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Gov. Rauner compares Speaker Madigan to Al Capone

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* Gov. Rauner was on KMOX Radio today and was asked if it wouldn’t be more productive to try to build a better relationship with Speaker Madigan and maybe try to work with the guy. His response...

Well, you know what, Mark, here’s, here’s the issue. Do you, is it good to be buddies, would we be safer and better off if somebody had been buddies with Al Capone? Is the mafia, I mean, the corruption, the self-dealing is, is out of control in Illinois. And you don’t beat that by friendship. You don’t beat that by talkin’. You do it through political pressure and getting more leigslators elected who aren’t loyal to Mike Madigan, they’re loyal to their local districts.

* And then the governor retold the story (which he said Madigan would deny, “but you know what, it’s the truth”) about how Madigan told him once many years ago that he had no goals for making Illinois better, he was just in politics to manage power and make money…

And you know what? You don’t befriend that. You don’t talk with that. You beat that through hard work and electing reformers and that’s what we’re gonna do.

* But what about the bipartisan overrides of his budget and tax hike vetoes?…

Well, you know what, they broke down because of the pressure Mike Madigan. Mike Madigan wanted the three-year budget impasse, he wanted the pressure, he finally broke a few people. But, you know what, he’ll never break me. And we’ll get more strong-willed people in there and we’ll beat him. It’s just gonna take persistence.

* Related…

* Greg Hinz: Is tomorrow the day of reckoning for Mike Madigan?: But no one’s political career is on the line more than the guy who, one way or another, has been in almost every TV ad on both sides of the aisle this year. That’s Illinois House Speaker and state Democratic Party Chairman Mike Madigan, who has been the last man standing after political brawls for more decades than I care to remember but now is under unprecedented political assault.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 4:24 pm

Comments

What a joke.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 4:27 pm
And I thought it was Bruce who specialized in late Friday afternoon massacres.

Silly wabbit.

Comment by RNUG Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 4:28 pm
He has an uncanny ability to stay on message.

Comment by m Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 4:29 pm
Was the Governor wearing his junior G-man costume for the interview?

Comment by Keyrock Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 4:29 pm
This is worse than Rod.

Comment by Almost the Weekend Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 4:30 pm
And you know what? I don’t believe a word you’re saying.

Comment by Skeptic Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 4:30 pm
To answer the rhetorical question …

During the Chicago taxi wars, threats were made on Morris Markin (president of Checker Cab). Those threats stopped when he reached out to his friend Al. Historical fact.

Comment by RNUG Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 4:32 pm
Well if Madigan is Al Capone, then Rauner must be Bugs Moran and Valentines Day has been moved to November 6.

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 4:32 pm
Dat 100% focus.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 4:34 pm
Look…

Rauner has always been a Hyman Roth (This is the business we chose).

Madigan has always been “Michael” (I don’t feel I have to wipe everybody out, Tom. Just my enemies.)

Going Capone, Rauner misunderstands his own role… He’s a retired investor on a pension…

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 4:41 pm
History will not be kind to Mike Madigan. Rauner will quickly be forgotten but the legacy of influence peddling, profiteering and corruption will forever cement the Madigan name in Illinois.

Comment by Flat Bed Ford Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 4:42 pm
Heard the interview and thought this is Blogo with money.

Comment by Down South Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 4:42 pm
Bruce, you’re not here to be buddies with anyone. You’re here to put the people’s interests above your hatred of one person and partisan hatred. You’re here to work with opponents. Imagine what kind of country we’d have if leaders indulged only their hatreds instead of finding ways to rise above it all.

Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 4:43 pm
I think Hinz’s theory is a bit unfair. If Pritzker, Berrios, or Lipinski lose, there will be a lot of reasons besides Madigan for any of them (Berrios especially).

Comment by Sox Fan Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 4:44 pm
Rauner is going full on Trump.

Comment by Norseman Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 4:46 pm
For a guy who made his fortune busting out companies, he doesn’t have nice things to say about the mafia.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 4:46 pm
Someone needs to remind the Guv that they didn’t take down Capone by beating him at his own game.

Comment by Henry Francis Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 4:48 pm
What are the Madigan policies to make Illinois better and reverse the downward trajectory ? Crickets other than a permanent 32% income tax hike.

What are the examples of Mike Madigan accumulating wealth and power? Too many to list

Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 4:50 pm
I think Rauner’s characterization is pretty spot on here. It’s a losing fight, and I wish Rauner were better at it, but you don’t negotiate with hostage-takers, and Madigan has taken Illinois’s future hostage.

Comment by Chris Widger Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 4:56 pm
You might not agree with Rauner’s words, but the fact that every Democrat candidate for Attorney General and Governor (JB excepted) think MJM needs to go is telling.

Comment by Downstate Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 4:57 pm
OW,

Your Godfather comparison needs work. Go back and watch the movies.

Comment by Ole General Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 4:59 pm
===What are the Madigan policies to make Illinois better and reverse the downward trajectory ? Crickets other than a permanent 32% income tax hike.===

Mike Madigan is the running for Governor?

Maybe Rauner should run for the House, then run for Speaker if you want to take on Madigan.

————————————————-

Rauner is a failure, says he’s not in charge.

What will be different in a Rauner second term?

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 4:59 pm
Could this new metaphor be related to the fact that the Gov’s wife said they’d be moving to Italy?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Comment by dbk Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 4:59 pm
The thing I find funny is that there seems to be a belief that if Madigan would just go away the Governor would miraculously get the legislation he wants passed.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 4:59 pm
LP

As far as I can tell the only “policy” the Governor has is to blame everyone else for his inability to govern.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 5:00 pm
“You know what?”

No, Gov. Gaslight, I don’t know what. But I’m sure you’re about to tell me.

Comment by Nick Name Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 5:02 pm
-What are the Madigan policies to make Illinois better and reverse the downward trajectory ? Crickets other than a permanent 32% income tax hike.
So like the mafia want to pay bills

Comment by Morty Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 5:02 pm
===Your Godfather comparison needs work. Go back and watch the movies.===

Madigan is Michael, That’s been long established.

Rauner quoting Hyman Roth, and then mocking the “retiree - governor” and the Roth quote at the airport is the mocking of Rauner.

I know what I wrote… exactly… as I wrote it.

Also, I’m pretty comfortable with my Godfather knowledge, thanks.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 5:05 pm
==The thing I find funny is that there seems to be a belief that if Madigan would just go away the Governor would miraculously get the legislation he wants passed.==

Who knows if he believes it. Likely just a universal excuse.

I’m of the opinion Rauner wants to be governor just for the ego-stroke. He’s obviously not very interested in the job.

When the superstars left and he had to try to stand on his own feet, it was quite revealing as to how ignorant he is of state government in general, and his own office in particular.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 5:05 pm
Madigan passed education reform, pension reform, MMJ, workers comp reform, revenue. I have no doubt that he’d vote for a progressive income tax if it had the votes.

Illinois became far worse off because of Bruce Rauner. Imagine the additional harm if Rauner was able to stop GOP budget/revenue defectors.

A bad Madigan is better than a good Bruce Rauner. If only Democrats would play that angle, somehow.

Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 5:16 pm
47th — As you probably know, I am busy trying to save democracy. But since you raised the question, I began asking myself, “Well, in that case, which Illinois pols are best represented by Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon in Some Like It Hot?”

Comment by Soccermom Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 5:32 pm
OW,

Go read the books. Michael joined the military to escape the family business. Madigan is more comparable to Sonny but without the rage.

Comment by Ole General Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 5:44 pm
===Sonny but without the rage===

There is no Sonny without the rage. The rage is the whole point. You’re way off.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 5:47 pm
Hyman/Bruce R just wants to make sure everyone sees the cake before they vote.

Comment by Northsider (the original) Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 5:50 pm
Wouldn’t Madigan be Vito Corleone?

Comment by TominChicago Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 5:53 pm
===Wouldn’t Madigan be Vito Corleone?===

Can’t have Vito without a Michael.

Richard J would be a comparable “Vito to Michael”

Rauner has been compared to Sonny here, because of the rage… but Sonny was a bad Don, rest his soul.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 6:08 pm
–Read the books.–

Puzo wrote the one book. The “sequels” that came after by other authors are garbage.

– Michael joined the military to escape the family business. –

No. He was already a student at Dartmouth. He joined the Marines because of Pearl Harbor.

–Sonny without the rage–.

LOL.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 6:09 pm
I think some of you are giving the Guv too much credit by comparing him to Hyman Roth (who was “a great man”).

To me, Rauner is more like Sollozzo, backed by 2 rival families (the Uhleins and Griffins) to take out the Don. He hit him with 5 shots and yet the Don survived.

Comment by Henry Francis Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 6:16 pm
Is Lou Lang Frank Pentangeli? Because he kind of looks like Frankie Five Angels.

Comment by TominChicago Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 6:18 pm
===I think some of you are giving the Guv too much credit by comparing him to Hyman Roth (who was “a great man”).===

Again, the quotes of Rauner, and mocking the quotes out Rauner as Roth.

I’ve compared Rauner to Sonny, rage and all, at times in the past.

- Ole General -

I hope you brush up on your Godfather. It’s worth the time. Watch the 7 hour chronological version, but do it in 2 sittings…

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 6:21 pm
Rainer is no retired investor, living on a pension. That’s why we have the Kip Kirkpatrick lawsuit.

Comment by The Way I See It Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 6:28 pm
===Rauner is no retired investor, living on a pension.===

(Sigh)

Rauner says often he’s doing this job, $1 a year, he’s retired from Venture Capitol, his money is in a blind trust

When I typed “Look…” I thought it was a giveaway.

Mocking Rauner’s words that shadow Hyman Roth is mocking the idea Rauner wants to be seen one way, but acts more Sonny when you look at these past 3 years.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 6:33 pm
God help us. How has that man made it thru life so far? 4 more years of this and we will be a decade or two more behind than we already are. Any no elected official that showed this much vitriol for a person would be under a doctors care ( in my non medical person opinion, of course).

Comment by Thoughts Matter Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 6:38 pm
So the physical and fiscal well-being of Illinois citizens can be reduced to comparison with a movie? This thread is the most callous I have ever read.

Comment by My New Handle Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 6:39 pm
Rauner’s big quote about going after Madigan during session and all the times going after Madigan when it was confusing was…

“This is the business we chose”

Rauner going Hyman Roth was always comical…

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 6:39 pm
===So the physical and fiscal well-being of Illinois citizens can be reduced to comparison with a movie? This thread is the most callous I have ever read.===

IL politics and The Godfather. It’s been compared often.

This isn’t a new thing here…

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 6:43 pm
== So the physical and fiscal well-being of Illinois citizens can be reduced to comparison with a movie? This thread is the most callous I have ever read.===

You should read more, after your fainting spells stop.

cal·lous
ˈkaləs/
adjective
1.
showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 6:49 pm
“This isn’t a new thing.”
Sadly.

Comment by My New Handle Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 6:55 pm
–“This isn’t a new thing.”
Sadly.–

You’re aware, are you not, that the context of this thread is the governor of Illinois comparing the speaker of the House to Al Capone?

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 6:57 pm
=== the context of this thread is the governor of Illinois comparing the speaker of the House to Al Capone? ===

Exactly.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 7:13 pm
One thing I’m sure escapes Rauner, who I consider loathsome, is that his regular references to “the Mafia” and now “Al Capone” are resented by people of Italian ancestry, who hear an “anti-Italian” dog whistle when he talks like this. Here’s a guy who probably considers Trump a bigot, but should look in the mirror.

Comment by DarkHorse Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 7:28 pm
Al Capone was no movie. In Trumpian America, we need to rise above politics as an entertainment. Al Capone was a murderer and more. Words, like elections, have weight and consequences.

Comment by My New Handle Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 7:37 pm
– Al Capone was a murderer and more. Words, like elections, have weight and consequences.–

Yet you’re outraged by movie references, but Rauner comparing Madigan to a murderer, you let it slide.

Maybe you need to think this one through.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 7:40 pm
Mario Puzo wrote several books in line with the genre. I know Michael’s story, wordslinger, and Puzo wrote The Sicilian as a sequel to the original.

It’s a bad analogy.

Comment by Ole General Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 7:55 pm
It is very unfair to compare Madigan to Capone.

Capone was much heavier.

Comment by SSL Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 8:32 pm
== So the physical and fiscal well-being of Illinois citizens can be reduced to comparison with a movie? This thread is the most callous I have ever read. ==

Lighten up, Francis.

Comment by Northsider Monday, Mar 19, 18 @ 9:43 pm
And retiring to Italy…?
I’m sure the cardinal has already spoken to the pope.

Comment by cc Tuesday, Mar 20, 18 @ 2:04 am