* The power of Mike Madigan, rising local property taxes, state gas tax increase, graduated income tax. You’d think this person was running for the Illinois House and not the US House…

Then again, all that probably polls pretty darned well with his target audience.

       

30 Comments - PeoriaDem - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 9:35 am: I love how “Richest people in the state” becomes “high achievers”. - Blue Dog Dem - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 9:37 am: Scary. - Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 9:39 am: “He’s [Madigan] funding my opponents for Congress.” Plural. OK. Donating to Lauren Underwood would be expected. Who else? He’s in a 7-way GOP primary it appears. - Boog Alou - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 9:40 am: It works the other way, too. Pritzker was happy to run against Trump as much as Rauner. - Levois J - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 9:42 am: Smart politics? To attack people in your homestate while running for a position where you’re hardly able to do anything about it? - Anon - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 9:43 am: when you run against Springfield politicians, it’s a smart shot to take. - Bertrum Cates - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 9:43 am: Usually you need to explain the difference to populists. - Sayitaintso - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 9:44 am: Go for it Ted, but if you’re going to haul your football experience into the mix, remember, in terms of respect, only a punter is lower than a kicker. Maybe “I played football for ——years and…..”, instead of using the goofy last line of your letter. And, yes, I played football - average at best, but I was used a lot for practice. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 9:46 am: What a buffoon. Someone, or a campaign so scattershot to toggle between “Madigan” and then Trump is probably is someone, and a candidate, that truly lacks any real substance of thought to what it means to be a congressman. Things that poll well, “ok”, congratulations, you’re hitting your polling… you have nothing to convince me you can do the job or understand things… but… congratulations. Aren’t you losing to Oberweis by 800 points or something? Not a great way or piece to jump ahead. - JS Mill - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 9:47 am: =when you run against Springfield politicians,= LOL. Thanks Bruce. - Anyone Remember - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 9:50 am: “Mike Madigan” - wow. Even at the zenith of his powers, California Democratic Congressional candidates weren’t smeared with Willie Brown. Madigan really does live rent free in their heads. - Donnie Elgin - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 9:51 am: All about name recognition. His message is attractive to conservatives; those who like this message simply need pull a GOP ballot March 17th. He gets his name out linked to Conservative issues. He can narrow his focus to differentiate from Oberweis as the primary gets closer. - Independent - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 9:52 am: Toggling between Madigan and Trump is scattershot for a US Congressional primary. Though when you consider the frenzy his audience has been whipped into it will likely play very well. And he kicked footballs in college, for goodness sake. How can you not like him? Go Team Gradel! - Frank talks - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 9:52 am: So, he’s going to Congress to freeze Illinois property taxes? How exactly does that work? - Dance Band on the Titanic - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 9:52 am: That’ll move the needle from his current 2% to a solid 3 or even 4%. - Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 9:54 am: –He can narrow his focus to differentiate from Oberweis as the primary gets closer.– He’s polling at 2%, and over 40 points down with less than six weeks to go. He better get cracking. - Anon - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 9:57 am: -he better get cracking- you clearly don’t understand how late these things break - Nagidam - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 9:58 am: For all the people that have an opinion of Gradels Illinois centric theme, where were you when nearly every GA Democrat the last decade talked about how their opponent will take away your social security? - Wire Tap - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 9:59 am: I’m shocked he isn’t wearing a large boot for all the tails he’s kicking in congress… - Candy Dogood - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 10:10 am: Once many years ago I was at a Ron Paul for President event. Back before Randy used his father’s fame for his vainglorious career in “public service.” There was a man in denim overalls half as wide as he was tall, and he was pretty tall. He looked to be in his late 50s but hard to tell since his health was clearly never a concern. At the promise of abolishing the fed he screamed and howled so enthusiastically his face turned to red and then blue. Up until that point I didn’t know that people could actually scream until they were blue in the face. Educating voters on policy positions and why they’re a good policy position to have is difficult and hard work. Why do it when you can just pander to what they’re already upset about regardless of it’s relevance? We’re a state in our politics where rather than lead, many folks are hoping to just incite a moment of support from a mob that’s anger is stoked deliberately without regard for accuracy or honesty. I think we should be concerned that this is a mailer his campaign has produced. It speaks volumes to his intent and to the kind of campaign he intends to run and the kind of representative he would be. - Lt Guv - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 10:12 am: On a related note, could someone clue Shia into the difference between the House and the Senate? Her piece today twice misidentified a current State Senator (Oberweis) and a former State Senator (Silverstein) as State Reps. Shoddy. - Candy Dogood - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 10:21 am: ===Shoddy.=== The GOP is just reaping what they sow. - John Lopez - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 10:30 am: Recently, Ted Gradel published this comparison between himself and nameless opponents but it’s clear his target are the two state senators: https://tedgradel.com/issues/compare/ With early voting starting, he released this video of Lou Holtz, clearly shot at the same time the “Underdog” video was shot early last year. He’s really got to get on TV with commercials sooner, like yesterday, if he hopes to make a run at Oberweis. Touchdowns, not field goals. - 17% Solution - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 10:47 am: Hmm. No mention of removing the SALT cap which is really hurting the middle class and “high achievers.” The so called “socialist “ is working to do that. No mention of the wall diverting funds that would pay for Illinois projects and employ Illinoisans. No mention of Trump’s socialist $28 billion farm subsidy. - Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 11:02 am: Was Willie Brown ever Chairman of the Democratic Party of California? Nope, not a fair comparison - Steve Rogers - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 11:08 am: Love that last line. I’ll try it: I fenced in college, I’ll fence up the border when I get to Congress. - Dotnonymous - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 1:08 pm: His brain has been invaded by tiny velvet hammers…which explains the goofy? - @misterjayem - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 2:14 pm: “Then again, all that probably polls pretty darned well with his target audience.” Then he and I agree about the intelligence of his constituency. – MrJM - theCardinal - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 4:15 pm: D grade…piece looks like he is running for local park board - Da Big Bad Wolf - Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 9:59 pm: === For all the people that have an opinion of Gradels Illinois centric theme, where were you when nearly every GA Democrat the last decade talked about how their opponent will take away your social security? === Honestly, I don’t remember that ever happening. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.