* Let’s take the Tribune’s coverage of the governor’s press conference yesterday in three parts. One…
As for the trip [background here] to the company’s corporate campus in Seattle, Rauner told reporters that city and state officials would be meeting “with leaders at Amazon.” Later, the governor’s office acknowledged there would be no meeting with company officials.
* Two…
The governor described the trip [to Japan and China] as “extremely successful,” and said “many new projects, many new initiatives will be underway in the coming weeks as a result of our trip.” But Rauner later added that he had received “no firm commitments” from any of the companies he met with during his travels.
* Three…
“I didn’t want to leave the country when we didn’t have a budget,” Rauner said. “I wanted to be here, because you never know when issues are going to pop.”
The governor did, however, travel internationally at least twice in the midst of the record budget stalemate. In late 2015, Rauner spent the holidays in Spain and Morocco, where he later said he slept in tents and took a camel ride. Last November, Rauner was among dozens of local officials who traveled to the Vatican to celebrate the elevation of Blase Cupich to cardinal.
- Macbeth - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 9:15 am:
Isn’t this the stuff that Hud was supposed to fix?
- Saluki - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 9:19 am:
“Rauner spent the holidays in Spain and Morocco, where he later said he slept in tents and took a camel ride.”
I pray almost everyday, that at some point, Illinois will get an average guy/gal for Governor. Someone that isn’t a billionaire, or a narcissist, or a career politician. I know….pipe dream.
- Roman - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 9:20 am:
“The governor probably needs to get his stories straight”
I kinda feel like we’ve been saying that a lot.
- Mongo - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 9:22 am:
This is embarrassing. These look like little lies designed to make the public think he gives a darn about us, the economy, and the image of Illinois.
His actions make it clear he does not care about us, our economy, and our image.
- Thomas Paine - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 9:25 am:
Bruce “The Salesman” Rauner is used to telling people whatever they want to hear.
There were never any video cameras on the golf course when he was making promises to investors.
He could get away with telling Group A one thing on Monday, Group B the exact opposite on Wednesday, and shifting things when he met with Group A again on Friday.
In the Trump/Rauner world, that’s not “lying”, it’s just a negotiation strategy.
The Truth is a negotiable commodity.
So yes: tell Personal PAC one thing before the election, tell the Family Council another thing as primary season approaches, and then do and say whatever is most expedient for the general election.
- Dome Gnome - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 9:25 am:
“I’m not upset that you lied to me, I’m upset that from now on I can’t believe you.” ~Friedrich Nietzsche
- Hexagon - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 9:26 am:
I think he’s lying to appear to be a hard workin representative of the people, but it’s so needless. It simply doesn’t help him look better to say those things and it makes him look a whole lot worse to be caught in silly lies. He seems to have so much contempt for the people and the state of IL.
- PublicServant - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 9:32 am:
===He seems to have so much contempt for the people and the state of IL.===
Seems?
- JoanP - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 9:33 am:
@Saluki -
I’m no fan of billionaires who think that, because they are rich, they know how to govern.
But it is not necessary to be rich to travel to places like Morocco and Spain. I’m not rich by any stretch of the imagination, and I travel a lot. I’ve also ridden on a camel. Admittedly, I have not slept in a tent while traveling, but that’s not due to $$, it’s due to my not liking tents.
- Anon221 - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 9:35 am:
Look at it this way… at some point Rauner may actually be telling the truth. /s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FClGhto1vIg
- Moe Berg - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 9:37 am:
There’s a word for someone who chronically says whatever is most expedient in the moment, even if it’s not true. A dangerous condition in any individual, much less a governor or a president.
But, he’s got a virtually unlimited war chest and he’s going to use it to blanket the airwaves with whatever invented reality he wants.
Also, another fine example of the Trib ed board not reading the coverage of its own reporters. They will remain in Rauner’s amen corner until the bitter end.
- Can - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 9:38 am:
@Saluki,
What about his trip to Spain and Morocco bothers you? Also, if you don’t want career politicians, chances are you’re going to end up with a billionaire (or at least a multi-multi-millionaire). There aren’t many non-mega-rich private sector people that can raise the money and gain the support necessary to mount a serious statewide campaign.
- Saluki - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 9:40 am:
Joan P.
I suppose that depends on your definition of rich, and your definition of tent.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 9:49 am:
it just seems to come naturally to him.
- Rabid - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 9:50 am:
missed his RGA trip to DC, playtime with the Kochs, out of state trip to Iowa to be with Kim Reynolds. Executive order 15-08
- Streator Curmudgeon - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 9:53 am:
“I have no clothes. Oh, I wear a lot of costumes, but I have no clothes. And the saddest part is that my money says I DO have clothes. And lots of people still believe it.”
- Gruntled University Employee - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 9:57 am:
As has been pointed out numerous times on this blog, the truth tends to elude him. Or, in the words of Darth Vader “The farce is strong in this one”.
- DuPage Saint - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 10:00 am:
Rauner not only deals with alternative facts he lives in an alternative world
- Annonin' - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 10:06 am:
Nobody really cares where he goes on when. But he has become unbelievable. Let’s try to get straight answer on spending the tax hike cash. He is fundraising a repeal so we assume GovJunk will not spend.
BTW anyone still believe he is still drivin’ all the time?
- Blue dog dem - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 10:08 am:
In my 54 years of voting elegibility, i have yet to meet a politician who at some point, did not tell a fib. Some more than others. But as my ma used to say…if you tell one fib, you are a fibber.
- Dave King Kong Kingman - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 10:18 am:
At some point an adult in the room must figure out that the Gov. is drastically diminishing his office and the Illinois Republican Party. Even worse than naming Allen Keyes as a Senatorial candidate.
People need to open their eyes…….
- Publius - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 10:49 am:
Why do I always feel like I am being sold a used car when he talks
- Anon221 - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 11:02 am:
If you want to hear his current “spiel”, he’s going to be on The 21st this morning to talk about his latest “world tour”. Check your local NPR station for details.
- Jocko - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 11:16 am:
==many new projects, many new initiatives will be underway==
Just like Trump, as soon as you see the adjective (e.g. many), you can disqualify the noun that follows.
- ShaggyDog - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 11:18 am:
The point about the trips isn’t about the money spent by Rauner on them, it is simply the fact that he took them when he should have been here doing the job he was elected to do. Lots of people travel but if they have a pressing matter to attend to usually set aside that travel to take care of business. All BR does is constantly show his lack of care for the citizens of Illinois and yes, he says whatever is convenient for him at that particular moment.
- NoGifts - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 11:45 am:
“a lot of people are saying..” ” a lot of things are happening…” “many new initiatives will be underway” — I hope the voting public is wising up to this nonsense talk.
- Stones - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 1:40 pm:
The least effective Governor in my lifetime and I go back to the Otto Koerner era. That includes Blago.
- downstate commissioner - Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 3:23 pm:
Stones, Totally Agree. Even Blago did more accidentally for the state than Rauner has….