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* Sen. Kirk Dillard to John Kass…
“The inevitable outsider characterization makes me laugh,” said Dillard. “No, I don’t think he’s inevitable. And while I respect Mr. Rauner’s success in the private sector, his inner-circle status with Rahm Emanuel is not a plus in a Republican primary.” […]
“In one of your columns I had to laugh, because Rauner tried to backtrack how close he was with the mayor,” Dillard said. “There’s nothing wrong with a relationship. But you have to be able to tell the mayor ‘no.’ As chief of staff for Gov. Edgar I told Mayor (Richard) Daley ‘no’ when he wanted casinos the size of several football fields. Rauner is the man who made Rahm Emanuel rich. That’s the fact. And governmentally, it’s a problem to be that close to the mayor of Chicago.”
* Kass’ take…
Some argue that Rauner is beholden to the mayor of Chicago. But Rauner is the one who helped Emanuel make several million dollars in private deals when Emanuel was between political posts. Besides, guys like Bruce Rauner don’t dance for politicians. It’s the other way around.
I think both guys make good points. No way can Bruce Rauner be considered an “outsider,” and polling has shown this to be a killer GOP primary issue.
But he’s an insider who does, indeed, make politicians dance for him. And he’s lately taken to criticizing Emanuel over the way the mayor handled the teachers’ strike.
* The Question: Will Bruce Rauner’s insider experience help him govern if he’s elected? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 1:31 pm
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Could his insider experience help him out? Sure.
Will it? No way. He’s got the wrong attitude for governing. If you’ve got the wrong attitude, then it doesn’t matter how many skills you have. You’re always going to fail.
Comment by Timmeh Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 1:34 pm
Plus, he’s not a *Springfield* insider.
Comment by Ray del Camino Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 1:38 pm
Voted “No”
Insiders IN government, they know that to “get” youhave to “give”, and the only “give” Payton Prep Clouter Bruce Rauner knows is how to give money.
Rauner’s rhetoric is “my way or the highway”, “MJM has never dealt with me”, and as a rhetorical exercise, it is what is, but Bruce Rauner beleives it, sells it as “real”. Can’t be one or the other, and base your dealings with government on Clouting your Daughter in a phone call, or donating monies to get pension work, and see that person as someone that is an insider who can work inside, but in reality, is an insider looking for the next payday or favor, and looking at the “Menu” to find out how much that lunch is going to cost him.
“No”
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 1:38 pm
No, it’s not clear what he really believes or/can accomplish given that he’s been a rent-seeking businessman.
Comment by Steve Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 1:45 pm
His ego would get in the way of treating other key players as co-equals.
He’s used to giving orders. That’s now how it works in Springfield.
He has no experience passing legislation, nor as an elected official. It’s telling that he thinks a newcomer to the highest elected office in the state would be perfectly qualified. I bet he wouldn’t put a newbie in charge of his hedge fund.
Comment by reformer Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 1:45 pm
Voted no.
I have to say, though Rauner has been disingenuous and obfuscated at every turn, he is running, by far, the best campaign. If he wins it will be a testament to how much better his campaign staff is run than his opponents.
Comment by Johnny Q. Suburban Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 1:51 pm
No. Agree with RdC. Rauner’s experience is with those in Chicago and the nearby burbs. He’s an outsider outside of there.
Comment by Darienite Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 1:52 pm
CousinBrucey’s Insider i.q. is a slice of Blagoofian fixer life…hire Stu Levine..give six figure cash to buy pension fund assets for a hedge fund
Not a path of reform
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 1:54 pm
No, big ego gets in the way of governance and makes it harder to understand that one has to work with others and not dictate. Rauner is so used to ordering others around to get what he wants. I can’t imagine him working well with the General Assembly.
Comment by Nearly Normal Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 1:54 pm
- Johnny Q. Suburban -,
Before we congratulate that Cracker Jack staff that brought us “Slip and Sue” as the LG, I would love to see how PPC is polling right now with the Burn Rate that Staff has him at.
My fear, if I was a Rauner Staffer, is not trying to win, but having the worst “cost to vote” ratio in a LOSING run.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 1:55 pm
I voted “no” for all the reasons noted above.
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 1:57 pm
I’m curious to hear the rationale of one of the 28% who voted “yes.”
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 1:58 pm
NO. His insider credentials are good for making him money. Illinois has had enough of those types of elected officials. We need someone who can work to advance a policy agenda that is good for the State.
Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 2:03 pm
-OW-,
Hey, I don’t plan on voting for him, but he has gone from unknown to being, quite obviously, the focus of all the other candidates. That is impressive. I would also be curious to see the polling information but the fact that all the other candidates are defining themselves relative to him makes me think he’s ahead. No one would be wasting their time going negative against the third place candidate.
Comment by Johnny Q. Suburban Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 2:06 pm
His public comments demonstrate he has no idea how Illinois state government works. He may have bankrolled MRE and he may have written a lot of campaign checks in his life, but his public comments make it clear he doesn’t understand how how the game is played. Further, if he is truly going to “turn Springfield up-side-down” he will need supporters. His campaign and personality do not breed the loyalty and support needed to go and change an entrenched system. You can’t lead if no one will follow. You can’t change Springfield with 12 SGOPs and 22 HGOPs and little ability to move the public. You think MJM fears that? You think MJM will fear Rauners ability to beat HDems in elections? His current posture will not lead to success in Springfield. Even Rod had one Session where he got most of what he wanted. Rauner, if he keeps it up, wont get past day two in office.
Comment by Red Ranger Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 2:07 pm
No, his insider ways-and-means are buying access and influence with cash contributions to the top dogs.
I don’t think that game plan would work as governor.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 2:15 pm
Voted no, but what I really want to know how many hours Dillard can go with reminding everybody he was Edgar’s COS. My guess is 3.5
Comment by Angry Republican Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 2:18 pm
No difference. As the saying goes, “Everyone has a plan ’till they get punched in the mouth” (Mike Tyson). Not literally in this case, but certainly figuratively.
The real question is, how are you going to respond when those types of political ‘reverses’ happen. Because they will.
We have a pretty good idea with Pat Quinn, and it’s not very positive. Personally, my viewpoint is that Rauner would be hard pressed to function worse than Pat Quinn has been in dealing with such political reverses. Rutherford might actually be the best.
Comment by Judgment Day (Road Trip) Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 2:21 pm
Sure it would–always does, for whoEVer wins…which brings me to my next point: about the Operative term in today’s Question being “if,” ‘cuz that’s one BIG “if” that just probably ain’t gonna happen anyway….
Comment by Just The Way It Is One Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 2:26 pm
+++ Besides, guys like Bruce Rauner don’t dance for politicians. It’s the other way around. +++
It takes 2 to tango. Money men and politicians dance with each other - it is a mutually benficial act. Sometimes one leads, sometimes the other … but both dance.
Comment by titan Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 2:26 pm
No. Here’s the thing, insiders play a different game than governors do. Manipulating the levers of power takes more than getting insiders to go along with your plan. You’ve got to work with others, like unions, interest groups, rank and file legislators, voters, editorial boards, chambers of commerce, courts, and your own department heads, the great unwashed masses if you will, the kind of people who don’t belong to his club, or eat at the same restaurants as his pals do.
Take school vouchers as an example. The insiders, by and large, already send their kids to private schools and don’t sweat the tuition. How does Rauner leverage them to win votes in the General Assembly against the allied forces of the IEA, IFT, and nearly every school district in the state? How does his “insideryness” get him one step closer to a voucher law?
The same can be said about almost any other priority he is campaigning on, from pension reform to sunsettiing the income tax hike. Insiders will love him if he can get some of this done, but they aren’t going to be in the trenches with him every day trying to sell it.
If Rauner gets elected, he is going to miss being an insider because it’s a lot more fun than being governor. Governors have to work with everybody and Rauner hasn’t shown me he’s ready to do that. To me, that spells disaster.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 2:34 pm
i’m tempted to say that the only insider experience that matters is that with the speaker. but that might be detrimental in other ways…
Comment by bored now Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 2:40 pm
===…the focus of all the other candidates. That is impressive.===
And ..
===…the fact that all the other candidates are defining themselves relative to him makes me think he’s ahead. No one would be wasting their time going negative against the third place candidate.===
Um, no.
Two things are very much in play here.
1) Bruce Rauner is everything the average GOP Primary voter can not stand; close to Rich Daley, Vacations with Rahm Emanuel, donates to Democrats by the tens of thousands. To make a point of saying all that is to define themselves in the Prism of a Non-GOP style candidate and boost their own credentials. Pivoting off what PPC Rauner is, is good politics, and…
2) Your second statement tells me, that the strategy is working becuase, even in your statement, you know that the defining themselves through the Prism of the Payton Prep Clouter, at the same time, knocks Rauner’s numbers down and gives a reality to the voters of who Rauner is.
All good, - Johnny Q. Suburban -, much respect. Recognize that what you asked me, is exaclty what I am hoping a Brady, a Dillard, a Rutherford can do to define themselves and educate voters on PPC Rauner.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 2:50 pm
There are seldom just two perspectives to an issue. For example, if someone helped to “make someone,” does it mean the latter is indebted to the former? Or, could it be that in some situations, the former was already “indebted” to the latter somehow that forced him to “make someone?” And how can you be sure there weren’t others involved in the transaction?
It’s silly to believe that all wealthy and/or powerful people always have the upper hand and are owed favors. Think about it.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 3:04 pm
I voted no, because he won’t have many dance partners with his divisive style and rhetoric.
Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 3:17 pm
Making a ton of cash FROM The State (pension fund mngmnt fees) does not show any ability to lead or serve the people of the State of Illinois.
Comment by Trudat Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 3:23 pm
His relationships will definitely help him. Everyone’s do. I’m not talking about relationships with convicts or their ilk, I’m talking about people actually in and around government. You don’t earn as much as this guy did without being a very smart individual. Madigan didn’t get where he is without thinking 20 steps ahead of everyone else. What you’ve got here are two exceedingly smart guys who will no doubt have plenty of differences and plenty of common ground. They’ll find a way to work together on a number of things and take very little personally when it comes to the business of getting things done. Madigan might even prefer him to the other 3. No real history to bog things down. Publicly, neither of these guys seem to see a need to boost their own egos. Rauner has stayed on point. Madigan always stays on point. They might work well together.
Comment by A guy... Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 3:33 pm
Just to give the other 3 their due, though the question wasn’t asked about them, I do think Dillard and Rutherford’s experience in government would help them with former colleagues. Less so for Brady.
Comment by A guy... Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 3:42 pm
You mean he can be BOTH a citizen AND a politician???
Wow.
Comment by Hans Sanity Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 3:51 pm
Dillard the guy who did a tv ad for his friend Obama is hitting Rauner for being too close to Rahm.
It’s official. Kirk Dillard is the most shameless politician in the history of Illinois.
Comment by too obvious Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 4:11 pm
Anyone elected governor and serving from 2015 until 2019 is going to suffer migraines while performing a thankless job. It is not going to be a cakewalk. Henry Horner would be up against it in this environment.
Comment by Judgment Day Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 4:28 pm
Yes–it will help Bruce in his dealings with the individuals that are in power within our state. And, on the other hand,—–
No–it will not “necessarily” help you and me. That, my friend, is the $64 question. Who will it be that actually sees the benefits from Bruce governing? It would seem that Mr. Kass also has his reservations on the answer to that question. That is why it comes down to one’s “character assessment” of the candidates. Honor is the gift that a man gives to himself. “Clout” can be either a definite asset or a decided liability when it comes to an Illinois elected official. I guess we had better ask “The Shadow”? For it has been said that “Only The Shadow knows” what evil truly lurks in the hearts of men.
Comment by Henry Clay Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 4:50 pm
Rauner’s influence spreads where his dollars have allowed him in the insider loop only because of those dollars. As others have said he has not passed legislation which requires another style of play. Keep pushing the ‘my way or the highway’ stuff and I can picture him with a virtual knife in the back, not realizing he has been stuck until it is far too late.
Comment by zatoichi Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 4:54 pm
No. He’s sadly mistaken to believe otherwise.
Comment by Wensicia Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 5:19 pm
The Governor’s Mansion is not a Holiday Inn Express.
Comment by Percival Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 5:30 pm
NO - probably get him indicted
Comment by x ace Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 8:01 pm
NO. Being in the corporate world means as long as it isn’t prohibited by law, your sole goal is to maximize stockholders returns. Government has competing, contradictory, and conflicting goals, and has a built in tensions (executive v. legislative v. judicial). Now, if Payton Prep Clouter had worked in corporate structures where the Audit Committee was run by the Occupy crowd, he might have some experience that would be helpful. As is, NO.
Comment by Smitty Irving Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 8:29 pm
Was going to vote yes, then read Willy’s first comment; vote is now NO. Rauner has some inside track because of his money, but he is actually too much of an outsider to be effective. ANY of the other three would be more effective dealing with the rest of the governmental hierarchy…
Comment by downstate commissioner Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 9:38 am