* Bruce Rauner was in Springfield yesterday spreading the word about his gubernatorial candidacy. But he stuck closely to his script and wouldn’t offer up any real details. For instance, here’s Rauner on limiting the power of public employee unions…
Asked by a reporter if he was saying government unions should be eliminated in Illinois, Rauner said, “We need to modify their power.” Asked how, he said, “I won’t go into it today. We’ve got a detailed plan.”
“We should put vouchers into our worst school districts so parents can get out of those broken systems and go elsewhere for their kids’ education,” he said. He didn’t say, when asked, if such vouchers would be allowed to pay for education at parochial schools.
“We’ll get to that plan later,” he said.
He also apparently didn’t say if Chicago kids would be offered vouchers to attend school in Winnetka.
Rauner said he thinks for a Republican to win for governor, a candidate would need 25 percent of the vote in Cook County, and he said he has a “very specific plan” to get support there.
“I built businesses in Cook County,” he said. “I’m known in the African-American community in Cook County and the Latino community in Cook County because my wife and I have funded many, many of their charter schools in their communities, and … we’ve been doing that for 25 years. … They know it’s not about politics. They know it’s because I care passionately about quality education for everybody.”
Asked if term limits would require a constitutional amendment, he said, “or a referendum; we’ve got a plan.”
* He said something odd to a Springfield TV reporter yesterday. Rauner said the problem with the pension reform conference committee is that the public employee unions are “not at the table.” But why bring the unions to the table if you want to break them? Usually, you only bring somebody to the table if you want to negotiate. So, I don’t get it. Watch…
* Meanwhile, Rauner said something in Rockford that kinda/sorta reminded me of the parody movie “The Campaign”…
“Rockford is a core, one of the most important communities in Illinois. How Rockford goes is how the state goes.”
I do not want to live in Rainbow land, and you can’t make me live in Rainbow land.
- Cook County Commoner - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:20 am:
Every time I see a politician espousing school vouchers, I think of Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes comment, in an unrelated context, to the effect that three generations of imbeciles is enough. Something must be done about the failed public education system in Chicago and some other low income areas. But, the issue will fail for the same reason public employee pension reform will fail. The folks that prosper from these failures are just too powerful at the polls and their donations and campaign workers are too formidable.
Rauner needs to set his sights higher than 25 percent in Cook County. Brady got 28.5 percent in Cook in 2010, and won all but two or three other counties in the state, and still lost. He can’t count on beating Lisa Madigan with only 25 percent in Cook.
This guy is so weak. Some folks really sold him a bill of goods that he should run — and I’m sure they’re the ones cashing his checks. And he sure is raising a lot of money.
By the way, you know what they call a statewide candidate who gets 25% in Cook County? Loser.
Winning votes by sweet-talking voters seems to be quite common in democracies. It’s effective, and talk is perhaps the least expensive way to collect votes.
My all time favorite film depiction of campaigning is Pappy O’Daniel in “O’ Brother, Where Art Thou”. I sense that Rauner has closely studied this film.
Yea, I’m sure the Bruce Rauner is a household name in the African - American and Latino communities in Cook County. Sheesh….
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:45 am:
For a guy who was smart enough to make it big in a tough business, starting from scratch, this is starting to get quite embarrassing. When the opponents, at least the one who has more than lunch money in the bank, start engaging, his own words will be a good part of his undoing.
I have nothing to back this up but a venture capitalist and hedge fund guy in a manufacturing plant drips with irony.
- CircularFiringSquad - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:51 am:
Very strong performance
We especially like the comment about buying new charter schools for the minorities as a means of buying their votes
Good move CousinBrucey
- PublicServant - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 11:00 am:
Can’t we get a moderate republican like Jim Allen to run? No, wait …
ugh…and the election isn’t until Spring of next year…help me Jesus!
- Chicago Cynic - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 11:03 am:
Oh Cmon, he’s not the first candidate to do his first month or two with “I’ll get back to you on that” and “we’ll have a plan on that.” I think you could hit Rauner on a lot, but this is pretty weak.
I guess he’s going to find some and bring’em to ya.
And wordslinger @ 10:31, I’m guessing that years of believing, and being told, that he’s Most Interesting Man in the World played a big role in his decision to bless us all with his Presence.
=When the opponents, at least the one who has more than lunch money in the bank, start engaging, his own words will be a good part of his undoing.=
It will certainly be interesting an interesting Primary. I’m hearing two clear messages right now: driving results and “career pols who are failing us.” Wonder whether he’s going focus on the former (positive pitch re: what he can do) or the negative (what “they” are/are not doing) or both, perfectly timed.
Now I can see where the “outsider” claims are coming from. That’s how he’s positioning himself for an attack.
Are these vouchers going to pay for transportation out of the poor communities to schools in Winnetka?
That’s what I thought.
- Chicago homeowner - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 11:41 am:
A lot of snarky attacks on Rauner here, mostly for having the audacity to be rich but also running for public office. Unlike a lot of previous rich guys who woke up one day and decided they wanted to be governor/senator, this guy has been in the civic trenches for decades, investing his time and money to improve public schools in poor neighborhoods.So cut him a little slack.
Thank you for those Rauner campaign talking points. He is being attacked for having the audacity for saying nothing. He’s got a lot of plans but we’re just not in on it apparently. If you run for Governor you’re going to get things like this. It’s called politics. Deal with it.
- hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 12:05 pm:
“We’ll get back to you later” is a step up from the “Why does that matter?” from a couple of weeks ago.
I wouldn’t underestimate him, Ghost. But if he’s going where I think he’s going, he’ll have a balancing act that’s going to be an ongoing struggle for him, and there may not be that much precedent out there or case studies for his team to analyze.
TWO balancing acts, as far as I can see right now.
- Boone's is Back - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 12:08 pm:
At least they packed the house in the movie, this Rockford stop looks epic bad image wise. It reminds me of the “Old Navy Preacher” who sets up shop on state street with his own mic and audio box. The dude couldn’t pay people to sit in the audience w/ all the money he has? Yeesh.
I agree with one of Rauner’s points: it’s going to be a problem that the public employee unions are not at the CC table. It’s their haircut that’s now being re-fashioned.
He’s right, Filipino tilt-a-whirl workers are indeed this nation’s backbone. I can’t wait to vote for Cam Brady for Governor. At least it’d be a fun campaign.
State Board of Elections website seems to say that Brady got 30% of the Cook County vote. So maybe Rauner doesn’t need a plan after all.
- Robert the Bruce - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 3:40 pm:
While still thin on content and lacking in mathematics (roll back taxes without spending cuts identified) as one might expect from a republican trying to win a primary, Rauner’s web site does have more issues content than Rutherford’s, which has none that I can see, beyond asking people to take a survey about issues.
=He’s right, Filipino tilt-a-whirl workers are indeed this nation’s backbone. I can’t wait to vote for Cam Brady for Governor.=
Sorry. Is the “Cam Brady” reference to Rauner, or someone else who’s running or thinking about running?
- Just The Way It Is One - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 3:56 pm:
Yeah, Bruce, I’ve got a “detailed plan”, too: to categorize most every thing a Multi-Millionaire “Financier”, out-of-touch with the ordinary Joe & Sue Illinoisan who battles every week about how to live decently in-between Paychecks, withOUT driving expensive cars everywher, floating around in Sailboats on Lake Michigan after work, or even daring to DREAM about owning that 2nd home/little Cottage by the Lake somewhere away from the Big City–and that INCLUDES hard-working State and Other Government employees who have to pay THEIR family’s bills AS WELL–although you just muttered some jibberish down in Springfield today about how OVERPAID they are for THEIR true-blue Public Service to our fellow Citizens…again, yes, I, too have a “specific plan” regarding YOU, which I, in fact, UNlike more of that blah-blah-blah out of your pie hole, DON’T need at ALL to “hold off” until some vague time in the future to expound upon (yeah, right, Brucie!)–and that Plan is simply to pretty much igNORE most EVerything that comes billowing out of that TRUly Overcompensated pie hole of yours–as a LOT OF HOT AIR!!!
- Chicago Cynic - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:19 am:
That should be your question of the day. Fill in the blank. “As ________ goes, so goes Illinois.”
- Easy - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:19 am:
I do not want to live in Rainbow land, and you can’t make me live in Rainbow land.
- Cook County Commoner - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:20 am:
Every time I see a politician espousing school vouchers, I think of Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes comment, in an unrelated context, to the effect that three generations of imbeciles is enough. Something must be done about the failed public education system in Chicago and some other low income areas. But, the issue will fail for the same reason public employee pension reform will fail. The folks that prosper from these failures are just too powerful at the polls and their donations and campaign workers are too formidable.
- Norseman - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:21 am:
Rauner: I’m going to ensure all kids go to college.
Reporter: How do you propose doing that?
Rauner: Union power is preventing kids from getting a good education.
Reporter: In what way?
Rauner: I’ll get into the details later.
Reporter: How will you pay for your program.
Rauner: I’ll get into the details later.
Reporter: How are you going to increase jobs in Illinois?
Rauner: Control the evil unions.
Reporter: Control unions in what way and how would that increase jobs.
Rauner: I’ll get into the details later.
Reporter: Who will be your LG running mate?
Rauner: A leader who will go head to head with the evil unions.
Reporter: And who would that be?
Rauner: I’ll get into the details later.
Reporter: Will your Democrat wife donate to your campaign?
Rauner: If the union cabal will let her.
Reporter: How can they effect her decisions?
Rauner: I’ll get into the details later.
Reporter: What should the voters of Illinois know about you?
Rauner: They’ll get the details later.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:26 am:
===I do not want to live in Rainbow land, and you can’t make me live in Rainbow land. ===
LOL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hM9uFaGGVwk&feature=youtu.be
But DO NOT click that link if you’re at work and they monitor your Internet use. Bad words abound.
- ToddAF - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:26 am:
Rauner needs to set his sights higher than 25 percent in Cook County. Brady got 28.5 percent in Cook in 2010, and won all but two or three other counties in the state, and still lost. He can’t count on beating Lisa Madigan with only 25 percent in Cook.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:31 am:
This guy is so weak. Some folks really sold him a bill of goods that he should run — and I’m sure they’re the ones cashing his checks. And he sure is raising a lot of money.
By the way, you know what they call a statewide candidate who gets 25% in Cook County? Loser.
How could he not know that?
- dupage dan - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:34 am:
Hope and Change. That could be his campaign slogan. It’s worked before, it can work again.
- cod - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:40 am:
Winning votes by sweet-talking voters seems to be quite common in democracies. It’s effective, and talk is perhaps the least expensive way to collect votes.
My all time favorite film depiction of campaigning is Pappy O’Daniel in “O’ Brother, Where Art Thou”. I sense that Rauner has closely studied this film.
- Stones - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:42 am:
Yea, I’m sure the Bruce Rauner is a household name in the African - American and Latino communities in Cook County. Sheesh….
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:45 am:
For a guy who was smart enough to make it big in a tough business, starting from scratch, this is starting to get quite embarrassing. When the opponents, at least the one who has more than lunch money in the bank, start engaging, his own words will be a good part of his undoing.
- Come on man! - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:48 am:
I have nothing to back this up but a venture capitalist and hedge fund guy in a manufacturing plant drips with irony.
- CircularFiringSquad - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:51 am:
Very strong performance
We especially like the comment about buying new charter schools for the minorities as a means of buying their votes
Good move CousinBrucey
- PublicServant - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 11:00 am:
Can’t we get a moderate republican like Jim Allen to run? No, wait …
- Loop Lady - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 11:01 am:
ugh…and the election isn’t until Spring of next year…help me Jesus!
- Chicago Cynic - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 11:03 am:
Oh Cmon, he’s not the first candidate to do his first month or two with “I’ll get back to you on that” and “we’ll have a plan on that.” I think you could hit Rauner on a lot, but this is pretty weak.
- Northsider - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 11:13 am:
I guess he’s going to find some and bring’em to ya.
And wordslinger @ 10:31, I’m guessing that years of believing, and being told, that he’s Most Interesting Man in the World played a big role in his decision to bless us all with his Presence.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 11:18 am:
=When the opponents, at least the one who has more than lunch money in the bank, start engaging, his own words will be a good part of his undoing.=
It will certainly be interesting an interesting Primary. I’m hearing two clear messages right now: driving results and “career pols who are failing us.” Wonder whether he’s going focus on the former (positive pitch re: what he can do) or the negative (what “they” are/are not doing) or both, perfectly timed.
Now I can see where the “outsider” claims are coming from. That’s how he’s positioning himself for an attack.
- votecounter - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 11:24 am:
Rauner should know 25% of GOP primary votes are in Cook co.
- Shore - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 11:24 am:
how many times will we see Rauner wear the jacket he wore in his campaign video and are there any photos of him ever wearing it before?
next stop is he owns a scott brown pick up truck, walks across the state like bob graham and starts wearing a LAMAR! plaid shirt.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 11:25 am:
And I should have added: I wonder how much of the “attack” strategy he’s planning to use in the Primary v. save for the General election if he wins.
- Chavez-respecting Obamist - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 11:35 am:
Are these vouchers going to pay for transportation out of the poor communities to schools in Winnetka?
That’s what I thought.
- Chicago homeowner - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 11:41 am:
A lot of snarky attacks on Rauner here, mostly for having the audacity to be rich but also running for public office. Unlike a lot of previous rich guys who woke up one day and decided they wanted to be governor/senator, this guy has been in the civic trenches for decades, investing his time and money to improve public schools in poor neighborhoods.So cut him a little slack.
- susiejones - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 11:47 am:
at some point shouldn’t Rauner actually answer the questions with details rather than “we have a plan?” just sayin’….
- Ghost - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 11:56 am:
Rauner: I have helped “those” people out, so they owe me. I have now doubt that those people will help me since I helped them.
Rauner: Quinn has failed to lead time and time again, my plan? I , er um will get back to you later on that.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 11:57 am:
@Chicago homeowner:
Thank you for those Rauner campaign talking points. He is being attacked for having the audacity for saying nothing. He’s got a lot of plans but we’re just not in on it apparently. If you run for Governor you’re going to get things like this. It’s called politics. Deal with it.
- hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 12:05 pm:
“We’ll get back to you later” is a step up from the “Why does that matter?” from a couple of weeks ago.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 12:06 pm:
=I , er um will get back to you later on that. =
I wouldn’t underestimate him, Ghost. But if he’s going where I think he’s going, he’ll have a balancing act that’s going to be an ongoing struggle for him, and there may not be that much precedent out there or case studies for his team to analyze.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 12:08 pm:
TWO balancing acts, as far as I can see right now.
- Boone's is Back - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 12:08 pm:
At least they packed the house in the movie, this Rockford stop looks epic bad image wise. It reminds me of the “Old Navy Preacher” who sets up shop on state street with his own mic and audio box. The dude couldn’t pay people to sit in the audience w/ all the money he has? Yeesh.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 12:10 pm:
And, that’s all assuming his “intentions” are noble.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 12:29 pm:
=how many times will we see Rauner wear the jacket he wore in his campaign video and are there any photos of him ever wearing it before? =
lol Seriously, shore? Yeah, let’s roll with that one. The guy’s a complete amateur, right?
- TooManyJens - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 12:56 pm:
motto: “Bruce Rauner: He Says He Has a Plan. What, That’s Not Good Enough For You?”
- Bobby Hill - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 1:49 pm:
Why wouldn’t you put vouchers in every student’s hands? Maybe the school union’s got to him.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 2:06 pm:
Well Bobby, probably because vouchers don’t allow more kids to go to private school, they subsidize rich white kids who already do.
- Jimbo - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 2:06 pm:
That last Anon was me
- Rudy - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 2:10 pm:
I agree with one of Rauner’s points: it’s going to be a problem that the public employee unions are not at the CC table. It’s their haircut that’s now being re-fashioned.
- ScoutingSI - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 2:18 pm:
He’s right, Filipino tilt-a-whirl workers are indeed this nation’s backbone. I can’t wait to vote for Cam Brady for Governor. At least it’d be a fun campaign.
- Woodchuck - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 2:27 pm:
Perfect reference, Rich! Cam Brady 012. Support the troops.
- Bobby Hill - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 2:30 pm:
So Jimbo, you already know his plan and the reasons behind his plan. Great, please enlighten me?
- Century Club - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 3:37 pm:
State Board of Elections website seems to say that Brady got 30% of the Cook County vote. So maybe Rauner doesn’t need a plan after all.
- Robert the Bruce - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 3:40 pm:
While still thin on content and lacking in mathematics (roll back taxes without spending cuts identified) as one might expect from a republican trying to win a primary, Rauner’s web site does have more issues content than Rutherford’s, which has none that I can see, beyond asking people to take a survey about issues.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 3:42 pm:
=He’s right, Filipino tilt-a-whirl workers are indeed this nation’s backbone. I can’t wait to vote for Cam Brady for Governor.=
Sorry. Is the “Cam Brady” reference to Rauner, or someone else who’s running or thinking about running?
- Just The Way It Is One - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 3:56 pm:
Yeah, Bruce, I’ve got a “detailed plan”, too: to categorize most every thing a Multi-Millionaire “Financier”, out-of-touch with the ordinary Joe & Sue Illinoisan who battles every week about how to live decently in-between Paychecks, withOUT driving expensive cars everywher, floating around in Sailboats on Lake Michigan after work, or even daring to DREAM about owning that 2nd home/little Cottage by the Lake somewhere away from the Big City–and that INCLUDES hard-working State and Other Government employees who have to pay THEIR family’s bills AS WELL–although you just muttered some jibberish down in Springfield today about how OVERPAID they are for THEIR true-blue Public Service to our fellow Citizens…again, yes, I, too have a “specific plan” regarding YOU, which I, in fact, UNlike more of that blah-blah-blah out of your pie hole, DON’T need at ALL to “hold off” until some vague time in the future to expound upon (yeah, right, Brucie!)–and that Plan is simply to pretty much igNORE most EVerything that comes billowing out of that TRUly Overcompensated pie hole of yours–as a LOT OF HOT AIR!!!
- dupage dan - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 4:33 pm:
=== He is being attacked for having the audacity for saying nothing ===
He could write a book. He could title it “The Audacity of Nope”.
- seo service definition - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 4:48 pm:
Remarkable! Its really remarkable post, I have got much clear idea regarding from this
piece of writing.
- reformer - Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 8:26 pm:
It seems to me Bruce had previously pledged to serve just one term. Now it’s two.
- Ghost - Friday, Jun 21, 13 @ 8:30 am:
== “The Audacity of Nope”===
I vote that for commentor of the month award.