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* The Chicago Tribune has finally published a story on the House Republican secessionists. We’ve covered this a lot, so let’s just focus on Sen. Manar’s advice…
State Sen. Andy Manar, a Democrat from the southern Illinois community of Bunker Hill, had the regionalism game played against him as a lead architect of a historic change in school funding. Critics claimed it was a bailout of the Chicago Public Schools.
Manar said some of the problems his district faces are akin to what Chicago sees in some of its neighborhoods. Manar said understanding the similar nature of problems is needed to overcome the regional fissure.
“Lack of pharmacies, lack of doctors, lack of specialists, underfunded schools, vacant classrooms, unemployment, child abuse rates going up. Those things are happening in rural communities and urban communities alike,” Manar said. “Too often, when policymakers get into this building, it’s very easy to use geography to explain deep challenges that our state faces. That’s an easy explanation that plays to the cheers of the crowd.”
In the end, Manar said, the answer is to tone down the rhetoric, find common ground and get things done.
“Look, I could show up here every day and beat the crap out of the city of Chicago and get re-elected every four years. That would be easy to do, right? It would guarantee re-election,” Manar said. “But when you’re done as an elected official in the Senate, you probably wouldn’t be able to point to one single accomplishment for the people who sent you here to get things done.”
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 9:59 am
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Every time I talk to my downstate father he rants and raves about “Khichaaagoh” as if it is the source of all of the state’s problems. I just tune him out, like I tune out Holbrook.
Comment by Just Me 2 Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 10:03 am
There are good reasons that Sen. Manar commands an enormous amount of respect, inside and outside the capitol.
Comment by Linus Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 10:05 am
=== … you probably wouldn’t be able to point to one single accomplishment for the people who sent you here to get things done.” ===
This is what it should be. Unfortunately, accomplishments are not a concern for the eastern block.
Comment by Norseman Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 10:07 am
Bravo, Sen. Manar. This is what leadership looks like.
Comment by Morningstar Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 10:07 am
Agreed. It’s a little easier for him to say as Chicago legislators are his allies, but regardless he’s right.
Comment by Perrid Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 10:15 am
–“Look, I could show up here every day and beat the crap out of the city of Chicago and get re-elected every four years. That would be easy to do, right? It would guarantee re-election,” Manar said. “But when you’re done as an elected official in the Senate, you probably wouldn’t be able to point to one single accomplishment for the people who sent you here to get things done.”–
Well done.
But I don’t think “get things done” is the objective of the Eastern Bloc.
Personal brand-building through chronic whining, grievance peddling and playing the victim is obviously a real thing in some circles.
Not really a John Wayne choice for grown men to my way of thinking, but it works on some of the people, all of the time.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 10:16 am
Can’t wait for the down state GOP to introduce resolutions calling for honors for the confederate flag.
Comment by Anon Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 10:21 am
I have never liked Manar, I don’t understand why he maintains such a large campaign war chest, but what he said here is accurate and worth a note of praise. Good work Senator, hopefully your words reach the fools in the house that believe building a wall around chicago is a great idea.
Comment by Iggy Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 10:25 am
I wonder if Sen. Brady heard Manar’s remarks? The anti-Chicago shtick has been Brady’s act in totality for his entire career.
Comment by JS Mill Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 10:25 am
The Eastern Block and their allied members of the GA will continue to rant against Chicago. But what else do they have to offer?
Comment by illini Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 10:26 am
===The Eastern Block===
It’s not a block, it’s a bloc.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 10:30 am
===I don’t understand why he maintains such a large campaign war chest===
Much easier to sleep at night.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 10:31 am
So we get Cook, DuPage, Lake and Will Counties and Andy Manar’s district. It works for me, though I think I would like the university towns as well.
Comment by Cheryl44 Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 10:33 am
Attaboy, Andy. We love you in Macoupin.
Comment by tomhail Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 10:35 am
Thanks, Rich, correction noted. I should have caught that myself.
Comment by illini Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 10:38 am
Can’t wait for Senator Manar to run for Governor some day.
Comment by GA Watcher Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 10:40 am
Manar for compromise. Manar for all of Illinois. Manar for Governor one day.
Comment by Ed Equity Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 10:51 am
==But I don’t think “get things done” is the objective of the Eastern Bloc.==
This x 1000. Most journalists do this, which really grinds my gears. They still cling to the misguided assumption that accomplishments are the purpose of these guys political careers, as Manar does here. They can be excused for thinking that accomplishments = re-election because that’s the way it worked for a long time but it doesn’t work like that any more outside of historically republican suburban areas. Today’s GOP primary voters in rural areas vote almost exclusively for who’s going to troll the libs the most. They don’t care if their representatives get things done, or improve the district they live in, or help create new jobs or behave in an ethical manner. As long as they act like D-bags towards the other side, thats all that matters. Halbrook and the rest have simply realized this sooner than most.
Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 10:54 am
I long for the days when politicians on both sides worked together for the common good. Now we have ‘compromise’ viewed as ‘capitulation’ and goofy symbols (a wall, really?) instead of policy.
Comment by Jocko Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 10:56 am
- Rich Miller - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 10:30 am:
===The Eastern Block===
It’s not a block, it’s a bloc.
————–
Not to be confused with some in the “Western Bloc” who would rather be their own state instead, Forgottonia:
https://www.pjstar.com/article/20130101/NEWS/301019965
https://www.mcdonoughvoice.com/article/20101228/NEWS/312289981
https://www.makeitmacomb.com/the-republic-of-forgottonia/
Comment by Leatherneck Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 10:58 am
Senator Manar exemplifies leadership. Whatever role he chooses, (and I do hope one day it is Governor), I will support him.
Comment by Fool On The Hill Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 11:03 am
If only he voted how he spoke. He’s a phony.
Comment by Token Conservative Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 11:03 am
From the article: Rose said. “I mean, I’ve got parts of my district that are white-hot, incendiary.”
For the record, “white hot” is a term that has never ever in all of history, ever been applied to anything even remotely associated with Chapin Rose.
I expect better from the Tribune.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 11:34 am
Bunker Hill may be south of Springfield but it’s not Southern Illinois. Granted it is south of I-80 so it may count as such in the eyes of Chicago.
Comment by Downstate Illinois Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 12:10 pm
=From the article: Rose said. “I mean, I’ve got parts of my district that are white-hot, incendiary.”
For the record, “white hot” is a term that has never ever in all of history, ever been applied to anything even remotely associated with Chapin Rose.
I expect better from the Tribune.=
Restaurant quality @Michelle Flaherty. Brava.
Comment by JS Mill Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 12:10 pm
===but it’s not Southern Illinois===
It’s on the same parallel as West Virginia.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 12:23 pm
Conversely, Senator Manar is not a member of The Political Actors Guild…He’s the real deal.
Comment by Dotnonymous Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 12:36 pm
I hope Senator Manar stays in a legislative role. He is excellent as a legislator….legislators rarely make good administrators.
Comment by 48th Resident Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 12:44 pm
“I mean, I’ve got parts of my district that are white-hot, incendiary.”
No kidding, about the white-hot part, as in racial resentment.
Sen. Rose said economics are the number one issue in rural communities, and workers comp costs are too high. Madigan offered to work with Rauner on workers comp early in his term, but Rauner refused, just like he refused to negotiate in good faith during his budget sabotage and with AFSCME.
The great thing about the social issues that drive certain rurals crazy is that they could avoid some of them. They don’t have to get abortions. They can own housefuls of guns and ammo. They’re mad that they have to pay for abortions, but I have to pay for stuff I don’t like too, just like everyone else.
Why is there not a movement among Chicagoans and liberals to have the rural parts secede from the state? Because there’s not this type of anger and hostility among them.
The angry apparently want millionaires and billionaires to keep paying low taxes, even if they get a small tax break. They apparently want the richest to put themselves in a permanent advantage through stripping union rights. Lots of the rest of us absolutely don’t want this, even many from rural areas. We have voices and votes too.
Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 12:48 pm
I hope the secessionist movement continues to grow. This isn’t one state culturally, economically, socially, etc, etc. You would think that Chicago would be in favor of it, since “down state” is such a “tax eater.”
Comment by Unpopular Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 1:10 pm
==This isn’t one state culturally, economically, socially, etc, etc.==
You talk about difference of cultures like it’s a bad thing. That’s one of the things I like about Chicago. So I should like downstate too.
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 1:28 pm
“I hope the secessionist movement continues to grow.”
It will never match the voting populations of Chicago, Cook County and now many in the collars. This attitude virtually guarantees that the secessionists will not win (see recent election results). So thanks for helping make many of us stronger. We couldn’t have done it without you.
Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 1:32 pm
Re: defining southern Illinois - some high school government classes and university/college political science courses still teach that the “south 16” comprise the true southern Illinois. 16 references counties.
Comment by Motambe Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 1:35 pm
===No kidding, about the white-hot part, as in racial resentment.===
There is a tin foil hat response to ponder . . . not.
Rather than acknowledge that small town Illinois needs either more or more creative economic help from the State, you mindlessly argue the race card?
Try again.
Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 1:45 pm
–I hope the secessionist movement continues to grow.–
Because its such a productive use of time and effort to better communities and keep the kids from moving away….
You’re being played by cynical charlatans.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 1:48 pm
===you mindlessly argue the race card?===
If you don’t think race plays a role in this, you’ve never spent significant time Downstate.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 1:48 pm
==It will never match the voting populations of Chicago, Cook County and now many in the collars.==
HR 101 isolates Chicago only, so the Eastern Bloc will never get the voting base they think they will because the collars and suburban Cook often vote the way Chicago does.. For example the nonChicago Representatives supporting the assault rifle ban are from suburban Cook County, Kane County, DuPage County, and Rockford.
The Eastern Bloc folks are not serious. HR101 is a dog whistle.
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 2:05 pm
If anyone doubts systemic racism is not the major factor…I invite them to come down to Shawneetown during the Deer Festival this fall…and ask for opinions…about “Chicago”.
You’ll soon recognize “Chicago” is a (not secret) code word.
Comment by Dotnonymous Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 2:15 pm
Get rid of Chicago, and the Eastern Bloc will simply begin whining about Rockford.
Comment by RIJ Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 3:03 pm