The governor’s tears
Monday, Oct 15, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Gov. Rauner said this during last week’s debate about the deaths at the Quincy veterans’ home…
“It’s heartbreaking and I’ve cried about it,” said Rauner.
* And then…
After the debate, Rauner told reporters he’s cried over the deaths at the Illinois Veterans Home and he does not believe he’s trailing by 20 points as a recent poll suggests.
While not wanting to make light of the people who lost their lives at Quincy, I have heard the governor talk about weeping several times, so I took a quick look at the history and asked around for some help.
* The earliest instance I could find on Google is from 2010, long before Rauner ran for governor…
“Waiting for Superman” — a documentary billed as the “Inconvenient Truth” of public education — will debut in New York and Los Angeles. But a select group of Chicagoans has already seen the film by Davis Guggenheim, who also directed “An Inconvenient Truth.” […]
“I’ve seen it twice, and I’ve cried both times,” Bruce Rauner said. “I think it’s very powerful.”
* April, 2015…
One of the most emotional times here in Springfield, two teachers came up to me at an event after I became governor. One of them started to cry. I gave her a hug and I said, ‘What’s wrong?’ and she said, ‘You are healing a wound in this community that you don’t fully appreciate.’ I said, ‘Really? Well, God bless you.’ We hugged and I was tearing up. I said, ‘Don’t make me cry. I’ve got to go give a talk here.’
* December, 2015, after watching the Laquan McDonald video…
“I watched the video when it came out last week. I cried,” Rauner said. “That video is shocking, terrifying. I cried for the young man who was brutally shot. I cried for the thousands of police officers who are honest and hardworking, who put themselves in harm’s way to serve and protect us and whose reputation gets damaged by the behavior of a few bad people. I cried for the violence that is tearing apart so many of our communities.”
* February 26, 2016 on Dan Proft’s radio show…
I took my Swedish grandfather back for his 90th birthday. I had never been to Sweden. He had been writing to his relatives his whole life from Wisconsin and he’d never been, or at least not since he was like two years old and I took him over and we spent a week. I cried every day.
* June 7, 2016…
And the governor defended his highly controversial description of some CPS schools as “crumbling prisons.”
“In too many of them, I cry. Tears come into my eyes.”
* August 19, 2016…
They came to my office in the Capitol a number of months back and we sat, a large group of youth and myself and Director Sheldon. And we just had a talk about their lives, what’s going on, what their issues are. And it was one of the most emotional but uplifting and inspirational discussions I’ve ever had in my life. Many of us cried.
* March 16, 2017…
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner visited two area communities left devastated from Tuesday night’s storms. […]
“It’s really hard. I mean I cried yesterday. I was crying this morning. It’s very emotional,” said Rauner.
* April 6, 2017…
I travel the state, seven days a week, and everywhere I go, people come up to me and say, ‘Governor, stay strong. You’re on the right track. Don’t give in, stay persistent.’ One woman came up to me with tears in her eyes, and I started to cry, too. She said, ‘You’re our last hope. Don’t give up.’ I said, ‘I’m not gonna give up. I’m the most persistent son of a gun on the planet. I’m very competitive.’
* June 15, 2018…
One of the most special times for me every year is going to Honor Flights to welcome our heroes home here in Springfield, and in Peoria, and in Chicago. I have to tell you, it brings tears of joy to my eyes when our heroes come through that airport door to be reunited with their children and their grandchildren and their great-grandchildren.
* September 18, 2018 at Crain’s Chicago Business…
Most emotional moment was last year, an elderly woman saw me shopping in Schnucks, the grocery store. She came up to me, grabbed me by both hands, looked up at me and she started to cry. I said, ‘What’s wrong?’ She said, ‘Governor, you’re our last hope. Please don’t give up.’ I kind of lost it. I started crying, I gave her a hug and I say, ‘I will never give up, I can’t. I’m doing this, this is a labor of love.’
…Adding… A sharp commenter reminded me of this during the October 9, 2018 Sun-Times editorial board meeting...
Back before being governor, I would love the classics, like for example I would always like to see “The Dick Van Dyke Show” or some other classic, family shows the 60s. I love that stuff, it’s kinda teary-eyed to me, and it’s a great way to relax.
- Anonymous - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 1:49 pm:
He’ll be crying November 6 too.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 1:50 pm:
Sneedless to say, Rauner’s own words to Michael Sneed paint a “happy warrior”…
===“It’s really wonderful when people describing themselves as Democrats tell me to stay the course. That I’m doing the right thing,” he said.
“That energizes me and I know it sounds strange, but my wife tells me she hasn’t seen me this happy in 20 years. I feel totally honored and humbled to get the opportunity to improve the future of 13 million people.”===
… who, while crushing higher education, destroying social services, and worried about public relations and image when it came to the first 6 days of the Quincy Veterans Home tragedy…
“…“I know it sounds strange, but my wife tells me she hasn’t seen me this happy in 20 years.”
This is what I remember when Rauner talks tears.
Every. Single. Time.
- flea - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 1:55 pm:
Governor Cry Baby Cry,
Cry me a river…..please. Your time is up. Hit the road Jack and never come back.
- wordslinger - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 1:58 pm:
–two teachers came up to me at an event after I became governor. One of them started to cry. I gave her a hug and I said, ‘What’s wrong?’ and she said, ‘You are healing a wound in this community that you don’t fully appreciate.’–
–Most emotional moment was last year, an elderly woman saw me shopping in Schnucks, the grocery store. She came up to me, grabbed me by both hands, looked up at me and she started to cry. I said, ‘What’s wrong?’ She said, ‘Governor, you’re our last hope. Please don’t give up.’ –
–One woman came up to me with tears in her eyes, and I started to cry, too. She said, ‘You’re our last hope. Don’t give up.’ –
The Messiah Complex is strong in this one.
Almost as strong as the Pathological Lying.
- very old soil - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 2:00 pm:
And he bawled like a baby after Madigan called him on election night
- Langhorne - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 2:02 pm:
Not buying it.
I am the most persistent son of a gun. Vote w me, or we have a #%
- Northern pike - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 2:03 pm:
His bodyman must carry a box of tissues with him /s
- Tears of Joy Nov. 6 - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 2:04 pm:
Amazing the inadvertent timing at all his public availabilities that no camera has ever been aimed at him at exactly the right time to capture any of these elderly women coming up to him, hugging him and begging him not to stop as they both cry - for apparently fleeting moments…
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 2:04 pm:
Teardrops on my Carhartt
Ken looks at me,
I fake a smile so he won’t see,
What I want, what I need,
And everything that we should be,
I’ll bet Right to Work’s so beautiful,
That “girl” he talks about,
And “she’s” got everything that I’ve had to live without,
Ken talks to me,
And I laugh ’cause it’s just so funny,
That I can’t even see
Anyone when he’s with me,
He says he’s so in love,
He’s finally got it right, I wonder if he knows Right to Work is all I think about at night,
“She’s” the reason for the teardrops on my Carhartt,
The only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star,
“She’s” the song in the Van I keep singing, don’t know why I do
Ken walks by me,
Can he tell that I can’t breathe?
And there he goes so perfectly,
The kind of flawless I wish I could be,
“She” better hold him tight,
Give him all her love,
Look in those beautiful eyes,
And know “she’s” lucky ’cause,
“She’s” the reason for the teardrops on my Carhartt,
The only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star,
“She’s” the song in the Van I keep singing, don’t know why I do
So I’ll drive home alone,
As I turn out the light,
I’ll put Walker’s picture down,
And maybe get some sleep tonight,
“She’s” the reason for the teardrops on my Carhartt,
The only one who’s got enough of me to break my heart,
“She’s” the song in the Van I keep singing, don’t know why I do
“She’s” the term taken up,
But there’s never enough,
And “she’s” all the I need to fall into,
Ken looks at me,
I fake a smile so he won’t see.
- Reality Check - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 2:06 pm:
“November 7, when I rise, bring a tear of joy to my eyes, and tell me Rauner lost by 20 points last night…”
- Henry Francis - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 2:07 pm:
Don’t forget this terry eyed moment he mentioned during the sun times panel:
Far and away, my favorite time— I have to say, as governor I’ve watched virtually no television. Back before being governor, I would love the classics, like for example I would always like to see “The Dick Van Dyke Show” or some other classic, family shows the 60s. I love that stuff, it’s kinda teary-eyed to me, and it’s a great way to relax.
- Langhorne - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 2:08 pm:
Or we have a #%>€n’ problem. We did everything right. These things happen. Never been happier.
- slow down - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 2:09 pm:
Is it possible that he’s been moved by some of the things he’s seen as Governor? Of course.
Did any of those experiences move him to tears? Not likely.
Did he have trouble sleeping when social services were devastated by his refusal to compromise on a budget? Not a chance.
- Anon221 - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 2:09 pm:
Rauner has provided evidence over and again that he is not truthful. He may have cried on some of these occassions, but did real truthful tears actually fall…
“A cruel crafty crocodile,
Which in false grief hiding his harmful guile,
Doth weep full sore, and sheddeth tender tears.”
Edmund Spenser
The Faerie Queene (1596) bk. 1, canto 5, st. 18
- My New Handle - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 2:09 pm:
Lord knows, I’ve cried a river over you.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 2:13 pm:
HF, thanks. Updated.
- wordslinger - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 2:23 pm:
First I’ve heard of someone crying during the “Dick Van Dyke Show.”
He must have had a nervous breakdown when Ernest T. Bass showed up in Mayberry.
- DeseDemDose - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 2:26 pm:
Did Rauner cry for the kid that got bumped who deserved to go to Walter Payton high school but instead Rauner plopped his daughter into that spot through clout.
- Anon - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 2:29 pm:
What a crybaby. He probably cheers himself up thinkin’ about all the union pay he froze.
- Chicago 20 - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 2:41 pm:
It’s not just Bruce that cries….
https://www.ilnews.org/news/state_politics/rauner-first-lady-cries-at-lack-of-opportunity-for-younger/article_9efec2b8-196c-11e7-8fa2-577851838a81.html
“We’ve raised our six kids in Illinois. None of them live in Illinois,” Rauner said. “They all have found their opportunities outside of Illinois. My wife cries about it. It’s so sad.”
- Tommy Two Tissues - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 2:51 pm:
If they ever show “Old Yeller” at the Mansion, better put the Gov on suicide watch.
- JS Mill - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 2:58 pm:
Lots of crying from the tough guy “I’ll take the arrows” governor. Such bravado and now the tears.
When he was actively working to reduce the wages of hard workin’ Illinois citizens he wasn’t al tearful.
In addition, I am sick and tired of all of the Republicans like Rauner and Trump talking abut Things being “fair” and “unfair”. it sounds so childish and yet they cannot stop. These two are some of the biggest bullies walking and yet they are also so thin skinned.
Time for a change.
- Honeybear - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:00 pm:
I’m not a psychologist, but I’ve always thought Rauner was on the spectrum of antisocial personality disorder, high functioning, but on the spectrum.
A sociopat_
He mimics or talks about tears
Yet his actions betray him
He is an artist in perfidy.
It’s his true medium.
- VanillaMan - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:05 pm:
Rauner doesn’t cry. He just talks about crying.
- James - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:15 pm:
I’ll believe it when I see it.
- Ed Higher - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:19 pm:
Most of the state has been crying too, so that must mean he’s a true Illinoisan. /s
- qualified someone nobody sent - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:29 pm:
Real tears will flow on November 6th. Tears of joy of Illinois residents who’ll see the end of a four year long sentence of fiscal lunacy, union busting and a complete disregard for higher education at our public Universities.
- Molly Maguire - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:43 pm:
Obvious question: Anyone seen him cry?
- FormerParatrooper - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:44 pm:
May he cry his way to somewhere else far away after the election.
- Cubs in '16 - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:45 pm:
===First I’ve heard of someone crying during the “Dick Van Dyke Show.”
He must have had a nervous breakdown when Ernest T. Bass showed up in Mayberry.===
This is one of the funniest things I’ve read on this blog.
- 2thumbsup - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:47 pm:
I guess the doubters here have never seen the movie “Rauner’s Song.” Rauner’s wisecracking blocking back Mike Madigan gets sick and Rauner weeps at his funeral - “we come from different backgrounds but I loved Mike Madigan.” I was crying too. Starring Dick Van Dyke and Morey Amsterdam. Check it out.
- 37B - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:49 pm:
Tears [fallin’] [d]own
When there’s no one around.
Acceptable?
- Retired Educator - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 3:52 pm:
He has caused a lot of us to tear up over the last 3 plus years. His are phony, ours are real.
- I Miss Bentohs - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 4:07 pm:
“He wept.” is my favorite verse in the Bible.
I am not sure the meaning of this post and the reaction is highly offensive. Men cry. Get over it.
- I Miss Bentohs - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 4:12 pm:
And Honeybear, the next time you start a post with I’m not a psychologist, you may just want to stop typing. That was inane.
- AlfondoGonz - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 4:23 pm:
“I am not sure the meaning of this post…”
I’m hankering for a Rich Miller “bite me” in the worst way…
- JS Mill - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 4:33 pm:
=I am not sure the meaning of this post and the reaction is highly offensive. Men cry. Get over it.=
Banned word.
- wondering - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 4:34 pm:
I cried when he got elected, bawling since
- Illinoised - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 5:00 pm:
The same people who believes he wears a cheap watch and drives a beater van will believe his crying claims. I don’t but I believe he will by crying by 9 p.m. on election day.
- Morty - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 6:13 pm:
Oh, that lovable lug…he likes to play tough but he’s a big softie…
Said no one ever about BVR
- Huh? - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 7:16 pm:
Bentohs - lay off the Bear. As a former Navy Chaplain, she counseled people. While not a trained psychologist, I am sure she is more than capable of making a diagnosis and referral for treatment.
- justacitizen - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 7:53 pm:
Lots of hateful comments on a terrible, emotional issue. I’m not sure it’s fair criticizing someone’s sorrow about deaths that occurred. Oh, this is IL politics-anything is game.
- wordslinger - Monday, Oct 15, 18 @ 11:50 pm:
–Lots of hateful comments on a terrible, emotional issue. I’m not sure it’s fair criticizing someone’s sorrow about deaths that occurred. Oh, this is IL politics-anything is game.–
I hope you’re blissful in your willful ignorance.
Try the google.
Maybe you can start with Rauner weepin’ and meetin’ with homeless youth, promisin’ to keep their shelters open, then havin’ a Superstar blow them off later.
Plenty of examples, if you choose to inform yourself.
What’s the matter with you. This dude was a misanthropic menace and still piled up $10 billion in unpaid bills.
Those are facts.
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 6:09 am:
==Men cry. Get over it.==
Grifters cry too. Get over it.
- Rabid - Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 8:33 am:
When someone tells you they cry, it’s part of their deception to trick you into thinking their human