Just Another Person in His Neighborhood
What the hell is in the water in Illinois?
Blagojevich was taken into custody today by federal agents, the Chicago Tribune reports. The dirtbag details, which prosecutors call “staggering:”
Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff John Harris were arrested today by FBI agents on federal corruption charges.
Blagojevich and Harris were accused of a wide-ranging criminal conspiracy that included Blagojevich conspiring to sell or trade the Senate seat left vacant by President-elect Barack Obama in exchange for financial benefits for the governor and his wife. The governor was also accused of obtaining campaign contributions in exchange for other official actions.
Blagojevich was taken into federal custody at his North Side home this morning.
Ayers, Rezko, Wright, Pfleger, Farrakhan… Barack’s circle of associates—political, social, clerical—sure don’t reflect well on him.
That’s all there is to say right now, until we learn more. But this is kind of a big story, isn’t it?
Martino said,
December 9, 2008 @ 11:09 am
I wonder which political party the Gov. belongs to.
AP said,
December 9, 2008 @ 1:00 pm
I live in Illinois and am constantly amazed at the level of corruption. It is truly staggering. One might think that this type of corruption is limited to either the Democrat or Republican Party in Illinois. No such thing - this crosses party lines.
Time and time again, the people of Illinois are faced with corruption, nepotism, and machine politics. We have Todd Stroger, the son of John Stroger, running the powerful Cook County Board (John Stroger ran the Cook County Board until he had a stroke, then he and the other machine bosses picked young Todd to run the Board). And, after Todd was installed, any relative or friend of his instantly had a meal ticket. Unfortunately, he is only the tip of the iceberg.
Chicago machine politics has a long and sordid history – it is corrupt to the core and a real bloodsport. A true reformer (like a Paul Vallas) does not have a chance. He ran for governor against Blagojevich and lost. One final thought – President-elect Obama spent virtually his entire political here in Chicago. He not only was able to survive but actually thrive in an environment like this? What does that say about him?
Carol said,
December 9, 2008 @ 8:02 pm
I’ve had that thought too, AP. You are known by the company you keep and it’s not like any of his known associates ever caused Obama to turn tail and head for the hills. He has always been perfectly comfortable hanging out with utter sleazoids which might, come to think of it, explain his eagerness to cozy up to Hugo Chavez and Morey Ahmadamsterdam (love that one, BTL!).
I was going to feel all superior to Cook County and the entire state of Illinois for a minute until I remembered that the King County (Seattle, Washington) elections department stole the gubernatorial election in 2004 and our governor is in the pockets of Indian gaming interests.