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Rahm in the middle

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The governor has been trying like crazy to drive a wedge between the mayor and Madigan and hopes the CPS crisis will turn up the heat on Emanuel to make the break and side with the governor in favor of his pro-business reforms. In fact, Rauner has predicted that the state budget stalemate will end in January, when a simple majority is needed for passage and Chicago will be desperate for money to avert the need for thousands of teacher layoffs.

But Emanuel’s lavish praise for Madigan at Tuesday’s groundbreaking underscored the speaker’s point: Rauner’s divide-and-conquer strategy is a bust.

“He has not and I don’t think he will” drive a wedge between himself and Emanuel, Madigan said.

“The mayor and I share too many common interests. We’re both Chicagoans. We’re both dedicated to the interests of the city of Chicago, to the Chicago school system. And we’re very dedicated to the principles of the Democratic Party.”

There are those who believe [language at that link, so be advised] that the mayor and the governor are besties who have completely staged their fight.

No doubt there’s significant stage-managing here, as subscribers know.

But Rahm’s in this precarious position because Madigan ain’t making anything up. This fight is all too real to MJM, and he apparently believes that Emanuel is with him.

* Anyway, I just remembered that Oscar’s third birthday is November 18th, the same day that the leaders are meeting together for the first time since late May. If they won’t fix things for Illinois’ sake, or Chicago’s sake or their own sake, maybe they could do it for the puppy?…

…Adding… I misremembered. Oscar’s birthday is the 22nd, not the 18th. I’m a bad dad. And this impasse ain’t never gonna end.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Nov 4, 15 @ 11:40 am

Comments

Happy Birthday to Oscar…he’s adorable….

Comment by StateWorker Wednesday, Nov 4, 15 @ 11:43 am
Happy Birthday Oscar!

Does anyone know the logic behind believing the General Assembly will pass a budget in January when simple majorities are needed? Are the House Republicans going to be visited by a Christmas spirit?

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Wednesday, Nov 4, 15 @ 11:46 am
“If they won’t fix things for Illinois’ sake, or Chicago’s sake or their own sake, maybe they could do it for the puppy?”

Rich’s desperate appeal reminds me of this notorious National Lampoon cover.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Wednesday, Nov 4, 15 @ 11:46 am
Oscar is just bipartisan awesome.

If the goal is to get Rahm to leverage 13 Dems in the HDems Caucus and 10 Dems from the SDems Caucus, does Mayor Emanuel even “control” any Dem GA members?

“I’ll hang up, and listen for my answer…”

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Nov 4, 15 @ 11:48 am
I think I’d do just about anything for Oscar if he looked at me like that. Then again, I’m a human being with a heart…

If this continues through the holiday season, the Rauner/Grinch comparisons are going to get rampant.

Comment by Commander Norton Wednesday, Nov 4, 15 @ 11:49 am
Oscar’s tail is moving faster than the Illinois political system. Good boy!

Comment by Skeptic Wednesday, Nov 4, 15 @ 11:52 am
== No doubt there’s significant stage-managing here, as subscribers know. ==

No subscription (yet?), so maybe. But…
…As you say Runner put Rahm in the middle, big time.
…A report about maybe a phone ’sailing’
…MANY reports over the years about Rahm’s legendary temper.

Suspect that the Good Buddies ain’t as close as before. Love to hear son of Rahm’s comments after the recent Fish Follies

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Nov 4, 15 @ 11:54 am
what type of dog be that? I really want to know.

Comment by muskegon milly Wednesday, Nov 4, 15 @ 11:55 am
Dear Bruce and the frat boys…Please, I beg you, do not now label Oscar a sham. Thanks in advance.

Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, Nov 4, 15 @ 11:55 am
Happy Early Birthday, Oscar!!!!

My Oscar will soon be 14!!!!

If our leaders will not fix this mess for our Oscars maybe they will do it for those being denied social services, not being paid for their services or product sold to the State, or the map grants and reimbursements to our Universities and the 1000’s of residents being impacted - yeah, right like that is going to happen before RTW etc.

Comment by illini Wednesday, Nov 4, 15 @ 11:56 am
Mike Madigan explains the difference between being “dedicated” and “very dedicated”. Mike Madigan has priorities.

Comment by Steve Wednesday, Nov 4, 15 @ 11:58 am
Oscar has an awesome nose. Perfect for a dog born in Nosevember.

Comment by Archiesmom Wednesday, Nov 4, 15 @ 12:04 pm
On the positive side for Rauner, the GOP can use Madigan’s pro-Chicago quotes in downstate Tier 1 House races.

Comment by Bored Chairman Wednesday, Nov 4, 15 @ 12:05 pm
Rich and Oscar- thanks for the smiles:) much needed!

Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Nov 4, 15 @ 12:06 pm
Commander Norton -

I see Rauner as more the “old man Potter” character in “It’s a Wonderful Life”.

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Wednesday, Nov 4, 15 @ 12:07 pm
===the GOP can use Madigan’s pro-Chicago quotes in downstate Tier 1 House races===

lol

I think they can do better than that.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Nov 4, 15 @ 12:07 pm
A tale of two oracles:

Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it. — George Santayana

To say that both men (Emanuel and Madigan) 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. …Blagojevich thought he could triangulate the two, and I told him he would be strangled instead. He was. — Rich Miller, CapitolFax, September 10, 2010.

I’m outta here.

Comment by Third Reading Wednesday, Nov 4, 15 @ 12:15 pm
I got the context wrong. Rich was referring to Blagojevich trying to triangulate Emanuel and Rich Daley — NOT Emanuel. Very sorry, Rich. My apologies.

Comment by Third Reading Wednesday, Nov 4, 15 @ 12:21 pm
While Rauner and Rahm certainly get some mileage out of choosing the right enemies for their electorate, I’m not sure that Rahm “likes” being smacked around on the tax hike, regardless of who does it.

Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Nov 4, 15 @ 12:23 pm
Oooops again. Triangulate MADIGAN and Daley. My bad, times two.

Comment by Third Reading Wednesday, Nov 4, 15 @ 12:23 pm
Just shows how Rauner has overplayed his hand - both in his policy goals and his emphasis on defeating Madigan for control over the State of Illinois.

Emanuel and Madigan have shown pretty clearly that they will go after unions, support business interests and hold back progressives on issues that affect the wealthy and corporations. They are both conservative Democrats, though in different ways (and social issues are a different matter). But the vilification of these conservative Democrats has obscured the fact that they are willing to cut deals with economic conservatives.

Honestly, if Rauner had not come in waging total war, but said he would do a tax increase if he could take it out of the hides of the IEA, IFT, SEIU and AFSCME through their contracts, their pensions, and a massive expansion of privatization and charter schools, Madigan and Emanuel would probably have wrapped that up in a bow for him.

I’d be fuming if I was conservative and had this line up leading a blue state like Illinois and had 0 to show for it.

Comment by Century Club Wednesday, Nov 4, 15 @ 12:28 pm
Rauner knows he’ll never get Madigan’s support on his union busting reforms, no matter how many hostages have to suffer. But, he thinks he can wear down Emanuel? I don’t see that happening.

Comment by Wensicia Wednesday, Nov 4, 15 @ 12:33 pm
Rich, I think you are the first person to use the words “Rahm” and “Middle” in the same phrase without the word “finger”.

Congrats.

I think it comes down to this for Rahm, who do you trust?

I don’t think he can trust Rauner, who is clearly not his friend. Friends don’t treat each other the way Rauner treats Rahm.

Nor can Rahm trust Rauner as a political partner. Rauner, who says he doesn’t believe in negotiating in the media, couldn’t wait to blab about his private conversations with the mayor regarding collective bargaining.

Comment by Juvenal Wednesday, Nov 4, 15 @ 12:36 pm
I am reminded of an adage articulated by former Congressman William Clay Sr….in politics there are no permanent friends…no permanent enemies…only permanent interests…Madigan and Rahm right now embody that.

Comment by observer Wednesday, Nov 4, 15 @ 12:49 pm
Oscar, I’m happy you are feeling better - and looking wonderful, too. My friend’s dog had your same illness and he had eaten a bone and the shards were messing up his “innards.” Ouch! He’s better now, too.

Comment by Fr. Murphy Wednesday, Nov 4, 15 @ 12:57 pm
Thanks for putting a picture of Oscar up! I don’t know why but seeing that dog makes the day go better. I think you should have a new segment. WWOD What Would Oscar Do. This segment would contain the worst possible news, the most depressing facts, world collapse, whatever. With Oscar to hold us steady, we could take it.

Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Nov 4, 15 @ 1:06 pm
Not sure there is going to be a meeting on the 18th. Still no agenda….

Comment by burbanite Wednesday, Nov 4, 15 @ 1:40 pm
Observer - Interesting comment. I knew Cong. Clay Sr. before he was first elected ( and now succeeded by his son ). Do not remember him ever saying that, true as it might be, but politics in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s were far different from today, yet BVR is responsible for more than the City of Chicago,

I’ll remember what Cong. Clay had to say - and who cares if he was from St. Louis!!!

Comment by illini Wednesday, Nov 4, 15 @ 1:44 pm
Honeybear, I like how you think. I’m sure Oscar would do his part (by doing something puppy-awesome like speed-racing around his yard?) to get our minds off our so-called “leaders”.

Happy birthday, Oscar!

Milly, he’s a Wheaten Terrier.

Comment by cailleach Wednesday, Nov 4, 15 @ 2:17 pm
He’s a Wheaten Terrier? Wow, I’ve never seen a terrier like that! Wow, I’ve had two terriers (one a mutt) and a Jack Russell. I could see the similarities but I guess it’s all the hair on Oscar, I can’t see terrier. Huh, learn something every day.

Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Nov 4, 15 @ 3:53 pm
If you want a friend in Springfield, get a dog.
Happy birthday, Oscar!

Comment by Enviro Wednesday, Nov 4, 15 @ 5:07 pm
Illini…..Bill Clay said that at the founding of the Congressional Black Caucus in 1971…he was a founding member.

Comment by observer Wednesday, Nov 4, 15 @ 7:42 pm
Because of November 22, 1963, it was always a sad day. But since it is Oscar’s birthday it gives us hope for a bright new future. Just what Illinois needs.

Comment by William Jennings Bryan Wednesday, Nov 4, 15 @ 8:56 pm