* We talked about this a bit yesterday, but here’s part of the Sun-Times story about Gov. Rauner’s editorial board visit…
The governor was also asked if he had any thing he wanted to “do-over” from his first term. […]
He also said he would have spent “even more time trying to get groups of legislators together,” instead of focusing on one legislator at a time.
“The [Illinois House] speaker [Mike Madigan] can rule with an iron fist and fear. If we can get them as groups to stand up. People, the caucus, realizes that. Many of the Democratic members realize what I’m working for and actually would help, but they’re scared. And we need to get them united as groups of people,” Rauner said.
Groups of legislators? Like what? The Black Caucus? The Downstate Caucus? Women? Chicagoans? Greens? Which one of those groups would unite with him against Madigan?
- Huh? - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 9:53 am:
If I had a do over, I would be honest and tell the truth. The fact xheckable kind of truth.
- illini97 - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 9:53 am:
Alternate headline: Delusional Man Says Delusional Things and Goes Unchallenged
- TKMH - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 9:54 am:
==Many of the Democratic members realize what I’m working for and actually would help, but they’re scared. And we need to get them united as groups of people.==
How many Democrats, besides Ken Dunkin, took IllinoisGO money?
- Retired Educator - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 10:01 am:
More Fantasy Island stuff from the Governor. If he can’t name the groups, they don’t really exist anywhere other then in his mind. Even he knows no one is buying it, but he keeps trying to sell it.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 10:01 am:
===Many of the Democratic members realize what I’m working for and actually would help, but they’re scared.===
This is complete and utter baloney.
If Rauner was any type of rational governor of deal maker that ANYONE could trust, he’d have them stand behind him on stairs as he stood behind a podium and mics and tell Madigan…
“I have 60 votes… pass these bills”
But Rauner is an utter phony, no clue what Dems actually think or why they won’t trust him, but what those Dems he “thinks” he talks about would do.
Rauner is a fantasyland phony.
The only Dems that support Bruce and his agenda are Ken Dunkin and the former Dem and arguably one the largest GOP donors in Illinois, Diana Rauner, lol
- Augie - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 10:02 am:
Haha! All the “winning “ he has done the last 3 years, what group would not want to partner with him?
- TaylorvilleTornado - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 10:03 am:
“I’ve been thinkin’ I should be talkin’ to some people”
Groundbreaking…
- 360 Degree TurnAround - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 10:04 am:
He couldn’t even keep the House Republicans together, let alone groups of democrats.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 10:05 am:
Rauner still doesn’t get it. Nothing is going to change during a 2nd term. For the sake of Illinois, throw this guy out of office.
- TominChicago - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 10:06 am:
Did anyone listening to this BS ask a follow up? Like what Dems would have supported his union busting agenda?
- #UnionVoter - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 10:06 am:
He can’t even get 100% of the GOP group all the time. Maybe he should focus on the job of Governor. If he wants to be Speaker then let him try and run for that.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 10:09 am:
Again, Rauner shows he does not want to govern. No way in Hades are Democrats, in any meaningful numbers, going to support Rauner’s agenda and bypass Madigan. Rauner can’t be that delusional, which compels me to think this is intentional. Or can he be?
- Wensicia - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 10:11 am:
Rauner neglects to mention the iron fist he used on the GA GOP before some of them ignored his intimidation and supported a budget.
- @misterjayem - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 10:13 am:
Regrets, I’ve had a few
But then again, too few to… MADIGAN
– MrJM
- Pieroge tirebiter - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 10:13 am:
The Democratic caucus from ohyahshure County?
- Nacho - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 10:18 am:
Everyone knows that without Madigan the Democratic caucus would be itching to pass RTW.
- Michelle Flaherty - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 10:25 am:
“groups of legislators”
Like, maybe, the group known as legislative leaders and maybe by hosting things called leaders meetings?
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 10:30 am:
If anything, the presence of Madigan may make Rauner’s life easier. Absent him, the caucus would have better messaging, and probably pass a few more “challenge” bills.
- Jocko - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 10:37 am:
As far as Madigan’s iron fist, methinks Bruce protests too much. Wasn’t he the one who threw Radogno under the grand bargain bus? How about getting Jason Barickman to retract his statement on SB1?
- walker - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 10:45 am:
If Rauner would settle for some compromises on some pieces of his TA, he could get a few Dems together to talk on an ad hoc basis. But why talk to him if he always defaults to all-or-nothing, stii-not-enough at the end of all such discussions? It would also help if he stopped backstabbing his own party members who try to craft solutions.
As to “ruling with an iron fist and fear”, Madigan can’t hold a candle to Governor Rauner.
- Rabid - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 10:47 am:
group think mentality
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 10:50 am:
This guy cant get a consensus in his own mind.
- TominChicago - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 10:56 am:
- walker - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 10:45 am:
“If Rauner would settle for some compromises on some pieces of his TA, he could get a few Dems together to talk on an ad hoc basis.”
Honest question, what part of the TA could a Dem support?
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 11:10 am:
Rauner can’t answer that question because, even after three years, he doesn’t know what he’s doing.
He can’t govern and that’s why he has been saying that a speaker of the house in the state assembly is in control and everything is that man’s fault.
Rauner has to go. Now.
- Pundent - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 11:10 am:
In Rauner’s world everyone agrees with him except Mike Madigan. That’s his message. He just hasn’t been able to create the right set of circumstances with the legislators, the media, or the general public.
- Al - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 11:17 am:
Rauner clearly does not deserve a second term, as he has not recognized the failing of his first term. Clearly he needs new stylist, costume designer, and prop master./snark
- Blue dog dem - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 11:20 am:
If he had to do it over again would.he lie about SB40?
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 11:50 am:
Rauner doesn’t seem to realize that he’s now lost the House GOP caucus.
Last week, there were 90 votes on the override of that education trailer bill veto. That’s a lot of Republicans.
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 12:07 pm:
==Honest question, what part of the TA could a Dem support?==
Property tax freezes, worker’s comp reform. Maybe another bite at pensions. They couldn’t be exactly as Rauner wrote them up, but he could get something pretty big, if he just showed a little flex.
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 12:08 pm:
==Last week, there were 90 votes on the override of that education trailer bill veto. That’s a lot of Republicans.==
Didn’t he essentially give them a free vote on that one, though?
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 12:18 pm:
–Didn’t he essentially give them a free vote on that one, though?–
Essentially, I think the levee broke last summer and Rauner doesn’t have the muscle in the House any more.
- Truthteller - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 12:29 pm:
Rauner said he works with the Trump administration because that’s part of his job as governor.
Isn’t part of his job to work with the Speaker of the Illinois House,too?
Thompson and Edgar and Ryan thought so and got much better results than Rauner who has simply dug the fiscal ditch even deeper
- Huh? - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 1:20 pm:
“his job to work with the Speaker of the Illinois House,too?”
No. Not part of the same social strata or cocktail party circuit. So 1.4% has no use for the Speaker.
- RNUG - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 2:40 pm:
== The Democratic caucus from ohyahshure County? ==
Plus the ones from Lincoln County …
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 3:27 pm:
==Many of the Democratic members realize what I’m working for and actually would help==
Yeah, if only Madigan weren’t around the Democrats would be falling all over themselves trying to pass your agenda.
This guy is completely disconnected from reality.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 3:45 pm:
I could wile away the hours
Conferrin’ with my followers
Consultin’ with the Diane
And my head I’d be scratchin’
While my thoughts were busy hatchin’
If I only had a brain
I’d unravel old Mike Madigan
For any Democratian
who suffers his disdain
With the thoughts I’d be thinkin’
I could be another Lincoln
If I only had a brain
Oh, I would tell you why
I left the State high and dry
I could think of things I never thunk before
And then I’d sit and thunk some more
I would not be just a nuffin’
My head all full of stuffin’
My heart all full of pain
I would dance and be merry
Life would be a ding-a-derry
If I only had a brain
- Whatever - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 4:01 pm:
== If we can get them as groups to stand up. ==
Maybe he thinks he can get a volume discount?
- RNUG - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 5:17 pm:
== The governor was also asked if he had any thing he wanted to “do-over” from his first term. […] ==
Should have asked about before the first term … he shouldn’t have taken that $1 bet that anyone could be elected Governor.
- Suburban Mom - Thursday, Feb 8, 18 @ 8:43 am:
He’s so solipsistic. He assumes because he dislikes Madigan, everyone must, because obviously everyone thinks the same thing he thinks. So they agree with him, they’re just scared to say so; it’s the only explanation.