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Mystery solved on Rauner’s whereabouts

Posted in:

• Illinois

* Mary Ann Ahern yesterday…

Gov. Bruce Rauner has not had a public schedule since delivering his budget address last Wednesday.

Traditionally, after the budget address, the governor travels to promote his budget agenda. But not this year.

Repeated questions to Rauner’s press spokesman about his whereabouts have gone unanswered. She will not say where the governor is, whether he is in Illinois or out of town.

* He’s back today and Ahern caught up with him…

His Twitter account was active while he was gone, including a video post about a recent visit to a school.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 9:41 am

Comments

1. Yet the majority of state employees are not taking their vacations because of their household budget issues.

   Comment by John Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 9:49 am

2. This is perfect. You are allowed to go on vacation for your birthday. Instead of being honest, you post pictures like you’re visiting a school.. because you should be pushing the fake budget. Governor, the cover up is usually worse than the vacation…

   Comment by Echo The Bunnyman Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 9:51 am

3. Deer Valley does have lovely snow. Plus Stein Erikson is THE big money republican hideout. Wonder who else he saw there.

   Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 9:54 am

4. OMG, we’re exactly the same age! I went to Phoenix for my birthday. It rained.

   Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 9:54 am

5. He is speaking at the Alliance School Leadership Summit today. I expect to hear a lot about “reforms”.

   Our is spoke earlier. When asked about transportation funding she basically said we need to ask the comptroller when we will get funding. Nice finger pointing.

   Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 10:01 am

6. Why can’t Rauner’s press shop just say where he was? What do they have to hide?

   Comment by Precinct Captain Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 10:06 am

7. cheryl44…that was hilarious!

   Comment by Anon Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 10:08 am

8. Why all the Secret Squirrel stuff?

   It was the Guv’s birthday. If he can ski, go ski.

   It’s far more embarrassing that this came down to Rauner hiding something.

   Why?

   Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 10:09 am

9. OMG, we’re the same age! I had to do to work at my State job.

   Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 10:12 am

10. Ugh, go to work…

    Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 10:13 am

11. OW… it speaks to credibility. Meaning none.

    Comment by Echo The Bunnyman Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 10:19 am

12. Not much of a budget to promote anyway.

    Comment by A Jack Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 10:22 am

13. He was “focused like a laser”… on skiing.

    Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 10:23 am

14. If the king is happy we can all delight.

    Comment by Liberty Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 10:44 am

15. Q: How are governing and skiing alike?

    A: In Illinois, it’s all downhill!

    Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 10:45 am

16. Good for him. Doing nothing but writing checks looks hard.

    Comment by Albany Park Patriot Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 10:48 am

17. But Rauner wears flannel and goes to the fair? Are you saying he’s not an Everyman?

    Comment by Rogue Roni Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 10:59 am

18. Does he have bling on his ski costume, like with his Harley costume?

    Comment by Nick Name Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 11:18 am

19. Does Carhart make ski suits?

    Comment by Nobody Sent Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 11:21 am

20. I’m not sure why it matters. They have communication devices wherever he goes. In this day and age, for any public person, political or otherwise, either party, I don’t think I’d offer much insight as to where specifically you’re going to be for a couple days. Lot of weirdos out there now. I doubt a full security detail went with him. He likely isn’t well known in these other places and doesn’t need one. Unless, people know he’s there. To me, this is quite the big nothing. The guy was out of the area for a few days, but was reachable.

    Comment by A guy Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 11:22 am

21. “To me, this is quite the big nothing.”

    No kidding?

    – MrJM

    Comment by @MisterJayEm Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 11:24 am

22. I’m not sure why they just didn’t say that when asked. In any event, I’m not sure what the big deal is. So he went on vacation for his birthday. I disagree with the Governor a lot but criticism for taking a vacation for his birthday is a bit much. Besides, you don’t ever stop being Governor just because you’re on vacation. Criticize the man for his policies not because he took a vacation.

    Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 11:25 am

23. ===I’m not sure why it matters.===

    If it doesn’t matter, why all the Secret Squirrel?

    === I doubt a full security detail went with him===

    You sure?

    ===The guy was out of the area for a few days, but was reachable.===

    … except to the Press and the Rauner Press shop refused to divulge his whereabouts.

    Rauner is governor. Two years. It’s a public office.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 11:27 am

24. Rauner couldn’t go to Cleveland for the convention or DC for the inauguration because he had to stay here and work on the budget. But two weeks before a crucial vote on “his” Grand Compromise he can manage a ski trip to Utah. OK then.

    Comment by don the legend Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 11:29 am

25. Boy, you guys really get worked up over the silliest things. He has admitted he was off skiing, do you really need to know in real time where he is every day? Do you need to know when Madigan is in Palm Springs too?

    I would assume being off somewhere anonymous has a security benefit to it as well.

    Comment by Not It Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 11:38 am

26. A Guy, meet don the legend. He’ll explain it to you.

    Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 11:47 am

27. ===He (Rauner) has admitted he was off skiing, do you really need to know in real time where he is every day?===

    If a member of the Press asks where the Governor is, the Press Shop can arbitrarily just not respond? At all?

    Hmm.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 11:48 am

28. Unforced error. Excellent job by Rauner in inviting another comparison to Trump, who also disappears at times without telling the media too.

    Did Rauner blame Madigan when the chairlift paused for a bit?

    Comment by Robert the Bruce Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 11:50 am

29. ++
    === I doubt a full security detail went with him===

    You sure?+++

    OK, OW, let me take this a little slower with you. When you start a sentence with the words “I doubt..” it would imply strongly…No, I’m not sure.

    The dude took a few days off for his 60th Birthday. That’s news? Is it your business or anyone else’s? Yeah, he’s the Governor. He wasn’t unavailable or incapacitated. He was just out of town for a short spell.

    Let it go dude. Or would you like up to the minute updates on bodily functions too?

    There’s plenty to criticize (especially for you) Stay focused on your other hypercritical observations.

    I shall be awaiting your thoughts starting:
    Oh a Guy…, kinda Mary Tyler Mooreish in the Dick Van Dyke days. Oh Robbbbb…

    Comment by A guy Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 12:55 pm

30. ==- Robert the Bruce - Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 11:50 am:

    Unforced error. Excellent job by Rauner in inviting another comparison to Trump, who also disappears at times without telling the media too.===

    Bob the Bruce, this is out and out kooky. The media is never unaware of where Trump is. Ever.

    Comment by A guy Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 12:57 pm

31. I usually golf on my birthday and then if I post any pictures they are of the course.

    Comment by Flynn's mom Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 1:08 pm

32. ===Is it your business or anyone else’s?===

    Mary Ann Ahern couldn’t get any response. That’s who asked.

    Yeah, he’s the Governor. He wasn’t unavailable or incapacitated.===

    When the Press Shop out and out refuses to answer a Press Question, that leads to more questions

    Rauner is the governor. The days of “sneaking” out are just not possible. Telling a reporter “no” to the whereabouts doesn’t cut it either.

    ===He was just out of town for a short spell.===

    Where? That doesn’t cut it as a governor when a reporter asks.

    What was so hard to say, “Skiiing in Utah”?

    ===Let it go dude. Or would you like up to the minute updates on bodily functions too?===

    No. Trivializing it doesn’t make the practice right.

    Rauner now has some accountability. That’s part of the trade off Rauner has while destroying social services and higher education.

    ===There’s plenty to criticize===

    lol, when you do, let me know.

    Rauner isn’t a private citizen anymore. He needs to realize that.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 1:08 pm

33. OW. That many lol’s, you should use lulz (learned that yesterday).

    Comment by Blue dog dem Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 1:12 pm

34. === I doubt a full security detail went with him===

    So a half security detail went with? Your doubt is the full security.

    So now you’re speculating a security detail DID go, it’s the matter of its strength is the question.

    You’re not very good at the “words” thingy.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 1:18 pm

35. After Rauner gave his budget speech, some Republican made the comment that Rauner had fulfilled his constitutional duty to present a balanced budget for this year. Rauner must think that is all he needs to do until next year. This is similar to the last two years of not doing the job.

    Comment by DuPage Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 1:19 pm

36. @DuPage…..exactly and that’s the problem. No one really cares who goes on vacation or where they go to vacation. The issue is the whole”shake up Springfield, etc., which never occurred. The state is not a toy and it’s falling apart due to a lack of governing.

    Comment by Flynn's mom Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 1:23 pm

37. There is the fact that Rauner got clobbered for going out for the powwow with the Kochs. My point is that Stein Eriksen is THE wolf’s lair for the Conservative elite. They have some really big powwows there. Google it. The fact that he went off the grid leads to this speculation. Just say you’re going to Deer Valley to ski. The only thing you need security for is keeping me away from that Turkey black bean chili! It’s seriously that good.

    Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 1:37 pm

38. ==lol, when you do, let me know.==

    Appears you may have missed a coupla things the past coupla weeks. lulz??

    Comment by A guy Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 1:41 pm

39. ===Appears you may have missed a coupla things the past coupla weeks.===

    Nah, you’re still on the “both sides” train.

    Your lacking objectivity to the realities of Rauner are noted.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 1:43 pm

40. wait, he’s only 60?!?

    Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 1:43 pm

41. Yet he can’t find the time to shake hands with Trump.

    Why’s that?

    Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 2:57 pm

42. geez the guy went skiing. He didn’t try to cover up anything. He doesn’t need to send out a press release everytime he goes somewhere. Leave the guy alone

    Comment by Anon Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 4:17 pm

43. = I doubt a full security detail went with him.=

    You would be wrong. The full traveling detail went with him, they always travel with him. period.

    Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 5:11 pm

44. Did he go skiing? Or was he in DC?

    Comment by Ggeo Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 5:27 pm

45. What difference does it make whether he goes skiing? I work downtown-private sector. Lots of state govt holidays lately and on a full week most state employees take Monday and Friday off so lately it’s been a two-day workweek.

    Comment by justacitizen Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 8:49 pm

46. The difference is he is the Governor and since his inauguration we haven’t had a budget. When sick people are struggling to have access to healthcare as a result of the state on paying the bills, as the leader/Governor, you do not take a vacation.. You work to solve the problem or make appear that you’re trying to solve the problem.

    Does this mean that there should be a law in Illinois mandating employers shall include an employee’s birthday as a paid day off?

    Comment by Sigh Thursday, Feb 23, 17 @ 12:00 am

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