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* Rutherford has been holding a State Fair event at Franny’s for years and even held one last year. For whatever reason, he just can’t bring himself to stop doing it, even though his future ain’t exactly bright these days…
Former Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford’s quixotic decision to host a party outside the gates of the Illinois State Fair while he continues to fight a sexual harassment lawsuit had some senior GOP members scratching their heads Wednesday.
But a relaxed Rutherford was unapologetic, telling Chicago Inc. his political career is merely “in recess” and that “I’m going to do in life what I want to do, when I want to do it.”
Just a handful of pals and supporters — about 25, including Illinois Senate Minority leader Christine Radogno — stopped by to attend the bash, which Rutherford said he has been hosting at a Springfield bar for 21 years.
Rutherford, who has more than $900,000 in campaign cash left over from his doomed 2014 gubernatorial bid, declined to identify what office he might seek, if any.
“You don’t know what you don’t know,” he said, but noting that he got “21 percent of the vote in Chicago” when he successfully ran for treasurer. Rutherford’s event came after hundreds gathered inside the fairgrounds to hear Gov. Bruce Rauner and other party leaders speak on the Republicans’ main day at the fair.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 9:28 am
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The only event I would go to now for Dan Rutherford is the…
“I’m releasing the report!” - event, along with a press availability that could only rival the Fiasco Friday presser that actually ruined Rutherford more than any one thing that happened after that.
Arguably the worst political miscalculation and political manuver in Illinois in the past 30 years. Someone was to blame. It was either an awful press shop, a malpracticing Crew of over their heads advisors, or Dan Rutherford never fully grasping what it was to go in front of microphones to say nothing, about nothing that had happened yet, and deny something that has yet to be “charged”
“@RutherfordDan”,
It over. Honest.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 9:33 am
I still get fundraising letters from him. Bizzaro…..
Comment by Saluki Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 9:35 am
Yep, I still get political mailings from him too.
Comment by Just Observing Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 9:38 am
I have no idea about the allegations, so not commenting on that. My comment is that Rutherford doesn’t know when to go away. If he had left the Governors’ Primary race when the allegations first damaged him, his votes would have likely gone to someone not named Rauner. We wouldn’t be in this mess. Not all better, but someone else would have stopped digging the hole.
Comment by Thoughts Matter Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 9:42 am
Good on Dan.
Comment by Deft Wing Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 9:48 am
How about this? Dan has lots of friends in Springfield and likes to throw a State Fair Party at Franny’s.
Comment by in absentia Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 9:51 am
After his campaign was hit by a torpedo he then steered into an iceberg. Rutherford should have dropped out at that point. Instead he split the vote and that allowed Rauner to hijack the primary, the Republican party, and the governor’s office. Thanks a lot, Dan, Rauner couldn’t have done it without you!/s
Comment by DuPage Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 9:54 am
Dan, this is Pat. Pat, this is Dan. Get to know each other very well so you can both take a trip to obscurity.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 9:54 am
Say what you will, Dan would be much better than Bruce.
Comment by The Fool On The Hill Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 9:55 am
===Say what you will, Dan would be much better than Bruce.===
Say what you will, but Dan lost.
===How about this? Dan has lots of friends in Springfield and likes to throw a State Fair Party at Franny’s.===
Publicly. With the hopes of Press. With talking points.
Ugh.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 9:59 am
“You don’t know what you don’t know,”
Maybe he should run for Illinois’ inaugural State Philosopher. Or write for a fortune cookie company.
Comment by Cubs in '16 Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 10:18 am
#DirtyDan
Comment by Gerard from Illiopolis Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 10:25 am
@Norseman- Priceless! I almost chocked on my coffee while reading that!
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 10:32 am
I’m inclined to agree with in absentia 9:51, but I see OW’s point. Kim Janssen isn’t a regular Springfield reporter and is probably hunting stories. Dan Rutherford probably shouldn’t have said anything but I’m sure he couldn’t help himself. I’m sure the way it ended stung badly even if it was largely self-inflicted. Maybe that made it sting worse. I don’t know.
If someone wants to throw a party and see some old friends they should do it. Some people do Super Bowl parties, derby parties, 4th of July, whatever. This is Dan’s thing. Unless attendance is mandatory I don’t see a problem.
You do this a long time and then go away you end up not seeing a lot of people who’ve become friends. Life is short, why not invite them to a party when you know they’ll all be in town?
Comment by LizPhairTax Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 10:57 am
Republicans need Rutherford to challenge Rauner in the primary if they want to save the governor’s office.
Comment by Liberty Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 11:49 am
Sorry, but you can’t stage a comeback until the public knows exactly what it is you’re coming back from.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 12:17 pm
I really hope that was sarcasm Liberty.
Comment by ummmmmmmmmm Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 12:26 pm
I was at his party. Crowd very down. Maybe twenty people the entire time. Congressman LaHood and Leader Radogno stopped by though.
Comment by Michael Westen Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 1:51 pm
Gee, I wonder if he’ll be sharing a hotel room with anyone tonite to save money? (snark)
Comment by Illinois Bob Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 2:40 pm
Classless Bob. But that’s why you’re a troll. Why don’t you go attend a Trump rally. That’s your style.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 2:43 pm
Hey, Dan invites humorous criticism by the stuff he pulled. When you do something ridiculous, you should expect to be ridiculed.
And I suppose your style at Trump rallies is blocking traffic, flying a Mexican flag, and tipping over squad cars?
Comment by Illinois Bob Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 2:51 pm
Dan,
Please take Pat to Cuba on a trip and stay a while.
Thanks,
Comment by 4 percent Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 3:01 pm
- LizPhairTax -
You’re on It.
Rutherford creating news, for himself, ugh.
That’s my take on it.
Dan wants to have his private event, go for it. Don’t give me the comeback talking points, it’s over.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 3:39 pm
Hearing Dan talk about his 21% of the vote total in Chicago reminds me of Roland Burris who used to go around proclaiming that he never lost a race for state wide office. And then he did, and he kept running. It smacks of desperation and an unwillingness to acknowledge that your time has come and gone and the voters have moved on. I call it Quinndrome.
Comment by pundent Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 4:48 pm
If the next governor candidate promises to allocate tax payer dollars to a ship to send Rutherford and Quinn down the Mississippi River I will vote for them. Even if Rauner doesn’t have it union made I would still do it.
Comment by Almost the Weekend Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 5:21 pm
I think Saunemin Township Road Commissioner is a winnable office for him.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 6:44 pm
I commend Dan for his work with the I-Cash program. A friend of mine and I both got modest three-figure payments from the program, which Dan notified us about by mail. In my case it was for some work done, and the check got lost in the mail when I moved. In the other case it was for a university fee that should have been refunded. Both cases were from the ’90s, so the previous two treasurers had ample opportunity to refund the money but didn’t get around to it.
Based on the results, I’d say Dan should have been considered for a good-government award for his work on I-Cash.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 6:50 pm