* From WBEZ’s interview of Gov. Rauner this morning…
* The exchange…
LIZ: Thank you for taking my call. Thank you, governor, for coming on. I have a question that’s, kind of similar to what we’ve been talking about. I have heard a lot of answers, your answers to the questions that you’ve given are, the bad state of our state in the past decades, and Michael Madigan. And you have been governor for 2 years. So my question is, when, in your opinion, is the time that you take responsibility for what’s going on in the state?
RAUNER: If we had truly divided honest government, if we did not have the Speaker’s lock on power, and let me be very candid with you. When I asked him 9 years ago, when I first met him, what he wanted to do to improve the quality of life for the people of Illinois, he laughed, and he said to me, ‘Bruce, I don’t think about that, I don’t have any goal like that. I do two things: I manage power and I make money from managing power.’
SARABIA: We should say there’s no way we could corroborate that.
RAUNER: So look at his behavior, you can see it’s true. But here’s what we need. If the Senate were to stay Democrat, Democratic controlled, that’s fine. Divided government would be fine. I would have already worked out a balanced budget, term limits, property tax relief, and regulatory relief, and workers comp, if the Senate Democrats were able to do what they want rather than what the Speaker told them. The Speaker’s control in the House has blocked everything that we’ve tried to do on a major scale. Things that honest Democrats in other states have done. Term limits, pension reform, workers comp reform, regulatory relief for businesses. They’ve done it in other states and we can do it if we break Speaker Madigan’s lock on power.
- Piece of Work - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 11:43 am:
He is right you know.
- Politix - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 11:49 am:
Incomprehensible meltdown.
- Hey Now - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 11:49 am:
Exactly, his answer it’s “Broken” doesn’t work in government. Your the governor not a bully CEO.
- RIJ - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 11:50 am:
Blame, blame, blame. Do any of our leaders take responsibility any more?
- RIJ - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 11:51 am:
And could you all invest in a thesaurus?
- illini - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 11:53 am:
In other words, he takes absolutely no responsibility.
- Loop Lady - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 11:54 am:
What a hypocrite…he is trying to establish the same “stranglehold” he professes Madigan to have…nice try Bruce..
- Skeptic - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 11:54 am:
“And could you all invest in a thesaurus?” Give him a little credit, he didn’t say ‘pineapple’ once.
- Try-4-Truth - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 11:55 am:
I once had a conversation with Gov. Rauner. He told me that he was going to run for Gov. and put on a working man’s costume so he can dupe the people of Illinois. He also told me that he was going to talk about “reforms” when in reality, he just wanted to make himself and his friends a boat-load of money.
Now, did this conversation really happen…. well we have no way to confirm that it did. But, it’s just as believable as the nonsense that the Gov. is spewing in this radio interview.
- Roman - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 11:55 am:
Follow up:
So you’re effectively admitting you’ve failed to out-maneuver Madigan. If I’m a voter and I want a governor who can curb Madigan’s power, why would I vote to re-elect you?
- We'll See - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 11:59 am:
This is Bruce’s adult version of “the dog ate my homework.”
- JS Mill - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 12:01 pm:
The thing that is broken is the record playing inside Bruce’s head.
- Earnest - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 12:05 pm:
>I would have already worked out a balanced budget, term limits, property tax relief, and regulatory relief, and workers comp,
Same question for Rauner as the other candidates: if you were actually to become governor, what would your balanced budget look like, what combination of cuts and revenue would you want?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 12:06 pm:
===We should say there’s no way we could corroborate that.===
Says everything about Rauner, don’t it?
- @MisterJayEm - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 12:07 pm:
Did Diana fire the techs in charge of de-bugging Bruce’s software?
– MrJM
- Langhorne - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 12:07 pm:
Hopeless.
Other states dont matter, gov. What matters is what you can get passed. You knew the cards when you announced, but have learned nothing. And accomplished nothing, while inflicting lasting horrible damage.
Rank and file repubs are your enablers.
- Flip357 - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 12:08 pm:
Post hoc, ergo proctor hoc.
- TinyDancer(FKASue) - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 12:10 pm:
==We should say there’s no way we could corroborate that.==
That’s why he saying this stuff - thinks he can get away with it.
- Nick Name - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 12:14 pm:
“…let me be very candid with you.”
Code for “Stand by for weaponized gaslighting.”
- Father Ted - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 12:15 pm:
This media tour he’s on has been absolutely disastrous. He needs to cancel any remaining appearances and stop talking. He’s only digging himself deeper into the holes he’s creating for himself… errr.. that Madigan began digging years ago. s/
- Jim Wilder - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 12:16 pm:
“…and he said to me, ‘Bruce,…” You know, he hasn’t exactly proven to be reliable when it comes to his accounts of conversations. I would even venture there’s a good chance that conversation never happened.
- Pelonski - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 12:16 pm:
“What giants?” Asked Sancho Panza.
“The ones you can see over there,” answered his master, “with the huge arms, some of which are very nearly two leagues long.”
“Now look, your grace,” said Sancho, “what you see over there aren’t giants, but windmills, and what seems to be arms are just their sails, that go around in the wind and turn the millstone.”
“Obviously,” replied Don Quijote, “you don’t know much about adventures.”
― Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Don Quixote
- Nick Name - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 12:16 pm:
==‘Bruce, I don’t think about that, I don’t have any goal like that. I do two things: I manage power and I make money from managing power.’==
Mike Madigan really needs to learn to keep it closer to the vest. Seriously.
- Galena Guy - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 12:16 pm:
“I would have already worked out a balanced budget”
Ahem Bruce, nobody was stopping you from proposing one…..sheesh.
- Ihatepolitics - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 12:16 pm:
I guess that answer means never
- Politix - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 12:17 pm:
“If the Senate were to stay Democrat, Democratic controlled, that’s fine.”
Head scratcher.
- Keyrock - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 12:20 pm:
“Did Diana fire the techs in charge of de-bugging Bruce’s – MrJM”
It’s time to Reboot Illinois’ Governor.
- Robert the Bruce - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 12:21 pm:
Rich - Do you think Gov. Rauner truly believes that the Speaker said this to him?
- Jocko - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 12:22 pm:
I don’t know what’s more infuriating; the fact that he didn’t answer the question or his telling an anecdote that’s obviously false.
- Skeptic - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 12:23 pm:
“He is right you know.” And even if he is (which is debatable at best) there’s been no evidence to show what he might have accomplished was even a good idea to start with.
- Retired State Guy - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 12:24 pm:
Is it remotely possible,based upon 40+ years of Madigan’s behavior, that Madigan would say something, like Rauner claims, to someone he just met? If so, shouldn’t there be others that Madigan said similar things to in the past. Have any come forward? Ever? And I despise Madigan and don’t doubt that is what he thinks. But no way would he share those thoughts with anyone, let alone an outsider.
Rauner sounds more like Trump every time he speaks. Sad
- Honeybear - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 12:25 pm:
It’s horrifying really. The lack of personal integrity and hubris necessary.
But that’s the problem with using perfidy, or lies and deception, as your main tactic. It’s been proven over and over that what he says and what he does are two different things.
And can never produce proof, evidence, corroboration.
Nothing but perfidy.
Even if he had the testimony of a Nobel Lauriete
He wouldn’t be believed
Except by those who are so poorly self differentiated (Bowen)
So you have republican legislators leaving
That also is a cost of perfidy
Even your own side can’t trust you.
- Anon221 - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 12:25 pm:
Someone is “speaking” to Rauner, but it ain’t the Speaker.
- Pelonski - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 12:30 pm:
How about a Friday “question of the day” where everyone gives us examples of the craziest thing Madigan told us in private? Maybe it will give the Governor some new material.
- walker - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 12:32 pm:
It’s ridiculous to think the Speaker actually made that statement. Perhaps Rauner misremembers an entirely different conversation about power and money.
Nine years ago — were they talking about Rauner as a potential big donor to the Democratc Party?
- wordslinger - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 12:33 pm:
That Madigan whopper is creepy every time.
It would be okay for reporters to ask Rauner the “who, what, when and where” on the story he tells so often.
You don’t have to enable politicians lying,
In fact, you shouldn’t.
- Keyrock - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 12:34 pm:
Excellent idea, Pelonski.
The Speaker once told me he’s really a Cubs Fan.
- Newsclown - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 12:36 pm:
Rauner told me this: “My friend was in Chicago/a couple years ago, just walking around, when all of a sudden some guy runs up from behind him and gives him a bear hug and gives him a noogie. So he spins around and it’s freaking Mike Madigan, man. Mike Madigan! Anyway, Murr- uh, Madigan looks at my buddy right in the eye, and says, ‘No one will ever believe you.’ And then he just walks away! How nuts is that, dude?!”
Also, I hear that if Rauner looks in a mirror and repeats “Mike Madigan” three times, he sees the Speaker in the mirror!
Seriously, sir; get some counseling. Oh wait, they went out of business.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 12:42 pm:
Pelonski, ask and ye shall receive. https://capitolfax.com/2017/08/18/question-of-the-day-2535/
- igotgotgotgotnotime - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 12:50 pm:
Jerry had his Newman, and Bruce has his Madigan. Bruce’s series will not have the run Jerry’s did, however.
- Lester Holt's Mustache - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 1:10 pm:
Blagojevich was a crook and Ryan was a crook, but outside of the expected “I’m innocent of all charges”, I don’t remember either of them ever repeatedly offering up patently false stories to answer questions from media people. Trump is the only other official who does this.
- Pale Rider - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 1:11 pm:
I’m just curious, how does the Governor order food in a restaurant? He won’t answer any questions put before him, tough or otherwise. Only he can make the decision on what to eat. Then, I’m sure, he would blame Madigan for the meal turning out poorly. Maybe the kitchen is broken.
- Amalia - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 1:12 pm:
Blame Madigan! Like Blame Canada, which is now ringing inside my head.
- illini97 - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 1:15 pm:
“I would have already worked out a balanced budget, term limits, property tax relief, and regulatory relief, and workers comp, if the Senate Democrats were able to do what they want rather than what the Speaker told them. The Speaker’s control in the House has blocked everything that we’ve tried to do on a major scale. Things that honest Democrats in other states have done. Term limits, pension reform, workers comp reform, regulatory relief for businesses. They’ve done it in other states and we can do it if we break Speaker Madigan’s lock on power.”
I know this has been said here hundreds of times, but it bears repeating here.
Assume Madigan stepped down the day Bruce was sworn in with the wrong hand. Would the newly minted Speaker of the House have given him Labor’s head on a pike? No. No Democrat was going to sell social services and Unions wholesale down the river in order to “get” a tax increase (not a get because math required it) and term limits.
Rauner, privately, has to be thankful MJM is in the big chair. Otherwise, he’s still a failure and would have to claim it’s all due to some new speaker many Illinoisans have never heard of. Much tougher sell on glossy mailers.
- Telly - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 1:20 pm:
Instead of just giving the we-can’t-corroborate disclaimer, I wish Sarabia, or the next reporter he tells this story to, would say:
“Governor, you tell that story a lot. I’ve talked to a number of people in Springfield, including Republicans, who have dealt with the Speaker for years and none of them believe that Mike Madigan would say something like that to a person he just met. It’s totally inconsistent with his reputation as someone who keeps his cards extremely close to his vest. How do you respond to people who think you made that up?”
- Dornford Yates - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 1:23 pm:
I could be a very effective governor if the legislature were filled with people who completely agreed with me. I’d get a lot of things passed. If I had to work with them, persuade them to see things my way, discuss the pros and cons, present a well-researched argument, negotiate with them to find some common ground, I’d be no better than, well, Bruce Rauner. Whining that you can’t get something done because people in the legislature won’t roll over for you doesn’t engender respect.
- Lucky Pierre - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 1:26 pm:
The Governor is correct. The Supermajority Democratic Senate did engage and pass bipartisan reforms.
The Speaker ran sham reform bills designed to fail for political purposes.
- Pelonski - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 1:33 pm:
As time goes by, it is more an more apparent that the Governor really did have a bunch of superstars working for him. They were able to keep his craziness under control by limiting Rauner’s availability and redirecting controversies. Now that they are gone, his shortcomings are becoming very apparent.
- Mr. K - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 1:36 pm:
Diana –
Please send email to your husband’s new staff and let them know that when the Governor tells the whopper about Madigan — which is, clearly, not true — it doesn’t do the Governor any favors.
At the very least, please urge the Governor’s staff to come up with a whopper that’s more believable.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 1:37 pm:
- Lucky Pierre -
So I’m sure you believe Rauner’s story too…
LOL
- Lucky Pierre - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 1:41 pm:
What is incorrect about it?
Senate engaged in bipartisan reforms some more successful than others
The House ran a sham property tax freeze bill at least 15 times and called the Grand Bargain a bad idea.
Where were the efforts to work “cooperatively and professionally” with the Governor or keep their word about calling Senator Cullerton’s pension bill for a vote before CPS received the extra 215 million dollars for pensions?
- wordslinger - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 1:43 pm:
Mr. K, this is the “reasonable” whopper.
The one where he quoted both sides of a phone call between Cullerton and Madigan, each of them saying preposterous things — that’s flat-out insane.
- Skeptic - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 1:47 pm:
LP: Read my post @ 12:23P.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 1:59 pm:
- Lucky Pierre -
If you think you’re argument is worth… that Rauner has no signed budget, no successes, a 63% disapproval and Bret Baier asking “What would be different” in a Rauner second term…
Have. At. It.
lol
- Chicago 20 - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 2:12 pm:
Rauner must believe we are all fools.
- Hey Now - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 2:30 pm:
Like when he answers with his catch phrase “Broken.” But now he needs to hold a mirror up when he says that from now on.
- Skeptic - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 2:44 pm:
And once again, when Lucky Pierre is called upon to support the TA with fact…nothing but crickets.
- Hieronymus - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 3:22 pm:
@1:12pm “… Blame Canada …”
Terence & Philip for Gov/Lt Gov in 2018 (Hot Air ticket).
- Lucky Pierre - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 3:24 pm:
The Senate President and Speaker both said after passing the “balanced budget” that there was a lot of work to do to reform Illinois.
Not sure why it took 2 1/2 years for that to sink in. What do you bet that was just talk, there will be no action on their part.
Workers Comp, property tax, government consolidation, pension reform, redistricting and term limits would help to restore faith in Illinois Government
I guess the auto manufacturers don’t realize how great our tax, legal and regulatory environment is here in Illinois and are foolishly looking elsewhere to expand their businesses.
OW, do you think Illinois voters will vote for a Governor who will yield total unchecked power to Speaker Madigan?
Make your case why that is a good idea.
- Generic Drone - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 3:32 pm:
Blah, blah, blah…Madigan….blah, blah, blah
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 3:45 pm:
Oh - Lucky Pierre -, lol
Even Bret Baier was confused.
“What wit id be different in a second term”…
… as Baier all but said “Bruce Rauner fails”
You need to realize. Rauner is a failure. The Fox interview made clear… Illinois is Pineapple, and these 2 plus years, Rauner has Pineappled the state with his destruction.
“What will be different in a second term”
Hysterical.
You have nothing - Lucky Pierre -.
No budget, no successes, Vetoes, shuttered social services, piled on debt by Rauner and 63% disapproval.
“What would change in a second term”
Nothing.
That’s why Pat Quinn failed worked too.
- Cosgrove - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 4:30 pm:
I had a few conversations with Governor Rauner and he told me he was pro-choice, supported removing the trigger law, supported repealing the Medicaid and state employee insurance ban on abortion. Oh yeah, he also put it in writing with his original signature, date of signing and Diana took out a full page 2014 Chicago Tribune ad stating the same. In my experience, being honest and truthful is not a strong suit of the Rauners.
- Skeptic - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 4:34 pm:
“Workers Comp, property tax, government consolidation, pension reform, redistricting and term limits would help to restore faith in Illinois Government” [Citation Needed]. All the rest is “but Madigan.” LP: You still got nothin’.
- Michelle Flaherty - Friday, Aug 18, 17 @ 4:37 pm:
Ringing endorsement of designee Brady by the gov.
Is “Democratic controlled Senate … Fine” the new SGOP camapign slogan?