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“The Democratic Machine’s New Monarch”

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Illinois

* Rauner campaign…

On Wednesday, Chicago Magazine published “The Democratic Machine’s New Monarch: How J.B. Pritzker’s bottomless pockets could spell business as usual in state politics.”

The piece centers on how Pritzker and Madigan are working together to maintain the status quo of higher taxes and more corruption.

Check out the highlights from Chicago Magazine’s piece:

Nonetheless, the Democratic candidate has been embraced by House speaker Michael Madigan, Illinois’s most powerful machine boss, in no small part because a win for Pritzker would allow Madigan to thrive.

Madigan never formally endorsed Pritzker. But as the News-Gazette of Champaign-Urbana wrote in an opinion piece during the primary: “It’s common knowledge—as well as a source of considerable resentment—that Madigan is backing Pritzker. Madigan is depending on the billionaire to use his family fortune to win an overwhelming victory that will return Illinois to one-party rule and ensure that he will again be able to gerrymander state legislative districts after the 2020 Census.” Pritzker, whose political philosophy is, shall we say, not fully developed, is also seen by political professionals as easier to influence than the experienced politicians he defeated in the primary.

…If he succeeds, Pritzker will get the title “governor” in front of his name, Madigan will get control of Springfield back, and both money and the machine will be served.

* From the beginning of the piece…

In the early 1960s, a businessman named Arnold Maremont decided he wanted to run for U.S. Senate. So he made the pilgrimage all aspiring Democratic politicians were required to make in those days: to meet with Mayor Richard J. Daley. Daley wasn’t sure whether the Baptists of Little Egypt would vote for a Jewish candidate, so he told Maremont to go downstate and find out. Maremont reported they would, and so Daley slated such a candidate: Rep. Sidney Yates, a machine Democrat.

Maremont felt used, but, as Mike Royko points out in his biography of Daley, “he wouldn’t have even tried had he ever heard Daley explain why he is so dedicated a party man: ‘… The rich guys can get elected on their money, but somebody like me, an ordinary person, needs the party. Without the party, only the rich would be elected to office.’ ”

Back then, millionaires needed the party. Today, the party needs millionaires—or even billionaires.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 9:32 am

Comments

tl;dr- Democratic party in danger of possibly becoming more like what the GOP already is.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 9:36 am
===“The Democratic Machine’s New Monarch: How J.B. Pritzker’s bottomless pockets could spell business as usual in state politics.”===

“The Bruce and Diana Rauner Purchase: How Bruce and Diana’s bottomless pockets ruined Illinois by buying a party in state politics.”

So… there’s that.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 9:36 am
This piece resonates with me in that our state has achieved such debt on Madigan’s watch. Yes all Governors are to blame, but it all happened on Madigan’s watch. I like the messages coming out of JB, but just wish Madigan would retire so I can feel pride again in being an Illinois Democrat. Madigan shouldn’t be villainized, but he clearly has more blame than any other individual in the State’s financial situation. For that I wish he would move on.

Comment by Mod Dem Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 9:40 am
Democracy is messy whether you’re rich or poor. We may all be created equal but we’re sure not by the time we’re adults. That will never change. Fairness can only be reached, and then only to a certain degree, by the equal application of the law and by laws that allow for equal application. Until some court acknowledges that gerrymandered districts are the death blow against fair elections we will be stuck with “party rule”.

Comment by NeverPoliticallyCorrect Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 9:41 am
- Mod Dem -

The debt Rauner has piled on in two plus years equaled the last 18 years of debt before him… combined.

Hmm.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 9:43 am
“Back then, millionaires needed the party. Today, the party needs millionaires—or even billionaires. ”

We starting to see what deep pockets has done to Democracy on the state and federal levels. Rich, how can the citizens of IL take back our Democracy?

Comment by Mama Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 9:47 am
Without a Pritzker, Rauner would be alone in flooding politics with money in Illinois. Rauner clearly wants to decimate his opponents, so in this scenario, a Pritzker can be a great help.

The two candidates are radically different, so no false equivalence can be made. Gov. Dayton in Minnesota is a billionaire, and he’s been pretty liberal and has helped a lot of middle- and low-income people. Minnesota beat Wisconsin economically in many areas, per one study, so we have that vs. the Rauner model, which is influenced by Scott Walker and the Wisconsin GOP.

Good grassroots politics helped elect people in Cook County this year, so it’s not like it’s disappearing. Pritzker appears to be building a strong grassroots foundation. Even with money, candidates need to get voters excited and push turnout.

Rauner is going negative because he can’t run on his record. I want to see Pritzker focus on popular positives like marijuana legalization, a progressive income tax—as well as education funding, health insurance expansion, etc.

Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 9:54 am
And we all heard on the tapes what happens when billionaire and party guy meet.

Comment by 44th Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 9:56 am
In would like to add “Democracy by the people for the people”. How do we go back to the people electing people to represent ‘us’ over the corporate elite?

Comment by Mama Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 9:59 am
There is a very real difference the democrats billionaires are Americans. It seems like snark but it is true. The Trump GOP is a bunch of Russian billionaires and Adelson makes most of his money in China and some of the Devos family are in the UAE. Only the Kochs seem American whereas Pritzger and Stryer are American fortunes. So sad as it is there is a difference.

Comment by Not a Billionaire Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 9:59 am
===how can the citizens of IL take back our Democracy?===

Start by telling party leaders to quit endorsing candidates because they have the money to fund the organization. Especially from those who four years ago complained about rich people running for office, but now claim that having the right “ideas” makes the practice acceptable. The amount of money that will be spent on the governors race is utterly demoralizing.

Comment by People Over Parties Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 9:59 am
Legalizing marijuana in IL won’t do any good until the feds legalize it. The federal law supersedes state law. Correct me if I’m wrong.

Comment by Mama Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 10:04 am
===Oswego Willy==

What percentage of that debt is tied to the Edgar cliff. Especially when you take into account inflation. Am not saying the current Governor is not to blame, but Governor has far less blame on his hands that the Speaker. The Speaker was in a position to address this for the past 30 years and did not. Wrong to place blame on single individual who has been in power for three.

Comment by Mod Dem Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 10:08 am
It was lots of ordinary people who overwhelmingly voted for Pritzker in the primary. We should assume that they liked Pritzker, regardless of his wealth. If they were rebelling against money in politics, they would have not voted or voted for someone else. Leave it to some on the left (and others) to hand-wring about this.

Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 10:08 am
“The amount of money that will be spent on the governors race is utterly demoralizing. ”

You are right. However, we have to fight fire, and right now that requires money.

Comment by Mama Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 10:12 am
–The debt Rauner has piled on in two plus years equaled the last 18 years of debt before him… combined.–

If you are talking about the Mendoza report, then you are not quite right (if you are not, then disregard the following!). Mendoza showed how, in 2 years, Rauner has allowed more INTEREST to wrack up on UNPAID BILLS than accumulated during the previous 18 years on unpaid bills. Still bad, but not a measure of actual debt accumulation.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 10:13 am
===What percentage of that debt is tied to the Edgar cliff===

Governors own, they always do.

Rich has the Post from Comptroller Mendoza, who cataloged it.

Thanks for clarifying Governors own.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 10:14 am
–The New Monarch–

What does the guy who bought the Illinois GOP like to call himself? Tsar Bruce?

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 10:20 am
“The debt Rauner has piled on in two plus years equaled the last 18 years of debt before him… combined.”

O.W. is right! When Rauner took office, he should have requested the income tax to ‘remain’ at 5%. At that increased tax rate, even with the Edgar cliff, IL’s debt was decreasing.

Comment by Mama Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 10:20 am
I wanted this to stand alone…

===What percentage of that debt is tied to the Edgar cliff.===

One. Sentence. Later.

=== but Governor has far less blame on his hands that the Speaker.====

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 10:22 am
Pritzker is the only politician in the state who can outspend Rauner? Nonsense. There are plenty of Illinoisans wealthier than Rauner. They chose not to run. The only reason McClellan can call Pritzker a pol is his decision to run. It’s the true Scotsman fallacy, nothing more.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 10:22 am
– There are plenty of Illinoisans wealthier than Rauner. They chose not to run.–

Plenty? Name three not named Pritzker who made that “choice.”

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 10:25 am
“You are right. However, we have to fight fire, and right now that requires money.”

I agree very much with this pragmatic attitude. I worry more about Pritzker being a bad campaigner, having bad policy ideas or something in his past that makes him unelectable, more than his money right now.

Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 10:30 am
===Mendoza showed how, in 2 years, Rauner has allowed more INTEREST to wrack up on UNPAID BILLS than accumulated during the previous 18 years on unpaid bills. Still bad, but not a measure of actual debt accumulation.===

Do we have to pay that back, or was all that interest waived… magically?

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 10:37 am
While there’s no doubt been some movement since 2015, here are the 14 Illinois billionaires on that year’s Forbes 400* list, their rankings and net worth:

69. Citadel CEO Ken Griffin, $7 billion
107. Equity Group Investments Chairman Sam Zell, $4.9 billion
171. Walton Street Capital founder Neil Bluhm, $3.5 billion
182. Pritzker Group Managing Partner J.B. Pritzker, $3.4 billion (his co-partner and brother Tony Pritzker, who lives in California, is also on the list with $3.4 billion)
211. Pritzker Organization Chairman Thomas Pritzker, $3 billion
246. SC Johnson heir Josephine Louis, $2.7 billion
279. businesswoman and U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Penny Pritzker, $2.4 billion
279. Ryan Specialty Group founder Patrick Ryan, $2.4 billion
293. OddLot Entertainment CEO Gigi Pritzker, $2.3 billion
293. Beanie Babies maker Ty Inc. founder Ty Warner, $2.3 billion
307. Morningstar CEO Joe Mansueto, $2.2 billion
307. Guggenheim Partners CEO Mark Walter, $2.2 billion
275. Koch Foods CEO Joseph Grendys, $1.8 billion
389. Tawani Enterprises CEO Jennifer Pritzker, $1.75 billion

– MrJM

* It’s worth noting that the Forbes 400 methodology has proven a bit… ‘problematic’ e.g. https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/trump-lied-to-me-about-his-wealth-to-get-onto-the-forbes-400-here-are-the-tapes/2018/04/20/ac762b08-4287-11e8-8569-26fda6b404c7_story.html

Comment by @misterjayem Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 10:40 am
As a future powerball winner, i am poised to become a major ($) force behind the scenes of Illinois politics. Call early to set up an appt.

Comment by Labghorne Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 11:02 am
====The debt Rauner has piled on in two plus years equaled the last 18 years of debt before him… combined.==

It took Quinn two plus years to exceed the last 14 years of debt before him. He only gets a silver star.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 11:03 am
All of you nlowhardsmissthd point of the Articlefrom amagazine not known for being pro republican- if you think Madigan has done a swell job then vote for JB because nothing will change which means Illinois will just sink deeper into its insolvency

Comment by Sue Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 11:08 am
===It took Quinn two plus years to exceed the last 14 years of debt before him. He only gets a silver star.===

Pat Quinn failed. Pat Quinn lost.

Bruce Rauner failed. …

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 11:10 am
–It took Quinn two plus years to exceed the last 14 years of debt before him.–

The backlog of bills was cut from a high of $10 billion to $4.5 billion when Quinn left office.

Must be sad when you have to resort to obvious lies to make whatever “point” you think you have.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 11:14 am
Madigan is responsible for the Edgar Cliff?

Next you’ll tell me it isn’t really Grant’s Tomb.

Comment by Thomas Paine Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 11:17 am
Sue:

I’m certain nothing will change if Rauner wins. Which is why I won’t be voting for him.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 11:19 am
Part of the dysfunction of this state’s politics is that the IL Constitution forbids elected officials to do much of what we would either need to do in terms of raising revenue (ie progressive taxes) or cutting spending (ie even modest and phased in reductions in promised high end pension benefits).

As a result we spend a godawful amount of time arguing about who’s to blame for the current state of affairs, not irrelevant to the upcoming election but largely an unproductive enterprise.

Who’s to blame? The IL Constitution is. It broke Quinn (he had to hike taxes where it would cost him critical support) and Rauner (his budget cutting and balanced budget promises were laughable from the get go, when it became clear he had no viable pension solution). We need a government where elected officials can actually govern, and then the voters can let the chits fall where they may.

Comment by ZC Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 11:20 am
–All of you nlowhardsmissthd point of the Articlefrom amagazine not known for being pro republican- if you think Madigan has done a swell job then vote for JB because nothing will change which means Illinois will just sink deeper into its insolvency–

Sue, if you’re wondering why you’re the only one at Cubby Bear right now, the Sox-Cubs game is tomorrow.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 11:22 am
The ChiMag piece — like most Tribbie stuff — mumbles along telling the reader little new and proving once again they spend no time monitorin’ the work of GovJunk. Think back to campaign and the lives lost in the nursin’ home GovJunk owned. No one needs to feign surprise by the Quincy scandal.

Comment by Annonin' Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 11:45 am
Please explain how you figure that the ‘Illinois Constitution’ the blame?

Comment by M Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 12:04 pm
“The Democratic Machine’s New Monarch: How J.B. Pritzker’s bottomless pockets could spell business as usual in state politics.”

Gov. Rauner says he is not in charge.
J.B. Pritzker will be in charge. That is the big difference.

Comment by Mama Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 12:08 pm
Pritzker will become the Winthrop Rockefeller of the Prairie State. Woo Hoo!

Comment by Practical Politics Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 12:48 pm
@MJM

That list is useful. The only person I could ever see running would be Penny Pritzker though. Griffin would be a very, very distant second. And Monsueto an even more distant third. The others all seem to be the donor type.

Comment by Anon35 Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 12:55 pm
“All of you nlowhardsmissthd point of the Articlefrom amagazine not known for being pro republican- if you think Madigan has done a swell job then vote for JB because nothing will change which means Illinois will just sink deeper into its insolvency”

You’re right - that was the point of the article. The whole piece was nonsensical drivel from someone who has ignored anything JB has actually said or done. My favorite line was a cheap shot at how his “…political philosophy is, shall we say, not fully developed.” According to Ted, apparently if you’re rich you must also be a naive moron. The guy’s been politically active his entire adult life so I’m pretty sure he’s not just a babe in the woods waiting to be told what he believes.

Comment by Anon0091 Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 1:06 pm
Illinois is a fiscal disaster due to the state’s Constitution. Most rational entities adjust benefits that are no longer affordable. Or they go BK.

Comment by Ron Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 8:05 pm
Spend and tax is is the norm not the exception in Illinois and its why we have crushing debt with no light at the end of the tunnel. The lack of financial self control by the GA and Executive branch have got the once great state of where we are and where will likely remain…last one out please turn off the lights.

Comment by theCardinal Friday, May 11, 18 @ 8:14 am