General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsLeading candidate for IL gov wants to shut down government, mass fire government employees.
So please explain to me why he is the leading candidate? Do the people of Illinois really want that to happen? I find that hard to believe. Hopefully polls are wrong this early on.
From David Sirota:
Bruce Rauner, GOP Candidate for Illinois Governor, Promises Government Shutdown and Mass Firing of Public Workers
The video is from last year, but it has just surfaced.
In a newly surfaced video, Illinois' Republican gubernatorial nominee Bruce Rauner suggested that, if elected governor, he will fire public employees and potentially shut the government down in order to address his state's fiscal challenges.
The video, circulated today by the Illinois Federation of Teachers, shows Rauner addressing the Tazewell County Republican dinner in March. In remarks to that group, Rauner said: "We may have to go through rough times. We may have to do what Ronald Reagan did with the air traffic controllers. Sort of have to do a do-over and shut things down for a little while. That's what we're gonna do."
Here's what Reagan did in 1981. The Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization went on strike. Reagan fired 11,000 of their workers, and he decertified their union.
Someone needs to tell the supporters of Bruce Rauner just what Reagan did. Maybe they have forgotten their history lessons.
Rauner is considered a top pickup opportunity for Republicans, as he has been consistently leading in polls in his election matchup against incumbent Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn. His rhetoric against public employees stands in contrast to his business experience as a billionaire private equity executive who made his fortune managing government workers' public pension money.
About the polls, from July 29.
Rauner ahead in polls as Quinn counterpunches
In a We Ask America poll conducted yesterday, Chicago businessman Bruce Rauner is leading incumbent Pat Quinn in the Illinois gubernatorial race by 14 points. To use a boxing analogy, Rauner is winning the early rounds by being more active, but now, Quinn has apparently stopped feeling out Rauner and is ready to throw some punches himself.
..Per the poll, if the election were held today, 47 percent would vote for Rauner and 33 percent would vote for Quinn. That still left 20 percent undecided. But, in a June We Ask America poll, Rauner was leading Quinn by 10 points. The timing of how Quinn is responding to the poll is worth noting.
....It is early in the fight. Expect a lot more especially during and after the state fair. Thats when the gloves come off.
Louisiana1976
(3,962 posts)if elected sounds scary.
madfloridian
(88,117 posts)hifiguy
(33,688 posts)just before it burns down. No govt = no cops or firefighters.
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)"cutting government workers" no one thinks, police and firefighters ... nor do they think about that clerk to reserves the ramada or ball field at the public park, or the inspector that insures that businesses operate up to code ... they only think of those faceless, lay arounds that do nothing ... until that nothing is something that they want/need.
0rganism
(23,856 posts)half the premise of the nutjob right is "the government sucks at providing services to its citizens."
why pour gasoline on that flame?
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)from one of Illinois' high ed institutions would prepare an OpEd piece laying off the immediate and middle-term economic effect of putting 11,000 people out of work!
Sure, you save on the salaries and benefits; but you lose way more in lost tax revenue, lost spending power and unprovided services, not to mention social safety net provisions.
elehhhhna
(32,076 posts)ridiculous
AngryAmish
(25,704 posts)Who the governor is is unimportant. That man who runs the state is Michael Madigan. The democratic majorities in the house and senate are involate.
Plus, you have to be a complete mark if you think there is any difference whatsoever between Rauner and Quinn. Again, the governorship is purely ceremonial nowadays. Plus, Rauner has been waist deep with the Combine for decades.
If you are going to be a mark, have the personal dignity to at least be a smart mark.
madfloridian
(88,117 posts)Since I trust no politician, I hope that was not directed at me.
AngryAmish
(25,704 posts)And it is not how I meant it. It was an answer to your post but I meant it as a general statement to everyone. I am not saying that you personally are a mark. I am saying anyone who believes that Illinois politics is not a cesspool, and every Illinois politician is a turd floating therein, is a mark.
Public apology, ok?
madfloridian
(88,117 posts)Sounds much like FL politicians, actually politicians everywhere.
Thanks for the response.
Pretty disillusioned with both parties right now.
MohRokTah
(15,429 posts)This story is going to hurt this man in the polls:
Fri, 08/01/2014 - 6:43pm
Dave McKinney
SPRINGFIELD Multimillionaire Republican Bruce Rauner has channeled at least part of his fortune into the Cayman Islands, a Caribbean paradise long criticized as a tax haven for American investors, the Chicago Sun-Times has confirmed.
A Rauner spokesman insisted that the former private equity investor has met his legal tax obligations and properly disclosed to the federal government information regarding at least five investments by him or his firm in a country that has no income tax and a financial system cloaked in secrecy.
Rauners campaign has refused so far to release a full set of his most recent tax returns to corroborate that and perhaps show the extent and value of those investments in offshore companies. No one has suggested Rauner has done anything illegal. In fact, offshore investments among the wealthy have been a common practice in recent years.
For Rauner, consistently leading Quinn in mid-summer polling, its the same political issue that President Barack Obama used to his advantage against uber-rich Republican Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential campaign.
...
Chicago Sun-Times link
randome
(34,845 posts)[hr][font color="blue"][center]I'm always right. When I'm wrong I admit it.
So then I'm right about being wrong.[/center][/font][hr]