Almost $2.5 million to defeat a legislator who voted in opposition to your position a couple of times. I hope the 50th legislative district can show the Gov that we can’t be bought.
No matter the side you’re on, there’s a huge difference between “must” and “want” in winning seats.
Rauner wins both? Devastating to Labor and Democrats
Labor and “Democrats and Republicans” win both? Demoralizing to Raunerites, but they’ll “press on”.
Dunkin? That’s the legislative fulcrum of Raunerites. Come January 2017, a new Democratic Caucus will emerge without Dunkin festering. That’s if Dunkin loses.
Dunkin wins? Game-changer, and the polarizing of Raunerites and non will become so glaring eyes will need to shielded.
$7 million is “nothing”, but it’s worth everything.
- Give Me A Break - Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 11:36 am:
Stratton needs to beat Dunkin, or he’ll become the most insufferable politician in Illinois history, even when compared with Blago doing his late night talk show tour.
=Rauner wins both? Devastating to Labor and Democrats=
Let’s hope that is the outcome. It will mean a better future in Illinois and the beginning of the end of Madigan.
I am almost embarrassed for the deep pockets and their brazen efforts to persuade the electorate and control the election, via this ridiculous amount of money.
In the 50th, Bryce Benton is a prop. He has barely made a public statement. Smh.
If Rauner cannot defeat an incumbent with as many scandals and lies as Sam McCann after making himself an issue so big that it is saving McCann - Rauner will lose if he loses, and he really doesn’t win if he wins.
McCann has to lose.
If McCann didn’t vote how he did - he would be registering in polls beyond single digits. The only thing keeping McCann in the running is a very foolish governor making himself a campaign issue by funding a puppet replacement and making his anti-union issue an issue.
Like I said from Day One after he broke with Rauner - McCann needed Rauner to survive all his scandals. Rauner foolishly has complied.
Willy, with much respect and one of those rare occasions I’m going to disagree with you. I think defeating McCann is a need as well. He wants to show the GOP caucuses the consequences of disagreeing with him without permission. Remember the “#$($%!& problems” comment to them last year. He’s invested $2.5 million on this effort and I’d bet it will exceed $3 m. by the end of the 15th.
If Madigan and unions are really going all out to beat Dunkin, here’s the news:
They’re getting clobbered by Rauner money.
I’m kind of stunned by this. They have an ad in the can from the President, I thought for sure we’d see a bunch of money come in so they could put a thousand points on broadcast behind it but it’s been crickets so far.
- VanillaMan -, the newly minted “Golden Horseshoe” winner (deservedly so), I must disagree just on the pure legislative politics of it all.
Benton will be one of 20 (or more, we won’t know until November), but Dunkin is the living embodiment of a caucus political wedge, a tool working against the party by which he sees himself aligned.
The Raunerite infiltration has already happened in the GOP GA, that battle, today, is over. McCann is a want to send a message that Republicans aren’t dead in the water.
Dunkin is the sole opportunity to keep Raunerite infiltration out of the Democratic Caucus(es)
I hear you, you make string points, as you have for the period Rauner has been elevated to governor, but Dunkin is the “must”, McCann is the “want”, but I’ll say a strong want at that.
Somebody better grab this Illinois Election guy before their competitor does. Amazing how much info this guy puts out every day.
- Behind the Scenes - Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 12:02 pm:
Maybe $3.5 Million is not uncommon in the Chicago area, where media is a trifle more expensive than in Central Illinois, but that amount of money in a race down here in “the boonies” is really unheard of.
As you know, your insight and knowledge isn’t just something I read, many times your grasp of what’s going on is a crutch I lean on. Your very specific point, (and - VanillaMan -’s too) in regard to the “you don’t want a ‘&$@#’ problem” is crystal clear as to the must aspect to McCann. It’s critical that the Executive, same party or not, not dictate to the co-equal branch(es). I’ve said that very often as well. That hasn’t changed. I understand, and I havecalso argued the point.
To the campaign political, Dunkin as a “must” makes the McCann “must” less impactful.
You can lose McCann and beat Dunkin, but you can’t win McCann and have Dunkin win.
That’s the run for me.
If I’m “splitting”, I’m taking Dunkin out.
Doesn’t mean I’m not wanting to see McCann triumph or rooting against McCann, no, I’m trying to weigh and measure today for the “worse case” tomorrow.
Crazy days, - Norseman -, and in the long run both you and - VanillaMan - could very we’ll be right, ice been wrong before, but Dunkin is the threat to the governing, McCann is the threat to Rauner tightening a grasp on a party.
In all due respect to Mr/Ms Oswego Willy both are trophies to the doomed $uper$tar “plan” Other Dems know they are not likely to spend on them.
The vote buyin’ case will linger.
The interestin’ point will be crossovers on Tuesday to help McCann.
===The interestin’ point will be crossovers on Tuesday to help McCann.===
Agreed. The micro aspect of Dems crossing over to vote McCann will be the biggest indicator as to how successful Labor and Democrats can be in this specific race to this specific task.
===both are trophies to the doomed $uper$tar “plan”===
They want both, as the monies cleary show, and the lentry’s as to how far they will go attest. As, I’m sure, Labor and Republicans along with Democrats hope to see both results be of an Anti-Raunerite message.
In many ways, they are a package deal, a poker call of “All In”, and that’s not lost on me.
If I’m choosing that I only get one, the must is Dunkin, while both results are a significant want for both.
Is anyone else just sickened by how far things have fallen in this state. Ten years ago 7 million would have been a lot for full caucus spending for a general election cycle and now that is just a drop in the bucket. Which one of the fools is Nero playing his fiddle ….
I think beating Dunkin is a must for Madigan, and beating McCann is a must for Rauner. Overall, I think McCann is the more important of the two. If Dunkin loses, Madigan has regained his supermajority and will be stronger than before. But if Rauner can’t beat McCann, with all his negatives, it will be easier for Madigan to pry loose a couple of Republicans than it will be for Rauner to pry loose enough Democrats to avoid overrides, even if Dunkin wins.
===But if Rauner can’t beat McCann, with all his negatives, it will be easier for Madigan to pry loose a couple of Republicans than it will be for Rauner to pry loose enough Democrats to avoid overrides, even if Dunkin wins.===
You go with that…
Rauner has $20+ million in the next 9 months to keep loads of GOP members voting as Rauner wants.
Further, come January 2017, if Raunerites face the same type odds in the GA, in September of 2017, petitions will go out to try, once again, to defeat the non-Raunerites.
This isn’t ending, this is literally the beginning. Even Proft said as much.
- Westward - Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 11:33 am:
Disturbing.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 11:36 am:
Almost $2.5 million to defeat a legislator who voted in opposition to your position a couple of times. I hope the 50th legislative district can show the Gov that we can’t be bought.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 11:36 am:
Dunkin is the “must”, McCann is the “want”
No matter the side you’re on, there’s a huge difference between “must” and “want” in winning seats.
Rauner wins both? Devastating to Labor and Democrats
Labor and “Democrats and Republicans” win both? Demoralizing to Raunerites, but they’ll “press on”.
Dunkin? That’s the legislative fulcrum of Raunerites. Come January 2017, a new Democratic Caucus will emerge without Dunkin festering. That’s if Dunkin loses.
Dunkin wins? Game-changer, and the polarizing of Raunerites and non will become so glaring eyes will need to shielded.
$7 million is “nothing”, but it’s worth everything.
- Give Me A Break - Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 11:36 am:
Stunning.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 11:39 am:
If Madigan and unions are really going all out to beat Dunkin, here’s the news:
They’re getting clobbered by Rauner money.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 11:42 am:
=Dunkin is the “must”, McCann is the “want”=
OW, I think this is your best, succinct, analysis yet. Kudos.
Dunkin is clearly the big deal for all concerned parties.
- AC - Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 11:43 am:
Stratton needs to beat Dunkin, or he’ll become the most insufferable politician in Illinois history, even when compared with Blago doing his late night talk show tour.
- Apacolypse - Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 11:45 am:
=Rauner wins both? Devastating to Labor and Democrats=
Let’s hope that is the outcome. It will mean a better future in Illinois and the beginning of the end of Madigan.
- cdog - Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 11:45 am:
I am almost embarrassed for the deep pockets and their brazen efforts to persuade the electorate and control the election, via this ridiculous amount of money.
In the 50th, Bryce Benton is a prop. He has barely made a public statement. Smh.
- 360 Degree TurnAround - Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 11:46 am:
Too bad Liberty Principles doesn’t donate money to higher education institutions. Welcome to Liberty Principles University!
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 11:46 am:
Dunkin is the “must”, McCann is the “want”
Nope - they are both “musts”.
If Rauner cannot defeat an incumbent with as many scandals and lies as Sam McCann after making himself an issue so big that it is saving McCann - Rauner will lose if he loses, and he really doesn’t win if he wins.
McCann has to lose.
If McCann didn’t vote how he did - he would be registering in polls beyond single digits. The only thing keeping McCann in the running is a very foolish governor making himself a campaign issue by funding a puppet replacement and making his anti-union issue an issue.
Like I said from Day One after he broke with Rauner - McCann needed Rauner to survive all his scandals. Rauner foolishly has complied.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 11:53 am:
Willy, with much respect and one of those rare occasions I’m going to disagree with you. I think defeating McCann is a need as well. He wants to show the GOP caucuses the consequences of disagreeing with him without permission. Remember the “#$($%!& problems” comment to them last year. He’s invested $2.5 million on this effort and I’d bet it will exceed $3 m. by the end of the 15th.
- The Captain - Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 11:56 am:
I’m kind of stunned by this. They have an ad in the can from the President, I thought for sure we’d see a bunch of money come in so they could put a thousand points on broadcast behind it but it’s been crickets so far.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 11:59 am:
- VanillaMan -, the newly minted “Golden Horseshoe” winner (deservedly so), I must disagree just on the pure legislative politics of it all.
Benton will be one of 20 (or more, we won’t know until November), but Dunkin is the living embodiment of a caucus political wedge, a tool working against the party by which he sees himself aligned.
The Raunerite infiltration has already happened in the GOP GA, that battle, today, is over. McCann is a want to send a message that Republicans aren’t dead in the water.
Dunkin is the sole opportunity to keep Raunerite infiltration out of the Democratic Caucus(es)
I hear you, you make string points, as you have for the period Rauner has been elevated to governor, but Dunkin is the “must”, McCann is the “want”, but I’ll say a strong want at that.
With respect,
OW
(Humbly tips cap to - JS Mill -)
- Hacktastic - Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 11:59 am:
Somebody better grab this Illinois Election guy before their competitor does. Amazing how much info this guy puts out every day.
- Behind the Scenes - Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 12:02 pm:
Maybe $3.5 Million is not uncommon in the Chicago area, where media is a trifle more expensive than in Central Illinois, but that amount of money in a race down here in “the boonies” is really unheard of.
- anon - Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 12:08 pm:
Obviously independence from party bosses is only to be praised when it involves the other party.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 12:10 pm:
- Norseman -,
As you know, your insight and knowledge isn’t just something I read, many times your grasp of what’s going on is a crutch I lean on. Your very specific point, (and - VanillaMan -’s too) in regard to the “you don’t want a ‘&$@#’ problem” is crystal clear as to the must aspect to McCann. It’s critical that the Executive, same party or not, not dictate to the co-equal branch(es). I’ve said that very often as well. That hasn’t changed. I understand, and I havecalso argued the point.
To the campaign political, Dunkin as a “must” makes the McCann “must” less impactful.
You can lose McCann and beat Dunkin, but you can’t win McCann and have Dunkin win.
That’s the run for me.
If I’m “splitting”, I’m taking Dunkin out.
Doesn’t mean I’m not wanting to see McCann triumph or rooting against McCann, no, I’m trying to weigh and measure today for the “worse case” tomorrow.
Crazy days, - Norseman -, and in the long run both you and - VanillaMan - could very we’ll be right, ice been wrong before, but Dunkin is the threat to the governing, McCann is the threat to Rauner tightening a grasp on a party.
Much respect as always.
- Annonin' - Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 12:26 pm:
In all due respect to Mr/Ms Oswego Willy both are trophies to the doomed $uper$tar “plan” Other Dems know they are not likely to spend on them.
The vote buyin’ case will linger.
The interestin’ point will be crossovers on Tuesday to help McCann.
- MSIX - Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 12:27 pm:
==Obviously independence from party bosses is only to be praised when it involves the other party.==
Independence is one thing. Irresponsibility and being a paid shill is quite another.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 12:36 pm:
===The interestin’ point will be crossovers on Tuesday to help McCann.===
Agreed. The micro aspect of Dems crossing over to vote McCann will be the biggest indicator as to how successful Labor and Democrats can be in this specific race to this specific task.
===both are trophies to the doomed $uper$tar “plan”===
They want both, as the monies cleary show, and the lentry’s as to how far they will go attest. As, I’m sure, Labor and Republicans along with Democrats hope to see both results be of an Anti-Raunerite message.
In many ways, they are a package deal, a poker call of “All In”, and that’s not lost on me.
If I’m choosing that I only get one, the must is Dunkin, while both results are a significant want for both.
- Spliff - Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 1:55 pm:
Is anyone else just sickened by how far things have fallen in this state. Ten years ago 7 million would have been a lot for full caucus spending for a general election cycle and now that is just a drop in the bucket. Which one of the fools is Nero playing his fiddle ….
- Chucktownian - Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 3:08 pm:
That amount of money is about the amount the state owes EIU for MAP grants. That would’ve been a much better use for that money.
- Whatever - Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 3:28 pm:
I think beating Dunkin is a must for Madigan, and beating McCann is a must for Rauner. Overall, I think McCann is the more important of the two. If Dunkin loses, Madigan has regained his supermajority and will be stronger than before. But if Rauner can’t beat McCann, with all his negatives, it will be easier for Madigan to pry loose a couple of Republicans than it will be for Rauner to pry loose enough Democrats to avoid overrides, even if Dunkin wins.
- Skokie Ben - Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 3:35 pm:
It’s not merely inexperience. It’s intransigence and arrogance, marinated in mercilessness.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 3:35 pm:
===But if Rauner can’t beat McCann, with all his negatives, it will be easier for Madigan to pry loose a couple of Republicans than it will be for Rauner to pry loose enough Democrats to avoid overrides, even if Dunkin wins.===
You go with that…
Rauner has $20+ million in the next 9 months to keep loads of GOP members voting as Rauner wants.
Further, come January 2017, if Raunerites face the same type odds in the GA, in September of 2017, petitions will go out to try, once again, to defeat the non-Raunerites.
This isn’t ending, this is literally the beginning. Even Proft said as much.
- Mama - Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 4:24 pm:
Will Rauner pay for Dunkin’s legal problems from buying votes?
Will Dunkin’s purchased votes still be counted?
- Mama - Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 4:26 pm:
It appears Rauner is trying to buy respect.