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Today’s quotable

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Illinois

Former Gov. Bruce Rauner, the last Republican to win statewide office in Illinois, in 2014, said Mr. Kinzinger could find himself a casualty of the bitter schism dividing the party. “The only winners in the war between Trump and Republicans will be Democrats,” Mr. Rauner said. “For some voters, character matters. For most, it doesn’t.”

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Feb 16, 21 @ 2:09 am

Comments

Posturing is of limited value, when it comes after voting for Trump policies over the last four years…just sayin.

Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, Feb 16, 21 @ 5:51 am
Rep. Kinzinger’s family attacking him, and the GOP standing firmly behind Trump (tweeting his face on Mt. Rushmore), really shows what an uphill climb he has. I am on his side in this fight, though very disappointed that Kinzinger voted for Trump.

Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Feb 16, 21 @ 7:34 am
In GOP world, character only matters if a democrat is involved. Same goes with budget deficits and spending. The hypocrisy is hard baked into what it takes to be today’s republican.

Comment by truthteller Tuesday, Feb 16, 21 @ 7:40 am
Meanwhile, Paul Schimpf has tossed his hat into the GOP gov primary with a video that makes dry toast look like huevos rancheros.

Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Tuesday, Feb 16, 21 @ 7:42 am
=== “For some voters, character matters. For most, it doesn’t.”===
Scarier words have never been spoken about politics.

Comment by Bruce( no not him) Tuesday, Feb 16, 21 @ 7:59 am
The first question for any candidate should be “was Joe Biden legitimately elected as President of the United States.” Anything other than an unequivocal “yes” answer should be identify them the candidate as a Trump “big lie” candidate rather than a Republican or Democrat. It’s time for Americans to stand together against this anarchy.

Comment by Halfback Tuesday, Feb 16, 21 @ 8:12 am
So Rauner ran as a Republican knowing they don’t care about character. He was definitely more in tune to the GOP than me, I will give him that.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Tuesday, Feb 16, 21 @ 8:14 am
I feel like abiding by the democratic process, not fomenting a coup, and not feeding voters thousands of lies isn’t even a matter of character at that point. It’s just plain law abiding and the absolute bare minimum of being a functioning member of society and this country. But that’s just me, I guess.

Comment by Home Tuesday, Feb 16, 21 @ 8:15 am
Rauner’s quote about character- Wow. He said the quiet part out loud.

It’s right up there with his other famous quote “I’ll bankrupt you with legal fees”, or how the rich stay richer.

Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Tuesday, Feb 16, 21 @ 8:19 am
Kind of telling coming from the guy that put the members of, and, the state party in the same position….

Comment by 618er Tuesday, Feb 16, 21 @ 8:34 am
To the post,

I read it;

“I don’t have character, I was called on it. I lost. Kinzinger showing character will lose too.”

The best way to understand Bruce Rauner?

When it mattered, Bruce starved social services and his *wife* Diana needed JB Pritzker, his family, their trusts, to save her *own* social service.

Bruce Rauner lacked character. Bruce acknowledging others lacking is… whew.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 16, 21 @ 8:38 am
==So Rauner ran as a Republican knowing they don’t care about character ==

And Democrats had no idea what Rod was all about, especially when he ran for his second term.

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Feb 16, 21 @ 8:40 am
=For some voters, character matters. For most, it doesn’t.=

On this topic Rauner does have some expertise. He regularly dressed as different characters and at the end of the day it didn’t matter, he lost by a historic margin.

Comment by Pundent Tuesday, Feb 16, 21 @ 8:40 am
“The only winners in the war between Trump and Republicans will be Democrats,”

That’s funny because I remember a now retired house leader telling me a few years ago that, “Bruce Rauner and Donald Trump are the greatest Democratic organizers this state has ever seen.”

Didn’t Bruce concede like 7 minutes after the polls closed, after spending 4 years blowing up our deficit? Since when do we turn to him for sage advice?

Comment by Commisar Gritty Tuesday, Feb 16, 21 @ 8:53 am
Was he wearing the “biker” costume when he said this?

Comment by Third Reading Tuesday, Feb 16, 21 @ 8:58 am
“For most, it doesn’t.”

He ain’t wrong.

Comment by ddp76 Tuesday, Feb 16, 21 @ 9:03 am
Is Rauner implying he has character?

I’m pretty sure he still has the receipts from when he bought the Illinois GOP before it careened downhill into the party of Illinois Nazis.

Comment by Candy Dogood Tuesday, Feb 16, 21 @ 9:24 am
“And Democrats had no idea what Rod was all about, especially when he ran for his second term.”

Point well taken. I’ll ask my mother-in-law what she thinks. She is the only person I know willing to admit to voting for Rod and Bruce… twice.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Tuesday, Feb 16, 21 @ 9:30 am
To quote the great GOP strategist Winston Wolf, “Just because you are a character doesn’t mean that you have character.”

Comment by Henry Francis Tuesday, Feb 16, 21 @ 9:38 am
Kinzinger waited 4 years to “show character.” By then, nearly half the country was brainwashed.

Comment by Politix Tuesday, Feb 16, 21 @ 9:39 am
“The first question for any candidate should be”

I suspect that every GOP candidate will be asked that question. Their answers, by and large, should be quite entertaining.

Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Tuesday, Feb 16, 21 @ 9:43 am
The words are correct, even if the speaker is a terrible person to be delivering that message.

Although, I suppose if there are subject matter experts on lack of character, Bruce and Diana are certainly that.

Comment by fs Tuesday, Feb 16, 21 @ 9:59 am
“The only winners in the war between Trump and Republicans will be Democrats”

We have a responsibility to stop a traditional political party from becoming or continuing to be autocratic, whether or not we belong to that party. However, Rauner should have thought about GOP damage before helping trash the party himself. As GOP types like to say, life choices have consequences. I’ll have buffalo cheddar popcorn, thank you.

Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Feb 16, 21 @ 10:01 am
It certainly was curious that the story’s author chose Rauner for a quote.

Re: Kinzinger, my criticism for him earlier was his failure to act when it would have made a difference. I appreciate his principled actions now, but now it appears to be way too late. The GOP has now become an authoritarian party more at ease with Qanon than the truth. A party more concerned about packing heat than saving kids.

Kinzinger, Chaney, Burr, Cassidy … are relative heroes in comparison to their party colleagues. It shouldn’t be that way. There actions should be what’s expected from our leaders. That is what saddens me so much about my former party.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Feb 16, 21 @ 10:03 am
“Their” instead of “there.”

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Feb 16, 21 @ 10:05 am
Capt Fax fans might forget GovJunk , supper investor bought into a GA bank which he ran into the ground a year before the Cheney-Bush Depression began. He gave the CEO a seven figure and the workers gift cards once the doors were locked. We assume he puts himself in the “most” class.

Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, Feb 16, 21 @ 10:33 am
==For some voters, character matters. For most, it doesn’t==

Rauner’s statement falls clearly in the “Even a broken clock is right twice a day” category, but why is the NYT reaching out to him for political commentary? We’ve had over two blissful years not having to deal with Bruce’s opinions—let’s keep that streak going.

Comment by Bourbon Street Tuesday, Feb 16, 21 @ 10:34 am
Ducky LaMoore at 8:14 AM

That is not what Rauner said. Please, don’t add to the bs, we got enough of that already from the media.

Comment by allknowingmasterofraccoodom Tuesday, Feb 16, 21 @ 11:03 am
Friendly Bob Adams - Tuesday, Feb 16, 21 @ 8:19 am:

You are upset by his character quote? Why? Are you saying most voters DO care about character. Rauner is spot on dude.

Comment by allknowingmasterofraccoodom Tuesday, Feb 16, 21 @ 11:05 am
- OneMan - Tuesday, Feb 16, 21 @ 8:40 am:

Right? These people crack me up. One sided view, period. That is how Illinois got to be Illinois.

Comment by allknowingmasterofraccoodom Tuesday, Feb 16, 21 @ 11:07 am
=And Democrats had no idea what Rod was all about, especially when he ran for his second term.=

=Right? These people crack me up. One sided view, period. That is how Illinois got to be Illinois.=

How did Blago’s second term end? Please help remind me..er wait. They impeached him and removed him from office.

You can assign any motivations you want to Blago’s removal from office but they actually did it.

Now for the guy who released Blago from prison, republicans couldn’t do the right thing, no matter what. And Illinois republicans stood with trump.

So there is that.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Feb 16, 21 @ 11:48 am
If a House version of Profiles in Courage is ever written, Kinzinger will deserve a chapter.

As far as Blago goes, Rep. Durkin spoke out strongly against the commutation.

Comment by anon2 Tuesday, Feb 16, 21 @ 11:58 am
Yea this coming from the bootlicker who attended his rally a week before the gubernatorial. How did that go Bruce?

Comment by Boone's is Back Tuesday, Feb 16, 21 @ 12:32 pm
“If a House version of Profiles in Courage is ever written, Kinzinger will deserve a chapter.”

I guess upholding your oath to the Constitution is what counts as courage these days. He voted against impeachment at Trump’s first trial, despite a clear abuse of power. He knows his state. I’m sure he is banking on this boding well for any state-level political asperations he has. He’ll be fine and he knows it.

Comment by Politix Tuesday, Feb 16, 21 @ 2:17 pm
We live in the district and he’s got real problems.
Here’s what he forgot: Accept the things you cannot change,
courage to change the things you can,
and wisdom to know the difference.

Comment by District Guy Tuesday, Feb 16, 21 @ 6:41 pm