Why was Blogojevich arrested. Poll

[RandomThoughts]

I don't have poll star, but here is the poll question.

1) Was the Governor arrested for making his comment about Bank of America.

2) Was the Governor arrested for trying to strong arm against Mr.Obama / Mr. Rahm

3) Was the Governor arrested because thats what the FBI and Justice department do anytime they see corruption. If they knew of anyone else who was corrupt, they would be charged also.

4) Other.

I hope it is 3. Thats my vote.
I have seen a few posters post about the top two. Things like it was political motivated, if that is the case, it would be a bad thing in my view. To use Justice for Political muscle would be really bad. But to prosecute corruption where ever it is seen would be a good thing.

[rucky]

1. 3-year investigation

I'm going with Occam on this one.

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

3. I concur nt

[madokie]

And you have to ask?

[yardwork]

2. Those claiming that this is politically motivated need to give us some evidence.

Obviously, it's impossible to set up a wiretap and capture the target making incriminating statements within less than 24 hours, so yesterday's Bank of America issue can't be the reason for today's arrest.

Is there any evidence that Blago has been a hero to the people before this past week?

[RandomThoughts]

12. ok great comment, thanks.

Just wanted to flush it out and consider it shot down.

Good arguements for no political/power motivation so far.

good thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4616630

Thinking Bank arguement is especially a non starter.

[Occam Bandage]

4. I know I'm spamming by now, but he's been under investigation for THREE GODDAMN YEARS.

He's on tape trying to solicit bribes for everything from a Senate appointment to cash for a children's hospital.

[Marrah_G]

10. Hi

You might want to use the hide thread for a bit today, for your own sanity/blood pressure. There are some folks who no matter how many times the facts are given to them, they will still should conspiracy. It's the after effects of the last 8 years.

[RandomThoughts]

14. I think it is 3 also.

But just wanted to discuss the other things floating around.
My blood preassure is fine, and, heh, don't worry about sanity.

Discussing them is the best way to find logic that shows they have, or do not have merit.

[RandomThoughts]

16. Never doubted if he was properly charged.

I was only wondering about the use of targeted justice.

Like if he did not upset. _________ then he would not have been charged.

The question comes down to.

Does the Justice Department prosecute every corrupt banker, politician, and businessman. Or only ones that get people upset.

[Occam Bandage]

18. As Fitz said, he was stopped because it was a crime in progress.

If they spend the next few months compiling the full indictment, those are months in which Blagojevich is appointing Senators and cutting off funding to children's hospitals to extract bribes.

[Bluzmann57]

5. Number three

Quite frankly, I am sick of all these conspiracy theories.

[AngryAmish]

6. 5) Because he is a giant crook. A Nixonian-type crook.

A dumb, foul-mouthed crook.

A crook nobody can stand.

A crook's crook.

[Jack Rabbit]

13. Don't flatter Blago

Nixon's crimes, collectively called Watergate, grew out of paranoia; Taken together, Watergate was an attempt to protect those in power at all costs. This is something relatively new in history in that it was the perversion of democracy, which is something relatively new.

Selling offices is as old as government bureaucracy itself. Blago's corruption compares more to that of Boss Tweed.

[RiverStone]

7. Maybe he was arrested because he was an arrogant prick that broke the law?

Of course, this has yet to go to trial. :think:

[Jack Rabbit]

8. 2 & 3.

Rushing the indictment is unusual, but Fitzgerald has a good reason for doing so. It looks like Blago tried to extort money from the office of the President-elect and got eaten alive for his efforts.

So, if this is true, Blago gets my vote for stupid crook of the week.

[Marrah_G]

9. He has been under investigation for some time

If they had waited he would have been able to complete the sale of the seat and the damage would have been difficult to reverse.

[stray cat]

11. He got busted because he was corrupt as hell is my opinion

[RaleighNCDUer]

15. Well, I'm just happy to see that the Daily Show will have no lack of

material to work with even after the present administration is gone into hiding.

There are plenty of crooks and idiots in both major parties (not to mention the lesser parties) to keep us all laughing for years.

[rateyes]

17. Because he's a corrupt bastard and they caught his ass red-handed...

if that's anatomically possible.

[B Calm]

19. He was caught because Bush justice dept was trying to find something on Obama

[blondeatlast]

20. Mostly because he was stupid. Corrupt, too--but the dimwit got caught

so mostly because he was dumb as a doornail.

This yella dog doesn't like corruption no matter what letter follows in parenthesis.

[ColbertWatcher]

21. 4- Other.

The FBI and Justice Department are supposed to investigate and arrest anyone suspected in corruption.

But, with the GOP in charge of federal agencies, that only happens to Democratic politicians and never GOPers.

Not that Blagojevich (or Jefferson) haven't earned this, but the GOP has shown time and again, they've corrupted the DoJ and have motivated them to ignore GOP corruption.

[Garbo 2004]

22. What is the current residence of the former Illinois Gov Ryan, a Repub?

He's still in prison, convicted of charges brought by Fitzgerald.

[ColbertWatcher]

25. The same Gov. Ryan who fought against the DP? n/t

[Occam Bandage]

29. He only "fought against the DP" the same way that Blago "stood up for worker's rights:"

as a "OMG I'm so fucked how can I make people think I'm not a corrupt weasel" stunt.

[Occam Bandage]

24. You might want to tell that to Blagojevich's Republican predecessor.

You can write to him at
George Ryan,
c/o Federal Correctional Institution,
Terre Haute, IL.

Fitz put that guy away, too.

[ColbertWatcher]

26. Doesn't change the overall stank from the GOP's DoJ. n/t

[Occam Bandage]

31. So we shouldn't prosecute corrupt Democrats, because "the GOP" has "stank?" nt

[ColbertWatcher]

33. I didn't say that. I'm saying it stinks as bad as Blagojevich. n/t

[Occam Bandage]

34. Does that have anything to do with Blagojevich or this particular investigation?

Do you believe that a less "stank"-having investigation would have turned out any differently?

[ColbertWatcher]

36. You answered your own first question. As for the second, there is no way to tell. n/t

[ColbertWatcher]

37. You answered your own first question. As for the second, there is no way to tell. n/t

[Gold Metal Flake]

23. 3-year investigation

Fitz moved before Blogo could fuck with the open Senate seat.

[TexasObserver]

27. It's a politically motivated hit job, designed to attack Dems and Obama.

And that's true, regardless of the guilt or not of the governor.

[Occam Bandage]

30. So prosecuting a governor that was selling a goddamn Senate seat for cash

is a "hit job?" When Fitz took down Gov. Ryan for corruption, was that a "politically motivated hit job against Bush and Republicans?"

[ScreamingMeemie]

28. 3

[KharmaTrain]

32. Hold The Reynold's Wrap...

Blago's been in the targets of not just prosecutors but many others in this state for a long time. He succeded despite...won elections cause the GOOP in this state is just an inept and corrupt as he is. The reports of him shaking down and doing play for pay were already big headlines here and many were certain Fitz was waiting for the elections to wrap up before he went to the Grand Jury and got an indictment on this rat bastard. It wasn't if, it was a matter of when.

After watching Fitz work over the last 8 years, I have seen him go after both Democrats and repugnicans. He's one of the few DAs that has been a bright light in a DOJ rife with patronage and corruption. Remember, he was on Rove's list...he's not in anyone's pocket. Not only do I take the man at his work that he had to act, but that his actions were for the best interests of the people of the State of Illinois.

Blago was long off the Democratic island here in Illinois...few are shedding any tears to see this happen...in fact, a bunch of us are anxious for Governor Quinn to take over.

[Zywiec]

35. How do you see the results of this poll?

I don't even see the place to click on my vote...

:shrug: