20 Comments - Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 12:51 pm: Same answers is every press conference. - IllinoisBoi - Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 12:54 pm: Blah blah blah moderation blah blah moderation blah blah. - My New Handle - Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 1:25 pm: If Rauner has been successful at anything, it is making Michael J Madigan a caricature of Michael J Madigan. - Last Bull Moose - Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 1:26 pm: Stayed on message, Tied Trump to Rauner and labeled both as extremists. Strong defense of his own business as a property tax lawyer. Mentioned twice how much money Rauner’s allies had put into the Democratic primary for his seat. And how that failed to shift the votes. Clearly he is not changing. - Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 1:42 pm: ===Clearly he is not changing.=== Uh. Did he say he was going to change? Who thought he was changing??? - Deft Wing - Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 1:43 pm: Direct answers to questions, unguarded honesty, and all the openness you’d come to expect from super-transparent Speaker Madigan. /S (x100) - Delimma - Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 1:54 pm: Why would anyone expect him to be any more civilized or cooperative than Boehner, Ryan or McConnell? The concept of refuse to do anything that might be considered a win for your opponent is not something Madigan came up with. - Delimma - Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 1:55 pm: People joke about Chicago politics, but the DC politics during the last 8 years make Chicago look like a sand box. - cgo75 - Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 1:57 pm: He seemed pretty jovial today! - Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 2:03 pm: Nobody asked him if he thinks Hillary Clinton is honest and trustworthy. Nobody asked him what compromises he has proposed to move to the middle. Nobody’ pressed him on what cuts he would propose that aren’t extreme. Nobody asked him why raising taxes on middle class workers( thus lowering their standard of living) is ok but anything that diminishes the public sectors wages is extreme. - Captain Illini - Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 2:05 pm: Focused, pointed responses to clearly outmatched journalists. Sure, he stayed on message - why wouldn’t he? Smart tactic to utilize Tronc-ster’s 20 year search to exonerate his law practice. Smartly pointed out past working relationships with Republican Governors. Smartly offered a specific example of compromise. Smiled, engaged his audience, and though sometimes deflected, still answered all questions in the manner he chose. Crafty, articulate and measured. - Common Sense Republican - Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 2:07 pm: I have never seen the divide between the left and the right so big! Until we move from the far edges both Left and Right, to the middle, we are not going to solve our problems! I don’t know if it’s me, but this election cycle has been WAY too much name calling and blaming the other guy. Can we PLEASE get some people to talk about how they would fix a problem in DETAIL? As OW as stated many time, ‘Governor’s Own’. As a lifelong Republican, I am embarrassed by my party. Unfortunately, I have to agree with Madigan on the moderation point. Until both sides move to the middle, we are stuck in a downward spiral. - Demoralized - Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 2:31 pm: Lucky: Every day the same thing. I swear you work in the Governor’s press office. You can’t resist commenting with a “yeah, but” on every single thing. Once a victim always a victim. - Illinois Bob - Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 2:37 pm: Blah blah blah…It’s Rauner’s fault! Blah blah blah…Rauner hates the poor and disabled! Blah blah blah….because…Rauner! I’m sorry. Are we talking about Madigan or Oswego Willy? They both sound like the same broken record… - Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 2:46 pm: Calling out the lapdog press for failing to hold the Speaker accountable is not being a victim whatever that means - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 3:14 pm: - Zonker - I read your comment. To the Post, Nothing new or exciting, nothing earth shattering or even insightful. What this was was Madigan stepping in front of cameras and microphones and calmly continuing his and the Democrats’ case for recognizing their coalitions and making clear why these groups and Democrats feel Rauner needs to “not be extreme”. Ironically, Madigan looks more at ease in a suit than his “casual” khaki pants and golf shirt, and it also gives contrast to the image the ILGOP had of Madigan today that was impactful to try to frame today as “Career Politician Day” , and by being seen outside that image presented by the ILGOP, we see Madigan look responsible and thoughtful… and comfortable. Did it dull the “Career Politician Day” tact? To the rabids of each side, they are locked in to their thoughts. The rest? It probably dulled it enough to make it less memorable, but it’s out there and it’s thoughtful for the day. - NoGifts - Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 3:37 pm: Wow, I’m starting to crush on Mike Madigan. - Demoralized - Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 3:41 pm: ==Calling out the lapdog press == Now we’re a victim of the press I see. - Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 3:47 pm: “I found the commentary on my trousers rather extreme.” - Anonymous - Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 7:31 am: Mike Madigan sounded intelligent, measured, concise, and responsive to reporters questions in contrast to Mr. Potter, err, I mean, Rauner. He didn’t duck or dodge anything. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.