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The natives are getting restless

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[Bumped up to Friday for visibility.]

* More trouble for the governor. From Rep. Steve Reick (R-Woodstock)…

The most mendacious thing said in a campaign filled with mendacity came last night when Bruce Rauner said: “I am honored and humbled by this victory.”

He should be humbled – he should’ve lost. Honor? Calling Jeanne Ives “Madigan’s favorite Republican” may have swayed enough people to put him over the top, but the smell it leaves behind is the smell of mendacity, and it will carry through to November.

A friend of mine observed early on that Bruce Rauner looks at the members of the General Assembly, especially the Republican members, as employees at a company he just bought that he wouldn’t have hired had he been in a position to do so in the first place. That pretty much sums it up.

So Governor, now that we’re stuck with you, here’s a little bit of advice. You need us more than we need you. The only way you can win in November is if Republican House candidates drag you across the finish line. But for that to happen, you’re going to have to check your ego at the door and accept the General Assembly as a co-equal branch of government and admit that we don’t work for you.

Whew.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Mar 23, 18 @ 12:10 am

Comments

Zing.

Comment by A guy Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 9:16 pm
Damn

Comment by OneMan Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 9:17 pm
Love to know what Bruce Rauner identifies Dem lawmakers as if we’re doing the private equity analogy.

Comment by Almost the Weekend Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 9:19 pm
Youch.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 9:19 pm
Love it. Reick hits the nail on the head.

Comment by ??? Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 9:20 pm
Mike Madigan and the conservative Republicans he controls ?

Comment by siriusly Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 9:23 pm
Truth to power

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 9:25 pm
I guess Bruce has his work cut out for him trying to unify the Republican party.

Comment by No Longer A Lurker Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 9:27 pm
Well said, Rep. Reick.

I root for the GOP Caucuses, I chastise then too.

I want to root more than chastise. This helps me root, and gives me so much to look forward to in the governing.

Thank you.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 9:28 pm
Someone has got a #$#ing problem now. I will destroy Reick. I will blow him up. When I am done beating him to death, I will break every bone in his body and he will wish he had never been born. I will wring the life out of him.

Also I am super humble you all went out of your way to support me Tuesday. I promise as soon as Madigan is Vaporized and my Gut Illinois agenda is passed, you will all get billions and billions in tax cuts. I aim to completely eliminate the income tax. And everyone gets a box of cracker jacks and a unicorn too.

So absurd, as if I need a General Assembly. I don’t need a budget to ruin illinois. Huh, what. Oh, thanks; I meant I don’t need a budget to run illinois cause I am a Superstar and have the best team in America!
Fake rauner on behave of Executive Governor Diane, per Protocal.

Comment by Al Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 9:32 pm
Oswego Willy, did you click on the link and read it in full? I thought of you when Reick went on to say the governor failed to grasp the concept of 60-30…

Comment by ??? Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 9:32 pm
Well stated. Of course, it will make zero impact on Rauner.

Comment by Can Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 9:33 pm
==The only way you can win in November is if Republican House candidates drag you across the finish line.==

LOL.

Look, my feelings on Bruce Rauner are pretty clear. Not a fan. But he’s demonstrated far more political ability than the House Republicans ever have. If he’s relying on them to drag him across the finish line, he’s already lost.

Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 9:36 pm
Rauner should have lost Tuesday night but a lot of those republican voters have to be very gullible to just believe an ad without fact checking. I mean come on? An ad says someone is Madigans fav and you take it as gospel?

Comment by Real Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 9:38 pm
===you’re going to have to check your ego at the door===

I could say the same for you, Rep. Reick.

Comment by People Over Parties Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 9:40 pm
Rauner will bankrupt him with legal fees….

Comment by Juan Bolsa Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 9:43 pm
Ignore him, remember he voted with Madigan making pumpkin pie the state pie so he’s just another Madigan flunkie.

Comment by Ahem Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 9:44 pm
It appears that Rsuner is being treated as a lame duck. Technically he isn’t one but most members of the GOP caucus figure that he’s gone next year so they have lost their fear of him. Rauner has never signed a budget. If he vetoes the budget again this year it will be interesting to see what the GOP caucus does.

Comment by The Dude Abides Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 9:44 pm
It was basically a demand for more of Rauner’s money. The IL GOP is bought and paid for.

Comment by TominChicago Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 9:48 pm
- ??? -

I did.

If you do read my comments here, “i don’t write or spell too good”, so I can’t be Rep. Reick.

:)

Not me. Great to read the governing they all know, well before my own words…

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 9:48 pm
Bruce still has the hot shots in the little SGOP working as willing “employees”

Comment by Truckin' On Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 9:52 pm
===I could say the same for you, Rep. Reick.===

That only makes sense… if you don’t think the branches are co-equal.

I appreciate the insight.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 9:52 pm
I’m loving all the Republicans who demand that Rauner be more conservative if he wants to win the General Election. Yup, that’ll work wonderfully in November.

Comment by Just Me Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 9:57 pm
Honored and humbled to be the worst since 1928

Comment by Rabid Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 9:58 pm
All of these Rauner enablers need to be voted out. Except for a certain few like Rep McSweeney the rest only speak out when they are affected by Rauner’s crusade of destruction. When Rauner is out destroying and causing division they say nothing. Rauner can mismanage a veterans home causing the deaths of 13 veterans, but what sets these Rauner enablers off is him calling you “Madigan’s fav Republican.” Rauner can hold the state hostage for almost 3 years and most of them say nothing. He can cause students to not attend college because he won’t fund Map grants and they say nothing yet when he hurts the Republican members of the General Assembly they are ready to lash out.

Comment by Real Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 10:14 pm
Stupid question, but is there enough anger/abysmal approval ratings for these r’s to start working with the D’s and treating Rauner like a lame duck. Would R’s work to pass a pot bill, pass a veto proof budget, spending bill?

Comment by Rutro Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 10:31 pm
Why can’t lawyers use plain English. Mendacious? Just say he’s a liar.

Comment by Farm boy Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 10:32 pm
Just me; I think we want someone to be responsible and be in charge. The cheap costume, the cornie fake accent, the HABITUAL lying and inability to be truthful, the appearance with groups upon he heaps praise and captures a news cycle only to veto their funding a day or two later, inexcusable delay due to political behind the scene posturing resulting in additional deaths at the veteran’s home, the ridiculous Blago style Property Managin’ (I.e. silly building leases), opposition to medical cannabis, his love of spending millions on outside legal fees to run to court often and frequently whenever possible, his focus on his private business, his lack of Transparancy. Let me be clear. He said he would be governor transparent, but he has to be sued to turn over his schedule of meetings. So when he loses in court they stop putting names on the calendar and only use initials! He seems pretty creepy and Illinois deserves better. He is so creepy he has has called the illinois supreme court “corrupt”! The guy is sick.

Please be aware due to his DoIt! consolidation of computer technology support new and transferred employees have to wait two to three weeks to get a computer hooked up! Superstar. Three weeks, I sugar you not.

Still curious how managed care organization contracts which were supposed to save $200 to $300 million a year, but ended up costing $4.5 Billion More. No $200 million in savings but Billions more. The Governor must release his tax returns. Inquiring mind want to know what the H is going on?

JB said it straight and truthfully when he summed up Rauner as a Failure. It will take a decade to repair the fiscal damage he has wrought. If we can’t correct these MCO contracts it will take longer.

Comment by Al Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 10:33 pm
Like Ives would have been so helpful

Comment by ste_with_a_v_en Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 10:36 pm
Governor, you’ve managed to mangle pretty much everything you’ve touched since you got elected. If you want a second term, don’t mangle this.

-Yet you have enabled him to do so.. You cowered on passing a budget. You voted against an arbitrator for the AFSCME bill and a host of other things. How can you say he mangled everything he touched and say you are an equal to the governor’s office yet instead of acting as a independent legislature for 3 years you have acted instead as a Rauner enabler?

Comment by Real Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 10:37 pm
Did Rip Van Reick just wake up, or was he not paying attention to any of Rauner’s mendacity for the past few years?

Comment by People caring loudly at me Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 10:37 pm
Rauner has the reverse Midas touch, everything he touches turns to offal.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 10:39 pm
Rauner in his primary victory speech in desperation called for unity and cooperation, but Rep. Reick is sending him a big wake up call. I’m sure there are those in the GOP GA Raunerites that will still support him simply based on a partisan basis regardless of their constituents views and input in light of the fact that he has betrayed them. Fortunately there are those like Rep. Reick and others that will start holding him accountable for his actions or inaction which will hopefully be an end to Raunerism come November.

Comment by XDNR Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 10:58 pm
Rauner may just run against the House Republicans too.

Something like “plenty of the Republicans in Springfield are part of the corruption too.”

Has the kind of middle of the road appeal he’s looking for.

Comment by Roman Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 10:59 pm
I suspect Reick’s concern for honest political advertising will wane as the focus turns to defeating Dems.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 11:05 pm
Are Republicans in the legislature starting to wonder if Bruce is going to cut off the gravy train? Maybe keeping all the cash to himself to battle JB?

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 11:05 pm
Big talk From Reick at this point but where was the brave talk the last 3 years? And Mr Reick let’s not make miss Ives out to be a victim. Her very first disgusting commercial was just as misleading concerning the facts. Ives and Proft set the tone and Bruce took it further

Comment by Old Time R Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 11:10 pm
That is a pretty emotional statement. It’s like he has been suppressing these feelings for the past few years and only now feels the need (or has the testicular fortitude) to air them out.

He has to know he was complicit and that just makes the emotions worse.

Comment by Henry Francis Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 11:38 pm
aw, come on, Reick just wants to be called Big Daddy.

Comment by Amalia Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 11:40 pm
Rauner ought to have taken a page from Governor Louis Emmerson and retired after one unsuccessful term. It would have spared us suffering through months of his outrageously negative ads. Rauner cannot make a positive appeal for votes.

As for Rauner treating us all like employees (rather than as constituents) it is no different than how he treats Republican legislators.

Comment by Practical Politics Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 11:59 pm
When a blowhard bully, chronic liar and sneaky back-stabber is also proven to be incompetent, clueless and weak, the obsequious suddenly find that they can clear their throats.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Mar 23, 18 @ 12:09 am
This line about Bruce looking at the GOP GA members as employees really struck me, especially after hearing some comments from Dan Brady on local radio after the election that made it sound like that is a common feeling among the caucus and not just Reick’s own thoughts.

Dan Brady said something to the effect of how he hoped the primary result humbled the governor enough to realize that he should listen more to the people who have been in Springfield for a while and also realize that he can’t always get every single thing he wants. (e.g. the rule of 60-30)

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 23, 18 @ 5:42 am
Sounds like Bruce tells lotta folks to “go home and getch yer effin shine box”

Comment by Henry Hill Friday, Mar 23, 18 @ 5:51 am
—
Well stated. Of course, it will make zero impact on Rauner.
—

And Reick — in about 3 or 4 weeks. Whatever spine has been found will be lost again during the campaign season.

Comment by Bobby T Friday, Mar 23, 18 @ 6:25 am
-Sounds like Bruce tells lotta folks to “go home and getch yer effin shine box”
That didn’t end well for Billy Batts…

Comment by Han's Solo Cup Friday, Mar 23, 18 @ 6:58 am
Question. Is a Rauner enabler similar to a Madigan enabler?

Comment by Blue dog dem Friday, Mar 23, 18 @ 7:04 am
On target, but it falls on deaf ears. Rauner talks one game, but plays his own.

BTW Bruce, don’t let the door hit you in the @ss come November.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 23, 18 @ 7:44 am
Question. Is a Rauner enabler similar to a Madigan enabler?

-If blocking Rauner’s anti-worker crusade makes me a Madigan enabler I will wear that badge.. Can you present an example of any type of destruction Madigan wants to accomplish that people are enabling him to do?

Comment by Real Friday, Mar 23, 18 @ 8:12 am
tl;dr- “The price went up, but we’re still bought.”

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Friday, Mar 23, 18 @ 8:13 am
Enjoy the money now GOPers, cause it all goes away after Brucey loses in November.

Comment by Soapbox Derby Friday, Mar 23, 18 @ 8:50 am
I’m not writing Rauner off. My wife can’t be the only liberal democrat who won’t vote for a democrat for governor as long as Madigan is speaker, and may vote for the republican if s/he is good on abortion, etc.

Comment by anonymous Friday, Mar 23, 18 @ 9:00 am
==I’m not writing Rauner off. . . as long as Madigan is speaker . . . ==

Don’t think anyone in the Pritzker org is exactly writing Rauner off, despite R’s horrendous polling numbers. But the anti-Madigan message is starting to wear thin, despite M’s equally horrendous numbers, and plays best where R already needs it least. Assuming Pritzker-Stratton can keep up the progressive energy displayed on primary election night, the Madigan issue is manageable. Then what does that leave Rauner with, other than failure?

Comment by Flapdoodle Friday, Mar 23, 18 @ 9:28 am
===Rauner may just run against the House Republicans too.

Something like “plenty of the Republicans in Springfield are part of the corruption too.”

Has the kind of middle of the road appeal he’s looking for.===

I think there’s a great deal of truth in - Roman -‘s words here.

If I’m to take “Lucky Pierre” at his words, telling me who the Rauner constituency is, it’s taking on the “status quo”, (Rauner has been the status quo for 3 years, but… ) and running to an alleged middle with no secured Right base to count on when it matters?

The Raunerism mantra, the speech election night made clear to the Right/conservatives… “Get in line”… Rauner wants to fight to bring Republicans and Democrats together, as Rauner himself is neither.

I’m with Leader Durkin. All day. All day until he shows Raunerism is his mantra too.

I’m rooting for Rep. Reick.

The time has passed. Choose a side now as the next budget fight and the fate of Illinois’ budget looms large over Higher Ed, social services, Rauner’s own agencies.

It’s 60 and 30. Rep. Reick knows. We all know. Rauner knows too. How do I know Rauner knows? It was the likes of Ken Dunkin, and knowing that 60 and 30 and 71 and 36 is how hostages are kept.

You have my marker, Rep. Reick, show me that you are someone that understands when it’s time to press the buttons.

OW

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 23, 18 @ 9:29 am
===I’m loving all the Republicans who demand that Rauner be more conservative if he wants to win the General Election. Yup, that’ll work wonderfully in November.===

Finding 60 and 30 to govern is a conservative thing?

I was told it was a governing thing.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 23, 18 @ 9:37 am
Rauner needs ILGOP, but got only half it’s support Tuesday. He’s the incumbent. So he, in actuality, lost.

Lights out. Pretending Rauner has a future requires psychopharmaceuticals. He can’t buy his way into using ILGOP again. The rats see the Rauner ship sinking. His campaign is in shambles and his administration is going to bail.

If Ives could beat him to an inch of his political life, so can nearly anyone. He is a bloated opposum, teats up, along the side of the highway.

Good.
Couldn’t happen to a more deserving guy.

Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Mar 23, 18 @ 9:37 am
–Finding 60 and 30 to govern is a conservative thing?–

I think it’s pretty clear by now that Rauner isn’t in this for the governing part. He doesn’t seem interested in or even informed about the actual gig.

Best I can figure, it’s all about the ego-stroke that comes with the title. After his pay-to-play years, dropping a fortune bankrolling incumbents of both parties, he wants his money to purchase some attention for himself.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Mar 23, 18 @ 9:59 am
Rauner had to have known that by signing HB40, he would anger and lose support from many Republicans. But he did it anyway. Maybe to appease his wife, maybe because he hadn’t yet accomplished anything and here was something he could accomplish (and if he were a Democrat, then the legislation would be expected, but he’s supposed to be a Republican). So he gets what he deserves when he loses. He can’t just blatantly dismiss the social conservatives and expect they’ll come back later because he wants unity.

Comment by Hysteria Friday, Mar 23, 18 @ 10:07 am
“Pretending Rauner has a future requires psychopharmaceuticals.”

If anyone can hook me up, I’d like to ‘pretend Rauner has a future’ this weekend…

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Friday, Mar 23, 18 @ 11:55 am
Rauner is clueless. If his massive ego wasn’t in the way he would and should realize that he out spent his opponent in what should have been a walk over and almost lost in the primary. He should be very concerned. The ILGOP is divided and in shambles. If he has any hope of re-election he needs to try to mend fences and unify the party, which he won’t or start packing for the move to Italy. Bruce, don’t bother to write. We won’t miss you.

Comment by Ginhouse Tommy Friday, Mar 23, 18 @ 12:36 pm
“So Governor, now that we’re stuck with you. . . .”

Nothing like a little SuperGlue or Gorilla Glue to force a little unity. Yes kids, your all in the same boat. Pick up those oars and start rowing together.

Comment by Louis G Atsaves Friday, Mar 23, 18 @ 12:59 pm
Oh - Louis G Atsaves -, lol

So telling, Raunerites…

===Yes kids,…===

Showing a lack of respect for the Co-equal branch. So Raunerite.

===… your all in the same boat. Pick up those oars and start rowing together.===

Yep. “Get in line”

Raunerite commanding, row together.

This is why Raunerism isn’t what Republicans want, at a 48% clip.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 23, 18 @ 1:02 pm