* First Lady Diana Rauner was on the Big John and Ramblin’ Ray show yesterday…
HOST: Speaking of relationships Diana Rauner, do you think your husband will reach out to Jeannie Ives? We’re actually doing an event with her on Wednesday to try to get her into the fold to help him and perhaps battle Pritzker this November.
DIANA RAUNER: Yeah, I’m sure, I know they’ve certainly, he has certainly tried to reach out to her. I’m sure. The goal here really is I think everyone;s just gotta think about what is - what do we want for the future of our state? And do we want to keep moving forward on a path of reform, of change? You know this has been a really tough road to hoe and all of you guys know that beginning of change is the hardest and the most disruptive time.
Gov. Rauner was on the program the other day and was asked what he’d like to say to Rep. Ives. He said something about how he’d like to thank her for her service both in the military and in the General Assembly. Then he said: “And thank you for saying publicly that you’ll vote for me in this election.”
* Rep. Ives was on the show today and was asked about Gov. and Mrs. Rauner’s comments…
Well you know, I find them somewhat hollow — ‘thank you for your service in the General Assembly’ — because time and time again I went to his administration with great advice, and it was just a bunch of 30-something smart alec kids that run his agencies, basically thought they knew better than people like me who had served at the local level and have been there for a while. So I mean that’s a little hollow, quite frankly.
And as far as Diana goes, really, she’s the one who has created some of the disaster that we’ve seen with Rauner’s administration. She’s the one advising them. And remember, this is a guy who said ‘I’m not in charge,’ and you know who is in charge in that family and it’s Diana.
* Raw audio…
…Adding… Remember this front page?…
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 10:11 am:
===And as far as Diana goes, really, she’s the one who has created some of the disaster that we’ve seen with Rauner’s administration. She’s the one advising them. And remember, this is a guy who said ‘I’m not in charge,’ and you know who is in charge in that family and it’s Diana.===
Diana is NOT in charge?
Ask the “Superstars” let go to bring in the IPI folks, then get back to me.
“As a white male”, Bruce Rauner is deferring messaging and branding to Diana Rauner, HB40 included.
- Evanstonian - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 10:13 am:
“Great advice”
“Hey, millennial agency head, have you considered saying trans people are inhuman? Or that LGBTQ people are gross? This is great advice I am giving.”
These folks wouldn’t know what to do with themselves if they ever got near levers of power. Thank God they won’t.
- Evanstonian - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 10:15 am:
I also love that in Ives world “the disaster” is giving poor women access to reproductive healthcare and not rounding up immigrants.
Yeah, that’s the disaster. That’s why Pritzker has a 17 point lead.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 10:16 am:
What’s “fun”?
The likes of Mr. Breen let the uber-left, costal, limousine liberal agenda of Diana Rauner be the phony ILGOP social agenda, to hide its Raunerism roots.
In Raunerism, Diana Rauner calls the plays, creates the messaging, and protects her own brand.
Ives got 48% if the vote in part that Raunerism, or Diana Rauner’s ILGOP social agenda, isn’t close to a Republican platform, or in the neighborhood of the parking lot of the ball park of 80% of a GOP platform.
Add in lying to Chicago’s Catholic Cardinal… Blase Cardinal Cupich…
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 10:17 am:
The Ives crew on one end, Edgar types on the other.
Rauner needs to hit a Hail Mary and a Pritzker turnover to get back in the ballgame.
- Anon0091 - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 10:18 am:
As much as I love the fight and love blaming Rauner and Diana - and it is fun - at this point we’re 50 days out and she really needs to give it a rest. From a GOP perspective, she’s just showing herself to be nasty and petulant and selfish.
That said, love the reference to smart alec kids running the agencies. I mean, it’s 2018. Who talks like that?
- Turner - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 10:18 am:
==I find them somewhat hollow — ‘thank you for your service in the General Assembly’ — because time and time again I went to his administration with great advice, and … basically thought they knew better than people like me who had served at the local level and have been there for a while.==
Jeanne is so full of it that it dribbles out of her ears. She served on Wheaton City Council for 5 months before her ego trip ambition lead her to run for an open seat in the house.
The real funny thing about this statement is an admission that she accomplished nothing while in the GA.
- LizPhairTax - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 10:19 am:
Diana is not in charge. Bruce wore that shirt that drove her nuts.
- Macbeth - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 10:19 am:
Well, the “as a white man” fiasco — last summer? — certainly supports Ives’ point about the 30-something smart alecs in charge.
A comment like that is straight off the campus quad — identity politics at its worst.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 10:19 am:
Ives is correct.
Rauner listens to no one who disagrees with the voices in his head. The Governor has permitted his wife to handle issues he has no interest in. Rauner has had few goals besides destroying unions and Democrats, damn the consequences or the State.
- Honeybadger - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 10:25 am:
How long did Jeanne Ives serve on the local level? And local level does not mean state legislator.? Not a fan of either Rauner or Ives
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 10:28 am:
==The Ives crew on one end, Edgar types on the other==
There’s little room between a conservative governor who is committed to functioning government over ideology, and a conservative gubernatorial candidate committed to functioning government and ideology.
In fact, Rauner has discovered that there is no place for a governor without commitment to any ideology who is committed to destroying government.
- Honeybadger - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 10:28 am:
Anon0091,
People like Jeannie Ives who are longing for the good old days of some warped sense of reality.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 10:28 am:
Pritzker Election night chant: “We Beat the Rauners’”
- Practical Politiics - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 10:30 am:
@Honey Badger:
Ives briefly served on the Wheaton City Council for about a year before being elected to the General Assembly.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 10:34 am:
===The Ives crew on one end, Edgar types on the other===
Rauner’s lack of constituency can be boiled down to this…
Rauner decided a whole General Assembly should sit, and never give the state a budget. Can’t get those like Edgar to agree the plan is a good way to govern.
Rauner decides to sign HB40, “sanctuary state” legislation Rauner won’t fully explain because it will still alienate conservatives, and Bruce flat out lied to Blase Cardinal Cupich.
The ILGOP can’t agree on much since Edgar, but GOP voters agree Bruce and Diana Rauner aren’t Republicans, Bruce doesn’t govern like one, Diana’s agenda isn’t like one.
The RaunerS did something not seen since Edgar… getting both wings of the GOP to agree…
- Not Again - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 10:44 am:
For the record I would like to say that her advice was far below any standard of greatness.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 10:48 am:
I don’t see much difference between those wings.
If Edgar ran for governor, he’d get the Ives treatment. His pro-life views would be twisted into advocating something heinous. His traditional values would be attacked as narrow mindedness. We got lucky that the Democrats had guys like Simon, Dixon and Stevenson who were disinclined to take a low road against any opposition like today’s politicos.
- @misterjayem - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 10:57 am:
“The Governor has permitted his wife to handle issues he has no interest in. Rauner has had few goals besides destroying unions and Democrats, damn the consequences or the State.”
The distinction identified by Vanilla Man is key to understanding the incoherent nature of Raunerism and how its application has alienated every potential Rauner ally.
– MrJM
- TominChicago - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 10:58 am:
The mind reels while contemplating what Jeannie Ives’ “great advice” might be.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 11:05 am:
==The mind reels while contemplating what Jeannie Ives’ “great advice” might be.==
We know what it was, and you’ll be pained to know that it wasn’t anything kooky - she told him to “pay the bills”.
She wanted him to get back to the budget, find the funds, and pay the damn bills.
- A guy - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 11:07 am:
VMan, not sure I’m reading your comment right. But if you’re referring to Jim Edgar being Pro life, he actually wasn’t. Both Jim and Jeanne should exit the stage now.
- Annonin' - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 11:10 am:
she’s just showing herself to be nasty and petulant and selfish. …
havin’ watched this show in the GA we suggest she is just warmin’ up.
- Precinct Captain - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 11:10 am:
- A guy - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 11:07 am:
No quarter for non-Raunerbots? Not the sign of a healthy party.
- Flat Bed Ford - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 11:10 am:
=because time and time again I went to his administration with great advice=
Funniest thing on the inter webs today! Great advice from the least effective and utterly detested member of the general assembly. Miss Ives, do tell what that advice might be?
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 11:15 am:
–If Edgar ran for governor, he’d get the Ives treatment. His pro-life views would be twisted into advocating something heinous.–
Edgar’s record on abortion is certainly being twisted here, but not by Ives.
Dude, how do you possibly land there?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 11:17 am:
===But if you’re referring to Jim Edgar being Pro life, he actually wasn’t. Both Jim and Jeanne should exit the stage now.===
… then so should Mr. Breen, LOL
Phonies like Mr. Breen and his righteous indignation, then supporting Bruce Rauner…
It’s phonies who stated that HB40 was a “deal breaker” then support Bruce Rauner… they don’t stand for much.
- A guy - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 11:19 am:
==No quarter for non-Raunerbots? Not the sign of a healthy party.===
PC, Consume waste.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 11:21 am:
===Consume waste.===
Aw, there’s that righteous indignation… fun.
Raunerites believe that you stand for anything… but cave to Rauner when having ideals gets too heavy.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 11:22 am:
–Both Jim and Jeanne should exit the stage now.–
Why, do you have a phone booth you want to rent to the remainder of the Illinois Republican Party that would be left after they leave?
Ives got 48% of the recent GOP primary vote. Edgar was one of the most popular GOP officeholders ever.
You’re not good with numbers, are you?
I’m guessing we’ll still be hearing from Ives and Edgar long after Rauner starts his new life bustin’ out gelato stands in Tuscany.
- GOPgal - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 11:24 am:
Just an fyi Diana, you hoe a row, not a road. #YouAreDoingItWrong
- Earnest - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 11:26 am:
>and it was just a bunch of 30-something smart alec kids that run his agencies,
Though willful (and skilled) destruction has been a hallmark of Rauner’s first term in office, I also think weak management of state agencies has been a less willful, less skilled form of destruction–persons losing their Medicaid eligibility, DoIT cost over-runs and implementation issues, people at state agencies who used to be able to give you an answer having to clear things before doing so.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 11:27 am:
When Governor Rauner let The Ounce hold $7 million in bills yet to be paid, what did The Ounce and Diana Rauner do?
They turned to the Pritzker family… and JB Pritzker.
That’s real messaging.
- Turner - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 11:35 am:
==She wanted him to get back to the budget, find the funds, and pay the damn bills.==
V-Man, with all respect, get over your Ives crush. She was against all forms of revenue increases, and voted in lock step with other to advance Rauner’s non-union agenda. Her only advice to the governor’s office was to find a way to end collective bargaining rights for police and fire at the local level, and to make labor negotiations public. She was rightly ignored on all fronts.
- Rabid - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 11:36 am:
Doctor Diana is a real wisenheimer
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 11:42 am:
===We got lucky that the Democrats had guys like Simon, Dixon and Stevenson who were disinclined to take a low road against any opposition like today’s politicos.===
Lol, you are misremembering VanillaMan. Each of those guys knew how to throw a punch and had no problems doing so against their opponents. You are nostalgic for a time that never existed my friend.
- get real - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 11:45 am:
If Bruce isn’t in charge then why is Ives voting for him? Makes no sense. Typical Ives.
- Trapped in the 'burbs - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 11:49 am:
Edgar is a man of character and integrity. He wasn’t perfect, but he tried to work to build consensus and was committed to improving the state. While I had substantial disagreements with some of the things that he did, the fact that he’s so troubled by the destructive Rauner regime that he will not endorse a sitting republican governor, speaks volumes.
- A guy - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 11:50 am:
==Raunerites believe that you stand for anything… but cave to Rauner when having ideals gets too heavy.==
Just describes me to a tee, right? Such interpretive reading. You must love you Evita.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 11:54 am:
===You must love you Evita.===
Mr. Breen’s righteous indignation, or flipping to say, “this is too far… until it isn’t, and I’m back”… you can’t take stands on issues that are dealbreakers… then decide they’re not.
Then, you actually stand for nothing… the Breen Manifesto, included.
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 11:56 am:
Bruce and Diana..partners to the end. At least on an intellectual level they are equally responsible for the damage done to Illinois the last four years. Diana was just working behind the scenes until she outed herself.
Social engineering at its’ Darwinain worst.
- @misterjayem - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 11:59 am:
“Each of those guys knew how to throw a punch and had no problems doing so against their opponents.”
True, but Vanilla Man is correct in as much as their punches usually stayed above the belt.
– MrJM
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 12:04 pm:
Ives needs to get over herself. Her supporters who think she would be close to Pritzker in the polls are just as delusional.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 12:06 pm:
It’s difficult to compare different eras. Michael Jordan v. LeBron James for example. The gutters may not have been as deep back then but the campaigning was just as tough and those guys pushed the limits of their time.
- Angry Republican - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 12:09 pm:
Ives is pulling a Kaepernick - standing for something even if it means sacrificing everything.
- @misterjayem - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 12:10 pm:
47th,
Oh, I agree.
You’ll just get your heart broken if you expect competitors to follow the Marquess of Queensberry Rules when today’s matches are cage fights.
– MrJM
- Cheryl44 - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 12:25 pm:
*Always* blame the nearest woman. Always.
It’s the Republican Way.
- DeseDemDose - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 12:33 pm:
Ives holier than thou act is stale. Ives played along with Rauner, the smart alec kids, looking the other way during the billions lost due to the budget crisis
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Sep 18, 18 @ 3:53 pm:
–You are nostalgic for a time that never existed my friend.–
The Simon/Percy Senate race in 1984 was about the most brutal I ever covered, on both sides.
That’s just the public stuff. The innuendo that both campaigns peddled, but no one bit on, that I can recall, was way nasty.