49 Comments - Precinct Captain - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 3:34 pm: Cognitive dissonance. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 3:36 pm: Rauner absolutely can NOT count to 60, abd can NOT count to 30. If Rauner abd the Superstars could, Rauner never would hace said something so… ignorant… to his own plight right now. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 3:40 pm: Welp, if I’m going to pretend I know anything about 60/30, I’d have ole Nick meet up with Goldberg and crank out a whole bunch of unhelpful letters to Democratic legislators to really poison the well after today… … but I’m jealous I’ve not gotten a Goldberg, so pardon me for pandering. - Anon - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 3:42 pm: What on earth does getting value for the taxpayers mean? We’re not consumers and we’re not investors, and public goods aren’t supposed to be run at a profit. - Norseman - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 3:47 pm: Darn that democracy thing. It really puts a crimp in the plutocracy’s plans. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 3:51 pm: How can you stay the course when your in uncharted waters? - Frenchie Mendoza - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 3:56 pm: It doesn’t perhaps dawn on Rauner — who, as I’ve said previously today, isn’t (apparently) the brightest bulb in the box, that “staying the course” and “compromising” don’t really work together. It’s more of an either/or thing. I think Rauner needs a bit of clarification in his thinking about what “compromise” means — and how it can be achieved. Plus, I’m not seeing the Illinois economy growing — at all — during his first year in office. So, um … when might that actually happen? When will these billions in saving materialize? I mean, if I were Madigan — and if I wanted to make Rauner even more of an impotent leader than he is right now, today — I would, actually, “stay the course” and *not* negotiate. And I’d let Rauner think he could do both at the same time. - Fusion - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 3:56 pm: Get value for taxpayers? Spoken like a true vulture capitalist that looks to extract value for shareholders, consequences schmonsequences. Problem is, we aren’t shareholders. And a lot of people are hurting. They need a functioning government. Time to raise taxes and make that happen. - DuPage Bard - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 3:57 pm: Not gunna do it….. wouldn’t be prudent at this juncture…… stay the course. -Dana Carvey - Frenchie Mendoza - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 4:01 pm: BTW — if Rauner is really concerned about “value” — he’d realize there’s more value in compromise than staying the course. Of course, he doesn’t mean what he says. What he means is that he doesn’t care about Illinois citizens. He *does* care about dismantling and destroying the economic and labor machines that fund the Democratic super-majorities in Illinois — nevermind that the very damage he’s causing is *reducing* so-called “value” to Illinois citizens. - Cubs in '16 - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 4:05 pm: - Anon - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 3:42 pm: What on earth does getting value for the taxpayers mean? It means union employees are, by definition, overpaid relative to their “value”. Considering he has no idea what most of us do on a daily basis I find his assumption insulting. But I think we all know by now Rauner doesn’t believe anyone is as smart as he is. - Demoralized - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 4:05 pm: ==OK, then find a way to grow the economy and get value for taxpayers which won’t be rejected out of hand by veto proof majorities in both chambers.== He’s unaware that he isn’t the CEO of a company any longer. He hasn’t quite got the knack of governing and that whole passing bills thing. - Sam Weinberg - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 4:06 pm: I understand that the Illinois Observer came out with a poll today on Rauner’s approval ratings. I was really curious to see the numbers, until I realized we have a much better indicator on where things stand right in front of us: The only possible explanation for this guy now deciding to go on this charm(less) offensive has to be his people are seeing some really bad polling numbers. - LizPhairTax - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 4:11 pm: I value social service providers being paid - How Ironic - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 4:12 pm: If Rauner were a superhero, I think he’d be Captain Powerless. - wordslinger - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 4:13 pm: –But we’ve got to stay the course to grow the economy and get value for taxpayers.– Beware of politicians who tell you they can control “the economy.” Especially a governor with limited shared powers of one state (pop. 12.9 million) in a global economy of 7 billion. Pres. Xi has dictatorial powers over all aspects of the Chinese economy and all that country’s institutions, covering one-fifth of humanity, and he can’t control its economy. Governors can do their jobs, effectively laying the base: Education, transportation and communications infrastructure, public safety, rule of law, social services. Anything else is seriously delusional or straight-out snake oil. - downstater - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 4:15 pm: I consider what Rauner is doing “governing”. When I supported him in the primary and general election, it’s because I thought he had the stones to actually take the fight to Madigan and his kingdom. I felt that Dillard would just nibble around the edges and cut deals with Madigan & Cullerton, and just slightly slow down from 100mph to 80mph towards the edge of the cliff. I wanted someone willing to dig in and say “the buck stops here.” I’m not some political insider or pundit, but I’m a taxpayer who is fed up with the status quo. There are millions of others like me in this state. For Rauner to cave and give in, it doesn’t fix the mess, only continues the inevitable collapse. - Annonin' - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 4:17 pm: Is it true he took Oscar the Puppy along to do the TV interviews? They were plannin’ to ask about Trump and the fate of the Kasich campaign. - Dee Lay - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 4:18 pm: Dahl: No disrespect intended, but how can you make those two speeches with a straight face? Rauner: [Laughter] #Leadership - Wensicia - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 4:18 pm: ==But we’ve got to stay the course to grow the economy and get value for taxpayers. == Value for the taxpayers is cutting their wages and benefits? How do you raise revenue by staying this course? - jt - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 4:21 pm: Now I don’t have to listen to him on January 27th. - Sir Reel - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 4:27 pm: As others have said, Rauner speaks in meaningless jargon. He sounds like the salesman he is. He can’t explain what his Turnaround Agenda will do for an improved economy or for better government. Just meaningless business speak. - Ghost - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 4:28 pm: standard corp begotiations. add in garbage yah dbt care about, remove tue garabge and call it compromise, but refuge to budge on anything you truly wanted. ACTUAL compromise invovles giving up things you really wanted, on both sides. by the same token giving up something you could never get is also not compromise. - cdog - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 4:30 pm: “But we’ve got to stay the course to grow the economy and get value for taxpayers.” Gov Rauner, your “course” is about ready to book one of the worst fiscal years in the history of Illinois, if not the worst. You have missed the mark by $5BILLION. You will have DOUBLED THE BACKLOG OF UNPAID BILLS IN ONE YEAR!! Gov Rauner, your idea of VALUE FOR THE TAXPAYER is remarkably out of touch with REALITY. Wake up, dude. Your Turnaround Agenda is a misguided joke, with suspicious undertones. - pundent - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 4:35 pm: Downstater -I thought he had the stones to actually take the fight to Madigan and his kingdom- What exactly is “the fight” that you’re speaking of? How exactly will we know if Rauner is victorious? How much pain are you willing to inflict on the state? And what exactly is the status quo that you seek to change. I would challenge you to answer (without using verbs like Madigan). - Colin O'Scopey - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 4:39 pm: “I’m willing to compromise. I have compromised and I always will compromise.” But remember, “That I’ll never back down [on].” How can he have it both ways? - Jocko - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 4:44 pm: I have compromised and I always will compromise. “You keep using that word, I do not think it means what you think it means.” -Inigo Montoya - illini - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 4:45 pm: So is this just another example of cognitive - @MisterJayEm - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 4:49 pm: “I’m a taxpayer who is fed up with the status quo.” Status quo is a fun buzzword. Our host addressed it yesterday. https://capitolfax.com/2016/01/11/there-is-more-than-one-status-quo-in-illinois/ – MrJM - Keyser Soze - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 4:50 pm: Recognizing that there are few Rauner supporters to be found in Capitol Fax posts, it must be said that “Downstate” was anything but ambiguous. His or her message didn’t lack clarity, particularly in the context of this thread. - Cheswick - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 4:50 pm: He’s always going around saying nothing is off the table for him and he’s willing to compromise. But when it came time to sign legislation to make DCEO private, which is what he wanted, he said no because it had a sunset clause on it. (Was it sunset or review; can’t recall.) Point being, it had to be his way or no way. - Anonin' - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 4:50 pm: Please ask Mr. NO court orders about Rasho v. Baldwin? - PublicServant - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 4:51 pm: Actually agree with the governor on democracy being the art of compromise. What he doesn’t seem to understand however, is that compromise can only occur within a range of the doable. Unfortunately, by any measure, the governor’s wants are extreme, his treatment of those he must compromise with is foolish, and his ability to work the levers of compromise when he is just a co-equal negotiator seem inconceivable to him. - morty - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 4:51 pm: The governor has made it clear he’s willing to compromise- provided you agree to all of his demands… what, exactly, would be the benefit of any Democrat to say they would agree to any or even several, of the proposals when BR has made it clear he won’t budge unless you give him all six? One side has made this an all or nothing venture, and despite the rhetoric, it’s not the side Nekritz is on (and, full disclosure, I absolutely loath Nekritz). - morty - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 4:52 pm: whoops wrong comment block! - @MisterJayEm - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 4:56 pm: I’m willing to compromise. I have compromised and I always will compromise. But we’ve got to stay the course *** I’ll never back down. Had that been uttered by a man with less money, we would all recognize that the speaker had become woefully untethered from reality. As it is, I suppose our governor is merely ‘eccentric’. – MrJM - Former Hoosier - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 4:56 pm: === I wanted someone willing to dig in and say “the buck stops here.”=== Do you think the Gov. is taking responsibility and saying “the buck stops here”? I don’t. What I continually hear him do is blame others and play the victim. If you listen to him, he often sounds like he’s a disinterested 3rd party rather than the Governor. When he was “Candidate Rauner” he was quick to point out how everything bad was Gov. Quinn’s fault. Now that he’s the Gov., everything bad is Madigan’s fault, the democrat’s fault, Rahm’s fault… He’s been in office for 1 year. It’s time for him to stop the blame game and govern. - Anon221 - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 4:59 pm: OW- I can see a whole line of spinoff merchandise from “Dad’s Home State”… “Have you been Goldberged yet?”. This generations “Dynomite!” - Anonin' - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 5:01 pm: Mr/Ms Keyser No,Superstar posters…where you been…there are thousands keep watchin’ - Poolguy - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 5:02 pm: how people can work in a good things are bad - bad things are good environment is beyond me. its bizarro world to hope for bad things to happen so “hopefully” better things can eventually happen. makes no sense to me. - Mama - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 5:08 pm: Is there any way to find this interview in writing for the hearing impaired community? - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 5:09 pm: - Anon221 -, There’s a huge backlog of episodes due in large part of the WGA, SAG, DGA, and the Teamsters realizing they are in a production where the lead would like to see all u ions marginalizes, dismantled, or decimated. There’s about 6 episodes “in the can”, but… … seems to be a “lagging of product”… a “slowing”… if you will. I’ll get it back on track. I think(?) - Anon221 - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 6:21 pm: OW- maybe just focus on the “sweeps” months for maximum effect:) http://www.tvb.org/planning_buying/5658 - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 6:24 pm: - Anon221 - I think you’re on to something. I do need to get mugs, hats, shirts, pot holders… Of course, I’ll need Goldberg to sign off… To the Post, When you have to convince yourself you favor democracy when your CEO actions say otherwise, you haven’t learned a thing. - Michelle Flaherty - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 9:16 pm: “get value for taxpayers” means he’s trying to figure out how much he can sell us for. We’re a commodity. Read it that way. It makes a lot more sense. - A worker - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 9:45 pm: Forget about the absence of a budget. Forget about 60/30. When the governor says he’ll compromise, the point is, he’s saying he’ll give up something he wants, and accept something he could do without, to end this. But what can he do without? Does he seriously think he can get by without new revenue? What has he done since saying a year ago he thought the income tax should drop, to show that he can govern without new revenue? What has he done for the last year as chief executive, to show that he can do all the things the laws say must be done with the revenue available to him? His whole argument is that if you want luxuries, not need-to-haves but nice-to-haves, then I want some things, too, so let’s compromise. And it’s all a bluff. He can’t govern without more revenue. - Paul - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 11:08 pm: - Anon221 - I think you’re on to something. I do need to get mugs, hats, shirts, pot holders… Of course, I’ll need Goldberg to sign off… Nah, just say “I got G’d” meaning Goldberged and it should do just fine. “Don’t G me man!” “That was one nasty G memo you wrote”. “Way to snark like the big G” “No respectin’ by the G” - that throws the dropping g with the G. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 12:44 am: “I’m willing to compromise. I have compromised and I always will compromise.” That is comedy gold. - btowntruth - Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 12:45 am: Anonymous at 12:44 was me….. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.