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* Background is here. From the Pritzker campaign…
The Worst Republican Governor in America is now claiming he’s “not in charge” of the state he was elected to lead.
Bruce Rauner, the governor and chief executive of Illinois, made the baffling comments at a press conference earlier today. With a record of no accomplishments and countless crises, the failed governor seems intent on running a campaign of attack, blame, and divide while taking zero responsibility for the damage he’s done.
“The Worst Republican Governor in America is running for re-election on a bold strategy of claiming he hasn’t actually been in charge of the state he’s led for the past three years,” said Pritzker campaign spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh. “Rauner wants credit for imaginary successes, blames everyone else for his failures, and now readily admits he has done nothing to lead Illinois.”
* And Dan Proft tosses in his own two cents…
The buck stops somewhere else. I'll only shake up Springfield if Madigan lets me. Was that Rauner's value prop as a candidate? Feeble. https://t.co/OwSgaQLvMC
— Dan Proft (@DanProft) December 4, 2017
…Adding… Two guesses on who’s “in charge” of Rep. Ives’ Twitter account?…
I'll only shake up Springfield if Madigan lets me. Was that the promise? Gov's office is powerful, but a weak man is in it. #twill #ilgov https://t.co/LsIGIRWlhR
— Jeanne Ives (@JeanneIves) December 4, 2017
…Adding More… Good point…
.@GovRauner today: "I am not in charge" of the state
Candidate @BruceRauner: Leaders “take on the responsibility and you take the heat and you take the blame when things don’t go well" #ilgov #twill pic.twitter.com/1Qc2BSzR94
— Illinois Working Together (@IllinoisWorking) December 4, 2017
*** UPDATE 1 *** DGA…
“Bruce Rauner’s reelection campaign is going in reverse and he’s getting desperate,” said DGA Illinois Communications Director Sam Salustro. “Rauner already faces the impossible task of defending his failed record of higher debt and lower job growth. Now facing a primary challenge, Rauner has accepted help from extreme right-wing ideologues and supported Washington Republicans’ tax plan while desperately deflecting blame for his own failures. Rauner started the week as the nation’s most vulnerable incumbent and it seems like it’s only getting worse for him.”
*** UPDATE 2 *** Kennedy campaign…
Bruce Rauner is kicking off his re-election campaign by dodging the blame for failing to raise the minimum wage in our state, maintaining an unfair property tax system that burdens working families, and overseeing a two-year budget impasse that cut off social services to more than 1 million people in our state. The people of Illinois can’t afford to suffer through another term. We need to radically change the status quo and not only bring opportunity back to our state — but bring accountability back to the governor’s office.
*** UPDATE 3 *** Leader Lang was asked about the governor’s “I am not in charge” quote today…
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:22 pm
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Previous Post: John B. Anderson passes away
Next Post: Rauner on Dems: “They will sock the middle class with a tax hike that Madigan and his puppets want and it will destroy Illinois”
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There’s that Pritzker Press Shop I’ve been waiting to see roar back…
Tight, tough, this is where this shop has shined more and more, we’re just seeing less and less of this type of craft/work.
This is “Skyhook, in reverse”
This is taking that second front battle and surgically going after Rauner, no quarter.
Keep plugging.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:26 pm
I love it! The Republican Party in Illinois, or what’s left of it anyway, is cannibalizing itself. And the Cannibal in Chief is Dan Proft, the biggest “taker” from those who want to elect, wait for it…more Republicans!
Comment by Colin O'Scopey Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:29 pm
Direct hit. Priceless.
Comment by Norseman Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:35 pm
Doing great, Hud!
Comment by Macbeth Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:37 pm
Contrast Rauner’s “I am not in charge” with Trump’s “I’m the only one that matters.”
Pull the curtain back on Rauner, and you see a weak, impotent rich guy.
Pull curtain back on Trump, and you see … a weak, impotent rich guy.
Wait, what?
Comment by Macbeth Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:40 pm
Proft is in charge of Ives’ Twitter feed. Ives is a goner.
Comment by Politico Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:40 pm
Politico, Ives was a goner from go.
Comment by Fixer Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:43 pm
Unfortunately, Governor, you are in charge. It’s a shame you haven’t grasped that, let alone run with it.
Comment by AlfondoGonz Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:43 pm
Proft is also running candidates in places where Proft believed those members turned on… Bruce Rauner.
Proft is against Rauner, and against those who turned on Rauner.
Proft is in this for Proft.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:44 pm
So Bruce has been in the sidecar all along?
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:44 pm
Great piece by the Pritzker campaign, and tweets by Proft and Ives. That quote that Rauner is not in charge, that he’s an ineffective whiner, should be pretty damaging. Don’t Republicans and conservatives hate whiny victims?
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:44 pm
=Contrast Rauner’s “I am not in charge” with Trump’s “I’m the only one that matters.”=
Somewhere in between those two positions lies the co-equal branches of government thingy.
Comment by Occasionally Blocked By Rich Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:46 pm
Illinois Working Together’s twitter is arguably one of the best stat-centric partisan twitter in Illinois.
A must, all sides, to be checked out often… they’re really good.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:47 pm
- Grandson of Man - Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:44 pm:
“Great piece by the Pritzker campaign, and tweets by Proft and Ives. That quote that Rauner is not in charge, that he’s an ineffective whiner, should be pretty damaging. Don’t Republicans and conservatives hate whiny victims?”
Republicans sure don’t seem to know what they’re for anymore. Maybe they, as a party, need to pull themselves up by their bootstraps.
Comment by illini97 Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:48 pm
“I am not in charge”
Alexander Haig is rolling in his grave….
Comment by Probably Blocked By Rich Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:49 pm
I’m beginning to think Proft is in charge.
Comment by Generic Drone Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:50 pm
== I’m beginning to think Proft is in change ==
Proft is desperate to be in charge. He’s mad at Rauner because he didn’t put him in charge which means he’s not in charge. Owego is right again - Proft is for Proft.
Comment by politico Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:54 pm
May be wrong but I think Haig said (huffing) “as of now, I’m in charge here” (White House). The fact his voice was quaking didn’t settle the nerves of viewers. He said he’d run from another part of WH to get to Press Room.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:58 pm
Nobody wants to vote for someone who is weak. A leader would have come into office with a plan to work with Democrats. Why would someone vote for Rauner, another four years, when he didn’t work with them the first four?
Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 1:01 pm
Totally agree that short, powerful punches/uppercuts in a clinch do far more damage than long winded, poorly trajected haymakers. Bruce actually threw most of them at himself in this case. Another great job Bruce,
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 1:02 pm
That guy has just been in an utter free fall since he fired his competent staff. Of course, I’m not sure how Ives is going to fair with all the incompetent staff flocking to her campaign.
Comment by Ahoy! Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 1:02 pm
Occasionally Blocked By Rich - Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:46 pm:
=Contrast Rauner’s “I am not in charge” with Trump’s “I’m the only one that matters.”=
Somewhere in between those two positions lies the co-equal branches of government thingy.
Love this……
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 1:14 pm
So Ken griff has been calling the shots all along?
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 1:14 pm
Has a candidate running for reelection ever declared himself a lame duck before?
– MrJM
Comment by @MisterJayEm Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 1:15 pm
MrJM. Excellent.
Comment by Blue dog dem Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 1:16 pm
What a place we find ourselves in. One periodical is calling the Gov the “Worst Republican Governor in America”.
JB should be a bit careful. He might be the “Worst Democratic Candidate for Governor in a state where winning should be easy pickings”
Comment by A guy Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 1:19 pm
Why did Ives (Proft) delete that tweet?
Comment by Reality Check Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 1:20 pm
–That guy has just been in an utter free fall since he fired his competent staff.–
That guy had been deeply under water in the polls and had failed to win a budget in 2 1/2 years even w/ his ‘competent’ staff.
Comment by King Louis XVI Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 1:21 pm
Where is the mainstream media. No governor in the history of the USA has ever made that kind of a statement. His whole hope depends and blaming someone for his failures. This guy scares me.
Comment by Omg Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 1:25 pm
It would have been better if Proft deleted the duplicate post rather than Ives…..
Comment by whois Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 1:31 pm
Patty Schuh must be banging her head against a wall somewhere.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 1:58 pm
Interesting to compare the choices of Ives and Harold in this election, and wonder what’s going through the latter’s mind right now. Harold essentially agreed to be a Rauner mouthpiece in exchange for his money; he promptly sells her out on an issue she deeply cares about (pro-life); and his comments like today’s make her decision look questionable. Ives, for all her faults, is doing one thing that’s needed and deserved: a primary challenge to this sitting governor. An interesting thought experiment: what would have happened if Harold, instead of Ives, had challenged Rauner - based on the conservative principles she appears to hold? Who - Ives or Harold - would be more likely to gain the votes of moderate GOP women who may be Rauner’s saving grace in the primary? Ives will likely lose; for Harold, it’s a lost opportunity to have been a national, conservative star - which is what she really wants. She’s got hangups about money, so was lured by Rauner’s cash. But that’s ok. She’ll probably land a very lucrative job in Rauner’s orbit after this is over and they both lose in November.
Comment by DarkHorse Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 2:50 pm
I’d pump the brakes on that kinda talk right now. Harold has a non-zero chance to end up Attorney General, and if that happens, she’ll quickly be a national conservative star.
Comment by Arsenal Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 3:03 pm
The only people saying Ives has no chance is those on the left. The republican commenters on Rauners page support Ives. So all you democrats need to find all these republicans that you claim don’t support Ives. And I’m a democrat btw.
Comment by Real Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 3:08 pm
Arsenal - of course it’s non-zero that Harold wins. But what’s her actual chance? 20%? It’s asymmetrical. A much higher chance that she loses by “alot”- more than 10% - than she actually wins.
Comment by DarkHorse Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 3:11 pm
Ives has taken in some powerful checks in recent days, according to ISBE, but she’s going to need a lot more just to get name recognition.
Is Uihlein going to step up or not. You’d think so, the way Proft has been ripping on Rauner.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 3:14 pm
==But what’s her actual chance?==
I dunno. Not great, sure. But it’s there, and the Democrats may have a messy primary ending in a compromised nominee. Just saying, she’s probably not looking in the mirror wondering “What might have been” quite yet.
Comment by Arsenal Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 3:32 pm
“Clubber Lang” bludgeons the weak-kneed chief exec.
Comment by anon2 Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 3:59 pm
Lou Lang nailed it. “Who’s holding the leash”?
Comment by Flynn's mom Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 4:02 pm
Erika received a challenger today. Things are no longer a slam dunk for her as her opponent is from Burr Ridge…hmm.
Comment by Sigh Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 4:05 pm
Lou Lang ” the Governor has to work with us”
What he meant was he and his caucus will not work with the Governor.
Where have you met the Governor half way in almost 3 years Lou? Not even 10 percent of the way on any reforms.
The Democrats will not sign in to passing any reforms of our state government or business environment. Raising taxes must be bipartisan but not reforms.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 4:15 pm
Erroneous use of the word “disinterested” by Lang. Otherwise, spot on.
Comment by Nick Name Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 4:17 pm
Jeez LP. You go on and on like a drone. It’s always “whataboutism” and victimhood with you. Maybe you can stay on topic for a half a second and have some sort of opinion on the Governor of a state saying he’s not in charge. You think you can manage to directly address something without your usual “blah, blah, blah, what about the Democrats” whining?
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 4:23 pm
==What he meant was he and his caucus will not work with the Governor.==
Education funding reform.
Criminal justice reform.
Those are two pretty good ones.
This incessant whining is getting really, really, really old.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 4:25 pm
The best education reform would be to eliminate teachers unions.
Comment by Ron Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 4:31 pm
“Lucky Pierre”
The formatting of your couple years’ commenting has changed.
I’ve noticed.
To your comment.
===What he meant was he and his caucus will not work with the Governor.
Where have you met the Governor half way in almost 3 years Lou? Not even 10 percent of the way on any reforms.===
It’s up to Rauner to find his 60 and 30.
It’s not up to the legislature to find it for him.
Even Dr. Purvis stated Rauner wouldn’t accept something he (Rauner) aggression with 90%.
That’s Rauner.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 4:40 pm
==What he meant was he and his caucus will not work with the Governor.==
OK, even though this has already been proven pretty wrong, I’m going to play along to demonstrate- for others- how moribund Rauner is.
The General Assembly refuses to work with Rauner? OK. That’s a pretty good reason to get a new Governor.
Comment by Arsenal Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 5:08 pm
– Lucky Pierre - Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 4:15 pm:
Lou Lang ” the Governor has to work with us”
What he meant was he and his caucus will not work with the Governor.-
Lucky Pierre- nahh, I think Lang meant EXACTLY what he said “the Governor has to work with us”… look what happened with the budget and the education reform bill… democrats and republicans worked together/individuals compromised. The Governor needs to respect that each member of the General Assembly was elected to serve their respective districts.
I think we ALL have learned valuable lessons from Rauner, his All Stars and the Best Team In America - term limits are a bad idea. Institutional knowledge is key to governin’.
Comment by Sigh Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 5:25 pm
Leader Lang had that ol’twinkle in the eyes before the first question was asked. He was rarin’ to go. 4 minutes of must-see TV.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 5:48 pm
You would consider Education reform working cooperatively and professionally with the Governor?
You mean the Education reform that included a bailout of CPS and no lowering of the 98% pension pickup to 93% for teacher like the leaders agreed would be precondition?
Signed on August 31st after school had already started in most districts?
Working with the Goveroor, the Democrats way.
For a veteran legislator like Lou Lang to say the Governor is in charge of Illinois is shocking.
Last time I checked, we have 3 co equal branches of government, two of who are controlled by Democrats.
The fact the reporter did not challenge him is also shocking.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 6:29 pm
AA, yes he did. I liked the closing smirk and shoulder shrug.
Comment by Norseman Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 6:33 pm
‘The best education reform would be to eliminate teachers unions.’
Look everyone, Ron’s playing from his Greates Hits album!
Comment by Morty Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 7:14 pm
LP, you apparently didn’t get the memo. Rauner is campaigning on the education reform bill as his greatest accomplishment.
Back to the Island of Misfit Bots for reprogramming.
Comment by Wordslinger Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 9:45 pm
The biggest problem with modern education is the teachers union Morty. If they were treated and acted like adults like most professionals are, that would be one very progressive step toward education reform.
Comment by Ron Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 9:49 pm
===For a veteran legislator like Lou Lang to say the Governor is in charge of Illinois is shocking.===
lol, “Edgar Ramp”
Governors own and are in charge and set the tone.
Do me a solid, “Lucky Pierre”, you’ve seem to magically forgotten how to mark what others wrote in your own comments.
It must be the bot reprogramming… atlfter hundreds of comments, you magically forget yesterday and today how you’ve commented for what has been months.
I guess your circuits fried.
===Working with the Goveroor, the Democrats way.===
How do explain those ads that Rauner had touting this “win”
Hmm.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 9:52 pm
==This is “Skyhook, in reverse”==
You have been writing this repeatedly. I have absolutely no idea what the hell you are talking about.
There are many definitions of the term “skyhook”. You seem to be so proud of your usage. What does it mean to reverse a skyhook?
This has been bugging me for three years. Finally, a friend of mine, very high in state government, ask me. I told him I hadn’t a clue either.
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 10:00 pm
- VanillaMan -
(Sigh)
===- Oswego Willy - Friday, May 26, 17 @ 10:16 am
Sometimes when I reference an Easter Egg type reference it leaves more yoke on my face than what I may be trying to connect to the happening.
I looked at that Skyhook reference and while I may know why it works, I’m not making it too clear why it’s a point of reference for me.
So, I’ll explain this obscure reference, with my apology.
“In Harms Way” is a 1965 World War II film set in the South Pacific, starting on December 6, 1941, Pearl Harbor.
The Pacific Theatre war begins, and with it comes a stalling of victories for the US, due in part to a lack of decisive thinking and action to turn the tide that could lead to an American victory in the Pacific.
A plan was needed, the name of that plan was “Skyhook”
If Skyhook was executed perfectly, the tide in the Pacific would change and this plan would cripple the entrenched Japanese forces and lead an unstoppable march (albeit by a navy) towards Tokyo.
Seeing a sitting governor as the entrenched forces of the Japanese, a plan, that if executed perfectly, could defeat those entrenched forces and a final victory would be possible, winning the election.
Skyhook works, the United States blows the Pacific Theatre wide open, the beginnings of a possible US victory is now possible.
That’s the first plot point.
About a 1/4 of the film is this fear of “Skyhook in reverse”, that the Japanese could use the very same maneuver against the United States and it would allow the Japanese to again be right where they were before Skyhook.
Rauner, now the US forces, successful in using a well executed plan to defeat a sitting governor, faces the strong possibility of facing the same strategy he used from a challenger, given his own incumbency, and given that the same arguments Rauner used against Quinn can now “easily” transfer to Rauner, if a campaign executes the Rauner blueprint perfectly.
By copying the proven plan, the Rauner Plan, the “Skyhook”, I see that in Pritzker’s approach a few times now;
Bruce Rauner fails
Caricatures
The cataloging of pieces to one theme of Rauner
In many ways, I see “Skyhook in reverse” being the best blueprint to defeat Rauner, as Rauner’s “Skyhook” defeated Pat Quinn.
It’s beyond presumptuous for me to think my thoughts or ideas on this are being used by Pritzker’s Crew or even in the thoughts of any other campaign too. I’m approaching this exactly as an observer in real time to the happenings of what I’m seeing, not as someone suggesting these thoughts, in any way, are an accepted strategy.
So, I hope that makes clearer the reference. I recommend the movie, the novel too that the movie is based. It’s not a flag-waving, everyone is a hero type novel or film, lots of very flawed characters, but they both are worth your time.
I hope this helps. Now I’ll be cleaning the yoke off my face…===
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 10:12 pm
**Where have you met the Governor half way in almost 3 years Lou? Not even 10 percent of the way on any reforms.
The Democrats will not sign in to passing any reforms of our state government or business environment.**
Sigh…
Criminal justice reform.
Procurement reform.
Pension reform.
Education funding reform.
EDGE reforms.
Workers Comp reforms.
Local government consolidation reforms.
Should I keep going?
Comment by SaulGoodman Tuesday, Dec 5, 17 @ 8:50 am