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* The News-Gazette editorializes about President Obama’s upcoming address to the General Assembly…
In his recent State of the Union address, Obama called for an end to partisan map-drawing in congressional races. Why not the same prescription for legislative races in his home state?
Rauner has been pushing legislators for redistricting reform. But Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan is adamantly opposed so the proposal is a nonstarter in the Legislature.
Still, Obama’s support could boost efforts by groups that are working to put the independent maps issue on the November 2016 ballot in the form of a state constitutional amendment.
The presidential bully pulpit is an imposing platform. Obama should use it to, among other things, help restore electoral energy to the state’s now-fraudulent process of electing the people’s representatives to the General Assembly.
* The Question: What should President Obama say during his speech?
This is a serous question, so no snark and keep your drive-by national political talking points to yourself. Thanks.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 12:19 pm
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What he needs to do is build his legacy by thanking and complimenting the people who adopted him and showed him how to become president. Obama is at a point where he needs to give back to us because of what we gave to him. He needs to publically acknowledge the ties he has to Illinois that made him famous.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 12:23 pm
I have always thought the Dems, through their progressive wing, ought to get out in front of and own redistricting. I’m certain IL would still be a heavily D-dominant state even without it. I hope the President endorses that (but not term limits).
Comment by Ray del Camino Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 12:27 pm
Seeing how this is supposed to be an address by President Obama on “bi-partisanship”, I wonder how many tickets the Speaker will offer up to the Republicans for the House Gallery to view the address?
Comment by Colin O'Scopey Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 12:29 pm
He should use this opportunity to share lessons learned as a leader within divided government. Why is common ground so hard to find?
Comment by Bocephus Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 12:31 pm
I would like for the President to reflect on his legacy and roots to the Illinois GA.
Comment by Stones Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 12:32 pm
I’d like to hear him talk about the role that unions have played in the nation’s history, and in Illinois’ history in particular.
Talking about nonpartisan redistricting would be gravy.
Comment by thunderspirit Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 12:37 pm
I would like him to address violence and school funding issues. the redistricting thing is not as important as people dying and children in need of a system that serves them better than it serves administrators.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 12:40 pm
Redistricting is an issue, but not the biggest issue facing Illinois today. I don’t think that the President would address the GA over something that won’t happen again before the next census when Illinois has such a large budget problem.
Comment by A Jack Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 12:41 pm
He should attack the lame excuse used by the Democrats to justify their continued support of gerrymandering: protecting minorities. Coming from him, that would have particular power. For one thing, other states have managed it without hurting minorities (see California). But beyond that, drawing districts to protect minorities is a chimera. For example, the 4th Congressional district combines two Hispanic areas to create a Hispanic district, but if the areas were in two separate districts the same population would have huge influence in two districts rather than one.
Apart from redistricting, the speech I want him to make is one that he can’t. That despite his saving the economy from a recession there is a storm cloud on the horizon, one that rises above our current politics. There’s no more bright future in sales. We’re not going to be saved by a “green economy” (heck, we’ve benefited immensely from new oil technologies that make the environment worse in the long run). Technological disruption is real. The nation has been glutted with low skilled workers (not by fault of their own). That’s why the recovery - now old and expected by most economists to end in a couple of years - hasn’t produced wage increases. Adults today are not going to educate themselves out of it at community college. As Thomas Friedman has written, we’re going to have to borrow ideas from the far left and far right in the future to guarantee workers a comfortable life while insentivizing the productivity needed to be able to support such a system.
Comment by lake county democrat Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 12:42 pm
Reiterate recent remarks from his trip to the mosque.
Governing for everyone, not just the wealthy.
Comment by Huh? Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 12:42 pm
I’d like him to stand up for the sick, poor and old folks who did nothing to cause this budget mess who are being used as hostages to get the Democrats to turn their backs on unions.
Comment by Albany Park Patriot Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 12:44 pm
I’d urge the President to focus on 3 points: 1) The absolute necessity for non-partisan redistricting; 2) The need for the legislature to remember that it serves ALL of the people of the state, not just their own party and district, and 3) to thank the GA for providing his start on the road to the White House.
Comment by Mr. Smith Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 12:45 pm
I know that there is an expectation that he will wade into our Illinois issues and try to solve those but I think that thinking is a) surprisingly far too prevalent and b) very unlikely. It’s much more likely that he’ll have a message with a national focus using a local backdrop.
If the President focuses on improving our politics and improving our relationships I hope he acknowledges that this was one of his goals when running for President and he came up short. I always thought it was an unrealistic priority but it seemed to be a genuine goal of his and I think for credibility on this issue he has to acknowledge that.
Given that he’s expected to talk about our political divide I’d expect him to reference Lincoln’s House Divided speech, afterall it was given from the Old State Capitol.
I actually hope that he takes the time to accept Governor Rauner’s invitation, I think that even symbolically it’s the step in the type of direction that would help. However I also hope that he reminds the Governor that the executive branch leader has a greater responsibility/burden that so far he hasn’t met.
But mostly we’ve been waiting for (and not finding) that thing that starts the momentum toward some resolution of our lengthy impasse. It’s unlikely that the President’s visit will be that thing, but I can still hope.
Comment by The Captain Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 12:51 pm
Thanks for the memories …
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 12:52 pm
I would like the speech to put pressure on elected officials to come together for the good of the state. And to focus on this issue of redistricting reform. Maybe having the president advocate for this issue could help move it forward and appease certain parties enough for them to be more willing to compromise in other areas.
Comment by All the king's men Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 12:52 pm
I am very doubtful his thoughts on any subject will be heeded or remembered, for that matter. That will be yet another failure of this politically crippled system we call Illinois. (When out of state does anyone - ANYone proudly boast, when asked, ‘I’m from Illinois!’ ?
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 12:54 pm
I would like to hear him discuss that politics is the art of the possible. And that it is the duty of government, both Federal and State to provide a safety net to those most vulnerable in society.
Comment by G'Kar Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 12:55 pm
I’d like him to say that wage inequality is real and partisan politics is the smokescreen that keeps the general populace ignorant of the fact.
I long for the day when ideas, not personalities, hold sway, moving us away from the WWF style of governance we’ve had for the past 20 years.
Comment by Jocko Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 1:02 pm
I hope he makes targeted hits to both sides. I also would like to hear him say that if we don’t get our act together he will explore federal options. I have no idea what this would mean but it would comfort me to know end if the feds could do something to force good government.
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 1:02 pm
“Today, after an exhaustive review by the DOJ, I have determined that 1%ers really are not citizens of any state and therefore I rescind the results of the 2014 gubernatorial election”
Comment by Annonin' Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 1:03 pm
He’ll never do it, but I would like to see Obama deliver a good old-fashioned tongue lashing and aim for both sides of the aisle. With less than a year left as president, he is free to say what he wants, and so he should start by saying “Ladies and gentlemen, you are a disgrace, and there is no excuse. Real people are suffering because you have refused to do the jobs that you were elected to do. Children are suffering now, and they will suffer more in the future as a mountain of unpaid debt grows to unimaginable proportion. It is already unimaginable. State government in Illinois has managed to do the impossible: Make Congress in Washington D.C. look good. You have turned what should be one of the most prosperous states in the nation into a laughingstock, and it makes me ashamed to say that I’m from here.” And then just keep going from there. Keep it short–15 minutes at the most, then walk out without looking back, smiling or shaking hands. If he did that, the dysfunction in state government would instantly become a national issue, ten times more than it is already. And if he did that, maybe, just maybe, the people responsible for this mess would be shamed into doing something to solve it.
Of course, he will never do it. But if he truly loves this state, he should seriously consider it. Calls for compromise and coming together aren’t going to work. We all know that. It’s time for some tough love.
Comment by He'll Never Do It Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 1:15 pm
“state’s now-fraudulent process of electing the people’s representatives to the General Assembly.”
It’s not fraudulent, The U.S. Supreme Court ruled a few years back that the current practice is legal.
I am, however, in favor of redistricting reform, done in a manner like Iowa’s - a combination of computer modeling and an independent bipartisan committee.
Comment by Rufus Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 1:17 pm
>
Comment by Touré's Latte Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 1:23 pm
Flint reminds us of the hazards of an economy based on cost-cuts and toxicity. A nuclear power plant disaster would make budgetary issues seem like a walk in the park.
Irony: nukes aren’t just hazardous. They’re more costly than wind, solar, and hydro alternatives. Stop supporting the nuke industry. Shut them down.
Comment by Kasich Walker, Jr. Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 1:25 pm
I would like him to hark back to his teaching days, and give a primer on how government is set up and works. Also, about the role of the Executive Branch and the imprudence of making statements to tank your own economy.
Comment by burbanite Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 1:25 pm
What he should say: I know what it feels like to try to govern a body politic while dealing with obstructionists in a legislature beholden to special interests, more interested in scoring political points with their constituencies than solving the problems faced by the citizens they’re supposed to represent.
Comment by JB13 Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 1:27 pm
President Obama is a smart politician and, as such, won’t overtly say what he’s thinking or what needs to be said. We’ll have to read between the lines.
Comment by Dome Gnome Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 1:34 pm
I’d like more of a legacy speech about Illinois–some on our past, some on what’s changed and what’s stayed the same since he served in Springfield, what he loves about Illinois, and our responsibility to leave things in better shape that we got them and to give the next generation a better life.
Comment by Earnest Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 1:37 pm
I would love for him to talk about - from his perspective as President, what does he wish he would had done differently when he served in the Illinois Capitol.
Comment by Downstate Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 1:47 pm
I’m guessing it will be a victory lap, going down memory lane back where it started, and some broad strokes on the nation’s future. But that’s a guess.
I covered Reagan’s return to WOC in Davenport back in ‘88, and that’s how he played it.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 1:51 pm
He will promise to move back home in Chicago and not Hawaii as an example to all those who in the last decade left our state for better environs and more prosperity.
Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 2:32 pm
He should say that his remarks on term limits and gerrymandering were merely opinions, while ballot advisory questions on millionaire taxes are direct from citizens.
Comment by Dr X Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 2:41 pm
Precluding snark makes it hard to answer the question, but I’ll try anyway.
I think he should say a chief executive can accomplish a lot if he has a majority in the legislature, and if he is also willing to lose that majority. Healthcare comes to mind. I think President Obama should acknowledge that fighting for a win on ACA cost his party control of Congress. He should tell us if he thinks it was worth it.
And because of the level of vitriol among DC Republicans, once he lost Congress, Obama lost the ability to get much, if anything done. He could then go into great detail about the mean old Republicans and the nasty things they’ve said and done to him, but he won’t.
The message to Rauner is this: if you want your Turnaround Agenda to pass, you better get yourself a majority in both chambers of the General Assembly. Otherwise shut up about it because you’re living in a dream world if you think Democrats are going to pass that. Oh, and Governor Rauner, be happy that Madigan and Cullerton are being way nicer to you than Boehner and McConnell were to me.
Short version: politics ain’t beanbag. Shut up and govern.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 3:19 pm
I’d like to see Obama tell the GA how Illinois could gain national prominence as the state where Democrats and Republicans cooperate to get things done.
As the Number One Victim of partisanship and obstructionism during his seven years in the White House, President Obama is in a unique position to describe how stubbornness fails to get anything meaningful accomplished.
He could point out that Illinois, and the United States, have terrible problems that can be solved only when both parties work together. Illinois could lead the way by showing that democracy is not broken. Political selfishness is hurting citizens no matter where it happens.
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 3:30 pm
Dr. X
Maybe if Madigan allowed a ballot advisory opinion on gerrymandering and term limits we’d have the data you demand. Until then we have the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute and others.
Comment by lake county democrat Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 3:44 pm
GREAT QOD:
Can hope that 1) Obama’s gang reads this thread, and 2) the Presidents speech goes something like this fantasy:
“Mr. Raunner and members of the IL General Assemble. I’m happy to speak to you leaders in MY HOME STATE of IL.
The middle class in under attack, poor, infirm and those in need are seeing cutbacks from which they have no recourse, particularly in IL recently.
Also, as you probably know, I’ve and my administration have lived through a government shutdown once or twice. That is a disaster. And not a path ANYONE or State should follow. Destruction is not a way to ‘build’.
Let me add that as a Democrat President, I have been able to get a budget pased and signed into law with a Republican controlled Congress.
So, Mr. Raunner: What are you thinking? I love IL; how about you?”
Comment by sal-says Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 4:01 pm
Paul Simon Institute: 79% favor term limits in a 2014 poll. 61% “strongly favor.” http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/paul-simon-public-policy-institute-poll-term-limits-quinn-rauner-254531841.html
Comment by lake county democrat Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 4:04 pm
No action should be taken the current redistricting proposals! Both are designed and created by GOP and have just created a different bias in the voting abilities. A plan GOP offering locally is to use ‘registered voters’. Numerous articles on national level identify how this is highly biased to GOP dominance.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 4:05 pm
His speech should follow the theme “We’re all in this together”and it’s important that every citizen in this state feel safe, financially secure and free to access all of the services this great state has to offer (not only the select few able to afford them). Emphasis should be made on the most helpless: the disabled, the elderly, the poor and young people trying to advance through affordable education.
Politics shouldn’t get in the way of these goals and all of our elected officials should remember they’re supposed to be in service to us, not their political ambitions.
Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 4:20 pm
From an historical perspective, it would be great for him to talk about his time in Springfield, what he learned there, and how he applied it (successfully or otherwise) to his time in D.C.
If he needs to connect it to things today, he can weave in the necessity for bipartisanship that we saw more of while he was here.
Still, this could be one that historians will reference for “how it began.”
Comment by Gooner Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 5:06 pm
++- Streator Curmudgeon - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 3:30 pm: ++
I agree with you.
Comment by Mama Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 6:25 pm
He is coming to one of the most gun violent states. He could put an end the war on drugs and lift federal sanctions causing people to put their guns down and go to work. The war on people must stop
Comment by Rabid Friday, Feb 5, 16 @ 8:15 am