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More flowery Madigan praise from Bradley

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Did Rep. John Bradley’s 2011 radiant praise of Mike Madigan, likening him to Abraham Lincoln, send chills down your spine?

Well you’ve seen nothing yet.

Last year, John Bradley was so fortunate to be able to nominate Madigan again, and boy did he deliver.

Bradley was “honored” to nominate “the man” Michael J. Madigan for Speaker.

He compared Madigan to none other than Benjamin Franklin, saying both were “of the people” and “servants of the people.”

And he even claimed that Mike Madigan, the same person who fought redistricting reform and term limits, protects our democracy.

Watch for yourself here

JOHN BRADLEY: I’m honored to be a part of this celebration of the institution of the House of Representatives. Its constitutional integrity as a political body, and its historical place as a co-equal branch of government. And most importantly, to second the nomination of “the man” Michael J. Madigan, who in our time in history has protected this institution, its sovereignty, and its independence. Benjamin Franklin, constitutional delegate and Speaker of the Pennsylvania Assembly said of the institution of the House of Representatives, “they are of the people, and return again to the people to mix with the people, having no more durable preeminence than the different grains of sand in an hour glass. Such an assembly cannot easily become dangerous to liberty. They are the servants of the people, sent together to do the people’s business and promote the public welfare. Their powers must be sufficient, or their duties cannot be performed.”

Speaker Madigan, as delegate to our Illinois constitutional convention, as our Speaker and a student of history, recognizes our duties and our need for strength to protect democracy and as a check to the other branches of government.

When this body has come under attack, Speaker Madigan has fiercely led our constitutionally appointed duties and so secured our independence.

Pope Francis recently expressed what a public servant should be. “Every man, every woman, who has to take up the service of government must ask themselves two questions. Do I love my people in order to better serve them? Am I humble, and do I listen to everybody, to diverse opinions, in order to choose the best path? If you don’t ask those questions, your government will not be good. Speaker Madigan embodies this. He listens, and although there isn’t always agreement, he respects the institution and all of its members. And we know that both sides, both sides, have a strong leader who will protect this institution, protect this house. I stand in second to the nomination of Speaker Michael J. Madigan as speakers of the 99th General Assembly of the Illinois House of Representatives.

Thoughts?

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 10:46 am

Comments

Thoughts?

Yeah, here’s a thought: the only person — only person — preventing Rauner’s Illinois from devolving into Brownback’s Kansas (or Walker’s Wisconsin or Pence’s Indiana) is Michael Madigan.

So, yeah. There’s that.

Comment by Bobby Catalpa Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 10:48 am
Bobby - so true. I never thought very much about Mike Madigan in the past, but I love him now and wish I was in his district so I could vote for him!

Comment by NoGifts Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 10:52 am
My thoughts are of Eddie Haskell.

Comment by Responsa Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 10:56 am
Unfortunately the “tale of 2 Illinois, Chicago and everything that is not Chicago” is playing out in deep Southern Illinois. I have to believe, in spite of how popular he may be, John Bradley is in trouble.

Comment by Colin O'Scopey Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 10:59 am
All that money…Rauner has literally bankrolled and purchased the Illinois Republican Party.

And the delicious part is they’re still going to lose.

Comment by Chucktownian Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 11:04 am
Or we could descend into Massachusetts where Democrats are responsible enough to reform workers comp an public employee health care

Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 11:11 am
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20160204/OPINION/160209897?template=printart

We could just compromise like other states with balanced budgets

Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 11:13 am
People in southern Illinois may not particularly like Mike Madigan, but at the end of the day if Bradley’s relationship with Madigan benefits the region in terms of jobs, industry, education, safety and security, then people will tolerate Madigan and return Bradley to office. After all, people in that region are not as nearly ignorant as people miight think. In fact we’re pretty darned practical.

Comment by Yiddishcowboy Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 11:16 am
Invoking Benjamin Franklin and Pope Francis in the same speech…….SHOVELS!!!!

Comment by Bogey Golfer Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 11:20 am
Bradley’s “Lincoln” speech posted here yesterday was truly amazing in its posterior smooching flattery of Speaker Madigan. This Ben Franklin- Pope Francis one carries political treacle to previously unknown heights. I think Bradley definitely has a future at Hallmark cards should his attempt at re-election fail next month.

Comment by Responsa Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 11:35 am
Bradley is in trouble. Big trouble.

Comment by Deft Wing Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 11:42 am
Wow - it’s like John Bradley read my mind: anytime I think of any member of the Illinois legislature, I’m immediately reminded of how similar they are to Pope Francis. Selfless service; humility; love for all - is it the Illinois House, or the College of Cardinals - so hard to tell the difference! /s

Comment by Johnny Tractor Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 11:47 am
Strained logic: if the Pope ate at Saputo’s every night then he is surely like Mike Madigan.

This read more like a eulogy for someone who freed a country or walked on the moon.

Comment by Team Sleep Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 11:49 am
Sounds like the only person Rep. Bradley admires more than himself is Speaker Madigan.

Comment by Davos Seaworth Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 11:53 am
—Deft Wing - Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 11:42 am:

Bradley is in trouble. Big trouble.—

Do you have access to any polling data? If so, please share.

Comment by sonny chiss Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 11:56 am
I feel like I should drop off a roll of toilet paper at his office today, maybe a case.

Comment by Downstate Illinois Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 12:33 pm
Republicans probably won’t admit it, but the fact is that Madigan has been protective of House prerogatives, even with Democratic governors. He has, for example, fought gubernatorial use of line-tem veto to rewrite bills.

Comment by anon Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 12:45 pm
Whether it costs him his job or not, the ultimate question is why why why would you put yourself in this position if your seat is not safe? I’m sure the Speaker doesn’t want the flowery praise, just your vote.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 12:56 pm
anon @ 12:45 pm:–even many of the most ardent Dem partisans are able to see the humor about Bradley’s ridiculous over the top rhetoric. Join the fun today. It’s OK to laugh at politics sometimes! Really.

Comment by Responsa Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 12:58 pm
Looks like Bradley is going to be dusting-off that law degree come November 9 as he humbly returns to the private sector. Couldn’t happen to a finer gentleman.
=Republicans probably won’t admit it, but the fact is that Madigan has been protective of House prerogatives=

I’ll admit that is true. Unfortunately “House prerogatives” means doing exactly what Madigan wants and not what is best for the citizens or the future of Illinois.

Comment by Big Muddy Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 1:03 pm
If John Bradley is defeated on November 8, I’ll eat the Capitol dome.

Comment by Old Shepherd Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 1:29 pm
“He makes Mother Teresa look like an axe murderer.” /s

Comment by Ron Burgundy Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 1:36 pm
==Whether it costs him his job or not, the ultimate question is why why why would you put yourself in this position if your seat is not safe?==

John Bradley has never really had a contest in his district. I’m not sure if his current race is a real contest or not.

Comment by Exit 59 Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 1:44 pm
===I’m not sure if his current race is a real contest or not===

Oh, it most definitely is.

I don’t think John, or anyone else for that matter, realized the extent of what was coming.

Don’t know if he’ll lose, but if he wins, 2018 is gonna be even rougher for him.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 1:46 pm
Wow! John needs to make plans for time in a place where he can get some help. I like him as a person but he has gone over the top.

Comment by the old man Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 2:31 pm