‘Overnor Rauner
Thursday, Feb 5, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Eric Zorn…
“Raisin’ the minimum wage in conjunction with improving the overall jobs climate, will make Illinois more competitive and create a boomin’ economy while increasin’ incomes for hardworkin’ Illinoisans. As we look to make Illinois more competitive, property tax relief is one of our most pressin’ challenges.” … Gov. Bruce Rauner in today’s State of the State address.
In his bid for folksiness, Gov. Rauner dropped so many g’s you’d think he was auditioning for the part of Sheriff Taylor in a Broadway revival of “The Andy Griffith Show.”
It was distracting enough that I went through and counted. Out of 107 words in the speech ending with the “-ing” syllable, Rauner dropped the terminal g 55 times […]
Several times he mixed and matched in a single sentence: “I am personally committed to working closely together with each and every one of you — meeting together, solvin’ problems together, listening and learnin’ from each other.”
So, he dropped his g’s roughly half the time.
It’s such an obviously contrived affectation, and the fact that he can’t consistently pull it off makes it even more irritating.
Lots of Democratic legislators had never heard Rauner give a speech before yesterday, and many were mocking him after the SOTS for his silly mannerism. He may have been in Downstate yesterday, but most people in his audience were from the suburbs and the city.
Not to mention that using bad grammar to sound more folksy to the hicks offends some of us hicks whose parents were conscientious about such matters.
In attempting to build a communications bridge, he may actually be constructing a barrier.
…Adding… Steve Chapman…
Normally, he sounds like a Midwestern suburbanite, or a TV anchorman. Even in this address, he sounded his natural self on every other word. He was clearly doing this deliberately.
Why? For the same reason he wears a Carhartt jacket and a cheap watch — to make voters forget he’s a fabulously rich magnate whose father was a corporate executive and who grew up in a well-to-do North Shore suburb.
But it doesn’t work. It just makes him sound as though he’s afraid to be himself and has to contort himself into a caricature of an ordinary guy.
When it comes to taxes, spending and other government obligations, Rauner will have to expect voters to respond like grownups to hard choices. He will have to expect us to believe what he’s saying. That’s more likely to happen if we don’t hear him speak in such a fake manner. So it wouldn’t hurt for him to stop the posin’.
- Juan MacLean - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 12:42 pm:
Come on - ya can’t blame the guy for having that obvious Winnetka Twang.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 12:44 pm:
Is this another warped way of “style over substance”?
The only people who need to be concerned about delivering language styles like this are writers who play to a character and their traits, and the actors who need to emulate those words.
Purposely being a caricature is not folksy or funny, endearing or sweet; it’s actually condescending to an audience you are trying to gain trust from, as a phony persona tick is used to gain trust.
It has nothing to do with Rauber’s wealth, education, or the circle of friebds and associates he is linked to. The rate, the cadience, the ratio, the phrasing is what highlights the lack of sincerity, not the makeup of the man, his story and history, or even his station in life, but the delivery and choice is bringing focus to its absurdity.
Please. Just stop it.
- Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 12:45 pm:
Possum on a gumbush! As a downstate hick, I have always been put off by his act. Give it a rest already.
- Local Cynic - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 12:46 pm:
All y’all better stop complainin!
- Sunshine - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 12:48 pm:
What is odd to some seemed perfectly fine to me. I guess if you can’t beat him at his game, try to demean him.
- Ghostbusters - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 12:49 pm:
=== In attempting to build a communications bridge, he may actually be constructing a barrier. ===
He started constructin’ that barrier with his blanket freezes on his first day.
He started pourin’ cement around that barrier with his red meat anti-union speeches between Inauguration Day and SOTS.
He’ll be really hurtin’ and bangin’ his head against his new barrier if he follows through on his bleepin’ threats against his own party.
He was elected governor, not dictator.
- Anonymous 88 - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 12:50 pm:
He’s goin’ get over this here habit real soon, I’m thinkin’, cause SOONER or later, the Missus is goin’ be tellin’ him he sounds purty durn silly!
- Juvenal - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 12:51 pm:
“g-dropping” has nothing to do with rural versus urban, nor is it about educational attainment.
It is about class.
Even if Rauner is trying to talk “to” the lower-class, the speech still rings false because even those who drop their g’s in casual conversation frequently do it much less frequently in a formal speech.
It will still happen occasionally, but it also happens more or less frequently depending on the verb and the overall sentence construction.
Dialogue is pretty tough to write, but still: “hardworkin’” and “conjunction” in the same sentence?
- olddog - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 12:51 pm:
I can’t decide whether he’s condescendin’ or patronizin’.
- Cheswick - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 12:57 pm:
As a downstate hick myself, I always thought Rauner’s dropping of the G was to appeal to the dees, dem and doze crowd.
- Gone, but not forgotten - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:01 pm:
Yes, most of his audience were from the Great City–so next he may start using “dese, dem and dose”; “sout and nort”; and my personal favorite, “scrootined”, which is what everyone is doing on this subject, scrutinizing his linguistics. Obama does it, no one has a problem, why do we here in Illinois about our Governor? Hmmm. I am sure (and hope) he will stop this in the future, unless it is actually the way he speaks (I hope not).
- William j Kelly - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:01 pm:
Cut the letter G out of the alphabet and what do you et?
- Dirty Red - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:03 pm:
Two weeks from now I fully expect to have my budget questions referred to Tim Nudin’.
- anonymous - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:04 pm:
Good point Cheswick, I hadn’t thought of it that way. He’s been doing it since the campaign - his victory speech, etc., all g-less. As a fellow downstate hick, I thought he was going about a downstate accent the wrong way. Do not drop your g’s, but pronounce for “fur”. Maybe he is trying to appeal to the dees, dem and doze. It is closer to that accent than a downstate accent.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:08 pm:
==I guess if you can’t beat him at his game, try to demean him.==
Oh please. If this is a game it’s a dumb one. We’re not 5 years old. And it’s especially irritating (if he was doing it on purpose) for him to think he needed to do it. Does he think we speak a different language down here?
- ZC - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:09 pm:
Does he do this in his private, well-heeled fundraisers? Genuinely curious - it’s such a trivial issue, I know, but anyone in the know, who can speak to this?
- A guy - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:16 pm:
He does it no matter where he is. What a silly thing to be discussing. They used to parse Rich Daley’s speech patterns the same way. It’s not folksy or not, it’s a pattern of diction created over a long period of time. Typical hard-hitting Zorn copy. Wash the windows with it if you’re unlucky enough to have his tripe on paper.
- Anonymiss - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:18 pm:
“Everyone is pitchin’ in. This is shared sacrifice. I’ve already cut 4% of the alphabet.”
- Pot calling kettle - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:18 pm:
I think one of the reasons it stands out is because the way he does it sounds forced. I listened carefully to others interviewed after the SOS. Some dropped g’s, some did not, but it sounded natural. Not sure what it is about how Rauner does it, but when he drops the g’s, you really notice.
- Archiesmom - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:18 pm:
Sorry, Rich - I made the cardinal error of not reading the whole piece. I’ll blame it on my iPad today and beg forgiveness.
- Anonymiss - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:20 pm:
(I hear the letters F and U are empowerin’ to form a union.)
- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:20 pm:
John Kerry did the same insulting thing when he ran for prez. What was he worth - I mean his wife?
- LizPhairTax - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:20 pm:
When he starts mixing in diner lingo, blowing on our tummies and jingling keys in our face he’ll have my vote!
Stop treating us like dumb, hick babies. Also, don’t tell me what God put us on earth to do. Had enough of that.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:21 pm:
===it’s a pattern of diction created over a long period of time===
If you define “long period of time” as the campaign, then I agree. But if you’ve ever watched video of him before he began campaigning, you’ll see he never talked that way.
- MOD - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:22 pm:
There’s a big difference between traveling on the road at an event or meeting and trying to relate to locals compared to a televised speech intended to give the Chief Executive of Illinois a platform to announce his vision for the future of the state. This was an embarrassment to see something so clearly contrived as if he was still building his imaginary campaign persona. This should only serve to deepen the fears of those who suspected a manufactured facade to make it through the election followed by a complete shift when it comes time to actually govern. Sooner or later the real version always comes out and usually it’s in times of great stress or pressure. Not a good indication of things to come.
- the Patriot - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:23 pm:
It is an interesting arm of Political science. Obama is often said to be more articulate then W. Bush. But when you go back and read, Bush typically provided much more substance. Since both use writers, it really is in the delivery.
Heck, Clinton convinced a majority of people he wasn’t knockin boots with Monica depending on how you interpret “is.”
Would someone please tell Rauner, we did not elect him because we like him. It was because Quinn was driving us off a cliff and maybe he won’t. Stop trying to get me to like you and just do what you gotta do.
- CharlieKratos - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:24 pm:
‘G’-gate… ‘Ate’? ‘G’-ate?
- A Citizen - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:24 pm:
The hypersensitivity to a speech pattern is puzzling. Personally it doesn’t bother me.
- Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:27 pm:
My comments yesterday were as critical as anyone’s of the condescending manner in which Governor Rauner dropped those ==g’s==,
but this is what Mr Zorn and Mr Chapman think was the most important thing to focus on after the Governor’s SOTS? Do better, guys.
- Gator - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:28 pm:
He’s fixin to get a CB radio and a new handle for the van to cut down on phone expenses.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:28 pm:
Me thinks Mr. Zorn has too much time on his hands if he can count all those missing Gs.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:32 pm:
===it’s a pattern of diction created over a long period of time===
If you define “long period of time” as the campaign, then I agree. But if you’ve ever watched video of him before he began campaigning, you’ll see he never talked that way.===
Just copied because this bears repeating.
- stella - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:32 pm:
I resent your inference that people from downstate do not know how to talk and make fun of their mannerisms. By the way Mr. Zorn we also wear shoes. We have had many successful people that have come from Southern Il. Most of us got several degrees talking funny. !!!!!!!!
- Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:33 pm:
==Obama is often said to be more articulate then W. Bush.==
President Obama is the only one who may rival Governor Rauner for champion of selectively dropping those ==g’s==. It is ridiculous when either of them do it.
- ToughGuy - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:35 pm:
Should have went straight to cow tippin’.
- zatoichi - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:36 pm:
It is one thing to get loose in off camera settings or drop the (expilative deleted) stuff in a private strategy session. It is totally different in a formal role as the CEO showcasing in a public setting.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:37 pm:
- Anonymous -,
Unless you’re Michael Sneed, “me thinks” you using that Dopey opening adds nothing to your alleged mocking of Zorn.
“Me thinks” - yikes.
- Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:37 pm:
Samuel L Jackson on the subject of dropping those ==g’s==, as only he can put it http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/sep/26/samuel-l-jackson-barack-obama
- Norseman - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:38 pm:
I guess I’ve been away from Fox Valley too long or paid more attention to the content. I didn’t even notice.
I’d believe Rauner did it purposely.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:40 pm:
Regarding the Obama comments: If anyone can point to a State of the Union Address when the President dropped half his g’s, I’ll send you a dollar.
This was a constitutionally mandated annual address, delivered to the duly elected members of the state assembly. It deserved better.
We whacked Quinn hard for his first SOTS, when he badly mangled his rambling speech written on note cards, pieces of random paper and whatever else.
Deal with it.
- Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:45 pm:
==“Me thinks”==
With great respect, if it’s good enough for Shakespeare, it’s good enough for me. As long as terms like that are not repeated to the point of over-kill, I enjoy the variety of comments, language use and formatting we get here. Even @Circular Firing Squad’s and @Just The Way It Is One’s
Different strokes for different folks and all that, methinks lol
- Wordslinger - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:48 pm:
Yeah, it’s part of the Regular Guy schtick. I don’t know why politicians bother with it, but they do. To me, there’s too much risk in coming off phony, which can be the kiss of death.
The great politicians (not talking about ideology or policies) can truly be authentic and natural in a wide range of environments.
In small groups, Bill Clinton can charm a raccoon out of a tree. He’s real, effortlessly, whether he’s in Harlem, or a West Virginia holler, or Hollywood, or Wall Street, or Davos.
Speaker Gingrich’s staff shut down one on one meetings between the two, because Newt would emerge from them all smiles, and once they debriefed him, they’d discover Bubba had taken him to the cleaners and Newt didn’t even know it.
That’s part of the reason Clinton got away with all that silly Monica stuff and is revered today. Heck, his best buddy is the dude he beat for president, and Mrs. Bush loves him like a son, according to W.
That’s some serious mojo.
- A guy - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:53 pm:
===47th Ward - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:32 pm:
===it’s a pattern of diction created over a long period of time===
If you define “long period of time” as the campaign, then I agree. But if you’ve ever watched video of him before he began campaigning, you’ll see he never talked that way.===
Just copied because this bears repeating.===
47, just for that, no Whitney Houston songs from me to you! lol.
I heard him speak a few times at City Club type functions a few years before campaigning for Governor (never dawned on anyone I was with that he would ever run for Governor) and he had this pattern of speech. When folks speak publicly, they do develop speech patterns. One of the best examples is Fr. Mike Pfleger, (who I don’t always agree with, but like a lot) His public speech patterns are very noticeable from his personal lexicon. I’m sure the Governor was nervous giving his first SOTS. You fall into habits. For better or worse, dropping g’s is a habit.
Many east coast guys go through a lot of training and drilling to quit adding the r sound at the end of words that end in vowels. It regionalizes them too much. I really am amazed that this is such a boon to discuss for folks.
If that’s the majority of the criticism, I guess I’m happy for him.
If that’s the majority of the criticism, I guess I’m happy for him.
Tee hee.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:57 pm:
==Tee hee.==
Is that your pattern of speech? lol
- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:58 pm:
FrauDDDDDDDDDD
- Dinsdale - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 2:01 pm:
I’m particulary glad that these lovely children were here today to hear that speech. Not only was it authentic frontier gibberish, it expressed a courage little seen in this day and age.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 2:01 pm:
- FKA -,
I am far, far more accepting when it’s not commented by an - Anonymous -, and it’s not a drive by…
But, point taken. Understood.
- Ryan - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 2:09 pm:
Just be yourself, Gov. You’re awkward clothing and even more awkward linguistics are making me like you less and less. Knock it off! I have no problem with you being richer than I could ever imagine. It makes no difference if you clean up this cesspool of a state.
- MOD - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 2:12 pm:
Dinsdale - phenomenal reference to Blazing Saddles!
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 2:12 pm:
===I heard him speak a few times at City Club type functions a few years before campaigning for Governor … and he had this pattern of speech===
Would that be around 2011? Because, go here and check the 28 minute mark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SM_q1Fssjk
Lots of “gotta’s,” but he didn’t drop a single g.
- CircularFirin'Squad - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 2:14 pm:
We been notin’ this little trick for many weeks. Good Capt Fax and the other media woke up. He likes to drop in a bunch of ain’ts too — if no TV around.
Wow if the media ia awakein’ can we start askin’ when they plan a sit down interview with Stu Levine….maybe a lookey look at the now defunct subprime lender in GA….oh you should be good at rememberin’ all that biz background stuff.
- Juvenal - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 2:18 pm:
Linguistic research on the subject of g-dropping:
http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/000878.html
- A guy - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 2:20 pm:
Can’t watch it this second, but I will.
Funny aside; He was dropping hundreds of g’s every election cycle, but I must assume you mean the other g’s.
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 2:20 pm:
We need serious leadership from a governor, but we ended up a guy who thinks he needs to speak to us like he is Jim Nabors playing Gomer.
- Shemp - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 2:23 pm:
It was annoying and it was a needless distraction. I expect better from a governor, no matter the party.
- Shemp - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 2:27 pm:
But yes, nothing new. Hillary Clinton was rather infamous for New York and Southern accents while campaigning. Why they still insist is beyond me. http://pix11.com/2015/02/03/is-the-new-york-accent-vanishing/
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 2:32 pm:
===while campaigning===
Yes. But this was a formal, constitutionally mandated address to the General Assembly.
- Skeptic - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 2:37 pm:
“He started pourin’ cement around that barrier” Make sure you pronounce that correctly. It’s “SEE-ment.”
- A guy - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 2:37 pm:
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 2:12 pm:
Would that be around 2011? Because, go here and check the 28 minute mark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SM_q1Fssjk
Lots of “gotta’s,” but he didn’t drop a single g.===
Thanks for the link. Caught one “doin’” in the early mid moments, but mostly liked hearing the substance of the remarks. He’s a pretty plain speaker in content and style. Was then, is now. That’s the point I’m trying to make. Far more of my exposure has been stump speeches. Just don’t get the hubbub.
But, I did really like this clip. Thanks.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 2:39 pm:
If you don’t feel the the Governor of the state, addressing the General Assembly in a formal, mandated speech in which the respect of the office held, and the respect that should be given to his Lt. Governor, and the other Constitutional Officeholders, along with the respect that should be given to the 177 elected officeholders that make up 1/3 of Illinois Government…
…if you can’t respect what really was going on besides readin’ a speech to a bunch of people, explainin’ things…
I can’t help you.
It lacks courtesy, and it lacks respect.
It does.
- Wensicia - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 2:47 pm:
I think part of this act is Rauner trying to figure out how to assume the public role of governor, what he seems confused about so far. He’s trying to transition from a corporate image to an elected official, but he seems very awkward in words and deeds. Instead of trying to fake it for the audience, he should just be himself.
- Sangam I - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 3:20 pm:
He dropped over 26,000 g’s on his campaign.
- Loop Lady - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 3:23 pm:
He kinda reminded me of Robert Redford in The Candidate after he won and he turned to his staff and said, “Now what”?
He has never had to deal with doing his business in the public realm, and he is afraid his true persona will go over like a lead balloon.
If folks think Obama is entitled (he’s not) they have a chance to view the real thing in our Governor.
Glad Cullerton lambasted his SOTS speech.
Time for Bruce and his bunch to be part of the sausage making, or not…
- Mittuns - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 3:29 pm:
He’s practicin’ for 2016.
- Big T - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 3:36 pm:
Reminds me of Ray Raynor!
- zatoichi - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 4:21 pm:
Word, I met Clinton several times when I lived in Arkansas and he was governor. The guy could work a room. I rarely saw him leave until all the hands were shaken that wanted contact. Did not matter if the crowd was 10 people in an office or 200 at a breakfast meeting. Amazing memory for names too. He just inhaled the contact.
- Paddyrollingstone - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 4:34 pm:
Homer: Son, let’s stop the fussin’ and the fuedin’
Cletus: I love you, Pa!
- AC - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 4:42 pm:
It certainly wasn’t genuine, instead it was insulting, but at the same time this is one of the funniest things from an Illinois governor since Squeezy the Pension Python.
- Langhorne - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 5:06 pm:
Painful to listen to. Very distracting. Insulting.
Every person is entitled to their own punctuation. And their own delivery of the spoken word. But you gotta be convincin and genuine and consistent.
- scholar athlete - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 5:22 pm:
This thread speaks to the electorate’s longing for authenticity in its politicians. Was there ever such a beast?
- JS Mill - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 5:31 pm:
Bill Clinton could sway people because he genuinely liked them, that was his great talent. His incredible intellect and self made man story also helped. His intellect led to hubris at times and that really hurt him.
Rauner is not and never will be an everyman. I am not sure he is an actual people person either. I have met him, he is not a warm person to the everyman types. He was born in a well off family, enjoyed an Ivy league education and became successful in finance.
Be proud of that, don’t flaunt it, and do not condescend with faux folksy’ put-ons and you will be just fine.
- Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 5:31 pm:
@Oswego Willy
A point I should have considered. Fire away
- crazybleedingheart - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 5:47 pm:
==He started pourin’ cement around that barrier” Make sure you pronounce that correctly. It’s “SEE-ment.==
Only in Southern IL.
Country hicks in N IL and most of Central drop our G’s without placing improper emphasis on the first syllable of words like cement, TV, umbrella, & insurance.
- Amalia - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 8:52 pm:
which highly paid consultant gave him the advice to drop the Gs? and not in a money way, well, except for the consultant.
- allknowingmasterofracoondom - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 8:58 pm:
Thanks for the public service Zorn. Hope counting Rauners G’s will keep you busy for the next four years so we don’t have to hear anything else from you.
- Ex Suburban Mayor - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 9:57 pm:
He is failin
- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 10:01 pm:
We’re in a lot of trouble because this guy doesn’t have a clue and if he does he doesn’t care. I don’t think he listens to anyone except Bruce.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 10:26 pm:
“Who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes?”
Okay, in this case, lying ears.
But I marvel at the Raunerites trying to convince all that what we just heard was not phony, as if we were all the victims of mass hypnosis.
Speechwriting is tough, even tougher when the speaker decides to freewheel it be randomly alternating between Theodore Huxtable and Cooter.
I have seen him do it before. When it is only a two sentence interview response, it is less noticeable. And I don’t expect it will happen again.
Unfortunately for him, he just kicked of his governship and this is what is dominating.
- Shoedoctor - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 10:30 pm:
I think it is high time for a fabulously rich guy with a cheap watch and a Carhartt jacket. We had a guy who made $180K and had a closet full of $10,000 custom suits that all looked the same. that did not work out so well.
- Black Ivy - Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 6:04 am:
Eric Zorn and Stevd Chapman, seriously? Is this what “good journalism” has been reduced to? You are literally proclaiming that Governor Rauner hired a consultant to help him sound more folksy. It’s likely untrue and if it is true, if it helps him relate to all Illinoisians, good for him! Please stop your HATIN’ and cover the news! Yuck!
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 7:40 am:
===Eric Zorn and Stevd Chapman, seriously? Is this what “good journalism” has been reduced to? You are literally proclaiming that Governor Rauner hired a consultant to help him sound more folksy. It’s likely untrue and if it is true, if it helps him relate to all Illinoisians, good for him! ===
lol,
So it’s unlikely true, by if it is Kool?
Being a Raunerbot twists you in all kinds of knots.
- AC - Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 9:09 am:
I’d be relived if he had hired a consultant, who gave him bad advice to try to seem more folksy. What worries me, and what I suspect to be the case, is that he took it on himself to attempt to be one of the people by modifying his speech. If that’s the case, he’s operating like a ship without a rudder.