79 Comments - Grandson of Man - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 6:46 am: If Ounce and Diana can’t convince Rauner to drop his unattainable/unreasonable demands and work on a budget plus some variation of a “turnaround” item or two, who can? - Picking a side - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 6:47 am: Taking my cue from Eric Zorn I am taking a side. The governor is calling the shots here the governor is to blame for making politically impossible demands. Ineptitude or calculated, who knows. But Duane Rauner is a part of the administration and shares some of the blame. Ounce is a solid organization that needs to part ways with the propaganda arm of the executive branch. - Rich Miller - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 6:58 am: Grandson of Man makes a valid point. This is an impossible task. - Picking a side - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 7:04 am: Also wonder why an organization like Ounce of Prevention does not take Rauner to task for substance of his wage deflating agenda. Lower union pay is going to harm working class families more than slightly lower municipal budgets are going to help them. Again Ounce needs to oust Diane Rauner. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 7:04 am: With all due respect to Ounce; ===Do we feel our message is getting through in Springfield right now? I don’t think any of us in the early childhood field feel we’ve made a breakthrough…but we’re not giving up.=== Diana Rauner lives, eats, sleeps, shares her dayS with the Governor of the state of Illinois. If Diana Rauner, after millions in Ads saying Bruce Rauner has(d) no social agenda, and Diana Rauner has NO influence over her own husband… That’s a fail… of Diana Rauner… for Ounce… and all that Ounce advocates. Sorry. Diana Rauner should be embarrassed. Sooner or later, the whispers about her will get louder to voiced criticism, and when you keep a job as President (even without pay) of an Advocacy organization that’s as ineffective as everyone’s, that’s on the President, First Lady of Illinois, or not. Diana Rauner should become “President Emeritus”, be “celebrated” and Ounce and Diana Rauner should part ways on the day to day operating and advocacy. Bruce Rauner is driven by results. So, the wife who voucher for him, the excuse is… ===Do we feel our message is getting through in Springfield right now? I don’t think any of us in the early childhood field feel we’ve made a breakthrough…but we’re not giving up.=== … but maybe y’all need to rethink some leadership(?) And that’s right, exactly right. Ounce of Prevention, Respectfully. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 7:19 am: Dear Eric Zorn, I read your Comment. I stand by my assessment, maybe you should read your own Editorial Board and Rauner Dot Point editorials they seem to churn out right on cue… in between wishing for Hurricanes to devastate Chicago. Still a fan, but nothing in your “self edited one word assessment” of my “broad brush” opinion changed what is actually going on in reporting. OW - Blue dog dem - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 7:21 am: I read that the Ounce gets $15 mil/ yr from the state. How much was slashed? This seems like such a tiny number in the big picture. - RNUG - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 7:22 am: == If Ounce and Diana can’t convince Rauner to drop his unattainable/unreasonable demands and work on a budget plus some variation of a “turnaround” item or two, who can? == It’s not who, but WHAT? Only a disaster of such magnitude that the Governor can’t avoid personal responsibility will solve this impasse. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 7:27 am: Also, Mr. Zorn, read my comment… from yesterday; ===The real Springfield Press Corps is a real good and talented bunch, but their own outlets, thought Editorials or “higher ups” just won’t cross Rauner. History says so.=== Like I said, I stand by my comment. The Springfield Press Corps, including the Trib’s Crew in it, are real good and talented. But already know they are too. Two words for you; selective reading. OW - Cassandra - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 7:28 am: I think we should leave Mrs. Rauner out of this. I don’t expect her to influence her husband-or not. First ladies sometime exercise their influence and sometimes do not. It is entirely up to them. We are not participants in the Rauner private lives, nor should we be. Do we expect Michelle Obama to weigh in, on, say, the Keystone pipeline or the merits of free trade. Of course not. As to all the anti-Rauner rhetoric-we elected him! We elected him, a Republican in a predominantly Democratic state because, it would appear, we were fed up with both Pat Quinn and the preceding decade of extremely poor, even corrupt governance in Illinois. It wasn’t a coup. And if the Democrats are so upset, well, maybe they should have put up a better candidate. Better candidates than Quinn did exist. If you don’t like what he’s doing, send him an e-mail. Write an op ed in the local paper. Go to meetings. Lose the insults. - PublicServant - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 7:32 am: And it’s going to remain impossible to get through to the governor as long as comments from Ounce like these continue the false equivalence: ===both the governor and legislature need to put aside their differences and resolve the 2016 budget impasse=== The governor needs to agree to sit down and talk budget before they can even attempt to resolve their differences on revenues and expenses, so, right now, all statements like that are doing is prolonging the impasse. - RNUG - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 7:40 am: Actually, nothing will happen until the Governor learns that Governor’s PROPOSE and Legislatures DISPOSE. To clarify the above: PROPOSE - verb (used with object), proposed, proposing. 1. to offer or suggest (a matter, subject, case, etc.) for consideration, acceptance, or action: to propose a new method. DISPOSE - verb (used with object), disposed, disposing. 1. to give a tendency or inclination to 2. to put in a particular or the proper order or arrangement; adjust by arranging the parts. - Keyrock - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 7:41 am: I’m concerned, too, that Eric Zorn didn’t pick a lane. That’s not like him. Is he afraid of being McKinney’d? - Keyrock - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 7:45 am: Well, Rich, you’re blog is just about single-handedly raising this issue. That’s been very important. I agree that if the President of the Ounce won’t take a public and forceful role in speaking out against the destructive attacks on child welfare being instituted by Governor Rauner, then the President ought to gracefully step aside. - @MisterJayEm - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 7:46 am: At the risk of repeating myself: Bruce Rauner does not care. – MrJM - Norseman - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 7:47 am: Megan, the head of your organization is in a unique position among all the advocates in this state. What it will take to end this impact is public pressure. Public pressure that will be measured in part by media stories and editorials. A more outspoken position by your leader would generate tremendous media focus on the impasse. None of the other advocates can accomplish that feat. Conversely, your organization is in an awkward position where the full energy of your leader can’t be used if she wants to maintain a happy marital situation. To put it politely, which I normally wouldn’t do for the gov, he’s stubborn. Having a stubborn wife, I can relate. It’s within this context that people question the effectiveness of your leadership. I can imagine the frustration you feel, but it is the burden you must deal with as your organization assesses the return on the investment in your leader. - The Captain - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 7:49 am: Ounce of Prevention is in a no-win situation but then again so is every advocacy organization that works on behalf of the people that the Governor has decided to use as pawns and whose pleas for help have fallen on deaf ears. The key difference is that Diana Rauner and her husband chose this path while the rest of these advocates did not. I am far from an expert but based on what I’ve seen I feel confident that Voices for Illinois Children has done everything in their power to advocate for the issues and people they support and based on that standard Ounce of Prevention falls far short. - Keyrock - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 7:53 am: (Sorry for the triple post. I only meant to post two.) - Jam ma'am - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 7:56 am: I find it unsettling that Mrs Rauner has such little influence over her husband here. As unsettling for her as anything. The gov strikes me as stubborn and domineering when pushed. He also seems interested in a slash and burn approach to winning. Whatever woes we lament for the personalities of the state leadership, it has to be similar and worse at home. The campaign portrayed them as a happy moderate couple, aligned on social issues, suggesting they talk at home. Most people thought Diana would have undue influence in the Governor’s office over early childhood policy. I feel for her. She built the Ounce into a powerhouse and has no influence. He’s coming across as mean, vengeful and obstinate. Again, I feel for her. - LizPhairTax - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 8:13 am: It’s an impossible situation and kudos to Megan Meyer for responding. Interesting to me that she didn’t use Bruce Rauner’s name. She’s a pro. I’m sure that wasn’t accidental. - Picking a side - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 8:25 am: Cassandra, Bruce was elected by the smallest of margins in no small part due to his wife (who has her own chief of staff!) Assuring the masses that her hubby has no social agenda. But he did and families are suffering for it. Ounce of Prevention needs to take a side or sit down. - Henry Francis - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 8:27 am: The Ounce has been publicly opposed to changes the governor has announced in child care That is some choice of words. “Changes” - not “cuts”. Really passive voice. The governor merely “announced” these “changes”. I guess when they were handing out of the gag to the First Lady, Ms. Meyer was handed kid gloves. - Dilemma - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 8:29 am: We have a governor who is married to an advocate for a special interest. Frankly, I’m less concerned about this than I am about Justice Clarence Thomas and his wife, who happens to be a lobbyist for the very interests his decisions uniformly support. I am concerned, but at least Ounce seems to have other people in their organization who are acting for the benefit of the group they support. - AC - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 8:37 am: ==I think we should leave Mrs. Rauner out of this.== I’d agree were it not for her appearances in campaign ads encouraging us to vote for her husband. - Losing My Edge - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 8:39 am: –I think we should leave Mrs. Rauner out of this. I don’t expect her to influence her husband-or not. First ladies sometime exercise their influence and sometimes do not. It is entirely up to them. We are not participants in the Rauner private lives, nor should we be.– Why? Diana Rauner is a public figure, and more than that, she was an integral part of the governor’s campaign strategy. And as for the Obama comment, Diana already held this position prior to Rauner’s election…again, an angle that was included within the governor’s campaign strategy. With all due respect to the Governor and First Lady, the question here is not about their personal relationship but what impact their relationship has had on her job performance. The answer is probably negligible but as an executive of a public advocacy group, I don’t believe it’s out of line for people to feel the right to ask the question. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 8:40 am: ===I’d agree were it not for her appearances in campaign ads encouraging us to vote for her husband.=== “(Pause)… I mean, other than that… (Pause, scratches head, looks around, looks up, closes eyes, sighs)… what I’m sayin’ is… other than that…” LOL - Dilemma - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 8:40 am: You can’t be married to the governor AND president of an organization that advocates for a group of people the governor is actively harming without being squarely in the cross-hairs of criticism. She could easily step into a President Emeritus position and avoid the negative associations she will bring to the organization. - Dome Gnome - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 8:48 am: I normally like to leave spouses and kids out of it, too, but this is a sticky wicket. An ounce of integrity is worth a pound of mixed messages. - Juvenal - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 8:49 am: 1) I’d say The Ounce’s Executive Director is doing just about all you can expect of any nonprofit leader. 2) The Ounce’s Executive Director isn’t “any nonprofit leader.” She leveraged her reputation as a nonprofit leader to elect the governor. If she held a press conference tomorrow clarifying, as Emily Miller did, that the 90% cuts in child care eligibility are the sole fault of the governor and the governor alone, she’d be doing her job as an advocate. But missing from Megan’s long list of efforts by The Ounce are any media appearances or statements by its executive director, and that is one of the three core functions of an institutional leader. - Weltschmerz - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 8:51 am: The basic assumption of this blog and the majority of comments is that the great state of Illinois was doing just fine before Rauner and that all he needs to do is make a few minor tweaks and happiness will reign again. Maybe IL does need a major boost in mental health spending. - Rich Miller - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 8:51 am: Weltschmerz, were you ever a reader before this year? Because if you were, you’d never say something that stupid… unless you are. - Jocko - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 8:52 am: At least Ounce knows (and admits) they’re in the middle. I can wait to hear what Diana (by way of Sara Wojcicki Jimenez) has to say. Diana’s silence on the matter (particularly after those campaign ads) implies she’s comfortable with Bruce’s “wedges”. - JS Mill - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 8:52 am: I think it is interesting that the president of Ounce has not spoken directly to the media. - Cheswick - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:02 am: With respect to anyone — whether it be a reporter, an editorial board, an organization, an individual — taking Rauner to task is an impossible job in that he will sidestep the issue, stick to his talking points, and continue to insist that what he’s doing is winning. I’m guessing the same goes for a staffer (if one were to dare), and his wife (based on his comment that she’s mad at him a week or so ago). - Dilemma - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:06 am: @Welschmerz ==The basic assumption of this blog and the majority of comments is that the great state of Illinois was doing just fine before Rauner and that all he needs to do is make a few minor tweaks and happiness will reign again. == No, the basic assumption was that we usually have a budget; labor issues are usually resolved in a timely manner; the poor/needy/elderly/etc. don’t have services drastically cut; and the government doesn’t have vendors cutting it off due to nonpayment. There are a million things to fix, but the situation is worse than it was before. The new status quo is far worse than the status quo used to be. - Stones - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:06 am: I’m surprised Mrs. Rauner remains affiliated with the organization. - scholar athlete - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:07 am: I’m confused by the apparent sympathy some have expressed for Diane Rauner. Many agree that Bruce Rauner ran a dishonest/misleading/all too common campaign regarding his views on unions, social services, etc. Are we really to think that Diane Rauner did not know his views on these issues while she filmed campaign videos on his behalf? C’mon, man! She should do the honorable thing here and resign. Take it from me, wearing the “Emeritus” title is…well… fairly harmless. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:11 am: - JS Mill -, Diana Rauner can NOT, personally, say… ===Do we feel our message is getting through in Springfield right now? I don’t think any of us in the early childhood field feel we’ve made a breakthrough…but we’re not giving up.=== “Why?” 1) It’s admitting Diana Rauner is a failed leader who can’t, personally, be effective in influencing her own husband. 2) It leaves Diana Rauner, personally, wide open to personal criticism to the follow up questions of “What exactly do you do there… Mrs. Rauner? 3) Diana Rauner, if said by her, can’t be seen throwing all advocacy groups under the bus as ineffective too… as she’s also Illinois’ First Lady. Diana Rauner put herself in such a box, and with millions spent putting her in front of cameras saying how great her husband is while Bruce Rauner completely decimates programs for real people that groups like hers advocate for… Diana Rauner should be completely embarrassed for her role in ruining the social services here in Illinois… abd she can’t say “boo” about it, cause when it mattered, she was in Ads promoting the man who’s doing it. - justacitizen - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:17 am: I’m sure BR was aware of his wife’s political affiliation when they married. So, I’m sure they have disagreed conceptually on a lot of things during their marriage. Yeh, she should probably step down because of the appearance of undue influence but I appreciate her loyalty for her cause. Surprised OOP hasn’t let her go for not getting the job done. - VanillaMan - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:18 am: He can’t do his job. He can’t begin to understand his job. He can’t be talked to. He can’t listen. He can’t be reasoned with. We need to do something to work around him so that we can function, or we need to somehow get rid of him. - cdog - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:22 am: I look forward to the “advocates,” including the wife of the governor, holding the Administration accountable to the required provisions in Child Care And Development Block Grant Act. (source of funding for CCAP) Scroll down to “Statutory Language” http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/occ/ccdf-reauthorization Maybe someone with an ounce of legal resources, could look at some of the following, found in this Federal Act. –Protection for Working Parents “if that family income does not exceed 85 percent of the State median income” –Prohibition on Use of Funds –Penalty for NonCompliance –Reporting Requirements –Outside Audit I do not think this Administration is in Compliance with this Federal Act. - BluegrassBoy - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:27 am: I’d love to hear Ounce of Prevention explain why anyone should support their advocacy group if they insist on having a publicly silent and ineffective President. I agree with others who have noted it’s not the job of a First Lady to influence her husband. But Diana Rauner isn’t willing to speak up on behalf of the kids or her organization what the heck is she good for? - cdog - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:31 am: this is a much easier to read pdf. sorry about the addition/deletion copy http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/occ/resource/ccdf-law - Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:39 am: “Rauner Ruins Social Services; Spouse Silent (NewsService) Springfield - While Governor Rauner dismantles Illinois’ social services’ safety net, by withholding funding to programs, Diana Rauner, President of Ounce of Prevention and Illinois’ First Lady remains silent, allowing press releases from others in her organization speak for the early childhood advocacy group.” Hmm. - Pacman - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:41 am: Mrs. Rauner has an obvious conflict of interest that can be resolved by stepping aside. Doing so will be good for her professionally as well as personally. - Wordslinger - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 10:14 am: The “message” that got through last year was the fiction from the head of Ounce that “Bruce doesn’t have a social agenda.” That brazen prevarication got through because it was on the tee vee over and over, and Ounce’s cred was very helpful in getting Rauner elected so he could advance his “no social agenda” of no funding for social programs. - @MisterJayEm - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 10:16 am: “I think we should leave Mrs. Rauner out of this.” Social services for children are fair game, but a millionaire who appeared in a campaign commercial should be “left out of this”? Nonsense. – MrJM - Anonymous - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 10:21 am: You have no social agenda when you have no social services unions are not your concern just the pension benefits I can see where your coming from - Jack Stephens - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 10:24 am: Agreed MJM. - Johnnie F. - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 10:32 am: Mrs. Rauner needs to step aside. Her decision to endorse her husband has concequences. Her campaign adds for him have now put her in the position of needing to issue the child advocacy community a formal apology. That is something Bruce won’t let her do. - Politix - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 10:40 am: Ms. Rauner allowed herself and her organization to be exploited during the campaign. The humiliation has got to be unbearable. - Eric Zorn - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 10:44 am: @Oswego Willy — In the other thread you wrote “The editorial boards are there to completely rebuff any thoughtful coverage on Rauner. The very last thing any reporter at the Sun-Times, Tribune, and other news outlets facing financial perils is to be “that” reporter, and be “McKinneyed” and have Rauner force the hand of the paper to silence you.” That’s just not so. Yes, our editorial board and some of our columnists are very much in Rauner’s camp. This is no secret. But our news reporters and editors provide independent, thoughtful coverage of state politics without input from or fear of the board or the pundits or, obviously, the Rauner administration. If you have evidence to support that kind of attack on the newsrooms, let’s hear it. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 11:10 am: Mr. Zorn, Things quiet over on your own blog? My evidence? Can you say that being “McKinneyed” can’t happen again? That would be breaking news for your blog. I mean, it did happen. I mean, I’m sure all the powers that be made it clear, “you know what, we blew that one, you all are cool, and we’ll apologize to Dave and promise it will never happen again.” Given the coverage, I’m sure if that was the “after” response, a newspaper might want to assure the reading public. “We did it. It was wrong. We’re sorry.” Noting no one has been “McKinneyed” lately, doesn’t mean that it can’t happen… again… nor can you say it it didn’t happen at all. Mr. Zorn, I also made it quite clear, I feel and know the Springfield Press Corps is great, said it numerous times, love that Crew. Period. This isn’t a new revelation for me, that the Springfield Press Corps rocks, even when their own Editorial Boards try to marginalized the Springfield Press Corps. I do read your work, Mr. Zorn, as it appears you read mine. sp, there’s that. - James - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:19 pm: Sorry, Megan. If Ounce really wants to affect state policy, your board can ratchet up the pressure by discharging your compromised CEO. - Left Leaner - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:24 pm: Yet another message from Ounce that doesn’t come from their President. - Robert the Bruce - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:47 pm: A clear and gracious response by Ounce. Very happy to see that they named Diana Rauner in their bullets. Until then, it seemed to be all about what Ounce was doing, with the glaring omission of what, if anything, their president was doing. Next step: an on the record quote from Mrs. Rauner blasting the governor’s daycare eligibility change, calling for governor and legislature to fund that program, as they have ad hoc funded other programs during this budget crisis. That would absolutely make news and possibly the move the dial. Please. - Weltschmerz - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:51 pm: Rich - If you don’t know how long I’ve been a reader, maybe you should start reading this more closely. Luckily, I no longer have to go along to get along. - Louis G. Atsaves - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 3:10 pm: What is the point of all this Diana Rauner bashing in the comments? Is she supposed to divorce her husband because her political views differ from his? Is she supposed to become the pretty little 1950’s Leave it to Beaver type of housewife, wearing pearls and dresses while cooking dinner in the Governor’s Mansion? How utterly (non)progressive! The Ounce statement reads pretty clear to me. If she resigns her position, the wags will shriek. By staying on, the wags continue to shriek. If she believes in the causes that “Ounce” espouses, I would expect her to stay on and continue her work, irregardless of the shrieking. She clearly is her own person with her own chosen career. What does everyone want her to do right now other than what she is doing, be a 1950’s Doris Day and do “Pillow Talk?” Stop the Neanderthal stuff already! - Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 3:28 pm: Oh - Louis G Atsaves - If she can’t handle criticism, pointed criticism, criticism that any President of a group that can’t fulfill its mission hears because it’s President has no influence, then what, is Diana Rauner there for the title, for pretend? Your defense of her is more 1950’s then the 21st century assessment that Diana Rauner looks quite foolish in her role, and it’s getting more noticeable by the day. So, what are you saying, stop feeling embarrassed for Diana Rauner? - Louis G. Atsaves - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 3:35 pm: @OswegoWilly, the criticisms of Diana Rauner here are beyond over the top and neanderthal. Many of such appear to come from progressive leaning commentators. I suggest you let Diana Rauner do her own thing. I’m sure she has her hands full without you and others piling on her with “Pillow Talk” garbage. - cdog - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 3:39 pm: Diana Rauner, President of Ounce of Prevention Fund, accountable to the Board of Directors, is not representing this organization in a worthy manner. Her personal life and the choices of her family, are mutually exclusive of her duties to this not for profit. This has nothing to do with the 1950’s. I would never employ a person whose after hours activities, or family business, were in completely contradictory of the values of my business. Think of a drug counselor who goes home every night and puts dinner on the table with the drug money earned from the spouse. Just doesn’t work. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 3:42 pm: - Louis G Atsaves - If you’d like to address them, have at it. It has to be embarrassing for Diana Rauner being in Ads for the man decimating social services because it’s “worth it” and be an ineffective President. What over the top about that. ===I suggest you let Diana Rauner do her own thing. I’m sure she has her hands full without you and others piling on her with “Pillow Talk” garbage.=== How 1950’s of you. Diana Rauner is ineffective. Bruce Rauner made her so. Thems the breaks. - Louis G. Atsaves - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 3:47 pm: @cdog, “===Think of a drug counselor who goes home every night and puts dinner on the table with the drug money earned from the spouse. Just doesn’t work.===” Wow! Just wow! The only solution for poor Diana is divorce! Neanderthal x2! - Louis G. Atsaves - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 3:49 pm: @Willy, “===Diana Rauner is ineffective. Bruce Rauner made her so.===” So that means all the Presidents of every single organization facing or experiencing state funding cuts must immediately resign their positions because that made them ineffective? Neanderthal x 3! - Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 3:55 pm: - Louis G Atsaves - ===So that means all the Presidents of every single organization facing or experiencing state funding cuts must immediately resign their positions because that made them ineffective?=== LOL, From “Ounce of Prevention”, above.. === Do we feel our message is getting through in Springfield right now? I don’t think any of us in the early childhood field feel we’ve made a breakthrough…but we’re not giving up.=== So “Ounce” are Neadrathals too? LOL. oh - Louis G Atsaves -, Please keep up. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 3:59 pm: Is Bruce Rauner married to all those Presidents of all those groups that “Ounce” called out too. Diana is embarrassed. I’d be embarrassed too, played like that then having my organization decimated by the man I vouched for, I get it. Has to be tough. - walker - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 4:13 pm: Rauner has demonstrated quite clearly that he has “no social agenda.” His agenda is power-shifting, more money for businesses, and less unions — all somehow resulting in unspecified future economic growth. He will leverage fiscal resources or lacks to meet those goals. He doesn’t even have a clear cost-cutting or budget agenda. Other than being for charter schools, he seems to view social services supported by government as some sort of residual category. - Louis G. Atsaves - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 4:13 pm: @Willy, I know you won’t give up with your anti-Rauner all the time postings, but try not to put words in my mouth in defense of your indefensible neanderthal positions. Are you suggesting Diana file for divorce? Do a better job at “Pillow Talk?” Why is Diana being treated differently? Keep sounding like a neanderthal. - cdog - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 4:18 pm: “The only solution for poor Diana is divorce!” I won’t stoop to name calling, but that is not a very smart conclusion you have drawn, Louis. She is a Phd, and if I, with a mere bachelor’s degree, can think of several options, I am sure she can too. Meanwhile, the chick ain’t go no street cred. - walker - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 4:30 pm: As to Ounce’s response: excellent and responsible. As for making it about D. Rauner: I’m with Cassandra, LizPhairTax, and Louis A, leave it alone. She can act for herself, and should be treated just like any other not-for-profit President. When we pillory scores of them for some lack of action or speech, then we might fairly include her. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 4:30 pm: ===Are you suggesting Diana file for divorce?=== That’s your first choice? How 1960s “liberation” ====Do a better job at “Pillow Talk?” === Think that was a Broadway play (and movie!) in the 1950s-1960s, how “Mad Men” of you. ===Why is Diana being treated differently?=== She is the First Lady of Illinois, who traded off her own persona to get the man elected who is decimating social services, while she President of a group advocating early childhood programs, and can’t do much more than me (apparently) to help, even though she was in a 7-figure Ad campaign, touting “no social agenda” How many of those other groups have their leader match that? It’s the 21st Century, heck Nruce threatened a woman executive, even threatening her family as she was judged ineffective. Diana Rauner’s a big person. This isn’t 1950. Diana is embarrassed, I would be to if I were here. - Louis G. Atsaves - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 4:31 pm: OK @cdog and @willy, you both win! Diana Rauner must immediately resign, don a pink dress and pearls and cook and clean while all dolled up and in high heels wearing a perpetual smile in the Governor’s Mansion! - Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 4:37 pm: - Louis G Atsaves - Diana was in a millions of dollars Ad campaign. Diana is no “babe in the woods”, don’t make her a victim. She’s not. ===Diana Rauner must immediately resign, don a pink dress and pearls and cook and clean while all dolled up and in high heels wearing a perpetual smile in the Governor’s Mansion!=== That might help Ounce more, lol - Anon221 - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 4:51 pm: If Mrs. Rauner is going to be the First Lady of Illinous am employ a Chief of Staff on our dime, then she needs to decide- First Lady or President of Ounce. It’s not a difficult choice, but it should be made. The Emeritus option seems to be the best way to save face. - Rich Miller - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 4:56 pm: My own opinion is that I’d much rather have her over there at Ounce than not. Because if you think things are messed up now… - Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 4:58 pm: Make Diana Rauner “President Emeritus”, save face for both Ounce and Diana, and the embarrassment both must be feeling will now have some distance. If I’m Ounce, how does it feel having the First Lady as the active President while her husband, the Governor is decimating social services, including those the group advocates for? Gotta be embarrassing. Move Diana “up and out”, both are “heroes”, throw her a party, invite the Governor… - Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 5:01 pm: ===Because if you think things are messed up now…=== In that case, yeah. That is true. Then, Diana has to face the slings and arrows too, why should she “untouchable”? - OuttaTheWay - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 5:07 pm: +1 for James @ 1:19pm - Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 5:11 pm: “President Emeritus” also can keep her “there, but not in the line of fire” “Gone”, but not removed. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.