81 Comments - MSIX - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 10:39 am: The Bruce doesn’t care about the country any more than he cares about the state. - TD - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 10:41 am: One grifter supporting another? Why not. I hear the snake oil is of a fine vintage in March and November. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 10:43 am: Please, please tell me there’s video or audio… Please… - anon - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 10:43 am: Article III, Section 7 - Guzzlepot - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 10:47 am: I have a picture in my mind of a smiling Trump on her left, a smiling Rauner on her right, and Munger in between them. - annonin' - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 10:50 am: But will Trump want him? Hmmmm. Guessin’ nope Durkie, THe Senate Minority leader and the car wash guy will be so proud On to Cleveland - Hedley Lamarr - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 10:51 am: No surprise. They’re two peas in a pod. - Norseman - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 10:52 am: Rauner is probably dreaming of lunching with President Trump laughing about how the two rich guys used their money to hoodwink the voters. - 47th Ward - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 10:52 am: ===I have a picture in my mind of a smiling Trump on her left, a smiling Rauner on her right, and Munger in between them=== You could substitute “Any Illinois Republican” for Munger and be accurate about the upcoming Democratic ad campaign. Rauner is going to stand with Trump. Legislative Republicans needs to decide, now, whether they want to stand with the billionaires or stand with the people of their districts. As Rich pointed out so very well, standing with the people of their districts is the winning play. Trump is going to bring a LOT of Republicans down with him. - Stones - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 10:54 am: Gotta love Keith Richards! I never heard that story but it’s a good one! - Pawn - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 10:56 am: 47th is right — I think Dems are salivating to run against the “Trump Rauner” ticket in the fall. All Rs will be tarred with that brush, which may be toxic to a growing number of the electorate. I think it is also why we won’t see any movement on a budget, reforms, or revenue till after the election. - illini97 - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 10:57 am: 47th, add in the taglines about how Republican incumbent (insert name here) stands against YOUR schools and YOUR colleges. He stands with the billionaires. Easy mailers. - Aldyth - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 10:58 am: Of course he will. Neither of them is fit for any public office. - Dee Lay - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 11:01 am: Trump/______/Rauner The mailers write (and photoshop) themselves. Heckuva Job Raunie! - m - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 11:01 am: -47th Standing with the people of their districts? How many of their districts did Trump win? - JoanP - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 11:05 am: Reading the links, it sounds more like Richards pulled the knife on his tour producer, not Trump, who wasn’t even in the room. - Fusion - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 11:06 am: ==How many of their districts did Trump win?== A general is a lot different than a primary. - corvax - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 11:07 am: Trump’s repeated comments validating violence don’t constitute a waiver allowing us to employ violent imagery (not violence, just its imagery)? OK, i guess commenters on here can handle a higher standard. God help the USA. - 47th Ward - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 11:10 am: ===How many of their districts did Trump win?=== I haven’t crunched the numbers yet, but my guess is he didn’t get 50% of the Republican primary vote in too many districts. So Trump might have “won” plenty of these districts, but that doesn’t mean he’ll get to 50% + 1 in any of them come November. But that’s why they have elections so, by all means, go all-in on Trump/Rauner. - Wensicia - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 11:10 am: That collective groan you just heard came from every ILGOP up for election this November. Rauner: “I support Trump because he’ll do to this country what I’ve done to this state!” - Huh? - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 11:14 am: Ah nuts, I was going to vote for drumpf. Now that 1.4% is going to endorse him, I have to vote for somebody else. - a drop in - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 11:15 am: Since Bruce Rauner and Mark Kirk will probably be Republican delegates to the convention, it will be interesting to see how they vote in Cleveland. - Amalia - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 11:17 am: ah, the ReTrumplican Party! Rauner just keeps on giving it to us, in so many ways. - Anon - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 11:18 am: Dog Whistle Republicans — Republicans that don’t like Trump, but plan on voting for him in the general. - allknowingmasterofracoondom - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 11:19 am: Rauner and all ILGOP is in a tough spot on this one. What else can he say? He will support the nominee….thats what he is supposed to say. No way out for the GOP on this one. If Trump wins, and the GOP figures out how to screw him out of it, it will be a disaster for the party. How do you explain to your voters that - thanks for your votes, but we will decide who to put up on the ballot. If Trump wins, it is a disaster for the GOP. If Trump wins and the party figures a way to get him out, it will also be a disaster for the GOP. Wow, just wow. - Dome Gnome - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 11:20 am: Well, when “you got the silver” . . . - MrGrassroots - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 11:28 am: Can you say Vice President Bruce Rauner? Or more likely, losing candidate for Vice President Bruce Rauner should he decide to join the “Dream Team.” - Oswego Willy - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 11:32 am: Rauner will NOT be tapped for VP. “Why” If you’re not hurting, you’re helping, if you’re not helping, you’re hurting… A newly minted governor with 2 years of no budgets in a blue state he’s “upside-down” in polling is hurting, not helping. Rauner, the best he can do is a cabinet spot… but song be offered Treasury, so why take it? Rauner won’t. Big props to - 47th Ward -, et al. Great stuff on the framing of Trump, Rauner, and the alleged ILGOP, including statewides and the GA. Spot On. - Arsenal - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 11:36 am: I may be wrong, but Rauner’s repeated invocation of his status as “leader” of the IL Republican Party strikes me as weird. I feel like a lot of major elected office holders, especially chief executives, try to portray themselves as the representative of everyone. - Cheswick - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 11:43 am: Can’t wait to see Bruce and Donald on the campaign trail with Mark Kirk! /s - train111 - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 11:49 am: If Trump is indeed he nominee, it’s the Chicago suburban Republicans running for reelection that should be really scared. I do not see Trump catching on at all in the higher educated, and more wealthy (less Reagan Dem/white working class)suburbs. My prediction: If Trump is the GOP nominee, the GOP will lose Du Page county for the third straight presidential election, taking down many GOP officeholders who will be tied to the hip with Trump in every mailing and add out there. - MrGrassroots - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 11:57 am: I don’t agree Oswego Willy. Now that Rauner has extended this olive branch to the nearly-presumptive nominee, Rauner goes on the short-list. Under normal circumstances, you are right about the VP pick. Experience? Not a problem. Trump doesn’t either. Trump would view the budget fight as a big plus. They are a pair made in political heaven. If you think this is a crazy campaign now, watch this Trump/Rauner ticket. Trust me, they are both on the bottom of my political list. - weltschmerz - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 12:02 pm: Keith Richards - Wow. Kind of bottom of the barrel for truth. If you haven’t wasted your time reading his amazing autobiography, you don’t know his incredible disconnect from reality. - Jack Stephens - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 12:02 pm: Using the US Senates logic, Bruce is just a few months from being a lame duck Governor. - Six Degrees of Separation - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 12:05 pm: ===Reading the links, it sounds more like Richards pulled the knife on his tour producer, not Trump, who wasn’t even in the room.=== Just can’t make the “connection”! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8HYfIBv90A - AC - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 12:06 pm: ==Rauner will NOT be tapped for VP.== Sending Rauner away to Washington as VP may be the only thing that would make me consider voting for Trump. Not sure this is /snark - Oswego Willy - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 12:08 pm: - MrGrassroots - ===Experience? Not a problem. Trump doesn’t either.=== Rauner will have been an elected and sworn governor 18 months upon nomination. Records cut both ways. Rauner has a record. Rauner HAS experience. Please, keep up. - Moe Berg - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 12:19 pm: Of course Rauner will support Trump. They are both authoritarians. How else to describe Rauner’s takeover of the party + House and Senate GOP caucuses, Dunkin, McCann and MJM campaigns, and the fact we have no budget? Boiled down, the core of his philosophy: SUBMIT TO MY WILL. There will be no discussion or negotiations. - And I Approved This Message - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 12:19 pm: Rauner for Vice-President? Good grief. Two narcissistic, blowhard billionaires who think their business successes make them perfect for running a government. And who,between them, have absolutely no experience in foreign policy or national security. As Jon Lovitz would say, “Yeah…that’s the ticket!” - Dale Cooper - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 12:21 pm: They’re almost the same guy. Over inflated bank accounts and egos, they “work with the best people” and they’re both bullies. - A Jack - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 12:24 pm: Doesn’t the Governor realize that Donald Trump is a UNION member? The screen actor’s guild which sets prevailing wages for actor’s and other movie workers. In fact, actors who play state worker’s get paid much more than real state workers due to those wage agreements. I would think the Governor would distance himself from any union member rather than supporting a participant in such a “corrupt bargain.” However, I think that Trump would likely be dismissive of the Governor since Trump has spoken against businesses that have shipped jobs overseas like some of the Governor’s enterprises. However the Governor is likely trying to tie Trump’s coat tails in an effort to boost Rauner’s rapidly declining reverence. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 12:26 pm: To the update, Welp, nice goin! Rauner says he will support the Republican Nominee. Rauner says he’s the head of the Illinois Republican Party. Rauner sets up November as a clear referendum on Bruce Rauner and HIS Republican Party, that may be led by Dinald Trump. Rauner is downright awful on his feet answering questions. Raunerism is on the ballot this November. “Vote Accordingly” - A Jack - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 12:27 pm: Darn iPhone. Relevance, not reverence. - Anon221 - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 12:34 pm: If you listen to the audio, Rauner is hardly jumin’ up and down for Trump. And, he again uses his standard line of he’s not going to endorse any specific candidates. Remember, the March 11 Governor’s Dinner in honor of Bruce Rauner not so long ago??? Trump was invited, but chose to hold his own event that was cancelled. ‘Member that one??? Rauner is closer to Cruz than to Trump, but he isn’t really interested in either of them because he has his own little fiefdom here called Illinois. - Educ - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 12:44 pm: C’mon, man. This is just embarrassing. Show SOME kind of moral spine. Rauner is giving me fremdscham. - Terry Salad - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 12:47 pm: “If you listen to the audio, Rauner is hardly jumin’ up and down for Trump. And, he again uses his standard line of he’s not going to endorse any specific candidates.’ Big deal. He’s still support this short fingered vulgarian. Makes you wonder what some one would have to do in order to lose Rauner’s support? Say something nice about Unions, perhaps? - Blue State Cowboys - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 12:51 pm: The Blue State Cowboys anxiously await the inevitable Trump-Rauner photo-op, knowing it will provide fodder for another original song. Until then, “Trump’s America,” our recently recorded tribute to Mr. Trump, will have to suffice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9Ti5ioETBg - Will Caskey - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 12:57 pm: That loud roar you hear is every Democratic mail consultant with Illinois clients tapping out “Trump/Rauner/X: Wrong for Illinois.” Thanks for making my colleagues a mint for almost no work, Bruce! - Anon221 - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 1:05 pm: Terry Salad- My take on the audio is that Rauner is not a fan of Trump, and realizes what a Trump candidacy poses as a serious challenge to Rauner’s furthering his Raunerite agenda. As others have stated, the flyers for the General won’t be pretty. Also, Rauner’s friends are contributing mightily to the anti-Trump campaigns. Be interesting if any Rauner associated dollars show up, but I doubt it. He’ll let Uihlein and others pay his share. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/21/us/politics/donald-trump-republican-donors.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share - illini97 - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 1:13 pm: Have to agree with OW. It’s like the Governor is doing everything possible to make November a referendum on his own job performance. Good luck with that. - wordslinger - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 1:13 pm: Well, so much for that “Profiles in Courage” Award. Or maybe Gov. Rauner unexpectedly just had a momentary burst of honesty and just copped that he’s down with the Trump message. Trump would ban from the United States one in five of every man, woman and child and Planet Earth based on their religion, and nothing else. I’m sure Catholics, Jew, Mormons and more in the United States can relate. They certainly had their time in the barrel, for decades, and still do in some circles that dig on Trump. Check out the fervent Trump supporters at Stormfront.com, and you’ll know what I mean. That crowd is tuned in and stoned on the Trump message. Here’s what bleeding-heart Dick Cheney said about banning all Muslims. –“I think this whole notion that somehow we can just say no more Muslims, just ban a whole religion, goes against everything we stand for and believe in,” Cheney told Hugh Hewitt on Hewitt’s conservative radio show Monday. – Imagine that. Trump promises to round up 11.5 million people of Mexican origin and ship them south of the border in two years. Give that a think: rounding up 11.5 million against their will. Who was the last guy who tried that? Tell me how that is done without spending hundreds of billions, creating a militarized police state, suspending due process of law, concentration camps, rail cars and tattoos. Here’s what a couple of great Republicans, George HW Bush and Ronald Reagan had to say on the issue back in the day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5CEX4O0Ab4 Geez, that’s just for starters, on Trump. But the governor is on board, right now. That’s the leader of the Illinois Republican Party, today. Given his actions to date, not a surprise, at all. - JB - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 1:15 pm: I agree with 47th ward when he/she said, “legislative Republicans needs to decide, now, whether they want to stand with the billionaires or stand with the people of their districts.” If our local Republican legislators side with Trump/Rauner they are going to have a problem getting re-elected - wordslinger - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 1:25 pm: –Trump would ban from the United States one in five of every man, woman and child and Planet Earth based on their religion, and nothing else.– “on” Planet Earth, excuse me. - Rich Miller - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 1:25 pm: ===My take on the audio is that Rauner is not a fan of Trump=== “I’ll do everything I can to work with that nominee.” - Anon221 - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 1:26 pm: JB- “If our local Republican legislators side with Trump/Rauner they are going to have a problem getting re-elected.” ***** So… there might be bright side to this after all. Will it be enough to prompt Green from Yellow/Red before the General??? Is the Trump/Rauner association a backbone grower, or does it matter if Illinois voters turn out for Trump in a big way any way??? Will Trumpers and Raunerites be one and the same type of voters? - Anon221 - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 1:28 pm: wordslinger- I liked the “and Planet Earth” better. After all, if Trump gets the Presidency, Planet Earth is next. And, probably in for a name change to Planet Trump;) - Anon221 - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 1:31 pm: Rich- “nominee” being the key word. First ballot nominee??? And I do realize that if Trump gets 1237 he will, in all likelihood, BE the nominee. But, Rauner has also promised to do everything to work with the Dems and Madigan, too, and we’re all seein’ how that’s workin’ out;) - Responsa - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 1:54 pm: As someone who desperately wishes that our 2016 presidential choices were not between an egocentric loudmouth billionaire with vague ideas, an aged declared socialist whose stated policies would utterly bankrupt the country, a shrill and wholly unlikable untrustworthy candidate who is very possibly facing indictment for actions in a previous government job, and a creepy guy some of whose social positions are more akin to a previous century, I am at a loss to see why Trump’s supporters should be held in any greater contempt on this board than any other candidate’s supporters. Yeah, I know it’s silly season but it’s really, really silly to expect a Republican governor to say he’d support either flawed Democratic candidate over the eventual nominee of his own party as determined by the voters and delegates of that party–whoever that may end up being. - anon - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 2:05 pm: Since Bruce is the leader of the party, will he be to blame when Clinton carries the State in November? - MSIX - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 2:07 pm: @Responsa The difference is that of the four, only Trump is utterly clueless about how he would do anything he claims. Think of them as pilots. The other three may be reckless, dangerous, non-rule-abiding pilots, but at least they know how to keep the plane in the air. Trump does not. He’s strictly acting out a part. Given the choice between a poor surgeon and a clown, I’d take my chances with the poor surgeon and hope he got lucky and did the right thing. There is zero chance of that with Trump. - JoanP - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 2:24 pm: @ Dale Cooper: “They’re almost the same guy” Rauner’s the one with decent hair. - Cable Line Beer Gardener - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 2:27 pm: When I was a kid it was the threat of nuclear annihilation and the iron curtain, today’s kids are afraid they are going to be taken away from their parents and their homes by Trump. We should be better than this. - wordslinger - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 2:30 pm: ===My take on the audio is that Rauner is not a fan of Trump=== Based on what? This is not the time for weasel words. Spit it out and say what you mean. This ain’t a braindead reality show any more. Trump is for real, as the Stormfront crew and David Duke will tell you. For crying out loud, how the hell can the self-proclaimed “leader” of the Illinois GOP not be a national leader in purging Trump out of the party? Lincoln? Dirksen? Percy? Thompson, Edgar…. I pulled a GOP ballot and voted for Kasich. Kimme and Allison, I voted for you, too. Do us proud in Cleveland. Put the wood to the Mussolini crew, Illinois style. - Truthteller - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 4:05 pm: Well, Sam McCann won the Republican primary for the state senate. As the leader of the GOP, when is Rauner going to declare his support for him? - ArchPundit - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 4:13 pm: ====I think Dems are salivating to run against the “Trump Rauner” ticket in the fall. Think? You don’t have to think about that My guess is that this goes south in the fall the Governor reneges on that and blasts Trump. He’ll say something about how Trump has gone crazier than he was at the time he said it. He will be making that part up, but he’ll be seeing a really bad year in a blue state. Kirk will try the same. Still not sure why he didn’t blast Trump the day after the primary, but it’s his election to lose. - ArchPundit - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 4:17 pm: ===Trump is for real, as the Stormfront crew and David Duke will tell you. I’ve been spending a fair amount of time on Stormfront and there are a few who think he’s too mainstream, but it’s pretty clear they view him as their candidate. We can say all we want about how he isn’t in control of who might choose to support him, but no major candidate has gotten this kind of support from them. - 47th Ward - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 4:31 pm: ===Keith Richards - Wow. Kind of bottom of the barrel for truth.=== Is that you, Mick? - wordslinger - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 4:41 pm: ===Keith Richards - Wow. Kind of bottom of the barrel for truth.=== LOL, yeah, Keith has been living the lie for some time now. So respectable… –Is that you, Mick?– I wish I had written that. - wordslinger - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 4:50 pm: For the record, Trump won the the Illinois GOP primary with 556,916 votes, representing 38.8% of the GOP votes cast. Clinton won the Illinois Democratic primary with 1,017,016 votes, representing 50.5% of the Democratic votes cast. Sanders finished second in the Democratic primary with 982,017 votes, 48.7% of the Democratic votes cast. To date, Trump has won 38% of the popular vote nationally in GOP primaries and caucuses. - Anon221 - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 5:20 pm: wordslinger- if you listen to the hemming and hawing on the audio by Rauner, it is clear that he didn’t want to answer the question, and he did not refer to Trump by name. Is that spit out enough for you? If he was a cheerleader for Trump, I think he’d be sing in’ right along with the Trumpets. I didn’t realize I was not clear. - wordslinger - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 5:28 pm: –wordslinger- if you listen to the hemming and hawing on the audio by Rauner, it is clear that he didn’t want to answer the question, and he did not refer to Trump by name. Is that spit out enough for you? If he was a cheerleader for Trump, I think he’d be sing in’ right along with the Trumpets. I didn’t realize I was not clear.– You make it sound so brave and noble. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 5:29 pm: - Anon221 - The quote is the quote is the quote. Rauner will support the GOP Nominee. The ILGOP is Rauner’s. Welp, I’m sure all the GOP candidates running, in Illinois, running at times away from Rauner, away from Trump, are going to be excited every tune they try to break out on an issue of four to see that quote. - Daniel Plainview - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 5:29 pm: - it is clear that he didn’t want to answer the question, and he did not refer to Trump by name. - So he’s not man enough to speak his honest mind? Great quality for a leader. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 5:35 pm: That is gonna play well in the suburbs. - Oh come on - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 5:36 pm: Did the media record or note when and where Rauner voted in the recent primary? It would be interesting to know. - wordslinger - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 5:48 pm: –I am at a loss to see why Trump’s supporters should be held in any greater contempt on this board than any other candidate’s supporter– LOL, yeah, Trump is just another guy, like previous candidates for president. I remember Ike threatening riots at the 1952 GOP convention in Chicago if he didn’t get the nod, even though he didn’t have a majority of delegates. Same with both Reagan and Ford in 1980 in Detroit. Who are you trying to convince — yourself? - reader - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 6:08 pm: Is Rauner trying to secure a spot in a potential Trump-Lewandowski-Carson regime? - Black Ivy - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 6:45 pm: Is there a controversy here? When Donald J. Trump becomes President, I fully expect Governor Rauner to support him. Ted Cruz and John Kasich should take their toys and go home. - Anonymous - Monday, Mar 21, 16 @ 9:13 pm: Black Ivy is correct. Just as Madigan currently supports a candidate under federal investigation and should be expected to support Sanders if Clinton is indicted and Sanders becomes the nominee. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 8:14 am: Black Ivy: Lots of Republicans are expressing serious reservations about supporting Donald Trump if he is the nominee. Not Bruce Rauner. Ironically, he is engaging in the kind of blind loyalty he accuses black voters of. - Anon221 - Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 8:28 am: YDD- Rauner, and Trump also for that matter, have no loyalty to the Republican Party. Being a “Republican” is just a convenience to them both. It is a means to their own ends. Trump is definitely the more frightening prospect for our country and the world if he succeeds to the presidency, and the GOP has more than sufficient cause to be in turmoil over that prospect to the point that some hope to lose the General to the Dems because they see no way out if he scores enough delegates for the convention. Meanwhile here in Illinois, we are already living with the results of an election that has the GOP is regret mode. The problem for us, is the GOP now needs to stand against their “leader” who claims them but does not stand with them. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.