Question of the day
Friday, Oct 14, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* SJ-R…
The Illinois Executive Mansion will close to public tours in January for what is expected to be a year-and-a-half restoration project.
Gov. Bruce Rauner and and his wife, Diana Rauner, plan to live at the Director’s House on the Illinois State Fairgrounds during the work, according to an announcement from the governor’s office Thursday. A separate announcement from the Illinois Executive Mansion Association said Springfield contractor O’Shea Builders had been selected as managing contractor for the restoration.
Diana Rauner is leading a private fundraising campaign to pay for the estimated $15 million cost of the work. The mansion association had raised $4.5 million as of July.
“When it reopens, the Illinois Executive Mansion will feature art exhibits that showcase Illinois artists, and an educational visitors center for school groups, along with some much needed updating,” Diana Rauner said in a statement.
* A pic of the director’s house on the fairgrounds…
* The Question: Caption?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 12:04 pm:
“I have bigger closets… ” - Fake Diana Rauner
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 12:05 pm:
“Boy, $60 plus million doesn’t go as far as it use to in real estate, eh Bruce?” - Fake Diana Rauner
- Anonymous - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 12:06 pm:
At least the TV antenna will allow us to get Free TV!
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 12:06 pm:
“You may be all about the phony ‘Man of the People’ nonsense, now you expect me to live it too?” - Fake Diana Rauner
- Former hillrod - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 12:07 pm:
Green acres is the place for me.
- Almost the Weekend - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 12:10 pm:
The White House better be worth it in 2020 - Diana Rauner
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 12:13 pm:
HBO - “Dad’s Home State”, Season 2, Episode 42
Bruce gets boxes to move out of the mansion, gets numerous paper cuts making the cardboard boxes. Diana takes time to prepare to move, changes her mind, watches “Green Acres” marathon instead. Diana’s State Employee coordinates the move for both. Lance tweets moving box of filled with Cheetos and a lava lamp to Rep. Lang, “ck” sends email touting the “Turnaround the Mansion” plan, Goldberg writes a letter to O’Shea Builders about their “time table”. Comedy, 65 minutes.
- JohnnyPyleDriver - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 12:15 pm:
Boy, if only there was a porch on that house so they could do some ads with Rauner in a rocking chair, chewing on a wheat stalk, and droppin g’s
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 12:16 pm:
- Former hillrod -,
Sorry, great minds. I was typing as you commented.
- AlfondoGonz - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 12:17 pm:
Little ditty, about Bruce and Diane.
Two Winnetka kids governin’ in Lincoln’s Land.
Brucie’s gonna be, the pres-i-dent.
Diane wishin’ that this wasn’t where she pays rent.
- Ducky LaMoore - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 12:17 pm:
“9 homes… all better than this one. Get a shot of me walking in, and a shot of me walking out. Okay, let’s get out of here.”
- Rabid - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 12:23 pm:
Sweet what a cool place to squirrel hunt, I would love to stop by for a stag enjoy yourself.
- Anon - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 12:23 pm:
Better than a prison cell for sure.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 12:24 pm:
“Di! Look what I found in the closet. A cotton candy machine!”
- The Captain - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 12:26 pm:
“It smells like Chuck Hartke in here.”
- Streator Curmudgeon - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 12:26 pm:
“Shouldn’t take Jeeves long to clean this place.”
- jw - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 12:26 pm:
Will the democrats be allowed to be on his lawn at the state fair on democrat day?
- Streator Curmudgeon - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 12:27 pm:
“Bruce, climb up on the TV tower and let me know if you see any of my friends coming to visit.”
- cracked screen - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 12:28 pm:
“This will be perfect for the servants. Now where will we be staying?”
- Streator Curmudgeon - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 12:30 pm:
BVR: “What’s this room with all the wooden boxes on the wall?”
DR: “I think the little people call it a kitchen.”
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 12:34 pm:
“Maybe Rod was right. Commuting to Chicago daily isn’t all THAT bad… ” - Fake Diana Rauner
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 12:35 pm:
Nice cozy place, except for the couple weeks a summer when you have people eating deep fried twinkies on your lawn.
As an aside, wasn’t it Huckabee in Arkansas or someplace where the Governor lived in a double-wide trailer on the mansion grounds while they did a rehab? Jokes kinda wrote themselves.
- GraduatedCollegeStudent - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 12:36 pm:
@FakeBruceRauner: See Illinois? I live just like you!
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 12:36 pm:
“Welp, Bruce, I told people you have no social agenda, and that wasn’t all true. But here’s something that is true. I don’t have a domestic agenda… ” - Fake Diana Rauner
- IllinoisBoi - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 12:36 pm:
So Rauner is trading in Obed and Isaacs for Frannys?
- Anonymous - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 12:36 pm:
Its bigger than a hotel suite. Where will all of the servants live for the next year? Will they still be at the mansion?
- Rabid - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 12:45 pm:
Goldberg put that Munger sign next to the trash can
- Hyperbolic Chamber - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 12:46 pm:
“Blast it, Diana. I shall require four more cowboy costumes forthwith!”
- Jocko - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 12:53 pm:
There goes the neighborhood.
- Sir Reel - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 1:06 pm:
New residence of the Governor.
(Residence defined as, the Governor will spend at least 1 hour in this dump, not necessarily in 1 day.)
- Henry Francis - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 1:06 pm:
This really is great for his image. Far better than any of his costumes.
What should the o/u be on the number of nights the Mrs. spends there over 18 months?
- illinoised - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 1:22 pm:
Guess what, Diana, we are camping out for the next year!
- Team Sleep - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 1:25 pm:
No joke or snark for me. I live on the north end it and it would be pretty cool if they open it up for trick-or-treating this year.
- Mad Brown - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 1:27 pm:
Will Franny’s be the new Obed & Issacs?
- Huh? - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 1:29 pm:
Madigan and the shacks he controls.
- Amalia - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 1:33 pm:
Bruce and Diana living out their Jane Austen cottage fantasy.
- phocion - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 1:37 pm:
Bizzaro World set for “The Beverley Hillbillies.”
Seriously, give the Illinois First Couple some props. Seeing the problem, and addressing it through private donations. Their personal sacrifice is making the State better for the future. Good for the Rauners.
- Anonymous - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 1:39 pm:
“Gee, I kinda wish I kept the State planes flyin’.” - B. Rauner
- Anonymous - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 1:50 pm:
We have a pond in the back. .. Pond’d be good for you.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 1:52 pm:
BVR: “We won’t even need to get kindling for the fireplace. Out in back there’s a 10-foot pile of used corn dog sticks.”
DR: “Good grief!”
- Streator Curmudgeon - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 1:53 pm:
“Wonder if that TV thingy can get The Wine Channel?”
- Michelle Flaherty - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 1:56 pm:
He gets to drive past the giant slide every day and be reminded of his poll numbers.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 2:00 pm:
I’m losing count. Does this mean the Rauners now have eleven houses?
- Sparkle - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 2:03 pm:
One more Illinois Governor goes to prison. . . .
- Huh? - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 2:04 pm:
“Their personal sacrifice is making the State better for the future.”
What exactly is their personal sacrifice? Living in a house at no expense?
- Commonsense in Illinois - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 2:09 pm:
All this, AND a sewage treatment plant across the road. It just keeps getting better and better…
- Streator Curmudgeon - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 2:12 pm:
And the State Fair director moved to…New Salem?
- 47th Ward - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 2:15 pm:
Add a couple of palm trees and an 1950s era sedan, and this could be a match:
http://www.themoviedistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/thegodfatherpartii07.jpg
- Streator Curmudgeon - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 2:16 pm:
“I’m beginnin’ to see why the ninety-nine percent are always complainin’.”
- Anon - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 2:26 pm:
“This is the doghouse, right? It’s kinda small, but I guess they’ll just hafta get used to it…”
- A guy - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 2:38 pm:
The caucus will love havin’ breakfast out here.
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 2:41 pm:
“Honey, we’re out of butter!”
“Go scrape some off the cow!”
- Stones - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 2:42 pm:
As long as Bruce and Diana have a place to park their Bentley’s it’s all good.
- Winnin' - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 2:46 pm:
Now that’s funny.
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 2:51 pm:
“Think having the next leadership meeting in the Swine Barn is a bit too, uh, on the snout, er nose?”
- Rich Miller - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 2:52 pm:
===“Go scrape some off the cow!” ===
Winner.
- RNUG - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 2:56 pm:
I was actually surprised to read this. I don’t think anyone would have faulted him for moving to a different place in Springfield, especially if he did it on his own dime. Guess the penthouse at the Town House or Lincoln Towers wasn’t available.
- Johnny Tractor - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 3:09 pm:
Bruce and Diana learn why understanding the concept of “prevailing winds” is so important in rural areas, and the location of the livestock barns relative to their new abode.
- Chicago 20 - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 3:10 pm:
While BVR is staying there we can only hope that Arnold Ziffel will stop by and talk some sense into the Governor.
- Anonymous - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 3:23 pm:
Bruce what is that God awful smell? Diane I’ve heard country folks call it good old country air.
- Keyser Soze - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 3:28 pm:
Mad Brown…………..good one!
- Anonymous - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 3:52 pm:
Diana Rauner: Honey, can’t we move to one of those mansions?
- Wensicia - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 3:59 pm:
Little House with the Prairie (chickens)
- NorthsideNoMore - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 4:03 pm:
Green Acres is the Place to Be, Farm living is the Life for Me……
- downstate commissioner - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 4:09 pm:
Big Jim would probably have loved it! Imagine that Rauners will be on vacation during most of a ten-day period in August…
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 4:10 pm:
(Lemon) Shake Up Springfield!
- downstate commissioner - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 4:10 pm:
Will they have to get in line to get in, like the rest of us?
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 4:24 pm:
“And now, honored international guests, Diana and I would like you to adjourn with us on the driveway, er veranda, for dessert, drinks and the musical stylings of…”
*reads card*
“…Foghat.”
- Rich Miller - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 4:29 pm:
Ron Burgundy is on fire today. Cheers!
- cimry90 - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 4:32 pm:
“I see the servants’ quarters. But where is the Main House?”
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 4:37 pm:
“It’s really not much different then Montana, open space avid all… except for the paved parking lots, carnie folk milling about, everyone caring thousands of dollars in singles or fives, and the constant horse racing noise… “
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 4:40 pm:
“I wake up now to Barkers… now loud dog, “barkers”, actual carnival barkers… “
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 4:41 pm:
“Think of this as… camping… “
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 14, 16 @ 4:42 pm:
“Look… it has an olive green fridge… you love olive green… “