* Greg Hinz wrote a piece yesterday calling for Illinois to be the first primary state, or at least near the front of the line...
Now that the Iowa Democratic Party has joined and maybe even replaced the hanging-chad folks in the political hall of infamy, the moment has arrived for Illinois politicians to do something they should have long ago.
That’s to put Illinois first, or as close to first as they can get us.
It’s time to quit deferring to corn country, rocky New Hampshire and casinoed Nevada. Time to do what it takes to place this diverse state exactly where it needs to be: at the front of the presidential nomination process, somewhere it will have clout—not stuck somewhere in the meaningless middle. And think of all that sweet tourism money that flows in every four years as journos and campaign staffs and pollsters and bandwagon-jumpers eat, sleep, drink and door-knock their way through the Hawkeye state. Wouldn’t it be better if they did all that eating, sleeping, drinking and door-knocking in the Land of Lincoln instead?
* Greg also updated with this statement from Gov. Pritzker…
I firmly believe that the nominating process should reflect the country’s diversity, and there’s no better state to do that than Illinois. Illinois has all the best features of America, with its urban, suburban and rural regions, tremendous demographic diversity and the variety of manufacturing, service and agriculture jobs throughout the state. With all due respect to Iowa . . . Democratic nominees should start out showing they can win in a state that is more like the rest of the nation. I look forward to working with other elected officials and the party to change the calendar so that Illinois’ primary comes first in the nominating process in the 2024 presidential election.
* As Tina Sfondeles and Lynn Sweet report, Mayor Lightfoot likes the idea…
Lighfoot — in Washington on Tuesday for the State of the Union address — said whether Illinois should become the first primary state is a “worthwhile question to pursue.”
“The dynamics of the Democratic electorate and the dynamics of the people who are going to run for president have forever been changed,” Lightfoot told the Sun-Times. “And I think we have to think, give serious consideration to starting with a state that’s diverse.”
Pritzker’s chief of staff Anne Caprara to the Sun-Times…
“We feel that we have a really strong case to make about Illinois. That it is geographically, ethnically and economically very diverse. We sit in the Midwest in the middle of a lot of states that are important to the presidential election calendar. That if you come to this state, you’re going to have to campaign in urban areas and rural areas, and all different types of communities,” Caprara said. “And that’s really a great proving ground for a presidential election.”
Something to consider…
Pritzker would have to be willing to back moving up the Illinois primary ahead of mid-March. Illinois in 2008 moved up the primary date in order to help then U.S. Sen. Barack Obama clinch the Democratic presidential nomination. This year, Illinois’ primary is on March 17, along with Arizona, Florida and Ohio.
That 2008 February primary was murderously cold. And some of Speaker Madigan’s members ended up having closer than expected primaries because the post-holiday election season was so short and turnout for Obama was so high.
* More from the Center Square…
Illinois state Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, said Illinois should be first instead.
“So put the complicated caucus system behind us,” Manar said. “Let’s find a state that’s more representative of the country as a whole and Illinois I think on all accounts is that state.”
Illinois’ population is culturally diverse and the state features not just major metropolitan areas but also rural areas.
State Rep. Dave Severin, R-Benton, said moving Illinois up in the national process may be worth looking at.
“That might be something to consider,” Severin said. “But I tell you what else is encouraging to me is the state of Illinois finally is not the worst debacle in the United States. Iowa just took over.”
Heh.
* We have an up-and-coming commenter named Candy DoGood and these are CD’s thoughts yesterday…
Illinois hosting the first in the nation primary would be an admirable goal.
In order to meet this goal, Illinois can demonstrate its maturity and ability as a state party to host the first in the nation primary by instituting broad reforms to make their actual party apparatus more inclusive and the leadership reflective of the active members of the party rather than being made up of mostly elected officials.
Some major issues to address:
When was the last time the Democratic Party of Illinois had a convention?
When was the last time the Democratic Party of Illinois created a concise platform?
What does the Democratic Party of Illinois plan to do or what reforms do they plan to enact to address that the chair of their party is also the House Speaker and is at the center of an organization which may have aided in retaliation against victims of sexual harassment and hostile work environments?
Are they (both parties really) prepared to address the expectation that caucus staff are required to “volunteer” or work on campaigns for a salary generally below market in order to retain their positions as caucus staff?
Are they prepared to lobby the governor to make changes so that precinct committee people, county parties, district apparatuses, and the State Central Committee are more inclusive and provide better access for people of lower incomes, mobility issues, or situations that make it difficult for them to be able to run on a ballot or fund raise to run for a party position?
I think it’d be great for the State of Illinois to shoot to be first in the nation, but we’ve got a lot of work to do before that happens.
We’re literally in the middle of a situation where the GOP super minority is fractured with ultra-right wing separatists and the Democratic Party’s dealing with State Senators wearing a wire to inform on other State Senators because of a broad sweeping federal investigation which still hasn’t ended yet and is long over due.
First in the nation isn’t the kind of microscope I would be inviting if I were a shot caller in either major party organization.
The Iowa Democratic Party messed up a reporting system by relying on an app. Okay. Well they (the IDP and the Iowa GOP both) also have a caucus every two years where precincts meet, select delegates to county conventions and submit platform planks, the county convention turns out a county platform and selects delegates to the District and State conventions which also turns out platforms and selects delegates to the national convention and or the DNC members.
Say what you will about caucuses being undemocratic, but Iowans rebuild their parties every two years and reaffirm their leadership every two years and produce platforms every two years.
And their party leaders aren’t known for whining about not receiving enough political graft or getting their people hired and Iowa’s hiring/firing scandals don’t involve decades long consent decrees that are willfully defied by folks that don’t get that this stuff is illegal.
I’m being hard on the Democrats because the Democrats are pushing this at the moment, but there’s the Illinois GOP literally just sold itself to a billionaire a few cycles ago and abandoned every principle they had to do so while also, somehow, letting a Nazi get on the ballot.
I clean before I invite company over.
Illinois should too.
- Precinct Captain - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 9:36 am:
A couple of thoughts:
1) New Hampshire state law allows their Secretary of State (appointed by their state legislature) to unilaterally move their presidential primary to any date that keeps them as the first primary.
2) Some states hold a presidential primary/caucus separate from nominations for other offices.
- Stones - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 9:40 am:
Long time between the primary and general elections = more campaign money and more difficult for the average Joe to think about running. I recall a movement in Illinois back in the 80’s to move the Primary back to after Labor Day.
- OneMan - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 9:42 am:
But watching someone visit when things haven’t been cleaned-up is a lot more entertaining.
Having Iowa level (or more) political spending come into Illinois would be highly entertaining.
Also realistically I think the cost of the Chicago TV market would be a problem.
That all being said, I think Candy makes an excellent point and I am rather surprised and not at all surprised at the same time that the Democratic party does not have a state convention.
- DuPage Saint - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 9:43 am:
There should be four or five large regional primaries spread out over 4 months starting in March.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 9:44 am:
- Candy DoGood -
Restaurant Quality
- low level - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 9:54 am:
I generally agree, but I dont understand what would be gained by the following:
When was the last time the Democratic Party of Illinois had a convention?
When was the last time the Democratic Party of Illinois created a concise platform?
If we look at the national convention, we see that a platform is adopted then completely ignored in the fall campaign. This happens in both parties.
Its not like the United Kingdom where a manifesto is published and thats what the winning party uses to govern - “to fulfill our manifesto commitment” is often heard w Government bills in the UK Commons. That’s not the case here.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 9:55 am:
=== There should be four or five large regional primaries spread out over 4 months starting in March.===
There needs to be this kind of thinking, regional block states, and have the process move through the country, not drop into a state for a year and have that state embarrassingly blow the payoff of not holding a workable caucus.
The Illinois state (alleged) GOP is nowhere a functioning organization that could be a place for campaigns to parachute in, first in the county, and allow a thoughtful or honest judgement, first, to any nominating process.
The Ives/Oberweis/Skillicorn/Eastern Bloc folks, most “organized” reflect the GOP of today, the old, angry, white, rural, and add little or no thought to opening the process to an open tent a first state needs to be to vet different candidates and their different policies.
The 0 for 8 statewide officeholder status for the (alleged) GOP here also makes Illinois a terrible touchstone, as the primary winners, statewide, aren’t winning this diverse state.
Moving that Illinois is the first primary will only exacerbate a terrible or non-existing (alleged) state party to the state party best equipped to find the losing GOP national standard bearer.
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 9:56 am:
You do all realize there is a Republican primary too that day.
Would you really tell Republican voters with a straight face this is the best state to hold the first primary for their party?
- Just Another Anon - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 9:57 am:
@Dupage Saint
I vote against the neverending primary election proposal. The answer to elections being early is not “lets have more, smaller elections”.
- John Lopez - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 10:05 am:
“Regional Primaries” hear that idea every four years since 1988 gave us the first “Super Tuesday”
Battleground/purple states should be the first using history from past recent presidential elections to set the order, which would exclude Illinois, California and New York state. States where the voters will decide the fall elections should go first. And since Iowa & New Hampshire are always in play in the fall, they can stay first.
Iowa Dems, throw out the archaic grouping and do as the Iowa Republicans do, and simply count the votes in the caucus. Only difference from a primary is it’s at night and no secret ballot.
Days of voters caucusing for 2-3 hours based on “viability” needs to be retired.
- Boone's is Back - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 10:12 am:
Where is the quote from the Chair of the State’s Democratic party in support of this proposition? /s
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 10:15 am:
===Would you really tell Republican voters with a straight face this is the best state to hold the first primary===
Lots of Republicans in this state. Illinois is the suburban GOP capital of the Midwest. Lots of rural Downstate Republicans and some small urban Republicans. Plus, quite a few in Chicago.
- L.A. - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 10:16 am:
As long as the parties are run by white men (looking at you too Democrats), Iowa and NH will continue to be first primaries. They have no incentive to change the process and why would they. Changing the process to move the first primaries to states with a more diverse population means increasing the opportunity for women and people of color to choose candidates that are women and people of color. As much as the Democrats like to talk about how woke they are, the party leaders look a lot like the Republican party leaders (Pelosi notwithstanding).
- Responsa - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 10:19 am:
Would hope to see the Iowa caucus anachronism done away with as the “first” primary. Would also like to see the entire primary season rolled back to late spring to shorten the annoyance to voters and non-voters alike. Illinois as part of several multi state primary days would seem to give us more clout and generally be of more value to the parties than a one-off in the dead of winter.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 10:20 am:
Great piece by Candy DoGood.
The other side of the argument makes a good point also, that Illinois is more representative of the country.
For those who complain about our corruption image, we don’t want nobody nobody sent. You build up this organization, see, and say your brudder or brudder in law helps you build it up. What do you do, leave him out in the cold? You get him a jahb (job), ‘cause you’re gonna need him again. You’re supposta give it all away for free, for bleepin’ nuttin’?
- BCOSEC - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 10:21 am:
Candy DoGood. Up and coming commenter may be an understatement?
- DoingHumanThings - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 10:23 am:
@John Lopez
I like that idea, states that are more “swing states” getting the first crack at deciding. I think comparing the “most representative” (https://www.npr.org/2016/01/29/464250335/the-perfect-state-index-if-iowa-n-h-are-too-white-to-go-first-then-who) with “swing states” will give a few that should probably go first.
Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Florida would all fit the bill…maybe have a couple of those as the “first” states. You’d also have the added advantage of being able to more easily travel between DC and those states, especially for the candidates with less initial financial resources…same time zone, closer in proximity, etc. This would be easier than having to fly back and forth out to Iowa or Nevada all the time.
- Northsider - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 10:25 am:
Jonathan Ahl made a very good point about this yesterday on the Twitter machine: “Most of the votes in Illinois are in 6 counties in NE Illinois. … There would be almost no campaigning south of I-80 or west of I-39. It would functionally be a Chicago area primary, not an Illinois primary.”
I think he’d be right about that.
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 10:25 am:
There are lots of Republican in Illinois because we are a large state (for now), but the last time Illinois voted for a Republican for President was George Bush in 1988.
They don’t even run ads here for President, why would they want their first primary to be here?
- NIU Grad - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 10:25 am:
“When was the last time the Democratic Party of Illinois had a convention?
When was the last time the Democratic Party of Illinois created a concise platform?”
The last thing Mike Madigan wants is national attention. Sadly, I don’t see this level of a more publicized and open party apparatus occurring until after the Madigan Era. We simply cannot be a modern statewide Democratic Party under the current power structure.
To the note about Republicans, this would be the best thing that could happen to the their party in Illinois. Imagine the level of attention and funding that would pour in, alongside national volunteers flooding all corners of the state.
- Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 10:26 am:
I hope these officials take into account the practical ramifications of going first. Things like having buses crisscrossing the state with national media in tow up to a year ahead of time; having their own people bombarded with ads, mailers, etc.; and perhaps most importantly to them having to commit themselves and their staffers and volunteers to a much longer campaign cycle and a candidate very early. It may sound good in the abstract but the practical aspects may not be so rosy.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 10:28 am:
=== “Most of the votes in Illinois are in 6 counties in NE Illinois. … There would be almost no campaigning south of I-80 or west of I-39. It would functionally be a Chicago area primary, not an Illinois primary.”===
Rod Blagojevich
JB Pritzker
Democrats that won statewide primaries, downstate being a big catalyst in those crowded primary wins.
That’s why a statewide candidacy must include all of the state, because ignoring central and southern Illinois, either party, in a primary, will come back to haunt.
- Leatherneck - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 10:31 am:
The early Illinois primary date did continue into the 2010 election. Likely stopped Dan Hynes’ momentum against Quinn in the Dems’ gubernatorial primary. Plus it led to Scott Lee Cohen’s election as Lt. Gov. before his scandals erupted.
(BTW, if we still had the early primary date as in ‘08 and ‘10, yesterday would have been Primary Day in Illinois).
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 10:32 am:
===… this would be the best thing that could happen to the their party in Illinois. Imagine the level of attention and funding that would pour in, alongside national volunteers flooding all corners of the state.===
AstroTurf type of apparatuses…
Presidential campaigns parachuting in might not equate in building an Illinois apparatus.
Plus, any smart campaign that found talent here would scoop them up and move them along with them to other states… and, I keep saying this, the GOP talent, misguided since 2013 in places, is as good as *anywhere* in the country. Why have these campaigns poach talent, when the apparatus could use some real talent to stay and help build.
- Cheryl44 - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 10:35 am:
1. Issue an invitation
2. Get an affirmative answer.
3. Clean
- Candy Dogood - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 10:36 am:
===dbk - Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 3:06 pm:
What in your opinion is the best way to make this happen?===
I was asked this yesterday and didn’t get a chance to respond. If there is serious interest in reforming the party apparatus, I think it’s the kind of thing that would be best if it were crowd sourced.
We’ve gotten to where we are together and if there is sincere interest in addressing some of our structural issues, we need to address them together.
Iowans are first in the nation because their caucus to county, district, and state convention process takes a while to organize and carry out, but their current caucus process was the result of a deliberate and intentional effort to institute reforms to end the smoke filled rooms of popular campaign lore.
Reform is on Governor Pritzker’s agenda, but for any reform of any party system the stakeholders need to be on board.
If we’re going to propose a system that involves not having members of congress serve as state central committee members, those members of congress need to be on board.
I obviously have ideas as to what would make things better, but I think we all probably have ideas of what would make things better and while there’s obviously some excitement at the idea of being the first in the nation primary, I don’t imagine there would be as much excitement improving our parties to make them more inclusive and more intune with the grassroots.
Say what you will about the Iowans, but their issues with reporting on Monday night are partially due to their on going effort to improve their caucus system to make it more open, more transparent, and more accessible.
- Morningstar - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 10:41 am:
Well stated, Candy DoGood! Illinois should be careful what it wishes for. I agree with all the reasons she stated and would add only that I would not relish the media glare as East/West coast media swarm all over the state to write about the “real” Illinoisans (i.e., regurgitate practically every cliche and stereotype we’ve already seen written about Iowans.) Ugh.
- Tom - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 10:46 am:
If the primary was yesterday Early Voting and Vote by Mail would have begun Dec 26th.
- @misterjayem - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 10:51 am:
On the other hand, some people let the filth pile up and only clean when they know company’s gonna be coming over.
– MrJM
- Precinct Captain - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 10:53 am:
==- Northsider - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 10:25 am:==
You should learn how Democratic delegate allocation works.
- Precinct Captain - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 10:55 am:
==- Northsider - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 10:25 am:==
In case the google is too hard:
http://www.thegreenpapers.com/P20/IL-D#0317
- truthteller - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 10:57 am:
I see no insurmountable difficulty for Illinois to hold first primary. The process not so difficult to undertake. Party Zealots extremist won’t like iy on either left or right as it will much more difficult to hijack a primary in a state like Illinois.
- low level - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 10:59 am:
I still don’t understand what a statewide convention or a platform would include.
Indeed, the Democratic party is quite diverse now w members from all over and policy preferences from far left to centrist moderate viewpoints.
The statewide platform would likely be ignored just as the national one is. If someone can argue why its a good idea Im all ears. Haven’t heard any yet.
- Moe Berg - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 11:02 am:
As many believe the governor is preparing his own presidential bid, a 2024 first in the nation primary, when he would be in the middle of his presumed second term, looks even better. Especially if there is a solidified and proven record of accomplishment on which to run.
The “Future Presidential Bid” lens is a decent one to use when viewing the administration’s communications strategy, legislative agenda, and approach to dealing with lawmakers, lobbyists and interest groups.
This is not meant at all as a criticism of the governor.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 11:04 am:
- Moe Berg -
1) There are no coincidences
2) That is also not a criticism. Nope.
- Precinct Captain - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 11:10 am:
==- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 11:04 am:==
Willy, do presidents own?
- SAP - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 11:11 am:
==That 2008 February primary was murderously cold. And some of Speaker Madigan’s members ended up having closer than expected primaries because the post-holiday election season was so short and turnout for Obama was so high.==
This tells me that the primary date will not be changing anytime soon.
- SAP - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 11:12 am:
==Rod Blagojevich
JB Pritzker
Democrats that won statewide primaries, downstate being a big catalyst in those crowded primary wins.==
Agreed. Those guys didn’t put downstate on the pay-no-mind list until after the election.
With respect.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 11:14 am:
- Precinct Captain -
I’ll defer to Presidents Kennedy and Truman(?)
“Victory has a thousand fathers, but defeat is an orphan.” - Kennedy
“The buck stops here” - Sign on Truman’s desk.
They’d know more than me.
:)
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 11:15 am:
=== Those guys didn’t put downstate on the pay-no-mind list until after the election.===
Understood.
With respect back at ya.
- Sonny - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 11:46 am:
Yeah but Anne wants an oompa loompa now
- Practical Politics - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 11:51 am:
Established political parties used to be required to hold state conventions under the Election Code, but now, due to amendments to the laws, the practice is permissive rather than mandatory.
Party conventions used to be meaningful inasmuch as gubernatorial candidates were once nominated at such party gatherings. This was before Illinois began holding primaries. Most famously, the Republican convention of 1904 required 58 ballots to choose Charles Deneen to replace Richard Yates, Jr. as the party standard bearer,
Nowadays it is merely a beauty pageant.
- Thomas Paine - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 11:53 am:
Governor Matteson was arguably the most corrupt governor we ever had. Although he was never charged with a crime, after he left office in 1857 it was discovered he had stolen the equivelant of over $5 million in cash in just 4 short years.
That did not stop the Lincoln-Douglas debates from capturing national attention nor cast a shadow over them.
Where are the angry masses arguing Chuy Garcia should not serve on the State Central committee?
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 12:02 pm:
===but Anne wants an oompa loompa now===
Wut?
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 12:12 pm:
=You do all realize there is a Republican primary too that day.
Would you really tell Republican voters with a straight face this is the best state to hold the first primary for their party?=
And the ILGOP/GOP plan to become relevant in Illinois is?
1. Whine about the map
2. Go even farther right
3. Embrace a pathological liar and criminal president
4. Hold their breath until the turn blue in hopes that people will give in.
The majority of people in Illinois do not support the ILGOP/GOP platform. The votes are not even close at the state level. The map isn’t going to change that.
At the state level, moderate republicans are the only ones that win with the brief exception of Rauner and he created a massive tidal wave against his type of governance.
And what is left of the ILGOP seems to want that back. Stop whining and offer a real alternative, until then you are just yelling at the clouds and nobody is taking you seriously.
- @misterjayem - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 12:26 pm:
Some people still haven’t figured out how many edibles are too many edibles.
– MrJM
- Candy Dogood - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 12:28 pm:
===his type of governance.===
I’m not sure that’s the right word for what Rauner was doing.
- Titan - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 12:30 pm:
The 2008 February primary had a foot of snow in northern Illinois and ice storms in central Illinois
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 12:53 pm:
- Titan - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 12:30 pm:
The 2008 February primary had a foot of snow in northern Illinois and ice storms in central Illinois
—————-
And a tornado/severe weather outbreak in the South and Ohio Valley (including in some Super Tuesday 2008 states). It included two weak F0 tornadoes near Salem.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Super_Tuesday_tornado_outbreak
IIRC it was also a bitter cold day on Primary day 2010 (Feb. 2, 2010), one of many brutally cold days that winter.
- Pot calling kettle - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 1:22 pm:
===There should be four or five large regional primaries spread out over 4 months starting in March.===
Maybe…or maybe there are other good ideas…
The current system has developed ad hoc, hit-or-miss, with threats by a couple of small states that they will move their events to stay first.
It would be nice if some leaders sat down, thought the process through, and came up with a plan that would address some key needs. What are those key needs? Depends on who you ask, but representative of the larger electorate and small enough that smaller operations can get some traction both come to mind.
That goes beyond the scope of this blog.
To the post, I think Illinois can make a strong case for being an early state. February weather can be a challenge, so maybe we won’t be first.
- Will - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 2:13 pm:
He’s running.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 2:15 pm:
Since the GOP will to exist with today’s upcoming acquittal of Trump, and will become the Trump Party (not trying to be clever), what will a future convention be like? Will each attendee have to make a loyalty pledge to Trump? Will there be a huge portrait of Trump in the auditorium? Will there be compulsory speeches and artistic performances praising and honoring “Dear Leader?”
- Payback - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 2:23 pm:
“It’s time to quit deferring to corn country…” Snobby comment towards Iowa by Hinz. People who live in cities think food magically falls from the skies? That being said, Illinois is still a hick state in many ways. I’m amazed at how Illinois political “leaders” have no sense of self awareness. No knowledge that people in Germany watched TV coverage of CPD detective Jon Burge’s trial.
Illinois only recently got rid of organized crime influence in the courts with the Family Secrets trial. That took what, 100 years since the Capone era? Mike Madigan and Ed Burke are the last living dinosaurs of the Mayor Daley southside Irish political machine that has run the state from Chicago. Let’s wait until they are prosecuted or put out to pasture before we start inviting guests over. Show the world that we can convict our own governors and cops in Illinois, without waiting for the U.S. Attorney to do our dirty laundry. I agree with Candy.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 2:33 pm:
“Show the world that we can convict our own governors“
To our credit, we impeached and removed Blagojevich almost unanimously. There was not the partisan servility that is shown today, literally. A lot of people were glad to see him removed.
We need big ethics reform this GA session. Our image is terribly stained, and we have to start changing that, hard as it will be.
- low level - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 2:48 pm:
== Mike Madigan and Ed Burke are the last living dinosaurs of the Mayor Daley southside Irish political machine that has run the state from Chicago==
You forgot about 1976-2002 when IL Democrats couldn’t win the gov mansion; 1980-1998 couldn’t get to the Sec of State’s office; 1964-1992 voted for GOP presidential candidates? Richard J Daley and the Cook County machine was a hinderance to statewide IL Dems.
Read any of the Len O’Connor books. He gets into the subject quite extensively.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 2:59 pm:
====his type of governance.===
I’m not sure that’s the right word for what Rauner was doing.=
I was making an attempt to be statesmanlike.
- Thomas Paine - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 3:04 pm:
If Pritzker is running for president, calling the folks of Iowa and New Hampshire out as comparatively narrow-minded is not the way to go about it.
FYI the oompa loompa reference was clearly a reference to the Veruca Salt character from Willy Wonka, particularlly the song “I Want It Now.” Folks can judge for themselves whether a sexist double standard is being applied to the governor’s chief-of-staff (I think they are), although she does project herself into social media in ways no prior chief-of-staff did so it is not clear old standards are applicable.
- Springfield Westsider - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 6:00 pm:
=== - Anonymous - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 12:53 pm:
- Titan - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 12:30 pm:
The 2008 February primary had a foot of snow in northern Illinois and ice storms in central Illinois
—————-
And a tornado/severe weather outbreak in the South and Ohio Valley (including in some Super Tuesday 2008 states). It included two weak F0 tornadoes near Salem.=======
I was in the South on Super Tuesday in ‘08. I was near Memphis. Tornado tore up the SE part of that city. Scary stuff. And voter turnout was still almost (if not fully) a record high.
- Blue Dog Dem - Wednesday, Feb 5, 20 @ 6:53 pm:
Sorry. Joining the party late. Because of our crappy two party system, I guess we need primaries. Ya’ll know I love Illinois, but representative of the country? Really? Can’t keep our governors out of jail. And let’s face it, the corruption in our state house and senate this last year borders on ridiculous. The murder rate in a Chicago is top ten stuff and when it comes to fiscal sanity our state is a laughingstock. But hey, the advertising dollars would be a real boost and maybe we can tax it at a 1000%.