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And the award for the best rehearsed zinger goes to…

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Illinois

Pritzker fired back after the governor touted various successes and plans for a second term.

“Well the governor made all these promises four years ago,” Pritzker said. “He’s living in a state of denial, the rest of us are living in the state of Illinois.”

* Runner-up…

Pritzker, a billionaire entrepreneur and philanthropist, for the umpteenth time dodged questions about the rate of his proposed graduated income tax. And Rauner pledged big promises about changes he’ll make to the state during a second term, without explaining how he’d get a Democratic supermajority to go along with his plans.

“You’ve just heard a desperate rant by a failed governor who is in the final hours of his campaign and his governorship,” Pritzker said to applause after Rauner once again called the Pritzker a “bank robber” who got caught. […]

“You’re likely to hear more of that tonight because he’s got nothing else, just lies and excuses,” Pritzker said.

* Honorable mention, although the line reads much better than it was delivered…

He said Pritzker’s graduated income tax plan will “crush the middle class, crush job creators.”

“They will flood out and the sound of that flood will not be the sound of toilets being flushed, it’ll be the sound of businesses getting flushed down the drain in this state of Illinois,” Rauner said.

* One more…

Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner says a criminal investigation into his administration’s handling of a Legionnaires’ disease crisis at the state-run veterans’ home in Quincy is a “shameful abuse of power” by Democratic Attorney General Lisa Madigan.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Oct 12, 18 @ 9:30 am

Comments

“He’s living in a state of denial, the rest of us are living in the state of Illinois.”

Pretty rich from a candidate who refuses to admit the pensions are unsustainable as even Speaker Madigan admits and blames Governor Rauner for the failure to fix the problem.

In one year, Illinois’ pensions added more debt than 25 U.S. states’ entire budgets.

The Illinois Department of Insurance released its two-year report on every public pension in the state. From 2015 to 2016, Illinois’ 671 pension funds added $17 billion in additional unfunded liabilities, bringing it up to $185 billion. That’s larger than 25 state budgets in fiscal year 2016.

https://capitolfax.com/2017/10/12/facing-the-pension-music/

Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Oct 12, 18 @ 9:38 am
“Gov. Bruce Rauner says his administration’s handling of a Legionnaires’ disease crisis at the state-run veterans’ home in Quincy is a shameful abuse of power.”

Fixed it for ya.

Comment by Huh? Friday, Oct 12, 18 @ 9:42 am
So Rauner’s long pause, head-nodding, point to the panel and asking “What did he call him?” wasn’t rehearsed?

Dude should enroll at Second City, because that was some memorably hilarious improv.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Oct 12, 18 @ 9:42 am
Perspective?

The best zingers here would be the news and talk of the debate.

It’s Rauner’s bizarre performance that has overshadowed some pretty tasty lines and Pritzker’s lack of looking prepared for tough questions that should have had prepared answers weeks and weeks ago.

To Pritzker’s credit, while Rauner imploded, staying cool and letting Rauner flail instead of pouncing was well done.

“When your opponent is impolding, let them”

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Oct 12, 18 @ 9:53 am
Rauner calling the investigation into Quincy shameful is amazing. A) The Trib just endorsed Harold for her promises to launch all sorts of investigations, but when his administration is the target, its shameful. B) I think the underlying issue is what is shameful.

Comment by The Way I See It Friday, Oct 12, 18 @ 9:59 am
Mmmm, Zingers. I always liked the raspberry ones with the coconut. Zingers are way better than Twinkies, and almost as good as Ho Ho’s.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Oct 12, 18 @ 10:16 am
I’m surprised one of the moderators (or JB) didn’t contrast “go-getter” Candidate Rauner and “but, but but” Governor Rauner. I would love to hear an answer to “What would you like to say to your predecessor, Pat Quinn?”

Comment by Jocko Friday, Oct 12, 18 @ 10:32 am
==Pretty rich==

Pretty rich from a commenter who spend every day in a state of denial.

Comment by Demoralized Friday, Oct 12, 18 @ 11:23 am
==Well the governor made all these promises four years ago==

Yes, he did. And he’s got nothing to show for them except 4 years of playing a victim. He’s shown his inability to govern. I wouldn’t expect any change in another 4 year term.

Comment by Demoralized Friday, Oct 12, 18 @ 11:24 am
Odd to me that no one has mentioned that the actions he’s criticizing the current AG for, shameful politically motivated investigations arising from an abuse of power, are exactly what he’s called on his own AG candidate to do. perhaps the Con Con folks limitation on the AG’s prosecutorial powers was wise after all……

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Oct 12, 18 @ 11:40 am
==In one year, Illinois’ pensions added more debt than 25 U.S. states’ entire budgets.

The Illinois Department of Insurance released its two-year report on every public pension in the state. From 2015 to 2016, Illinois’ 671 pension funds added $17 billion in additional unfunded liabilities, bringing it up to $185 billion. That’s larger than 25 state budgets in fiscal year 2016.==

Wow, I don’t know who was governor of Illinois then, but it sure sounds like he or she was really running the state into the ground.

Comment by Roadrager Friday, Oct 12, 18 @ 11:55 am
I think the people in denial are the ones who continue to excuse the legislature’s role in creating the problems and their refusal to fix them.

Also those who think JB’s proposed progressive income tax (with absolutely zero specifics) will magically solve our problems and not actually make our business environment worse

That would include you

Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Oct 12, 18 @ 12:23 pm
How very presumptive of you. I don’t think Pritzker will be a magical fix for anything. I find him to be a deeply flawed candidate, another rich man who mistakenly conflates wealth with intellect and/or ability. I would much rather have had someone with more political expertise than “throwing money at politicians” on the ballot this November, but here we are.

And yet, he is still leaps and bounds above the incumbent you defend at every turn, a man who made plenty of magical promises about fixing everything, then spent four years accomplishing next to nothing, mainly because he has never grasped what his job entails, and also because, as a sheltered business executive, he has been so unable to process the concept of anyone ever saying “no” to him on anything that his only response has been a series of extended and counterproductive temper tantrums.

Illinois is worse off than it was four years ago by multiple measures, and the man in charge for those four years is alternately telling me “I’m not in charge” and “Put me in charge for another four years so I can really fix all the things that I’ve helped make worse.”

One of the two of us is going into this election with clear eyes, Pierre. Ain’t you.

Comment by Roadrager Friday, Oct 12, 18 @ 12:50 pm
== who continue to excuse the legislature’s role==

Who is doing that? Because it’s certainly not me. What I will not excuse is a Governor who refuses to take responsibility for anything. He’s on the hook for the past 4 years as much as the General Assembly during that time. You’re in denial about that.

==That would include you==

No, it doesn’t. Once again you’re an all or nothing kind of guy. For whatever reason you believe that anyone who doesn’t support the Governor must automatically support everything else.

Hopefully the bot’s battery is about to lose power because the outputs are getting really old.

Comment by Demoralized Friday, Oct 12, 18 @ 1:10 pm
==I think the people in denial are the ones who continue to excuse the legislature’s role in creating the problems and their refusal to fix them.==

Who has done that? Because I certainly haven’t. But what I have done is refuse to buy into this notion that the Governor bears responsibility for nothing. Because he most certainly does bear some responsibility for what’s gone on the last four years. You continue to deny that fact, though.

Comment by Demoralized Friday, Oct 12, 18 @ 1:32 pm
“Well the governor made all these promises four years ago,” Pritzker said. “He’s living in a state of denial, the rest of us are living in the state of Illinois.”

Pritzker won that debate.

Comment by Mama Friday, Oct 12, 18 @ 1:40 pm
Vote None of the Above

Comment by Brewster Millions Friday, Oct 12, 18 @ 2:12 pm
The pensions must be sustainable LP, at least for Tier 1 they are. The Illinois Supreme Court said so. It would be nice if your guy would have recognized that and worked to address the issue rather than the stalling which just exacerbates the financial situation.

Comment by Original Rambler Friday, Oct 12, 18 @ 2:48 pm