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* PJStar…
“I think they should have done a constitutional referendum to let the voters decide on the length of terms,” Rauner said Friday. “They did a partisan-politics power play. I don’t think it’s appropriate. But I’m not going to get caught up in that.”
* GOP Rep. David Leitch is usually pretty soft-spoken, but he wasn’t today…
“It was vomitous,” the Peoria Republican said about the decision. “I thought it was a raw power grab. I thought it was absolutely sickening to watch unfold in this state.”
There is a real feeling by Republicans that the Democratic majority and the lame duck Democratic governor have just flat-out stolen a rare and hard-won prize from their own party. Once you look at the issue within that frame, it’s much easier to understand their anger.
But their anger also reveals a serious and very real inferiority complex. Yes, 2016 is likely to be a strong Democratic year. But holding onto that seat won’t be 100 percent impossible.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 2:58 pm
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I do believe this was pure politics by the Democrats, no question in mind mind. However, it’s time for the Republicans to move on and prepare for governing and for 2016. They should look at the silver lining, they will have a suburban women statewide on the 2016 ballot. And she’s got a lot of rich friends.
Comment by Ahoy! Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 3:01 pm
Does the office belong to the Republicans or to the voters? If it’s the latter then the special election is the right move.
Comment by The Captain Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 3:02 pm
I get the anger but we elected JBT not some nameless “R”. The reality is that it is very, very, difficult for Republicans to get elected to statewide office but it can be done. They just need to find a few more JBT’s. So quit whining and get to it.
Comment by pundent Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 3:03 pm
===But their anger also reveals a serious and very real inferiority complex. Yes, 2016 is likely to be a strong Democratic year. But holding onto that seat won’t be 100 percent impossible.===
Smart point.
Leslie Munger has a great deal going for her as I have expressed before;
Incumbency
Financial means to compete
Nancy Kimme
Topinka Infastructure
Time
I mean, in reality, if the GOP look at this as an opportunity to get a leg up for 2018, and use Kirk (who says he’s running) and Munger to make inroads for 2016 & 2018, it can be seen as a starting point of the actual rebuilding.
Or My Party can actually whine…
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 3:06 pm
Any time you’re in a Death Spiral it’s bound to get Vomitous.
Rauner is playing this right. Bigger fish to fry.
Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 3:10 pm
I suspect JBT would have held onto that seat.
And I have no doubt that the idea that Munger might have to run in 2016 crossed someone’s mind and that played into their decision to tap her.
But if they don’t think Munger can win, they have really thrown in the towel on Mark Kirk. He must be toast in their book.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 3:11 pm
Too bad, so sad.
Comment by DaBears Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 3:12 pm
Wow David Leitch. You have been around so long, and done so little, it astounds. A guy that does nothing but go along with the party doesn’t like it when the other guys do it. What a bunch of worthless crybabies the ILGOP has become.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 3:13 pm
Why does it show an inferiority complex? If it happened to the dems would they be all warm and cozy with it??? Hardly. It was a power grab, pure and simple.
Comment by anon Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 3:13 pm
Pundent, but where could the republicans find another candidate for comptroller who isn’t afraid to stand up and tell it like it is?
Comment by William j Kelly Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 3:15 pm
If JBT had been a Democrat, what would the Republican position be?
Comment by DeKalb Guy Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 3:18 pm
a rare and hard-won prize from their own party
Oh yeah - the Prairie Whigs got rolled by the BLUE STATE party, but this is Illinois. The Democrats call the shots in Illinois. Incoming governor seem completely aware of how much shaking up Springfield he really is going to have. He bought himself the governorship, but his money didn’t buy him any support under the Dome.
Munger could catch on and then she would be favored even in an presidential year. It will depend upon how who catches the blame by 2016 for our death spiral.
By the way, I said a long time ago, before the 2007 Great Recession that Illinois is in a Death Spiral. Now the new governor is saying it officially eight years later.
In 2005 when the Illinois Democrats controlled everything, (and pretty much before that, and since), MJM couldn’t find a political way to pass a balanced budget. That was when the low hanging fruit of lies ran out in my opinion and the Spiral began. We had Blagojevich as governor and ran out of budget gimmicks. We can point out the fingerprints dating before that time, but remember that Blagojevich was elected to find new sources of revenue and fix a decaying situation in 2002. We know how badly he failed.
By 2005 is when that Spiral began, in my opinion.
Sorry wordslinger, but the new fiscal guru billionaire incoming governor agrees with ME about Illinois’ Death Spiral. I just don’t see how he is going to fix it without any Prairie Whigs to support him under the Dome. MJM is veto proof. Cullerton is running the Senate. The Whigs have - uh, zip!
Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 3:21 pm
Both parties want the policy that will give them political advantage. But they can only see the partisan motive of the opposition. As YDD said on another thread, had Quinn won, the GOP would certainly be calling for an election instead of letting Quinn appoint a Democrat for four years.
Comment by anon Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 3:25 pm
To Rauner’s own response,
By having the GOP GA be the attack lemmings, Rauner can stay above it all. The hyperbole is balanced by Rauner letting this “pass” as he has.
Rauner actually said more than I thought, but far less than he could. Good Rauner politics at play there.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 3:25 pm
It was a partisan power grab, wrapped in the Illinois flag, truth, justice and the American way. Let’s not pretend it wasn’t.
At the same time, it was perfectly legal, consistent with the Constitutional intent, and was in the best interest of the voters. Those things aren’t mutually exclusive. It was probably the right thing, being motivated by not necessarily the right reason.
At least the issue is addressed for all time, or it is 100% certain that were the opposite unfortunate scenario to arise at some point in the future, the parties would each hypocritically do a 180 on their position on this issue.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 3:26 pm
==let the voters decide on the length of terms==
I believe they are going to let the voters decide. That’s why they’re holding a special election.
Comment by Demoralized Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 3:31 pm
Ok, maybe this isn’t so hard after all, I just googled ‘republican candidate for comptroller who’s not afraid to stand up and tell it like it is’ and look at what came up! http://youtu.be/UpXwBjGsTls
Comment by William j Kelly Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 3:34 pm
Of course it was politics. Did you expect anything less. If Jesse White had passed away, the Democrats would not have passed a bill mandating an election in two years.
Comment by 1776 Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 3:34 pm
Characterizing the move to a 2016 election is a purely political move as would be holding off until the next midterm in 2018. Personally, I think a 4 year appointment is unreasonable but that’s just me.
Comment by Stones Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 3:35 pm
VMan, I happily give you credit for Death Spiral. No one represents such a nonsensical lifeview of perpetual victim hood better than you.
I don’t know what the new guy’s beef is — he made hundreds of millions here during your Death Spiral.
Just curious — what is a Death Spiral? And if, like yourself, you know you’ve been in one for 10 years, shouldn’t you make a break for it?
Quite a mobile society filled with opportunity for a risk-taking, go-getter like yourself.
Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 3:35 pm
I find myself agreeing with Ron Burgandy, who has I believe the most accurate take on the situation.
Comment by PublicServant Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 3:48 pm
**If Jesse White had passed away, the Democrats would not have passed a bill mandating an election in two years.**
Really? You think that the Dems would have let Rauner appoint a SoS for a 4-year term?
Comment by dave Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 3:53 pm
I hope Rauner remembers the voters asked for a minimum wage hike, by referendum, when he takes office.
Comment by Wensicia Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 4:11 pm
=== Once you look at the issue within that frame, it’s much easier to understand their anger. ===
Kinda like 1/10th the anger that most of us had when the Republican leadership chose to make it their mission to reduce our hard earned (working most of our career for Republican legislators and governors) pensions.
P.S. This doesn’t mean we can’t be PO at the Dems as well.
Comment by Norseman Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 4:21 pm
I realize this isn’t the appropriate thread but heard Frerichs let go of more than 20 today
Comment by Downstate GOP Faithless Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 4:33 pm
dave would be absolutely correct.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jan 9, 15 @ 4:48 pm