* Sneed…
Sneed hears rumbles Diana Rauner, wife of Gov. Bruce Rauner — who has been hammered on all sides for his conservative reins on the state’s finances — wants out.
• Translation: Sneed is told Diana, who has been ramrodding privately funded reconstruction of the state’s ancient pile known as the governor’s mansion — as well as managing a large family and successful marriage — has told close friends she hopes her husband doesn’t run again.
• Explanation: The state’s first lady is tired of the nasty spotlight since the inauguration of her hugely wealthy husband in January 2015. […]
“The Rauners have a good marriage and six kids, but all the criticism being lobbed at her husband — as well as a job which doesn’t leave a lot of time for family time — has to be very difficult,” a Sneed source said.
Sneed is told the governor spends more time at the Springfield mansion than his wife.
He does, indeed, spend a lot more time in Springfield than Mrs. Rauner, but a top Rauner source says the story is “garbage.”
*** UPDATE *** Gov. Rauner was asked about the story at his press conference this morning…
“It is definitively baloney.”
- @MisterJayEm - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 10:06 am:
a top Rauner source says the story is “garbage.”
A top Rauner source also said, “Bruce doesn’t have a social agenda.”
– MrJM
- A guy - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 10:09 am:
Sneed hears rumbles…..Hmmm, could be gas.
- Teddy K - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 10:15 am:
Certainly not implausible that Diana would feel this way. Tough enough for a spouse to deal with the political grind of the last 19 months, but all the more difficult for her given her job and advocation.
But I’ve never had any sense that Sneed has good sources within the Rauner camp, so I’m skeptical of this report. Could be she’s hearing from Diana friends who operate outside the political bubble, though.
- hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 10:17 am:
Well I suppose one way to placate the people in the non-profit community that has been decimated by your husband is to act like you hope he doesnt run again.
- Yiddishcowboy - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 10:17 am:
Dear Gov. Rauner: I admit that you’re not my favorite person at times, but if you choose to run again, so be it–it’s your right after all. But, here’s some unsolicited advice (which you likely already know): Over the years, I’ve noticed that I’ve been the happiest in life whenever my wife was also happy. When she’s not happy, oy! Take the advice or leave it–up to you.
- The Captain - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 10:18 am:
It’s entirely possible that none of these sources are lying. For example it’s entirely possible that Mrs. Rauner has privately told friends that she’s tired by all of this and in a perfect world her husband wouldn’t run again and it’s also entirely possible that she told her husband she would support him no matter what, including attempting a second term. Even in the best of times politics is tough on a spouse and this hasn’t been the best of times.
- Fusion - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 10:19 am:
Can’t Sneed just ask Russia to hack Mrs. Rauner’s emails — like any normal person would do — so that we can get to the bottom of this? /s
- Honeybear - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 10:25 am:
I wouldn’t doubt that she wants him out. It’s a bloodsport these days. I also have no sympathy for her though. Her husband has cost thousands of jobs and affected over a million people with his bloodsport tactic of taking hostages and refusing to make a deal. Not to say that the other side hasn’t contributed to the carnage.
- Anon - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 10:39 am:
Spousal job approval ratings are one thing Pat Quinn never had to worry about.
- chi - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 10:39 am:
They have a lot of money and can afford a very comfortable lifestyle. To choose to get into these fights, campaign, get attacked, govern etc. instead of enjoying the life their wealth affords them has to seem to any normal person to be a ridiculous decision. And when you’re not a “true believer” in the “turnaround agenda”, as I don’t suspect Diana is, the lifestyle must take its toll.
When he first ran, countless people said some version of “if you gave me a billion dollars, I’d be on an island somewhere, not running for governor.”
- Oneman - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 10:39 am:
I would be kind of worried if she was enjoying this.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 10:41 am:
As a “business decision”, Diana Rauner will come out and say she’s for another run and term and let the strong survive.
- The Fool On The Hill - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 10:41 am:
I can tell you from personal experience , that Sneed makes things up.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 10:43 am:
Can’t take much of the gossip that Sneed publishes seriously any longer. She plays favorites and pushes rumors and innuendos constantly.
- Lurker - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 10:44 am:
I’d be shocked if every politician’s spouse didn’t feel this way at one point or another.
Which begs the question — why does this unattributed gossip qualify as a newsworthy post, while very real questions about Mrs. Rauner’s role as an advocate, character witness and steward of our social safety net remain “off limits” in this comments section?
- Last Bull Moose - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 10:44 am:
I think the impasse will break after the November election. If Rauner breaks the public unions, he may consider his job done. Then he can leave a winner by his own standards.
If Rauner fails to break the unions and still has to deal with Democratic Majorities, then the cash flow crunch will force action. that will be ugly.
- Not Rich - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 10:49 am:
Diana should get some tips from Shirley
- Demoralized - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 10:50 am:
I don’t doubt that Mrs. Rauner might feel that way. I sure as heck would get tired of it all. But I doubt she is actively pushing her husband not to run again.
- Cubs in '16 - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 11:24 am:
“It is definitive baloney.”
The man is an absolute wordsmith.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 11:26 am:
@Lurker and Demoralized:
Right on the money.
Michelle Obama reportedly has been unhappy about living in the White House for ages and complains about the experience.
Being under the spotlight in public life is not always easy.
- Downstate GOP Faithless - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 11:28 am:
While I don’t always buy into Sneed either, her sources tend to be solid. Beyond that, CapFax tends to report legit stuff so there has to be at least some truth to the fact it was said. Either way it puts the Rauner’s in an odd spot for sure.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 11:33 am:
Fusion, I’m sure Mrs. Rauner has a secure server, unlike a person who is running for president.
I wonder how Michelle likes the travel perks of living in the WH?
- First born of many - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 11:38 am:
Maybe Sneed was cyber hacked and somebody planted the story on her email account. We have heard all week about these attacks who knows!!!!
- Hamlet's Ghost - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 11:48 am:
By itself “definitive baloney” is not word salad however “definitive baloney” would be a logical ingredient of a well made word salad.
- Michael Westen - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 11:53 am:
If I’m not mistaken, Sneed grew up on the north shore. She probably runs in some of the same social circles as the Rauners. Likely that’s where this came from.
- HRC2016 - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 12:18 pm:
- Cubs in ‘16 - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 11:24 am:
“It is definitive baloney.”
The man is an absolute wordsmith.
Ya think the guy with a Dartmouth education could come up with somethin’ better!
- GA Watcher - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 12:21 pm:
Sometimes you wonder if stories like this are planted to ensure someone does not get forgotten while the media is focused on things going on elsewhere. Just sayin’.
- A Jack - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 12:27 pm:
You do have to wonder what Diana Rauner is thinking. She likely admires and respects Hillary Clinton for Hillary’s work with children. Yet Hillary has nothing good to say about the Governor.
And I seriously doubt that Hillary ever had to sue her husband over destroying social services.
It’s too bad really. The Governor could have done great things for Illinois, but instead is intent on driving Illinois off a cliff. All the good things he did in the past are just dust in the wind compared to his actions as governor.
- Juvenal - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 12:29 pm:
Rauner called reports he wanted to dismantle labor unions “baloney” 15 months ago.
- Ghost - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 12:49 pm:
this
“Rauner called reports he wanted to dismantle labor unions “baloney” 15 months ago.”
- AnonymousOne - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 1:56 pm:
She’s worried about the legacy he’ll leave behind after one term of destroying this state single-handedly. I’d be hiding in the bushes myself if I were her.
- Cubs in '16 - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 2:39 pm:
To summarize; we have your standard baloney, phony baloney, and now definitive baloney. Have I missed any?
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 2:50 pm:
Michael Sneed did not grow up on the North Shore, but she lives there now. She was from the Dakotas and moved to Chicago when she began her career. In addition to her newspaper work, she was once a publicist at City Hall, hence her love for all things Jane Byrne and Ed and Anne Burke.
- Cassandra - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 5:42 pm:
Who knows what goes on in anybody else’s marriage.
But does it matter if she indiscreetly dished something to some friends (better rethink those friends, tho)?
Not in this case. If I had to guess, this highly accomplished and ambitious couple would hate to exit the public stage leaving the impression that they gave up. Seems to me they would redouble their efforts toward re-election.