42 Comments - @MisterJayEm - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 12:34 pm: “I condemn in the strongest possible way sexual assault, sexual harassment in any form.” He condemns the crimes, but is mum about the criminal? Such leadership. – MrJM - Spliff - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 12:38 pm: wow, must suck having your words and deeds twisted so that they can be used against you …. - formerpro - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 12:40 pm: Question: Governor, are you voting for Trump??? - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 12:40 pm: As a Republican and not a Raunerite, what Sen. Biss and his pack are doing is what a Party, an honest party that’s more than 4 people funding an apparatus, should be doing, and that’s hold accountable our own leaders for their words so as a party WE aren’t saddled with ONE man’s vision of Raunerism through the shell company formally known as the ILGOP. The “get in line” Raunerite mentality, and the phony “I’m not involved” as “No $&@#% problems” is the Raunerite building of a party based on 100% Raunerism, and nothing but Raunerism being pushed, at the expense… of governing within the divided government parameters. So, if Rauner wants to continue the Sgt. Schultz “phony-baloney” hostage taking of a party and state governing compromises, as a Republican, an Edgar Republican, I’m glad there’s sunshine on Rauner, and maybe, just maybe, the realization of what signing up for Raunerism is will allow the Caucuses to see… the cost of Rauner’s money isn’t paying for betterment of a working government… … Phony documentaries notwithstanding. I appreciate, as always the Springfield Press Corps, and I appreciate that Sen. Biss… is framing the reality Rauner won’t say to the press, but let’s his actions make quite clear… “silently”… - WSJ Paywall - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 12:43 pm: Profile in courage, as usual. - AC - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 12:53 pm: My takeaway is that Rauner is not endorsing but voting for the Republican nominee for president named Donald Trump. If a sufficient number of people support Donald Trump by voting for him, he will be elected president, regardless of how many endorsements he receives. - LizPhairTax - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 12:54 pm: “I will say as well that I condemn in the strongest possible way sexual assault, sexual harassment in any form.” BVR “The state budget impasse has cut off critical funding to rape crisis centers across Illinois. Please donate now to help support these crucial services in our communities.” ICASA - Politix - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 12:55 pm: He’s voting for Trump. No doubt about it. - Anon221 - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 12:57 pm: Is he still holding out for a different nominee ??? Pitiful! - Huh? - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 1:01 pm: 1.4% has repeatedly said that he is supporting the republican nominee for president. Spinning now is spineless. Voting for a candidate is the same as an endorsement. - AC - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 1:07 pm: ==Voting for a candidate is the same as an endorsement.== Rauner’s vote for Donald Trump is more important than his endorsement. A greater number of endorsements than a political opponent only provides bragging rights. A greater number of votes than a political opponent wins the election. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 1:13 pm: - Deft Wing - Clarification is there to clarify the framing, no different then… “As a parent” “As a woman” “As a veteran” If you have specific instances that you feel make me not a Republican, please feel free to say so. Otherwise your meme that “no you’re not” is really lost as you and your own argument. - hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 1:14 pm: Has Durkin taken back his Trump support yet? Anyone asked Radogno what she thinks? All Republicans need to answer for putting forward such an abominably unfit nominee who is doing so much damage to America in so many ways just by running. - wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 1:14 pm: Blah, blah blah. He said at the state GOP convention at Peoria that they were all about beating Hillary. That’s a Trump endorsement. His hand-picked state GOP chairman said the state party is in “lock-step” with Trump. He couldn’t say that if the bank — Rauner — didn’t approve. Cowardly weasel-words don’t change those facts. - Jocko - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 1:15 pm: At some point, I’m hoping Bruce starts saying “BabaBooey” instead of “Reform”. Given his reluctance to inform, at least he can entertain. - Handle Bar Mustache - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 1:17 pm: What wordslinger said! - Deft Wing - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 1:18 pm: http://www.memegen.com/meme/dev1on - Henry Francis - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 1:38 pm: As Word said, cowardly weasel words. All too typical from someone who said he would take all the arrows. Why not push him one step farther and mention how 70+ party LEADERS who previously supported Trump, have recently stated unequivocally that they are rescinding their previous endorsement or support of Trump, and then ask him is he is willing to join those other party leaders and disavow support for Trump. - VanillaMan - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 1:38 pm: Demanding Rauner endorse Trump is like demanding Bill Ford endorse the Ford Pinto. - blue dog dem - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 1:52 pm: If Rauner is for Trump, it is one of the few things I might agree with him on. - Joe M - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 2:02 pm: Rauner supporting the GOP ticket is Rauner indirectly supporting Trump, unless Rauner spells out that he will not vote for Trump. - Anon - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 2:07 pm: ===WE aren’t saddled with ONE man’s vision of Raunerism through the shell company formally known as the ILGOP.=== OW, It’s times like these I am happy I don’t live in Central America and have to worry about the Rauneristas coming for me in the night. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 2:13 pm: - Anon - The two caucuses after the “No &$@#% Problems” spiel probably wondered what happened to them thou. Crazy times, - Anon -… - Big Muddy - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 2:20 pm: On another thread Rich advised me to “step back” and that was solid advice. Here we have an elected official a few months ago standing by his party. Now that guy, the Governor, see’s what a @$#%&*! his party put forward and he wants nothing to do with him and will not follow blindly. What in the heck is wrong with that?? Y’all might want to step back and figure out what you really want elected’s to do, toe the company line at all costs or have a conscience and stand for what you believe in. The Governor needs to understand this as well and not rule with a my way or else attitude. - Saluki - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 2:22 pm: The obsession with Rauner’s support or non support of Trump is bizarre. Who cares? - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 2:28 pm: ===The obsession with Rauner’s support or non support of Trump is bizarre. Who cares?=== Rauner has stated, often, he is the head of the Illinois Republican Party. Ok… as head of a statewide political party, who said at the state party convention he supports the nominee, asking Rauner directly to those remarks is part and parcel of leading a political party, and being asked about remarks already made. Comes with the gig. - AlfondoGonz - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 2:30 pm: Saluki- Anyone who cares about whether their elected officials exercise good judgment. To put it delicately, supporting/endorsing/voting for Donald Trump shows poor judgment. As this is an arena where his judgment is relevant, it’d be nice to know what the State’s GOP standard-bearer thinks about the oh-so-obviously inept standard-bearer of the national GOP. - Who Else - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 2:33 pm: ==The obsession with Rauner’s support or non support of Trump is bizarre. Who cares? == I do. Partially because it’s normal for a Governor to embrace a presidential nominee from his own party, and so the refusal to proactively shift away from is a tacit endorsement (in my mind.) And partially because I’m so tired of this Governor pretending like he’s not saying the thing that he’s saying by not saying it. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 2:35 pm: ===Who cares?=== It’s a free country. Skip over the post if you prefer. But usually when a politician refuses to answer a fairly simple and common question, then he or she can expect that question to be asked until it’s answered. - Team Warwick - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 2:41 pm: This year’s GOP candidate for president i believe is not suitable for that office for lots of good reasons and never had a chance to win a general election anyway. So beating up Rauner over the GOPs dead horse is pointless i think. Its just an impossible situation to say exactly the right thing in this ghastly turn of events. So whatever. I understand their angst. - AlfondoGonz - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 2:47 pm: Team Warwick “Its just an impossible situation to say exactly the right thing in this ghastly turn of events” “I have not, do not, and will not support Donald Trump for the Presidency of the United States because he is not smart enough, not experienced enough, not versed in the laws of this country, and not decent enough for the job.” It is possible to say, at the very least, a semblance of the right thing. - Skeptic - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 2:52 pm: “Who cares?” Apply Poe’s law to your question and ask again. - Joe Bidenopolous - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 3:12 pm: Unless and until BVR officially states for the record that he will not support AND will not be voting for the Republican nominee, then his previous comments stand. It would not be at all difficult for him to state that, except for the fact that it would hurt Republican candidates (and possibly himself in ‘18) in Trump strongholds. He wants it both ways…and I hope, for the sake of everyone involved, the press doesn’t let him get away with it. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 3:20 pm: ===…doesn’t let him get away with it.=== Sen. Biss isn’t. Right now, that might be the “only, best” way to put direct light on this. Honestly, had Rauner answered in any way, and left it. “I support Trunp.”, “I don’t support Trump.” The heat now is hotter no matter what answer, including the “no” answer… answer. Rauner is banking on the millions drowning the state-level GA races and the complete lack of zero “local” POTUS” ads (Cable has a few leak in, but we’re not OH, PA, FL, or NC levels), Rauner is… banking… on the silence being enough. You can’t fault him. He’s stuck there, and it’s a good place for him to be stuck… But, as the self described, and almost solely funding, leader of a party, the questions will continue, but the noise on TV will try to help Rauner get through these 26 days… “Enter, Mr. Biss… “ - Deft Wing - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 3:40 pm: Who cares? Well, just your friendly neighborhood “Republican” in this space … and, naturally, every other opportunistic Democrat. But it’s just politics, that’s all. No one really thinks Rauner’s with Trump; but it’s an issue to be used and abused because … it’s just politics. And we’re in the silliest of silly seasons. Meanwhile Illinois is still burning. The “winner” of this asinine power struggle may have little to show for his “win.” - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 3:45 pm: ===No one really thinks Rauner’s with Trump=== Thanks to Sen. Biss, that may change. ===Meanwhile Illinois is still burning=== No relevance to the issue. None. Has nothing to do with… …Bruce Rauner supporting Donald Trump for Presdient of the United States… … per Rauner’s own words in Peoria. - Skeptic - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 3:53 pm: But it’s just politics, that’s all. It’s also part of the “long game.” Come 2017 (good lord is it that soon?) we’ll be seeing “Bruce Rauner…supported [insert adjective] Donald Trump. What was he thinking?” - wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 4:35 pm: –No one really thinks Rauner’s with Trump;– You might want to look up the definition of the word “think.” Gov. Rauner at the Illinois GOP convention, when Trump was already the presumptive nominee: –“Now is the time to come together, now is the time to unite, up and down the ticket,” Rauner told the convention. “What we can’t do is let Hillary Clinton get in the White House. No way Hillary Clinton is getting elected.”– Rauner’s hand-picked state GOP chairman, at the national convention: –Chairman Tim Schneider riled up the crowd of Illinois delegates at a delegation breakfast Monday morning in Cleveland, vowing that Illinois would work to elect Donald Trump in November, and that, counter to reports of dissension among the ranks, the state is “in lockstep” with Trump.– You know who funds the Illinois GOP, correct? http://willcountynews.com/2016/05/24/bruce-rauner-to-illinois-republican-party-no-way-hillary-clinton-gets-elected/ http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2016/07/18/il-gop-chair-illinois-lockstep-trump - Wensicia - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 5:06 pm: Rauner has a history of avoiding questions that may be toxic to his political agenda, remember his refusal to answer key questions on his specific plans for Illinois before his own election. He’s running true to form and will vote for the Republican nominee next month. - Anonymous - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 5:21 pm: Remember Rauner’s support for Trump when he’s up for re-election In 2018. - wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 6:06 pm: There’s no mystery; Rauner wants Trump voters to help him pick off some Southern Illinois Democrats. According to the Simon Institute poll, Trump and Clinton are even Downstate, and you can bet Trump is doing best in Little Egypt. But Trump is getting clobbered by Clinton in suburban Cook and the Collars 56% to 25%. That’s why the governor is scared to say Trump’s name and why suburban Republicans are spinning themselves dizzy over Trump. Getting smoked in the suburbs by Clinton wasn’t part of the Superstars 2016 GOP victory plan. http://paulsimoninstitute.siu.edu/_common/documents/opinion-polling/simon-institute-poll/2016/oct-3-psppi-simon-poll-clinton-leads-trump.pdf - foster brooks - Thursday, Oct 13, 16 @ 9:46 pm: every republican is voting for trump, the supreme court selection will be devastating if trump loses Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.