77 Comments - Adam Smith - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 8:47 am: We know the gun folks take this stuff very personally and don’t tolerate any GOP candidate who doesn’t kiss their backsides, but would they be nuts enough to support Pat Quinn over Rauner in the general? Maybe in Illinois… - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 8:49 am: Shame, shame SHAME on the ISRA; Did they not see the picture of “Bruce Rauner”, doves in hand, with the “stuffed” hunting dog, with bandana around the neck of the dog? I mean, “Bruce Rauner ” had that pristine Carhartt on! “Rauner” had sunglasses on too! Goodness gracious, how much more pandering does the ISRA need? That, is a “Top 3″ picture of “Bruce Rauner” now, it’s for nothing…NOTHING! Shame on the ISRA for not being duped. … - Walker - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 8:52 am: ===Quinn over Rauner in the general?=== Bruce will just pull out his new Carhart hunting jacket, and ads will take care of the rest. - Upon Further Review - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 8:53 am: I received a mailer touting Dillard yesterday (with an “N.R.A.” label on it, but it was sent from Peoria’s “Fund for Prosperity and Jobs”). One thing that has amazed me about Rauner despite his constant barrage of television and radio commercials is that he has not committed himself to any positions on a wide ranges of issues. All he claims to be against are career politicians and union bosses. “Shaking up Springfield” and being a “businessman” is not much of a platform. Rauner is almost completely “undefined.” - OneMan - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 8:53 am: Actually a bright move on Rauner’s part IMHO. One less thing they can use on him in the general. - Mighty M. Mouse - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 8:54 am: Rauner offers little period. His campaign consists of buzz words and canned phrases that say nothing. - wordslinger - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 8:55 am: Rauner’s goal is to get elected governor, not be ISRA prom queen. Smart move, given the paranoid hyperbole regularly issued by that crowd. You don’t want to be associated with them when you run to the center starting March 19. - langhorne - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 8:56 am: but, but…the baron has guns, gun dogs, and goes huntin. he wears carhartt. doesnt that count for anything any more? i wonder if it would help or hurt dillard if he said we should not make med marijuana users turn in their foid cards and guns. you can have all the properly categorized schedule I drugs imaginable, right, but one prescribed joint and no guns. have i missed the coverage of stoners out in the vacant lot next door shooting up their pringles cans? and these arent even stoners. they are seriously ill folks looking for relief. - Mason born - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 8:57 am: I suspect in the General ISRA will simply refuse to endorse either Rauner or Quinn. To be honest I think AFSCME should do the same. Of course Quinn has made AFSCME look like a pincushion from the rear and tried to make the ISRA look like one from the front. - Upon Further Review - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 8:59 am: Rauner was shocked by the lack of an ISRA endorsement. Looking dazed and confused in his Carhart hunting jacket, he stuttered, “But, but, I own a ranch. In Montana!” - Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 9:00 am: Again, this is why all the chest puffing by Quinn allies ought to be troubling. Rauner is projecting a moderate image. Topinka outperformed Brady by roughly 200,000 votes four years ago. Kirk and Rutherford bested Brady by roughly 100,000. All three positioned themselves as moderates. This chastisement by the ISRA will actually help Rauner in the fall. He will use it as proof that he is a moderate up north and that he will be beholden to the people as governor, not special interests on the left or right. - OneMan - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 9:00 am: Rauner offers little period. His campaign consists of buzz words and canned phrases that say nothing. Because, in part as much as it pains political junkies like me, that approach works. The more detail you offer, the more you manage to piss people off. The goal of a campaign is to win an election, sorry, but that is the goal. Detail brings you no closer to that goal. - Grandson of Man - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 9:00 am: With the Carhartt and $18 watch working so well, why should Rauner attend gun events? Just remember that he’s a shooting, beer drinking, harley riding dude and leave it at that. The campaign money will take care of the rest. - Jon Zahm - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 9:00 am: Just an early preview of the Whig Party that Rauner would preside over if he hijacks the GOP nomination. If you believe in God, guns or life you will be dark cornered in his new party. He must be defeated Tuesday. www.norauner.com - Wensicia - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 9:03 am: I was hoping for a little more of the ISRA paranoia, you know: “Support Rauner for governor and he’ll take your guns away if elected! What else can we believe since he hasn’t shown support for hunters and sportsmen?!” - shore - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 9:06 am: Bruce Dold made a great point at the city club a few days ago when he said that after 2010 the business wing of the gop grew tired of the edgar/ryan/thompson political establishment and I agree with him. These endorsements just backfire on Dillard for me. These political groups, the NRA, the teachers unions, the edgar mafia, these are hacks that haven’t done the party any good. Rauner doesn’t need them and I hope Republicans like Sandack and Ed Sullivan and Mark Kirk who’ve blown these jokers off on various issues realize how little good pandering to them does. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 9:07 am: … To the Post, This action by the ISRA is too little, too late to be impactful in the Primary, and so late and so “much”, its like a gift after March 19th. Months ago; impactful, today? Perfect way for both “Rauners” to pivot left, and complete that pivot in an easier way than before this …statement. - countyline - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 9:17 am: -We know the gun folks take this stuff very personally and don’t tolerate any GOP candidate who doesn’t kiss their backsides- We don’t want our backsides kissed, we want them left alone. - Upon Further Review - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 9:17 am: The ISRA is aiming its fire at the new gun and ammo registration bill being sponsored by Representative Kelly Cassidy. Truthfully, the Cassidy bill, as described, is so restrictive that I cannot imagine that it will pass constitutional scrutiny. - Percival - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 9:19 am: In all, nothing that a nice check won’t mend. - wordslinger - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 9:20 am: –We don’t want our backsides kissed, we want them left alone.– Rauner left the ISRA alone. Yet they’re unhappy with him. - Upon Further Review - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 9:21 am: I cannot see the Cassidy bill advancing in the General Assembly. It essentially ignores all of the recent court decisions. I suppose it may result in Cassidy pleasing some contributors on the left, but still it seems to be out of touch with reality. - Grandson of Man - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 9:24 am: “pivot left” To me, merely being a social moderate does not make one a moderate. If the candidate is tolerant on gay marriage and is pro-choice and yet wants to strip unions, not raise the minimum wage and wants to give tax breaks to wealthy corporations and individuals, that is not enough to make one a moderate. But then again, I’m not one of the voters who can swing the election, such as suburban Cook County women. I think I know my place. If Rauner is the nominee, it is the job of Quinn, albeit a very difficult job, to paint Rauner as not a moderate. I am curious to see if Rauner eases back on his attack against unions (if he’s the nominee). If I was Quinn, I’d hope that he would continue to attack unions. The best that Quinn can hope for is for a billionaire to keep going around saying that people who earn five figures are overpaid. - hold on - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 9:30 am: ISRA inadvertently explains to its members why Bruce Rauner will win the primary, by explaining how undistinguishable his 3 opponents are. - A guy... - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 9:46 am: The ISRA would be well advised to make more friends than 3 guys who won’t and can’t win. These votes are always close in the legislature, so the Governor’s role takes on more epic proportion in this legislation. I’m a second amendment guy, but for a group that represents a lot of shooters in Illinois, more often than not they come out looking like the crew that can’t shoot straight. Their endorsement is more of a bedtime story than an alarm to wake up. Shoot em up Kirk. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 9:50 am: @Grandson of a Man - Here’s the trouble for Quinn: Rauner will say he wants to raise the minimum wage, remind folks his own parents grew up poor, he just wants to do it in a way that creates jobs. Rauner will say he’s not against unions, its the public union bosses and sea of other special interests pouring millions into the legislative process. In fact, his wife is an educator. Rauner will say he wants to repeal the Quinn tax hike, which unfairly shifted the tax burden to working families, while giving huge tax breaks to corporations, and work with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to develop a tax code that it simpler, fairer and more transparent. Rauner will say all of this and people will believe him because they want to believe him, because in their hearts they want change, and we find a way to rationalize in our minds the choices we want in our hearts every day. This is a Change election. And folks who want to win better show how they have been for change and will be for more change. - Hit or Miss - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 9:51 am: One needs to ask, if Rauner wins the general election and becomes governor will he remember that the ISRA did not endorse him? - logic not emotion - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 10:03 am: YYD: good post. - A guy... - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 10:09 am: The Yellow dog is barking up the right tree. Spot on dude. - railrat - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 10:14 am: “w-slinger” @ 8:55 & 9:20 BINGO as you often do, “The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond defeat, and then waited for the opportunity of defeating the enemy” SunTzu - Wensicia - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 10:18 am: Bruce Rauner on governors: “Mitch Daniels in Indiana was the best governor in America for eight years. I’ve gone to Indianapolis to study with him. Rick Snyder in Michigan, who’s a venture capitalist just like I’ve been. Rick Scott in Florida is very strong. Jeb Bush is terrific; I’ve talked with him on education reform. Scott Walker in Wisconsin has done good things to improve the economy and tax burden [there].” http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/July-2013/Rauner-Interview/ Yeah, that’s someone that will appeal to moderates. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 10:21 am: ===Rauner will say all of this and people will believe him because they want to believe him, because in their hearts they want change, and we find a way to rationalize in our minds the choices we want in our hearts every day.=== Yep. Lemmings who will vote against their better self might rule the polls. When gridlock, state shutdowns, constant litigation, and Blago grandstanding becomes too much, voters will be reminded, like with Blago, “You voted against honesty and integrity, ethics and morals, and now you are surprised?” The IL”GOP” Blago - “Bruce Rauner” Well said, - YDD -. - Reformed Public Servant - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 10:25 am: Rauner is all ad copy and no substance, the ISRA saw right through him. Are voters that smart as well? - Upon Further Review - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 10:26 am: Rauner never said that he opposed gun owner rights. He called for a referendum and promised to abide by the results when making his decision. Under Rauner, Illinois ballots will resemble those used in California and votes will be scheduled fifty-two weeks per year. - Lord Stanley's Cup - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 10:28 am: Word and OneMan are right. If Rauner can get through an R primary without kowtowing to the gun guys, it sets him up very nicely to scoop up those suburban mom votes Brady lost in 2010. That’s Rauner’s battlefield, and with the exception of the tea party rally where he said he’d have vetoed marriage, he’s done everything right thus far to keep those votes from migrating back toward PQ. - FormerParatrooper - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 10:31 am: Endorsements mean nothing to me. I’ve never understood why people put so much stock in these endorsements. Who cares who the ISRA or even unions endorse? It does not change the values, integrity or the actions of the politicians history. - OneMan - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 10:32 am: == Rauner is all ad copy and no substance, the ISRA saw right through him. Are voters that smart as well? == Really you don’t think the fact he blew them off had nothing to do with it? - A guy... - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 10:52 am: Funny thing I’ve learned about gun guys. They don’t completely believe their org. They do more due diligence calling individual legislators than any other group I know of. They talk to each other about those conversations, they watch votes. They know who’s with them and who ain’t. - Riley - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 10:59 am: I agree with other commenters about this helping Rauner in a general election IF he gets by the primary. But in the primary, to quote Vice President Joe Biden, this is a big F&@*&!# deal. The ISRA has 1.5 million members in IL. Timing-wise it adds to Dillard’s momentum at the finish. The Tribune’s last poll had Rauner at 36 percent after spending $14 million largely in a vacuum for 8 months. That means 64 percent of Republicans are not buying his schtick. Something like this can be a part of a deciding surge at the end of the race. - Grandson of Man - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 10:59 am: YDD, Thanks for your response to my comment and for your analysis. I get what you’re saying and am under no illusion that what is true is necessarily popular. “Rauner will say he’s not against unions, its the public union bosses and sea of other special interests pouring millions into the legislative process.” Wow, and this comes from a candidate who is spending millions to get power for himself. “@Grandson of a Man” For the record, I am the Grandson of Man and part of the Holy Quadrinity: Father, Son, Grandson and the Holy Spirit. - VanillaMan - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 11:01 am: Their endorsement of the three nominees is like watching three Kindergarteners get a soccer metal. - Siriusly - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 11:06 am: I think Rauner is the type of hunter who goes to “big game preserves” where they have sick and old zoo rhinos and lions in fenced in rangs in Texas. I don’t think he’s the sort of hunter that the average ISRA member could relate to anyway. welcome back ydd - Siriusly - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 11:07 am: medal not metal VM - Roadiepig - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 11:16 am: I continue to be impressed on how well the people managing the Baron’s campaign have run this election. Don’t get me wrong- the true person that he is may be known by the voters of this state by November, but so far they have positioned him as a somewhat blank slate, knowing only that he hates “government union bosses” (whatever that is) and political insiders (pot meet kettle). They have keep his history on social issues out of the public view, and the little three and PAC’s have done little to nothing to point out where he is against what most Republican primary voters believe. Taking from our President’s first campaign, he has spoken in platitudes without actually saying what he will do once the reigns of government our in his hands (hope and change anyone?). They are in it to win, and the fact that most voters haven’t bothered to find out who he really is is their fault. One question for the fervent supporters here of Rauner- please explain how Rauner’s career as a venture capitalist (vulture capitalist is a better description, considering how he made his wealth at the expense of other’s jobs and lives) will improve the lives of anyone outside of the folks in the upper .01%? We know that you will support whatever he says, argue with anyone who doesn’t agree with you without really explaining why Rauner is the right choice for governor. It might work for the primary. Heck, it might even work for the general election. But please explain to us why we will be better off after the fall election with your guy running things. If you can, that is, using something besides platitudes and other forms of BS please… - Blue Dog - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 11:21 am: The ISRA didn’t endorse Rauner because most of their members don’t trust his comnections to Rahm & Daley. This has been brought up at every gun show & meeting I’ve been at over the last 3 months. Did anyone notice the ISRA also endorsed Sandack over Matune? Might help him fight off the challenge from his far right flank. - wordslinger - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 11:23 am: –The ISRA has 1.5 million members in IL. – Do they now? There are 9.6 million Illinoisans over the age of 18. More than half are women. Still, if the ISRA has 1.5 million members, that would mean that one of out of every six adult Illinoisans, man and woman, is a member. Does that compute for you? - A guy... - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 11:54 am: Slinger, 1.5 million counts members who’ve died. - John Boch - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 12:26 pm: There are 1.7M FOID holders in IL. ISRA has thirty-something thousand dues-paying members. This endorsement has not been without controversy in the gun rights community. Especially given Dillard’s record voting for gun control measures in the past. John - John Boch - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 12:28 pm: Furthermore, I don’t think this endorsement was based upon Rauner’s attendance or lack thereof at IGOLD. Rauner is no friend of gun rights. He brags that he has the best “huntin’” dog in the state, but both he and his dogs seem quite reticent to discuss gun rights. John - wordslinger - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 12:30 pm: –There are 1.7M FOID holders in IL. ISRA has thirty-something thousand dues-paying members.– That makes a lot more sense. - Robert the Bruce - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 12:41 pm: Impressive political gamble by Rauner. He is too organized to have accidentally missed this event. He knew it’d cost him a bit in the primary, but must’ve figured his lead was big enough, and that he doesn’t need more right wing associations weighing him down in the general. - Palanon - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 12:49 pm: The ISRA is going to take a pounding from their membership that thinks that Dillard is a gun-grabbing RINO with the ILGA votes and the endorsement of Obama to prove it. (although Dillard has been a CCW supporter for a long time, he has also voted for magazine bans. Recently, he repeated his support for banning objects, not behavior.) - Wally - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 12:52 pm: In game 6 of the 2011 World Series, the Cardinals were down 3 games to 2 and down to their last strike, TWICE, and pulled the game and Series out. Prediction: A large number of undecideds break for Dillard, he gets some from Brady and Rutherford and Dems plus people think they may vote for BR and then think about it some more and change their mind. Dillard in the close upset. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 12:58 pm: Thanks for all of the Hugs everyone. It is great to be back. To the post: Rauner has already clarified he is not against the tradesmen, only the public union bosses. Heck, his running mate is BFF with the building trades. Anyone who expects a huge outpouring of public union support for Quinn in the fall…look, I don’t doubt they will do all they can, but Henry Bayer is not omnipotent. Will the business folks revolt? Nope. Just like the unions stuck with Rod in 2002, even after he hired scab workers, even after he made the pledge against tax reform…the biz folks are so hungry for a win that they will tell themselves everything is hunky doo. Here is what we can look forward to over the next several months: A few traditional allies of Democrats reaching out to Team Rauner A few more traditional allies of Democrats deciding it might be better to put a few more eggs in the General Assembly and a few less in the governors pocket A well-funded and “independent” Democrats for Rauner 11th hour deals being cut to undermine Quinn with traditional allies, who will “be with Quinn” on Election Day, just not break a sweat Meeks driving Quinn nuts That is not to say that victory is impossible for Quinn. I see at least a few paths. But anyone who believes that Rauner is the dream opponent, that you can whistle past the graveyard because Quinn is a strong closer, or that Rauner’s money does not matter is deluding Pat Quinn and themselves. - Barney Fife - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 1:10 pm: Good for Dillard. A true statesman with allies on both sides of the isle. Time for change! - Mason born - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 1:22 pm: YDD - huge outpouring of public union support- I agree that huge public support is a stretch. I have quite a few DOC friends who have still not received the contractually approved raises. Add to that the Pension mess and that disaster of a contract negotiations. I just have a hard time seeing anyone going to the polls even close to happy about voting PQ. As one former co-worker put it. “Do i vote for the quy threatening to stab me in the back or the one that already has 3 knives in me.” - Grandson of Man - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 1:31 pm: “Rauner has already clarified he is not against the tradesmen, only the public union bosses” He did say that he supports right to work, just like he said he’s “adamantly” against a minimum wage increase. The question is can he be trusted? Plus, for what it’s worth, AFL-CIO is all-in against Rauner. “Here is what we can look forward to over the next several months:” We can also look forward to Rauner being portrayed as a greedy, hypocritical super-wealthy Republican who rode the government rails to wealth and then wants to run over those who rely on pensions, unions and government benefits. That thing about Rauner hating union bosses but not union members is utter BS. Please, let’s get past that. Union members rely strongly on their leaders advancing their grievances, filing lawsuits and negotiating contracts, among other things. Attacking “union bosses” is attacking union members at the head, at the very entities that make it possible for workers to have the best possible wages and benefits. The nursing home issue is ongoing and is yet unresolved, with cases moving through the courts and estates trying to collect their jury awards. “But anyone who believes that Rauner is the dream opponent, that you can whistle past the graveyard because Quinn is a strong closer, or that Rauner’s money does not matter is deluding Pat Quinn and themselves.” I couldn’t agree with you more. We live in a country with very high income inequality and until very lately, no universal health insurance or an attempt to reform health insurance. We live in a country where a sizeable population would rather that the super-wealthy get a tax break than workers unionize. There are sick people walking around who would rather endure their illnesses than get Medicaid coverage because they hate Obama. So yes, I will not be surprised in the least if Rauner wins. - Phineas J. Whoopee - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 1:37 pm: Whatever “a guy” said back in the post is completley wrong. Gun guys vote with the NRA. - Anon - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 2:04 pm: The ISRA endorsement won’t make much difference in the primary. Being a moderate on guns but slightly to the right of PQ is exactly where BR wants to be. Good to see YDD back. - Soccermom - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 2:36 pm: Gosh, could the ISRA have done anything more to help Rauner? They don’t endorse him — helping him to retain some “moderate” cred — and they spread their endorsement across all three candidates, leaving their 1.5 million voters to split and leave the rest for Rauner. - Precinct Captain - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 2:42 pm: ==Taking from our President’s first campaign, he has spoken in platitudes without actually saying what he will do once the reigns of government our in his hands (hope and change anyone?)== It’s easy to miss things when you don’t listen. - Endangered Moderate Species - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 2:42 pm: Another great play by Rauner. - Roadiepig - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 2:56 pm: - Robert the Bruce - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 12:41 Your post makes perfect sense . Time to make the hard left towards the center - A guy... - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 3:03 pm: === Phineas J. Whoopee - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 1:37 pm: Whatever “a guy” said back in the post is completley wrong. Gun guys vote with the NRA.=== And that’s exactly the same as the ISRA right Whoopee? I was born in the morning dude, but not this morning. 227 Republicans in my precinct. 189 Strong 2nd Amendment guys. They talk, I listen, you muse. - Demoralized - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 3:10 pm: ==Strong 2nd Amendment guys.= I wasn’t aware there was a 2nd Amendment scale. That’s the kind of talk that makes me crazy. I’ve got to take some sort of test apparently to see where I fall on the 2nd Amendment scale. Send me a copy. Thanks. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 3:43 pm: === We can also look forward to Rauner being portrayed as a greedy, hypocritical super-wealthy Republican who rode the government rails to wealth and then wants to run over those who rely on pensions, unions and government benefits. === Again, I think Rauner spends $50 million or more pointing to his $18 watch, talking about how his parents grew up poor but worked hard to give him the opportunities every child deserves, and he just wants that for all Illinois families. Followed by how Pat Quinn is raising taxes and killing jobs to pushing the American dream out of reach for too many Illinois families. Followed by, oh yeah, btw, when Pat Quinn told you he was raising your taxes to prevent doomsday, he was actually spending $54 million on this…. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 3:50 pm: ===Followed by, oh yeah, btw, when Pat Quinn told you he was raising your taxes to prevent doomsday, he was actually spending $54 million on this….=== That will start March 19th and end… never. That $54 million will be the “default” response for Rauner on every charge against him. - railrat - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 4:02 pm: sorry late again, on the road, will someone please ask every candidate their understanding of the 3rd amendment? this could separate the dogs from the puppies !! - Demoralized - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 4:33 pm: ==their understanding of the 3rd amendment== It comes between the 2nd and the 4th. - Demoralized - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 4:43 pm: ==That $54 million will be the “default” response for Rauner on every charge against him.== Yes, that $54 million was a year of wages for him. That’s how he should respond. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 5:09 pm: Willy, we should start a consulting firm. Did you know the $54 million spent on NRI represents the combined income taxes of 62,000 Illinoisans? That is, coincidentally, the seating capacity of Soldier Field. LOL. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 5:16 pm: - YDD -, You “run” the Dem side of the Business… “Of course, ‘AWillyWord Con$ulting’ would be far removed from this specific endeavor, like ‘GTCR’ removes itself from its other companies. Plausible deniability for my other partners is paramount!” How was that, - YDD -? Soldier Field, eh? Where and when for “coffee”? lol - Grandson of Man - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 6:02 pm: YDD, You and I are both going around in circles, with how each candidate or PAC can attack each other. As far as job killing, though, we must bear in mind that in Illinois, job growth has been seriously hampered by the loss of thousands of public sector jobs. Lots of people retired whose positions are not being filled. In one of those positions was a worker whose job it was to verify self employment for public aid programs. This worker found a lot of hidden income and fraud. That position is gone. - railrat - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 6:18 pm: demoralized@4:33 love your response proves so much about your foundation…..as a …ahh never mind! - Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 6:46 pm: “Seriously hampered?” As I have pointed out, the bond raters have pointed to cuts in government jobs as the primary driver of joblessness in Illinois, along with sluggish construction. But unless Mayors and school boards across Illinois are ready to stand up and point that out, along with local chambers…or some third party, Quinn is hosed. He sure can’t insist on increasing govt payrolls now. BTW, not thousands, but I believe tens of thousands of public sector jobs eliminated. Time for Quinn to be driving that home was over the last three years. Instead, he did the opposite of what I normally recommend: taking credit for 50 jobs created here, 100 jobs created there, even 1000 somewhere else. If you take credit for creating specific jobs, be prepared to accept blame for job losses. Don’t get me wrong, Joe Slade White is simply the best in the business, and he can take one anecdote of a candidate rescuing a cat from a tree and make it seem like you were in the Oval Office going after bin Laden. But Team Rauner has proven that they know how to read a poll, and Rauner has the discipline to stick to the talking points about 95 percent of the time, which is pretty good for an newcomer, and should only get better. - Grandson of Man - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 8:00 pm: YDD, Thanks again for responding to my comments. Your comments are thought-provoking, and you bring the unvarnished stuff, which is the essence of good commentary. I don’t fully doubt that Rauner can stick to what I believe are simplistic talking points and have success. The talking points don’t work for me, but I may not be one of the critical voters who will swing the election. I know full well that I may just be peeing down my leg. I believe that Rauner has a lot of negatives, as is pointed out here so eloquently by other commenters. The Quinn campaign has its work cut out for itself, to say the least, but it has Rauner material to work with. Have a great night. - wordslinger - Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 8:23 pm: There’s plenty of material for powerful negative spots against Rauner and Quinn. Before November, Rauner will have to bring more than “I’m not the other guy.” Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.