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Question of the day

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* Rep. Christian Mitchell, the new executive director of the Democratic Party of Illinois, was also asked by reporters today about Speaker Madigan’s impact on the Democratic ticket.

“This, ultimately isn’t going to be a race about individuals, it’s going to be a race about values,” he said. Mitchell then talked about how people who are pro-choice or want health care guarantees should vote for Democrats.

“Is the speaker a liability, though?” a reporter asked. Rep. Mitchell’s response…

I don’t think this is about individual personalities. This is about making sure that we compete up and down the ticket, everywhere in this state, which is what we’re doing, what we’re going to have the resources to do. […]

Republicans have tried to do this I think longer than I’ve literally been alive. Again, it’s not going to be about personalities, it’s about who runs better campaigns. I think the Democrats are going to do that.

* The Question: If you were an Illinois Democratic candidate/honcho, how would you respond when asked if Speaker Madigan is a liability to your party?

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 12:15 pm

Comments

Not as much of a liability as Trump and Rauner are to the Republican party.

Comment by PublicServant Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 12:20 pm
Bring up Donald Trump?

Comment by Louis G Atsaves Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 12:20 pm
Madigan who?

Comment by Anonimity Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 12:21 pm
My name is Kwame Raoul.

Comment by Cheryl44 Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 12:23 pm
Over the course of Madigan’s career he has been part of the success and struggles of Illinois. Rauner has been in charge for three years and the trajectory of this state is over the this time speaks for itself.

Comment by Almost the weekend Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 12:25 pm
I would say the GOP is playing checkers while Madigan is playing three dimensional chess well enough to beat Mr. Spock. Then would refer them to Oswego Willy’s observation on how great weather on a November election day is used by Madigan as compared to Tom Cross /s

Comment by Smitty Irving Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 12:25 pm
We have had majority’s in the house and senate for over 10 years, and the last four we have had our billionaire governor spend millions in trying to get rid of that majority and still fail.

So no, I don’t think he’s that much of liability.

Comment by ItsMillerTime Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 12:28 pm
I’d include that Madigan doesn’t fight back, has little or no social media or PR presence and lets others define him. Madigan has the great gift of Rauner, someone who deliberately hurt the entire state and has arguably caused more per capita damage than anyone. Someone who’s a right hypocrite, who got rich and benefited off of the people he calls corrupt. To me it’s a great disservice to voters and supporters to not stand up and fight back.

Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 12:31 pm
===Then would refer them to Oswego Willy’s observation on how great weather on a November election day is used by Madigan as compared to Tom Cross…===

To Tom Cross’ defense, i think he only played 9, but having lunch at the course after…

:)

To the QOTD?

“The only liability any party has is apathy and laziness to the purpose of advancing and agenda. You can judge for yourself if Madigan has passed significant legislation.”

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 12:31 pm
I’m a casual observer/reader, so maybe I just don’t understand well enough, but what’s wrong with coming out and saying “Of course the speaker is not a liability” and then going on the offensive about failure and blame?

Is there really that much apprehension among the Dems about using his name? Is the Speaker now election season Voldemort?

Comment by Stormfield Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 12:35 pm
“No. In fact I am sick of gotcha questions about Michael Madigan. These gotcha questions epitomize the toxic political culture created by Bruce Rauner to cover up how disastrous of a governor he’s been. Next question.”

Comment by Nick Name Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 12:35 pm
Are those Democratic values where the leader of your party makes a 7 figure income by reducing the property taxes of millionaires and billionaires which winds up fleecing the middle class with higher property taxes?

Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 12:35 pm
I’d be truthful and say I’m in it for the light work, stature in my community, and the sweet but unsustainable pension bennies. Madigan can give me all that and more if I just play ball.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 12:37 pm
=== how would you respond when asked if Speaker Madigan is a liability to your party? ===

Use a certain law firm to appeal the size of the liability down to a manageable level.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 12:37 pm
Representative Mitchell why do you vote for Mike Madigan for Speaker if the House when he is by far the most unpopular politician in the state.

Are you that much smarter than the voters?

Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 12:40 pm
I don’t live in Speaker Madigan’s district so I never voted for or against him. Gov. Rauner seems obsessed about him, but he does nothing to clean up the corruption and waste in his own party. He’s the guy who said he was going to clean up Springfield and then created new positions paying six figure salaries to his cronies and party hacks. I never thought too much about Speaker Madigan until he became the first and most successful guy to tell Gov. Rauner to go fish.

Comment by The Far Left of a Centrist Party Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 12:43 pm
Public Servant, what are your thoughts on that 4.1% GDP during the second quarter, low unemployment and more money in your paycheck?

Trump waves Hi

Comment by Pick a Name Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 12:44 pm
===Trump waves Hi==

LOL

Trump is terribly underwater, today, here in Illinois, and lost Illinois by 16 points.

Keep up.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 12:47 pm
–Public Servant, what are your thoughts on that 4.1% GDP during the second quarter, low unemployment and more money in your paycheck?–

Yeah, you guys with your borrow-and-spend Keynesian stimulus, exploding the deficit and all.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/deficit-projected-to-top-1-trillion-starting-next-year-1531950742

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 12:48 pm
“No more than the pensions”

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 12:50 pm
“I’m not a political consultant or media pundit…I’ll leave it to those folks to debate if Madigan is hurting the Dems or if Trump is hurting the GOP. I’m running for ___________, the voters want me to explain what I’m going to do in that office, not engage in political analysis.”

Comment by Roman Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 12:50 pm
Haha, you guys kill me. The last prez increased the deficit by nearly $10 TRILLION. Likely nary a word from you on that Word.

And, once again, Willy responds to something unrelated. SMH

Comment by Pick a Name Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 12:56 pm
==Likely nary a word ==

Another victim heard from.

Regardless of what you think Trump isn’t popular in Illinois. Of course, I’m sure you’re one of those “fake news” people who can’t believe such a thing.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 1:00 pm
You stated “Trump says HI”

Why is that good in Illinois?

Illinois is not Trump country, lost by 16 in 2016, and is underwater here in polling today

So why would Trump say HI?

LOL

Not big in the facts thingy are ya?

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 1:01 pm
Pick a name:

Trump isn’t popular in Illinois. That’s just a fact. No amount of foot stomping from you changes that fact.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 1:01 pm
–Likely nary….–

I’m not familiar with that troll dialect.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 1:04 pm
I think it says something that even with objectively good GDP, unemployment numbers (although real wages are down), Trump is historically unpopular not just in IL but nationwide.

Comment by ChicagoVinny Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 1:04 pm
“Haha, you guys kill me. The last prez increased the deficit by nearly $10 TRILLION. Likely nary a word from you on that Word.”

At least he wasn’t a hypocrite about it. Now national Republicans are ballooning deficit and debt—just like Bruce Rauner.

Where is the outrage from Republican deficit hawks?

Trump got a great economy from Obama, as far as credit could be assigned to a president. Sarah Sanders lied the other day about Trump, Obama and African-American job gains. Stop taking from a black man.

Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 1:07 pm
I’d challenge him for his Speakership like a lot of national Dems are challenging Pelosi.

Comment by Just Me Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 1:09 pm
Depends. If I’m a Chicago rep or senator, I’d respond with sarcasm or with a trump reference. If I’m a dem anywhere else in Illinois, I’d just say it’s past time for him to retire and that I wouldn’t vote for him for Speaker.

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 1:09 pm
I get it, Barry met with JayZ and Beyonce and Trump met with Kim Jong-un and Putin.

Guess Trump should have taken the easy path.

Comment by Pick a Name Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 1:11 pm
===Barry met with…===

Aw… how fun. Speaks more about you then you realize…

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 1:13 pm
“No”. “And If I might say this, I believe Lisa Madigan has been a great Attorney General”. Then explain my plans for Attorney General”.

Comment by Kayak Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 1:17 pm
I’d pull a Rauner: ignore the question and go to my talking points.

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 1:18 pm
Heard the “we need term limits” to get rid of Madigan from a friend the other day. Asked him what Madigan has done that he objected to. Couldn’t come up with anything. It’s a little like the image issues Hillary had; it’s based on lots of complaining with little or no factual backing.

Comment by JackD Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 1:19 pm
You guys, Shhhhhh

Pick a Name: Pay no attention to these folks here. Please proceed, and be sure to contact your local elected officials and demand that every republican praise the current president at every available opportunity. These polls they reference are just fake news, and the last election was just a one-time blip. Also please remember to tell each of them that running as a proud supporter of President trump is a sure-fire way to get elected this year in Illinois.

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 1:19 pm
“I’d say Michael Madigan is more of a liability to the Republican party in Illinois, because the Governor spends all his effort trying to remove the Speaker rather than work with him to move Illinois forward.”

Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 1:41 pm
“I’d pull a Rauner: ignore the question and go to my talking points.” Is there a nervous chuckle in there somewhere too?

Comment by Skeptic Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 1:42 pm
He’s not warm and cuddly, but he knows how to get the job done, working with both Democrats and Republicans these last three years to keep Rauner from destroying state universities and human services, running up state debt and being a deadbeat to our vendors, and weakening protections for workers and unions.

Even so, Rauner’s done a lot of damage and we’re going to need Mike Madigan’s skills to keep the bipartisan efforts going, working with the Senate and Governor Pritzker to put Illinois on the right track.

–that’s what I’d say, but I’d get someone to make it 60% shorter.

Comment by Earnest Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 1:43 pm
A better question of the day would be: Why don’t reporters ask this same question of republicans about Bruce Rauner? His approval rating is only 3% points higher than Madigan’s (as crazy as that may seem), and it took him 42 fewer years in Illinois politics to get there. Rauner is just as much a millstone for city and near suburban republicans as Madigan is for dems downstate - and yet no reporter ever asks this question.

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 2:01 pm
The obvious answer is how many years has he been speaker. Like him or not, he has not been an anchor on democratic fortunes in Illinois.Has he been a liability for Illinois is the better question. Given the state of our state, hard to argue he doesn’t share some serious responsibility for our state of despair.

Comment by NeverPoliticallyCorrect Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 2:04 pm
Bruce Rauner has spent 200 million dollars to deflect his failure by vilifying and blaming Mike Madigan. The last thing we as democrats should do is submit to Rauner’s deflect campaign.

Comment by Jeered Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 2:11 pm
Madigan is more a liability to Bruce Rauner. He’s too busy obsessing on Madigan to be in charge of the State. That shows why JB will defeat him.

Comment by d.p.gumby Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 2:14 pm
“madigan allowed Rauner to become a failure”

Comment by Rabid Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 2:42 pm
My suggestion for Mitchell would be to say, “Hey I’m still kind of new at this and still trying to get the lay of the land. Can I get back to you on that?” Then grin while everybody else laughs happily –not sure if he’s kidding or not.

Comment by Responsa Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 2:44 pm
A liability is something that puts you at a disadvantage. Speaker Madigan is extremely effective as a leader of the Democratic party in Illinois. As a result I view him as a political asset.

The Republicans and arch-conservatives know he is an asset. It is why they have pursued an active campaign for decades to demonize him. He may not be perfect, but he has worked at building up the State while Governor Rauner has been tearing down the State.

Comment by City Guy Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 3:03 pm
=Public Servant, what are your thoughts on that 4.1% GDP during the second quarter, low unemployment and more money in your paycheck?=

There isn’t more money in my paycheck.

Care to compare CPI for the second quarter to the GDP?

Low unemployment while wages actually went down. Please explain that one.

=Trump waves Hi=

Hard to tell with those tiny little hands.

Robert Meuller isn’t waiving. You should worry about that.

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 3:04 pm
===reducing the property taxes of millionaires and billionaires===

And yet, you oppose a graduated tax.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 3:41 pm
Demo, shocking that Trump is not popular in a blue state. Says more about people not recognizing or even being aware of accomplishments. Reality is sometimes a hard thing to grasp.

Comment by Pick a Name Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 3:50 pm
===Says more about people not recognizing or even being aware of accomplishments. Reality is sometimes a hard thing to grasp.===

Fine people on both sides.

That accomplishment?

Like I said, “Barry”, says more about you than you may think.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 3:52 pm
Not if you are running for a house seat - $

Comment by Flyer Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 3:56 pm
Michael Madigan has been the boogeyman in Republican campaigns for years because the GOP have no plans or policies of their own. This race is about rescuing Illinois from the disaster that has been the Rauner governorship.

Comment by Tony Scott Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 3:57 pm
I do appreciate - Pick a Name - to clarify not only his/her Trump leanings, but why he/she supports Trump.

When discussing accomplishments, and referencing “Barry”, I’m wondering if fine people on both sides is fine far behind.

I’m a Republican.

I’m not a Raunerite. I’m not with Trump, I’ll never be with Trump.

I’m embarrassed my party is the party of Trump.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 3:58 pm
Look at Wisconsin. They busted the unions and destroyed education and tanked the Middle Class. Now all the jobs are cruddy low-wage jobs and they have to borrow to keep schools open. You want Mike Madigan on that wall.

Comment by Albany Park Patriot Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 4:06 pm
“If you were an Illinois Democratic candidate/honcho, how would you respond when asked if Speaker Madigan is a liability to your party?”

I would say the Speaker is not the liability that Rauner wants people to believe.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 4:52 pm
“If you were an Illinois Democratic candidate/honcho, how would you respond when asked if Speaker Madigan is a liability to your party?”

Rauner has spent a ton of money on TV, etc. trying to get the voters to believe Madigan - not Rauner is the problem.

Comment by Mama Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 4:54 pm
I’d say Mike Madigan will be here after Rauner arrives in Italy… leaving Illinois in the coal dust.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 5:08 pm
To Reporter :
Speaker Madigan has not been indicted or convicted of any civil or criminal law. Neither has any state ethics issues been created. Gov Rauner started this incessant negative campaign.

Please go to GOP members particularly Gov Rauner and ask for his list of specific items he desires to indict Spkr Madigan. Do NOT accept general statements. Demand specific incidents. Do NOT stop asking Gov Rauner for the proof in his now 3 year vile, disgusting, negative comments about Spkr Madigan.

Comment by Jim O Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 5:50 pm
=====Bring up Donald Trump?====

probably the most likely response. might also want to add in how the speaker is “standing up to Trump and Bruce Rauner’s attacks on working families”

Comment by KeepingItReal Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 6:06 pm
“You mean Mike Madigan and the Gov. Rauner he controls?”

Comment by olddog Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 6:26 pm
How to answer-
Still not sure why the Governor cries like such a baby about some Irish 5′2 real estate attorney from the Southside of Chicago? Does the Governor really expect us to believe that a man who created GTCR and made himself a multi-millionaire many times over, has 9 houses around the world, is a member in a $1000 bottle wine club is scared of that guy? I really thought the governor had some b$%#*S maybe we should ask him where they are if that tiny little man is kicking his tail all over the state.

Comment by Frank talks Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 7:27 pm
Who? Mike Madgian? Never heard of the guy.

Comment by Henry Francis Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 9:21 pm
“for some, not much. For some more. For others a bit more. For many, a lot”.

Comment by A guy Friday, Aug 17, 18 @ 8:21 am
===Mueller has not found a thing on Russia…===

‘cept for those indictments…

Oh - Pick a Lane -

There are indeed fine people on both sides(?)

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 17, 18 @ 9:22 am
“Thats what munger thought, didn’t work then don’t work now”

Comment by Rabid Friday, Aug 17, 18 @ 9:44 am
On Trump Willy. There you go again.

Comment by Pick a Name Friday, Aug 17, 18 @ 9:59 am
===On Trump===

(Sigh)

You wrote…

===Mueller has not found a thing on Russia…===

Is Mueller investigating Rauner? Or “Barry”?

I know, you must think there are fine people on both sides…

You might not want people to know that, but… “Barry”… amirite?

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 17, 18 @ 10:03 am