80 Comments - anon - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 2:46 pm: Translation from Raunerspeak: Political independence is a virtue in Democrats (e.g. Dunkin), but inexcusable in Republicans (e.g. McCann). - wordslinger - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 2:46 pm: The key here: Rauner says Cullerton says that. In private. I don’t believe it, like I don’t believe all the other self-serving “private” conversations the governor claims to have. How can you trust this guy? Not only does he make stuff up, but he must think it’s okay to reveal even REAL private conversations. - Ducky LaMoore - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 2:47 pm: I have never, ever seen anyone more willing to sabotage themselves than this governor. That’s marvelous. - cgo75 - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 2:48 pm: That’s effective politics. There’d be bigger issues if he wasn’t lock step. The transparent response is admirable as well. - Abe the Babe - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 2:49 pm: Wow. Trump wrote the art of the deal. It appears Rauner has authored “how to lose friends and insult people”. the man just cannot control himself. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 2:50 pm: 1) Rauner’s private conversations aren’t private. Unless Cullerton told him to say it, huge breech of trust. 2) Do you believe Bruce Rauner when he divulges such a weak positioned observation about a “foe”? 3) I thought Rauner didn’t like to discuss negotiatons publicly? Stating a belief of position does just that. Rauner’s word is worthless. - VanillaMan - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 2:51 pm: If Madigan didn’t have a shadow, and Rauner didn’t have a finger to point at it, perhaps something could get done. - There is power in a union... - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 2:52 pm: Cullerton said it on election night on the phone with Rauner… - Curious - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 2:53 pm: It’s really heard to keep saying “things are even worse then they seem” every time something like this comes up, but things are worse then they seem if Rauner is saying this to the press - regardless if the Senate President said it or not. Man, is that both inappropriate and bad politics. Can’t really blame staff for that one. That’s just a lousy boss who can’t help himself, especially because it can’t possibly be true. - Small Town Girl - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 2:53 pm: It is hard to imagine that anyone would believe that Cullerton said this. Especially to Rauner. - Snucka - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 2:54 pm: I’m thinking that was a “paraphrase”… or more to the point, it’s what Rauner heard. Not necessarily what Cullerton said. - Cheswick - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 2:54 pm: Does Rauner not yet realize that he needs to be able to negotiate with Cullerton and Madigan and that these kinds of comments aren’t exactly putting him closer to that end. - Rich Miller - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 2:55 pm: ===I’m thinking that was a “paraphrase”=== Doubtful. Rauner told me the exact same thing. Word for word. - Formerly Known As... - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 2:56 pm: Cullerton will now either step up and take over the role of a statesman as he has for years on pensions or allow that quote to become the summary of his legacy even after he leaves public service years from now. - Team Sleep - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 2:56 pm: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: even if Cullerton doesn’t feel exactly like this, he still has to be frustrated that so many ideas and pushes fail in the House. - out of touch - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 2:56 pm: I just got the official reading from my shiny new Rauner lie-o-meter: “TILT” - Anonymous - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 2:57 pm: Oh I don’t doubt that Rauner said it. I just mean Rauner was paraphrasing Cullerton… or putting his own interpretation on whatever Cullerfon said to him. - GA Watcher - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 2:58 pm: I don’t believe for one second that the current Senate President would confide in the Governor in such a way. This is just another example of the Governor saying whatever he thinks needs to be said in order to drive a wedge between the two Dem leaders. Doesn’t he realize that it will only strengthen their resolve? - illini97 - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 2:58 pm: Is this like the imaginary conversation the Governor had with union leaders? Where they’ve never faced someone as big and bad and tough as him? - VanillaMan - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 3:00 pm: Oh good. Now, Cullerton will feel pressure to break with Madigan and join up with Bruce’s team to Turnaround Illinois! Right? Right? Nothing like a little insult to bring John around into embracing Bruce! Right? Right? Sarcasm is an effective means of team building and consensus! Right? Right? Rauner is absolutely pitiful. - tominchicago - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 3:02 pm: As some have observed, Rauner has a lot of these off the record conversations with people. I seriously doubt that any politician, especially one as high in the food chain as Cullerton, would ever say that to anyone except maybe a spouse or a long time trusted aide. Ego is a huge part of politics and no one would ever publicize their own belief that they are essentially powerless. And you certainly don’t say it to the governor if you hope to avoid caving. - Huh? - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 3:02 pm: Nice way to make a potential partner look weak! - ILPundit - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 3:03 pm: Let’s be clear: The day John Cullerton begins confiding his deepest insecurities with Bruce Rauner is the day Bruce Rauner endorses #BlackLivesMatter. - Soccermom - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 3:03 pm: Cullerton told me that he thinks Rauner is a big icky worm. Although he may have told me that in confidence… - Mama - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 3:04 pm: ==Cullerton told me “I’ve lived in Madigans shadow so long, I’m not stepping out now.”== I have a feeling this comment is only a faction of what Culleton actually said to Rauner. - Formerly Known As... - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 3:05 pm: Though even if Cullerton said that, repeating it is not something I would have advised. It puts Cullerton in a corner, even if Cullerton says he never said that, but it is also the opposite of every lesson in ==how to make friends==. - Huh? - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 3:06 pm: I didn’t know that the undead had shadows. Madigan has been in office for so long that he must be of the undead. /s - Snucka - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 3:06 pm: Rich - I don’t doubt that Rauner said it. I just think it’s likely not what Cullerton actually said, but what Rauner “heard”. - LizPhairTax - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 3:08 pm: Rich, You remember Cullerton telling you this all the time when you worked for Madigan don’t you? Oh, that never happened either. - Earnest - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 3:09 pm: Whew–almost took my mind off his wholesale destruction of social services and higher education. Good attempt at changing the conversation away from tragedy and towards personalities. - Mama - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 3:10 pm: I don’t believe this remark is really about Cullerton. I think this remark is more about Rauner wanting people to believe Madigan has too much power so they will vote him out of office. - 360 Degree TurnAround - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 3:11 pm: Madigan is kind of skinny, his shadow can’t be that big. Maybe Madigan casts a “big bear shadow” on the wall that scares Cullerton back into the fold. - meetin - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 3:14 pm: Ha! That’s golden. Now can Bruce tell us what will happen to Durkin or Radogno if they step out from under his shadow? I guess he’s actually showing us with Sen. McCann. - Casual observer - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 3:15 pm: ==Dunkin told me “I’ve lived in Rauners New York condo so long, I’m not stepping out now.”== This sounds more believable to me. - Will - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 3:18 pm: Everytime Rauner sees Madigan’s shadow it means 6 more weeks of no budget. - Nick Name - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 3:20 pm: Bruce Rauner’s idea of what a new tone of mutual respect is, is obviously different from, well, everyone else’s idea of what a new tone of mutual respect is. - Jack Stephens - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 3:23 pm: Did he say this in an email? Oh, thats right, Bruce is only person in the world without email. - GOP Extremist - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 3:29 pm: I believe this about as much as the conversation he had with AFSME that he dreamed up in his head. He needs therapy. - Chicago Cynic - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 3:56 pm: Rauner’s not exactly a reliable reporter of what other people actually say. - Norseman - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 4:04 pm: LOL Soccermom and Will. - Wensicia - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 4:07 pm: Rauner: You’ve lived in Madigan’s shadow for so long. Cullerton: You think so? Well I’m not stepping out now, not while you’re trying to destroy unionized labor and the middle class. - Austin Blvd - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 4:11 pm: Rauner wants Cullerton to have the same relationship with Madigan that Rauner has with Rahm. “Come on John, you can stiff ‘im. You can even send him a fish.” - Slippin' Jimmy - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 4:17 pm: Oh geez Bruce, seriously? How about trying your good cop/bad cop routine on….oh, that’s right, you have no good cop. - formerpro - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 4:18 pm: It is a well known fact that Rauner just makes up these conversations…..anyone who takes his make-believe conversations seriously is kidding themselves…. - Touré's Latte - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 4:21 pm: Even if it is true (doubtful) — so what? - Soccermom - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 4:23 pm: I happen to know that Rich is actually posting as LizPhairTax in order to position himself as an underdog. - DuPage Bard - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 4:24 pm: Well that should help? - Cubs in '16 - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 4:27 pm: To the update–”Back” to governing? This suggests Rauner began governing somewhere along the line. - The_Equalizer - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 4:30 pm: This “conversation” reminds me of the one he had with AFSCME not long ago. He really should write novels. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 4:40 pm: To the Cullerton update: Welp, that Rauner… Instead of MOUs, Rauner is going to need witnesses to verify. Speaking of which, where o where all all these HDems Rauner keeps pointing to? How about havin’ a Presser with them, Bruce ole Man… - The Muse - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 4:41 pm: I love the SP’s sarcastic response. He’s the only adult in the room these days. - Chicago Cynic - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 4:46 pm: Great response…as the Bruce Rauner winning friends tour 2016 continues. - ZC - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 4:47 pm: Rauner was unusually talented at campaigning, for a self-funding businessman running for office for the first time. Unusually so, definitely in the top fifth percentile or so. Unfortunately he still stinks at governing. Further evidence why these self-funded business types are bad news, even if they understand message discipline and they actually like to campaign. - Cubs in '16 - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 4:51 pm: Is there even a point to silly lies like this one? Is it really just meant to influence voters or is there a method to his madness? For a presumably smart man some of these statements seem ridiculously pointless. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 4:54 pm: I guess ole Slip and Sue is the one who’s word is golden? That might make the must sense here - Gonna be a long night - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 4:55 pm: Can you imagine, given this man’s history, how difficult it must be to work for him? But considering how some politically connected crew have, lets kindly say, skewed up, he places them in his office! - Jocko - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 4:55 pm: I’ve heard better recollections of events from an 8th grade class playing the “telephone game”. - wordslinger - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 5:06 pm: –Unfortunately he still stinks at governing.– Or, things are going to his plan. If you were governor, and these things were happening, and you didn’t want them to happen, wouldn’t you do something about it? The Illinois governor is the most powerful elected official in the state, by far, by design. This recent theory that an Illinois governor is some passive victim is ludicrous on its face. - Anon - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 5:08 pm: In other words, Cullerton doesn’t deny saying it. - wordslinger - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 5:11 pm: –In other words, Cullerton doesn’t deny saying it– LOL, it’s like a cult with some of you Raunerbots. No evidence or common sense can budge you once the man has spoken. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 5:20 pm: ===In other words, Cullerton doesn’t deny saying it.=== Ok. Fair enough. You pick… Rauner can’t keep a private conversation to home self and is untrustworthy… or… Cullerton made a huge mistake in trusting Rauner, a mistake after this Cullerton won’t make again. You choose. Thank you. - Politix - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 5:32 pm: Isn’t this an old political trap? Make an outrageous claim about your opponent to try and force a public denial. The denial itself gives more fodder and adds more fuel to the claim. Cullerton ain’t no fool. - Henry Francis - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 5:43 pm: Doesn’t matter whether it’s true or not. It fits the narrative that he, the Tribune, etc. have been spinning ad nauseum - and there are plenty of people out there who can’t get enough of it. The more you say, the truthier it becomes. And it provides a nice distraction from his failure to govern. - cgo75 - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 5:46 pm: I may be the last Republican left in the entire state by the time this debacle ends! - btowntruth - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 5:56 pm: Has anyone sued yet? - Snucka - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 5:56 pm: Simple question: how would it benefit Cullerton to say what Rauner claims he said? - burbanite - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 6:00 pm: Will 3:18, I believe your claim may in fact be verifiable! - Michelle Flaherty - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 6:06 pm: In private, the governor says he can’t stand your dog. - Wensicia - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 6:09 pm: Flaherty for the win. - Daniel Plainview - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 6:25 pm: The logical next step is for Bruce to set up a three way call with Cullerton and Madigan, but have Madigan keep quiet and not tell Cullerton he’s on the line. Then we’ll get to the bottom of this. - Last Bull Moose - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 9:13 pm: They can’t go back to governing. They haven’t started governing yet. - TinyDancer(FKA Sue) - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 9:57 pm: A thousand ducks? Maybe he’s got a hearing problem. - Anonymous - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 10:22 pm: Interesting. That’s not a denial by Cullerton. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Feb 29, 16 @ 10:33 pm: ” - Anonymous - ” So Rauner is untrustworthy or fakes trust and turns on those who fall for the fake friendship. That’s your story? LOL - RNUG - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 6:46 am: I just look at it as Cullerton and Madigan doing a good cop / bad cop routine on Rauner. - VanillaMan - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 7:47 am: And we thought Blagojevich was a fool. - siriusly - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 8:15 am: I am waiting for the story about a girl in Chicago to randomly talk to the Governor and mistake him for Mayor Daley. That was a true story right? - Rod - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 8:50 am: President Cullerton needs to get over his current obsession with appearing reasonable and statesman like. Its a waste of time with Governor Rauner. Telling him to govern is equally a waste of time because he believes that is exactly what he is doing. President Cullerton needs to come out decisively in favor of a strategy of breaking the Governor and standing with the Speaker in this conflict. This is no longer normal politics and the Speaker gets it and President Cullerton does not. - Union Leader - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 9:02 am: In the immortal words of George Costanza… https://youtu.be/vn_PSJsl0LQ - TinyDancer(FKA Sue) - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 11:11 am: A million ducks, sorry. The governor must have a hearing problem. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.