Because… Madigan!
Thursday, Aug 16, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller
* ABC7 on yesterday’s Governor’s Day rally…
One name heard frequently was Mike Madigan, the Democratic House Speaker.
“One thing that brings us all together and will unite us in November is knowing that now is the time for Mike Madigan to retire,” Jim Durkin, House Republican Leader said.
“Can we continue to fight back and break the stranglehold that Mike Madigan’s machine’s has on our state, can we break that lock hold and grow jobs, cut the taxes get term limits, end the corruption,” Rauner said.
* Sun-Times…
Rauner spoke of the “darkness of Madigan and Pritzker,” saying “everything is on the line.”
“We’re not going to fall backwards. We cannot let Madigan and Pritzker get total control of this state,” Rauner said. “That’s going to be more taxes, more corruption, more job losses and a devastating future for our children and our grandchildren in the state of Illinois. We can’t let that happen.” […]
[Illinois Republican Party Co-Chairman Tim Schneider] said voters will realize that “this race is about Michael Madigan once again controlling this state, the status quo, business as usual.”
* Tribune…
“Republicans now need to come together. We can have issues where we might disagree … but you know what? We’ve got to unite. This is the time for everybody to come together,” Rauner said.
“We can have our differences on different policy issues, but what really matters is we don’t give total control to Madigan, his machine, funded by Pritzker. More corruption. Higher taxes. More job losses. That’s what they’ll bring,” he said.
* SJ-R…
Tim Schneider, chairman of the state GOP, told reporters Wednesday that the past Ives challenge and McCann being on the ballot are “just distractions.” He said as Republicans meet voters, it’s clear “the people of Illinois don’t want a Madigan puppet as their governor.” […]
He said Illinois can sometimes be seen as being in two parts.
“We have downstate Illinois that really embraces Donald Trump, and the northern half of the state, they are less confident in his abilities and don’t like his rhetoric,” Schneider said. “We have to deal with that.” But he said that when “people realize that this race is about Michael Madigan once again controlling this state, the status quo, business as usual, I think they’ll come home. I think we’ll get independents and all the Republicans and some soft Democrats to vote for the governor and win House seats in November.”
* Dave Dahl…
In addition to saying House Speaker and Democratic Party of Illinois chairman Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) is pulling the strings for everything – particularly gubernatorial candidate JB Pritzker and other statewide candidates and Democratic lawmakers – Rauner said the choice is clear.
“The reason we’re going to win,” Rauner said, “is our message is a unifying message. Democrats want lower property taxes. Democrats want term limits. Honest Democrats not loyal to the machine want the same changes that we do.”
Rauner also spent time talking about the attorney general’s race. He said Republican Erika Harold is so fearsome that incumbent Lisa Madigan decided not to seek another term just weeks after Harold arrived. And he characterized Harold’s rival, State Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago), as “bad news,” another Madigan puppet.
* AP…
The attack on Madigan “confirms they don’t have anything in the way of an accomplishment to talk about,” Madigan spokesman Steve Brown said. “It’s more falsehoods on just about every level.” A Pritzker spokeswoman did not respond.
…Adding… Heh…
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 10:55 am:
==and McCann being on the ballot are “just distractions.” ==
Just a distraction, and a loss of 8-10% of your prospective voters.
- Lefty Lefty - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 10:56 am:
Steve Brown’s comment in the AP article is really true. It’s like Rauner hasn’t been governor for 3 years and had a major part in the impasse. Are we all supposed to forget this?
- Real - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 10:56 am:
Despite all of the nonsense coming from Rauner and Durkin a recent poll says most Illinois voters want the Democrats to control the Illinois House of Representatives. Looking forward to seeing this happen in November. Really looking forward to Rauner losing more money before he packs his bags.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 10:56 am:
Rauner: “We can have issues where we might disagree …”
LOL, tell that to the guy who’s taking 11 points out of your tukkus in the polls.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 10:57 am:
“Can we continue to fight back and break the stranglehold that Mike Madigan’s machine’s has on our state”
I’d ask all the Republicans who voted for budgets and revenue, including the person in the mirror with the goofy Howdy Doody costumes, who passed a budget with the tax hike in it.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 10:58 am:
===…but you know what?===
No.
What governor?
What?
…
What?
Ugh.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 10:59 am:
===“The reason we’re going to win,” Rauner said, “is our message is a unifying message. Democrats want lower property taxes. Democrats want term limits. Honest Democrats not loyal to the machine want the same changes that we do.”===
Then… Rauner shoulda ran as a Democrat, Diana wouldn’t mind.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:01 am:
This is a state that has been trending Dem for years. They’re pushing against a strong tide with this line of attack, and without actual proof of corruption, it’s goong to be very tough to persuade voters to act as they want, even if they all keep saying it.
At some point, they’re going to have to face the governor’s own poor numbers. Because voters all over the state have shown a high tolerance for curruption, especially when it doesn’t result in criminal charges or interfere much with delivery of their favorite services. And Rauner, even if he’s not corrupt, has interfered with lots of service delivery.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:05 am:
Let’s remember…
Rauner polling at 29% did nothing to seem likable, to attract more voters, to show competency to being governor, or an actual vision to the state with Rauner as governor for four more years.
Not a good day when all those things happened to an incumbent governor.
- Whatever - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:05 am:
==Tim Schneider, chairman of the state GOP, told reporters Wednesday that the past Ives challenge and McCann being on the ballot are “just distractions.”==
Ives “distracted” 48% of your party.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:07 am:
When Ives and Rauner shared the stage yesterday… that showed everyone…
- Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:08 am:
Anybody know how many JB signs Willy has in his front yard?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:10 am:
===Anybody know how many JB signs … has in his front yard?===
None.
I do have a Rauner yard sign from 2014…
I’m guessing the Pritzker Crew aren’t big fans of mine…
- wordslinger - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:20 am:
==Tim Schneider, chairman of the state GOP, told reporters Wednesday that the past Ives challenge and McCann being on the ballot are “just distractions.”==
And the Nazi and 9/11 truther GOP nominees, too.
Lots of “distractions” on your watch, Tim.
Or are you one of those “not in charge” kind of leaders?
- Flynn's Mom - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:22 am:
The Madigan schtick is officially old.
- Skeptic - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:28 am:
“We can have issues where we might disagree …” That’s quite a Turnaround from his “F’ing problem” attitude from four years ago. And he’s right, if he had been able to agree to disagree, the mess we’re in today wouldn’t have been as deep.
- slow down - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:30 am:
Because Madigan is not a rationale for reelection. If Rauner can’t articulate a vision for a second term, he’s toast.
On the basis of what we’ve seen from his campaign so far, it’s going to a plodding, angry one note march to defeat for the governor.
- A Jack - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:32 am:
OW, was that you that took my neighbor’s Rauner sign?
I wish I had taken a picture of that sign. It was around Halloween and they accidentally placed the sign near a blow-up decoration of a scary creature riding a Harley.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:33 am:
===“We can have issues where we might disagree …” That’s quite a Turnaround from his “F’ing problem” attitude from four years ago.===
This is top shelf.
Rauner is $117 million dollars in, now.
Rauner starved higher education, forced the closures of social service groups, by not paying and running up debt, while the Raunerites in the 99th GA made sure Illinois had no budget the entire time the 99th GA sat.
Lest we forget?
“I’m frustrated too but taking steps to reform Illinois is more important than a short term budget stalemate.”
Now?
“We can have issues where we might disagree… “
Sure. I believe that.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:34 am:
===…was that you that took my neighbor’s Rauner sign?===
No. Not me. Sorry.
I “borrowed” mine from Tom Cross. I left cannoli on his stoop.
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:37 am:
You can tell JB inherited his billions because he is campaigning on bringing jobs back to Illinois by pledging to ignore every single issue the business community has been advocating for.
Raising taxes on businesses, not reforming worker’s compensation and property taxes will not bring more businesses and jobs to Illinois.
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:41 am:
So JB is polling at 36-42%, he has the Democratic vote that loves Speaker Madigan’s unions and trial lawyers first Agenda.
What is he doing to attract moderates and independents that will get him over 50%?
Zip, zero, nada.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:43 am:
I get the anti-Madigan message. They have no other message to give. The Governor hasn’t accomplished anything.
But, I have no idea what they think will be different if Madigan leaves. Do they think all of a sudden they will be able to pass their agenda? Because they won’t.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:48 am:
“But, I have no idea what they think will be different if Madigan leaves. Do they think all of a sudden they will be able to pass their agenda? Because they won’t.”
I wish Democrats had an ad that they could run as needed, showing lots of Democratic legislators saying they won’t vote for Rauner’s anti-union agenda. That could defuse some or a lot of the Madigan attacks.
- City Zen - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:49 am:
“darkness of Madigan and Pritzker”
Darkness falls across Illinois land
The election hour is close at hand
JB and Madigan crawl in search of blood
To tax y’all’s neighborhood
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:52 am:
===get him over 50%?===
There are four candidates. Three of them are polling in double-digits. Try math. He doesn’t need 50 percent plus one.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:54 am:
“JB and Madigan crawl in search of blood
To tax y’all’s neighborhood”
Rauner should do a rap commercial for African-American voters, complete with another costume and Rauner’s pants hanging way low and his underwear pulled way up.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:55 am:
Pritzker sits at 42
Rauner sits at 29
Right now, Pritzker gets 29% plus one… Rauner still loses.
The threshold is most votes, not a required 50% +1
You must be programmed for Chicago aldermanic races.
- John Deere Green - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:56 am:
==You can tell JB inherited his billions==
You Raunerites sure like to make an issue of this. What gives? I thought Republicans loved inherited wealth, right? You want to repeal the estate tax, after all.
- Roman - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:57 am:
Can’t blame the Raunerites — Madigan bashing is really all they have. It might save down ballot candidates. But man, if Rauner loses and Madigan picks up seats, then what? At some point they’re gonna have to build a case for what they’re for, not just what they’re against.
- Keyrock - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:58 am:
Italy should be nice in January.
- NeveroddoreveN - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 12:01 pm:
Schneider: “this race is about Michael Madigan once again controlling this state, the status quo, business as usual.”
Uh Tim, Rauner once stood in front of the camera and said he wasn’t in control of this State, so if it’s not Rauner in control, and it isn’t Madigan, who is in control of this State currently?
- Vole - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 12:08 pm:
It is one thing to hammer endlessly on Madigan’s symbolic lock hold.
It is another to demonstrate over and over and over that Rauner ain’t the key.
- Fixer - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 12:10 pm:
LP, let’s spin this back around, shall we? What’s Rauner doing to recruit independents and moderates? Or anyone besides low information voters, for that matter? He caused purposeful, lasting harm to our communities. It was intentional, and there are consequences for that. One of them being most folks who actually pay attention to state politics are moving away from him. If Madigan up and quit tomorrow, what’s Rauner running on?
- Demoralized - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 12:16 pm:
LP:
Rauner is at 29%. You never seem to bring that up. I suspect it’s because your propaganda script doesn’t allow it.
And I’m not sure you know how voting works and all but you only have to get more than the other people. The final percentage doesn’t matter.
- Pick a Name - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 12:16 pm:
Lucky, the only thing JB understands about jobs is that he never needed one.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 12:22 pm:
===the only thing JB understands about jobs===
… are the ones the CEOs cite Pritzker helped create at 1871
https://bit.ly/2PcqPQe
- Pick a Name - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 12:25 pm:
He gave money Willy, that’s it. And as another poster noted last week, how many millions in rent are deferred?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 12:27 pm:
… and yet those jobs are created, while Rauner couldn’t point to, or have a single person vouch for him that he (Rauner) created one job.
Asked and answered.
Pritzker knows about creating jobs, those CEOs tell me so.
You may not like it, but it’s true.
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 12:31 pm:
What is Rauner doing to attract independents and moderates?
Advocating for policies they support like pension reform, property tax reform, worker’s compensation reform, term limits, Redistricting reform that will restore faith in Illinois government and business environment.
Rauner evens appeals to social moderates to the dismay of the most conservative Republicans.
I think you have it exactly backwards Fixer. The low information voters believe JB’s fantasy that a graduated income tax, with zero reforms will magically fund scores of new progressive policies , balance a state budget for the first time in almost two decades and somehow stop the population loss from Illinois
- wordslinger - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 1:02 pm:
To be fair, Rauner created jobs for Munger and her political crew, Senger, and for a few, brief shining months, some hacks from IPI.
All on the taxpayer dime.
- RNUG - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 1:29 pm:
== I think we’ll get independents and all the Republicans and some soft Democrats to vote for the governor ==
Um … isn’t that McCann’s plan, except he’s only counting on the Ive’s Republicans?
- Skeptic - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 1:35 pm:
“and for a few, brief shining months, some hacks from IPI.” And for fewer, briefer shining moments, his bodyguard. BTIA™
- anon2 - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 2:32 pm:
== “We have to deal with that”(Trump being less popular in northern IL), said Chairman Schneider.==
Unfortunately for him, Commissioner Schneider is running for re-election in Cook County.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 2:45 pm:
–What is he doing to attract moderates and independents that will get him over 50%?–
Seriously comrade, you need a reboot. You’re not even in the ballgame as to how it works. Any plurality will do.
- Uncle Merkin - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 2:48 pm:
Shouldn’t there be a disclaimer at the end of that message?
- Rabid - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 3:14 pm:
Years of because-madigan validates your poll numbers
- Anon0091 - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 3:37 pm:
LP,
It must be tough for you to stick to these talking points about JB when his record is so clearly opposite of what you claim. Anyone who has worked in the tech commmunity in our state knows that JB had been working to build the tech community ecosystem for nearly 20 years. 1871 is only a part of what he’s done to put Illinois tech on the global map. He was personally involved (and not remotely just with his money) in creating and supporting more than half a dozen key organizations like the Illinois Venture Capital Association, the i2a seed capital fund, Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center and yeah, 1871. He’s also been a mentor to countless entrepreneurs.
So please come up with more credible material dude because this line is pointless.
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 5:33 pm:
So it is pointless to ask JB for specifics on how his polices will help foster an environment where the economy grows and jobs are created?
The economy in Illinois is a lot bigger than Tech start ups in the Merchandise Mart.
What has JB proposed to bring high paying manufacturing jobs back to Illinois? Why would auto companies choose Illinois under a Pritzker administration?
Pretending there is no correlation between the slow economic growth in Illinois relative to our neighboring states and the rest of the US since 2003’and Democratic policies is quite a stretch.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 6:49 pm:
===What has JB proposed to bring high paying manufacturing jobs back to Illinois? Why would auto companies choose Illinois under a Pritzker administration?===
Considering how Bruce Rauner failed Illinois, with his signed budget with a 32% tax increase and no reforms…
- justacitizen - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 8:57 pm:
My Democrat friends and relatives mostly agree it’s time for changes in leadership both at the state (Madigan) and federal (e.g., Pelosi).
- Demoralized - Friday, Aug 17, 18 @ 12:22 am:
You’re becoming more and more of a joke everyday LP
- Demoralized - Friday, Aug 17, 18 @ 12:25 am:
==What has JB proposed==
And, I’d turn this question around on you. What has Bruce Rauner done?
==low information voters==
Really? You’re going with that line now? You want to know what constitutes someone being “low information?” Reading from the same propaganda sheet every day.