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* I’m sure people are very afraid…

Lightfoot says what happened in Springfield was "not democracy," but mark her words. "Democracy will prevail."

— Fran Spielman (@fspielman) June 2, 2021

* Related…

* Lightfoot accused of trying to lower the bar for City Council approval of a new ward map

*** UPDATE *** Some legislative react…

MAYOR'S PLAN: One person appoints entire governing body.

OUR PLAN: Community elects representatives to governing body.

Our plan approved by super-majority vote.

Sounds like democracy DID prevail!#ElectedSchoolBoard #ersbnow @Delia4StateRep @robertmartwick https://t.co/ptG0elYFsx

— Will Guzzardi (@WillGuzzardi) June 2, 2021

Last Sunday, I was chilling at the Chicago Sky game. I saw the mayor and said hello.

First, she said to me was how “we’re gonna **** her.” Then, how this “would be a political problem for us.”

I laughed and responded, “what about the game?” 🤷🏽‍♂️

She’s not a democracy champion. https://t.co/JfnI109LFX

— Robert Peters (@RobertJPeters) June 2, 2021

Let me add, I get being passionate but the obsessive use of the hammer is ridiculous. The ERSB bill was negotiated on for months (let alone the years of work on this) and it’s not perfect — especially for some of us who wanted it quicker.

— Robert Peters (@RobertJPeters) June 2, 2021

* Related…

* Chicago lawmakers celebrate passage of elected school board legislation

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 1:51 pm

Comments

It seems to be the “in thing” now to claim an assault on democracy if you don’t get your way.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 1:54 pm
So she’s for democracy now after she was against it, which was after she was for it originally?

Got it

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 1:55 pm
Truly a delusional take from a seemingly unhinged thinking as to how things work in Springfield and in… democracy.

Pretty soon… those *stuck* working for Lightfoot will see the stink of things and words like this stink on them too.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 1:56 pm
So, her own party cobbles together a path to the elected school board she claims to have wanted all along, but it’s “not democracy”??? And what’s she going to do about it with no allies downstate that really give a durn about her opinion on anything?

Comment by thisjustinagain Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 1:56 pm
How undemocratic of them to replace her power to control a school board with limited accountability with an elected body. This aggression will not stand!

Comment by NIU Grad Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 1:59 pm
“I’ve said it before. I’ll say it again — cuckoo,”

- Mayor Richard M. Daley, attributed

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 2:00 pm
She’s really not good at politics, is she?

Comment by Guy Probably Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 2:01 pm
The utter and complete failure of you and your Springfield team is not the same thing as democracy not working. Please. Fix your team.

Comment by Southern Skeptic Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 2:01 pm
Who wants to be first to tell the mayor nothing happend?….except she got to keep all the LGDF $$$?

Comment by Annonin' Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 2:04 pm
===your Springfield team===

It’s not a staff issue.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 2:07 pm
Are we sure Lightfoot is even a Dem at this point.

I know candidate Lightfoot was, but…

Comment by TheInvisibleMan Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 2:08 pm
I’m used to being disappointed by politicians but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a wider gulf between candidate and elected official than with this mayor. I haven’t been around that long, but still.

Comment by Actual Red Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 2:11 pm
Her response here is actually a small if perfect example of just how little influence she actually has.

Comment by Nick Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 2:13 pm
Ah yes, I see the mayor is once again making a good faith effort to build bridges. The implied, empty threat that “democracy will prevail” is a nice rhetorical flourish.

Perhaps consider a different approach?

Comment by The Doc Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 2:13 pm
The day the good Lord was handing out political acumen- Lori was absent

Comment by Sue Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 2:15 pm
I am honestly not sure why she cares. When the legislation for an elected board takes effect she will not be the mayor.

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 2:15 pm
I wish she’d stop yelling at us all the time. She’s wearing me out.

Comment by Just Can't Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 2:24 pm
Makes me miss Rahm

Comment by northside reformer Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 2:25 pm
Madam Mayor, for not understanding the basics of the legislative process and how a bill becomes a law…does not make it undemocratic.

You will win some and lose some. You need an effective Springfield team.

You can say what you want about your predecessor, but one thing you can’t say…he bust his ass off for his legislative accomplishments, for his pet projects, made the trips to Springfield, lobbied legislators from both parties…and was result-driven.

You’re no Rahmster in this area.

Comment by Pizza Man Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 2:27 pm
Lori. you should know that you don’t get to question the Democratic orthodoxy in this state. If you keep this up you will be defrocked from the Illinois Democratic Church of liberalism.

Comment by Union County Shoeless Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 2:28 pm
You keep using that word, I do not think it means what you think it means.

1) An elected school board is an example of democracy.

2) A negotiated bill with the input of multiple stakeholder groups that attracts a majority of votes is an example of democracy.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 2:42 pm
It seems to be the “in thing” now to claim an assault on democracy if you don’t get your way.

You got that right.

Comment by Birds on the Bat Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 2:48 pm
If you don’t want the aldermen drawing their own districts, shouldn’t you support “lowering the bar?” Fewer votes to pass a map mean fewer aldermen to satisfy.

Comment by Socially DIstant watcher Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 2:48 pm
I’m looking forward to democracy prevailing with respect to Mayor Lightfoot in the spring of 2023.

Comment by Moe Berg Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 2:48 pm
Attention Mayor Lightfoot: the people voted for the state legislature. The state legislature passed a bunch of laws. That’s the way it is.

Comment by Ghost of Algernon Sidney Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 2:48 pm
==Democracy will prevail.==

If, by that, you mean you’ll be voted out of office in 2022…then yes.

Comment by Jocko Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 2:50 pm
Maybe she should just calm down . . . perhaps going to get a hair cut would be relaxing to her.

Comment by Cardinal Fan Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 2:52 pm
Talk about somebody with no constituency. Thank goodness there are no supporters to be offended by this.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 2:53 pm
Everyone should stop giving kudos to Rahm. He just let MJM do whatever he wanted.

RMD was the one that bent Springfield to his will waaaaaaay more often than not.

Comment by JP Altgeld Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 2:54 pm
Clearly not a lot of fans of Mayor Lightfoot today. She represents a changing of the kind of leadership Democrats want as opposed to the old Pritzker/Madigan wing of the party. Like the Pritzker choice of a leader for the Staye Senate, voters rejection of Pritzker plan to get more dollars to spend, the State Dem. rejection of his choice for Dem Chair among a lot of other things.
Certainly the Gov. and the General Assembly have not been supportive of Mayor Lightfoot or Chicago.
From sticking Chicago Tax payers for about 850 million or so in increased pension costs, to the failure to investigate nursing home complaints and funding problems for hospitals in poor areas of the city during the pandemic, to problems in getting unemployment checks, to the mess in granting cannabis licenses and, of course , the LaSalle veterans failure that gave a good view of Pritzker and the General Assembly’s of veterans,
I really don’t see a reason for Mayor Lightfoot to support Pritzker or his team in the Democratic Primary.
Thinking MLL is going to be on the winning side of the next election.
Mayor Lightfoot seems to represent average Dems and Springfield seems to be just a place for old insiders to make deals to benefit themselves.

Comment by Back to the Future Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 2:58 pm
===First, she said to me was how “we’re gonna **** her.” Then, how this “would be a political problem for us.====

How to lose friends and alienate people.

Comment by Nick Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 3:04 pm
Lori: “I don’t know what they have to say, it makes no difference anyway, whatever it is, I’m against it. No matter what it is or who commenced it, I’m against it”. (From Groucho Marx’s “I’m Against It”, in the movie “Horse Feathers”, 1932)

Comment by thisjustinagain Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 3:11 pm
She is fundamentally bellicose.

I’m not sure if that has made her an incompetent mayor, but it hasn’t helped.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 3:13 pm
Elected schoolboard? How many care? Democracy? This is purely an attempted diversion from the real issue that Chicagoans and commuters to Chicago are most concerned about right now. Safety and exploding crime. Everyone is aware of this but I doubt that few people living outside the metro area fully grasp how bad and dangerous things are right now. Lori is losing the city.

Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 3:13 pm
We have real attacks and threats to democracy occurring in this country right now. But they aren’t emanating from Springfield. When Lightfoot uses this type of rhetoric she diminishes the actual threats to democracy and ultimately weakens her parties ability to do something about it.

Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 3:22 pm
=== She represents a changing of the kind of leadership Democrats want as opposed to the old Pritzker/Madigan wing of the party. Like the Pritzker choice of a leader for the Staye Senate, voters rejection of Pritzker plan to get more dollars to spend, the State Dem. rejection of his choice for Dem Chair among a lot of other things.===

Deflecting the many and tiring failures that continue to haunt Lightfoot.., daily… by pretending “Pritzker is worse” is arguably the funniest fan fiction I’ve read to prop up Lightfoot yet.

Lightfoot is such an abysmal failure… candidate Lightfoot would never, ever, ever vote for Mayor Lightfoot, and that is the worst indictment an incumbent can have said about them… they’ve become everything they detested. That’s Lightfoot.

Ya wanna know how pathetic this propping up of Lightfoot is?

=== LaSalle veterans failure===

I mean, c’mon… this isn’t Facebook, are you completely blind to Lightfoot’s incompetence, or you’re too aware so you say… “LaSalle”… this is like Lightfoot not grasping how things work that she can control so let’s see if deflecting helps.

This is a perfect example of why Lightfoot is the failure to allies and consensus.

=== I really don’t see a reason for Mayor Lightfoot to support Pritzker or his team in the Democratic Primary.
Thinking MLL is going to be on the winning side of the next election===

You see this as a “good” thing… LOL

If I’ve learned anything from this deflection defense is that Lori Lightfoot has no business being mayor because everything else in this state that’s being worked on is “terrible” too

Geez, Louise… this is as bad as being against… democracy… after begging for democracy… first.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 3:27 pm
Lightfoot is a one-hit wonder. The only way she wins a second term is the absence of a viable alternative. And never underestimate just how big a barrier that will be to removing her from office in 2023. The pickings are rather slim in Chicago.

Comment by Svengali Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 3:33 pm
She won election as an outsider, fighting the “swamp”, very much like Trump, and she was admittedly dealt a very tough hand. But if she runs again, she’s going to have to run on her record. I haven’t seen any meaningful accomplishments yet, and she’s repeatedly shown her true personality.

Comment by James Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 3:39 pm
Madam President TP & county Party Chair, as you see this inexperience from city hall’s 5th floor, high senior staff turnover, no existing relationships with Springfield, serious crime issue in the city added with poor relations with the press and media, so what are your thoughts in ‘23?

Comment by Pizza Man Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 3:42 pm
OW
Is it fair to be thinking you are on the fence with Mayor Lightfoot.
Kinda thought you would have a different opinion than I have of my Mayor.
Appreciate your opinion on some issues she is having. Being Mayor is a tough job, but a huge majority of Chicago folks came out and voted for a change. Keep in mind she was running against a very good candidate with a very solid long term record and Mayor Lori won across the Board and is still favored by a majority of Chicago voters.
She is probably doing what she thinks is in the best interest of Chicago and sticks up for the city.
That is her job.
Some of us think not playing ball with special interest groups in Springfield is a good thing.
Don’t mean to turn the Blog into Facebook- that one bothered me. I don’t have a Facebook account- - yet.

Comment by Back to the Future Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 3:49 pm
===Madam President TP & county Party Chair===

Full stop. A) She barely cleared 25% in a 1:1 two years ago. There’s no reason to think her support has gone up even if MLL’s has gone down. B) Can we just quit the septuagenarian and older candidates already? I’m fine with POTUS because he ousted a monster, but I am sick and tired of that generation. The average US Senator is 65 fer chrissakes. And I ain’t young - younger than all them though.

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 3:52 pm
- Back to the Future -

Written here with great respect and history of your past comments, your response to me is the quality of comment that you deliver regularly.

===Being Mayor is a tough job, but a huge majority of Chicago folks came out and voted for a change. Keep in mind she was running against a very good candidate with a very solid long term record and Mayor Lori won across the Board and is still favored by a majority of Chicago voters.===

No argument there, heck I didn’t have Lightfoot in any first tier, and she won going away, both times.

=== She is probably doing what she thinks is in the best interest of Chicago and sticks up for the city.
That is her job.
Some of us think not playing ball with special interest groups in Springfield is a good thing.===

No real *argument* here, but the reality is all mayors need a relationship with Springfield, and preferably a good relationship. Being overtly hostile and lacking the acumen to maneuver Springfield isn’t helpful to any constituency a mayor wants to keep happy.

You’re all good, if anything, I was surprised you went down that road as you did, but now I hear ya.

No worries.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 4:02 pm
Based on her prior accomplishments, Mayor Lightfoot is probably a brilliant person. But she just does not seem to have the skill set needed to be a mayor of a mega-major city (one of the hardest jobs in U.S. government). There would be minimal shame if she said the job was beyond her and she was going back to Mayer Brown (and as soon as I wrote that I realized that she nor anyone else bitten by the candidate bug would ever admit that).

Comment by levivotedforjudy Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 4:26 pm
=Appreciate your opinion on some issues she is having. Being Mayor is a tough job, but a huge majority of Chicago folks came out and voted for a change.=

That may very well be. But Mayor Lightfoot isn’t bring the change that candidate Lightfoot advocated for. In fact in many instances, such as an elected school board, she’s now doing the very opposite.

I have yet to see a Mayor in the City of Chicago who has had success in burning bridges in Springfield by going it alone. Mayor Lightfoot will not be the exception.

Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 4:26 pm
==You can say what you want about your predecessor, but one thing you can’t say…he bust his ass off for his legislative accomplishments, for his pet projects, made the trips to Springfield, lobbied legislators from both parties…and was result-driven.===

That was a teeny bit Rahm, and a lot bit Victoria Watkins and Billy Glunz. Put “people” people on Campus, and her fortunes may change.

Comment by Miso Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 4:28 pm
== Put “people” people on Campus, and her fortunes may change. ==

Disagree. It’s not her people, it’s her. She simply does not understand politics generally, or “Springfield” specifically. Rahm, Daley, and Harold were all legislators. They understood the politics and process. She does not. Add a fundamental personality trait that draws her towards conflict instead of compromise and….well, we’re all seeing the result.

Comment by Roman Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 8:49 pm
== Victoria Watkins and Billy Glunz ==

Both good people, but they had little to do with Rahm’s success in Springfield. Rahm developed a personal relationship with Cullerton and a political relationship with Madigan. He successfully lobbied Springfield by keeping his head down and making two phone calls.

Comment by Roman Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 9:03 pm
I have a simple problem with the Mayor: I cannot figure out what she really wants, from what she says and does.

Comment by walker Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 9:23 pm
=== I have a simple problem with the Mayor: I cannot figure out what she really wants, from what she says and does.===

I mean, that’s like… not too great when the mayor needs folks like - walker - have that take.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 9:38 pm

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