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* The governor has been promising to “call out” Democrats for their support of House Speaker Michael Madigan and did so today in the Quad Cities…
Rauner attacking 2 local state reps. Says they are working for Speaker Madigan, holding up progress. Doesn't name them in speech. @kwqcnews
— Brian Boesen (@boesenkwqc) February 9, 2016
Rauner is more directly critical of Reps Smiddy and Verschoore than in past. Says they're working for Madigan, not the QC.
— Ed Tibbetts (@EdTibbetts) February 9, 2016
Rauner says at stop in Rock Island, "Speaker Madigan doesn't care about the Quad Cities."
— Ed Tibbetts (@EdTibbetts) February 9, 2016
I suppose he figures that people will rush to their phones and the Interwebtubes to pressure their legislators to stop being Madigan allies and start voting with the governor. Will it work? The first part, yes. The second… No.
Those two legislators (particularly Smiddy) haven’t spared any words for Rauner, so turnabout, etc.
* But Verschoore and Smiddy are total union guys and always have been, which is something that the governor can’t quite ever understand. They support unions. They don’t vote the way they do out of fear of unions or of Madigan. They do it because that’s who they are.
Smiddy, for one, was elected in a GOP district with only a few hundred bucks from Madigan. AFSCME bankrolled almost his entire campaign. He was an AFSCME member and was totally with them. They actually wanted somebody in that seat who would be independent of Madigan and more aligned with them. He’s not gonna suddenly “break with Madigan” and side with Rauner and against AFSCME. That’s missing the entire point.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Feb 9, 16 @ 1:01 pm
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What is the point about “calling out” someone if you don’t call them by name.
If you are going to double dog dare someone, you may as well say who you are challenging.
Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Feb 9, 16 @ 1:04 pm
Excellent post. What opponents don’t like to see or say is that Madigan often works for his members.
Comment by walker Tuesday, Feb 9, 16 @ 1:08 pm
Look, there are two ways to deal with Madigan. Negotiate with him or try to meddle in his caucus to split his members.
Im not aware of any governor who has successfully used the latter tactic. And even so, going after those two members is silly and wasteful.
Cant anyone on the second floor play this game? Its not as hard as it looks.
Comment by Abe the Babe Tuesday, Feb 9, 16 @ 1:08 pm
===They don’t vote the way they do out of fear of unions or of Madigan. They do it because that’s who they are.===
Amen!
Rauner Crew, teach your boss… Please
Rauner can’t count, Rauner can’t add, Rauner lacks in fundamentals.
“It’s who they are, Governor.”
Man, that’s Restaurant-Quality, Rich.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 9, 16 @ 1:09 pm
=Rauner: Madigan doesn’t care about the Quad Cities=
Rauner doesn’t care about the entire state.
Comment by DuPage Tuesday, Feb 9, 16 @ 1:12 pm
I keep going back to when IllinoisGO was created/funded. Looking back I think the Governor honestly believed there was this notably large group of Democrats that wanted more than anything else to be able to vote against organized labor and labor protections and that the only thing that was holding them back was all of the campaign contributions they received from labor, so he started/funded IllinoisGO so there would be this other large pot of money and they could vote against unions as they wished.
Obviously that is a fundamental misunderstanding of who the Democrats are and what they stand for but it’s the rationale that best explains why IllinoisGO was created/funded, Rauner’s behavior over the last year and his persistence with this DOA political strategy towards Democrats. And while it seems odd that the only money IllinoisGO is spending right now is on Ken Dunkin, the fact is they have no where else to spend it, all these other opportunities they thought would materialize just don’t exist.
The Governor overestimated his IllinoisGO financial need by about $9 million and the only beneficiary appears to be Ken Dunkin. Boy, how lucky is he?
Comment by The Captain Tuesday, Feb 9, 16 @ 1:13 pm
Just wondering out loud, how these two’s districts would line up for a state bailout of CPS of $460 mil if put to a vote.
Comment by Blue dog dem Tuesday, Feb 9, 16 @ 1:17 pm
Based on his actions to date, what, objectively, could you say Gov. Rauner has demonstrated that he “cares about?”
Fiscal sobriety? Human services? Higher education? Being a good citizen and paying your bills?
Geez, and you thought it couldn’t get any weirder than Blago…..
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Feb 9, 16 @ 1:19 pm
So he is calling out Democrats? For being Democrats?
Comment by burbanite Tuesday, Feb 9, 16 @ 1:19 pm
== which is something that the governor can’t quite ever understand. They support unions. They don’t vote the way they do out of fear of unions or of Madigan. They do it because that’s who they are==
So let me get this straight: the republic will supposedly be saved by a man who isn’t even aware of this fact? I thought this would have been common knowledge, even to the superstars from Indiana. A simple Wikipedia search could have told them this. No wonder they can’t figure out how government works!
Comment by Lester Holt's Mustache Tuesday, Feb 9, 16 @ 1:19 pm
Arguably, Illinois has elected the most politically tone deaf governor in it’s history.
Maybe Rauner lacks because the Raunerite ideals lack party fundamentals and by just voting, even as a citizen, and donating, even as a citizen, to whomever he could vote for to clout his daughter into Payton Prep, or donate to whomever could help him get Pension Money work…
… Rauner is inept at governing, sure, but it appears Rauner is inept at understanding GA members actually believe how they vote.
I know, he must be shocked, lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 9, 16 @ 1:28 pm
The more worrying possibility here is that Rauner doesn’t understand that there are *other* viewpoints besides his — and besides Madigan’s. Rauner seems intent on propagating this false dichotomy: you’re not voting for the Turnaround Agenda because you’re a Madigan robot. If you weren’t a Madigan robot, you’d certainly vote for the Turnaround Agenda.
It’s weird. It’s like dude can’t understand that there are multiple viewpoints — and that his job as governor is to find a way to make those viewpoints into something workable.
I suspect this job surprised him. He definitely didn’t understand this job. He took because he was convinced to take it — and because it had a lot of powerful possibilities. But he must have — and must continue to be — surprised by how little he knows about the actual job.
Comment by Frenchie Mendoza Tuesday, Feb 9, 16 @ 1:29 pm
“Mr. Speaker? The Governor is in the Quad Cities and is burning bridges, naming names and threatening the legislators there. He says that they work for you and have had a robotic computer that you control, implanted into their heads.”
“Do they?”
“Do they what?”
“Have a robotic brain that I use to have them do what they do?”
“No sir - we’re unable to do that.”
“Dammit Steve! I need a fully functioning robotic brain that I can use to command my army of minions! Get that done, PRONTO!”
“What about the Governor?”
“I can’t do anything about him. His robotic brain has malfunctioned and I’ve been telling Zell to do something about it for the past two years!”
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Feb 9, 16 @ 1:31 pm
I think the most worrying part about this is he’s calling out one guy who was elected without the support of Madigan and another guy who is retiring. So yeah, I’m sure “calling them out” is really going to be tremendously effective with those two.
Comment by Juice Tuesday, Feb 9, 16 @ 1:35 pm
Maybe hes missing the point on purpose. Maybe he knows theyre not gonna break with madigan but painting them as his minions makes them easier to beat in November in a slightly GOP district?
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Feb 9, 16 @ 1:41 pm
===Arguably, Illinois has elected the most politically tone deaf governor in it’s history==
Ain’t no “arguably” about it OW. This is how you run Illinois like a business!
Comment by Sangamo Sam Tuesday, Feb 9, 16 @ 1:43 pm
Cryogenically sealed and thawed out prior to the last primary is the only explanation of how the governor didn’t know anything about these two Quad City legislators…Mr. Wizard please…
Let’s see…the southern Rock Island County Democratic machine has been in power for-EVER and even despise their own party members outside their clutches (see past party squabbles)
The former Rock Island County Democratic Party Chairman was former and still imprisoned Governor Blago’s patronage chief.
Nothing short of a forehead slap can describe this guy’s naïve, brainless blunders…Ugh.
Comment by Captain Illini Tuesday, Feb 9, 16 @ 1:43 pm
Raun-zilla Blue Öyster Cult, enhanced by VanillaMan
With a purposeful grimace and a terrible sound
He pulls apart lives as he tears Illinois down
Helpless people all across our state
Scream bug-eyed as he decides their fate
He picks up his wallet and he throws millions down
As he broadcasts threats from city to town
Oh no, they say he’s got to go go go Raun-zilla!
Oh no, there goes Chicago go go Raun-zilla!
History shows again and again
How government power should avoid rich men
After Ryan and Blago and after Pat Quinn
Raun-zilla shows us the real meaning of sin
Go go go Raun-zilla!
Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse
Old Bruce Rauner shows us the depth of our curse!
Go go go Raun-zilla!
Just when you thought Madigan was bad
Rauner got elected and shows we’ve been had!
Go go go Raun-zilla!
Oh no, with Proft, IPI and IllinoisGo Raun-zilla!
Oh no, there goes Chicago go go Raun-zilla!
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Feb 9, 16 @ 1:45 pm
I wake up every day hoping the Governor might decide to govern. And every day I’m disappointed.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Feb 9, 16 @ 1:50 pm
from a Governor who pressures and hands out money to his GOP members to get them to vote “present” in General Assembly votes. That has accomplished a lot. /s
Comment by Joe M Tuesday, Feb 9, 16 @ 1:51 pm
- Sangamo Sam -
I think you may have found the pearl in the oyster…
===This is how you run Illinois like a business!===
See, and here I am expecting a governor to run a state like a state. Point taken.
As an aside, I do think Rod was tone deaf too… except to a cash register, but… I digress…
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 9, 16 @ 1:56 pm
Rauner found that he could win an election simply by spending money and saying nothing. So he thinks he has now figured out the game, and that all he has to do is spend money and he’ll get all the legislators elected that he wants. Easy peasy.
Comment by Filmmaker Professor Tuesday, Feb 9, 16 @ 2:04 pm
Rauner has pretty much miscalculated from the day he first thought about running for the office of Governor. He thought he could buy the office, he thought he could ignore the existing power structure and just rule by edict, and, if that didn’t work, that he could then just buy enough votes to implement his agenda.
To date, the only part he got half right was being able to buy the office … but only because the public AND the unions were fed up with Quinn. He has mistaken an Accidental Governorship for a Universal Mandate to implement his myopic world view.
The more I watch this, the more I wish Dougas Adams was around to chronicle it.
Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Feb 9, 16 @ 2:14 pm
Rich, where is that ‘like’ button we’ve been begging for?? There are too many gems in these comments to single any one or two out for kudos. VanillaMan and RNUG are top on my list, but OW is right up there too!
Comment by Not quite a majority Tuesday, Feb 9, 16 @ 2:24 pm
When you get so high on your own supply that you believe anyone who disagrees with you is only doing so because they’re being controlled, it’s time to ask for help.
Comment by AC Tuesday, Feb 9, 16 @ 2:38 pm
Oh, Governor Rauner is running the state like a business, all right…
…unfortunately, that business is Enron.
Comment by Newsclown Tuesday, Feb 9, 16 @ 2:49 pm
OW, along with tone deaf, we have a guy who is totally accustomed to having his way. Either his own money or the billions of OPM he had to invest always made him the smartest, strongest guy in the room. Now he is confronted with a situation and a guy he can’t buy off or buy his way around and he’s totally flummoxed.
I don’t see this as a bidnessman stymied by the bureaucracy-if you look at criminal justice to name just one, he understands how the system works. He just wants to be able to bypass the system when it’s not working to his advantage.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Feb 9, 16 @ 3:12 pm
Let’s all come to an agreement for any politician in this state, if you’re not apart of “the club” wealthy or connected you don’t count…anything spews from Rauner’s mouth is a falsehood along with the rest of them…
Comment by Pskila Tuesday, Feb 9, 16 @ 3:17 pm
Brucie is channeling too much T-Rump…
Comment by D.P.Gumby Tuesday, Feb 9, 16 @ 3:35 pm
++Raun-zilla Blue Öyster Cult, enhanced by VanillaMan++
This is priceless! Love it.
Comment by Mama Tuesday, Feb 9, 16 @ 4:01 pm
has anyone told Rauner that AFSCME is anti madigan? they opposed him in several races after he pass the law removing positions from the union, pension chnages etc. oddly, Rauner is lumping two enemies together. This is like arguing that you want to change policy towards Russia, but Ukraine is standing in the way and needs to be dealt with
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Feb 9, 16 @ 4:24 pm
===I don’t see this as a bidnessman stymied by the bureaucracy-if you look at criminal justice to name just one, he understands how the system works. He just wants to be able to bypass the system when it’s not working to his advantage.===
- AA -, I need to let this soak in my head. Yikes, that’s finakky hitting me. I know Rauner wants destruction, I know now things are systematic, and between your comment and finakky seeing it… wow.
Why be seen as “inept”, is it part of the ruse?
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 9, 16 @ 4:42 pm
Rauner made the huge mistake of pushing the Unions back into Democratic arms. He could have made the slow play, further driving wedges between the two, but he was in such a gosh-darn hurry to destroy Unions immediately that he triggered the “enemy of my enemy” scenario.
Comment by RIJ Tuesday, Feb 9, 16 @ 5:17 pm
Two things have really amazed me about Rauner.
1) He doesn’t grasp that Madigan has maintained power for so long by paying attention to his Members. Sometimes he uses the whip, but he also knows where they are. Certainly he knows better where his Members are than Rauner.
2) Members aren’t where they are only because they are controlled by some outside force. Generally they believe what they run on.
He views people who agree with him as morally superior beings who are beyond their personal interests and look out for the larger public. His opponents are greedy people motivated by the worst of human nature. He’s wrong about both.
Comment by ArchPundit Tuesday, Feb 9, 16 @ 7:07 pm
== He views people who agree with him as morally superior beings who are beyond their personal interests and look out for the larger public. His opponents are greedy people motivated by the worst of human nature. ==
I think that could be said of how each of us view the side we support and the side we oppose.
Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Feb 9, 16 @ 8:09 pm
Who ate all the Strawberries? Get the sand we are going to figure this out once Obama gets here.
He has no concept of someone believing in something that isn’t money. He’ll never understand that, it doesn’t compute. He thinks everyone will be Kenny Dunkin and just take the money because that is the only thing he cares about.
Comment by DuPage Bard Tuesday, Feb 9, 16 @ 11:23 pm