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Déjà vu all over again

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Illinois

* Hannah Meisel on December 3, 2018…

The grounds of the Bolingbrook Golf Club melted from white with five-day-old snow back to its former green as day wore on Saturday during the Illinois Republican Party State Central Committeeman meeting, as those inside the Taylor ballroom pondered what went wrong for their party on Nov. 6. […]

After a lengthy executive session Saturday afternoon, one actionable step the party made public after the conclusion of meeting was to launch a Vision 2020 project, in which state central committeemen will travel their districts to speak with constituents in order to come up with party platform. The first phase of that vision has a late January deadline.

One issue that may not feature as prominently on that platform as in years past is longtime House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago). Though Rauner had made the alleged “corruption” of Madigan and other Democrats central to his message, Schneider admitted it’s a line that may have played itself out.

“We realize that in 2014 and 2016, the anti-Madigan message did extremely well,” he said. “It lost its luster in 2018. It clearly was overplayed. People have heard enough. They agree with the Republican Party that Madigan is the party, but give me something else now.”

Thoughts?

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 11:51 am

Comments

The difference: Rauner was not on the ballot and the ComEd investigation.

Comment by NIU Grad Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 11:58 am
When an argument is low on oxygen, and the Feds hand you a huge tank full of it, you hook up and breath that deep new lifeline while you can.

Comment by fs Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 12:00 pm
The Illinois Republican Party continues to miss the point by millions of miles. Their central messaging continues to fail to resonate with the actual working classes of the masses on a scale that can compete with the Democrats. Without a move toward a more centerist Republican platform, they will continue to lose and lose badly. Their 1% positions are repelling people from the party.

Comment by thisjustinagain Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 12:07 pm
“but give me something else now”

Something other than stoking the GOP base’s outrage? How about actual issues?

Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 12:09 pm
Start thinking about how you can help the working class people who need a decent paying job so they can take care of their family.

Comment by Mama Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 12:16 pm
I just looked at the last 5 emails Tim Schneider sent & they all mention Madigan. Just saying.

Comment by Highland Il Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 12:19 pm
Speaker Madigan should to the People of Illinois a favor and announce his retirement.

It’s the best thing he can do for his party.

Comment by Candy Dogood Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 12:20 pm
Nature abhors a vacuum.

It’s 2020, the GOP in Illinois still offers no solutions, no viable plan for the state.

They have to fill that empty space with something, and “Madigan” is better than “confeve” and easier to remember than “man woman person camera tv.”

But it is no more a solution to the state’s budget problems than “eliminate waste, fraud and abuse.”

Comment by Penny Lane Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 12:31 pm
Given Mark Batinicks claiming of victory the other night, you would have thought his opponent on the ballot was madigan.

Perhaps he should post a list of the things he wants to cut from within his district. Lets put a finger on these things he considers waste and fraud.

Comment by TheInvisibleMan Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 12:41 pm
Comed gave a whole new life into the Madigan message. Until that ends it will be a message that can’t be let go.

I’m guessing watch for the Madigan message play out in Municipal races in 4 months.

Comment by Frank talks Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 12:58 pm
- thisjustinagain - Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 12:07 pm:

The Illinois Republican Party continues to miss the point by millions of miles. Their central messaging continues to fail to resonate with the actual working classes of the masses on a scale that can compete with the Democrats. Without a move toward a more centerist Republican platform, they will continue to lose and lose badly. Their 1% positions are repelling people from the party.

Absolutely spot on, plus I might add this issue will go away when MJM does (whenever that is) and the Rs will be left with no idea how to run campaigns…kinda like when Ruaner took his money with him….

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 1:19 pm
The GOP had a stronger election than anyone expected. My guess is that there are a couple of reasons why. First, there is a lot of anger in this state over the restrictions enacted to try to mitigate the spread of CV-19. Closures are considered by many to be the move chosen by Dems, while Republicans think we need to just deal with the fact that people will get sick and die but we must save commerce and our kids’ mental health (or something). I also wonder if the GOP had a ground game in IL? I am not sure but know they did elsewhere in the country. Knocking on doors pays dividends, even during a pandemic. The gains the GOP made in IL may have had a bit to do with the Speaker but I suspect anger and frustration about Covid and a lack of canvassing by the Dems are what really gave the GOP a boost. Hopefully, the CV-19 will be long forgotten by the time the mid-terms roll around otherwise, the Dems and JB may be in for some real challenges.

Comment by OK Boomer Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 1:45 pm
When the only tool you have is “blame Madigan,” every problem looks like it must be Madigan’s fault.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 2:09 pm
Congresswoman Cheri Bustos just told the DCCC that the reason her race was so close and that House Democrats lost seats instead of making gains was because “turnout looked alot more like 2016 than 2018.”

Speaker Pelosi said that caucus members needed to look at the big picture, they might have “lost a few battles but they won the war.”

Comment by Penny Lane Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 2:40 pm