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Your pre-debate thoughts?

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Illinois

* Tina Sfondeles previews tonight’s gubernatorial debate…

Brian Gaines, a political science professor at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, said Pritzker, as the frontrunner in several polls, is in “run-out-the-clock mode.”

“Pritzker will stand by his charge that Rauner’s term was a failure, that the budget mess, and indeed, the awful fiscal situation the state is in are all Rauner’s fault,” Gaines said. “Don’t expect him to open new fronts. Campaigns are usually conservative when they’re out front.”

As for Rauner, Gaines said Rauner must expand on his themes and try to emphasize “Pritzker’s untrustworthiness on taxes,” both his progressive income tax plan and his “vanishing toilets.”

“If it were me, I’d not dwell on the accusation of fraud so much as the point that ‘JB will raise your taxes, viewers and listeners, not only mine, and not his. He will just evade his own tax bill yet again,’” Gaines said.

My own view is Rauner should say something like: “He’ll evade his own taxes by any means necessary, including outright fraud.”

Your thoughts?

By the way, we’ll have live coverage of tonight’s ABC 7 debate, which begins at 6.

* Tribune…

The hourlong debate will air live at 6 p.m. on ABC-7 and will stream live on the station’s website. It’s co-sponsored by Univision Chicago and the League of Women Voters of Illinois Education Fund.

Unlike their first televised appearance on Sept. 20, the Wednesday forum will feature only Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Pritzker.

Libertarian candidate Grayson “Kash” Jackson and Republican state Sen. Sam McCann of Plainview, running as the Conservative Party candidate, each failed to receive 10 percent of the vote in independent polls and were not invited to participate.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 10:40 am

Comments

JB has to be contrite on himself and attacking on Rauner. Rauner has to be attacking on JB and prove that what he’s doing does not hurt the average person (which will be hard because Rauner’s polices are not good). something for Chicago folks to argue over rather than baseball.

Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 10:49 am
This cake is baked.
As Rauner fails, McCann rises.
Even though Sam won’t be there, GOP voters know he’s on the ballot. Rauner won’t win and that frees GOP voters to vote for someone who isn’t Rauner.

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 10:50 am
the problem with the “outright fraud” line is that the NYT has used it to describe Trump’s financial dealings related to his father’s estate. So it’s not hard for JB to use that line as a pivot to talk about Rauner’s support for Trump.

Comment by Soccermom Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 10:52 am
Rauner - “For months, JB has been evasive about talking about toilets and taxes and his mansions. We now know why. JB won’t talk about his scheme to defraud, what can he say?”

Pritzker - “As governor Bruce had a responsibility to the people of Illinois. The only thing Bruce is responsible for now are deaths of veterans in Quincy, and the covering up his office’s part that could’ve saved them.”

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 10:54 am
“GOP voters know he’s on the ballot”

Yep and they know he was put on the ballot largely due to Union support, his purpose is to take votes from Rauner. MJM’s Barbosa/Rodriguez strategy perfected for the Gov race.

Comment by Texas Red Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 10:55 am
I mighgt tune in for a few minutes. The League of Women Voters needs to update its rules for eligibility. Jackson and McCann would make it a bit more likely to discuss policies rather than slogans.

Comment by Maestro Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 10:55 am
Hopin’ JB uses the debate to map out the remaining stops on the GovJunk Exit Interview Tour with a special focus on the Poison Plant in Willowbrook….may roll out a list of other locations. GovJunk will want us to believe he tossed that investment. Speak slowly and remind viewers that whenever GOPies talk about burdensome regulations they should think of the GovJunk PoisonPlant, or Waukegan Harbor, or West L
lake Landfill in MO. It will crush GovJunk.

Comment by Annonin' Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 11:00 am
Pritzker - “You’ve left a trail of sickness or death from Willowbrook to Quincy, and taking no responsibility along the way. You’ve let Illinois down.”

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 11:06 am
I don’t want to hear a single word about national politics from either of these two candidates tonight (or from the moderators). I want each of them to demonstrate that they do have an understanding of Illinois’ existential fiscal catastrophe and I want to hear some concrete details on what their plans are to start to fix Illinois’ unique and dire problems during the next 4 years. I hope the moderator forces them to stay on Illinois issues and severely limits bloviating.

Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 11:06 am
Pritzker can’t let just let Rauner pound him. After the massive willful damage, fatal mismanagement and fraud of ripping off state workers, Rauner is in no position to remain solely on any higher ground.

Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 11:07 am
“Where’s Mike?”

Comment by walker Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 11:13 am
We know Rauner is going to bulldog JB about the property tax issue. JB needs to have a good response. Something like, “There was absolutely no scheme to defraud. We (stick with we, don’t throw wife under bus) consulted our attorneys on the best way to proceed to lower the property taxes of the house as it was under renovation. The opinion of the auditor was different. Though I stress that no malice was intended. And we will be repaying the property tax refund we received. We made a mistake, we know it, we own it, and are taking action to correct it unlike… (Quincy) (Willowbrook) (Back porch business deals) (Cellini connected state real estate contracts) (736 day manufactured crisis)” …you get the idea.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 11:13 am
Oh who cares. JB Pritzker is going to be the next governor.

Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 11:17 am
I just don’t think I can watch an entire hour of BVR and JBP bashing each other. That’s what it will be. “If you think I’m bad, look at him.” That’ll be the theme of the night. I can only tolerate that in 30-second commercials on tv, and even that’s getting tough.

Comment by Steve Rogers Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 11:19 am
don’t know what the LWV criteria are now for debate inclusion, but in the past they have counted things like percentage in the polls for debate inclusion. reason, give people the most information on the most likely choices. someone at 1-2% in the polls is a Jill Stein type vote.

Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 11:24 am
Rauner catches a break with the one-on-one, as McCann won’t be bashing him from the right.

The LOWV 10% in the polls standard isn’t very goo-goo. It’s very difficult to get on the ballot as a third-party in Illinois — by the design of Republicans and Democrats, passing laws to eliminate nobody nobody sent.

Why does the league support that duopoly, and shut out candidates who actually made the ballot, even under laws designed for them to fail?

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 11:27 am
“Why does the league support that duopoly, and shut out candidates who actually made the ballot, even under laws designed for them to fail?”

I agree. We were asking this yesterday in conversation. I’d think McCann and Jackson deserve to be on the debate stage because they’re on the ballot.

Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 11:47 am
“Why does the league support that duopoly, and shut out candidates who actually made the ballot, even under laws designed for them to fail?”

maybe because either P or R will be elected and neither of the others two dopes has a chance.

Comment by jim Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 11:49 am
Ducky, a kid in first grade wouldn’t buy that story.

Comment by Pick a Name Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 12:10 pm
If I were Rauner I would pound on the Scheme to Defraud theme of corruption and expand it to other issues that Pritzker will decide in smoke-filled rooms with his fellow Democrats. Like the secret income tax proposal, pulling the plug on school choice, soaring property taxes. Scheming on Fed wiretaps. How many people get caught doing that? Toilet removal to scam property taxes? How low can one go to justify that behavior?

The conclusion should be, If that’s what you want, vote for him. If you want to continue the fight to end that type of corruption and more, vote for me.

What does he have to lose?

Comment by Louis G Atsaves Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 12:24 pm
–What does he have to lose?–

Only your puppy-like unquestioning devotion, Louis.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 12:37 pm
– “He’ll evade his own taxes by any means necessary, including outright fraud.”

The counter to that is “He’ll hold you hostage to get what he wants, even if that means children suffer and veterans have to die.”

Comment by Stuff Happens Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 12:40 pm
Won’t watch, don’t care, already voted.

Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 12:44 pm
===Ducky, a kid in first grade wouldn’t buy that story.===

Please explain.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 12:50 pm
@Pick a Name, I think you’re wrong. I’m not sure Ducky’s idea isn’t the truth, let alone plausible. They thought they were taking advantage of a legal loophole, and probably made a mistake. JB and his family would not risk jail time for $100k a year, it’ll be hard to convince me of intent here, certainly with the evidence provided.

Comment by Perrid Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 1:04 pm
So Ducky and Perrid, the IG calls it a scheme to defraud and he will pony up the $300K, NOW?

You know anybody who pulled the shenanigans JB did?? I certainly don’t. This goes to his character, this goes to his lack of common sense, it goes to his lack of self awareness, it goes to greed.

The guy is a multi-billionaire and he is pulling stunts like this??? Sheesh

Comment by Pick a Name Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 1:23 pm
===You know anybody who pulled the shenanigans JB did?? I certainly don’t. This goes to his character, this goes to his lack of common sense, it goes to his lack of self awareness, it goes to greed.===

(Sigh)

No.

It goes to a Campaign Crew that, along with the Blago tapes, really have no clue to their own oppo.

Have they *even* paid yet?

It’s been months… Have they paid yet?

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 1:26 pm
Dear Pritzker Crew,

Hey. How are you? Good? Me? I’ve been worse, thanks. Cubs? Yeah. Next year.

Oh, sorry…

For the love of Pete…. do NOT have JB show up tonight without a receipt of any type of sort from an EFT, cashier’s check… that says you paid the $330K+

It’s 1:30ish… you have time.

Get someone, anyone, to pay this bill.

Today. Now. Earlier than now.

Hope you’re well,

OW

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 1:35 pm
===they know he was put on the ballot largely due to Union support, his purpose is to take votes from Rauner.===

That’s some bubble you live in if you believe most GOP voters know this.

Comment by Cubs in '16 Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 1:42 pm
===You know anybody who pulled the shenanigans JB did??===

Yeah. Me. By “shenanigans” you must be referring to doing everything you can legally do to avoid paying more than you have to. I wasn’t buying a mansion, but I have had a property tax dispute with my county and ended up having to pony up a couple grand. Believe me, I didn’t pay it the first moment I could have. But being a middle-class regular guy not seeking office, there was no hyperbolic report leaked to the press about me.

I think proving there was intent to commit a crime is going to be very difficult. And as a matter of character, I will defer to the electorate on that. I don’t see how an attempt at saving money is in bad character. Lack of self-awareness, I will give you that one 100%.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 1:43 pm
If your property is over assessed in your opinion, you do research and find properties that support your claim. Then you file an appeal with documentation.

You don’t yank toilets and/or plumbing and say the house is uninhabitable.

BTW, if my math is correct, what he tried to save was the equivalent of roughly $52 for a person with a net worth of 1/2 million bucks.

Not very bright.

Comment by Pick a Name Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 1:51 pm
I don’t know what Bruce Rauner can say to all of his “collateral damage”… the laid off university employees at SIU, EIU, and WIU… the unpaid contractors… the terminated social service providers and those formerly served. How you say, “I’m sorry for screwing up your lives, and I’ll make it up to you.” Maybe he could set up a foundation to consider claims from collateral damage. Oh I forgot, peasant lives don’t matter… and rarely do.

Comment by James Knell Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 1:58 pm
Any chance that either candidate will be asked how he will handle the issue of backpay for the all the State workers that have been denied their raises for 3.5 years AND the 1.1 MILLION $ of interest being added to the total every single month the state doesn’t honor the order of the Appellate Court & the Illinois Labor Relations Board?

Comment by butZ Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 5:40 pm
@wordslinger, he had me at hello.

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Wednesday, Oct 3, 18 @ 10:39 pm