Rauner’s latest Madigan story
Tuesday, Aug 15, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* More from that Amanda Vinicky interview of Gov. Rauner…
VINICKY: Now, I want to get back to the hopes for getting to any sort of compromise. Again, I am just failing to understand why there has not been a legislative leaders meeting with you and all of the leaders since December. There seems to be obviously quite a sour relationship between you and House Speaker Michael Madigan. Would you commit to having a sit down with him?
RAUNER: Well, the last time the speaker came to see me, he spent the time talking about how he was going to kick Scott Drury out of the General Assembly, and he was laughing about that.
VINICKY: He said that to you?
RAUNER: Correct. […]
VINICKY: Just making sure on this Rep. Scott Drury thing, what did the speaker say about that?
RAUNER: Oh just that – Scott Drury was the only one, only member of the General Assembly who didn’t vote for Speaker Madigan to stay speaker, and the consequences to Rep. Drury, as a result.
Raise your hand if you believe Speaker Madigan shared this story with his arch nemesis, particularly knowing that the governor often blabs about private conversations and the facts of those conversations are often in dispute.
* Back to the interview…
RAUNER: The interest in negotiating with the speaker is not at a high level. Even President Cullerton has agreed with that. But you know, it’s really Amanda not about politicians, this is about our children, putting our children first and coming up with an equitable system. I’ve laid out my recommendations. And I hope the General Assembly will either pass those or come back and recommend others.
VINICKY: It is about the children, once legislative leaders and the governor come to an agreement that will resolve something for children. […]
VINICKY: Today, you referred to the speaker as ruthless and said members of his own party are scared of him, and so therefore they follow in his footsteps. How is that any different than how you have control over Republican legislators, people say they consider you ruthless for being the guy at the helm during a two-year impasse, and having members of your own party scared of you because of your vast campaign war chest?
RAUNER: Well Amanda you know, Illinois has been going down a broken trail, a failed road for years and years. And the politicians who have been in power for 35 years have taken us here. This is not about Democrats versus Republicans, it’s really not. It’s about the people of Illinois wanting change versus powerful political insiders who’ve controlled our system for years. I am trying to represent the people and drive major change. New education funding, more jobs, lower property taxes, term limits on our politicians. These are the changes that we are working for, and they are bipartisan and Democrats want those just as much as Republicans.
VINICKY: Could you have gotten more of that agenda accomplished had you worked with Speaker Madigan instead of vilifying him?
RAUNER: The speaker has made it clear that change is not an interest. In fact you can go look at Madigan’s Democratic party website. You know across the front of it is resistance. Resistance to change, stay on the track we are on. I represent change, I represent the people, Democrats and Republicans who want a new direction with more jobs, lower taxes, better school funding and term limits. And that’s what we need to drive so we can have a better future for our children and our grandchildren.
- Skeptic - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 9:47 am:
“… people say they consider you ruthless…” “Er…broken system, Madigan, 35 years, pineapple, pineapple, kumquat, what about the children?”
- Springfieldish - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 9:50 am:
In his former career, everything that came out of Rauner’s mouth was presumptively true and no one ever dared challenge him for fear of economic retaliation. He still believes that’s true today. Why?
His strategery was never questioned either. So, what’s the point of this? He’s gonna push Scott over the top in the primary? Yikes!
- Paddy - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 9:50 am:
Pants on fire. Again!
- Juice - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 9:54 am:
“Scott Drury was the only one, only member of the General Assembly who didn’t vote for Speaker Madigan.”
Ok. I know what he was trying to say. But one party of half the legislature is quite a bit different than the entire GA.
(Plus I wouldn’t put it past the Speaker to have some mailers next fall accusing GOP members of supporting him for Speaker and using the Governor’s quote as the source.)
- EVanstonian - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 9:57 am:
Last legislative meeting - December 2016.
Drury voting present for Speaker - January 2017.
Getting your messaging (lies) in - Priceless.
- Porgy Tirebiter - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 9:58 am:
How long does this guy get to tell tall tales with impunity before the regular media finally makes up? He’s turning into Grandpa Simpson
- H-W (formerly, Robert J. Hironimus-Wendt - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 9:58 am:
Wow. Vinicky does not hold punches, does she? After the first part, I was thinking “if” Madigan told Rauner he was going to punish Drury, how could that be any different than Rauner openly promising to primary several members who overrode his first veto? It is the same thing. Then I started thinking Madigan almost surely did not tell the leader of the opposing party “here is my dirty work.”Rather, Rauner was probably indirectly explaining his own actions - his open promises earlier to punish those who disagreed with him. Displacing responsibility by suggesting others act the same is a weakness.
- Jocko - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 10:03 am:
I guess in Rauner’s mind no clock is the same as kicking someone out of the GA.
- Langhorne - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 10:04 am:
Words/deeds
All message, all the time.
“These are the changes that we are working for, and they are bipartisan and Democrats want those just as much as Republicans.” Yet, unable to count to 36 and 71
- Carhartt Union Negotiating Team - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 10:04 am:
I like the story of the SUPER-revealing-in-private-Speaker Madigan who said his only interest was to control power and make money from it.
Rauner said he “almost threw up his soup.”
Not a single “so-called” journalist has ever asked Bruce what kind of soup it was.
- Moe Berg - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 10:07 am:
There is a clinical term for someone who lies with such ease. Profoundly disturbing that this person is in a position of power. Yet another way Rauner is like POTUS.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 10:14 am:
===Raise your hand if you believe Speaker Madigan shared this story with his arch nemesis, particularly knowing that the governor often blabs about private conversations and the facts of those conversations are often in dispute.===
(Sits on hands)
My question to the Governor…
If Drury runs for governor as he is, why would Madigan be so “obsessed” with getting Drury out of the House?
That makes no sense, starting with just… Logic.
- TominChicago - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 10:15 am:
Has anyone checked to see if Rauner suffers from schizophrenia because it sure seems like he is hearing voices of people who are not there?
- AC - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 10:26 am:
==Illinois has been going down a broken trail, a failed road for years and years==
That’s why the Governor wants to add toll lanes to the Stevenson. /s
- Trapped in the 'burbs - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 10:27 am:
What is it with these reporters asking him questions? Don’t they know his answers? “The system is broken.” “Madigan.” Will Rauner have to declare that “I alone can fix this” before the voters at large see him for the bullying, empty blowhard that he is? It’s not that he won’t move from his talking points, it’s that he has nothing to say. What a con job he and his wife pulled on the people of Illinois.
- Zuck - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 10:30 am:
Looked at Ildem website…no “Resistance” scroll…that rascal took it down!
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 10:43 am:
===Last legislative meeting - December 2016===
Rauner and Madigan had a private meeting since then. In the spring. I think it was March.
- cdog - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 10:50 am:
Rauner has his integrity issues, but is he wrong when he makes this statement?
“It’s about the people of Illinois wanting change versus powerful political insiders who’ve controlled our system for years.”
Many folks in Illinois, and across the entire country, agree with his statement.
- Dornford Yates - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 10:54 am:
“…this is about the children…”
“…I represent the people…”
“…a better future for our children…”
I know all politicians use cliches and boilerplate language, but I can’t think of anyone who does it as much as Rauner. Pretty much everything he says publicly is language such as is in this interview. Even if I agreed with what he was saying, I would have to stop reading at a certain point due to cliche overload.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 10:56 am:
===“It’s about the people of Illinois wanting change versus powerful political insiders who’ve controlled our system for years.”===
Rauner himself is/was a political insider.
To Amanda Vinicky’s credit, she called Rauner out for (my words) owning the ILGOP, controlling switches and votes.
So, there’s that.
- DuPage Bard - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 11:02 am:
So Mike and I were braiding each others hair when he confided to me in secret……. I told him I wouldn’t say anything but goodness Amanda I just clutched my pearls and had to tell someone. Then later I almost threw up my lunch from more of his horrific comments. Oh what to do what to do? sn/
You are the Governor of the 5th largest State in America. Get better.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 11:04 am:
Rauner is the new Oprah. Even Madigan just opens up and gushes his innerermost secrets.
He tells the most ridiculous lies as easy as taking a breath. He can’t be trusted.
Way creepy.
- The Way I See It - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 11:05 am:
Doesn’t seem like the Governor listens much to Ann Coulter either.
- EVanstonian - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 11:07 am:
Ah, my mistake, and I withdraw my lie comment.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 11:07 am:
Rauner’s value system is broken. He has no qualms to about spreading lies. If he loses next year, he would be a good fit for the Trump administration.
- RNUG - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 11:08 am:
== “It’s about the people of Illinois wanting change versus powerful political insiders who’ve controlled our system for years.”
Many folks in Illinois, and across the entire country, agree with his statement ==
Yes, but they expected repairs to the State, not demolition.
- Pundent - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 11:14 am:
Madigan and Rauner despise each other and there’s no doubt in my mind that they don’t speak to each other and will probably never be able to work together. Yet it is comforting to know that on the rare occasion that Madigan is willing to speak with the governor he always shares his deepest darkest secrets.
- Nick Name - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 11:37 am:
“Doesn’t seem like the Governor listens much to Ann Coulter either.”
In all fairness, can we really blame him for that?
- bored now - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 11:42 am:
Oswego Willy writes:
===Raise your hand if you believe Speaker Madigan shared this story with his arch nemesis===
(Sits on hands)
heh, at least you answered the question, but, yeah, crickets…
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 11:48 am:
===heh, at least you answered the question, but, yeah, crickets…===
Rauner has been sitting on his hands, except to destroy things, so I thought it added to the spirit of the thing.
- Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 11:49 am:
So many lies in so few words. Great job Amanda for holding his feet to the fire. And one question. DPI has a website????
- Name Withheld - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 11:52 am:
Question of the Day proposal: What else do you think Speaker Madigan has told Governor Rauner (snark encouraged)
Whatdaya say?
- nadia - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 12:10 pm:
I can see it now, on the front porch of the Mansion, sipping a good bottle of red wine, smoking a couple of good cigars . . . “let me tell you Bruce, that Drury fella has to go”
- Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 12:30 pm:
What is the point of further Leaders meetings when the Leaders do not do what they said they would do in the Leaders meetings?
- Pundent - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 1:31 pm:
=What is the point of further Leaders meetings when the Leaders do not do what they said they would do in the Leaders meetings?=
Well it seems that every time there’s a meeting Madigan shares his inner-most secrets with Rauner. On that basis alone it’s worth having meetings. I can hardly wait for the next revelation.
- Huh? - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 4:04 pm:
“Well, the last time the speaker came to see me …”
Here is the “tell” that a big one of coming.