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Rauner pledges to “hang every candidate on the Democratic ticket with Mike Madigan around their neck”

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* Gov. Rauner spoke at Sunday’s Effingham County Republican Lincoln Day Dinner and told the party faithful about how he envisions the fall campaign…

You guys know I went to war to get term limits. Nobody should stay in office more than about 8 years. That’s plenty of time. George Washington could’ve been king, and he only served for 8 years because he knew America should be a place for freedom and you should be a public servant and then leave. … We collected half a million signatures to get term limits on the ballot. Madigan sued me and he blocked it in the state courts, with the judges that he elects. …. But I never give up and I never give in.

We are now going to run a pledge campaign. Pledge campaign. We’re going to ask every candidate in the General Assembly statewide to sign a pledge, sign a promise to you as the people of Illinois. And that pledge says two things. Number one: “I promise you that I will vote to put term limits on the ballot so the people of Illinois can vote term limits up or down.” And number two: “I promise you that I will vote for somebody, anybody other than Mike Madigan for speaker after 35 years.”

And when the Democrats refuse to sign that pledge, we’re gonna use it against them and we’re gonna prove that they’re really working for Madigan and the machine, rather than the people of central Illinois and the people of southern Illinois. And we’re going to beat them and that’s how we are going to pick up nine seats in the General Assembly this year. This is an exciting time.

Now, look, this election cycle is going to be tough. A new president’s party has a hard time in the midterms. That’s just true, even look back 50 years. It doesn’t matter whether D or R.

But you know why we’re going to win and why I’m all-in to win? No state has a guy as corrosive and as corrupt and as destructive as Mike Madigan. And we are going to hang every candidate on the Democratic ticket with Mike Madigan around their neck and we’re going to take them down. And we’re going to beat ‘em. The people of Illinois want Madigan gone almost as much as Republicans do.

* Gov. Rauner also told the story of his “single most emotional moment of my being governor”…

It was last year, I was shopping at a store in Springfield and an elderly woman came up to me. Slowly, she couldn’t move very, very fast. She was, she was up there in years. She slowly came up to me in the store and she grabbed me by the by the [inaudible], both hands on my left arm. And then she looked up at me. And then she started to tear up. She started to cry a little bit and I said ‘Goodness, what happened, what’s wrong here? Are you hurt? Can I, how can I help you?’ And she said, she said, ‘Governor, you’re our last hope. Don’t give up.’ And I teared up, and I gave her a hug. And I said, ‘I will never give up and it’s an honor for me to work for you.’

We will never give in. We are going to make Illinois great again. Great, proud strong state. The greatest state in the greatest nation on Earth. On to victory in November for Republicans!

…Adding… From last June…

You know, I had a woman, an elderly woman, come up to me last month. She couldn’t move very well, but she came up, she grabbed me by the arm. She looked me in the eyes. She teared up, and she said, “Governor, you’re our last hope. Don’t give up,” and she said, “And I’m a Democrat, and many of my friends are Democrats. We know you’re doing the right thing.” I get that every day.

Every day he gets that. Every. Day.

…Adding… Pritzker campaign…

With Donald Trump polling ahead of Bruce Rauner in Illinois, the failed governor is borrowing the president’s slogan to keep Republicans from fleeing to his primary opponent Jeanne Ives as election day nears.

“We are going to make Illinois great again,” Rauner proudly declared at an Effingham County Republican dinner yesterday where Ives was present. While Rauner has long been afraid to utter Donald Trump’s name, his insurgent primary opponent’s campaign has left him with no choice but to cozy up to this bigoted president.

“Bruce Rauner is embracing Donald Trump as he desperately clings to the Republican nomination with Jeanne Ives nipping at his heels,” said Pritzker campaign spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh. “This is a failed governor, fending off challenges left and right as Illinoisans prepare to hold him accountable for his damage to this state.”

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:05 am

Comments

—”Make Illinois great again.”—

Uh oh.

Comment by SinkingShip Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:09 am
Walter Mitty rides again.

Comment by Crispy Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:09 am
==‘Governor, you’re our last hope. Don’t give up.’==

Now he’s just straight up cribbing Star Wars lines.

Comment by PJ Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:11 am
I threw up in my mouth a little

Comment by d.p.gumby Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:11 am
Have Jim Durkin and Bill Brady signed the term limit pledge?

Comment by Roman Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:12 am
So his most emotional moment was (another) obvious whopper about an encounter that never happened, rather than the death toll of real vets at Quincy on his watch?

This guy and his messiah complex — something wrong with him.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:12 am
That story, in a word, is….LAME.

Comment by New Slang Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:13 am
if his lips are moving he is lying..

Comment by Not Rich Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:14 am
Well, his version is longer this time he told it, but he cut some of her lines from last time.

Comment by HangingOn Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:16 am
Rumor has it the Democrats are going to hang every candidate on the Republican ticket with Bruce Rauner around their neck.

Comment by George Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:17 am
So, Rauner is claiming the mere sight of him is enough to drive elderly women to tears?

What a guy!

Comment by Not It Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:18 am
We’re going to ask every candidate in the General Assembly statewide to sign a pledge, sign a promise to you as the people of Illinois. And that pledge says two things. Number one: “I promise you that I will vote to put term limits on Leadership positions so the Legislators of Illinois can vote Leadership term limits up or down.” And number two: “I promise you that I will vote for somebody, anybody other than Bruce Rauner.”
But you know why we’re going to win and why I’m all-in to win? No state has a guy as corrosive and as corrupt and as destructive as Bruce Rauner. And we are going to hang every candidate on the Republican ticket with Bruce Rauner around their neck and we’re going to take them down. And we’re going to beat ‘em. The people of Illinois want Rauner gone almost as much as Democrats do.

Comment by Fix-it 4U Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:20 am
Michael Madigan and Governors who tell stories about random little old ladies he controls…

Comment by Skeptic Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:20 am
Quite a tale about that sad old lady. And the Guv actually believes he can get people to believe it. Poor guy.

It is almost as believable as Trump running (unarmed) into a school under seige by a shooter.

With each passing day the Guv becomes more like the Pres. (Or is it the way around?)

Comment by Henry Francis Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:20 am
Reporters have better things to do, but I wish a reporter would ask him “Which store?” and then see if that store kept last year’s security tapes.

Comment by Robert the Bruce Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:20 am
You know, the Governor has told that story about the elderly woman in the store so many times, you’d think he’d remember her name by now…

Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:21 am
Unfortunately, the elderly woman was a little absent minded and thought she was talking to Jim Edgar.

Comment by A Jack Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:21 am
MIGA I guess it will be DT and BVR against MJM.

Comment by Not a Billionaire Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:21 am
Classic example of leveraging a self-inflicted wound. The Dem’s should have seen the writing on the wall and slowly put MJM out to pasture and embraced a younger more “diverse” leadership. Absent MJM, Rauner would have no shot in November.

Comment by Texas Red Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:22 am
–And we are going to hang every candidate on the Democratic ticket with Mike Madigan around their neck…–

The Education Governor needs to work on his syntax.

Should be: –”hang Mike Madigan around the necks of every Democratic candidate….–

Otherwise, you’re hanging Democrats, which is illegal.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:23 am
I think he has officially lost his marbles.

Comment by Flynn's Mom Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:24 am
On election night, will rauner concede to Pritzker, or Madigan?

Comment by Langhorne Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:25 am
The dems can easily turn this on Rauner by forming there own pledge of many different things that people want done.

Comment by Real Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:25 am
Hopefully the Democrats will hang every victim of the budget impasse as well as all of the Quincy veteran victims around the Governor’s neck.

Comment by A Jack Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:27 am
==We’re going to ask every candidate in the General Assembly statewide to sign a pledge . . . “I promise you that I will vote for somebody, anybody other than Mike Madigan for speaker after 35 years.”==

Does that include senators?

Comment by Whatever Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:28 am
Yes, the governor is a liar, and a bad one at that. But I don’t think he’s overstating how much of a liability Madigan is.

Don’t see him losing anywhere close to nine seats, but the Speaker may very well serve as a levy, keeping the midterm Dem wave from sweeping Illinois to the extent it should.

Comment by Telly Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:29 am
I will be impressed when he refuses to support the campaign of any Republican with more than 8 years in office.

What he forgot to mention in his story is that the little old lady called him “Speaker Madigan.”

Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:29 am
Was she Swedish?

Comment by Northsider Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:29 am
His most emotional moment was someone telling him how great he is.

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:30 am
–His most emotional moment was someone telling him how great he is.–

A fictional someone, at that.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:31 am
==Otherwise, you’re hanging Democrats, which is illegal==

Lol. When has that ever stopped the Guv from trying to do something? Has his administration won a case yet?

I think the Guv probably does want to hang Democrats using MJM’s entrails as the rope. /s

Comment by Henry Francis Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:32 am
That story is a lie and Dems will hang Rauner around every Repubs necks,

Comment by Obamas Puppy Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:32 am
Rauner alienated core constituents with HB40 and yet among the IL population he is polling worse than Trump.

The whole “because Madigan” line of attack would be much weaker against Kennedy and to a lesser extent Biss.

Comment by Red fish blue fish Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:33 am
It must be tough being Luke Skywalker, Katniss Everdeen, Harry Potter, and John Connor all rolled into one.

Comment by Steve Rogers Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:34 am
Another lame GovJunk yarn … asking which store is a good fact check. There are reliable reports he still has not come with proof concerning the Budget Speech yarn about the light bill at the Mansion.

Comment by Annonin' Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:36 am
Langhorne, well said.

Comment by Norseman Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:38 am
Why does Tauner think any Democrat will engage with his goofy “pledge drive”? They are not members of his party and it is an obvious stunt. If I were a Democrat I would tell him to jump in a lake.

The little old lady story is pathetic. For all of the money he is paying staff that is the best they could do? Did he gat her name?

Comment by JS Mill Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:40 am
“Rauner alienated core constituents with HB40″

True, but Ives is as the Trib called her a “firebrand” . As a result most but not all GOP folks who are upset about HB40 will hold their nose and vote Rauner based on electability.

Comment by Texas Red Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:41 am
“On election night, will rauner concede to Pritzker, or Madigan?” He’ll claim to have done both but actually done neither.

Comment by Skeptic Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:41 am
Unless he can produce that woman to confirm that conversation really happened, it comes across as completely made up.

Comment by Aldyth Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:42 am
Well Governor I guess since you have absolutely no accomplishments as governor you have to find something to run on.

I think the democrats could tie you around the neck of every GOP Candidate and ask them to condemn you lack of mamangemwnt skills and the death of veterans in Quincy.

So hell bent on getting madigan he has neglected his office.

Comment by Publius Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:48 am
Every time the Governor tells a story, I expect a little person to come out and yell “The Plane Boss”. This guy lives on Fantasy Island. He should wear a white suit. It has been stated before, “if his lips are moving he is lying.”

Comment by Retired Educator Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:51 am
This will

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:52 am
the world

Comment by Micheal Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:52 am
Tell Rauner we have term limits already; it is called voting. He’s about to get a term limit.

Comment by CrispyCritter Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:56 am
Also, I like this idea that he’s “gonna” do this, as if his entire term hasn’t been marked by a non-stop anti-Madigan campaign.

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 11:57 am
Northsider @ 11:29, no, Norwegian.

Comment by JackD Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 12:00 pm
So did he announce that this is his last run for governor?

One more and done, right?

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 12:00 pm
Of course he loses lawsuits because the judges are corrupt. It couldn’t be the incompetence of his legal staff.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 12:01 pm
“….the judges that he elects.”
Who knew Madigan put judges into office?
And why didn’t they cut Rauners mic after he said that?

He’s not dealing with reality.

Comment by btowntruthfromforgottonia Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 12:03 pm
There were no little old ladies where I saw him a few week ago in Springfield when he made an unannounced visit to a local recreation center. Out of several hundred there, only one man shook his hand and everyone else just glared or ignored him. There was no doubt as to who it was - people just didn’t want to interact with him. If it wasn’t for all of the bad stuff he has done, I would have felt sorry for him.

Comment by Nobody Sent Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 12:04 pm
If the dude didn’t learn to govern in 3 years this kind of puts the nail to the idea he will have it wired in 8 years, the end of his term limit.

Citizen Rauner brings me to tears.

Comment by Vole Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 12:04 pm
Like many in Illinois, I have my criticisms of Madigan and I certainly see that he is unpopular. But Rauner has an unnatural obsession with the guy. Nobody should be surprised to see Rauner conducting a search for missing strawberries at the Statehouse. (Obscure reference to The Caine Mutiny.)

Comment by You could say that, I couldn't Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 12:08 pm
The real question should be, did the Effingham county Republican central committee get their check from rauner like the res t of the county chairs?

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 12:08 pm
And this whopper was nothing compared to the crap he spewed in the Wall Street Journal piece over the weekend. The mendacity is breathtaking.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 12:09 pm
Was it a Harley store or a Carhartt store?

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 12:16 pm
Rauner’s next speech: “What the heck happened to the Republican Party I bought? Where’s the spirit? Where’s the guts, huh? This could be the greatest election of our lives, but you’re gonna let it be the worst. “Ooh, we’re afraid to go with you Bruce, we might get in trouble.” Well just kiss my wallet from now on! Not me! I’m not gonna take this. Madigan, he’s a dead man! Cullerton, dead! Pritzger…”

Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 12:18 pm
“Cuckoo”

Comment by Richy Dayley Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 12:54 pm
Geez. The little old lady story is even worse than Rod’s whopper about the little kid he chatted up from his SUV who called him “Mayor Daley.”

Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 1:11 pm
==You guys know I went to war to get term limits.==

I’m sure all of those social service providers that were devastated by the budget impasse are glad you went to war over that.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 1:15 pm
Hmmm, which is harder to believe the little or lady or that Rauner found a Democrat in Sangamon County? Seems Himenez won handily there if I remember.

Comment by Stoph Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 1:39 pm
Rauner should buy the Churchill makeup and wardrobe from Darkest Hour and start wearing it around campaign stops. So inspirational.

Comment by Ben Gazzara Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 3:14 pm
I’d probably be upset that my negligence and incompetence killed 13 veterans and their spouses, but Bruce has gotta Bruce I suppose.

Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 3:40 pm
This is so weird. I really expected Governor Junk to stick with the issues. Who’d a thunk he’d make Madigan an issue?

Comment by CCP Hostage Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 3:53 pm
Agreed with Rauner’s lack of accomplishments. But the Madigan issue has been growing the last few weeks, not needing Rauner’s help. Look at Quinn’s swipe.

Comment by The Blimp Monday, Mar 5, 18 @ 8:22 pm