* My traditional pre-election party was last night. Staff, consultants and other players from both sides of the aisle gather together the Saturday before an election. No other media and no candidates are allowed. We’ve never once had a fight, or even much of an argument (although there was one hookup years ago). Hacks understand each other, which is why the party always runs smoothly. Thanks to everyone who showed up.

These two guys were at the party last night and got along famously. If it wasn’t for the gathering, I doubt they’d ever run into each other. But they’re both at the center of one of the weirdest aspects of this super-weird campaign. As you know, Local 150 of the Operating Engineers Union is attacking Bruce Rauner Downstate for being pro-choice as part of its “support” for the Libertarian Party candidate, while Personal PAC is attacking Rauner in Chicagoland for not being pro-choice enough.

* I give you Marc Poulos of Local 150 and Terry Cosgrove of Personal PAC…

       

34 Comments - Oswego Willy - Sunday, Nov 2, 14 @ 11:33 am: “Two sides of the Same Coin…kept in the Caymans” - Oswego Willy - Sunday, Nov 2, 14 @ 11:38 am: “Ok, tell me why I can’t have it both ways. Go ahead, give me one, no, give me to reasons why I can’t have it both ways, just two reasons.” - Bruce Rauner - walker - Sunday, Nov 2, 14 @ 11:45 am: Magical Mystery Tour guides. - walker - Sunday, Nov 2, 14 @ 11:47 am: Solomon twins, joined at the hip pocket. - crazybleedingheart - Sunday, Nov 2, 14 @ 11:50 am: Twas there that we parted, in yon shady glen…You take the high road, and I’ll take the low road, and I’ll get Quinn to Springfield afore ye! - Louis G Atsaves - Sunday, Nov 2, 14 @ 11:52 am: Us Special Interest guys will do anything, ANYTHING to maintain the current status quo! - Oswego Willy - Sunday, Nov 2, 14 @ 11:57 am: “Bruce Rauner couldn’t bully us, or buy these groups, even with Rauner’s insider ways.” - Casual Observer - Sunday, Nov 2, 14 @ 11:57 am: I’ll push from the left, you push from the right and watch him throw Diana in the middle. - walker - Sunday, Nov 2, 14 @ 11:59 am: A left-right combination to the body. - Amalia - Sunday, Nov 2, 14 @ 12:01 pm: Mutually Assured Destruction….of Rauner. - Rich Miller - Sunday, Nov 2, 14 @ 12:05 pm: Just FYI, I had never hung out with Poulos before. Great dude. Terry, as always, didn’t disappoint. Funny guy. - Anonymous - Sunday, Nov 2, 14 @ 12:09 pm: Twice the reason to vote Rauner - Cheswick - Sunday, Nov 2, 14 @ 12:18 pm: Last men standing. - Cheswick - Sunday, Nov 2, 14 @ 12:25 pm: Time is on our side. - Juice - Sunday, Nov 2, 14 @ 12:28 pm: Protecting a women’s right to collectively bargain for workers’ compensation coverage, since 2014. - William j Kelly - Sunday, Nov 2, 14 @ 12:29 pm: You think this picture is wierd? You should see the one of john kass kissing feet at combine HQ! Lol - MrJM - Sunday, Nov 2, 14 @ 12:48 pm: “I’m Marc Poulos of Local 150 and I oppose Rauner Lite because it tastes bad.” “I’m Terry Cosgrove of Personal PAC and I oppose Rauner Lite because it is full of malarkey.” “Tastes bad!” “Full of malarkey!” “TASTES BAD!” “FULL OF MALARKEY!” Bruce Rauner for Governor: Everything you’ve always wanted in a candidate. And less. – MrJM - Yellow Dog Democrat - Sunday, Nov 2, 14 @ 1:01 pm: “Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can’t stop them from doing.” - Yellow Dog Democrat - Sunday, Nov 2, 14 @ 1:03 pm: “The case against Rauner was open and shut. The only thing missing was something to charge him with.” - Under Further Review - Sunday, Nov 2, 14 @ 1:05 pm: They all laughed during the session and said our services would not be required once the Election Code was revised for November 4th. Silly legislators! Silly Quinn! You will owe us big time again! - phocion - Sunday, Nov 2, 14 @ 1:07 pm: “Is it wrong?” - Oswego Willy - Sunday, Nov 2, 14 @ 1:40 pm: “Hello, I am Hanz I am Franz We’re here to take (clap) Bruce out! Listen to us now and hear us later, Bruce is trying to bully us with his Carhartt coat and his cheap watch Ya, so we decided to show Bruce these choice cuts of political muscle! (They pose, flexing) Ya, we told Bruce he was going to wake up, not with a horse head in his bed but with a headache that no aspirins can fix cause we’re here to take… (They clap) Bruce out. Ya, Bruce hear us now and cry about it on Tuesday, we’re flexing our muscles and not afraid to have you know our fears, and our weaknesses Ya, we know Bruce is vulnerable to Hanz and Franz, ya, we can take him by using our ‘weakest pinky fingers’ and let our supporters know that we need to take… (They clap) Bruce out. So, as Bruce thinks he’s going to go around us, intimidate us, he’s in for a wake up call from our gym Ya, it’s going to be Hanz and Franz on the other line telling Bruce (Together) We took (clap) Bruce out!” Aaaannnnd Scene. - Oswego Willy - Sunday, Nov 2, 14 @ 2:25 pm: “My name’s ‘Social’…” “My name’s ‘Agenda’…” “Guess you got one now, Bruce Ole Boy” “It’s not a tight rope you were walking, it’s a razor you’re now walking” - Oswego Willy - Sunday, Nov 2, 14 @ 2:33 pm: Rauner: (narrating) If you’re part of the political world, nobody ever tells you that they’re going to take your campaign out right away, doesn’t happen that way. There are heated arguments and badly held meeting, usually with severe fallout. See, your opponents try to come …with smiles,… they come as your “should be” allies, the people who should care for you all through the beginning of your campaign. And they always seem to come at a time that you’re at your weakest and most in need of their help to take you out for good. - hanging chad - Sunday, Nov 2, 14 @ 3:05 pm: The Greek and a Freak. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Sunday, Nov 2, 14 @ 3:40 pm: Feminists and Unions, Incorporated. - railrat - Sunday, Nov 2, 14 @ 4:16 pm: why hasn’t someone asked Mark Poulos his PERSONAL beliefs or ask Jim Sweeney his FOR THE RECORD ? or maybe employed by 150’s big salary, afraid of lose of “gig” causes phonies? nah - Yellow Dog Democrat - Sunday, Nov 2, 14 @ 5:06 pm: Railrat: First, Jim Sweeney isn’t running for office. Secondly, Mr. Rauner’s personal beliefs are only an issue because he has made them an issue. During the primary, he told voters he was personally pro-life. Now, days before the election, his wife is telling folks he is a lifelong champion of abortion rights. But what’s really at issue here is: can we believe anything Rauner says at his point, including his claim that he doesn’t have a social agenda? - railrat - Sunday, Nov 2, 14 @ 6:15 pm: YDD you are so right ! the voters shouldn’t care about the personal beliefs of donors like Sweeney or Poulos! when a union supports a candidate with the hard working funds of its members (PAC) the public should just fall lockstep because labor leaders like Sweeney have the members and the public in their best interest ! oh and maybe the paid appointments from Quinn don’t matter? nah so YDD can we believe anything Sweeney says at this point? including his claim doesn’t have a social agenda ? - Anon - Sunday, Nov 2, 14 @ 9:20 pm: Poulos is a smart and up and coming advocate for labor and transportation issues and needs. - Gabe - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 9:03 am: Railrat- I think 150 is opposing Rauner because he supports right to work. I dont think it has a thing to do with personal beliefs. 150 is just taking whatever means it can to take out the guy who wants to take them out. - Anonymous - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 9:18 am: Ying and Yang - Anonymous - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 10:06 am: Terry: What did you dress as for Halloween? Marc: The Grimm Reaper - railrat - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 8:56 pm: I assume this post is still open? please check what the International IUOE and local 139 Wisconsin is spending on Gov. Scott Walker and then lets discuss what a real trade unionist wants to gain for the membership vs. the leadership of the union. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.