45 Comments - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 10:46 am: “Pat Quinn failed… ” … Governor Rauner. If I believed what Rauner said, I’d take no questions too… - Because I said so... - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 10:47 am: I think this is playing out just as Rauner had hoped. - Beaner - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 10:48 am: “Pushing down our credit rating and raising interests costs on you…” A known part of the plan all along. ‘Working for free’ is just a campaign gimmic. - JS Mill - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 10:50 am: He may want to go back and read his “blue print”, there are a lot of things that he could have accomplished. The victim role is silly, I am sure there are those who will see him as innocent and victimized by Madigan et al. Just the same as there are those that think Madigan is playing the role of martyr etc. Fact is they are both responsible. - HaroldJones - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 10:51 am: Rauner’s refusal to lead is problematic. When is this guy going to accept the fact that he is running Illinois? What do voters and taxpayers have to do to get the man they entrusted to run Illinois to do his job? If Rauner can’t get the job done. —- he should resign. - Austin Blvd - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 10:51 am: It’s like Rauner is either having an out-of-body experience or he doesn’t fully wake up each morning before he leaves the house. - Henry Francis - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 10:51 am: Rauner is helping prospective college kids, just read his press release from earlier in the week. This is almost as bad as touting breast cancer awareness month while stopping funding for procedures that prevent breast cancer. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 5, 2015 October Is Illinois College Application Month! Over 130 High Schools Will Hold Events to Help Students Get to College CHICAGO –Illinois College Application Month (ICAM) kicks off in October with events and activities throughout the month to help students and returning adults increase career opportunities and improve earning power by applying to and going to college. From college application and financial aid workshops to college treasure hunts and college gear day, ICAM activities will provide direct assistance to students with the college search and application process. - Suburbanon - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 10:51 am: Because… If this really what Rauner hoped for? If so, he is more clueless than I thought. - Fur and Loathing - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 10:51 am: Someone this furious and outraged should consider running for public office so he could be part of the solution instead of old guy yelling at clouds. Oh. Wait. - Almost the Weekend - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 10:53 am: 2003 Blago 2015 Rauner 2027 ? (If Illinois is still around) - VanillaMan - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 10:55 am: Not even a year into his administration, and he is still standing in front of cameras, looking like a dazed deer staring into the oncoming lights of a freight train. This man is now trying to evoke our pity? Hey Governor BAMBI - lead or get out of the way! - My New Handle - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 10:55 am: He could have signed the budget bills for higher funding and MAP, but did not. That’s outrageous, inexcusable, BUT acceptable in Raunerworld. - AnonymousOne - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 10:56 am: Thank goodness we skipped U of Illinois.My kids are out of state where that state actually functions. - Abe the Babe - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 10:57 am: ==Gee, he sounds like he’s a total outsider with zero role in this drama.== I wonder how outsider-y he will portray himself if there ever is a triumphant deal? - Frenchie Mendoza - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 10:58 am: Rauner can — and will — say whatever he wants. The voters will eat it up. They’ll believe it. So long as he’s dropping the word “reform” — voters will assume that he’s the good guy. - Austin Blvd - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 10:58 am: Why are state universities and their students about to feel the pinch? “I vetoed that.” - Austin Blvd - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 11:00 am: Why don’t we have social service programs? “Instead of paring spending back through my amendatory veto authority, I vetoed all of that.” - AnonymousOne - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 11:00 am: This plan is working for him. No one else, but him. Enrage enough people and they will demand capitulation. I don’t believe he has an end point to the craziness. He seems to be delighting in the outrage. - Jackie Childs - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 11:01 am: This Bruce guy has got talent! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2EirLJqghA - Langhorne - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 11:05 am: Its rauners obstinancy that is outrageous, unnaceptable, and inexcusable. Face reality, gov. No turnaround agenda. No all dem budget and tax increase. You want all or nothing, you get….nothing. - Norseman - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 11:17 am: Scripted rhetoric Rauner’s good at, action - not so much. - Alexander Cut The Knot - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 11:17 am: In his world folks will get angry and turn on Madigan, but mess with the college education of kids of people who donate to both parties because they know how Illinois works, and they’ll turn on Rauner. So far he has messed with financially and so politically disenfranchised people, not with donors who think they’re enfranchised - he’s getting real close to the fuse now. - The Cheesiest - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 11:25 am: In the same FQ that Kraft announces 700 layoffs in the state, Kraft makes a donation to Rauner’s campaign. And they have an EDGE agreement that desperately needs to be amended if they are to continue to receive tax credits. Shakin’ up Springfield. - Anonymous - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 11:25 am: Rauner will not cave in because he does not depend on any type of service from state. He is a wealthy man and looks at society thru the lens as a rich person. - Relocated - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 11:41 am: And yet we still get media reports that talk about the budget impasse as if they were haggling over a few pork projects or where to shift a few bucks. The governor’s lack of engagement on the budget should be reported for what it is, a dereliction of duty. - AnonymousOne - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 11:42 am: ==looks at society thru the lens of a rich person== And is surrounded by the same who have no use for working people (other than to squeeze labor from them as cheaply as possible) and certain disdain for anyone lower on the socioeconomic ladder than that. But is this a surprise? When he bragged about his wealth did that not alarm people? What kind of representation could one expect? I can’t think of one thing that represents this man other than profit and cash. To elect him as a servant to the citizens of this state was not wise. He seems to forget that he is a servant to all of us. I’m sure that thought does not sit well with his psyche. - Pawn - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 11:53 am: We need to get the media to stop paying attention to what Rauner and the GA are SAYING and just look at what they are DOING. - Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 11:54 am: If’s he’s furious about there being no college student financial aid, he should take it out on the guy who vetoed the stand alone budget bill for college student financial aid. (HB4146). That would be the guy he sees in the mirror. No, it wasn’t part of some bigger, budget-busting approp bill. It was a stand alone bill, just like the K-12 budget he signed. - illini - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 11:57 am: Elections have consequences. And this dysfunction has only been going for 8 months! I don’t think any of us expected this charade to continue this long. - James Knell - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 11:58 am: Louis, Louis number 16 yeah, yeah, yeah - south side - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 12:12 pm: Illinois has been going steadily downhill for decades. Corruption, mismanagement, pandering, crime. A national disgrace. Rauner doesn’t own this. - Anonymous - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 12:31 pm: South side - all governors “wear the jacket”. Period. - Gumby - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 12:34 pm: Oh, Rauner owns this. He strutted onto the showroom floor and paid cash for it. Yes, the patient has been going downhill for some time. But Dr. Rauner’s Turnaround Treatment could push the patient over the edge. - Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 12:36 pm: South side, Of course he owns it. He ran for office to own it. What do you think being governor means? VW could hire Rauner tomorrow and he would then OWN the problems they have, regardless of whether he created them. It’s the inherited responsibility of being a leader. I wish him will in resolving the problems and issues he now has an ownership stake in. - Demoralized - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 12:59 pm: ==Rauner doesn’t own this.== Oh for crying out loud. Enough of this garbage already. HE IS THE GOVERNOR NOW. He most certainly “owns” part of this. I’m so sick and tired of these types of nonsensical statements. Either grow up or go away. - Jack Stephens - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 1:07 pm: @demoralized: Just like I’m fed up with hearing “right to work”. Bruce is NOT….I repeat NOT giving anyone a new Right that has not existed previously. Yet he, and countless others, repeat this lie. That’ll get my post deleted for using the “L” word. - Liberty - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 1:10 pm: I suspect they have inside polling that he is loosing the debate. - hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 1:32 pm: what is illinois going to do if it has no working budget in place at the same time the feds have no budget? the federal highway fund needs congress to act later this month, the debt ceiling needs passed, and the fed budget expires in december (before durkin said any movement will happen) and with the house leadership in chaos those things may not get done. would be nice if there was a working state govt in place to shield us from that. - Me too - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 1:44 pm: This reaks of desperation. Me thinks he is trying to win some hearts and minds with this. The rhetoric he’s using could backfire but it’s high risk/high reward. If they’re taking that chance you better believe their internal polling is slipping fast. Remember, his plan so far has been to say they are making progress while merely waiting for the dems to capitulate to save the hostages. Now he’s trying to whip the public into a frenzy and convince them all this horrible stuff is MJM’s fault. I don’t think it is likely to work. It kind of smells like a hail mary to me. Or maybe that’s just wishful thinking. - nona - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 2:13 pm: Being in denial for the GOP share of the blame is the way they live with themselves for the suffering they impose on the least of these. - btowntruth - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 2:56 pm: Hostage taker playing the hostage. Rauner 2015 - walker - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 3:45 pm: Hard to see this argument winning Independents to his side. There is a limit to gullibility. - Skeptic - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 4:19 pm: Skeptic @ 2:46pm is not me. Please choose another nickname. - Ghost - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 4:42 pm: boy pointing at Rauner: “But he isn’t wearing anything at all!” - realworld - Thursday, Oct 8, 15 @ 7:46 pm: Keep up the Great work Governor Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.