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Goldberg hangs out a shingle

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Illinois

Gov. Bruce Rauner’s former chief of staff, Rich Goldberg, is launching a strategic consulting firm based in Chicago. The new firm, RG Solutions, will also offer communications and crisis management consulting services to a wide range of corporate, non-profit and political clients.

Back in the day, we sold t-shirts and other tchotchkes here to raise money for charity. “Where’s Bradley Tusk When You Need Him?” was one of the most popular slogans. Rod Blagojevich’s former deputy governor wasn’t fully appreciated until after he fled to New York at the beginning of Blagojevich’s second term.

* And Goldberg, the infamous “Prince of Snarkness” and “Grassbowl” looks downright cuddly right about now.

In retrospect, Richard did a good job considering his boss and the environment he was dealt. Rauner’s slide in the polls was inevitable because of the impasse and who he is, but the governor was never put through the almost daily PR crises that he’s faced since he replaced Goldberg. Rauner never understood how much his staff did for him until it was too late. They quashed a kabillion potential crises that he never knew about.

RG is a friend of mine, but I also respect him. Hey, I don’t hang out with just anybody. Go get ‘em, dude.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 9:28 am

Comments

JB should find a way to sign him. Seriously.

Bill Belichick is infamous for signing players that have been cut from upcoming opponents just to pump them for insider info. on their former team. Once he gets the intel, he cuts them.

I’d guess Goldberg could make a sweet score on a short-term consulting contract with some Pritzker entity.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 9:43 am
Maybe he can apply to help Senator Hastings with “Do Your Job, inc.”. The two of them got along very well.

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 9:44 am
I hear Don Harmon is looking for a spokesperson.

Comment by Give Me A Break Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 9:46 am
I wish him all the best in his new endeavors. Would like to read his tell all tales about his experiences. His new career will probably not allow that to happen but can use the experience with his future clients–what not to do!

Comment by Nearly Normal Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 9:47 am
I’ve got the perfect first client for him! BTIA.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 9:48 am
Another plus: now Goldberg has to pay for his subscription to Capitol Fax just like the rest of us. Heh.

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 9:50 am
If anyone read what I wrote, you’d know Goldberg was my favorite. No snark, no fooling.

Goldberg was always first, with no second, no third, and only a fourth because as some point there would have to be one. Head and shoulders, my favorite Superstar.

As much as he wouldn’t be helping, Goldberg was the person that made sure the smart snark and the thought provoking zinger had enough of a fastball that both the point and snark had equal potency.

Goldberg, he’s the guy you could work with 12-14 hours a day, 7 days a week on a Crew and still would make it as smart, sharp, and downright cool to do the work needing to be done. I respect the guy a lot.

All the best, sincerely. I look forward to seeing your work.

Oswego Willy

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 9:55 am
I only met Rich G. a couple of times but I know a ton of former Kirk staffers. Not one of them - even in private - ever said a negative word about Mr. Goldberg. That is telling.

Comment by Curl of the Burl Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 9:55 am
Wordslinger

That sounds good, but that may look bad on Goldberg and his business. Who would want to sign him then if he will sign with a future opponent and disclose info.

Comment by Real Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 9:55 am
If you have a problem
and if no one else can help
and if you can find him
Maybe you too can hire a Superstar to make it even worse…

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 9:57 am
Kass and the other beat writers got the entire game of thrones comparisons completely wrong! For those who have read the books and paid attention to the development of the plot will understand that Bruce Rauner is the Night King. Madigan and the Chicago Democrats(Mitchell, Lou Lang, Hastings) are the medieval insiders. This group of democrats rule Westeros through fear and greed to prey on the poor masses of Illinois, thus keeping them in power and rich hiding in the capital of Kings Landing. Bruce Rauner is coming south to wipe out the corruption and greedy race of men (Illinois) but in the process will wipe out lots of good. With his zombies at his side (Illinois Republican Party) and white walker lieutenants (IPI), and emerging with a dragon from the winds of winter (2016 conservative grass roots victory nationwide) he is coming south to melt the ice wall (unions) with his dragon perhaps taking out Illinois in the process. Remember the Night King was created by the children of the forest (Voters, blunders by Quinn, Blago in general) to wipe out greedy insiders who were destroying the forests, however they did not for see the Night King wiping out the region. The dems are now hoping a Daney Targarian or John Snow emerges in 2018 and not someone who looks like a lannister insider.

Comment by A Song on Ice and Fire Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 9:57 am
- Real -

Rauner lost that “courtesy” when he and Diana Rauner summarily let Goldberg go and physically escorted out his secretary.

This is a people business. Both Bruce and Diana Rauner forgot that.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 9:58 am
It would be nice to see Goldberg sign with Pritzker though.

Comment by Real Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 10:00 am
Rich is, always has been, an outstanding, principled, dedicated guy with an uncanny ability to see and to work outside the proverbial box. He was an integral part of the Kirk team who made it possible for his boss to succeed in the House and in the Senate. Those of us who know and respect Rich wish him only the best in his new venture: RG SOLUTIONS. Way to go, Rich!

Comment by Joliet oldie Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 10:04 am
Congrats and good luck, Rich. The best advertisement you, and the rest of the crew, could’ve asked for is what’s happened to the Governor’s office since you left!

Comment by "$" Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 10:29 am
Take your shots on governance all day long, but Goldberg and crew knew how to “win the day” the vast, vast majority of the time. And to think they did that all while keeping the “white male” from self-imploding on a daily basis to boot. Turns out the BTIA has succeeded in at least one thing - showing what a tremendous loss his removal was.

Comment by Amber Ale Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 10:32 am
Goldberg’s biggest mistake was engaging in hand-to-hand combat with legislators on twitter and at committee hearings during the early months of the administration. That’s never a good move for someone in charge of legislative affairs. It was immature and counterproductive and it is one of the reasons why Rauner has failed to score a single significant legislative victory.

But Rauner had a very good run under Goldberg (and Z) from a communications and messaging standpoint, which the governor and his wife obviously didn’t appreciate. And the actual mechanics of state government ran relatively well when you consider there was never an actual budget in place — you gotta give him points for that.

Comment by Roman Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 10:35 am
Goldberg’s reputation has only grown in stature as the administration has completely crumbled since he and his team were forced out/left. He should do well.

I am still baffled to this day at the boneheaded move by Rauner, that was a massive failure of leadership.

Comment by Ahoy! Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 10:45 am
So this isn’t going to be like Monty Python’s Argument Department?

Comment by Whatever Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 10:53 am
===but Goldberg and crew knew how to “win the day” the vast, vast majority of the time===

I’m not a fan of that DC tactic, but they almost never “lost” a day while Z and Goldberg were around. Rauner has lost just about every single day since they left.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 11:04 am
Sigh. Alright, alright… I miss him and wish him well. He’s skilled and loyal. He was a worthy adversary to the Democrats in the GA.

But I guess it disturbs me that he embraced and reinforced the gross, cheap, misguided contempt for government shtick so dutifully. With all of illinois’ problems, I remain convinced that there was once a path of bipartisan partnership that Rauner and his team could have easily and successfully carved.

In my conversations with those who know him, RG did make attempts to find those pathways, but ended up literally frightened of the lunatic Governor.

He got screwed by Rauner, along with others. I trust he now has indisputable confirmation of how despicable Bruce Rauner really is. I also hope that, given his tremendous abilities to carry out revenge, he’s working to lay the foundation of Rauner’s demise.

I’m sure he’ll make a few bucks along the way too.

Comment by Carhartt Union Negotiating Team Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 11:12 am
Sorry, Carhartt, RG is not one to seek revenge. He’s learned from the past couple of years, he’s matured, he’s moved on and up, believe me. Nothing to be gained by beating a dead issue, literally and figuratively. It seems that our Governor is doing all he can do each day to quicken his own demise from office next year. And don’t look for Rich to join the JB team anytime soon. Just not happening.

Comment by Joliet oldie Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:02 pm
He gave to Rauner the means and advice to execute Rauners vision and plans. His time and expertise as a Navy Intelligence officer came in handy.

To devastating effect

Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:55 pm
The guv’s campaign has money. Maybe they should hire RG to go some crisi managin’ ?

Comment by Boone's is Back Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 1:44 pm
Sorry, I cannot join in the general applause for the guy. I only know him by some of his actions.

He might be smart and talented, and I’ll take Rich’s word for his amiability. But anyone who played his role as legislative liaison by publicly denigrating and shaming individual legislators, was not working for the public good. Like his boss, he chose campaigning over governing.

Perhaps he has gained a better perspective on the wages of destruction. Best wishes to him in an external role.

Comment by walker Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 1:59 pm
== he’s matured, he’s moved on and up ==

I hope that’s true. He definitely seemed more reasonable when I saw him testify at a budget hearing in May,

But twitter trolling and Washington-style “win the news cycle” governing have infected Illinois and he’s at least partially responsible for it. So, pardon me if I’m not as nostalgic about the Goldberg era as everyone else seems to be.

Comment by LNQ Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 2:00 pm
===publicly denigrating and shaming individual legislators===

Meh. Those guys spent years kicking around gov staffers at hearings and nobody ever fought back. It was different for sure, but some of ‘em had it coming.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 2:05 pm
==I’m not a fan of that DC tactic, but they almost never “lost” a day while Z and Goldberg were around. Rauner has lost just about every single day since they left.==

Watching Rauner and his New Crew feels like watching my beloved White Sox right now. They’re losing today so we can have a better team 2 years from now. Sadly for Bruce, the rebuilding doesn’t include him. In 2018 “He Gone!”

Comment by CrazyHorse Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 2:36 pm
As a dedicated citizen, I found his actions to be little more than juvenile delinquincy. Unfunny, trying too hard and mean.

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 3:10 pm
Sam McCann announces for Governor with his new campaign team of RG Solutions.

Comment by DuPage Bard Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 4:49 pm
Karma will swing back like other former Gov staffers that crossed “that line.” (i.e., Quinn’s former deputy that callled certain caucus leaders). Never burn bridges in this business if you want to last. With warm regards, I remain.

Comment by Just Sayin ... Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 8:30 pm