* Today, Gov. Rauner brought up former Rep. Ken Dunkin’s Democratic primary defeat last year after Dunkin sided with Rauner on the AFSCME bill. The governor even bemoaned the fact that House Speaker Michael Madigan convinced President Obama to campaign against Dunkin (without mentioning that Dunkin had foolishly run ads which made it appear as if Obama supported him). Anyway, Rauner then turned his attention to Rep. Scott Drury, who is now running for attorney general…
One member of the General Assembly here recently, just one, voted Present, I think, or abstain in the last election for Speaker Madigan to be Speaker. One. You see he’s not running again for the House. What a coincidence. They made his life holy heck. And, basically, push him out. This is rule by fear. This is not democracy.
This is the example he uses? Seriously?
* Remember this statement from the chairman of the almost totally Rauner-funded Illinois Republican Party moments after Rauner’s tax hike veto was overridden?…
“I am extremely troubled by the decision of 10 Republicans to again stand with Mike Madigan. Republicans in Illinois fought Madigan’s machine in 2014 to elect Gov. Rauner and won. In 2016 we beat Madigan again and made historic gains in the House and the Senate. After all we have accomplished together, it is astonishing that these legislators would now turn their backs on taxpayers across the state. I am confident voters will hold those politicians accountable for choosing Mike Madigan over the people of Illinois.”
* And nine of the eleven retiring House Republicans on this list voted for the tax hike…
All but one of the 15 who initially voted for the tax hike and stuck around is facing a Republican primary opponent.
* From Rep. Chad Hays’ retirement announcement…
“Legislators who care deeply and have the courage of their convictions and the intestinal fortitude to do what is right regardless of consequences are increasingly silenced. I believe we are in serious jeopardy of independent thought being a relic in our public discourse.”
So, spare me, governor.
…Adding… Wordslinger in comments…
Let’s not forget McCann’s one meaningless vote bucking Rauner that earned him a well-funded primary opponent.
Yep. And it was gonna be two well-funded primary opponents in a row, but he also bailed.
*** UPDATE *** From Rep. Scott Drury…
While Governor Rauner has admitted that Mike Madigan controls him, he incorrectly states that Madigan controls me. To the extent Madigan has unsuccessfully spent time trying to figure out how to thwart me, it merely shows that I am controlling him. As a federal prosecutor and a legislator, I have been working to clean up Illinois at all levels. As Attorney General, I will clean up our state once and for all – which includes putting a stop to no-bid contracts that harm taxpayers, ending the patronage that keeps the Machine in power and prosecuting politicians at every level of government engaged in the corrupt practice of “pay-to-play.”
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Dec 5, 17 @ 2:27 pm:
That which we most hate in others is what we recognize from ourselves.
Rauner’s always believed that Madigan’s organization is a perfectly valid way to to run things, he’s just always been jealous that it wasn’t *his* organization.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Dec 5, 17 @ 2:32 pm:
Dear Gov. Rauner,
“I don’t want any $&@#% problems”
Here endeth the lesson.
OW
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Dec 5, 17 @ 2:32 pm:
The guy is like butter because he’s on a roll. He’s gone ooda-loopy.
Let’s not forget McCann’s one meaningless vote bucking Rauner that earned him a well-funded primary opponent.
By Rauner’s standard, that would certainly be undemocratic rule by fear.
- WasAnon - Tuesday, Dec 5, 17 @ 2:43 pm:
When he uses the terminology “make his life holy heck”……look back a few comments from OW re: Rauners ‘$&@#% problems’. Which sounds more like the real Bruce?
He’s just so ding-dang diddely hypocritical and phony.
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Tuesday, Dec 5, 17 @ 2:49 pm:
Worth noting that Drury originally announced he was leaving the House to run for governor.
- Dude Abides - Tuesday, Dec 5, 17 @ 2:57 pm:
Who can forget Rauner’s infamous meeting at Saputo’s in which he told GOP members fall in line or else. What a hypocrite.
- Michelle Flaherty - Tuesday, Dec 5, 17 @ 3:09 pm:
What must be really frustrating for Rauner is that he keeps losing to Mike Madigan while at the same time failing in his efforts to try to be Mike Madigan.
- ArchPundit - Tuesday, Dec 5, 17 @ 3:14 pm:
You know who was angrier at Ken Dunkin than Mike Madigan? Democratic activists. Rauner really doesn’t understand this basic point that Democrats as a whole disagree with his policy goals.
- JFD - Tuesday, Dec 5, 17 @ 4:23 pm:
Was it last year that Rauner said his single mission was to destroy Mike Madigan, and his battle has resulted in losing 20 pounds? It’s also resulted in losing the trust of any self respecting person and evidently his mind. I imagine Madigan is sitting back and watching this self destructive train wreck without having to lift a finger.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Dec 5, 17 @ 4:37 pm:
Ah Drury, a legend in his own mind.
- Montrose - Tuesday, Dec 5, 17 @ 4:54 pm:
What we learned today is that Drury is a former federal prosecutor.
- TominChicago - Tuesday, Dec 5, 17 @ 5:00 pm:
I did not know that Scott Drury was a federal prosecutor….One would think that he would mention that experience more often.
- JoanP - Tuesday, Dec 5, 17 @ 6:00 pm:
I’m tired of people running for offices the duties of which they are ignorant,