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* Nadig Newspapers on Speaker Chris Welch’s recent speech to the 38th Ward Democrats…
Welch said he was making his way through security to go to [lame duck] session Monday morning when he got a call from Madigan [telling him he was suspending his reelection bid]. […]
He said Madigan asked him if he wanted to be speaker, told him his colleagues have a lot of admiration for him and that he thought he would do a good job in leadership.
Welch said Madigan then offered four tips.
“He said, ‘First, get the Black Caucus together to unite behind your candidacy and get them together quickly, you don’t have a lot of time. And if you get the Black Caucus, the next thing you can do is talk to the Latino Caucus and see if they can join you and the Black Caucus to support your candidacy. If you do that, I want you to go talk to Representative (Sue) Scherer and a couple of other reps in the downstate area. They may not support you but assure them that you’re going to be a representative and a speaker that always listens and you’re going to do your best to help them,” Welch said. “And then the fourth thing, and I probably should have started with the fourth thing, is call your wife, because if she doesn’t support this, then none of this matters in the first place.”
Good advice.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 10:03 am
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Previous Post: Thompson Center zoning change to be introduced today
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We other politicians so badly that sometimes its shocking to many to hear how human they really are.
Comment by MG85 Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 10:07 am
Oh, and one other thing…Don’t talk to ANYONE from ComEd.
Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 10:13 am
I can’t love that quote any more.
It’s the cobbling, the layering, and a smidge of humor at the end.
It’s also a real time reminder, herding cats and cobbling votes is both and art and science, imperfect, but possible.
Really cool honesty to process too. Love that.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 10:14 am
Like him or hate him, you don’t stay on top for decades in Illinois politics w/o being smart as a whip.
Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 10:15 am
The velvet hammer knows how to strike
Comment by Rabid Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 10:41 am
===Like him or hate him, you don’t stay on top for decades in Illinois politics w/o being smart as a whip. ===
I’m a score board kind of person and while Speaker Madigan’s impact is beyond dispute and I am certain he can give pragmatic advice, how his public career came to an end is important.
People who are as smart as a whip don’t create cultures that cover up sexual harassment while retaliating against victims, and they certainly don’t orchestrate or manage a public bribery scheme that flirts with felony charges.
If there are history books to be written, Mike Madigan will be portrayed for all of his flaws. While there are certainly some of us who think statutes should be built to honor his contribution, we’d just be putting up monuments that others would have to take down out of embarrassment for who their elders chose to honor.
It takes some real denial to continue to praise a person who facilitated a theft from you for their own benefit, or you know, to get those kids internships.
Comment by Candy Dogood Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 10:42 am
I really hope at some point Madigan will decide to write a book about Illinois govt. Not holding my breath but it would be must reading.
Comment by Give Me A Break Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 10:47 am
“call your wife, because if she doesn’t support this, then none of this matters in the first place.”
So true. Having the support of your SO is key to so many things in life.
Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 10:49 am
She Scherer is the Joe Manchin of Illinois?
Comment by Dotnonymous Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 10:50 am
Candy Dogood,
I thought you were a progressive. What ever happened to innocent until proven guilty? He hasn’t even been charged yet. Its good to know your philosophies only apply to those that you don’t hold a grudge against.
Comment by Cluster Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 11:08 am
Oh and one more thing, this book tells the results of every major sporting event till the end of the century, and I’m giving it to you.
Comment by Kayak Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 11:12 am
Nothing about apples?
Comment by Drake Mallard Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 11:15 am
===I thought you were a progressive. What ever happened to innocent until proven guilty?===
Whatever I am, I am not a the judiciary branch of a government. Since I am a score board person I noted with close attention the guilty pleas from the others involved in the criminal bribery scheme, and the court filings related to those in which Mike Madigan played a prominent role.
You are welcome to form your own opinion on the matter, but you’ll note my comment included you. Build your monuments, Cluster. Perhaps the effort to remove the Madigan statute will bring our granddaughters closer together and the world would be better for it.
The wind has changed. Sail into irons if you want.
Comment by Candy Dogood Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 11:32 am
Interesting that check your closet for “Me Too” violations still doesn’t make the former Speaker’s list.
The issue will haunt the new Speaker. No stature of limitations for that behavior.
Comment by Say what? Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 12:02 pm
A cluster- Candy Gogood will do a fine job in responding, much better then me. But, whether I agree with her or not, your strawman argument is off base. She didn’t say throw him in jail or convict him. her opinion that he is guilty is shared by many, and there is some evidence to support that position, without a doubt MJM’s legacy is checkered at best. He definitely had a lot of Boss Tweed in him.
I do see the post a s portraying a different side of MJM. It humanizes him in a more positive and productive way. If only he had done this 20 years ago is what it left me thinking.
Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 12:10 pm
Sue Scherer…oops.
Comment by Dotnonymous Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 12:13 pm
=== Since I am a score board person ===
I am not sure I understand what the game is let alone how the score is being calculated.
=== but you’ll note my comment included you ===
It did no such thing. I never advocated for monuments or anything of the like. And I think its funny that people base Madigan more for “creating an environment” of sexual harassment and assault when there are actually people that have been accused of actually doing those things that are still in positions of power but all we hear are crickets from the Madigan haters.
Comment by Cluster Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 12:44 pm
===I am not sure I understand what the game is let alone how the score is being calculated. ===
It’s not uncommon for the side that is aware of the fact they’re losing the argument to try to move the goal posts. What is the game and how is the score being calculated?
===I never advocated for monuments or anything of the like===
And yet you expend your effort mounting a defense of Mike Madigan that includes red herrings and whataboutism.
I have no obligation to believe that Mike Madigan is innocent of anything and I think it would be naive to believe or suggest that he is guilty of nothing.
Don’t be surprised that as the moral ark of the universe bends towards justice that shades of gray turn to black.
Comment by Candy Dogood Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 2:54 pm
=== Don’t be surprised that as the moral ark of the universe bends towards justice that shades of gray turn to black. ===
That is what I cannot stand about you progressives. Always on your moral high horse and everyone who disagrees with you is morally corrupt.
Mike Madigan doesn’t need me or anyone to defend him on this blog. He likely does not care what either of us think or feel. I guess I am not defending Mike Madigan any more than I am just commenting about my annoyance with people like you.
The moral arc of the universe is trending towards justice? This world and country are as messed up as it has ever been and somehow you would have me believe that somehow things are trending better than they were six months ago.
Comment by Cluster Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 3:25 pm
“I am not sure I understand what the game is let alone how the score is being calculated.”
Regardless of the game or how it’s scored, I’m pretty sure that being driven from all of one’s leadership positions is a big ol’ L.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 4:27 pm
“That is what I cannot stand about you progressives. Always on your moral high horse and everyone who disagrees with you is morally corrupt. *** I guess I am not defending Mike Madigan any more than I am just commenting about my annoyance with people like you.”
Next time, save it for your therapist.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 4:36 pm
Bite me MrJM
Comment by Cluster Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 5:22 pm