* Greg Hinz…
In politics and government, just like business, it takes more than good ideas and adequate financing to succeed. A CEO needs the right team around him or her, and all parties have to trust each other, to believe that those with whom they work will have their back out there in the jungle. There’s a word for that: loyalty. And the recent tribulations of President Donald Trump and Gov. Bruce Rauner underline the perils of forgoing that trait.
In Trump’s case, the clearest example is the trial and informal impeachment of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, though the just-concluded cage match between top staffers Reince Priebus and Anthony Scaramucci was rooted in the same phenomenon. […]
Then there’s Rauner, now two weeks into his big purge and retreat to the comforting cocoon of ideological soul mates. If the governor wanted to change his staff, if he thought some of them weren’t performing, he had every right to bring in new lieutenants. But frog-marching loyal staff out the door without trying to find them other posts is just mean. No one who works for this governor now can know how long they’ll last.
That’s not just inside baseball, voters. It’s an indication of what this governor does when he’s cornered: He doesn’t grow and look for compromise; he calls in people who will tell him he’s right.
* I wrote a column about that topic almost exactly a year ago…
Both have used divisiveness. Rauner has repeatedly attempted to divide the state between Chicagoans and the “hard-working” people everywhere else. Trump points to illegal immigrants and Muslims as the root of our nation’s alleged decline.
Rauner’s policy vagueness during his campaign was legendary, and he still doesn’t like to get too deep into the weeds of substantive issues. Trump’s only specific proposals involve a “great wall” on the Mexican border and a ban on immigration from terrorist-prone countries. Otherwise, he’s not so keen on the details.
They’ve both promised miracles. Rauner claims his economic reforms will result in a dramatic turnaround for Illinois without offering much evidence. In his convention speech, Trump said, “Beginning on Jan. 20, 2017, safety will be restored.”
They both have their bogeymen. For Rauner, it’s always about Madigan, but he’s also referred to Illinois Supreme Court justices and Illinois Senate President John Cullerton as “corrupt.” For Trump, it’s Hillary Clinton—and anyone else who crosses him. […]
But like former Republican New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at the Democratic convention, in Illinois we need a “problem solver, not a bomb thrower,” who can bring people together to “get things done.”
On that, and on that alone, the two men are far too similar for my taste.
* Politico today…
Illinois Rep. Luis Gutierrez is joining Illinois gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker at Trump Tower in downtown Chicago to give a speech that, no surprise, links the Republican president to the Republican incumbent Bruce Rauner. Get there at 10:30 a.m. if you want to hear it live. But if not, here are some highlights:
On Trump: “Donald Trump’s legislative agenda threatens to wreak havoc on the lives of Illinois families. Trump is actively working to dismantle health care in the United States, stripping millions of families of their coverage and targeting those who need it most. He is waging war on science in his refusal to acknowledge climate change and his rejection of the policies that will preserve our future. Trump’s attacks on public education, immigrant families, and people of color are tearing communities apart, and undermining the principles that make this country strong. Every day, Trump is exploiting divisions and peddling hate.”
On Rauner: “Rauner is silent in the face of Trump’s attacks and refuses to put in place policies that will protect Illinois families. Worse, Rauner is actively working to force a special interest agenda on Illinois that will amplify Donald Trump’s destruction. After a 736-day budget crisis, with a state economy in turmoil, and with public schools at risk, Illinois simply can’t afford Trump’s agenda and Rauner’s failed leadership.”
A bit of a campaign reset, perhaps? We’ll see what his new TV ads say.
*** UPDATE *** Pritzker has released a “five-point plan to resist Trump”…
PROTECTING HEALTH CARE: JB will work to expand access to care, increase patient choice, and keep costs down by providing a public option health insurance plan. JB will also sign HB 40 into law and defend women’s health and the right to choose.
FUNDING EDUCATION: JB will invest in a public education system — from early childhood through higher education — that improves the well-being of every child and prepares them for the jobs of tomorrow. He will also oppose school vouchers and charter school expansion.
RESTORING OUR ENVIRONMENT: JB will ensure Illinois upholds the Paris Climate Agreement, expand clean energy production, and invest in green jobs. JB will also fully fund Illinois conservation programs and fight to maintain full funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
FIGHTING FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM: JB will enhance funding for immigrant and refugee services, increase health care options for undocumented adults, improve the U-Visa certification process for victims of violent crimes, provide access to financial aid for undocumented students, and oppose a federal registry program based on race, religion, and country of origin. He will also sign the Illinois Trust Act.
STANDING UP TO INTOLERANCE: JB will expand access to capital for small business job growth in underserved communities, fully fund after-school and anti-violence programs, and declare that transgender individuals are welcome to serve their state as state troopers. He will also stand against LGBT bullying and intolerance in our schools.
- Northsider - Monday, Jul 31, 17 @ 10:09 am:
#Trauner?
- City Zen - Monday, Jul 31, 17 @ 10:19 am:
The Grand Hyatt would’ve been a better location.
- cdog - Monday, Jul 31, 17 @ 10:19 am:
Pritzker is such a bore.
“Trump is exploiting divisions and peddling hate”
Really? What a joke.
- JPC - Monday, Jul 31, 17 @ 10:28 am:
==But frog-marching loyal staff out the door without trying to find them other posts is just mean. ==
That’s from Hinz.
I’ve heard a lot of this kind of remark around here and elsewhere.
It’s a little odd to me, especially given the 1000s of layoffs that occurred as a direct result of the Governor’s budget recalcitrance (not to mention the 1000s of layoffs associated with the Governor’s policy desiderata).
I’m sorry these people have lost their temporary political posts, but other people have seen their businesses and careers evaporate.
- Deadbeat Conservative - Monday, Jul 31, 17 @ 10:47 am:
=I’m sorry these people have lost their temporary political posts, but other people have seen their businesses and careers evaporate.=
Agreed, the fired staffers were also the ones making their living implementing the trashing of Illinois. In this instance, two negatives make a positive.
- wordslinger - Monday, Jul 31, 17 @ 10:57 am:
For a couple of dudes who like to brag on how tough they are, they both spend most of their time whining, blaming others and playing the victim.
Gary Coopers, they ain’t.
- A guy - Monday, Jul 31, 17 @ 11:02 am:
Luis is a double edged sword for JB. A lot of people in the Latino community have strong feelings and resentment toward the Hyatt and the Pritzker family for a very long strike by many, many Latino staff at the hotel.
Per usual, the Pritzker Team is going to swing at every pitch, no matter how far out of the zone. An occasional hit will be overshadowed by many more “loud fouls”.
The advice going to that team is a bit questionable.
- Western IL - Monday, Jul 31, 17 @ 11:03 am:
You know…comparing RAuner to Trump won’t make a spit’s worth of difference to the election outcome. Rauner will win. You’ve no idea how the tax increase angered working people of IL. Not talking about the ‘working people’ on those signs “We support state workers”. I am talking about all other workers(and shouldn’t we be supporting them, too?).
- Arsenal - Monday, Jul 31, 17 @ 11:06 am:
==You’ve no idea how the tax increase angered working people of IL.==
Angered them so much that the guy who tried to veto it saw his numbers take a hit.
==and shouldn’t we be supporting them, too?==
Sure. When’s Rauner gonna start?
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 31, 17 @ 11:07 am:
===Rauner will win.===
A 63% disapproval with Trump in his midterm and in a state Hillary won by 17%…
Tough ask, but possible.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 31, 17 @ 11:11 am:
===Hyatt and the Pritzker family for a very long strike by many, many Latino staff at the hotel===
… and yet, Rauner wants to end prevailing wage, collective bargaining, and institute RTW Zones.
I dunno… Labor might be best served with a “Anyone but Rauner” mentality.
- DeseDemDose - Monday, Jul 31, 17 @ 11:16 am:
The biggest difference between Rauner and Trump is Rauner wears funnier costumes.
- John Rawlss - Monday, Jul 31, 17 @ 11:19 am:
I only see 4 points. JB is a pHONY
- Demoralized - Monday, Jul 31, 17 @ 11:19 am:
Western IL
Again, how do you balance the budget without a tax increase? For all the whining and complaining about the tax increase no one ever submitted a serious plan to balance the budget without additional revenues. Why? Because it couldn’t be done.
- Arsenal - Monday, Jul 31, 17 @ 11:19 am:
Pritzker’s first two points, at least, are swipes at Rauner as much as at Trump. Which, I suppose, is the point.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Jul 31, 17 @ 11:22 am:
===I only see 4 points. ===
That’s on me. I didn’t post the 5th one. Oops. Fixed now. Thanks!
- Grandson of Man - Monday, Jul 31, 17 @ 11:23 am:
Both can’t accept their own failure and scapegoat their staff. This is not leadership. It’s not their staff’s fault that Rauner’s budget and revenue vetoes were overridden, and that Obamacare could not be repealed because of legislation that’s garbage and would make things worse.
This is not leadership. Leaders take responsibility, and the proverbial buck stops with them. Not these two egomaniacs. Trump is having cruel, egomaniacal tantrums, threatening to stop Obamacare subsidies if the law is not repealed and replaced. He also wants to end the filibuster even though ACA repeal/replace only needed 51 votes, a simple majority, because of reconciliation.
- Anonymous - Monday, Jul 31, 17 @ 11:27 am:
JB will raise taxes thru the roof
- Veil of Ignorance - Monday, Jul 31, 17 @ 11:44 am:
Nice job by Martin Torres on the immigration section; it’s a list of nearly all the current issue campaigns run by immigrant rights groups in IL. On the intolerance section, I’m still surprised nobody’s busted Rauner harder on failing to appoint anybody to the state’s Hate Crimes Commission…it’s been years.
- Jose Abreu's last homer - Monday, Jul 31, 17 @ 11:53 am:
Finally a democrat that wants to fund education.
- Anonymous - Monday, Jul 31, 17 @ 11:58 am:
I like JB, but someone needs to remind him that the #1 issue for most voters are jobs that offer a middle class lifestyle. Maybe make it a 6 point plan.
- Ghost - Monday, Jul 31, 17 @ 12:16 pm:
Did Kennedy drop out? seems like there is only one active candidate out there for the Dems.
- cdog - Monday, Jul 31, 17 @ 12:17 pm:
Pritzker is nothing more than a message machine, and Illinois knows what kind of inept politicians have that trait.
His five points of pandering nonsense are funny to me and not even worth the time to delineate them.
- City Zen - Monday, Jul 31, 17 @ 12:17 pm:
JB’s missing Point 6: Where to plant the magical money tree to pay for Points 1-5.
- Cadillac - Monday, Jul 31, 17 @ 12:23 pm:
=== Illinois Rep. Luis Gutierrez is joining Illinois gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker at Trump Tower in downtown Chicago ===
Maybe they will provide some tips and share their experiences on how to avoid property taxes.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 31, 17 @ 12:26 pm:
===Maybe they will provide some tips and share their experiences on how to avoid property taxes.===
… like Rauner’s multiple tax exemptions while clouting his denied Winnetka-living daughter into Payton Prep, a Chicago public school. I think CPS gets funding thru, you guessed it, property taxes
- Century Club - Monday, Jul 31, 17 @ 12:37 pm:
I don’t see anything in Pritzker’s points that Kennedy or Biss wouldn’t also do. Really, can someone point out anything that isn’t standard Democratic platform material?
Packaged as anti-Trump and it becomes “resistance.”
- Skeptic - Monday, Jul 31, 17 @ 12:39 pm:
“His five points of pandering nonsense are funny” Like Rauner isn’t pandering? Get real.
- blue dog dem - Monday, Jul 31, 17 @ 12:40 pm:
Rauner-Trump are very similar.
I am tired of Pritzker and Biss yapping about Illinois’descision to expand Medicaid. I want both to publicly announce their support for the immediate implementation of the Cadillax Tax. Without it, it doesn’t come close to being financially viable. Biss, the great mathmatician ought to know this.
- Grandson of Man - Monday, Jul 31, 17 @ 1:51 pm:
Breaking: The Mooch just resigned. That’s not a winning team or a sign of success, having people resign and firing them.
- Norseman - Monday, Jul 31, 17 @ 2:01 pm:
JP is certainly working it.
- City Zen - Monday, Jul 31, 17 @ 2:05 pm:
==I want both to publicly announce their support for the immediate implementation of the Cadillac Tax.==
Unfortunately, the unions that backed Pritzker are vehemently against the Cadillac Tax
- CrazyHorse - Monday, Jul 31, 17 @ 3:04 pm:
==I dunno… Labor might be best served with a “Anyone but Rauner” mentality.==
OW just summed up my thoughts here. It really doesn’t matter which candidate emerges on the Democratic side. They have my vote.
- Egptian - Monday, Jul 31, 17 @ 4:43 pm:
If we’re going to compare Gov. Rauner to a president, Obama is a better comparison. Both are slick campaigners with access to a lot of cash. Neither could work with an opposition legislature. Both are easy to characterize as arrogant and out of touch. Both are from Chicago…
- wordslinger - Monday, Jul 31, 17 @ 8:07 pm:
–The advice going to that team is a bit questionable.–
LOL, yeah Guy, linking Trump and Rauner is just real bad politics for Democrats in Illinois.
Pritzker should listen to your good faith, honest advice.
- Blue dog dem - Monday, Jul 31, 17 @ 9:17 pm:
City zen. I agree. W/o it the whole ACA is bankrupt.
- Blue dog dem - Tuesday, Aug 1, 17 @ 8:51 am:
Candidate Pawar. Are you willing to support implementation of the cadillac tax to support medicaid expansion?