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Besler leaves Rauner campaign, heads back to IOP

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Illinois

* Press release…

The Illinois Opportunity Project announced today that Matthew Besler will resume his work with the Illinois Opportunity Project and Illinois Liberty PAC, leaving his role as Chief Strategic Advisor with Citizens for Rauner, Inc. Besler said the following about his decision:

“With Governor Rauner’s re-election team now in place and the teams for the House and Senate GOP caucuses in place, I am returning to my role as President of Illinois Opportunity Project (IOP) and Chairman of Illinois Liberty PAC, a direct expenditure PAC, as these organizations represent critical policy and political infrastructure for advancing economic liberty in Illinois.

I wish Mark Harris, Governor Rauner’s general consultant, Betsy Ankney, Rauner’s campaign manager, Nick Klitzing and Kayleen Carlson at the ILGOP, David Walsh and Joe Woodward at the House Republican Organization (HRO) and Brian Burian at the Senate Republican Organization (SRO) great success in the 2018 election cycle.

The organizations I lead will be there to provide support where our interests intersect.”

* From Dan Proft, one of the IOP co-founders…

“For the sake of clarity amid recent personnel changes and much rumor-mongering and grievance-prosecuting from former Rauner staff, my position hasn’t changed. I will continue to head the independent-expenditure Liberty Principles PAC.

“Our goals remain as they were prior to Governor Rauner’s election and since: (1) improve the quality of the GOP legislative caucuses in terms of legislators committed to the economic liberty policy agenda; and, (2) grow the numbers of those caucuses to majority control of both chambers.

“We are warriors for actual justice and we will support candidates who are similarly disposed–those who will fight for policies that promote free minds, free markets and a free society. And we will oppose those who do not, regardless of their party affiliation or official title.”

- Dan Proft, Chairman, Liberty Principles PAC

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 1:34 pm

Comments

There’s that “warriors” word again.

Comment by GA Watcher Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 1:37 pm
“We are warriors for actual justice.”

Direct swipe at Diana Rauner.

Unmistakable.

Comment by Thomas Paine Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 1:38 pm
=== we will oppose those who do not, regardless of their party affiliation or official title. ===

In context, also a pretty direct threat to the Governor and First Lady.

Comment by Thomas Paine Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 1:41 pm
LOL, Rauner says he’s been successful in everything he’s done, gives himself an “A” as governor, and hasn’t copped to one mistake since taking office.

But he sure did realize in a hurry how badly he screwed up bringing on IPI and Proft. They revealed their incompetence in spectacular fashion.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 1:43 pm
Well…

If Ken Dunkin wants to make a comeback, Matt Besler will be there to help him

I’ll rest easy knowing that, lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 1:45 pm
What a petulant little whine from Proft. Awww…dose mean Rauner former staffers. Give me a break. So were they pushed?

Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 1:45 pm
So do we score this as GovJunk ditches another Koch Bros. Whack job or Koch Bros eback quits GovJunk?

Comment by Annonin' Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 1:45 pm
===“We are warriors for actual justice and we will support candidates who are similarly disposed–those who will fight for policies that promote free minds, free markets and a free society.”===

… and Mr. Uihlein will get all he pays for, from me, Besler, and all warriors… blah, blah, blah… give me my check already.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 1:48 pm
Speaking of the rumor mill, it was circulating around that Dennis Murashko was escorted out at the end of Friday. Haven’t seen any follow-up to that, but it was a curious twist after first saying he was staying, then saying he was leaving at the end of the month, then apparently the end of the month meant involuntary at the end of Friday .

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 1:51 pm
Good lord, Proft really is a legend in his own mind, isn’t he…..

Comment by Been there, done that Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 1:51 pm
If you had…

“Besler leaves before Rasmussen”

… Please head to the “Pay” window, that ticket pays a pretty penny.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 1:51 pm
===those who will fight for policies that promote free minds, free markets and a free society.===

or….we want you to think for yourself….as long as that aligns with what we think. Yikes!

Comment by anonymous Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 1:56 pm
“For the sake of clarity amid recent personnel changes and much rumor-mongering and grievance-prosecuting from former Rauner staff…”

Would you like some cheese with that whine Danny Boy?

Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 1:57 pm
===The organizations I lead will be there to provide support where our interests intersect.” ===

It looks like this whole SB31 thing has really touched a nerve.

Comment by Gruntled University Employee Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 1:58 pm
Proft’s legislative win-loss record makes his not so subtle threats here … absolutely hilarious!

Rauner’s weird flirtation with the IPI knuckleheads is on him.

Comment by Deft Wing Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 2:02 pm
If they paid Besler first and last month of work upfront, does that mean Rauner loses out on this hire?

I mean, keep him on 8 weeks or so, at least make the Besler hire go thru the signing bonus.

Plus, does the Besler situation go “against the cap”, will there be a penalty of draft picks? Maybe this was a “sign and trade” gone awry? That’s possible.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 2:04 pm
So if last Wednesday night was a massacre, does that make this the Monday Afternoon Mercy Killing? Silly season suicide? Dog Day Denouement?

Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 2:07 pm
Delicious. Enemies within. Enemies outside. Enemies everywhere.

It’s gonna be a huge new members conference next time.

Comment by Langhorne Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 2:12 pm
Running through three different campaign heads is usually a great sign, right?

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 2:22 pm
Somewhere, I hope Z is looking at this implosion and taking a slow drag of a cigar… letting the smoke out slowly…with a look best described as peace, confusion, and a hint of satisfaction… that then quickly changes to a look of someone who turned the page.

I hope that.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 2:31 pm
He’ll probably import someone from outside of Illinois to run his campaign now - going back to the original idea behind “Best Team in America”

Comment by Grand Avenue Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 2:41 pm
“Besler Bad For Diana Brand”

It’s not punchy, but it might be true.

I’ll ask Sneed.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 2:43 pm
“Warriors come out and play”
I don’t think Proft would answer that call. It could get his Gucci loafers scuffed.

Comment by Porgy Tirebiter Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 2:47 pm
From the IOP press release, Besler Accepts Position of Chief Strategic Advisor, Citizens for Rauner, Inc.:

“I’ve enjoyed a great working relationship with both the House and Senate GOP caucuses and their staffs. I look forward to that continuing in furtherance of the electoral goals we share for the 2018 cycle.”

Comment by Alternative Logic Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 2:54 pm
So, in other words, Rauner dodged a bullet.

Comment by Michael Westen Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 2:57 pm
Maybe just maybe Rauner”s are realizing that Proft and company had Zero to do with helping get him elected the first time. He didnt rely on them then and shouldnt rely on them now.
Proft has never been a Rauner person. He needs to swallow his pride and start making calls to the people who got him there from the start. Z and Chip would be a good start.

Comment by Inspector Gadget Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 3:20 pm
The less said the better. So.
Bye.

Comment by A guy Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 4:02 pm
The common denominator is Rauner.

Comment by IL Watcher Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 4:41 pm
If it’s possible to laugh away a migraine, I’m gonna owe OW a box of Cannoli.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 6:00 pm