45 Comments - OneMan - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 9:45 am: You run the risk of the watchdog going past the invisible fence… On the other hand if you just make the person invisible there is lower risk of that. - VanillaMan - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 9:47 am: Paul is a watchdog. OK - let’s go with that. Paul, what are you watching? Are you a junkyard watchdog? Because if you are watching critics of the current administration, take a look around you. See that Chevy Vega jacked up on concrete blocks and leaking oil? That is our bond rating. See that Edsel Ranger missing an engine and grille? Pat Quinn’s running mate, Rod Blagojevich stripped it and sold those parts to a guy Sanguinetti’s father knew in Havana. See that Chevy Citation? Yes, it still looks new, but unfortunately, just like Pat Quinn’s violence initiative, it didn’t get used before it blew itself up driving down Halsted near the old Altgeld Gardens site. Frankly, I’m not all that comfortable hearing a candidate for public office, referring to himself in any canine fashion, including you, Paul. By the way, if you tape a Pat Quinn speech and play it backwards, it sounds like Pat is saying that Paul is dead. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 9:48 am: ===Sanguinetti hasn’t appeared publicly on her own in Chicago, prompting claims from Quinn campaign staffers that she’s not trusted to address reporters in Illinois’ largest media market.=== Here is Slip and Sue, doing her Magic, taught to her to avoid the question about talking specifically to reporters; ===Sanguinetti dismissed the notion as “laughable,” explaining that she’s spoken often to crowds elsewhere, such as county party dinners and to Latino organizations and women’s groups.=== Crowds. County party dinners. Latino and women’s groups. The question, Slip and Sue, are you trusted to speak to reporters. Answer? “Would you trust me, with all the Magic and Co-Governor stuff? The Staff trusts Diana Rauner, who I have to share the stage with because I don’t measure up. Let’s not forget, during the GOP immigration summit. I got zero podium time, while being the daughter of immigrant parents.” Slip and Sue is a liability. Any word she utters, the Rauner Crew shutters. Diana Rauner is not the “third wheel “. Understand, it’s Slip and Sue that’s the “third wheel”, and that wheels rolls flat. - yo - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 9:48 am: Rauner made a bad pick. Rephrase, Rauner made an LG pick based on two things, race and gender. - Anon - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 9:51 am: Lt. gov candidates tend to make little if any impact. Both of these candidates has strengths and weaknesses. Weaknesses: Vallas provides further reason why rank-and-feel union members may be less than enthusiastic about supporting Quinn; Sanguinetti has limited experience and understanding of the issues. Strengths: Vallas has a deep resume and understanding of the issues; Sanguinetti is female and has a personal story that may resonate with Hispanic voters. Vallas may marginally help with independents, and Sanguinetti may marginally help with GOP base. In the end, hard to see either making much of a difference on the outcome. - VanillaMan - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 9:53 am: And Evelyn. I remember a lady named Evelyn. Her friends would let her out of the house and speak publically either. As a matter of fact, the only time I saw Evelyn was when I caught sight of her in the basement. My friends would yell over her as she complained how no one let her out of there, and tell me to ignore her. - VanillaMan - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 9:55 am: I can’t wait to see who gets to fill Sheila Simon’s shoes next year. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 9:57 am: Yo- I think that her geography and social conservatism were driving factors. Her ability to run the state had nothing to do with it, that is for sure, despite all of the Executive experience she gained on the city council of Wheaton. - the Patriot - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 9:58 am: Nice to see the Rauner haters line up. Lets not forget our current Lt. Gov is the least Qualified to be governor at least in my lifetime. I like Vallas, but Rauner needs to pounce. If it looks like Vallas has a voice, he needs to remind the school teachers and the unions who he is. Rauner has some new ideas that will put more money in the pocket of union members, yes, at the expense of the union. Paul Vallas was deemed public enemy number one by the Chicago Teacher union and has proven to have effective methods for taking chunks out of the unions. Before going all in for Quinn, the teachers really need to think of the odds Vallas takes a back seat and/or Quinn stays in office all 4 years. Me thinketh they should have been a bit more active in the primary when it mattered. - OneMan - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 9:58 am: == Rauner made a bad pick. Rephrase, Rauner made an LG pick based on two things, race and gender. == Well, not to be confused with the current Lt. Governor who was chosen for last name and geography and loyalty Also I suspect bigger name Republicans were not beating down Rauner’s door to run with him. Would you give up a safe state house or senate seat to be Lt Governor? - OneMan - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 10:01 am: On the other hand, being Quinn’s running mate is perfect for Vallas. Worse case he ends up Lt. Governor for 4 years and has a starting point to run for Governor since I seem to recall Quinn calling this his last run. Best case, he is set up to run after 4 years with a Quinn loss. Being the strong education candidate against a governor Rauner in 4 years might not be a bad place to be. - Louis G Atsaves - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 10:02 am: Uh, wasn’t Vallas also CEO of the Chicago Public School System? Article doesn’t mention it. Vallas seems pretty shy talking about his “reformer” credentials heading up major public school systems. Like charters, principal selections, school closings, testing, et. al. I came back from New Orleans a few weeks ago and the local paper had an article with the unions moaning and groaning about all the charter schools, teacher and principal transfers, etc. etc. etc. done under Vallas’ watch. Gee, you would think school teacher unions would be apoplectic over the prospect of Vallas being one heartbeat away from the Governor’s office under those circumstances? Can’t wait for the Lt. Gov. debates. Sanguinetti will be basically agreeing with Vallas on school issues and Vallas will respond how???? - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 10:05 am: ===Well, not to be confused with the current Lt. Governor who was chosen for last name and geography and loyalty === Great stuff there. The Plummer-Simon dynamic made me cringe that Simon was “ahead” by 5 letters following Sheila, and the fact she spoke less Dopey than Plummer. ===Also I suspect bigger name Republicans were not beating down Rauner’s door to run with him. Would you give up a safe state house or senate seat to be Lt Governor?=== Second great point, and we discussed that too. Hard to convince a solid #2 choice to leave the GA, for example, but Bruce says he’s a salesman. He couldn’t sell the gig? At least Dillard “sold” that to Rep. Tracy and she bought it. Quinn had to go out of state to find a “statesman” to run with him. - downstate commissioner - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 10:06 am: OneMan, never thought about that aspect of Vallas’ candidacy-but you’re absolutely right… - VanillaMan - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 10:07 am: The best thing for Rauner to do is to tell Sue to only speak Spanish for the rest of the campaign. That will attract attention and keep her critics too busy with Babel software to keep up with her. Illinois has a large enough Hispanic voter base to swing Rauner support over 20% in Chicago, with this approach. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 10:09 am: - OneMan - is totally On This today. Vallas really is the biggest winner in the long run, for the reasons - OneMan - has laid out. Plus, Vallas comes home without “failure” being the headline. Let’s not forget, CT is not sad to see him go back to IL. - Skeptic - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 10:15 am: Alex: “Lt. gov candidates tend to make little if any impact.” Me: “Who was Scott Lee Cohen?” - OneMan - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 10:26 am: Skeptic Also don’t forget Mark Fairchild… But as much as anyone may dislike Sanguinetti (driven in part by dislike of Rauner IMHO) she isn’t up to those two levels. - Wumpus - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 10:27 am: Can Sanguinetti play the banjo? Does Vallas have much credibility as he is standing up for the guy who stood firm behind Blago? - Precinct Captain - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 10:46 am: ==- the Patriot - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 9:58 am:== Corinne Wood was a one term state rep. Dave O’Neal was a one and a half term St. Clair County Sheriff. ==- Louis G Atsaves - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 10:02 am:== The charters in New Orleans are because of Louisiana state law. After Katrina, the state seized most of the control from the Orleans Parish school board. They were happening whether Vallas was there or not. - A guy... - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 10:56 am: You usually get what you deserve. You deserved Sheila Simon, who turned out to be just what one expected. You deserve Vallas as a nominee. I hope he keeps talking. That’s always been his path to trouble. - Interested Observer - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 11:36 am: Paul Vallas was a great watchdog earlier in his career. Hands down the smartest guy in state government. He checked that credential at the door when he signed up to be a human shield for Quinn, a man he used to humorously cut up and have for dinner in a way only he could do. Sad but true. Political ambitions have a way of doing that to even the best. - Stones - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 11:52 am: Personally, I’d be happy if Vallas was the Democratic candidate rather than PQ. - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 11:52 am: ===“My role with Bruce is to be his partner and, as I meet with agencies, to relay all of Bruce’s vision when he’s unable to be there,”=== All of it? Those are going to be some pretty short meetings. - Formerly Known As... - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 12:32 pm: The Vallas pick is still baffling in some respects on both ends. Vallas lost a great deal of respect among many when he signed up as Quinn’s running mate. There are those would have voted for the man as governor, state rep or even president. But to sign on as Quinn’s flack jacket and attack dog? Ewww. Quinn’s selection of Vallas also raises questions that may never be fully answered publicly. He couldn’t find someone suitable from Illinois? Did no one want to run with him? How many indicated they would say “no” before he got a yes”? - Linebacker II - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 12:36 pm: Sanguinetti was a lousy choice for a running mate. period. Hopefully the voters will not think about her or her total lack of qualifications and go ahead and vote for the main act - Rauner. I was really enthusiastic about Rauner - Sanguinetti has certainly dampened my enthusiasm but probably not enough to vote for Quinn - at least so far. - Ron Burgundy - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 12:52 pm: The Rauner people are clearly sheltering Sanguinetti, with apparently good reason. As for Vallas, he can’t tout his education experience too much or he runs the risk of it being turned on him as much of that experience has lately been acquired out of state. Makes his current return seem opportunistic and he faces the accusation of being out of touch with Illinois’ recent troubles. - A guy... - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 1:00 pm: They’re sheltering her from people they need to shelter her from I would guess. She’s not very sheltered on the campaign trail. She’s working hard. Rauner is meeting regularly with the media and answering questions from the press- not the way they want him to, but he and Shrimpf have been accessible. You don’t need Evelyn to answer questions for him while he’s doing it and having a spokesman doing it. Quinn has chosen to have Vallas answer questions. He is ducking the press in many instances and putting Vallas out there. Rauner isn’t doing this. The only interest in many of you hearing from Evelyn is so you can pounce on every remark no matter what. I wouldn’t feed you either. I know it ain’t bean bag (saving Wilbur the trouble of saying this), but it ain’t pin the tail either. If it is, he’s refusing to play. Too bad. She gives speeches every day. I only hear of a few tidbits taken out for ridicule. That’s part of it, but you don’t need to make it any easier for the boneheads who pursue this approach. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 1:28 pm: ===They’re sheltering her from people they need to shelter her from I would guess. She’s not very sheltered on the campaign trail.=== Except from microphones and questions… ===You don’t need Evelyn to answer questions for him while he’s doing it and having a spokesman doing it.=== This is called the “Jason Plummer Effect” - “Slip and Sue, don’t ruin our chances.” ===The only interest in many of you hearing from Evelyn is so you can pounce on every remark no matter what.=== Well, even you - A Guy… -, yesterday, admitted Slip and Sue isn’t qualified to lead the 5th largest state in America. That really isn’t pouncing, it’s pointing out the obvious you have admitted. - wordslinger - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 1:41 pm: ===They’re sheltering her from people they need to shelter her from I would guess. – Who does she need to be sheltered from? - steve schnorf - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 1:43 pm: I start with a reminder that I am a Republican, and a statement, neither proud nor apologetic, that I have never in my voting lifetime voted for a Democrat for Governor (nor President). Having said that I know Paul Vallas pretty well, and love him or hate him, Paul is the real deal. I have no idea whether Evelyn Sanguinetti is or not. I’ve never known anyone in public service more passionate about their work than Paul. - A guy... - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 2:10 pm: == wordslinger - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 1:41 pm: ===They’re sheltering her from people they need to shelter her from I would guess. – Who does she need to be sheltered from?=== Look one entry above yours. - A guy... - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 2:14 pm: It’s impossible to argue Schnorf’s point about Paul Vallas. He’s absolutely passionate and truly in public service for public service. We don’t know who’s ready and who isn’t until they do the job. History is full of pleasant surprises and can’t miss disappointments. The Framers designed it so you could fire someone and hire someone else every so often. Nothing is certain but what has already occurred. - yo - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 2:16 pm: precinct captain wrote - “The charters in New Orleans are because of Louisiana state law. After Katrina, the state seized most of the control from the Orleans Parish school board. They were happening whether Vallas was there or not.” Do you have a cite? seems plausible. would help with my hesitancy towards Vallas. Also, YDD, agree that geography, and social conservatism can be added to the list I started. So that puts us at 4 decision making criteria for his LG. race, gender, geography, social conservatism. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 2:40 pm: === ===Who does she need to be sheltered from?=== Look one entry above yours.=== Oh, - A Guy… -, one day you say no one reads my comments, especially the Rauner Crew, now I am so … whatever … you need to “protect” Slip and Sue Sanguinetti from me? Pick a lane, lol - Western Ave. Doug - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 3:48 pm: Willy. Make sure to stop by the State Fair on Thursday and interview Sanguinetti to see if she is worthy of being a member of “Your Party.” - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 3:50 pm: ===Willy. Make sure to stop by the State Fair on Thursday and interview Sanguinetti to see if she is worthy of being a member of “Your Party.”=== “I don’t care if you are qualified, just if you’re a ‘D’ or an ‘R’…” Yikes. - Western Ave. Doug - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 3:55 pm: No Willy. I mean the exclusive club of “qualified” people that you know and admire. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 3:59 pm: ===No Willy. I mean the exclusive club of “qualified” people that you know and admire.=== You mean like those who actually can run the 5th largest state in America? Ok. I’ll look for Slip and Sue near the nervous cows… - Yellow Dog Democrat - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 4:31 pm: Yo: Yes, running mates are chosen based largely on who they are, where they are from and their values. While Lt. Governors are occasionally called up to serve as governor, they usually have more than a few weeks to learn the ropes. If the question is one of experience, skills and knowledge of state government, we should all be much more worried about Bruce Rauner than his running mate. I am hopeful that despite all of his pandering about shaking up Springfield that if he does win, he will have the good sense to bring in some experienced leaders to manage state government. - A guy... - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 4:38 pm: YDD, I’m rather certain he would bring good and solid experience in. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 4:40 pm: ===YDD, I’m rather certain he would bring good and solid experience in.=== Just like the CEO that was just indicted that Bruce knew nothing about? lol - Yellow Dog Democrat - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 4:51 pm: Let’s not kind ourselves: Bruce is no manager. Just as he is no analyst. He is a salesman. Jim Collins had a lot to say in Good To Great about why you don’t want guys like Rauner running your company. “Great leaders look out the window when attributing success and in the mirror when attributing failure.” In other words, the opposite of Rauner. Rauner is gonna work for free? Lee Iacocca got great props for promising to run Chrysler for $1. What a disaster that was…a slow death march to bankruptcy. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 5:12 pm: i thought quinnoccio was rauners running mate gets more air time and can relay rauners vision - Coffee Cup - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 8:24 pm: I think Rauner picked Sanguinetti solely because his handlers talked Bruce into going with the “Big Tent” political theory. Bruce bought into it and later regretted his choosing poorly. Evelyn has managed to “turn-off” many of the conservative faithful with her Professor Harold Hill (The Music Man) demeanor when she speaks. She is not allowed to go “off-script” and as a result her personality comes off akin to a vending machine dispensing patent medicines. Rauner would have done much better having chosen a conservative Sue Rezin or a Darlene Senger for his running mate. They would have wisely counter-balanced Rauner’s public image as a socially moderate Republican within the Illinois Republican Party. He will need each and every conservative vote at the polling place on November 4th against Pat Quinn. Sanguinetti isn’t going to get that job done for Bruce. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.