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Question of the day
Friday, Jan 27, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller * From the Illinois Republican Party…
Man, I hate getting dragged into this stuff, especially since that story was behind a subscribers-only firewall. I’ll be having a chat with those boys and girls. Sawbridge Studios is in Winnetka, by the way. Madigan sends people on his Christmas gift list a Simon Pearce piece every year. Pearce is an Irish-American, so it’s kinda fitting. I didn’t look at his campaign committee spending for my story this morning. But I just did and Madigan’s campaign committee has spent a total of $535,127.03 at the place since 2005. In October of 2015, Madigan reported spending $39,312.50 at Sawbridge, and this past November, he spent the identical $39,312.50. He reported spending $7,312.50 on December 20th. So, that $50K number quoted above may not be accurate. We’ll see if MJM demands a retraction. * The clock… 
They have some heft, for sure. * The Question: Caption?
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- stlboy - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 12:51 pm:
My only comment is they got here awfully quick. Especially for a design item. They had to be ordered weeks if not months before the Speaker election.
- A guy - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 12:52 pm:
Time keeps on tickin’ tickin’ tickin into the…..past.
- East Central Illinois - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 12:53 pm:
There’s the “Doomsday Clock” and there’s the Crystal Mike Madigan Clock . . . or are they the same thing?
- Anonymous - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 12:53 pm:
What is the limit on cost of gifts a legislator can receive? Is this beyond that limit?
- Mall - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 12:55 pm:
I ordered something similar from Things Remembered.
- wordslinger - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 12:55 pm:
So let us stop talkin’ falsely now
The hour’s getting late
- Big Joe - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 12:55 pm:
Madigan gives clocks, Rauner hands out checks. I figure it is a wash. And really, who cares? Let’s just get a budget passed before Feb. 28th.
- wondering - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 12:57 pm:
You got it Big Joe…..So?
- Springfield Since '77 - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 12:57 pm:
As a Conservative, I would like to say…
Not my money. Don’t really care what he buys or who he gives it to.
- Hamlet's Ghost - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 12:58 pm:
I just wonder whether he ordered the engraving before or after the election.
When bowling, at times I turn my back and not watch, knowing I threw a strike.
- Pink E Kent - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 12:58 pm:
Nice, but I’ll wait till some hit eBay.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:01 pm:
===Mike Madigan paid them off with thousands of dollars in expensive clocks===
Um, $46,000 divided by 66 members comes to about $700 each. More than a t-shirt or a fancy dinner for sure, but hardly a “pay-off.”
- AlfondoGonz - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:01 pm:
“Boss Madigan’s corruption knows no bounds. It’s been revealed that he uses money to influence craftspeople to procure him with their crafts. Shame, Mike Madigan. Shame.”
- A guy - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:01 pm:
Just for clarity. This is done with a laser nowadays. Not to take the side of the Speaker, but if the inventory was in, it takes no time at all to buzz a bunch of these through. A day or two, tops. Think…less than 1 minute per clock…
- DG - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:02 pm:
Rich,
Can you please provide me the name of the legislator that took this photo? Thanks!
-Speaker MJM
- Norseman - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:05 pm:
GOP wants to make it crystal clear that they want to clean Madigan’s clocks.
- Ducky LaMoore - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:05 pm:
House Democrats are on the clock while House Republicans are on the dime….
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:05 pm:
Drury: “Yeah, about what I said yesterday? Nevermind.”
- Anon221 - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:08 pm:
If 47th’s math is right, and it’s the tall clock shown here (http://www.sawbridge.com/product.asp?deptid=4002&pfid=SWB00437#.WIuabnK7qic), that engraving much had been very expensive!
- Anonymous - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:08 pm:
Love it.
Funny no mention of raunner’s dropping of ‘Bux Baubles’ on the ILgop members! How bout that?
- Not It - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:09 pm:
Rich, consider it free advertisement. If they had not attributed it to you that would be worse.
- LeadingInDecatur - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:09 pm:
“The honorable Michael J. Madigan. Longest serving Speaker of a state House of Representatives in United States history.”
…you say that like it’s a bad thing…
–#ILIKEMIKE\s
- Lucky Pierre - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:09 pm:
Pretty tone deaf and Trump like in its arrogance and entitlement. It is certainly time for a new Speaker.
With delayed pay for the past few months I wonder if any of these wind up in a pawn shop
- Deft Wing - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:09 pm:
“Proudly presiding over Illinois’ financial descent for over 40 years.”
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:10 pm:
Nice, but given the pace of our government, perhaps a sundial was more appropriate.
- CCP Hostage - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:10 pm:
Time for a budget
- wordslinger - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:16 pm:
–Pretty tone deaf and Trump like in its arrogance and entitlement. –
Dazzling Raunerbottics — “I know, let’s tie Madigan to Trump with some incoherent word salad. Bring on the juice boxes and pudding cups!”
- X-prof - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:21 pm:
Call me a traditionalist, but I’d go for one of those old-style black cast-iron spheres filled with powder and a lit fuse attached.
- Illinois O'Malley - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:23 pm:
MJM supporting the Illinois economy…
- NIU Grad - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:23 pm:
If I was a donor for the State Party or a legislator reliant on those funds, I would be a little salty with how much is spent on self-aggrandizing clocks.
- NoGifts - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:32 pm:
I love it! Why be ashamed? It IS and achievement and he should be proud of it. If he doesn’t mention it, nobody will remember?
- Lucky Pierre - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:33 pm:
Wordslinger you can always be counted on the defend the indefensible.
The least popular politician in the state by mile gives his caucus an expensive gift after a session where absolutely nothing was accomplished. He is reelected by everyone except one and gives them all a $700 gift that pays tribute to himself.
Right no ego there, I wonder if he included an iPod full of his speeches too!
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:36 pm:
–Right no ego there, I wonder if he included an iPod full of his speeches too!–
Maybe a tape recorder, though that is an Apple product.
- wordslinger - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:37 pm:
–Wordslinger you can always be counted on the defend the indefensible.–
Read it again; I wasn’t defending anything, I was making fun of you.
Your reading and writing skills make that easy.
- oneman - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:39 pm:
Upon closer examination is was revealed that not only did the clocks have an engraving, but when chiming the hour a holographic Madigan would appear to remind them who is in charge.
- NoGifts - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:39 pm:
Relationships are the foundation for a large part of a political person’s power. Relationships are built on the way one treats people who one needs support from. Good for him.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:45 pm:
Does anybody really know what time it is?
Does anybody really care?
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:45 pm:
A box arrives at Rep Drury’s office. He opens it, an inside is an identical clock.
“Wow. I did get one! Maybe it was just late coming from the engraver and I owe the Speaker an apology…”
*looks at inscription*
“Hey. Why does this just say “Soon…” on it?”
- wordslinger - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:46 pm:
LP, I doubt that my “dear leader” appreciates my criticism of his game-playing with the minimum wage and millionaire’s tax, or his antideluvian messaging strategy and delivery.
The next time you find any fault with Rauner will be the first.
- CLJ - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:49 pm:
Like time, legislators and governors all pass, but Mike Madigan always remains.
- Saluki - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:49 pm:
Wordslinger. you are a respected voice around here, but you’re off target on this one.
- OneMan - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 1:54 pm:
The next clock is going to say…
“Micheal Madigan leadership until he is good and ready to leave and do you forget it”
“or else”
- northsider (the original) - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 2:08 pm:
“Showering with clocks” sounds dangerous!
- Amalia - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 2:11 pm:
Simon Pearce the artist who is from Vermont? if yes, very nice crystal pieces. so my caption would be Made in Vermont.
- Amalia - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 2:17 pm:
just checked, yes Vermont (the mill store I once visited is very nice) but also made at a factory in Maryland. so alternative headline, at least it’s made in the USA.
- Huh? - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 2:19 pm:
Somebody went and spoiled a perfectly good clock. Where I can get the inscription polished off?
Drury thinking to himself - “I’m glad I didn’t get one of those things. I won’t have to be looking at that inscription.”
- SKI - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 2:20 pm:
Well, it is better than rubber chickens…
- Streator Curmudgeon - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 2:20 pm:
How do you change the battery on that sucker?
- Julian's Melange - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 2:21 pm:
So last century.
- Texas Red - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 2:23 pm:
Reminds me of when LBJ had the hubris to offer a bust of himself as a gift to Pope. These guys have no shame.
- A guy - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 2:32 pm:
It’s the opposite of Solar powered…It powers up when there is no sunlight.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 2:34 pm:
This watch is very nice, but my wrist is killing me.
- tobias846 - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 2:41 pm:
How the heck do you “pay off” people with an expensive knickknack? Unless you’re planning to sell the clock on eBay, it’s essentially valueless—just another dumb thing that has to be dusted. Legislators’ offices are already full of junk like this.
- Chicago Cynic - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 2:44 pm:
Most tone-deaf gift since Mrs. O’Leary had her cow’s foot bronzed.
- Nick Name - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 2:46 pm:
“What is the limit on cost of gifts a legislator can receive? Is this beyond that limit?”
Ask the Republican legislators, all of whom received loads of campaign cash from Gov. Gaslight.
- The Dude Abides - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 2:53 pm:
Let me get this straight. Rauner writes out checks for at least several thousand dollars each to all GOP members of the General Assembly. Now these folks whose members are all bought and paid for by Rauner are complaining about Madigan buying his members clocks. Got it!
- Flynn's mom - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 2:58 pm:
Times up!
- Ahoy! - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 3:23 pm:
The Madigan Doomsday Clock.
- Joe - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 3:25 pm:
How do you unplug the clock?
- Chicago Barb - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 3:27 pm:
I order crystal awards with engraving all the time. $8,000 divided by 66 is a little over $120 which sounds about right. If he paid more than that he should go to The Crystal Cave. They do great work.
- frisbee - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 3:28 pm:
“Save the clock tower!”
- Fiona - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 3:33 pm:
Gawd, that is ugly. Perfect symbol of the Speaker’s ego and run ear though. I assume all the legislators will promptly report this extravagant “gift”?
- hmmm - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 3:35 pm:
is it like fawell’s clock at the pier?
- Way South of I-80 - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 3:37 pm:
Agree it’s not what I was thinking it would look like when I heard about it. Also think it is much like all the discussion about the number of people at Trump’s inauguration - who cares/get over it!
- Carterville Kid - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 4:03 pm:
Rich, Did you get one?
- A guy - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 4:05 pm:
Cart Kid,
He’s busy at the moment.
So.
Bite him.
- Mama - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 4:06 pm:
Madigan: This clock is to remind you that when you are here you are on clock - My clock.
- Mama - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 4:12 pm:
I say these are trophy exit clocks. I have a feeling he is planning to retire soon (2018 perhaps?). No?
- Anonymous - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 4:14 pm:
Only Mike’s clock is transparent.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jan 27, 17 @ 4:32 pm:
Thanks for keeping the ILGOP the permanent Moon Party.
- James Knell - Friday, Feb 10, 17 @ 11:42 am:
In 30 years, if there are any left in the capitol, I bet people will think the clocks are pretty cool especially if they still work.