37 Comments - Anonymous - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 9:55 am: Angling for Rex Tillerson’s job? - 360 Degree TurnAround - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 9:56 am: They are captive audience meetings. He has gone to most of the schools in Illinois forcing the poor kids to listen to him - time to move on to other countries. - Rogue Roni - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 10:00 am: He sent so many jobs overseas. He’s just checking on his investment - Democrat Grrrl - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 10:01 am: Angling for an ambassadorship if he loses his re-election bid? - Nick Name - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 10:04 am: He dons a tie for everyone except the Brits. Hm. “our mates from down under” At least he didn’t say “throw another shrimp on the Barbie.” - Henry Francis - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 10:04 am: I think he may have his countries mixed up. Isn’t Joe Hockey Canada’s ambassador (not Australia’s)? - Last Bull Moose - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 10:05 am: He might get get something from President Pence. Nothing from President Trump. - LouLecture - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 10:05 am: How many companies does GTCR own in the areas that Governor will be visiting? - Sangamo Girl - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 10:07 am: So, he does know how to tie a tie. Do you suppose he found his ‘g’ too? - Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 10:11 am: “After failing to lead our state and creating economic turmoil, Rauner is taking his special interest agenda abroad and trashing Illinois wherever he goes.” Hello Pritzker campaign, Illinois ranks 33rd in terms of best states for business and is 42nd in regulatory environment rank. What are JB’s plans to improve the business climate in Illinois? He is in lock step with Speaker Madigan who opposes all economic development initiatives. Are you satisfied with keeping this hostile regulatory environment so business expansion and good paying middle class jobs are stifled but special interest trial lawyers are happy? https://www.forbes.com/best-states-for-business/list/#tab:overall - Happy Retiree - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 10:14 am: He’s probably shopping for lederhosen, a sukmana, and kilts right now. - Louis XVI - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 10:17 am: Networking for business leads post-Gov gig. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 10:18 am: === Illinois ranks 33rd in terms of best states for business and is 42nd in regulatory environment rank=== - Lucky Pierre - “What would be different in a Rauner second term” I see you agree. Bruce Rauner fails. Good. - David - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 10:18 am: He also got a very positive story on Chinese TV. - Arsenal - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 10:22 am: ==Hello Pritzker campaign, Illinois ranks 33rd in terms of best states for business and is 42nd in regulatory environment rank.== Yes, Bruce Rauner is pretty bad at his job, I agree. - Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 10:33 am: Arsenal and OW, Democrats have zero plans to reduce the regulatory burdens on Illinois business that have imposed on them through their decades in power. The Governor has made improving Illinois economic environment the central theme of his administration and it is sad you both think is is good that he has failed to make much progress because of obstruction by democrats and their special interests. Great campaign slogan for Democrats and “Republicans” from Oswego- We are 42nd in terms of imposing job killing regulatory burdens on business and shooting for 50 if you elect us. That sure sounds like a winner, to bad way to many people support that way of thinking - RNUG - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 10:34 am: If it is flopping at home, you can always try to take the show on the road. - City Zen - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 10:42 am: Is Bruce recruiting for the USMNT? If not, he should. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 10:43 am: ===Democrats have zero plans to reduce the regulatory burdens on Illinois business that have imposed on them through their decades in power.=== “Pat Quinn failed, Bruce Rauner continues that failure as the current governor of Illinois” - Lucky Pierre -, lol, had Rauner a victory in anything, you’d have a point. You don’t. Again. “What would be different in a Rauner second term” Rauner has failed for nearly 3 years, and like you, blames everyone for the things Rauner, himself, blamed Quinn. If you’d like we can revisit all the “Pat Quinn fails” meme and apply them all, it appears, to Bruce Rauner… Debt, failing social services, lowering bond ratings, the list goes on and on. ===The Governor has made improving Illinois economic environment the central theme of his administration and it is sad you both think is is good that he has failed to make much progress because of obstruction by democrats and their special interests.=== … and yet, you complain, here, and don’t cite a Rauner success. lol ===We are 42nd in terms of imposing job killing regulatory burdens on business and shooting for 50 if you elect us.=== No. That’s Rauner, failing, as Bret Baier asked a puzzled Bruce Rauner “What will be different in a Rauner second term” I’m sure you see signing HB40, the most liberal abortion bill signed by anyone, even a Democrat. And you mock me about my bona fides? lol Making it about me, elevating me to a Governor, that’s not a winning argument. ===That sure sounds like a winner, to bad way to many people support that way of thinking.=== Yep. Rauner is a failed governor. Good on you to recognize it. - Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 11:03 am: Only in bizarro world is being for economic development a negative and continuing to support the failed policies Illinois has held for decades a positive OW. Lot of words for you to say as a “Republican” you support the billionaire establishment Democratic candidate for Governor who will not do anything to improve our regulatory environment because it will annoy a powerful Democratic special interest. - Arsenal - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 11:11 am: ==Only in bizarro world is being for economic development a negative== What good is it that he’s “for” something when, as you say, “he has failed”? Joe Maddon was “for” winning Game 4 last night, but he didn’t. - Nick Name - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 11:11 am: ==Democrats have zero plans to reduce the regulatory burdens on Illinois business== Regulations are an executive branch function. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 11:12 am: ===Only in bizarro world is being for economic development a negative and continuing to support the failed policies Illinois has held for decades a positive=== What would be different in a Rauner second term. Your sentence, again, points to nothing that can be called a Rauner success. That means, that sentence, you agree, Rauner has continued the failures Rauner called others out for, including Pat Quinn. That’s the only way that sentence makes sense, you admitting Rauner is a miserable, status quo, failure. ===”Republican” you support the billionaire establishment Democratic candidate for Governor who will not do anything to improve our regulatory environment because it will annoy a powerful Democratic special interest.=== No. Rauner is not a Republican at all. You keep trying to elevate me to Rauner. Why. Here is your phony… “Rauner, pretending to be a ‘Republican’, that you support - Lucky Pierre -. Rauner, the multi-millionaire whose trying to establish a Democratic social agenda, like signing HB40, allowing taxpayer funded abortions and as a candidate for Governor… will not do anything to improve our regulatory environment because Rauner is grossly inept and unable to topple special interest, and has nothing to say about things being better in a Rauner second term.” Better. - Anonymous - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 11:13 am: Barfability factor of 10. Out of 8. - Lt Guv - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 11:16 am: LP, you live in the “bizarre world.” The rest of us live in the real one. - Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 11:27 am: So Rauner has not succeeded in improving Illinois economic climate because of obstruction of entrenched Democrats special interests. But the blame is with Governor Rauner and not the Democratic special interests who will no doubt try to make the regulatory burden higher if they have total control of state government. Yep that is truly bizarro world- only blame the Governor who is trying to change things not the “grossly inept democrats” who are obstructing. - Nick Name - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 11:27 am: ==If it is flopping at home, you can always try to take the show on the road.== It worked for George Ryan. Oops, wait a minute… - wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 11:32 am: I always thought Scotty Bowman was “Joe Hockey.” Rauner and BTIA(TM) couldn’t summon the brainpower to bring any Illinois ag reps. to China and Japan, even though corn, beans and pork are among their biggest imports. Give that a think: it didn’t occur to an Illinois “trade” delegation to sell our farmers products to 1.6 billion people who want them. I think this international focus is just a way for Rauner to act like a big shot on the taxpayer dime, and hang in cool places where people aren’t yelling at him every day like they are at home. - Arsenal - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 11:32 am: ==So Rauner has not succeeded in improving Illinois economic climate== Yes, that’s right. Why isn’t he held to account for that failure? ==because of obstruction of entrenched Democrats special interests.== When did he submit a massive regulatory rollback to JCAR? Oh, never? OK, then this part here, this is not true, and we’re back to “he has failed”. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 11:35 am: ===So Rauner has not succeeded in improving Illinois economic climate because of obstruction of entrenched Democrats special interests.=== You should ask Bret Baier. He seemed to wonder what would be different in Rauner’s second term, as Rauner is failing in this term. If Rauner was succeeding, there would be no need to ask what would “be different”. Bruce Rauner fails. ===But the blame is with Governor Rauner and not the Democratic special interests who will no doubt try to make the regulatory burden higher if they have total control of state government.=== Rauner said he’d shake up Springfield and bring back Illinois. As a white male, Rauner has failed miserably at both, ringing up higher debt, crippling higher education, and while signing, what you - Lucky Pierre - the most liberal abortion bill possible, a bill you said California couldn’t pass and sign, Bruce Rauner fibbed to a Catholic Cardinal while trying to bankrupt Catholic Charities by refusing to honor contracts. And you’re worried about Democrats? Rauner’s warped social agenda is about crippling social services while allowing taxpayer funded abortions. Whew. But, “Democrats”, amirite? lol ===Yep that is truly bizarro world- only blame the Governor who is trying to change things not the “grossly inept democrats” who are obstructing.=== “Pat Quinn failed”, - Lucky Pierre - I’ve seen this movie before. - Ghost - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 11:47 am: We have a fiscal crisis where we can not pay for child care and drug treatment…. but we have money for Rauner and several state police troopers to take luxury foreign vacations at taxpayer expense? How much are all these trips, plane fairs, food and hotels costing the State? Enough to fully fund child care or drug rehab? - Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 11:57 am: Wordlinger does Illinois have glut of unsold corn, beans and pork that Illinois farmers can’t sell? Please cite your source for that fake news. - Thomas Paine - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 12:48 pm: Ah, yes Lucky Pierre. If only someone would lift the regulatory burden on pesticide sale and use in Illinois, our economy would be BOOMING. If you have an actual business in Illinois that has pointed to an actual regulation, let’s fix it. But let’s also admit that many if not most regulations that businesses have to deal with were recommended/lobbied/passed at the behest of some other business/industry. Springfield isn’t so much government v. Business as it is business v. Business with government in the middle as referee. Taxis v Uber, slots v racetracks, cable v telephone, coal v wind. So, stop taking us all for chumps and trying to blame the ref all of the time. And have the intellectual honesty to admit that generally speaking, regulations aren’t just good but good for business. Think Takata air bag, Kobe steel, Dynegy, Madoff, AIG, Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearns, Arthur Anderson, Enron, Brown &a Williamson, Firestone, Ford Pinto, Kerr-McGee…. If you look at the ledger, it is hard to suggest that we have regulated commerce to the point of preventing illicit behavior let alone the extreme point of limiting healthy corporate practice. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 12:52 pm: ===Springfield isn’t so much government v. Business as it is business v. Business with government in the middle as referee=== True. - Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 1:20 pm: I don’t think I ever said all regulations are the problem. Forbes is ranking Illinois competitiveness on just 5 criteria Business Costs- 26 Labor supply - 35 Regulatory Environment- 42 Economic Climate- 21 Growth Prospects- 33 Quality of Life- 12 According to Forbes, the regulatory environment is our achilles heel, where we are least competitive. I would put our workers comp and legal system under regulatory environment and these two issues that will not be touched until Democrats have less power in Springfield. - Grandson of Man - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 1:32 pm: It’s way too late for Rauner to have legitimacy as a pro-business governor. He trashed the state. He spent so much time and caused so much damage pushing for anti-union policies instead of making deals, passing budgets and focusing on improving our economy. - wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 3:36 pm: –According to Forbes, the regulatory environment is our achilles heel, where we are least competitive.– LP, at the home office in Macedonia, didn’t they tell you that state agencies set much of the regulatory standards in Illinois? And that if the GA has a beef, they bring it up in JCAR? What would you say are the goveror’s top ten regulatory chances that he’s made on his own, without whining about how he’s impotent? Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.