58 Comments - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 1:04 pm: ===At this point, I suppose, he has no other choice.=== Yep, and with less than 65 days until the Primary, Dunkin is counting on Unions and especially Social Services to fold at the end of the day, versus Rauner’s IllinoisGO’s sham group monies. Dunkin winning? That’s Rauner defeating and infiltrating Democratic Party politics, to create a sprinter of Democratic Raunerites, and erode all Democratic power within the Party. Yeah, it’s that big if Dunkin wins. Ask the ILGOP. As for Gonzo, Unless they can get 3-4 deep in the precincts, using the Raunerite lists with DFA workers… Wait, think on that… Raunerite pluses to infiltrate Madigan’s district… through the DFA? Wow. It’s a local thing, it’s a 13th Ward thing. While it might good good, and it IS good window dressing… Door knockers are needed, and local door knockers are going to be the owns getting the door open, lists notwithstanding - 360 Degree Turnaround - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 1:05 pm: Why isn’t DCEO already doing everything it can to help minority employers? why is AdMe needed? - wordslinger - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 1:09 pm: Dick Simpson, for real? He makes Bart and Homer seem fresh and contemporary. Dick has been a political has-been for as long as Madigan has been speaker. - AC - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 1:12 pm: “An honest politician is one who, when he is bought, will stay bought.” - Simon Cameron Dunkin seems like an honest politician. - DuPage Bard - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 1:14 pm: At least the Governor learned something from his predecessor- with the election 60 days away start handing out the taxpayer funded goods to your favorite Legislators to help them secure the deal. - Formerly Known As... - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 1:16 pm: Rauner can’t get to 60. Madigan can’t get to 71. They have the same problem, but neither is budging. They must both compromise or nothing changes. Nothing. - Rahm's Parking Meter - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 1:17 pm: Dunkin is making a huge mistake in that district. That picture is mailer gold. I think he may actually go down. - VanillaMan - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 1:20 pm: ADME = Assisting Dunkin’s Misfortunate Election - Team Sleep - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 1:20 pm: VMan - that was great! - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 1:21 pm: Madigan doesn’t need 71. The state agencies, the state university boards, they are Rauner’s Rauner owns the budget. Same as it ever was. Madigan will wait out Rauner. Why? Governors own; Edgar Ramo Ryan’s Build Illinois Blago’s name in the Tollways Quinn Tax Governors own. Madigan knows this, Rauner refuses to believe it. Plus, at this point, why fund Rauner’s agencies? “I’m frustrated too… ” - Ron Sandack. That’s why Rauner owns all this too. It’s willful. If Rauner thinks Gonzo can win, and get 12 more Dunkins to get something passed, then Rauber needs to do it. Otherwise, Rauner needs to move on. - Precinct Captain - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 1:22 pm: Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse with cynicism, there is this. Dunkin is sickening. Regarding “JG” as his job postings say, what do Simpson and DFA know about him? He has no record of making tough choices or being a reform minded activist. - A guy - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 1:23 pm: This will be entertaining to watch no matter what happens. I don’t think anyone can predict with any degree of accuracy what will be the “fall out” regardless of outcomes. One thing’s for sure. There are fronts being fought on that haven’t been before. Resources do get thinned out this way. - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 1:24 pm: Pay attention campers: Ken Dunkin took a big risk in sticking his neck out for the Governor. And this is part of the pay-back. I imagine Dunkin had to beg and plead to get this tiny little nugget too. I sure hope Ken got more for his vote than this though. I mean, it’s s nice thing to do for minority business owners, but I bet they’d prefer having more customers instead of state-funded training. This just seems like kind of a pittance for breaking the veto-proof majority. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 1:28 pm: - A Guy - The millisecond IllinoisGO funds either Gonzo or Dunkin the cost for both will skyrocket. Yes, the fallout has already been seen; ILGOP became a wholly owned subsidiary of Rauner, Inc, LLC. Once the poison of a Raunerite, an outwardly running Rauerite wins, the splinter known as Dunkin will infect the Democrats and fester in a wound. It’s that big. - Friends - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 1:30 pm: I don’t think Dunkin is too worried if he loses the election. He has friends in high places now. - Blue dog dem - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 1:30 pm: Shameless. I thought Hillarys’ pandering yesterday on the Flint debacle was the topper! - A guy - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 1:32 pm: OW, How bout I just remain content to agree with your last line. “It’s that big”. - Mouthy - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 1:34 pm: I’m just curious to what agency Illinois quisling Dunkin will end up in… - Team Sleep - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 1:34 pm: Friends is right. Dunkin wins either way, and if he loses the primary then ADME may have found its new honcho. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 1:35 pm: - A Guy - If Dunkin wins an election as an outwardly campaigning Raunerite and takes IllinoisGO monies to do so… That’s the Blagojevich Plan… Just do you are clear. It’s not a Republican thing, it’s a Blagojevich thing Rauner is running. - RNUG - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 1:35 pm: Doesn’t DCEO have an opening at the top? - Huh? - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 1:36 pm: Angling for a state job when he loses the election. Nothing wrong with that I suppose, just another politician looking to stay employed. - Under Influenced - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 1:40 pm: Maybe…just maybe…not allowing the predominantly black public university in the state to shut down may help to spur minority economic development more than a glorified task force….just a thought. - northsider - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 1:40 pm: Simpson is just mad because wasn’t picked to chair the election board. It’s kind of disgusting that he’s willing to throw seniors, children and social services under the bus because he didn’t get what he wanted. - Cheryl44 - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:02 pm: When I lived over in Ravenswood Manor I lived about halfway between Blago and Cullerton. It was…interesting. But more to the point, even the side streets got plowed before anything else. I would imagine you get that level of service in MJM’s district, and I can’t imagine voting against the guy who brings it to the hood. - Formerly Known As... - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:10 pm: Madigan certainly needs 71, as long as he and the House continually obstruct Rauner proposals AND fail to pass a balanced budget. Rauner will ==own== the finished budget product. But until then, even my kids can understand that if you need two entities (like the Gov and the GA) to agree to something (like approving a budget), and both of them are being immature and unreasonable while yelling ==NO== or ==HE STARTED IT==, they are both getting in trouble. If my kids can understand the concept of shared responsibility (requiring the cooperation and consent of two or more to get something done), even the most casual voters understand that as well. - anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:12 pm: Dunkin has become a joke. We are just waiting to learn what he was promised. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:27 pm: ===Madigan certainly needs 71, as long as he and the House continually obstruct Rauner proposals AND fail to pass a balanced budget.=== Legislatures do not need budgets. Governors do. Pretending that isn’t the rule is on you. Quinn, a Democrat, had the Democratic GA to run budgets because there was no agenda impasse. Quinn was also inept. Seriously, admit Rauner is as inept as Quinn… then I might… “rethink” ===But until then, even my kids can understand that if you need two entities (like the Gov and the GA) to agree to something (like approving a budget), and both of them are being immature and unreasonable while yelling ==NO== or ==HE STARTED IT=== Labor knows better. Ron Sandack knows better. Are you ignoring the Sandack Tweet, saying this is the plan, the choice? I’m not. - FKA -, It’s on Rauner. His agencies need the budget. If you say Rauner doesn’t care, ok… - Hamlet's Ghost - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:37 pm: Madigan doesn’t need 71 to obstruct Rauner’s agenda. 60 will accomplish that just fine. As for the IL Senate, by my count seven incumbent Democratic state senators are being challenged. The IL GOP could run the table in those races and the Dems would still retain control of that chamber. - Formerly Known As... - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:39 pm: If I tell my kids to clean up their room (pass a balanced budget), they are expected to clean it. If one refuses to clean because ==this is how I want it and what I am used to== while the other refuses to clean until his sibling agrees to ==clean the bathroom too because we should clean everything now==, they are both in the wrong. But if one starts cleaning and the other doesn’t, only one gets in trouble. So far, neither of them have started cleaning. They are just more interested in who the parents (the voters) blame for leaving a dirty room. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:45 pm: - FKA - Are you and your kids “Co-Equal”? - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:47 pm: - FKA - Article VIII, Section 2, (a)… That’s before Artcle VIII, Section 2, (b) Rauner hasn’t presented a balanced budget. Ever. - Pete - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:49 pm: In that district, Dick Simpson’s endorsement and 2 dollars will get you on the Orange Line — and nothing else. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:52 pm: Pete +1 - Anonymouth - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 2:57 pm: Pete, you’re wrong… its actually $2.25 to get on the Orange Line. Your comment would imply that Dick Simpson’s endorsement is worth a quarter in that district, but it’s not! - @MisterJayEm - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 3:05 pm: DFA-Southside was established in 2013. It has 38 members. http://www.democracyforamerica.com/groups/172-southside-dfa – MrJM - RNUG - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 3:16 pm: Here’s the thing to understand about the GA passing functioning budgets over / around / in spite of the Gov in the past. They did when it became obvious Blago wasn’t going to govern and someone had to be the adult. They also did it when necessary under Quinn. What did those two situations have in common? MJM saw bypassing the D Gov as a positive move to protect the D party. I’ll leave what is different today to the reader … - Frenchie Mendoza - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 3:31 pm: — …I’ll leave what is different today to the reader … — The idea that the D’s don’t need protection when Rauner is going so far down the tubes on his own (and taking the party, I assume)? - Formerly Known As... - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 3:35 pm: ==Are you ignoring the Sandack Tweet, saying this is the plan, the choice? I’m not.== Me neither. But we must also acknowledge their common, harmful strategy to fight a war of attrition at this point. This is the plan, the choice, made by both Rauner and Madigan in their ==epic struggle== to cow one another. Otherwise, how do we rationalize choices like Madigan’s behavior on issues such as the MAP grants? Madigan has a bill sitting in the House that has passed the Senate and ==would fund MAP grants==. What is the Speaker choosing to do? He chose to cancel both days of session scheduled for last week, take no action, and let the tide of stories regarding MAP grants to continue rolling in. Blaming Rauner or Madigan alone for anything right now is like blaming just one country or another for the mutual failure to cease fire after a war has begun. The casualties will continue accumulating until both agree to a cease fire. Madigan is just as ruthless as Rauner, and we will all pay a price for their stubborn egos. - Formerly Known As... - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 3:41 pm: ==Are you and your kids “Co-Equal”?== The kids (Rauner and Madigan) are both co-equal. The parents (the voters) decide who gets punished. In this case, both kids are at fault so far. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 3:46 pm: ===The parents (the voters) decide who gets punished. In this case, both kids are at fault so far.=== So, if both kids don’t clean their rooms, neither gets credit for cleaning their own room? Does one child rely on the otger child to compromise before cleaning is agreed to? I’m confused. Kids cleaning individual rooms, two rooms, versus one budget… Does one child offer a Capital Bill to the other? See, it’s confusin’ me… - LouisXIV - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 3:51 pm: Dunkin is in big trouble. Both Toni Preckwinkle and Pat Dowell are doing robo calls for his opponent. The biggest chunk of the 5th District is in Dowell’s 3rd ward and there is no love lost between Dowell and Dunkin going back to Dunkin’s nasty race against her for 3rd Ward Committeeman (he sent supposedly anonymous mailers falsely accusing her of being a lesbian but used his campaign’s postage account to mail them). Preckwinkle’s support for his opponent should be even more concerning. - illini - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 3:53 pm: Although I live nowhere close to this District, I still see this as nothing more than continued campaigning by BVR. Trying to change the focus and the discussion. As Willy correctly stated earlier on this thread - “Governors Own”. - Ghost - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 4:05 pm: do t know a lot of the city players. are those endorsements meaningful/ helpful? - Formerly Known As... - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 4:09 pm: ==That’s before Artcle VIII, Section 2, (b)== Yet they are both part of the same, inseparable section. You cannot have one without the other. The Gov failed to introduce a balanced budget. The GA failed to pass a balanced budget. Both failed to fulfill their Constitutional requirements in that section concerning a balanced budget. Which is why my comment emphasized ==AND fail to pass a balanced budget==. Neither side is doing their job, and neither side can justifiably claim the ==high ground== until they do. Clean your room (pass a balanced budget), or at least clean your half of the room. Then at least one of the kids (Rauner and Madigan) might have a case. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 4:16 pm: - FKA - I’m being polite, honest. The mere fact one child cleans a room while one may not clean a seperate room isn’t close to 2 groups working towards 1 goal. I shutter to go further… respectfully. Your premise is false - Formerly Known As... - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 4:18 pm: ==So, if both kids don’t clean their rooms, neither gets credit for cleaning their own room?== ==If I tell my kids to clean up their room (pass a balanced budget), they are expected to clean it.== Two kids. They share one room, and one budget. Gracias for the respectful give and take @Willy. Buena Semana. - Blue dog dem - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 4:28 pm: Finally, the moment I have been waiting for. The RAUN Man has shown to the whole world what a HYPOCRIT he really is. Let me see if I have this right. He eliminates prevailing wage, reforms work comp, and dramatically reduces collective bargaining rights. All this for $510 mil/yr. Then he comes out and endorses the WBE and MBE programs. If you want to save taxpayers money and empower local governments and taxing bodies, do away with this nonsense. But everybody knows, this is not about fiscal responsibility. This whole charade is about busting unions and the democrat party it supports(usually). - Foremerly Known As... - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 4:36 pm: @OW 4:16 - me too Willy. The budget process has escalated to a war of attrition on both sides, and a disgraceful one at that. We are also remiss not mentioning recent history as it regards the abnormal circumstances re ==ownership== of this budget process. The GA lost their credibility on budgeting after passing consecutive unbalanced budgets (even with the tax increase) before Rauner arrived. The public no longer trusts the GA or Madigan when it comes to budget matters, which makes it even harder to convince voters that Rauner alone is the untrustworthy cause of this impasse or that Madigan knows best for the state’s budget. That is another reason why, imho, the public blames both Rauner and Madigan as ==owners== of this budget impasse even if Rauner ==owns== the final budget. - Just Saying .... - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 4:40 pm: Dunkin certainly doesn’t look too comfortable up there. PS. Does Rauner own any suits. I realize he wants to look like an everyday Joe, but I don’t think it would hurt if sometimes he just looked the part of being the Chief Executive of Illinois. But, then again may this underscores his adminstration? - Wensicia - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 4:44 pm: ==Dunkin is in big trouble.== I don’t think winning re-election is his first priority. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 4:50 pm: - FKA - It’s all good, and I evjoy our back and forth. Crazy times indeed. Kids and bedrooms? Yikes. Nothing good ever comes from s discussion of clean rooms, especially shared rooms, lol - jerry 101 - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 4:51 pm: Has Jason Gonzales’ resume been independently verified? It just reads a bit too good to be true, so I’m curious if he’s really got all the accomplishments he claims. It’d be pretty funny if it turned out this guy is a resume puffing clown given the way that the Tribune is salivating over him. Dunkin must be looking forward to that prime job with GTCR. - @MisterJayEm - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 5:28 pm: “The Gov failed to introduce a balanced budget. The GA failed to pass a balanced budget.” One team refused to pitch the ball. The other team didn’t swing at the ball that was never pitched. Therefore, both teams must forfeit? Got it. – MrJM - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 5:32 pm: - @MisterJayEm - That’s a clearer and very accurate analogy. There’s a real reason the Governor is (a)… - Johnny's in the Basement - Tuesday, Jan 19, 16 @ 9:22 pm: Dunkin will find out- like Rahm Emanuel did- how Rauner treats his “friends” who are no longer of use to him. - Chicago Cynic - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 1:34 am: Johnny for the win. Once Ken is no longer useful for Rauner, he will be dropped like a hot potato. Maybe he’ll get some small consolation prize but nothing like he believes he deserves for being a total sellout. - burbanite - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 7:43 am: Will Dunkin trade his pocket squares for a Carhartt jacket and $20 watch? Hmmmm Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.