Question of the day
Monday, Sep 11, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Press release…
Gov. Bruce Rauner stressed the need to further strengthen the U.S.-Japan relationship at today’s launch of the 49th Midwest U.S.-Japan Association Conference. The conference, which continues through Tuesday, unites business, education and government leaders in an effort to further trade and investment opportunities between the Midwest states and Japan.
“Japanese companies have been instrumental in creating jobs and driving economic development through the entire state of Illinois,” the governor said. “From Chicago to Shelbyville and Lawrenceville, from Marion to Mattoon, Japanese companies have made a tremendous impact on the economic growth of these towns. I am deeply grateful for the jobs and opportunities provided to the people of Illinois.”
The day began with a private breakfast with U.S. Ambassador to Japan William Hagerty. Shortly following, the governor met Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzō Abe before the MWJA Conference opening ceremony. This is the second time the governor has attended the conference.
Japan continues to be a high priority for federal direct investment. The governor and members of Illinois’ delegation spent part of the afternoon meeting with the clothing, manufacturer and retail company, Uniqlo. Uniqlo’s Chicago store is one of 630 Japanese businesses throughout Illinois.
“It is not that often that we gather together, but when we do, like for this conference, we unite with an unprecedented strength on economic growth,” Gov. Rauner said while addressing governors in attendance. “We need to send the message that our growth is interdependent.”
The governor said that while Midwest cooperation is necessary for expansion, Illinois is working to maintain its lead by continually working in close contact with Japan regarding foreign investment opportunities. The Illinois foreign trade office in Japan is a testament to Illinois’ commitment to the marketplace, as it’s one of the oldest state trade and investment offices in Japan, dating back 32 years.
So he spent part of his day with a… clothing retailer?
OK, maybe I’m just missing the great importance of this trip so far. Hopefully he’ll be meeting with the folks at Toyota about snagging their new manufacturing plant.
* Anyway, from the attachments…
* The Question: Caption?
- South of Sherman - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 11:53 am:
“There is a House in Illinois
Run by Mike Madigan
And it’s been the ruin of many a rich boy
So he flew to the Rising Sun”
–sung to the tune of, well, you know…
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 11:55 am:
“As my Swedish immigrant grandfather use to say… “
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 11:55 am:
“It’s a funny joke, I guess it got lost in translation”
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 11:57 am:
“I ask myself often… when I think of Japan… what DID Bill Murray say to Scarlett Johansen… amirite?”
- walker - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 11:57 am:
Scott Walker’s wingman.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 11:58 am:
“I hope you choose to come to Illinois. I have the best team in America assembled to not only embarrass me but to embarrass you too”
- Incomplete - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 11:58 am:
Interesting slip with “federal direct investment” instead of “foreign direct investment.” Caption: Any of you guys want to work for me?
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 11:59 am:
“Evelyn wanted to be here tonight but the state couldn’t afford the liability insurance to fly her over… “
- Chicago Cynic - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 11:59 am:
Yes, I know, Illinois sucks. Nope, nothing more. Just that.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 12:00 pm:
“And yes, I say constantly that Illinois is the worst state in America, but that’s just to either leverage an unpopular agenda or hurt Illinois’ most vulnerable. So, I hope you keep that context in mind… “
- Thomas Paine - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 12:01 pm:
Rauner Defends His Support for Muslim Internment Camps
- Norseman - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 12:03 pm:
Governing is all Japanese to me.
- Ghost - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 12:05 pm:
As the leader of Illinois i just want to say how horrible it is here for business, you don’t want to come here.
- Get a Job!! - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 12:06 pm:
Rauner: “It’s great to have Japanese ‘bidness’ supportin’ Illinois’ growin’ and devise economy. I look forward to kickin’ tails together.”
Translator: “Is this guy speaking English?!?!”
- Henry Francis - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 12:06 pm:
Was that press release writing originally in Japanese and in-artfully translated into English?
“through the entire state”?
“Shortly following”?
“we unite with an unprecedented strength on economic growth”?
“a high priority for federal direct investment”? (It should be foreign direct investment)
Or can this odd diction just be chalked up to the Guv too focused on not dropping his g’s and mentioning Madigan every 5 minutes?
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 12:08 pm:
“I came over in my trash can plane, using my $0.18 compass, and this suit and tie I got from the concierge at the Holiday Inn. I’m a normal, Illinois guy, just like you. And… speaking of Normal… Illinois… “
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 12:11 pm:
“I’m here today, mostly, because Diana wanted to take her own brand ‘international’… “
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 12:11 pm:
“Frankly, I’m here for the Hot Saki and the Cold Cash… “
- Henry Francis - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 12:14 pm:
Some people are constantly saying how the days of Illinois being a competitive state are over. Well I’m here to tell you nothing is over (exclamation point). Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
- Truthteller - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 12:14 pm:
I’m here to check out your tax rates. Illinois voters are likely to exile me next year, and I’m looking for a break. What can you do for me?
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 12:15 pm:
“I’m am even prepared to go on a Japanese game show and try to win your bidness… “
- SOIL M - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 12:15 pm:
” When my grandfather first immigrated to Illinois from Japan…..”
- 360 Degree TurnAround - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 12:15 pm:
“It only takes 60 votes to accept a veto in Japan? We need more of your values in Illinois.”
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 12:17 pm:
“Kristina Rasmussen wanted to be here tonight but I told her I thought her passport expired… “
- Winnin' - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 12:18 pm:
He’s just biding his time, taking advantage of his governorship, until it is time to drop his big bucks bombs.
- SAP - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 12:18 pm:
As a white male…
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 12:22 pm:
“My business expertise is well-known. I’m an expert in both closing the business and then liquefying the assets for maximized profits. But, what I’d like to happen is Japanese businesses to come to Illinois, hire Illinoisans and make a product, all things… foreign… to me… “
- phocion - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 12:27 pm:
I can make it to the 50th Annual meeting, but not sure I’ll be at the 51st.
- Dave Dahl - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 12:33 pm:
” Idunno, I just had a yen to come here … … is this thing on? “
- Downers Grove Guy - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 12:33 pm:
Gov: “Hey…when does the guy with the fancy knives cut the shrimp on the hibachi and throw one in my mouth?”
- not so simple - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 12:39 pm:
Translated from the Japanese, the banner reads, “Warm welcome to the 49th most popular Governor”
- wordslinger - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 12:40 pm:
Uniqglo has one Illinois store on North Michigan
Avenue.
It’s manufacturing plants are in China, Phillipines, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and Bangladesh.
Uniqglo workers in China have struck its plants due to unsafe working conditions and abusive practices.
A shiny Mag Mile store built by unseen, abusive Third-World sweat shop labor practices — no wonder Rauner wanted to meet with them first.
- blue dog dem - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 12:45 pm:
“if, by the will of the people, I am elected to a second term, I can guarantee to people Of the great Land of the Rising Sun, that Illinois will be rid of collective bargaining and those pesky unions. Sayonara.”….”now, about that new Toyota plant…ya’ see, me and some of the boys got this little slush fund nobody knows about. EDGE .”
- Ducky LaMoore - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 12:50 pm:
“You know, we’re gonna do what Truman did. We’re gonna shut things down for awhile over here. Crisis creates opportunity.”
- Jocko - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 1:47 pm:
Jeez, what is it with the Unions…Amirite?
- Shark Sandwich - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 2:21 pm:
“Right you are, Ken!”
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 2:24 pm:
“As much as I love Illinois and I’m trying to sell Illinois to you all… I couldn’t be happier to be away from Illinois than I am right now… “
- City Zen - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 2:24 pm:
Wanna watch me drift in my Eurovan?
- igotgotgotgotnotime - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 2:46 pm:
“So I’m meetin’ Madigan for the very first time in my life, bein’ just a regular guy in a Carharrt, and I ask,”Speaker Madigan, what’s your take on trade opportunities between Japan and Illinois….”
- wordslinger - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 3:22 pm:
“I mean it — no one leaves until I get my Hello Kitty swag bag back.”
- Whatever - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 3:28 pm:
==and I ask,”Speaker Madigan, what’s your take on trade opportunities between Japan and Illinois….” ==
And he said, “My take on everything is one word: ‘Take.’”
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 3:37 pm:
You’re wondering who I am (secret secret I’ve got a secret)
Machine or Madigan (secret secret I’ve got a secret)
I’m hiding in Japan (secret secret I’ve got a secret)
Away from John Tillman
- zatoichi - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 4:02 pm:
Today, ay, ay, ay is the happiest day, ay, ay, ay of my life, ife, ife, ife. Can you, ou, ou, ou cut the echo, ho, ho, ho?
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 4:04 pm:
“If you’d just ignore the over 3 years of bad-mouthing and tarnishing the image of Illinois, that would be helpful, so let’s pretend I actually love Illinois. Close your eyes… think… ‘Bruce loves illinois’… That’s it… “
- @MisterJayEm - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 4:05 pm:
“When Godzilla did the hammer-and-shake thing on Tokyo, did he get reelected?”
– MrJM
- GOP Extremist - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 4:08 pm:
“…..and then he said Bruce I do two things, manage power and make money managing power..I almost threw up into my egg drop soup…”
- Shake - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 4:22 pm:
Which Japanese Auto Maker Is Coming To Illinois Next? I’ll Make Sure Its Non- Union.. Promise..
- Streator Curmudgeon - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 4:32 pm:
“Whoops. When the sign said ‘Join Meeting,’ I thought I was gonna be talkin’ about medical marijuana. Which Illinois has by the toke, okay?”
- Streator Curmudgeon - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 5:02 pm:
“As sure as the Mitsubishi factory is a key part of Bloomington, I’m sure glad to be with youse guys today.”
- Streator Curmudgeon - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 5:06 pm:
“Even though I’ve banged the ol’ noggin on several doorways since I got here, I’m thrilled outa my Carharrt to be with you folks today.”
- Streator Curmudgeon - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 5:07 pm:
“I met with Prime Minister Abe a little while ago, and I said, ‘Hey! You’ve got the same name as Illinois’ favorite son.”
- Streator Curmudgeon - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 5:10 pm:
“When they told me I had to wear a suit and necktie today, I thought, ‘Shucks, maybe a flannel shirt would be a novelty here.’ But I plumb forgot to pack it.”
- Huh? - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 6:21 pm:
So I am governor of a really horrible State. The have the highest income and property taxes in the US. The unions control the government. The workman comp costs is astronomical. So I am looking to pull my money out of Illinois and put it some place else. I want to invest my billions some place other than Illinois. You got any suggestions?
- Seymourkid - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 6:49 pm:
Mitsubishi
- 47 Chief - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 7:20 pm:
“I wasn’t lucky enough to have a Japanese grandparent. My grandparents were simple immigrants from Sweden. But when I was growin’ up, we did have a Japanese gardener. He was almost like a grandfather to me”
- justacitizen - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 9:32 pm:
“Buy low, sell high. And we’re about as low as you can go in IL.”
- Rabid - Tuesday, Sep 12, 17 @ 6:02 am:
diana’s lucky jeans,come with padded pockets already sowed up
- Rabid - Tuesday, Sep 12, 17 @ 6:05 am:
Did I tell you about the Swedish fish sushi gramps used to make
- Rabid - Tuesday, Sep 12, 17 @ 6:08 am:
Your all cub fans, and want me to do Harry caray
- Rabid - Tuesday, Sep 12, 17 @ 6:10 am:
I’m into social justice like Godzilla is into urban renewal
- Rabid - Tuesday, Sep 12, 17 @ 6:21 am:
I sent my staff to the beach in Fukushima to soak up the rays
- Rabid - Tuesday, Sep 12, 17 @ 6:41 am:
You won’t like me when I’m angry, I go nuclear on you
- Rabid - Tuesday, Sep 12, 17 @ 9:19 am:
We don’t need another car company, we got the Japanese Beatle