Question of the day
Monday, Oct 15, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller
* It’s always somebody else’s fault. Always…
Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner has consistently maintained through his first term that he has the correct prescription for Illinois but hasn’t been able to deliver his message to voters.
On Monday, he continued that theme. Appearing on the Steve Cochran Show on WGN AM-720, Rauner said he needs to communicate better to voters if he wins a second term.
“I have two things that I would do differently. One is to focus very much on lots of baby-step improvements and announcing ‘em, playing ‘em up more than we’ve done. That would be No. 1,” Rauner said in response to a question about his biggest first-term mistakes. “No. 2, I would have been much more focused with my time on communications. I spent my time doing, not communicating. I would do far more communicating.”
“I spent my time doing, not communicating.”
Sigh.
…Adding… React from the governor’s former chief of staff…
That about sums it up.
* The Question: Can you help Gov. Rauner answer Cochran’s question about his biggest first-term mistakes?
- Chicago Cynic - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:15 pm:
1) Launching a war with all unions, not just public sector unions.
2) Understand that to get anything past you need 60 and 30 and that as governor it is your job to make sure you have the votes to get anything passed.
3) Recognize that politics is the art of the possible and that you don’t get to dictate to a majority in the other party.
- Chicago Cynic - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:16 pm:
Sorry - #2 should be “Not understanding…” and #3 should be “Failing to recognize…”
- City Guy - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:17 pm:
It was a mistake to villianize Speaker Madigan who you needed to work with to accomplish anything. You might not like or respect him, but you needed to work with him.
- Perrid - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:17 pm:
Didn’t Madigan basically say the same thing like a year and a half ago, that he just hadn’t pushed back on any of Rauner’s smear campaign?
The Governor’s biggest mistake was thinking that he was going to come out ahead in a game of chicken. I’m not sure if he thought the GA would blink, or if he thought the GA would get the blame, but either way he was wrong. There’s lots of blame to go around for the impasse, but at the end of the day he was the new factor, and it was his signature on the veto(es), and he has to own that.
- Precinct Captain - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:18 pm:
“I spent my time doin’, not communicatin’.”
- thoughts matter - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:21 pm:
Failing to sign a budget his first two years.
Failing to understand that no one wins in a dead beat state.
Failing to understand the true definition of compassionate conservative.
Failing to understand who actually votes. It’s not the middle school students he spent his time giving speeches to his first two years.
- Arsenal - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:21 pm:
In a word, “Decatur”.
In a lot more words, an all-out war on labor that Democrats could never agree to, even if they sometimes share his antipathy for AFSCME, even if they too chafe under Madigan’s leadership. Had he targeted AFSCME, and only AFSCME? Jeez louise, some of the trade unions would’ve driven the getaway car for him.
- dbk - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:22 pm:
My biggest 1st-term mistakes:
-I confused “power” with “interest in policy”
-I didn’t learn anything, cooperate with anybody, or explain myself to those whose votes I needed (e.g., “members of the GA”).
-I thought I could have my socially progressive cake and eat my socially regressive economic positions too.
-I thought IL voters were beneath my notice because they’re not PE investors who’ve made a billion by buying cheap, asset-stripping, and selling off other people’s companies
- Wensicia - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:22 pm:
Biggest mistake, using hostages to achieve his agenda, which failed anyway.
- Demoralized - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:22 pm:
I spent my time not doing and communicating I’m not in charge. I would do more doing and less communicating being a victim.
- Pundent - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:23 pm:
It’s not that the governor’s message wasn’t understood by voters, it was rejected.
Rauner’s biggest mistake was his failure to realize that the people of this state didn’t buy into his version of turning things around.
- Because I said so.... - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:24 pm:
Constantly lying.
- El Conquistador - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:26 pm:
Next time you want to start a revolution Bruce make sure that more than 1% of the populace is with you…
- Wow - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:27 pm:
Always respected the tough job Goldberg had. After his post today that respect just skyrocketed thru the roof
- Chicago Cynic - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:27 pm:
Messaging????? Oh good grief. You’ve learned absolutely nothing Bruce. Or put a way you might understand, you’ve learned nothin’.
- Retired - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:27 pm:
Running for the office of governor
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:27 pm:
1) Failure to use the “Thompson Pivot”
2) Decatur PowerPoint
3) Good Friday Massacre
4) “No $&@#% problems”
5) Going after… those giving problems in his party.
6) Lying about anything and everything for political expediency.
7) Turning on Leader Radogno.
8) Turning to Ken Dunkin.
9) Releasing the SuperStars
10) Hiring the IPI folks.
11) The in spite of vetoes
12) Listeing to Diana’s social agenda.
13) Never making allies in the GA.
14) Refusing to Do the Doable, ignoring 60 and 30.
15) Listening to Proft and Besler.
16) Turning on Proft and Besler.
17) Any and all things pertaining to, and surrounding HB40, which encompasses so many other above issues.
18) Recognizing Illinois isn’t Wisconsin or Indiana.
And finally…
19) Refusing to be honest, while mocking others with costumes and unusual talking patterns.
I’d start… there.
- FormerParatrooper - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:27 pm:
Biggest mistake? Running to be Governor and not knowing what the job is.
- Robert the Bruce - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:28 pm:
Failing to embrace what could possibly be accomplished. Most notable example was the failure to embrace the Senate compromise.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:30 pm:
Goldberg is my favorite.
It’s never been close. Goldberg understands, and I respect Goldberg at a very high level.
- Henry Francis - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:31 pm:
Locusts (exclamation point)
- Anon221 - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:32 pm:
Severely under-estimating the “best of my ability”…
“I do solemnly swear (affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of Illinois, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of Governor to the best of my ability.”
(Source: Illinois Constitution.)
- Robert the Bruce - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:32 pm:
Lying. Had he governed from the center in an honest fashion, he could have won Cullerton over, moved Illinois forward with some reforms, and isolated Madigan as the impediment to more progress.
- JoanP - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:36 pm:
Refusing to comprehend that there are two other branches of government that are not subordinate to the Governor.
- Roman - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:36 pm:
Talk about bizarro world. His biggest mistake was concentrating too much on communications. He had a messaging strategy, but no governing strategy.
- RNUG - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:36 pm:
1) Thinking that winning the election meant he had bought the State
2) Not phoning MJM on election night … and lying about it
3) Not taking the deals (Rauner’s ideas minus the union busting) MJM put up for him
4) Vilifing the union workforce
Everything else is the result of one of those actions
- Anonymous - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:37 pm:
He should have focused on controlling what he could control. He also should not have gone through that bizarre staff shake up where he brought in the crazies from the IPI.
- Anon221 - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:37 pm:
Over not under estimating… need caffeine…
- Robert the Bruce - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:38 pm:
Appointing Nirav Shah, who ran a health department via the governor’s press shop.
- Anonymous - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:39 pm:
Todays press conference about non union workers is indicative. Billionaire Bruce spends 4 years slamming unions… comes out for Janus complaining about his fair share union payments.
What to do?
Slam his opponent for using … non union labor (those who presumably have their free speech fully protected being freed from any godawful union representation. /s
TOO much time “communicating” and NOT enough time governing. And poorly communicating at that.
- Anonymous - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:40 pm:
==2) Not phoning MJM on election night … and lying about it==
Such an unforced error too. All Rauner had to say was what should have been the truth: “I wanted to call him but didn’t have a way of getting in touch with him - I’m told he doesn’t have a cell phone??!!”
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:40 pm:
I do think if messaging is Bruce’s biggest failure, that’s Bruce throwing some real serious shade to his “brand manager”, Diana Rauner, and Diana Rauner’s failure, be it with the Superstars, the IPI, Hud and Anne Cavanaugh…
… Diana Rauner, who is a Democrat I’m told, failed to comprehend that talking at people, and having Bruce say “focus” to everybody when Diana’s message isn’t getting time… Bruce is saying Diana’s branding and messaging failed him?
Maybe? No?
- Chicago Cynic - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:44 pm:
“Goldberg is my favorite.
It’s never been close. Goldberg understands, and I respect Goldberg at a very high level.”
Lots of folks say nice things about Goldberg. But what exactly did Goldberg accomplish? If Rauner was such a miserable failure in his first 2 1/2 years, and Goldberg was COS for much of that time…
Just trying to grasp the Goldberg love.
- Anonymous - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:46 pm:
Repeatedly expressing a low opinion of Illinois. It’s like the CEO of Ford shouting our vehicles are lemons.
- Anonymous - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:47 pm:
==Lots of folks say nice things about Goldberg. But what exactly did Goldberg accomplish? If Rauner was such a miserable failure in his first 2 1/2 years, and Goldberg was COS for much of that time…
Just trying to grasp the Goldberg love.==
Consider this - look how bad Rauner has been since he fired Goldberg and the rest of his original team. Keeping that much idiocy and crazy bottled up for 2.5 years is a pretty big accomplishment, I’d say.
- insider info - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:49 pm:
Here it is. The five key mistakes from beginning to end.
1) Issuing the fair share executive order. The governor had no standing to sue; a case brought by Janus alone would still have reached SCOTUS. The EO failed and set off a firestorm of union unification under Madigan’s umbrella. That this is viewed as a Rauner accomplishment is misguided; it was the end of his governorship.
2) Taking on the trade unions, police and fire at the same time as taking on AFSCME and IEA/CTU. Had he only taken on the public employees first, he could have triangulated with Madigan and Rahm as he originally thought he might.
3) Giving Radogno permission to negotiate with Cullerton in the first place and encouraging her all the way until he forced his staff to cut her legs out. His staff opposed her negotiations with Cullerton early on; he ignored and kept endorsing. By the time he realized what a mistake it was, it was impossible to stop the compromise without being branded as the villain.
4) Firing his most loyal staff right after the tax hike and declaring to Illinois that he failed, rather than launching his re-election on the back of a statewide summer tour hammering away at the tax hike and reminding people that the difference between success and failure was just 9 seats in the House. Instead of making the story about how Madigan screwed the taxpayer over his veto, he told the public that he was a failure and it was all his fault. Pour on top of that weeks of bad press by bringing amateurs into the government, and you can understand why his poll numbers tanked and then never recovered.
5) Signing HB 40 after promising the GOP caucus that he would AV it. Polling was clear that vetoing the public funding but favoring the trigger language would be net positive with voters. He had Cupich for cover. And he could bash Democrats for holding up his AV which enshrined the basic right to choose — in other words, if Dems rejected the AV, they put women at risk. This move led to his primary and the rest is history.
- wakeup - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:52 pm:
lack of focus. “Focus is important”
- I Miss Bentohs - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:52 pm:
My biggest mistake was the way I hired people. I never seemed to put much thought or effort into getting the right people in the right positions as I knew everything. Of course, none of those people are around and I do not know everything so I should change that in my second term … but I won’t.
- Hexagon - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:52 pm:
failure to learn from mistakes.
- Bobby Hicks - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:53 pm:
“If he wins a second term”. Sorry Bruce, I don’t believe that will happen. Be graceful, try to go out with just a bit of class.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:53 pm:
===Lots of folks say nice things about Goldberg. But what exactly did Goldberg accomplish? If Rauner was such a miserable failure in his first 2 1/2 years, and Goldberg was COS for much of that time…===
Goldberg had a role, and unabashedly played the role, not unlike a WWE Wrestler, a wink here, a nod there, while hitting with folding chairs and putting Dems on notice.
Meanwhile, like a duck, staying calm above water, paddling like a dickens and working twice as hard below the water to keep everything swimmingly well, while it was less than that under the water.
It’s not close. Goldberg is my favorite.
- Ole' Nelson - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:54 pm:
Believing that you possess any leadership ability beyond what can be attributed to having so much money that people have to do what you say.
- Try-4-Truth - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:58 pm:
Only mistake Gov. Rauner has made..
Thinking he knew how to govern. He can’t. Big mistake.
- Wensicia - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:59 pm:
Messaging made up of lies, yet he’s still lying. He hasn’t learned anything.
- Al - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 4:01 pm:
The thing which completely stopped up the much needed Rauner Turnaround, was his total failure, complete abdication to fail for four years to mention Illinois problems and pain was actually Madigan’s fault. If would only have mentioned This, even once in passing and I have not doubt his underwater approval ratings would be upside down./s
A lot of stuff mentioned. Some others include silly furniture building lease, and multibillion dollar ComEd giveaway.
- lakeside - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 4:02 pm:
Not stopping the lying train in its tracks. Once it was clear he had a rep for not being trustworthy, he should have brought everybody together and said he’ll make it right. And then do it. I can’t imagine trying to work in SPI (or in politics at all) with a reputation for not being able to be trusted.
But tiger/stripes, I guess. He doesn’t seem to realize, even now down 20 points, that it’s a problem. The problem.
- Annonin' - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 4:03 pm:
1 take the oath
2 come to work on Day 2
BTW all he did was wander rhe state and mesaage. It was crappy and non persuasive
- Michelle Flaherty - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 4:03 pm:
Remember when Goldberg denouncing “sham hearings” and insulting everyone like he was Brett Kavanaugh at a Senate confirmation hearing was considered the good Rauner administration?
Such wonderfully productive times.
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20160618/bernard-schoenburg-new-rauner-staff-chief-clashed-with-lawmakers
If only the messaging had been better.
- Jocko - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 4:04 pm:
==I spent my time doing (nothing), not communicating (with any honesty).==
In response to the question, trying to pass himself off as a folksy everyman instead of a heartless CEO.
- western observeration - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 4:08 pm:
==Remember when Goldberg denouncing “sham hearings” and insulting everyone like he was Brett Kavanaugh at a Senate confirmation hearing was considered the good Rauner administration?==
You understand that what he did, from issuing memos to pushing back at hearings, was part of how Rauner was able to stay afloat for that long, right? Every memo calling a budget a tax hike meant that all GOP and target Dems would have to vote no and Rauner’s vetoes would be sustained. Every time he pushed back at a hearing, the news coverage went from “GA slams Rauner” to “Dems, Rauner staff tussle over reforms.” If you didn’t get what Goldberg was doing and how it was extremely effective, you are operating at an amateur level of political strategy. And thanks to Mike Z on the outside, pretty sure Madigan lost four seats despite Trump getting wiped out in Illinois that November.
- A Jack - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 4:24 pm:
Blagojevich, Quinn, and Rauner have all attacked state employees in some fashion or another and have been seen as failures. You never hear Jesse White or Lisa Madigan attack their state employees and they have been re-elected multiple times. I think in any organization, if you treat your workers well, they will put out 150% for you and make you look good.
- Phil T. - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 4:25 pm:
Maybe Goldberg is a great guy…I’ve certainly heard that from people who know him. But that, and the fact that things went from bad to worse after the guv dumped him, does not absolve Goldberg from the sins of the Rauner Adminstration. He was one of the architects of Rauner’s slash and burn tactics — and he seemed to relish every minute of it. Let’s not forget his inexcusably arrogant appearances in front of legislative committees, not to mention his behind-the-scenes work to crash the “grand bargain.”
@Willy, like you, I’m a centrist, Springfield institutionalist. Let’s not forget how much Goldberg was gleefully dedicated to helping Rauner blow everything up.
- Chicago 20 - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 4:26 pm:
In Rauner’s mind, he did not fail.
Rauner did exactly what he wanted to do regardless of the consequences and doesn’t regret a thing with the sole exception of not being able to spin his selfish arrogant actions into something positive for the hoi polloi.
It wasn’t the messaging Bruce, it was your actions, inabilities and lack of integrity that shone through.
Start packing your desk.
- JS Mill - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 4:31 pm:
1) Bad mouthing anyone or anything he didn’t like in order to bully his was through. MAJOR FAIL
2) Constantly lying about anything and every thing.
- Michelle Flaherty - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 4:34 pm:
Western,
Looks like me and nearly 80 percent of the people in Illinois forgot just how great the Rauner administration was.
- left turn signal - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 4:37 pm:
==Let’s not forget his inexcusably arrogant appearances in front of legislative committees, not to mention his behind-the-scenes work to crash the “grand bargain.”==
This is where you lose regular voters in the state. It’s kinda like how attacking Kavanaugh brought Trump lovers and haters together. Goldberg was considered arrogant because he dared to stand up for taxpayers. He dared to push back. Those were sham hearings. Who in this state believes otherwise? When committee hearings are convened just to attack Rauner officials for their salaries or to shoot down Rauner bills without any real negotiation, why shouldn’t someone like Goldberg call out Madigan puppets for being Madigan puppets? If he didn’t do it, the press coverage would be completely slanted. Only Springfield insiders, whether Madigan loyalists or lobbyists who are addicted to the system, found Goldberg offensive. Everyone else thought it was a long time coming.
As for grand bargain, Goldberg was a staffer. He probably thought that if he didn’t stop it, Rauner might fire him. Guess what; that’s exactly what happened. He was doing his job and did it well until he was fired for being too moderate. And I’ll never forget CapFax coverage about Goldberg walking the 16th floor thanking his staff as he was being escorted out. That guy is a class act.
- western observeration - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 4:39 pm:
Michelle, check the polling record. It was posted here recently. Rauner was nearing even on fav/unfav in July 2017. And then. And since. And oh well.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 4:39 pm:
===Let’s not forget how much Goldberg was gleefully dedicated to helping Rauner blow everything up.===
- Phil T. -
With respect,
In the past I’ve stated very clearly;
Everything Goldberg did led to nothing but gridlock and problems to governing.
In compete and equal balance towards that, what he did, how he did it, the politics to it… I respect the politics and how he went about his business, not unlike playing a role, and playing it to the needed levels.
With respect.
- City Guy - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 4:41 pm:
In regards to Goldberg, from an outsiders viewpoint, I didn’t see him winking or working behind the scenes. I just saw him being a jerk. I think it pulls down politics to the most base level and that is becoming a big problem for our country.
- lakeside - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 4:43 pm:
Folks are talking at cross purposes - it’s the difference between good politics and good governing.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 4:43 pm:
People, get back to the question.
- low level - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 4:49 pm:
Ken Dunkin
- Informed Mom - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 4:49 pm:
Governor Rauner has showed nothing but antagonism toward people with disabilities, beginning with his “Good Friday Massacre” on World Autism Day in 2015. The bewildered among us watching this bloodbath never learned the truth — was Rauner just clueless or uncommonly cruel?
- Roman - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 4:50 pm:
==Just trying to grasp the Goldberg love.==
To capitolfax regulars, Goldberg is like James Comey — hated, until he got fired. Now he doesn’t seem so bad.
- Anonymous - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 4:52 pm:
He’s too busy blamin’ Madigan.
- TominChicago - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 4:52 pm:
Thinking that he could break Madigan
- Norseman - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 4:57 pm:
His arrogance was his downfall. Rauner came in believing that he could achieve his objectives by playing hardball. The problem is you can’t play hardball with 7 players and no pitching.
- just asking - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 4:59 pm:
insider info wins the golden horseshoe for best analysis
- Y o Y - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 5:00 pm:
Biggest mistake — not realizin’ that govt is different than the private sector. Second mistake — believing he’s smart because he’s rich.
- NorthsideNoMore - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 5:02 pm:
To many #1 s but try not picking a fight that isnt there is pretty good.
#2 Listening and acting on the advice of GOP folks that actually know how to run the State and have a horse in the race.
#3 realize what a legislative Win looks like build on it move forward
#4 Listen to GA members some have really good ideas.
- Bobio - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 5:08 pm:
Ah, I see Gov. Rauner is, as am I, a follower of Dr. Leo Marvin’s Baby Steps book. That explains quite a bit.
- Jibba - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 5:09 pm:
For those who understand and appreciate the game of politics, Goldberg was a master. Unfortunately, I don’t see it as a game but a matter of life and death for some, like veterans. Divisive and insulting brag does not move society forward, even if you might win the day. Illinois is worse off for his efforts, sadly.
- Last Bull Moose - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 5:10 pm:
Rauner has a personality problem, he is a liar and a bully. Most of his mistakes flow from those flaws.
Lying poisoned the well. Once it became clear he would lie about anything, his ability to negotiate shrank.
His open attack on unions was flawed. Had he praised state employees, he could have negotiated in good faith with AFSCME. Then if they reached an impasse, the court would have upheld him. Bad faith negotiations wrecked his opportunity to make changes.
He hired poor Directors and did not manage them. What I saw at DCFS was very poor. The IT transformation was also mismanaged. It would have been difficult, but they went off half-cocked
Undercutting Radogno was political malpractice. That was a chance to look like a statesman. Bullies are not statesmen.
- low level - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 5:11 pm:
The EO & Mark Janus things are key. As Arsenal correctly pointed out, trade unions really cant stand AFSCME. Heck, Im a AFSCME member myself and often dislike many positions taken.
By the time he was done w all his “communicating” or doing or whatever it was, I was signing up for extra deductions via the afscme PEOPLE committee (their PAC).
In other words, he needlessy gave people reasons to dislike him even further without much upside.
- Jibba - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 5:11 pm:
Sorry, Rich. Did not refresh quickly enough to see your post.
- DuPage Dave - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 5:18 pm:
Rauner failed to learn how to count votes.
- Quizzical - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 5:22 pm:
Listening to all the people who I gave money to, who In turn told me that I had great ideas and would be a great governor.
- DeseDemDose - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 5:56 pm:
Rauner let veterans suffer and die at the Quincy home and still lies about the the coverup.
- Barrington - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 6:14 pm:
Not realizing he was a governor and not heading a private equity firm. Wanting to dismantle instead of building.
- Annonin' - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 7:16 pm:
Just reread the Goldberg stuff. Wow he b.s’d lots o folks
- Facts matter - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 8:42 pm:
What Annonin’ said.
Rauner’s first mistake was bringing a front office crew of DC folks who thought they could bring the scorched earth tactics from DC to intimidate the rubes in Springfield into submission.
His second mistake was signing the education funding bill at the end of the first session. The schools opened on time and that relieved some pressure.
His third mistake was not aggressively fighting the court ruling that allowed state employees to be paid without an appropriation. That relieved more pressure because normal folks could still get their drivers licenses and file their tax returns.
His next mistake with not agressively fighting the consent decrees that kept funding DCFS and other programs absent appropriations.
His next mistake was having a budget director that was so competent that he kept the state running on fumes with smoke and mirrors for a couple of years.
As a result, the overwhelming majority of the residents of the state were largely unaffected by the budget fight.
- James - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 8:43 pm:
There are so many mistakes to choose from, all itemized above. But I would say the biggest was the critical moment when he refused to accept the Senate’s grand bargain, prompting leader Radogno’s retirement, which spoke volumes.
The grand bargain would have won some of the incremental reforms he now wishes he had, would have put real pressure on Speaker Madigan to sign on to avoid being cast as the over-demanding villain, and might have avoided the next year’s budget veto override and the Ives candidacy, both of which compounded his problems, particularly within his own party. Along with taking some credit for the school reform bill, there would have been more tangible accomplishments that the Governor could have campaigned on, greatly increasing his re-election chances.
- Southside Markie - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 8:47 pm:
I’m sorry. There are only a few weeks until the Election Day. That isn’t enough time to finish the list.
- wordslinger - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 9:38 pm:
“In a second term, I’ll keep on lyin, because, let’s face it, I can’t control that.
But I’ll cast aside my Messiah Complex and d-bag sense of ragin’ entitlement that I should get all my misanthropic wish-list because I have so much money.
Then again, if I do that, why do I want to be governor?
Somebody ask Goldberg. Where did he go, anyway?”
- Bourbon Street - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 9:55 pm:
Thinking he was elected CEO of the State of Illinois rather than Governor and then thinking that everyone else (including the other two branches) were his employees who would happily fulfill any request he had. Also, disparaging Illinois, and its communities, workers, universities, etc.
- IllinoisInsider - Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 2:10 am:
His biggest mistake was looking for a balanced budget through political reforms. Good policy comes from a balanced budget, not the other way around.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 7:54 am:
This man doesn’t know the difference between buying something, and earning something. He bought businesses and then acted like he built them. So he doesn’t know how to build or how to earn.
Rauner is like the old Steve Martin gag about how to have a million dollars, and not pay taxes ” First, you get a million dollars….”
Rauner, “First you get a political party and then you buy the governorship.”
Rauner never earned the Office.
He lied to voters during the eldction.
He knew he’d lose if he told the truth.
So after inauguration, he did his big reveal in Decatur. He never recovered what he lost.
Since February 2018, he has been a lame duck and our biggest gubernatorial failure.
- Rabid - Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 8:38 am:
What we have here is a failure to communicate, some men you just can’t reach
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 8:56 am:
It’s so cliche to read that a political loser just failed to communicate. It assumes voter ignorance and presents the loser as innocent and misunderstood. What nonsense.
Governors get attention throughout their term. They speak and dozens dutifully listen. Dozens of political opposition listen too. To claim that their failure was due to not communicating is a poor excuse.
We heard you. We’re rejecting you. We’re not ignorant. We’re not follish. Losers lose because voters liked your opposition more, or dislike you more.
Stop playing us as fools, please. It’s dishonest.
- Rabid - Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 9:03 am:
His last chance spot, he is literally speaking out of the left side of his mouth
- low level - Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 9:03 am:
Not being able to count to 60. (votes). Oops