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* Wait. He hopes?…
“Clearly he’s been doing unethical things. I hope he’s been doing something illegal, and I hope he gets prosecuted,” Rauner says of Madigan.
— Tina Sfondeles (@TinaSfon) August 13, 2018
Also reported by Amanda Vinicky.
…Adding… Raw audio is here…
…Adding… Tina’s story…
He’s called him corrupt for years, but Gov. Bruce Rauner on Monday said he “hopes” Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan has been “doing something illegal” and he “hopes he gets prosecuted.” […]
“I do know that Speaker Madigan has a pattern of putting up sham candidates in many elections, not just this one,” Rauner said. “So I hope they get to the truth of it. And frankly, I hope if the speaker, clearly he’s been doing unethical things. I hope he’s been doing something illegal and I hope he gets prosecuted.” […]
Madigan spokesman Steve Brown called the comments “another day of rambling” by Rauner.
“It’s the exit interview Bruce Rauner is conducting as he prepares to leave office after four years of failure,” Brown added. “There’s no unethical conduct. There’s nothing there.”
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 10:45 am
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“Rauner is officially now the old man standing on his porch yelling at clouds, uninformed, and willing to stay uninformed to keep his own wants from unraveling.”
Not a great look for a sitting governor.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 10:48 am
I feel like he is being held hostage and trying to send crazy messages out so that people can see he needs help.
Comment by Not Again Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 10:49 am
He wasted a lot of money on Erica Harold’s campaign if Madigan isn’t doing anything illegal. I mean, $1 million is a lot of money for him.
Comment by Montrose Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 10:51 am
If Rauner put as much effort in governing as he has hating on Madigan, he may not have failed so miserably. Rauner is simply shouting from the rooftops that he is a petty and whiny rich guy who can’t handle his public humiliation.
Comment by Norseman Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 10:51 am
Gov. Ahab and the Great White Madigan! Obsession ain’t just a perfume.
Comment by d.p.gumby Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 10:52 am
Hey Bruce or one of your dudes who monitors this.
Just wanted to say, I am now convinced that every moment I spent trying to remotely defend the Governor here has been a waste.
Expressing the hope someone is doing something illegal is just….
Comment by OneMan Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 10:54 am
===That is about all you comment on.==
That’s not true.
At all.
Pick a name, or is that not in your programming yet?
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 10:54 am
===== - Montrose - Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 10:51 am:
He wasted a lot of money on Erica Harold’s campaign if Madigan isn’t doing anything illegal. I mean, $1 million is a lot of money for him. ========
I wish Capitol Fax had a “like” button….
Comment by Try-4-Truth Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 10:56 am
Rauner literally wishes harm on an entire state just so he can destroy Madigan, one person who’s made out to have evil super powers but has 117 other legislators to be concerned about. This is Raunerism. It’s not conservative. This made Illinois so-much worse. It’s an all-consuming hatred.
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 10:58 am
Wow. Hard to have words. How in the world does anyone *hope* that a duly-elected official commits a crime? I mean honestly. I am no trump fan, for example, but I don’t *hope* he commits crimes. For crying out loud….
Comment by pawn Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 10:59 am
I think the reason that Rauner won’t say Trump’s name is that he’s mad that Trump stole his schtick.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:01 am
What a jackass.
Comment by Lt Guv Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:02 am
Rauner; I’m not goin to say Trump, I’ll just start speakin like him.
Comment by Rutro Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:03 am
We all know you wish ill upon Mr. Madigan Guv, but you’re not supposed to actually say it out loud dude…
Comment by Perrid Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:03 am
Madigan is so deeply embedded in Rauner’s brain that years of therapy won’t even help him. Poor guy.
Comment by Nick Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:04 am
@anonymous10:53 -
“Bruce, your hatred of Madigan is an obsession. That is abouy all you ever comment on. Hope it does not cloud your judgment. “
Fixed that for you.
Comment by JoanP Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:04 am
Why would anyone hope someone has done something illegal? You can hope that someone gets prosecuted IF they have done something illegal. That’s not the same thing though.
Hoping someone has done something illegal is hoping that
people have been wronged.
It’s really a sad state of affairs that our top official spends all his time thinking of ways to bring down another official rather than governing. Pretty sure the definition of governing doesn’t say ‘hope another official has done something illegal’.
Comment by Thoughts Matter Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:05 am
Rauner should look in the mirror. Unethical, illegal, hope of prosecution is what many see looking at this governor.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:05 am
Gov. Queeg, I have your strawberries.
Comment by Facts are stubborn things Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:06 am
complete surrender
Comment by walker Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:06 am
== Clearly he’s been doing unethical things ==
Barney’s/Cellini lease swap
Back porch talks
Questionable transfers from GRF to various revolving funds
Pinstripe patronage contracts
Patronage hires of Munger and selected staff after failed campaign
Deliberately hurting social services in an attempt to kill unions
et al …
That same quote could equally be applied to Rauner.
Comment by RNUG Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:08 am
Bruce Rauner is a weird dude.
Comment by Saluki Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:08 am
Rauner should look in the mirror. Unethical, illegal, hope of prosecution is what many see looking at this governor.
-I second this.
Comment by Real Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:09 am
=“Clearly he’s been doing unethical things. I hope he’s been doing something illegal, and I hope he gets prosecuted,” Rauner says of Madigan.=
Wait a second..so Rauner WANTS corruption? That is a bizarre thing for a governor to want. That is a very corrupt mindset, sad.
Madigan and the governor’s brain space he controls (exclamation point)
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:11 am
Hope is a thing with feathers.
In this case, a dodo.
Comment by Blue Bayou Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:15 am
Red from Shawshank Redemption: “Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane.”
Comment by Ron Burgundy Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:15 am
@RUNG…don’t forget Dunkin.
Comment by Flynn's Mom Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:16 am
== @RUNG…don’t forget Dunkin. ==
Didn’t want to make the list too long.
I’m already long winded enough … LOL
Comment by RNUG Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:19 am
when Diana takes him to Italy after he loses, he can sit in a little cafe and tell anyone that listens how Mike Madigan destroyed the world.. bizarre man.. counting the days..
Comment by Not Rich Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:19 am
The executive branches purpose at its most fundamental level is to enforce the law. The legislature makes the law, while the judicial interprets the law.
For the head of the executive branch to say that he hopes someone broke the law clearly demonstrates how unqualified he is for the position of chief executive.
Comment by A Jack Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:19 am
Will someone please pick Rauner up off the saloon floor and call him a cab?
Comment by Nick Name Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:20 am
Rauner “sits on the bank of his own lagoon” muddled, angry, frantically chasing his mythical dream of being praised for something. A big waste of money, time, and severe diminishment of whatever status he felt he had…..no pity.
Comment by Matts Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:20 am
In addition to seconding RNUG, Rauner’s statement clearly shows that he cares more about bringing down Madigan than the best interests of the state of IL. If he “hopes” that crimes have been perpetrated against the state of IL, that’s a clear admission that his agenda isn’t the best interests of state. Some would consider that a violation of his oath of office.
Comment by Deadbeat Conservative Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:21 am
Rauner is to Madigan as Herbert Lom is to Peter Sellers in the classic Pink Panther films.
Comment by Anon Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:21 am
Madigan derangement syndrome?
Comment by Last Bull Moose Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:28 am
The strawberries, that’s where I had them.
Comment by Archpundit Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:28 am
“Clearly he’s been doing unethical things.” In my early days of practicing law, my mentor told me that using “clearly” was a sure sign of a statement that had no support in the evidence of the law, and a likely opportunity to hammer the person who said it. Never known that rule to fail.
Comment by Whatever Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:29 am
He hopes he’s done something illegal and he hopes he’ll be prosecuted? Is that something that a Governor should say about the Speaker of his state’s House of Representatives? Then I hope that Madigan responds that he hopes Rauner’s political career goes down in flames (once and for all) in November.
Comment by Christopher Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:31 am
A clear sign of a totally desperate obsessed person, the guy is warped.
Comment by XDNR Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:32 am
“Show me the man and I’ll show you the crime.”
-“Beria” Rauner
Comment by TKMH Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:33 am
“I’ll follow him around the Horn, and around the Norway maelstrom, and around perdition’s flames before I give him up.”
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:33 am
What a sniveling little…piece of work.
Couldn’t beat him through legislative processes with all his millions.
Couldn’t beat him after buying the (cheap) GOP.
Now it’s simply school-yard taunts.
It’s been said time and again: take away this empty suit’s wallet, he’s nothing.
Comment by efudd Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:34 am
The only obsession I see is Rauner’s hatred of Madigan and Unions. Rauner has looked very unsteady lately with all these ramblings about corrupt politicians but being unable to speak of any specific acts of illegality. He doesn’t look or sound like a Governor.
Speculating here but perhaps their internal polling isn’t looking good and he’s beginning to realize that he’s going to lose the election. In the past few weeks the vitriol in his campaign commercials has increased as the poll results worsen.
Comment by The Dude Abides Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:35 am
–The strawberries, that’s where I had them.–
Oustanding, Arch….well played
Comment by ILPundit Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:35 am
I get what he’s trying to say- “Madigan has done bad things, and I hope there’s actually a statute that makes those things subject to prosecution”- but what a godawful way to say it.
Comment by Arsenal Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:36 am
GovJunk living out another Lincoln quote “I got nuthin”
Comment by MickJ Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:36 am
“It’s not personal, it’s business.” No, it is personal!
Comment by Because I said so.... Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:37 am
Harold might be better off without the $1 million and without the association with Rauner.
Comment by DarkHorse Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:42 am
Rauner would know.
From his corrupt bargain with Erika Harold to rigging leases, Rauner is the King of Corruption!
Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:44 am
The GOPie AG candidate should return the $1 million rental payment. GovJunk’s order to prosecute really ends any hope she had — which was pretty slim to begin with.
Comment by Annonin' Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:46 am
What the ethics of Rauner’s quid pro quo with Harold? He gives her a million bucks because she will then find something to prosecute his political opponent?
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:52 am
It’s a terrible thing to say, but is anyone really surprised? About the only way he can win re-election at this point is if Madigan gets charged with a crime, so he pushed that narrative. We’ve always known he was cynical, but this is a tad much.
Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:52 am
wait, what? why in the world would you hope that someone is doing illegal things? Rauner wishing harm on the state and people of Illinois is not funny. Rauner’s comments are pathetic.
Comment by Amalia Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:55 am
I think the more Rauner talks about Madigan the worse he will get in polls. I think everyone republicans included are getting tired of Rauner spend his entire time as governor talking about Madigan instead of getting things done. Does he think republicans elected him to spend4 years babbling about Madigan?
Comment by Real Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:55 am
===Does he think republicans elected him to spend4 years babbling about Madigan?===
That isn’t clear by now? lol
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:56 am
The thing about Raunerism…
Most governors, both parties, want hope for their state and the people living in their states to live well, be well, and have bright futures. That usually is an incumbents’ hope.
Rauner?
Raunerism is hoping for illegal activity, and it be found, or donating to an AG Candidate to “find” it.
Speaks volumes, don’t it?
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:58 am
Maybe the little old ladies at the grocery store are telling him every day that dozens of companies are just waiting to move to Illinois once Madigan is found doing something illegal?
Comment by Skeptic Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 12:00 pm
I hope Rauner smokes a joint and DOESN’T get prosecuted.
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 12:02 pm
So….Erika Harold will be able to find something that the Reagan, Bush (41), Clinton, Bush (43), Obama and Trump DOJ’s haven’t been able to find?
Comment by Michael Westen Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 12:17 pm
The Guv has no interest in governin. Never has.
All he has been interested in is weakening the Illinois Democratic Party so it is easier for him and his ilk to take controlling interest in the state of Illinois.
It’s the playbook from his days at GTCR. Attack and weaken any opposition/obstacles to his gaining controlling interest in the target company. And when you have nothing to use as persuasion (or are simply unable to persuade), use your superior financial postion to exert as much leverage as you can.
He did this easily enough with the state GOP, but has found the state Dems to be more difficult. So he has focused on the unions and Madigan. The plan being with their power curtailed, then the state Dems would be weakened and the Guv and his ilk (or to use the parlance of his GTCR days - his limited partners) would be able to gain controlling interest in the state.
He’s been nothing more than a bomb thrower as a sitting governor. And the entire state has suffered as a result.
Comment by Henry Francis Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 12:18 pm
The Governor of a state is “hoping” that another elected official is doing something illegal? What kind of person says such a thing? He’s absolutely unhinged.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 12:23 pm
It’s past time for Diana to take away Bruce’s car keys.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 12:31 pm
I suppose Rauner will begin calling him Crooked Mike.
Comment by Wensicia Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 12:41 pm
Next week Ruiner will question whether Madigan has a valid birth certificate…..
Comment by Gthang Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 12:41 pm
Rich this may be too long of a post if so delete it. My guess is Governor Rauner is thinking in terms of the end of Democrat Sheldon Silver who for more than two decades was the New York State Assembly speaker. The was taken down by the Feds and convicted. There are parallels between Speaker Madigan and Silver.
Mr. Silver maintained a viselike hold on the Assembly in New York in way similar to Speaker Madigan, he withstood rare challenges from his Democratic colleagues and powerless Republicans and he like Madigan brushed off all criticism of his performance. He was faulted for his handling of two sexual harassment allegations; in 2013, a state ethics report criticized him for covering up accusations of sexual harassment against an Assemblyman. Again a very similar situation.
Mr. Silver stood out in financial disclosure reports that showed him to be one of the largest earners of outside income among New York State politicians, reporting that he had been paid hundreds of thousands of dollars a year by a law firm, Weitz & Luxenberg. That arrangement would become one of the focal points of the government’s case. I don’t think the Speaker Madigan ’s work on property tax appeals is really the same, but I think the Governor believes it is.
Comment by Rod Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 12:48 pm
🎼”Wishin’. And Hopin’. And Hopin’. And Wishin’.”🎶
Comment by VerySmallRocks Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 1:00 pm
“buying the (cheap) GOP”
Rauner is the biggest corrupt insider ever, by the words he uses to attack others. Rauner hates public unions because he accuses them of buying the governor who sits across the bargaining table from them. But the dude spends millions to buy the entire political party in the GA. As seen with the grand bargain, no compromise, HB 40 and McCann’s union votes, the money’s not for charity.
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 1:01 pm
Pounding the Madigan drum works.
People aren’t fed up with him saying it or he’d stop saying it.
Madigan is polling worse than anyone else in the State according to the last polling reported here- worse than Trump and Rauner.
It’s all Bruce has is to hope people are so wrapped up in the hatred of Madigan, that they are blinded by their hatred and go to the polls for the specific intent of taking down Madigan and anyone associated with him.
Comment by DuPage Bard Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 1:04 pm
“People aren’t fed up with him saying it or he’d stop saying it.”
After a term in office, Bruce Rauner still has nothing else to run on.
It’s completely irrelevant whether or not people are fed up with his bizarre monomania.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 1:10 pm
Pounding the Madigan drum works.
-It didn’t work for Biss or Kennedy. And it doesn’t appear to be working for the millionaire Bruce Rauner who after 3.5 years is polling the same as Madigan.
Comment by Real Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 1:12 pm
This from the guy who gave rendell $250,000 and magically got a big chunk of pension money.
Comment by Langhorne Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 1:14 pm
==People aren’t fed up with him saying it or he’d stop saying it.==
Not necessarily. Politicians make mistakes quite a bit, in fact.
Comment by Arsenal Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 1:36 pm
I got all this money and can’t find anyone who can find anything. I ain’t no leader. What do you expect from me? I am a taker.
Comment by zatoichi Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 1:37 pm
I wonder when Chicago media is going to ask John Lausch why he has not prosecuted the Speaker yet? I mean, if it’s so plainly obvious to the chief executive of Illinois then that must mean that Lausch is either incompetent or just plain ignoring the behavior of the Speaker. Taking this statement and his previous comments about Madigan into consideration, Rauner is implying that our US Attorney isn’t doing his job - maybe Lausch should explain himself to the people of Illinois?
Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 2:02 pm
These are things you say after you lose the election and you know you won’t be govenor again.
Clearly, Brucie knows he is done so he feels he can say anything because he knows he won’t have to work with dems any longer.
Comment by Anon Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 2:10 pm
“I hope he’s been doing something illegal”
Uh, Bruce, you seemed a bit more certain in your TV ad the other day when you called him the “most corrupt politician in America.”
Losing confidence in your beliefs, man?
Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 2:56 pm
==Not necessarily. Politicians make mistakes quite a bit, in fact.==
That being said, I think the anti-Madigan message is still useful. It’s certainly the only viable message Rauner has left. But I think it’ll win him a couple votes, too.
Comment by Arsenal Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 3:12 pm
… in the not-to-distant future, a tall figure sits in a dimly lit, padded room among several scattered Cardassian mystery novels*, hugging his knees and slowly rocking back and forth. Occasionally, he mutters, “Madigan”, softly to no one in particular.
* In Cardassian mysteries, all suspects are guilty–the trick is determining who is guilty of what crime.
Comment by Hieronymus Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 3:35 pm
They will never, ever get him, because he never, ever steps over the line. Folks around him have strayed too far and get thrown under the bus — but Madigan never makes the mistake.
Comment by chad Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 3:54 pm
Rauner should clean out his own closet first.
Comment by Mama Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 5:35 pm
Do the voices in your head say ” lock him up, lock him up “
Comment by Rabid Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 6:48 pm
Did Madigan kill Rauner’s puppy when they were kids or something?
Comment by Suburban Mom Wednesday, Aug 15, 18 @ 7:32 am