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* UPDATED x1 - Rauner campaign blames Madigan * National Review calls Rauner “worst Republican governor in America”

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* Check out the cover. Whew…

* From the story…

Bruce Rauner’s Illinois breakdown

When Governor Bruce Rauner of Illinois announced in October that he would seek reelection in 2018, he released a two-minute campaign video. It shows the Republican wearing blue jeans and a black leather vest as he rides his Harley-Davidson motorcycle from Chicago to Springfield, the state capital. “Four years ago,” he says in a voiceover, “I crisscrossed our state, looked people in the eye, and promised to fight business as usual.”

This boast came about a month after Cardinal Blase Cupich accused him of breaking his word and the Chicago Sun-Times put his picture on its front page, below a headline that shouted: “Benedict Rauner.” The governor’s offense was to have signed what may be America’s most radical abortion-funding law after vowing to veto it. The betrayal capped a season of defeats for conservatives, including an income-tax hike, a big bailout of Chicago’s public schools, and turning Illinois into what critics of illegal immigration are calling a “sanctuary state.”

Now Rauner, 60, confronts a problem that few would have predicted as recently as last spring: a possible Republican meltdown in the Land of Lincoln. In next year’s GOP primary, he’ll face a scrappy challenge from a credible conservative opponent. Jeanne Ives is a graduate of West Point, a mom, and a wonky state representative from Wheaton, Ill. “Somebody needs to stand up for Republicans and conservatives,” she says. “We can do a lot better than Bruce Rauner.”

This much is clear: Illinois hardly could do worse. It suffers from one of the weakest economies in the nation, with the slowest personal-income growth, low labor-force participation, and distressing levels of manufacturing-job losses. Its tax burden is among the heaviest in the country. It has the lowest credit rating of any state (just a notch above junk-bond status) and the highest level of unfunded pension liabilities (about $250 billion, according to Moody’s). Four of its last ten governors have wound up in prison. “Illinois is worth fighting for,” says Rauner in his new campaign ad — but many of its citizens have chosen to flee. The state has lost population every year since 2014

…Adding… DGA…

“Democrats and Republicans have finally found something they agree on – Bruce Rauner is the worst,” said DGA Illinois Communications Director Sam Salustro. “Rauner cannot even count on the support of his own party in Illinois and conservative leaders have concluded that Illinois is worse off with him at the helm. Under Rauner, the state endured a two-year budget impasse that drove up debt, drove out jobs and people, and devastated the state’s services. The facts are undeniable – Bruce Rauner has failed.”

*** UPDATE *** Sun-Times…

Although there are only two references to Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan in the story — one calling him “perhaps the most powerful state lawmaker in the country” — Rauner’s campaign chose to focus on the speaker in reacting to the story.

“We’re glad National Review pointed out that Mike Madigan and his cronies have consistently blocked Governor Rauner’s reform agenda just to protect their own corrupt practices,” campaign spokesman Justin Giorgio said. “Governor Rauner will keep fighting to make a Illinois a better place to live and work for everyone by working to lower property taxes, increasing school choice, and eliminating job-killing regulations.”

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 11:53 am

Comments

lost me at “credible conservative opponent.”

lol, yikes

Comment by JohnnyPyleDriver Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 11:55 am
That makes sense, as he’s not a conservative. Which is why I like him.

Comment by Ron Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 11:56 am
The article also calls Jeanne Ives “credible”.

Comment by People Over Parties Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 11:57 am
“low labor-force participation”

yet Illinois has a higher labor force participation rate the the nation

Comment by Ron Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 11:57 am
I am so very curious to know what makes Ives a “wonky” State rep?

Comment by Iggy Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 11:57 am
Man, TNR dropped some Gs on ol’ Bruce.

Comment by OkComputer Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 11:57 am
- “That makes sense, as he’s not a conservative. Which is why I like him.”

You get joy from chaos and wanton destruction?

Comment by Chicago 20 Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:00 pm
===This much is clear: Illinois hardly could do worse. It suffers from one of the weakest economies in the nation, with the slowest personal-income growth, low labor-force participation, and distressing levels of manufacturing-job losses. Its tax burden is among the heaviest in the country. It has the lowest credit rating of any state (just a notch above junk-bond status) and the highest level of unfunded pension liabilities (about $250 billion, according to Moody’s)===

BAIER: So what would be different in a second term?

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:01 pm
in case you haven’t heard of this publication you aren’t alone.

Total circulation (2015): 142,667

Not exactly on par with the likes of TIME

Comment by Iggy Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:02 pm
I agree that Rauner is a bad governor but could never call Ives “credible”.

Comment by Flynn's mom Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:03 pm
“with the slowest personal-income growth”

Actually, this is more nonsense. Illinois and the nation have virtually the exact same per capita personal income growth.

Comment by Ron Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:05 pm
“Not exactly on par with the likes of TIME”

So are you saying that the bigger the circulation, the more right they are?

Comment by Galena Guy Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:05 pm
Excellent moment to get Rauner the attention he has earned and deserves.

Comment by cdog Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:05 pm
the national review, like most US conservative news, blatantly lies

Comment by Ron Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:06 pm
just more anti abortion zealots spewing garbage

Comment by Ron Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:06 pm
Delicious…..absolutely delicious

“Please sir…..may I have some more?”
(In my best Dickens voice)

Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:07 pm
The most interesting point in the piece for me:

“[Ives’] embryonic campaign’s internal polling shows that among likely Republican voters, Rauner’s approval rating lags Trump’s. Moreover, as much as Rauner’s new abortion law frustrates them, they’re even more annoyed by the sanctuary-state legislation.”

Yeah, good luck on that Ives. Run against sanctuary state status in the Midwestern state with the highest % of Latinos and Hispanics in the country, where they’re spreading out of Cook and into the Collars. Brilliant campaign plank.

Comment by ZC Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:10 pm
That is way cool. I am going to buy the magazine and try to get the Governor to sign it.

Comment by DuPage Saint Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:10 pm
From the article: “She’s no gadfly: In conversation, Ives resembles a policy nerd as she rattles off obscure facts about the state budget’s rotten math.”

“In conversation…” I think the reporters should have done a tad bit more research than talk with Rep. Ives.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:12 pm
Galena Guy- Both publications are “right”, especially with the Koch Brothers investment into the Time buyout.

Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:12 pm
I love it when supposed liberals, think the National Review is great.

Comment by Ron Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:13 pm
IL is not a sanctuary state.
Read the law

Comment by Read the law Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:13 pm
=So are you saying that the bigger the circulation, the more right they are?=

I don’t know how you would have inferred that. I was merely stating that I had never even heard of this publication and with such a small number of readers it hardly seems like anything they write will have much of an impression on anyone. Just because someone like Time has more readers doesn’t make their message more correct, it simply means more people will have a chance to read it… that is all.

Comment by Iggy Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:14 pm
The basis for most of the article is that Rauner is the “worst” Republican governor because he is not conservative enough. They lose credit with me on that and giving Jeanne Ives a platform to seem credible and spew her far-right nonsense.

Comment by People Over Parties Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:14 pm
OMG this is hilarious:

“She’s no gadfly: In conversation Ives resembles a policy nerd…”

Between this cover, the various Sun-Times front pages, and the Wall Street Journal calling him Governor Junk, the eventual Democratic candidate will have plenty of ammo for mailers and ads.

Comment by pawn Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:14 pm
They don’t call him “Governor Junk” for nothin’

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:14 pm
Bunch of collectivists.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:15 pm
- People Over Parties - Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:14 pm:

The basis for most of the article is that Rauner is the “worst” Republican governor because he is not conservative enough. They lose credit with me on that and giving Jeanne Ives a platform to seem credible and spew her far-right nonsense.

Yep

Comment by Ron Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:15 pm
Two blatant lies in this silly piece and yet head in the sand from the usual suspects.

Comment by Ron Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:16 pm
Yes, Ron, and you sound like some thoughtful, even tempered,
Moderate. Rabid, ****spewing self-righteousness puts you perfectly in league with Dementia Don, the president.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:18 pm
===Yeah, good luck on that Ives. Run against sanctuary state status in the Midwestern state with the highest % of Latinos and Hispanics in the country, where they’re spreading out of Cook and into the Collars. Brilliant campaign plank.===

Ives is concerned with the Republican Primary voter pool, which has a negligible number of Latinos and Hispanics.

With respect to the General Election, Rep. Ives has said enough on the floor of the House and elsewhere, that it seems unlikely she would be attractive to those voters anyway.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:19 pm
Most of Illinois is flatter than it’s depicted on the cover. Get it right, East Coasters.

Comment by AlphaBettor Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:22 pm
Yes, Ron, and you sound like some thoughtful, even tempered”

And you sound dimwitted.

Comment by Ron Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:24 pm
Ives is would lose in an absolute route. Just like Donnie did.

Comment by Ron Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:25 pm
Anonymous, I see you can’t respond to facts.

Comment by Ron Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:26 pm
Pot calling kettle, I suppose she could drop the topic after she won the primary. That might work … People often have short memories.

Comment by ZC Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:28 pm
Don’t like the National Review one lick.

But they may prompt a more credible outlet to pen the much needed, yet unwritten essay

“Bruce Rauner: Worst Governor in America.”

Comment by Sugar Corn Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:36 pm
The article is right wing pablum, but I love the illustration!

Comment by IllinoisBoi Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:37 pm
West Point Ives needs to speak to the Latinos and Hispanic folks about the Chicago bakery that is complaining that they are no longer as profitable after they lost 1/3 of their workforce (800) to an immigration bust.

They are having to pay higher wages because they got caught taking advantage of undocumented workers with pitiful wages.

Comment by cdog Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:42 pm
Sugar Corn, you clearly don’t know how bad those neanderthal converative governors around the country are.

Comment by Ron Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:43 pm
Poor Diana. Just thinking of the conversations at cocktail parties.

Comment by Iron Lady Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:44 pm
One thing that both Liberals and Conservatives agree on is that Rauner is the worst Governor in America. As an Independent Moderate I tend to agree. Illinois is pretty much across the board in worse shape now than when he became Governor, that can’t be denied.

Comment by Dude Abides Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:45 pm
Isn’t Sam Brownback still in office?

Love cover and the premise.

Comment by The Way I See It Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:50 pm
Back in the day (the early ’80s) I was a subscriber, but then I grew up, went to college and put away childish things.

Comment by paddyrollingstone Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:54 pm
I can’t lie, l love the attacks from the right. Is that the way to enter a reelection campaign, with key supporters outraged?

“he’s not a conservative”

He’s a Raunerite: someone who’s profited from public employee pensions for decades, attacks the very people who’ve helped enrich him, purposely parades around as phony working class guy, makes debt explode, deliberately sabotages the budget, causes a million or more Illinoisans to lose social services, whacks higher ed funding, harms economic prospects, attacks a key legislative partner at the most critical fiscal time in state history, scapegoats his staff, fires competent employees and replaces them with incompetent ideologues, etc.

Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 12:55 pm
“Ives resembles a policy nerd as she rattles off obscure facts about the state budget”

The key words here are “resemble” and “obscure facts,” meaning she attempts to resemble a policy wonk, but really just obscures the facts.

Comment by Senator Clay Davis Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 1:04 pm
Sam Brownback is still in office. So is Rick Scott , Scott Walker, Nathan Deal…

The NR article is just anti abortion zealotry

Comment by Ron Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 1:08 pm
I don’t understand the lack of respect for Jeanne Ives as a candidate, or as a credible individual. She is duly elected by the citizens of her district just as every other state rep. While she might not hold the same values as others on this blog, I think the idea that somehow political differences makes a person not credible is what’s wrong with much of our politics today.

Comment by Saluki Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 1:11 pm
Ives has no chance of being governor.

NONE

Comment by Ron Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 1:13 pm
Dressing down to run for public office is old hat. Rauner is copying Leverett Saltonstall, the Boston Brahmin, who dressed in plaid flannel shirts and was photographed raking the lawn in campaign photos to appeal to the masses and to disguise his roots.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 1:14 pm
I have never thought of Rep Ives as “wonky.” I found that characterization interesting. On the other had she is clearly usually during committee meetings reasonably well read on the bill she is speaking to, beyond the summary of the bill. Often I don’t agree with her reading of aspects of bills based on ideology, but that really is another question altogether.

Have we now set the bar so low in the Illinois General Assembly that members who actually read the bills are now “wonky?”

Comment by Rod Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 1:22 pm
Hey Ron, clearly you love the Rauner.

But you must concede that he is wrecking Illinois.

Place is a lot worse than he found it.

Comment by Sugar Corn Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 1:23 pm
Who gave Chris Christie a reprieve?

Comment by Mouthy Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 1:25 pm
This article says four Illinois governors “have wound up in prison.” It’s really three, since Walker was imprisoned for things that happened after leaving elected office.

But yes, three is plenty.

Comment by WTF Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 1:26 pm
==in case you haven’t heard of this publication you aren’t alone.

Total circulation (2015): 142,667

Not exactly on par with the likes of TIME==

I’m not saying it’s a good article, but if you’ve never heard of TNR, then you must not follow national politics or pundits very close. It’s been a pretty well know mainstay for modern conservative think tanks and mouthpieces for over 60 years.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 1:31 pm
I wouldn’t say I love Rauner, but the state really needs a kick start. It has been driven into the ground by decades of horrible Dems and Rebubs.

Comment by Ron Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 1:33 pm
Isn’t Ives just a religious nut job?

Comment by Ron Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 1:34 pm
Illinois is no worse off, it’s still a shambles thanks to powerful public employee union control of the state dems.

Comment by Ron Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 1:35 pm
First, the National Review’s circulation is unimportant. What matters is it’s credibility with GOP primary voters, which is extremely high. A good campaign can quote the publication with damning effect.

Secondly: how will the National Review influence other conservative thinking? John Kass is such a cog in the Rauner combine, I don’t know if he could ever support Ives in the primary. Even though Kass knows full well in his heart that not just Durkin but also Rauner were most likely in on the back room deal to pass the tax hike. Don’t you, John?

Still, National Review has ties to other conservative thought leaders like George Will, Krauthammer, Elliott Abrams and Mona Charen.

And the cover is brutal. We will see that image again and again.

Comment by Thomas Paine Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 1:37 pm
===I wouldn’t say I love Rauner, but the state really needs a kick start. It has been driven into the ground by decades of horrible Dems and Rebubs.===

Seriously, dude. Then you should be looking elsewhere. He is one of those “Dems and Repubs” you write of. If the state needs a kickstart, find someone who will actually try to do something and not play a third-rate victim to a second-rate legislator.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 1:38 pm
Rauner wants to bust the incestuous public employee union/pol relationship.

That’s what Illinois needs.

Comment by Ron Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 1:53 pm
All the dem candidates love public employee unions.

Comment by Ron Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 1:54 pm
The National Review, aka, the gospel according to William F. Buckley, rates Bruce Rauner below Paul LePage of Maine.

Let that sink in for a while. Yikes.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 1:56 pm
===Rauner wants to bust the incestuous public employee union/pol relationship.===

That’s a real zinger. The guy made 1.5% plus 20% of profit off of public employee pensions.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 2:09 pm
Are there two separate people posting as “Ron” today? I see “Neanderthal conservative governors”, “anti-abortion zealots spewing garbage”, and “Isn’t Ives a religious nut job”. Also, I see “Illinois isn’t a sanctuary state” (even though it is - thanks Bruce!) and “powerful public employee union control of state dems”.

Or is this a bit? It feels like a bit. Or two separate people.

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 2:09 pm
Ron, I’m back. You need to get back on your meds, dude,

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 2:12 pm
I don’t care where he made his money. He could have made it off public employee 401ks, which would make me much happier.

Comment by Ron Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 2:28 pm
Anonymous, welcome back with your useless comments.

Comment by Ron Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 2:28 pm
1. It’s “National Review” or “NR”. There is no “The” in front of it.

2. NR’s stable of writers have different opinions on different topics, which play out in internal debates on the pages of the magazine and NR online. They often publish George Will, who is relatively pro-Rauner. This is not the view of the magazine’s editorial board but of one writer, who happened to do very little research about Rep. Ives or the political situation on the ground in Illinois

3. One imagines NR’s credibility has diminished significantly among GOP primary voters as its writers were among THE most vocal anti-Trump critics on the Right, going so far as to publish a cover story entitled “Never Trump”, which inadvertently lent its name to the movement of the same name.

Overall, I think the article did a poor job at evaluating the facts of the situation. Jeanne isn’t credible, and no one with any knowledge of Illinois politics who isn’t connected to either IPI/IOP or the pro-life movement would say otherwise. Her political base statewide is non-existent outside of hard-line pro-lifers and the IPI/IOP charlatans who peddle the idea, against all available evidence, that Illinois is Texas and that blue is actually red.

As a subscriber of the magazine and fan of many of their writers, it is very disappointing that Rich Lowry, the editor, allowed this piece to go to print without more scrutiny, more sources outside the IPI/IOP hive-mind, and a deeper exploration of the political dynamics in Illinois.

Comment by Sen. Blutarsky Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 2:33 pm
While Ives may or may not be a credible “governing” candidate, she is a credible “political” candidate. OW gives Ives “over/under” at 37.5% - anyone who gets this percentage against an incumbent who has practically an unlimited amount to spend is politically credible. I won’t vote for Ives, but people who underestimate her potential at the polls may be in for a surprise on March 20th (for the record, I think she’ll end up at 40% or so).

Comment by DarkHorse Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 2:35 pm
What took so long to figure this out?

Comment by Glengarry Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 2:41 pm
== Illinois is no worse off, ==

So …

$10B of added debt that we had to bond out, encumbering future revenues

3 years delaying any possible legal pension changes or reforms

3 years of not being able to find any significant waste, fraud or abuse

$2.8B of unauthorized / unbudgeted expenditures for questionable software

Driving students out of Illinois by weakening the universities

Ruining a large portion of the social services network in Illinois

I could give more examples, but these should be sufficient.

So none of the above made Illinois any worse than it was before Rauner took office?

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 2:48 pm
I love the cover. He is an epic failure. Sorry Ron and Lucky Pierre, but his greatest accomplishments are… That’s right, besides veto’s, whining about Madigan, unions, the corrupt court system and lack of term limits, he has actually accomplished NOTHING. His commercials boast of increased school funding which he vetoed. He still doesn’t understand or accept how the legislation process works and refuses to answer questions by the media. Soon, he can focus on something else. The fact that he has fractured his own party is funny. What’s his path to victory? It will be interesting to see how he does in the GOP primary.

Comment by Trapped in the 'burbs Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 2:50 pm
===“Governor Rauner will keep fighting to make a Illinois a better place to live and work for everyone by working to lower property taxes, increasing school choice, and eliminating job-killing regulations.”===

Justin,

He’s failed, bud.

Rauner is the worst Republican Governor in America.

That’s who Rauner is, Madigan or not.

Governors own who they are.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 3:00 pm
Mike Madigan and the conservative magazines founded by William F. Buckley he controls…

Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 3:02 pm
“wonky.” LOL, OK.

Comment by Bill F. Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 3:04 pm
Ron: “Illinois is no worse off, it’s still a shambles thanks to powerful public employee union control of the state dems. ”

Where I work, the “powerful public employee union” has a food bank so members don’t have to choose between eating and paying rent. No gold-plated Cadillacs here.

Comment by Ed Higher Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 3:07 pm
Soo, did this writer actually come to Illinois and really do research and ask questions?? Or did he just do his research on the web or talk only to the usual suspects??

Totally love the cover. Made my day!

Comment by Nearly Normal Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 3:09 pm
The only conclusion I can reach by reading the message board for this particular story is that the base of 2018 Rauner voters is “liberal republicans who are virulently anti-conservative, but also virulently anti-union”. Anyone want to take a stab at the over/under on unicorn vote turnout for next year?

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 3:19 pm
Times have changed
Our state’s getting worse
Legislators won’t obey their betters
They just don’t want to be abettors
Should we blame the government?
Or blame society?
Or should we blame the images on TV?

No, blame Madigan, blame Madigan
With his beady little eyes
And flappin’ head so full of lies
Blame Madigan, blame Madigan
We need to form a full assault
It’s all Madigan’s fault.

Comment by Northsider Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 3:21 pm
==The only conclusion I can reach by reading the message board for this particular story is that the base of 2018 Rauner voters is “liberal republicans who are virulently anti-conservative, but also virulently anti-union”.==

Pretty sure Lucky Pierre’s still on board, too.

Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 3:23 pm
Justin, were very thick opaque rose-colored blinders part of your new employee packet???

Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 3:34 pm
The cover what it is, and it’s not incorrect.

But reading through all the posting has been excrusiating. You people are like a bunch of movie goers yelling at a foreign movie.

Saying you never heard of this publication is like saying you never heard of Le Monde

Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 3:37 pm
===Saying you never heard of this publication is like saying you never heard of Le Monde===

Lol. Well said.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 3:41 pm
John Tillman, Ives, etc. what are they really upset about? Rauner didn’t give Johnny control of the legislative races in exchange for $30 million?

Comment by sour grape Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 3:43 pm
==Anyone want to take a stab at the over/under on unicorn vote turnout for next year?==

He’s aiming for moderates.

Comment by People Over Parties Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 3:46 pm
===He’s aiming for moderates.===

LOL

Rauner is aiming for costal liberal social Democrats that despise labor, wants social services crippled abc higher education scuttled.

Thus… the 30% approval.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 3:48 pm
“UPDATED x1 - Rauner campaign blames Madigan”

I’m shocked, shocked! to find gambling going on here.

Is there anything he doesn’t blame on Madigan?

Comment by JoanP Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 4:03 pm
So who at BTIA(TM) is taking credit for landing the cover? Not quite the George Will love song.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 4:06 pm
I think the comments trying to say that the National Review’s damning assessment of our governor doesn’t mean much is missing the obvious point- he needs both the majority of moderates to vote for him (hence the “non sanctuary city” and Medicaid abortion bills”), and almost all CONSERVATIVES votes to have a chance winning a second term in this “more blue than purple” state. If those angry at him for being pro-abortion or pro-immigrant decide to vote for Ives instead of him, or just stay at home and sit on their couches watching Fox news instead of voting, he is burnt toast. His Raunerites can spin this all they want, but without getting the two blocs of voters he has to get, he will just be burning through more of his children’s inheritance for no real reason come 2018.

Comment by Roadiepig Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 4:13 pm
== Saying you never heard of this publication is like saying you never heard of Le Monde ==

First read the NR in college more years ago than I want to admit to.

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 4:20 pm
“I don’t care where he made his money.”

Here is where the hypocrisy lies—hating public employee unions and the pensions they defend yet supporting Rauner. These employees live paycheck to paycheck, but the person who’s profited from them and has enough money to retire thousands of times over not only gets a pass, but is supported.

Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 4:28 pm
This is really politically fascinating.

Rauner is not only being branded by party heavyweights, but I suspect an entire paradigm shift is occurring in Rauner World.

Evolutionary tendencies have us programmed to stay away from things that just don’t seem safe, so if you are still in Rauner’s camp as this political story continues to unfold, you might just be not thinking clearly. Hint–the ground just moved.

This is what it looks like when someone is being rejected by their party.

Comment by cdog Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 4:32 pm
“Is there anything he doesn’t blame on Madigan?”

No, he’s a one-trick pony and a failure. He’s got nothing to run on but attacking Madigan and unnamed “cronies.”

Where are all the Democrats who secretly support his anti-union agenda, to buck Madigan? Where are the votes to pass his reforms?

Rauner purposely sabotaged the state by inserting poison pills in the budget process that he had to have known wouldn’t pass.

Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 4:54 pm
Response from Rauner World, “Governor Rauner will keep fighting to make a Illinois a better place to live and work for everyone by working to lower property taxes, increasing school choice, and eliminating job-killing regulations.”

What a joke.

Comment by cdog Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 5:20 pm
Yeah cdog, because illinois hasn’t been run into the ground for decades.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 5:31 pm
===because illinois hasn’t been run into the ground for decades.===

… and yet, right now, Rauner IS the worst Republican Governor… now.

That’s… right now.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 5:33 pm
Rauner’s campaign message can be boiled down to a more straightforward message….
He made campaign promises in the last election and said that I would accomplish everything in one term. He hasn’t delivered on those promises yet, so please re-elect him and this time I’m gonna really do it…for realzies.

Comment by Happy Retiree Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 5:40 pm
My only question about the article’s title: why’d they bother with the 2nd adjective?

Comment by leoFromChicago Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 5:52 pm
The National Review is simply taking a message nationwide that we in Illinois have known for three years. Rauner does not have a clue on how to do the job, tell the truth, or make anything happen that helps Illinois. He bought a job he knows nothing about, and can’t figure out why everyone will not kowtow to his demands. He was supposed to be good at venture capitalism, he should stick with that. He stinks as a Governor.

Comment by Retired Educator Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 5:56 pm
Why would a Republican voter want a chief executive who consistently whines about how he can’t do anything, despite the chief executive’s awesome powers, who admits he’s ineffectual because of a 70-something man elected by all of 100,000 people?

I though Republicans were make your own way, pull yourself up by the bootstrap folk. I didn’t realize they were just delicate little snowflakes who could be blown over by a frail old man

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 6:00 pm
Joe, that’s exactly why the GOP tribal leaders just put Rauner in the canoe with no paddle. buh-bye.

Comment by cdog Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 6:19 pm
- Anonymous - Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 5:31 pm:

Yeah cdog, because illinois hasn’t been run into the ground for decades.

More whataboutisms, that’s all the discussion we get now from Raunerland. I can’t help but notice how much smarter this blog was before all the raunerbots arrived. Hopefully it will go back to normal once he loses next year and these employees/commenters get shipped back to Indiana where they came from.

Ives/Pritzker/Kennedy/Biss 2018 - Make Capitol Fax Great Again

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 7:08 pm
Sorry! Last comment at 7:08 was mine

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 7:09 pm
7:08 was me

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 7:16 pm
i thought it was a mad magazine cover of the fonz jumping the shark, crashing, with a thumbs eyy

Comment by Rabid Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 7:21 pm
@Joe Biden you nailed it. Bruce Rauner just isn’t up for the job. Raunerites, please explain how Speaker Madigan is preventing Rauner from using his extraordinary powers, such as the Amendatory Veto. Rauner could have used that power to make the necessary cuts to balance that budget but he didn’t do that. Why, because he’s afraid that those bad old Democrats would use those cuts against him when campaigning. He intentionally created a crisis, it blew up on him and the resulting damage is everyone’s fault but his.

Comment by Dude Abides Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 9:28 pm
Ron @ 1:53. Its all free speech dude. Get over yourself. We can support who wver we want just like you support the worst governor in the nation.

Comment by Generic Drone Thursday, Nov 30, 17 @ 11:24 pm
I read the article. So what. He betrayed some conservative principles, which is could be called consensus politics, because we are in a more liberal state. We all question his effectiveness, but many stand by the need for reform. Democratic legislature are not leaders on this topic…

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Dec 1, 17 @ 8:35 am
Strange NR calls Republican governor worst, when they refuse to support their president.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Dec 1, 17 @ 10:04 am
===Strange NR calls Republican governor worst, when they refuse to support their president.===

Both Rauner and Trump are opportunitist, not Republicans.

This Rauner piece was to put down Rauner, leave a mark for March 2018.

===So what===

I dunno if being called the worst Republican governor in America is something you sluff off from National Review. If NR said Rauner was the best, we woulda heard about it.

===We all question his effectiveness, but many stand by the need for reform. Democratic legislature are not leaders on this topic…===

“Rauner isn’t great, but Democrats… “… yeah ok, go with that.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Dec 1, 17 @ 10:10 am