The crimes of state. Another pol bites the dust - Illinois

[ChairmanAgnostic]

This is a story of unbridled greed, love of the limelight and corrupt aides. The aide? one Antoin Rezko, a syrian pizza mogul who scammed banks and investors while his dough rose, decided to get into politics.
His pet project? Governor Rod Blogojavich of Illinois. Bloggo had everything. A powerful father-in-law who could deliver Chicago and Cook County machine votes; a lack of scandal in his recent past; a boyish outlook; energy and a sense of humor.

Anyway, even before being elected governor, he was investigating a presidential campaign, using the springfield office as a stepping stone.
Because his GOP predecessor, George Ryan, was indicted (now convicted), he had an easy campaign. It was a rosy time for Illinois dems. Control of both houses, the judiciary, and the governor's office? What a chance.

What a chance squandered.

Bloggo's ego, with the help of Rezko, grew to greedy, gigantic proportions. He put out feelers throughout the midwest, and even made contacts on both coasts. President Bloggo? Well, for that, he needed money. and lots of it.
Someone, possibly with his knowledge, started selling top offices in state government. you donate 40K, and you could run IDOT. Donate 60K, and you can get on the hospital board. Donate 70K, or more, and any office in the state was for sale. And all that cash went to Bloggo's war chest.

Well, a few years ago, daddy in law tried to rein in sonny, but sonny's ego had grown to Hindenburg proportions. (with the same end result) So, to teach daddy-in-law a lesson in power politics, he cancelled daddy-in-law's investment and plans for a toxic waste dumpsite. Things got so heated that daddy-in-law let it be known that he was disappointed in sonny and that sonny was selling state offices.

Rumors throughout Springpatch, Illinois, the state's capital, abounded about how non-political, talented administrators were kicked out, to be replaced by the top donors to Bloggo's campaign fund. All too often, those now in office were as ineffectual as a blind, wingless, gnat trying to stop an elephant from walking where it wants.

Well, Bloggo's bagman and enforcer, Rezko, was just indicted on all sorts of public corruption charges. Yesterday, he was supposed to show up in two federal court rooms. His attorney came, but Rezko seems to be MIA. Probably for years to come, too.

The only question is, did Bloggo plan for his bagman to leave the country, knowing that he was about to be indicted?

[rosesaylavee]

1. And Blagojevich' challenger

was treasurer under our former fiscally and morally corrupt Republican governor, George Ryan who is going to jail shortly thanks for Fitzgerald solid work.

Sigh. I will be voting for Blago as he is the lesser of two evils. Just once would like to have a local or state election where I actually vote FOR a candidate I admire.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

3. thee and me, both, with the same sense of regret.

I suspect his indictment might occur about the same time as his oath of office after the election.

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

2. I never have liked Blogojavich

since the first time I saw him, on a panel debate when he was running for governor, and he spent the whole time smearing his opponents.

Now, he hasn't been convicted of anything yet, so I'll reserve judgement on this matter. It's possible that his involvement has been exaggerated by his political opponents. You would think he would be more cautious after what happened to Ryan.

[rosesaylavee]

4. His ego blinds him.

That's why he doesn't connect Ryans mistakes to what he does. Maybe that is what ails all Illinois pols.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

5. might there be a genetic risk factor in Illinois?

some greed gene, or idiot RNA factor that causes all our pols to become crooks?

Chicago - Hired Truck and hiring scandals will bring down the mayor, sooner than later.
Cook County - too many scandals to keep track of.
DuPage County - proof that the GOP is as corrupt as Cook County dems.
Lake County - same thing.
Will County - it is hard to tell which criminals are D or R there.
Down state - It gets really crooked in Springfield, worse than most people could imagine. I heard repeatedly that Jesse White (our sec. of state) is the only honest politician in the state, and that is because he is too stupid to be doing anything illegal. Any state that spends $26 Million for a non-existant tuberculosis agency, when all TB cases are usually funneled to Stroger Medical Center, says a lot about our state. Or what of Cook County forest preserve hiring and promotion factors?

[rosesaylavee]

6. I think any time you have ONE party (whether Dem or Repug)

controlling the money in any district, county, city or state, there will be corruption. Kane County is very red... lots of corruption out here that goes under the radar as its neighboring counties seemingly have more it.

We really need to reinstate the two party system across the board here in Illinois.

And Jesse's in trouble for hiring too many family members. Dishonest or stupid or both?

[ChairmanAgnostic]

8. boy, are you right about that.

power corrupts, and power companies ultimately are extremly corrupt. or something like that.

[rosesaylavee]

7. Dor't forget Kane!

(Where have we heard that before?)

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