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It’s just the first step

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* The Tribune quotes Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Gov. Rauner’s abrupt shift in tone this week…

“I welcome a more congenial tone of cooperation, because the state has lost a year based on name-calling,” Emanuel said at a Near North Side event to promote an education program. “And we can see by the results, I don’t think name-calling is a way to get people to cooperate and work together.

“Calling people from the Supreme Court to others names has led to the most unproductive first year of any governor in recent memory,” the mayor said.

“And so I welcome the tone of openness. I welcome the tone of trying to hit the restart button, given the last year. Illinois students, schools, teachers, people providing basic social services, investments in our future, have been put on hold in an acrimonious environment because of name-calling,” he added.

I agree that the governor’s tonal shift is welcomed news, as long as it lasts longer than a few days.

But the real problems are the numerous stark, gargantuan policy differences. The name-calling (on both sides) has only made those policy positions more intransigent.

So, we need more than just a more measured rhetorical approach, which, again, is nonetheless encouraging to me. We need a far more moderate policy approach - by both sides.

Comments

We need more honesty, integrity and more Stan’s:

===When he hit .255 (first time below .300 in his career) in 1959, Musial asked for (and received) a $20,000 pay cut, to $80,000, for the 1960 season, according to a report by Ralph Ray in the Jan. 27, 1960, edition of The Sporting News.===

“The Cardinals have been generous to me the past few years, so I thought I’d be kind to them,” Musial told Ray.

Comment by justacitizen Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 10:36 am
I love everyone pointing out that the Governor’s “tone” was nice on Wednesday. I hate to remind people that when I went home on Wednesday and Thursday - there are commercials (Springfield market) paid for by Rauner that take shots at Madigan. Words are cheap, commercials are not.

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 10:38 am
I don’t understand all this focus on the Governor’s new “tone”. A guy punching you in the face less often than he used to is an improvement I guess, but he’s still punching you in the face and he’s not your friend. I mean, there are currently 266 comments here and it was not a well received speech, new tone or not.

Comment by The Captain Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 10:38 am
Actions speak louder than words, Governor.

Comment by Omega Man Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 10:39 am
“We need a far more moderate policy approach - by both sides.” Sounds good, but how do you plan to mend that darn “T.A.” fence?

Comment by Mama Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 10:41 am
Also, this is Emanuel bashing Rauner, not reciprocating.

Comment by Century Club Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 10:42 am
Meh, I could not care less about “tone.”

Nice tone in the SOS speech.

In the runup the days before, everyone was a “failure” or had a financial interest in the “status quo.”

It’s meaningless Springfield Bad Opera.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 10:42 am
Until the Governor walks back his negotiating strategy of “give me my agenda and then I’ll let you raise taxes for a budget”, his tone is lipstick on a pig. It is better to see a more civil tone, though. Personal attacks against Madigan and Emmanuel (or whoever the bogeyman of the day may be) are pointless and irresponsible.

Comment by out of touch Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 10:43 am
@justacitizen - a classic story. Well said.

@wordslinger - also says it well. Much drama with little progress from the two main actors in this performance.

@Rich - making sense, as usual.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 10:53 am
they all have to fake it. All the time.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:10 am
@justacitizen: So we should cut Rauner’s $1.00 salary to $0.75?

@Word: SBO — I believe you have just coined a noteworthy TLA.

Comment by Skeptic Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:18 am
I can’t believe we even have to have a discussion on not calling people names.

Comment by Demoralized Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 12:25 pm
===So we should cut Rainier’s $1.00 salary to $0.75?===

Of course not. Instead, we should cut to $0.75 the income tax savings of roughly $750,000 that Rauner received when the Dems let the 5% flat tax rate to expire at his request. I would hope anyone reading this blog is savvy enough to know that the Governor’s salary is chump change compared to what he hopes to gain from his T-agenda and stands to lose if Illinois were to adopt a rational revenue structure. His salary is also chump change compared to what he has paid out of pocket for the governorship and to his war chest for controlling the GOP GA.

Comment by X-prof Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 12:26 pm
There is nothing Rauner wants to do, that he cannot do now, by respecting and working with other elected officials.

The wasted year is 25% of his term in office, but only 1/35% of Speaker Madigan’s. Rauner has more to lose and more responsibilities. It is high time he prioritize his duties and begins governing.

Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 12:35 pm
==I can’t believe we even have to have a discussion on not calling people names.==

I can’t believe that overlords who break bones with sticks and stones wanna whine about names.

Comment by crazybleedingheart Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 12:47 pm
Seems somewhat back handed, but Rahm-like.

And it’s swell, but WHERE’S THE BUDGET, raunners-abrupt-change-in-tone?

Comment by sal-says Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 12:55 pm
So, mild-mannered, polite and courteous Rahm Emanuel is giving etiquette advice to the governor?
Lord help us all.

Comment by Sue Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 2:11 pm
A “congenial tone” never existed in the huckster Gov’s SOS. Gov con-artist finished saying to ‘put aside partisanship and ideology’ followed by “I’m Ready” (I may not have the exact words.)
The ONLY response should be DEMONSTRATE WHAT YOU SAY then we’ll begin to display. But that die in only a few minutes when Gov Bruce’s commitment to his personal ideology on full display with veto threat on MAP grants.
The loud clear comments going back to media by every Dem should be to point and say : There’s the hypocrite. Says give up partisanship but couldn’t get a few minutes before he displays the meaninglessness of his words.

Comment by IL17 Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 2:49 pm