* A Democratic state Representative attends a Republican governor’s event in her own district, applauds politely at the end of his speech and then this happens…
A Confused Kate Cloonen Stumbles into Governor Rauner’s Term Limits Event
Yet Cloonen continues to back Mike Madigan’s rigged system
Yesterday, Governor Bruce Rauner held an event in Kankakee advocating for term limits on elected officials in Springfield – a cumulative 10 years for State Representatives and Senators and 8 years for statewide elected officials, including Governor Rauner himself.
Democrat State Rep. Kate Cloonen, a vocal opponent of term limits, attended the event and applauded Governor Rauner as he concluded his remarks, but has remained silent on his term limits initiative. Why did Cloonen attend the Governor’s event?
Has Cloonen changed her mind on term limits?
Does she support Governor Rauner’s term limits initiative?
Does she still back Mike Madigan’s rigged system?
Was she playing Candy Crush and her attendance was by pure happenstance?
Is she politically calculating?
Is she just confused?
And what is she telling her constituents?…
“Kate Cloonen continues to support Mike Madigan’s rigged system,” said Aaron DeGroot, spokesman for the Illinois Republican Party. “For years, she has opposed term limits, but her attendance at the Governor’s event is a bit perplexing. Could it be that she tells her constituents one thing while doing another in Springfield? Cloonen has remained silent on the initiative, but her constituents deserve an answer. Does Kate Cloonen support Governor Rauner’s term limits initiative or not?”
Shouldn’t it be the norm that legislators attend events in their own districts? Especially the governor’s events? GOP making something out of less than nothing here.
It used to be common courtesy for a state legislator to accompany a Governor when they came into their district. isn’t that what this country is about, an exchange of ideas.
So, are we to surmise that courtesy and respect are not standard practice for this administration? Ok, then act accordingly.
I listened to one of Rauner’s boiler plate presentations this week. Do the GOP’ers know that he is referring to them as well?
If the system is actually rigged, whom is it rigged for? We all know that there are very few competitive ILGA races in Illinois. I believe I read that we are worst in the country for competitive elections. That would include the GOP candidates. Outside of metro Chicago the vast majority of those seats are GOP.
Man, I gotta say the red-circled picture at the end really gave it that homegrown conspiracy-nut feel. I’m not a big fan of the “just asking questions” technique. (more info on this at this totally reputable source: http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Just_asking_questions)
Did the IL Republican Party advise Trump to bring up the Enquirer’s piece on Cruz’s father?
So she applauded at a speech? Maybe she also looked at the floor which means she was purposefully showing disrespect to the speaker? Every speaker who comes to our local Kiwanis club gets a standing applause before the talk regardless of what they will say. Just a polite moment. Nothing wrong with applause.
If they were really concerned with eliminating aspects of the system that a reasonable person could call rigged, they would be eliminate allowing appointed lawmakers to run for the office for which the party gave them an incumbency advantage
When I worked in the Thompson administration, it was SOP to invite legislators from both sides of the aisle to ribbon cuttings, big cardboard check giveaways, etc. The Dem lawmakers were treated with respect and as equal partners, maybe with some good-natured ribbing along the way. Those were the days.
- Norseman - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 12:14 pm:
Political courtesy or even courtesy itself is not a concern for the frat boys.
Classless and crass.
- illini97 - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 12:16 pm:
Maybe she was “shakin’ up Springfield” by actually listening to opposing viewpoints and exhibited manners.
Seems we could use a little more of that.
- Undetermined - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 12:16 pm:
Shouldn’t it be the norm that legislators attend events in their own districts? Especially the governor’s events? GOP making something out of less than nothing here.
- @MisterJayEm - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 12:17 pm:
Lest anyone think that something of substance might come from Rauner’s mysterious “meeting with Democratic legislators” today…
– MrJM
- HRC2016 - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 12:21 pm:
@MJM 12:17 pm
You are a funny guy! Lovin’ it!
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 12:24 pm:
It’s like Rauner doesn’t even want to get 60 votes on anything. Wonder why that could be?
- Innocent observer - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 12:35 pm:
Governor’s speech was perhaps the lamest political speech ever. He was lucky anyone applauded — and it was all strictly out of courtesy.
- 360 Degree TurnAround - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 12:37 pm:
It used to be common courtesy for a state legislator to accompany a Governor when they came into their district. isn’t that what this country is about, an exchange of ideas.
- Wensicia - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 12:39 pm:
A little overboard with the snark.
Who knows, she might be one of the Democrats the governor claims is with him on the reforms he wants. (subtle snark)
- Highland, IL - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 12:41 pm:
OODA loop!
- JS Mill - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 12:42 pm:
What a schoolyard piece of work. Just childish.
So, are we to surmise that courtesy and respect are not standard practice for this administration? Ok, then act accordingly.
I listened to one of Rauner’s boiler plate presentations this week. Do the GOP’ers know that he is referring to them as well?
If the system is actually rigged, whom is it rigged for? We all know that there are very few competitive ILGA races in Illinois. I believe I read that we are worst in the country for competitive elections. That would include the GOP candidates. Outside of metro Chicago the vast majority of those seats are GOP.
- northsider (the original) - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 12:43 pm:
With apologies to Mrs. Obama:
When a Dem goes high, Rauner goes low.
- Chicago_Downstater - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 12:48 pm:
Man, I gotta say the red-circled picture at the end really gave it that homegrown conspiracy-nut feel. I’m not a big fan of the “just asking questions” technique. (more info on this at this totally reputable source: http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Just_asking_questions)
Did the IL Republican Party advise Trump to bring up the Enquirer’s piece on Cruz’s father?
See I can do it too!
- Jocko - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 12:51 pm:
Would Aaron DeGroot prefer Kate pull a Joe Wilson and shout “You lie!” during his speech?
- Gooner - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 12:52 pm:
Well, Democrats sure will not make that mistake again. And then Rauner will complain about lack of cooperation across the aisle.
- AlfondoGonz - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 12:53 pm:
“She’s a WITCH!!!!!”
- Huh? - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 1:04 pm:
The audience was clapping to wake themselves up after a droning bore stopped speaking.
- Mongo - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 1:18 pm:
Ham-handed antics that appeal to whom? Are GOP voters really buying this childish appeal?
- Cheryl44 - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 1:47 pm:
How did someone this childish get to be both rich and governor?
- K3 - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 1:50 pm:
“Fresh thinkin’”. What a pander bear. I can imagine what he says in private about people who live outside of the North Shore.
- zatoichi - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 2:10 pm:
So she applauded at a speech? Maybe she also looked at the floor which means she was purposefully showing disrespect to the speaker? Every speaker who comes to our local Kiwanis club gets a standing applause before the talk regardless of what they will say. Just a polite moment. Nothing wrong with applause.
- Dirty Red - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 2:25 pm:
Just…….stop. Whatever it takes isn’t sustainable.
- Soccermom - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 3:02 pm:
What classless jerks.
- WhoKnew - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 3:09 pm:
Says one thing to her constituents and does another.
Sounds like the Governor!/s
- Just Me - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 3:10 pm:
Is the goal to get work done, or is the goal to prevent others from getting work done?
- Blake - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 3:11 pm:
If they were really concerned with eliminating aspects of the system that a reasonable person could call rigged, they would be eliminate allowing appointed lawmakers to run for the office for which the party gave them an incumbency advantage
- Annonin' - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 4:33 pm:
More classy spendin’ of BigBrain’s $5 million rental fee for GOPies
- Mama - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 5:35 pm:
Could this be ‘the Democrat’ that Rauner was meeting today?
- Candy Crush - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 6:37 pm:
Candy Crush Cloonen is unfit to serve. She is confused and a professional panderer!!
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 8:27 pm:
When I worked in the Thompson administration, it was SOP to invite legislators from both sides of the aisle to ribbon cuttings, big cardboard check giveaways, etc. The Dem lawmakers were treated with respect and as equal partners, maybe with some good-natured ribbing along the way. Those were the days.