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Surprise! Tribune endorses Bruce Rauner

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Illinois

* Rauner campaign…

This morning, the Chicago Tribune announced that it is endorsing Governor Rauner. The Governor’s steadfast opposition to Speaker Mike Madigan’s unbalanced budgets and tax-and-spend agenda makes Governor Rauner the best choice in their view.

* From the endorsement…

Had Democrats been serious about rescuing Illinois’ jobs climate and public finances, they could have cut plenty of deals with Rauner. The rookie governor with a mandate to shake up Springfield was willing to talk tax hikes in return for a reasonable wish list.

What Rauner wouldn’t do was sign another phony budget.

But Democrats dug in. They did not negotiate in good faith. They did not meaningfully debate his proposals. Their goal was gridlock. Illinois would lurch for two years without a full-year spending plan.

As Rauner’s agenda languished in Democrat-chaired committees, Illinois slid further. And fed-up residents accelerated their exodus. For four years running, this state has bled population. In 2017, Illinois lost a net 33,703 residents, dropping the state to sixth-largest in the U.S. That is flat-out alarming.

His wish list was reasonable, eh? Some of it was, sure. But lots of his must-haves were no-ways.

And this talk about negotiating in good faith from the same editorial board which opined in October of 2015 months after the start of the impasse: “No, Gov. Edgar, ‘doable’ is the problem.” They wanted a war all along.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 9:23 am

Comments

I wonder if they would have endorsed Ives if she didn’t air that ad?

Comment by Ste_with_a_ven Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 9:28 am
Now that the SEC blocked Chinese investors from buying the Chicago Exchange maybe they will buy Tronc instead.

Perhaps if they start publishing the Trib in Chinese it will be improved after running it through the often fallible Google Translate.

Comment by former southerner Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 9:29 am
This is a huge shock. I would have never expected the Tribune Editorial Board, of all places, to carry water for Bruce Rauner and everything he stands for. /s

Comment by TKMH Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 9:29 am
I am so surprised that this wonderful example of journalism, would endorse Governor Rauner. /S The Tribune continues it downward spiral. A once great newspaper has plunged to the bottom of the barrel.

Comment by Retired Educator Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 9:30 am
We know the Tribune is behind Rauner, but, for heaven’s sake,have they no shame? Did they not see the damage Rauner caused over the last few years?

Comment by Christopher Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 9:31 am
Wonder no more. No

Comment by Anon_with_a_ymous Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 9:32 am
And in other news … the sun came up in the east today.

Comment by RNUG Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 9:34 am
**I wonder if they would have endorsed Ives if she didn’t air that ad?**

No.

Comment by SaulGoodman Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 9:36 am
A property tax freeze was one of those “reasonable wishes” of Rauner but only to the extent that it included his RTW language. Once that was removed he had no interest. More often than not reasonable requests were nothing more than cover for his real objectives which almost always seemed to be centered around destroying labor.

Comment by Pundent Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 9:37 am
Dog bites man.

Comment by IRLJ Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 9:41 am
I am shocked — SHOCKED — to find that the Tronc-bune has endorsed the guy they’ve been behind from jump.

Comment by thunderspirit Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 9:43 am
Here’s another shock for you - they’re not endorsing JB Pritzker.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 9:46 am
The only way things improve in this state is if centrists from both parties assume leadership roles. That can’t happen given any of the candidates for governor.

And it won’t happen as long as the current legislative leaders remain in place.

True compromise means that the people win, not the governor or legislative leaders. And we just can’t gave that in Illinois.

Comment by SSL Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 9:47 am
Did they not see the same editorial board session that we all saw? Ives was terrific. This is representative of the many problems with politics. It’s all institutional, and the underdogs, who are more qualified than the incumbents, can’t get a break.

Comment by Hysteria Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 9:50 am
” would not sign a phony budget” no mention of his submitting totally phony budgets

Comment by Pieroge tirebiter Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 9:53 am
Being a cord cutter (Roku), I don’t get much of s chance to see over the air political ads but caught the “Ives is a Madigan stooge” one yesterday. Bruce - are you kidding? Rauner has absolutely nothing he can run on so he resorts to stuff like this, and other would think the Tribune would have the journalistic integrity to stop using the bogeyman Madigan as an excuse for the problems of the state. Of course
, knowing the proclivities of the editorial board, I don’t know what I was thinking. Next thing you know, they will probably try to pin the deaths in Quincy on Madigan.

Comment by Galena Guy Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 9:54 am
I am not surprised. But I wonder if this time around if the Tribune will be a lone wolf in its endorsement of Rauner.

Comment by A Jack Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 9:58 am
Retired Educator: Plunged? Hmm, you don’t remember the “Colonel” the way I do. You don’t remember Joe Medill’s little silver spoon nephy well.

Comment by Wondering Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 9:59 am
Trib: google Christine Rodogno, former Republican leader, Illinois Senate. Her negotiations and why she said they failed.

Comment by low level Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 10:04 am
Meh, the IPI types in troncslyvania aren’t free agents. When the time came, Ferro told them what they thought and they said “yes, boss.”

I mean, where would anyone on that crew get another job, anyway? Ride the El, there are crazies who rant and rave like their hair’s on fire, and they’re giving it away.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 10:05 am
Why in God’s name do you do endorsements if you’re going to put them behind a pay wall?

If you don’t want people to know who you endorse and why then don’t even bother endorsing

Comment by Grand Avenue Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 10:05 am
===the IPI types in troncslyvania===

Oh, that made me laugh so hard. Thanks! I needed it.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 10:14 am
=A once great newspaper has plunged to the bottom of the barrel.=

please show your work.

heres mine
https://www.agilitypr.com/resources/top-media-outlets/top-10-illinois-daily-newspapers-by-circulation/

Comment by Iggy Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 10:26 am
Nice to read a quick recap of the Democrats obstruction and hypocrisy for the past 3 years.

No attempts at reform because they are not change people

Wildly out of balance budgets

No meaningful debate of Rauner’s proposals or significant Democratic reforms

Zero support of Cullerton’s or Preckwinkles Democratic pension reforms in the GA

Total disregard of Illinois population loss or terrible jobs climate

No good faith negotiations from Speaker Madigan on anything despite his pledge to be cooperative and professional

Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 10:27 am
Anybody remember when the Tribune was a credible newspaper?

Comment by Trapped in the 'burbs Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 10:32 am
So Ferro told the editorial board to endorse Rauner and the Tribune would have been a much greater newspaper if they endorsed Ives

Got it, you guys should pursue careers and paperback writers

Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 10:33 am
The signs were there that Ives was on the verge of earning this endorsement and then her ad misstep aired. The Trib (barely) dodged that bullet.

Comment by Dome Gnome Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 10:36 am
Galena guy - We got the mail piece saying Ives is Matigan’s favorite republican. It’s so irresponsible, but Rauner has no accomplishments, so he has to resort to lies.

Comment by Anon Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 10:38 am
Good for them. Luckily, Democratic “wave” is looking like a mild afternoon shower at the moment.

Once the binary choice is shown, Rauner’s number will creep higher while his opponent normalizes.

I’ll say Rauner wins 52-48 and this forum forces multiple people to the bottle.

Ole General, out.

Comment by Ole General Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 10:38 am
If you need a friend in politics they say get a dog. Instead, Rauner has the Trib.

Comment by Albany Park Patriot Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 10:44 am
–**I wonder if they would have endorsed Ives if she didn’t air that ad?*–

It was always Ferro’s call. He’s Rauner’s buddy and former business partner (one he apparently didn’t burn). That’s the way newspaper ownership works.

The likes of Kass and Katrina might wish to side with their IPI/Proft buddies in the current GOP civil war, but they don’t write the checks. They’re the hired help.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 10:50 am
Stick a fork in St. Jeanne, She done. The only real winner is Dan “The Cicero man” Profit. He get a cut of Jeanne’s campaign fund for running her Failed campaign.

Comment by Taste of Wheaton Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 10:53 am
The Tribune Board is bought and paid for. Maybe it would be nice to actually follow what the citizens want. I guess the Tribune can’t read approval ratings in our state.

Comment by Illinois Resident Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 11:05 am
Under Madigan we have had mostly phony budgets come out of the House for two decades or more, how has that worked for Illinois? Not a Rauner fan but the the State was run into the ground long before he came on the scene and the Democrats decided business as usual under his Governorship. All I hear from either side is tax & spend more and it will affect taxes at all levels of income in a negative way. We saw a majority in the House and Senate along with have the Governorship and saw the Democrats not act on any of their supposed agendas of minimum wage, progressive tax and school funding just a lot of lip service.

Comment by Stand Tall Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 11:06 am
Who cares? Is that newspaper even relevant anymore?

Comment by Ryan Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 11:13 am
If you buy their paper it is relevant. So maybe if people that thinks Rauner is dishonest and bad for Illinois would cancel subscriptions or buying it, then the Tribune would own it. Look at the polls, and many have to be both opposed and purchasers. Otherwise, more of the same and I guess they are relevant. I suggest making the Tribune own it, and then maybe they would reconsider their audience. As it is they are feeding the Rauner problem, since if they reacted differently then Rauner would be forced to respond differently.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 11:27 am
Will be ignored even more than the Tribune’s endorsement of Gary Johnson in the November 2016 presidential election was ignored.

Comment by Chris P. Bacon Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 11:30 am
Damn, which crossword puzzle, Soduko and word jumble am I going to do now? /s

Comment by HoneyBadger Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 11:33 am
—-troncslyvania

Best new nickname ever.

Comment by ArchPundit Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 11:49 am
Bruce purchased this endorsement long ago, that is why he laughed through the Jeanne Ives appearance. She demolished him in every way and for this “fraud” board to continue to try and prop up this lying failure only speaks to their price on the itemized receipt.

Comment by Obamas Puppy Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 12:08 pm
Owner of the stolen FBI evidence controls the democratic primary. Fightin against Chicago and you get a Chicago endorsement

Comment by Rabid Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 12:23 pm
I agree with the Trib.

Comment by Ron Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 12:42 pm
Tronc is engaged in information warfare just like them Russians

Comment by Rabid Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 1:21 pm
- Lucky Pierre - Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 10:27 am:

This is the best post ever

Comment by Ron Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 1:39 pm
The Chicago Tribune endorses the worst Republican governor in America.

That @StatehouseChick, lol

Lets look at how absolutely pathetic the endorsement actually is.

For starters… the Endorsement…

===Had Democrats been serious about rescuing Illinois’ jobs climate and public finances, they could have cut plenty of deals with Rauner. The rookie governor with a mandate to shake up Springfield was willing to talk tax hikes in return for a reasonable wish list.===

How ignorant of a shill is that Board? “Dems, we want you to vote against your core beliefs, and then vote to raise taxes. You’re welcome”. Huh? The tax increase was required, and requirements aren’t gives.

How about this, again from the Endorsement…

===But Democrats dug in. They did not negotiate in good faith. They did not meaningfully debate his proposals. Their goal was gridlock. Illinois would lurch for two years without a full-year spending plan.===

The Dems didn’t negotiate in good faith? Ask Leader Radogno about that, then get back to me. Also, it was Rauner and Ken Dunkin that caused gridlock, forcing IL without a budget.

“I’m frustrated 2 but taking steps to reform IL… “ remember?

How about this, continued from above…

===And it hasn’t been. We wish Rauner had built tighter relationships with individual legislators and listened more to their advice. But any Republican governor would confront the same intractable problem: One person decides if meaningful policy advances. This is his 48th year in the legislature and his surname is Madigan. That is a fact.===

“Madigan”

It’s literally like Bruce and Diana Rauner gave a dot point “ask list” for this endorsement, and made quite sure the “not in charge” governor got his “Madigan” paragraph as an excuse for being a colossal failure.

Let’s end with this… from above…

===Not Rauner. He is the first governor to unflinchingly stand up to Madigan. The war for Illinois’ future — will a death spiral or an economic rebound prevail? — endures. And if voters elect any Republican, Madigan will again try to make that governor fail. If that governor is Rauner, you know your governor won’t stop fighting.===

Let’s break this down, shall we?

“Death spiral”? Check.

“Make the Governor fail” phoniness? Check.

Adding Rauner’s own tag line of a Governor fighting, (but lacking any accomplishments to justify any fight)? Check.

This is something written by the “Ole Superstars”. Congrats Bruce and Diana, there is your Superstar” phony message.

I’m embarrassed for the likes of Monique, Ray, Rick, the reporters we all know and respect. They deserve better than to be undermined by an editorial board owned by Bruce and Diana Rauner’s messaging.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 2:07 pm
== Speaker Mike Madigan’s unbalanced budgets and tax-and-spend agenda ==

I will not be supporting Rauner, but I do agree that Dems’ share a responsibility with this mess. Very hard for me to support the status quo Pritzker.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 2:23 pm
Rauner is the only option. Someone needs to break the public employee unions. The Dems refuse to do it.

Comment by Ron Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 2:29 pm
Hey Ron….care to explain why?

Comment by Galena Guy Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 4:08 pm
The unions and the incestuous pol relationship have bankrupted IL.

Comment by Ron Friday, Feb 16, 18 @ 4:10 pm