Madigan Likes Dillard Too!

by Lee Newcom

So poor ol' Joe Birkett, who announced for Attorney General last Thursday, when we all knew Lisa Madigan was running for Governor or Senator, gets sucker punched by Lisa, spins around and gets it again by Kirk Dillard. As we all know, Dillard is already under fire for cutting a television commercial that helped Barack Obama, at a very critical time in his campaign, to win the Democratic Presidential nomination. On this morning's WLS 890 AM Don and Roma Show, Attorney General Madigan laughingly said Kirk Dillard's fawning endorsement of her for reelection as Attorney General, the previous day, would be used on her mailings into DuPage County during the upcoming campaign against Birkett. Hopefully, if Dillard is the Republican nominee for Governor, he won't endorse Quinn or whoever is the Democratic nominee for Governor.

Comments

[David Jenkins]

Honestly people. I was just on Ray Hanania's radio show this morning, and I asked the question "What did Lisa Madigan do as AG that you approve of?" over the air. And just as I've been getting everywhere else, his answer was "I can't think of anything."

Apparently the plane took off and I wasn't on it, because I don't understand why so many people think that this woman is so popular. Is there something specific that she's done? Because we all know that she hasn't taken on the issue of corruption or transparency in Illinois. And, in my opinion, those are the real issues that matter. I'd even go as far as to say that she might just be the worst A.G. in Illinois history.

So then why all the assumed popularity?

[BillyBoy]

It amazes me how much the mainstream media in this state has brainwashed voters into believing Lisa Madigan has proven to be "independent of her father" and has "done a great job" rooting out corruption. Whenever anyone who repeats these talking points is asked to cite examples of it, they can't. Illinois is the MOST corrupt state in the union and Lisa's doing a good job?? You've got to be kidding me. Funny how the one who always exposes corruption in Illinois is the U.S. Attorney for Northern Illinois and NOT the Attorney General of our state. She just feigns outrage AFTER daddy's friends get caught.

[GOP believer]

Maybe Dillard is reaching for the crossover votes? But if he can't be true to the GOP, then how can he be true with the DEMS? SO my question is, IS HE TRUE to anyone? Where is the resposiblity and is this how a Governor should act.

[votecounter]

Lee
No matter how much you attack another candidate your guy Brady is done! You should be angry at Brady not Dillard. Fawning? Come on he was asked about Lisa the minute he finished announcing for Governor he was hit with a huge surprise and messed up his answer. I have heard you on radio are you saying you have never screwed up on an answer? Brady had 6 months almost alone (sorry Adam) on the stump and he died. When the numbers come out this or next week you will see he couldn't raise money or convince conservatives he was the answer.
If Dillard didn't get in Brady, or any of the announced candidates would never beat Quinn let alone Madigan or Hynes.

Maybe Lisa dropped out because now that Dillard is in and Gidwitz is raising money for him and he has conservative support she can't win the Governors spot.

This Illinois review is becoming just like the Leader covering for their favorite candidates by attacking their opponents and making it seem like a news story.

[Downstate GOP Faithless]

the problem is two fold-first he answered a question that everyone knew he was going to get...so either its a staffing issue, in which case he needs to shuffle his staff around or it is a gaffe which is tough to recover from. and second, mr. votecounter, your answer was reasonable until you talk of lisa being scared of dillard/gidwitz team. thats a bit much...i dont know lisa madigan, but i am pretty sure she is unafraid of many people

[votecounter]

Downstate
I WAS THERE the Lisa story just happened as Dillard finished his speech! As he was speaking peoples blackberrys and I phones started going off so it was a breaking story as he was speaking.
Nobody, not Dillard or any of his people, could have known he was going to asked a question that 10 minutes before was not known.
Mr. Downstate why did she wait? This was a gimmie according to the Media, why pass it up? I know the polling numbers are not what people think and her dad is in the crossfire. None of the candidates until Dillard (If Gidwitz can raise the 25 million he says he will raise) had the kind of money it will take to attack Lisa as well as campaign. With Dillard in it was not going to be a gimmie it would bve a tough race. Remember she outspent Joe Burkett by 3 to 1 and barley squeaked by. Someone with an equal bankroll could beat her and then she would be done. Look at Hynes the golden child until he got beat.

[Johnny LeBeuq]

Lisa is a product of the Daley Machine. Daddy roles up the sleeves and she wears the white gloves. Dillard needs to figure out if he wants to run as a Republican or not, its hard to root for the Cubs and the Sox, . . . . . . . especially in the same game.

[votecounter]

Johnny
Dillard has endorsed Joe! This is childish! Make a one second mistake right after announcing and it never goes away?
Lee is a Brady supporter; he was last time even though it cost us(conservatives) the election. Oby lost by 3 points with 32 and JBT has 36, Brady drops out and Oby wins. Now he is holding up a dead campaign with hopes of doing what? Brady has no chance lets move on.

[Sam Pierce]

Votecounter,

It would be nice to know if you just believe in Dillard or if you are part of his campaign. This is not an attack, I'm curious.

Was Dillard's bit for Obama a "one second mistake"?

[Optimist]

From the Daily Herald
(http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=305860)

...a really classy move by Joe Birkett:

Even some fellow Republicans are giving Madigan the early upper hand. State. Sen. Kirk Dillard said he looked forward to working with Madigan as attorney general when he is elected governor after his gubernatorial campaign kickoff in his hometown of Hinsdale on Wednesday.

Birkett said he holds no ill will toward Dillard for the remark.

"Every politician, and of course I include myself, there's no one immune from a slip-up or being taken out of context," Birkett said. "I think Kirk Dillard was just expressing his opinion that if she were to prevail he would have no problem working with her. I pretty much said the same thing about her when she won in 2002."

[Lee Newcom]

Votecounter:

I just hate the spinelessness of people who can't use thier name but are so brave in thier comments. It is so cowardly.

You have no idea who I am supporting as I have not said. It is too early as we don't know who will be in or out in 6 months. I suspect several of the current announced candidates may drop by fall. Writing a reasonable comment about a Republican candidate for governor is not negated by suspecting I support someone else.

Dillard is a believer in this cross-the-isle combine form of government which has served Illinois so poorly. We need a little partisan competition. He needs to decide what team he is on, put on the jersey and take the field determined to win, not get along nicy nice.

He says he wants to be a "transformative" governor. Fine. Start by transforming the Republican party into an agressive, competitive party.

As to the comment that the question was unexpected. Nonsense! He is a big boy and a successful long time politician and political operative. To say he couldn't have known how to handle such a question is insulting him. He should be polite and respectful of the Attorney General, as I am, and promote his team.

I wish him well and think he may turn out to be a great candidate. But that does not mean we should not slap him up the side of the head and say 'get with it bub,' on this kind of stuff.

Lee Newcom