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Unity, or a lack thereof

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* DGA yesterday…

Day 16: Jeanne “The Godfather” Ives to Rauner “Revenge Is A Dish That Tastes Best When It Is Cold”

Future resident of Italy, Governor Bruce Rauner, made news yesterday after donating Mario Puzo’s Godfather papers to the Dartmouth Library, but Rauner could learn a thing or two from Puzo’s words.

Like Puzo’s characters, Rauner is stuck in his own inter-organization power struggle with state Representative Jeanne Ives. After years of Rauner’s lies and betrayals, Ives declared a vendetta against the failed Governor, nearly toppling him from power.

While Rauner clings on for dear life, he has failed to bring his organization together, and Ives has left his weaknesses exposed. Don Corleone once told his son Michael that “revenge is a dish that tastes best when it is cold.” With Ives’ vendetta unfulfilled and an organization perhaps irrevocably fractured, will Rauner’s dysfunctional GOP family betray him? It’s the type of drama that belongs in the pages of a Puzo novel.

“Bruce Rauner’s vulnerabilities are exposed, his grasp on power slipping, and his own party is ready to watch him fall,” said DGA Illinois Communications Director Sam Salustro. “Rauner needs Jeanne Ives and the 48% of Republicans that wanted her to represent them on his side, but theirs is a family power struggle that shows no signs of subsiding.”

* Zorn writes about the press release and concludes…

Sure, primaries are bruising, the rhetoric is heated and pragmatism generally ends up superseding principle when it comes time to vote. Even Ives has said she’ll vote for Rauner (though she’s said her husband will not).

Unity breakfasts, like the gathering the Democratic gubernatorial rivals had the Saturday morning after the March 20 primary, are polite agreements to ignore the preceding ugliness and pretend the ideological differences are minor.

But that rhetorical salve is important. Parties with open, infected wounds have a hard time getting healthy by the time voters go to the polls. Every day that goes by with Rauner refusing to apologize and Ives refusing to offer a single nice word about him is a day for the Democrats to celebrate.

Seventeen days on Friday. And counting.

The best thing about a March primary is that there’s plenty of time to heal wounds by the November general. But these are obviously gonna fester a while longer.

Dan Proft, by the way, just had the Libertarian Party’s candidate on his radio show for a friendly interview. The candidate went out of his way to praise Jeanne Ives’ campaign.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 8:58 am

Comments

What’s that old saying about fury and a woman?

Comment by blue dog dem Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 9:03 am
It’s hard to feel bad for her. She went negative early then complained when she got hit back. The only one keeping the wound open is her.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 9:08 am
Agree with Anonymous 9:08. If Ives wants Rauner to apologize for his lies, maybe Ives should apologize for her lies.

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 9:11 am
Rauner will need all the GOP voters (or at least 90%+) as he can get, and move enough indies to win re-election in a possible blue wave year, with Rauner already underwater.

Ives may eventually support Rauner (it will get better) it’s the folks that will remember the HB40 signature, and believe Rauner made Illinois a “sanctuary state” that need to come home… as Rauner avoids Trump at all costs, while attacking organized labor publicly, as Rauner has no choice to do now.

Who is the Rauner constituency again?

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 9:13 am
There were lots of half-truths, distortions and lies said by candidates in both parties. But none was more bald-faced than asserting Ives was Madigan’s ally.

Comment by anon2 Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 9:16 am
===She went negative early then complained when she got hit back.===

The difference being Ives’ negative ads were mostly based on factual information. Rauner’s ad tying her to Madigan was blatantly dishonest. It’s not the negativity she’s so upset about; it’s the dishonesty.

Comment by Cubs in '16 Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 9:20 am
Summary of the rest of the year: Everybody sees a gazillion ads calling JB a crook and Rauner a failure, 90% of people already know who they are voting for right now and whether they’ll actually vote, JB wins comfortably in November, and Rauner takes a flamethrower to the state as a lame duck.

I saved everyone a year of their lives and about $150 million, can we get back to work now?

Comment by Snapper Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 9:20 am
==She went negative early then complained when she got hit back.==

There’s a big difference between criticizing someone’s record and policies, which she did fairly honestly, and blatantly lying with personal attacks about motives (I.e. corrupt Madigan ally.)

Comment by Political Animal Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 9:20 am
What a sore loser Ives is. Zero class on her part.

Comment by Flat Bed Ford Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 9:21 am
Little-known facts about Kash Jackson (among many): he served in the Navy for 20 years and was born Benjamin Adam Winderweedle (Kash Jackson is a way-cool Marvel superhero alter-ego name).

How does a Libertarian make nice with Ives and her supporters on abortion? Here you go:

–Kash Jackson recognizes both the right to bodily autonomy and the right to life, and is determined to find solutions that accommodate the greatest freedom for the greatest number of people. To that end, he wants to stop the endless fighting around abortion and bring everyone to the table and work out reasonable practical solutions.–

Why didn’t I think of that? Maybe before lunch Kash can square that Israeli/Palestinian dealio.

https://kash2018.com/

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 9:31 am
Rauner was able to bash anyone and everyone with impunity for the better part of three years. He isn’t the first to do that, Madigan is as underhanded as anyone, but Rauner was able to do it with great zeal and huge money and now it is the inevitable payback time.

I am going to grab some popcorn and have a watch.

Comment by JS Mill Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 9:31 am
There’s no doubt Rauner is a liar, but Ives totally misrepresented a bunch of policies, in bad faith, in a way that dogwhistled or outright demonized organized labor, black people, transgender people, undocumented immigrants, women who have abortions, and feminists.

I don’t exactly feel sorry for her.

Comment by Actual Red Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 9:31 am
By acting like a child and not showing any will to back Rauner, Ives is showing people who she really is. I go back to what the Lt Governor said right after that commercial. I believe she said, that commercial is exactly the Jeanne Ives we all know in Wheaton and she isn’t a nice person.

Comment by Old Time R Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 9:32 am
Why should Ives apologize? And if Rauner loses, she will have a better chance of winning the primary in four years after her strong showing against Rauner.

The conservative Republicans may want to look forward to trying to win in four years when they can repair their image from the Rauner/Trump disaster.

Comment by A Jack Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 9:32 am
Early on she decided to either beat him, or damage him beyond redemption. She has so far accomplished her goal. Rauner needs her a lot more than she needs him. Those angry votes will not come back on their own. I don’t see a large percent. doing a forgive and forget.

Comment by Retired Educator Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 9:33 am
If their divide is gradually narrowed and some peace is found, JB and his campaign need to keep picking at the scab and keep it from healing.

Comment by don the legend Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 9:36 am
==There’s a big difference between criticizing someone’s record and policies, which she did fairly honestly==

Wow, this stuff is hilarious. And just flat out intellectually dishonest. All of her ads insulting the LGTBQ community, falsely making claims about “sanctuary state”, etc, where done “fairly honestly”? That’s insane, and either driven by your own blind bigotry, or by your dishonest political motive to keep stirring the pot on this from the other side. Ives was, is, and will likely always be, a bigot who will say anything to get elected, even if it’s not true. Rauner is a liar as well, but don’t push this “Ives is just an innocent, honest victim” bs.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 9:36 am
The Democrats are more energized for November than the GOP is this year in a blue leaning state. There are a lot of voters who typically vote GOP saying that they are staying home in November or that they would never vote for Rauner again. If two thirds of these folks change their minds and come back to him it still won’t be enough. A lot of people from both parties realize that he’s been bad for the state and just want him gone.

Comment by The Dude Abides Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 9:36 am
What a sore winner Rauner is. Zero class on his part.

Comment by Pieroge tirebiter Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 9:38 am
There was dishonesty and classless behavior on both sides.
I don’t think the one or two issue Republican voters will switch parties and vote for a Democrat - regardless of Rauner signing HB40. They won’t believe a Democrat will vote their way either.
It’s the rest of the GOP and the independents that Rauner should be concerned about. I will not be voting for him. He’s had 3+ years to show me what he can/will do. I don’t like what he’s done and not done in terms of governing. so why would I support him for another term? And I was happy with HB40 because I think people should stay out of other people’s personal decisions about something that will affect every one of the remaining years they live. However, I’d sure like people to use prevention in the first place instead.

Comment by Thoughts Matter Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 9:39 am
FWIW, that DGA “Godfather” take is worthy of a Billy Madison Award for Writing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQCU36pkH7c

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 9:40 am
I’m obviously no fan of Ives. Her homophobia is legendary. But why should she make nice with Rauner?

To her Rauner is a secret Democrat buying out her party. She obviously sees herself as some sort of moral crusader–however much that makes me want to vomit–so why on earth would she compromise her “moral” high ground to help elected a RINO?

If Rauner wants her voters it’s up to him to gain her support; not the other way around. And that’s looking like quite the lift at this point.

Comment by Chicago_Downstater Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 9:43 am
“The difference being Ives’ negative ads were mostly based on factual information.”
-Thank you for signing legislation that let’s me use the girls bathroom-
Real factual

Comment by ste_with a v_en Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 9:43 am
Hard to feel sorry for Ives, Dan Proft and co. Ives needed mainstream Republican voters and she lost them with that hairbrained ad spot. The Tillman Proft gang made out like bandits with Rauner donations. Rauner’s ideology was crystal clear.

Comment by anonymous Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 9:45 am
As the saying goes, “Politics ain’t bean-bag”

I suspect Ives, like many Republicans, will grudgingly endorse Bruce and sit this one out come November.

Comment by Jocko Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 9:48 am
==The difference being Ives’ negative ads were mostly based on factual information==

…..did you even see her first ad? Come on, what is with commenters here rushing to defend Ives. She released the most disgusting ad in the entire cycle and yet we’re supposed to feel sorry for her? No thanks. Good riddance to her and I’m glad a (very small) majority of republican voters still recognize how gross she is.

Comment by FDB Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 9:49 am
–Rauner’s ideology was crystal clear.–

LOL, Happy Friday, party on.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 9:49 am
Rauner threw social conservatives under the bus by lying about abortion. Just like he did with GOP GA members when he let them take the hit on the income tax hike vote that he tacitly approved and did a quick veto for a quick override. Just like he did when he fired his Superstars, after his budget/tax hike failures. Just like he did with unionized public employees and their unions, after getting rich off of their pensions.

Rauner is a Raunerite, someone with no loyalty who will throw people under the bus as it suits him.

Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 9:50 am
Is there a whiff of a credible candidate who could run as an independent on Ives’ issues? Takes 25K sigs.

That would be deep, deep stuff for Rauner.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 9:52 am
- Rauners ideology was crystal clear-
Did I miss the news they made marijuana legal in Illinois yesterday?

Comment by Pieroge tirebiter Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 9:53 am
Maybe the question is…

Will Republicans vote Raunerite come November…

…not “Will Republicans come home and vote for Rauner?”

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 9:54 am
If the Tillman gang still had jobs in the Rauner administration and control of GOP races ceded to Proft as he wanted, Ives would’ve passed on the primary.

Comment by anonymous Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 9:57 am
===If the Tillman gang still had jobs in the Rauner administration and control of GOP races ceded to Proft as he wanted, Ives would’ve passed on the primary.===

“As a white male”, Bruce Rauner had to replace the likes of Rickert, Rasmussen, and relieve Besler… it was a train wreck, only getting worse.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 9:59 am
Yes, I saw Ives’ first ad which is why I qualified my comment with “mostly”. I’m not an Ives apologist; just wanted to point out the distinction between being angry about negativity vs. dishonesty.

Comment by Cubs in '16 Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 10:02 am
If the Dems had moral courage, they would celebrate Rauner not making nice with Ives, who is a monster who believes and advocates for garbage policy that threatens women’s bodily autonomy and would set us back a half-century. Rauner cannot won the election, but this is a great reminder that Democrats are strong advocates of both fiscal and moral bankruptcy for our state.

Comment by Chris Widger Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 10:03 am
-AJack- So in four years after after repairing the image of Rauner/Trump then Ives can run and win? Jack you might want to research Alan Keyes before you put any money on that scenario. Ives commercial and comments on the Steve Cochran show have all but ruined her for any state wide race in the future.

Comment by Board Watcher Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 10:03 am
===I’m glad a (very small) majority of republican voters still recognize how gross she is.===

Ives lost by 4 points.

Rauner is toxic. If Ives is as bad as we all say, Rauner winning by 4 points should scare the boots off Bruce.

As awful as Raunerite apologists want to make Ives, and I have enough out there that I’m no Ives fan, Ives was able to make Rauner weak to conservatives and not worth their vote come November, which is the overall goal, stated by Ives and Proft.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 10:07 am
== Ives was able to make Rauner weak to conservatives and not worth their vote come November, which is the overall goal, stated by Ives and Proft. ==
Ives wasn’t a good candidate. Rauner was a bad one. A better candidate would have beaten him by four points.

Comment by anonymous Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 10:09 am
Proft needs a Dem governor and GOP minority status in the GA… unless Proft can control everything.

The whole thing is… be relevant enough to cash big checks… but not accountable enough to actually govern.

It’s Proft’s whole schtick.

Ives winning in November would wreck the “business model”

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 10:13 am
–90% of people already know who they are voting for right now and whether they’ll actually vote,–

I’d say 75%-80%, evenly split, but your main point is taken. The battle is usually for the 20%-25% of persuadables.

The wild cards this year for turnout are Rauner’s high negatives, the Ives’ faction anger, and the Trump off-year election. Special elections turnouts around the country this year have been troubling for the GOP, to say the least.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 10:23 am
The entire concept of everyone coming together for the Republicans by November is not going to happen. Rauner lied to a Cardinal of the Catholic church. He lost that segment. He has attacked unions over and over again. That group isn’t going to help. He has angered all veterans with his mishandling of the Quincy Veterans Home sickness and deaths. They won’t be voting for Rauner. His administrations incompetence at all levels, has led to anger among multiple groups. They won’t help his cause. I expect him to lose by double digits. I see no path to victory for this Governor. He better save his money for that villa in Italy.

Comment by Retired Educator Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 10:24 am
==Is there a whiff of a credible candidate who could run as an independent on Ives’ issues? Takes 25K sigs.==

Yes, but he hasn’t decided if he just wants to screw Rauner or if he wants to screw Rauner *and* keep his State Senate seat.

==There’s no doubt Rauner is a liar, but Ives totally misrepresented a bunch of policies, in bad faith, in a way that dogwhistled or outright demonized organized labor, black people, transgender people, undocumented immigrants, women who have abortions, and feminists.==

This. She doesn’t deserve our respect or our tears. But, realtalk, she’s pretty successfully made this Rauner’s problem. Who ever heard before this of the winner calling the loser?

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 10:36 am
==He has attacked unions over and over again. That group isn’t going to help.==

We’ll see. If he can crank up the culture war stuff to high dudgeon, a lot of the rank and file might still vote for him. And Trump is doing everything he can to help on that score. But yeah, it’s an uphill climb, and time’s a-wastin’.

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 10:41 am
Rauner just doesn’t make sense. None of his actions have made sense. Those who voted against him, and I think this is a more apt description for the Ives voters in the primary, will not vote for him in the general I think we, Republicans, see that this state still hasn’t had its fill of failed democratic leadership so many of us will just not vote for anyone for governor. Get ready for California on Lake Michigan starting next year.

Comment by NeverPoliticallyCorrect Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 10:43 am
Nothing’s perfect, but the best path to an “uncomfortable unity” in the GOP is the prospect of JB and Mike Madigan. That’s something supporters of both the Rep and the Gov can agree on wholeheartedly.

Rep. Ives passions run deep. It’s just going to take a bit longer. Rauner’s folks seem to get this. Neither is strong or popular enough within the party to have a controlling faction.

Little more time.

Comment by A guy Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 10:45 am
–Get ready for California on Lake Michigan starting next year.–

LOL, aren’t Detroit, or Greece, or Puerto Rico the preferred burning-hair analogies?

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 10:53 am
>By acting like a child and not showing any will to back Rauner, Ives is showing people who she really is.

It was a nasty campaign. She said she will vote for him. That’s something for Rauner to build on, but he hasn’t shown the skill to take incremental steps toward his goals.

Comment by Earnest Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 10:55 am
–If the Dems had moral courage, they would celebrate Rauner not making nice with Ives,–

They seem to be enjoying it quite a bit, actually.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 10:55 am
–That’s something supporters of both the Rep and the Gov can agree on wholeheartedly.–

Yes, there was only 40-seconds of dead air on radio before Ives spit out “wholeheartedly” that Rauner would be a better governor than Pritzker.

You’re really a laugh riot sometimes.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 11:00 am
@Boardwatcher. Keyes is ancient history and has nothing to do with Rauner/Trump.

Comment by A Jack Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 11:09 am
This shows one of the main problems with idealogues. The inability to put aside ideological disagreements and come to a practical resolution. This activity isn’t helping any of them. At least pretend to get over it and work on your next strategy.

Comment by NoGifts Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 11:11 am
As OW says “We let a stranger into our house. “. Rauner must go.

I tend to be a big tent person. But Rauner is not tolerable. He lies so often that he cannot be believed on anything without corroboration. As a manager and politician he is incompetent.
He is a cross between Pinocchio and Ethelred the Unready.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 11:22 am
The ILGOP will be better off when Rauner goes down in flames in November.

Four more years of his incompetence is not in anyone’s best interest.

Re Ives/Proft v Rauner–I doubt Ives and Proft are looking for sympathy or pity. Ha. KO in November and they know it, probably making plans already.

Sometimes, it’s better to play the long game.

Comment by cdog Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 11:29 am
-AJack- Your right he was ancient news till Ives reminded everyone about who he was. Trust me, Ives is cut from the came cloth as Keyes and like him she is finished as for state wide office. To be honest she might be more of a right wing zealot than even him. As Hawk would say She Gone

Comment by Board Watcher Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 11:41 am
You are correct that we, like Ives, will eventually “support” Rauner over the alternative. But that being said, if my wife wants to do something fun that day, I may forget to go out of my way to vote for the republican-hating-republican.

Comment by I Miss Bentohs Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 11:57 am
The GOP has a real problem here, but that DGA release is beyond stupid

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 12:14 pm
I have feeling that if Ives had won and Rauner supporters threatened to stay home/vote JB or KJ, we would be traitors. But since Rauner won, we have to be nice and listen.

Comment by ste_with a v_en Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 12:21 pm
==Yes, there was only 40-seconds of dead air on radio before Ives spit out “wholeheartedly” that Rauner would be a better governor than Pritzker.

You’re really a laugh riot sometimes.==

You’re always a laugh riot. I believe I said twice in that very same post that it was going to “take some time”.

You’re such a patient dude. Occasionally I’m not sure if it’s Sling of Job when you post.

Comment by A guy Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 12:35 pm
I voted for Ives, and I am surrounded by people who voted for Ives, and none of us will vote for Rauner. Yes, I know that means Pritzer will be the governor, and he’s even more liberal than Rauner. I also know that in IL, Republicans in office have to be pro-abortion. But, they don’t have to throw that in our faces, which is what Rauner did by signing HB40 and making IL the most liberal state with respect to abortion. Taxpayer funded abortions? That’s disgusting and not even allowed by the federal government. So when Rauner loses, the party will have to find a new leader. Pat Brady and Tim Schneider and the like who have been so dismissive of the 49% who voted for Ives (it was 2 percentage points in the end, I believe, not 4) will be irrelevant. When Pritzer runs the state further into the ground and taxes us beyond our wildest dreams, those of us who haven’t left IL will be in a great position to take back power with someone who is actually a Republican.

Comment by looking to the future Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 12:39 pm
@Boardwatcher Keyes lost by a huge margin while Ives lost by only 4%. Keyes was also drafted from out of state. So apples and oranges.

Now next time she may run against a moderate Republican and lose big time. But she gains nothing by endorsing or apologizing to Rauner.

Comment by A Jack Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 12:52 pm
===Keyes lost by a huge margin while Ives lost by only 4%.===

Keyes lost a general, Ives lost a primary. Get it together, man.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 12:56 pm
–I believe I said twice in that very same post that it was going to “take some time”.–

Or it might not happen at all. Really not your call, is it?

Hard as it might be for you to understand, some people take their principles seriously.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 1:13 pm
A libertarian candidate called Kash is a bit too on the nose for a believable story.

Comment by ArchPundit Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 1:56 pm
Always with the gadflies:

https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCOURTS-ilnd-1_17-cv-00415/pdf/USCOURTS-ilnd-1_17-cv-00415-0.pdf

As for Benjamin’s Petition and its attachments, they are a mish-mash of irrelevancy that creates no prospect of Benjamin’s figurative entry into this District Court’s courthouse door.

Comment by ArchPundit Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 2:05 pm
If “a mish-mash of irrelevancy” doesn’t qualify Jackson Winderweedle to be the libertarian candidate for governor, I can’t imagine what would.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 3:00 pm
Looking, don’t blame liberals for Rauner. He has nothing to do with us.

Comment by Cheryl44 Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 3:41 pm