Trouble in paradise
Thursday, Aug 8, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From Monique Garcia at the Tribune…
When Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan publicly pulled the plug on a run for governor, she announced that she “never planned to run” for the state’s top office as long as her father remained House speaker, given the inherent conflict.
On Wednesday, Speaker Michael Madigan indicated his continued presence on the political stage shouldn’t have been much of a surprise to his daughter.
“Lisa and I had spoken about that on several occasions, and she knew very well that I did not plan to retire,” the speaker told reporters before delivering remarks at a closed-door meeting of real estate appraisers gathered at the Union League Club of Chicago. “She knew what my position was. She knew.”
The comments by the powerful Southwest Side Democrat added some less-than-flattering context to Lisa Madigan’s political maneuvering. Knowing her father’s intent to stay didn’t stop her from securing $1.5 million during the first half of the year from political donors who thought she might run for governor. The attorney general didn’t tell the world that she had nixed a governor campaign until after the second fundraising quarter had ended.
The attorney general’s re-election campaign declined to comment Wednesday. Lisa Madigan has denied that she misled donors who hoped she might challenge Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn, saying she was upfront that she hadn’t yet made up her mind.
The lesson here is that if you publicly throw Mike Madigan under a bus, even if you’re his daughter, it had better be one big bus. Lisa obviously needed a bigger bus when she tried to blame her decision not to run on her father.
Also, if she had told donors and the voting public up front that she wouldn’t run for governor if her father stayed on as Speaker, then I doubt most of us would’ve believed that she’d actually make the race. He ain’t going anywhere.
* Charles Thomas…
Michael Madigan would not say how long he plans to remain speaker.
Yeah. Infinity is difficult to describe.
- Fed up - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 9:13 am:
But, Shiela Simon knew the whole time. Oh right
- ChicagoR - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 9:16 am:
Father of the freaking year.
- William j Kelly - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 9:19 am:
He probably meant she knew in her heart but hadn’t really made the decision in her head.
- Abe the Babe - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 9:24 am:
“The lesson here is…”
that MJM only cares about MJM.
- Quid-Pro-Quixote - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 9:25 am:
She must have resisted a recommendation from the Speaker for a pay raise for one of his loyal supporters that works in the AG’s Office.
Oh yea, I forgot she’s “…not involved in hiring…” thats left to the 13th Ward Office.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 9:26 am:
Dishonesty runs in the family!
- wordslinger - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 9:29 am:
MJM is hardly the first parent who didn’t feel the need to step aside to ease the way for a child — a “child” who is 47 years old, by the way.
The whole family dynamic is like a bad prime-time soap — “Jock and JR fight for control of Ewing Oil.”
She’s a grown woman — if she wanted to run for governor, she certainly had the ways and means to do so. Let the voters decide on any perceived conflict. They haven’t had a problem with her as AG.
Lisa, when she was out hoovering up all that money, gave every indication she was running for governor and that the old man’s position wasn’t a problem.
I’m sure a lot of contributors feel they were scammed. She hardly needed to bank all that cash for an AG race.
- Timmeh - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 9:32 am:
Meh. I’d be pretty surprised if MJM didn’t know that his daughter wasn’t going to run if he was still speaker. The question is, “Did Lisa really want to run for Governor this time around, even if MJM did retire?”
- Small Town Liberal - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 9:33 am:
It seems so unnecessary to me. All she had to say was after much consideration she decided it wasn’t in the best interest of the state and would remain AG.
Acting like he refused to step down or walked back on an agreement didn’t gain her anything, and now she looks like a liar. Weird.
- BIG R. Ph. - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 9:34 am:
Never underestimate the gullibility of big time Illinois Democrat donors.
- Chris - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 9:36 am:
“The question is, “Did Lisa really want to run for Governor this time around, even if MJM did retire?””
That is the real question, isn’t it?
Also, how does this affect the “MJM is setting things up to install Lisa as Guv” conspiracy theories? (yeahyeah, conspiracy theories need no oxygen–or facts–to survive)
- Cassiopeia - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 9:36 am:
She can still run. There is plenty of time for her to reconsider the early preliminary decision.
- Farker - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 9:37 am:
It’s like you always say Rich, the only way the speaker is leaving the Capitol for good is feet first.
Hopefully I didn’t botch that up too badly lol.
Frankly I’m disappointed that Lisa isn’t running. Even more disappointed that she blamed Mike. Pretty lame if you ask me.
- anon - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 9:38 am:
IF i were a supporter if hers, i would be highly offended. IF i were a supporter of his, i would be disappointed that his comments support what his detractors have said about him all along: he only cares about himself and his power. Fortunately, I support neither of them, and I think its time for him to retire entirely. As for Lisa, this raises a serious question regarding her integrity. I will be interested to see how she responds to this next time she is in front of the cameras. Could this escalate more? Will the Speaker refer to her “indiscretions?”
- Dirt Diver - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 9:39 am:
You want to know when the Speaker is going to retire?
It is my belief that MJM wants to go dowb as the person with the most total years serving as the Speaker of any US state house in history. The guy who currently holds that record is Soloman Blatt Sr, who served as Speaker of the South Carolina House for a total of 32 years. By my count, MJM would need to serve through the 100th General Assembly to exceed that record. He could then retire in time for Lisa to take the Governor’s office in the 2018 election.
- Loop Lady - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 9:39 am:
My estimation of her was never great to begin with, but this is pretty arrogant on her part.
I agree wholeheartedly with Abe BTW.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 9:40 am:
–Never underestimate the gullibility of big time Illinois Democrat donors.–
Check out her list. They’re hardly all Democrats. Everyone got on that train.
By the way, what’s the implied insult of writing “Democrat” rather than “Democratic?” I’ve never understood that.
- anon - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 9:47 am:
Wordsliner, not everybody got on her train. She knows who didn’t, and the governor knows who did.
- Will Caskey - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 9:47 am:
Slow news day, I guess. Chamber leader says things about attorney general, both will have same jobs on 1/1/15, let’s all gasp or something.
- Gator - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 9:47 am:
I really hate the Tribune but that Monique Garcia does a great job.
Interesting comments by MJM, just verifies what we all knew all along - he likes power.
- Mason born - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 9:53 am:
@Word
I don’t know that it is always an insult. I would have wrote it the same way and i could care less for either party. Then again my typing sucks so maybe i am just lazy.
- Cheswick - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 9:57 am:
If nothing else, the Speaker’s comments are indicative that he and Lisa don’t sit around plotting or even discussing state politics together. That should deserve at least an acknowledgement from the people who like to think they do.
- Chicago Cynic - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 9:57 am:
I believed Lisa was running because she believed she was running. I’m sure they talked but somehow I doubt it was as clear as he’s making out. He’s not exactly known as someone who means what he says and says what he means.
In any event, more dirty laundry that should make for an interesting family dynamic. Starting to look like the Dick Mell/Rod feud…or as close as the Madigans come to that. Weird.
Father of the freaking year, indeed.
- Just a bloke - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 9:57 am:
I’d be pretty surprised if MJM didn’t sign off on Lisa’s comments when bowing out, and I’d be pretty surprised if Lisa didn’t know about what MJM said here. Am I really the only one who thinks this might be a faux feud?
Timmeh had the right question, and I think the answer is no.
- Robert the Bruce - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 9:57 am:
“never planned to run” was a big mistake for her to say.
I wish she had said early on “I won’t run for governor as long as my father is speaker” - that would’ve been her best chance to get the rest of the family to try to talk Mike into retiring. It almost certainly would not have worked, but her chosen strategy (claiming she could run if he remained, then saying she never was going to run if he remained) didn’t work and also made her look foolish and dishonest.
Just a wild guess - I don’t think she misled donors, and instead she really did intend to run this spring, and either she hoped her father would change his mind (wishful thinking!) or she thought there’d be less heat coming down on her for running while her father remained.
- Esquire - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 9:59 am:
This reinforces my cynicism about Lisa Madigan. I believe that she knew that Speaker Madigan was going to seek reelection and remain in office while she was holding her fundraisers. Portraying herself as a potential gubernatorial candidate (maybe/maybe not) helped bring in some big dollars. Had she told the donors upfront that she was seeking another term as AG, which would probably be a slam dunk that would have cost her next to nothing against a nondescript opponent, she would have been lucky to collect pennies and loose change at her fundraising events.
Her comments blaming MJM for her decision not to run for governor make her seem like a total opportunist.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 10:05 am:
===but that Monique Garcia does a great job===
She’s quite good.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 10:11 am:
===I don’t know that it is always an insult===
Sure, mistakes aren’t the issue. But it’s pretty common for many conservatives to intentionally call it the “Democrat” party, like spewing an epithet. That’s always insulting.
- Responsa - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 10:12 am:
For those of us who have long believed that real Lisa the person has never quite matched the hype of her as the near invincible, super smart, savvy pol and the clear future of Illinois, this whole episode really is just more verification of that. I absolutely blame her for creating this current contributions mess, not her dad. There is some serious passive aggressive stuff going on here that makes one wonder if deep down she even wants to be in politics beyond her current position. How much of the “our family business is politics” has been pushed on her since childhood, that she is now consciously or perhaps subconsciously rebelling against?
- A guy... - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 10:14 am:
I think she was thinking hard about running. But…she never enters a race where the slide isn’t buttered enough to be “certain” of victory. I don’t think her father was a conflict in her mind ever, but a convenient excuse when she pulled the plug after a cool 1.5 Mil changed hands. Even if you don’t like Mike, he’s always a teacher and school’s always in session. No matter who you are. Lesson learned.
- Esquire - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 10:18 am:
Had she run, Lisa Madigan might well have been the prohibitive favorite and could have broken the long losing streak of Illinois Attorney Generals who failed in their bids to be nominated and elected Governor. While the AG office would seem to be a natural stepping stone to becoming governor, it has not worked out that way too often. Candidates who have served as Secretary of State and, to a lesser degree, Treasurer have fared much better in gubernatorial races.
- ZC - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 10:21 am:
Though there are other constituencies to worry more about these days, then to spend overmuch time feeling sorry for a few well-off democrats and Illinois power players who got fleeced by Lisa Madigan.
- Wally - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 10:23 am:
Watch for Lisa’s spokesperson to come out with a statement that MJM “is not even her biological father”.
- shore - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 10:26 am:
She should have run for US senator in 2010 when it was hers for the taking, moved the family to dc + it would have allowed her to play mom + avoid these dad confrontations. Her problem now as Hillary learned in 2008 is that there’s only so long a time that even the most popular folks get before their star starts to fall and someone else/events/their own bad judgement knocks them off.
Her clock is ticking.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 10:29 am:
I saw Speaker Madigan on TV yesterday outside of the ironically-named Union Club. The dude looks great for his age. He looks like he could pass as the older brother (but younger-looking) than Billy Hayes, the real-life Turkish prisoner from the movie “Midnight Express.”
http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=A0PDoKkDtwNSnioASr2JzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTFybm5ub2Y4BHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1nBG9pZAM2MTlmYjk2YWMzMjc2MjBjODQwZjU4NDU2MTFlNWYzYwRncG9zAzE3?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3F_adv_prop%3Dimage%26va%3Dbilly%2Bhayes%2Bmidnight%2Bexpress%26fr%3Dyfp-t-122-s%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D17&w=609&h=480&imgurl=img3.allvoices.com%2Fthumbs%2Fimage%2F609%2F480%2F58446105-billy-hayes.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.allvoices.com%2Fcontributed-news%2F6200307-billy-hayes-the-midnight-express&size=21.4KB&name=%3Cb%3EBilly+Hayes%3C%2Fb%3E%3B+The+%3Cb%3EMidnight+Express%3C%2Fb%3E&p=billy+hayes+midnight+express&oid=619fb96ac327620c840f5845611e5f3c&fr2=&fr=yfp-t-122-s&tt=%3Cb%3EBilly+Hayes%3C%2Fb%3E%3B+The+%3Cb%3EMidnight+Express%3C%2Fb%3E&b=0&ni=200&no=17&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=12i5vqr4r&sigb=13tm805bk&sigi=120oi5tjo&.crumb=BD7Ar21gheu&fr=yfp-t-122-s
- Chavez-respecting Obamist - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 10:30 am:
Maybe she was expecting him to be indicted for something and removed from office.
- Downstate - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 10:33 am:
MJM has too many enemies. He has to stay in power to stay out of trouble
- one of the 35 - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 10:35 am:
Anyone who has any experience in state government has learned that you never bet against this Speaker. However, even this Speaker will come to realize, that he too, is mortal.
- jake - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 10:35 am:
I think what really happened is that Lisa intended to run even if Mike stayed on, but did not count on how much of a factor that would be in the election until she saw polling numbers. Then she decided not to go. It would have been better if she had stated that, but under pressure she mis-stated. Regrettable but understandable. Even the smartest politicians (of which I would count the AG as one) sometimes say things they wish they could take back.
- Timmeh - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 10:35 am:
Harsh Wally.
How many cycles has the media and others looked to Lisa to run for governor? People tend to see what they want/expect to see.
I do think this is a bit of a faux feud. Let all the donors get their anger out now. If Quinn or a Republican wins the mansion, most of them will forgive and forget (and if Daley wins, then she likely won’t run for Governor in 2018).
- Stones - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 10:37 am:
Certainly not a Mike Madigan fan here but I think Lisa was wrong to essentially name her father as a reason not to run for Governor. Yea, he’s been Speaker for a long time and he’s definitely at the end of his career whereas she is still an up and comer, that being said - Mike is still Lisa’s Dad. Family trumps politics in my world.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 10:42 am:
===until she saw polling numbers===
The people I’ve talked to, whom I trust, say the polling numbers were solid. The dad stuff just isn’t something that changes voters’ minds in the end.
- A little north of I-80 - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 10:56 am:
I don’t remember MJM ever throwing family under the bus. Ever. So does this have something to do with the upcoming court case? Is he trying to show that he and his daughter don’t communicate about politics?
I don’t know if ANYONE will believe the above, but MJM said what he said for a reason.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 10:59 am:
–Is he trying to show that he and his daughter don’t communicate about politics?–
Huh?
–“Lisa and I had spoken about that on several occasions, and she knew very well that I did not plan to retire,” the speaker told reporters before delivering remarks at a closed-door meeting of real estate appraisers gathered at the Union League Club of Chicago. “She knew what my position was. She knew.”–
- Responsa - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 11:01 am:
If possible, can someone fix the problem that the massive link above has caused for this thread’s readability?
- Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 11:25 am:
From a tactical standpoint, what is the benefit to the Madigan family?
He just publicly told the world his daughter was lying and threw her back under the bus to… show how tough he still is?
It strikes me as petty more than anything.
- Just Me - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 11:54 am:
If she never intended to run while her father is Speaker, then why did she do the whole song and dance that she was considering to run?
- Been There - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 12:07 pm:
Not buying the conspiracy theories here. In her heart, Lisa doesn’t want to be Governor. She made a misstep in naming her father’s continued service as the reason. And now he has called her on it. This makes her look duplicitous, and worst of all weak. She of all people should have known better than to try and throw MJM under the bus. And as a parent, could you blame him for being hurt and offended by what she said? I don’t.
- Ray del Camino - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 12:58 pm:
Word, the “Democrat” vs. “Democratic” thing goes back to Newt preparing talking points for his troops back in the ’90s. “Democratic” has favorable connotations in focus groups; “Democrat” fares badly.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 1:16 pm:
Ray, thanks. Deep thinker, that Newt.
- Quiet Sage - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 1:30 pm:
It just goes to show that the quest for political power doesn’t mesh with family values. Sooner or later, there will always be a conflict between the two. And it should always be remembered that family is much more important.
- the giamt slide - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 1:37 pm:
Maybe MJM was just clearing up something. She knew. Did she ever say she didn’t know?
- Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 2:01 pm:
I once bought into the spin that despite Speaker Madigan’s immense power, he ultimately put the state first and ahead of his own interests. A sort of guardian of Illinois, if you will.
So much for that.
Throwing her under the bus like that does two things:
1.) It further damages the Madigan “brand”.
2.) It also signals, very clearly, that he will not put his own family first - much less the state.
- siriusly - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 2:14 pm:
Surely she knew, and I really do think she WAS planning to run.
What I think changed over the course of the year was whether or not she could politically overcome the issue. I think she was popular enough that she thought she could withstand the issue, but throw in running away from Chuck Goudie, Speaker helping pass a conceal carry bill and all the Metra stuff - all of a sudden it’s a bit tougher to run against Quinn and her father at the same time.
I think her decision was more political based on the temperature at the moment.
- In the Sticks - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 11:43 pm:
Maybe the Speaker is just waiting until the capitol renovation is complete to retire - that way there is no shortage of money for the fancy new doors on the west face and all the stenciling and reproduction light fixtures on the inside.