* From the Illinois Republican Party…

Longtime Speaker of the House Mike Madigan shocked the internet on Friday when it was revealed that Madigan has finally entered the 21st century with the creation of a new Facebook page and website, both ironically branded as “Madigan for Us,” in an attempt to put a positive spin on his tarnished image.

But Illinoisans are keenly aware of the real Mike Madigan and they know he’s bad news. Madigan has been described as “the constant in key decisions that created the mess.” Under Madigan’s watch, Illinois has seen massive tax hikes, out of control pension debt, and the worst-in-the-nation out-migration.

Unfortunately for Madigan, staged pictures of him sporting a smile won’t save him from his decades of destruction.

News outlets have been reporting on Madigan’s “nasty-to-nice makeover”:

Chicago Tribune: The softer side of Michael Madigan

Someone call the police about a missing person. Missing and replaced by a person of interest, actually. A man with a distinct resemblance to House Speaker Michael Madigan has been photographed reading books to children. He is smiling. And they are smiling. And he is wearing a plaid shirt. Where is the real Speaker Madigan and what has someone done with him?

The alleged explanation for the warm, welcoming Michael Madigan is that he’s launched a website, www.madiganforus.com, that attempts to soften his image as a cutthroat politician. He also has a Facebook page and an email address. This is big news. Until recently, Madigan famously didn’t use digital technology, email or social media.

…We wonder if, following the photo shoot with the kids, he handed them each a bill for $45,500. That’s how much accumulated state debt a 2016 Truth in Accounting study determined each Illinois taxpayer owes.

So there you go, kiddos. Scan the website. Enjoy the fairy tales.

The News-Gazette: Jim Dey: Madigan attempting a nasty-to-nice makeover

…So what gives with the Madigan makeover?

There’s no doubt that the millions of dollars the GOP has spent savaging Madigan as a sociopathic politician who puts politics first and policy second has taken its toll on the Democratic Party and its legislative candidates. All of a sudden Democratic legislators are being asked by constituents exactly why Madigan commands so much clout.

Democratic legislators know they must pay fealty to Madigan in Springfield or pay an unacceptably high price for crossing the big man. But they also know that they’ve got to keep that reality to themselves when they’re back home or, alternatively and incredibly, tout their independence from Madigan when talking with gullible constituents.

Chicago Tribune: Mike Madigan smiles!

Mike Madigan — he’s just like us!

…At least, that’s the cuddly face the long-serving Illinois House speaker is projecting on a new-look website. The rebranding exercise appears to be a response to several years of well-funded advertising by Republicans that paint Madigan as the dour, calculating root of all of the state’s problems (Gov. Bruce Rauner last week committed $4.45 million to the GOP’s “2018 Madigan Retirement Plan”).

* They missed one. From the Illinois Policy Institute’s news service…

Former Democratic Party press-secretary-turned public relations consultant David Ormsby said the point of an online presence for a politician is typically to get the candidate known in their district, but Madigan’s position of power in the state has done that for him.

“His own prominence has raised his profile over the course of decades,” he said. “He’s well known in his district.”

Madigan also quietly launched a Facebook page last month. Ormsby said social media pages like what Madigan launched are used as a cost-efficient way to reach voters via paid advertising that’s geographically and demographically directed. On the other hand, it also becomes a target of hostility for one of the least popular politicians in the state. On the page’s lone post, hundreds of Facebook users posted a variation of anti-Madigan statements.

“They see the comments that are left so they see the good, the bad and the ugly,” Ormsby said.

Most notably, Ormsby said the new online presence told him one thing about Madigan, who has led a legislative body for longer than anyone in modern American history: “He’s planning to stay for a while.”
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Madigan, 75, has been an elected state representative since 1971. He has been House speaker for all but two years since 1983.

* The comments on his Facebook page are just brutal…

       

67 Comments - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 1:47 pm: The Tribune is being too modest by crediting the anti-Madigan vitriol to “Republicans.” Judging by the ugly rhetoric posted here, they and the IPI have done a bang-up job stirring up the uninformed and turning them loose. They better hope and pray none of these people acts on their misplaced anger. - Chris Widger - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 1:47 pm: I actually wholeheartedly agree with all of those Facebook comments, except for the bus one (that’s not right), the voter fraud one (no evidence of that), and the ugly face one (he’s not). In an atmosphere where outlets like Cap Fax and IPI have picked their sides and profit from stoking the flames, it’s no wonder people are so mad. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 1:49 pm: too little, too late. The Madigan brand isn’t popular anymore. They were nice pics - Madigan and the kids. - Annonin' - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 1:49 pm: Really sad to see the GOPie clown car show their jealousy. Hope they did not expose too many stooges - Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 1:49 pm: Most of those people who posted those hateful comments are Trump supporters. Enough said. - Boone's is Back - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 1:51 pm: Why isn’t anyone monitoring or closing comments on that page? - Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 1:55 pm: Do you think the Speaker bears any responsibility for the ill will his 40 year career in Springfield has created? You are in a bubble, attributing all of this to the IPI and Republicans is absurd. Every democratic candidate for Governor except JB is criticizing the Speaker because he deserves it. - wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 1:57 pm: Now that Madigan has a self-serving, warm-and-fuzzy website like every other politician on Planet Earth, I want him to go all-in against Rauner. That’s right — I’m talking Ridiculous Costume Contest. Rauner can already pull off more wardrobe changes than Cher in-concert. He’s got the Village People and so much more covered. Let’s see Madigan raise the game and go all 1970s Elton John on him. - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 1:58 pm: ===attributing all of this to the IPI and Republicans is absurd=== Who’s been funding the “blame Madigan” strategy for the past five years, genius? Also, stop knocking over that poor strawman you keep building. No serious person has ever said Madigan doesn’t bear some of the responsibility for the pension mess and other negatives facing Illinois. - Henry Francis - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 1:58 pm: But 47th - considering that Madigan and his Madigoons are trying to severely injure that nice republican lady running for AG (by cutting her brakes), those comments are well deserved - no? /s - Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 1:59 pm: We are turning on each other with a viciousness that would make Satan smile. No, I take that back. In Don McLean’s words…”Satan laughing, with delight”. Evil is spreading. - wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 2:00 pm: LP, you seem to have trouble focusing and getting on topic. Consult your pediatrician, there’s medicine for that. Now in chewable fruit flavors, too. - PJ - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 2:00 pm: It’s not Rich’s fault since he covers the stories that get the most play, but I’m pretty baffled that this has become a multi-day news item. He paid someone to make him the same bland facebook page every other politician in the world already has. - Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 2:00 pm: “where outlets like Cap Fax and IPI have picked their sides” Delusion much? Rich is one of the fairest journalists around, giving weight to different views and people across the political spectrum. Haters gonna hate—especially the privileged ones who have done well in Illinois, paying those low state income taxes for a long time. - King Louis XVI - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 2:01 pm: –Why isn’t anyone monitoring or closing comments on that page?– While there is no “hate” filter on FB professional pages, there is a “profanity” filter, and that appears to be switched on. Otherwise, ‘Let it Roll’ seem to be the order of the day. - Demoralized - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 2:02 pm: ==Do you think the Speaker bears any responsibility== Yep. You think the Governor bears any responsibility for the negative feelings about him? - Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 2:03 pm: But the anti Madigan vitriol is exclusively Republicans and IPI types except for with Senator Biss, Chris Kennedy etc. No disaffected Democratic voters out there upset with the Speaker? - Lefty Lefty - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 2:04 pm: There’s no question that Speaker Madigan bears some of the blame for the economic mess we’re (hopefully) recovering from currently. It’s clear that many of his detractors believe that he’s the only one to blame. I wonder–what would have happened if Gov. Rauner had not stonewalled for so long and been so recalcitrant. Does anyone think that the Speaker would have finally understood that the fiscal can couldn’t be kicked down the road any longer? - Texas Red - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 2:04 pm: What did he expect ? MJM spent the last 30 plus years concentrating power by any means necessary, while also avoiding the spotlight. Heck he was even proud of his low profile and lack of tech skills/social media presence. Now his team tries to debut this warm fuzzy hokum. This is totally tone deaf/disingenuous. - Streator Curmudgeon - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 2:04 pm: Proving once again, that CF posters have better manners than foul-mouthed FBers. - Demoralized - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 2:05 pm: ==But== lol. There it is. “But.” - Skeptic - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 2:08 pm: Lucky: The only person who refuses to admit a guy on their side is imperfect is you. - illini97 - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 2:10 pm: I think I’m pretty much done with Facebook at this point. It has yet to provide anything positive or meaningful to public discourse. Looking at that comment section and the story yesterday of a County partisan organization having the Facebook “right” to lie as long as their check for the ad clears. Honestly, what good has come from this? - Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 2:12 pm: 253 comments on Speaker Madigan’s Facebook page. You can count the positive comments on both hands and probably cover it. Are all of the Speaker’s supporters not on Facebook? The Speaker has earned this, not being reasonable and negotiating in good faith on a single item on a Turnaround agenda for any reform of Illinois and just pushing through another permanent tax increase. - DuPage Bard - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 2:13 pm: His team is full of long time polls and young staffers, always. The fact it took this long is ridiculous. Social Media was a “thing” when Obama won in ‘08. He’s years behind the curve at this point. He used to be 10 steps ahead on campaigns, missing social media puts him 10 steps behind. - Lester Holt’s Mustache - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 2:13 pm: ==You are in a bubble, attributing all of this to the IPI and Republicans is absurd== Rauner’s last defender continues to amaze. - Demoralized - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 2:17 pm: ==253 comments on Speaker Madigan’s Facebook page== That’s it? - Anon221 - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 2:19 pm: LP- No one “earns” hate. - Ducky LaMoore - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 2:19 pm: Not that I want to defend the vitriol in those comments… but… when will Democratic leadership in this state and country not be a bunch of septuagenarians? And don’t tell me, “when those people are 80.” - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 2:20 pm: ===No serious person has ever said Madigan doesn’t bear some of the responsibility for the pension mess and other negatives facing Illinois.=== - 47th Ward - nails it down. The issue has always been Raunerbots refuse to see Rauner’s complicity in the past 2 1/2 years of purposeful destruction. I’ve said numerous times, read McKinney. That’s real a great start, then read Rich’s piece a few months back. Madigan gets a pass? Not even close. Right now, Rauner wants a binary choice… Rauner or Madigan. That’s Rauner’s thinking with HB40 signed and the destruction of the past 2 years sinking Rauner himself. I’m not surprised by this backlash on Facebook. I’d be surprised if there wasn’t any. - Free Set of Steak Knives - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 2:27 pm: === not being reasonable and negotiating in good faith === 15 House Republicans say otherwise. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 2:28 pm: Facebook is a Trojan Horse. Spewers utilize it as more akin to IN YOUR FACE book. Ugly served on a silver platter. - Too Much to Handle - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 2:29 pm: === Not that I want to defend the vitriol in those comments… but… when will Democratic leadership in this state and country not be a bunch of septuagenarians? And don’t tell me, “when those people are 80.” === Like who? Who do you see out there that can lead the state Democratic Party more effectively than MJM? - Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 2:31 pm: You all seem to think the last budget negotiation was a success- a 32% permanent income tax with no reform of state government. For 2 1/2 years the Governor was consistent- he would not raise taxes without some reforms of government and business. If Democrats did not want to do that they could pass their tax increase by themselves and override his veto. Why did the Speaker hold Illinois residents hostage for 2/12 years before doing just that? That is how government is supposed to work, both parties negotiate and give and take. The Governor dropped his demands from the Turnaround agenda to just a few. The Speaker rejected every single one while claiming to be reasonable and moderate. He is neither. The Governor would be less popular if he just signed the tax increase without reform. It looks like the retiring representatives of both parties that did so agree. - Too Much to Handle - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 2:37 pm: === If Democrats did not want to do that they could pass their tax increase by themselves and override his veto. Why did the Speaker hold Illinois residents hostage for 2/12 years before doing just that? === Just because there were enough Democrats to do that does not mean that they actually could. The Democratic Party in Illinois is extremely diverse, and there are several of them that are against raising taxes. You know, just like no all Republicans are the same. Some Republicans voted for the tax hike and override. Another prominent one just signed the abortion bill. Political parties are not monoliths. The fact that most in this country treat them as such is part of the problem. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 2:38 pm: ===The Governor would be less popular if he just signed the tax increase without reform. It looks like the retiring representatives of both parties that did so agree.=== … instead, Rauner vetoed the budget, couldn’t stop a tax increase, can’t claim any budget successes, but gets to tout a “Chicago Bailout” for schools and signed the most liberal abortion bill any governor in the United States ever had put in front of them. … Rauner shoulda took more wins when he had the chance. - Demoralized - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 2:39 pm: ==You all seem to think the last budget negotiation was a success== Passing a budget? Yes, I view that as a success compared to the status quo. - poe - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 2:39 pm: Everyone who comments on Cap Fax is civil and tries to make a point. And we are all mostly anonymous! I can’t believe the comments that people make with their own names. This proves your point indeed Rich. Facebook is horrible and broken. Why don’t people get out of control here on CF? Because we know you will delete / ban us. Because we are trying to add something to the public discourse. Why do they do it on The FB? Because there are no consequences. It’s a weakness in our society that Russia exploited. Someone in Madigan’s organization convinced him to do this. It’s either a really bad idea or it’s backwards genius - to make a point. - Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 2:45 pm: “a 32% permanent income tax with no reform of state government” Rauner slammed available reforms, such as a two-year property tax freeze. He wanted Democrats to take the sword to their key funders and supporters while he more than tripled his income and supped at the public trough. Why doesn’t Rauner and GTCR lead by example and stop profiting from public employee pensions? Why don’t Rauner and his super-rich supporters lead with fairness, by backing a millionaire surcharge? Who in his or her right mind would think government employees and prevailing wage workers should flay themselves politically and economically while Rauner, Griffin and IPI types make little to no sacrifice? - Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 2:47 pm: So the majority of Illinois voters who elected a Republican Governor for the first time in twelve years and would be happy if all he did was permanently raise taxes and stuff every single reform he ran on in the trash can. You don’t believe it but the Speaker and the Democrats are on defense right now. They have to defend the indefensible and all they are left with is somehow trying to link Donald Trump and Bruce Rauner. Sorry but I think that is a stretch, they will have to come up with some new policies - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 2:52 pm: ===So the majority of Illinois voters who elected a Republican Governor for the first time in twelve years and would be happy if all he did was permanently raise taxes and stuff every single reform he ran on in the trash can.=== Right now? 63% think the way Rauner is going about his business… they disapprove. So there’s that answer. ===They have to defend the indefensible and all they are left with is somehow trying to link Donald Trump and Bruce Rauner. Sorry but I think that is a stretch, they will have to come up with some new policies=== Rauner is underwater in a state Clinton won during Trump’s midterm. Rauner should be more worried for Bruce Rauner. Campaigns that say “Well, the other side should be worried” are campaigns far more worried than they let on. - King Louis XVI - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 2:59 pm: –Someone in Madigan’s organization convinced him to do this.– 253 negative FB comments vs. 17,155 votes or 65% in 22nd district 2016 primary against well-funded opponent. The Web site is focused on voters in his district. Wise move. - Loop Lady - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 2:59 pm: Both things are an insult to our intelligence… Dems: really? Reps: please get off the clown car… Good God the system is broken… - Too Much to Handle - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 3:01 pm: === So the majority of Illinois voters who elected a Republican Governor for the first time in twelve years and would be happy if all he did was permanently raise taxes and stuff every single reform he ran on in the trash can. === The governor has accomplished nothing in the time he has been in office. NOTHING. I don’t think that the “majority of Illinois voters who elected a Republican governor” are happy about that. Being a successful governor takes skill - something that this governor has not shown thus far. Rauner had an opportunity to have some victories if only he was willing to accept them. Instead, he chose to hunker down and engage in a budget stalemate which ended up hurting working families and small businesses. The Democrats don’t have completely clean hands in this mess either, but if you think the public will be siding with the governor based on his performance, you are sorely mistaken. - Undiscovered country - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 3:03 pm: And each elderly person whose driveway/sidewalk/street gets cleared of snow is a voter, not those commenting on Facebook. Every wellness check, every Christmas ham or graffiti blasted garage is a voter, not the Facebook posters. Hate him all you want, but he remembers to most fundamental of all political rules, elections are LOCAL. - Skeptic - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 3:07 pm: “So the majority of Illinois voters who elected a Republican Governor” 1) It was barely a majority; and 2) Not all of those that elected a Republican Governor voted *for* him. - Joe M - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 3:35 pm: Say what you want about Madigan. But he is the main reason Rauner hasn’t gotten his way with his anti-union, Koch brother’s, Gov Walker’s, IPI agenda. - Honeybadger - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 3:46 pm: LP I’m sure I can get hundreds of people to post positive things about speaker Madigan on his Facebook page. I’m sure there are hundreds of other people could do the same thing it’s just haters like you and uninformed imbeciles who listen and read the IPI and believe everything they say. I’ve met the speaker on quite a few occasions and he’s a very nice man he does have in his heart what’s best for Illinois. He’s the only thing saving us from going right to work he’s the only thing saving us from being under Republican rule which would decimate our state. By the way Republicans are just as complicit in what you people and people like you and the IPI are saying have hurt the state - Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 3:47 pm: Right now? 63% think the way Rauner is going about his business… they disapprove. So there’s that answer. Putting a lot of faith in one poll from July (not right now) of 600 people by the Democratic Governor’s Association. Do you think the Democratic Governor’s Association would publish a poll that was favorable to Governor Rauner? Who cares about a poll anyway 15 months before an election against an unnamed candidate? - Honeybadger - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 3:47 pm: The Republicans sold out to Rauner and they will continue to sell out to him - NothsideNoMore - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 3:55 pm: OW what you said at 2:38 Rauner shoulda took more wins when he had the chance. Winner ! - Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 4:04 pm: Haters like me? My comments are never personal and always policy focused unlike many others. Honey Badger, plenty of anonymous Speaker Madigan supporters on Capital Fax. Why are there so few who will publicly support him on Facebook? As you say, there are armies of his supporters who owe their government jobs to him. Why don’t they support him on Facebook so all of their friends can see? This is embarrassing but it reflects how many Illinois residents and democratic candidates for Governor feel about him. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 4:05 pm: ===Putting a lot of faith in one poll from July (not right now) of 600 people by the Democratic Governor’s Association.=== If, according to you a poll just as old has Madigan as the “least popular” So now it’s “because the poll”? This is tiresome. ===Do you think the Democratic Governor’s Association would publish a poll that was favorable to Governor Rauner?=== Are you saying Rauber isn’t underwater? Ok, you’re “one”. I don’t think you’d find too many that think Rauner is anywhere close to positive poll numbers. So what’s you’re beef? “Rauner’s awful, but not that awful?” Again. From now on, no more Madigan is the “least liked”. You lost that now… because… ===Who cares about a poll anyway 15 months before an election against an unnamed candidate?=== … you just told me it doesn’t matter. I think they both do, but you made YOUR choice, so there’s that. - Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 4:09 pm: No that poll about Speaker Madigan being the most unpopular politician in the state is from March -before the record tax increase he passed with zero reforms. Do you think the Speaker is more popular now? - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 4:13 pm: ===Do you think the Speaker is more popular now?=== Something I never said was true, and said both polls are touchstones for me, but now since you are anti-poll, I’ll expect you to disregard your own take on polling while I’ll just keep rolling along accepting what appears to be where the current trends keep the numbers honest. lol - Demoralized - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 4:15 pm: ==Who cares about a poll== Says the guy talking about polls. Dude, you really are barking up the wrong tree if you are trying to talk about polls and make it part of your defense of the Governor. - Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 4:19 pm: Willy is the one who brought up a single poll by the Democrats that says the Governor is doomed How do you know what current trends are? One poll from March and another from July? Please fill us in on anything more recent and less biased - Demoralized - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 4:21 pm: ==Why don’t they support him on Facebook == If they’re anything like me it’s because they aren’t on Facebook because it’s a breeding ground for imbecilic comments - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 4:25 pm: ===How do you know what current trends are? One poll from March and another from July?=== lol, do you think Rauner or Madigan are more popular? I don’t. If you do, by all means… - Demoralized - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 4:26 pm: LP The Governor polls horribly no matter the source. ==the Governor is doomed== I don’t think he’s doomed. Donald Trump should have scrubbed that idea from anyone’s head when talking about an election. - Anon221 - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 6:06 pm: LP-”Why don’t they support him on Facebook so all of their friends can see?” Is this how you “poll” popularity??? Sad. - Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 6:09 pm: Grandson, stay in your lane. You should realize that the same public pensions “Rauner and GTCR..profit from” are also the largest investors in GTCR funds and as such walk off with the overwhelming majority of the profits. As for Rauner, he hasn’t been there since 2013 and they just raised their largest fund ever, $5.25 Billion, without him. For all the good and bad critiques of Rauner, no one to my knowledge has leveled a legitimate criticism of GTCR’s investment skill. Find another “example” which doesn’t involve his former firm that has no dog in the fight. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 8:23 pm: ==Right now? 63% think the way Rauner is going about his business… they disapprove. So there’s that answer.== Statistics are funny. Rauner is about to run against another politician who is not popular either. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 8:33 pm: Facebook page was a total backfire. It is ground zero for fed up citizens. Read some of the comments… - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 7:32 am: ===Rauner is about to run against another politician who is not popular either.=== Really? Which Democrat for Goverir is that? - Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 8:35 am: That would Pritzker. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 8:40 am: ===That would Pritzker=== Cite please. Thanks. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.