Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Could the session-long media coverage theme finally be shifting?

Posted in:

Illinois

* Republicans mad…

Illinois Democrats took a victory lap when the General Assembly’s regular spring session came to a close this week, holding press conferences touting the session as one of the most productive in memory: a $42 billion state budget without major cuts or an income tax increase; a bevy of progressive bills heading to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk; newly drawn legislative district boundaries, completed despite the complication of late-arriving census data.

But for the minority party, each victory smacks of partisanship and defeat.

* Republicans mad…

Less than five months after freshly sworn-in Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch promised a “new day” in state government, Democrats in his caucus say he’s delivered “on every responsibility.”

But Republicans say Welch is still following the “playbook of 65th and Pulaski,” written and perfected by Welch’s tainted Southwest Side predecessor.

* Republicans mad…

Illinois Republicans on Wednesday urged Gov. J.B. Pritzker to “uphold his promise” and veto a Democrat-proposed state legislative redistricting map.

“What we saw in Springfield these last two weeks was an absolute mockery of fair and transparent redistricting processes,” U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, said Wednesday afternoon during a press conference in uptown Normal.

* Republicans mad…

The finger pointing over the latest Illinois state budget and beyond is, if anything, intensifying now that the budget itself has passed and heading for the Governor’s desk.

A little more than 12 hours after Illinois lawmakers approved his latest budget, Governor Pritzker met with reporters to sing its praises.

“Ours is a budget that addresses the historical structural deficit, and makes responsible choices; paying off debt early, nearly eliminating our backlog of bills, and making critical investments,” Pritzker said.

House Republican Leader Jim Durkin argues the budget penalizes businesses. And as for ethics reform, he said lawmakers falls short when they should have been stepping up.

* Republicans mad…

If signed, the bill would move the 2022 primary from the third Tuesday in March to June 28, 2022. Lawmakers said that the change was necessary because of delays in census data that will be used to draw new maps. That new data will not be released until August, according to officials.

State Republicans blasted the move, saying that it was designed behind “closed doors” to aid Democrats in drawing a more favorable legislative map.

“They did it behind closed doors. This is how power and control are maintained in Springfield,” Illinois House Republican Leader Rep. Jim Durkin said.

* Thanks to the mayor, maybe now the press corps can shift its focus…

The day after the Illinois Senate passed a compromise bill that would phase in a fully elected, 21-member Chicago Board of Education, Mayor Lori Lightfoot emphasized that it’s not yet a done deal and drew attention to parts of the plan that she doesn’t agree with.

“There were obviously a lot of different agendas at work that led to the bill that passed,” Lightfoot said at an unrelated news conference Wednesday afternoon, describing the legislation as one step in a longer process on which there’s still work to do. […]

Lightfoot pledged to “keep our fight where it should be, which is making sure that our children are heard, that their educational futures are secure and that parents have seat at table.”

“Why that is so hard for people to understand, why that sense of urgency around those core values is something that some folks in Springfield don’t get, I don’t know. But there has to be accountability for ignoring the people,” Lightfoot said. “It’s interesting that this is supposed to be about democracy but what happened in Springfield had nothing to do with democracy. But democracy, mark my word, will prevail.”

* Sun-Times mad…

If test scores fall in Chicago’s public schools, blame Illinois Senate President Don Harmon.

If enrollment declines further in the city’s schools, blame state Sen. Bob Martwick.

If property taxes go up to pay for the schools, blame those in the state Senate who voted Tuesday to create an absurdly unwieldy 21-member elected Chicago school board. And blame, as well, anybody in the House who votes later this summer for this slapped-together mockery of supposedly grassroots democracy.

In the future, they will own the performance of Chicago’s schools, which we fear will not go well. It will be on them.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 9:22 am

Comments

The Sun-Times wants us to blame an elected school board law, before the elected school board is actually seated?

If you want to blame someone for the elected school board, don’t blame Harmon and Martwick, blame The Mayor and the mayors before her. They’ve had 25 years to prove to parents that mayoral control was a better model, and they failed.

Comment by Thomas Paine Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 9:30 am
When I was younger, it didn’t take me long to figure out that the guys who were always calling their long string of ex’s crazy, were instead the crazy ones themselves.

Someone should try to explain this concept to the ILGOP. At this point they are embarrassing themselves with this constant blame shifting to whoever sits in the speakers chair.

Comment by TheInvisibleMan Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 9:35 am
How many republicans will go home this week and take credit for passing a balanced budget without raising taxes?

Comment by TheUpperRoom Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 9:39 am
GOP mad…and angry too.

Comment by PublicServant Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 9:39 am
It looks like Rodney is the only potential gubernatorial candidate who was able to get some attention for his comment. The others are still chasing after the base, but Rodney is in the best position to be the “voice of the opposition” for the next year.

To the Sun-Times: “There is no chance the average Chicago voter…would have a clue who these 21 school board members are.”

Does anyone in Chicago know who is on the unelected school board currently?

Comment by NIU Grad Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 9:41 am
The fewer ribbons cut in Raunerite districts is a good sign, fewer folks who voted “red” only to tout a project others voted to exist.

Yep I’d be mad about that including all of other things. Freeloading off votes that help *and* then those same votes will be used against others that help ya… no need to have ribbon cuttings where red voting members reside.

Nope.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 9:43 am
The ILGOP complaints sound as if they are a football team who claim they cannot win the game because their opponent (Dems) decided to make the field 90 yards long. But the truth is that both parties play on the same field and the ILGOP is losing not because of the field but because they are still running a Wing-T offense when the Dems have gone pro-style. Fix your game then worry about the field.

Comment by Moved East Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 9:44 am
With the GOPs affinity for Kool-Aid, I’m shocked at their distaste for Welch’s.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 9:44 am
=== Rodney is in the best position to be the “voice of the opposition” for the next year.===

Rodney Davis voted *twice* not to impeach Trump, including after an insurrection.

That will chase Rodney around quite a bit too.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 9:51 am
===House Republican Leader Jim Durkin argues the budget penalizes businesses.===

That Fair Tax win seems more and more like a loss, doesn’t it?

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 9:56 am
When Rauner was running the state into the ground these guys accepted his cash and kept their mouths shut at the expense of their constituents. As a result they are now a super minority and they are unhappy. By their own actions they put themselves in this position.

Comment by The Dude Abides Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 9:57 am
GOP seems to be always mad. Trump was always mad, Rauner was always mad, Lightfoot is always mad, I just don’t get it?

This whole apparatus of not paying attention to others ideas, being the smartest in the room and trying to get people to accept you by belittling them and using condescending language about them?

Until the GOP can get over its anger issues and learn to get beyond being the party of no, it’s still going to have issues in Illinois.

Comment by Frank talks Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 9:59 am
“The fewer ribbons cut in Raunerite districts is a good sign. . .”

Because voters in those districts don’t matter?

Comment by Louis G Atsaves Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 10:01 am
“this is how power and control are maintained in
Springfield”

That, and not being the party of anti-science, anti-choice, and anti-sense.

Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 10:01 am
When you’re the super minority, heck, maybe it’s you.

Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 10:03 am
=== Because voters in those districts don’t matter?===

You should ask that very *exact* question to Raunerites voting no to hurt those same voters.

What, they can’t vote to help their district… themselves?

I’m not even saying all 45 need or needed to be green… 8-11 sounds like a good number, showing they care, they want governing.

Why should a member voting red deserve to see projects in their district realized? They seem to care less about their district.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 10:04 am
“But the truth is that both parties play on the same field . . .”

Including when the field is gerrymandered?

Comment by Louis G Atsaves Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 10:05 am
“Why should a member voting red deserve to see projects in their district realized? They seem to care less about their district.”

Because they ultimately answer to the constituents who elect them?

Comment by Louis G Atsaves Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 10:06 am
=== Including when the field is gerrymandered?===

You have a point there, I mean, when you look at the Republican maps…

…

Oh.

There were no Republican maps.

There were no Republican maps, and yet the HGOP spent $500K on the process and all we got for that was a toddler’s coloring on a tweet.

And you’re worried about the maps? “Ok”.

Aren’t you angry… $500K, not a map to show for it?

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 10:08 am
=== Because they ultimately answer to the constituents who elect them?===

If you vote for an ineffective member of the general assembly…

I mean, Naperville learned. Grant Wehrli ran on being ineffective, even touted it. Where’s Wehrli now? Tweeting about Mautino… again.

Are you actually saying… it’s a good policy to be against a budget and/or capital improvements and then think it’s cool to be there for a ribbon cutting you voted against?

Cut out (no pun intended) the projects, no weird things like worrying about members who vote no being at ribbon cuttings.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 10:12 am
Hardest working newspaper in America and multiple others finds common cause with the Republicans about Democrats overeaching this session but it’s all about the Republicans being out of step with the voters

Got it

Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 10:13 am
A lawyer bemoaning someone taking advantage of a situation is not a lawyer for me.

Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 10:14 am
I’m mad too. Mad that a President can incite an insurrection, and that republicans can’t repudiate it, won’t investigate it, and when given a chance to vote will vote to invalidate voter wishes. Yep, I’m really mad.

Comment by Lincoln Lad Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 10:21 am
Looking at the votes on the school board bill, shouldn’t the part about the mayor also be labeled “Republicans mad”?

Comment by Livco Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 10:22 am
===the Republicans being out of step with the voters===

73/41, all the statewides, 13-5 in House seats, both Senate seats…

Here’s the thing, if winners make policy and when a party wins, and they deliver for that constituency, editorials from newspapers seem… less.

If the minority party thinks their policies and positions are what the majority want, they should be less mad and push those things.

They did that with the Fair Tax, caught the governor flat footed, lost all the advantages (time, money, messaging) but here’s the rub, in the end, the business loopholes closed… “Republicans mad”

They’re mad because winners still make policy.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 10:25 am
“If you vote for an ineffective member of the general assembly . . .”

So your message to all those voters in Districts who elect Republicans is to simply elect Democrats in the future? That is your simplistic definition of effectiveness?

Comment by Louis G Atsaves Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 10:29 am
“But democracy, mark my word, will prevail.”

So the mayor is going to run against the democracy of an elected school board, passed and enacted by the IL GA and governor, and the millions of voters who elected them? Brilliant strategy.

Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 10:31 am
=== So your message to all those voters in Districts who elect Republicans is to simply elect Democrats in the future?===

This is the thinking of children, you’re no child.

A Republican can’t vote for infrastructure/capital bills that will help their district “because politics”

Bud, good politics is delivering for your district no matter which party is the majority.

I mean, I could ask you, is the goal of post-Rauner Republicans to be ineffective, purposely, until Republicans become the majority? See how silly that sounds too?

=== That is your simplistic definition of effectiveness?===

If 80% of the time I can agree with a Republican on things, can’t that 20% be about being for a budget that includes good things for their district or bills that help infrastructure?

Your premise, boiled down to the bone is… be the party of no, always no.

That’s been the plan, still is the plan

How’s that all working out?

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 10:34 am
“They’re mad because winners still make policy.”

Yup. They promised higher taxes if it failed and cut a bunch of so-called loopholes so the anti-Fair Taxers pay more in taxes. They delivered on that promise. Some as a result will pay higher taxes, including those who create or maintain jobs for working men and women. Congrats to the party in control for keeping their word.

Goes back to the do you trust them argument they could not overcome in the Fair Tax fiasco.

Comment by Louis G Atsaves Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 10:38 am
“67th and Pulaski”. Thanks, Now I want a Nick and Vito’s thin crust. I can smell it and I’m 60 miles away…

Comment by The Magnificent Purple Walnut Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 10:39 am
=== Some as a result will pay higher taxes, including those who create or maintain jobs for working men and women. Congrats to the party in control for keeping their word.===

Gotta be honest, I’m hearing more about businesses looking for people, begging for people to work, not contemplating layoffs or a hiring freeze.

Which is it?

===Goes back to the do you trust them argument they could not overcome in the Fair Tax fiasco.===

If you are telling me the Dems delivered on what they would do if it failed, how can I not trust them since they did what they said they’d do?

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 10:41 am
~~So your message to all those voters in Districts who elect Republicans is to simply elect Democrats in the future? That is your simplistic definition of effectiveness?~~

If you’ve been in IL long enough you know there used to be quite a few GOP who were elected and wanted to Govern. They are becoming few and far between lately.

When a voter chooses someone who professes that “downstate” money and “upstate” money should be separate- they really shouldn’t be upset when they get their wish.

Comment by jimbo Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 10:42 am
- Hardest working newspaper in America and multiple others finds common cause with the Republicans -

If you could read you’d notice the Sun Times is upset about the elected school board, not your laundry list of grievances you think everyone else in the state shares.

Comment by Excitable Boy Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 10:46 am
“This is the thinking of children, you’re no child.”

Lots of simplistic slogans in your response. You assume Republicans were purposely being what you call ineffective? You have facts to back that up? Like the maproom that didn’t lock them out? Or the budget dropped and voted upon in a matter of hours that left out Republicans on infrastructure matters. When you are the super majority, do you still need to play the hide the ball trick?

My child like mind awaits enlightenment.

Comment by Louis G Atsaves Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 10:52 am
The Governor should cut ribbons in as many places as possible because all those Republican districts have plenty of voters who he will need in 2022. If those super-minority GOP officials then want to try to take credit for projects they voted against, they can try (they would need to raise some money first). Their opponents can surely point out their hypocrisy, and the Governor has his own election to worry about. Skipping downstate districts to “own the GOP” would just provide a potential line of attack for a GOP candidate for governor: “you are paying taxes for these projects but he’s not doing anything for you.” Plenty of independents in those districts.

Comment by natty lite Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 10:54 am
“So your message to all those voters in Districts who elect Republicans is to simply elect Democrats in the future? That is your simplistic definition of effectiveness?”

Maybe if they ran decent primary candidates and didn’t just grease in a bunch of insiders to safe R seats, people like me wouldn’t be voting D 95% of the time.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 10:54 am
“If you are telling me the Dems delivered on what they would do if it failed, how can I not trust them since they did what they said they’d do?”

Vote our way or we will punish you in the future is not my idea of building trust with the electorate. Just saying.

Comment by Louis G Atsaves Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 10:55 am
@Ducky LaMoore, I hear that all the time from Democrats who vote for Democrats 95% of the time. The alternative argument is to have Republicans vote like Democrats and have the same views as Democrats before you would vote for a Republican.

Neither will happen any time soon or during our life times.

Comment by Louis G Atsaves Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 11:02 am
“Vote our way or we will punish you in the future is not my idea of building trust with the electorate. Just saying.”

Clearly then you are not a Trump supporter, nor do you support all the local Republican efforts to censure and punish those who voted to impeach…

Comment by LakeCo Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 11:02 am
=== Lots of simplistic slogans in your response. You assume Republicans were purposely being what you call ineffective?===

You vote no on everything, that’s no different than the toddler who learns the word no and can’t figure out why they don’t get their way.

That’s child-like thinking.

===Or the budget dropped and voted upon in a matter of hours that left out Republicans on infrastructure matters.===

See, here’s the thing;

When the party decides to be the party of no, it’s lazy and child like.

Have you seen a budgetary thought or a map presented before both the maps and the 11th hour, 55 minute of session?

Being passively no on things is a lazy way to seem engaged, and why not have a list of projects the caucus wants funded and hold the feet of the administration to the fire to do so… by also saying… “we could and will put members on these bills and that budget, this is us being a partner”

It’s like the child who says no all the time, the family orders dinner, doesn’t ask the child what he/she wants because dinner needs to be ordered, and if the child ain’t helping get dinner, they can eat what the family orders, without input.

===When you are the super majority, do you still need to play the hide the ball trick?===

The Mark Maxwell ad done for the HGOP covers the map, the budget… that’s between Harris and whomever the HGOP designated to be the one to say “no” to things… like the child and dinner thingy.

I am puzzled as to why you’re concerned about a budget. You cheered the two years Illinois was without a budget, and when the third budget was vetoed too. You were against compromise, you thought Andersson sold out… being a no isn’t governing.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 11:03 am
“You were against compromise, you thought Andersson sold out . . .”

I was? Thanks for the newsflash.

Now stop repeating yourself and enlighten me. If you can’t, just say so.

Comment by Louis G Atsaves Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 11:06 am
=== The Governor should cut ribbons in as many places as possible because all those Republican districts have plenty of voters who he will need in 2022. If those super-minority GOP officials then want to try to take credit for projects they voted against, they can try (they would need to raise some money first). Their opponents can surely point out their hypocrisy, and the Governor has his own election to worry about. Skipping downstate districts to “own the GOP” would just provide a potential line of attack for a GOP candidate for governor: “you are paying taxes for these projects but he’s not doing anything for you.” Plenty of independents in those districts.===

Meh. You vote red, you get how your member voted. (Hashtag) Democracy.

=== Vote our way or we will punish you in the future is not my idea of building trust with the electorate.===

No, - Louis G Atsaves. Good try.

You told me Dems did exactly as they says they would. You told me. If they did what they said, that’s how trust is made.

Elections have consequences. Being honest to those consequences is building trust.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 11:06 am
=== I was? Thanks for the newsflash===

We were doing so well, you and I, do I need to “show” you your own words? Do I?

===Now stop repeating yourself and enlighten me.===

Petulant child thinking includes not listening when told an answered.

I’ve answered your questions, what is puzzling you?

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 11:17 am
Louis, I assume you are an accomplished man from previous back and forths on this blog.

But…..when your chosen political party is dominated by the loudest voices of pro insurrection, white supremacy, 51st staters, voter suppression advocates and Fox News junkies your party’s future looks bleak in Illinois.

Comment by don the legend Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 11:17 am
The Democratic Party is moving to the left just like the Republican Party moved to the right. It used to be there would be a Republican or two that were more liberal than a conservative Democrat. These legislators don’t exist anymore.

Comment by Chicagonk Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 11:21 am
I used to vote for an occasional Republican. Chuck Percy, Jim Edgar, Judy Baar Topinka, Jim Thompson… I haven’t voted for a GOPer since Judy and given what the outcomes of the primaries are probably won’t in future. I haven’t changed my positions, I was a centrist back then and am one now, I just have a part in the Dem coalition that doesn’t exist in the GOP.

Comment by cermak_rd Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 11:24 am
=The Democratic Party is moving to the left just like the Republican Party moved to the right.=

Exactly how so? The “both sides” argument is a good talking point but from where I sit it seems that one party wants to govern in this state and the other wants to abandon their responsibility or act petulant over health and safety matters. And I say this as someone who has voted for many Republicans over my lifetime and longs for the party to return to normalcy and relevance.

Comment by Pundent Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 11:30 am
The people who attack Democrats at this time that they’re being fiscally responsible, do they want Illinois to fail? Nah, the right wing wouldn’t want to tank a state to blow up the public sector, would it? We’re paying back debt, which is an excellent sign to the business community, and we’re funding our priorities.

So to all the gripers, show us your detailed budget plans. Do you want to slash spending and the state workforce? We avoided big cuts, thanks in part to the federal stimulus that the dour folks on the other side of the aisle unanimously refused for us, the so-called “blue state bailout” (ironic because blue state residents get less from the federal government than they pay in).

Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 11:36 am
“You told me Dems did exactly as they says they would. You told me. If they did what they said, that’s how trust is made.”

As in vote my way or you will be punished? That is your idea of building trust? Wow.

Comment by Louis G Atsaves Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 11:48 am
=That is your idea of building trust?=

You need to take stock of where the GOP is right now nationally and in Illinois. This idea that there has been some sort of a betrayal by the Democratic party flies in the face of reality. The GOP has given up on governing and now engages in cult like behavior that’s detached from reality, science, and just plain common sense and facts. With very few exceptions compromise and “trust” is completely absent in today’s GOP. Take the steps to repair the party and they might have a chance to convince former supporters that you’re serious about governing again.

Comment by Pundent Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 11:55 am
“But…..when your chosen political party is dominated by the loudest voices of pro insurrection, white supremacy, 51st staters, voter suppression advocates and Fox News junkies your party’s future looks bleak in Illinois.”

All that sloganeering tells me is that you haven’t been attending any Republican party meetings in Illinois. Both sides focus on a few nutcakes in each other’s party to prove that everyone else in that party is like the nutcakes.

I don’t expect that behavior to stop any time soon.

Comment by Louis G Atsaves Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 11:57 am
I don’t support a fully elected board but the ST went overboard with that.

Comment by low level Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 12:03 pm
== It’s interesting that this is supposed to be about democracy but what happened in Springfield had nothing to do with democracy. But democracy, mark my word, will prevail.”==

Yes, and democracy will be the method by which Chicago voters show her the door in 2 years. There is no path for her to be re-elected barring some miracle.

Comment by low level Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 12:15 pm
“You need to take stock of where the GOP is right now nationally and in Illinois.”

Just take stock of the GOP because the other party both nationally and locally has no faults?

Comment by Louis G Atsaves Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 12:16 pm
=Just take stock of the GOP because the other party both nationally and locally has no faults?=

Of course the Democratic party has fault. No one is suggesting otherwise. But there is simply no equivalence between where the Democratic party is vs. the Republican party today. You want to dance around that subject or minimize it. Adam Kinzinger gets it as do the majority of the voters in Illinois.

Comment by Pundent Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 12:41 pm
In Illinois, at least as a whole and in the city and collar counties, many independents, and soft left leaning people may want guns but want some sensible gun control. They may like the idea of labor unions but have concern of some of the power they wield on Illinois politics. They might want lower taxes, or they may be ok with higher taxes just as long as they felt their money was being used efficiently and fairly. They might want their kids to learn about different ideas of history, but agree that we should take a slow measured approach. Simply, there is a whole bunch of people craving for something in the middle and not from either side of the “nutcakes” as you stated Mr. Atsaves, but right now the Dem “nutcakes” are much more palatable to the vast majority in Illinois than the GOP “nutcakes.” So if he GOP wants to win in Illinois, they need to cater their message to what folks think in the collar counties and stop catering to the ever dwindling population of southern Illinois. Right now the Illinois GOP is fighting to be the king of nothing, because they have nothing, no power, no influence, and certainly no credibility with most of us in Illinois.

Comment by Moved East Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 12:48 pm
I read the entire Sun-Times editorial and didn’t realize that letters@suntimes.com was Michael Sacks’ official email there.

Comment by Asteroid of Caution Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 12:48 pm
==All that sloganeering tells me is that you haven’t been attending any Republican party meetings in Illinois==

“A few nutcakes.” How about entire Republican organization.

Candace Owens was the featured speaker at the recent Sangamon County Republican annual fundraiser. Candace Owens.

Comment by don the legend Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 2:40 pm
==All that sloganeering tells me is that you haven’t been attending any Republican party meetings in Illinois==

I would but Adam Kinzinger is my go to +1.

Comment by Pundent Thursday, Jun 3, 21 @ 3:14 pm