Politics: Blago indictment coming soon
Rich Miller links to and comments upon a report on CBS2 in Chicago that IRS agents are sifting through Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s records and an indictment will come soon.
Yikes. That would be two governors in a row. It probably ought to be three (maybe four) out of the last four.
It’s one thing to be a popular politician facing indictment. It’s quite another to be as reviled as Blogo. There’s no one who’se going to be fighting behind the scenes for leniency or mercy because he did “some good” while in office. George Ryan could point to the death penalty moratorium. What will Balgo point to? All Kids, the health program that he created with a memo and no cash?
Remember though, folks, that there’s little we know about Blago’s ethics and leadership style that we didn’t know two years ago when virtually every Democrat — including those who obviously hated his guts — lined up behind him on election day.
The electorate knew he was a crook with no leadership skills. But a majority of us felt compelled to vote for him because his commercials so successfully portrayed the far more competant and far less corrupt Judy Baar Topinka as a bobble-headed buffoon. That, and he promised us a bigger cut than she did.
Until we stop voting for people we know are crooks because they are “our” crooks, our next governor is going to be just as bad as Rod Blagojevich.
September 25th, 2008 at 6:13 am
Wow! Just saw this at Cap Fax too. In reply to your previous question — an indictment alone does not force him out of office. He would have to be convicted, or plead guilty, for that to happen.
Remember Pekin Mayor Lyn Howard? He stayed in office right up to the moment the jury found him guilty of the credit card/gambling thing — because he could.
September 25th, 2008 at 7:19 am
“virtually every Democrat … lined up behind him on election day. ”
Oh, that’s so not true. Rich Whitney got 10.4% of the vote (361,336 votes), and I’m betting very few of those 360,000 people were Republicans.
September 25th, 2008 at 7:55 am
I am deeply ashamed to admit that I voted for Blagojevich; I wish I had that vote back.
Consider me chastised.
At least I voted for Eisendrath in the primary.
September 25th, 2008 at 8:19 am
Billy: Nicely put. Unfortunately it will take the state 20 years to crawl out of the hole this idiot has dug us into. As just one example, he has systematically destroyed the Department of Natural Resources which at one time was considered a model for such agencies around the country. The downside: if he is forced from office, Pat Quinn will become governor.
September 25th, 2008 at 9:00 am
Proud to say I collected signatures that helped to get Rich Whitney of the Green Party onto the ballot, campaigned for him and voted for him. I actually got several Republican friends to vote for him too, Eyebrows, so I know at least 4 republicans who did vote Whitney.
Blago is an embarrassment to Democrats. All Kids is a good thing, and much needed – but just like BUsh’s NCLB, unfunded mandates don’t work well and that is his fault.
September 25th, 2008 at 9:35 am
“What will Balgo point to? All Kids, the health program that he created with a memo and no cash?”
The federal government decided to drastically cut back on the amount of money given to the state of Illinois for health programs. All Blago did was pledge that the state would make up for the shortfall.
Regarding “no cash:” There is plenty of money -just allocated in the wrong places, that is all. What recreational opportunities exist in Illinois outside of Chicago? Why destroy the Department of Natural Resources. Why destroy the entire economy of Pontiac, IL by closing the prison? Too much state money is being sucked dry by Chicago politicians. “Our” crook? Wrong. Blago refused to live in the Springfield mansion. He is the city of Chicago’s crook.
September 25th, 2008 at 9:41 am
Hey, don’t look at me, I didn’t vote for the sleazebag.
September 25th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Sam, as a Republican I would be satisfied with Pat Quinn at least until the next election. He’s more honorable and trustworthy than most of our elected officials. And speaking of good elected officials whats with the 4 of 4 comment Billy, what was wrong with Edgar? I admit I may have been too young to remember his entire time as Guv but he seemed to do a pretty good job.
September 25th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
I don’t recall all of Edgar’s years, but I haven’t seen or heard anything too terrible about him. Seemed alright, as a matter of fact.
September 26th, 2008 at 12:29 am
Edgar’s reputation as ethically pristine wasn’t deserved. Her continued the pinstripe patronage practices Big Jim Thompson started.