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The bar is definitely not low

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Illinois

For the first time in more than a decade a Republican will sit as Governor serving with a Democratic Legislature.

Knox College Political Science instructor Jim Nowlan said it’s going to be rough for Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner.

“He’s created expectations I’m afraid he can’t fulfill,” Nowlan said. “It will be interesting to see how quickly people sour if they do, they may not. It’s going to be tough for him to fulfill the public’s expectations.”

Yep.

He’s said that he wants to cut income taxes, freeze property taxes, raise school and university spending, keep prisons open, make prisons safer, beef up IDNR, stop child deaths with a better DCFS, end patronage, and on and on and on and on. He has promised the moon, but all he may be able to deliver is an asteroid - let’s just hope it doesn’t crash into the governor’s mansion.

And then there are all of his evasions, to the point where people generally just add whatever they think should be done to his tabula rasa.

The bar is high. Very, very high.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 12:26 pm

Comments

===The bar is high. Very, very high.===

As Steve Schnorf and Rich Miller well know…

Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 12:31 pm
The question is how soon will the backpedaling begin. That’s when the families of closed DHS facilities and DOC prisons will find their hopes dashed once again.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 12:31 pm
Mayor Quinn. I like the sound of that.

Comment by Cheryl44 Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 12:33 pm
Everyone is giving Gov-elect Rauner a chance but he is going to have to produce some positive results in a reasonable amount of time. Excuses such is “I didn’t know how bad state finances were” just aren’t going to cut it.

Comment by Stones Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 12:34 pm
Campaigns are hard. Governing is difficult.

The first year might be spent explaining away why promise after promise aren’t possible.

The trick is not blaming the Dems, while working with Madigan and Cullerton to get what CAN be done, done.

The other trick will be explaining how the Green Button works to GOP lawmakers, while trying to protect them from really bad votes they will take.

LLs and Press Shop; critical to bringing that very high bar down low enough to be hurtled.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 12:36 pm
What your not running William j Kelly ? Seems like a strange comment from a guy who just blew open the caps, or did you for real?

Comment by Chicago outsider Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 12:36 pm
In some ways, Bruce Rauner and Barack Obama are similar candidates. Both promised the world to nearly everyone.

We know how hard the crash was as people realized President Obama was nowhere near the agent of hope and change he promised to be. Will the similar, metaphorical Rauner crash come with airbags for the Governor and his party of passengers? Will it result in a giant fireball? Or will they find a way to hold the car together and keep driving?

Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 12:40 pm
It will be interesting to see if these newspaper editorial boards hold Rauner accountable for his various claims.

Comment by Carl Nyberg Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 12:44 pm
Let’s not forget that he won’t have “social agenda” issues to use a diversion and a buddy in City Hall that needs big bucks from the state real bad…

I suspect that his suburban “base” may be a bit upset a year from now…

Comment by Tiffany Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 12:44 pm
Agreed. Rauner may have set himself up for failure with all of his talk. If he can’t deliver prepare for bad press. I am no genius, especially with the budget, but he proposals don’t make sense. Cut taxes, give more money to schools and state agencies but where’s the money coming from. His first budget proposal should be eye opening. I think someone should tell him and his people the honeymoons over. You’re no in Kansas anymore, if you know what i mean.

Comment by Ginhouse Tommy Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 12:45 pm
== Mayor Quinn. ==

Mayor Quimby?

As for expectations, ensuring the Quinn-Cullerton-Madigan budget is owned by Quinn-Cullerton-Madigan during the next few months is a good starting point. Make the mess he is inheriting clear, just as the President did. There are many applicable lessons to be learned from the wise members of that 2008-2009 team.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 12:46 pm
Rauner will get some slack from his voter base for a while and he needs to lower that bar by exposing the ugly truth as he finds it and be shown working hard to meet that challenge.

Give Illinois something to be proud of. Have him rebuild the Mansion. Use the Mansion as a symbol of the State and video record every improvement he makes on it. Use the Mansion and its improvements as symbols of what he is doing as governor.

In three years, invite everyone in the media to see the new glorious Illinois Governor Mansion. Show us its beauty. Entwine yourself into its refurbished and rebuilt history. Make it the societal events of the 2017-18 State Fair with an open house.

Doing that will win votes for 2018.

Be honest in your assessments to Illinoisans and to their elected representatives. Keep the snake oil on the shelves and be seen working against all odds.

Lower that bar, then exceed it.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 12:49 pm
=“It will be interesting to see how quickly people sour if they do=

And by people, I assume you mean Bruce Rauner? I think Mr. Rauner would be well served to look to other wealthy individuals who have come before him to seek and win elected office. Specifically, how did they adjust to life as a public servant, from that of corporate titan?

It won’t be easy to energize a lethargic, uninterested work-force that can’t be fired and who are constantly wondering: “is this guy going to tank my pension?”. How can they “buy-in” to your vision if they are looking for a “buy-out” to retirement?

Comment by Knome Sane Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 12:52 pm
I’m with “Formerly Known” on the Obama comparison. I thought of that during the campaign and it seemed so odd that the GOP would fall for the same baloney.
In the long run, we have to see where things will shake out. But, business people always look for a return on their investments and if I worked for the State, I’d be pondering a move to New Dehli or Phnom Penh where the state jobs will be outsourced.

Comment by Belle Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 12:57 pm
If you want to make big changes, don’t settle for small goals.

Comment by Anonymoiis Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 1:14 pm
For some of us, “exceeds expectations” should be a fairly easy grade to earn.

Comment by Anon. Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 1:17 pm
VM: “[Rauner] needs to lower that bar by exposing the ugly truth as he finds it and be shown working hard to meet that challenge.”

Yes, but when he does this he may also inadvertently toss Rahm under the bus.

Comment by Tiffany Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 1:35 pm
=== For some of us, “exceeds expectations” should be a fairly easy grade to earn. ===

Maybe, but that depends upon whether he’ll do what’s necessary or do what’s promised.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 1:42 pm
Belle - Great minds think alike? lol There are some very strong parallels between the two candidates, and it will be very interesting to see what sort of parallels may now develop on the ==governing== side of things.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 1:47 pm
When does the expectation management start? You know, things were worse than he expected, the state fiscal situation is dire, the prior administration left a worse mess than we expected, the Democrats failed recovery hurt Illinois more than anyone guessed, etc.

Comment by AC Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 1:55 pm
==Give Illinois something to be proud of. Have him rebuild the Mansion. ==

He might get points if he does it with his own money. If he uses state $$$ and is cutting programs elsewhere, his future would not be very bright.

Expectation management better begin soon. I am guessing that he hope the income tax will be made permanent before he takes office. That would make his job much easier. I don’t see why Quinn and the GA Dems would give him that kind of gift.

The bottom line is that the state is worse than broke and Rauner knows it. He used the typical campaign script and promised the world to all the voters. (This is not an Obama/Rauner thing; its what we have come to expect.) He cannot deliver increased spending AND tax cuts; in fact he will need to the opposite of both if he wants to balance the budget.

It ain’t gonna be easy, but it will allow Rich to continue to lead the life to which he has become accustomed.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 2:13 pm
And this guy knows, he’s from the College of Hard Knox.

Comment by A guy... Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 2:21 pm
Oh, I don’t know. People know the state is a financial wreck, they know there is a legislature and they know there are Madigan and Cullerton, public sector unions and such. I think the test will be whether he can deliver some parts of what he talked, and whether he is seen as fighting for his positions against substantial forces. The same voters re-elected a Democratic legislature, so they can’t be seeing Rauner-made miracles on the horizon.

Comment by Percival Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 2:27 pm
I’m waiting…just waiting to hear all varieties of excuses from the Raunerbots on this very blog. Rauner promised the electorate the moon, so he needs to deliver the moon! Words matter. If you win you have to govern, and successful governing means credibility, which means keeping your word and being worthy of trust. We’ll see. Given the mighty build-up the forthcoming excuses and apologists should not be tolerated.

Comment by Moonbreaker Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 2:36 pm
Let us not hear: “It’s all Madigan and Cullerton’s fault” (Rauner claimed he would Shake up Springfield — while pummelling the very people he knew he would need to constructively collaborate with); “It’s all the Dems fault” (he knew he would be working with a majority Dem Legislature from the opposing party — that excuse won’t work); “I just didn’t realize (”nobody realized”) just how bad the situation really was! You just can’t believe what I inherited! Who knew?!” I can hear it coming…wait for it…wait for it…!

Comment by Moonbreaker Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 2:49 pm
“In some ways, Bruce Rauner and Barack Obama are similar candidates. Both promised the world to nearly everyone.”

If, after an extended primary, general election campaign and more than two dozen debates, you still didn’t know what Barack Obama had in mind in 2008, that’s on you.

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 2:59 pm
Rauner has 2 big challenges. The budget and his executive role. Most of the discussion has been about the budget. But he’ll also face challenges as the State’s executive as some have mentioned. Unions, finding not 1 or 2 able executives (agency directors and executive staff) but dozens and dozens, State laws and regulations that slow down and up the cost of government, the list goes on and on. State government is large, full of different often conflicting missions, and can’t be run like a business.

Good luck with that.

Comment by Sir Reel Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 3:13 pm
== If, after an extended primary, general election campaign and more than two dozen debates, you still didn’t know what Barack Obama had in mind in 2008, that’s on you. ==

Fortunately, many of us here were likely savvy enough to have realized those things in advance.

Unfortunately, a vast many others were not and actually took him at his word during the campaign.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 3:41 pm
Gee give the guy a chance. Remember how giddy everyone was at the prospect of Blago’s first term?

Comment by Leave a Light on George Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 3:47 pm
Rauner will start with the usual, dishonest dodge, “I didnt know things were so bad. So forget everything I said during the campaign.”

What he will do as governor, who knows, but disabuse yourself of the notion that this guy was some CEO who knows how to run things.

He made his money as a hustler, a bust-out artist. He never gave one example during more than a year of campaigning of building or running anything.

Ugh, Emanuel and Rauner at the same time, a couple of narcissistic spin-doctors whose only objectives are stroking their own egos.

Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 3:47 pm
Vanilla Man hit the nail on the head. Lower the bar and then exceed it to the delight of the citizens and voters. Look for Rauner to express shock and dismay at the financial picture and discuss how there were so many surprises. Gives him some time. Remember, Rauner will be in charge of all the agencies and departments. Lots of skeletons in those, also. Remember, Rauner is a bright guy, with some excellent people around him.

Comment by Apocalypse Now Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 3:52 pm
“I didnt know things were so bad. So forget everything I said during the campaign.”

Sounds like a certain presidential candidate who was nominated in 2008.

Comment by Under Further Review Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 3:53 pm
=== Ugh, Emanuel and Rauner at the same time, a couple of narcissistic spin-doctors whose only objectives are stroking their own egos. ===

So what gives? Rich, why *do* we have to give Chip Englander and his ilk props for bringing these hustlers into positions of authority in our state?

Comment by Taller Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 3:55 pm
“I didnt know things were so bad. So forget everything I said during the campaign.”

Sounds like a certain presidential candidate who was nominated in 2008.

“September and October of 2008 was the worst financial crisis in global history, including the Great Depression.” — Ben Bernanke http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2014/08/26/2008-meltdown-was-worse-than-great-depression-bernanke-says/

Your comparison is apt only if you believe that a sudden, unprecedented economic free-fall took place during the last two months of the recent gubernatorial campaign.

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 4:13 pm
==“I didnt know things were so bad. So forget everything I said during the campaign.”==

I don’t think he will do that. The state’s fiscal disaster been loudly discussed for years, and he can expect to see the media playing tape of JBT discussing the backlog of vendor and other current debts in the billions.

I think he may go with the argument that he didn’t say when he would achieve it, and needs GOP legislators elected in the next cycle to do it all (an argument he did not make this time around). But that can be a dangerous path as well, as Obama learned in 2010. Another major problem with that is the income tax. It will be interesting to watch.

I feel like sending him a game of Twister so he can practice up. But then, he can afford one.

Comment by Percival Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 4:16 pm
Really, UFR? Obama didn’t know how bad things were in Jan. 2009? What with the two lousy wars going further south and the collapse of the world economy?

For crying out loud, I have plenty of problems with Obama but you haters are off your rockers.

Hows about you wait a couple of months until Rauner takes the oath before you start making excuses about the crazy he was peddling?

Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 4:20 pm
I’m worried that this might steer the conversation off topic, but Wordslinger and Formerly Known As: generic references to Obama promises don’t cut it. Please be specific if you’re making a comparison. Otherwise, MrJM is right: if you didn’t know what to expect after the 2008 campaign, that’s on you.

I can tell you what I expect after this campaign. I expect the income tax rate to fall to 3% in four years. I don’t know how we’ll make up for the revenue, but that promise was clear. I expect increased funding for education and a property tax freeze. Again, no idea how to pay for those things, but the promises were clear.

See how easy that was? So, what promises are you referring to with Obama?

Comment by VM Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 4:44 pm
Word –Ugh, Emanuel and Rauner at the same time, a couple of narcissistic spin-doctors whose only objectives are stroking their own egos.–

From your Keyboard to God’s ear!!!

Comment by WhoKnew Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 4:47 pm
I’m Republican but with Wordslinger here. The only way to get this state out of the ditch is to increase either taxes or the tax base and at the same time, cut programs. This will make the new Gov. very unpopular, and like Dick Ogilvie probably a one term Governor, but in the long run known as a courageous governor.

Comment by Old Sarge Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 4:49 pm
== “I didnt know things were so bad. So forget everything I said during the campaign.” ==

Do not forget the early months of the administration. Clear, unqualified statements such as == If you like your plan, you can keep your health care plan. == that were later proven false did not help much either.

It seems there are a few similar Rauner quotes floating around out there that may prove to be a similar problem for him with time.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 5:02 pm
VM - Fair enough. We could clutter the page with links to stories easily found online from Time Magazine, ABC News, the Washington Post, Boston Globe, Huffington Post, Al-Jazeera and The Nation, or comments from such noted Tea Partiers as Piers Morgan, LZ Granderson and Michael Moore. Instead, I will point to only two quotes from two very educated and politically savvy individuals

Cornel West == He posed as a progressive and turned out to be counterfeit. We ended up with a Wall Street presidency, a drone presidency ==

Barack Obama == [shortened for length] this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal; this was the moment when we ended a war and secured our nation and restored our image as the last, best hope on Earth. ==

Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 5:38 pm
Come on folks, everybody knows how bad things are in Illinois. We all know how the economy tanked in 2008. How anyone can deny that the current president has continually sought to blame his predecessor for everything imaginable must have been taking a long nap with Rip Van Winkle. We should not except such excuses from the governor or the president.

Comment by Under Further Review Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 5:46 pm
“should not accept such excuses…”

Comment by Under Further Review Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 5:46 pm
For crying out loud, lowering the bar is a solution to what?

VMan, you’ll be all happy if the mansion is made nice? Heavy lifter.

You’re one of those who kicked Quinn’s behind for six years because he didn’t wave his magic wand and alter the world economy to your specs.

Now you say the guy who campaigned as a messiah to “save the state” will do just fine if he goes to Menards and spends a couple of weekends fixing up the crib? What does that mean to anyones lives?

Dude, you’re such a transparent hack. You have no interest in working or leaving it better than you found it. Jusf some malignant pom-pom cheering for nothing of importance.

Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 6:35 pm
***Give Illinois something to be proud of. Have him rebuild the Mansion. Use the Mansion as a symbol of the State and video record every improvement he makes on it. Use the Mansion and its improvements as symbols of what he is doing as governor.

In three years, invite everyone in the media to see the new glorious Illinois Governor Mansion. Show us its beauty. Entwine yourself into its refurbished and rebuilt history. Make it the societal events of the 2017-18 State Fair with an open house.

Doing that will win votes for 2018

VanillaMan Dunning request’s you return to your cell

Comment by foster brooks Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 7:18 pm
Give Illinois something to be proud of. Have him rebuild the Mansion. Use the Mansion as a symbol of the State and video record every improvement he makes on it. Use the Mansion and its improvements as symbols of what he is doing as governor.

In three years, invite everyone in the media to see the new glorious Illinois Governor Mansion. Show us its beauty. Entwine yourself into its refurbished and rebuilt history. Make it the societal events of the 2017-18 State Fair with an open house.

you are you kidding me this is your expectation of the future governor? So lame.

Comment by union leader Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 7:19 pm
Rauner’s difficulty will be that he never specified how he was going to do anything. And, yes, another Illinois politician won a major election by doing the same thing. Governing is harder than campaigning. Quinn’s loss was partly due to voters being fatigued with him.

Comment by Under Further Review Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 7:44 pm
== What does that mean to anyones lives? ==

And this is why I will always read what wordslinger writes, whether we agree or disagree. He gets it.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Nov 18, 14 @ 10:15 pm