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* My Crain’s Chicago Business column…
President Barack Obama returns to Springfield this month for a speech to the Illinois General Assembly about “what we can do, together, to build a better politics—one that reflects our better selves.”
Obama served in the Illinois Senate during a long overtime session in 2004, which only came to an end because he had been picked to deliver the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention and state party leaders didn’t want to embarrass him. Leadership also didn’t want to miss the partying and fundraising opportunities at the convention.
So if he was partly responsible for “solving” one impasse, could he break the current gridlock that has paralyzed Illinois since May?
Go read the rest before commenting, please. Thanks.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 8:46 am
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A president that doesn’t like to talk or work w/ congress is going to tell our Gov and GA “to play nice” smh
Comment by RL Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 8:54 am
A wise man once told me when I was young that a great floor speech has changed many-a-minds, but never a vote.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 8:57 am
The office of the President commands respect.
Personally Obama will command little respect and his comments /speech will fall on deaf ears of the majority.
Comment by MOON Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 9:00 am
This is just a showboating grand-staging tactic for Obama… nothing else…
Comment by Allen D Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 9:06 am
The executive and legislative branches of Illinois government have failed the citizens of Illinois. I cling to the small chance that a visit by the president of the United States might jolt a few of those folks back to reality. Realistically, I continue my legwork toward leaving Illinois by the start of FY17.
Comment by illinoised Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 9:16 am
I wish it could help, but I’m already seeing posts from representatives, on Facebook, that indicate otherwise. Standing up to him actually energizes the base of some and this could lead to further entrenchment and lack of compromise. I sure hope I’m wrong.
Comment by ash Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 9:27 am
Should be a short speech if he limits it to his accomplishments while he was in Springfield.
Question will he throw a life line to Rahm?
Comment by Rollo Tomasi Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 9:30 am
Mr President,
Please speak clearly in your speech to the legislature about the mess that Illinois has become and how compromise (by both sides) is the way out. Please also mention also how what the Governor is doing (demanding that all unions commit suicide) is the opposite of compromise.
Also, please decline the Governor’s “Beer Summit” because it would be an embarrassment to all concerned.
Comment by Omega Man Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 9:33 am
The President should speak for the hostages, should focus on the devastation resulting from this impasse. He should demand the governor and GA stop this deadlock and return to serving the people of Illinois instead of punishing them.
Comment by Wensicia Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 9:52 am
With great respect to you Rich, I don’t think that the Illinois Dems can be so easily compared to the Tea Party. I think most would agree that obstructionist ideology is a feature of the Tea Party while it is a temporary tactic of Illinois Dems. Also when everything else is being thrown at them to weaken public sector unions why would they want to give an inch when Rauner will leverage a while with more crisis and damage. Tea Party republicans only shut down the government for two weeks. Comparatively Rauner has destroyed social services, and weakened so much more, without shutting down the government. But I would say that Rauner has done far more damage to Illinois than the Federal tea party people have to the nation.
Comment by Honeybear Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 10:09 am
Only hope is that they have three beers at the “Beer Summit” instead of one.
Comment by Collinsville Kevin Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 10:13 am
Rauner has pulled off the greatest bamboozle in state history. His was a one plank campaign plank….I am a businessman and I say the Quinn tax hike isn’t needed. All else is beside the point. Was he right? Did he tell the truth? Compromise be darned. Hold him to it….or wait til he screams “uncle”
Comment by river rat Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 10:45 am
Obama’s visit likely won’t improve matters and may even make things worse, but I kinda love him for trying.
Comment by Dome Gnome Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 11:41 am
@Wensicia, I agree that the President should highlight all the suffering that has occurred by this impasse. I agree with Rich in that I don’t think the speech will do much to change opinions in Springfield. I think the Rauner administration will be a failure for the citizens of Illinois but I hope I’m wrong about that. I’ll always wonder if things would have been different if he hadn’t come out and attacked Democrats from day one instead of just picking out a couple of important issues and seeking to find middle ground and compromise. He just poisoned the atmosphere for compromise from the very beginning and sought to implement some changes that weren’t realistic with Democrat majorities.
Comment by The Dude Abides Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 12:03 pm
“But I would say that Rauner has done far more damage to Illinois than the Federal tea party people have to the nation.”
Honeybear, we may have only seen the tip of the iceberg of the damage the federal Republican Tea Party & Rauner plan to do to the middle class and the poor.
Comment by Mama Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 12:47 pm
You can only help people who are open to being helped. Based on that, it won’t matter what President Obama says. However, as the old saying goes, “It is the thought that counts.” Plus the presidents appearance and speech at the capital will be an historical moment for Illinois.
Comment by Mama Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 12:52 pm
I believe the State Senator only voted Yea on partial-birth abortion so it would go through. Absent. N/V or Nay on everything else.
Comment by Chilly Willy Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 1:32 pm
I’ll give you that one Mama. I’m just closer to the damage here in Illinois
Comment by Honeybear Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 4:09 pm
Obama has set Race relations back 60 years in this country so don’t look for him to help Madigan and Rauner to kiss and make up.
Comment by D J Wareham Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 4:22 pm