Caption contest!
Wednesday, Aug 17, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the twitters…
…Adding… An ILGOP press release “explains” the button…
The seasons come and go, but not Mike Madigan – he’s been a career politician for 45 years and the Illinois House Speaker for over 30 years.
No wonder Madigan has stonewalled every legislative and citizen attempt to get a term limits referendum on the ballot.
In Mike Madigan’s mind, term limits exist – he only enforces them when his minions fall out of his good graces. The politicians he controls are churned through his Chicago Machine and propped up by his rigged system of special interest cash and gerrymandered districts.
IT’S NO SURPRISE THAT MADIGAN OPPOSES TERM LIMITS
HE’S MADE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OFF HIS SPEAKERSHIP AND HIS POLITICALLY-CONNECTED LAW FIRM
Mike Madigan’s law firm – Madigan & Getzendanner – handles property tax appeals for some of Chicago’s most expensive properties3.
When wealthy Chicago property owners need to save money on their property taxes, they turn to Madigan, and Madigan turns to Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios, Chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party and longtime ally of Madigan, for favorable property tax appeals.
In 2013, Madigan’s firm secured $10 million in property tax tax refunds and shaved $18 million off property valuations for clients.
Madigan has said that his annual income has topped $1 million, in addition to his $95,000 salary as Speaker of the House, but he refuses to reveal his net worth or release his tax returns.
Mike Madigan has eliminated any ethical boundaries between his private business dealings and his public capacity as Speaker – Madigan is using his political clout for personal financial gain. Now more than ever, Illinois needs term limits to put an end to Madigan’s rigged system and his Chicago Political Machine.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 9:19 am:
“You know, Senator, …c’mon… a ‘button’… “
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 9:20 am:
“I want a hundred ‘buttons’ on the streets… “
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 9:21 am:
“He bought his button, Henry, he bought his button… “
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 9:22 am:
“45 years of public service and all I get is a stupid button.”
- Dan S - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 9:26 am:
30 years of King Mike and the state is in shambles, not sayin, just sayin.
- Huh? - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 9:29 am:
You are running a button against Madigan? Geez, the last warm body to run against Madigan lost 3 to 1.
- Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 9:31 am:
Mike Madigan, Rush Chairman. Glad to meet ya.
- My New Handle - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 9:33 am:
Even John Shimkus has fallen under Madigan’s No Term Limits spell.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 9:35 am:
===30 years of King Mike and the state is in shambles, not sayin, just sayin.===
Read McKinney then read Moser from yesterday… then get back to us all.
I know it felt good for you to type.
- DuPage - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 9:36 am:
Rauner: He’s preventing me from becoming King!
- austinman - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 9:37 am:
hmm and of those 30 years how many of those years did we have a Republican Governor?
- NeverPoliticallyCorrect - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 9:42 am:
Trump and Bernie are right, the system is rigged.
- Earnest - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 9:44 am:
Wow, I didn’t know that Madigan ran on a pro-term limits platform back in 1971. What’s a vintage button worth these days?
- LizPhairTax - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 9:45 am:
“When wealthy Chicago property owners need to save money on their property taxes”
If there’s one bedrock GOP principle it is they hate wealthy property owners. Great design on the button though.
- x ace - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 9:50 am:
” No sweat - As Long as they Spell My Name Right”
- Dan S - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 9:53 am:
- austinman - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 9:37 am:
hmm and of those 30 years how many of those years did we have a Republican Governor?
What is the constant? Madigan…….
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 9:58 am:
If the theme for Raunerite Day at the State Fair is “Madigan Victimhood” I’m glad to see it made itself present here too.
lol.
- Highland IL - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 9:59 am:
I notice none of the GOP speakers are wearing their buttons….
- Anon - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 10:00 am:
Oswego Willy can you cite McKinney and Moser more specifically? Some of us have some catching up to do. TY
- pool boy - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 10:02 am:
Mike Madigan and the buttons he doesn’t control now playing at the Miller tent.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 10:03 am:
McKinney’s Crain’s piece on Pensons…
Moser in Chicago Magazine… http://goo.gl/jTPK2j
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 10:08 am:
Was Shimkus wearing one of these?
- siriusly - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 10:11 am:
“I’ll take 500 of those please!” - Senator Scott Bennet
- Louis G. Atsaves - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 10:13 am:
Better button being circulated: “The Other Mike Madigan” for State Senate.
- Gooner - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 10:13 am:
When your party’s policies have no appeal to voters, you make an issue out of the presence of an individual.
That’s all the ILGOP has right now.
I have to give them credit. They recognize their limitations and are campaigning around them.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 10:15 am:
BVR: “We tried to get ‘Term Limits Retroactively’ but it wouldn’t fit on the button.”
- Streator Curmudgeon - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 10:17 am:
I didn’t know that in 1971 the age requirement for the IL House was only 12 years old.
- @MisterJayEm - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 10:19 am:
Who’s the lucky bugger who landed the GOP’s “anti-Madigan buttons” contract?
– MrJM
- Streator Curmudgeon - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 10:19 am:
Mike “No Mousse for Me, Thanks” Madigan
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 10:25 am:
Mike Madigan eh? I’d keep an eye on that kid. He’s going places.
- Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 10:29 am:
Yeah because what republicans really want is a picture of Mike Madigan on their person to remind them of their electoral failings of the last 40 years.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 10:34 am:
the press release describes a conspiracy that is a crime..the GOP should go to the state’s attorney or DoJ with its evidence–if not, Madigan should sue them for defamation.
- x ace - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 10:36 am:
47th Ward 10:08 & 10:25 Two Home Runs
- Commonsense in Illinois - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 10:37 am:
Yeah, this’ll work…
- Huh? - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 10:40 am:
Dan S - “What is the constant?”
Wrong place to go, bud.
What is the constant?
We had budgets signed by the governor.
- GA Watcher - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 10:48 am:
The Speaker was a strapping young lad back in the day. The photo on the button provides proof again of how being all-powerful takes its toll.
- Republicrat - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 11:04 am:
What, no “union bug” on the button?
- The Fool On The Hill - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 11:12 am:
Blame Madigan 3.0.
- Trophies for last place. - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 11:30 am:
So the presumption is that voters aren’t smart enough to vote in their own best interest. People outside of Madigan’s district don’t like Madigan and blame the voters in his district for re-electing him.
If the presumption is that voters are incapable of make sound choices, what makes people think that term limits will help voters make better choices. Seems to me that term limits actually limit voters choices.
- Stark - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 12:21 pm:
Leader Durkin resigns from the legislature in 3, 2, 1…Oh wait, Rauner only means term limits for Democrats.
- lake county democrat - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 12:31 pm:
Who needs responsive democracy when we have buttons?
- Trapped in the 'burbs - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 12:56 pm:
If you can’t win the game, change the rules?
- One hand //ing - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 1:02 pm:
The Illinois Republican Party: The courage to blame all of our problems on one guy from the other side.
- dr. reason a, goodwin - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 2:08 pm:
I am puzzled by this GOP approach to focus all the campaigns on Madigan.
- Piece of Work - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 2:42 pm:
I was in high school when MJM was first elected. I am now in my 60’s. Let that sink in.
- CrazyHorse - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 2:44 pm:
I’ve got to ask Mike what his secret is. The guy still looks like he’s 30 years old!
- James Knell - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 2:51 pm:
Term Limits: It’s easier than being popular in your district.
- Stark - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 3:20 pm:
Piece of Work, I did let that sink in. Just like it would be wise to let sink that there are hundreds of careers that exist without people constantly demanding resignation for absolutely political reasons, simply because they’re experienced.
- woodstock willy - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 4:04 pm:
Can we fit in “Winner, and still the undisputed champion !”
- Winnin' - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 4:12 pm:
If Madigan allegedly earned millions in his law firm by being speaker, Rauner won election and plans to grab more power by using his personal fortune. Is one worse than the other?
- Rabid - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 4:16 pm:
Fix Illinois with no experience
- Rabid - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 4:20 pm:
Term limits balance the budget
- Annonin' - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 4:54 pm:
How clever….fake newspapers and buttons…those bigbrains are really too much
- Piece of Work - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 4:55 pm:
Stark, okay let’s look at what impact MJM’s experience has had on the state of Illinois.
Look closely Stark.
- Rabid - Wednesday, Aug 17, 16 @ 7:11 pm:
Doyen democrat