* With President Obama coming to Chicago today to fundraise for Gov. Pat Quinn, I thought it might be a good time to post something I’ve had for a couple of weeks (I came up with the idea the week I was sick and never got around to posting it).
Back then, I was looking for something else and stumbled upon a Politico story from this past March…
Bruce Rauner, the billionaire Republican nominee for Illinois governor, is doing all he can to turn himself into a career politician named Mark Kirk. […]
Rauner has on his staff four Kirk alumni in his effort to replicate the moderate GOP senator’s path to blue-state victory. And like Kirk — and unlike Republicans in almost everywhere else in the country — Rauner avoids bashing President Barack Obama, who remains popular in his home state.
That’s true. He avoids talking about Obama.
* But I figured there had to be something out there, so I asked the Quinn campaign if they had any anti-Obama remarks in their files. They sent over a Bloomberg interview from May, 2011…
“Unfortunately, I think President Obama is one of the most anti-business presidents we’ve had in the last 70 years.
“His policies and anti-business rhetoric have created a level of hostility and unpredictability coming out of Washington that’s damaging to our economy.”
If you do the math, he’s referring to FDR as being the most anti-business president before Obama.
* When asked if Obama’s actions represented “outright hostility” or just “neglect,” Rauner responded…
“I would say hostility.”
* Raw audio…
…Adding… Oops. Forgot to post this one…
* Michelle Obama in new ad: ‘Barack and I’ are voting for Quinn: “Now, Pat’s fighting to raise the minimum wage. He’s working to create jobs here at home, instead of shipping jobs overseas. And he’ll never cut funding from military families or veterans to give a tax break to the wealthy. That’s the choice, and there’s just too much at stake in this election to stay home. So for this election, Barack and I are casting our votes for Pat Quinn.”
* The ad is here
- Jeepster - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 11:51 am:
The quote should be: “One of the most anti-business presidents we’ve had in the last 70 years…that have have gigantic financial donations to over the years.”
- Walter Mitty - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 11:55 am:
And that is why most D’s across the country do not have Obama on the trail with him.. The same way the Republicans didn’t want Bush before.. PQ had to have him, that’s the difference…The poll numbers of the President are not going to energize the base if next week goes south for Quinn… The real question is, if Quinn or close associates get nailed next week.. Does Obama still come? This is politics and the visit works two ways…
- Skeptic - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 11:58 am:
If “anti-business” means “won’t let them do what they want to do unfettered” then yeah, that’s a good thing especially considering what happened to the economy the last time a business friendly President was in office. But I suppose unlike Bruce, I’m used to being told “no.”
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 12:03 pm:
Hostile? Neglect? Debatable.
Expensive? Certainly. http://thehill.com/regulation/administration/194778-obama-regs-have-cost-500b-so-far-report-finds
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 12:05 pm:
NYT, April 4, 2014.
–CORPORATE profits are at their highest level in at least 85 years. Employee compensation is at the lowest level in 65 years.–
There’s just no pleasing some plutocrats.
Bruce, why aren’t you and Griff and the hedgies doing your happy dance?
How can things be so bad, from your perspective, when you got so rich just pushing paper around? Seriously, what are you complaining about? The game is rigged for you to win.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/05/business/economy/corporate-profits-grow-ever-larger-as-slice-of-economy-as-wages-slide.html
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 12:09 pm:
It was three years ago. He seemed to have clammed up a bit since then, hasn’t he?
You don’t dis the hometown hero.
One of the many problems Rauner faces is his need to sell himself to interviewers. He is a natural salesman and repeatedly fell into the trap of buttering up his interviewers by entertaining them with his answers like a show dog hopping over little hurtles in front of the judges.
His natural tendency to be loquacious has hobbled him, not only in instances such as this, but during the campaign as well. You see, I sense that his canned responses and laughter at reporter questions is due to being told to avoid these misstatements. He has coaches who’ve probably told him to stop the “sell” when interviewed.
There is really no way Rauner could be as successful in business if he used the same approach to personal communications as we’ve seen during the campaign. He’s got money now, but he didn’t when he started out. Rauner had to charm to begin his fortune, and let’s face it - as a gubernatorial candidate, Rauner isn’t charming at all. He behaves like he is on camera and he has been told what to say and how to behave.
So, in 2011 - Rauner blathered. That is what he said. Obviously he has entertained the notion he has expressed, then spun it by adding “70 years” to it, for gravitas. I bet he wished today he didn’t. He doesn’t say that stuff now, does he!
- A guy... - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 12:10 pm:
His statement is correct. This administration has been hostile to business. More important, people perceive that to be true. Interesting observations in a lot of media outlets. Among them: he just looks bored with this now and doesn’t act or react to much. It sure looks that way to me.
- From an average guy - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 12:13 pm:
Jeepster..you hit it on the head
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 12:15 pm:
A Guy, how do you square hostile to business with highest corporate profits in more than 85 years?
Just going on feelings rather than facts? Why’s that?
- Precinct Captain - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 12:17 pm:
If the outcomes for big business under President Obama are “hostile,” what would friendship look like? The return of feudalism?
- paddyrollingstone - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 12:19 pm:
“His statement is correct. This administration has been hostile to business. More important, people perceive that to be true. Interesting observations in a lot of media outlets.”
Which people perceive this it be true? Is there a national groundswell in favor of businessmen that I am unaware of?
Btw, Vanilla Man “as a gubernatorial candidate, Rauner isn’t charming at all.” Spot on. Rauner has all the charm of an airport waiting room. (I stole that metaphor)
- Lefty Lefty - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 12:22 pm:
The only way the 1% and the 0.1% would not bash a Democratic president is:
*crickets*
The most right-leaning presidents of the Democratic Party, i.e., Clinton and Obama, need to feed the base. Any of that kind of action, however small, is ammo for the Republicans. This will continue to be the case as long as its a 2-party system and as long as people “feel” the news instead of relying on facts, i.e., forever.
- MrJM (@MisterJayEm) - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 12:25 pm:
Golly! Bruce could have given those fired workers twenty-FIVE dollar gift cards if Barack Obama weren’t so darned “anti-business”.
– MrJM
- Keyser Soze - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 12:25 pm:
It is hard to say that Obama has been hard on Big Business; the stock market speaks for itself. Now, if we are talking about small business or Joe Sixpack, Obama has been a disaster. Just ask local small town bankers, home builders, the large numbers of unemployed. The economy is anything but robust. My company’s sales, and staff size, are one-half of what they were pre-Obama. Another election or two may fix the problem.
- BMAN - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 12:29 pm:
Anti-business president in the last 70 years. Maybe so but the time period just happens to exclude FDR. FDR was the president that brought the U.S. back from the Great Depression. Too bad FDR died in office he had plans to make things better for the working class. Google the Second Bill of Rights; certainly not something you’d see Rauner promoting.
- MrJM (@MisterJayEm) - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 12:29 pm:
“My company’s sales, and staff size, are one-half of what they were pre-Obama.”
Speaking of correlation/causation confusion, my Dodge is only worth half as much as I paid for it when Obama was inaugurated!
– MrJM
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 12:29 pm:
–The economy is anything but robust.–
See “employee compensation at lowest level in 65 years.”
If people ain’t making money, they ain’t buying.
- Aldyth - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 12:30 pm:
After Big Finance trashed our economy and stole the financial stability of an entire generation, I would have preferred the president be a whole lot more hostile to business than what he has been.
- Casual observer - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 12:31 pm:
In other news the NRA claims Obama has hurt gun sales.
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 12:33 pm:
== Which people perceive this it be true? ==
https://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/advisor/blogs/profit-minded/most-entrepreneurs-call-obama-policies-too-hostile-small-181032804.html
http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21611140-president-wants-ceos-play-ball-he-might-have-change-his-own-language-stop
- Keyser Soze - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 12:36 pm:
Word: Right on.
Mr.: Clever but illogical.
- Casual observer - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 12:38 pm:
Since when is “too big to jail” anti big business?
- Bill White - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 12:43 pm:
Word - Haven’t you heard the news? Keynes was proven wrong. /snark
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 12:46 pm:
According to Crain’s columnist Greg Hinz, Rauner is the one who is anti-business by refusing to support equal rights for gay Illinoisans.
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20140131/BLOGS02/140139980/indiana-gives-illinois-a-weapon-to-fend-off-biz-poaching-gay-marriage
The Crain’s column makes it all the more apparent and appalling just how opposed to equal rights Rauner is.
He is supposed to be focused on getting our economy back on track, yet he doesn’t support equal rights legislation embraced by our country’s largest employers?
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 12:47 pm:
== Now, Pat’s fighting to raise the minimum wage. ==
== Now, Pat’s fighting for his reelection and chose to use the minimum wage as a campaign tactic rather than pushing for a legislative vote months ago ==
Better.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 12:49 pm:
This is the one of the two most acute cases of Obama Derangement Syndrome I’ve ever seen. Rauner made $53 million in 2012. The wealthiest individuals like Rauner and many corporations have made huge money under Obama.
The other is the woman from Kentucky who said she likes her new health insurance but thinks Obama is causing people to hate. Obama really hated her when he gave her insurance she didn’t have at the time.
- truthteller - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 12:52 pm:
$52 million a year isn’t enough?
- Frenchie Mendoza - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 12:55 pm:
GOP remains clueless as ever — especially dopey Rauner.
Rauner — dude, you made billions. Billions. Most of it under democrats. If you could, you’d *run* as a fiscally conservative democrat.
But how is it that anyone listens to a rich guy who made billions under democrats whine about Obama as “hostile to business”?
Wait. Wait. I know. There’s a line of sycophants in the GOP waiting for your cash. I got it. Ok.
Do us a favor, Bruce. The money you’ve looted from the middle class? At least do something *for* the middle class. Right now, you’re simply trying hard — weal, weal hard — to eradicate the middle class.
You’d do far more good to give away more of your money than use the governor of a state as a stepping stone to what your ultimate ambition. Hopefully a loss this fall will finally torpedo that path and put you back in charitable business.
- Del Clinkton - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 12:58 pm:
National RommneyCare is the most pro-business piece of legislation in years. Patriotic Americans are just now beginning to figure out that you do not have to be employed to have health insurance, and can now start a business…create jobs!
Bruce…go back to home day trading, and let Dorene serve you crumpets and tea at 2!
- Jimmy - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 12:58 pm:
Quinn on Obama: Obama is the butter on my pancakes on a cool breeze Sunday mornin’
- Gooner - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 1:00 pm:
Actually, A Guy, I think reality is generally more important than perceptions, but as a guy who leans left, I tend to believe in a reality based world.
So between the reality of “markets and corporate profits at record highs” and “certain people don’t like the guy with the scarey middle name” I’m going to choose reality.
That being said, I think Vanilla Man is right. There was also a quote I’ve seen around today in which Rauner told a tea party group what they wanted to hear.
I get the impression that two years ago he would, before the right audience, claim the world is flat.
People have asked about Rauner’s core values on things like social issues. I’m not sure he has any, and if he does, he tells literally nobody.
Until this year, he was our version of Ron Burgundy. He would say anything.
- VM - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 1:11 pm:
Rauner is a hipster. Only a hipster could appreciate the irony of complaining about the most anti-business President in 70 years while banking a $50,000,000+ paycheck. (Not including increase in net worth, btw — that’s just realized income.)
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 1:12 pm:
Some of this stuff is through the Looking Glass or Orwell.
Perceptions? Hurt feelings? What is this touchy-feely stuff?
How about bottom lines?
Corporate profits are the highest on record. And that’s hostile?
Let’s try this again.
–The Commerce Department last week estimated that corporations earned $2.1 trillion during 2013, and paid $419 billion in corporate taxes. The after-tax profit of $1.7 trillion amounted to 10 percent of gross domestic product during the year, the first full year it has been that high. In 2012, it was 9.7 percent, itself a record.–
By comparison, during the “pro-business” Reagan administration, corporate after-tax profits ranged from a low of 3% of GDP to a high of 5% of GDP.
Furthermore, $419 billion in corporate income tax paid on $2.1 trillion of gross profits equals an effective tax rate of 20% — not the infamous 35% “highest rate in the world” mindless talking point that’s routinely trotted out.
- bored now - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 1:25 pm:
I will merely reiterate that there was a president who ran on the same platform as rauner — herbert hoover…
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 1:30 pm:
Seems to be bit more than public perception or a Rauner talking point. 80,000 pages of new regulations in one year. Over $500B in additional costs. And a judgment shared by some academics as well as job creators allied with the President himself.
== Economist Paul Rubin on Obama’s Anti-Business Policies, in Words and Actions == - http://www.emory.edu/ACAD_EXCHANGE/whats_new/paulrubin.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/22/AR2010062205279.html
== The chairman of the Business Roundtable, an association of top corporate executives that has been President Obama’s closest ally in the business community, accused the president and Democratic lawmakers Tuesday of creating an “increasingly hostile environment for investment and job creation.” ==
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 1:32 pm:
The only people who care about Obama are the people that already hate him. This only thing saying something negative about the president will do is reinforce what the haters already think. You already have those people in your pocket.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 1:32 pm:
FKA the fact remains that the year after Rauner said what he said, he made over $50 million in reported income.
- Gooner - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 1:32 pm:
Formerly,
And yet profits are through the roof.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 1:34 pm:
FKA, how many touchy-feely perception links can you churn out to keep ignoring record corporate profits?
Why is it important to you to ignore the bottom line? Isn’t that what it’s all about?
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 1:42 pm:
Touchy-feely hardly describes quantitative facts.
80,000 pages of new regulation. $500B in additional costs. Those are just as tangible as quoting profit numbers.
Did he make $50 million? Sure. Do his profits have anything to do with whether or not an administration is a “friend” or “foe” of business? No. Should he be complaining about the business climate when he made that sort of money? No. Does his personal success in spite of these additional regulations prove his statement true or false? No.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 1:47 pm:
–80,000 pages of new regulation. $500B in additional costs. Those are just as tangible as quoting profit numbers.–
LOL, just can’t bring yourself to say “record profits,” can you. You do know “record” means best year ever, right?
I admire your attempt at handling the cognitive dissonance of “record profits” and “hostile,” for whatever reason, but you’re going to give yourself a stroke.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 1:48 pm:
FKA:
Keep talking.
You simply cannot call Barack Obama the worst President in modern history and not sound like a total Tea Party crackpot.
FORBES magazine just ran an analysis saying he was not just a better economic president than Reagan, but the best economic president in US history.
Forbes.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 1:48 pm:
@FKA:
You keep talking yourself in circles.
Obama is anti-business and yet Rauner managed to make a boatload of money and then in your twisted mind that isn’t at all related to the statement that Obama is anti-business. You’ve twisted yourself in a knot so tight you can’t get out of it.
You need to get your head out of the statistical world and get back with the rest of us in reality.
- Gooner - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 1:49 pm:
FKA,
Have you ever read the CFR?
They take 20 pages to define simple terms.
Pages mean nothing.
And $500B in additional costs? According to whom?
Moreover, the reality is that the market has never done as well.
We can have two pages, and a Dow at 6000, or all those pages and the Dow around 20,000.
Which, in your mind, is better FKA?
Do corporate profits matter to you, FKA?
- Geronimo - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 1:53 pm:
If people ain’t makin money, they ain’t buying. So true of slashing public pensioners buying power. Heck, it ain’t been slashed yet, but we’re stashing away what we can, and not buying what we don’t have to in fear of the cut. Isn’t that what drives it all downward, fear, uncertainty? We’re sure doing our part to make sure some business folks don’t get our money. Michelle Obama says Quinn won’t cut funding from military families or veterans to give a tax break to the wealthy. No, he’ll just cut incomes of those who help others in our state.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 1:53 pm:
Guys, Rauner was talking about business.
He said nothing about “bidness”, which is how he made his money. Bidnessman.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 1:53 pm:
You already have those people in your pocket.
I get you if he said this during the campaign, but he said it three years ago. He wasn’t looking for voter support.
- A guy... - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 1:54 pm:
===wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 12:15 pm:
A Guy, how do you square hostile to business with highest corporate profits in more than 85 years?
Just going on feelings rather than facts? Why’s that?===
No Slinger. All politics are local. People look at their own downtowns, their own strip centers, their own communities. Corporate profits are somewhat removed from “my son, neighbor, brother, etc. is out of work or underemployed”. That’s what people pay attention to. And you know it.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 1:55 pm:
You’re right VMAn. I guess I was just commenting on it in the context of the present. I’m assuming it’s part of the reason he hasn’t brought it up again.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 1:57 pm:
==That’s what people pay attention to. And you know it.==
People also pay attention to the fact that Rauner made $50 million while simultaneously complaining that Obama is hostile to business. And you know it.
- Cheryl44 - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 1:59 pm:
I didn’t know Pee Wee Herman was an economist.
Oh wait, that’s Paul Reubens.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 2:05 pm:
“Unfortunately, I think President Obama is one of the most anti-business presidents we’ve had in the last 70 years.
“His policies and anti-business rhetoric have created a level of hostility and unpredictability coming out of Washington that’s damaging to our economy.”
He didn’t say three years ago that the President was preventing record profits from occurring. If all you can do is tell us that they have no reason to complain because they earned record profits, you aren’t understanding his point.
A lot of us do get it and your point about record profits is made too. They aren’t incompatible, but the anti-business argument isn’t addressed by referring to record profit revelations.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 2:05 pm:
Only a man, who trots out an $18 watch, covered by an ugly shirt his wife doesn’t like, wearing a pristine Carhartt, driving a trash can van his kids hate, and makes $50 million dollars…
…only that guy…can make this whole discussion on “worst for business” be utter baloney.
Right? Exactly right.
- Or try the truth... - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 2:06 pm:
From the L.A. Times on Sept. 8, 2014:
“…the Standard & Poor’s 500 index, the most important stock market indicator, hit a milestone by crossing 2,000 for the first time.
“…you would have notched a 148% gain if you had bought stocks on the day of President Obama’s inauguration…
“…Big business continues to grouse about the White House, as it has done pretty much nonstop since Jan. 20, 2009.
“The hostility of business and industry to Obama has become a byword over the years, from plutocrats complaining about being disrespected to bankers complaining that they’re woefully misunderstood. Yet judging by the stock market’s performance, no President has been as good for the capital markets since Bill Clinton (who also was detested by the business community). By some measures Obama also handily outranks that beacon of Republican business-friendliness, Ronald Reagan.”
http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-mh-obama-bull-market-20140908-column.html
- Walter Mitty - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 2:07 pm:
So both Bruce AND Obama are for big business and BOTH against the little man and small business… That’s my takeaway… Argue against that after the threads here.. Oh, and they both haave and had experience governing… So lesson learned.. Vote for the third candidate..
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 2:08 pm:
A Guy, I have no idea to what you’re talking about, and you’ve apparently forgotten what you’re talking about.
Rauner said: –I think President Obama is one of the most anti-business presidents we’ve had in the last 70 years.–
You said: –His statement is correct. This administration has been hostile to business.–
How do you square that with record corporate profits? It makes no sense.
Let’s try it one more time, slowwwwwwlllllly.
Was Reagan pro-business? During his administration, corporate profits ranged from 3% of GDP to 5% of GPD.
Last year, corporate after-tax profits were $1.7 trillion, representing 10% of GDP, a new record from the previous 9.7% in 2012.
Yet to you, that equals “anti-business” and “hostile to business.”
That’s crazy talk, on its face.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 2:08 pm:
==but the anti-business argument isn’t addressed by referring to record profit revelations.==
In your world maybe. The rest of the common sense world finds it a bit hard to believe. If things are so “anti-business” you’d think it might be hard to make any sort of profits. If this is anti-business then I’ll take it.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 2:13 pm:
–He didn’t say three years ago that the President was preventing record profits from occurring. If all you can do is tell us that they have no reason to complain because they earned record profits, you aren’t understanding his point.–
What’s his point? Because the point of being in business is make money.
Why are you all spinning yourself silly on this?
- BMAN - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 2:17 pm:
Bored Now,
You’re right about Rauner running like a Herbert Hoover candidate. HH, wasn’t he the one right beore FDR? Maybe there is a lesson here.
- Casual observer - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 2:18 pm:
Maybe Rauner should have said “Obama is very anti-business and luckily for me, he’s very bad at it”.
- Gooner - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 2:20 pm:
I think what this boils down to is that some of us look to objective measures like market performance, job creation, and corporate profits to judge whether a president is good for business.
In contrast, others use “whether rich white guys smile when thinking about the business” to judge whether a president is good for business.
So we have different standards here.
- my two cents - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 2:23 pm:
One more way for Bruce to prove his ties to Mitt and the 1%. Run against Obama in IL? Good plan.
- A guy... - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 2:29 pm:
Slinger, I didn’t even want to go down the whole road of Healthcare that was foisted upon every business in America, not just Corporate heavyweights. 80%+ of business is small business. Go talk to anyone you know dealing with all of the federal regulations on business and see if you can figure out what they’re talking about. I guess you just don’t get me.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 2:38 pm:
A Guy, trust me, you’re not to hard to figure out. You take a position, and you try to fill in facts to support it later on.
Or you just talk about “perceptions,” or the “people you talk to” who always, always, amazingly, agree with you.
- Frenchie Mendoza - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 2:55 pm:
Rauner talking to an audience and telling them what they want to hear. Who woulda thought it?
He does relish preaching to the choir. In fact, he loves it so much he’s got sermons for every single choir, everywhere.
- Carl Nyberg - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 3:15 pm:
From 2009-2012 95% of the economic gains went to the top 1%.
Even though the economy was growing bottom 90% lost income share.
Bruce Rauner is saying stuff that resonates because middle-class people are losing ground. But they aren’t losing ground b/c Obama is anti-business. Middle-class are losing ground b/c Obama is excessively pro financial sector and pro National Security State.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 3:32 pm:
Heaven forbid a business has to provide their employees healthcare @A guy.
You’re right, we just don’t get you.
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 3:41 pm:
== You simply cannot call Barack Obama the worst President in modern history ==
Please do not put words in my mouth. I have voted for President Obama, and do not remotely believe he is the worst President in modern history.
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 3:52 pm:
I respectfully disagree with those who seem to mistake correlation for causation; who feel that corporate profits are directly related to the actions of a President; and who apparently think public perception is irrelevant in relation to politics.
== You need to get your head out of the statistical world and get back with the rest of us in reality. ==
Fair enough, Demoralized.
- Say It Ain't So!! - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 4:27 pm:
This is exactly why taxes should be increased for the top 1%. They have totally benefitted from the country, but haven’t paid their fair share.
- A guy... - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 5:37 pm:
=== wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 2:38 pm:
A Guy, trust me, you’re not to hard to figure out. You take a position, and you try to fill in facts to support it later on.
Or you just talk about “perceptions,” or the “people you talk to” who always, always, amazingly, agree with you.====
And you my cerebral friend are incredibly complex, like Dr. House, contrarian in a cute and adorable, even curmudgeony kind of way. You solve the big cases. I’m a precinct captain. I inform, I educate, I listen and I go to the next door. I run into my share of Slingers along the way. They tell me all the complex things. They’re smart to be sure. In fact, they’re smarter than 90% of their neighbors who vote with their “gut”. Everytime. It’s not that they agree with me. It’s more like I agree with them. I then report to you.
They’re right more than they’re wrong. In an inexact science Sling. Perfect for a guy like me with an average IQ whose just trying to use whatever brain cells I didn’t kill in my youth.
- honestabe - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 6:24 pm:
Why be use he wants guys like Rauner to pay the same tax as the rest of us do and not be able to hide your money in offshore accounts.
- Mighty M. Mouse - Wednesday, Oct 1, 14 @ 7:34 pm:
===After Big Finance trashed our economy and stole the financial stability of an entire generation, I would have preferred the president be a whole lot more hostile to business than what he has been.===
It’s been 7 years since the start of the financial meltdown.
Which meltdown has been “very conservatively” been estimated to have cost the economy roughly $10 TRILLION dollars (plus or minus $4 trillion).
Nobody has even been accused, let alone convicted, of breaking any law!
It seems like his administration is being pretty nice to business to me. $10 trillion of damage yet nothing that caused it was against the law?!?
- circularfiringsquad - Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 6:19 am:
Hey it is Oct 2 aren’t we past the last extension date for 2013? Should Mitt be dropping a tax return on us serfs?
BTW Mitt hates Obama because he blocks new Superfund sites.
And he know the US voters will not pick another IL resident as the next prez — hence Mitt Rauner ‘16 will be based in Montana or ….