Skip to content
  • Subscribe
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Email
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Features
  • Subscribe FREE to Ray Hanania’s Columns
  • Advertise
Suburban Chicagoland

Suburban Chicagoland

Original News, Features & Opinion

  • About
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Our Writers
      • Ray Hanania
      • Bill Lipinski
      • Aaron Hanania
      • Steve Metsch
      • Steve Neuhaus
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Reach Out
    • Submit a Press Release
  • Sections
    • Events
    • Opinion
    • News
    • Features
    • Seniors
    • Comic Strip
  • Library
    • “MIdnight Flight” Online Book
      • Midnight Flight Book Overview
      • Midnight Flight Introduction
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 1
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 2
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 3
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 4
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 5
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 6
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 7
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 8
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 9
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 10
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 11
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 12
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 13
    • Villages, Cities & Towns
    • Federal Office Holders
    • County Officials
    • Legislators
  • Seniors
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Comment
  • Podcast
    • Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast
  • Hanania on Tiktok
  • Toggle search form
  • The Orland Fire Protection District hosted a media availability on Thursday May 25, 2023 to review their many achievements as one of the region's and State of Illinois' best Fire Districts.
    Lifesaving achievements focus of media presentation by Orland Fire Protection District officials Features
  • Illinois State Senator Michael Hastings. Photo courtesy of the Illinois State Senate
    Funding for mental health and education in Tinley Park secured by Senator Hastings Government
  • Orland Fire Protection District Trustees Beth Damas Kaspar, John Brudnak, Jayne Schirmacher (seated), Angela Greenfield and Tina Zekich at May 23, 2023 board meeting
    Orland Fire Protection District swears in two new trustees, elects officers elections
  • Robert F. Kennedy Jr., with author and Thalassemia researcher and investor Patrick Girondi
    Artist Patrick Girondi lends support to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Accessible Healthcare for Americans Books & Films
  • State Senator Michael Hastings introduces law to revive long dormant and degraded Tinley Park Mental Health Center into a Sports Park for the community. Photo courtesy of the State Senate President Don Harmon
    Senator Michael Hasting ensures degraded former Tinley Park Mental Health Center to be revitalized into a sports park in new law Baby Boomers
  • Senator Michael Hastings urges local businesses to apply for Blue Collar Jobs Act Construction Tax Credits Business
  • Returning for the 12th year, Star Wars Day is back! Join the fun Saturday, June 3rd from 11am - 4pm at the Joliet Public Library - Ottawa Street Branch.
    Star Wars Day is back in Joliet, Illinois Business
  • Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker
    Pritzker Administration Announces Chicago Citywide Crisis Prevention & Response Unit Chicago
  • Michael Schofield III Sports Complex, Orland Park. Scoreboard
    Kendall and Michael Schofield Family Foundation Sponsor Park Redevelopment Entertainment
  • Crystal Tree, tree rubbish left near home of Robert Peiss
    Crystal Tree homeowner frustrated Pekau won’t address his concerns Blogger
  • Orland Township Summer Picnic 2023
    Orland Township Youth Commission Summer Picnic Education
  • Illinois Senator Michael Hastings, 19th Senate District
    Senator Hastings shepherds law readying South Suburban Airport opening Federal
  • On Tuesday, May 16th, Cook County Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar joined Leyden Township officials to kick-off Commissioner Aguilar’s new Leyden Township satellite office. The event included elected officials, community organizations, and residents from throughout the 16th District.
    Cook County Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar Opens Satellite Office in Leyden Township Cook County
  • Fathers Rights Attorney Jeffery M. Leving
    Children taken out of state returned to father by Dads’ Rights attorney Chicago
  • Barbecue BBQ hamburgers grill. Photo by Joshua Kantarges on Unsplash
    Orland Fire District hosts monthly barbecues for the public June 7 Events
Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Madigan was never the real issue in the last election

Posted on November 28, 2018November 29, 2019 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Madigan was never the real issue in the last election
SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  

Loading

Madigan was never the real issue in the last election

Republican leaders in Illinois were easily swept aside and out of office by Democrats in the November 6 General Elections mainly because too much effort was put into personal attacks including against Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan. Voters are far more intelligent than some political consultants who pushed the attack-Madigan strategy apparently believe

By Ray Hanania

Opinion columnist راى حنانيا. Ray Hanania headshot
Opinion columnist راى حنانيا.
Ray Hanania

If you only went by the thousands of Republican and rightwing Ads that polluted our television viewing time during the last election, you might be excused for thinking that the paramount issue facing Illinois is Mike Madigan.

But fortunately, the voters saw through the mountain of campaign of mud thrown at Madigan in a hailstorm of name calling and oftentimes ridiculous scenarios.

The most ridiculous was the “unholy alliance” campaign ad depicting a priest marrying two politicians, Madigan and Democratic candidate for Governor J.B. Pritzker. It wasn’t even funny. It wasn’t clever. It even was a little offensive, including the part where the actor playing the part of the priest mouth’s the F-word in the closing ceremony.

The ad also had an undercurrent of Gay-bashing. Even if you disagree with the Gay lifestyle, the ad attack was truly offensive.

The “unholy alliance” ad had little to do with a political marriage and more to do with the divorce that took place between Gov. Bruce Rauner and Illinois voters.

As Des Plaines Democratic State Representative Marty Moylan said: “Mike Madigan is not the problem that we have in the state of Illinois. We have a leader. The governor is supposed to be the leader. Let him start leading and stop blaming Madigan for all of his problems.”

Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

The rumors swirling around assert that multi-millionaire Rauner hit his limit in campaign spending to buy and hold his place in Illinois Government. Rauner spent a fortune to take the office from the lackluster former Gov. Pat Quinn, an easy target, but seemed to recognize that his personal wealth was just not worth throwing down a toilet.

And toilets do mean something in this state, including in claims Pritzker removed them from his Gold Coast mansions – that is plural — to win tax breaks claiming the properties were uninhabitable because they had no toilets.

Still, Pritzker’s toilet scam isn’t as bad as the toilet campaign that Rauner ran against Pritzker.

Worse were the campaign Ads funded by Liberty Principles, a far rightwing PAC that wasted millions only to learn that most voters don’t identify with their extremist agenda.

Don’t expect the extremists to learn much from the election even though Illinois looks like it went through a Democratic Car Wash that cleansed the state of many of its Republican leaders.

Every state office is now held by a Democrat. All but two Republicans remain on the Cook County Board, where the real tax problems exist but go unaddressed. Two Republican congressman, including the reprehensible Peter Roskam, were booted out of office, including Randy Hultgren.

The truth is the Republican Party in Illinois, and even across America, is losing its luster mainly because of failed policies and the fact that the national party is now led by a former Democrat, Donald J. Trump, who pretty much hijacked their party in the November 2016 presidential elections.

It’s time for Illinois Republicans to recognize they need a new plan.

Of course, Rauner claims he couldn’t do much because Madigan controls the legislature.

I guess Rauner just doesn’t get it and probably never will. The people of Illinois control the legislature and they support Mike Madigan as the Speaker of the Illinois House.

If they wanted him out, he would be gone. But the truth is that there is no better alternative. Madigan, who has dedicated his life to public service, is probably one of the smartest public servants this state has ever seen. I’ve never met anyone smarter, better or more organized.

Instead of attacking Madigan, Rauner should have given the voters some really smart ideas. But, he never did and maybe never could. He spent all that money really for nothing except to prove he never really had any smart ideas for this state.

(Ray Hanania is an award-winning former Chicago City Hall political reporter and columnist. Hanania can be reached on his personal website at www.Hanania.com or by email at rghanania@gmail.com. This column was originally published in the Southwest News Newspaper group Nov. 21, 2018)

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania is an award-winning columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.  

Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

Email Ray Hanania at rghanania@gmail.com.

Follow RayHanania on Gettr.com, the uncensored Twitter Ray Hanania on Gettr, the new Twitter
Ray Hanania
Latest posts by Ray Hanania (see all)
  • Funding for mental health and education in Tinley Park secured by Senator Hastings - May 26, 2023
  • Artist Patrick Girondi lends support to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Accessible Healthcare for Americans - May 24, 2023
  • Senator Michael Hastings urges local businesses to apply for Blue Collar Jobs Act Construction Tax Credits - May 23, 2023
  • Tweet

SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  
 
 
 
           
Blogger, Commentary, elections, Government, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland Tags:2019, elections, General Election, Gov. Bruce Rauner, Governor-elect J.B. Pritzker, Illinois, Michael J. Madigan, November 6, personal attacks, politics

Post navigation

Previous Post: GOP Chairman Schneider denounces State Rep. Kifowit’s remarks
Next Post: Hurley Holds Business Attire Clothing Drive to Benefit Local Non-profit

Related Posts

  • Police Squad Car, courtesy of Wikipedia
    Good and bad choices in the November 8 General Election Baby Boomers
  • Chicago NISA professional soccer team promotional photo. Courtesy of Chicago NISA Soccer
    Chicago NISA Club names SeatGeek Stadium home Chicago
  • house fire on the 9100 block of 169th place in Orland Hills on the evening of March 18, 2022
    Orland Hill house fire Friday night, no injuries Fire
  • John Keppler Enviva Chairman CEO. Photo courtesy of Enviva website
    The solution to climate change grows on trees Blogger
  • Lyons Township High school
    Suspect arrested and charged in social media school threats Crime
  • Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Legislative updates: reps sworn in to new terms elections

More Related Articles

Cicero fire damages 3 story apartment building Sunday August 19, 2018. Photo courtesy of the Cicero Fire Department 60 residents, and pets, rescued from major apartment fire in Cicero breaking news
Geese blocking road in the suburbs. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania Midnight Flight: Chapter 10 — The Sub-Urban Life Baby Boomers
Lyons Mayor Christopher Getty with U.S. Marine Marlin Grant. Lyons Mayor Getty given tour of President’s helicopter, “Marine One” Government
State Rep. Cyril Nichols interviewed on live Arab American radio in Detroit with host Ray Hanania Friday Dec. 9, 2022 Representative Cyril Nichols discusses legislation to grant MBE status to Arab Americans on Arab Radio Business
J.B. Pritzker from his campaign Facebook Page at UFCW union endorsement. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia Pritzker issues guidelines for businesses/workplaces to reopen in Phase 3 Business
Orland Park Village lacks experience to manage COVID-19 vaccine distribution Blogger

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Login with your Social ID
  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • Crystal Tree, tree rubbish left near home of Robert Peiss
    Crystal Tree homeowner frustrated Pekau won’t address his concerns
    May 22, 2023
  • The Berlin Cleopatra, a Roman sculpture of Cleopatra wearing a royal diadem, mid-1st century BC (around the time of her visits to Rome in 46–44 BC), discovered in an Italian villa along the Via Appia and now located in the Altes Museum in Germany. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Was Cleopatra Black or White and why it matters
    April 29, 2023
  • Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau wears a "Police" badge on his shirt during his political attacks made from his taxpayer funded village pulpit.
    Orland Park Mayor Pekau’s lies cost him the election, again
    April 12, 2023
  • Store destroyed by looters and arsonists who participated in the Black Lives Matter protests in Chicago at the end of May 2020. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has abandoned victims of looting along with the members of the Chicago Police Department. Photo courtesy Ray Hanania
    New and extremist Chicago political Machine takes over
    April 11, 2023
  • Ray Hanania
    Seniors being abandoned by extremist politics on both sides
    April 6, 2023
  • Illegal placement of election signs should be prosecuted
    April 5, 2023

Subscribe

  • Ray-Hanania-Newsletter-300-wide-Banner.jpg

Trending

  • Youth charged with attemp... Youth charged with attempted first-degree murder of fellow Lyons Township s... posted on May 11, 2023
  • Assault weapons, courtesy of WIkipedia National Association for... National Association for Gun Rights Calls Out Illinois’ Semi-Auto Ban Lies... posted on May 10, 2023
  • Crystal Tree, tree rubbish left near home of Robert Peiss Crystal Tree homeowner fr... Crystal Tree homeowner frustrated Pekau won't address his concerns Dr. Robe... posted on May 22, 2023
  • the proposed map of the Chicago School Board Districts released by Illinois Senate Democrats. Courtesy of the CHicago GOP Proposed Chicago School D... Proposed Chicago School District map is a "gerrymandered disgrace" Chicago... posted on May 7, 2023
  • State Senator Michael Hastings introduces law to revive long dormant and degraded Tinley Park Mental Health Center into a Sports Park for the community. Photo courtesy of the State Senate President Don Harmon Senator Michael Hasting e... Senator Michael Hasting ensures degraded former Tinley Park Mental Health C... posted on May 24, 2023
  • NEWS
  • The Orland Fire Protection District hosted a media availability on Thursday May 25, 2023 to review their many achievements as one of the region's and State of Illinois' best Fire Districts.
    Lifesaving achievements focus of media presentation by Orland Fire Protection District officials
    May 27, 2023
  • Illinois State Senator Michael Hastings. Photo courtesy of the Illinois State Senate
    Funding for mental health and education in Tinley Park secured by Senator Hastings
    May 26, 2023
  • Orland Fire Protection District Trustees Beth Damas Kaspar, John Brudnak, Jayne Schirmacher (seated), Angela Greenfield and Tina Zekich at May 23, 2023 board meeting
    Orland Fire Protection District swears in two new trustees, elects officers
    May 25, 2023
  • Robert F. Kennedy Jr., with author and Thalassemia researcher and investor Patrick Girondi
    Artist Patrick Girondi lends support to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Accessible Healthcare for Americans
    May 24, 2023
  • State Senator Michael Hastings introduces law to revive long dormant and degraded Tinley Park Mental Health Center into a Sports Park for the community. Photo courtesy of the State Senate President Don Harmon
    Senator Michael Hasting ensures degraded former Tinley Park Mental Health Center to be revitalized into a sports park in new law
    May 24, 2023
  • Senator Michael Hastings urges local businesses to apply for Blue Collar Jobs Act Construction Tax Credits
    May 23, 2023
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png

The Political Pundit

Political Pundit Aug. 24, 2021. Taliban thanks president for boxes of MAGA hats
  • WORD PRESS REVIEWS
  • MyCloud by Western Digital, a hard drive that doesn't last. Don't purchase Western Digital.
    Western Digital tubes its loyal customers for profit
    October 17, 2021
  • Macho Themes website front page. Don't buy their themes. They don't work
    Difficulties with Macho Themes for WordPress
    August 21, 2021
  • TECHNOLOGY REVIEWS
  • Illinois State Senator Michael Hastings. Photo courtesy of the Illinois State Senate
    Senator Michael Hastings supports bill to protect consumers from pesky auto-renewal charges
    March 18, 2023
  • Wreaths Across America Radio logo
    Wreaths Across America Radio Announces New Strategic Partnerships with Veteran Radio Programs
    February 6, 2023
  • Dr. Helen Edwards Fermilab particle physicist
    Foster, Durbin, Duckworth introduce resolution to name Fermilab Research Center after renowned physicist Dr. Helen Edwards
    February 3, 2023

Follow Ray Hanania at
Gab.com, MeWe.com
IDobbinate.com,
Twitter, Facebook

Creative Commons License
All works on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

Ziyad Brothers Ad Taste of Middle East

What We’re Reading

Arab News Newspaper Leading English Language Publication in the GulfArab News Newspaper

Ray Hanania on Politics
SW News Newspaper Group

  • SPORTS
  • State Senator Michael Hastings introduces law to revive long dormant and degraded Tinley Park Mental Health Center into a Sports Park for the community. Photo courtesy of the State Senate President Don Harmon
    Senator Michael Hasting ensures degraded former Tinley Park Mental Health Center to be revitalized into a sports park in new law
    May 24, 2023
  • Michael Schofield III Sports Complex, Orland Park. Scoreboard
    Kendall and Michael Schofield Family Foundation Sponsor Park Redevelopment
    May 23, 2023
  • Chicago Hounds rugby at Seat Geek Stadium July 8, 2023
    Chicago Hounds rugby announce plans for Dawg Town block party
    May 11, 2023
  • Chicago Fire FC will continue its 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup campaign against St. Louis CITY SC in the Round of 32 at 7 p.m. CT on Tuesday, May 9 at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois.
    Chicago Fire FC to Face St. Louis CITY SC in 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 at SeatGeek Stadium
    April 29, 2023
  • NEWS RELEASES
  • Orland Fire Protection District Trustees Beth Damas Kaspar, John Brudnak, Jayne Schirmacher (seated), Angela Greenfield and Tina Zekich at May 23, 2023 board meeting
    Orland Fire Protection District swears in two new trustees, elects officers
    May 25, 2023
  • Robert F. Kennedy Jr., with author and Thalassemia researcher and investor Patrick Girondi
    Artist Patrick Girondi lends support to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Accessible Healthcare for Americans
    May 24, 2023
  • Michael Schofield III Sports Complex, Orland Park. Scoreboard
    Kendall and Michael Schofield Family Foundation Sponsor Park Redevelopment
    May 23, 2023
  • Terrorist Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin who is guilty of massacring civilians in his war against Ukraine. Photo credit Wikipedia
    International Education Delegation Visits Ukraine to Stand with Country’s Children, Teachers
    May 10, 2023
  • Assault weapons, courtesy of WIkipedia
    National Association for Gun Rights Calls Out Illinois’ Semi-Auto Ban Lies
    May 10, 2023
John Kass Columns

Order the book PoweR PR; Ethnic Activists Guide to Strategic Communications

  • BUSINESS NEWS
  • Senator Michael Hastings urges local businesses to apply for Blue Collar Jobs Act Construction Tax Credits
    May 23, 2023
  • Returning for the 12th year, Star Wars Day is back! Join the fun Saturday, June 3rd from 11am - 4pm at the Joliet Public Library - Ottawa Street Branch.
    Star Wars Day is back in Joliet, Illinois
    May 23, 2023
  • Craft Fair photo courtesy of Emily Webster and Unsplash.com
    Artisan and craft vendor’s wanted for Cicero Farmer’s Market and Artisan Fair in June
    May 5, 2023
  • Hyundai Sonata. Photo courtesy of Hyundai
    Hyundai and AAA Insurers Collaborate to Offer Insurance Options for Customers Affected by Method of Theft Popularized on TikTok
    April 14, 2023

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

Click this link to watch or use the widget below:

Click here to view the video on YouTube or use the widget below.
Email Ray Hanania for more information about performing at your event at rghanania@gmail.com.

Copyright © 2022 Suburban Chicagoland & Urban Strategies Group

Powered by PressBook Premium theme