Because… Madigan!
Friday, Oct 27, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Rep. Jeanne Ives was asked this week what she’d do if she was elected governor…
So, what would I do differently? That’s a good question. First of all I’d ask everybody to turn out. You have to completely turn out, uh, turnover the Democrat legislature. You must get rid of Mike Madigan. He is stopping all the good economic policies that would come to fruition.
* Which leads us to this kinda tongue in cheek oppo dump…
Jeanne Ives: Secret Democrat?
The Dan Proft-Run Prairie State Wire Recently Attacked House Republican Caucus Leader Jim Durkin For Having Donors Who Also Contributed To Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan. “How to be a ‘Citizen for Durkin’ and ‘Friend of Madigan,’ at once…Ex-GOP State Senator Thomas J. Walsh, now a lobbyist and one of Durkin’s oldest political mentors, gave his friend’s “Citizens for Durkin” political action committee $500 in September. He also gave $500 that month to Friends of Michael Madigan, run by Durkin’s alleged arch-nemesis, who he is supposed to be trying to depose in 2018. Walsh, whose younger brother, David, is a top paid strategist for Durkin, has donated this year to a host of House Democrats competing for Madigan across the aisle, including State Rep. Marty Moylan, State Rep. Chris Welch (D-Hillside), State Rep. Mike Zalewski (D-Riverside), State Rep. Bob Rita (D-Blue Island), State Rep. Fran Hurley (D-Chicago), and State Rep. Anthony DeLuca (D-Chicago Heights). Thomas Walsh isn’t the only self-described Republican Durkin supporter who also backs Democrats.” (“House Republican Leader Durkin Solicits Democrats To Back Re-Election Bid,” Prairie State Wire, 10/24/17)
Proft Ally Jeanne Ives Has Raised 24 Percent Of Her Campaign Funds From Donors Who Also Gave To Madigan
Jeanne Ives Has Raised $288,943.11 Since First Running For Office In 2011. (Illinois Board of Elections, Accessed 10/26/17)
$68,012 – 24 Percent - Of Ives’ Fundraising Has Come From Donors Who Also Contributed To Friends Of Michael J. Madigan. (Illinois Board of Elections, Accessed 10/26/17)
Proft Called Out Durkin For Receiving Money From A Union That Also Gave To Ives
The Prairie State Wire Story Specifically Called Out Durkin’s Receipt Of Contributions From The Chicagoland Operators Joint Labor-Management Political Action Committee. “Durkin also received contributions in September from former top State Senate Democrat aides-turned-lobbyists Eric Madiar and Stephen Morrill, President Barack Obama’s first campaign manager Dan Shomon, former Daley political operative Thomas Manion, and the Chicagoland Operators Joint Labor-Management Political Action Committee, which vigorously opposes Governor Bruce Rauner’s push for local ‘right to work’ legislation.” (“House Republican Leader Durkin Solicits Democrats To Back Re-Election Bid,” Prairie State Wire, 10/24/17)
Ives Received A $1,000 Contribution From The Chicagoland Operators Joint Labor-Management Political Action Committee On September 5, 2017. (Illinois Board of Elections, Accessed 10/26/17)
Ives Has Received $5,900 Since 2013 From The Chicagoland Operators Joint Labor-Management Political Action Committee. (Illinois Board of Elections, Accessed 10/26/17)
The contributions are compiled here.
* Meanwhile…
State Rep. Peter Breen of Lombard predicts a [primary challenge to Rauner] but is dubious about whether it will be a viable one. Breen, recently named House Republican floor leader, had been mentioned as a possible challenger to Rauner, but he says he’s happy in his current role.
“You’ve got to have seven figures in commitments” before taking on the billionaire businessman, said Breen, who sharply castigated Rauner for signing the abortion bill. […]
Rep. David Harris of Arlington Heights recalled a 1990 primary between then-Gov. Jim Edgar and Steve Baer, an activist against abortion, that the incumbent won convincingly.
“Folks in the party say, ‘Oh, this is (Rauner’s) death knell, he’ll never win.’ I don’t believe that,” said Harris, who recently announced he will not seek re-election. “I do not believe you can build a gubernatorial campaign just on the abortion issue. … It probably works to a great extent in a primary but not in a general election.”
- Anonymous - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 12:16 pm:
Rauner’s one accomplishment: Tarnishing the brand Madigan.
- wordslinger - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 12:23 pm:
Rauner already owns the “Because Madigan” message. I don’t think that gets Ives any traction.
She could own the “I Like Trump” message, and pound Rauner for his obvious distancing from him.
Trump got 562K votes in the GOP primary last year. Cruz got another 438K. Those one million potential primary voters are who Ives should be chasing.
- TominChicago - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 12:23 pm:
Boy, Jeanne sure has some clever ideas on how to solve all of Illinois’ problems.
- Annonin' - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 12:30 pm:
Perhaps FreeCollegeIves could lure MadmanBannon into her struggle against GovJunk. That probably get Sara Palin too.
It would a hoot
- Arsenal - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 12:34 pm:
==Rauner’s one accomplishment: Tarnishing the brand Madigan.==
It didn’t exactly start out beloved.
- We'll See - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 12:39 pm:
“You have to completely turn out, uh, turnover the Democrat legislature.”
Well, I guess Gov’s number one mantra has sunk in for Ives.
And if you need a chuckle today, “ebbybuddy” should read Ives quote in voice of Richard M. Daley — I think she nailed it.
- Ducky LaMoore - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 12:45 pm:
===Rep. David Harris of Arlington Heights recalled a 1990 primary between then-Gov. Jim Edgar and Steve Baer, an activist against abortion, that the incumbent won convincingly.===
Edgar was Secretary of State and running for Governor in 1990.
- Retired Educator - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 12:46 pm:
At every level Madigan has out witted, out thought, and out flanked the Governor. If he sticks around, he will do it to the next Governor. He is the consummate manipulator. You don’t need to like him, but you better respect his ability or he will turn you to burnt toast. I see no reason to think Ives would fare better against the Speaker. If you want to beat him, you have to do something besides complain. He will stay as long as he likes, and those who can not adapt will be beaten.
- cdog - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 12:47 pm:
This is a silly attempt to stir up something.
The only thing it shows is lobbyist, and special interest, play both sides.
Ives needs to embrace pragmatic incrementalism which by definition requires listening and working with opposing constituencies.
Listening to labor would be appropriate if one is truly inspired to bring about a “new Illinois,” as Labor is a big part of Illinois. Also, just because someone is affiliated with labor does not preclude them from being conservative, republican, fiscally aware, or right-leaning independent.
Everyone will be better off without Rauner, or another billionaire at the helm.
yawn.
- TominChicago - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 12:47 pm:
“Rauner’s one accomplishment: Tarnishing the brand Madigan.”
Now that is a little unfair. Rauner’s also done an excellent job of tarnishing the brand Rauner.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 12:49 pm:
===Now that is a little unfair. Rauner’s also done an excellent job of tarnishing the brand Rauner===
… and that’s… how Diana thought bringing in the IPI and their messaging would help the Diana and Rauner brands…
Good times, BTIA(tm)
- Anonymous - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 12:57 pm:
I wonder what year Madigan will eventually retire. Hope he isn’t around when he is in his 80s.
- Matthew Vernau - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 12:58 pm:
Better she takes money from every side rather than just from Raunerites.
- Jocko - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 1:16 pm:
==He is stopping all the good economic policies that would come to fruition.==
Considering Jeanne has either abstained or voted “no” on every house bill, she must be champing at the bit to let loose these good economic policies.
- Generic Drone - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 2:14 pm:
Truth is, Madigan won’t go anywhere until he is good and ready to retire. Perhaps if Republicans just learn to be a little more moderate. Just an idea.
- Roman - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 3:02 pm:
Ives’ (or any other GOP challenger’s,) retort to Rauner on the “Madigan question:”
Rauner has been beaten by Madigan at every turn. Rauner couldn’t stop Madigan from reinstating the income tax increase, Rauner couldn’t get a single business reform through the legislature. Rauner couldn’t stop Madigan from funding a state bailout of Chicago Schools. Rauner has failed…he’s made Madigan stronger than he’s ever been. Why would we send Rauner back to Springfield to do a job he’s proven he can’t do?
- Tinker - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 3:16 pm:
So now Proft’s purity test is that Republicans can only accept contributions from sources that only support Republicans? That is going to be a very small group.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 3:28 pm:
The number for Ives is 37.5%
If Ives get to 40%, she will lose by a whopping 20 points.
That’s Ives’ reality.
Ives will hurt Rauner in the short term, but rehabilitates Rauner for moderate Republicans and (fiscal) conservative Dems while a Joe Walsh shows Rauner is sane.
These runs, Ives especially, could aid Rauner in winning in the end.
Ives running could be a gift for Rauner.