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The ties that bind

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Illinois

On Halloween, just eight days before the election, Donald Trump made a quiet visit to the edifice that bears his name in Chicago, where he held private meetings with his top staff as well as one-on-one talks with some Chicago businessmen.

The identities of those who met with Trump aren’t known. But it is known who orchestrated the event: Ronald Gidwitz.

As the nation readies itself for a Trump presidency, it’s clear that the one person in Illinois who can get the president-elect’s ear is Gidwitz, a businessman and entrepreneur who also is a mainstay of Republican politics.

The list of Illinoisans who will have ready access to the new president is very short indeed. Much longer is the list of Illinois Democrats who were hoping for connections with a Hillary Clinton White House and were left hanging like a 2000-era ballot chad. […]

“I’m not looking for anything,” said Gidwitz, who also has run his own political action committees but whose lone direct foray into politics was an unsuccessful bid for the Republican nomination for governor in 2006.

Um, OK.

* The Tribune may have forgotten about this guy…

One of Rauner’s top advisers outside his administration — Nick Ayers — is now heading Mike Pence’s strategy.

Pence is now running the transition team, so Ayers will have a huge influence on that. And lots of folks in Rauner World are close to the guy.

* And…

Trump named Republican Party National Chairman Reince Priebus White House Chief of staff on Sunday. Priebus is a partner on leave from the Michael Best law firm, which has legal and lobbying offices across the nation, including in Illinois. Leading Michael Best’s Illinois’ lobbying practice is Chip Englander, who headed up Gov. Bruce Rauner’s 2014 successful gubernatorial bid.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Nov 14, 16 @ 9:14 am

Comments

Bruce Rauner for Treasury Secretary!

s/?

Comment by Tommydanger Monday, Nov 14, 16 @ 9:20 am
Good that Illinois might have some influence in the new administration.

Comment by phocion Monday, Nov 14, 16 @ 9:26 am
Who has Bannon’s ear? He’s the appointed brains of the outfit.

Priebus commissioned and pushed the RNC “autopsy” report. I imagine he’ll remain just as influential with Trump as president.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Nov 14, 16 @ 9:33 am
Does this mean plans to secede are off?

Comment by d.p.gumby Monday, Nov 14, 16 @ 9:49 am
Will having all these connections finally free our Governor to pronounce the word Trump?

(It ought to be easy, there’s not even a ‘g’ to drop when geographically expedient)

Comment by northsider (the original) Monday, Nov 14, 16 @ 9:50 am
@northsider…..my thought exactly!

Comment by Flynn's mom Monday, Nov 14, 16 @ 9:59 am
hey why don’t they take Proft?!? after all, with Bannon in co pilot position with Priebus, the Alt Right is taking their hateful action to DC.

Comment by Amalia Monday, Nov 14, 16 @ 10:02 am
==Who has Bannon’s ear?==

Don’t know if Gidwitz has Bannon’s ear. But I do know that he has Priebus’ ear.

Comment by A guy Monday, Nov 14, 16 @ 10:12 am
Is it possible that Trump will nominate Rauner as an ambassador to someplace like Mongolia?

Comment by G'Kar Monday, Nov 14, 16 @ 10:38 am
When I realized Trump had won, my first thought was “Wow! Illinois has really stepped in it.”

Our Governor and several congressmen “unendorsed” him. Illinois was the only Midwest state to go for Clinton, and our two US Senators will be Democrats.

But then I paused to consider……what benefit did Illinois derive from having Illinois’ son, Obama, in the White House for these last 8 years?

Comment by Downstate Monday, Nov 14, 16 @ 10:51 am
Joe Walsh is more Bannon’s style. And the folks at Heartland Institute.

Comment by walker Monday, Nov 14, 16 @ 12:20 pm
LOL

Comment by Liberty Monday, Nov 14, 16 @ 12:47 pm
–Joe Walsh is more Bannon’s style. And the folks at Heartland Institute. –

Think those guys cut the mustard?

Here’s what John Kasich’s top political guy said yesterday about Bannon:

–The racist, fascist extreme right is represented footsteps from the Oval Office. Be very vigilant America.–

https://twitter.com/JWGOP/status/797918770136117248?ref_src=twsrc^tfw

And here’s David Duke’s happy-face about the Bannon hire.

http://mediamatters.org/video/2016/11/14/david-duke-praises-steve-bannon-s-hiring-good-sign-because-he-s-been-right-about-lot-issues/214430

The anti-semites and white supremacists are crawling out from under their rocks with joy over Trump and Bannon.

Don’t take my word for it; the Internet is right at your fingertips. Try the google.

You can never, ever, say that you didn’t know. The gute Duetsche, folgende autfrage, doesn’t fly.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Nov 14, 16 @ 4:45 pm