The rest of the story
Monday, Feb 29, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* KMOX…
No email for Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner. KMOX’s Michael Calhoun tells us that Rauner’s given up the habit and turned in his email address.
Rauner chuckled when asked about his email habits, before telling KMOX that he doesn’t have any – personal or business – and it’s improved the quality of his life.
“My life is very different as governor than it was as a private business person,” Rauner says. “My life is actually way better because I don’t use email.” […]
“I have not sent an email as governor of Illinois,” he says.
* Phil Rosenthal…
None of us tethered to our smartphones should doubt for a second that Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner was absolutely correct when he said this week that giving up email has “improved the quality of my life dramatically.”
It’s also something that practically only the boss can do.
You have to be awfully powerful and/or wealthy — or poor and/or cloistered — to unplug like that in this day and age.
This may come as a surprise to him, but the little bit of nirvana he’s discovered is a luxury beyond the reach of most people.
* Doug Finke…
Rauner didn’t have much political experience when he took office, but he apparently learned quickly the value of not leaving a trail.
Last week, a reporter asked Rauner about his email usage after unsuccessfully trying to get information about it.
“I have no email, none whatsoever,” the governor said. […]
“Email causes all kinds of troubles, as you’ve seen,” he said. “People send out spams. People send out emails, they copy emails, they forward emails. Nothing good comes from that. I’ll talk to somebody. I want to look somebody in the eye.”
* Not using e-mail may have also improved the “quality of life” of the governor’s many friends and associates.
Rauner had a large e-mail list before he was governor, and he was infamous among that group for constantly bombarding his recipients with rants on a myriad of topics, from the economy to education policy minutiae. At one point, Rahm Emanuel reportedly begged to be taken off the list.
I, for one, wish he’d kept his little side project going. Just imagine the possibilities of a governor with his very own newsletter.
But a guy with such a strong e-mail habit probably figured it would be best to go “cold turkey” so he didn’t get himself in trouble. Smart move.
- Soccermom - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 10:36 am:
This is so shady. Obviously there are emails that he sees and emails that he orders to be sent. But because he is not the named sender, it becomes very difficult to FOIA his correspondence.
What a dishonest and incompetent governor. I never thought I’d miss Rod…
- My New Handle - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 10:38 am:
Because he says he doesn’t have an email doesn’t actually mean he doesn’t, does it? And I wonder if Dianna does.
- Bull Moose - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 10:42 am:
“When running for office, future Gov. Bruce Rauner regularly pledged to bring unprecedented transparency to state government…”
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20150515/NEWS02/150519847/rauner-who-campaigned-on-a-promise-of-transparency-falls-short
- Anotherretiree - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 10:43 am:
Can’t resist a Mob reference..its right out of Goodfellas..Paulie never talked on the phone..he had his people do it…
- wordslinger - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 10:43 am:
Does the governor carry a couple of rolls of quarters and a map of the few remaining pay phones in the state as well?
Or is he in full Paulie Vario mode, with Tuddy relaying messages?
- Timmeh - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 10:45 am:
Does he still read his own news or does he pay people to do that for him?
- Not it - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 10:46 am:
Well, Rauner has something in common with a certain former US Senator from Illinois.
Just sayin….
- Anonymous - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 10:47 am:
Learning from Madigan on the email practice is a very smart move.
Though Madigan’s reasons for not having e-mail or a cell phone may be very different from Rauner’s reason for going cold turkey.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 10:50 am:
I immediately thought “Paulie-Tuddy”.
Immediately.
My only fear? Someone in his Crew, Rauner starts…
“I’d like you to send an email, under your address, of course, about the following, for you… ”
Yikes.
It reminds me of John Dean doing memos over his signature, “plausible deniability”
On the other more “non-tinfoil hat” reality, it’s beyond wise. I’d drop the cell phone too, but, that’s me.
- LizPhairTax - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 10:50 am:
Don’t want to leave a trail of all the good governin’ I’m doin’
- Just Observing - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 10:54 am:
=== Obviously there are emails that he sees and emails that he orders to be sent. But because he is not the named sender, it becomes very difficult to FOIA his correspondence. What a dishonest and incompetent governor. ===
Well:
1. Anyone can see an email and the fact that someone “saw” and email isn’t FOIAble.
2. Any email he “orders” to be sent would be FOIAble anyways. And I’m sure he’s not the first executive to tell some to send an email.
- LizPhairTax - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 10:56 am:
JO,
And Anyone he meets with or talks with would be discoverable on all those unredacted schedules his shop shares so freely
- Austin Blvd - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 11:04 am:
But does he get texts? In this day and age, one would be an incompetent leader to be, say sitting in the back seat of a car going to Sfld or Chgo (remember, no plane) and have a total blackout.
Hence, a trusted staffer, secretary etc at the hip.
Then again, I have always found it a little hypocritical that memos and emails are FOIA-able, but conversations are not.
This approach definitely costs the state more by requiring additional bodies to serve his honor.
- Demoralized - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 11:07 am:
In my office we always try and emphasize to people that in certain circumstances you should never e-mail - always talk to somebody. No paper trail, no FOIA. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve cringed when somebody fired off an e-mail about a particular topic. Never put something in writing that you wouldn’t want anybody else to see.
- Aldyth - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 11:09 am:
E-mail can serve as evidence in a court of law.
Nuff said.
- Bruce Rushton - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 11:24 am:
==Because he says he doesn’t have an email doesn’t actually mean he doesn’t, does it? And I wonder if Dianna does.==
The First Lady does have a state email account.
- Flying Lotus Notes - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 11:28 am:
Doesn’t send emails? Why do I get emails every couple weeks on Lotus notes explaining the States position with AFSCME, etc.? He might not be personally using email, but his staff uses email more than any other administration I’ve worked under in the last 20 years.
- Daniel Plainview - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 11:37 am:
The administration has a lot of buffers.
- @MisterJayEm - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 12:18 pm:
“Smart move.”
And that makes one.
– MrJM
- Grass Bowl - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 12:40 pm:
I have no issue with this decision by the guv.
I also have no issue with members of the press and political commentators complaining loudly about it. Where is Andy Shaw? Where is David Yepsen? Where is Dick Simpson? Where is Kristin McQueary? Apologies if they did weigh in somewhere.
- Formerly Known As... - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 12:48 pm:
==But does he get texts?==
Governor Rauner uses a cell phone but does not use email. Speaker Madigan does not use email or a cell phone.
Both are negotiating the future of one of the largest states in America. smh.
- Mama - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 12:59 pm:
I am willing to bet he has an email account under a different name.
- sal-says - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 1:16 pm:
== Smart move. ==
Maybe. If you trust what he says.
- Union Leader - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 1:22 pm:
- Mama - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 12:59 pm:
I am willing to bet he has an email account under a different name
I bet he posts on here as Anonymous.
- Bibe - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 1:55 pm:
So how does the Governor plan to renew his registration on his old van without an email address?
- Mama - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 2:41 pm:
++So how does the Governor plan to renew his registration on his old van without an email address?++
This is why he hired his Super Stars. /s
- forwhatitsworth - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 2:43 pm:
This is now being called “The Hillary Rule”!
- burbanite - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 6:27 pm:
Merely by being written communication it can be used to refute statements being made about what was said. Now why would someone who has their own version of every conversation and likes to hold press conferences to share those conversations want a transcript of the real conversation?