* From our favorite, always calm, never over the top editorial board…
“… Drury sees it as essentially a two-way race: those with demonstrated loyalties to the Madigan Machine versus him — the only candidate with a proven record of standing up to Illinois’ most powerful politicians … ‘I like those odds,’ said Drury.”
— News release announcing Democratic state Rep. Scott Drury’s run for governor of Illinois, June 6, 2017.
Life just got more complicated for every Democrat running to be governor of Illinois, or to serve in its legislature. A third Democrat seeking the governorship has publicly criticized Michael Madigan, the head of the state party and House speaker throughout Illinois’ precipitous decline into debt and dysfunction. For Scott Drury, a former federal prosecutor from north suburban Highwood, rebelling against Madigan’s grip looks to be the key plank of his platform.
Madigan, arguably the state’s least popular politician, was destined to be a drag on Democrats. Just as Gov. Bruce Rauner, Madigan’s competition for that “least popular” crown, appears destined to be a drag on Republicans.
Each is routinely blamed for the fall from prosperity of a state that’s losing employers and other taxpaying citizens to rival states. Yes, it’s more plausible to blame a pol now in his 47th year in Springfield for this long-running debacle — especially when his top priority is clinging to his power — than it is to blame a governor in his third year. But for many Illinoisans, especially families dolefully watching sons and daughters take their futures elsewhere, blame is top of mind.
But that inconvenience doesn’t fall evenly on Rauner and Madigan. Rauner doesn’t yet have a Republican opponent. Madigan’s party has six major candidates for governor. And with one of them bragging about his proven independence from the state party boss, all of them will face ceaseless questions from now until the March 20 Illinois primary about their fealty, or opposition, to Madigan. After that comes a general election campaign in which Republicans will wrap Madigan around the Democratic nominee like a tattered green sash at a St. Patrick’s Day parade.
- Galena Guy - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 10:49 am:
Typical Trib Tripe
- hot chocolate - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 10:50 am:
“I like those odds,” Drury said, while seated at an Illinois Video Gaming Terminal.
- Annonin' - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 10:52 am:
IL is now in year VIII of the Tribbies effort to bash Madigan and push whatever stooge is handy. The good news is that despite the commitment of unprecedented resources Katrina et al have not made much of a case. Over the same time Tribbie influence is slipped badly. “Scott The Present” will not change the saga
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 10:55 am:
And in related news, Drury announced his communications director, John Kass. Campaign Press Secretary, Trib edit board.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 10:58 am:
Some here wondered whether Drury would mysteriously benefit from some dark money political outfit that is backing Rauner. It looks like it just happened.
This is the play.The Tribune needed a Democratic defector to fulfill its fantasy of open revolt in the Democratic party. Drury is perfectly happy to be the patsy, the hook for an editorial that was written years ago.
The Rauner campaign really ought to list this contribution from the Tribune on its D-2s.
- Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 10:58 am:
Wait.
Drury’s a former federal prosecutor?
Why hasn’t anyone said this before?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 11:01 am:
Drury is the sounding board, the avenue, the meddling Rauner will indeed do IN the Democratic Primary for Governor.
Rauner may get millions to Drury… to attack Pritzker, go after Kennedy, marginalize Biss… do enough wounding that Dems rallying around the eventual leader… that could be broken.
Drury is Ken Dunkin.
- SwingVoter - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 11:02 am:
“Come at the king, you best not miss.” - Omar
- former southerner - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 11:02 am:
A few years ago I thought newspapers dying off was a bad thing but for the Trib it will be a blessing instead of a loss.
- Roman - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 11:03 am:
FIrst pro-Drury salvo from the Tronc/IPI/Rauner messaging machine. It won’t be the last.
Drury is this year’s model of IllinoisGO.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 11:11 am:
What a great update on the personality conflict/popularity contest. Just like high school.
I’m sure when the cool kids at tronc become grownups they will deal with issues like a projected $23B backlog, the gutting of higher ed and the destruction of the social service infrastructure.
Grownup problems are no fun!
That stuff has happened in just the last two years.
- DeseDemDose - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 11:14 am:
The Trib is just a one sided Republican Rag. Illinois Republicans are in lockstep with Rauner and he will take the lot of them down with the ship.
- slow down - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 11:35 am:
Is everyone simply speculating that Drury will get $ from Rauner and his “affiliates” or is there actual evidence that it’s happening? I’m not doubting the premise but just wondering what evidence there is thus far.
- Mr. 17.5 - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 11:35 am:
highly recommend reading the Trib. comments section on this editorial for a good LOL.
Roman is right, Drury is this years IllinoisGO candidate.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 11:42 am:
- slow down -
I’d suggest maybe you looking into Drury’s D-2s.
Maybe there might be some reason to speculate, maybe not.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 11:44 am:
What a waste of a career.
- Moe Berg - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 11:57 am:
I don’t care if there are good journalists working at the Tribune. I will never spend one cent supporting that publication as long as it allows its editorial voice to be so unhinged and frequently filled with false information. Too bad for the many reporters with integrity (though not all as it appears the property tax story has some serious problems, too, and was in the service of pushing a political agenda). Dogs. Fleas.
- Juvenal - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 11:59 am:
Nobody who has met Scott Drury or seen him in action thinks he should hold the job he has, let alone be elected Governor.
- anon2 - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 12:07 pm:
Even if Drury gets no funds from Rauner and his pals, Drury will get free publicity from the Trib and its editorial emulators.
- northsider (the original) - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 12:14 pm:
Wise words from the editorial board that endorsed Gary Johnson for president.
- Obamas Puppy - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 12:40 pm:
Like Pavlovs dog the Tribune reacts like you do when a Dr hits you on the knee with a rubber hammer.
- DeseDemDose - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 1:50 pm:
Moe Berg, I used to feel sorry for the reporters but between the editorials, skewed articles, and Kass, the Trib is an enemy of the workingman.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 3:45 pm:
same donors as Rauner and now the same love from Trib as rauner. Never saw that comming.