* WTTW’s Paris Schutz asked US Sen. Dick Durbin tonight about the not so great night the Democratic Party had here Tuesday…
PS: You have the graduated tax amendment that failed, a lot of opponents sought to tie that to Mike Madigan. State Supreme Court Justice Thomas Kilbride, a Democrat, lost retention. Opponents tied him to Speaker Madigan. It looks like the Democrats are going to lose a few seats in the Statehouse. You kind of punted on this question before, but is Speaker Mike Madigan still the right person who should be leading your party, the Democratic Party in Illinois?
DD: Well, I can tell you all across our state, the advertising told the story. We paid a heavy price for the speaker’s chairmanship of the Democratic Party. Candidates who had little or no connection with him whatsoever were being tarred as Madigan allies who are behind corruption and so forth and so on. It was really disconcerting to see the price that we paid on that. I hope he takes that to heart and understands that his presence as chairman of our party is not helping.
PS: Does that mean you might get behind someone else who might run for chairman?
DD: Let’s wait and see what happens in the near-term here. The House is about to reconvene in Springfield, the Illinois House. And I’m sure this conversation is going to move to a new level now that the election’s behind us.
- Nick - Wednesday, Nov 4, 20 @ 7:56 pm:
Oh. That’s quite the comment.
- Inverted Pyramid - Wednesday, Nov 4, 20 @ 8:04 pm:
Drip
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Drip
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Drip
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 4, 20 @ 8:06 pm:
“Durbin said, ‘Maybe your friend should give in.’ And when Durbin uses ‘maybe’, that’s like a papal bull. Not only should Madigan quit, he should run”
- AD - Wednesday, Nov 4, 20 @ 8:06 pm:
Uh oh. The Governor also didn’t exactly defend the Speaker this afternoon. Pritzker has gotta be thinking about two years from now. If the GOP has a decent candidate (which there isn’t an obvious one right now), Pritzker doesn’t want Madigan tied to him every step of the way after yesterday’s results and Durbin knows that.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Nov 4, 20 @ 8:11 pm:
===that’s like a papal bull===
The Pope? How many divisions has he got?
lol
- hisgirlfriday - Wednesday, Nov 4, 20 @ 8:12 pm:
“His presence as chairman of our party is not helping.” Couldn’t have said it better myself, Sen. Durbin. Thank you for speaking up.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 4, 20 @ 8:13 pm:
lol
Andy Stone was a stand up guy, sure, but like that papal bull, it won’t end well.
- Anon - Wednesday, Nov 4, 20 @ 8:23 pm:
He’s right. But Durbin never complained about Madigan using ads tying even the most moderate of Republicans to Trump.
- Bruce - Wednesday, Nov 4, 20 @ 8:27 pm:
Would he have said that a month ago. I think not. Hindsight is 2020.
- Precinct Captain - Wednesday, Nov 4, 20 @ 8:34 pm:
Wouldn’t the same go for Chuck Schumer, Senator? Or is it Madigan’s fault Schumer and Durbin wet the bed on the US Senate? Look, I’m not trying to claim Madigan isn’t a liability, but there’s simply not the evidence when you look nationally that this is Madigan.
- Amalia - Wednesday, Nov 4, 20 @ 8:41 pm:
Durbin should be the leader in the Senate. and Madigan should go.
- bogey golfer - Wednesday, Nov 4, 20 @ 8:45 pm:
“you gotta know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em,……”
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Nov 4, 20 @ 8:48 pm:
Was that a Fire Madigan T shirt on Senator Durbin?
- Oldtimer - Wednesday, Nov 4, 20 @ 8:57 pm:
Durbin’s 52-41 margin over a very weak opponent with no money was not his typical 15-20 point win.
- Michael Westen - Wednesday, Nov 4, 20 @ 9:02 pm:
“Durbin’s 52-41 margin over a very weak opponent with no money was not his typical 15-20 point win.”
Durbin beat Oberweis by 10.86%. So he increased his margin this time.
- BigLou - Wednesday, Nov 4, 20 @ 9:11 pm:
Does Durbin feel emboldened because he’s not going to run after this so he can throw shade.
- Oldtimer - Wednesday, Nov 4, 20 @ 9:48 pm:
2014 was a good year for Republicans and Oberweis had some name recognition and enough cash to run statewide TV. Curran had nothing.
- Anon - Wednesday, Nov 4, 20 @ 10:34 pm:
There was a third party candidate. Willie Wilson probably took 4 points from Durbin.
- Arock - Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 9:11 am:
That 4% could have gone to Curran just as easily.
- The Dude Abides - Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 9:15 am:
What will the GOP do when they can’t run against Madigan anymore? I think it’s time for the House Democrats to find out.
- bear 3 - Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 3:22 pm:
Durbin needs to remember how he got there. The Gov is not working through MJM and thinks he can be great by himself. Money and Pride do not make you succeed. You maybe able to tell the price of a book by its cover, but not the value…..