in terms of going after banks and financial institutions that have preyed upon Illinois citizens. Say what you will about her dad, but she tops in my book!
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 8:16 pm:
” she’s tops in my book”. Golly, Not Fair, and gee-willikers, I like your spirit!
- Kasich Walker, Jr. - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 8:26 pm:
Are there any other elected offices that — for the sake of serving the state well — should not be held by family members of the speaker?
Why can the state be served well by an AG from the same family as the speaker, but not the governor?
- Truth teller - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 8:37 pm:
If memory serves, Kass was thought of as a smart, unbiased reporter/columnist before his page 2 gig. His, and the Tribune’s first mistake, was to more-or-less promote him as Royko’s replacement.
Which was pure folly; no one could replace Royko. For all his faults (apparently, he wasn’t such a nice guy due to his drinking), Royko had his pulse on how Chicagoans think and act…or wish they did.
Secondly, Royko was the epitome of an independent. In Chicago, that meant basically that he was a conservative Democrat. Kass started out that way, then basically went Tea Party on us.
His Trib bosses love that about him; there readership skews older, white, and upper middle class. He fits that demographic perfectly.
But that group is smaller today than it was even five years ago. Royko remade himself with the times, but Kass cannot or will not change.
Because of this, he’s signing his own death warrant as a columnist. The Tribune will eventually look upon him as a liability as his readership dies at an increasing rate. My guess is he’s done when Obama’s term ends.
- Amalia - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 9:30 pm:
asked the Royko family about Kass. they were cool with his taking the spot.
- Kasich Walker, Jr. - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 10:04 pm:
I’m sure the Trib would have had second thoughts had the family objected.
Madigans, Roykos, Walkers (Jr. & Sr.), Kasses…..so much imperfection in this world.
- Crypto - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 10:10 pm:
Kass is one of few journalists who actually hold the powerful accountable in Illinois, unlike the rest of the trained seals.
And on this board, haha, he is mocked.
I guess the board likes the trained seals better.
Jeez, nobody has any idea how good a public servant Lisa Madigan is because not a single journalist has examined her record. Must be nice.
- Chicago Cynic - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 11:01 pm:
Skeeter,
Actually, my primary beef with Kass is that he’s a lousy writer, plagiarizes Royko to try and become Royko (they were big shoes to fill) and generally can’t distinguish the really important stuff.
And Crypto, while you may be right about a few of the folks here, I loathe Kass because he does such a LOUSY job of “holding the powerful accountable.” That is a function that is desperately needed and Kass is simply out of his depth.
Using cheap and clumsy phrases like Princess Lisa and Madiganastan doesn’t hold the powerful accountable - it lets them off the hook. I also think that anyone that paints the Speaker and Lisa with the same brush just isn’t paying attention. Kass is a classic example of a writer who doesn’t want to let the facts get in the way of a good story, or of a bad hypothesis.
- Precinct Captain - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 11:36 pm:
==nobody has any idea how good a public servant Lisa Madigan is because not a single journalist has examined her record==
She has been elected AG 3 times, overwhelmingly twice. Seeing as AG is one of the most high profile constitutional executive positions in the state, the voters apparently believe her record as reported by the media or editorial boards or whatever sources they use is just fine. If you cannot accept that and hate it so much then move out of Illinois.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 11:49 pm:
Willy, for the movie, I’d go with Boone from Animal House. He hasn’t aged well and neither has Kass, but the resemblance is there.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0726200/
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 19, 13 @ 7:04 am:
- 47th Ward -,
That is some pretty good casting on your part!
- AA -,
I can see Pesci, not bad …
- A Casual Observer -,
Peter Faulk could have done it. The ages wouldn’t had worked, but there is alot of Columbo in the Kass look, for sure …
- Crypto - Friday, Jul 19, 13 @ 8:14 am:
Precinct captain, you missed the point. The media has not critically looked at Lisa Madigan’s record. It’s no surprise voters re-elect her because there are no negative articles. She is not held accountable for anything. As soon as John Kass dares to mention her name, this board explodes in a spasm of Lisa protection mode.
- low level - Friday, Jul 19, 13 @ 9:12 am:
Crypto - so you are blaming the main stream media? Hasn’t Illinois Review critically examined her record?
- low level - Friday, Jul 19, 13 @ 9:17 am:
Let me answer that for you : she had done her job so well, there is very little to be critical about. That is why Kass must resort to “princess” and childish terms like that. As for a spasm or whatever you called it - you know - there are very knowledgable folks on here (not me, I learn on here).
The fact that knowledgable people are bringing up facts which tell the lie to Kass’ claims is what you seem to have a problem with.
- wordslinger - Friday, Jul 19, 13 @ 3:58 pm:
–As soon as John Kass dares to mention her name, this board explodes in a spasm of Lisa protection mode.–
Descriptive language. What’s on your mind, son, lol?