14 Comments - ste_with_a_v_en - Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 1:07 pm: I think the story they should discuss it what happens when young people try going against Madigan and his candidates. - Just Observing - Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 1:12 pm: === I think the story they should discuss it what happens when young people try going against Madigan and his candidates. === Nothing happens. Sometimes their campaign succeeds, sometimes their campaign fails — in the end, everyone just moves on to the next campaign. A black town car doesn’t pull up next to them as they are walking down the street, throw them in the trunk, and they are never to be seen again. - Free Set of Steak Knives - Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 1:15 pm: Jesse White Dick Durbin Rahm Emanuel Jesse White Carol Mosley Braun Alexi Giannoulias Brendan Reilly Toni Preckwinkle Barack Obama And on, and on, and on. All won campaigns without the support of Mike Madigan or despite his open opposition. All presented great opportunities for future leaders to go out and prove themselves independently. The reasons that it is harder for “candidates of a more independent bent” to succeed is because if you insist on centering your campaign messaging around attacks on the Democratic Party and its leaders, as some candidates for governor are now doing, you are kneecapping your chances to win the primary and the general. If you really think that Democrats are just as bad as Republicans, have the courage and the integrity to run as an independent. - Just Observing - Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 1:15 pm: Botterman was one of a kind and a true friend and mentor to many-a-young folks, and an all around great guy. - JS Mill - Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 1:26 pm: =Jesse White Dick Durbin Rahm Emanuel Jesse White Carol Mosley Braun Alexi Giannoulias Brendan Reilly Toni Preckwinkle Barack Obama= Boy did that last guy pay the price. out of office now and seems to be out of politics all together. /s - Etown - Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 1:35 pm: Madigan should be thankful for Patrick. He is one of the big reasons why Democrats started to win seats in the NW burbs and Lake County starting with Terry Link back in 1996 - Franklin Delano Bluth - Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 1:43 pm: Admittedly not completely on topic but is there ANYTHING worse than the Sun-Times website? Was trying my very best to simply read the article and had to give up halfway through. Just absurd the amount of pop-ups they have. - Free Set of Steak Knives - Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 2:13 pm: Agreed Etown. Botterman leaves a great legacy. At the same time, I think we can agree Lisa Madigan has been a pretty good attorney general, much better than John Schmidt ever would have been. The race Brown heralds was arguably one where Botterman simply backed the wrong horse. - ZC - Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 3:05 pm: Can put Will Guzzardi on that list too now, in the “open opposition” field. I don’t think Madigan ever forgets, but I don’t think he carries grudges solely for the sake of carrying grudges, like he’s seething and waiting for a chance to knife people 10 years later for an electoral slight. (People who know the Speaker better than myself, feel free to contradict me). Madigan may not be hiring you. But plenty of people have now carved out now professional consultant careers in IL despite opposing Madigan-backed politicos. I think of Richard J Daley here a bit, whom Madigan learned from; if you beat Daley in a ward race, that meant to him you were a legitimate power in your own right and he had to start making at least negotiations with you. Leon Despres, etc. - Juice - Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 3:12 pm: Free set of steak knives, gotta question a couple of names on your list. First, Reilly. And willing to be proven wrong, but since Durbin and Quinn were the two major candidates for the Senate in ‘96, I find it hard to believe Madigan didn’t go with Durbin. - walker - Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 3:52 pm: Thanks, Rich. Loved the guy. Loved the piece by Brown. Patrick helped start many an “independent” democrat’s career. - Free Set of Steak Knives - Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 4:13 pm: Juice: Natarus was a committeeman. Mayor Daley, Speaker Madigan, Jesse White, Lisa Madigan all endorsed Burt. Durbin was a Congressman before he ran for the US Senate, he had the backing of retiring US Senator Paul Simon - noted for his independence — and he crushed Quinn in the primary 65-30. Madigan had nothing to do with Dick Durbin’s rise, and the two have frequently been at political odds in the past. Again, the idea the only way to earn your stripes is with Madigan’s blessing is far-fetched. I’d add that there are plenty of folks whose path has been through advocacy groups or labor unions to learn their craft. Madigan is neither omniscient nor omnipotent. - Juice - Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 4:38 pm: Very fair point on Durbin in ‘96. And certainly no argument from me about them being at odds at times since. And willing to be proven wrong, but even though Madigan endorsed Natarus, I find it hard to believe that he received much beyond that. And I would imagine that a number of his folks were permitted to help out with Reilly’s effort as a friend. I strongly agree with your point about Madigan not being omnipotent, and you could probably add other names to the list, especially if you look at the Congressional delegation. - Northernwatersports - Thursday, May 11, 17 @ 8:20 am: Botterman will ultimately be remembered for the character traits he brought to the table… Inspiration to follow your own convictions, Pragmatism, and to achieve what is possible, not improbable, Commitment, to his candidates and to their political education, Fearlessness, to push the boundaries of some idealism, Trust, to earn it for himself, and to have his candidates and volunteers to trust in themselves, Tirelessness, for long nights, sore feet, and raspy throats, Being a tightwad, and running with what you had available, Friendship, before, during, AND after the votes were counted, and others I’m sure. Those of us who worked with him are proud to have know him, learned from him, and carry that legacy each day. He is sorely missed. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.