Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: New negative ad from Giannoulias uses old headline
Next Post: *** UPDATED x1 *** Sun-Times Poll: Chicago voter interest high, but no clear frontrunner
Posted in:
* My Sun-Times column today uses current events to talk about history and one man’s control of state government…
I think I’d pay to see Rahm Emanuel elected mayor of Chicago.
Because I cover state politics, I don’t much care how he’d run the city. I’d love to see Emanuel elected just to watch him fight with House Speaker Michael Madigan.
To say that both men are accustomed to getting their own way and to accumulating massive amounts of power would be a horribly naive understatement. Stand between them and what they want, and you’re gonna get mowed down. They don’t call them “Rahmbo” and “The Velvet Hammer” for nothing.
Mayor Daley also falls into this category, of course. But he and the most powerful speaker in the history of Illinois practically grew up together. Daley’s father was Madigan’s second father. The two are like brothers.
There’s always tension between the brothers, as one fights to outdo the other in the never-ending battle to be the favorite son, but they almost always wind up on the same side. That’s something Rod Blagojevich never understood about them, even after I warned him. Blagojevich thought he could triangulate the two, and I told him he would be strangled instead. He was.
Emanuel has generally gotten his way by outworking, out-thinking and out-muscling his opposition. So has Madigan. And the pile of political corpses outside Madigan’s Statehouse door of those who tried to beat him one way or another is a mile high and a mile wide. There’s a smaller pile outside Emanuel’s door, but only because he hasn’t been around as long.
People who know Emanuel tell me that he can’t stand Madigan.
“He’ll end up strangling the guy,” cracked one longtime pal of Emanuel’s about what will happen if the fiery Rahmbo and Madigan go at it.
Madigan’s usual play is to let newbies come to him, and then make them stew endlessly while he decides what, if anything, he’ll give them. He has always worked with mayors, but there’s only so much he’ll do for anybody, including his brother by a different mother Daley.
Daley spent enough time in Springfield as a state legislator and around Madigan to know that he’d rather not deal with the state Capitol. You’ll be hard-pressed to find any Chicago state legislators who’ve been lobbied personally by Daley. That’s one reason why his grandiose schemes like the downtown casino never came to fruition. He knew the game was rigged, and he didn’t want to be shaken down by the players.
That has also been the case with Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, who is gearing up for a possible mayoral bid himself.
The sheriff and the speaker never got along when Dart was in the House, and they still don’t. He avoids Springfield like the plague. If he were elected, Dart would likely continue Daley’s general aversion to Springfield, but he wouldn’t have the longtime personal relationship to fall back on in a pinch.
Maybe he’d surprise me, but I just can’t imagine Emanuel letting Springfield — and, by extension, Madigan — do whatever it wants. The man who’s best known for regularly letting his partially amputated middle finger do his talking and who was widely ribbed for reportedly threatening a congressman while naked in the Capitol Hill gym shower just doesn’t appear to be built that way.
So, we’ll probably get a big showdown, at least at first as they test each other’s wills, and those piles of bodies will grow exponentially. Like I said, I’d pay to see that fight.
Of course, I’d rather that we not have a House speaker with so much concentrated power that he runs literally everything. But that’s life in Illinois.
* Rahmbomania roundup…
* Before Emanuel Looks at Mayor’s Job, He Should Look in Mirror: Notably, his managerial record, as opposed to his legislative record, is spotty, according to multiple White House sources without axes to grind. They cite a perceived lack of internal communication; a short attention span; political infighting, notably with Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser to the president; a limited set of loyalties (many to Clinton-era colleagues); and a surprising lack of decisiveness on personnel matters.
* Obama: Emanuel would be a ‘terrific mayor’
* Obama all but endorses Mayor Rahm, but…
* Obama says aide is focused on job
* Potential mayoral rivals play down Obama’s praise for Rahm Emanuel
* Rep. Jackson: Emanuel Has Baggage In Mayoral Field
* Jackson says no decision yet on mayoral run, slams Emanuel
* Emanuel would be best-known mayoral candidate
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 10:40 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
Previous Post: New negative ad from Giannoulias uses old headline
Next Post: *** UPDATED x1 *** Sun-Times Poll: Chicago voter interest high, but no clear frontrunner
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
My money’s on Madigan. More money flows through the state then the city. Rahm will want it, and Madigan can decide if and how much he gets.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 10:46 am
I will take the hammer and the points…
Comment by OneMan Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 10:51 am
I suspect that Madigan and Rahm will get along just fine and I think that Madigan will be for Rahm and will help him consolidate power.
It serves both of thier interests in the post-Quinn, Lisa running for Governor next 4 year period.
Comment by Realist Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 10:51 am
If it weren’t for the fact that our lives truly hang in the balance in Illinois I would also like to see the titanic battles that a R Emmanuel vs MJM rivalry would bring. The theater of RB vs MJM has been tiring. Hard to see that anything useful would come out of it other than alot of good RM columns.
Hard to see how any Chicago mayor would get much done w/out the approval of MJM. Hard to see MJM gone unless the state legislature goes GOP. Things might be in transtion long enough for an astute mayor and governor to get some good things done. Ok….stop laughing.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 10:53 am
Madigan would relsih placing Rahm on top of the pile of bodies outside his door, just a like a 6 year old enjoys placing the star on top of the Christmas tree every year.. No contest I’ll take the icey blue eyes over the mutilated F -U partial finger>>>
Comment by ivoted4judy Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 10:53 am
I disagree word…Emanuel is feared by polticians at all levels here in IL…and he would have a direct line to federal aid and the President as Mayor…I think Madigan disrespects Rahm to his peril…and let’s face it, there aint no money in state coffers to do squat, while the feds can print money at will…it’s like I said last week, if Madigan was abducted by aliens then every political office in IL would be in play after Daley’s bow out…
Comment by Loop Lady Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 10:54 am
Out of curiosity, whose “bodies” in the pile are being discussed?
Comment by Dirt Digger Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 10:54 am
Realist, not a chance.
I wonder if madigan will openly back one of the canidates? the more interesting sceneior is if Madigan helps elect the next mayor and gains control over the city to go with his current power base.
We can probably rule out claypool, jackson, and dart from being backed by madigan…
Comment by Ghost Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 10:56 am
Oh you’re absolutely right Rich. That would be a fight I’d pay to see twice.
But I suppose a big factor in how it could hypothetically play out is who gets the Governor’s mansion in November. If it’s Quinn, how would he be manipulated? And if it’s Brady, does this give Republicans more leeway to stall Madigan’s agenda?
Comment by MKA1985 Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 11:02 am
…and he would have a direct line to federal aid and the President as Mayor…
Any Chicago mayor would, but I wouldn’t count on Emanuel getting special consideration from Obama.
They aren’t Butch and Sundance. Emauel and Obama weren’t tight before. Obama seemed to enjoy talking about Rahm leaving after the the election to run for mayor. Rahmophile’s definitely orchestrated an “It’s Obama’s fault, not Rahm’s” campaign in the Washington press when it looked like health care was going down.
You don’t think Obama blames Emanuel for his lousy poll ratings? He’s not going to blame himself, lol. The President/Chief of Staff relationship often turns sour in hard times.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 11:11 am
Rahm talks a lot but there’s surprisingly little underneath. The DC media loves him because he’s “colorful,” but come on — I know a lot of bad words, too. Whose bodies are piled outside Rahm’s door, exactly — Nancy Kaszak’s?
Comment by enn Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 11:13 am
Chicago will need all sides to get along,especially if the highly unlikely event occurs that see NoTaxBill and Daddy’s Little Deduction win. It would be more brutal that the treatment the city got under St. James Edgar and Company.
Rahm will need to work with Madigan on dealing with the factions…..Madigan is the only one who does that now.
BTW NoTax and Daddy’s Deduct must be real sad that all this energy is now racing through the Ds.
Too bad for you
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 11:13 am
Rahm and MJM are realist. With all the problems facing Chicago and Illinois they will have to see eye to eye on most issues. Thats not to say there will not be disagreements,
but it will be a “live and let live” arrangement.
Even if Rahm is elected, and thats a big if, it will take him several years to get his feet on the ground.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 11:20 am
word: if Obama didn’t value Rahm for his poltical
skills he’d let him go prior to the mid terms…leaders like Obama are the good cop and need Rahm, his bad cop…imagine how effective he’d be advocating for himself…the business community in Chicago will support Emanuel whole heartedly, a very important, influential and well heeled constituency…
Comment by Loop Lady Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 11:25 am
Speaker Madigan and Rahm Emanuel are very similar. They both are strategy masters, one in Springfield, the other in DC. If by chance Emanuel is elected Mayor of Chicago, I would give the early edge to the Speaker if anything because of his mastery of all things Springfield.
You have to wonder, though, how long the two would have to co-exist. The Speaker is getting up there in years himself. Is Mayor Daley’s decision making him think about his own longevity? Springfield isn’t as fun as it used to be for someone like Michael Madigan. His daughter is the most popular office holder in the state. She’s well established, she doesn’t need his help like she may have a few years ago. He has a loving family with grand kids. It’s got to be pretty tempting for him to call it a day soon so he can enjoy the golden years and leave the budget woes to the young turks.
Comment by Springfield Alum Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 11:34 am
I have a grudging respect for the Mike Madigan and his power. I have this respect for him because he learned from and was hand taught by the the man who perfected the Chicago Machine: Richard J. Daley. Whether Daley Sr. was right or wrong* on the things he did is irrelevant because no one can deny he was one of the most awesome political forces of the 20th century in the U.S., if not the most. Clearly Mike Madigan took copius notes.
*(daley sr was wrong more than right by the way).
Rahm on the other hand is where he is only because of his connection to Richard M. Daley. That’s nothing to sneeze at for sure, but it just ain’t the same. Madigan’s quiet shrewdness is another thing that works in his favor; Rahm has been too out front and self-promoting which diminishes his power or whatever power he thinks he has.
i’m not easily intimidated, but if i were, i would be very afraid of madigan more than rahm. madigan is the real deal, has extensive networks, and I’d be reluctant to call his bluff, whereas rahm, imo, is more puffery* and show and i would have no qualms calling his bluff.
*rahm ran with Daley Jr, Clinton and Obama, and in that way has ridden the coattails of the powerful, but has bever run his own–no coat of his own as it were.
Comment by Will County Woman Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 11:37 am
Being a mean and nasty jerk is only acceptable if you deliver. Since 2008 Emanuel has not delivered.
People will only put up with your insults and tantrums if they get something in return. Emanuel is like a fast horse with a bad personality. Once it stops winning you cannot find a jockey to ride him.
Emanuel is not liked enough to win a campaign. He is just too nasty. And a loser. No one likes nasty losers.
Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 11:38 am
All kidding aside, if any of you were around for Harold Washington’s term you would have a better perspective on this issue. Everyone expected the white guy southwest sider Madigan to mess with the new Black Mayor. It never happened, the Speaker is a CHICAGOAN and he LOVES his City. I believe that he would and will help whomever is elected the next mayor of the City of Chicago. He has too much love and respect for his hometown to act any other way.
Comment by ivoted4judy Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 11:43 am
Springfield Alum: If only this would come to pass…Daley is ducking the decisions incumbent in another term (most notably a $700 million deficit), but Mike can just abdicate responsiblity to Quinn…therefore, I think he’ll be around for awhile…
Comment by Loop Lady Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 11:44 am
Interesting column Rich, I didn’t know there was so much animosity between the two. I think for the most part, in the event Rahm runs and wins, they’ll work fine together. In politics, there are no permanent enemies or friends, only permanent interests.
But, if there is a major disagreement, I propose they resolve it on the basketball court: whoever can jump and touch the net wins.
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 11:54 am
ivoted4judy 11:43
MJM didn’t really have to join the messing, Harold was being messed with plenty by Ed and Eddie.
Comment by Way Way Down Here Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 11:57 am
Ivoted4judy and Anon 11:20am are 100% correct.
Even Richard J. took some time to consolidate his power. Byrne’s huge mistake was that she started acting like a boss before she was one which engendered a lot of resentment among multiple power bases in the city. Whoever is elected will not be a Daley the minute he takes office. That will take time.
Both men enjoy hard hitting campaigns, are progressive (whatever the libs say notwithstanding) and if Rahm is elected he would be wise to work with MJM. There is a lot they share in common.
My fear, however, is that rahm wouldn’t which would cause a lot of unnecessary problems for both Chicago and the Dem Party.
I don’t find Rahm to be very effective in front of the camera. Behind the scenes, yes. In order to be Mayor you must do both well.
Comment by someone else Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 11:59 am
What if we end up Rahm as mayor, Brady as Gov and Madigan still Speaker? We could have special sessions that would last for years. Makes my head hurt.
Comment by Give Me A Break Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 12:01 pm
I am not convinced Brady and Madigan are unable to work together. if Brady deals honestly with madigan, keeps his word and does nothing to interfe with madigans control of the house, they could reach detente. if Brady comes in determind to undermine madigan an his powr base…then we will be reliving the blago years.
Comment by Ghost Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 12:09 pm
Illinois is financially circling the drain yet the people there continue to focus on which of the same political leaders they want to re-elect to higher positions. It’s no wonder Illinois now surpasses California as the financial joke of the nation. Have plenty of popcorn around because watching the soon to be implosion will be a show that is not to be missed. All brought to us by the voters of Illinois.
Comment by Soothsayer Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 12:13 pm
What would you pay to see a contest for Chicago mayor between MJM and Emanuel?
Comment by KeepSmiling Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 12:28 pm
WCW: c’mon now, let’s stop making things up…
Comment by Loop Lady Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 12:36 pm
Did it ever occur to anyone in Illinois Democratic politics that the parochial and self-interested agendas are what got the state into this mess in the first place?
Comment by Taxpayer Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 12:59 pm
Taxpayer, technically one big chunk of our current mess is the pension raiding which occured under the GOP to cover their spending short falls, they diverted pension payments to other GOP pork projects. Then the GOP pass legslation to pout the money back in the future by using a system that ramped up payments, but those ramped up payments would not get large for roughly a decade and a half, giving them time to put of the problem. We are now trying to come up with huge payments to cover GOP borrowing from the past.
The naional financial crisis was caused by the GOP’s strong pushbac after the savings and loan failure to prohibit or limit banking regualtion so that the mythologically more efficient private sector could operate nencumbered. turns out unregulated banking destroyed oureconomy and made a very small number of the schemers super wealthy.
I would say our financial mess is tied to the GOP agenda and self interests. Which i why a GOP resurgence will just set up he next round of policies to repeate the mess we are in.
Comment by Ghost Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 1:27 pm
I am not sure -
Both Rahm and MJM are pragmatic men and brilliant strategists. If Rahm wins, I suspect he would See the wisdom in working with the Speaker Rahm got plenty done as the head of the DCCC- he backed winnable candidates- he wouldn’t needlessly pick a fight with the most powerful man in the state- MJM would see the potential to raise more money by working with Rahm- I say they respect their enemies and cooperate.
Comment by Inishmean Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 1:49 pm
Ghost: Why the electorate can’t understand this is beyond me…hey Mr. And Mrs. Ex-Middle class:
Just a reminder who brought you this misery: George Bush, Don Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney amd the lack of federal watchdogs in the banking/investment communities…yep, let’s let the foxes back in the hen house, but guess what? there aren’t so many eggs left to steal…Brady is exactly what the state does not need at this juncture…
Comment by Loop Lady Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 1:50 pm
Rich is dead on about the bad history between Madigan and Dart.
Interesting that John Kass seems to think Dart takes orders from the Speaker (check out his column today.) Unlike Rich, Kass obviously didn’t spend much time in Springfield in the 90′.
Speaking of Kass, what is he going to write about with Richie gone? His entire reason for being will be gone come April.
Comment by Fred G. Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 2:09 pm
there are lots of people who have issues with madigan, rahm,
forrest, dart, anyone who wants it one way and madigan wants
it the next. dart stepped aside to avoid a fight with Lisa for AG.
granted, she would have won, but at what cost to both of them? why wouldn’t that be worth something?
Comment by Amalia Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 2:35 pm
“His entire reason for being will be gone come April”
You forgot about Blago Trial II and Cellini… they might keep him busy for a while.
Comment by Secret Square Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 4:23 pm
Well said, Fred G. Very well said. Kass is so far off the mark regarding MJM and Dart, he ought to be sued for journalistic malpractice!
The two cannot stand each other. Kass should think Lisa and Dan, go back in time and even if he does not interview any of the principals involved (which I seriously doubt he ever does-he makes stuff up as he sees fit it seems), at LEAST look at the time frames in which the ‘kids’ were first elected and the statewide elections going on shortly thereafter. Its not that hard, John!
Comment by someone else Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 4:30 pm
loop lady, RMD has to pass a budget before he leaves office - so he’s not ducking anything. It won’t be pretty but it will be done.
Comment by belmont cragin kid Friday, Sep 10, 10 @ 4:40 pm