[Obadiah]

Bob Michael was a really nice guy and a supreme gentleman, but he pretty much invented and sustained the GOPe’s mantra of, “Go along with Democrats to Get Along with Democrats”.

[Obadiah]

His skill at seeking compromise with the Democrats...

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Mr. “Go-Along to Get-Along”.

[nickedknack]

RIP. His legacy will be as the ‘RATS favorite RINO appeaser.

[PallMal]

Whenever I saw the guy, he was jolly and laughing, while Democrats were cutting our throats.

[ScottinVA]

Generally a good man, but little more than a trained houseboy for the democrats.

That said.. RIP, Rep. Michel.

[Timocrat]

De mortuis.... but he was a lousy minority leader.

[nathanbedford]

When one considers the individuals who bracketed Newt Gingrich in his occupancy of the office of Speaker of the House, one can only conclude that Gingrich was one of the very great Speakers and one of the very great vote getters for the Republican Party.

He stood out like a lighthouse of conservatism against the sea of Rinos. Gingrich was out of favor in this forum until the crowd backfliped when he supported Trump but he should stand on his own and must be counted a great Speaker even if he had opposed Trump.

[fieldmarshaldj]

RIP.

[dfwgator]

The rare Illinois politician who never went to jail.

[Candor7]

RIP Mr. Michel.

[MplsSteve]

Bob Michel was one of those guys who really thought he could work with the other side to get the best possible outcome for the US.

He came to Congress at a time when, though the Dems held power, there could be reasonable compromises made. That changed as the old-school Dems died off or were pushed aside for ones that were more assertive and more agenda-driven.

Michel was not a spineless guy but he wasn’t quite up to the partisan wrangling. Much was made that he was a PINO but if you looked at his voting record back then, he was at least as conservative as stalwarts like Gingrich, Trent Lott or Rob Walker.

Rest in peace, Congressman.

[PBRCat]

Well liked, bipartisan, sociable and a representative of the permanent Republican minority in the US House. He was a great friend of Dan Rostenkowski.

No sooner had Michel retired than the Republicans gained a majority in the House for the first time in forty years.

[Laslo Fripp]

Congressman Michel was a World War II veteran. He earned a Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars.

RIP, sir.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

I am sure he was a nice guy. But he was also a wishy washy wimp.

[x]

Before condemning Michel, consider that Reagan's agenda got through Congress (or much of it did) when Republicans were in the minority and Bob Michel was Minority Leader.

I don't know how much Michel had to do with it, but when you compare what happened then with what happened when Republicans were in the majority, the party's achievements don't look small or nonexistent.

[x]

Also, compare him to the last Speaker from Illinois (and many other Illinois politicians) and he was positively saintly.