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Today’s quotable

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Illinois

Just before Tuesday’s election, it’s impossible to turn on a television or radio without being inundated with ads in which each party assigns blame to the other for the state’s woeful financial condition.

It’s the latest battle in an all-out war between longtime Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan of Chicago and Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner of Winnetka, who have been at odds since shortly after Rauner’s January 2015 inauguration.

“We now have two political bosses in Illinois,” said Mike Lawrence, former director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University. “They demand folks do what they want them to do, and they’ve used money as a major incentivizer.”

Your thoughts?

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Nov 7, 16 @ 10:27 am

Comments

And this is any great surprise…$$$$ always trumps “free” exchange of ideas…

Comment by Silent Majority Monday, Nov 7, 16 @ 10:33 am
The commercials are just out of control. I can’t imagine that anything running now is having any effect other than depressing turnout. Fortunately, the Cubs World Series victory has provided me hours of viewing pleasure, including games saved on my DVR to rewatch. This election season has been just awful. I’m a political person, and even I’m disgusted by it!

Comment by Anon Monday, Nov 7, 16 @ 10:34 am
My thoughts are fully centered on a need for answers. I’m most interested what light Rich and OW could shed on this, but of course am happy to receive answers from all. As a 28 year-old who has only been invested in State politics for a little over a year, I have wondered if it has always been this way? I wonder mostly because, unless I am reading too closely, I sense an rising disgust with the political climate in your writings, Rich, and having spent so much time doing this, I would guess that such disgust would only arise if it was in concert with a rotting discourse.

So, the question is: Has it always been this way? Has it, at times, been worse? Better? Do those who support Rauner think this is good for the State? Those who support Madigan? And how much power do you believe they truly wield (I ask this as a former Madigan staffer who worked with the legislature)?

Thanks in advance to all who share.

Comment by AlfondoGonz Monday, Nov 7, 16 @ 10:37 am
You know who needs to make a roaring comeback after these Godawful political ads?! Vince, the Shamwow Guy!

Comment by Team Sleep Monday, Nov 7, 16 @ 10:39 am
Rauner has the much stronger position: the governor’s office (contracts, grants, jobs, presentation of invoices to be paid) unprecedented campaign money plus lockstep GOP minorities in both chambers.

Madigan has a majority in one chamber, but, unlike Cullerton in the Senate, cannot control all of his members to override vetoes.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Nov 7, 16 @ 10:39 am
There is only one political boss.

He is Mike Madigan.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 7, 16 @ 10:44 am
==There is only one political boss.==

Then you haven’t been paying attention that last 2 years.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Nov 7, 16 @ 10:54 am
I’ve thought this for a while - that we now have two political bosses. Each demands compliance from their flock. That compliance is one of the reasons we are in such gridlock.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Nov 7, 16 @ 10:55 am
Rauner has made demands, but has failed to really accomplish anything after two years. All he has accomplished is obstruction. In that sense Rauner is more of a beaver than a boss, building dams against progress in Illinois.

Comment by A Jack Monday, Nov 7, 16 @ 10:56 am
Madigan may as well have his image on every Illinois License Plate.

Comment by cgo75 Monday, Nov 7, 16 @ 10:56 am
If you think Mike Madigan is the Boss, fine.

Then if you completely ignore the 2012 Rauner quote that Diana and Bruce Rauner are funding to destroy social services and the state universities of Illinois, no one can help you understand the Office of the Governor and all its powers.

Lemmings are going to lemming(?)

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 7, 16 @ 11:01 am
I’m more of a lurker than a wonk, but I do notice a subtle difference between the two. Madigan demands loyalty when it comes to the votes on the rules and on his speakership. Otherwise, he will be more open to members of his caucus voting against him on legislation, especially if a yes vote would hurt the legislator in his home district.

Rauner, otoh, expects complete loyalty, to the point that any vote against his wishes will be enough for Rauner to work against the legislator’s re-election.

Comment by G'Kar Monday, Nov 7, 16 @ 11:06 am
We have one political boss who has built up his power and influence over decades and the other who is buying it, one legislator at a time.

One clearly has no vested interest in serving the best interests of the people of Illinois nor in actually governing the state.

Comment by Aldyth Monday, Nov 7, 16 @ 11:06 am
Trump/Clinton.
kirk/duckworth
Madigan/Rauner

Now you know why old Blue is a born again independent. The two party system is a sham.

Special interests and big money control the process and the political elitists. Illinois is already past the point of no return. I pray the country is not.

Comment by blue dog dem Monday, Nov 7, 16 @ 11:10 am
Money is the vehicle used to get to the real goal of politicians, Power. Whether it is real or imagined in the mind of the seeker, Power is the end game. If money were the goal, they wouldn’t see politics as the first avenue to choose. First get the money, then if it’s Power you crave, use the money (better yet, other people’s money) to get your jollies. It’s how it’s always been, always will be, as long as we continue to be a ‘democracy’

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 7, 16 @ 11:23 am
To add to wordslinger 10:39:

The Governor’s office controls most state agencies except for SoS. This includes powerful agencies like Transportation, Corrections, Natural Resources, Education, Capital Development and more. Just as the Gov is dependent on the GA in helping to fund their missions, the Gov’s office has tremendous discretion in how the missions and priorities of the state agencies are carried out. But the GA has similar influence, by passing the laws and budgets under which the agencies operate; even then, the Gov’s office has veto power if something too egregious comes along.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Monday, Nov 7, 16 @ 11:30 am
AlfondoGonz - Monday, Nov 7, 16 @ 10:37 am:–

I cannot speak as as a campaign staffer or political party insider because I don’t have that background or information. I can speak as an involved citizen who has been a voter in this state for 30 years and also has some educational background in politics and communications. From the dawn of this country there have always been policy differences put forth to address social and economic problems. That is what the two party system is and has always been about. Things always become heated during elections and cool down afterwards.

But to me, from the outside looking even further out, this one has been an uncharacteristically disgusting election season all around, and there has never been an election like this one from top to bottom that I can recall.

I think the unfiltered social media aspect which has exploded (and which Rich covered last week is a primary cause) and I don’t see that going away. There also seems to be a ratcheted-up level of incivility in word and coarseness in deed across society now, that in the past would have been somewhat tempered by rational and reasonable people on both sides instead of being ignited further by bomb-throwers and instigators. Money has magnified it to be sure, but not to the extend many people think in my opinion.

Comment by Responsa Monday, Nov 7, 16 @ 11:32 am
We may have two political bosses. But where is the political vision and uplifting rhetoric. Do they have a dream that justifies our current nightmare?

All I am seeing is deception and destruction. My fear is the current damage to social services and higher education is a goal and not just collateral damage.

How else does one shrink the State to stay within current revenues?

Comment by Last Bull Moose Monday, Nov 7, 16 @ 11:42 am
These two are not the same. Differences already mentioned: 1) head of exec branch (including all those agencies) vs head of one half of the legislative branch 2) Madigan has to respect member districts vs Rauner has no such limitations

A third difference is where the money comes from: Rauner pulls it out of his own pocket. Madigan must convince others to give it up. Those groups may or may not support a Madigan candidate based on how they vote.

Both of these guys have power, but Madigan’s has always been subject to a set of limitations that does not seem to apply to Rauner.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Nov 7, 16 @ 12:14 pm
If Madigan were a boss there would have been a lot more done….the mythology of the 7 votes workin’ together underscores the depth of the problem. Goin’ forward is the reality that anyone who has seen the BigBrain Superstars and/or their replacements in action will be “reluctant” to send a fresh pile of cash. It will be fun to watvch the BigBrain explain himself in the days ahead.

Comment by Annonin' Monday, Nov 7, 16 @ 12:31 pm
-Responsa-
Just to expand on your incivility comment. 60 Minutes had a very good piece by Pollster Frank Luntz on that very subject last night. His panel of about 20 diverse Americans were yelling at each other in less than 2 minutes and he lost control of the discussion in under 5. People seems to want to convince everyone why they are right, & no one is willing to listen to any other view.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 7, 16 @ 12:46 pm
- Anonymous - Monday, Nov 7, 16 @ 12:46 pm: was me.

Darn Cookie clearing app.

Comment by WhoKnew Monday, Nov 7, 16 @ 12:47 pm
And what is with all the ads out of Indiana?

Comment by burbanite Monday, Nov 7, 16 @ 1:08 pm
My state rep., Carol Ammons, absolutely crushed Madigan’s hand-picked candidate for our district. She is a democrat, but doesn’t answer to Madigan at all. Madigan’s power is hugely exaggerated.

Comment by filmmakerprof Monday, Nov 7, 16 @ 1:54 pm
mike has been at it for 30 years and failed. give bruce 30 years to see if his ideas will work. enuf mike

Comment by mebe Monday, Nov 7, 16 @ 2:48 pm
30 years with no budget submitted? What could go wrong?

Comment by Last Bull Moose Monday, Nov 7, 16 @ 5:02 pm
=== Has it always been this way?===

Not in the House prior to passage of Quinn’s Cutback Amendment. The three-member districts, with one from the minority party, produced some remarkably independent and colorful representatives.

Comment by anon Monday, Nov 7, 16 @ 5:18 pm