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The great revisionists

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Illinois

* Yeah, that’s just how Dunkin went down. Right…

House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, thought he had the votes to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of legislation that would have empowered the state’s largest employee union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. The bill would have limited Rauner’s authority to bargain during contract negotiations. So Rauner vetoed it. Every Illinois taxpayer should have applauded him for doing so.

But when the motion came before the House to override his veto, it crashed and burned. Madigan didn’t have enough votes. One of his caucus members, Rep. Ken Dunkin, D-Chicago, failed to show up. Dunkin was out of town when Madigan had to have every Democratic vote.

Dunkin’s absence and his outspokenness about Madigan’s iron fist cost him his political career. Madigan ran a candidate against Dunkin in the March primary and beat him.

The man got 32 percent of the vote. He won three precincts, and those were all partial precincts. He spent $1.3 million and others spent even more. The President himself came out against the guy after Dunkin attempted to turn a public presidential putdown into a ringing endorsement. Members of the Black Caucus, which he once led until they believed he became far too cozy with Rauner, were so disgusted with him they wouldn’t lift a finger to help his campaign. He was accused of attempting to choke a woman with a phone cord. He was also accused of paying people $50 cash per vote.

* Last month, I wrote a subscriber-only piece about the amazing progress women have made at the Statehouse since I started working there. Among the many replies I received was this…

I would say that the inappropriate conduct continues. I’ve had male representatives/senators say or do really inappropriate things to me or to my staff. Dunkin’s demise addresses some of that.

So, keep propping him up, Tribune.

/rant

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, May 13, 16 @ 12:12 pm

Comments

notice the article did not mention how Sam McAnn was a rebel who stood up to his party and voted for it? or how the iron fisted Rauner ran a candidate against him and lost…. seems like creative historical rewrite to fail to mention the yin and yang sides of this.

Comment by Ghost Friday, May 13, 16 @ 12:19 pm
===(Rep. Ken) Dunkin’s absence and his outspokenness about Madigan’s iron fist cost him his political career. Madigan ran a candidate against Dunkin in the March primary and beat him.===

Remember…

It was the Raunerite monies propped Dunkin up.

That means Raunerites in the Raunerite Caucuses that the Tribune thinks Dunkin and y’all are on the same team, teammates!

How’s that, Rep. McSweeney?

Feel good about that Rep. Sullivan?

‘Bout right, Rep. Bourne?

Dunkin is the face, of Raunerites, and the Tribune says its so…

Boy, wonder how far some Autonomy would go about now?

Right? Exactly right.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, May 13, 16 @ 12:21 pm
The Tribune is going to keep repeating it, as will the Gov.

The fact that few of us know of anybody who can stand Ken Dunkin doesn’t matter. When it comes to the Rauner/Madigan dispute, we live in a Post-Reality existence.

Facts don’t matter. People recite the lines without giving it much thought.

Comment by Gooner Friday, May 13, 16 @ 12:25 pm
===I would say that the inappropriate conduct continues. I’ve had male representatives/senators say or do really inappropriate things to me or to my staff. Dunkin’s demise addresses some of that.===

Given his personal history, absolutely no shock whatsoever.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Friday, May 13, 16 @ 12:27 pm
come on rich, surely you’re not denying madigan targeted dunkin after the vote double cross. he supported him for nearly 20 years before sending him down to defeat. nobody cared about Dunkin’s shady history until after he double-crossed der speaker.

Comment by jim Friday, May 13, 16 @ 12:38 pm
Haha, that made me laugh.

Sometimes the Trib just jumps back into fetal GOP mode. I don’t get it. They lose a lot of credibility. Their repeated endorsements of Republicans in a very blue town is nonsensical. Nobody listens to them after they gave George Bush the nod twice!

Comment by Jerry Friday, May 13, 16 @ 12:41 pm
===surely you’re not denying madigan targeted dunkin after the vote double cross===

I’m not denying that. It’s just that I refuse to make the guy some sort of hero.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, May 13, 16 @ 12:45 pm
“surely you’re not denying Rauner targeted McCann after voting against the Governor (and a lotta other things). The GOP Caucus supported him over the years before turning on Leader Radogno, and on Rauner then that led him to be targeted for defeat. Nobody cared about McCann’s shaky history until after he double-crossed Gov. Rauner”

Hmm…

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, May 13, 16 @ 12:54 pm
Dunkin’s political career likely would have been damaged no matter who was the Speaker. Voters went against him because he sold people out.

Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, May 13, 16 @ 1:00 pm
who said he was a hero. he’s swine, but nobody minded when he was Madigan’s swine. then he was good swine.

Comment by jim Friday, May 13, 16 @ 1:38 pm
If there was any real reporting or research being done by the Tribune, they would know a lot more about Dunkin’s Springfield behavior. Outside of the House Chamber.

he’s not the poster child for fighting against power for the people - he is a self serving opportunist

Guzzardi challenged a Madigan backed incumbent and won. he’s not a Madigan pawn.
Mah challenged the system and won.

Doesn’t automatically send them into Rauner’s arms either.

Tribune wrote the story to fit the narrative they already liked. The just filled in Dunkin’s name.

Comment by siriusly Friday, May 13, 16 @ 1:50 pm
===but nobody minded when he was Madigan’s swine===

Says who?

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, May 13, 16 @ 1:51 pm
===… nobody minded when he was Madigan’s…===

Thrice winner of the Century Club award.

That’s 3 times.

Lots of Dems too have to vote against “you” to get that award.

Please keep up.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, May 13, 16 @ 1:55 pm
–Dunkin’s absence and his outspokenness about Madigan’s iron fist cost him his political career.–

Oh, the Legend of Iron Mike continues. Is there anything he can’t do or control?

And here I thought Dunkin got sideways of his constituents in about the most solidly Democratic district in the state when he flipped to Rauner. But is was just Madigan, all along, pulling the strings.

The Madigan obsession is demented.

All that Rauner money couldn’t save Dunkin after he burned his constituents.

And all that Rauner money couldn’t beat McCann when he stood by his constituents.

Rather refreshing.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, May 13, 16 @ 2:01 pm
Everyone ignored Ricky Hollywood Hendons antics Because he was a loyal do what your told vote. So being sexist is fine if you don’t make waves.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, May 13, 16 @ 2:25 pm
“Everyone ignored Ricky Hollywood Hendons antics Because he was a loyal do what your told vote.”

Dunkin was accused of attempting to choke a woman with a phone cord.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Friday, May 13, 16 @ 2:37 pm
So Dunkin went down because he attempted to choke a woman with a phone cord? Why wasn’t that included in all of the campaign literature that included the name “Rauner?”
Reprehensible conduct, to be sure. A guy who had no place in Springfield. But come on: His demise was sealed the day he sold out to Rauner. Are you really prepared to state, unequivocally, if he had voted with Madigan, he’d have been removed from office for his conduct? Please. Revisionist, my rear.

Comment by JB13 Friday, May 13, 16 @ 2:46 pm
Everyone including Dunkin has good qualities to go along with the not so good. I thought his dialogue with the speaker on the house floor about wanting to handle revenue in a comprehensive manner instead of staged votes that won’t pass, won’t solve the problem and are designed to embarrass the other side was really good.

Don’t expect to see another democratic member ever to public ally challenge the Speaker in such a personal way ever again

Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, May 13, 16 @ 2:54 pm
How long until every Tribune editorial is simply, “Four Legs Good, Two Legs Bad”?

Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, May 13, 16 @ 4:27 pm
===Don’t expect to see another democratic member ever to public ally challenge the Speaker in such a personal way ever again====
It’s late on Friday and I don’t have time to find the debate but I’m pretty sure there were some Dems that spoke against the pension “reform” bill when it passed the House and Madigan himself gave a lengthy speech on the floor in favor of.

Comment by Been There Friday, May 13, 16 @ 4:41 pm
- Lucky Pierre -

What happened?

McCann voted his district - Won

Dunkin voted Rauner - Lost

You support Dunkin - Lucky Pierre -? Wow.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, May 13, 16 @ 4:46 pm