At least now Fitzgerald's hero status can drop a bit here, as we see from which party

[RB TexLa]

he prefers to arrest people.

[Captain Hilts]

1. Well, he has the cold, hard, evidence here - on tape. nt

[leftofthedial]

19. and there was no evidence against any of the bushies...

yeah, right.

a repuke is a repuke is a repuke.

[Occam Bandage]

23. Unfortunately, there wasn't really. He got Scooter on obstruction of justice, remember?

That usually implies that justice has been obstructed.

[leftofthedial]

38. Fitzgerald behaved as if there was no evidence.

He claimed evidence wasn't really evidence.

Not the same thing.

I'm no fan of his. I think he skillfully inoculated the bushies against charges that should have stemmed from clear acts of treason and whitewashed the whole affair, with the now free Libby as a small sacrifice.

[Occam Bandage]

46. There was no solid evidence proving Bush or Cheney beyond a shadow of a doubt committed crimes.

Hence, the obstruction of justice felony convictions on Scooter Libby. Of course, I'm playing a fool's game talking about evidence, since you're happily asserting that Patrick Fitzgerald was illegally conspiring with the Bush White House.

[leftofthedial]

67. according to Fitzgerald

not according to witnesses, other observers, investigative reporters.

Every time the evidence pointed toward a white house insider, Fitz held a press conference to announce there was "not enough evidence" or, more tellingly, that pursuing the evidence would be too difficult or beyond his powers.

[Captain Hilts]

31. It was open to interpretation, unfortunately. nt

[Pab Sungenis]

2. If Democrats need arresting

let him arrest them. Blago was filthy as dirt, and Fitz is fair.

[Captain Hilts]

4. ...the kind of solemnity and respect for fair play you'd expect from a Mets fan such as Fitz. nt

[Zuni]

44. darn right!

[PeaceNikki]

66. Word.

[salbi]

70. I live in IL. Blago deserved this, I don't care what party he belongs to

To me this isn't a Dem/Rep issue, what he was doing is wrong

[Davis_X_Machina]

3. Good, clean government...

...has no party.

[RB TexLa]

59. Well I live in the real world and am a believer in "pretty good government"

[Occam Bandage]

61. Then I'd think you'd be against corruption in the Governor's office.

[RB TexLa]

76. Are half these replies yours? I think there's a boy scout meeting you are late for.

[Occam Bandage]

80. 9% in this thread are.

:shrug:

[Vinca]

5. If the tapes are as described by Fitzgerald, he's still a hero in my eyes. nt

[originalpckelly]

6. So he should have let the governor appoint a new senator....

who would be as corrupt as he is?

[RB TexLa]

The governor can still appoint someone

[Pab Sungenis]

10. And if he does

the Senate will refuse to seat the appointment.

[malaise]

26. Bet he won't be collecting any

'pay to play' money for the appointment after today.

[babylonsister]

7. I think he's just an honest man who wants to do the right thing. The guv

deserves everything he's going to get.

[hlthe2b]

8. WTF? He arrested, prosecuted & imprisoned the prev. REPUG

Governor. He successfully prosecuted Cheney's Chief of Staff. He has arrested a very corrupt democratic Governor. Seems he is being consistent in his duties as Federal Attorney.

[amdezurik]

9. his JOB is to go after the criminals

if anyone ever thought that only repuks broke laws they are as stupid as people who post threads like this one...

[Occam Bandage]

11. He prefers to arrest criminals.

Bush and Cheney at least were smart enough to hide the evidence and cover their tracks; the only evidence Fitz had was the evidence of the track-covering, and so he took Libby down. Blago's saying outright, "HEY GUYS LOL I NEED MORE ILLEGAL CASH IN ILLEGAL DONATIONS FOR THIS CRIMINAL INFLUENCE-PEDDLING I'M COMMITTING SO PLZ BRIBE ME THX LOL I'M A CRIMINAL."

[catnhatnh]

12. His status goes up with me....

Bad Dems are like rogue elephants...

Whereas corrupt Repubs are like fish in a barrel...

And personally I'd rather see every corrupt bastard who calls himself a democrat jailed first.

[riqster]

13. Fitz is still my hero.

This is a nation of laws, not men. Fitz gets it.

[Alexander]

14. This thread has EPIC FAIL written all over it.

[LynneSin]

17. That's the understatement of the year

I hold no judgement against someone who arrests criminals even if they happen to be democrats.

This asshole should hold his head in shame for the taint he's giving Obama even though Obama has nothing to do with this.

[yardwork]

15. It sounds like the evidence in this case is very clear.

I don't believe in showing favoritism to corrupt politicians from any party. Never doubt that the Democrats could become just as bad as the Republicans if we the people let them.

One of the reasons we ended up with a malevolent chimp for president is that Republicans turned a blind eye to anything their party did.

[Taverner]

16. BS - Fitz is fair

[Missy Vixen]

18. Only in the eyes of those who don't know the first damn thing about

Patrick Fitzgerald or his career.

I suggest you do a little reading on that subject. Mr. Fitzgerald has repeatedly proven he can't be bought by members of either party. It's unfortunate that there are those here who find that objectionable.

Julie

[Critters2]

52. Or the first damn thing about Rod Blagojevich and his career.

I voted Green in the last gubernatorial election because anyone with an ounce of sense knew this man was at least as corrupt as Ryan. Yesterday was the first time he's EVER demonstrated any concern for the people of Illinois!

[johnfunk]

20. WRONG!!!

1) Blagojevich is a CONSERVATIVE.
2) Blagojevich is alleged to be a pay-to-play CROOK.
3) Fitz's indictment indicates that Obama wounl NOT have anything to do with Blago's "pay to play" scheming (Blago; Obama "show us only appreciation. F$#@ them.")
4) A little speculation: I'd bet you a dollar that Rahm Emanuel himself dropped the dime the fitz on Blago's phone call!

It's Fitzmas for Democrats when the prosecutor takes down one of the few truly egregious crooks in power with a "D" after their name.

[Raskolnik]

21. Nonsense. Fitzgerald is doing his job, and doing it well.

Blagojevich was and is a crook that deserved prosecution. That has absolutely nothing to do with whether the little letter next to his name is a (D) or an (R).

[stray cat]

22. He arrests crooks - whats wrong with that? I don't care if a crook is repub or dem - he is dirty

[Jennicut]

24. Oh please. Fitz tok it to Scooter Libby. Blago is a criminal and corrupt. He is doing his job.

Regardless of what party you are in, Fitzgerald is a fair and good man. Blago has stunk since he got in office, corruption happens to Dems too. Don't be so naive.

[Peacetrain]

43. word.....

:)

[havocmom]

25. No, his stock goes up. Party not important. The LAW is important

That is integrity.

[Jennicut]

30. Exactly.

[Mike 03]

74. Bravo. I couldn't agree more.

I'm bewildered that some folks here think this corrupt, bribe-taking creep should be given a pass by anyone.

It's embarrassing to me that anyone here would DEFEND him!

[MidwestTransplant]

27. He is just as much of a hero in my eyes. Blago is scum.

[sufrommich]

28. It seems he prefers to arrest people he has concrete evidence

against,if that makes him a "traitor" in some peoples eye,it says more about them than him.

[dysfunctional press]

29. this makes him an EVEN BIGGER HERO in my book.

blago is a scumbag, and deserves everything he's going to get.

[Gold Metal Flake]

32. Fail.

[TheUnspeakable]

33. may I be the first to agree with you

I'm sorry,but this just stinks-I'm in Ill. and I'm certainly not in love with Blago, but he has been HOUNDED FOR YEARS for trivial things. People here seem to forget that our entire justice system has been corrupted by bushco-and they also forget how disappointed we were with Fitz. He was supposed to uncover the treason comitted by bush and cheney outing a covert CIA officer, and all he did was slap Scooter on the wrist.

[RB TexLa]

34. One of the first things I learned in Louisiana politics, the US attorney is always the dirtiest

MF'er in the room.

[Occam Bandage]

35. Explain exactly how arresting Blago is "dirty."

[Missy Vixen]

53. Oh, yeah. He's "dirty"

You prove your ignorance with every subsequent post on this subject, don't you?

Do yourself a favor. Read up on Patrick Fitzgerald's career. Here's a good start. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Fitzgerald

Julie

[RB TexLa]

60. Go speak freely with a US attorney or their staff and see what happens to you

And don't say it wouldn't matter because you haven't done anything illegal, that really doesn't matter to them.

[Missy Vixen]

63. I don't need to speak with the US Attorney

to prove a point you're too lazy to research yourself.

To call Patrick Fitzgerald "dirty" shows me nothing more than the fact you have no idea what you're talking about, and what he's accomplished in the city of Chicago since 2001.

Julie

[RB TexLa]

75. I said that in reference to US attorneys, he happens to be one.

I and many know what these people are capable of doing.

Just in case you didn't know, you always do best to avoid speaking with them.

[Missy Vixen]

83. Yawn

That's right. The most high-profile US Attorney in the country is dirty. Everyone's managed to keep it all covered up since 2001.

Let's not discuss those who have left that office to go on to jobs in private firms and keep doing good, such as Patrick Collins, who took a job with Perkins/Coie managing their pro bono work.

I might also mention that James Comey, another former USA, left the Bush administration because he dared to TRY to stop them from additional warrantless wiretapping.

It's too bad you insist on painting all USA's with the same brush.

Julie

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

79. What's that....some line Fred "Frog" Thompson spewed out on "Law and Order"?

One of my Senators is a former US attorney, and a rising star in our party....so screw off.

[Occam Bandage]

37. Did you miss the part where Blago was trying to sell Obama's seat for cash?

How about the part where he was threatening to shut off $8,000,000 in funding for a children's hospital unless he got a $50,000 bribe? How about the part where he was threatening to shut down the Tribune Corp's Cubs deal unless they fired journalists who criticized him? This is all on tape.

[TheUnspeakable]

45. did you miss the part where bush got rid of everyone in the DOJ

except the most loyal bushies? did you miss the part where Rove should have testified but Fitz decided not to call him? Did you miss the part where our President and vice president comitted treason and war crimes and all we got was a little tease (re scooter?)
Did you miss Spiegelman and Spitzer? the charges against Blago sound pretty bad, but I gotta say they kind of sound like business as usual-everyone in the media is acting like he murdered 1,000,000 people or something.(oh wait , that was our president)

[Occam Bandage]

47. Does that have anything to do with Blagojevich?

"The party I don't belong to has some people who do bad things too" is not a criminal defense.

[AngryAmish]

56. Fitzpatrick was appointed by former Senator Fitzgerald (no relation)

In prsctice the Senator of the same party affiliation gets to appoint the local US Attorneys. When Fitgerald the US Atty was appointed he was recommended by former Sen. Peter Fitzpatrick (who bought his seat and had no loyalty to the Republicans).

Anyway Sen. Fitgerald appointed Fitz as a big FU to the ruling party in Illinois - the political class that has been enriching itself for generations. There is no difference between Republicans and Democrats in Illinois. Both are crooks.

First he put a R governor in jail for being crooked. Now he is putting a crooked D governor in jail. May he continue doing this for many years.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

77. So, you wanted Blag to make the appointment.....

....and then watch your state get hit with the shitstorm that followed as both he and his appointment turned out to be involved in the crooked deal together?

If I was from Illinois, I'd be breathing a huge sigh of relief today.

[backwoodsbob]

81. wtf?

I don't care if Fitz was sucking Chimp off every night before reading him beddiebye passages from Mein Kamp.

This guy was dirty and deserves to go down.

DAMN,they have him ON TAPE threatening to withhold funds to a childrens hospital if he doesn't get what he wants.

[KansDem]

82. You make a good point...

...did you miss the part where Rove should have testified but Fitz decided not to call him?

I've always wondered why Rove wasn't called to testify.

[polmaven]

39. Define "we"...

I wasn't the least bit disappointed with Fitzgerald. Libby was convicted of a felony. The only reason, in my opinion that he isn't in jail now is because Bush said otherwise.

"Uncovering" the treason committed by Bush and Cheney was not going to happen without Libby's testimony of it, and just what incentive was there for that, knowing that he would never spend a day in jail unless he did testify about it?

I believe Fitzpatrick is a good man who did the best he could.

[Catherine Vincent]

36. He didn't drop in my book.

He's the real deal.

[blindpig]

40. These folks just love them some cops. n/t

[Raskolnik]

50. When the "cops" do their job well and take down someone like Blagojevich, yes these folks do.

Don't you?

[leftofthedial]

41. I agree.

I don't trust Fitzgerald as far as I can see him.

He was clearly a bush cabal operative in the Plame affair.

That doesn't mean Blagojevich doesn't deserve whatever justice comes his way.

[Dreamer Tatum]

42. He should be a greater hero, in fact

Because he indicts where indictment is necessary.

I bet that if he only indicted Republicans, you'd want a statue built in his honor.

[Lex]

48. That makes no sense whatsoever.

nt

[Renew Deal]

49. I think Fitzgeralds status on DU has improved today.

It's wide praise.

[NNN0LHI]

51. I don't want any corrupt Dems representing me

They can't do us any good.

Don

[apocalypsehow]

54. Funny, they're reading the Guv's actual words off a transcript from a wire tap

on the cable channel playing right now in front of me. He sounds pretty fucking guilty to me, regardless of which Party he belongs to.

What exactly kind of ax are you trying to grind here, anyway? Or are you just shit-stirring?

:shrug:

[Tatiana]

55. Are you kidding. Thank goodness Blago's finally been nailed.

He's corrupt and unscrupulous. I'd rather be represented and governed by someone with integrity.

[w4rma]

57. Blagojevich replied, "I don't think I'm cuckoo."

…
Blagojevich has been at odds with members of both parties in the state legislature who see him as "disengaged" and "dictatorial."<27> Democratic legislator Jack Franks has said that the reason Blagojevich has problems passing laws with the cooperation of the Legislature is that he does not spend enough time with the Legislature. "That’s a real reason he has such poor relations with the Legislature and can’t get any of his agenda passed, because he doesn’t talk to anybody."<28> When lawmakers working on a budget during a special session met at 10 a.m. rather than 2p.m., and Blagojevich's attorney threatened that the Governor was considering legal action against the involved representatives, Democratic Rep. Joe Lyons told reporters, "We have a madman. The man is insane."<27>

Blagojevich has had an ongoing feud "worthy of the Hatfields and McCoys" with Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan, a fiscal conservative who resists Blagojevich's proposed increases in state spending.<27><10> Madigan has become Blagojevich's chief nemesis, blocking numerous Blagojevich proposals.<15> Illinois senior Senator Dick Durbin said in 2008 that he receives many constituent complaints about the dispute between Blagojevich and Madigan, with letter writers wanting him to step in to negotiate.<29> Durbin said the subject is also often talked about in the United States Congress in Washington, DC among the Illinois congressional delegation.<29> However, Durbin joked that he'd rather go to Baghdad to mediate than Springfield.<29> At one point in 2007, Blagojevich filed a lawsuit against Madigan after Madigan instructed lawmakers to not attend one of Blagojevich's scheduled special sessions on the budget.<10>

Blagojevich has also publicly disagreed with Democratic Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley; after their dispute over Chicago Transit Authority funding, Daley called Blagojevich "cuckoo" and said he didn't want to argue with the Governor since "He's arguing with everybody in America."<30> Blagojevich replied, "I don't think I'm cuckoo."
…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Blagojevich

[Marrah_G]

58. This isn't about party, this is about a corrupt asshat trying to sell a Dem senate seat.

This topic has brought out the crazy in people.

[blondeatlast]

62. Doesn't seem to be the case--and it's actually improved in my opinion.

With a few precious exemptions, DU seems pretty impressed with Fits handling of the case.

[theboss]

64. Crime and corruption is a non partisan issue in my book

So....blaaahhhh!

[blogslut]

65. He has been fighting the corrupt in Illinois for years

I think Patrick Fitzgerald is a righteous fellow. Sorry he doesn't sate your head-on-platter bloodlust but I am very happy with him. I'm only sorry he wasn't the man Barack Obama chose to be US Attorney General.

[Garbo 2004]

68. Uh, Fitz had the former Repub Governor Ryan arrested too. Ryan's in prison now. nt

[sufrommich]

69. Doesn't count and messes up a perfectly good

conspiracy theory!!!!

[SoCalDem]

71. Crime, stupidity & hubris have no political boundaries

My only concern is that many people who called him for any reason, are now on tape...and until their phone calls are published, their end of the conversation will be subject to question..
1) did he poposition them too?
2) what was their reaction?
3) who told on him first & got the ball rolling?
4) how many people were sullied unnecessarily?
5) were people tipped off to the investigation?

[onenote]

72. its going to come as a surprise to George Ryan and the dozens of other repubs

that Fitz successfully prosecuted that he prefers to arrest Democrats over repubs.

If the OP wasn't so sad it would be funny. When Fitz was named special prosecutor in the plame case, some on the RW screamed because although fitz was portrayed in the media as someone who would go after crooks regardless of party, his record allegedly was skewed overwhelmingly towards the prosecution of repubs.

Now he gets a Dem (who actually does most of the heavy lifting through his own recorded words) and some folks on the left side are screaming that Fitz is biased in favor of repubs.

Like I said, if it wasn't so sad, it would be funny.

[Mike 03]

73. Except for one small thing: He has done exactly the right thing.

That governor almost disgraced Obama and in a sense DID disgrace the party. He's a shameful moron and an embarrassment to everyone, regardless of political affiliation.

I still support Patrick Fitzgerald 100% and have since the unsatisfactory (through no fault of his own) outcome of the Libby fiasco.

[LostinVA]

78. I'd still drink with him