Illinois Statewide Mega-Thread: State has first budget in over a year

[Maxwell]

This is disappointing, but I suppose it's expected. Frerichs is now a rising star probably.

[Maxwell]

Gallatin County pretty quickly became a GOP stronghold, even after being the only county to vote for Dawn Netsch over Jim Edgar in 1994 (and that includes Cook County going for Edgar).

[Maxwell]

I'm liking Rauner a lot. He's taking strong stands on both sides of the spectrum. Keep it up!

[Maxwell]

http://myinforms.com/en-us/a/35732045-whos-to-blame-for-budget-impasse-fresh-poll-shows-its-madigan/

According to this poll, voters are blaming Madigan for the gridlock more than Rauner.  If anything, this suggests that Rauner may actually be favored for reelection in 2018--he can exploit discontent with Madigan over the budget gridlock and attack Democrats as obstructionists.  He can call them the "party of no" or the "do-nothing legislature," and based on the track record of that strategy, it will probably work.

In 2006, when Jennifer Granholm ran for reelection as governor here in Michigan, she also faced low job approval because of a struggling economy.  But voters blamed Bush more than her for Michigan's economic problems, and she knew it.  As a result, she was able to capitalize on the strong anti-Bush sentiment of that year and win reelection by a decisive margin.  I suspect Rauner will win reelection the same way.

Major caveat - that 59% is outside of Chicago

[Maxwell]

Madigan is the closest a human being can come to garbage

He's not that bad, aside from bankrupting the state.  The Illinois Democrats are pretty moderate thanks to him.

Madigan is not a moderate; if he was the legislature wouldn't be a gridlocked hellhole. I mean seriously, they can't even pass education funding despite rauner bending over backward? Madigan is a fierce partisan who wants to punish the state for electing rauner.

One can be a partisan moderate.

LOLOLOLOL. A moderate is the antithesis of a partisan.

...

Don't be a moron.

You mean, Don't be a wulfric.