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All about Madigan

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* If you want to know how the rest of the year is going to go, just check out this Gov. Blagojevich quote that John Patterson pulled from yesterday’s press conference…

“I think there’s great cause to be concerned. If Speaker Madigan and the House leadership pick up a veto-proof majority … then they’ll be in a position to easily override a veto.”

As Patterson notes, “That sounds an awful lot like the Democratic governor is urging voters to shun Democrats this fall so his intraparty rival – Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan — doesn’t get any stronger.”

The House GOP has positioned itself much closer to Blagojevich lately, and the governor has returned the favor by bashing Madigan at every opportunity. Yesterday was the first time, however, that Blagojevich openly fretted that House Republican Leader Tom Cross might wind up in a veto-proof minority.

* The Bond Buyer was one of the only “mainstream” media sources which caught this huge budget story, albeit buried down in the piece…

Yesterday, the governor backed off his push for the pension bond issue and did not provide another idea for how to replace the $400 million it would have saved in the fiscal 2009 budget.

Why did he do that? One reason is that the House Republicans don’t want to vote for it.

* Another way the governor has been trying to hurt House Democratic chances this November is by claiming there’s a “secret” plan to raise income taxes after the election…

An after-Halloween trick could be up Mike Madigan’s sleeve. Governor Blagojevich is suggesting the speaker of the Illinois House is secretly pushing for an increase in the income tax, sales tax, or both after the November election.

The problem with this logic, of course, is that Senate President Emil Jones has said openly this year that he, too, supports an income tax hike and a post-election vote on that topic is already planned for the Senate. But this is about Madigan, not the issue. It’s never about the issue.

* Next week’s special session isn’t about the budget. It’s about blaming Madigan…

“The Senate took the hard votes in order to fund the budget,” said Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago, in a statement. “The House should follow through and pass these measures. This can all be handled in a day.”

That’s true. The Senate did take some tough votes. But the Senate also refused to pass two other House-approved alternative budgets that didn’t have such gaping holes. And they won’t next week, either. Why? Because this isn’t about the budget. It’s about Madigan. It’s a concept that the State Journal-Register completely fails to grasp in today’s editorial.

* Expect the House’s responses to be more along these lines…

On Wednesday, Madigan spokesman Steve Brown responded to the governor’s call for a special session by suggesting reporters look up the definition of “sociopath.”

Blagojevich spokeswoman Katie Ridgway offered a quick response.

“He’s not a sociopath,” she said of her boss.

Nixon said he wasn’t a crook. Blagojevich says he’s not a sociopath. Wonderful.

…Adding… Just for kicks, take a look at this description of a sociopath. Sound familiar?

* Related…

* Special session called over state budget impasse

* Ill. lawmakers called to special session

* Blagojevich Calls Special Session of Legislature

* Governor calls special session on budget

* It’s going to be close

* Budget Disputes Continue

* Amid funding woes, school leaders look to cut budget

* Illinois Budget Action Alert

* Springfield’s Stalemate A Hostile Environment

* Blago halts construction because of poor wording

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 9:42 am

Comments

Does anyone have a link to the actual special session proclamation? thanks

Comment by culatr Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 9:46 am
Yeah, it’s in the subscriber-only section of the blog.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 9:48 am
What a sad state of affairs Illinois politics are. A pox on both the democrats and republicans. I have never been a throw the bums out kind of voter but I’m starting to lean that way.

Comment by Leave a light on George Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 9:53 am
If it wasn’t clear before, it is now. Only one of these guys holds down a big chair in Springfield after 2010. I bet on Madigan. He’s much smarter and he’s got help from the feds.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 9:53 am
Mr. Patterson, speaker madigan had a veto proof majority in the house AND senate last lear. Even with the veto proof majorities, his budget did not get passed. Why? well Mr. patterson, it appears you need the House to over ride veto’s; AND Jones can keep a majority of the House fomr excercising its vote for an ovveride by not calling the overrides up for a vote.

The problem is not the existance of veto proof overrides, those existed last year. The problem, if you want to single source one, is Jones.

The republicans have decided to gain political support by standing on the coat tails of the most unpopular governor in IL history. That they think this is a good plan explains why they have been utterly unable to rebuild.

Comment by Ghost Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 9:55 am
==I like Martha Stout’s way of detecting sociopaths: “If … you find yourself often pitying someone who consistently hurts you or other people, and who actively campaigns for your sympathy, the chances are close to one hundred percent that you are dealing with a sociopath.==

GUILTY! Now, on to impeachment….

Comment by Vote Quimby! Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 10:01 am
This says it all about why the Illinois GOP is such a joke. They are now seen as allied with Blagojevich, the same guy they do nothing but whine about non-stop.

This is codependency and patheticness that even AA members wouldn’t accept.

R or D, all these bums need to go.

Comment by GOP'er Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 10:02 am
Blago scored at least 11 points on the 13-question test….

Comment by Vote Quimby! Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 10:02 am
Blagojevich spokeswoman Katie Ridgway offered a quick response.

“He’s not a sociopath,” she said of her boss.

Nixon said he wasn’t a crook. Blagojevich says

And Adlai declared he was not a wimp.
Brown will be delighted.
The exSpinSisters never took the bait
Guess the BoyToys & Friends have some ’splainin’ to do Lucy.

Comment by DumberThanUThink Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 10:03 am
Isn’t this the same Governor who was calling Madigan a Republican just a few months ago. Now he is campaigning for the GOP. Please resign. Pleeease.

Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 10:08 am
===Does MJM really want to impeach a Democratic Governor during the time HE is the Chairman of the State Dems? Would this not be a black mark on him?===

Sticking with an unpopular governor/president through thick and thin is what has all but killed off the Illinois GOP. The answer is: Probably not.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 10:09 am
OK, Rod, its not funny anymore so just knock it off.
Sabotaging House candidates in YOUR OWN PARTY is going too far. Do whatever you want with the budget and talk bad about Madigan all you want but keep your nose out of the House elections, not that you could make any difference anyway.

Comment by Bill Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 10:10 am
==Blago scored at least 11 points on the 13-question test===

I counted 13. lol. Which two did you omit?

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 10:11 am
Whatever his motivations, Blago’s assertions that an income tax may be in the works after the November election is not that far-fetched. Here in blue Illinois, dominated by Machine Democrats, there are hundreds of advocates and entities which are dying to get into our pockets. How many times has Mayor Daley raised taxes? A lot. And Todd Stroger just put through a substantial Cook County sales tax increase in a manner which was hardly secretive. Sure, people complained. But the tax-raisers won the day. We may not like our Blago
but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t sit up and pay attention to the next round of soak the taxpayer, which will apparently start next week. And soaking the taxpayer will not necessarily take the form of a tax increase. Many of our fearless (and well-paid) legislators apparently want to sell off a valuable state asset, or part of it, at what amounts to a discount for instant cash. It’s not just a potential tax increase we should be watching for. There are so many ways our political leaders can mismanage money on our behalf. Even in an almost-recession, they are shameless.

Comment by Cassandra Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 10:14 am
In case anyone is wondering, that comment above by “Bill” is, indeed, the “real” Bill.

Another Kool-Aid overdose victim, apparently.

lol

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 10:15 am
Bill is that really you?

Comment by Kevin Fanning Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 10:15 am
Rod needs a time out. Maybe its time for a trade mission to Cuba.

Comment by Bill Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 10:18 am
Like I told you last night, we need to come up with a new name for you, Bill. Perhaps a QOTD?

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 10:22 am
I counted 13, too. Here are a couple of other nuggets from the sociopath article:

1. What Do They Want?
…A sociopath’s goal is to win. And he is willing to do anything at all to win. And sociopaths have nothing else to think about, so they can be very clever and conniving. Sociopaths are not busy being concerned with relationships or moral dilemmas or conflicting feelings, so they have much more time to think about clever ways to gain your trust and stab you in the back, and how do it without anyone knowing what’s happening.

2. How to Deal with A Sociopath
There is no known cure or therapy for sociopathy. In fact, some evidence suggests that therapy makes them worse because they use it to learn more about human vulnerabilities they can then exploit. They learn how to manipulate better and they learn better excuses that others will believe. Given all that, there is only one solution for dealing with a sociopath: Get him or her completely out of your life for good.

Comment by GA Watcher Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 10:24 am
Well, OK as long as my name doesn’t start with Dumber or Vanilla

Comment by Bill Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 10:25 am
Rod meets ALL the points in my review of the sociopath description.Next week should be the best show in town.

Comment by Cougar Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 10:29 am
===clever ways to gain your trust and stab you in the back===
=== there is only one solution for dealing with a sociopath: Get him or her completely out of your life for good.===
===pitying someone who consistently hurts you or other people, and who actively campaigns for your sympathy===
Martha must know Rod.

Comment by Bill Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 10:29 am
I resent that, Bill.

Comment by DumberThanULook Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 10:31 am
Who’s this Madigan fella?

Comment by GoBearsss Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 10:31 am
Oh, sorry, I forgot about you. I meant the madigan Dumber.

Comment by Bill Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 10:35 am
That’s right, DumberThanULook, push a temporarily disaffected supporter even further away. Good job.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 10:35 am
I tried to be fair and gave Blago the pass on these two:
4. Does he tend to make contradictory statements?
13. Does he chronically fail to take responsibility for harming others? Does he blame everyone and everything but himself?

Comment by Vote Quimby! Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 10:40 am
I would suggested that the governor go ahead and start working hard for senate democrats.

Come on down to Aurora tomorrow and march with Linda Holmes Governor, please… Stay away from Linda Chapa-LaVia however

Please!

Comment by OneManBlog Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 10:46 am
VQ, that wasn’t trying to be fair, it was trying to be blind. Are you kidding me?

===Does he tend to make contradictory statements?===

He does this every day, man.

=== Does he chronically fail to take responsibility for harming others? Does he blame everyone and everything but himself?===

Um, have you been paying any attention?

lol

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 10:49 am
Understand your frustration, Bill. But, while the Governor may suggest voting against house dem candidates, the House Speaker, and Chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party, suggested impeachment in a memo to candidates. Is there a difference?

Comment by Anon Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 10:49 am
Anon, you can do better than that nickname. C’mon!

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 10:52 am
anon,
No! They both need a time out. This is not the kind of nonsense we worked so hard for over twenty years for.
Impeachment would just give them another excuse to not do anything of substance.
I think everyone knows what will happen next week…nothing!

Comment by Bill Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 10:54 am
One Man,
Lay off Linda. She’s doing a great job.

Comment by Bill Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 10:57 am
y

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 10:57 am
==Are you kidding me?==

Yes, I am

Comment by Vote Quimby! Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 11:01 am
This just has to be repeated:

There is only one solution for dealing with a sociopath: Get him or her completely out of your life for good.

Comment by Reality Check Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 11:06 am
Bill,

Linda Chapa-LaVia, yeah I have no problems with her and think she is doing a fine job…

Linda Holmes, sorry Bill I have to really disagree with you on this one.

When she shares thoughts like this from the Daily Herald about voting yes to gaming expansion…

….In and around Sen. Holmes’ district lie riverboats in Aurora and Joliet. All would see fewer customers if the plan she voted for became law. Still, Holmes told me it wasn’t a tough vote to take because Penn National, the owner of those riverboats, told her it was OK to vote “yes……

Because if you need to consider the needs of an entity on gaming expansion, the local casino operator is the one to ask. Not local government or local businesses who are going to see less revenue.

Also her role in the whole Metea Valley High School issue out here was another great moment in government action.

Comment by OneManBlog Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 11:06 am
There is this joke:

Masochist: Beat me, please, hurt me, humiliate me!

Sadist: No!

Comment by anon Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 11:11 am
The whole Springfreudian mess in the capitol as seen from afar looks like a Marionette show in which somebody cut half teh strings.

Emil combinese the best attributes of the late Papa Doc Duvalier, MJM is Old Man Potter without the wheelchair, and Rod thinks he is Jimmy Stewart. It’s a Wonderful Life.

We think it’s humorous they play with their pots full of their public mooola — until we realize that it is our money

Comment by Truthful James Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 11:12 am
Is it me or does someone else realize that the governor stopped all those projects predicated on a sentence in a bill upon which he has not yet acted? Therefore, it has no effect on the projects…until he signs the bills and that’s apparently something he’s not willing to do.

Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 11:17 am
Impeachment will never happen — ever — so I’m confused as to why people continue to talk about. Impeachment has never been about impeachment — it’s always been about who can yell the loudest and who can put the other side (however you define “side”) on notice (for whatever … you name it.)

The fact that folks here — and certainly our politicians — remain obsessed over something that will never, ever come to fruition is mindboggling.

No one’s going to the impeach the governor. No one is going to investigate the *possibility* of impeachment. The process is political suicide — and no one — not the dems, not the repubs — have the wherewithal to initiate the process.

The talk is a smokescreen for the inability of folks to compromise — and it’s tiresome. It’s tiresome to hear the hollow threats, tiresome to read the frenetic posts here, and tiresome to read the constant “nudges and wink-winks” that people continue to drop in the media.

Just my two cents.

Comment by Macbeth Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 11:19 am
I would agree with Macbeth if you substituted ‘recall’ for impeachment in his argument.

Comment by Vote Quimby! Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 11:22 am
===No one’s going to the impeach the governor. No one is going to investigate the *possibility* of impeachment.===

Wanna bet?

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 11:23 am
THis should help our mental health month discussion….
Profile of the Sociopath
This website summarizes some of the common features of descriptions of the behavior of sociopaths.

Glibness and Superficial Charm

Manipulative and Conning
They never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors as permissible. They appear to be charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used. They may dominate and humiliate their victims.

Grandiose Sense of Self
Feels entitled to certain things as “their right.”

Pathological Lying
Has no problem lying coolly and easily and it is almost impossible for them to be truthful on a consistent basis. Can create, and get caught up in, a complex belief about their own powers and abilities. Extremely convincing and even able to pass lie detector tests.

Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt
A deep seated rage, which is split off and repressed, is at their core. Does not see others around them as people, but only as targets and opportunities. Instead of friends, they have victims and accomplices who end up as victims. The end always justifies the means and they let nothing stand in their way.

Shallow Emotions
When they show what seems to be warmth, joy, love and compassion it is more feigned than experienced and serves an ulterior motive. Outraged by insignificant matters, yet remaining unmoved and cold by what would upset a normal person. Since they are not genuine, neither are their promises.

Incapacity for Love

Need for Stimulation
Living on the edge. Verbal outbursts and physical punishments are normal. Promiscuity and gambling are common.

Callousness/Lack of Empathy
Unable to empathize with the pain of their victims, having only contempt for others’ feelings of distress and readily taking advantage of them.

Poor Behavioral Controls/Impulsive Nature
Rage and abuse, alternating with small expressions of love and approval produce an addictive cycle for abuser and abused, as well as creating hopelessness in the victim. Believe they are all-powerful, all-knowing, entitled to every wish, no sense of personal boundaries, no concern for their impact on others.

Early Behavior Problems/Juvenile Delinquency
Usually has a history of behavioral and academic difficulties, yet “gets by” by conning others. Problems in making and keeping friends; aberrant behaviors such as cruelty to people or animals, stealing, etc.

Irresponsibility/Unreliability
Not concerned about wrecking others’ lives and dreams. Oblivious or indifferent to the devastation they cause. Does not accept blame themselves, but blames others, even for acts they obviously committed.

Promiscuous Sexual Behavior/Infidelity
Promiscuity, child sexual abuse, rape and sexual acting out of all sorts.

Lack of Realistic Life Plan/Parasitic Lifestyle
Tends to move around a lot or makes all encompassing promises for the future, poor work ethic but exploits others effectively.

Criminal or Entrepreneurial Versatility
Changes their image as needed to avoid prosecution. Changes life story readily.

——————————————————————————–

Other Related Qualities:

Contemptuous of those who seek to understand them
Does not perceive that anything is wrong with them
Authoritarian
Secretive
Paranoid
Only rarely in difficulty with the law, but seeks out situations where their tyrannical behavior will be tolerated, condoned, or admired
Conventional appearance
Goal of enslavement of their victim(s)
Exercises despotic control over every aspect of the victim’s life
Has an emotional need to justify their crimes and therefore needs their victim’s affirmation (respect, gratitude and love)
Ultimate goal is the creation of a willing victim
Incapable of real human attachment to another
Unable to feel remorse or guilt
Extreme narcissism and grandiose
May state readily that their goal is to rule the world

(The above traits are based on the psychopathy checklists of H. Cleckley and R. Hare.)

Comment by DumberThanUThink Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 11:31 am
Bet on what? Impeachment? Or the process for?

Our Springfield politicians are process-phobic. It doesn’t matter what the process is — budgets, impeachments, recalls, whatever — they simply cannot reach the necessary compromise(s) to *complete* the process.

If it’s incendiary — which includes pretty much everything — then it’s impossible for our current batch of politicians to complete.

What’s all the more galling is that apparently the public *supports* impeachment — or at least recall — but the politicians representing (apparently) the “will of the people” refuse to initiate the process.

Even Franks’s wacko “notice” yesterday sounds like he had the whole thing scripted — or memorized — for months. It came out in one breathless burst — and so what? It’ll be lumped in with the equally wacko Madigan memo.

Granted, Blagojevich is grandly inept. And, yes, a sociopath. But the people — either the *real* people or the ghostwriters — writing these shrill, memorandums of wack (MOWs) are equally inept, equally annoying, and equally sociopathic (sociopathetic?).

Comment by Macbeth Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 11:31 am
I read the article on sociopaths and cannot believe how accurately it describes the governor.
Maybe someone should be looking around for buried bodies.

Comment by ChampaignDweller Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 11:32 am
you cannot compromise with a petulant, whiny child. you either give him everything he wants or nothing, because giving him part of what he wants won’t stop him from crying. with rod, it’s all or nothing. he won’t compromise, so why try?

Comment by bored now Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 11:36 am
Watch your terminology before making any bets, Rich.

According to Article 4, Section 14, the House impeaches. The Senate conducts the trial to determine removal. The last sentence in the section makes it clear that the term impeach applies only to House actions:
“An impeached officer, whether convicted or acquited, shall be liable for prosecution, trial, judgment, and punishment according to law.”

So the term impeachment is short of removal from office. It is the referral of the matter to the Senate for the trial and that chamber’s 2/3 vote.

Comment by Capitol View Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 11:43 am
CV, I am well aware of what our Constitution says about impeachment and the terminology involved.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 11:52 am
So, the article on sociopaths recommends that the way to deal with a sociopath is to get them out of your life–sounds like a recommendation for impeachment to me.

Comment by ChampaignDweller Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 12:56 pm
Have a great weekend everybody….wait for the fireworks next week! (sorry, couldnt’ resist)

Comment by Vote Quimby! Thursday, Jul 3, 08 @ 4:27 pm
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