Illinois Gov. Blagojevich arrested

In an amazing feat of writing--worthy of Pravda--the lengthy linked article manages to avoid any mention of what political party indicted Gov. Blago belongs to.

Democrat.

Among the charges--corruption in picking Obama's senate successor.

Change you can believe in....

It's about time! I am one happy Illinois citizen today!

Are people unaware of what party Blagojevich belongs too? Even if not, there is no monopoly on corruption in Illinois by either party. That being said, as a Democrat, I'll be glad to see him go.

Was JJJ the one who paid $$$??

Or EJ???

How about a link to the indictment, which must have been posted by Pat F the way he posted the Scooter Libby indictment.

Pa t Fitzgerald should be Attorney General.

This is so sad and depressing. I am ashamed to be an Illinois citizen.

Why don't we forgo the trial and just hang him. You underdeveloped Republicans can only rely on your hope that the authorities will do your work for you. Maybe if you pray to God, he will find it in His heart to convict Governor Blagojevech. Another Hail Mary for the ridiculous Republicans !! Like everything else in this Republican controlled America, given the Bumbling Bush era, " innocent until proven guilty " is a laughable tenet, these days !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.

When asked about this by the press, Blagojevich will say it was "basically an up."

He took the TRibune to task for reporting what he refered to as negative stories about him, now the truth has come forward publicly. THANK HEAVENS FOR THE FREE PRESS ! ! !

This is so sad and depressing. I am ashamed to be an Illinois citizen.

Posted by: Bemused | December 9, 2008 10:25 AM

Just so.

A major source of shame for us should be that we seem unable to handle our corruption cases ourselves, but have to rely on the Feds to do it. The things that Blagojevich, Rezko, George Ryan, various Chicago aldercreatures, and on and on have done and are alleged to have done are illegal under Illinois law; how did we get to the point where an Illinois law enforcement official doesn't blow the whistle on them, rather than having to depend on Patrick Fitzgerald?

"This is not the Rod Blagojevich I knew...."

B. Obama, Dec. 9, 2008

The legislature should find a way to hold a special election to replace Obama. In the meantime, Pat Quinn should be authorized by the legislature to appoint a temporary replacement beyond reproach.

To bad they didn't take his wife "Real Estate Patty " along too or did they?

the lengthy linked article manages to avoid any mention of what political party indicted Gov. Blago belongs to.

Democrat.
Posted by: Change You Can Believe In | December 9, 2008 10:07 AM

Because that is more important than the crime.

It was George Ryan that went to prison for corruption not Jim Ryan.

"This is not the Rod Blagojevich I knew...."

B. Obama, Dec. 9, 2008

Posted by: Bruce | December 9, 2008 10:39 AM

More or less like Obama's stanard CHANGE Line..

How about a "key" to the Pat Fitzgerald press release?

Who is the candidate for senate who "withdrew her name"?

And why??

When Rod made that reference yesterday to the Nixon tapes, was he, as the shrinks say, "projecting"??

Looks like Rod's tapes will rival Tricky Dick's.

Get out the broom America, It's time to take the trash out to the curb from both houses on the block.

Justice be done. If Blago did the things he's accused of, he should be made to pay accordingly. If not, he should be exonerated. Not holding my breath for the latter.

It's about time!

Can't say that I'm surprised. In fact, I'm pretty happy about justice FINALLY beginning to be served against this criminal.

I actually wrote about this almost a month ago. You can read it here:
http://chicagodavesvoice.blogspot.com/2008/11/blagojevich-gets-to-appoint-obamas.html

I didn't really think it would happen... but that arrogant, self-serving, useless excuse for a Governor is going to finally get what's coming to him.

Now if we can just get a decent, semi-honest new Governor in Illinois.....?

Thanks! And keep up the great writing!

-Chicago Dave

From the Frank James article: "...Jim Ryan, was forced from the governorship and is now serving prison time after being convicted on corruption."

Uh, Frank, that's GEORGE Ryan, not Jim. Jim Ryan was Attorney General, not governor.

Swamp analysis at its finest. No wonder the Tribune's making so much money.

And the beat goes on! Lets look at the distinguished list, Gov. Statton, Gov. Kerner, Gov. Walker, Gov. Ryan, Sec.of State Paul Powell and now
Gov. Blagojeich. Now thats a record you should be proud of? Give me a break the Democratic choke hold on the citizens of Illinois needs to be broken. Wake up throw the bums out.

Can the feds please arrest his equally corrupt wife as well??

I wish there was a legitimate alternative in Illinois politics. The Republicans are just as corrupt, and are basically non-existant at this point. Who will they run in 2 years? Oberweis again?

Put Pat Quinn in to run things. Did he not tell Blago last week to come clean? I guess he did not heed the advice.

Corruption in Illinois isn't a Democrat or Republican thing, it's an Illinois Combine thing. Politicians in Illinois are one big one-hand-washes-the-other combine, that puts on a show for us proles every couple of years when statutorily they have to run an election. Afterward, they go back to washing each others' hands.

It's a no-effective-opposition thing. Normally, in a two-party system, the out party keeps the in party honest. Not in Illinois; there's effectively no out party.

If the state were as firmly in the hands of the Republicans as it is in the hands of the Democrats, things would be just as bad; see above. You might even see many of the same faces!

SAD DAY FOR CHICAGO, SAD DAY FOR AMERICA! This is the system that produces the next president of the united states besides Jeremiah Wright. A lot of people feel confortable with that! What's amazing is the collective poor taste of the unanimous bad faith in chain reaction, collective amnesia: EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT THE CHICAGO WAY: YES! CHANGE, CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN! This is what people of illinois are sending to the White House; an unbelievable shameless system of Frauds and Corruption(TONY REZKO, BLAGO.........). NOW, WHAT DOES BLAGO HOLD ON OTHER MAIN POLITICAL FIGURES? I doubt BLAGO will fall alone. What's in his closet? Bad things happen to shameless people running free. Max

We should wait for the final results of the investigation before we come up with the conclusion as to his guilt.

Posted by: Liz | December 9, 2008 11:44 AM
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Posted by: DaveB | December 9, 2008 12:13 PM
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Spot on, Miss Lizzie and Dave. Corruption is an equal opportunity thing in our fair state.
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I have to wonder if there's anything at all under Blago's Beatle wig. He's been under scrutiny for years now, so you'd think he'd try to lie low for a while. Plus these latest doings are so blatant it's as if he were trying to get busted.

I thought that politicians had a code to live by...but everyday seems to bring out more and more corruption. They should care about the people as much as they care about there wallets! How far those this thing go? How many people are involved in this whole deal? Can we ever trust our politicians again?

Rezko is a perfect example of the Bipartisan corruption of this state. He was closely tied to politicians of both Parties, and of all types for a long period of time. He raised funds not only for Blago and Obama, but for Lisa Madigan, Jim Edgar, George Ryan, George W Bush, even Mr. Clean Pat Quinn. That doesn't mean that all of those politicians are corrupt, but it does mean that the corrupt in this State care little about political labels.

It's kinda funny........I went back and looked up the thread about Stevens conviction. I didn't see any posts from the usual suspects....Inky, Bruce, change...etc......Is it only the democrats who are corrupt that you care about?

Corruption is a learned behavior. Hot Rod learned this behavior by watching Republicans.

Well now that Gov Rod has been indicted maybe Senator Durbin can cut a deal and get both Governors pardoned. After all Illinois politics is all about cutting deals.

Geez allow the guy a trial before you all prosecute him.

Paul,
Don't forget Orville Hodge.

(I'm old enough to remember that one, too.)

Also, there was a "tit for tat"
aspect to it.

Stratton , republican, actually was acquitted as I recall, and there was a parade of character witnesses, including the "Wizzard of Ooze", Sen. Dirksen (for whom the Courthouse itself is named).

Payback for Stratton was Kerner, democrat. Then, payback for Kerner was Atty General Scott, republican.

Than payback for Scott was Dan Walker, democrat.

Then George Ryan, rep.

Now Blagojevich, dem.

The govt. seemed to alternate between the two parties. To show evenhandednes?
I'm not sure about that. Perhaps more a reflection that these defendants are being candid when they defend b y saying "this is the way our system works".

Obama is the exception.

Next task for trolls: try to tie Obama to Blagojevich.

Five, four, three, two,.......

"This is not the Rod Blagojevich, John Harris, Advisor 1, Advisor 2, Washington Consultant 1, Hospital Administrator 1, Deputy Governor 1, Senate Candidate 1, Senate Candidate 5, and Senate Candidate 6 I know."

B. Obama, Dec. 10, 2008

All of a sudden the ridiculous Republicans are quoting President-elect Obama. Gee, you think they are now his supporters, now he doesn't talk so crooked !! What do you think !!? Can they get any more ridiculous !! Quote President-elect Obama all you want, maybe you will learn something from him !! I seriously doubt it, though. Good luck, President-elect Obama !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.

"In an amazing feat of writing--worthy of Pravda--the lengthy linked article manages to avoid any mention of what political party indicted Gov. Blago belongs to."

It is not just this article; I've read at least 10 from major fishwraps and they are all the same! Blago's Party affiliation is not mentioned -->

This is another clear example of Liberal Media Bias. If he was a Republican it would have been in the "headline."

If he was a Republican it would have been in the "headline."

Posted by: Kevin Andrews | December 9, 2008 3:40 PM

News Flash......A corrupt republican is no longer NEWS.

The run of the mine politicians in Illinois actually boosted Obama's ascent:

They provided a foil for his superlative attributes.

Like the velvet jeweler's cloth on which the diamond is displayed.

bill r- have you missed Fox news, it's on Fox non-stop. It's on radio non-stop. I went thru some of the other tv channels when the FBI had their press conference and they were all playing the same thing, and it would be the same for a Republican trust me. This is huge news and it's corruption at it's finest regardless of party.

Kevin Andrews-the Tribune has callled for this Gov to step down several times while behind the scenes all the while he was working behind the scene trying to eliminate those editors who had been opposing him. I have the utmost respect for this paper to stand up to such a person as this Governor, he's misused his power and they took him on any how, that takes brass ballls.

The Illinois Democratic Machine finally blew a cog. About time someone opened their eyes and put their foot down. I'm proud to be an American and I'm embarrassed at the same time. This is the same Democratic machine that's created the Daley dynasty and put Obama in office. Hope his people do a good job covering up his dealings with Rockin' Rod, the country can't take the fallout. Imagine being impeached before ever taking office?