Blagojevich also was alleged to be using a favors list, made up largely of individuals and firms that have state contracts or received taxpayer benefits, from which to conduct a $2.5 million fundraising drive before year's end when a new tougher law on campaign donations, prompted by the governor's voracious fundraising, would take effect.Yet he tries to put on a happy face that no one is going to buy. This quote from yesterday is going to come back to bite him.
Even Blagojevich's recently announced $1.8 billion plan for new interchanges and "green lanes" on the Illinois Tollway was subject to corruption, prosecutors alleged. The criminal complaint alleges Blagojevich expected an unnamed highway concrete contractor to raise a half-million dollars for his campaign fund in exchange for state money for the tollway project. "If they don't perform, (expletive) 'em," Blagojevich said, according to the complaint.
Blagojevich and Harris also allegedly conspired to demand the firing of Chicago Tribune editorial board members responsible for editorials critical of Blagojevich in exchange for state help with the sale of Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs baseball stadium owned by Tribune Co.
In addition, federal prosecutors alleged Blagojevich and Harris, along with others, obtained and sought to gain financial benefits for the governor, members of his family and his campaign fund in exchange for appointments to state boards and commissions, state jobs and state contracts.
"The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering," U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said in a statement.
Regardless of "whether you tape me privately or publicly, I can tell you that whatever I say is always lawful and the things I'm interested in are always lawful," Blagojevich said. "And if there are any things out there like that, what you'll hear is a governor who tirelessly and endlessly figures out ways to help average, ordinary working people."Yeah, how about when he was saying this?
"I'm going to keep this Senate option for me a real possibility, you know, and therefore I can drive a hard bargain. You hear what I'm saying. And if I don't get what I want and I'm not satisfied with it, then I'll just take the Senate seat myself."Or this?
Later, ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated that the Senate seat "is a f—-ing valuable thing, you just don't give it away for nothing."
[I]ntercepted phone conversations between ROD BLAGOJEVICH and others indicate that ROD BLAGOJEVICH is contemplating rescinding his commitment of state funds to benefit Children's Memorial Hospital because Hospital Executive 1 has not made a recent campaign contribution to ROD BLAGOJEVICH.Shaking down a children's hospital. Yeah, that will convince a jury that he was just tirelessly working to "help average, ordinary working people."
This is corruption on a grand scale. Of course, the only reason we know about it is because there was already a federal prosecutor investigating the guy and he was able to get a warrant to tap the governor's phone. I don't think I'm being overly cynical is suspecting that a whole lot more of this is going on in politics all over the country. And if politicians aren't blatantly soliciting bribes, is there all that much difference between soliciting campaign contributions from unions or other interest groups and then supporting legislation to pay off the groups that helped elect you? Or President Clinton handing out pardons to people who were contributing to his library? Maybe others are smart enough to not say anything explicitly on the record, but there is a lot of back scratching going on without anyone having to come out and say exactly what is being traded.
Of course, Illinois, the state where I grew up, is a special case. Do you realize that this is the fourth Illinois governor or former governor to have been indicted for corruption? There was former governor Otto Kerner who was indicted and convicted in the early 1970s for bribery, corruption, and perjury. Then there was Daniel Walker, convicted of receiving fraudulent loans after his term as governor had ended. And then there is George Ryan who is sitting in prison right now for a scheme selling truck licenses and a smörgåsbord of other charges of bribery and money-laundering. And then, of course, there is the ongoing scandal with Tony Rezko who was tight with lots of Illinois politicians. Federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald has a very fertile field for all his corruption investigations. And perhaps more, if Blagojevich starts singing as Tony Rezko reportedly is.
Right now, we can sit back and enjoy this story. With stories of terrorist massacres in India and our own economy teetering on the edge while our politicians look around for new businesses to bail out with our tax money, it's a relief to turn to a story of old-fashioned sleaze and corruption.
26 comments:
How much fun is it going to be guessing who the highest bidders were? BTW, John Davidson and Rod Blagojevich, twins separated at birth?
Not much mention of his political party. Blagojevich must be a Republican, because "everbody knows" they are the only corrupt politicians.
All in the grand tradition of Paul Powell...........
Pretty amazing - the arrogance, greed and stupidity rolled into one well-coiffed loser. I wish he were a repub, but I've always said neither party has a lock on corruption (or stupidity). I'm just glad that, so far at least, Obama seems to be clear of any involvement.
If the reading of some of the governor's or his aide's statements I heard today are accurate, Mark, it is not at all clear someone in Obama's "transition team" wasn't involved. (Reference was made to someone on that team.) But I'm willing to give the prosecutor time to present his case and the governor and his aide to present their defenses, then let the chips fall where they may, which is, I must say, vastly more deference than Cheney, Bush, McCain or Palin was ever given by most on the Left.
How long until Obama gets frog marched?
I would think the danger to Obama is that Blago has some unrelated dirt on Obama that he might spill (given the mutual connection to Rezco, for example) if he thinks it will help him.
This is an early test for Obama, and we'll see how he comes through.
Sounds like a few people here would love to have Obama embroiled in a scandal. No matter who you voted for, that wouldn't be good for a country fighting two wars, a global war on terrorism and an economic crisis. Don't tell me people here are putting politics before country.
Except most Americans have noticed that it's the Constitution we can rely on. We don't really need a man on the white horse. And we also seem to have survived the sight and sound of various leftists with BDS running through the street caterwauling and tearing their hair out in spite of, "...two wars, a global war on terrorism and an economic crisis."
And the object of their delusions was actually the president and not still a private citizen.
Makes our crooked Dem NC politicians seem like pikers. They better get on the ball. They seem to be missing out on all the goodies.
It's the Chicago way...
All I can hope is that he's had singing lessons. He's about to have a solo performance for the feds. Hope it turns into a chorus.
A lot of Barack Obama's past and present associations have been covered up by the Democrats and the pro Obama MSM.
Now they are "Shocked"?
Wonder why this investigation was stopped right now?
I'd like to see a report on the most corrupt counties within a state. My bet is that the tail wags the dog. Entrenched "machine" politicians in the large cities have gained "undue" influence over state legislatures and a vicious circle is formed. The bad news is that a corrupt city or state can "work" for quite a while but eventually businesses will get to the point that they'll move out because it is cheaper to move to another state. New Orleans and Louisiana had a lot of this happen.
They lost some aerospace companies because they just got tired of having to grease some ones palm every time they turned around.
New Jersey! I'm surprised that anybody buys from retail stores in the urban and suburban areas. Dang near everybody knows some guy who can get you something NIB that is currently in some guys garage.
This scandal is GREAT news for President Obama.
Blagojevich could not have been any clearer: "They're not willing to give me anything except appreciation. F--- them." He clearly says on tape, "They're not willing to give me anything." [emphasis added since it apparently needs to be emphasized]
Obama will give him nothing for the Senate seat. This is a complete vindication of Barack Obama.
Here is the clearest case I have ever seen of a politician who was tested and passed the test. He is indisputably full of integrity.
The headline should read "Blagojevich Case Proves Obama Can't Be Bought."
Or like Alec Guiness In The Man in The White Suit initial appearnaces of spotlessness might be temporary. And since Bill B never extended the same get-of-jail free card to Pres. Bush then shall we say that the Left will now reap what they sowed.
What are you referring to, Pat?
I am not aware of any failed bribery attempts on President Bush.
The headline should read: "Blagojevich Case Proves Obama Can't Escape his Corrupt Illinois Roots.
Or maybe Bill B's headline could read, "Blagojevich Case Proves Obama Can't Be Bought, But In An Emergency He Can Be Rented."
This will get swept under the rug like all the other democrat scandals while the press waits for the next GOP one where they will go after them like a school of starving piranhas.
Nothing to see here folks... move along...
Republics with more bogus attempts to connect Barack Obama with corrupt or controversial figures in Chicago, followed by a Republican and establishment media outcry for the president-elect to denounce and reject them.
Pretty soon the slurs will start about Chicago-based Obama's possible involvement in milking Mrs. O'Leary's arsonist cow.
Is this what we can expect for the next eight years? The crazy has only just begun.
No, merely the continuation of the ongoing drivel from the Left that started in 2000. But as surely as the sun will rise the left will demand kid glove treatment for their sacred cow while ignoring the years of unhinged anger directed at Pres. Bush.
The anger (disappointment, in my case) directed at President Bush -- do you really think it is completely unjustified?
The major achievements of President Bush seems to have been to allow numerous terrorist attacks on US (9/11, DC sniper, anthrax), to start and lose two wars (cutting and running from Iraq on a timetable now, fancy that), to turn a budget surplus into the biggest deficit ever, to get us involved in torture, and to have warrentless spying on US citizens at home. Oh, and the City of New Orleans was lost on Bush's watch. Yeah, and lets not forget the Second Great Depression that we are sliding into due to Bush's taxation and economic policies.
I'd say Americans have lots of legitimate reasons to be angry at the failure president. Your mileage may vary. Even Bush acknowledges that attacking Iraq was a mistake, now. Take that, Iraq war cheerleaders.
I think your response merely proved my point that certain talking points have been and still are stated as fact. Hyperbole and the fantastic mixed together! But kid gloves on The One!
BTW, the Great Depression is considered the second serious depression to happen in the US. The first being the Panic of 1893 where almost 20% of the working population was unemployed. And last time I checked New Orleans was still at 29 degrees 57 minutes and 53 seconds N by 90 degrees 4 minutes 14 seconds W.
I'm not surprised you don't attempt to excuse President Bush, Pat.
Perhaps you now understand that some anger at a failed president who has left America worse off, is justified.
I know accountability and taking responsibility, is not the Republican way. We will help you own up to it.
You mean there was an actual fact in that comment that deserved a response. Why don't you read the 9/11 Commission Report or the Iraq Study Group and then explain why most of the stinking carcass was left over from the last Golden Age of Democratic presidential governance?
mark,
You actually said this:
"...to have Obama embroiled in a scandal. No matter who you voted for, that wouldn't be good for a country fighting two wars, a global war on terrorism and an economic crisis. Don't tell me people here are putting politics before country."
Don't tell me you're actually putting the country before politics! Why couldn't you do that at any point during the last 8 years?!
Anyway, I'd hate to see Obama receive the same crap that Bush was subjected to - there is a war to fight.
"You mean there was an actual fact in that comment that deserved a response."
Exactly.
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