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Rauner takes batting practice
Thursday, Sep 18, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller * Bruce Rauner showed again today on WGN Radio that when he’s asked questions he’s answered many times before, he can sound like a master politician. He easily sprinted through every one of his talking points this morning, brushing aside the small handful of follow-up questions… His problem is that when journalists who don’t get this sort of access want to ask tough, out of the ordinary questions, he doesn’t appear to know what to do. So, he turns away, or tries to laugh them off, or promises to unveil a detailed plan really, really, really soon.
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- lake county democrat - Thursday, Sep 18, 14 @ 2:53 pm:
I keep telling ya, he doesn’t need a detailed plan, he just needs to say his plan will either grow the economy/tax base else he’ll do sequestration with certain carve-outs and he’s sure that there is __% waste that can be cut out of each department. It’s bull, but it’s amorphous bull and thanks to the national Democrats he has the perfect talking point: “The Democrats claimed it would be a nightmare, but I’ll bet most of you can’t tell the difference, and it brought the federal budget under a modicum of control. If you really want more taxes, vote for my opponent.”
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Sep 18, 14 @ 3:01 pm:
He is too smart to not know what he is doing. It is deliberate.
He has run a very good campaign so far. He must have staffers ensuring that these are his answers and that there is a reason this is his approach.
He certainly isn’t a rambler like Quinn or me.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Sep 18, 14 @ 3:02 pm:
Yeah, he’s good on script.
But after his choke yesterday, don’t be surprised if some ambitious broadcast reporter tries to elicit another “deer-in-the-headlights” moment.
It’s not partisan, or personal, it’s just business. And the business is getting on the air at the top of the ‘cast.
Same as it ever was.
- Peoria guy - Thursday, Sep 18, 14 @ 3:05 pm:
I thought he did a good job in this onterview, stylistically at least.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 18, 14 @ 3:05 pm:
If you were going to coach ‘em up, the suggestion should be;
*Answer honestly to an opinion you have,
* Treat every reporter well, if they get bad feedback from the messenger, you don’t get your message
* If you are going to just give talking points, don’t expect the reporter to dig more to make your points
* No one laughs when you do your job, don’t make it seem you are constantly laughing at the reporters doing theirs
* Be prepared, be on time. Goes a long way.
* Admit you are wrong, admit you don’t know. Reporters hate to be lied to, or listening to answers they know you are making up.
* You should be friendly with reporters, but they aren’t your friends. They are not the enemy too.
* When running for office, you get asked questions you may think aren’t fair. Well, welcome to politics.
* Exaggeration leads to mockery. Flippant leads to ignorance. How you think you are seen to Press, isn’t up to you.
Just a few.
Get better Bruce, help him Rauner Crew.
- A guy... - Thursday, Sep 18, 14 @ 3:06 pm:
Not a hard ball interview by any stretch for sure. But, it did go over the most pertinent issues in Illinois. Quinn will get an equally non-confronting opportunity with Steve. Would be interesting to compare the two on an equal plane.
- Obamas Puppy - Thursday, Sep 18, 14 @ 3:17 pm:
I thought he was not a politician. What a genius.
- Team Sleep - Thursday, Sep 18, 14 @ 3:27 pm:
I clicked on this thinking you were being literal, Rich. Way to mislead us!
- circular firing squad - Thursday, Sep 18, 14 @ 3:27 pm:
Still his Todd Aiken moment
Biggggg blunder
- Western Ave. Doug - Thursday, Sep 18, 14 @ 3:34 pm:
==Still his Todd Aiken moment==
Saying there is a difference between good rape and bad rape is a lot different from not answering a question. Like everything else from the Quinnsters, overstated and overplayed.
- Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Sep 18, 14 @ 3:40 pm:
Someone mentioned his political instincts yesterday while discussing the Steelers question.
That seemed a reasonable explanation. Whether voters see his lack of polish and flair for the dramatic as a positive or a negative is a separate discussion.
- Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Sep 18, 14 @ 3:41 pm:
That was 12 wasted minutes. If Pat Quinn is pretending to be a bumbler, Bruce must be the real thing. He certainly is nobody that nobody sent.
But that is the perspective of someone who has been paying close attention. I’m sure the uninformed thought it was just fabulous….
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Sep 18, 14 @ 3:42 pm:
===That was 12 wasted minutes===
Well, it’s your own fault. I told you what he did.
lol
- Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Sep 18, 14 @ 3:46 pm:
I’d have wasted those 12 minutes somehow, I guess.
- A guy... - Thursday, Sep 18, 14 @ 4:09 pm:
Ducky,
Consider it 12 minutes wasted instead of 12 wasted minutes. Spoon full of sugar, man.
- sal-says - Thursday, Sep 18, 14 @ 4:14 pm:
Geez. After all these months of same-old; same-old, folks might get the idea that Brucie Rauner is a not-ready-for-prime-time-public-life individual; is really rich; and is devoid of any real content nor detailed plans?
- Macbeth - Thursday, Sep 18, 14 @ 4:40 pm:
It strikes me — after all these months — that Rauner is kinda dumb. I know that’s not nice — but he doesn’t seem that bright. He’s not particularly curious. He’s kinda … dumb.
- A guy... - Thursday, Sep 18, 14 @ 4:56 pm:
Macbeth, that’s a remarkably interesting thought.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Sep 18, 14 @ 5:03 pm:
=He’s kinda … dumb.= Disagree, he is intelligent and well educated. I am not a Rauner fan, I think he would be a far worse governor than Quinn, I think that says a great deal. But, the man is not dumb. Out of his element, that can be argued.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Sep 18, 14 @ 5:38 pm:
Apropos of nothing and for what it’s worth, just saw the Rauner “100 Years” spot again and it dawned on me that the music crescendo and piano chord at the end are a lift or a knockoff of the Beatles “Day in the Life.”
- Macbeth - Thursday, Sep 18, 14 @ 5:42 pm:
—
Out of his element, that can be argued.
—
Okay — but usually if you’re out of your element, you’re at least curious. Rauner’s not curious in the least. He doesn’t seem to have a capacity to understand what he doesn’t understand. That’s the first part of dumb — unaware of the stuff you don’t know.
Second part of dumb is pretending like you know everything. Rauner does this exceedingly well — and to most moderate voters, this is very unappealing. A business guy doesn’t know a whole lot. He knows how to push paper and prod people — but these aren’t appealing traits. Curiosity is what I look for. The ability to ask authentic questions. Rauner doesn’t do this. Maybe this is a campaign thing — I dunno. But Rauner seems to lack any kind of humility.
And finally: turning away journalism students? That’s disturbing. That’s the third part of dumb.
There’s more, I’m sure. But over the past week — these are the parts of dumb I’ve noticed. Rauner’s a very unappealing fellow. He looks it — and now he acts it. It’s weird. I didn’t expect this.
- Macbeth - Thursday, Sep 18, 14 @ 5:47 pm:
BTW — when do we get to hear Karen Lewis talk more about Rauner? Dumb she’s not — and dumb Rauner is — so that would be something I’d love to hear. I’m not sure it’d be fair to Rauner, though.
- Precinct Captain - Thursday, Sep 18, 14 @ 7:02 pm:
==- Macbeth - Thursday, Sep 18, 14 @ 5:47 pm:==
How much would tickets go for that debate?
- Wally - Thursday, Sep 18, 14 @ 7:06 pm:
Macbeth—-Still waiting for you to post your academic credentials. I think we all are waiting!
- Macbeth - Thursday, Sep 18, 14 @ 7:26 pm:
Wally — anyone that worries about “academic credentials” proves my point.
Keep on waiting, Ace.
- Wally - Thursday, Sep 18, 14 @ 8:27 pm:
AA from the local community college is okay MacBeth. I wouldn’t get into a business debate with Rauner if I was you. You may struggle with the concepts. Carry on.