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* AP: Humbled Illinois governor admits errors, pleads for 2nd term: A humbled Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner, one of the most endangered state executives in the country, promised Thursday to be less confrontational and more understanding of his political opponents’ views if voters give him a second chance in the November election. Fighting an uphill battle for re-election in a Democratic-leaning state, the first-term Republican delivered an unorthodox address that was part apology, part State of the State address, and part stump speech. Gone was the brash talk of the private-equity investor who once suggested a government shutdown might be necessary to reform the state. Rauner acknowledged that he misjudged the difficulty of government change, and that his stubbornness helped enable a painful, two-year budget standoff with majority Democrats in the Legislature.
* WSIL TV: Gov. Rauner reflects on time as governor, reveals plan for future: Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner made his case to voters with less than two months to go until election day. In a 30-minute-long speech Thursday, Rauner reflected on his four years as governor and the lesson’s he’s learned as head of state. “I’ve grown in office, I’ve changed,” Rauner said “We’ve made progress. I know we can work together to get even more done.”
* ABC 7: Rauner slams Pritzker in speech: Pritzker’s character was the target for the last half of Rauner’s speech, as he accused the Democrat of having off shore bank accounts and avoiding property taxes. “His behavior shows him to be a person utterly lacking in the integrity and character we need in public office,” Rauner said. “Well, Bruce Rauner has no character when he doesn’t get a budget passed and cost working families jobs,” Pritzker said
* Politico: Will voters buy Rauner’s apology speech?: Bruce Rauner isn’t the first governor to stand, hat-in-hand, in the homestretch of an election. After a combative three-and-a-half years, the embattled GOP incumbent — trailing badly in the polls — wants voters to know that a second term would be different. … It’s a tough speech for the usually brazen private-equity-investor-turned pol who allowed the state to go two years without a budget. Rauner was remorseful talking about the toll the budget stalemate had on regular folks. “It kept me up at night worrying about the disruption that many families experienced,” he said.
* Sun-Times: Rauner, Pritzker agree character key to race, but each says other has none: Rauner delivered his speech at the Hilton, which is one of 26 hotels where workers are on strike in Chicago. Thousands of workers are fighting for better healthcare and higher wages. Pritzker’s campaign sought to make light of the location, asking reporters — many of whom are union members — whether they’d attend the governor’s speech. Several television cameramen opted out. But two of the hotels on strike are Hyatts, which are owned by the Pritzker family.
* Tribune: In mea culpa to voters, Rauner pleads for second term by saying he’s not perfect but has grown: “Admittedly I may have overdone it on the courage part at times. I’ve done things that cost me politically, because I was more focused on doing what was right,” he said. “I stand before you today a man of no less courage, but perhaps greater understanding.” Rauner’s admissions were reminiscent of the 2015 Chicago mayoral run-off campaign, when a re-election seeking Rahm Emanuel ran ads in which he donned a sweater and acknowledged he can “rub people the wrong way or talk when I should listen” and said he could do better. Still, Rauner defended the disruption and dysfunction created in a politically divisive first term that pitted a rookie Republican governor against a Democratic legislature along ideological lines.
* Illinois News Network: Rauner: Budget impasse was a fight for reform: “Ask yourself why Mr. Pritzker has voiced zero concern for the corruption in our state,” Rauner said. “He might be the only person in Illinois who doesn’t think corruption is a problem.”
* Illinois Public Radio: Gov. Rauner Tries to Reset Campaign: Rauner acknowledged problems with his time in office — like the two-year budget stalemate. But he framed that as a fight for HIS ideas about reform, which he said required “courage.” “I may have overdone it on the courage part at times — politically — because I was more focused on doin’ what was right.”
* WGN TV: Rauner: Pritzker ‘lacking in the integrity and character’ to be Illinois governor: “A man caught on FBI wiretap trying to buy political office from a criminally corrupt politician is not worthy of the highest office in our state,” he said. Rauner is warning voters that if elected, Pritzker will raise taxes and allow a culture of corruption. But Rauner was introspective. “I’m a better governor now than when I took office because of what I’ve learned,” Rauner said. … Rauner accused Pritzker of dodging the press. The governor did not take questions from reporters before or after Thursday’s speech.
…Adding… Heh…
.@WCIA3Mark @capitolfax In Rauner's speech yesterday he dropped 15 g's out of 88 opportunities, a paltry 17% score on the FolksyMeter, which is why I have formally retired the device. Must I do all the serious work around here?
— Eric Zorn (@EricZorn) September 14, 2018
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 11:01 am
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The roundup…
Rauner, polling a mere 24% approval for his performance as governor and trailing by 17 points, with 27% of the voters choosing him, performs a mea culpa that’s a “mea floppa”, and not addresing his biggest weakness to get back into the race for his job, he is unlikable.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 11:12 am
–“Admittedly I may have overdone it on the courage part at times. I’ve done things that cost me politically, because I was more focused on doing what was right,” he said.–
The man’s a saint. Even his shortcomings are virtues.
Whoever had to write that dreck must have had to take a long scrubbing with Boraxo afterwards.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 11:13 am
Not humility. FEAR.
Comment by Matts Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 11:17 am
==“Admittedly I may have overdone it on the courage part at times. I’ve done things that cost me politically, because I was more focused on doing what was right,” ==
I guess the poor guy did suffer (politically at least) during his term of being Guv. I’m sure the families of the heroes who died in Quincy feel your suffering.
It reminds me of Judge Smails bemoaning how he sent younger boys to the gas chamber - he didn’t want to do it - but he felt he owed it to them.
Comment by Henry Francis Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 11:20 am
The best way I can think of to describe Rauner’s speech is “post mortem.”
Comment by IllinoisBoi Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 11:21 am
Rauner is a slow learner with more ego than brains.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 11:21 am
I cringe at the characterizations of him as remorseful, humbled, etc. How can the reporters possible know this to be true? Yes, Rauner said some of the right things but those are adjectives verifiable only through actions.
Comment by Cubs in '16 Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 11:21 am
Too late
Do not believe anything this failure says
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 11:22 am
This speech — this begging for a second term — came just after he crossed a picket line.
So, he’s learned … what, exactly?
Comment by Bobby T Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 11:27 am
Rauner speeches usually change the course of history.
/snark
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS-mo8PT5fk
Comment by Saluki Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 11:28 am
“My behavior shows me to be a person utterly lacking in the integrity and character we need in public office,” Rauner said. There, I fixed it for him.
Multiple homestead exemptions on his property taxes.
Clouting a daughter into Peyton Prep
Cutting funding for Autism on World Autism Day
I could go on.
Comment by G'Kar Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 11:31 am
Courage. Where was Rauner’s courage during the outbreak at the Quincy VA home?
Does Rauner have the courage now to say he failed miserably during the outbreak? Is he going to get on his knees and beg forgiveness from the family members who had live ones die?
I thought not…..
Comment by A Jack Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 11:33 am
Not buying it. This is simply another costume in Rauners repetoire.
Comment by Generic Drone Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 11:34 am
== Does Rauner have the courage now to say he failed miserably during the outbreak? ==
Darn I hate to defend Rauner.
He can’t say that pubically, partly because he is the Governor of the State that will (is?) be sued over the actions the State took.
Comment by RNUG Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 11:43 am
Next he’s going to tell us he called President Cullerton and Speaker Madigan last night to vowed to work with them if re-elected.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 11:50 am
I hope Bruce Rauner spends 900 million on this campaign. If he really cares about Illinois he will spend it all over the next 7 weeks. Spend Bruce Spend.
Comment by Solution Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 11:52 am
===“Admittedly I may have overdone it on the courage part at times.”===
The word for that hubris, Gov. You’re welcome.
Comment by Nick Name Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 11:57 am
More hubris, thinking that a contrite act will fool us rubes. I could hear him chuckling in the limo on the way home..
The time for a real reset was after his budget veto was overridden 2 years ago. 8 weeks before an election? Comes across as a 10 on the Rauner scale of phoniness.
Comment by Jibba Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 12:08 pm
Courage. Rauner: “I am not in charge.”
That statement really reeks of courage, doesn’t it?
Comment by A Jack Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 12:15 pm
There was nothing ‘right’ about holding up the budget, and allowing needed services to go improvises, and forcing social service agencies out of business, there was nothing right about state employees not having medical bills paid for two years. Ask that employee with the sick child who had to have deputies stand between her and the equipment provider.
That was neither right nor courageous. Still can’t come up with a non banned word to describe it.
Comment by Thoughts Matter Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 12:17 pm
To go un-provided. Spellcheck not my friend
Comment by Thoughts Matter Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 12:20 pm
Very funny that he is ‘over’ courageous, but this is still my favorite line in the speech.
“After years of tough political fights, Republicans and Democrats came to the negotiating table and worked together to pass a budget.”
I guess the speechwriter forgot to add “over my veto” at the end of that sentence!
Comment by Out Here In The Middle Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 12:37 pm
Quite astonishing so many of you give zero blame the impasse on Speaker Madigan who did not move one inch towards compromise.
Only a hard core partisan Madigan defender would excuse zero reforms offered or agreed to by the “reasonable and moderate” Speaker
Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 12:57 pm
===Quite astonishing so many of you give zero blame the impasse on Speaker Madigan who did not move one inch towards compromise.
Only a hard core partisan Madigan defender would excuse zero reforms offered or agreed to by the “reasonable and moderate” Speaker===
Rauner admitted he failed.
You don’t agree with Rauner?
LOL
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 1:09 pm
@Lucky:
That’s because we were all wide awake when Madigan helped pass the bipartisan compromise, which Rauner promptly vetoed, and watched Madigan join with Republicans to override his veto.
Madigan and the Democrats did reach a compromise with Republicans, its just that Rauner did not want to be a part of it.
Oh, and he did everything to sabotage it right up until the end, including the part where he pretty much forced Christine Radogno into retirement.
Comment by Thomas Paine Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 1:10 pm
Took longer than I thought it would for Governor Victim’s white knight to come to his rescue here. Thanks for trying LP, but you seem to be forgetting that Rauner was the one contiusously undermining efforts at compromise.
To the post: that he was able to get up there yesterday and give this speech with a straight face was impressive. That he has shown time and again that he has learned nothing in three and a half years is…less so.
Comment by Fixer Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 1:12 pm
Hey LP, I asked you yesterday about MJM agreeing to give the Guv the Economic Development Corp he asked for, MJM just added a 3 year sunset so they could check to make sure it didn’t turn into the mess those types of organizations turned into in other states. That sounds like a reasonable, moderate offer. Why didn’t the Guv accept that?
Comment by Henry Francis Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 1:17 pm
==Only a hard core partisan==
And what in the heck do you think you are Mr. Hard Core Rauner defender?
==Quite astonishing so many of you give zero blame the impasse on Speaker Madigan==
Can you not be a victim just once? Saying Rauner shares in the blame isn’t giving the Speaker a pass. It’s arguing against people like you who claim the Governor is nothing but a victim.
You’re guy is double digits down in the polls. The Governor is just a victim schtick clearly isn’t working. Why? Because the people realize the Governor has been a complete and total failure.
Comment by Demoralized Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 1:26 pm
“Can you not be a victim just once?” I’ll handle that one: “No.”
Comment by Skeptic Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 1:57 pm
There was bipartisan compromise in the legislature on permanently raising income taxes by 32 percent but zero bipartisan compromise on reforming our business environment or government.
Zero effort to reverse the population exodus or attract new businesses
Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:07 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GNn9mJBdK0
Comment by Soccermom Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 3:03 pm
Governor Rauner is not a victim…He’s his own Hero.
Just…Just…Just… Ooooohh…this dude wears me out.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 3:15 pm
The Speaker has been preaching incremental reforms since the beginning. Is Rauner now agreeing with Mike Madigan?
Perhaps Rauner should have listened four years ago and he wouldn’t be losing so badly. Instead, Rauner just calls everyone corrupt and creates massive problems with his budget impasse.
Comment by A Jack Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 4:14 pm