165 Comments - Arsenal - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:23 am: Looks like “Dep. Chief of Staff” should be changed to “Derp Chief of Staff”. - Sick & Tired - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:25 am: Burn, baby, burn! - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:26 am: Just, let’s say… for openers… You have The Looch worried about being “censored” on a blog and Brittany Carl “censoring” her own blogging activities. Speaks volumes on “focus” doesn’t it? #BTIA - Yobogoya - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:26 am: Why did you really delete his comments? Saying you were trying to save him from embarrassing himself runs counter to this post. Do you still delete comments you disagree with? - Mr. K. - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:26 am: The tooth comment — one of the best responses ever. - Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:27 am: To paraphrase Bill Murray… It is difficult to win an argument with a smart person and damn near impossible to win an argument with an idiot. - Midstate Indy - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:27 am: This whole thing is #FakeNews. - Grandson of Man - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:27 am: I saw that yesterday. The IPI is a mess. Better for them to stay in the dorm room. Never again can the IPI say that state workers–the people who actually do constructive and beneficial things for Illinoisans–are overpaid. - LeonDespres - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:27 am: Rich… your Sandack tweet had me laughing to the point of tears last night. - Gruntled University Employee - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:28 am: Some people are incapable of learning from their mistakes. - Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:28 am: Seriously, though, does no one know how to play this game? - Whatever - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:28 am: I hadn’t realized anyone in the gov’s office was capable of being embarrassed. - ChicagoVinny - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:28 am: Been getting way too much use out of this comic last couple years https://xkcd.com/1357/ - slow down - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:29 am: The B and the P are nowhere close on the keyboard. Rich, you were kind to give him the benefit of the doubt the first two times he offered up “BIMB.” - Well then - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:30 am: Ok I’m going to ask. Why does best team in America have the trademark indication? - Ahoy! - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:31 am: This made me feel sad for everyone involved. - Give Me A Break - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:32 am: It was great fun watching this play out while the Cardinal game. Mr. Policy Director sounds like a 7th grade girl fighting with her friend over who gets to wear the new top to school. - Mocking Jay - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:32 am: So glad someone finally said that to Sandack. Thank you. - Henry Francis - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:34 am: The Looch sounds good, but Mikey seems more like a Stephen Miller wannabe. A 32 year old who’s primary professional experience seems to have been making dorm room arguments. And no matter how ignorant he may be, he will always try to overshadow that with his arrogance. - Gruntled University Employee - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:36 am: The Looch had the right to remain silent, just not the ability or common sense to. - Anon - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:37 am: The continued censoring of comments that don’t fit with a given narrative being pushed is why Americans can’t even agree on a set of facts anymore. Artificial environments like this do nothing to advance solutions in the real world. Third world strong men would most certainly agree with the idea of censoring comments to protect their opponents from themselves, as it has the side benefit of ensuring readers only see the approved party line talking points. It just isn’t helpful. - Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:38 am: Looch libs Sink BIMBs - Rich Miller - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:38 am: ===Third world strong men=== Looch? Is that you? - Mr B. - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:39 am: I wouldn’t engage internet trolls too much. But there is a tremendous anger and frustration with our State Government. None of this surprises me. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:40 am: The credibility of the Diana Rauner and Bruce Rauner hires is there for all to see. The subtweets and the mocking of The Looch was twitters “one-upping” each other in taking down the Deputy Chief of Staff for the Governor of the 5th largest state in America. How petty and small is The Looch to be so concerned about his comments on a blog. Dude, you are THE policy person for a governor. You control your own messaging. Diana Rauner and Bruce Rauner brought you (collectively) in to get BETTER press and create better Press relations. You are in a Twitter war with the 800lb gorilla of Illinois politics blogs. You get into this because you’re “upset” about your comments, that you “saved”… “in a box with your first tooth” (that’s just restaurant-quality). The Looch can’t win on the message so The Looch is going to complain about BIMB (priceless) and wonder, at a 140 characters a clip, like a cheap knockoff of Goldberg, who actually had the talent in snark and policy to pull off a Twitter discussion. This is “The Best Team in America” that Diana Rauner wanted to replace Goldberg? I even said yesterday that no credible campaign would want me to speak for them… then I follow along, in reall time, these tweets… Does The Looch have any respect for himself, let alone the trust given to him by a Governor? Yore not Goldberg, Diana Rauner didn’t want that anyway, so don’t be a cheap knockoff, thinking you know things or concerned about your saved, deleted comments. You’re suppose to be better than all that. Watching last night, you’re no better than the IPI message board commenters that might have fallen and have a BIMB on their head. - Gruntled University Employee - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:40 am: ===Looch? Is that you? === Someone in the dorm room must have left their computer unlocked. - Aldyth - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:41 am: Arsenal is early in the lead for the best snark, but the competition around here is tough. - Anon E. Moose - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:42 am: “Hey @WirePoints, @capitolfax says he deletes our comments to protect us from being embarrassed.” This is the first time I’ve heard of WirePoints. Not sure why a “news” site would care about the comments section of this blog. - slow down - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:43 am: Two things stand out about this exchange. The fact that a policy director isn’t experienced enough to know a small thing like what the budget implementation bill is called. Not a big deal but noteworthy. Perhaps more disturbing though is that this guy is supposed to be a public servant and he clearly has no sense of that whatsoever. - illini97 - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:43 am: Given the obvious misspellings and misunderstanding of how policy actually works, it looks like we no know who’s writing those mistake-ridden press releases. Go go Looch! - Tough Guy - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:44 am: I don’t know Rich? You tried to save him from himself……I think he is going to triple dog dare you next. - just sayin' - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:46 am: Grandson of Man: “Never again can the IPI say that state workers–the people who actually do constructive and beneficial things for Illinoisans–are overpaid.” So true. Although that assumes their hypocrisy knows some bounds. Open question. - wordslinger - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:46 am: Dude is a bigger drama queen than Susan Lucci. Put on your big boy pants and cowboy up. You’ve got a real job now with responsibility and accountability. You and BTIA might want to take a remedial math course at Harold Washington College, too. Start with fractions (3/5). - Precinct Captain - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:47 am: ===- Anon - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:37 am:=== This is beyond stupid. Is the Tribune censoring me because they’ve never printed anything I’ve written? Is WLS radio censoring me because they don’t give me a drive time program? Take a hint, maybe the marketplace you love so much thinks your ideas suck. If it doesn’t want to hear them, it doesn’t have to. - Northsider - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:50 am: ChicagoVinny @ 10:28: Excellent. Thanks for that link. - Try-4-Truth - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:50 am: Mr. Miller, may I offer a humble suggestion? Post his comments. The ones he is so upset about you deleting. Let us take a look at them and give them the responses they deserve. By the way, this is your house. Does the BTIA not believe in personal property rights anymore? - The Captain - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:51 am: The Governor’s new staff has not served him well, this is the third time he’s been embarrassed by his new staff in roughly a month (body man, eugenics and now this). - OurMagician - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:52 am: =Looks like “Dep. Chief of Staff” should be changed to “Derp Chief of Staff”.= I believe that would be “Derb Chief of Staff” - Moe Berg - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:52 am: The Looch illustrates the dangers of long-term welfare dependency for the able-bodied. Like TANF, there should be a 5-year limit on how long these guys are allowed to collect their RWNJ checks before they have to get real jobs. They are hobbled and disoriented when taken from their previously sheltered settings and dependable pudding cups every day at 3 p.m. sharp. - Union proud - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:52 am: Looch might want to look up the ethics act and how it applies to state workers spending all day on Twitter and blogs. Be mighty hard to argue to OEIG that was all work related. 140k state employees sitting around all day on the internet? Used to be the IPI would decry that sort of thing. Bit I guess it’s different once their in though. Also hoped he used his personal cell for all that. If he used the state cell or state desktop he’s got some explaining to do. Seen workers disciplined for a whole lot less. - Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:52 am: Anyone who suggests that Rich deletes comments only because he doesn’t agree with them is either knowingly dishonest or has never actually read the comments on CF. - Montrose - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:53 am: I remember Michele Saddler having almost the same exact Twitter fight with Rich when she was Quinn’s policy director. - old pol - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:53 am: Rich- You do, in fact, block inconvenient posts quite often from your site. Let’s see if you let this one through. - Anon E. Moose - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:54 am: Oh and he *does* save his comments, apparently: https://twitter.com/ChicagoLucci/status/882631908462665732 - DespondentBlueDog - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:54 am: Haven’t seen a battle like this since Rich tried to fasten his top button before an interview. - Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:55 am: “This is the first time I’ve heard of WirePoints. Not sure why a “news” site would care about the comments section of this blog.” Mark Glennon from Wirepoints is very active in pension politics. He has a pretty solid grasp on the scope of our pension debt problem, but I believe his solution is to welch on the promises made to state employees/teachers. I am guessing his ideology lines up fairly closely with the Raunerites. - Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:56 am: Appears that Mr. Lucci is spending a lot of time during working hours on social media. On its face that’s a clear violation of the State employee code of conduct. Also, I’d say leave the public discussions and interactions with the press to the comms people, but that doesn’t seem to be much better. - Centenial - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:56 am: Whole exchange was hilarious. Sandack response tweet also brought me to near tears from laughing. Taking a step back, it’s crazy to me that Gov’s staffers are “allowed” to act like this in a public space. Looch’s twitter clearly lists his job and employer. These are not seasoned folks who can be snarky and smart at the same time. That’s a tough line to toe. Goldberg did it well. Event though I didn’t like what he had to say. The potential risk to the Gov office and the campaign is way too high compared to any points scored among the political nerds paying any bit of attention. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:00 am: I just hope all that tweeting didn’t interfere with The Looch’s “online poker time”… - Jocko - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:00 am: First Mooch, now Looch. I don’t see this going over well at the north shore dinner party circuit. - Belden Ave - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:01 am: I’m offended as a true Chicagoan that a guy from Ohio has Chicago in his twitter handle - Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:02 am: Rich, after reading that Twitter exchange, I believe Mr. Sandack is merely trying to point out that you are a master debater on social media. - Belden Ave - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:02 am: Especially since the guy has no love for our city - Whatever - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:02 am: ==IPI message board commenters that might have fallen and have a BIMB on their head.== Inspector Clouseau, is that you? - Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:02 am: ==Third world strong men== Sounds like an exhibit at the State Fair - Travel Guy - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:03 am: The hypocrisy coming from these IPI folks never ceases to amaze. They have blocked me from their Facebook page for pointing out factual inaccuracies in their articles and comments and for asking a poster to refrain from name-calling. I guess they still want their base to believe that Obama is a Muslim and that only positive things in he economy can be connected to republicans. - Anon E. Moose - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:04 am: Anonymous, OK, but why would they care about the comments section of Capitol Fax? They have their own site. Also, the idea of a government employee (Lucci) telling a business (Rich) how to run said business sort of runs counter to everything conservatives stand for, no? - Union Dues - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:05 am: I read some of his tweets. Are these inexperienced and unprofessional people really the best the Gov can find to fill these critical roles? Just bizarre. - IMHO - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:08 am: [[IL Working Together @IllinoisWorking To recap: @GovRauner’s policy director-paid $140K in taxpayer funded salary-got into a Twitter war over blog comments at 4pm on a Wednesday]] Government salaries are too high. - Dance Band on the Titanic - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:08 am: - wordslinger - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 10:46 am: Dude is a bigger drama queen than Susan Lucci. Put on your big boy pants and cowboy up. You’ve got a real job now with responsibility and accountability. Accountability is a big word that people like Lucci love to use when they are on the outside looking in. The first thing they do when they get inside is tear the page with the word accountability right out of the dictionary, shred it then burn the remains. - Robert the Bruce - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:12 am: I don’t blame him for caring about the comments section of this blog. A lot of people do read them. But that deleted post that Anon E Moose linked to at 10:54 - of course something like that thankfully was deleted. - Ghost - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:15 am: you just cant make this stuff up. - wordslinger - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:15 am: Given Lucci’s position, is it official Rauner Administration policy that six-figure top staffers to the governor can while away the workday on the taxpayer dime on hours-long social media tantrums over perceived personal slights? That’s some policy, that’s some messagin’. - Norseman - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:15 am: To Michelle: Spit take. - JohnnyPyleDriver - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:16 am: This was my entertainment for last night, and it was well worth the price of admission. Every successive comment had my jaw on the floor. These.are.real.life.people.that.work (or worked).for.our.government - Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:17 am: Moose Not sure, but I have seen Glennon take jabs at Rich in comment section of newspapers. He seems to believe that Rich was in denial about the size of the pension problem. I haven’t been around long enough to know, but it sounded like he was basing that on some past comment in this blog. Personally, I don’t understand how Mark’s knowledge of the pension problem is of any benefit to society if his apparent solution is unconstitutional. I am thinking there is some type of grudge there and he was dragging Mark into the contest as backup. Haven’t you ever seen the mouthy kid on the playground call his friend over whenever he starts trouble? - A guy - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:17 am: ==you are a master debater=== I saw what you did there Flaherty. It deserves some attention. lol - Expletivedeleted - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:19 am: Can we get a nationwide PSA with the comic ChicagoVinny linked… Just that, says enough. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:19 am: @FakeChicagoLucci - I save all my connects on a portable drive with all my conspiracies on Loch Ness and Madigan’s Apple Hoax #BTIA @FakeChicagoLucci - Either let my comments go or I’ll post them on Brittany Carl’s blog #BTIA @FakeChicagoLucci - I am an upgrade. You don’t have to sift through my words, you can’t tell straight away I don’t know what I’m saying #BTIA @FakeChicagoLucci - BIMB, BIMP… it’s not like we’re talking policy or things that shape it. Whatevs #BTIA @FakeChicagoLucci - I use my Twitter the best I can, to point out that I’m just not qualified to talk policy in 140 characters #BTIA @FakeChicagoLucci - At least this won’t be a caption contest #BTIA @FakeChicagoLucci - My policy is to be as much of a distraction as possible to cover for this very bad month. You’re welcome #BTIA @FakeChicagoLucci - Oh yeah, well, I like the nickname The Looch. Makes me sound irrelevant and insignificant to Poicy, which is my day job #BTIA @FakeChicagoLucci - Protect me? I want everyone to know I’m unqualified and unhinged without your filter #BTIA - JP Altgeld - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:21 am: Genuine LOL at the Sandack burn. My goodness. - GOP Extremist - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:22 am: In Rich’s defense, the only comments I had deleted were way over the top. Like when I’ve tried to draw parallels between the behaviors of Ron Sandack and Anthony Weiner. - Norseman - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:22 am: The superstars had OODA loops. BTIA(TM) loopy staff that doodle. - Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:24 am: Being old and old-school, it bothered me that Looch was apparently on State time while getting into a losing battle. I’m also wondering if he was on a personal or State-issued device. Sure, the amounts of resources are de minimus, but the mope sets a lousy example for his colleagues and the rest of State Government by this boorish behavior. He’s also assured that plenty of reporters and other interested parties will be following his Twitter account closely waiting for the next filled mess kit. - SOIL M - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:24 am: To me, the worst part of all those tweets is that they clearly do not understand the difference between government censorship and a site owners right to block and/or delete ANY comments that they desire to delete. Just as Rich has the right to delete what he does not see as fit for his blog, they also have the right to post what they want on their own blog and delete and/or block comments from their own blog. The fact that they are so hung up on comments here shows that it does provide significant opinions on State issues. If it didnt they wouldnt bother with it. Once again people who claim to be Conservative, show they really do not understand what Free Speech actually means. - Honeybear - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:27 am: I can’t begin to tell you how many times Rich has saved me from embarrassment or not allowed me to pour gas on a post inappropriately. Sure sometimes my pride is hurt but I know as fact that it is most likely for my own good. The difference is in how we take it. We can react out of arrogance/hubris Or humility and learning as I try to do. If I don’t understand I email Rich. There are very few places or times that I have received such interactive learning. Mr Lucci I suggest you take the learning route as well. Many posters really know their stuff I am daily thankful for them. - Colin O'Scopey - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:28 am: Here is how the exchange should have evolved from the beginning: “Rich, thanks for pointing my mistake out to me. My bad.” It reminds me of the old adage: “Never pick a fight with a man who buys webpage data by the terabyte.” Or something like that…. - BattleAxe - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:28 am: The real news here is Ron Sandack is back on twitter?? You’d think he’d stay offline after his fiasco. - Travel Guy - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:34 am: ==Or humility and learning as I try to do.== Honeybear, teaching an extremist is not an easily-accomplished task. After all, people at the IPI still believe that wealth trickles down, despite all evidence to the contrary. And humility…forget about it. - Lt Guv - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:36 am: A twit on twitter? Hard to believe. - Joe Bidenopolous - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:40 am: ===I’m offended as a true Chicagoan that a guy from Ohio has Chicago in his twitter handle=== I’m offended that grass bowls like Lucci, Paprocki et al live in Chicago at all for how much they bash it. They want all the city has to offer, fram arts and entertainment to transportation to city services, but they don’t want to pay for it. Seriously, they need to move to plainfield or something - DuPage Don - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:41 am: As someone who many times have had my posts deleted on this blog because I occasionally don’t hew Mr. Miller’s line, I find Mr. Lucci’s rant refreshing and long overdue! - Shark Sandwich - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:41 am: “The real news here is Ron Sandack is back on twitter??” Yeah, did you miss the press release? He is gonna be working the DNR catfish pond at the State Fair, presser cited his extensive personal experience.. - Joe Bidenopolous - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:41 am: ===The real news here is Ron Sandack is back on twitter?? You’d think he’d stay offline after his fiasco. === He is, but as a registered lobbyist, he still has exactly zero clients. Shilling for the “governor” is really working out for him - Honeybear - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:43 am: Travel Guy. Great line from Tinker, tailor soldier spy” I watched last night smiley: that’s why I know I can beat him Peter: why Smiley: because he’s a fanatic. And fanatics are always harboring a secret doubt” I’d say Rich found it He doubts his own ability to do the job. That’s why he lashed out. - Stones - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:44 am: The Governor and his staff are looking more like Trump and his staff every day. No snark. - DuPage Bard - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:44 am: Jerry Jerry Jerry …..this is hysterical. - Appalachian Trail - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:45 am: Sandack’s Back (exclamation point). - Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:46 am: Why did you really delete his comments? Saying you were trying to save him from embarrassing himself runs counter to this post. Do you still delete comments you disagree with? - Threepwood - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:46 am: THIS is the kind of governance we have now: A state run by shallow keyboard warriors who genuinely think this is how to do the job. Lincoln wept. - wndycty - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:47 am: ==Yeah, did you miss the press release? He is gonna be working the DNR catfish pond at the State Fair, presser cited his extensive personal experience..== This comment may win the day. . . - Inspector Gadget - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:47 am: I am surprised that Sandack would even make a comment. He has a very short memory that I can tell you for sure. Back when he messed up big time and had to resign, it was Rich who made sure all comments that people made stayed above board. How soon one forgets. - Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:49 am: As others have said, I’ve been deleted a few times at least. Never complained because usually in retrospect the deletion was not only warranted, but saved me from embarrassment. I wish I had that kind of help when I’m out in public. Rich, FYI, punching down is really good exercise for the back and shoulders. - Lord Voldemort - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:49 am: In Lucci’s defense, the comments pages at Cap Fax might not get the highest traffic on the web, but the readership includes a lot of political and policy types in Illinois - exactly the kind of audience where someone like Lucci would want to defend himself. We can quibble all day about whether “censorship” is precisely the right word, but I can understand why Lucci would resent having his posts taken down. - Former IL Resident - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:50 am: Everyone in this exchange (including you, Rich) comes off looking like an ass… - Earnest - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:54 am: >Rich, you finally got to put half a point on the board! So what’s it now, 95-0.5 between us? Must be true…if there’s one thing the BTIAtm has demonstrated, they can generate accurate numbers. /s - wordslinger - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:55 am: Given Lucci’s strong views, I take it the new policy will be that Rauner won’t be screening questions on his future Facebook chit-chats? Rauner won’t be blocking anyone on his twitter feeds? Lucci is the policy guy, after all. - Tommydanger - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:55 am: I would have thought the internet was off limits for Mr. Sandack these days. - Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:57 am: former Il resident….well, aren’t we all tough now that we’re out of state….lol - Wensicia - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:57 am: Has Lucci thanked you for posting his Twitter comments on the blog without deleting anything? - illini - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:58 am: — “Everyone in this exchange (including you, Rich) comes off looking like an ass” — Is that you Illinois/Arizona Bob? - Rich Miller - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:58 am: ===Do you still delete comments you disagree with? === I don’t do that and that’s made clear above. I delete some comments that personally insult others or me, or if the commenter is being a jerk. - PublicServant - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 11:59 am: Lucci is an ideologue, who happens to be a government employee at the moment, but he doesn’t consider himself a public servant, because that runs counter to his ideology. And as an Ideologue, he’s not gonna let a member of the ‘lame stream media’ correct him and get away with it. Ever. Thus, Flame on. - Former IL Resident - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 12:00 pm: ==or if the commenter is being a jerk== A standard you clearly don’t apply to your own interactions… - Trapped in the 'burbs - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 12:01 pm: When you have a losing message, attack, attack, attack. Luckily, Rauner has no social agenda and his credibility is so strong that having a petulant child picking fights on blogs won’t slow down the efficient and well reasoned leadership we’ve experienced lately. - blue dog dem - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 12:01 pm: Lord. not a political or policy type. Blacksmith.more inclined to think our way out of this mess will be out of box thinking by nonpolitical types. The only solution by these folks is;raise taxes,provide more govt services, make more empty promises,eliminate waste,fraud and abuse, rename state birdd,etc.,clean up procurement,worry about what band is playing at the state fair,promise more ed funding. Same song and dance every year. - Norseman - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 12:03 pm: === … readership includes a lot of political and policy types in Illinois - exactly the kind of audience where someone like Lucci would want to defend himself. === … or demonstrate that he’s not to be taken seriously. - Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 12:06 pm: Soil M, BINGO! Consider this: Mr. Lucci was a free market advocate. That’s what the IPI does. In a free market society, business basically gets to do whatever it wants, free from the burden of government regulation. Now, after only a small taste of state government payroll, Mr. Lucci has mutated into a heavy handed government bureaucrat making demands (or perhaps threats) on a small business. Amazing times. I look forward to what’s left over at the IPI rushing to Rich’s defense against these stifling attacks and demands from the state bureaucracy. - Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 12:13 pm: Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to twitter and remove all doubt - (mostly) A. Lincoln Well done BTIA - Soccermom - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 12:13 pm: Moe Berg – THE IPI FOLKS GET AFTERNOON PUDDING CUPS? WHY WAS I NOT INFORMED OF THIS SOONER? Dear Mr. Paprocki, Like you, I believe that Illinois should be a place where people of all talents, interests and cultural backgrounds can succeed with hard work and ingenuity. I want families to feel confident in planting their roots in Illinois soil. I want to live in a state where communities flourish and good opportunities abound. For these reasons, which have nothing to do with daily pudding cups, I would be honored if you would consider me as a potential colleague in your good work. As you will see from my attached resume, I have a great deal of experience in State government… - Soccermom - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 12:14 pm: Also, Word — You are the second person that I have heard mention Susan Lucci today. Interesting. - Six Degrees of Separation - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 12:16 pm: I am all for having a little entertainment now and then, but for all our gosh darn sakes, let’s hope daily “twitter wars” don’t become a staple here. Some of us come here to escape the low-level debate of Twitter and FB. - Lobo - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 12:17 pm: I don’t do that and that’s made clear above. I delete some comments that personally insult others or me, or if the commenter is being a jerk. I’ve done neither, and have been blocked/censored/deleted - Da Big Bad Wolf - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 12:18 pm: Who is Wirepoints? Why did Lucci think Wirepoints was included when Rich said “they were deleted or blocked to keep you from embarrassing yourself”? - Soccermom - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 12:21 pm: And Rich only deletes me when he feels extremely threatened by my brilliance. (Let’s see if he has the courage to leave this comment up — I seriously doubt it.) - Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 12:22 pm: ===I’ve done neither, and have been blocked/censored/deleted=== It’s called blog moderation. It happens to me quite a bit. My advice is to not take it personally. And if you don’t like it, try some of those unmoderated comment sections elsewhere. They really suck way worse than this. - Da Big Bad Wolf - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 12:24 pm: A couple years ago I posted something positive about unions on the Illinois Policy Institute’s Facebook page under visitor posts. It was from a mainstream business publication. A few hours after I posted it, I saw the article was taken down, and I was no longer able to comment or like on the IPI Facebook site. - City Zen - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 12:25 pm: All the catfighting of an Us Weekly with none of the glamour. - Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 12:28 pm: Rich Miller - the Great Revealer. In a few tweets he reveals two! A member of BTIA and the guy in the virtual trench coat. Well played, sir. - I can't believe it - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 12:29 pm: If Rauner’s opponent (primary or general) in 2018 was Rod Blagojevich, I would cast a ballot for Rod Blagojevich. Because Rod Blagojevich and his crew were better at governing than Bruce Rauner and his minions are. How that is even possible defies belief, but it’s true. - DeseDemDose - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 12:32 pm: My side are aching from laughing. To top it off Sandack is loose? Halp. - Soccermom - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 12:32 pm: He would probably have deleted me a lot more if I hadn’t thought it was a violation of State ethics rules to post while i was on the people’s dime. - EVanstonian - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 12:39 pm: Oh the BTIA is the gift that keeps on giving, Clark. - Gooner - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 12:46 pm: His initial response shows why Rauner needs to hire grown ups. Let’s say I worked for the Gov. and thought it was “BIMB” or it is a typo I repeated. A reporter points it out. First, be quiet for a minute. Ask somebody. If the reporter is right, claim it was a typo. “BIMP. Correct. My bad.” You now have a non-story. Instead, the lad keeps fighting a losing battle. With his boss trying to keep the pressure on Madigan and Cullerton and alleged delays in a vote, the focus shifts to why somebody making a lot of money is wasting time arguing a point that has been lost. When you are wrong, move on. End the discussion. Rauner needs to hire some adults. - Huh? - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 12:47 pm: “==Third world strong men== Sounds like an exhibit at the State Fair” Opening rounds will be held behind the cattle barn. Championship round will be held behind the swine barn. - Hatless - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 12:49 pm: I greatly appreciate Rich’s moderation of the message board. This message board greatly contributes to my understanding of issues and isn’t overwhelmed with the ramblings of mean spirited people, as most message boards are. - SOIL M - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 12:50 pm: Michelle Flaherty @12:06—- While they speak of free market Capitalism, they like to practice Crony Capitalism. While they claim to be Small Government Conservatives, they behave like Statists. While they claim to be constitutionalists, they dont know the meaning. - perrier - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 12:52 pm: which phase of the OODA loops is this? - Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 12:54 pm: Soil M - While they claim to be constitutionalists, they dont know the meaning. - Or the vote requirements - Anonish - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 12:57 pm: Hey, I can embarrass myself daily on twitter for less than the $383 a day we’re paying Looch. I’ll probably also be better at policy prep. - Lamont - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 1:05 pm: As a state employee, and Lucci says he is one in his Twitter account, you are not allowed to represent yourself as a state employee in media of any kind and then make political or personal comments. He is clearly violating the state ethics policy. - Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 1:11 pm: One really isn’t a veteran here until they have been deleted, always with good reason in AA’s personal experience. On the other hand, occasionally snark is encouraged, or delivered when it isn’t, and this may not be the place for apparently shrinking violets like the Looch. No loss IMHO. Looks like the comments are running about 95-5% against him (Note to Looch-it’s not 95-0.5 lol) anyway. - #5 - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 1:11 pm: -perrier - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 12:52 pm: “which phase of the OODA loops is this?” Definately the loopy part. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 1:14 pm: I woulda thought @ChicagoLucci would have made his Twitter a protected account by now. Why keep that Twitter out there for all of us to mock? - blue dog dem - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 1:17 pm: I fall into the ‘jerk’ category. So says Mrs. blue quite frequently. - SOIL M - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 1:19 pm: Michelle Flaherty– To know and understand that would require math skills. I have doubts about their math skills also. - Vote Quimby - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 1:20 pm: At least in the twitterverse, no one needs to worry about pickin’ up trash… - 47th Ward - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 1:39 pm: Regular commenters here get deleted all the time. I can’t count the number of times I’ve been a jerk and/or personally insulted others and found myself deleted. But I’ve never once complained about it because I’m an adult and I respect Rich and his commenters too much to act like a baby. Whining about it only adds to the offense that got you deleted in the first place. - Gooner - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 1:41 pm: One nice thing about this thread is learning that others get deleted at times too. I was starting to think Rich was a Spurs fan. - Southside Markie - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 1:42 pm: I have to say that with all due respect, the thin skin exhibited by both tweeters is surprisingly beneath what I would expect. - Honeybear - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 1:58 pm: Add to Rich’s reasons for not letting something post is if it is redundant, not making sense or off topic. It just happened to me. Also sometimes a post won’t post till later. I get on the watch/naughty list a lot. Later that night I’ll notice it went on. - ArchPundit - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 2:15 pm: ===Looch might want to look up the ethics act and how it applies to state workers spending all day on Twitter and blogs. B I believe he’s in the clear as I understand him to be on Paternity Leave. However, his boss may have issue with such a choice http://www.newsday.com/opinion/oped/opinion-a-paid-maternity-benefit-will-birth-additional-problems-1.9000853 Do as I say, not as I do… And for the record, I fully support paternity leave and wish I had been able to do it. - Skeptic - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 2:22 pm: =I believe that would be “Derb Chief of Staff”= Or perhaps a Derb Chief of Stuff. Or why not go all-in and call him the Derb Cheif of Stuff. - ArchPundit - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 2:26 pm: ====Regular commenters here get deleted all the time. I can’t count the number of times I’ve been a jerk and/or personally insulted others and found myself deleted. But I’ve never once complained about it because I’m an adult and I respect Rich and his commenters too much to act like a baby. Whining about it only adds to the offense that got you deleted in the first place. I am placed into automoderation from time to time–usually when I start posting several comments in a row which is probably a good idea. I don’t know that I’ve had many deletions, but probably because if I did I don’t obsess about it. - illini - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 2:44 pm: @Honeybear - I have noticed the same thing with some of my comments. I respect the fact that Rich may choose to not post some of my thoughts, but then again some do appear much after I hit “Say It”. Everyone has to appreciate this gem we have to communicate with each other and share our thoughts. We all know, and have to love, those trolls that help to make this a must read blog. And we also have to respect the decisions of the moderator to protect us from ourselves. - ILGOV2018 - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 2:52 pm: Quick question…. when the Looch started tweeting was he still on state time? Is that in his job description to tweet on state time? - Albany Park Patriot - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 3:10 pm: This guy seems like the right man for this administration. That’s not a compliment. - 37B - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 3:10 pm: Rich Miller: Restaurant quality. Competent, fair, self-assured. Mike Lucci: Lemonade stand. Insecure, immature, unaccomplished. - IllinoisBoi - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 3:11 pm: BIMPO eruptions. - JB13 - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 3:50 pm: Nothing quite like a good ol’ fashioned backslapping session after a back alley scrap. - filmmaker prof - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 3:55 pm: He doesn’t seem to understand that Cap Fax is not a public utility. It’s a private blog. The owner can do whatever he wants. This is Media 101 stuff. - filmmaker prof - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 3:59 pm: As far as Twitter censoring goes, not too long ago, a state employee by the name of Prof. Steven Salaita was fired for posting insults on Twitter. Just sayin. - Hieronymus - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 4:00 pm: @SoilM 12:50 pm - Precisely. A truly free market a la Adam Smith is the last thing that they want to see. They are always scheming to seize and retain the privileged seats at the table of a rigged market, while escorting the rest of us toward the patsy chairs. - CrazyHorse - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 4:00 pm: Based on the quality of his responses, I’m betting it will take Michael longer to win a Twitter war than it took another famous “Looch” to win her first Emmy. - Motambe - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 4:06 pm: Is it Loon or Looch? First, if he is so thin-skinned he needs to get out of politics. Second, was he tweeting/twittering whatever during business hours? If he is on the state payroll that is grossly unprofessional and wasting taxpayer resources-his time that we are paying for. He should be reprimanded and warned against future such childish misbehavior. - Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 4:13 pm: Filmmaker, you raise an interesting point there. Who was the guy that led the charge to can him, anyway?/s - W.S. Wolcott - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 5:50 pm: Sandack. Ha Ha charade you are… - Baloneymous - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 5:52 pm: 155+ comments when 2 simple words would have sufficed — “thanks Rich”. Looch stay away from the fair lol - W.S. Wolcott - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 6:03 pm: A lot of talk about tweeting on state time. I bet no one files with OEIG. Just remember this the next time someone gets jammed up for the same thing. Just sayin’ - Present - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 7:25 pm: people b weird - Morty - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 7:50 pm: - W.S. Wolcott - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 5:50 pm: Sandack. Ha Ha charade you are… Ah, a Pink Floyd reference. And suitable for Mr Sandack - Drop box - Thursday, Aug 10, 17 @ 8:19 pm: If I ever get the chance to meet the described 800lb gorilla that struggles to button his own shirt, the first drink is on me. This blog is hysterical. It is telling that you allow others to describe you like that. I enjoy your work and learn so much about the state I have recently moved to. Thanks Rich. - hahahahah - Friday, Aug 11, 17 @ 5:17 am: Rich; You should have stuck w/ bite me. Also, while I don’t always agree with Rich (I’ve been deleted or blocked, but at least half deserved it), its HIS blog Mooch/looch. Further, taxpayers aren’t paying him, they are paying you hooch/gooch. - NorthsideNoMore - Friday, Aug 11, 17 @ 7:49 am: “I know you are but what am I ?” P. W. Herman circa 1987 - Team Warwick - Friday, Aug 11, 17 @ 8:42 am: Hysterical. I was easily entertained by the Mooch and the godfather sunglasses (in a SNL sorta way). I missed him the very next day. Now we have Looch so im entertained again. Does he wear sunglasses? At least hes not boring. Lol. - MissingG - Friday, Aug 11, 17 @ 10:25 am: Confessions of someone who often gets “censored” by Capfax: I always deserve it. It’s usually because of my use of the word a**h*** Sometimes it’s because I sarcastically end a comment with “Vote for _____” and I don’t use a /s at the end. I understand that my 1st amendment rights are not at all impaired by Rich doing his thing…on his blog Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.