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* UPDATED x1 * The Tribune’s long love affair with millionaires

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* During the 2002 Republican gubernatorial primary, the Chicago Tribune endorsed Corinne Wood.

In 2006, the Tribune endorsed Republican Ron Gidwitz for governor.

In 2010, the Tribune went with Andy McKenna in the GOP primary.

* Besides all losing their primaries, what else did those three have in common?

Well, all of them were millionaires who were the biggest self-funders in their respective races.

* And, today, Mother Tribune did it again…

We do appreciate comity. But we think Rauner would have a much easier time wielding a veto pen. A much easier time saying No to legislative leaders.

Of the four Republicans, Rauner best communicates to citizens the indelible fact that Illinois is broken. If nominated now, in November he would force voters to choose a future for this state:

If that future resembles the failed past, it will feature lawmakers of both parties battling openly over proposed marginal changes to the derelict status quo.

If that future takes this state in a new direction, it will embrace changes wrought by governors of neighboring states with balanced budgets, healthy pension funds and lower unemployment.

The best solution for all that now cripples Illinois would be a jobless rate of 6 percent or less, with more workers bringing home paychecks and contributing tax revenues.

Of the Republicans running for governor, Rauner is the change agent who could best begin to rescue Illinois.

Never mind that he very nearly derailed the Tribune’s much-beloved pension reform bill by coming out forcefully against it. Never mind that he has dismissed the Tribune’s near to the heart workers’ comp reform as basically worthless.

Nope. They just love his style, even as they continue to bash candidates for doing just what Rauner did, opposing pension reform and workers’ comp reform.

*** UPDATE *** They endorsed Tom Cross for treasurer, but it was a tough call because of - guess what? - pension reform…

To our mind, Cross made a bad vote based on political considerations. He damaged his credibility. More damaging, he undermined the efforts of his successor, House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, to pass the bill. […]

Our endorsement goes to Cross. We wish it came with more enthusiasm.

Rauner did more to undermine that pension reform vote than Cross, but his opposition was not even mentioned.

Sheesh.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 9:56 am

Comments

This will be the first time in my life that I agree with the Tribune.

Illinois needs a massive change and even though Rauner is not a perfect candidate he is better than Governor Goofy

Comment by Cassidy Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 9:59 am
Don’t read the Trib anymore, long ago sold out to right wing special interests. But thanks for the reinforcement of my opinion.

Comment by Pensioner Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 9:59 am
Rescue Illinois? From what? Paying government employees good pensions?

What a 1% view of the world that the primary problem facing the US economy is that workers get paid too much.

Clueless.

Comment by Carl Nyberg Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:00 am
What a shame that the Trib. endorsement has become more of a kiss of death than a positive asset. But in this case, Rauner will win the GOP primary regardless of the Trib.’s endorsement, and solely on the strength of his personal spending, which has already eclipsed Wood, Gidwitz and McKenna. No one cares what that paper thinks anymore. Sad.

Comment by Whatever Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:01 am
Bruce Rauner has the money, ethics and business savvy necessary to do for Illinois what Sam Zell did for the Tribune.

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:03 am
I wish we could force all candidates and editorial boards to file their proposed budgets before the election and see how they would get to higher employment. How they would reconcile firing thousands of teachers and health care providers through their increased spending cuts would be a useful civic exercise.

Comment by Dan Johnson Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:03 am
What Illinois needs rescue from is corporate media that mixes the banal with propaganda for the economic system that empowers the elites.

Comment by Carl Nyberg Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:04 am
Shocked? No, thought the endorsementment was coming for months.

Comment by Nearly Normal Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:04 am
They’ve convinced me.

All hail thine oligarchs!

Comment by Mittuns Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:04 am
The Tribbies have long been in hock to the super rich..remember their drooling every scheme concocted by utilities, ignoring banking scandals and of course who can forget turning over coverage of the home mortgage fraud scandals to real estate writers.
THe big question is why they waited so long? Perhaps they wanted to see if anyone turned up more Rauner biz scandals — as if killing Grandma, Massive Accounting Fraud and Stu Levine head of marketing — is not enough.
Guess they think the coast is clear…hmmmm
Meanwhile let’s be sure Tribbie endorsements are not all that useful given the total inconsistency of their previous work.
Enjoy it while you can Mitt.

Comment by CicrcularFiringSquad Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:04 am
“enorsement”

Comment by Nearly Normal Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:05 am
Grandmas and grandpas clip out their Trib endorsement list to take with them into the voting booth. As an election judge I’ve seen it thousands of times. These stupid, bought Trib endorsements do matter.

Comment by IbendahlLuvsJBT Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:05 am
All hat with no cattle.

(The Trib and Rauner both)

Comment by Frenchie Mendoza Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:05 am
Sorry, can’t spell worth a darn this morning. Need another cup of coffee.

Comment by Nearly Normal Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:06 am
“Of the four Republicans, Rauner best communicates to citizens the indelible fact that Illinois is broken”

What is not mentioned here is that he is one of the reasons the state is broken.”

Comment by AFSCME Steward Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:07 am
===Need another cup of coffee. ===

Me too.

What a morning I’ve had.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:08 am
With that record, a lot of you Rauner haters should be pretty happy about the Trib’s endorsement of his candidacy.

Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:08 am
I have a question, maybe Rich will be putting it up right before the Primary.

If not Rauner - who do you support and who is your second choice?

I would find it hard to believe that Dillard supporters would want a repeat of 2010 with Brady.

Just wondering.

Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:10 am
Bruce Rauner: Hey, Bruce. Here’s my draft endorsement.

Bruce Dold: Thanks, Bruce. We’ll publish it after our debate. Does that work for you?

Bruce Rauner: Yep. Thanks, Bruce.

Bruce Dold: BTW, do you have a headline?

Bruce Rauner: Mike will give you a call.

Comment by King Louis XVI Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:10 am
Well Rauner will get my vote simply for being a new face in this states politics, is this guy perfect? Absolutely not, but neither have been any of the previous politicians, I simply can’t vote for career politicians who from both sides of the aisle have contributed to this state’s mess.

Comment by bloval22 Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:10 am
Agree with the Trib on Rauner, the Cross endorsement, not so much.

Comment by MissSmartyPants Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:10 am
Does Brucey know how much a gallon of milk costs?

Comment by IbendahlLuvsJBT Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:10 am
Re: Cross criticism by the Tribune. A foolish consistency is the hobgobblin of little minds (ie. not BIG Tribune sophisticated brains). Surprise — a Tribune double-standard that protects the rich like Rauner.

Comment by Whatever Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:11 am
I don’t get this line: “But we think Rauner would have a much easier time wielding a veto pen.”

Did they miss the part about the Democrats having super majorities in both chambers? I know they could lose it in the House and Senate in the upcoming election, but if the status quo holds in the General Assembly, what good is Rauner’s veto pen?

Comment by From the 'Dale to HP Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:12 am
“Shocked? No, thought the endorsementment was coming for months.”

Same here. I suspected it was not enough for the Trib to get its version of very tough pension reform–tough because it was difficult to pass over the last few years.

For the Trib, what’s not to like about Rauner? Have a business problem, just try to bankrupt out.

Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:14 am
What is President Reagan once said? Someone who agrees with me 80% of the time is my friend, not my enemy.

If you just look at which GOP candidate is more likely to grow business and come to a solution on the pension crisis, it has to be Rauner.

Rutherford and Brady showed us what leadership they can provide in pension and business regulation reform (pretty much nothing), and Dillard is in the unions pocket.

Rauners a smart guy. Smart enough not to give ammo to opponents. He’ll be able to work well with MJM and Rahm.

I expect that the final pension resolution will be a combination of cost shifting of new employee pensions, and benefit determination, to local schools and municipalities. Pension benefits and costs SHOULD be the responsibility of those that set the salary schedules and “end of career” bloating. MJM wants that, and I think Rauner will come around there too.

He’s actually taking a page from MJMs playbook. When has he EVER said what he was going to prior to an election being decided? It sure didn’t happen during the 67% tax increase midnite raid.

Comment by Arizona Bob Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:14 am
===How they would reconcile firing thousands of teachers and health care providers through their increased spending cuts would be a useful civic exercise.===

Easy, for profit charter schools and, ready for it, nursing homes.

Comment by Pensioner Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:16 am
Miss SmartyPants… Could not agree more.. No shock with Rauner… The credibility in my mind is with Cross… I guess back the status quo with one…And the new shaker upper for Gov? I can’t quite undersatnd at all… If they had gone Grogan based on experience… The Rauner would have been logical..None at all now…

Comment by Walter Mitty Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:17 am
Rich thanks for reminding us the demise of the Tribune has been happening since 2002. But these endorsements this year, pretty much takes the cake.

Comment by Almost the Weekend Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:17 am
Attended the debate at Illinois Benedictine (Rauner missing yet another debate. A straw poll taken determined, Rauner, as Governor, would be most likely to hide in the Blagojevich bathroom).

The Tribune endorsement was brought up. I prayed when asked, what about the Tribune endorsement, one of the gubernatorial candidates would blurt out…”Like his $18 watch, he probably bought the endorsement - and worth every penny of the $18 he spent.” Maybe one day we will see some printer’s ink on the fine Tribune endorsement track record with an accurate and succinct - “The Tribune regrets the error.”

Comment by anonymoose Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:18 am
Has anyone ever seen the movie meet John Doe? Love the ending!;)

Comment by William j Kelly Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:21 am
Haven’t bought a Trib in over 6 years: Not surprised they endorsed the 1%er. They will also endorse him in the fall, by then their circulation should be around 250K and dropping. Circular Firing Squad forgot one more item: How the Ivory Tower boys ran the Cubbies aground..GRRRR….

Comment by Not Rich Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:21 am
===Has anyone ever seen the movie meet John Doe? Love the ending!;)===
Good analogy, except in the end John Doe had scruples.

Comment by Pensioner Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:23 am
if Rich hadn’t put the Trib endorsement mention on here I never would have even saw it or probably heard about it. that’s how much influence the Trib has on me

Comment by PoolGuy Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:27 am
So the trib has endorsed Bruce Rauner. The endorsement piece does not articulate one policy position that Bruce Rauner supports. Fascinating.

I mean… it makes sense, considering that Rauner hasn’t articulated one specific policy position (well, except for lowering, or raising, or not, the min wage, and vetoing the marriage equality bill).

Comment by dave Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:30 am
Does Brucey know how much a gallon of milk costs?

No, but Oberweis does. Please choose another anacronym.

Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:32 am
Of the four Republicans, Rauner best communicates to citizens the indelible fact that Illinois is broken”

What is not mentioned here is that he is one of the reasons the state is broken.”=
AfSCAME Steward, what did Rauner do to make him one of the reason state is broken? I know, your a union guy, but blame the politicians who have been in charge and your union and membership who voted for them for years.

Comment by Downstater Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:32 am
The Tribbies are a lot of fun.

They are the longest-running Illinois establishment player — since 1847 — but it’s always the entrenched interests keeping everyone down.

I see that the terrible “tone” of the Illinois business environment didn’t prevent Rauner from becoming a billionaire here.

And I think it was Zell, not the Illinois business environment, that transformed the Trib from a 160-year-old profitable venture to bankrupt in the space of 20 months.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:32 am
The Tribune endorsements can be a very useful list for a person to carry with them to the ballot box. A good reminder of who NOT to vote for if they have the Tribune’s endorsement, but I’m afraid it’s too late to change the numbers for the Republican primary with Rauner.

Comment by For Whatever It's Worth Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:38 am
===What is President Reagan once said? Someone who agrees with me 80% of the time is my friend, not my enemy.===

Rauner is not a Reagan Rule Republican; Rauner is not any type of Republican. “Bruce Rauner is a Raunerite.

To the Post,

Corinne Wood to Bruce Rauner, to Tom Cross endorsement in the face and logic of Rauner….

The Tribune is not about Good Government of even the “best solutions”, the Trubune is about wallets, hypocrisy, ignoring truth in “Advertising” and selling out for their…their … Worse Self.

No surprised, even after less than 24 hours after “their” debate, they pick…the Wallet.

Lost respect for the “fighter of pension problem” @StatehouseChick. Look at her tweet about the endorsement. For someone who prides herself on knowledgeable ways of looking at things, she can’t be more “simple-minded”.

If The Onion had “endorsements” at least you would get to laugh WITH their hypocrisy. Just sayin’ lol.

The are consistent at the Trib, gotta give them that.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:39 am
Vanilla Man took my comment. All this proves is that the Trib has a record of endorsing candidates that are out of touch and ultimately prove to be un-electable. I’d forgotten about Corinne Wood. Yikes!

Comment by Nicky Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:41 am
It should be noted that the controlling interests of Tribune Co., Oak Tree Capital Management and JP Morgan Chase, are desperately trying to unload their newspaper properties.

Not any potential buyers on the Other 3’s D-2s. Farmer Bruce, on the other hand, has lots of the right kind of friends.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:42 am
Bruce Dold should pose with Rauner for another selfie. We could have a lot of fun with that in a caption contest.

Comment by Wensicia Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:44 am
===If you just look at which GOP candidate is more likely to grow business and come to a solution on the pension crisis, it has to be Rauner.===

Why is Rauner more likely to grow business? Sure he has the “capitalist background”, but do companies he invests in grow their workforce and expand production? Does he fund startups? Or are the companies he invests in turned into gutted husks that will be spun off once Bruce and his cronies have looted as much money as possible from them? Vulture capitalism won’t improve this state’s business climate.

Comment by CollegeStudent Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:46 am
===”Rauner best communicates to citizens the indelible fact that Illinois is broken.”===

That is some mission for the Tribune!

They, and that attitude make me sick. It is a damaging lie, that increases its own likelihood.

We have our problems. They have solutions, many of which are deliberately being worked thru. We have long-term challenges that will take long-term efforts by all of us to address them.

Site Selection magazine, for the professional corporate relocation manager, rated the greater Chicago area as the #1 metro area for business relocation in the United states. Number 1! Another publication rated Illinois as the third best state for hi-tech start-ups in 2013.

And both these ratings are based on actual businesses starting, growing and moving — not on the kind of perceptions the Tribune likes to create and communicate for political purposes.

“Illinois is broken” my rear end! Shame on them!

Comment by Walker Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:46 am
I have obtained the Tribune’s editorial board’s interview of Bruce:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_f_p0CgPeyA

Comment by Sangamo Sam Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:49 am
Illinois is only broken when you speak of certain populations in the state. If you’re talking about business handouts, tax exemptions, stadium building, in other words, things for the 1%-ers, well, then there’s plenty to go round.

Comment by AnonymousOne Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:50 am
About the inevitable Rauner win based on polling numbers….a part of me believes it will be much closer than people expect. Wondering if Rauner has really found and early voted the 25-34 year old age demographic who seem to have overwhelmingly joined his cause and answered the phone when “We Ask America” calls.

How do you not show up to a debate and win? The party faithful gathered, and braved the elements to do so. People who will vote. Voters who are active. Voters who will talk to neighbors. Community leaders at the debate.

Mr. Rauner and company, it was the last debate among the candidates and a “no-show” was disrespectful of the process on so many levels. I hear there is a gently used Bruce Rauner debate name placard available on e-bay. $18.00 OBO.

Comment by anonymoose Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:51 am
C’mon guys, maybe MotherTrib is trying to pick a winner. You couldn’t find one amongst the other 3 so why not go with the front runner? On the other hand, they may want to jinx Rauner - ever thought of that?

Comment by dupage dan Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:54 am
All great points Rich. Right on.

What about the elephant in the room, i.e. all the ad revenue Tribune Corp. is raking in from Rauner’s campaign? How can that not be a conflict of interest?

#paytopraise

Comment by too obvious Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:55 am
==Illinois is broken==

The Tribune is broken. Let my subscription expire years ago.

Comment by ppanda Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 10:58 am
===If that future takes this state in a new direction===

I love how the Trib admits it doesn’t know whether Rauner “will take this state in a new direction” or what any of the details of that new direction would be, but endorses him anyway. Heck, I’m convinced…that the Trib’s endorsements are a joke.

Comment by PublicServant Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 11:02 am
===I know, your a union guy, but blame the politicians who have been in charge and your union and membership who voted for them for years.===

Much damage done under republican leadership not endorsed by unions. Please stop scapegoating.

Comment by Pensioner Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 11:11 am
I absolutely love the “history lesson” Rich gave;

The idea that Rauner and the Rauner endorsement is solely based on today’s variables is not wholly true, and the backstory and history tied together and married in this single event of the Rauner endorsement should make very clear all the elements at play here with the result being - Rauner getting endorsed.

Love the perspective.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 11:13 am
word, I think your 10:42 post might be spot on. The real pandering here is to Big Money.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 11:13 am
===come to a solution on the pension crisis, it has to be Rauner.===
The ONLY solution to the pension “problem” is to fund it. Get used to that concept.

Comment by Pensioner Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 11:13 am
Arizona Bob

“Rauners a smart guy. Smart enough not to give ammo to opponents”

Really ???? He’s demonized 25% of the GOP voters with his union hating, and he’s written off most of the disillusioned Dem base who are fed up with Quinn. He’s ahead now because his opponents have been invisible. When he has serious competition, and can’t define himself anymore, things will change. I find it really amazing that all of a sudden longtime GOP leaders really aren’t Republicans. They’ve been shills for Quinn & the unions all long. I guess Thopmson, Ryan & Edgar all were Democrats. Tom Cross too. The gullability of the ILGOP voters is mystifying. Bruce Rauner something over & over, must be true. Doesn’t require any evidence. His word’s good enough for me. He’s gonna shake-up Springfield. How. I’ll tell you later. I have a plan. Tell you about that later. There probably are enough Raunerbots in Illinois for him to win the primary. But this is a blue state. He has already written off the union vote, which includes 25% of folks that normally vote GOP. Big money will be there to show he is not who he says he is. When he is no longer the only voice out there his support will quickly drop.

Comment by AFSCME Steward Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 11:16 am
Opposing the Madigan pension bill only matters in endorsements when editors decide it does.

If editors want a reason to not endorse a candidate, they use opposition to the pension bill. If editors want to endorse a candidate who opposes the bill, they don’t mention it.

Comment by Anon Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 11:18 am
That should read

Bruce Rauner saying something over & over, must be true. Doesn’t require any evidence. His word’s good enough for me.

Comment by AFSCME Steward Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 11:18 am
===Vulture capitalism won’t improve this state’s business climate.===
Hear, hear.

Comment by Pensioner Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 11:18 am
===Vulture capitalism won’t improve this state’s business climate.===

Trickle down young man, trickle down.

Comment by Samurai Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 11:23 am
“AfSCAME Steward, what did Rauner do to make him one of the reason state is broken? I know, your a union guy, but blame the politicians who have been in charge and your union and membership who voted for them for years.”

Do you pay attention to anything that’s out here ? How much money has Rauner made off Illinois pensions ? Maybe millions and millions ??? How did he get this business ? Stu Levine maybe ???? How did his daughter get into Peyton Prep ??? He is the ultimate insider. He is not the solution. This has nothing to do with member. Just for the record, I’ll say it once again, I am a Republican. I voted for Dillard in 2010, that was before I found out he’s really a Democrat & is a loyal Pat Quinn follower.

Comment by AFSCME Steward Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 11:23 am
Once again I can’t type. That should read:

This has nothing to do with being a union member

Comment by AFSCME Steward Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 11:24 am
exactly as expected. not a shred of thoughtful, workable policy in the endorsement.

“Even Rauner’s harshest critics don’t doubt his willingness to lower state government’s vast overhead and raise efficiency…” what baloney. lowest state employee headcount percapita is vast overhead? i guess we can cut our way to prosperity.

Comment by langhorne Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 11:33 am
I’m not at all surprised by the reaction to this on this blog this morning. I confirmed my support for Bruce Rauner here about a month ago after leaning toward one of the other 3 for months before that. I understand and even agree with several of the points brought up here. Having endured the names Raunerbot, Raunerite, Apologist, no ethics, no purity, et al. Those are just opinions I know. Here’s my thought on this endorsement: There is no greater disparity of choice between two candidates than Bruce Rauner and Pat Quinn. None of the other 3 are quite the opposite choice of Governor Quinn than Bruce Rauner is. The people will have a very clear choice if this is the matchup in November. Whatever you think of the rest of the endorsement fine. In this regard, the Tribune got it exactly right.

Comment by A guy... Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 11:45 am
- A Guy… -,

Using the Tribune to exuse your Raunerbot ways is priceless.

=== Whatever you think of the rest of the endorsement fine. In this regard, the Tribune got it exactly right.===

“Other than that Mrs. Lincoln…”

Did the get it “Right…Exactly Right” too? lol.

The dismissing of rest of the endorsement, because of the pure hypocrisy, is why you are voting against your better self, and no endorsement, apologizing, rationalizing, and just allowing someone with no ethics it morals be “your Guy” - A Guy… -, screams more about what you think is less than important in a person, them all the faux good a person… “Sells”.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 12:01 pm
Willie, all of my selves view all of your selves as being so jaded on this that you can’t possibly render an unbiased opinion on this anymore.

Comment by A guy... Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 12:09 pm
Voting for someone because he’s not the other guy should NEVER be excuse enough for a so-called major newspaper endorsement.

Comment by Wensicia Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 12:12 pm
A Guy

“None of the other 3 are quite the opposite choice of Governor Quinn than Bruce Rauner is”

Based on what ? Bruce Rauner says so, so it must be true. All 3 of his opponents are really Democrats, big time Quinn shills. Any evidence ? No. 1/3 of the GOP in the General Assembly are really fronts for the unions. Who are they ? Won’t say. I’m gonna shake up Springfield. How ? That’s for me to know and you to find out. Term limits, 8 years and your out. Ignore the fact that Rauner personaly contributed large sums of money to candidates that exceeded this policy. He was for the raise in the minimum wage before he was against it, or was it he was against it before he was for or, or maybe it should just stay the same. He claims his 3 opponents are really Democrats, but he has contributed large sums of money to Democrats & voted in the Dem primary. He is a great student of Joe McCarthy & Joe Goebels. He has repeated a no substance message over & over and people are believing it. I have a list of 1/3 of the GOP GA members that are really Democrats & in the union pockets. Believe him if you will. But he is a total fraud.

Comment by AFSCME Steward Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 12:13 pm
- A Guy… -,

I have been utterly consistent in my critiques going back to Plummer and Cross..,

You have been utterly apologetic, and depending on the subject, utterly Raunerbotish through and through.

You can’t refute, so you excuse for “Bruce Rauner”

There is only one Better Self. The fact that you think there ate more, reminds me that there are 2 Rauners. Thanks!

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 12:15 pm
- ASCME Stewart -,

Well said. Raunerbots forget facts appear no matter the excuses.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 12:18 pm
That’s a pretty clear pattern. So predictable.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 12:33 pm
From now on, they should just say “We endorse the rich one”

Comment by Formerly Known As... Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 12:35 pm
Arizona Bob - 10:14 “If you look at which GOP candidate is more likely to grow business and come to a solution on the pension crisis, it has to be Rauner.”
Revised: If you look at which GOP candidate is more like to grow business profits and come to a solution on the pension crisis by shifting current pensions to 401K’s to load the pockets of investment managers, it has to be Rauner.

Comment by For Whatever It's Worth Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 12:45 pm
The Trib endorsement of a career politician and attorney like Cross over a far more qualified CPA like Grogan made the Rauner endorsement come across like a very hollow “thump”. Makes me wonder if advertising revenue for their paper plays into the endorsement choice factor?

Comment by Frosty-The Snowman Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 12:52 pm
–Makes me wonder if advertising revenue for their paper plays into the endorsement choice factor?–

What advertising revenue?

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 12:58 pm
Nearly killed pension reform
Nursing homes
Stuart Levine
Pretends he doesn’t understand Common Core but proclaims to be an education reformer.

Great reasons to support this guy. Too bad for them that the Chicago Tribune doesn’t matter anymore.

Comment by Siriusly Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 1:07 pm
The democrats are handing the governorship to the republicans who are squandering the opportunity.

Comment by Liberty First Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 1:48 pm
Is this just a scam to spend cash for next years tax returns and grind an axe at the same time?

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 1:50 pm
Gosh, I’m so shocked.

Comment by Joan P. Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 2:15 pm
The Emperor of Ice Cream seems to be the lone exception to this pattern by the Tribbies.

Comment by Upon Further Review Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 2:38 pm
===Emperor of Ice Cream seems to be the lone exception===

Giddy spent more.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 2:39 pm
Rich, the love affair could also be with anyone running that is not a machine incumbent don’t you think? It just so happens that you need millions to run if you are not a cog of the machine….

Comment by allknowingmasterofracoondom Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 3:08 pm
=== could also be with anyone running that is not a machine incumbent ===

The GOP “machine” died with early retirement and George Ryan leaving office.

Also, too, the “regular” GOPs ain’t doing too well raising money this year, in case you hadn’t noticed.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 3:14 pm
I can hear the gnashing of the teeth right through my computer screen here…..fun.

Comment by allknowingmasterofracoondom Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 3:14 pm
Yes, I understand your point Rich on the $ raising, but I don’t agree that the machine is dead. Plenty of GA guys still cogging in the machine. It definitely changed with Georgie leaving but I believe it is still humming along quite nicely. AND because of that I am kinda enjoying watching those machine GOP’s squirm at the mere sight of Rauner.

Comment by allknowingmasterofracoondom Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 3:18 pm
If the GOP “Machine” still existed…

“Bruce Rauner” never would have been able to come in and “fool” everyone and run as “Bruce Rauner” has in this Primary, unchecked, and untouched.

That is why there is no “Machine” now.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 3:39 pm