* OK, let’s revisit that WDWS interview of Gov. Rauner. The governor was asked whether the Senate’s grand bargain was off the table and we’re back to square one…
I hope not. You know, I know the deal has struggled. It’s had problems.
Sigh.
He says this in a passive mode as if he’s watching from afar with zero involvement.
* More…
But you know these things take time. They go up and down, and they make some progress and then they take a step back. This is the nature of the legislative process. It’s the nature of change in our system. Our system is so broken and the politicians who broke it are still in power and they don’t want to change. But we’ve got to change.
The good news is the Senate, Democrats and Republicans, they’re negotiating over the right things that can really move the needle to grow our economy…
And then he went off on a long soliloquy about his usual TA talking points.
* A few minutes later, the interviewer asked him what the turning point will be, what will turn this around to get a budget in the next few weeks…
Well, I believe if the Senate stays strong and keeps their negotiations going, they’re on the right issues, if they get the changes to a place where they actually move the needle, not just a headline, but they’re actually moving the needle - and they’re close, they are very close.
If we can help them get across the goal line, I think that would break the logjam and put a lot of pressure on Speaker Madigan’s Democrats in the House who so far do not want to negotiate any changes whatsoever, just want to force a big tax hike with no reforms at all.
And if the Senate will come through, and we’ll try to help them do it, that’ll put pressure, break the logjam and I think we’ll get there.
OK, all well and good. I wish he’d put a whole lot more effort into that in January and February, before he knocked the Senate’s grand bargain off the tracks.
* I asked Senate President John Cullerton’s spokesman to listen to the governor’s remarks and then provide some comment…
You may recall, Governor Rauner pulled the plug on budget meetings with lawmakers. There wasn’t any progress until the Senate stepped up and started its own negotiations.
That’s very true, but it has been tossed down the memory hole. Rauner announced in December that he wouldn’t call any more leaders meetings. Radogno and Cullerton started meeting soon after to start crafting their own plan.
* Back to John Patterson’s react…
The Senate President continues to work with Republican Leader Radogno in the hope that we can get Republicans back to the table. The Republican Senators helped put the deal together and we need more than one vote from that side in order to pass it.
- Keyrock - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 1:02 pm:
I’m not sure why, but Governor Rauner keeps reminding me of Talking Heads lyrics.
“I can’t seem to face up to the facts.”
“You’re talking a lot, but you’re not saying anything.”
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 1:04 pm:
The only person I would like to hear from is Leader Radogno.
“Why?”
She has been more honest that Governor Rauner about involvement and want.
- Yeah - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 1:19 pm:
“Very close”…those were his exact words two years ago this month. After two years, still just ‘very close”, not extremely very close?
- Give Me A Break - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 1:21 pm:
We really are all living the movie Groundhog Day.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 1:22 pm:
I listened to that interview yesterday after Rich posted the link. He’s like a machine, it’s pathological. I listened with my mouth open as Governor Rauner weaved his narrative throughout.
On one hand, as a political observer, you sort of admire his message discipline. On the other hand, as a member of the reality based community, you wonder how anyone can sleep at night after lying so long and so well. Shameless.
Then I wonder, if he really, truly believes this version of alternate reality, is he OK? I mean, this level of deception, misdirection and outright misrepresentation is pathological.
Has he always been like this? How could you do business with somebody like this?
If it’s just a con, which I suspect it is, then you have to ask, how stupid does he think the rest of us are?
- Boone's is back - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 1:25 pm:
This a joke. The media needs to hold him accountable on this statewide tour, not cozy up to him with softball questions.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 1:25 pm:
The Rauner M.O. has been, these past two years, let things get to a point of “almost” no return, then blow it up, veto it, “Good Friday Massacre” cuts,…
… Rauner’s big play is to “seem” not in any control, passive, a passen…ger…
… but in the end, like Edgar and GHR have said, governors control process, and Rauner isn’t about a finish like, but the appearance of progress…
“Never mistake activity for achievement” - John Wooden.
That’s Rauner’s tenure;
Fool enough people that activity IS achievement.
‘Nember that Instagram after “Year One”… “Accomplisments”
All activity, no achievement. That’s what Rauner is pushing here, pretending overtly that activity IS achievement.
- Wordslinger - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 1:27 pm:
Sure, Gov. Lucy. I’m sure all The Charlie Browns believe you.
His silly canned rhetoric aside, Rauner is accomplishing his objectives that are “doable”: greatly reducing the state’s role in public universities, community colleges and the social service infrastructure.
Rauner is a rational guy. He knows what he’s doing and the predictable consequences of his actions. He just didn’t have the guts to pursue those objectives openly and honestly, so he’s done so in a dishonest, social Darwinist manner.
Once you see that, his actions make perfect sense.
If you buy the con that Rauner is pursuing this destructive course of action for some sunny day of economic bliss that he can’t articulate, you must think he’s a kook. Because his rhetoric makes no sense.
- Johnnie F. - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 1:28 pm:
“Very Close” How did he get that message…carrier pigeons? He’s been everywhere in IL except working and talking to legislators in Springfield. Do.your.job.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 1:32 pm:
Does anyone believe anything that comes from mr I’m not campaigning while I’m campaigning? It’s insulting to people’s intelligence at this point.
- Nobody Sent - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 1:36 pm:
Unbelievable - Rauner’s complete inability to effectively lead makes Quinn look like Lincoln. Did Rauner read the job description before running for governor?
- Roman - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 1:36 pm:
What bothers me more than Rauner’s b.s. is the consistent journalistic malpractice of the reporters who interview him. Their lack of knowledge and/or fear of challenging him is absolutely jaw-dropping.
- DuPage Bard - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 1:43 pm:
Sounds kind of like Grant Wehrli’s Twitter personality vs his press corps personality?
- RNUG - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 1:44 pm:
We need a Max Headroom …
- Foster brooks - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 1:49 pm:
We’ll be close to a grand bargain in 2019
- Henry Francis - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 1:50 pm:
I can’t believe I am saying this, but I actually wish we still had Mayor Daley around (in public). He would be much more entertaining with the Guv. From 2009:
“Daley turned into an amateur psychiatrist Friday when asked about the governor’s claim that the Senate’s upcoming impeachment trial is a plot to get Blagojevich out of the way to pave the way for a massive tax increase.
I’ve said ‘cuckoo’ once. I’ll say it again: ‘Cuckoo ‘ the mayor said of the governor’s claim.
- walker - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 1:58 pm:
Exactly who is telling Rauner “We’re close?” I would like to believe him.
Or is it just something he likes to say every once in a while?
- Former hillrod - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 2:01 pm:
If one were to look the situation through the lens of public union destruction then It all makes more sensel. How many public union members have lost, or will lose their jobs due to starving higher ed of funds. It’s part of a many pronged attack to diminish or eliminate public sector union influence. Fewer union employees means less union dues means less money going to mostly Democratic political candidates
- Former hillrod - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 2:05 pm:
Wordslinger is right as rain that this is all a con.
- The Dude Abides - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 2:10 pm:
He reminds me of Trump. You watch someone interview him and when you hear his response you know he’s lying. In some cases you can tell that the reporter interviewing him knows that he’s being deceitful too but most of the time they don’t call him on it.
I live in Springfield and if your only source of news was WICS you’d think he was doing his job. it’s like they are working for him.
- Nick Name - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 2:12 pm:
“On one hand, as a political observer, you sort of admire his message discipline.”
More like monomania, if you ask me.
- DeseDemDose - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 2:30 pm:
Rauner’s lips move but only the money he hands out is talkin’.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 2:33 pm:
== It’s had problems. ==
Yes; two major ones:
1) Raunner.
2) It was bi-partisan.
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 2:35 pm:
Dude Abides, cut the cord on Channel 20 news. It’s like watching PR reels for Rauner and Ossie’s kid. Flip over to WCIA-they have a new Statehouse guy that hit the ground running (right, Bill?) and their coverage is much more balanced, including an occasional well-timed eye-roll from the
fantastic Jennifer Roscoe.
- The Real Just Me - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 2:38 pm:
If the deal is very close, isn’t it time for ultra-competent, super-savvy business-man Rauner to come in and close it. Close the deal, Governor Rauner. This is what you’re supposed to be good at.
- anon - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 2:45 pm:
Senate dems aiding and abetting the Rauner two-step with their tone deaf pr strategy–now that CR is back on board the Rauner train the next BR team project is taking JJC jacket measurements.
- Joe Biden Was Here - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 3:58 pm:
Rauner will ensure that there is no deal. So long as he is governor there will be no deal.
- Norseman - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 4:07 pm:
Rauner lacks any credibility. I’ll believe it’s close when an enrolled bill sits on Rauner’s desk.
- Norseman - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 4:21 pm:
Arthur Andersen @ 2:35 pm - Well said!
- don the legend - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 4:32 pm:
Most if not all reporters at WICS have their resumes pending at state offices. The number of former reporters that go to work for the state is large indeed. Hard to be tough when you’re investigating or interviewing your future boss.
- Winnin' - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 8:17 pm:
Unfortunately, Gov. Inept can’t keep his word or close a deal.
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 10:18 pm:
don, that may well be true with some reporters, but WICS just let several go and others left of their own volition. Half the anchors are relatively new as well. They aren’t driving all those sloppy kiss stories.