67 Comments - slow down - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 9:58 am: Predictable but pathetic nonetheless. It’s going to be Madigan, Madigan, Madigan, Blago, Blago. Anything but his own record. - Real - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:02 am: Rauner is really a piece of work. This man is completely souless. He himself is a bad person and the worst Governor in American history. - Regular democrat - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:02 am: The only people who are looking forward to this are the networks. Tens of millions spent on the ads godd for the bottom line. As a side note i have a feeling the aa vote is going to nudge kennedy over the finish line in first. - Sugar Corn - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:03 am: Rauner’s great at insulting and demonizing others. Those who don’t support him are “corrupt”. But the sad truth is Rauner is terrible at his job. He’s a G-d awful Governor. All the name-calling in the world won’t change that. - Northsider - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:03 am: People who live in glass mansions… - wordslinger - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:04 am: What’s next, “lock him up?” It’s beyond creepy that a guy like Rauner, who purposely caused so much damage to so many people by abusing his office with his “squeeze the beast” tactics can dare to lecture on virtue. The guy is shameless, and a weirdo. - Sue - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:07 am: Not endorsing Rauner but he is spot on in terms of what J.B. would do. Rather see anyone who isn’t endorsed by the Dem Union cabal - Real - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:07 am: Rauner you are the real disaster for the state. While it took Madigan 35 years to have such bad disapproval ratings it took you only 3 years to have the similar disapproval ratings as Madigan. Get a clue Rauner. You are the one that came in buying elections and now you are crying because you can’t outspend Pritzker. - slow down - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:09 am: This reminds me of Kirk going after Duckworth. When you can’t run on your record, and have no rationale for reelection, the only thing you can do it to try and make your opponent unelectable. - Grandson of Man - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:12 am: “he can put lots of money in the race, that’s why they want him” That’s why Rauner is attacking Pritzker so fiercely and early. He doesn’t want to compete with Pritzker’s money. He wants to be the only one to be able to pump millions of dollars into politics. - Glengarry - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:14 am: One word for you….Quincy. Nuff said. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:15 am: ===He’s a bad, bad person=== Rauner ran for Governor and couldn’t name one job he created, or have one person he did business with to vouch for his character or even as a businessman. Pritzker already has done both of those. Rauner is soulless. It’s who he is. - Annonin' - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:15 am: Speakin’ of nutty comments Captfax ought to post the audio from GovJunk’s remarks to higher supporters at the State House Inn reception. after launching the GovJunk Starvation Plan three years ago, The plan comes from the Koch Brothers play book and hopes to keep the young dumb and worthy of less pay. He told the crowd how important higher is and how he will do much more. Muffled laughs were still audible. BTW he also wore his goofy vest and plaid shirt like he was headed to a rodeo - Real - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:16 am: Exactly@GOM Rauner wants to be the only one pumping millions in the election. - Jocko - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:17 am: ==And he’s a tax dodger== Bruce is one to talk, between his “blind trust” and Cayman Island accounts…those being the only ones we know of. - olddog - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:18 am: ===He’s a bad, bad person=== Sounds like Trump. - Ron - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:21 am: It’s effective Blags and Madigan are a huge part of the destruction of Illinois. - Streator Curmudgeon - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:22 am: Raunerbots will believe this dreck. The rest of us think it sounds pretty paranoid. - Henry Francis - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:25 am: “[Pritzker]would hand the governorship to Mike Madigan.” Wait a minute. Hasn’t Bruce been tellin us for the last year that he isn’t in control, Mike Madigan is? Hasn’t Bruce already handed Mike Madigan the governorship? Or at the very least, Bruce has been unable to wrest the governorship away from Mike Madigan? - Baloneymous - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:25 am: Rauner is spending millions in a Dem primary and he’s complaining about JBs millions? Was he at a bar when he said this nonsense? - Out Here In The Middle - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:26 am: In today’s world “been on FBI tapes” probably applies to most of us! - The Crane - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:28 am: So … if he is a “bad, bad person,” does that mean that he is bad at being a bad person, and therefore he is a good person? - Norseman - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:28 am: Mr. Credibility speaks and we should listen? Legislators of his own party - who used to salivate over his money - are attacking Rauner over his lies. Illinois has seen the Rauner effort. It was a miserable failure. He needs to go and quick. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:29 am: ===He’s a bad, bad person=== Diana Rauner, your thoughts? ===“More than three decades of experience have led us to identify some big bets that have the potential to transform early learning. We are so grateful to the J.B. and M.K. Pritzker Family Foundation for sharing our belief in these innovations,” said Diana Rauner, president of the Ounce of Prevention Fund. “By developing strong leaders and programs, empowering parents and strengthening early learning systems, together we can change lives for children and families.”=== Maybe The Ounce of Prevevtion and Diana Rauner should give back all that Pritzker inherited money and… … I will be waiting for The Ounce of Prevention President Diana Rauner to denounce J.B. Pritzker in a release when returning those monies. ===He’s a bad, bad person=== Really? - Retired Educator - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:32 am: If I were Pritzker I would consider attacks from Rauner as a badge of honor. The Governor has been a tsunami for Illinois. He has accomplished nothing, lied repeatedly, denied services to the needy, allowed honored veterans to die, all on his watch. He calls someone else a bad person? Man, how can anyone still support this guy? ABB-Anybody But Bruce. - Illinois Resident - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:33 am: This is politics so I don’t expect anything less but a bit rich considering Rauner has done nothing to help our state. When all else fails, look at the policies of the candidate. - west wing - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:33 am: the “blue wave” might skip Illinois if it’s a pritzker-rauner match - Henry Francis - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:34 am: Bruce just guarantied Leroy Brown’s vote for Pritzker. - Generic Drone - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:37 am: OW @ 10:15 “couldn’t name one job he created”. You forgot the Lt. Governor 2 or maybe that’s Jr. - Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:37 am: JB is the perfect candidate for those who think Illinois would be better off if there wasn’t a check on the Madigan agenda. Apparently they don’t care to remember how 12 years of unchecked Democratic power in Soringfield destroyed Illinois finances and exploded the debt. - Arsenal - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:40 am: As many others have noted, it’s disappointing that Rauner has nothing of his own to talk about, so all he can do is whine about others. And it’s certainly disappointing that he has to get so personal, so soon, showing that he can’t even attack JB’s policies. But you know what really strikes me? How simple-minded his argument is. “He’s a bad, bad man”? My five year old constructs more complex criticism. - Arsenal - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:41 am: ==the “blue wave” might skip Illinois if it’s a pritzker-rauner match== Heh, yeah, that’s probably why JB is up double-digits on Rauner… - Real - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:43 am: Lucky Pierre I guess you so quickly forgot how high the bill backlog skyrocketed once Rauner was in office. You know it takes more money through tax hikes to pay off that Rauner backlog right? - Henry Francis - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:44 am: ==Apparently they don’t care to remember how 12 years of unchecked Democratic power in Soringfield destroyed Illinois finances and exploded the debt.== What’s fresher in everyone’s minds is what 3 years of Rauner’s checking of democratic power has done to Illinois’ finances and exploded the debt. Worst ever in the state’s history. Right? - Anonymous - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:45 am: Read this tread from top to bottom and explain again how it is wrong to call someone names - Pundent - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:47 am: =Apparently they don’t care to remember how 12 years of unchecked Democratic power in Soringfield destroyed Illinois finances and exploded the debt.= And yet Rauner somehow managed to make it worse and has yet to advance an argument on why the next 4 years would be any better. He’s proven incapable of leading the state. Pritzker has yet to do so. People want tomorrow to be better than today. Rauner offers absolutely no hope. - Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:47 am: Read this comment thread from top to bottom and explain how it is wrong to call someone a bad person again. Rauner derangement syndrome at its finest - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:50 am: - Generic Drone - Well, you have me there, Ole Slip and Sue told us all Bruce hired her… that’s on me, my bad. ===the “blue wave” might skip Illinois if it’s a pritzker-rauner match=== You should tell that to someone like Roskam. I don’t think he’d believe you. Plus, Clinton winning by 16 points and 2006 as an incumbent GOP President midterm as a model… I’m not too sure Illinois could be skipped. ===JB is the perfect candidate for those who think Illinois would be better off if there wasn’t a check on the Madigan agenda.=== lol Rauner himself has said he’s not in charge, and stated as clear as can be to Trubune a Rauner second term would be about Janus, RTW Zones, destroying AF-Scammy… or holding a state hostage like these past 3 fiscal years. A Rauner second term means more debt, universities starving to closures, social services closing, and more failed oversight like in Quincy with the Veterans’ Home. There’s a good reason Rauner trails Pritzker by double-digits, “Bruce Rauner failed”. - Anon0091 - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:53 am: “He’s a bad, bad person.” I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, Rauner has merged into Trump. This is a Trumpian-level attack. Next thing you know he’s going to come up with a nasty nickname for JB because, well, that’s apparently the new playbook. - Arsenal - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:53 am: ==Apparently they don’t care to remember how 12 years of unchecked Democratic power in Soringfield destroyed Illinois finances and exploded the debt.== It’s so funny to watch you squirm. One day, you tell us that JB is criticizing the Dem-consensus opinion on pensions. Another day, you tell us he’s advocating a tax plan that Madigan’s never even let come up for a vote. Now you tell us it’ll be right back to 2014. Usually, in posts like this, I say “pick a lane”. But you already have, it’s just a lane that doesn’t require any consistency. - Real - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:53 am: ==the “blue wave” might skip Illinois if it’s a pritzker-rauner match== That could be why Rauner is spending millions to knock Jb out during the dem primary. - TKMH - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 11:04 am: ==the “blue wave” might skip Illinois if it’s a pritzker-rauner match== A “red wave” in 2014 re-elected deeply unpopular Republican governors Sam Brownback and Paul LePage. If a red wave could do that to two deeply unpopular candidates, a blue wave would still lift a flawed Pritzker candidacy. Not to mention that the general is still 8 months away. - Demoralized - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 11:16 am: == he can put lots of money in the race== Says the guy who did just that last election. == Disaster for the state.== As opposed to your tenure? The Governor has no accomplishments to run on so his only hope is to dirty his opponent. - wordslinger - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 11:23 am: –Wait a minute. Hasn’t Bruce been tellin us for the last year that he isn’t in control, Mike Madigan is? Hasn’t Bruce already handed Mike Madigan the governorship? – And just yesterday the Rauner kiddie korps at the ILGOP told us that Pritzker was “unelectable.” So why bother talking about him? They’re all dizzy from years of nonsensical spin. They make no sense from one day to the next. - wordslinger - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 11:25 am: –Bruce just guarantied Leroy Brown’s vote for Pritzker.– I wonder what the age cutoff is for picking up what you’re putting down? I know which side of the line I’m on. - Ron - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 11:30 am: “I guess you so quickly forgot how high the bill backlog skyrocketed once Rauner was in office. You know it takes more money through tax hikes to pay off that Rauner backlog right?” Odd statement considering the decades of pension debt accumulating into the $100,000,000,000s under Madigan, Edgar, Thomson, etc. - James Knell - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 11:37 am: Aggressive Black Vultures… headed in the direction of Springfield… perhaps Rauner has a secret plan. - James Knell - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 11:48 am: Brazen killer vultures headed toward Springfield… Rauner has nothing to do with this. s/ - Ed Higher - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 11:51 am: “Bad, bad person” Wow. Facing such withering and well-crafted attacks, how does Pritzker stand a chance? - Not It - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 12:04 pm: Seems pretty slanderous to claim “…he tried to buy the Senate seat from Blagojevich” when there is zero evidence of any desire for the senate seat. The Treasurer’s office, on the other hand… - JS Mill - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 12:36 pm: =Odd statement considering the decades of pension debt accumulating into the $100,000,000,000s under Madigan, Edgar, Thomson, etc.= Under Rauner’s watch that debt increased by 30% in 3 years. He really is amazing. - TKMH - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 12:58 pm: ==He’s a bad, bad person== Never forget: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MCytLRuGG0 - Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 1:36 pm: The fact you are just concerned about the bill backlog rising the past three years with no reforms but not at all concerned about the explosion in debt to over 130 billon, or the loss of good paying manufacturing jobs and wage stagnation and population loss in Illinois over the past 18 years is telling Rauner is solely responsible for all of Illinois problems and the Democrats who are “in charge” of the co equal legislature and the Supreme Court for the past three decades are blameless. - Pundent - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 1:45 pm: =Odd statement considering the decades of pension debt accumulating into the $100,000,000,000s under Madigan, Edgar, Thomson, etc.= Rauner will ultimately be judged based on what he did while in office. That’s the way it’s always been and will be. Rauner took a bad situation and made it worse. - TominChicago - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 1:51 pm: As usual, LP’s Rauner-induced myopia prevents him from really understanding the current state of Illinois’ finances. First, nobody has more screwed up Illinois’ finances than Rauner. But LP seems to forget the 26 years of GOP rule in the Governor’s Mansion that preceded Blago. Big Jim Thompson, in his effort to improve his vote totals from all of those downstate prisons he built, introduced compounded 3% annual pension bump and Jim Edgar invented the pension ramp. LP’s comments are so far removed from reality that they are pretty much just tedious now. - Da Big Bad Wolf - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 2:02 pm: Wait, Pritzker tried to buy the Senate seat? How did I miss that? /s - Ron - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 3:41 pm: Pundent. So what can we say about Madigan? - Ron - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 3:41 pm: How about Edgar? - Ron - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 3:42 pm: The Edgar ramp is a total disaster. And somehow people like that guy. - Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 4:03 pm: (Mo)Ron, Dawn Clark Netsch invented the pension ramp. Edgar adopted it and owns it. Do you have a better idea? - Six Degrees of Separation - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 4:08 pm: AA, you know what’s coming. “A descending ramp would be a better idea, starting at zero” - Ron - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 4:12 pm: Yeah, ending pensions. Because they don’t work. Kicking the can is just what Edgar did. - Pundent - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 4:46 pm: =Pundent. So what can we say about Madigan?= We can say his name isn’t on the ballot for governor. Rauner being a failed governor doesn’t mean that Madigan has been a successful speaker. - Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 7:35 pm: Six Degrees, you nailed that one lol. Ron, why don’t you crawl out from under the bridge and take that idea to your local Rep or Senator and ask them to introduce a bill. Let us know how the meeting goes. - My New Handle - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 7:47 pm: Late comment, but to use a baseball analogy: Suppose Rauner is the batter and Madigan is the pitcher. If the batter can’t on base, is it a bad hitter or a good pitcher? Or maybe the team in the field is better than the one at the plate. - Dutch3000 - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 8:48 pm: If I had any doubts about voting for JB, Rauner just settled them. - wordslinger - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 11:20 pm: AA, I hate to see a great public servant like yourself engage with boo-boos like Ron and LP, losers from the wrong side of tracks on the Island of Misfit bots. They’re really bad at what they do. If they were any good, they would be working for Putin, not Rauner. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.