* Senate President John Cullerton’s spokesman John Patterson let loose his snark flag yesterday after the Rauner administration sent out a talking points memo to Republican legislators about all of the administration’s accomplishments this year. The administration memo was officially sent by a couple of people, but budget director Tim Nuding was listed at the top, so he received this Patterson e-mail yesterday…
Tim,
Interesting memo you sent around today. I would imagine that’s useful and helpful messaging for some members.
Since this temporary budget agreement was a team effort, I’m wondering if you could help us put together a similar messaging memo for Senate Democrats.
For instance, it would be useful/helpful if you could assist in identifying/listing draconian cuts the Rauner administration proposed that we were able to avoid by working together to make Illinois more compassionate and competitive as we build our bridge to a better future. If you’ve got any other ideas, I’d love to hear them.
Thanks in advance. Always enjoy working with you,
John
- Keyrock - Friday, Jul 15, 16 @ 9:07 am:
Wonderful snark; not terribly useful public messaging.
- DuPage - Friday, Jul 15, 16 @ 9:09 am:
Ha! A momentary smile in an otherwise sad day.
- Formerly Known as Frenchie M - Friday, Jul 15, 16 @ 9:15 am:
Funny — but a bit too insider-ish.
I’d like to see the dems put out something comparable to Nuding’s memo — something that maybe the media would actually pick up and — maybe — use.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 15, 16 @ 9:19 am:
Welp,
Patterson is no Goldberg… lol.
Delicious, saccharin sweet and served tart. Very well played.
I guess the question is…
If these were the “we’re all in this together” roll calls for mutual destruction…
… why slam your partners that allowed the Governor to claim a bipartisan agreement.
Well, I’m still excited about that whole “Taxpayer” bit.
Yep, Ron Sandack took that out for a drive and the response of Sandack “doing it wrong” isn’t going to help Sandack sleep well on weekdays now… or at least it shouldn’t
This is what happens when your Legislative Shop isn’t about crafting a work product to run on.
This is what happens when an inept Legislatine Shop has limited success that doesn’t include a budget success unless they acknowledge “doing the doable”
I’m not too worried. Nope. The Press Shop will double-down and say the “we’re all in this together” roll call and all this after the fact spin is Rauner winning… but is just so powerless… to Mike Madigan… which of course addresses nothing that Nuding said, but it’s on message.
It’s completely mind-boggling how these choices of framing are counter to the actual events, and refusing to “celebrate” cooperation, albeit cooperation to save the state from a purposeful running down of state government.
So, Mr. Patterson, that’s a deliciously tart response. Your pointed response to the actual, that’s just fun.
- My Nee Handle - Friday, Jul 15, 16 @ 9:25 am:
I wish John would use any influence he might still have with his former reporter colleagues to press the governor on the discrepancies between his words and actions. Remembering that the governor’s response to a question is not likely the actual answer to it and report the response as such.
- Jackie - Friday, Jul 15, 16 @ 9:26 am:
If I had the record the Democrats had over the past 12 years, I’d be begging to be included in that memo too.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 15, 16 @ 9:29 am:
===If I had the record the Democrats had over the past 12 years, I’d be begging to be included in that memo too.===
Prime example of completely ignoring the bipartisan, bicameral stopgaps and clean signatures… with “we’re all in this together” roll calls designed for mutual destruction if either side decided to turn on their “partner”
I’m excited you were able to have that comment, it’s fun.
Of course, it addresses… nothing.
- Honeybear - Friday, Jul 15, 16 @ 9:31 am:
OOOOOOHHHHHH, Patterson dropped them gloves! Goldberg step up cause someone thowin down for your title of Prince of Snarkness!
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jul 15, 16 @ 9:32 am:
===something that maybe the media would actually pick up===
Sometimes, this is the only place for stuff like that.
For instance, I think I’m the only one who wrote about the Nuding memo. It is what it is.
- Lucky Pierre - Friday, Jul 15, 16 @ 9:37 am:
Amen Rich, this is the only place to get comprehensive news about state government. I only wish more people knew about it. The Chicago media does a terrible job of covering state government beyond the horse race of Republicans vs Democrats
- Juvenal - Friday, Jul 15, 16 @ 9:51 am:
Tim -
I want to thank you for making state government more efficient by recycling the same one bullet point four times in one memo.
Well, maybe five times, because now Madigan is using your memo to remind my boss that there is no trusting your boss.
Sincerely,
Fake John Patterson
- Fore! - Friday, Jul 15, 16 @ 10:01 am:
Nuding and the Rauner legislative team deserve to catch some heat on this. They spent the last week of session giving multiple Dem legislators closed-door briefings on the working group’s “grand bargain,” which included Nuding saying the administration would support multiple tax increases. How about releasing your notes from those briefings in memo form?
- Anon221 - Friday, Jul 15, 16 @ 10:31 am:
Hopefully State Week in Review will pick this up also in today’s edition. Might even see it talked about on the Sunday news in reviews that are popping up across the state. Thank Rich for the coverage and insight!
- Johnny Tractor - Friday, Jul 15, 16 @ 10:38 am:
OW, you used an adjective to describe the Governor’s legislative team that I’d been slow to appreciate - “inept.” I voted for the Governor because I remembered and appreciated the dynamics of having a governor and legislature from opposing parties. The processes used to develop legislation, and the resulting legislation were generally positive. I had assumed a base level of competence with the current Governor and his staff, which was an error on my part. I’ve had two legislative sessions to assess the performance of the current administration, and I’ve come to regard my support for the Governor as one of the three mistakes I’ve made as a voter. (Supporting the cut-back amendment and signing the petition to allow Perot on the ballot are the other two.)
- Annonin' - Friday, Jul 15, 16 @ 11:25 am:
Capt Fax
Looks like this topic sux even for your audience and the BigBrain rapid response team … 14 comments and the 50 min lag does not look like a big winner
Let’s talk about BigBrain praising American Legion and vet while shuttin’ down construction of Chicago vets home but promisin’ a big bike ride this summer.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 15, 16 @ 11:31 am:
- Johnny Tractor -
In November, “vote accordingly”…
There are some really good people working in the Rauner Administration. Some are being handcuffed and complying, others have bought in an are more than willing companions, regardless of their past governmental experience(s).
That doesn’t mean, collectively as a Shop, the Shop is inept due to those two mitigating factors.
Thanks for you kind words.
OW
- Bulldog Drumond - Friday, Jul 15, 16 @ 11:46 am:
I love it when the former unbiased reporters like Patterson that become Democratic flacks show their true partisan nature and quack hackery.
I thought it was kind of lame, but evidently the best wee John can muster on behalf of the weakest leader under the Dome.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jul 15, 16 @ 11:48 am:
Um, DB, you do realize that lots of former reporters are now working for the Republicans, right? Heck, one is now even in the GA.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 15, 16 @ 11:48 am:
===I love it when the former unbiased reporters like Patterson that become Democratic flacks show their true partisan nature and quack hackery. I thought it was kind of lame, but evidently the best wee John can muster on behalf of the weakest leader under the Dome.===
I musta missed where he was wrong, did you point that part out and I missed it, or you decided he was right and just went after him?
- wordslinger - Friday, Jul 15, 16 @ 12:18 pm:
–I love it when the former unbiased reporters like Patterson that become Democratic flacks show their true partisan nature and quack hackery.–
The victim force is strong in this one.
- A guy - Friday, Jul 15, 16 @ 12:41 pm:
My guess is that Nuding: opened it, read it, chuckled and filed it.