A nice early Christmas gift
Friday, Jun 2, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Chicago Tribune gave Gov. Bruce Rauner’s campaign a gift today with this front page headline…
You can probably bet that headline will make an appearance in a Rauner TV ad if this impasse is never resolved. “He’s fightin’ those tax-hikin’ Democrats with everything he has!” or something.
* The story itself is pretty good, however…
As the final hours of the spring session ticked down, Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner railed against Democrats for failing to send him a budget and for letting the state government stalemate spill into its 24th month.
The public scolding came after Rauner had spent time working to ensure that a Democrat-led attempt to pass a spending plan with multiple tax increases never made it to his desk. […]
That the governor made a point of getting out in front of the Democrats’ budget efforts illustrates the tricky politics at play in the stalemate. While Rauner’s reelection strategy hinges on branding Democrats as tax-happy, he might have had difficulty explaining to voters why he vetoed a budget that would raise taxes but also would have ended an impasse that’s diminished the state’s financial standing, decimated social services and starved universities. […]
Getting to that point in negotiations with Democrats has proved elusive, however. The governor already has put $50 million of his own money into his re-election bid and given millions more to the Illinois Republican Party, which has been plastering Democratic districts with attack ads.
Asked about those ads, which ran during the make-or-break final month of the session, Rauner said, “I don’t know, I mean, whatever. I spend no time thinking about the politics. That’s separate and I don’t spend time on it.”
…Adding… Wordslinger in comments…
Who’s making those spots and writing those checks? His stuntman?
- Anonymous - Friday, Jun 2, 17 @ 12:35 pm:
They didn’t even have to use photoshop today to make themselves look good.
- JPC - Friday, Jun 2, 17 @ 12:41 pm:
This was exactly my response (the article is not bad). I noted on twitter to one of the authors early this week that using “hike” accepts the framing of Rauner. She defended herself by pointing out it’s shorter than “increase” and twitter restricts to 140 characters. This time nothing. What would the defense be this time?
BTW, the Tribune editorial puts this entirely on Madigan, as if Rauner were going to sign the budget they put forward.
- slow down - Friday, Jun 2, 17 @ 12:42 pm:
“I don’t know, I mean, whatever. I spend no time thinking about the politics. That’s separate and I don’t spend time on it.”
That’s Trumpian levels of dishonesty. All that statement tells me is that he’ll say anything at any time if he thinks it helps his interests.
- wordslinger - Friday, Jun 2, 17 @ 12:42 pm:
– I don’t spend time on it.–
Who’s making those spots and writing those checks? His stuntman?
Lies all the time, matters large and small.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jun 2, 17 @ 12:44 pm:
At what point do Trib/Rauner conspiracy folks stop being told to take off their tinfoil hats? That headline is a joke. Thanks for the post Rich. Important for this discussion to happen regardless of where people land with their conclusions.
- Precinct Captain - Friday, Jun 2, 17 @ 12:45 pm:
Buried deep in the story–of course–is that Rauner himself has called for a host of tax hikes.
- JS Mill - Friday, Jun 2, 17 @ 12:46 pm:
Bruce Rauner for Governor
Pants on Fire, All Day-Every Day
@Fake Rauner Ad
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jun 2, 17 @ 12:46 pm:
===Asked about those ads, which ran during the make-or-break final month of the session, Rauner said, “I don’t know, I mean, whatever. I spend no time thinking about the politics. That’s separate and I don’t spend time on it.”===
This MAY be true…
I’ll give this to the governor… I mean, just last October Democrat Diana Rauner put her name to $9 million sent to Leader Durkin…
Maybe we have the “wrong Rauner”?
- Real - Friday, Jun 2, 17 @ 12:48 pm:
I ignore the Chicago Tribune. Its nothing more than a Rauner mouthpiece.
- Anon414 - Friday, Jun 2, 17 @ 12:50 pm:
The Trib people do their jobs well. The Springfield-based reporters generally provide fair, quality journalism.
But the editors at the Tower who write the headlines and editorials have adifferent set of duties: to help synchronize the Tronc/IPI/Rauner talking points. They’re really doin’ a bang-up job!
- JS Mill - Friday, Jun 2, 17 @ 12:52 pm:
Maybe a Jon Stewartesque news piece is needed where the Rauners quote on not politickin’ is paired with the duct tape commercial and a copy of one of his cancelled checks?
- Iron - Friday, Jun 2, 17 @ 1:01 pm:
No tax hike in Il is like not paying your mortgage. At first you have a couple bucks, soon you lose everything
- Ginhouse Tommy - Friday, Jun 2, 17 @ 1:12 pm:
Rauner will have trouble explaining why he vetoes a budget. That’s what voters will remember. We could have been out of the stalemate if Rauner had done some negotiating like Free property taxes raise income taxes we’re good or something like that. As usual Bruce says no go. Jerk.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Jun 2, 17 @ 1:16 pm:
This will surely wind up in a TV ad, but I doubt Rauner will be the only one pointing out the lengths he’s gone to avoid a tax increase.
The Tribune knows taxes have to go up.
The business community knows taxes have to go up.
Most sentient Illinoisans know taxes have to go up.
House and Senate Republicans know taxes have to go up.
For crying out loud, Bruce Rauner and his entire administration knows taxes have to up.
Moreover, every day we delay the inevitable, the damage gets far worse.
One man has turned a bad situation into a crisis. So yeah, I think Rauner will see this headline in an ad, but I guarantee he won’t like the rest of the message. The truth hurts. Bruce Rauner is a failed governor.
- Biscuit Head - Friday, Jun 2, 17 @ 1:18 pm:
“That’s separate and I don’t spend time on it.”
My right hand has no idea what my left hand is doin’.
— Lyin’ Bruce Rauner
- Huh? - Friday, Jun 2, 17 @ 1:31 pm:
“Who’s making those spots and writing those checks? His stuntman?”
No. Just his doppelganger.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jun 2, 17 @ 2:23 pm:
47th Ward - “Most sentient Illinoisans know taxes have to go up.”
Based on Springfield area radio, newspaper, and comments from residents on social media I’m not sure this is true. Lots of folks saying that “waste and fraud” are still the magic bullets that will save us once we identify and kill them.
- wordslinger - Friday, Jun 2, 17 @ 2:32 pm:
–For crying out loud, Bruce Rauner and his entire administration knows taxes have to up.–
He’s said that, but he’s said a lot of things that are less than sincere. If it hasn’t happened yet, why would anytime in the next 18 months.
If you look at all of this destruction as the actual objective, Rauner’s actions make complete sense.
If this destruction is not the objective, Rauner’s actions are those of a lunatic.
His own House floor leader said the other day that the “reform” agenda is not worth this destruction. Not that he or any of the Mushrooms plan to do anything about it.
- Lt Guv - Friday, Jun 2, 17 @ 2:51 pm:
I saw the headline and immediately thought it to be a crime.