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Quote of the week

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Illinois

* Speaker Madigan in the Sun-Times…

“The idea that I just issue unilateral rules day in and day out is just, it’s pretty laughable,” Madigan said.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:07 am

Comments

“…if you have to issue the rules out loud, you’re really just not that powerful.”

Comment by Century Club Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:09 am
. . . My fungi are taught the rules the first day they arrive. I don’t have to issue rules after that.

Occasionally, one breaks a rule. Then there’s a different kind of lesson I have to give.

Comment by Keyrock Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:16 am
Should be the quote of the month!

Comment by NOTFUNNY Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:17 am
I think it’s safe to retire the super-majority dictator fiction after 60-plus failed override attempts.

Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:17 am
Of course day in and day out is laughable. MJM only has to issue his edicts once. Most people get the message.

Comment by The Man on 6 Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:17 am
“Chuckle til you buckle….”

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:19 am
“I don’t issue them more than once every other day.”
Madigan

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:22 am
Other than repeatedly calling bills for a veto override that trim the Governor’s powers and authority? And when he is short of votes for the override, he does it anyway? Mr. Reasonable he ain’t!

Comment by Louis G Atsaves Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:23 am
Word, I agree, but when one of the most powerful men in the state says something like that, you have to poke fun.

Comment by Century Club Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:26 am
Pretty sure he said he never forced out the former Metra Director either. Not sure it was laughable, with the $740K buyout, the subsequent removal of several Board members, and several million in legal fees. Issuing an order like that would have been sad, not laughable.

Comment by Lincoln Lad Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:27 am
“The idea that I just issue unilateral rules day in and day out is just, it’s pretty laughable,” Madigan said.

After an uncomfortably long pause, the House Democrats laughed uproariously.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:28 am
Now if like Rauner, Madigan gave out $5000 and $10,000 direct payments to all the members of his party in the GA to influence their votes - and also gave out larger amounts of campaign money, like Rauner will be giving out, then I think Madigan would have more clout. Money speaks.

Comment by Joe M Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:28 am
Notice MJM didn’t say it was untrue.

Comment by anon Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:35 am
Sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying.

Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:41 am
==That’s why I have staff.== /s

Comment by Formerly Known As... Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:55 am
The myth of the All-Powerful Madigan is part of our political landscape.

It’s the greatest excuse for inaction, or justification for self-comforting cynicism around Springfield. Sometimes Madigan leverages the myth with the less-informed, for political advantage. Some people cede him power by personal choice, even when he doesn’t demand it and there’s little reason to do so. Some just feel better as victims, than as responsible actors. Mostly, however, Madigan’s real power is both strictly bound, and often not exercised. The caucus often moves him off his own initial positions, and sometimes just won’t be corralled.

It remains a powerful myth.

If we want to get something done, or even understand what is happening, we have to separate reality from myth.

Comment by walker Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 10:08 am
As he issues the unilateral dictum of the day to both legislators and media.

Comment by Raw Dog Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 10:11 am
Is “omni-lateral” a word?

Comment by nixit71 Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 10:18 am
==- anon - Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 9:35 am:==

Try re-reading, this time for comprehension.

Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 10:19 am
The Madigan rules are only in effect on days that end in “Y”.

Comment by anon Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 10:32 am
walker @ 10:08am:
Homerun! That’s the nuanced reality that almost all can’t appreciate, nor interpret.
Thus endeth the lesson.

Comment by northernwatersports Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 11:10 am
…and I’m sure Madigan is still laughing about it, as he keeps issuing “understood” unilateral rules several times a day…

This recalls a TV interview that Walt Jacobson had with an aging Alderman a few years back. the Alderman told him that “clout” in Chicago was a myth. The film kept running unbeknownst to the alderman, and Jacobson told him that he just got a parking ticket, and he wondered in the Alderman could fix it for him. He answered, “Sure, you got clout.” Then Jacobson laughed and said “gotcha!” and the Alderman joined in the laughter and said, “Ya got me!”

Lot’s of laughing in Chicago Dem machine politics…

Comment by Arizona Bob Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 11:17 am
@Wordslinger
Remember, war does not determine who is right, but who is left. There is still plenty of court orders to come here shortly….

Comment by Topcat43 Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 12:23 pm
The only thing laughable about the idea is that it’s true. It’s laughable that we have allowed one man to amass that much power.

Comment by Downstate GOP Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 1:18 pm
Was this right before the “don’t talk to miller” comment?

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 1:55 pm
He does not issue daily rules. They are more like edicts

Comment by One of the 35 Thursday, Nov 12, 15 @ 2:16 pm