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Unsolicited advice

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* Rep. Chad Hays (R-Catlin) during an Illinois Channel interview

The notion that you’re going to come in here and that you’re going to hit a three-run home run without the votes, that’s highly unlikely to happen. Here’s how it works in the minority: You’re gonna beat out an infield hit, you’re gonna bunt the guy to second, you’re gonna steal third and you’re gonna score on a wild pitch and you’re gonna plant your flag in the ground and you’re gonna live to fight another day. And if you don’t understand that that’s the reality, you need to ask someone who’s been here for 30 seconds.

Heh. Three and a half years too late for a certain somebody, but good advice nonetheless.

Rep. Hays went on to say he wasn’t suggesting that people “check their values at the door.” Instead, he said, they should ask “Where are areas where we can make progress?”

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, May 21, 18 @ 10:11 am

Comments

  1. In other words, “Small wins still count as wins”

    Comment by Perrid Monday, May 21, 18 @ 10:13 am

  2. Perspective?

    Mr. Hays was an active participant in ensuring gridlock, as part of the bought and paid for Raunerites of the House.

    When it mattered, not when this was said, Mr. Hays voted Raunerite.

    The advice itself?

    Timeless.

    When the Executive bought the Caucuses, it didn’t take 30 seconds to learn Rauner wanted “no $&@#% problems”, and members obliged, hurting Illinois.

    Durkin coulda tried to cobble 60 to help Rauner, that’s what Radogno tried, and was rebuffed.

    I like Rep. Hays, I do, he’s right here too…

    … tough to forget a whole General Assembly was seated and went Sine Die… and Raunerites were pleased…

    Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 21, 18 @ 10:23 am

  3. Yep. Salami slice what you can, then come back for a second helping.

    Comment by RNUG Monday, May 21, 18 @ 10:23 am

  4. Good advice, but talk is cheap.

    Comment by wordslinger Monday, May 21, 18 @ 10:25 am

  5. Never have truer words been spoken. Rauner beat at the gate with his money for four years, but it won’t be enough to have mattered. Gotta give him a few wins on crim justice reform, but that’s about it.

    Comment by Saluki Monday, May 21, 18 @ 10:26 am

  6. “Gotta give him a few wins on crim justice reform, but that’s about it.” A correlary to the advice: “Accept victories when they’re given to you.”

    Comment by Skeptic Monday, May 21, 18 @ 10:30 am

  7. Jeeze Rep. Hays, when was the last time you watched baseball? The 80s? No one plays baseball like that anymore.

    It’s all about the 3 true outcomes: home run, walk, and strike out. That is how the Guv plays the game. With Madigan pitching - because he has such dominating control, the Guv ain’t gonna be able to draw any walks. So it is nothing but HRs and KOs for the Guv.

    The problem for the Guv is he has Dave Kingman’s strike out numbers but with Mick Kelleher’s HR numbers.

    Comment by Henry Francis Monday, May 21, 18 @ 10:32 am

  8. Good for Representative Hays. I’m happy that he discovered his vocal cords. Better late than never, and it is really good advice.

    Comment by 47th Ward Monday, May 21, 18 @ 10:38 am

  9. To be even clearer…

    Those who “betrayed” Rauner by giving Illinois her budget…

    How can one betray, if working to get a budget means taking small wins, in the minority, and Raunerites only see total victory as the only victory…

    … Raunerism and this advice seem to be at odds.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 21, 18 @ 10:38 am

  10. Another great baseball analogy, first used by Rich Miller, and I am paraphrasing a little:

    When the guy on the mound can’t find the strike zone, you pull him. No manager ever asks “Am I sure my bullpen is better?” because no manager ever got fired for pulling a pitcher who could not get on out, even if the reliever gives up a grand slam. And so it is with Governors.

    Comment by Juvenal Monday, May 21, 18 @ 10:50 am

  11. Excellent advice, for those who would accept it and govern correctly. For those who don’t care a whit about governin’ and use an elected office to relentlessly attack opponents, like the governor is doin’, it falls on deaf ears.

    Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, May 21, 18 @ 10:55 am

  12. OW. With Rep Hays and the other Raunerites who are now speaking up.

    Is it possible that they honestly believed that starving the government and not compromising would cause the democrats to break with Madigan? But now they have had their come to Jesus moment and are repentant and now believe that Rauner is a phony savior.

    The other option is that they are lying through their teeth now.
    Thanks.

    Comment by don the legend Monday, May 21, 18 @ 10:55 am

  13. = The problem for the Guv is he has Dave Kingman’s strike out numbers but with Mick Kelleher’s HR numbers. =

    There’s a blast from the past reference, thanks for the nostalgia trip!

    Comment by cover Monday, May 21, 18 @ 10:56 am

  14. This is Big 10 country. 3 yards and a cloud of dust. Then; do it again. With any luck, you’ll get 3.3 yards and a friendly spot. Otherwise, keep playing field position until you can win by 3 at the very end. This is all predicated on capable defense…

    Comment by A guy Monday, May 21, 18 @ 10:57 am

  15. Prison reform
    Gibe him credit but admit if a D had suggested the GOPies would be yellin’ early release.

    Comment by Annonin' Monday, May 21, 18 @ 11:03 am

  16. There was a wonderful quote last week from a Chicago alderman “Some people don’t know a win when they’ve got a win…” 1.4% in a nutshell.

    Comment by Huh? Monday, May 21, 18 @ 11:05 am

  17. - don the legend -

    ===Is it possible that they honestly believed that starving the government and not compromising would cause the democrats to break with Madigan?===

    Maybe.

    To be even more fair to the bought Caucuses, the Rauners put $20 million in the bank and demanded no $&@#% problems.

    Some were salivating at the thought to ruin Illinois, others I hope were troubled, but in the end, they voted Raunerite. My optimistic feel is that it was more fear than love, because fear lasts longer.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 21, 18 @ 11:11 am

  18. –The problem for the Guv is he has Dave Kingman’s strike out numbers but with Mick Kelleher’s HR numbers.–

    Kelleher career HR, 11 years: 0

    Kingman career HR, 16 years: 442 (with 1,816 Ks, not a bad ratio by today’s sad standards).

    One of the greatest baseball brawls I’ve ever seen, sometime in 1977: 6′6″ Padres Kong slides hard into second at Wrigley, taking out 5′9″ Cubs shortstop Lil’ Mick.

    As Kingman is getting up, Lil’ Mick jumps on his back and starts pounding lumps on Kong’s thick noggin before the benches clear.

    If anyone ever associated with WGN can find that clip somewhere, it belongs on You Tube. And at Cooperstown.

    Comment by wordslinger Monday, May 21, 18 @ 11:12 am

  19. There is a depth of knowledge in that analogy that people need to study. Hays is one of the most thoughtful guys I have met in a long time and him leaving due to the circumstances that surround his decision (which I respect) should serve as a big concern to those of us who strive to find good people on both sides to work with. Glad he is around for the rest of May and the rest of the 100th.

    Comment by Obamas Puppy Monday, May 21, 18 @ 11:15 am

  20. Here’s a guy arguing the merits of playing “Small Ball” while he’s losing 18-2 in the bottom of the 8th inning.

    That’s what losers do.

    Comment by Occam Monday, May 21, 18 @ 11:21 am

  21. Ah so Rauner is not in charge, got it. He should just let the Speaker continue to manage the decline of Illinois because he is not a change person

    Wordslinger, I was at that game, a double header if I am not mistaken

    Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, May 21, 18 @ 11:23 am

  22. Rep. Hays is not wrong, and this is clearly how a minority should operate. However, I was struck by the lack of self analysis about why one is in the minority in the first place, and why it would be considered good to even get a win by guile, which would mean overcoming the will of the people. I know, I know, politics ain’t beanbag.

    Comment by Jibba Monday, May 21, 18 @ 11:27 am

  23. ===That’s what losers do===

    So, Rauner’s a big winner then?

    Comment by Rich Miller Monday, May 21, 18 @ 11:52 am

  24. ==He should just let the Speaker continue to manage the decline of Illinois because he is not a change person==

    You keep thinking that Rauner could do better, yet Rauner has shown us without bias, that he is worse than Madigan. Rauner shows us that broken government with Madigan managing a decline - is still better than having him as governor.

    Time’s up - Rauner is a complete failure.

    Comment by VanillaMan Monday, May 21, 18 @ 11:55 am

  25. –Wordslinger, I was at that game, a double header if I am not mistaken–

    In those days, you and I’m guessing about 5,000 or so unemployed so-and-sos, as Lee Elia would later term them.

    I just remember Brickhouse on the broadcast choking on his ever-present big ball of phlegm, trying to suppress the laughter at the spectacle of Mick taking on Kingman.

    Comment by wordslinger Monday, May 21, 18 @ 11:58 am

  26. WS and LP from the Wikipedia.

    August 7 – In the second game of a doubleheader at Wrigley Field, Mick Kelleher of the Chicago Cubs and Dave Kingman the San Diego Padres are involved in a bench-clearing brawl—a melee with a rare mismatch between the two major combatants. The 6-6, 210-pound Kingman, apparently angered over being hit by a Steve Renko pitch leading off the second inning, responds by sliding hard into Kelleher, the Cubs’ 5-9, 170-pound second baseman, on George Hendrick’s ground ball one batter later. Kelleher responds by jumping onto Kingman’s back and pummeling him with blows. Both Kelleher and Kingman are ejected from the game, which the Cubs win 9-4.

    Comment by don the legend Monday, May 21, 18 @ 12:09 pm

  27. Thanks, Don.

    Comment by wordslinger Monday, May 21, 18 @ 12:11 pm

  28. I was unemployed because the game was in 1977 and I was just a wee lad. It is still clear as day to me, a beautiful, late summer weekend double header. I am sure I had my mitt with me that day.

    Karma brought Dave Kingman to Chicago the next season where he shared a tiny locker room with Mick for the next three years.

    Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, May 21, 18 @ 12:12 pm

  29. –I was unemployed because the game was in 1977 and I was just a wee lad.–

    Wasn’t knocking you, just wanted to get Lee Elia and how the Cubs used to draw back then in there.

    Comment by wordslinger Monday, May 21, 18 @ 12:32 pm

  30. Understood about the Elia quote where he made a classic Kinsey gaffe and accidentally told the truth in that disastrous 1983 season.

    The Cubs would recover and in 1984 went to the NLCS and were up 2 games to zero with wins at Wrigley before collapsing and losing the next three at San Diego

    Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, May 21, 18 @ 12:40 pm

  31. “Understood about the Elia quote” I’ve been trying to figure out how to paraphrase that to fit the TA but alas I’ve failed.

    Comment by Skeptic Monday, May 21, 18 @ 3:09 pm

  32. There are some advocates this session I wish would read this.

    Comment by Kyle Hillman Monday, May 21, 18 @ 10:00 pm

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