“What are we paying him for? Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, arguably the most powerful Democrat in the state, takes home $95,000 a year but refuses to sit down with the governor.” Sun Times Editorial July31, 2008

The jerk who has had a happy hour fueled night of entitlement floors his Jaguar through traffic and is eventually pulled over by a police officer for violating public safety and the Laws. The officer is treated to ‘Don’t you have anything better to do? How’s the murder rate? Hey, I pay your salary. How about catching some real criminals?’

Teachers, who have given young Rachel a B- in Honors English, hear this as well –‘What am I paying you for?’

The Chicago Sun Times whines the same thing against Speaker of the House Mike Madigan – the only adult voice in Springfield Leadership and the only person not linked by the forged chains of the Utilities, or other special interests.

Speaker Madigan’s spokesman Steve Brown replied, “We know the major issues of the last few years—electric rate refunds, the CTA and RTA, ethics—all of that was accomplished in spite of Blagojevich or over his objections,” says Madigan’s spokesman, Steve Brown. “No meeting with the governor has led to an accomplishment in five years.”

Madigan is an effective public servant and a man who keeps his own counsel. Madigan does not suffer fools gladly, nor does he make a public buffoon of himself – shunning celebrity, media-gabfests, and public posturing. One would be hard pressed to know Madigan’s favorite singer – that has nothing to do with effective government.

Like Dryden’s topic in Stuart England (1681), The Sun Times acts the part of Achitophel in the strange court drama in Springfield.

I see Mike Madigan as King David in this extended allegory; Gov. Blagojevich as Absalom the heavenly tressed natural son of David whose naïve ambitions would lead to open governmental rebellion and his doom “His head caught fast in the oak, and he was left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on.”

As Dryden noted in his allegory, ‘They, who possess the prince, possess the laws.’ From the get-go Blagojevich was easy to possess. Madigan is like mercury. Mike Madigan’s motives are often abused by thought-pirates in the Media who assume that he is possessed by a pathological desire to control – a power mad tyrant.

Sexy and inviting meat for gab fests on Channel 11, but as far off the mark as it could be – Madigan is in the game to serve. Most effective elected officials go into government for that very reason. Go back up and look at the salary that the editorial gobshites of the Sun Times pose – $95,000 per annum. Cook County appointees and community activists rake in two to three times that amount per year . . . and all they can steal under Progressive Government Entitlement Programs.

The Speaker of the House is doing his job. He is holding an arrogant and not very deft governor to account for his spending and appointments and cavalier give-aways – be it to CPS, ComEd, RTA or Planned Parenthood.

Thanks to the Sun Times and other muffy media mopes, Blagojevich believes the nonsense:
. . .
He ( Achitophel/Sun Times) said, and this advice, above the rest,
With Absalom’s ( Blago) mild nature suited best;
Unblamed of life, ambition set aside,
Not stained with cruelty, nor puffed with pride. How happy had he been, if destiny
Had higher placed his birth, or not so high!
His kingly virtues might have claimed a throne,
And blest all other countries but his own;
But charming greatness since so few refuse, [485]
‘Tis juster to lament him than accuse.
Strong were his hopes a rival to remove,
With blandishments to gain the public love;
To head the faction while their zeal was hot,
And popularly prosecute the plot. [490]
To further this, Achitophel unites
The malcontents of all the Israelites;
Whose differing parties he could wisely join,
For several ends, to serve the same design.
The best, — and of the princes some were such,— [495]
Who thought the power of monarchy too much;
Mistaken men, and patriots in their hearts;
Not wicked, but seduced by impious arts.
By these the springs of property were bent,
And wound so high, they cracked the government. [500]
. . .

The next for interest sought to embroil the state,
To sell their duty at a dearer rate,
And make their Jewish markets of the throne;
Pretending public good, to serve their own.
Others thought kings an useless heavy load, [505]
Who cost too much, and did too little good.
These were for laying honest David ( Speaker Madigan) by,
On principles of pure good husbandry.
With them joined all the haranguers of the throng,
That thought to get preferment by the tongue. [510]
Who follow next a double danger bring,
Not only hating David, but the king ( All Government and those who serve it);

Achitophel in our Springfield Allegory is an amalgam of special interests, gold-diggers, sycophants and the turnips in the Mainstream Media who get spoon fed thoughts by SEIU, think-tanks, and publicity addicted lobbyists and lawyers. They praise Absalom Blago’s great hair and vanity and seek what they wish to find – influence or shekels.

So, several factions from this first ferment,
Work up to foam, and threat the government.
Some by their friends, more by themselves thought wise,
Oppos’d the pow’r, to which they could not rise.
Some had in courts been great, and thrown from thence,
Like fiends, were harden’d in impenitence.
Some by their monarch’s fatal mercy grown,
From pardon’d rebels, kinsmen to the throne;
Were rais’d in pow’r and public office high;
Strong bands, if bands ungrateful men could tie.

Of these the false Achitophel was first:
A name to all succeeding ages curst.
For close designs, and crooked counsels fit;
Sagacious, bold and turbulent of wit:
Restless, unfixt in principles and place;
In pow’r unpleas’d, impatient of disgrace.
A fiery soul, which working out its way,
Fretted the pigmy-body to decay:
And o’er inform’d the tenement of clay.
A daring pilot in extremity;

The voters know Dave from Absalom and they know exactly who Achitophel happens to be – that is why the Chicago Sun Times continues to cork-screw into the loam. Blago’s hair is tangled in the very branches of government that he hoped would raise him to the stars – half-way there ain’t there.