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NYMag interviews Pritzker

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* Gabriel Debenedetti at New York Magazine…

One afternoon in late July, J. B. Pritzker reclined in a conference room high above Chicago and considered the curious case of Ron DeSantis. Pritzker, the 58-year-old governor of Illinois, was in light-blue shirtsleeves and a neatly knotted bright-pink tie — “My Barbie tie,” he quipped to business leaders earlier, revealing he’d watched the movie with his wife and daughter. He was slightly bewildered by the Florida governor’s misfortunes in the GOP presidential primary, which had recently led DeSantis to lay off a huge chunk of his staff amid cratering poll numbers. “I had never really paid a lot of attention to his manner and his personality so much, only to his policies and his hype and the extremist positions,” Pritzker told me, speaking carefully as he settled into pundit mode. “But the point is that is not what’s killing him.”

Pritzker, who, with his dark hair and broad face, looks a little like Oliver Platt playing an ’80s businessman, started to speed up, as if the topic were more exciting than he wanted to let on. “You get the sense of somebody who doesn’t actually care about people. He’s just got a shtick that he puts on for the purposes of a campaign,” he said. Pritzker, who has spent plenty of time with presidential candidates and thought plenty about what it takes to run for president, concluded, “You have to believe what you believe to your core in order to make it through a process like that.” And, he said of DeSantis, “it appears to me that he doesn’t actually have a core.”

This take was worth considering not because of Pritzker’s own flirtations with a campaign last year but because the most wired-in Democrats from Washington, D.C., to Chicago to Los Angeles expect him to be a paramount figure in the 2024 election. This is in part due to his work in Illinois legalizing marijuana and raising the minimum wage and banning assault weapons, all while balancing the state’s budget and plowing resources into infrastructure projects. But it is perhaps more because of his willingness to use his enormous fortune. A Hyatt Hotels heir worth over $3 billion and the country’s richest officeholder, he’s spent hundreds of millions on Democratic candidates and causes (including his own) in recent elections. His status is thus politically complicated as both crucial ally to Joe Biden and potential successor if things go awry.

This is not lost on the president, who paused in a room full of donors in June to thank Pritzker before unspooling his fund-raising spiel. Pritzker, Biden confided to those in Chicago’s JW Marriott, “did more in 2020 to help me get elected president of the United States than just about anybody in the country. And that’s a fact.” […]

He has in recent months also leaned into trumpeting his own accomplishments in Illinois as a counterpoint to chaos in Republican-run states, especially DeSantis’s Florida and Greg Abbott’s Texas. This has, in part, meant engaging in the culture wars. After DeSantis, whom Pritzker had previously called “just Donald Trump with a mask on,” said he would ban AP African American Studies classes in his state, Pritzker wrote an open letter to the College Board insisting that Illinois wouldn’t stand for the body engaging in a “watering down of history” in his state to appease Florida. Figuring he has the business-world credibility that many other Democrats lack, he has since considered taking an even clearer message to industry leaders around the country: Companies will find moving to red states to be unsustainable as employees flee book bans and abortion restrictions.

I disagree with the “no core” claim. I think DeSantis has a clear core. It’s demonstrated in the bills he’s promoted and signed in Florida and the fights he’s picked.

Your thoughts?

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 9:37 am

Comments

I agree with your thoughts on DeSantis’ “core.” He has a core. He is a demagogue. That is his central core.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 9:45 am
===I think DeSantis has a clear core. It’s demonstrated in the bills he’s promoted and signed in Florida and the fights he’s picked.===

Governors own. They always do.

The real thing about a signature to bills is that it’s not a handwriting test, it’s the power of the office being put on bills to transform them into law, and make those laws the policy attached to make the governing to that governor… possible.

A rutter-less or “no core” governor can’t look upon the legislative successes and push those wins and be seen as one with no core.

It’s the old saying of when someone shows you who they are… well, those signatures are who DeSantis is, and further any thought to a though of DeSantis is seen with no core, that’s a very wrong perception to what DeSantis is, wants seen, and far more importantly the core of opposition research that could be used to defeat him.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 9:49 am
The chaos in Republican led Florida has not stopped the Pritzker family from spending considerable time in the Sunshine State.

Comment by Gravitas Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 9:55 am
===spending considerable time in===

You got evidence of this “considerable time” claim?

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 9:56 am
== with his dark hair and broad face, looks a little like Oliver Platt playing an ’80s businessman ==

That’s pretty good.

Comment by TNR Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 10:01 am
=has not stopped the Pritzker family=

So what? I live in rural part of the state and hate local politics and am often diametrically opposed to their positions.

Weak attempt at a cheap shot.

With regard to desantis, his core seems to me to be the pursuit of power. The path of demagogues and authoritarians. Like Pritzker, I don’t always get the feel that he is committed to some of the issues but is cunning enough to know how it will play to his base.

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 10:02 am
I believe DeSantis has a core but it is rotten like an overripe piece of fruit. He is totally craven. He and the power he can collect and wield is his core. I doubt that he believes in even half of the horrible policies that he has enacted. They are a means to an end and the end is the power he collects from the extreme right wing by giving them what they want.

Comment by Manchester Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 10:03 am
I was referring to the reports during the pandemic about. Illinois was locked down then.

Comment by Gravitas Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 10:04 am
I think Desantis has a pretty clear core. And any potential Democratic opponent would be well advised to continually reinforce that point. Because that core is his biggest vulnerability outside of Florida and one that he’d likely abandon, or at least minimize, on a National stage.

Comment by Pundent Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 10:27 am
Favorite line

===As one tweeted last summer, “He is enormous, doesn’t come off as particularly intellectual, and has good instincts.”===

Comment by Nick Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 10:28 am
The “Core” of many people commenting about DeSantis is hateful and spiteful.

Comment by MOON Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 10:29 am
Our Governor needs to get out of the little bubble he is in and begin interacting with Republicans and his critics. A puff piece in New York Magazine is a little bubble for him. Like Republicans who seek sanctuary over at Fox News, those little bubbles solve nothing. Sitting in those bubbles is not a sign of leadership.

DeSantis won reelection as Governor by a far wider margin than his first election in his state. He has a base. I can recall when bubblers claimed Trump had no real base, and later recoiled in horror after he was elected as President.

Big differences exist between a base and a mandate. Sometimes certain politicians can’t tell the difference, to their detriment.

Comment by Louis G Atsaves Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 10:32 am
==begin interacting with Republicans and his critics==

There is no point in interacting with people who have no interest in actually participating in the governing process. Maybe you can give your party some advice and tell them they need to work on becoming relevant. Until then I have no problem with ignoring them.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 10:37 am
Extra Extra-

Guy spends time in a state where he owns property.

Man, if that’s what you got, maybe leave it alone.

Louis Atsaves-after Pritzker has traveled this state one end to the other many times, only you would posit he is in a bubble. That last line really is a winner.

Comment by Flyin'Elvis'-Utah Chapter Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 10:40 am
=Our Governor needs to get out of the little bubble he is in and begin interacting with Republicans and his critics.=

The Governor’s party holds every statewide office and maintains solid legislative majorities. The suggestion that it exists in a “little bubble” is devoid of reality. It also suggests that the majority of voters in the state of Illinois are somehow occupying this little bubble.

Comment by Pundent Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 10:43 am
===DeSantis won reelection as Governor by a far wider margin than his first election in his state. He has a base. I can recall when bubblers claimed Trump had no real base, and later recoiled in horror after he was elected as President.===

- Louis G Atsaves -

Are you a Trump supporter or a DeSantis supporter.

You opened that door, counselor, as you pondered this idea that Pritzker needs to “interact” with Republicans.

Why?

Most, according to polling, seem to think Trump and the insurrection is a phony thing.

US Grant reminds that there are two parties, back when he said it, and it’s true now;

Patriots and Traitors.

Republicans are embracing traitors.

So, where is your support falling, as you readily identify as a Republican

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 10:48 am
“get out of the little bubble he is in and begin interacting with Republicans and his critics.”

You know, after so many years of failure in this state, I’d think the republicans would learn that they do not dictate the terms of a discussion. If they would like to be included in the process, there’s an entire legislative chamber where they can do that.

They will of course have to stop complaining about how late they have to be there, or complaining about his weight, or purposely misrepresenting the content of bills, or any number of other completely irrelevant topics to governing while acting like a child with an oppositional defiant disorder.

JB is already at the table. Republicans are welcome to come to the table. But if they continue to insist on presenting themselves as unserious, than the others at the table are under no obligation to listen or include them.

Figure it out already. It isn’t that difficult.

Comment by TheInvisibleMan Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 10:51 am
- MOON -

Do you think DeSantis governs with hate and spite?

That is the contrast here.

Defending DeSantis means also defending some really terrible things in regards to race, equality, and anger.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 10:55 am
” … interacting with Republicans … “. WHERE are the Republicans who are serious about governing?

Comment by Anyone Remember Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 11:00 am
==Our Governor needs to get out of the little bubble he is in and begin interacting with Republicans and his critics. ==

Is your boy DeSantis doing this with Democrats or does this “need” only apply to the other team?

Comment by supplied_demand Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 11:17 am
There are people here who will never really tell you the actual reason they are eternally mad at JB Pritzker, like maybe their family took a direct income hit when he became governor.

Instead, they’ll offer you nonsense like “when republicans lose elections, democrats need to ask republicans how they’re feeling and what they want.” Just straight up nonsense based on nothing but a self-serving fantasy of how things should work.

Comment by Larry Bowa Jr. Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 12:12 pm
That tweet quoted in the article was from one of the chapo trap house hosts. Jb is the unity candidate, mainstream dems like him and so does the bernie crowd.

Comment by Left of what Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 12:20 pm
To the question - kind of a philosophical one. Is amoral deference to power and authority, and the pursuit of same, a “core”? Or the absence of one.

In his own words, DeSantis began his professional career as a Navy lawyer justifying the force feeding of prisoners at Guatanamo:

Stating his job had been to offer legal advice he told the station: “Everything at that time was legal in nature, one way or another. So the commander wants to know, how do I combat this? So one of the jobs of a legal adviser would be like: ‘Hey, you actually can force feed, here’s what you can do.’”

https://amp.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/apr/28/ron-desantis-guantanamo-bay-allegations

Comment by Roads Scholar Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 12:35 pm
- DeSantis won reelection as Governor by a far wider margin than his first election in his state. -

Yet he’s being absolutely trounced by Trump in all the polls. You might want to get outside of your bubble of old IL GOP types and recognize what your party has become.

Comment by Excitable Boy Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 1:14 pm
I don’t want to spend too much time looking for DeSantis’s core because then the core stares into you.

Comment by ZC Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 1:56 pm
The comments on this article are vile and often hypocritical. Commenters appearing to side republican are asked to show facts whereas commenters appearing democrat can verbally attack other commenters? This is a snapshot of what is wrong with our country now, divisive two party political media/system. Now I will wait for the attacks on me.

Comment by Strange Days Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 2:08 pm
It is hard to me to believe someone with DeSantis’ personality won. He has no personality (Trump would destroy him in a one-on-one debate on showmanship alone). I think what some people may be hoping is that no one can be that petty, rascist and just down right mean. I always thought it was an act but it’s scary to think that really is his core.

Comment by levivotedforjudy Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 2:11 pm
- Strange Days -

Playing a victim before being a victim is a strange way to make a point.

If you have a point where one side or another is missing something, you should try that.

As for the comments, DeSantis and Pritzker are also “two sides” where they can’t find commonality.

Why?

The policies and governing of each are very different. DeSantis is attacking groups, thought, culture, and race. His signed bills that he made law and economic policies, say, with Disney, also point to cultural anger more than economic policy.

At any time you’d like to discuss this, without being a victim…

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 2:15 pm
==Now I will wait for the attacks on me.==

Another victim heard from

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 2:19 pm
- Our Governor needs to get out of the little bubble he is in and begin interacting with Republicans and his critics. -

Name names?…I’m sure Pritzker is waiting for your advice.

As for me?…I wouldn’t touch a Trump loving Republican with a ten foot pole…or take advice from one.

Comment by Dotnonymous x Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 2:24 pm
- Now I will wait for the attacks on me. -

How long?

Comment by Dotnonymous x Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 2:32 pm
I’ve seen Desantis described as “terminally online” and that seems to fit. He cares, but it’s about deeply weird issues that are off in the weeds that don’t help him even with the GOP primary base.

Comment by ChicagoVinny Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 2:35 pm
===I was referring to the reports during the pandemic===

Your comment was in present tense.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 2:45 pm
Hard to argue with people who know they are always right. Fact Florida is a growing state despite DeSanti, leprosy, Disney battle, culture war, hurricanes, rising sea temperatures, etc. Pritzker is on his rightly deserved victory lap but it would be nice to see growth within our entire state. Show me job growth, crime reduction, and population growth along with some new home construction and then he can be the darling of the Democratic Convention. Sadly most are so caught up in their hate on both sides they have forgotten what the real issues are.

Comment by Strange Days Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 2:45 pm
So many here can’t debate with facts so they obfuscate with insults and diversions.

They stay in their bubbles and pretend their policies enjoy broad support and are working perfectly.

Anyone opposed to them is obviously dealing in bad faith and is a bad person

Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 2:45 pm
Losers don’t get a feelings massage from the winners.

Comment by Dotnonymous x Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 2:52 pm
===They stay in their bubbles===

Every accusation is a confession with you.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 2:53 pm
===and pretend their policies enjoy broad support===

… and yet the Rauner “Turnaround Agenda” could never get 60/30, 71/36… as governors need support.

Never 60 on the steps, never support from folks other than Dunkin-types to stop overrides.

To this and its significance to this post?

Signed legislation IS broad support… as 2 GAs have sat and this governor re-elected, running ON policy accomplishments not tearing down institutional mores.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 2:57 pm
===Hard to argue with people who know they are always right===

(Sigh)

Sure, Jan. It’s the weight of your argument and being able to defend it. Start there…

===nice to see growth within our entire state===

Only FOUR other states have a GDP of greater than one Trillion (that’s with a T) dollars, seen during his watch, as Pritzker has gone overseas to a place like the UK where 40 countries that the UK likely trades with… that has less than a Trillion (with a T) dollar GDP.

===Show me job growth===

According to any and all traditional measures of unemployment, 4.5-6% is considered full employment, and here’s the thing with that, one can’t say “job growth”, then maybe that same person complains about jobs not being filled where they frequent.

===Sadly most are so caught up in their hate on both sides they have forgotten what the real issues are.===

That’s an opinion, not fact. Polling to any issue… folks seem to have opinions to them, it’s not like “no opinion” is winning polling in any isssue you’d like to discuss.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 3:08 pm
==Now I will wait for the attacks on me.==

LOL. You have a very high opinion of yourself I see. You offer no facts, only opinions, then play the victim when called out. Its a fine example of today’s “conservative” movement thats for sure.

Comment by low level Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 3:36 pm
“whereas commenters appearing democrat can verbally attack other commenters”

Well, you know, this ain’t beanbag.

Comment by TheInvisibleMan Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 4:02 pm
==So many here can’t debate with facts==

Says the eternally dishonest one.

==pretend their policies enjoy broad support==

Says the guy who pretends what he says enjoys support (*checks notes* on who is in charge of the state)

==Anyone opposed to them is obviously dealing in bad faith and is a bad person==

And finishes strong with the victim card

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 4:19 pm
“So many here can’t debate with facts”

Speaking of factlessness, where is the grooming and CRT taught in schools that warrant bodies of government to convene and make laws? Still waiting for Bailey to show where CRT is taught in Illinois K-12 schools. It’s all in the minds of the GOP base, and Republican politicians are pandering to it. Just be honest about it.

Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 4:39 pm
- They stay in their bubbles and pretend their policies enjoy broad support and are working perfectly. -

Dude, move to Florida, you could have a governor and ex-governor you worship, and you would be part of the majority and not have to suffer the indignities inflicted on you in this wicked state. There is apparently endless opportunity for a man with your abilities, what on earth is keeping you?

Comment by Excitable Boy Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 6:43 pm