And I thought our last couple governors sucked...

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And I thought our last couple governors sucked...

Post by Mellanby_equals_grit »

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/s ... enDocument
Blagojevich, chief of staff arrested and taken into custody
Tuesday, Dec. 09 2008
CHICAGO — Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested Tuesday on charges of
conspiring to get financial benefits through his authority to appoint a U.S.
senator to fill the vacancy left by Barack Obama's election as president.

The FBI says he is on wiretaps conspiring to sell or trade Obama's vacant seat
for benefits.

According to a federal criminal complaint, Blagojevich also was charged with
illegally threatening to withhold state assistance to Tribune Co., the owner of
the Chicago Tribune, in the sale of Wrigley Field. In return for state
assistance, Blagojevich allegedly wanted members of the paper's editorial board
who had been critical of him fired.

A 76-page FBI affidavit said the 51-year-old Democratic governor was
intercepted on court-authorized wiretaps over the last month conspiring to sell
or trade the vacant Senate seat for personal benefits for himself and his wife,
Patti.

The affidavit said Blagojevich discussed getting a substantial salary for
himself at a nonprofit foundation or an organization affiliated with labor
unions.

It said Blagojevich also talked about getting his wife placed on corporate
boards where she might get $150,000 a year in director's fees.

He also allegedly discussed getting campaign funds for himself or possibly a
post in the president's cabinet or an ambassadorship once he left the
governor's office.

"I want to make money," the affidavit quotes him as saying in one conversation.

U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald said in a statement that "the breadth of
corruption laid out in these charges is staggering."

"They allege that Blagojevich put a for sale sign on the naming of a United
States senator," Fitzgerald said."

Among those being considered for the post include U.S. Reps. Danny Davis and
Jesse Jackson Jr.

Blagojevich also was charged with using his authority as governor in an attempt
to squeeze out campaign contributions.

His chief of staff, John Harris, also was arrested.

Corruption in the Blagojevich administration has been the focus of a federal
investigation involving an alleged $7 million scheme aimed at squeezing
kickbacks out of companies seeking business from the state. Federal prosecutors
have acknowledged they're also investigating "serious allegations of endemic
hiring fraud" under Blagojevich.

Political fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko who raised money for the campaigns of
both Blagojevich and Obama is awaiting sentencing after being convicted of
fraud and other charges. Blagojevich's chief fundraiser, Christopher G. Kelly,
is due to stand trial early next year on charges of obstructing the Internal
Revenue Service.

According to Tuesday's complaint, Blagojevich schemed with Rezko,
millionaire-fundraiser turned federal witness Stuart Levine and others to get
financial benefits for himself and his campaign committee.

Federal prosecutors said Blagojevich and the chairman of his campaign committee
have been speeding up corrupt fundraising activities in the last month to get
as much money as possible before the end of the year when a new law would
curtail his ability to raise contributions from companies with state contracts
worth more than $50,000.

According to the affidavit, agents learned Blagojevich was seeking $2.5 million
in campaign contributions by the end of the year, with a large part allegedly
to come from companies and individuals who have gotten state contracts or
appointments.

Blagojevich took the chief executive's office in 2003 as a reformer promising
to clean up former Gov. George Ryan's mess.

Ryan, a Republican, is serving a 6-year prison sentence after being convicted
on racketeering and fraud charges. A decade-long investigation began with the
sale of driver's licenses for bribes and led to the conviction of dozens of
people who worked for Ryan when he was secretary of state and governor.

FBI spokesman Frank Bochte said federal agents arrested the governor and Harris
simultaneously at their homes at 6:15 a.m. and took them to the Chicago FBI
headquarters.

Bochte said he did not know if either man was handcuffed or if the governor's
family was their North Side home at the time of his arrest. He did say
Blagojevich and Harris both were given time to get dressed before being taken
to the headquarters.

He also did not have any details about Blagojevich's arrest, only that he was
cooperative with federal agents.

"It was a very calm setting," he said.

The governor was to appear later Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nan Nolan
to answer the charges. The time was not immediately set.

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna called on Blagojevich to resign
office immediately -- or lawmakers should impeach him.

“Furthermore, Governor Blagojevich should not, under this cloud of extremely
serious allegations, appoint a United States Senator," McKenna said in a
prepared statement. "While there is a presumption of innocence, in these
troubling economic times, the people’s work should be placed ahead of Governor
Blagojevich’s legal troubles."
Seriously.. You guys over the river sure know how to pick 'em. :lol:
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Re: And I thought our last couple governors sucked...

Post by Leedog »

I just wish they could somehow find another (un-named since I don't wanna get political) Chi-town politician's fingerprints on this as well! HA!
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Re: And I thought our last couple governors sucked...

Post by F Keenan »

Mellanby_equals_grit wrote:
Seriously.. You guys over the river sure know how to pick 'em. :lol:
Chicago and Illinois are two different states. This douche is just another part of the Chicago political machine........ As is some other unmentionable... you know, his name begins with an O and rhymes with llama.

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Re: And I thought our last couple governors sucked...

Post by KJVO_1611 »

Market Watch wrote: *
Blagojevich's immediate predecessor, Republican George Ryan, who is currently serving a 6 1/2-year stretch in federal prison for racketeering and fraud. Blagojevich, along with Sen. Richard Durbin, has publicly supported an appeal to the White House for the commutation of his sentence.
*
Dan Walker was convicted in 1987 -- years after leaving office -- of bank fraud. Serving from 1973 to 1977, with a reputation as reformer, he was the last Democratic governor of the state before Blagojevich took office in 2003.
*
Otto Kerner, a Democrat who was convicted in 1973 on 17 counts of bribery, conspiracy, perjury and other charges before being sentenced to three years in the pen. The federal prosecutor in that case, James Thompson, later ascended to the governor's chair and, ironically, ended up getting his law firm to defend Ryan for free.
*
Another governor was indicted, but not convicted. Lennington Small, a Republican, served from 1921 to 1929. He was indicted while in office for embezzlement related to actions taken when he was state treasurer. He was acquitted; several of the jurors in the case ended up with state jobs.
I don't know too many politicians that have come out of Illinois and retained an ounce of honor, integrity or decency.

source: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/gov-blagojevich-joins-long-line/story.aspx?guid={893F1077-BD10-4FED-9C26-39E8392FFA63}&dist=TNMostMailed
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Re: And I thought our last couple governors sucked...

Post by F Keenan »

St. Charles is the birthplace of R. Budd Dwyer..... now there is a politician who HAD a good head on his shoulders.
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Re: And I thought our last couple governors sucked...

Post by KJVO_1611 »

Its a shame really.

I still don't understand why some choose this method over the natural course which is much more preferable.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Rom 6:23)

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Re: And I thought our last couple governors sucked...

Post by Mellanby_equals_grit »

KJVO_1611 wrote:Its a shame really.

I still don't understand why some choose this method over the natural course which is much more preferable.
Could you speak a little more specifically?
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Re: And I thought our last couple governors sucked...

Post by KJVO_1611 »

Mellanby_equals_grit wrote:
KJVO_1611 wrote:Its a shame really.

I still don't understand why some choose this method over the natural course which is much more preferable.
Could you speak a little more specifically?
Mr Dwyer chose suicide in public rather than facing the music and proving his innocence.

I was stating the natural method of passing away is much more preferable.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Rom 6:23)

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Re: And I thought our last couple governors sucked...

Post by Mellanby_equals_grit »

KJVO_1611 wrote:
Mellanby_equals_grit wrote:
KJVO_1611 wrote:Its a shame really.

I still don't understand why some choose this method over the natural course which is much more preferable.
Could you speak a little more specifically?
Mr Dwyer chose suicide in public rather than facing the music and proving his innocence.

I was stating the natural method of passing away is much more preferable.
Isn't preference subjective? That's kinda what makes it preference...
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Re: And I thought our last couple governors sucked...

Post by choppa4 »

Business as usual in Chicago politics.
Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.
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Re: And I thought our last couple governors sucked...

Post by F Keenan »

KJVO_1611 wrote:
Mellanby_equals_grit wrote:
KJVO_1611 wrote:Its a shame really.

I still don't understand why some choose this method over the natural course which is much more preferable.
Could you speak a little more specifically?
Mr Dwyer chose suicide in public rather than facing the music and proving his innocence.

I was stating the natural method of passing away is much more preferable.
He did it in STYLES Mutha fukka!
*I tend to only post on this site when I'm intoxicated.

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Re: And I thought our last couple governors sucked...

Post by Ruutu15 »

F Keenan wrote:
KJVO_1611 wrote:
Mellanby_equals_grit wrote:
KJVO_1611 wrote:Its a shame really.

I still don't understand why some choose this method over the natural course which is much more preferable.
Could you speak a little more specifically?
Mr Dwyer chose suicide in public rather than facing the music and proving his innocence.

I was stating the natural method of passing away is much more preferable.
He did it in STYLES Mutha fukka!

He did it because he was going to get life, the judge made that well known before he even stepped into court. Also, another reason is because since he died in office, his family would receive his full pension. He drained his savings in defense costs, which got him nowhere. It's pretty much well known that he was innocent, and I don't condone suicide of course, but in this case it's understandable in my opinion. At least his family was taken care of. That's the only good thing you'll hear me say about a Republican...ever.

Blago did a lot of shit, and like any politician, has dirty hands. However, he has my support for backing the unions in the recent sellout of employees by certain Chicago companies, and refusing to do business with Bank of America.

I just posted two opinions that are sure to start a flame war, but that's how I feel. I feel more strongly about the second opinion than the first. The car companies (aka- Unions) built the middle class, not Wall Street.
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Re: And I thought our last couple governors sucked...

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In before lock.
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Re: And I thought our last couple governors sucked...

Post by Rohan »

Ruutu15 wrote:
F Keenan wrote:
KJVO_1611 wrote:
Mellanby_equals_grit wrote:
KJVO_1611 wrote:Its a shame really.

I still don't understand why some choose this method over the natural course which is much more preferable.
Could you speak a little more specifically?
Mr Dwyer chose suicide in public rather than facing the music and proving his innocence.

I was stating the natural method of passing away is much more preferable.
He did it in STYLES Mutha fukka!

He did it because he was going to get life, the judge made that well known before he even stepped into court. Also, another reason is because since he died in office, his family would receive his full pension. He drained his savings in defense costs, which got him nowhere. It's pretty much well known that he was innocent, and I don't condone suicide of course, but in this case it's understandable in my opinion. At least his family was taken care of. That's the only good thing you'll hear me say about a Republican...ever.

Blago did a lot of shit, and like any politician, has dirty hands. However, he has my support for backing the unions in the recent sellout of employees by certain Chicago companies, and refusing to do business with Bank of America.

I just posted two opinions that are sure to start a flame war, but that's how I feel. I feel more strongly about the second opinion than the first. The car companies (aka- Unions) built the middle class, not Wall Street.
:lol:

Holy fuk. I wonder what the reaction would be here if he was a Republican.
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Re: And I thought our last couple governors sucked...

Post by Philo »

Rohan wrote:
Ruutu15 wrote:
F Keenan wrote:
KJVO_1611 wrote:
Mellanby_equals_grit wrote:
KJVO_1611 wrote:Its a shame really.

I still don't understand why some choose this method over the natural course which is much more preferable.
Could you speak a little more specifically?
Mr Dwyer chose suicide in public rather than facing the music and proving his innocence.

I was stating the natural method of passing away is much more preferable.
He did it in STYLES Mutha fukka!

He did it because he was going to get life, the judge made that well known before he even stepped into court. Also, another reason is because since he died in office, his family would receive his full pension. He drained his savings in defense costs, which got him nowhere. It's pretty much well known that he was innocent, and I don't condone suicide of course, but in this case it's understandable in my opinion. At least his family was taken care of. That's the only good thing you'll hear me say about a Republican...ever.

Blago did a lot of shit, and like any politician, has dirty hands. However, he has my support for backing the unions in the recent sellout of employees by certain Chicago companies, and refusing to do business with Bank of America.

I just posted two opinions that are sure to start a flame war, but that's how I feel. I feel more strongly about the second opinion than the first. The car companies (aka- Unions) built the middle class, not Wall Street.
:lol:

Holy fuk. I wonder what the reaction would be here if he was a Republican.


the sound of crickets chirping.
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Re: And I thought our last couple governors sucked...

Post by Rohan »

Philo wrote:the sound of crickets chirping.
Ok, Hess.
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Re: And I thought our last couple governors sucked...

Post by Ruutu15 »

Rohan wrote:
Ruutu15 wrote:
F Keenan wrote:
KJVO_1611 wrote:
Mellanby_equals_grit wrote:
KJVO_1611 wrote:Its a shame really.

I still don't understand why some choose this method over the natural course which is much more preferable.
Could you speak a little more specifically?
Mr Dwyer chose suicide in public rather than facing the music and proving his innocence.

I was stating the natural method of passing away is much more preferable.
He did it in STYLES Mutha fukka!

He did it because he was going to get life, the judge made that well known before he even stepped into court. Also, another reason is because since he died in office, his family would receive his full pension. He drained his savings in defense costs, which got him nowhere. It's pretty much well known that he was innocent, and I don't condone suicide of course, but in this case it's understandable in my opinion. At least his family was taken care of. That's the only good thing you'll hear me say about a Republican...ever.

Blago did a lot of shit, and like any politician, has dirty hands. However, he has my support for backing the unions in the recent sellout of employees by certain Chicago companies, and refusing to do business with Bank of America.

I just posted two opinions that are sure to start a flame war, but that's how I feel. I feel more strongly about the second opinion than the first. The car companies (aka- Unions) built the middle class, not Wall Street.
:lol:

Holy fuk. I wonder what the reaction would be here if he was a Republican.
I said that I know what he did was wrong, but I support his stance on the unions and what he's done for them, especially lately. Republicans typically equal anti-union, so they will never have my support.
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Re: And I thought our last couple governors sucked...

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If this can be discussed without personal attacks and people acting like crybaby bitches, I'll leave it unlocked.
It's up to you guys.

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Re: And I thought our last couple governors sucked...

Post by F Keenan »

Ruutu15 wrote:
I said that I know what he did was wrong, but I support his stance on the unions and what he's done for them, especially lately. Republicans typically equal anti-union, so they will never have my support.

Well the unions did a fine job of driving up the cost of labor in this country forcing companies to ship jobs out of the country or eliminate them completely. Funny that years ago the UAW drove their wages up so high that they have collapsed their employers and screwed thousands of their "brothers" out of the job today. :lol: What a fukking joke.
*I tend to only post on this site when I'm intoxicated.

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Re: And I thought our last couple governors sucked...

Post by Philo »

F Keenan wrote:
Ruutu15 wrote:
I said that I know what he did was wrong, but I support his stance on the unions and what he's done for them, especially lately. Republicans typically equal anti-union, so they will never have my support.

Well the unions did a fine job of driving up the cost of labor in this country forcing companies to ship jobs out of the country or eliminate them completely. Funny that years ago the UAW drove their wages up so high that they have collapsed their employers and screwed thousands of their "brothers" out of the job today. :lol: What a fukking joke.

if you would do any research you would know that the cost of wages and benefits are only 10 percent of the cost of a vehicle.so don't blame the unions for this debacle.
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