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* Gov. Rauner invited Oscar the Puppy to the mansion yesterday afternoon for a play date with his two dogs, Pumpkin and Stella. The dogs had a great time, playing and running throughout the Executive Mansion grounds for well over 2 hours. Pumpkin, who is 15 and somewhat disabled, did the best she could to keep up and Oscar seemed to respect her age. That was a relief to me because Oscar has, in the past, aggravated some older dogs with his boundless desire for play. Having Stella around helped, I think.

I was also relieved that Oscar avoided the chicken coop. Yes, Pat Quinn’s coop is still there. Stella and Pumpkin are highly trained bird dogs, so they’ve mostly stayed away from the chickens. Oscar ain’t exactly highly trained to do much of anything.

* The governor and I agreed that our entire conversation (which I’d describe as often brutally frank, yet mostly quite pleasant) would be off the record, but he said he’d be happy to take a photo with Oscar that I could post.

Unfortunately, we both forgot about the pic until after I left.

Oops.

* So, here’s one of Oscar from Saturday. The little guy was curled up in one of his favorite nooks in our house, where he can sit and watch the squirrels play outside…

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 12:05 pm

Comments

Oscar: “I didn’t want to take a picture with him anyway.”

Comment by Timmeh Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 12:11 pm
“brutally frank but quite pleasant”.. we had a name for girls like you in high school..teasing NOT PERMITTED..Glad Oscar had fun..

Comment by Not Rich Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 12:12 pm
Caught between a Rock (Gov) and a hardplace (Rich)

Comment by A guy Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 12:13 pm
Oscar: “Governing is hard. Gotta move through tight places”.

Comment by A guy Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 12:14 pm
I know it was off the record Rich but how many times did he say corrupt? Did he accuse you of being corrupt? Oscar?

Comment by foster brooks Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 12:23 pm
Oscar: “Glad to be home, that last play date was a real dump”..

Comment by Not Rich Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 12:24 pm
“I left a couple “presents” in the closets at the Gov’s mansion, Oscar strikes again”

Comment by Tsavo Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 12:26 pm
Glad to read that the governor was in the mansion on a weekend.

Comment by Rufus Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 12:27 pm
Tsavo, one of the first things Oscar did when we arrived yesterday was poop in a garden. I remarked something about how he was a chip off the ol’ block.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 12:27 pm
I hope I don’t run afoul with the bird dogs.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 12:29 pm
“So, Dad, this ‘Stella’ you speak of. Is she seeing anybody or, you know, do I got a shot?”

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 12:31 pm
Not hard to get the dogs off the porch in that house.

Comment by Wordslinger Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 12:34 pm
Stella to Oscar: “If you play your cards right, we might be able to get you a 100K position in the administrator, say as chief puppy adviser to the governor.”

Comment by G'Kar Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 12:35 pm
Oscar: how come your beard has more food in it then mine…..

Comment by Ghost Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 12:35 pm
Dog day afternoon

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 12:37 pm
Oscar: my mansion is better than his any day.

Comment by Casual Observer Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 12:39 pm
At least we’re not visiting governor Brady

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 12:44 pm
Oscar participating in the state’s newest budget fix - looking for loose change under your couch cushions.

Comment by Century Club Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 12:46 pm
Oscar: Let check under here, I know there is union bug on the chair tags.

Comment by Give Me A Break Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 12:53 pm
I just can’t use sweet Oscar for political snark! Soooo…

Oscar: “Unless I hear toy, walk, treats, car ride, tummy rub, or dinner, I’m perfectly content where I am.”

Comment by PolPal56 Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 12:54 pm
Oscar you can come to my “mansion” and we won’t off the record and all out cameras will have a full record of the event.

Comment by anonin' Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 12:57 pm
I’ve seen enough squirrels to last a lifetime !!! sheesh dad

Comment by railrat Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 12:58 pm
“Release the hounds.”

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 1:07 pm
Pumpkin and Stella: “Don’t worry, Oscar. We’ll see you get back those fair share Milk-Bones Rich is holding back from you.”

Comment by Wensicia Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 1:13 pm
Stella may be the only dog that will hunt for Bruce all Spring.

Caption: Hey Squirrel, Bite Me!

Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 1:14 pm
“I buy you a phone with a camera and this is the thanks I get?”

Oscar the Angry Puppy

Comment by Empty Suit Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 1:15 pm
“Now the whole world knows I pooped in the garden, Thanks a lot!”

Comment by Empty Suit Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 1:17 pm
COOKIE, What COOKIE?

Comment by TANKR Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 1:37 pm
“Dad, SQUIRREL!, Im sure Pumpkin and Stella are SQUIRREL! both fine dogs, but how’s this gonna look to the SQUIRREL! fellas back at the puppy labor SQUIRREL! hall? I don’t want SQUIRREL! to lose my union SQUIRREL! card.”

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 1:49 pm
“one of the first things Oscar did when we arrived yesterday was poop in a garden.” You know what they say about a dog and its owner?

Comment by Howard Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 1:50 pm
Go away Dad. You know I’m a Republican, and you “forgot” my photo-op with the Governor?

Comment by Cook County Commoner Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 1:51 pm
What a sweetIe

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 2:28 pm
You agreed that the meeting was off the record but can Oscar tell us what happened?

Comment by Belle Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 2:29 pm
Did Oscar find Squeezey in the garden? He seems to have vanished.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 2:31 pm
===but can Oscar tell us what happened?===

He spent most of his time running around the grounds. He showed no interest in his daddy yelling at that other man about right to work, etc.

lol

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 2:36 pm
It’s uncanine how much alike Rich and Oscar look and Oscar is so well groomed to boot.

Comment by A Citizen Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 2:44 pm
After an hour long brutally frank discussion between Rich Miller and Governor Rauner, Oscar hides to recover.

Comment by the Other Anonymous Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 2:45 pm
This play date invite seems a really smart move by the Governor. I hope he listened, even a little. I sure would have loved to listen to that conversation!

Comment by it'smyopinion Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 3:17 pm
Rauner hates lobbyist, but gives Rich Miller the “full treatment” asking the political blogmaster over a private play date with his dog Oscar.

Did Rauner’s lobbying work?

Hell, yes it worked. Just look at the “cute photos” of Miller’s little white puppy panting in the mansion window. Pathetic if nothing else!

Comment by PoliticalPro Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 3:20 pm
Squeezey!! ! Good one.

Comment by SJ2 Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 3:30 pm
So adorable!

Comment by Big Ben Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 3:43 pm
I’m glad to hear about the fun doggy play date and the frank conversation, Rich. I am going to go out on a limb and bet that both you and the governor may have gotten some valuable new insights that will serve you well in your jobs since you both clearly love this state.

Comment by Respona Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 3:45 pm
===Oscar has, in the past, aggravated some older dogs with his boundless desire for play===

Yeah, dad, “look who’s talkin’?”

Comment by A guy Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 4:11 pm
So did you leave Oscar’s, um, leavings, in the garden to fertilize it, or what? I’m kind of hoping Rauner told a staffer to clean it up. Seems like the kind of power move he’d pull on a lowly state employee.

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 4:15 pm
Oscar rules.

“Caption?”

“I left the ‘presents’, where’s the Cannoli?”

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 4:21 pm
===So did you leave Oscar’s, um, leavings, in the garden to fertilize it, or what?===

I would’ve gladly pooper scoopered it, but the governor said it would be good fertilizer.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 4:27 pm
===Just look at the “cute photos” of Miller’s little white puppy panting in the mansion window.===

First, Oscar isn’t “white,” he’s a Wheaten. Second, that photo was taken at my house, which isn’t a mansion. Third, bite me.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 4:42 pm
“Those other dogs might have a fancier house, but I’m still the cutest pup in Springfield!”

Comment by JoanP Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 4:57 pm
Oscar: ++I pooped in the garden.++ I did for my fellow union brothers and sisters. You are welcome.

Comment by Mama Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 5:19 pm
Dad, you make me go over there again, I’m going to call Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Rescue on you!

Comment by Bootleg Carhartt Designer Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 6:11 pm
Smart, strategic move by Rauner. This is what he’s best at: charming people.

Comment by Filmmaker Professor Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 6:22 pm