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Candidates get more strident, mistake-prone as election day nears

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* Sen. Daniel Biss was interviewed in the Maroon…

Government is complicated, it’s weird; it’s not business. I think the notion that just being successful in business means that you’ll be effective as a government leader is frankly absurd. I know the legislators, I know the legislature, I know the agencies, I’ve sat in many of the state agencies and had detailed conversations about specifics of what they’re supposed to be doing to improve their public service.

Coming into office and not knowing that stuff just makes you an empty shell, that could be filled by anybody else. And I think if we’ve learned anything about J.B. Pritzker during the course of this campaign, it’s that indeed he is an empty shell, and right now that empty shell is being filled by whatever Mike Madigan wants to put in it. And when he becomes governor, it would be that much worse. Where the already most powerful person in state government would then, for the first time since he became speaker in 1983, have the opportunity to himself to govern.

If we are concerned with the way state government has gone since 1983, if we think that the concentration of power is too great in the state of Illinois, if we think that the fabled political machine that has screwed so much stuff up over the course of these many decades, is too powerful, electing J.B. Pritzker governor is literally the worst thing we could possibly do.

So, Pritzker would be an empty shell that Madigan would completely fill? Whew. And electing Pritzker governor is “literally” the worse thing we could do, including, oh, I dunno, mass self-immolation?

Hey, the dude said “literally.”

* Speaking of harsh Madigan-related stuff, check out Gov. Bruce Rauner’s new attack ad against Rep. Jeanne Ives…

That’s gonna leave a mark.

* From Friday night’s ABC 7 debate…

Democratic governor candidate Chris Kennedy on Friday night escalated his attacks on Speaker Michael Madigan, saying he would not want any of his daughters to intern in Springfield following disclosures of harassment in the Illinois House leader’s political operation.

“I have three daughters, one of them interned in Washington, D.C. I don’t think I’d encourage any of the three of them to intern in Springfield,” Kennedy said. “They might do that on their own. They’re, you know, very independent. But that’s not a place I’d want a family member and I can tell you that.”

Springfield has its problems and they’re serious, but DC isn’t exactly a harassment-free zone.

Man, it’s really starting to get thick.

* Back to the debate…

One day after not knowing the price of a monthly CTA pass — Biss turns that into a Pritzker attack.

“I learned that when JB Pritzker’s campaign spends $17,000 a day, to try to buy this nomination, they’re buying slightly over $1,600 monthly CTA passes.”

Kennedy, whose campaign donations are on the rise, looks to separate himself from Biss when asked about recruiting Amazon to Chicago.

“I wouldn’t give the sweetheart deals that Daniel Biss has voted for groups like sears or the mercantile exchange,” he said.

Zing.

* The candidates were asked what they’d say if Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos was in the audience…

Businessman Chris Kennedy agreed he’d prioritize the HQ2 pitch, but he said he’d first ask Bezos why the company hadn’t announced changes to its gun sales policy as other companies had in the wake of the Parkland, Florida shooting.

“I’d have that hard conversation with him, absolutely,” Kennedy said.

In fact, Amazon does prohibit “the listing or sale of all firearms,” according to its seller guidelines, though BB and pellet guns are offered.

Oops.

* Remember the Jeanne Ives “brain freeze” moment from the other day? Check this one out…

[Sen. Daniel Biss] had a “Back to the Future” moment during his closing statement.

“I’m Daniel Biss and I’m running for governor because in 2008 it’s time to get it right,” he said.

Sounds like everybody needs a nap.

posted by Rich Miller
Saturday, Mar 3, 18 @ 5:47 pm

Comments

One of the most important jobs of a campaign manager is to make sure the candidate gets some sleep. That’s especially true before a debate.

Comment by Keyrock Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 7:52 am
I heard the “2008″ line, but i thought i heard it wrong. What a strange mistake to make. Once, when i was exhausted and in a sleepy haze with an old girlfriend, i answered a question she asked by calling her a different name. That didn’t go over well. Sleep deprivation can sure do crazy things to the brain!

Comment by Anon Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 8:16 am
I don’t understand how candidates maintain such a grueling schedule. The physical endurance required is ridiculous.

Comment by Dan Johnson Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 8:36 am
I guess Rauner’s claim last week that his budget proposes rolling back the personal income tax rate to 3% doesn’t qualify as a mistake — just another in an endless line of outrageous lies.

http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20180303/statehouse-insider-rauner-lucks-out-on-gun-bill-timing

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 9:23 am
Dan: candidates keep up a grueling schedule so that if they become governor, they can work 20 hours a week like what’s his name….the ‘governor”

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 10:03 am