Question of the day
Thursday, Jan 14, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From Charles Thomas’ interview of Gov. Bruce Rauner…
Again, he blamed the budget impasse on Democratic House Speaker Mike Madigan, renewing his most inflammatory charge that Madigan, an attorney in private practice, is personally profiting from Illinois’ dysfunction.
“He doesn’t want to change anything because he loves the status quo because he’s making a lot of money from high real estate taxes in Chicago,” Rauner claimed.
When it was pointed out that Rauner seemed on the verge of calling Madigan corrupt, he responded, “The political class in Illinois has been running the government for their own benefit for decades.”
And the governor admonished Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, with whom he shared an expensive bottle of wine a few years ago after the two millionaires worked together on a merger deal. Rauner said Emanuel is a lot more conservative than the mayor puts on in public.
“(I want the mayor to) say publicly what he’ll say privately. He’s not fighting for his city,” Rauner said. “Its outrageous that the Mayor’s trying to blame me and others for his failure.
“But you guys are supposed to be pals, friends. Are you not friends anymore?” we asked.
“Anybody who helps me improve the quality of life and future for Illinois residents is my friend. Anybody who blocks it is not my friend,” Rauner saud,
* Hizzoner’s response as reported by the Tribune…
The mayor was asked Wednesday to respond to the “litany” of criticisms Gov. Bruce Rauner has leveled at him in recent days as the two continue their public tango over education spending in Chicago Public Schools and the governor’s call for the mayor to help him pass his agenda in Springfield.
Emanuel noted Rauner has been making the rounds in recent days to talk to reporters about his first year in the governor’s mansion, and suggested he was attacking others because he can’t follow the usual playbook of touting his own victories.
“First of all, this is the governor’s one-year anniversary in office as the governor,” he said. “There’s a great phrase by a former chief executive in public life, Harry S Truman: The buck stops here. And on the one-year anniversary, a lot of people note what they’ve gotten done. I think it’s a reflection on the governor that he is taking his one-year anniversary and talking about everyone else except for the one person that’s accountable — where the buck stops for the state of Illinois — and that’s him. And so my recommendation is rather than pointing fingers at everyone else and talking about their work, he should take the time to talk about his work and the accomplishments, or the lack thereof, that would reflect the one year of his tenure.”
* The Question: How do we get out of this mess?
- Demoralized - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 3:20 pm:
How do we get out of this mess? By stopping some of this garbage . . .
==Its outrageous that the Mayor’s trying to blame me and others for his failure.==
. . . which is then followed by this garbage . . .
== he blamed the budget impasse on Democratic House Speaker Mike Madigan==
So basically we are spending all of our time playing pin the tail of blame on the donkey. These guys are interested in anything but telling us all who is to blame. Until they stop that juvenile nonsense nothing is going to happen.
- Nearly Normal - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 3:24 pm:
Assemble the Gov and the four GA leaders. Then bring in some Kindergarten teachers to help them learn to work together. Nobody leave until the budget is ready, they have cleaned up their work area, had their milk and cookies, and a group hug!!
- Frenchie Mendoza - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 3:25 pm:
I love the fact that Rauner — despite his promises several months ago — refuses to take the “arrows” for his failures.
What a miserable, miserable failure of governing.
- Abe the Babe - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 3:26 pm:
==How do we get out of this mess?==\
One side loses. And realizes they lost.
- deadguy - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 3:27 pm:
We’re not getting out of this mess. The death spiral continues and each day brings a new low. I’m not like our Governor. I’m not optimistic by nature.
- Keyrock - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 3:29 pm:
Great post Nearly Normal! My kids’ teacher would have had this worked out before naptime.
- G'Kar - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 3:30 pm:
Punt? /s
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 3:31 pm:
Who is we? Is that the royal we, you know, the editorial we? Lol. We’re stuck in this. I don’t see how “we” can do much of anything except ride it out and hope for the best.
How does Rauner, Madigan and Cullerton get us out of this might be a better question. They’re the ones that got us into this mess, they need to get us out. And hopefully soon.
- cdog - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 3:34 pm:
Publicly issued mea culpa from Rauner.
Through this genuine exercise in humility, he would need to accept responsibility for the damage done to the state of Illinois by his insistence on the low ROI Turnaround Agenda, which never stood a snowball’s chance in he11.
He would reformulate and restate his goals for the next three years, brilliantly aligned with his ideologies, that would be filled with truthfulness and void of contradictory double-talk.
Keep it real Bruce, things will work out much better for ya.
- Mama - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 3:36 pm:
“How do we get out of this mess?”
Rich, that is a multi- billion dollar question. The only answer I have is for Rauner to drop the term limits and union- busting portions of his political turn-around agenda, but Rauner is to hard-headed to realize he can not have it all. His bullying Madigan and Rahm only digs a deeper hole for IL taxpayers.
- bored now - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 3:36 pm:
so the blagojevich defense, but only by a republican. gotcha.
leadership (the real thing) forces you to look at the puzzle as it is and figure out how to solve problems with the pieces you have, not the pieces you wish were on the board.
just sayin’…
- 360 Degree TurnAround - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 3:36 pm:
I thought Rahm nailed it. When you can’t say anything good about yourself, talk bad about others.
- Thoughts Matter - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 3:38 pm:
We do what Technology employees used to do before Monster.com when they gave the name of their least liked coworker to the personnel recruiters when they called. We hope Gov Rauner finds something to do Somewhere else.
- Annonin' - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 3:38 pm:
How about the GA pass approp bills like they did in May and let the SuperStars use their line item vetoes…guessin’ they are ‘fraid to *k it up
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 3:39 pm:
It seems the only way out now is for a few brave Republican legislators to say enough and vote their conscious.
- Sam Weinberg - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 3:42 pm:
I know it sounds jaded, and I hate to say it because it is awful to ponder - but I suspect this is going to end when some horrific public tragedy gets tied to the lack of a budget.
I can tell you one thing, it ain’t going to end because the Governor or Speaker wakes up one day and cries uncle.
- Father Ted - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 3:43 pm:
I know it’s not en vogue to be in Rahm’s camp these days, but he’s taking Rauner to the woodshed (verbally) as this public dispute has played out.
- RNUG - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 3:47 pm:
a) we wait 3 years
b) citizens get mad enough show up at the Capitol with pitchforks, tar and feathers for the perceived villain.
c) House and Senate decide to go around Rauner (see Blago, 2nd term)
d) D’s win enough seats in the 2016 election to easily override the Gov AND they see a political advantage to running the State without Rauner.
Now the odds of anything other than (a) happening …
- Father Ted - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 3:48 pm:
As far as what to do, I’m thinking of moving to Missouri. The problem of having to pay half the debt on a 20 year old stadium that isn’t going to be used anymore by the team it was built for doesn’t seem so bad by comparison.
- Honeybear - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 3:48 pm:
It stops in Jan 2017 when Dems secure veto proof supermajorities, unlike now with Dunkin.
- RNUG - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 3:50 pm:
We hope Trump gets elected and drafts Rauner for a federal position …
/s?
- illinoised - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 3:51 pm:
Anonymous is correct.
- Norseman - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 3:51 pm:
My suggestion was to have Thompson to arbitrate the negotiations. Won’t happen because Rauner is too arrogant, but we can always hope - like winning Powerball was the hope yesterday.
- Try-4-Truth - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 3:52 pm:
I don’t know. What is the compromise? I don’t see one. We may never, until 2018.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 3:52 pm:
- RNUG -
That’s my list, bud. To the letter.
If I had to go away from that? If I had to?
Shuttle diplomacy, one floor of a conferene center / Hotel… both sides negotiate in good faith, and throw out abythubg that can’t get 60/30 as a leverage point.
1.4% ROI is leverage, it’s an embarrassment.
- James - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 3:53 pm:
Wait 3 years.
The Governor is a hobbyist, not a public servant. His hobby is legislating his ideology. He is wealthy enough to take 4 years off to pursue his hobby. He is too vain to capitulate or compromise. Innocent people will die that wouldn’t have died under any other Governor, but when this is mentioned, he will tell you it was someone else’s fault.
After we remove him, he will start a PAC to raise funds for candidates that support his ideology.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 3:54 pm:
- Norseman -
Thompson was my only choice, didn’t want to throw it out, but yes, Thompson doing the shuttling.
- Mama - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 3:54 pm:
Weinberg, what possible horrific public tragedy could be tied to the lack of a budget that would result in a change of Rauner’s political policy?
- MJ - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 3:54 pm:
The only way out is for each to be willing to give the other a “win”. Then they can both smile and it’s over. Could be waiting a long time.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 3:55 pm:
=== b) citizens get mad enough show up at the Capitol with pitchforks, tar and feathers for the perceived villain. ===
RNUG, I suspect Rauner would meet them out on the front steps with a stack of $100’s in his hand passing them out repeating the mantra, Madigan - 3rd floor.
- Norseman - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 3:56 pm:
Oops, the above response to RNUG was me.
- RNUG - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 3:57 pm:
-Mama-,
See Ryan, George …
- RNUG - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 3:59 pm:
-Norseman-,
LOL. You’ll notice I didn’t name a specific villian.
- RIJ (formerly PolPal56) - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 4:02 pm:
Well, based on the maturity Rauner is showing, I’d say spank him soundly and send him to bed without supper. People only understand when you communicate on their level.
- Flannery Fan - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 4:02 pm:
Did Rahm Emanuel just say “the buck stops here” for executives?
The same Rahm Emanuel who threw Gerry McCarthy under the bus?
The same Rahm Emanuel whose head of CPS is likely headed for jail?
The same Rahm Emanuel who has done nothing to reform CPD, CPS?
The same Rahm Emanuel who is overseeing a 2016 murder rate spike in Chicago?
The same Rahm Emanuel who is presiding over the slow-motion train wreck that is CPS and Chicago finances?
That Rahm Emanuel?
- Mama - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 4:02 pm:
++- James - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 3:53 pm:++
It pains me to say, you are right, but can IL survive 3 more years of doing nothing?
- Rod - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 4:04 pm:
“How do we get out of this mess?” I agree with RNUG we get out of this mess in three years and elections will have to decide it. In the mean time we are in one hell of a mess.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 4:04 pm:
Maybe have someone explain to the Governor;
Rahm. Controls. Zero. Legislaive. Democrats.
When the Governor understands that, then begin a shuttle diplomacy.
- RIJ (formerly PolPal56) - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 4:08 pm:
Father Ted, go on, go on, go on, have a cup of tea and move.
- DuPage Don - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 4:08 pm:
How do we get out of this? Well, just for starters, it would help if Madigan actually spoke to House GOP members!
- Mama - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 4:11 pm:
“D’s win enough seats in the 2016 election to easily override the Gov AND they see a political advantage to running the State without Rauner.”
Is there any chance the Dems can gain seats & achieve an override?
- Norseman - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 4:13 pm:
DuPage Don, you don’t talk to the dummy, you talk to the ventriloquist.
- No Longer A Lurker - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 4:13 pm:
With comment like this,
“Anybody who helps me improve the quality of life and future for Illinois residents is my friend. Anybody who blocks it is not my friend,” Rauner said,
one needs to wonder what Rauner sees when he looks into the mirror.
Perhaps if the gov and speaker could put their ego’s aside, maybe, just maybe, some thing could get done.
- IllinoisBoi - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 4:14 pm:
“Anybody who helps me enhance the wealth and power of Illinois billionaires is my friend. Anybody who blocks it is not my friend,” Rauner said.
There, now it’s a sincere statement.
- Crafty Girl - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 4:15 pm:
To paraphrase Dowager Countess of Grantham: Ring for Nanny and have them all put to bed without supper.
- Mama - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 4:15 pm:
RUNG, how would people being killed on a highway by an IL driver without proper license be tied to the budget impasse?
- Sam Weinberg - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 4:19 pm:
- Mama -
What I was thinking of is some sort of fluke event that will cement - for the average, busy person watching TV, who doesn’t know a whole lot about politics or government - the idea that not having a budget is a really, really dangerous and harmful thing.
Maybe a car accident on a road that wasn’t salted due to lack of funds, maybe a bridge previously identified for emergency fixes collapsing, maybe a kid out on the street because a service provider went belly up.
It could be anything. The point is, it will make what is currently abstract very real.
- Earnest - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 4:29 pm:
I’d have to agree with RNUG. I don’t see any other ways out of it.
Rauner will release the occasional hostage when there’s enough of a fuss, but there are a lot of hostages without a loud enough voice, so they’ll remain. The only thing I could imagine having any impact at all would be political pressure on his wife.
I don’t see Madigan capitulating unless it’s in the political interest of maintaining his majority. Even then, his distrust of Rauner will make it difficult.
As far as 2017 goes, could be even longer. Illinois elected Blagojevich over Topinka, never a sure thing who will win.
- Trolling Troll - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 4:38 pm:
Can we have a healthy and high minded discussion about the budget?
- @MisterJayEm - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 4:44 pm:
Gov. Rick Snyder and the poisoning of the Flint, MI water supply is another example of a scandal/tragedy with sharp political ramifications.
http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/internal-email-michigan-blowing-flint-over-lead-water-n491481
Something equally foreseeable but unpredictable occurring in Illinois could very quickly change the state’s power dynamic.
– MrJM
- Honeybear - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 4:45 pm:
I think the plane is going into the mountain no matter what. I see us moving to Mississippi status in three years. Does he seriously think that businesses will just hold out and stay? We are going to be a smoldering wreck in another year.
- Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 4:46 pm:
By focusing on the budget instead of the battles.
I suggest a $1 for $1 fair trade.
Rauner picks the taxes and fees to increase. Madigan picks the cuts to make.
An equally balanced conference committee or the two of them hammers it out. Both parties put votes on it.
- DuPage Don - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 4:46 pm:
===you don’t talk to the dummy, you talk to the ventriloquist===
….not when the ventriloquist has been unmasked as a charlatan whose shuck and jive routine’s sell-by date expired, oh, about two decades ago when his pal Big Jim looked the other way!
- Up North - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 4:46 pm:
Rauner has NO incentive to reverse the situation. He benefits from the collapse. The longer it continues the more money he keeps personally, it creates opportunities for political vulture capitalists to dip into the pot of tax money (privatization of services, education $$$$ via charters…). As the state goes down, Rauner and associates $ and power/control goes up. His financial and political status (the reform king goes on to the next stage) improves.
- veritas - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 4:49 pm:
The horse is dead Governor. Time to dismount.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 4:50 pm:
I’d send in - Norseman -, - AA -, - steve schnorf -, and - RNUG - to mediate with Thompson shuttling with the “Shuttle Committee” givin’ some input.
I mean, we are wishin’, right?
- Wensicia - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 4:59 pm:
==Something equally foreseeable but unpredictable occurring in Illinois could very quickly change the state’s power dynamic.==
How about something predictable? When tens of thousands of Illinois high schools students graduating in 2016 are blocked from attending Illinois colleges and universities due to lack of funding/support.
- CrookCounty60827 - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 5:00 pm:
well, there is a word beginning with “R” that could apply, but I would bet on pigs not only flying, but landing on the Moon first. Dems need to start dropping “bill bombs” on Rauner so he can veto them and be overridden. Dems take the high ground for saving social services, unions, etc.; Governor gets labelled and forced to own his manifest failures.
- Pawn - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 5:03 pm:
Earnest, the problem with releasing hostages one at a time is that it does NOTHING to solve the revenue gap. All it does is get more people in line to be paid (hostages aren’t in line yet) at a time when estimates are that every day Illinois spends $33 million more than it takes in. They could release all the hostages tomorrow and it would do nothing, absolutely nothing, to change the steady march to $25 billion in unpaid bills in 3 years.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 5:05 pm:
1) Industrial accident? /s
2) RNUG’s list list
3) They all have to feel the heat equally, then you get an impetus for change.
We know the gov. will cave.
Cullerton is in some ways a pragmatist.
What is Madigan’s lever- near revolt by his caucus?
If they all do not feel equal pressure then someone will hold out and that is probably enough to hold up the process.
Pressure-
Schools- the gov. avoided that so far.
State services shutdown- unlikely
Social Services System Collapse- getting closer day by day
Major Tragedy? - I pray not but that would be my guess.
- Sam Weinberg - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 5:14 pm:
The issue itself is always *predictable*, how it breaks into the public consciousness is anything but.
It could be tonight, next month or next year, but eventually the entirely *predictable* results of bad policy — for example, taking bribes for driver’s licenses — always come home to roost.
Surely, those bad results start one day one, but there’s always a moment where they break through the wall of noise and become the driving force in somebody’s political disaster.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 5:16 pm:
Rham should not mention Truman’s name. He is no Truman.
- @MisterJayEm - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 5:25 pm:
“Rham should not mention Truman’s name. He is no Truman.”
But he could be played by Jim Carrey.
– MrJM
- Triple fat - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 6:05 pm:
This is how I hope we get out of it… Fed investigation finds a lot of dirt on the Mayor. The investigation expands and finds dirt on the Governor. The investigation uncovers dirt on the Lieutenant Governor. Illinois finally hits the trifecta of corruption. Oh what joy - special elections for everyone!!!
- walker - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 6:15 pm:
Sorry on the choppiness and typos above at 5:59.
Did it on my phone, riding the train. Angry too.
mark
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 6:16 pm:
==improve the quality of life and future for ILlinois residents==
Which ones would those be? Certainly not public employees of public retirees!
- RNUG - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 7:03 pm:
-Mama-,
Past actions coming back to bite you.
Maybe one of those old vulture capital deals erupts from where it is buried and its determined it crossed the line from aggressive businessman to criminal activity. Maybe some trivial campaign action or failing sparks a federal investigation. Rauner was a behind the scenes string puller for years; maybe something there hasn’t been found yet. You never know exactly what will spark a big public backlash.
- RNUG - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 7:06 pm:
-OW- @ 4:50 pm,
I don’t think you could pay me enough to take that job …
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 7:53 pm:
- RNUG -
I can dream, can’t I?
lol
- fedup - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 7:57 pm:
local reps/senator tell me they are powerless. True leadership! Cowards sacrificing constituents for re-election.
- woodstock willy - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 8:11 pm:
There is no hope in sight. Rahm is doing the death by a thousand cuts while he acts like he didnt know about the shooting, which he probably knew by the next morning at the latest. Rauner is going to see if rahm survives while waiting for the supreme court decision and the next elections. Madigan will wait for the next chance to make rauner look like the bad guy. Looks like wait until 2017 for any movement.
- walker - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 8:26 pm:
Thanks Rich. Fair delete.
- walker - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 8:34 pm:
disregard mine 8:26
My mind is shot, as is my technology.
- Irony - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 9:33 pm:
Did The Ovenor really say he wishes the Mayor would say publically what he is saying privately?! Too funny
- Goldloser - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 9:54 pm:
Fire Rauner.
- Old Timer - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 10:19 pm:
Shut off electricity and water to all state buildings. Send everyone home and see how fast the 2016 budget would be signed.
- justacitizen - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 10:22 pm:
On the positive side, we might just go two full-term governors without jail time-Maybe
- Obamas Puppy - Thursday, Jan 14, 16 @ 11:02 pm:
This is his bottom line and it has no support, he is going to run this state off the cliff Thelma and Louise style. He does not care about anything other than dismantling unions, term limits and fair maps are populist talking points to make him sound reasonable on ripping bargaining rights away from thousands of Illinoisians. Period
- See the forest - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 4:54 am:
Stop electing 1 percenters to office. They are all too willing to break the backs of the poor and the working classes to enrich their buddies and themselves.