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Rauner camp dismisses “pay-to-play” claim as partisan politics

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* The Tribune reports today that former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell put in a good word for Bruce Rauner’s investment company with state pension systems after Rauner contributed $300,000 to Rendell’s campaign…

“What happened is what I would do with anyone who gave me money,” said Rendell, who pointed out that he didn’t control pension officials. “I would say to the pension boards … I’d just say, ‘Listen, this is a company that I know is doing good things.’ I knew Bruce’s company was very successful. I said, ‘Take a look at them.’ And that was the best I could do.” […]

“I didn’t control the votes, but by opening up access it always helped. No question about it,” Rendell said. “But believe me, every hedge fund, every handler that invests money in the country has that same relationship.”

That’s not exactly pay to play, and Rendell didn’t ever say that Rauner asked for help or even mentioned it. But the Quinn campaign made the most of it today via press release…

Rauner Caught Red Handed Profiting From Pay-to-Play

Another Day, Another Pay-to-Play Scandal for Bruce Rauner

CHICAGO – The Chicago Tribune today confirmed a longstanding allegation: billionaire Bruce Rauner profited from pay-to-play when seeking business from the Pennsylvania State Employee Retirement System. Rauner - who was head of GTCR at the time - made massive campaign contributions of $300,000 to the future Governor of Pennsylvania’s 2002 campaign. Soon after, Rauner doubled his company’s business from the Pennsylvania pension system, amounting to a $4 million profit for his firm.

Senator Kirk Dillard had pushed for answers to the pay-to-play allegations in the Republican primary against Rauner. But it wasn’t until yesterday that the people of Illinois finally got an answer.

Up to now, Rauner had claimed that he never discussed pension business with Rendell, a point in direct contrast to what the former Governor of Pennsylvania told the Chicago Tribune in an interview yesterday.

“This is extremely disturbing,” said Quinn for Illinois Communications Director Brooke Anderson. “As Billionaire Bruce Rauner is running around Illinois railing against ‘Springfield’s pay-to-play culture,’ we have yet more proof of Rauner engaging in that exact behavior.

“One thing we know - this is how Bruce Rauner operates. When it comes to getting public pension business, it’s anything goes.

“This underlines why he and his firm GTCR should immediately refund all fees they collected from the Illinois Teachers’ Retirement System after deceiving the Board of Trustees.”

This is not the first time Rauner has been caught red handed engaging in pay-to-play to benefit himself.

In 2003, Rauner’s firm was awarded a deal worth $50 million from the Illinois Teachers’ Retirement System. Later, an investigation revealed that a company owned by Rauner’s firm was secretly paying $25,000 a month to a board member of that retirement system - Stuart Levine - who helped Rauner get the $50 million deal. And Rauner never disclosed that. That same board member, Levine, was later convicted for corruption.

Governor Quinn has called for Rauner to return the handsome fees his company was paid.

* The Rauner campaign’s response to the Tribune…

“After dining with Pat Quinn less than two months ago, Democrat Ed Rendell is now making wild accusations that fly in the face of reason and indisputable facts. Pennsylvania began investing in GTCR six years before he became governor and approved four separate investments prior to Rendell taking office,” Schrimpf said in an email.

“Bruce and Rendell never discussed pension business but did discuss Bruce’s passion for education reform in Chicago and the need for nationwide coordination of reform efforts,” Schrimpf said. “It’s clear that national Democrats are closing ranks around the worst governor in America and will say anything to try and save him. Pathetic.” […]

Asked whether Rauner had any idea when he made donations to Rendell that the Democrat would one day talk up GTCR to pension officials, Schrimpf said: “Let me be clear. Answer is no.”

Discuss.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 9:56 am

Comments

For those Democrats out there who beat up on Bruce Rauner consider this: he’s given more money to the Democrat party than most of you will in a lifetime. Who could doubt that he and his wife are progressives?

Comment by Steve Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 10:00 am
Looks like a lot of he said, she said.

Comment by Apacolypse Now Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 10:03 am
–Who could doubt that he and his wife are progressives? –

You can’t be serious. Besides lubricating the machine with donation dollars, can you point me to his long standing progressive track record?

Comment by iThink Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 10:05 am
democrats complaining about pay to play?….now i’ve seen everything.

Comment by ikeepsitreal Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 10:06 am
–.. Democrat Ed Rendell is now making wild accusations that fly in the face of reason and indisputable facts. –

Try the decaf, Schrimpf.

Rendell said after he got the money, he put in a good word for Rauner’s crew. Where’s the wild accusation?

That’s how that business works, everywhere. What flys “in the face of reason and indisputable facts” is that you’d have as believe that Rauner is some kind of pay-to-play virgin.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 10:06 am
Wow… Is PQ’s team trying to help Rauner win? If the facts are true that GTCR had 4 contracts before… What type of research are they doing? If this is true, it really makes PQ even more of a bumbler. As I listened to PQ say to the teacher debate for the audience to give back his fees, it sounded ridiculous to the group, but received the round of applause. By saying this to the state at large, many folks will say, the returns were what? GTCR should return those fees for the profits made by the funds… Who want’s that deal??? Crickets…

Comment by Walter Mitty Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 10:08 am
So Rauner now attacks the same Ed Rendell he used to praise and threw money at.

The more I learn about Rauner the more disgusted I get.

Comment by too obvious Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 10:10 am
iThink-

Heh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8vor-eahSQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMzblvIFmUY

Comment by Steve Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 10:11 am
Because everyone who give to Quinn does so out of the generic goodness of their heart not because they are looking for something….

Comment by OneMan Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 10:12 am
Let’s be clear;

All Schrimpf said is true about the history of the investment firm and it’s relationship with the state of Pennsylvania.

What Schrimpf fails to acknowledge is the small little comment by Rendell that really is at the heart of the Rauner Hypocrisy;

===“But believe me, every hedge fund, every handler that invests money in the country has that same relationship.”===

There it is.

For 6 years prior, and subsequently after Gov. Rendell became governor, Bruce Rauner is “no different” than ANY Insider… Any… Bruce Rauner is just like them.

No. Bruce Rauner IS an insider.

When either Rauner rails on Insiders corrupting Politicians, Bruce Rauner is one of those corruptors.

Period.

“They” played the game. “They” donated money for access. “They” donated to Democrats. “They” donated to Repunlicans.

You hear that Kass? Sounds like an “Insider Combine” situation, John?

The idea that the Rauners claim they are outsiders is laughable, blatantly false, and is hypocritical of calling out Unions, or the appointees of elected officials, some may even be “Career Politicians.”

That is the buried lede…

=== “But believe me, every hedge fund, every handler that invests money in the country has that same relationship.”===

The only “shaking up” Rauner did during these times, was the shaking of the Martini Mixers as Rauner met with career Politicians to drop off checks.

Great, now my Beer Can Chicken is overlooked…

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 10:12 am
Let’s see if we understand the context for this hard hitting reporting…..
“During a stop at the Tribune Editorial Board to push for increased construction spending, Rendell was also asked about the trip he made to Chicago in 2001 to meet with Rauner. Rendell was seeking financial support for his then-newly launched Democratic bid for Pennsylvania governor.”

The receiver of the loot has to stumble into a Tribie conference room and answer questions about the receive — Mitt? This means we will need to get Stu Levine a weekend pass to visit the Tribies? Yikes.

Did the Tribbies bother to check who Mitt/GTCR “supported” before Rendell started grabbing the checks.?

Next, lets check the details surrounding the demise of Zefer Corp, a Boston based internet co, that tossed 300 workers while Mitt sat on the board.

Hope Mr. Shrimp has an explanation for that one.

Comment by NoBody's Perfect Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 10:15 am
wink wink. nudge nudge. say no more. say no more.

–I’d just say, ‘Listen, this is a company that I know is doing good things.’ I knew Bruce’s company was very successful. I said, ‘Take a look at them.’ And that was the best I could do.”–

how did rendell know brucies firm was so good, if brucie didnt tell him? or did rendell follow pension issues so closely he knew their track record? or did he do hands on independent research after meeting such an impressive education reformer?

Comment by Langhorne Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 10:16 am
The thing that’s sickening to me, again, is that Rauner wants to take away defined pensions and slams “union bosses” after going out of his way to get pension business. That is very, very hypocritical.

We all can be and sometimes are hypcrites, I get that. But this kind of flaming hypocrisy, when coupled with scathing attacks on unions? It’s too much. The idea that this guy was seriously in the public pension business and then turning around and slamming the very people who fight for better pensions is just too much.

Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 10:22 am
===Because everyone who give to Quinn does so out of the generic goodness of their heart not because they are looking for something….===

- OneMan -, with respect,

Rauner is not about, “Well, they do it too…”

Rauner is about “Bringing back Illinois” and ” Shaking Up Springfield”

Your comment is the exact hypocrisy that the Rauner Crew hopes for, when they can’t get voters to be lemmings to the Dopey slogans.

They are asking you - OneMan - to vote against your better self, because, “Bruce is no different…” while …Selling…. “I’m bringing back Illinois, fundamentally changing …”

…changing nothing but hoping to fool voters for a Title.

Summer in D308, see you out there.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 10:24 am
The first comment by Steve says it all! Rauner republicans think that it’s all about the money not the principles. Steve, you might as well just come out and say you support pay to play politics!

Comment by William j Kelly Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 10:29 am
Rauner and Quinn issues aside, isn’t the most shocking part of this article that Ed Rendell kinda admits to taking some-what officials actions based on getting campaign cash? I hope he was either misquoted or really reckless with his choice of words. If not, all that is missing is a Stu Levine type figure to make this at Penn version of Blago

Comment by Red Ranger Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 10:32 am
So now Pat Quinn is against pay-to-play!? After he and his party have elevated it to a science!?
These poorly-researched attacks reveal a profound desperation. Quinn should go back to accusing Rauner of murdering Grandma!!

Comment by Formerpol Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 10:33 am
I’m planning on leaving the governors race blank-even though I’m a diehard Republican- when I vote this fall and this is a large part of why. To me Rauner is another combine hack and we’ve spent too much time in the political wilderness just to end up with a guy not much different than the ones who got us there in the first place.

I don’t really think the persuadable middle cares about these stories too much and democrats weren’t going to vote for him anyway so it’s republicans like me and conservatives who will really be affected by this and say let’s wait to 18 and get a sharp state senator or some other cat really ready to claw away at springfield.

Comment by shore Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 10:33 am
Sayeth Rich M.
===That’s not exactly pay to play, and Rendell didn’t ever say that Rauner asked for help or even mentioned it. But the Quinn campaign made the most of it today via press release….====

The Quinn Communications team gilded the lily more than a little too much with this one. If you leap this far, pretty soon nothing you write or say comes out looking too believable. This is a smidgen of news for them to work with and they “over-treated” it. Failing strategy.

Sort of teed up an opportunity for Schrimpf to make a strong denial and question the Gov’s integrity in the process. I just don’t understand how PQ can try to make any hay on the Pension Reform issue. Nobody is on his side in this one.

Interesting calculation: Maybe the fees for these investments could be compared to the return on the investment. Let the pension funds keep whichever amount is greater. You know, like they did.

Comment by A guy... Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 10:37 am
From nursing home deaths to RICO lawsuits to “bust out” schemes, we keep hearing about what Bruce Rauner didn’t do while making millions and millions of dollars with GTCR — just what the heck did he do there?

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM (@MisterJayEm) Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 10:41 am
Oh boy, I don’t even know where to start. Setting aside Fast Eddie’s shaky reputation and veracity (and why would the Tribbies run this with no apparent backup) let’s talk about GTCR and the State of PA Pension Fund.

Having invested a bit of OPM over the years, here’s how I see it.
Both the General Partners (GTCR) and Limited Partners (PA and similar public/private large investors) like to develop a core group of stable relationships. As long as the funds are making money, the LP’s will join the next fund almost (for lack of a better word) “automatically.” The GP has a stable source of funds going forward and the LP’s take less risk by switching GP’s constantly. (BTW, No one GP is ever more than a few percent of the pension fund’s private equity assets.)

The point is, Rauner likely knew in 2001 that GTCR would continue to receive funding from PA pensions if they made money, so the $$ to Rendell was not needed for that purpose-unless, of course, someone inferred the cash would be cut off.

Finally, Brooke, would you please give up the schtick about paying back the fees? No legal basis, ain’t gonna happen, and raises other questions you might not be ready to answer.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 10:55 am
I think Willy is on point.

Driving home the message that Rauner gave goo-gobs of money to Ed Rendell, the DNC, Al Gore and Bill Clinton is probably much more damaging to his November prospects than the accusations of pay-to-play. That seems much more appearance of impropriety than wrong-doing, unless some campaign finance or ethics law was broken in Pennsylvania.

I give Schrimpf a 3 out of 10 for his response.

If you are defending, you are losing; if it were me, every time Quinn questioned my ethics I would bring up the Neighborhood Recovery Initiative.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 10:58 am
I don’t think anyone would have blinked about this had it been a 2,000 donation instead of $200,000. When you give that kind of cash to someone who makes a recommendation on your behalf, it sure looks an awful lot like pay to play - Illinois style!

Comment by Chicago Cynic Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 11:00 am
As for the Conspiracy Theory, Schrimpf may have a point.

Rendell is co-chair of Building America’s Future. But so is Ray LaHood. So, why not send LaHood to the Tribune? Someone should have been smart enough to guess that Rauner was going to be part of the conversation.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 11:02 am
I guess Brucie’s argument will be that he was an Empty Suit before he ran for Governor, too.

Comment by PolPal56 Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 11:02 am
Ed Rendell has always seemed to me to be an above-table kind of guy, so his remarks sound entirely his own and complete. What he is describing is typical campaign support given to incumbents by companies doing business with the governments controlled by the incumbents.

This is why incumbents have such an incredible advantage over challengers. The monetary advantage given to incumbents through lobbyists helps keep their reelection rate at a consistently high 93% nationally. On average, lobbyists give incumbents over $500,000 more in campaign funding easily beating what challengers can collect. So what Rendell is discussing is typical politics between incumbents and lobbying businesses.

What Quinn’s campaign is trying to do with this information is be damn lazy in their reelection bid. It is easy to take a couple of facts and from there spend time and effort to put out some spinning rumors with no semblance to the truth. What the Governor needs is to begin telling us why he ought to win reelection - not why voters ought to be concerned about our future should Rauner win the election.

The more Quinn tries to spin this election into a referendum on his opponent, the farther behind he will fall in this race. Hoping that his political opponent flops on his own, or trying to spin crap into some kind of problem for his political opponent is completely ignoring his own political strengths as the incumbent governor.

Quinn cannot win this election by being a knock off of Rod Blagojevich against Judy Topinka in 2010.

Quinn staffers - get off your butts and get to work! This crap is crap!

Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 11:07 am
@Steve: So your position is that Rauner is a Progressive? Really?

People with money buy access, and attention through campaign contributions, if nothing else.

But that gives them a giant leg up in getting money back from the government/taxpayers.

Comment by Walker Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 11:23 am
(Sigh)

===What he is describing is typical campaign support given to incumbents by companies doing business with the governments controlled by the incumbents.===

So, is that “Shaking Up” or the “Bringing Back” of the hypocrisy? I get confused.

You can’t dismiss how one lives their life, and how they hope to portray it Carhartts and watches.

Both Rauners are Insiders, no matter how many “Exactly Right” Ads are run.

===What the Governor needs is to begin telling us why he ought to win reelection - not why voters ought to be concerned about our future should Rauner win the election.===

You have heard of the “lesser of two evils” strategy?

It’s all the rage. It’s only been around since last… forever.

===What the Governor needs is to begin telling us why he ought to win reelection - not why voters ought to be concerned about our future should Rauner win the election.===

The Primary never hit Rauner. Well, not until Unions got into the fray, and with a 6 week Ground Game, they got the negatives up, and cut 17 points off a margin, based on… Framing Rauner.

What you want, and what can work for Quinn, using the Primary Template, seem to be at odds…

The rest you are… selling… is trying to Frame Quinn. Funny, Rauner has enough monetary resources to Frame Quinn, so why worry about that? You are smartly worried about the a Framing of Rauner. Leads in races disappear with the Educating of Voters…including the “lesser of two evils.”

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 11:24 am
Fact that GTCR had was investing PA money for years before is a pretty big deal to this accusation. Really takes the sting out of the claim.

Comment by JSlim Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 11:24 am
I am kind of surprised because I heard about this in Crain’s a long time ago. I thought it was common knowledge. If you Google Rauner and Rendell, you find plenty of stories on this going back to 2012. I don’t think it would hurt most candidates. The pay for play business is part of what Rauner does for a living. That’s part of why he’s so tight with Rahm. The problem is that Rauner is presenting himself as shaking up Springfield and being an outsider. This flies in the face of that.

Comment by Confused Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 11:29 am
=== I’m planning on leaving the governors race blank-even though I’m a diehard Republican- when I vote this fall and this is a large part of why ===

What Shore said.

Comment by dupage dan Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 11:50 am
’”The pay for play business is part of what Rauner does for a living. That’s part of why he’s so tight with Rahm. The problem is that Rauner is presenting himself as shaking up Springfield and being an outsider. This flies in the face of that.” Confused - you are right on the money. I don’t even see anything really wrong with this - it’s how the real world works. What I can’t stand is Rauner’s hypocrisy. An Outsider? As Mr Brown would say “Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa… Time out Greenbay. Tell that to the tourists.”

Comment by Paddyrollingstone Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 11:52 am
===billionaire Bruce Rauner===

Brooke, you ought to change that to “insider Bruce Rauner.” That undercuts his message. Feel free to note how he used his insider’s status and connections to become a billionaire, but being a billionaire in and of itself, doesn’t do much for your campaign.

“Insider Bruce Rauner. Playing both sides for his own personal gain. He traded hundreds of thousands of dollars in political cash to Democrats and Republicans and got back tens of millions of our tax money. And now he wants to be our governor?”

etc. etc.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 11:54 am
modest investment share from the pension fund + $300,000 to the gove, and bingo, double your stake.

coinkydink

Comment by Langhorne Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 12:00 pm
- 47th Ward -,

Hope they listen to you.

The hypocrisy/insider card can be the most impactful, but you have to use it, and use it correctly.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 12:02 pm
VMan, I’m sure Quinn appreciates your well-meaning campaign advice.

But no challenger, ever, anywhere, has gotten a pass on their background and record.

Your obsession that Rauner should get one is bizarre.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 12:03 pm
Sorry, to add;

… but this Framing of Minimum Wage, breaking Unions, Right to Work zones seems to be the tact even MJM likes, given the attempts/successes of Millionaire Tax, new Voting trials, included.

The hypocrisy is the easier Frame, but changing to course of a steam liner out at sea if difficult “on a dime”

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 12:06 pm
Someone above said that Rauner is part of a newly defined combine. I don’t think that is correct.

The combine can be defined as a bunch of like-minded guys who work together for their common good. It is clear to me that Rauner only operates for himself. I think that is what he means by shaking up Springfield…you guys are all out and it is now just me.

The new slogan will be ” Where’s mine? And by that I mean “Where is only mine.”

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 12:14 pm
If someone gives me $300,000, their name would stay pretty favorable in my memory for a long time particularly if their name later came up for some project I needed done. Of course that is just being friendly, it could never be considered insider activity.

Comment by zatoichi Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 12:14 pm
Didn’t mean the above to be anonymous

Comment by Piblius Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 12:15 pm
Isn’t this a very similar scenario as how his daughter ended up Walter Payton High School? A pattern of pay to play may be emerging.

Comment by Jimmy Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 12:17 pm
===Isn’t this a very similar scenario as how his daughter ended up Walter Payton High School? A pattern of pay to play may be emerging.===

You mean the Denied Daughter, living and applying…and appealing the denial… then calling Arne Duncan… from Winnetka….Then the $250K …after?

Oh, that “Baloney” first, then lie to Bernie at the SJ-R, then “own”, kinda, then the Drivers Lincense thing, then the “do it again and again bad again”.

“Move along”

You mean that?

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 12:22 pm
According to Mitt’s official bio he was on the board of HomeBanc Corp. when they went bankrupt 900 tossed on the street. Feds looked at them for kickbacks to realtors and best of all they stiffed JP Morgan chase for $68 million.
Now we need to find a good product liability scam
to round out the resume.

Comment by CircularFiringSquad Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 12:24 pm
===You mean the Denied Daughter, living and applying…and appealing the denial… then calling Arne Duncan… from Winnetka….Then the $250K …after?===

You betcha, and you have to wonder why the Cook County State’s Attorney isn’t looking into the circumstances of that $250,000 transfer to Walter Payton HS?

Comment by Jimmy Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 12:28 pm
Jimmy - yes, there is a pattern of “pay to play.” Again, it’s how the world works. Rauner should stop pretending that it doesn’t.

Comment by Paddyrollingstone Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 12:38 pm
We are afraid Mitt and Mr. Shrimp will now creat a diversion by rolling out his “plan” which will the same set of lies GOPies have told since the days of Ogilvie..let stick with the sleazy biz deals and pay to play stuff

Comment by CircularFiringSquad Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 12:46 pm
===You betcha, and you have to wonder why the Cook County State’s Attorney isn’t looking into the circumstances of that $250,000 transfer to Walter Payton HS?===

Ok, here is where we part ways;

If CPS would like to release the “Clout List” and lay out the hypocrisy of Rauner and others, I am for that. School Districts “frown” on non-residence students taking up seats.

Unethical? Completely by Rauner.

Criminal? The alleged residency issue is breaking rules, but criminal? No(?). The $250K is part of the unethical behavior, creepy and sleazy, but I part ways with the calling of the Cook County State’s Attorney.

Honesty and Integrity, Ethics and Morals? Both Rauners lack those many times, but the Criminal, I will let you walk through that door.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 12:48 pm
===Criminal? The alleged residency issue is breaking rules, but criminal?===

I agree this is not criminal - or at least not worth pursuing by the authorities. The $250K payment for a government action (by the school’s principal) may be akin to JJJ and RB’s interaction for the Obama open Senate seat and may warrant an investigation.

Comment by Jimmy Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 12:56 pm
Quinn can win if he makes this about him.

Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 12:58 pm
That is no Rauner obsession.

Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 12:58 pm
Bruce seems to constantly be saying, “Listen to what I say, don’t watch what I do.”

For not being a Career Politician, he sure acts like one.

For not being an Insider, he sure acts like one.

So is he Bringing Back the Illinois of Mayor Daley Sr.?

And will he Shake Up Springfield or Shake it Down?

Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 1:08 pm
=== Rauner is about “Bringing back Illinois” and ” Shaking Up Springfield” ===

Voices of Blago keep echoing around the Rauner campaign.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 1:10 pm
===Quinn can win if he makes this about him.===

Really?

===- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 11:11 am:

…How has Pat Quinn done considering his many decades of public service specializing in taxes, revenues and bill paying? Unlike nearly any other Illinois governor, Pat Quinn should know Illinois fiscal issues, tax issues and revenue issues, like no other person ever elected before. He should be considered an absolute professional on these issues.

So how well has Pat Quinn done?===

So Quinn, according to you, has done nothing ONE day, and today Quinn can win making it about him?

It’s a nice day out. Fresh air does wonders…

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 1:11 pm
- Norseman -, all that is missing at times are the quotes from Robert Frost poems, and the “hunka, hunka, burnin’ love” for the voters…

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 1:19 pm
So Quinn, according to you, has done nothing ONE day, and today Quinn can win making it about him?

Yes he can! This is what is missing in his campaign. He needs both a pro-Quinn and an anti-Rauner approach. He and his minions have not presented Quinn in a way that favorably addresses voter hesitation.

Rauner is running to, “Shake up Illinois”
Quinn is running as, “I’m not Bruce Rauner”

Quinn needs to run on himself to run a better campaign.

Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 1:23 pm
Finally, you have continually assumed my positions in this campaign. So when I repeatedly ask what Quinn has done to deserve reelection - you keep assuming I am claiming he has done nothing.

Stop doing that. Stop assuming.

Sometimes you are so fascinated by your own postings, you don’t read anyone else’s. If you want to attack another poster - at least try to understand what they are trying to say. Or do the ’slinger thing - and ask, don’t attack.

It is the incumbent’s job to tell us why he ought to be reelected and how he or she has been successful during the term that is ending. I am telling the Quinnsters to approach this election as though it is a referendum to their man, and begin campaigning as though it is.

Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 1:31 pm
===This is what is missing in his campaign. He needs both a pro-Quinn and an anti-Rauner approach. He and his minions have not presented Quinn in a way that favorably addresses voter hesitation.===

What is missing so far is the complete unmasking of Bruce Rauner, the truth of the Fake “Bruce Rauner” and making this campaign about Quinn versus The Rauners; who is better for Illinois?

The “2″ and “Mr. Friday Fiasco” did not define Rauner. It took a 3rd party in that Primary to start defining Rauner.

Educating voters about your opponent, been going on forever and a day. Very sound strategy for Quinn, since the Primary race Rauner faced showed weaknesses for both Bruces.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 1:31 pm
===So when I repeatedly ask what Quinn has done to deserve reelection - you keep assuming I am claiming he has done nothing.===

You have stated many times this election is a “referendum on Pat Quinn” (Which it is 100% not a referendum, but a race between people, but I digress …) and reminding about the Failures of Quinn and how people are tired of the Status Quo and one party rule, and those failures…

So now, you are “helping” Quinn, because of all his successes?

Successes according to you? Should I forget the railing you enjoy on Quinn, as you now tell us that you feel his best strategy is a focus on successes, that you might not even believe in yourself?

Pick a lane.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 1:44 pm
===Sometimes you are so fascinated by your own postings, you don’t read anyone else’s.===

I’m fascinated by so many who say they “never read my Comments” seem to know everything my Comments are saying, lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 1:46 pm
Well,

So it Quinn accusing Rendall of engaging in pay to play then?

Comment by OneMan Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 2:01 pm
==I am telling the Quinnsters to approach this election as though it is a referendum to their man==

Except that it’s not. You keep saying this but it isn’t the least bit true except in your mind. A lot of us need Bruce Rauner to tell us what he is going to do. I’m not voting for Rauner simply because he isn’t Quinn. Give me a reason.

Comment by Demoralized Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 2:37 pm
–So it Quinn accusing Rendall of engaging in pay to play then?–

Rendell is being rather candid.

“What happened is what I would do with anyone who gave me money,” said Rendell, who pointed out that he didn’t control pension officials. “I would say to the pension boards … I’d just say, ‘Listen, this is a company that I know is doing good things…..’

““I didn’t control the votes, but by opening up access it always helped. No question about it,” Rendell said. “

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 2:45 pm
Pick a lane?
Since when have you ridden in the GOP one lately?
You’re freaking all over the road in that clown car you’re driving.

Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 3:09 pm
VMan, you’re having quite a debate with yourself. Any more of you joining in?

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 3:12 pm
===Pick a lane?
Since when have you ridden in the GOP one lately?
You’re freaking all over the road in that clown car you’re driving.===

Rauner is a Raunerite. He is not a Republican. I am a Republican, I know better.

Raunerite Rauner is the winner of the Republican Primary. That is as much Republican as Rauner gets.

Clown car? C’mon I only travel by pink raft…

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 3:19 pm
As time goes on I continue to be reminded ( by the actions of both candidates , along with their defenders and detractors comments here at cap Fax) that the citizens of this state will have one of these two win the election in November , but either way we will all be lose. Rauner is an outsider, except every business decision he has made relating to governments has helped make him wealthy have been via the typical pay to play methods that he decries. On the other hand, we have a lifetime political creature who’s start was as a patronage chief for Dan Walker who ,even though he has done a few good things over the years, has been a major disappointment in so many ways to so many taxpayers.

Whichever one wins ,it doesn’t matter- we the citizens still lose.

Of course there’s always a chance Rauner WILL release plans to fix what ails this state that make total sense, are fair to all citizens, and he can get this agenda passed by a house and senate that will most assuredly be majority Democratic.

But I won’t hold my breath waiting for that to happen…

Comment by Roadiepig Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 3:25 pm
hear, hear, Roadiepig. Quinn is right about Rauner, he’s a rich jerk. Rauner is right about Quinn, he’s an incompetent buffoon. Illinoisans are the losers in this. Leave it blank or vote for an “other” candidate, if they are able to beat our anti-democratic ballot access laws.

Comment by Jeff Trigg Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 3:43 pm