Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Not quite so egregious

Posted in:

Illinois

* From the DGA…

You’d think Republican Bruce Rauner would have this one down by now. After all, he already has had to face questions about outrageous neglect, abuse and deaths at nursing homes he owned. But there he was Monday, dodging accountability for actions related to a deadly chain of events at long-term care homes that he owned for people with disabilities.

When presented with the opportunity to be accountable for how he ran this business, he chose to blame his hand-picked managers. And when given the opportunity to be responsive to personal tragedies that occurred in his company, his conclusion was cold and calculating. Rauner said that this was simply a “bad investment.”

Oh, he may have tried to say the right things, claiming that “His heart went out” to the families of residents who were left to drown; children who died after being attacked by other residents; and mentally disabled people who were sexually assaulted by his employees. But once again, he takes no responsibility and he didn’t have anything to do with it, “They” did. The problem is, that “they” were his handpicked management team.

Watch the video from the Chicago Tribune, with complete transcript:

“It’s a failure, it’s tragic, it’s very upsetting and I feel horrible about it, The reality is the management team at that particular company that we invested in failed to serve the residents in a quality way. They failed the residents, they failed the staff, they failed the investors in the company.”

“All I could say is I wish we were perfect, I wish we always picked the right management team that always did the right thing and accomplished the right results…That management team failed. It was a bad investment for us.”

“We’re not perfect. What we are proud of is our track record. We’ve generally backed great management teams, we’ve invested in companies that did the right thing, got great results.”

Here’s the bottom line - when answering questions about a horrific streak of abuses that led to deaths, Rauner worries out loud about the poor investors rather the quality of care for the vulnerable. Rauner’s business model and profit-driven values may allow for this type of financial calculation at the expense of others, but Illinois shouldn’t.

* OK, that wasn’t a “complete transcript.” The DGA conveniently left off the beginning of Rauner’s comments…

“It’s a tragic situation, what’s occurred with some of the residents that were served by that company. My heart goes out to the families impacted.”

* Paul Vallas’ quote was better…

“Mr. Rauner is in the business of creating profit by squeezing companies by cutting expenses so he can sell those companies at a higher cost,” Vallas said. “Now that might be okay if you’re talking about shopping malls or maybe construction companies…but is it okay when you’re talking about nursing homes?”

And…

“This is the latest on a series of revelations about problems that he’s had with businesses and businesses that he’s invested in,” Vallas said of Rauner. “Either you’re a successful man who takes responsibilities or you’re a successful profiteer who ignores responsibilities.”

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 11:20 am

Comments

And the downward spiral of this campaign season continues.

Neither side has much positive to offer, so it’s a race to the bottom. Enjoy.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 11:22 am
Vallas made the DGA Dopiness look rank amateur.

Vallas gets the prism, others are looking through it with red meat fervor that will fall flat in the long view.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 11:24 am
And I assume that DGA will hold Quinn to the same account for the deaths and injuries occurring at Illinois facilities, prisons, etc.?

Comment by 4 percent Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 11:34 am
Vallas gets it. The DGA response was a phone-it-in from a Washington hack.

The Quinn crew might want to pay attention to Vallas. It’s not just that your opponent is rich, but he’s getting rich off of Medicare and Medicaid and coming up tragically short in quality of care provided.

You might want to take a few swings at that beach ball down Broadway.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 11:36 am
- 4 percent -,

The memo from Rauner HQ is hitting the emails. Changing the focus is a Career Politician move.

Try better.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 11:37 am
“It’s a tragic situation, what’s occurred with some of the residents that were served by that company. My heart goes out to the families impacted.”

How could Rauner not have known about the rampant abysmal conditions, illnesses and deaths in the nursing homes and long-term care homes?

His heart now goes out to the families, but it’s legitimate to ask a person who claims to be hands-on and a great business success where his heart was when these problems were occuring. This is relevant especially if Rauner’s companies tried to evade financial liability through corporate ownership schemes, as some plaintiffs have alleged.

Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 11:39 am
Pat Quinn would do the people of Illinois a great service if he would allow Paul Vallas to run in his stead, if that’s even possible at this point.

Comment by lake county democrat Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 11:41 am
== And I assume that DGA will hold Quinn to the same account for the deaths and injuries occurring at Illinois facilities, prisons, etc.? ==

One should think so, if they are to be consistent.

Matters of life and death are too serious for double standards. Either both are indirectly responsible or neither are. Families of victims in both the public and private sector are likely to tell you they are both culpable.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 11:42 am
Leave it up to Vallas to make sense out of this mess so that the average Joe understand it. And, yes he’s right on the money. This campaign is turning into from Rauner’s “I see nothing, nothing” to Quinn’s Oops. This would be laughable if the stakes weren’t so high and the consequences weren’t so damaging if either one of these clowns wins. God help us.

Comment by Ginhouse Tommy Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 11:43 am
Can Paul Vallas be our governor? Please?!

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 11:44 am
In addition to, “My heart goes out to the families impacted,” Rauner might have added, “And my lawyers will continue to fight them tooth and nail to avoid paying damages.”

Comment by OldSmoky2 Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 11:44 am
The Illinois Republican Party better replace rauner on the ballot soon or the whole 2014 ticket could be dragged down!

Comment by William j Kelly Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 11:45 am
==Neither side has much positive to offer, so it’s a race to the bottom. Enjoy. ==

That’s the story in a nutshell. The negatives are just so, well, negative. There is nothing bad you can tell me about Rauner that will surprise me. But is he worse than four more years of Quinn?

Comment by Excessively Rabid Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 11:59 am
I hear team oberweis is nervous rauner will ruin his chances victory in November.

Comment by William j Kelly Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 12:05 pm
We continue to find out just how Rauner runs his companies. He has stated he wants to run Illinois like he runs his businesses (”I’ve been successful at everything I have done” ,paraphrasing what he said last month?).

Still not sure how he will be able to squeeze a profit out of running government, nor who he will be able to sell the future profitable state to ( Indiana maybe? Or to another venture capitalist?)

Between know nothing about government grants Quinn and no nothing about the manager running my businesses Rauner we are in deep trouble for the next 4+ years either way

Comment by Roadiepig Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 12:06 pm
So do we vote for the public service oriented, but bumbling, goof, who has actually detailed where he stands on some substantive issues, but only after he gets the vote out (to help himself get elected)?

Or should we vote for the guy who doesn’t think it’s necessary to tell us where he stands except to say, I’ll shake things up, if elected, and has shown not one ounce of public-spiritedness in his life, and has stated that its not his problem when something goes wrong?

That’s why its close…

Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 12:07 pm
Public servant, in that scenario, the profiteer loses.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 12:27 pm
Fairly pathetic response from Mitt — again. Wonder if Mr. Shrimp could establish some ground rules? Does Mitt take responsibility if he was on the board? Hand picked board members? Just clipped the coupons? Does he take any blame by sleazy investments by other Wall Street hustlers when he sat on the hustlers’ boards? For instance when he sits on Prospect Partners and they own one of these predatory private colleges can a IL voters study this to see how he will really handle higher ed as Governor?

BTW ya gotta love how biz writers smooth talk biz crimes…yesterday Citi admitted to stealing $7 billion in subprime predatory loans and scams on pension funds…a Sun Timeser scribbles…”The national settlement stems from the bank’s marketing and sale of securities made up of subprime mortgages, which fueled the boom and bust that triggered the Great Recession in 2007.

In Illinois, the settlement includes $40 million in as-yet-unspecified consumer relief as well as money for blight reduction. An independent monitor will be appointed to oversee the relief distribution.

Citigroup also will pay $44 million to the Illinois Teachers Retirement System, the State Universities Retirement System, and the Illinois State Board of Investment, which oversees the State Employees’ Retirement System, General Assembly Retirement System and Judges’ Retirement System.”

Comment by CircularFiringSquad Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 12:37 pm
Balance in coverage would demand that Quinn be held to account for tragic deaths resulting from state agency actions.

But there is a major difference. The head of a private equity firm that purchases a stake in a company does not have direct authority over the company’s operations. (If the career government hacks who defend Quinn knew anything about the private sector they may realize this.)

Quinn, however, is the governor of Illinois 24/7. His directors report directly to him. There is direct line authority that leads straight to the governor. But somehow, the cases of abuse, neglect and death in state facilities and among state wards don’t come home to roost with Quinn.

This whole line of attack is ludicrous. Rauner is no more culpable for every mistake made by some mid-level staff at a company GTCR invests in, than Quinn is to blame when a DCFS caseworker makes a mistake and a kid tragically dies.

But AGAIN, Quinn can’t let this go. He must change the subject and try to make Rauner poison to the electorate. If this election is about the condition of the state’s government and management, its finances and its future, Quinn is toast. He can only survive by changing the subject.

Comment by Adam Smith Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 12:38 pm
– The head of a private equity firm that purchases a stake in a company does not have direct authority over the company’s operations.–

Geez, on the day Rauner exhibits a modicum of responsibility for his businesses someone wants to let him off the hook.

There’s a wealth of information in the civil cases brought by individuals and state authority that show a clear business model of reducing expenses to increase profits. Something has to give.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 12:46 pm
===But there is a major difference. The head of a private equity firm that purchases a stake in a company does not have direct authority over the company’s operations.===

“I know nut- think. Nut-think!”

“I’ve been successful at everything I’ve ever done.” - Bruce Rauner.

“I want to run the state like a business.”

So, Rauner has always been successful, been hands-on, a leader, except when he’s not, and magically (maybe Slip and Sue was chosen for her magic powers here) Rauner knows nothing and is never responsible for anything bad in his companies… ever?

Rauner is asking voters to support him because he is successful in business, excuse me, been successful in everything, so Rauner is asking the voters to look at his business “successes”. Rauner is running on it, it’s fair game.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 12:47 pm
Adam Smith:
If Rauner were to run the state “like a “bidness” like he has his own bidnesses, that there would be scary.

Comment by Larry the Cable Guy Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 1:00 pm
William J. Kelly, that Obie line cracked me up. I hope it was snark, because if so, it was extremely well done.

Comment by Jimbo Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 1:17 pm
Yellow Dog, so which one is that? Quinn ostensibly profited from the get out the vote NPI program, while Rauner certainly profited from his enterprises, for which he accepts no personal responsibility.

So do we accept a little skimming from someone, who although inefficiently, seems to have a history of helping the public overall, and is willing to stick his neck out and take a stand on some unpopular issues? Or do we vote in someone, who won’t tell us where he’ll stand on issues of public policy, has indicated that people that have died due to negligence at for-profit entities that he owns is not his problem, and has never shown any use for government except to enrich himself?

Decisions, decisions…

Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 1:23 pm
A sad situation and a big problem with a simple solution..own it. If you want to be the top dog you have to realize that you are accountable for the actions of everyone that falls under your command whether it be direct or indirect. That is the nature of leadership and gets more difficult as the scope increases. That guy working as a mid-level manager in the DOT screws up, guess what? Yup, you own that. A simple response can de-fang the entire issue…”my handpick management team failed to meet my expectations for the care of the folks entrusted in our care. These are our most vulnerable citizens and demand a high level of care and concern. We have addressed the issue by making the needed changes at the company to ensure this never happens again. Our hearts go out to those who have suffered.” Lawyers will tell you that this strengthens the lawsuits but this is how a real leader accepts responsibility and fixes the problem while being empathetic and responsible to his investors/partners. That is the leader I am looking for.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 1:32 pm
==…there he was…dodging accountability for actions…residents who were left to drown; children who died after being attacked by other residents; and mentally disabled people who were sexually assaulted by his employees…==

And the Owner Rauner’s explanation: “It’s a failure, it’s tragic….” And yet the candidate has the auDACity to, just seconds later, then BOAST about–Rauner, the Very OWNER/FINANCIER of these blatant, outright TRAVESTIES against innocent American children, not to mention against America’s most VULnerable human beings among us–the MENTALLY DISABLED–BOAST out loud almost in the very same sentence that “what we’re proud of is our track record.”

He is just kidding, right?!

Sorry Bruce: but those horrible, repulsive TRAGEDIES–under YOUR WATCH as OWNER/FINANCIER of these Businesses, which you unwittingly tried to minimize–ARE an undeniable and atrocious part OF YOUR “track record” of how you do Business.

To borrow Rauner’s own words in describing what sickeningly happened to these innocent folks :”FAILURE.” Kind of speak Volumes, doesn’t it?

AND overlooks that a lot of Illinoisans probably wouldn’t want Rauner to run our Home State–under these repeated, fine examples of the Raunerian Business Model, for this approach in hiring/keeping on/trusting such upstanding Rauner Business Managers, to result not only in as he acknowledges-”failure”-but abject human misery, tragedy, and, indeed–DEATH itself…!

The fact is that Rauner IS ultimately responsible for, and must be held accountable for, these ongoing ATROCITIES in HIS Businesses–no matter HOW much he tries to blame others for them…!!!

Comment by Just The Way It Is One Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 1:35 pm
Jimbo, it is all too real! Topinka and Oberwise are both distancing themselves from rauner and are hoping someone or something will force rauner out before the ballots are printed! Stay tuned!

Comment by William j Kelly Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 1:46 pm
Adam, I note that your premise is hedged, so to speak, so I won’t disagree with you completely. However, very few PE firms “take a stake”, or minority interest, in a company unless they are working with other firms or planning to buy controlling interest at a later date.
A PE firm like GTCR, Madison Dearborn, or any other can’t execute strategies like consolidations, management and Board changes, etc. without owning and voting control.
The only exculpatory thing I can say here is that the two GTCR principals on the board of that company may or may not have been keeping Rauner up to speed on stuff hitting the fan at that firm.
Also important to remember that GTCR split up early 2000s. Cressey (named in the Trib) and a fellow named Bryan Thoma ( the TC in GTCR) left to start Thoma Cressey Partners. Rauner kept the GTCR name. Wondering if that had anything to do with the oversight issues coming to light.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 1:55 pm
Just the Way — We appreciate your passion, but this is like trying to read a ransom note cut out of newspaper and magazine lettering…

Comment by Soccermom Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 2:01 pm
- wjk -,

Oberweis has fully adopted the Rauner talking points, verbatim. To say Oberweis is backing away is Dopey.

You just need to listen to Overweis to hear Rauner’s words and phrases parroted back with a federal spin.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 2:05 pm
I didn’t say Oberwise was distancing himself from Rauner’s talking points, I said he was distancing himself from rauner. Btw, another Illinois republican elected official is trying to tactfully disinvite rauner from his fundraiser in Chicago Wednesday night.

Comment by William j Kelly Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 2:15 pm
Yeah his “heart goes out” only now that he’s called out on it when he’s trying to become governor.

But Rauner did nothing for these victims while they suffered. He was happy just milking the cash and getting richer.

What part of Rauner formed, owned and controlled these companies don’t some people understand? He wasn’t just some “investor” like he tries to maintain.

Comment by too obvious Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 2:16 pm
Perspective?

===- wordslinger - Tuesday, Mar 25, 14 @ 2:11 pm: ===

Well done…From that comment in its entirety;

=== –Bulletin to all of you Jim Edgar admirers: He was never very popular in Chicago or the Suburbs. Never.–=

What a strange thing to say. You need to take a nap or a pill or something.

Edgar was the last Republican statewide candidate to win 50% of the vote in Cook County. 52% of the vote in 1994.

Also, Edgar vote in 1994:

DuPage: 79%

Kane: 75%

Lake: 74%

McHenry: 76%

Seems kind of popular.

http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/ ===

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 2:21 pm
Apologies.

Stupid phone.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 2:24 pm
“The head of a private equity firm that purchases a stake in a company does not have direct authority over the company’s operations” So to translate: He isn’t running the company, he’s buying and selling it like a commodity. (Snark) So that’s how he’s intending to run the State?(End snark)

Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 2:34 pm
===didn’t say Oberwise was distancing himself from Rauner’s talking points, I said he was distancing himself from rauner.===

I am done feeding you. There is enough rattling around in your lil world to keep chasing those balls of yarn.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 2:35 pm
Too obvious, unless you already have made up your mind and/or don’t know anything about private equity investing (or all of the above) yes it is possible for Rauner not to have known what was going on. He was running a firm that was simultaneously operating over 100 going concerns, raising capital almost nonstop, and rebuilding or readying for sale a group of those companies, all with a “head count” below the Treasurer’s intern corps. What frustrates me is his steadfast refusal to do more than give us Sgt. Schultz, even though I think I know why is doing so.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 2:40 pm
==Topinka…distancing…from Rauner==

There does appear to be something to this more and more recently repeated report…ever notice how often JBT seems to hang out more with/concur with the views of Pat Quinn at recent major and germane events in Illinois, like very recently, too (with a MILLION other Illinoisans), at the the Gay Pride Parade, Animal Rights’ Bill-signings, Same Sex Marriage Bill-Signing Ceremony, Clean/Healthy Environmental Issues, etc.–events which Rauner avoids like the Plague…!

The Keep your Distance-From Issue between Judy B-T and Rauner does look like it’s for real, indeed, although Sen. Oberweis keeping him away with the proverbial “10 Foot Pole” due perhaps to an expectation that all of Rauner’s heap of legal/other shortcomings/denials may ultimately result in him pulling out of the Race, or going down in flames, is more akin to new news from what’s been out there…! Yet I’m sure that’ll be a Story for many of Illinois fine Media Corps to follow-up upon (if they haven’t been trackin’ it all down already).

Comment by Just The Way It Is One Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 2:43 pm
AA said “He was running a firm that was simultaneously operating over 100 going concerns…”

Boo hoo. There would be that and more as governor. If he juggles too many balls for him to handle and can’t ensure the safety of the elderly and the disabled, then he is incompetent as a private equity guy and sure as heck shouldn’t be governor.

The Rauner was too busy to know about the people dying in the homes he controlled line is a hoot. But someehow he always had time to gorge on the money they made for him.

I agree with the person who said this disgusting man should withdraw before he drags the entire GOP ticket down with him.

Comment by too obvious Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 3:18 pm
Did Rahm Emmanuel and Bill Daley take responsibility for the numerous deaths and mishaps at companies that their venture capital firms bought and invested in ? I don’t recall that they did. Illinois has had more deaths and problems under Quinn’s watch.

Comment by Taxandspendfolly Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 3:20 pm
Question: If everyone distances themselves from Oberweis, is it possible for Oberweis to distance himself from them?

I suppose it is, but the thought of Oberweis turning down friends is funny. Somebody ought to give that guy a hug.

Comment by Lil Squeezy Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 3:30 pm
===Did Rahm Emmanuel and Bill Daley take responsibility for the numerous deaths and mishaps at companies that their venture capital firms bought and invested in ?===

They are not running for governor. Thanks.

=== Illinois has had more deaths and problems under Quinn’s watch.===

Is that the shorter talking point? Drive bys are hard.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 3:35 pm
Sorry Adam Smith: Your statement about private equity firms not having significant managerial control, is overly broad.

Some do. Some don’t. Some hand-pick managers and board members, and constantly review operations; others take a more hands off approach. Some truly control the companies, others are mostly silent investors.

Rauner’s challenge is that he wants to sell the image of being a good leader and operating executive who wants to bring those skills to government — based on his experience with his own firm. Perhaps just succeeding at being the senior operating executive at GTCR itself, while being seen as separate from management of their owned companies, (if that’s what he actually did), will be sufficient to make that sale.

The transition of business skills into a new role in government is difficult and tricky.

Not all critics of Rauner must automatically lack significant business, entrepreneurial, and financial experience. More than a few writers on this blog have been successful primarily in business.

Comment by walker Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 3:52 pm
So he puts profits before people.

He won’t make a good government leader!

Comment by Enviros-Anon Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 4:52 pm
==Illinois has has more deaths under Quinn’s watch==

Nice, cheap troll shot there, taxandspendfolly…! Have you put your AK-47 down yet? Oh, and, by the way, do, pray tell, kindly enlighten the rest of us with your well-founded Media or Other Sources and Factual Basis…?

Comment by Just The Way It Is One Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 5:21 pm
Too obvious, take off the Quinnfoil(tm) hat and read my entire post. First of all, I offered that as a hypothetical, not fact. More importantly, I noted the firm, like most in the Midwest, don’t run heavily staffed.

By the way, can you document when, where, and how much Rauner “gorged” on the profits from these particular investments? A short rundown on your investment professional experience that qualifies you to comment in detail on PE firms generally, organizational philosophy, and portfolio management strategy. Thanks.
Absent that, we’re basically left with an “obvious” troll.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 5:41 pm
PS: very well stated, Mr. Walker.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 5:44 pm
== He won’t make a good government leader! ==

Are we talking about Quinn or Rauner in this sentence? While people suspect Rauner may be an ineffective governor, they know Quinn is an atrocious and ineffective governor.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 5:51 pm
AA, well stated on your part as well. Thanks to AA & Walker for bringing some sanity.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 5:53 pm
==I agree with the person who said this disgusting man should withdraw before he drags the entire GOP ticket down with him.==

This sentence coming from someone who thought Alan Keyes was the answer in 2004…

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 9:39 pm
LOL

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 9:43 pm
Alan Keyes was the answer.

The question was: “How can we take an unexpected and bad situation and inexplicably make it creepy strange and infinitely worse?”

Geez, that one’s still hard to believe.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 10:08 pm
Wasn’t Keyes “residence” a flop house too? That was pure genius too.

- wordslinger - thought you’d be watching the All-Star game…

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 10:18 pm
===thought you’d be watching the All-Star game===

Meh. When I played baseball back in the day, we always had a game on All Star night. I never once watched the game growing up. I was busy playing baseball. As a result, I can’t watch as an adult.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 10:46 pm
Rich,

It’s good background “noise”, plus it was Jeter’s last All-Star Game.

I didn’t want to bother your Bourbon by asking you, lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 10:50 pm
:)

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 10:51 pm
I moved on to “Hollywoodland” - Diane Lane, Ben Affleck, and Adrien Brody. Sneaky good.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 11:04 pm
Great, great flick.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 11:05 pm
PublicServant:

You can accuse Quinn of a lot, but so far “profiteering” isn’t one of them. If anything, it appears the Quinn administration was the victim of profiteers.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 11:12 pm
Now I need to pour a Balvenie Scotch watching the 1950’s L.A. Scene…

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 11:18 pm
Don’t like Scotch. Too smokey.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 11:34 pm
Haven’t been around Bourbon enough to know better or to know a good Bourbon. Got into Scotch by accident.

Hearing Bourbon always reminds me of the “North by Northwest” scene as Cary Grant is “given” bourbon.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 11:42 pm
Tried watching the home run derby last night and the game tonight. Couldn’t do it.

Thank heavens for TiVo lol.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Wednesday, Jul 16, 14 @ 12:23 am
“Gravity” here. Not a timeless classic, but a thriller.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Jul 16, 14 @ 12:47 am
team rauner dropped the ball over and over (undercover boss needs to be a resident)

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jul 16, 14 @ 6:10 am