69 Comments - Grandson of Man - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 9:00 am: I rate it a D. Quinn and Madigan had nothing to do with the ILSCOTUS decision. What are Quinn and Madigan supposed to do, give Rauner ammunition to use against them? Will Rauner cede any political advantage in this war of a governor’s race? - wordslinger - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 9:00 am: Pesky constitution. - Anonymoiis - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 9:02 am: ==I rate it a D. Quinn and Madigan had nothing to do with the ILSCOTUS decision.== The Court doesn’t just take up suits on a whim, somebody had to file it….and didn’t the attorney bringing the suit have strong ties to Madigan. - Frenchie Mendoza - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 9:04 am: Desperate. Quinn and Madigan won’t do anything to keep power. They’ll win elections, yeah — but “anything” is like … well, shielding funds in the Cayman Islands to avoid taxes. That’s pretty much doing “anything” to avoid paying taxes and shielding actual income in my book. - Rufus - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 9:04 am: Rauner is running against Pat Quinn, not Mike Madigan, I don’t know why he keeps trying to link them together. If Rauner wins, yet to be determined, he is going to have to work with Madigan to get anything accomplished, cause Madigan is going to get re-elected. Rauner seems to want to alienate any Democrat. If he keeps on doing this, he may win the battle, but lose the war. - Under Further Review - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 9:05 am: It rates a C- for the uninformed. If Rauner was pushing the petitions solely as a publicity stunt, it was an expensive way to promote such a message. The Illinois Supreme Court previously ruled that such a petition effort was unconstitutional about twenty years ago. In Illinois, such a change would have to originate in the GA. - too obvious - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 9:05 am: Incredibly insulting as we now know that while this was going on Rauner’s people were employing an armed investigator in their effort to deny ballot access for the Libertarian Party. What a hypocrite. Vote Rauner. Or else. - Belle - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 9:05 am: A lot of time and poorly-placed effort just to prove a point. Except not many people were paying attention. - wordslinger - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 9:06 am: Rauner’s just fine that it got tossed. Now he can run on it. There had to be a reason the question was so screwed up. - Old Shepherd - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 9:08 am: ==They let term limits get kicked off the ballot but come November it’s our turn to kick them out of office.== That’s an interesting notion that voters can choose who to elect or re-elect! - Anonymous - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 9:09 am: This is pretty bad, C- if I’m being generous. I have to wonder if his complete lack of respect for the judicial branch will come back to bite him. - Cassiopeia - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 9:10 am: It’s a “B+” for its effect on voters. The pundits don’t like it for technical reasons but Mike Madigan’s attorney did lead the charge against it. - Norseman - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 9:12 am: As a political ad, it’s an “A.” Plays to those voters who hate politicians. As for it being factual, it gets a big fat “F.” - Jackson and Laflin - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 9:12 am: It’s a good ad. Straight and to the point. Something Quinn’s camp has thus far failed to do. - Under Further Review - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 9:17 am: “That’s an interesting notion that voters can choose who to elect or re-elect!” It is only interesting in districts where the incumbent or slated candidates have challengers in November. In many Illinois districts, there is no choice for the voters to make. - Shark Sandwich - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 9:17 am: This is like a World Cup soccer flop. Rauner is dramatically taking a dive and hoping the ref calls a foul. It’ll probably work, too. - phocion - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 9:19 am: “B” primarily for the reason Cass stated. The insiders here who are critical of the ad are missing the point. 500,000 people signed a petition, but their voices won’t be heard. They’re seeing a problem with the state, and Rauner stepped up to try to do something about it. I didn’t care for the smiling photos the ad has of Madigan and Quinn - scowls might have been better. - OneMan - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 9:20 am: it plays to his theme of them vs you… B - lake county democrat - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 9:21 am: Everyone saying “pesky constitution” or the like either 1) are not telling the truth, 2) didn’t read the transcript or 3) don’t understand that “Quinn, Madigan, and the Springfield Crowd” have the power to put term limits on the ballot but refused to do so. - Grandson of Man - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 9:22 am: “Incredibly insulting as we now know that while this was going on Rauner’s people were employing an armed investigator in their effort to deny ballot access for the Libertarian Party.” Exactly. I also agree with commenters who say that if people want to elect someone new, they have to work for it, get petition signatures, do campaigns, knock on doors, etc. Democracy is hard. - Louis G Atsaves - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 9:26 am: I give it an A. It is pretty clear from the pro-Quinn responders that ad struck a major nerve. This issue is the Democrat’s “Cayman Island.” - lake county democrat - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 9:27 am: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-election-madigan-democrats-ballot-edit-0803-jm-20140803-story.html >>There are two proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot that would codify voting rights for minorities, women, gays and lesbians, and expand the constitutional rights of crime victims. Both are considered window dressing to language already in the constitution and state law. But who knows, maybe they’ll drive turnout that helps the incumbents. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 9:27 am: - Norseman - is On It. “ANYONE PAYING ATTENTION: A half million people signed bogus petitions to put term limits front and center for Bruce Rauner. Illinois voters overwhelming support term limits, democrats, republicans, and independents. But Pat Quinn, Mike Madigan, and the Springfield crowd follow that pesky constitution and you what, Bruce wants to win, and you know what, Bruce will say or do anything to try to win, and you know what, duping voters, is a-ok with him. Bruce let term limits get kicked off the ballot by making sure, it never had a chance to be on the ballot. Come November, it’s going to come down to who voters think understands the office.” Better …. - Anonymous - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 9:32 am: Norseman is spot on… “As a political ad, it’s an “A.” Plays to those voters who hate politicians. As for it being factual, it gets a big fat “F.”” - A guy... - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 9:33 am: I don’t give grades, just Pass or Fail. This one is a very strong pass. It’ll sting. The way this was filed leaves plenty of culpability with the Speaker. The Governor has given the appearance of flip flopping on an issue he championed. You can give it all the C’s, D’s and F’s you want. This one resonates with a huge cross-section. It’ll sting hard. - Steve - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 9:34 am: Rauner gets an ‘A’ on this one. This is his most effective ad so far. He’s got an issue the public agrees with him on. Sure , it’s somewhat misleading because term limits take an actual change in the Illinois state constitution but: he made his point. - lake county democrat - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 9:35 am: OW- Horsefeathers - Madigan and Quinn could have “followed the constitution” by putting term limits and anti-gerrymandering on the ballot instead of “crime victims rights” (actually, in addition to, if they really thought that needed to be in the constitution, though I doubt a half-million voters, or even a fraction of that number, petitioned for such an option). - Anonymoiis - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 9:40 am: ==But Pat Quinn, Mike Madigan, and the Springfield crowd follow that pesky constitution == The problem for Dems with that angle is they, constitutionally, have the power to pass term limits, amend the Constitution allowing them, but refuse to. They have the power to put an advisory referendum on the ballot, but won’t. That’s the issue and it plays right into Rauner’s wheelhouse of “outsider vs insiders protecting their power”. - wordslinger - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 9:42 am: Well, Louis, at least they made their effort in court, not showing up on doorsteps, packing, in the middle of the night. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 9:44 am: To all my GOP brethren, This ad is blatantly false. It’s as close as a bold face lie as you can get. Honestly, why is the amendment NOT on the ballot? Are we defenders of the constitution, or are we snake oil salesmen? All the GOP Legislators whining, complaining, stomping their feet…does honesty and integrity, does ethics and morals…do they even matter to you anymore? Reporters, like “StatehouseChick”, does the constitution matter to you? “@StatehouseChick - On overwhelmingly popular statewide ballot initiative, the justices pass. Won’t even take it up. Won’t even hear arguments. #Smackdown.” Goodness gracious, are you reading what you are tweeting? This Ad, is everything that Blago stood for, and was embraced, just as long as victory followed. Look at us! You aren’t better than Blago apologists. I refuse to be a party of My Party’s blatant disregard to just the fundamental truth. This Ad is disingenuous from the opening frame. …and Bruce, Speaker Madigan didn’t forgive Rod. Keep that in mind as you tout complete dishonesty. Governing is a “We” thing, 3 branches, working within the constitution to do the People’s Business… … not a “Royal We” thing, forgetting that the rule of law governs, not a Carhartt and a watch. I am embarrassed for My Party embracing our own Blago, not for any good, but for “cash and prizes”, or worse, the fear of Tom Hagen, over understanding the people trust us to do what is good, not what “Sells”. Looks - “B+” Ad, reality, the first “F” of this campaign. - Robo - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 9:47 am: I give it an A. Voters will respond to it. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 9:51 am: - lake county democrat-, In 1994, the Republican-controlled GA, and Executive didn’t put it on a ballot either. They could have. It’s lazy. Beat MJM and Cullerton… BTW, all the die-hard GOP voters, Bruce Rauner may go after Republicans he doesn’t “agree” with, maybe backing Democrats. It’s the Raunerite Agenda you’re voting for, so don’t be disappointed if your favorite GOP state Rep or Senator faces Rauner money in 2 years. - ok..... - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 10:04 am: Very disingenuous ad, but it could also be an effective ad. - Louis G Atsaves - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 10:05 am: ==But Pat Quinn, Mike Madigan, and the Springfield crowd follow that pesky constitution == Rauner followed tax laws and gets blasted for paying the legal amount. Quinn, Madigan and the Springfield crowd follow that pesky constitution, and . . . I guess using using the Rauner defense on the “Caymans” and paying what he legally owed in taxes by substituting the words “term limits” and “constitution” isn’t going to work here. That irony is lost on outraged Democrats right about now. - lake county democrat - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 10:06 am: OW - you address everything but the questions I put to the Madigan defenders. In response to your points, 1) and you think I would defend the ‘94 GOP-controlled GA/Executive? Who, of course, were thrown out of office too (for largely other reasons, but voters who recalled the GOP’s alleged support for term limits back then - it was in the Contract with America - might have been put off by the hypocrisy). 2) Personally I expect to vote for Quinn - I haven’t voted for a Republican since John Porter (though I have withheld my vote in a couple of local races because of how pathetic the Dem challenger was). The “vote for me or the little puppy not only dies, it gets tortured, then dies” tactic works on me. As for your continued “it’s lazy” line - yes, I know your position that in order to get reform the voters of Illinois will have to either keep switching parties wholesale until one listens or launch Quixotic primary battles not only in their own districts but in the districts of others against a financing law that makes every such attempt a battle. But you’re not just asking us to accept that, you’re asking us to APPROVE of Madigan’s anti-democratic action in putting up bs amendments to the Constitution while squelching ones that you -admit- have overwhelming public support. It shouldn’t be approved regardless of whether or not it moves your vote, it should be condemned. - Grandson of Man - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 10:07 am: I wonder how many people who get upset when voters are criticized are the same folks who are upset that term limits is not on the ballot. Trust the voters’ intelligence. If they want to pick different candidates, they can go through the democratic process and work hard. They can do flyers, go door to door, get petitions, etc. - Wally - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 10:09 am: B to B+ ad. Quinn and Madigan are despised, especially downstate. Anytime the Rauner crew mentions those 2 names along with Blago, it reasonates. The dems here are very upset with the latest developments in the Quinn administration as evidenced by many of the comments. Things will only get worse in the final 70-75 days. - downstate hack - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 10:11 am: C-, How many voters will actually base their votes on term limits? It’s the economy stupid. - Anonymous - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 10:11 am: the springfield crowd rules,sound more like a third party ad - Gooner - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 10:23 am: This just shows that Raune is desperate! He’s desperate I tell you! Also, nobody cares about this issue. It doesn’t matter. This can’t possibly make any difference at all. Voters care about different things. Not this. Did I mention Rauner’s desperate? Signed, Gooner-Man OK, that was fun. In reality, the ad pulls together term limits that are popular and claims Quinn opposed them. That’s a plus. Although the GOP has tried to make Madigan the symbol of everything wrong in IL, it hasn’t worked so I don’t think the references to Madigan add anything. Rauner’s got a good presence in front of the camera. However, I wasn’t wild about the rest of the visuals. If you are going to go negative, it probably is best to do so with your candidate in the ad. Overall, I give it a C+. - Langhorne - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 10:27 am: To me, it is offensive garbage. The SCt is not supposed to be swayed by the aroused passions of the populace. You didnt get term limits on the ballot, so do what you should do in the first place–vote the bums out. - CampfireGirl - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 10:34 am: D. The ad does not inspire me to take action. I am not even sure if term limits are such a great idea. Also, the more I hear Rauner - the less I am sure I agree with his ideas. - Hit or Miss - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 10:35 am: From a political point of view it will produce a positive reaction from some people who do not know the whole story. To me the lack of candor with all of the important aspects of the issue is a negative. - Anonymous - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 10:51 am: the future of illinois is grimm - Oswego Willy - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 10:57 am: - lake county democrat -, What was the question I failed to address? lol ===But you’re not just asking us to accept that, you’re asking us to APPROVE of Madigan’s anti-democratic action in putting up bs amendments to the Constitution while squelching ones that you -admit- have overwhelming public support.=== I am quite sure I didn’t say you must approve anythibg. MJM didn’t squelch the term limit amendment, Bruce Rauner squelched it with language that had NO chance of passing Constitutional muster. At all. It is very lazy, your crutch. Beat ‘em. That is the answer. Every person who voted against Bill Brady, voted for…the Jerry Clarke Map. The stakes were clear in 2010, who is signing the Map. The 591,000 signers should be upset with Rauner. The fact that people look to blame MJM over Rauner, whose Crew drew up the language, is just a Pavlov’s Dog mentality, and lazy to the facts, and lazy to seek how to get 591,000 signatures on a valid….valid constitutional question… But Bruce Rauner has been successful at everything Bruce has ever done. Blame MJM, it will make ya feel better. If I was one of the 591,000, I would be asking “why” and read the “why” from the courts….but that’s me. - too obvious - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 10:58 am: Rauner was for ballot access before he fought against ballot access using private investigators with guns. - Cook County Commoner - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 11:00 am: As a political ad relying on S & M (spin and misinformation), it gets an “A”. - Anon - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 11:10 am: == come November, it’s our turn to kick them out of office. == Does Rauner expect anyone to believe that Madigan will lose his Speakership, much less his House seat? Rauner’s comment creates a huge credibility gap. - Anon - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 11:17 am: Instead of blaming Quinn and Madigan for the judicial decision to toss the referendum, Rauner ought to man up and admit he blew it by proposing a referendum he knew or should have known was unconstitutional. Does he advocate simply violating the constitution? - lake county democrat - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 11:17 am: OW - seriously, you don’t understand the difference between 1) Rauner’s petition to put a term limit amendment on the ballot and 2) the ability of the Democrats to put a term limit amendment on the ballot? Over and over I have written REGARDLESS. OF. RAUNER’S. PETITION. DRIVE. that Madigan could put term limits and redistricting on the ballot. Instead he put two other, MEANINGLESS amendments on the ballot. That’s what you keep ducking by returning to Rauner’s petition - the two are completely separate questions. And no, the vast number of voters in the 2010 election were not voting for a gerrymandered map of either candidate - they were voting DESPITE a gerrymandered map of either candidate. And that’s the part of the problem with your “beat ‘em” advice - you give people who want government reform no other choice but to make it the sole issue that they vote on (and then their only hope is that their are similar reform majorities in other districts). Thus you get a situation where, as you say, “overwhelming majority” of voters have no realistic chance of effectuating their views. - Rich Miller - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 11:19 am: LCD, the voters overwhelmingly rejected a constitutional convention in 2006. - CircularFiringSquad - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 11:22 am: mr/ms OW It is not really 591K because the review suggests Mitt’s petition rentals turned in about +240K phonies….maybe he should have used the Armed Ballot Security Rentals to work on that rather than the bungled effort to toss the Libertarians. Wonder if any of the legit signers will be a little angry at Mitt and the petition rentals for being duped into thinking this would work? They could have focused on the remap Amendment and won Opps Fire,Aim, Ready! - Oswego Willy - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 11:29 am: - lake county democrat -, You want MJM out, get his Caucus below 58. Otherwise, crying over the alleged spilled milk of Cullerton and Madigan choosing what goes on a ballot is really sour grapes, because … …Rauner controlled his own destiny; no Madigan, no lawyers, all Rauner’s Crew needed to do was get those valid signatures… under a valid constitutional question. Only you…make yourself a victim. ===It is not really 591K because the review suggests Mitt’s petition rentals turned in about +240K phonies….maybe he should have used the Armed Ballot Security Rentals to work on that rather than the bungled effort to toss the Libertarians.=== Sorry, this deflecting and confusion and blatantly false narrative of what “happened” in this Ad took me away from other true parts of what is going on. My bad. - Juice - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 11:44 am: Rich, Con-Con was 2008. - Rich Miller - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 11:47 am: Yeah. Typo. - lake county democrat - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 12:05 pm: Rich - I know that but I don’t understand your point - I’m not talking about a/the Constitutional Convention. I’m saying even if Bruce Rauner never had a petition, term limits are still overwhelmingly popular. The voters won’t get to vote on that amendment (or similarly popular anti-gerrymandering), but according to the Tribune link I provided they will get to vote on two arguably meaningless amendments put on the ballot by the legislature/Quinn. (Meaningless because they don’t change the status quo: they enshrine current law in the Constitution). - lake county democrat - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 12:25 pm: OW - Leaving aside my disagreement, what you write here is the thrust of Rauner’s ad. What you think of the motivation for or execution of his petition drive is immaterial - you agree with him that term limits is “overwhelmingly popular” and that Madigan/Quinn prevent it from becoming law. To you that’s no big deal, I get that, but don’t obfuscate it. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 12:43 pm: ===you agree with him that term limits is “overwhelmingly popular” and that Madigan/Quinn prevent it from becoming law=== Then Rauner should have had no problem, getting constitutional language together. Your fascination with MJM is tragic. There is more than one way to get it on the ballot, so get it on the ballot. It wasn’t the “binding” or the delivery of the petitions. It wasn’t the Notaries, it wasn’t that there wasn’t enough valid… All that paid hard work was for doomed verbiage. MJM and Cullerton didn’t pick the verbiage. Why be a victim to Madigan? I thought everyone wants to be free from MJM, lol - Demoralized - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 12:58 pm: ==term limits are still overwhelmingly popular== Popular doesn’t mean Constitutional. It amazes me how much people don’t understand when it comes to this. They think if something is popular then we should just let everybody vote on it. Thank goodness for the Courts that prevent this type of thing. Besides, term limits are a monumentally dumb idea. They are nothing more than a way for whiners who don’t get their way at elections to force those out of office that they don’t like. You get the same whining over and over and over on this topic. - Anonymous - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 1:09 pm: riding and beating a dead horse to the finish line(see you in the winner`s circle) - Oswego Willy - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 1:13 pm: ===Popular doesn’t mean Constitutional. It amazes me how much people don’t understand when it comes to this.=== That is It. Well said. - DuPage Bard - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 1:14 pm: Now that’s real leadership! - Skeptic - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 1:36 pm: “it reasonates.” I like that! - better days - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 3:24 pm: thumbs up…. democrats and republican insiders have Made the state their own Cosa Nostra Look forward working with Governor Rauner - Oswego Willy - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 3:32 pm: ===Look forward working with Governor Rauner=== You DO realize it was Rauner’s amendment, from Jump Street that was unconstitutional, right? lol - better days - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 4:14 pm: The 50 million scam crime from 2010 …..the patronage scam at IDOT makes Quinn a loser Governor Rauner.. we need flesh blood at the governor Mansion ..just Hawaii’s governor was shown in July in the door - Gooner - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 4:25 pm: We need “flesh blood” in the Gov’s office? I’ve heard the Speaker can be vicious. However, he’s never been accused of cannibalism. - walker - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 7:25 pm: The whole Term Limits petition drive effort failed because Rauner’s campaign team designed it to fail. Blaming anyone else is a waste of time, and reflects ignorance. Assuming the court was somehow skewed or controlled, is just wrong given that the law was so obviously clear from the beginning. The Rauner campaign is now reaping the political rewards of its planned failure. My guess is that they frankly don’t care about term limits at all. They certainly didn’t care about falsely raising the hopes and wasting the time of 500K + Illinois voters. How much political impact will this engineered term limit failure have? — not a lot in the suburbs, maybe plenty downstate. The big shiny jewel, that dominates all conversations around me, (Cook Co suburbs) is the promise of a “property tax freeze.” There’s even a Rauner-sponsored petition drive for it, and getting the “property tax freeze” has about as much chance of success, by any means, as the term limits petition drive. It will produce votes for Rauner in November, and when the tax freeze inevitably doesn’t happen, Bruce will again blame Madigan and the other “insiders.” LCD, I hear you, and the failure so far of imposing term limits, via the only legal ways they can be imposed, (CC or legislative action for an amendment), rests with legislators who have not yet been pressured or convinced enough it would be better for them to support it. The path to success on term limits would follow the path laid out by Greg Harris and his insider and outsider allies and funders, in achieving civil unions and then marriage equality. Six years ago they had about as much chance of success as term limits do now. Keep organizing pressure on many fronts, keep funding surveys and reporting what the public really wants, keep convincing legislators one-by-one, get GA floor leaders consistently pushing the issue, get the right lobbyists, and make it a politically winning strategy for more than one office. If the people really do want it, then there is a way to get that expressed in legislative action. For the good supporters of term limits, I hope that Rauner hasn’t ruined the chances with this abusive and cynical campaign tactic. If he had used the same skill and money on launching an effort that could succeed, we would be much further along that path right now. BTW, Since the remapping reform is something that can legally be done by this kind of petition effort, I think they’re going to succeed in getting it on the ballot next time around. They were close this time, and have learned some valuable legal lessons to be applied. - James Knell - Tuesday, Aug 26, 14 @ 7:34 pm: This is just another device to change the topic from how Rauner will balance the budget with out the 2% income tax increase. Of course, he won’t talk about the massive tuition increases, the school layoffs, and the Scott Walker type of war he will wage on the middle class the minute he takes office. Tell us the truth before the election! Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.