Rahm and Rauner. Rauner and Rahm.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Gov. Bruce Rauner could have made beautiful music together. Instead, there has been nothing but discord.
Theirs is as petty and unproductive a feud as we have seen in modern Illinois politics. In shorthand, Rahm and Rauner became Rahm versus Rauner, replete with fighting words that got in the way of progress.
Emanuel’s surprise announcement Tuesday that he will not seek re-election likely sapped the venom from the feud. Behind them now is the lost potential that two of the most powerful leaders in the state could have leveraged, if only their egos and narrow political agendas had not gotten in the way.