Yesterday, just days after an embarrassing performance on Fox News, Bruce Rauner returned to local TV in a desperate attempt to spin his failed leadership. Rauner laughably said, “With our elected officials really it’s about spinning a headline… it’s managing a headline, it’s not about dealing with reality and truly solving problems,” before proceeding to spin headlines and provide no solutions to problems.
In a notable exchange, WTTW’s Amanda Vinicky pressed the failed governor on recently cleaning house in his administration and bringing in a team of radicals from the Illinois Policy Institute. Rauner tried to argue “most of my top aides do not come from there,” which would be convincing, were it not for the fact that Rauner’s Chief of Staff, Legislative Liaison, Policy Chief, and much of his communications team all come directly from the right-wing group. Vinicky pressed the failed governor on how this new team of radicals influences his agenda, to which Rauner replied “I will never change.” So, either Bruce Rauner expects us to believe that his senior advisors are not really advising him or Rauner was actually just this radical to begin with.
“Considering Bruce Rauner cleaned house to retool his messaging, you would think he might be able to get some better answers,” said Pritzker campaign spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh. “Then again, even ‘the best team in America’ can’t spin their way out of this mess. Bruce Rauner is a failed leader of historic proportions, desperately lurching to the right as Illinois families pay the price.”
The governor also told Vinicky that his chief legal counsel comes from Indiana. Um, no. That was his former chief legal counsel, Jason Barclay, who worked for Gov. Mitch Daniels. His current chief legal counsel, Dennis Murashko, comes from Russia.
*** UPDATE *** Part of a DGA press release…
Amanda Vinicky named four, but here is a full list compiled from news clips:
Kristina Rasmussen – Chief of Staff
Michael Lucci – Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy
Diana Rickert – Deputy Chief of Staff of Communications
Darlene Senger – Deputy Chief of Staff of Legislative Affairs
Jean Hutton – Assistant Chief of Staff
Madelyn Harwood – Policy Analyst
Meghan Keenan – Communications Specialist
This list does not include Rauner’s new Director of Communications, Washington DC liaison, Chief Strategic Advisor for his campaign apparatus, or (short-lived) body man all of whom are products of other national and local right-wing think tanks. There is no getting around the fact that Rauner has turned over his political operation to the Illinois Policy Institute and other like-minded organizations. Illinois reporters have already started seeing the “influence” of his staff on policy, most notably the inclusion of TIFF provisions in Rauner’s SB1 Amendatory veto. But he right that his new staff won’t change the problem at the center of this administration – Bruce Rauner and his failed leadership.
If Rauner’s convinced that he needed to shake up his staff and bring in these staffers, why is he suddenly ashamed to admit who he brought in?
“At the end of a terrible month, Bruce Rauner seems suddenly shy about the fact he turned over the governor’s office to a bunch of right-wing ideologues,” said DGA Illinois Communications Director Sam Salustro. “After lawmakers from both parties overrode his budget veto, Rauner could have turned to focus on helping Illinois families. Instead, he doubled-down on the same failed politics that lead the state to a two-year budget impasse, and now threaten schools’ ability to stay open.”
I was just typing this on another thread when this popped up. Ask and ye shall receive:
Given how much misdirection, obfuscation and downright deception the Governor foisted upon Vinicky and the audience last night, if I was Mrs. Rauner I’d be very worried that he said those things about me.
Lying comes very easily to this man. Too easily to trust his word on anything.
I watched the entire interview with my mouth wide open. I couldn’t believe he had the audacity to say those things on live television with that hokey “aw shucks” grin on his face.
Seriously, someone tell me that they’ve purchased the video of that debacle of an interview and are editing it for TV ads. He performed as poorly as any politician I’ve ever seen. Epic fail.
I watched the whole thing and it was cringe worthy. The exchange on Drury was particularly uncomfortable. Lying comes easy for Rauner particularly if his lies go unchallenged. When Vinicky asked her follow-up questions on Drury it was clear that Rauner was stunned and realized that he had been caught. It was almost as if Vinicky anticipated his lie and he was shocked that he was being pressed on it.
===Rauner tried to argue “most of my top aides do not come from there,” which would be convincing, were it not for the fact that Rauner’s Chief of Staff, Legislative Liaison, Policy Chief, and much of his communications team all come directly from the right-wing group. Vinicky pressed the failed governor on how this new team of radicals influences his agenda, to which Rauner replied “I will never change.” So, either Bruce Rauner expects us to believe that his senior advisors are not really advising him or Rauner was actually just this radical to begin with.===
This is the “Santiago Transfer Order”
This is really good work by a Crew willing to go and look and define Rauner when Rauner himself leaves little to who he exactly is, or what he believes… except in what he does that counters whatever ridiculousness Rauner wants to say at any given time.
This is a campaign prong I hope to see more.
What Rauner does, it really a tick if we’re going to break it down, he leaves a marker out there. Now the marker itself has issues to him (Rauner) or his message.
Now, here’s where a really talented crew can make hay…
Rauner likes the marker, and doesn’t like the taint or the negative to it, so Rauner then says in a declarative that he (Rauner) is ether his own person, has how own thought, he hasn’t thought of it, has thought of it but it can be different than the marker.
Where Col. Nathan R. Jessup made his mistake was having the plausable story, but that need to seem “sympathetic, empathetic” which runs opposite of the “strong guy, tough guy”
Rauner?
You don’t get to be a multimillionaire destroying companies without avoiding a few land mines….
You say that as if to imply Rauner plucked him from Putin’s inner-circle to be his attorney. He moved here as a kid, going to college and law school in Illinois
Indiana,Russia…tomAYto, tomAHto. Welcome to Raurnerland.
- NeverPoliticallyCorrect - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 3:01 pm:
How about we just say that he is a Northwestern Law School graduate. Isn’t that more important than the fact he joined his father here when he was 17. Or is it better to suggest he just comes from Russia. Are you trying to suggest this was a plot started when he was 17 and he was a deep cover agent. I thought immigrants were ok?
===Amanda Vinicki, asking, prodding, but letting Rauner talk and talk and talk…
She seemed stunned at this one though. Really?
It is hard to interview someone who is avoiding answering any substantive question. Carol Marin or someone could probably pull it off, but Vinicky was persistent.
Blago thought he still had a shot at national office even after his political world was crumbling. I see IPI, AFP et al as Rauner’s chosen partners for future national opportunities.
If I had compassion for him (which I cannot muster due to his indifference to others who struggle) I would worry about his well being;repeated reference to his stressful job, losing 20 pounds and working 24/7 as well as his presentation of about to combust . He does not interview well . See FOX interview
- Shore - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 1:10 pm:
Why hire the folks en masse if you’re not going to own it? What’s the point of going half way here?
- Deft Wing - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 1:11 pm:
Yeah, he’s just got good in these forums. At all. Hey new (IPI) superstars, have him crank out commercials … only.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 1:12 pm:
I was just typing this on another thread when this popped up. Ask and ye shall receive:
Given how much misdirection, obfuscation and downright deception the Governor foisted upon Vinicky and the audience last night, if I was Mrs. Rauner I’d be very worried that he said those things about me.
Lying comes very easily to this man. Too easily to trust his word on anything.
I watched the entire interview with my mouth wide open. I couldn’t believe he had the audacity to say those things on live television with that hokey “aw shucks” grin on his face.
Seriously, someone tell me that they’ve purchased the video of that debacle of an interview and are editing it for TV ads. He performed as poorly as any politician I’ve ever seen. Epic fail.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 1:13 pm:
===His current chief legal counsel, Dennis Murashko, comes from Russia.===
Well, that’s a fine how do ya do.
To the video,
Amanda Vinicki, asking, prodding, but letting Rauner talk and talk and talk…
Then letting Rauner riff ridiculously… then calls him out a last time, letting Rauner “boast”… “I’m not changing”
How awful for the governor, lol
- Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 1:16 pm:
That entire interview was a train wreck. The governor is devolving before our very eyes. It’s not pretty.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 1:21 pm:
Since when is the head of DOC one of the Governor’s top staffers?
- Keyrock - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 1:23 pm:
Was he always this bad and we didn’t realize it, or has something happened to the Governor?
- Moderate Condor - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 1:25 pm:
A handful of his attorneys also did time at IPI and started well before the purge. He can’t be honest about anything.
- Pundent - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 1:27 pm:
I watched the whole thing and it was cringe worthy. The exchange on Drury was particularly uncomfortable. Lying comes easy for Rauner particularly if his lies go unchallenged. When Vinicky asked her follow-up questions on Drury it was clear that Rauner was stunned and realized that he had been caught. It was almost as if Vinicky anticipated his lie and he was shocked that he was being pressed on it.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 1:31 pm:
If nothing else, there are prominent Dems now willing to take the fight to Rauner in the public square on a consistent and organized basis.
Journalism being reactive, that also forces reporters to quiz him for reaction on what his opponents say. He’s not so good with quizzes.
Might have made a difference for real people during his first two years if their had been a similar Democratic Party effort.
The fact that there wasn’t is truly “Because….. Madigan.”
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 1:31 pm:
==Was he always this bad and we didn’t realize it, or has something happened to the Governor?==
The answer to both questions is “yes”. He’s always been this bad, but had some filters. Something did happen: he removed the filters.
- Aldyth - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 1:42 pm:
*Cough*
Russia?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 1:46 pm:
===Rauner tried to argue “most of my top aides do not come from there,” which would be convincing, were it not for the fact that Rauner’s Chief of Staff, Legislative Liaison, Policy Chief, and much of his communications team all come directly from the right-wing group. Vinicky pressed the failed governor on how this new team of radicals influences his agenda, to which Rauner replied “I will never change.” So, either Bruce Rauner expects us to believe that his senior advisors are not really advising him or Rauner was actually just this radical to begin with.===
This is the “Santiago Transfer Order”
This is really good work by a Crew willing to go and look and define Rauner when Rauner himself leaves little to who he exactly is, or what he believes… except in what he does that counters whatever ridiculousness Rauner wants to say at any given time.
This is a campaign prong I hope to see more.
What Rauner does, it really a tick if we’re going to break it down, he leaves a marker out there. Now the marker itself has issues to him (Rauner) or his message.
Now, here’s where a really talented crew can make hay…
Rauner likes the marker, and doesn’t like the taint or the negative to it, so Rauner then says in a declarative that he (Rauner) is ether his own person, has how own thought, he hasn’t thought of it, has thought of it but it can be different than the marker.
Where Col. Nathan R. Jessup made his mistake was having the plausable story, but that need to seem “sympathetic, empathetic” which runs opposite of the “strong guy, tough guy”
Rauner?
You don’t get to be a multimillionaire destroying companies without avoiding a few land mines….
- Real - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 1:49 pm:
I don’t see how people can watch these interviews and still support Rauner. His eyes are blinking constantly and he is a habitual liar.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 1:49 pm:
Next will hear him complaining about fake news.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 1:50 pm:
==*Cough*
Russia?==
You say that as if to imply Rauner plucked him from Putin’s inner-circle to be his attorney. He moved here as a kid, going to college and law school in Illinois
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 1:56 pm:
“Maybe there’s a Deputy Chief of Staff that’s not from the IPI”
- Raunerites
- WingGirl - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 1:57 pm:
“ABSOLUTELY!” in singsong voice. I get the feeling he perfected that refrain in the corporate takeover meetings with soon-to-be-unemployed employees:
“Will we keep our jobs?”
“ABSOLUTELY!”
- Norseman - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 2:00 pm:
Amused by the update. We know there were more IPI staffers than Rauner mentioned. He just wants to hide the fact that their in total control.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 2:06 pm:
===Rauner tried to argue “most of my top aides do not come from there,”===
Wait a second, the “governor” lied? Color me shocked. Again.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 2:12 pm:
The DGA here is actually being extremely helpful to whomever is the nominee
You didn’t see it regularly in the past, but this is another time that a national organization is helping in this state.
- Mr. K - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 2:17 pm:
Isn’t there some FOIA thing that can be FOIA’d to prove that Rauner isn’t telling the truth here?
I can’t believe that Rauner, of all people, is smart enough to do everything by phone or in person.
- Mr. K - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 2:20 pm:
BTW — and what about Rauner’s email list 10, 15 years ago that Rahm begged to get off of. Aren’t those emails still around?
- Joe M - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 2:21 pm:
I wish more journalists would also start taking off the kid gloves with Rauner.
- blue dog dem - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 2:42 pm:
Does 1.4% of the voting electorate know what IPI is or does?
- Courser - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 2:43 pm:
Indiana,Russia…tomAYto, tomAHto. Welcome to Raurnerland.
- NeverPoliticallyCorrect - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 3:01 pm:
How about we just say that he is a Northwestern Law School graduate. Isn’t that more important than the fact he joined his father here when he was 17. Or is it better to suggest he just comes from Russia. Are you trying to suggest this was a plot started when he was 17 and he was a deep cover agent. I thought immigrants were ok?
- Dome Gnome - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 3:17 pm:
How does he just sit there when his pants are clearly on fire?
- ArchPundit - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 3:28 pm:
===Amanda Vinicki, asking, prodding, but letting Rauner talk and talk and talk…
She seemed stunned at this one though. Really?
It is hard to interview someone who is avoiding answering any substantive question. Carol Marin or someone could probably pull it off, but Vinicky was persistent.
- walker - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 3:31 pm:
Blago thought he still had a shot at national office even after his political world was crumbling. I see IPI, AFP et al as Rauner’s chosen partners for future national opportunities.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 3:41 pm:
===She seemed stunned at this one though. Really?===
I think she’s stunned that Rauner’s candor (phoniness) comes just so easily.
- Jaxon - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 8:22 pm:
If I had compassion for him (which I cannot muster due to his indifference to others who struggle) I would worry about his well being;repeated reference to his stressful job, losing 20 pounds and working 24/7 as well as his presentation of about to combust . He does not interview well . See FOX interview
- justacitizen - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 10:23 pm:
===I think she’s stunned that Rauner’s candor (phoniness) comes just so easily.===
Kinda like OW’s phoniness of being a Republican? lol
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 10:26 pm:
===Kinda like OW’s phoniness of being a Republican? lol===
Lemme guess, you think Trump and Rauner are actually Republicans… “lol”