In Illinois, Obama to plead for a unity that’s eluded him

During a trip to IL earlier this week, President Barack Obama admitted that political divides have gotten worse under his leadership.

Senate President John Cullerton also spoke fondly of Obama.

The governor has said the state is in a “slow death spiral” because Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan cares more about protecting a privileged “political class”.

“I was truly honored to be in the chamber today”, said Republican House Leader Jim Durkin. Which is why, in my final State of the Union address, and in the one before that, I had to acknowledge that one of my few regrets is my inability to reduce the polarization and meanness in our politics.

Obama did mention dark money in his speech, saying that it “drowns out ordinary voices”.

Obama’s speech to IL lawmakers Wednesday afternoon comes during a time when his home state is in disarray and entering the eighth month without a budget. “I was passionate, idealistic, ready to make a difference….”

“Over these nine years, I want you to know my faith in the generosity and the fundamental goodness of the American people has been rewarded and affirmed, over and over and over again”, Obama said.

He got it after he got up to speak on a bill. “I’ll see him”, Dunkin said. The Senate president at the time, Sen. “And all of you would feel prouder of the work you do if it were better”, he said.

That progress aside, Obama’s determination to change “the ways of Washington” has shown few signs of being realized – a fact Obama conceded in January. “That was my first lesson in humility”.

“There’s still a yawning gap in the magnitude of our challenges we face and the smallness of our politics”, Obama said. He remembered attending the occasional fish fry, poker games, and having meals together.

A budget agreement this year, hailed as an example of bipartisanship at work, was notable mostly for its avoidance of a government shutdown – a outcome of fiscal battles that seemed impossible before 2013, when the government actually did shutdown for two weeks amid a budget stalemate. If we lie about each other, they learn it’s OK to lie.

“We didn’t call each other idiots or fascists”, he said.

State Rep. Dan Beiser, a Democrat from Alton, said he thinks the president’s speech will give IL lawmakers plenty to think about as they move toward passing a budget. It turns folks off. It discourages them, makes them cynical.

It carried added resonance Wednesday, as outsider candidates in both parties celebrated huge victories in the New Hampshire primary. He said they should rethink how congressional districts are drawn every 10 years so the process is fairer – an agenda item Rauner and fellow Republicans are pushing. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, won the Democratic primary and Donald Trump won the Republican primary.