The [Thursday] Papers

The Danville Commercial-News on Bruce Rauner's State of the State address:

"Simply talking about reforms, then calling for everyone to jump in line to support them, will never work.

"The governor could have used the State of the State to outline a new plan, offer compromises to his political opponents and show his willingness to put goals he holds as important aside in an effort to begin digging Illinois out of the financial quagmire it finds itself in.

"Instead, we heard 'We have the ability to lead the nation in growth and opportunity.' That might well be true, but a leader would set a new course to get there after following the same path for the past 12 months with no appreciable results."

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From the Morris Herald-News:

"Even as Illinois remains without a budget, Gov. Bruce Rauner on Wednesday used his second State of the State address to double down on his call for the Democrat-controlled Legislature to go along with his pro-business, anti-union agenda."

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From the Daily Egyptian:

"Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner recited Wednesday his mantra of promoting a business-friendly atmosphere in Illinois through principles listed on his so-called 'Turnaround Agenda' during the State of the State address.

"There was talk of freezing property taxes, curbing the power of state unions, introducing term limits for state politicians and redrawing legislative maps. Little was said regarding the ongoing budget impasse."

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From the Jacksonville Journal-Courier:

"Gov. Bruce Rauner's 'State of the State' address Tuesday outlined new goals for the state to achieve in the coming year, but was notably lacking discussion regarding the ongoing budget impasse.

"Rauner's address focused primarily on getting the state competitive again, education reforms, state corrections reform, and pension reform. When it came to the elephant in the room, the budget impasse, Rauner had little to say."

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"If we work together, we can come together in good faith and do exactly what I want." -Rauner

— VoldemortForMayor (@Voldemort4Mayor) January 27, 2016

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I once believed that one or both of these folks were the key to breaking the logjam in Springfield, but Rauner appears to have them locked up tight:

Republican leaders Radogno and Durkin say Rauner's tone in #SOTS was "conciliatory" #twill pic.twitter.com/Jqq5fkm7HX

— natasha korecki (@natashakorecki) January 27, 2016

I guess with all of Rauner's money just waiting to be deployed against anyone who breaks with him, they've calculated their chances at political survival to be better standing by the governor than the people of Illinois, because Radogno and Durkin never pledged their fealty at all costs to the kind of items on the Turnaround Agenda before.

It's like they're in their own version of that Twilight Zone episode where you don't want to say anything bad or the kid will wish you to the cornfield.

"It's real good that you're holding everybody hostage for your workers' comp agenda. Real good!"

Does anyone believe that if Rauner didn't have the means to carry out his threat of unelecting anyone in his caucus who opposes him, Radogno and Durkin wouldn't have struck a budget deal with Madigan and Cullerton already? Of course they would have.

Bruce Rauner is the Illinois GOP's six-year-old Anthony Fremont.

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Harming children worth it if it rich people can get richer in the long run. https://t.co/FUkgBOHLG7

— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) January 27, 2016

Radogno says impasse harm is worth it.

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) January 27, 2016

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Rauner beat Kirk Dillard by 23,000 votes in the 2014 Republican primary. Does anyone think a Governor Dillard wouldn't have passed a budget right on time upon taking office?

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Despite what Bruce Rauner's Wikipedia page said on Wednesday, he is not the son of Lucifer. https://t.co/X6LtGDYqcS pic.twitter.com/FGQNmWhQnr

— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) January 28, 2016

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Madigan's not wrong. https://t.co/bpFLodrnpz

— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) January 27, 2016

Passed out by Speaker Michael Madigan at press conference after State of the State: "Bruce Rauner's Planned Crisis" pic.twitter.com/pf588iMKwy

— Amanda Vinicky (@AmandaVinicky) January 27, 2016

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Campin' Ken Dunkin. https://t.co/N3KpsVzraU

— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) January 27, 2016

Ken Dunkin has sleeping bag and backpack because he's going to camp out in Madigan's office until there's a budget. pic.twitter.com/WMdqC8TkYL

— natasha korecki (@natashakorecki) January 27, 2016

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The Beachwood Tip Line: Tent revival.

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