By every objective measures Illinois should be one of the greatest places in the world, and Chicago should be one of the greatest cities in the world. It is 100% attributable to the Democrat party of Illinois, Cook County and Chicago that people are fleeing the state, that it is now an economic ruin. It took decades of 100% greed and malice, absolutely cynical, absolutely pitiless, to destroy the place. And through it all, they are smug smirking, insolent, convinced of their own superiority because they are in a position to steal from honest people. In all seriousness, some of the most loathsome people in the world. If Mike Madigan went to prison for 1000 years it wouldn’t start to make up for the damage that he is done.
They flee the state, and then they vote for Democrats in the places where they move. It’s as if they have no comprehension that their own stupidity has caused the blighted conditions that they are running away from.
Hear, hear. I am one of those that knows the Machine and their ways. These people truly are disgusting, and the only thing they care about is how big and how many checks you write to them. It funds their lifestyles, and that's all they want. From Cook County "Commissioners" to Aldermen, they just want money in their political bank accounts. Then they can spend it as they wish (and they all do) and don't have to pay a penny of their own dollars to their lavish lifestyles.
I know one Alderman who goes to a local bar several times a week, runs up a huge tab and then uses his campaign credit card to pay it. The expense reason? "Meeting"
The machine also goes further upstream. You read about the $ 86 billion bailout of union pension funds? Funded through the earlier stimulus plan. Sickening.
Glad you mentioned Philly. Fifty years ago there was a viable Republican Party in my home town but a corrupt or shortsighted or both party leadership basically made itself extinct by trading away political effort in return for some control of specific municipal agencies. Hey, we won’t fund strong candidates against you if you give us patronage control of the Parking Authority, for example. Once the Dems took total electoral control, they took the patronage back anyway. The Dems want power and the Reps want money. The citizenry gets forgotten in that equation. This is start to happen in the suburbs now too.
"Everyone tried to grab a piece of the pie. The further down the totem pole you were meant you got a smaller piece. When Chicago politicians make a ruckus, it’s not on principle. It’s because they didn’t get enough to eat."
That paragraph is a wonderful summation. Madigan’s collar won’t end the all-you-can-eat buffet, but it might cut down on pie portions for all the players.
Old man Daley (Richard, not Richie) was a grifter of the highest order, spoke like he had a mouthful of marbles and an IQ which made him unfit for polite society and even he knew you couldn’t steal everything, you had to play the game of making the city and state a place worth investing, then you could reap the benefits of having more to steal in the future. That’s old-school liberal politics done right, which was, of course, very wrong.
One of the blessings of your blog over the years has been to bring Ill to my doorstep in intimate ways. The linked article is fascinating. Once the parasites devour the host, what is the next game plan? I'm sure that they'll think of something.
Rauner kept Shirley Madigan as head of the Illinois Arts Council, after a crew of conservatives, myself included urged him to clean house. Not long later, it became common knowledge that Mrs. Madigan and Mrs. Rauner were close friends. While Bruce was talking tough about Mike Madigan being the source of all evil in Illinois, he wasn't really doing anything about it.
Beginning of the end of my confidence in Rauner as a Governor. Also his flunkies are still running campaigns in Illinois.
By every objective measures Illinois should be one of the greatest places in the world, and Chicago should be one of the greatest cities in the world. It is 100% attributable to the Democrat party of Illinois, Cook County and Chicago that people are fleeing the state, that it is now an economic ruin. It took decades of 100% greed and malice, absolutely cynical, absolutely pitiless, to destroy the place. And through it all, they are smug smirking, insolent, convinced of their own superiority because they are in a position to steal from honest people. In all seriousness, some of the most loathsome people in the world. If Mike Madigan went to prison for 1000 years it wouldn’t start to make up for the damage that he is done.
you are correct. People that continue vote Democratic need to change their ways, or it won't stop. The carousel will keep going.
They flee the state, and then they vote for Democrats in the places where they move. It’s as if they have no comprehension that their own stupidity has caused the blighted conditions that they are running away from.
Hear, hear. I am one of those that knows the Machine and their ways. These people truly are disgusting, and the only thing they care about is how big and how many checks you write to them. It funds their lifestyles, and that's all they want. From Cook County "Commissioners" to Aldermen, they just want money in their political bank accounts. Then they can spend it as they wish (and they all do) and don't have to pay a penny of their own dollars to their lavish lifestyles.
I know one Alderman who goes to a local bar several times a week, runs up a huge tab and then uses his campaign credit card to pay it. The expense reason? "Meeting"
If you don't "contribute", you will be skewered.
The machine also goes further upstream. You read about the $ 86 billion bailout of union pension funds? Funded through the earlier stimulus plan. Sickening.
Good stuff CR
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/former-illinois-house-speaker-michael-madigan-indicted-for-federal-racketeering/ Illinois Policy deserves kudos for leading the charge on Madigan
100% truth
Spot on
Just some of the things we've shared with each other would be considered mind-boggling in any other state in the country
When a political party make the Mafia look like amateurs that is really saying something
Glad you mentioned Philly. Fifty years ago there was a viable Republican Party in my home town but a corrupt or shortsighted or both party leadership basically made itself extinct by trading away political effort in return for some control of specific municipal agencies. Hey, we won’t fund strong candidates against you if you give us patronage control of the Parking Authority, for example. Once the Dems took total electoral control, they took the patronage back anyway. The Dems want power and the Reps want money. The citizenry gets forgotten in that equation. This is start to happen in the suburbs now too.
"Everyone tried to grab a piece of the pie. The further down the totem pole you were meant you got a smaller piece. When Chicago politicians make a ruckus, it’s not on principle. It’s because they didn’t get enough to eat."
That paragraph is a wonderful summation. Madigan’s collar won’t end the all-you-can-eat buffet, but it might cut down on pie portions for all the players.
Old man Daley (Richard, not Richie) was a grifter of the highest order, spoke like he had a mouthful of marbles and an IQ which made him unfit for polite society and even he knew you couldn’t steal everything, you had to play the game of making the city and state a place worth investing, then you could reap the benefits of having more to steal in the future. That’s old-school liberal politics done right, which was, of course, very wrong.
One of the blessings of your blog over the years has been to bring Ill to my doorstep in intimate ways. The linked article is fascinating. Once the parasites devour the host, what is the next game plan? I'm sure that they'll think of something.
Rauner kept Shirley Madigan as head of the Illinois Arts Council, after a crew of conservatives, myself included urged him to clean house. Not long later, it became common knowledge that Mrs. Madigan and Mrs. Rauner were close friends. While Bruce was talking tough about Mike Madigan being the source of all evil in Illinois, he wasn't really doing anything about it.
Beginning of the end of my confidence in Rauner as a Governor. Also his flunkies are still running campaigns in Illinois.