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* From Carol Marin’s column…
Oh baby! Nothing says election like a politician and a cuddly kid. Illinois Republicans are hoping the sight of a newborn combined with a state budget calamity will induce voters to throw a tantrum.
With three weeks to go before the election, three billboards just popped up in the northwest suburbs.
The goal? To throw Democratic legislators loyal to the most powerful man in the state, Michael Madigan, out on their ears. A dozen state House wins are all that’s needed to turn that chamber blue to red.
And drop-kick Madigan out as speaker. […]
As to the billboards put up by House Republicans?
“Sounds like another one of those low-grade high school pranks,” Brown said dismissively. “It’s the usual bluster, but lack of execution.”
Maybe, baby, that’s right.
But just imagine if — finally — it’s not.
* The Alternate Question: Would you prefer Tom Cross or Mike Madigan as Speaker? Explain.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 1:21 pm
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would i rather have the caster oil or the syrup of ipecac. I guess give me Tom Cross just to see a change.
Comment by Moving to Oklahoma Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 1:23 pm
Cross, since he covers a district about a block away from my house and I have met and chatted with him a few times.
Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 1:28 pm
Great Question!
If anyone can remember (snark) Lee A. Daniels grabbed the gavel from MJM and was an utter disaster, with all of LAD’s “major” legislative accomplishments overturned by the Supremes, so with that as an opening, I would want to see Cross take a shot, knowing all of LAD’s errors.
Can Cross learn from the mistakes? With the likes of Durkin, McAuliffe, and Saviano on board with Cross, as opposed to when MJM got the gavel BACK they all got chairmanships then or soon after, Cross will have a shot at a caucus devoted to Cross KEEPING the gavel.
A loss by MJM might be the “Exit, stage, left!” MJM is looking for to galvanize a campaign for Lisa in 4 years, as Madigan battles to get the Speakership back …
I want Cross … for the state, for the political theater, and possibly just for the fresh air change could being…
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 1:32 pm
I agree; give me Tom Cross. I just hope he learns from the way Daniels conducted himself when he was Spearker. It doesn’t pay to keep members in session until 10:00P.M. when nothing is going on, except because he could.
Comment by South of I-80 Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 1:33 pm
Frankly I would be concerned if Tom Cross was the recording secretary for the local church glee club.
But it might be entertaining to see just what total government ineffectiveness looks like. People just assume things can’t get worse, but those people are very, very wrong.
Comment by just sayin' Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 1:34 pm
Just Sayin’ wonders what total government ineffectiveness looks like? Where have you been for the last 7 years? Can it get any worse that it is now? Let’s hope the people of Illinois take a stand and put Mad Mike out on his ear!!!
Comment by Nieva Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 1:38 pm
Let’s try to keep the tone a bit more civil, please.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 1:40 pm
Can I have Cross leading the Democratic Caucus–he is more liberal than Madigan on several issues.
Comment by archpundit Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 1:47 pm
I find it hard to get past Cross’s eagerness to cooperate with Blago. All other issues aside, MJM stood his ground against the corrupt idiot. For that he gets my vote.
Comment by What's in a name? Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 1:48 pm
I do believe Mr. Madigan has had ample opportunity to prove himself. You simply can’t argue with where we’re at as a state right now. Rod was a blight, but it was MM’s watch as well. Time to go.
Comment by Fritz McGreevy Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 1:50 pm
Turd sandwich or d-bag to paraphrase south park. Let the senate stay Dem and the house and Gov’s mansion go r.
Comment by Wumpus Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 1:50 pm
neither … I like Renee Kosel. She could do a much better job and is a stronger leader then Cross
Comment by Next Speaker Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 1:51 pm
Madigan, we know what were getting, and like him or not, he is very efficient.
Comment by Rahm's Parking Meter Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 1:51 pm
In a stunning bit of single-mindedly seeing and hearing what you want to, everyone seems to forget that Cross and Blagojevich were this/close when RRB was in the House and really, up until sometime around ‘04-’05. If memory serves correctly, Cross’ dad even baptised RRB’s daughters (and I think they were roommates when they were in the House together - Rich?)
Cross was one of RRB’s chief enablers in the early years of his administration. It was only when it became politically expedient to oppose RRB that Cross started doing so.
But, to answer the question. I’d like to see Cross and Brady try to roll Cullerton. Good luck with that, he learned at the hand of the Velvet Hammer, and he learned well. That said, I’m sticking with MJM. Again people don’t want to remember, but it he, and he alone, who stopped a lot of the craziness of the RRB period.
Comment by Thoughts... Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 1:52 pm
I remember Blago, in one of his rare good moments as Governor, taking the Legislature to task on ballooning State spending. Madigan just kept spending more, and now we are in a historically awful fix. Besides, the Speaker likes political power a bit too much for my taste.
Cross.
Comment by 42nd Ward Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 2:05 pm
Cross, for many reasons, not the least of which is that he would bring necessary regional balance to the power structure of the state. For 7 years now, the 3 most powerful people in the state have all come from Chicago. Conceding that Cullerton is not in danger of losing the Senate, it will be nice to see the power divided between Chicago, the suburbs and downstate.
As for the Cross/Blago connection – who would you rather have? The guy who actively campaigned AGAINST him yet tried to work with him when it was necessary, or the guy who chaired his re-election campaign despite being clearly unwilling to work with him once the oaths were re-sworn??
Comment by grand old partisan Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 2:06 pm
Nothing in Springfield will change until Madigan is gone.
Comment by anon Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 2:07 pm
I’ll heed the advice of Albert Einstein for this one:
“We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”
“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
Cross.
Comment by Bluefish Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 2:14 pm
It would be amusing if Madigan lost to the straw man candidate put up to rub against him.
To the question, if Cross were a reasonable opposition leader to Madigan’s “Velvet Hammer,” I would say a change might be good for the state. But, I see no evidence that that would be the case; Cross’s billboards are just childish.
It might be better if they would both retire. They could buy houses next door to each other in Florida or Arizona and fight over the fence.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 2:18 pm
Cross supported providing Blago billions of dollars in capital project money which would have enabled untold sellng of contracts by him and his crew. Madigan stood in the way of the Cross/Blago alliance and further pay to play scandal. At the end of the day, put money in the right districts and you can buy Corsses vote, not so with madigan. So I want Madigan.
Comment by Ghost Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 2:23 pm
As much as I would like a Republican v Democrat balance to legislature, I can’t see “baby” Speaker Cross replacing Father Madigan.
Comment by anon sequitor Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 2:23 pm
And to address “Thoughts”, and many of Madigan’s fans out there, I’d just like to remind them that RRB would never have been elected Governor—twice—were it not for Madigan’s allowance of it occuring.
Comment by Fritz McGreevy Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 2:27 pm
Madigan for Speaker. When Madigan is no longer speaker those who wanted him gone will wish he was back.
The only advantage to Cross being Speaker is that maybe it will be a tad bit easier to get Lisa Madigan elected as Governor.
Comment by Siriusly Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 2:30 pm
Fitz? Really? Madigan elected Rod governor? Madigan hated Blago, don’t even try to revise history here.
How did the first contest breakout in Madigan’s ward, let’s see.
2002 Democratic Primary results for the 13th Ward in Chicago
Paul Vallas - 44.24%
Blagojevich - 47.66%
Comment by Siriusly Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 2:35 pm
An easy choice for me, Madigan.
Name one legislator who works harder than Madigan. Name one legislator with a better grasp of the details of legislation and the legislative process. Name one legislator who can keep special interests in their place as effectively as Madigan.
Can we all point to things we don’t like about him and his leadership? Sure, probably dozens. But I don’t have any faith in someone else to work as hard as Madigan does, to know as much as he does and devote himself first and foremost to running the Illinois Hosue of Representatives.
I like Tom Cross, and as Archpundit notes, he’s to the left of Madigan on some issues I care about. But I don’t get the sense that Cross plans to win and hold the gavel for 30 years. His ambitions are beyond the Illinois House, so I’d be concerned that he’d use the gavel to boost his political future and that’s not good for anyone but him.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 2:37 pm
Ghost, you know what would have been an even more effective way of limiting the ability of Blago to hand out pay-to-play contracts? Campaigning to elect someone else as Governor. Now, which one of our Speaker choices did that, and which one chaired his re-election campaign?
I’ll keep coming back to that point until either (a) Rich deletes me, or (b) someone explains why we should continue to trust Speaker Madigan with power after he actively supported the re-election of a Governor with whom he had absolutely no intention of constructively working to solve the state’s problems.
(and before someone says, ‘well, he is the party chair, so it was more a perfunctory, honorary thing,’ show me the press release announcing Speaker/Chairman Madigan as the co-Chair of Governor Quinn’s campaign).
Comment by grand old partisan Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 2:39 pm
Madigan. He’s a very sharp guy, very good at what he does and, despite all the smoke, operates within the law (you don’t think the federales have had him on a target list for a long time?). Better the devil you know.
Marin’s column is childish. Madigan is powerful, but he’s not all-powerful. When the economy was growing great guns, and the money was pouring in, I didn’t think it was all due to the mighty Mike Madigan. Now that it’s been stuck in the mud for two years, I don’t assign him total blame.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 2:42 pm
47th Ward, for 30 years Speaker Madigan has used the gavel to boost his – and his family’s - political aspirations….and you’re upset at the thought that Cross might use the Speakership as a stepping stone to a statewide run?? Give me a break!
Comment by grand old partisan Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 2:45 pm
Cross.. other than the people on his staff, how could ANYONE think keeping Madigan would be a good idea??
Comment by Still Gettin Twisted Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 2:45 pm
As a conservative I hope cross wins, in that, it means that the party I ussually support would have had a fantastic year. Still, unlike a lot of conservatives that just deamonize mjm non-stop, I belive that Madigan has been a godsend for conservatives, in that, Madigan has done a great job of moderating his party. In a very blue state, Madigan has kept the way left wing of his party from running illinois.
Comment by Cuban Pilot Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 2:48 pm
I choose the 3rd option. Speaker Monique Davis. Because its time.
Comment by ILPundit Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 2:49 pm
GOP, to what other office does Mike Madigan aspire? Don’t you think he could have run successfully for governor back in 82? 86? 90? Surely the nomination would have been his for the taking. And the idea that he runs the House with Lisa’s future as his guiding principle is complete bs.
Madigan has no agenda beyond maintaining his majority.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 2:51 pm
I guess a similar question would be “who would a Governor Brady want as speaker?” If you are Bill Brady, is it possible that you would prefer MJM as speaker? If he wins, Brady will have to make some tough deals. Madigan is certainly more efficient and politically flexible than Cross. Plus, a speaker madigan would be more prone to help out where a majority leader madigan might just sit back on his hands and watch as an overmatched Cross with his slight majority try to herd votes.
Comment by Cuban Pilot Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 2:53 pm
Hate to say it, but Madigan. Cross was Lee Daniels’ roommate and best pal until it didn’t serve him well to be anymore. Cross was Rod Blagojevich’s great pal until it no longer did him any good. Cross was going to clean up the House GOP staff, but he didn’t.
MJM was like G.W. Bush in one respect: like it or not, you know exactly where he stands. Plus, he’s not some extreme liberal like Pelosi.
Comment by LincolnLounger Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 2:55 pm
Madigan. Because I don’t recall him kicking people out of leadership for voting against his wishes And because the last thing anyone needs is Ron Stephens in the majority.
As for continued debate over who was closer to Blago … it’s funny how a couple years change everyone’s perception.
In 2008, Rod seemed to be thisclose to endorsing Republicans in public, fearing Madigan would get a veto-proof majority.
Thanks goodness the Capitol Fax internets time machine exists to spirit us back to those halcyon days.
https://capitolfax.com/2008/07/03/all-about-madigan/
Comment by Piling on Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 2:55 pm
ILPundit, you really made me cry laughing!!!!
Comment by Me Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 2:55 pm
john fritchey! david miller would be fine, too…
Comment by bored now Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 3:00 pm
Speaker Madigan should continue. There was a time when Cross had potential, but between playing to Blago and his Rightwing, he has lost what appeared to be his standing as a rational moderate w/ a backbone. Despite his faults, Madigan continues to operate efficiently in a hostile, illogical environment. Others may do it better, but I don’t see Cross as one of them.
Comment by D.P. Gumby Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 3:08 pm
=I choose the 3rd option. Speaker Monique Davis. Because its time.=
Almost wet my pants on that one!!!!
Comment by Who Cares Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 3:15 pm
Thank you for that Piling On - much needed reminders here. This is the best quote from a Blago staffer . . . ever.
“Blagojevich spokeswoman Katie Ridgway offered a quick response.
“He’s not a sociopath,” she said of her boss.”
Comment by Siriusly Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 3:26 pm
47th – To say that “Madigan has no agenda beyond maintaining his majority” is a colossal understatement. Mike Madigan’s political aspiration has always been to be the “boss” of Illinois – to dominate both its political and governmental landscape without being the face up front that the people get to vote on. Had Madigan ran for Guv in any of those years, he might have one. But he’d be long since retired – voluntarily or not – and wielding no more power today than Edgar or Thompson.
Would I want to see Cross use the Speakership solely as a stepping stone to higher office? Absolutely not. But I don’t see how that would be any worse than him digging in and massing more and more power over the course of an entire generation, they way Madigan has. If anything, it would provide a direct electoral check on the Speaker, something that the allegedly ‘ambitionless’ Madigan never had. After all, Cross knows that if he becomes Speaker and does a crummy job (either by screwing up the state or losing the majority right away like Daniels), what chance is there that he’d get nominated for, let alone elected to, higher office?
Comment by grand old partisan Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 3:26 pm
Siriusly,
And I’m just genuinely asking here, did the Speaker endorse Vallas in that election? Did he campaign with all his might for him and Rod just blew right past him in the Speaker’s own ward? I’m curious.
- Siriusly - Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 2:35 pm:
Fitz? Really? Madigan elected Rod governor? Madigan hated Blago, don’t even try to revise history here.
How did the first contest breakout in Madigan’s ward, let’s see.
2002 Democratic Primary results for the 13th Ward in Chicago
Paul Vallas - 44.24%
Blagojevich - 47.66%
Comment by Fritz McGreevy Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 3:31 pm
It’s like asking me if I would rather watch
Michael Jordan, or Ben Gordon play for the Bulls! Come on, give me the superstar any day! Sorry Tom!
Comment by Ivoted4Judy Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 3:33 pm
time to de-hammer the velvet hammer. no hammer, he’s just a small guy in a suit
Comment by enevlop Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 4:02 pm
Fitz - I don’t know the answer for sure, but based on those results I would say the Speaker tried to play it safe and either made no endorsement or he went 50/50 in his ward by design. I’m just saying, that Madigan did not help Rod get elected one bit.
Comment by Siriusly Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 4:04 pm
I would rather have Tom Cross.
Comment by Squideshi Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 4:10 pm
47th ward @2:37 agree, Madigan. He keeps it legal, and he was a Blago thorn.
Comment by justsickofit Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 4:14 pm
Love him or hate him, you have to respect Madigan’s work ethic and the way he runs his shop. He has the best and brightest staff. However, Cross has neither the discipline nor staff to pull it off as Speaker.
The feds have been trying to get something on Madigna and his people for years, yet they always come up short. Why is that? Maybe because he knows how to play within the rules. Unfortunately for him, his caucus is comprised of mostly idiots with the exception of a few bright souls (many of whom have left the House or are probably on their way out).
Cross would be a HORRIBLE - and I mean HORRIBLE - Speaker.
Comment by CapFaxFan Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 4:26 pm
Bite my tongue but I have to go with Madigan. Hard worker, dedicated, knowledgeable, and for the people. Now if only he could help turn this ship of disaster around.
Comment by Justice Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 4:42 pm
Madigan by a landslide. He stood in the breach to stop the Blago/Emil train from further wrecking Illinois. He was criticized for refusing to meet with Rod, a move that was correct in the end.
The press should ask Cross about his newfound ethics. When he was elected leader, he did so on a platform of 10 years as leader. Will Tom Cross honor his ten year pledge? Highly doubtful. At least Madigan lives up to commitments.
Comment by 4 percent Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 4:59 pm
Hey Fitz - ask Alexi if Madigan decides which Democrats win in this state or not.
Comment by Thoughts... Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 4:59 pm
Madigan…I certainly have my issues with Madigan, but upon reflection, he has a much more difficult job managing his diverse House Caucus then Cross does in his all white group. I thought he should have passed the Senate’s tax increase, and not demanded GOP votes. However, Quinn has proved to be such an incompetent manager, I came to the opinion that perhaps Madigan understood some things I didn’t.
Today, I wouldn’t give Quinn an extra nickel of taxpayer money. Bottom-line: Madigan is an honest and hard working Speaker. He was always more than fair in his dealings with me. I can’t think of a better Speaker if Brady wins, as expect I that he will, and then democrats will feel fortunate that Madigan stuck around.
Comment by Louis Howe Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 5:03 pm
Looks like Madigan wins.
StateWideTom was playin footsie with Blagoof the summer before his arrest.
SWT is the reason video poker funds the capital bill
SWT did oppose pension reform
SWT did boot leaders for straying
SWT did promise the unions he will role back pension changes
Madigan did get +$1 billion for utilty rate relief
” push nursing home reform
” push impeachment
” tell the Trib GFY on lights at Wrigley
etc. etc.
There really is no choice.
Let’s face Carol is still trying to get someone to listen to her — the person who quit over Jerry Springer. She is a sad shell of herself
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 5:34 pm
if my memory is correct, wasn’t Cross the first to publicly demand Blago’s resignation??
Comment by Still Gettin Twisted Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 6:15 pm
===if my memory is correct, wasn’t Cross the first to publicly demand Blago’s resignation??===
The list of people who claimed to be the first to demand his resignation is endless.
It is completely irrelevant though. One could easily make the case that Cross was closer with Blago than MJM, especially towards the end of the Blago era. The Speaker wouldn’t even talk to the guy. What a silly diversionary remark.
Comment by Obamarama Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 7:48 pm
check the record Obamarama. first public statement demanding resignation… not silly, just accurate.
Comment by Still Gettin Twisted Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 8:37 pm
It’s a dismal choice because neither of them has shown much leadership in the budget crisis. It’s the politics of CYA, and we’re now two years into this thing. But on the grounds of needing to show some kind of accountability in politics for failure or inaction, I’d have to reluctantly say Cross at this point. Madigan has had the majority and indeed very considerable control over his caucus, and he has opted to decline to deliver a solution to the budget crisis. From my vantage point I see both legitimate and illegitimate reasons behind his doing this, but it just isn’t good enough for a Speaker of the House. It’s a hard call for me because a) I realize there’s an expectation in Illinois politics for getting “covering” votes from the other side on tough bills and b) I think in general the policies that have been put out there by Democrats for solving this crisis are far less destructive than those that have been put out by Republicans.
I’m not sure how much good a change will do, though. The Democrats have not, in the modern era, passed a statewide tax increase in Illinois. The Republicans have done several but last did so three governors ago. So you have a historically tax-averse state party versus a newly tax-averse state party in a state where the decline in revenue dwarfs the increase in spending and therefore needs some new revenue to solve its problems.
Comment by Angry Chicagoan Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 8:48 pm
Whichever is from the party that loses the Gov’s race. We need divided government if we’re ever going to pass a revenue package and get the State’s finances on the road to recovery.
Comment by Marty Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 9:50 pm
I have to agree with Piling On. Cross as leader means Ron Stephens is in the majority. As much as I would like another leader in the House, give me Madigan before you give me that.
Comment by Southern Illinois Dem Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 10:00 pm
Madigan, absolutely. 1. Madigan is a centrist, whereas Cross is a hard rightist. 2. Madigan gives his caucus a lot of room to vote their consciences, whereas Cross demands that everybody toe the party line. If you don’t believe that, ask Bill Black.
Comment by jake Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 10:43 pm
Madigan-Want to say Cross, but Madigan was the only leader to stand up to Blago and earned my reluctuant and grudging respect.
If Brady wins, hopefully he will be smart enough to know who is in charge and be willing to work with Madigan.
If Quinn sqeeks back in, I believe that he and Madigan will get along because the next governor’s race is four years away, and if the Democrats don’t improve things, even Lisa won’t have a chance against any Republican candidate.
If Cross becomes Speaker, expect the same old jockeying for power and standstill activity, no matter who the governor is.
Comment by Downstate Commissioner Wednesday, Oct 13, 10 @ 11:42 pm
Are there even enough pro-choice Republicans left in the House for Cross to remain Minority leader, with Bassi and Coulson gone?
Given Cross’ failure to provide anything more than soundbites regarding the state budget calamity, a Speaker Cross would be a nightmare. But it would be fun to watch — kinda like Freddy Kruger.
For example, Cross loves to talk about “pension reform”, but given the huge numbers of teachers, firefighters, police, and other public employees in this state, do you really think Cross could find 60 votes on his side of the aisle to reduce the pensions of current public employees?
I’d love to see Mother Tribune or the SJ-R interview Bill Mitchell, Don Moffitt, Raymond Poe, and all the Republicans with a prison or state university in their district to find out how they would vote on a bill to retroactively reduce the retirement benefits of current public employees and/or force them into a defined contribution program.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, Oct 14, 10 @ 8:01 am