Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Because… Rauner!

Posted in:

Illinois

* Oy…

Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis said Monday that students, teachers and parents have become hostages in the ongoing state budget battle — but she also made it clear whom she blames.

“We are all being held hostage by a governor who doesn’t want to work for us,” Lewis told the crowd at the Logan Square’s Parent Mentor celebration and workshop Monday morning at Apostolic Church of God, 6339 S. Kenwood Ave.

“The budget is being held hostage by a … sociopath” Lewis added, pausing to choose the word.

President Lewis has a Bachelor’s Degree in sociology and music, not psychology. She ought to keep her amateur diagnoses to herself.

By the way, “sociopath” is a banned word on this blog, for this very reason. Don’t use it.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 11:40 am

Comments

That word got way too much usage from 03 to 09.

Comment by Ace Laredo Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 11:46 am
Karen Lewis just plays into Rauner’s hands every time.

Makes it so difficult to support Labor Leaders that refuse to see how their rhetorical flourishes as unhelpful.

Can’t the impasse be enough to rally?

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 11:48 am
If a trained psychologist said……

Comment by tobor Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 11:49 am
She messed up.
Rauner is a socio-NO-path.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 11:51 am
What would be a permitted word to describe someone presiding over the dismantling of the state’s social service infrastructure and the shattering of the college dreams of thousands of students, while seeming to do nothing to avert it?

Because I’m hard pressed to think of one.

Comment by South of Sherman Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 12:01 pm
I support Mr. Miller’s exceptional efforts to always keep the dialogue polite.

But, with all do respect to the above, and with respect to the citizens of Illinois who are on the front line of this manufactured crisis,

is there a better term for someone who “lacks a sense of moral responsibility or social conscience?”

Comment by cdog Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 12:07 pm
I see Ms Lewis is not calling Claypool and Rahm any names. Aren’t they advocating for an end to the 7% pension pickup?

Being Fiscally responsible involves raising taxes, and cutting spending and reforming government. The governor advocated all three. As far as I can tell Democrats are all in the rainy taxes part, but not the other two

Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 12:08 pm
OW..so has helpfulness “helped” at all with this Governor? Has any suggestion, comment, from anyone ever helped to lead this Governor to a path of righteousness? If Rich can’t get through to him with his access who can? I don’t think he’s a socio-whatever. That’s a condition and they cannot help it. No Rauners attitudes and behaviors are by his choice. Saying one thing and doing another is Rauners’ way. That is called perfidious. I would argue that Rauner is being the most “unhelpful” by destroying our social services, higher education, and haranguing our state workforce. You know it’s really hard to find a physician who will take my state insurance because doctors haven’t been paid by the state. That is “unhelpful”.

Comment by Honeybear Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 12:10 pm
- Honeybear -

You’re thinkibg far too narrow.

It’s unhelpful in getting the voters, the public, to look beyond hyperbole and look at Labor’s struggle with Rauner as virtuous.

It’s like calling Rauner “Pharaoh”

Why?

You need sympathy and empathy, not showing people that Rauner is fighting the good fight against petty people and Unions more concerned about themselves then the people.

Think bigger. Think message outside the bubble.

Karen Lewis is helping Rauner here.

She just is.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 12:16 pm
‘Perfidious’ is pretty good although the Gov does meet quite a lot of the definition of that word we should not say.

Comment by STILL WATERS Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 12:16 pm
From the woman who mocks people’s disabilities while doing an onstage comedy act and vowed never to repeat one of the most successful education research studies ever performed in the Chicago area.

Comment by lake county democrat Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 12:17 pm
Ms Lewis isn’t wrong about the hostage-taking. The name calling and red-meat pandering is not particularly helpful, though. She would also do well to realize that every threat of strike and the April 1 doomsday plays right into her self-declared enemy’s (Rauner) hands. Then he can blame Rahm and the unions for everything, and have some validation for his claims.

Comment by out of touch Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 12:18 pm
Lets ban the the word governor when used in the same sentence with Rauner.

Comment by tobor Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 12:21 pm
(Honeybear lowers head, shuffles away kicking the dirt occasionally, mumbling…didn’t have to say the pharaoh thing…I’m trying to learn…looks back over shoulder and squeeks RAUNERS UNHELPFUL!…mumble…mumble…shuffle..shuffle..)

I get it. Thanks for the learning.

RAUNERS STILL A PERFIDIOUS UNHELPFUL PERSON!!!!!

Comment by Honeybear Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 12:27 pm
I don’t believe he is the banned word. I believe, and heard from others, that he is a ideologue. He has a strongly held belief. And he believes he has the plan to fix it. And the plan is all that matters.

Comment by There is power in a union... Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 12:34 pm
While I do not believe she has any psychology degree, a Chicago Magazine profile explained that she had worked for a couple of years as a social worker and that she had gone to medical school in the 80s. I’d say she has some expertise in the area.

Furthermore, psychologists don’t diagnose this disorder because it’s a subset of borderline personality disorder and not actually it’s own diagnosis.

Comment by Carhartt Representative Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 12:35 pm
People are on to Karen Lewis. She’s very destructive in what she does. She actually helps the Governor. Despite what appears to be a first rate education, she can’t figure that out. Or, she is guided by something else and doesn’t want to.

Comment by A guy Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 12:36 pm
- Honeybear -

It’s all good, it was the first example I had, lol. Good on you to keep asking and learning.

Fight your good fight, just look from the outside a tad more, and your growth is clearly visible. We’re all learning.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 12:42 pm
Once upon a time, a medical professional told a Capt. Fax Poster/Posterette that Blagoof had a condition. That was a correct diagnosis. Does not seem the $uper$tar is there yet.

You be the judge
•Glibness and Superficial Charm

•Manipulative and Conning
They never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors as permissible. They appear to be charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used. They may dominate and humiliate their victims.

•Grandiose Sense of Self
Feels entitled to certain things as “their right.”

•Pathological Lying
Has no problem lying coolly and easily and it is almost impossible for them to be truthful on a consistent basis. Can create, and get caught up in, a complex belief about their own powers and abilities. Extremely convincing and even able to pass lie detector tests.

•Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt
A deep seated rage, which is split off and repressed, is at their core. Does not see others around them as people, but only as targets and opportunities. Instead of friends, they have victims and accomplices who end up as victims. The end always justifies the means and they let nothing stand in their way.

•Shallow Emotions
When they show what seems to be warmth, joy, love and compassion it is more feigned than experienced and serves an ulterior motive. Outraged by insignificant matters, yet remaining unmoved and cold by what would upset a normal person. Since they are not genuine, neither are their promises.

•Incapacity for Love

•Need for Stimulation
Living on the edge. Verbal outbursts and physical punishments are normal. Promiscuity and gambling are common.

•Callousness/Lack of Empathy
Unable to empathize with the pain of their victims, having only contempt for others’ feelings of distress and readily taking advantage of them.

•Poor Behavioral Controls/Impulsive Nature
Rage and abuse, alternating with small expressions of love and approval produce an addictive cycle for abuser and abused, as well as creating hopelessness in the victim. Believe they are all-powerful, all-knowing, entitled to every wish, no sense of personal boundaries, no concern for their impact on others.

•Early Behavior Problems/Juvenile Delinquency
Usually has a history of behavioral and academic difficulties, yet “gets by” by conning others. Problems in making and keeping friends; aberrant behaviors such as cruelty to people or animals, stealing, etc.

•Irresponsibility/Unreliability
Not concerned about wrecking others’ lives and dreams. Oblivious or indifferent to the devastation they cause. Does not accept blame themselves, but blames others, even for acts they obviously committed.

•Promiscuous Sexual Behavior/Infidelity
Promiscuity, child sexual abuse, rape and sexual acting out of all sorts.

•Lack of Realistic Life Plan/Parasitic Lifestyle
Tends to move around a lot or makes all encompassing promises for the future, poor work ethic but exploits others effectively.

•Criminal or Entrepreneurial Versatility
Changes their image as needed to avoid prosecution. Changes life story readily.

Comment by Annonin' Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 12:44 pm
The thing is, you can make the case against Rauner with cold hard numbers, and the fact that he can offer no rational ROI for his agenda.

I wish more would.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 12:50 pm
Word,
Rauner’s ROI is WINNING!
And that is priceless!

Comment by WhoKnew Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 1:11 pm
== is there a better term for someone who “lacks a sense of moral responsibility or social conscience?” ==

A thesaurus has at least 12 synonyms …

Comment by RNUG Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 1:12 pm
Maybe we ought to bring back the old term “robber baron”. They had a lot of the same traits in their relentless pursuit of a goal.

Comment by RNUG Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 1:14 pm
Rauner doesn’t have time for the budget, he has to go return some videotapes.

Comment by The Rage in DuPage Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 1:23 pm
Poor Ms Lewis gets upset. Too bad. Apparently she thinks only teacher unions and public school bureaucrats should get to hold students hostage in contract disputes. The CTU is a walking example for the reforms Rauner wants.

Comment by Downstate Illinois Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 2:13 pm
I’m unsure if the budget is even a hostage any more, has anyone made contact with the budget to make sure it’s still alive? I suppose if nothing is done for long enough and the state deficit rises high enough then some unheard of state level bankruptcy needs to be initiating. Illinois would be the first.

Comment by Maximus Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 2:18 pm
“moral responsibility” and “social conscience” are very laudable for those who can afford to indulge themselves in good works. Illinois has a moral responsibility to do just that but obviously lacks the will to put its house in order so that it can afford the indulgence. For all the rhetoric, the Illinois political class really does’t much cafe except at election time.

Comment by Skirmisher Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 3:21 pm
I remember the “s” word being used plenty here when Blagojevich was on the ropes. Times change, as do governors.

Comment by My New Handle Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 3:43 pm
There are good reasons to avoid arm-chair amateur psychological diagnoses. And going public with them can do more harm to the speaker than the target, as noted above. It’s noteworthy that personality disorders are not well understood; the criteria are subjective and revised at regular intervals. Even with professionals, there is no simple test for, say, narcissistic personality disorder (oh, just to pick one at random) as there is for strep throat. Professionals routinely disagree on diagnoses.

However, I think it is a mistake to ignore extreme personalities when they are truly at play in politics. In my view, this governor’s personality is such that he is unable to compromise on the core points of his agenda. He has shown zero concern for the damage he is doing to our most vulnerable citizens, targets he chose years before he was elected. He is utterly convinced of his personal superiority and the infallibility of his ideology. He is not open to persuasion based on logic or facts.

In my opinion, Rauner doesn’t care about the consequences of his strategy and he will not back down. His identity and personality will not allow it. If It’s futile, even counter-productive, to ask this governor to compromise or find another way. He will always rationalize the damage, pain, and suffering he is causing as worth it in the long run. He will deny objective facts that contradict his view. Sorry to be pessimistic, but I don’t see resolution coming until Rauner wins or is stripped of his power by the courts, by a shift in the GA to sustain veto overrides, or at the ballot box.

In short, this impasse is driven by an extreme personality. This is not the usual game of ping pong between dems and republicans.

Comment by X-prof Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 4:07 pm
Lewis’ rhetoric must play well with her internal union audience — it is counterproductive with the general public. Kinda like the ISRA guy (not Todd).

Comment by walker Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 5:52 pm
–I see Ms Lewis is not calling Claypool and Rahm any names. –

You can’t be serious.

–Lewis’ rhetoric must play well with her internal union audience — it is counterproductive with the general public. –

Rauner was underwater 34/58 in the city in last week’s SIU poll.

In a poll by the Trib, the CTU was favored 60/20 over Emanuel.

http://news.siu.edu/2016/03/030316par16025.php

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-rahm-emanuel-schools-poll-met-20160203-story.html

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 6:05 pm
X-prof makes excellent points. I agree completely.

“Sorry to be pessimistic, but I don’t see resolution coming until Rauner wins or is stripped of his power by the courts, by a shift in the GA to sustain veto overrides, or at the ballot box.”

Courts? Hey, that’s something we do well in Illinois. Our past governor’s never quite understood that until it was too late.

“This is not the usual game of ping pong between dems and republicans.” It is not.

March 15, will surely be interesting.

Comment by cdog Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 9:42 pm