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Rauner claims he’s been too busy to reflect on his term

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Illinois

* More from Craig Wall’s Rauner exit interview…

“I will miss a lot of the people I have had the privilege to work with,” Rauner said. “I will not miss the stress. This has been the hardest job I’ve ever done by far.”

“What I’m gonna do is actually give time to reflect. Frankly, I’ve been so focused on governing and messaging in the moment I haven’t done as much reflecting and analysis of the last six years,” he added.

Rauner also spoke about what he learned about his political nemesis Mike Madigan.

“I learned that working with him directly won’t get the result, he responds through his caucus. Pressure through his caucus is the way to get the Speaker to move,” he said.

One way you can pressure the House Speaker is to line up all three legislative leaders against him via a “grand bargain” to break a two-year impasse and… oh, nevermind.

Remember how Larry David described the Seinfeld show’s credo? “No hugging. No learning.”

Inauguration Day is one month from today, people.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 9:58 am

Comments

===One way you can pressure the House Speaker is to line up all three legislative leaders against him via a “grand bargain” to break a two-year impasse…===

Rauner wanted himself to win, not build a coalition to have everyone win, with 60 and 30 and compromise.

Rauner is the best example, for all time, of how the 60 and 30 premise is most important to get things done… through compromising.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 10:03 am
Not to busy to find a replacement but too busy to reflect on his term.

Comment by Almost the weekend Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 10:03 am
So focused on governing? Don’t make me laugh. He hasn’t spent a mini-second on governing. He’s been a huge waste of potential. We squandered four years due to his stubbornness. Bye, Felicia!

Comment by Just Me 2 Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 10:04 am
“Rauner wanted himself to win, not build a coalition to have everyone win, with 60 and 30 and compromise.”

Bam, this sums it up nicely. It was never about helping Illinois.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 10:06 am
Worst Giv in History of not only Illinois but possible country. Don’t let the door hit you on way out. Good riddens.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 10:07 am
Sorry, 10:06 was me. Nicely-worded OW.

Comment by Ole' Nelson Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 10:07 am
Focused on governing?
Are you kidding?

Comment by Aldyth Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 10:09 am
“Frankly, I’ve been so focused on dodgin’ responsibility and union bustin’ I haven’t done much governin’the last four years,” he added.”

Would have been more believable if 1.4% had made that statement.

Comment by Huh? Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 10:09 am
–“I will miss a lot of the people I have had the privilege to work with,” Rauner said.–

“I didn’t want to fire them all…. felt I owed it to them…..”

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 10:15 am
Self reflection has never seemed to be a strong suit for Rauner. When you have been successful at everything you’ve ever done, there is little need to reflect on anything but how smart and successful you are.

Comment by Ole' Nelson Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 10:15 am
===Focused on governing?
Are you kidding?===

Absolutely. The five year campaign for governor is finally over. He can now focus on being governor for the first time.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 10:18 am
Can’t wait for his book about his Time in Office. Speculating the title could be fun: “George, Abraham, and Bruce”. …..

Comment by Matts Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 10:18 am
Some will miss GovJunk and his mumbo jumbo. Remember a few weeks ago he said he did not get enough time to “message” ?
Let’s remember the FY15 budget fix which was was passed and signed by GovJunk and included a cut in Medicaid rates. Instead of followin’ up on that cooperative effort GovJunk launched the budget impasse.
Wonder why he thinks was hard? He had other jobs where people died, lost homes, etc. Was it hard because he could not yell, sue and buy out objectors to his brilliance?
The next month could not go fast enough.

Comment by Annonin' Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 10:22 am
Sociopath- reflecting is feeling, reflecting is caring about results, reflecting means delving into areas of empathy and compassion.

He will never ever ever reflect.
He is incapable.
He can blame by analysis
which mimics reflection
but it is not reflection
That is feeling the consequences of action
That is self-criticism
That is regret
and also pride

Think about that. What could he really be proud of? There’s a question of the day for you Rich.

I can only think of one thing. He signed the Work Requirement Waiver last year for food stamps.
I’ll give him credit for that.
But I can think of nothing that gives him legacy
except a legacy of
Destruction
Failure
Suffering
for the people of Illinois

Comment by Honeybear Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 10:22 am
He forgot to mention being focused on his wardrobe.

Comment by Keyrock Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 10:28 am
I think if he had tried some periodic reflection of his job perfromance while Governor it would have been helpful.

Comment by Union Dues Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 10:30 am
=== I learned that working with him directly won’t get the result ===

Poking him in the eye first didn’t help.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 10:30 am
Rauner’s messaging, Madigan. His focus, destroy all unions. Governing? Zilch. Analysis? It wasn’t my fault.

Comment by Wensicia Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 10:39 am
Does anyone think he will call Madigan before he leaves the governors office?

Comment by JS Mill Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 10:43 am
Perhaps if he had begun by reflecting on how government works, he’d have done a better job and wouldn’t have had to scramble around looking for someone to replace him on the ballot.

But not only did he never learn, he never cared to learn.

He won’t be missed.

Comment by JoanP Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 10:47 am
“I’m not in charge of reflectin’. I’m TRYIN’ to be in charge of reflectin’.”

Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 10:49 am
Rauner isn’t the only one refusing to reflect. The people of Illinois need to take from this lesson. There is no free lunch, no magic bullets, revolting over a needed tax increse is self-injurious, a business carpet bagger is just that. Quinn had it right, and we need to acknowledge that. Shame on us for this four year debacle.

Comment by wondering Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 10:49 am
===“I will miss a lot of the people I have had the privilege to work with,”===

“And who I was privileges to order them escorted out of the building by security.”

Comment by Nick Name Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 10:50 am
*privileged

Sorry

Comment by Nick Name Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 10:54 am
Rauner needs to reflect on how he just got handed a gift card.

Comment by Johnnie F. Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 10:56 am
Love the Larry David quote, Rich. Spot on.

Made me think of Marcellus Wallace’s quote in Pulp Fiction, with Rauner as Butch, Pritzker as Marcellus and IL for LA:

Butch: So we cool?

Marsellus: Yeah, we cool. Two things. Don’t tell nobody about this. … It ain’t nobody else’s business. Two: you leave town tonight, right now. And when you’re gone, you stay gone, or you be gone. You lost all your L.A. privileges. Deal?

Butch: Deal.

Marsellus: Get your ass out of here.

Comment by Scott Cross for President Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 11:05 am
“I will miss the privilege,” Rauner said.

Fixed it.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 11:06 am
Interesting that he claims “messaging” took effort, when he never varied from the message of “Madigan destroys IL.”

It is not like he spent four years coming up with some nuance.

Comment by Gooner Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 11:11 am
I respectfully propose the following Question of the Day:

What will you miss most about BVR?

Comment by AlfondoGonz Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 11:16 am
“I will not miss the stress. This has been the hardest job I’ve ever done by far.”

Just imagine Bruce’s suffering if he had actually done the job.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 11:21 am
It’s just such a raunerism to admit/publicly talk about not reflecting. Like it’s a good or ok thing.

Comment by Nick Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 11:29 am
“I ran outta gas. I had a flat tyre. I didn’t have enough money for cab fare. My tux didn’t come back from the cleaners. An old friend came in from outta town. Someone stole my car. There was an earthquake, a terrible flood, locust’s. It wasn’t my fault!! I swear to God!!”

Comment by Columbo Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 11:32 am
Scott, that’s one whack-a-do analogy.

If you’ll recall, Butch saved Marcellus from his rather unfortunate encounter with Zed.

Not seeing how that translates to Rauner and Pritzker.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 11:49 am
Where the interests of the public and that of Rainer finally intersect: Neither wants to reflect on a catastrophe.

Comment by Matts Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 11:50 am
So he has learned that blaming and pressuring Mike Madigan personally is not the way to affect change in Springfield.

Good. Now if everyone else can get to that realization, we can stop the silly “blame Madigan” games and deal seriously with the state’s many problems.

Comment by Graybeard Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 11:53 am
It’s like we got none of the advantages of having a businessman— no use of data, no analysis, no evidence-based decisions, no win-win.
Instead we got all the disadvantages— ruthlessness, deception, deliberate inaction, to increase interest payments and bond return rates. It was not “shake up Springfield” it was all “shake down Springfield”. It’s almost like governing is not the same as running a business.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 11:54 am
Like a lot of elected officials, Rauner thought he had the people behind him. When in reality they were tired of Quinn and thought they would give the other guy a try. And four years later they were really tired of Rauner.

Comment by DuPage Dave Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 12:03 pm
The only reflectin I want Rauner to do is be a reflection in my rear view on his way out of Illinois.

Comment by Generic Drone Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 12:05 pm
== I’ll give him credit for that.
But I can think of nothing that gives him legacy ==

I believe he did manage some criminal justice reform.

Comment by RNUG Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 12:13 pm
Rauner can go on a search for all his missing G’s.

Comment by Trapped in the 'burbs Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 12:16 pm
RNUG- you know I thought of that after I posted,
but honestly
What was the criminal justice reform?
I can’t think of what it was.
My thought is, I doubt he’ll be know as the
Criminal Justice Reform Governor

I think he will be known as the Impasse Governor
for both the Budget and AFSCME inpasse
or, or or
wait for it
The Perfidious Governor

HAAAA, (I’m feeling better now. Lovely catered Holiday luncheon today provided by our supervisors. BTW, thank you Rich for allowing my vengeance posts. It was a thoughtful Christmas gift. Either that or you’ve given up on me.

Comment by Honeybear Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 12:30 pm
It was kismet, or maybe karma, that my radio was playing Ariana Grande’s latest hit, as I read this thread.

(Thank U, next)

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 12:45 pm
Okay so Rich, let’s reflect.
Way way back at the beginning. You and Oscar went over to the mansion for a playdate.
You said Rauner was a “true believer”
What did you mean?

Comment by Honeybear Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 12:45 pm
- AlfondoGonz - Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 11:16 am:

I respectfully propose the following Question of the Day:

What will you miss most about BVR?

My answer: Absolutely nothing. He’s the worst Governor ever in the history of Illinois. In one month he’ll have all the time in the world to assemble a legal team for the Quincy Veteran’s Home debacle. He should be indicted.

Comment by Southsider Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 12:58 pm
“…governing…”

Didn’t know how to govern at the start and never tried to learn in 4 years—undermined any and every attempt to compromise on the budget—never learned how to work with the legislative branch—which, being contorlled by the opposite party, required some finesse which he never demostrated.

“…messaging…”

There’s that word –again–a shallow one that connotes “tactics” more than genuine communication and a favorite of Gov. Rauner and his wife— who was, apparently, deeply and extensively involved in operations of the office of Governor with no positive impact at all.

“..reflecting…”

Too late for the citizens of Illinois. Some self awareness at any time the last 4 years might have made some difference, but the interview referenced above (trying to get someone else to lose your own re-election bid?–among other things) displays not a hint of self awareness even now.

Damaged the entire state–he will not be missed.

Comment by 5 A.M. Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 1:05 pm
He fixed the Governor’s Mansion. He gets credit for that. Too bad that’s been overshadowed by everything else.

Comment by Former Hillrod Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 1:06 pm
bad typing–1st paragraph

controlled

deomnstrated

Comment by 5 A.M. Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 1:07 pm
“He fixed the Governor’s Mansion. He gets credit for that. Too bad that’s been overshadowed by everything else.”

If you mean by fourteen veterans dying in state-run home that he and his administration criminally neglected “overshadowing” his getting the Governor’s Mansion remodeled, you’re absolutely correct.

Comment by Southsider Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 1:18 pm
@Former Hillrod:

Fourteen veterans dying in a state-run retirement home of criminal negligence will definitely overshadow a Governor’s Mansion remodeling any day of the week.

Comment by Southsider Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 1:22 pm
==What will you miss most about BVR?== After much reflection, I must admit, not a flippin’ thing.

Comment by Ed Higher Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 1:39 pm
Okay true, he did remodel the Mansion. I’ll give him that. I think that was Diana though.

Comment by Honeybear Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 1:49 pm
Those of you who think JB will be some type of savant for the people of Illinois are going to be sorely disappointed.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 2:11 pm
Anonymous

Right. Because your guy has set the bar so high.

Comment by Ole' Nelson Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 2:23 pm
I don’t expect Pritzker to be a perfect person or a perfect governor. I do think he’s willing to learn and willing to try to do the job. Tauber did neither of those things.

Comment by Cheryl44 Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 2:35 pm
Remodeling the edifice of ego is a demonstration of his delusion. He thought and thinks he was deserving of a 2nd term. Points for self-absorbtion,?

Comment by wondering Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 2:48 pm
Cheryl44, you got it. Pritzker might not be an FDR, but a FDR maximum: try something, if it doesnt work try something else

Comment by wonderimg Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 2:54 pm
ABATE dropped him. Any other questions?

Comment by oldhp Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 3:11 pm
I wonder if he’s also been too busy to reflect upon how his campaign reportedly failed to pay a large chunk of its employees for their work on the final 2+ weeks of the campaign.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 3:52 pm
I like how Rauner says he hasn’t reflected much, as if we didnt already know that, and then proceeds to offer an example statement as proof.

Comment by Harvest76 Friday, Dec 14, 18 @ 4:24 pm