* Ogden & Fry, conducted a 1-question poll this past Friday, March 13. “Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bruce Rauner is handling his job as Governor?”…

* From the pollster…

Between 30 and 60 days, Rauner’s combined approval rating only dropped three points, but his combined disapproval rating increased from 26% to 37%.

More here.

       

106 Comments - From the 'Dale to HP - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:11 pm: This is a disaster for Rauner. No way to spin it. Yikes. Anyone think he can turn it around? Or should we all get our forks ready? - How Ironic - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:12 pm: I would have thought his disapproval’s would have been higher actually. Well, lets see in 90 days. - How Ironic - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:13 pm: Also, I’m not sure how the poll was conducted, but I’d really like to see the results from those that voted for Rauner. That would be most telling. And results from GOP likely voters. - Aldyth - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:13 pm: It will be a lot lower and it won’t take too long to get there. - Wordslinger - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:17 pm: Geez, just think how bad it would be if he was doing the job he was elected to do. - Johnnie F. - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:18 pm: He’s been successful at every polarization he’s ever done. - MrJM - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:18 pm: “Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bruce Rauner is handling his job as Governor?” It’s unfair to pose this question at this time — it can only be answered once Bruce starts handling his job as Governor. Maybe next week? – MrJM - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:18 pm: All of this can flip to the positive for the Governor; LLs and Press Shop. * They do the job on FY2015 & FY2016 * Understand the Union Bashing is overall hurting (Note: There’s a reson Rauner ran away from it in the General, this is it) * Find agreeable legislation to work with GA to be seen as doing his job. You have budgets passed, a legislative agenda passed and signed, and you can have the Press Shop “shop” story after story showing leadership. All doable now, all doable during session. The path now, even the best LLs and the sharpest Press Shop can’t help a “too stubborn” Sonny Corleone. It is still going to boil down to the LLs and Press Shop, as it was on the first day, today, and thru this GA Session. Bullying one set of Caucuses, and “helping” the Dem Caucuses with this Dopey $20 million sham won’t raise poll numbers, and more importantly, far more importantly, it won’t get to 30, it won’t get to 60, it won’t solve pensions, it won’t fix two Fiscal Years, and what it will do…it will destroy the ILGOP. “I can’t stop it now”…but the LLs and the Press Shop can. OW - Norseman - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:20 pm: No worries. He’ll use his wealth to convince everyone that he’s a messiah. - anon - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:20 pm: They didn’t call me. If they did, his approval rating would be slightly better. You know, he doesn’t care about these numbers. He cares about turning around the absolute crapfest he was handed. - Em - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:24 pm: I agree with Norseman. He will buy his way out of everything. - Name Withheld - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:24 pm: As much as I don’t want to sound like a loon, what are the odds that someone’s going to try to satisfy the conditions for Illinois’ 2010 recall law? If Rauner really ticks enough people off, I could see some trying to organize this. - A guy - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:25 pm: The only person benefiting from this exercise is the pollster. - lincoln's beard - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:27 pm: “I was elected to tell unpopular truths and make the unpopular decisions. This poll tells me… it’s working! I’ll stay the course.” - How Ironic - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:29 pm: @Lincoln’s Beard: “I was elected to tell unpopular truths and make the unpopular decisions. This poll tells me… it’s working! I’ll stay the course.” Actually it should be “I was elected telling the untruth, to make good decisions. This poll tells me the people realize they have elected a charlatan that can’t tell the truth and doesn’t know how to lead” - Finally Out (and now very glad to be) - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:30 pm: @anon 2:20 They didn’t call me either. If they did, his approval rating would be much worse. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:31 pm: ===The only person benefiting from this exercise is the pollster.=== Sonny Corleone: No, no, no! No more! Not this time, consigliere. No more meetin’s, no more discussions, no more …You give ‘em one message: …it’s all-out war; we go to the mattresses. Yeah - A Guy -, it turns out well in the end… - Illinois Spork Producers - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:32 pm: The difference between Blago and Rauner is two $20 million political funds (and more $ if necessary)…Rauner can afford to be unpopular for a longer stretch than Blago ever could because he has other ways to impact elected officials. Anyone wish we had public financing of elections now? - D.P.Gumby - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:33 pm: If he can find video of his opponent dancing a polka w/ Blago maybe he can win reelection… - VanillaMan - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:37 pm: What I am seeing is a poll which suggests that the people who wanted an anti-union, anti-social spending anarchist voted for Rauner and were delighted by his rhetoric since his inauguration, and then the poll also suggests that everyone else feels screwed. He didn’t campaign as he has “governed”. Those voters believing Rauner would behave like a mature businessman with an open mind and an interest in finding a way to build a bipartisan consensus, got a rude discovery. The Democrats who believed in the cartoon Quinn presented throughout the campaign - have been vindicated. The new governor not only has all the unattractive personality traits of a Scrooge, he couldn’t wait to begin attacking, finger pointing and blaming Illinoisans who earned more than he believed they should. He has polarized Illinoisans, yet those voters who already felt polarized before this year, aren’t effected by this man’s politics. Bruce Rauner has failed to deliver the guy he promised he was. This is why he is losing support. - Amalia - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:44 pm: surprising the numbers are that high considering 1)haters are just rampant so no one is immune, and 2) there are real reasons to dislike his performance. - Jorge - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:47 pm: Its only going to get worse. - illinoised - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:48 pm: I’m amazed his numbers are that high. - Outsider - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:50 pm: I’m Schocked!! - Elvis - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:53 pm: Repeat after me ten times: He’s a great Governor and a very compassionated (self serving) man. - Demoralized - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:56 pm: == He cares about turning around the absolute crapfest he was handed.== Let us know when he’s going to get to work on that. Constantly giving speeches on how horrible unions are doesn’t count. - AnonymousOne - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:59 pm: Surprised the number is so high. Given who he’s playing to, you’d think the approval # would be 1%. - IllinoisBoi - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 3:05 pm: >>Johnnie F. - >>He’s been successful at every polarization he’s ever done. This Capitol Fax thing needs a “like” button. - Christopher - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 3:14 pm: They didn’t ask me, or his approval rating would be lower still! - Gooner - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 3:16 pm: I wonder how these numbers will impact the real approval number that concerns Rauner — “Approval Among Likely GOP Presidential Candidates.” If his numbers continue to drop, I’m not sure what he brings to the table for V.P. A VP who is polling 35% at home is not going put the state into play in 2016. Without reasonable numbers in IL, he’s just another union-bashing old white male, and there are probably five hundred similar candidates across the country. Based on his performance, I’m not just buying that he’s got his eye on Illinois. He must know that his proposals are going nowhere. He’s not going to change policy here. That’s not the way he’s governing. He must have another plan. Either that, or he’s the least competent elected official we’ve had since Walker. - Anon - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 3:16 pm: Leave it to BVR: “you know, there’s always gonna be some negative nellies protectin’ the corrupt status quo. But trust me, I know what’s best for all of you commoners, I mean, workin’ folks. What should I say next, Mr. Koch?” - Abe the Babe - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 3:19 pm: ==You know, he doesn’t care about these numbers. He cares about turning around the absolute crapfest he was handed.== Which is obviously why he is spending time, oxygen, political capital, and millions in attorneys on 6k workers who pay fair share. Everyone knows that will fix the budget mess. - anon - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 3:21 pm: Whiners are out in force. Many Cub fans here??? - Abe the Babe - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 3:22 pm: ==If his numbers continue to drop, I’m not sure what he brings to the table for V.P. == Do you people really think this guy wants to play second fiddle? Less than a year into his first foray into politics? Nonsense. This guy wanted the job he is in now because he has contempt for certain segments of our society. Which his budget shows is everyone except corporations, the wealthy, and bikers. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 3:24 pm: Perspective? If we all take Rauner at his word that polling really doesn’t matter, and he is willing to do the job that needs to be done to make things better…and Rauner has yet to do anything but give Union busting speeches and threaten the GA Caucuses ( Now all four)… …what will it really look like when Rauner does…something? Why “Perspective?” Rauner’s first “big move” was the Fair Share grab. Rauner’s in court now. AG and Comptroller against his move too… An EO…in the courts. That the first 60 Days. Mike Z, Lance, et al., Please help him. Staff and Crew matter. If Rauner can’t see what is going on, or understand it, help him. Please. - How Ironic - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 3:24 pm: @ Anon: ” Many Cub fans here???” Clearly you are new here. Maybe you should just run on home, and check to see if any new RaunerBot Talking Points TM have arrived? - Gooner - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 3:28 pm: Abe, If he was concerned about the job he was in now, then he would make moves that could advance those things. Instead, he’s annoying everybody such that any proposal is DOA. Other than Sandack (who will bark and then roll over is Rauner offers his a squeaky toy), I don’t see any support in the House or Senate. So I just have a tough time believing that he’s focused on his current job. He’s not going to be top of the ticket in 2016, but being put second makes him a contender either in 2020 or 2024 (depending on if the ticket wins). - Langhorne - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 3:32 pm: Disapproval numbers are a badge of courage to rauner. The worse they get, the better, bec to him that means he is on the “right” path to the extermination of unions. Budgets? No big deal. I figure he has a side bet w Scott walker on who can generate the largest protest demonstration - ArchPundit - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 3:35 pm: FakeRauner: But everyone at the Illinois Policy Institute loves me. This poll must be wrong. - walker - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 3:41 pm: Not surprising. Early yet. - Precinct Captain - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 3:51 pm: Raunerbots, every poll on PQ’s approval was somehow a continuing indictment of his work, how can you dismiss these polls? Is it because, as Mr. JM asserts, Bruce really isn’t doing work, he’s just havin’ fun pretendin’ to be governin’? - Ahoy! - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 4:00 pm: I wouldn’t be too concerned about the poll results. He’s facing the worse budget issue of any state and just proposed a budget, while flawed has a lot of spending reductions which voters don’t like yet he’s still not upside down. It might be because he’s still in the honeymoon phase, but a governor proposing to actually solve our problems is not going to be popular and he’s still has more approval than non-approval. - Keyser Soze - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 4:06 pm: Just wait until the State Fair, when the G.A. is still in session. - DuPage - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 4:06 pm: Rauner had his chance, the GA was going to keep the 5% tax rate. He demanded they NOT do that. He might of thought that was good campaign rhetoric, and did not think the GA would actually honor his request. Rauner promised to increase education funding, etc., etc.. He made promises he knew he could not keep, and now is blaming everyone else. People are waking up to what Rauner’s agenda really is, and realizing they got fooled big time. - anon - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 4:12 pm: How Ironic, just skip on over to the beach. CA is your domain now bro! - How Ironic - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 4:21 pm: @Anon, long way from the beach. It’s a big state. More sagebrushy and less watery in my local. - Precinct Captain - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 4:24 pm: ==- Ahoy! - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 4:00 pm:== Do you know how to read polls? - ironman - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 4:29 pm: Its going to get worse , before it gets better. - anon - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 4:32 pm: At this rate, it won’t be long before disapprovals exceed approvals. First the future of the Republican Party resigns, and now this. - Wensicia - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 4:41 pm: It’s gonna be pretty hard for Republicans to defend this guy while he’s running around the state giving speeches instead of dealing with the budget crises. The numbers will continue to tank if this continues. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 4:45 pm: Let’s remember; The Rauner $20 million is to punish the ILGOP GA. Rauner polling this…well… Rauner will be a drag if this continues, given how the first 60 days have gone. I worry for the GOP Caucuses. Rauner doesn’t worry for them. I hope the Members can survive him and his style. - Norseman - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 4:50 pm: Willy, you’re on the real concern about this poll. There will be a lot of GOP Solons wondering about how effective that slush fund will be for them. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 4:53 pm: - Norseman -, Come Primary time and General Election time, voter dissatisfaction with Rauner will be placed on the GOP GA. You know, the worry should feel real come January 2016, and petitions start a few short months from now. The $20 million can’t make these type of numbers float, let alone add seats. Scary - Arsenal - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:00 pm: “what are the odds that someone’s going to try to satisfy the conditions for Illinois’ 2010 recall law?” That someone will try? Very high! That it will go anywhere? VERY low. Mr. 40% is going to have a tough time pulling off his “reach over their heads” strategy with the GA, though. - A guy - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:00 pm: OW, Mike Madigan polls miserably regularly. Seems to me he gets things done. Not sure why you think this poll is something remarkable. They polled one guy. How do you think any of the caucuses, their leaders or their members would poll right now. One poll, one question. You can open your curtains a crack. It’ll be OK. - Norseman - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:03 pm: Seriously, recall? We don’t have recall in Illinois. We have a joke labeled recall that was played on gullible voters. Move on to more serious discussion. - Ahoy! - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:05 pm: Precinct Captain, Yes, and I can also do basic math: 40.2% approve 37.3 disapprove 22.5% neutral While it’s not a plurality, more people approve than disapprove. Also, I never said it was good, I just said I wouldn’t be too concerned at this moment. - How Ironic - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:06 pm: @A Guy: “OW, Mike Madigan polls miserably regularly. Seems to me he gets things done. Not sure why you think this poll is something remarkable.” Good point on Madigan, I’ll concede that. However, the differentiation here is that Madigan knows how to lead; and is well versed in politics. Rauner doesn’t appear to have either of those in his toolkit. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:07 pm: ===OW, Mike Madigan polls miserably regularly. Seems to me he gets things done. Not sure why you think this poll is something remarkable.=== MJM kept all 71 seats, with a Rauner victory. Every. One. The Governor and the “Rauner Cuts”…they won’t be called the Madigan Cuts. Why. The Big Chair owns it. In governor off-year / Presidential year, and given the “Rauner Cuts”, you see Dem seats flipping? You see GOP seats holding? Governing is difficult. Rauner sees the GOP GA as expendable. He does. Rauner threatens, because he has to. I worry for the GOP Caucuses. There’s reason TO worry. - Anon - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:07 pm: Rather meaningless poll. It would have been helpful to ask people to respond to something specific. - How Ironic - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:09 pm: @ Anon: “It would have been helpful to ask people to respond to something specific.” I agree. Too bad Rauner isn’t keen on providing specifics. Then perhaps they could be asked about them? - jerry 101 - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:10 pm: God, what a disaster. But, Illinois bought these disasters. Both the Governor and the decades of splurging on the pension credit card. - Arsenal - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:10 pm: “40.2% approve 37.3 disapprove” Meh, that’s within the margin of error; it’s essentially tied. Tied is better than underwater, though. - Arsenal - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:13 pm: The big problem is the trendline, though. What reverses it? “Mike Madigan polls miserably regularly.” How’s he poll in the only constituency responsible for electing him? “Seems to me he gets things done.” Through entirely different means. C’mon, you’re the guy who’s said that Rauner is doing a “reach over their heads” strategy. That doesn’t happen with a 40% approval rating. - AC - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:18 pm: The growing chorus of disapproval is just noise from special interests. You’d expect the corrupt cogs to keep making noise until Bruce Almighty rebuilds the states center differential thereby properly distributing torque across the state and empowering the job creators. I saw a unionized city worker operating a street sweeping, taxpayer crushing machine, and if you saw the same thing, you’d be among the 2.2% increase in approvals. Having popular support is easier than producing a balanced budget, if you ignore detractors. - Illinois Spork Producers - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:21 pm: It should come as no surprise Rauner’s wealth will be very disruptive to rank and file legislators who don’t toe the line on his agenda. The real question is whether Rauner’s wealth will be disruptive to legislative leadership. If leadership perceives no threat, then Rauner’s wealth - and his willingness to wield it openly and brazenly - is a real game changer. His popularity (or the lack of it) may play a role in his support for Democrats but probably won’t impact his open support for Republicans in Primary Elections. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:22 pm: ===The growing chorus of disapproval is just noise from special interests. You’d expect the corrupt cogs to keep making noise until Bruce Almighty rebuilds the states center differential thereby properly distributing torque across the state and empowering the job creators.=== What does that even mean? It’s a poll of voters. === I saw a unionized city worker operating a street sweeping, taxpayer crushing machine, and if you saw the same thing, you’d be among the 2.2% increase in approvals.=== What if they saw a garbage man? Water Department worker? Again, whaaaa? ===Having popular support is easier than producing a balanced budget, if you ignore detractors.=== “Haters gonna hate?” - A guy - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:23 pm: Ars, thoughtful response. The poll is just not telling us enough. We don’t know age, geographic, gender breakdown or anything else. I’m not criticizing or questioning the numbers. It’s a spot poll, nothing more, nothing less. We know a more people are ticked off. The other number is more static. It’s a snapshot. In my experience these are tracking polls designed to look at over a year’s time and simply keep tracking. They’re fluid. No information, just tell us how you feel today. There’s a place for them. I’m just not too overwhelmed. Or move one way or the other at all. We’ll see another one in a month that might reflect a budget agreement. Sharp upturn maybe. Will that be something to extrapolate more from than people feel a little better? - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:26 pm: - Illinois Spork Producers -, A GOP Governor Primaring sitting GOP sitting GA members ain’t buliding a GOP party, but a Raunerite Party. You are a Raunerite if you think the $20 million is good for the ILGOP GA. It will destroy the ILGOP. Raunerite Party “musts” isn’t the GOP Reagan Rule for Republicans. Dope. - Illinois Spork Producers - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:26 pm: Rauner’s best path to the national spotlight is help pick and then deliver the State of Illinois for the Republican nominee in 2016. If the Presidential race is close in Illinois, expect Rauner to spend a bundle. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:31 pm: ===Rauner’s best path to the national spotlight is help pick and then deliver the State of Illinois for the Republican nominee in 2016. If the Presidential race is close in Illinois, expect Rauner to spend a bundle.=== That might be wishful thinking of 30 years ago. Running the state like Wisconsin or Indiana won’t bring Illinois closer to helping a POTUS Nominee - Illinois Spork Producers - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:32 pm: OW - I’ll explain because you seem a bit nervous today and are engaging in uncalled for personal attacks. if rank and file fear him and vote his way, then Rauner supports them in the primary. This money is a public threat - Rauner hopes no one calls him on it. Keep in mind, rauner doesn’t need to enforce party purity on all but can target one or two on both sides of the aisle with a cash onslaught to send a message to other rank and file members. - How Ironic - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:32 pm: @OW, I think was AC was being facetious. Tipoff - Bruce Almighty. Plus the usage of job creator, unions and some other dog whistles. Maybe you need to reread? - AC - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:33 pm: Oswego Willy - Using some of the absurd language from the Rauner folks, I was sarcastically stating that Rauner will ignore the results of the poll, the same way he discounted protestors as special interests, and the same way he apparently is ignoring his advisors and everyone else telling him to change focus. I’d bet he has internal polling that is far more detailed that’s being ignored too, and replaced by anecdotes in his mind. Sure it’s just a poll, but the trend should trouble him, but I don’t think it will. - How Ironic - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:36 pm: @ISP: “This money is a public threat - Rauner hopes no one calls him on it.” I bet Rauner is PRAYING someone calls him on it. He loves spending money, and has no issue with who he crushes, as long as it’s in his best interest. And his best interests are in no way related to Illinois, it’s citizens, or much less the GOP caucus. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:37 pm: - AC -, Please label as snark or signal it better. Your attempt at snark fell on deaf ears. All good. I’ll try to guess better. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:39 pm: My apologies, to add… - How Ironic - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:39 pm: @OW, I got it. You’re just fired up today. All the signs were there, you just missed them. Seriously…” unionized city worker operating a street sweeping, taxpayer crushing machine” That’s some funny stuff. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:41 pm: I did it. I was wrong. I’m sorry. - ArchPundit - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:43 pm: Poll results, who cares? I mean, it’s not like the primary power of the executive is to persuade or anything…. ===I wouldn’t be too concerned about the poll results. So if he isn’t popular, how is he going to, you know, actually do anything? - How Ironic - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:44 pm: @ArchPundit: “So if he isn’t popular, how is he going to, you know, actually do anything?” EO? Worked like magic for Blago. Maybe King Rauner will try a Royal Fiat? - AC - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:55 pm: Oswego Willy & How Ironic - it’s all good, I’ll try to label as snark in the future if there’s any doubt as to how it might be interpreted. - Six Degrees of Separation - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:58 pm: King Thompson tried a Royal Checker, and he didn’t like it. - Wensicia - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 6:00 pm: The best sarcasm is never recognized as such. - Precinct Captain - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 6:08 pm: ==- Ahoy! - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:05 pm:== Please see here: - Arsenal - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:10 pm: A guy, I would check O&F’s website in a few days. They’ve usually got crosstabs there. Right now, it does not appear they have them up for this poll. - Wordslinger - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 6:13 pm: Gooner, I can’t believe that Rauner is delusional enough to think he’s a presidential or veep player in 2016. No oxygen left in that room. I do think, though, he likes the national attention in some circles for talking naughty about unions, and giving speeches in tightly controlled environments, but never, ever, taking questions. The actual work of governor, not so much, as of yet. “Balanced budgets are easy,” “could solve FY15 in a day if we all got in the same room…,” it’s like the Cowardly Lion, “put em up, put em up, I’ll fight you with one paw behind my back…” Just get to it already. - PoolGuy - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 6:16 pm: OW at 5:41pm were you channeling your inner Jimmy Woods from Nixon on that one? - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 6:21 pm: - PoolGuy -, You found the Easter Egg. Well done. - Onlooker - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 6:34 pm: Has anyone heard about Rauner reducing gross pay of just fair share members by the amount of union dues? - CrossTabs - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 6:38 pm: If you look at the crosstabs there is something funny with the poll. 44% of the sample was over the age of 65? That’s a tremendous over sample of that group. Just doing some quick math and Illinois’ total population over 65 *may* be 10%. I’m betting that the older demographic skews Republican and Rauner may actually be doing significantly worse than this poll indicates. - PoolGuy - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 6:46 pm: speaking of NIxon, from Jan ‘73 to Aug ‘74 his average approval rating was 34.4%. 34% and Nixon had Vietnam blame and Watergate hanging over his head, along with dollar depreciation and a major oil crisis. his lowest was 24% in Aug ‘74 when he resigned. a 40% approval rating for Rauner 60 days into office ain’t good any way you slice it. - Union boss - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 7:53 pm: ONE TERM - Enviro - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 8:18 pm: The governor’s team needs to help him rethink his approach to solving Illinois’ financial problems. “A politician should have three hats. One for throwing into the ring, one for talking through, and one for pulling rabbits out of if elected.” ~ Carl Sandburg from Illinois - Wait A Illinios Minute - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 9:01 pm: Let’s start beating the drum….. Recall recall…… recall recall…..recall recall this should be real easy next year. - Makandadawg - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 9:54 pm: Please don’t start the recall drum until you have a candidiate that can win against BR. He won just four months ago, not that much has changed. Just ask the folks in Wiscvonsin. They tried their best but failed to field a winner to take scott walker’s place. - Anon - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 10:16 pm: Over under for amount of time before Durkin and/or radogno break from Rauner? At this point, he is an anchor around their necks and they are walking the plank. - Cheswick - Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 11:06 pm: I keep thinking about what Diana Rauner said during the campaign: He’s going to drive everyone nuts. (Or words to the effect.) And he is. Is that all he’s going to do for four years? - Jorge - Thursday, Mar 19, 15 @ 12:59 am: The recall option isn’t plausible. As much as I wish it were, the signatures needed from the GA aren’t there. - Mr. Moto - Thursday, Mar 19, 15 @ 4:45 am: Anon at 10:16. Durkin and Radogno are democrats in GOP clothing. So is Rauner. - Louis Howe - Thursday, Mar 19, 15 @ 6:11 am: I don’t agree with where Rauner’s headed, but believe he’ll figure out a way to get there. He’s governor for the next 4 years. - mythoughtis - Thursday, Mar 19, 15 @ 7:00 am: I have to agree with those who say he’s not started governing. He’s still in campaign mode. I am not sure what other purpose he has in his daily speeches to special interests - about the evils of special interests and unions. I don’t think these groups are going to rise up and march on Springfield in support of him. Meanwhile ‘Rome’ is burning due to the budget crisis. He really reminds me of Blago - governing by speeches rather than actual governing. More short trips to the Legislature gallery rather than speeches might help. Start celebrating state workers rather than demonizing them would also help. I didn’t vote for him, and I am glad. I didn’t vote Quinn either. - anon - Thursday, Mar 19, 15 @ 7:41 am: Hey, it takes some time to undo the huge mess the dems created the past 12 years. At least give the Guv till the end of summer! - Carhartt Representative - Thursday, Mar 19, 15 @ 7:48 am: =Hey, it takes some time to undo the huge mess the dems created the past 12 years. At least give the Guv till the end of summer!= So, you’re saying that the state government was running very smoothly under George Ryan? - Demoralized - Thursday, Mar 19, 15 @ 7:59 am: @anon: Then tell him to stop traveling around the state constantly bashing unions and actually do something constructive. He’s made his point. He hates unions. We get the message. Now go back to work and actually do something. Only then will I give him “time” to do something. - PublicServant - Thursday, Mar 19, 15 @ 8:37 am: anon, I’m curious, what kind of small business do you own again? - Wait A Illinois Minute - Thursday, Mar 19, 15 @ 11:04 am: Well the recall in Wisconsin was done wrong. You do not run the same person walker just beat ….. Dough. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.