The real message behind the arrest of Blagojevich

[LBJDemocrat]

The message comes from the banks, and it says, to the politicians, "You don't control us. We control you." This was a clear attempt to strike fire into any politician who dares to put up a fight against them. Third-world, Putin-style extortion and intimidation.

What Blagojevich did was wrong, but it's nothing surprising. Politicians dole out jobs as favors. Welcome to fucking reality. Blagojevich might've been reckless about it, but that's all that separates it from what happens in probably most states.

I, for one, am not going to stab the governor of Illinois in the back.

[ingac70]

1. The man is crazy...

I could give a shit care less about someone so corrupt.


http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/09/a-readers-guide-to-the-blagojevich-complaint/?hp

[Skip Intro]

2. He threatened BOA, in support of workers, and today...yeah, makes you wonder.

Something smells about this for sure.

[malaise]

5. The bank also agreed to give the company the money today

I had doubts early this morning but the governor is either on meds or is batshit crazy. You don't withhold state funds from a children's hospital because you expect a political contribution. If that allegation is true, I hope they throw the book at him. That alone was enough for me.

[hlthe2b]

8. ditto... this guy is a crook--the worst kind.

"You don't withhold state funds from a children's hospital because you expect a political contribution. If that allegation is true, I hope they throw the book at him. That alone was enough for me." YUP :thumbsup:

[malaise]

16. We either want change or we don't

I'm sick of corruption everywhere. If he's guilty fuck him.

[StreetKnowledge]

25. Yep, Pretty much my opinion too.

Blago is trying to make himself look good after screwing with people for years. It's a pathetic covering-your-ass tactic, and far too many DUers are falling for it.

[blondeatlast]

58. Ethics trumps partisanship. If we have to start with our own (and Fitz has shown he's nonpartisan)

I'm still all for it.

[Two Americas]

95. not an either or

We can question the motivations and behavior of the feds and at the same time be opposed to the governor.

Why are people presenting two and only two choices for positions on this? The guy could be a crook AND the actions by the feds could be politically motivated.

[Profprileasn]

108. Change

As my dad says, "change isn't always good".

[tritsofme]

32. You know what really smells?

That Blago used the plight of those workers in a cynical attempt to win public support the day before he was indicted, an indictment which was imminent.

[Freddie Stubbs]

51. And that some people are gullible enough to fall for it

[blondeatlast]

59. Amen. Despicable--and BUSHLIKE. Grrrr.... nt.

[Ikonoklast]

38. The decision to arrest him was made Sunday, however.

He was going to be indicted before any of this came up with the BOA.

[cali]

41. logic please. He threatened BOA one day before his arrest

Things just don't work that fast. This was a multi-year investigation.

[Sequoia]

78. I saw that headline in yesterday's paper about BofA

and thought the same thing right off the bat. The story was printed in our paper before the morning of his arrest. However, maybe he was going to be arrested anyway but for two events to happen side by side makes you wonder.

[MichiganVote]

3. The tapes will show he broke the law. Simple. And dirty.

[ShortnFiery]

4. After YEARS of so called "investigation" why is the atty who dropped the ball on Executive Treason

CHOOSE to act "the day after" this Governor vocally supported THE WORKERS (LABOR)?!?

Again, there's NO coincidences in politics.

THIS stinks ... it's too convenient for Pro-Corporation Politicos within both parties of this right wing duopoly. :(

[maryf]

9. Yep

Not only did he vocally support the workers, he said the state would not be banking with Bank of America (or Bank of 1% of America) until they took care of the workers. The OP is right, it was a warning to any politico to watch it with the banks, they rule...

[Occam Bandage]

11. You're confusing cause and effect.

Blagojevich supported labor, for the first time in his entire fucking corporatist low-life career, because he knew that the Feds were drawing in close and he wanted to get some support of some sort before it was too late.

You're swallowing it hook, line, and sinker. Blagojevich is one of the most pro-corporate Dems in America, and one of the most corrupt to boot. Why would you trust a guy who is on tape saying that all he cares about is enriching himself?

[katanalori]

24. thank you occam

you are a voice of reason and sanity. I mean it.

[blondeatlast]

60. Exactly. nt

[ProfessorGAC]

63. Yep

His indictment has been inching closer to fruition for months. The trigger point here was that Fitzgerald acted to prevent the selling of that Senate seat. It was to protect the integrity of an open federal seat.

I honestly don't think Fitz had much choice.
GAC

[jacksonian]

64. this is just BS

labor has been Blago's main interest in his entire state-wide history. Labor has state cabinet control thanks to Blago - this is one of things he's being accused of. Get your facts right.

[ProfessorGAC]

67. Not From Where I Sit

And that's just 3 hours from Springfield, and an hour from Chicago.
GAC

[StreetKnowledge]

27. That wasn't thier call.

It was Blagojevich's. You fell for it. He's trying to make himself look goo, make himself a martyr. If this was politically motivated, why did Fitzgerald (the same guy who almost put away Scooter Libby - thanks Bu$h :mad: ) go out of his way to say that Obama had nothing to do with this crap? If it was partisan, why wouldn't Fitzgerald have linked Obama to it? Lord knows the right tried enough with Tony Rezko, Bill Ayers and Jeremiah Wright to make Barack look bad.

[Two Americas]

89. stuff and nonsense

Even if it is true that it was a cynical ploy to support the strikers, that does not tell us that the arrest was not intentionally timed for the day after. Since when does supporting organized Labor win points with the public for politicians? One would think we would see it all the time were that true.

The governor is crude and was extremely unpopular in Illinois - 13% approval rating I think.

The charges are a bunch of nonsense, worded more like a pr release or sales and marketing campaign than anything else. Are we supposed to believe that politicians trading favors is some sort of rare thing? How absurd. The entire system is awash in favors, bribes and kickbacks and insider deals. That is the rule, not the exception. This guy is just not as smooth as others are about it. Many here are arguing that since he is a bad guy, that therefore anything that brings him down is OK, while spouting holier than thou pronouncements about integrity and such.

Once again, right wing style, we have an all-or-nothing for-us-or-against-us debate going on about this here.

Could it not be that the governor is a bad guy AND the arrest is politically motivated and the charges relatively without merit?

Are people here really so naive that they think this sort of hard ball politics and corruption is unusual? I think people just prefer their corruption to be more gentrified and "reasonable" sounding. This guy's true crime is in not being an effective and successful crook, in not giving all of us the smooth words and clever manipulations that permit us to continue to be in denial about the corruption in government.

The man is guilty of being too crude and obvious, not of being any more corrupt than the rest of the politicians.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

29. If it was REALLY partisan.....

....he'd have allowed Blagojerk to make the crooked Senate appointment. Then the real shitstorm would have started.

Really, pay attention DU'ers from Illinois have been saying for years this guy sucks.

[TexasObserver]

39. Yep. They've crawled over this guy for three years, but suddenly NOW, he has to be arrested at home

Fitzgerald would not do that with Scooter the Pooter Libby, though. Of course, treason was his crime.

Patrick Fitzgerald has proved he is a candy ass when it comes to challenging power. Bugging a governor and finding him trading goodies for goodies is something one could find in almost any state.

[Marrah_G]

86. They had to arrest him BEFORE he appointed someone

[robinlynne]

92. exactly. these people are not looking at reality.

[chimpymustgo]

45. Thanks for pointing out that the beloved Fitzgerald DROPPED THE BALL on executive treason.

Fucking Fitzmas. I know it's heresy to says around here - but Fitz came up with basically NADA. How was Karl Rove NOT indicted?????

Not saying Blago is clean - I'll wait for the trial. But Fitz is a fizz.

[robinlynne]

91. BECAUSE, according to NPR news they needed to arrest him before he was able to pick a Senator

to replace Obama. That is why.
by arresting him yesterday they saved the Dem aprty and the president elect from certain failure.
wake up!

[maryf]

103. NPR the voice of truth

This saved the Democratic Party and the president elect from certain failure because of one senate appointment?? And it had to be the day after the governor shut down state business with the Bank of America?? Wow.

[robinlynne]

110. IT had to be before the governor MADE THE APPOINTMENT!

The whole point is to not let him appoint a SEnator, which would provoke a HUGE constitutional crisis,and could affect Obama's ability to lead, and the democratic Party's existence. Can't you see the real picture. You are looking at one leaf. Look at the ofrest, at what is really important!
The governor did one good thing. that is great. But he is a criminal and is going down. the question is how many others he will take down in the process.

This is NOTHING like what they did to Elliot Spitzer. He was not targeted because he is a good guy and did good things. he is a BAD BAD guy. He was targeted by Obama's people. Don't you get that?

[salin]

6. so also said the Alaska GOPers about there senator and state senate head

(the senator's son Ben Stevens); Er... whatever.

If one is going to abuse power to self-enrich - I will call it out.

I will be extremely offended if the decision of who should be the next senator is based on who enriches the governor the most, rather than who is fit for office. Shame on me for being apalled at such blatant efforts at self-enrichment and disregard to service to the people (per what matters for determining who is the next Senator from Illinois).

The governor of Illinois stabbed us in the back. The tapes indicate that the qualifications for senator had little to do with who would serve the people, and more to do with who could serve the senator - financially. I have been appalled at corrupt and self-enriching behavior of republicans - and I am not gonig to become a Hypocrite when it is a democrat whose behavior is abhorent.

Perhaps it is just that I have not become as cynical as you to suggest that one should expect such self-enrichment and corruption of all politicians and therefore not be outraged whether the actor is a D or a R.

[hlthe2b]

7. You need to fight for those worth fighting for, worth defending....

Read up... Blagojevich is not such a person. He was willing to stab all of us in the back and just wait and see how he tries to drag down Obama with him... Just wait and see.

He is an arrogant corrupt moron. Not all of them are REPUGs, unfortunately.

[Occam Bandage]

10. You are dumb as hell.

I mean that.


Dumb.

As.

Hell.

[Critters2]

12. Thank you. I can't believe this man has defenders. nt

[Occam Bandage]

13. If a Democrat were caught fucking a dead child live on television,

there would be people here claiming that the TV network was part of a Rovian plot against liberals.

[Marrah_G]

87. Truth

[Two Americas]

93. thanks for that

Your remarks here help us gain perspective on this debate and understand what it is really about.

So we cannot question the actions of the cops here, without being accused of defending an unsavory character, and furthermore having the usual litany of smears against the political Left leveled against us?

[BoneDaddy]

47. Because he is of the Democratic tribe

and will be protected regardless by some.

[Two Americas]

96. supsicion about this federal government and administration

Suspicion about the federal government under Bush is not the same as defending any and all Democrats under all circumstances.

Nor is suspicion of the actions of the federal government under Bush unreasonable or unwarranted. Here, I mean, among Democrats who are informed people.

This rush to judgment - "oh there it is! That rare and unusual thing! Corruption among politicians! We have our bad guy now! No need to look any deeper! All is well. Move along. Nothing to see. Did I mention what a really, really bad guy he is? And Fitzgerald is obviously a good guy. I would have his baby. He dicked around and postured for years and almost found some serious things that the Bush administration might have done wrong."

Am I the only one suspicious of the ease with which this all came down, and the relatively flimsy pretexts and evidence, when compared to the "gee I just can't see much there to investigate about the Bush administration" bs we heard from the supposed knight in shining armor and all of his sycophants for all of those months?

"Oh, that loony Left! Always thinking the worst about the Bush administration. When have those tinfoilers ever been right about anything?"

[BoneDaddy]

100. Ah all republicans bad

Dems good.

Wow I do not remember saying any of those quotes. All I said is that people are tribal, even Democrats. Where I may concede that most progressives tend to be somewhat more informed, there are plenty who strictly react based upon tribal affiliation.

[Two Americas]

101. didn't say that

"This gang of Republicans - bad, too many Dems - enablers" is what I would say. How about you?

Of course we are tribal. Nothing wrong with that. All things being equal, I will first defend working people. But I am not defending anyone here. I am suspicious of the Bush administration. Should we not be in your view?

[BoneDaddy]

112. Never said we shouldn't be suspicious

of the Bush administration, just tired of politicians in general and the power games they play.

[Dreamer Tatum]

17. Not that your point needs to be elaborated, but B of A succumbed today

So I guess that's another conspiracy down the shitter.

[Telly Savalas]

26. Well then it was the oil companies.

Blago was about to expose their conspiracy to manipulate the election by lowering gas prices. They had to shut him up.

You can laugh all you want, but after the election gas prices will skyrocket. Mark my words.

[whippo]

28. After the election or after the inaugeration?

[Ikonoklast]

40. Hmmm. Retail prices of refined petroleum and distillate products

have been dropping since the election.

Either you are being sarcastic, or really, really dim.

[robinlynne]

111. And it never was a BOfA conspiracy. the factory owner has millions of dollars. He didn't pay the

workers because he is a piece of shit. Not because of the bank. He just bought a brand new NEW window factory in a non-union state and a 3 million dollar house in his wife's name. So sell the house, pay the workers. easy. Not bank of America's fault, although I hate that bank for what it does.

one needs to look at the facts, not just make the facts fit what what you wan, or you become the same as "them". (bush, neocons, far right republicans...)

[Luciferous]

34. Agreed. nt

[stillcool]

14. I don't know what the real message is..

but I know enough to not believe that what I've read so far, is the whole story.

[Canuckistanian]

15. It's because of his support for the sit-in in Chicago

Bad Juju for the corporatists.

[Mike Daniels]

53. If you had read other posts you'd realize the sit-in was the first time the Gov has ever sided ...

with the common man.

It's amazing how many people have been duped by a transparent attempt to generate sympathy esp. since the Gov knew the law was about ready to knock down the door in the near future.

[emilyg]

18. Don't defend scum.

[Two Americas]

98. you mean the feds?

Seems to me the feds - scum under the Bush administration in my informed opinion - are who are being defended on this thread.

Those suspicious of the feds are not therefore defending the governor, although there is an aggressive attempt going on here to force that view on the membership.

[davsand]

19. You are not from around these parts, are you...

I swear I can spot somebody that does not live in Illinois and probably never has just by how they respond to this mess with Blago.


He is lower than scum. Those of us who live in Illinois and are active in Illinois politics KNOW this to be true and have been talking about this for quite a while now. We pretty much universally dislike him because his bullshit corruption makes ALL Illinois Dems look bad. Mot only do we dislike him for being corrupt we can't abide him for being really STUPID about it.

Fuck him, the horse he rode in on, and all the ones that played his game. May they all rot in jail and may we Illinois voters get our state back.


Laura

[Skittles]

22. correct

I know because my mum lives in Illinois and she has spoken about it for some time

[ProfessorGAC]

65. Your Mom Has Been Paying Attention, Skittles

We went from the criminal George Ryan, to the criminal Blago. We just don't seem to learn around here.
GAC

[Critters2]

37. More than just how he makes Dems look...3 of my parishioners lost jobs because of the SOB.

Two at Pontiac, one at Illini State Park. All because he acted like the state budget was his personal money. There were real consequences to this man being governor. I'm glad he's finally being called to account.

[terrya]

44. You're absolutely right.

I completely agree. It wasn't as if what happened yesterday was a huge surprise, in hindsight. The warning signs were around from at least 2006.

The corruption, AND the sheer, haughty arrogance shows him to be a complete scumbag. This is the end of his political career and thank God.

The Republican Party here is still in disarray. But if it wasn't, they'd be retaking the Governor's Mansion in 2010. This crap that Blagojevich and the people he dealt with is perfect campaign fodder. The voters, when the details of this indicment continue to be aired, will understand exactly what this filthy corruption is all about. Complete with the profanity laced comments on the tape.

[Dorian Gray]

48. I feel for you

corruption in your state is difficult to deal with, and super frustrating!

We should all be indignant that this corruption is happening in our party. It's disgusting, and he deserves to be punished horribly for it!

[blondeatlast]

61. I'm not from Illinois, not even a Cubs fan*, and I've paid attention to

him from just what I've read about on DU.

He's pond scum--and possibly dumber than pond scum.

*As so very in my area, Phoenix, are.

[ProfessorGAC]

66. Well, What He Did Sure Wasn't Smart, Was It?

And he KNEW he was under an extensive investigation. Hey Roddy, nobody is bulletproof.
GAC

[blondeatlast]

94. I'd say Roddy's timing was far more suspect--as I point out visually in post #71. nt

[Critters2]

105. Honestly, davsand, if some of these people had their way,

he'd still be able to name a Senator who paid for the seat! I doubt they'd want the same process to choose their own Senators.

[PVnRT]

114. I only lived there a year...that was enough to convince me Blaggo was a criminal

The GOP should have humiliated him in the last election; it seems the Illinois GOP is as inept as the Indiana Democrats.

[elleng]

20. Welcome Back,

LBJ!

[LBJDemocrat]

106. Thanks!

Good to be back.

[Skittles]

21. I don't think so

there's been talk about him and corruption for some time

[GreenFiles]

23. I can't believe I just read that

Delusional!

[Chisox08]

30. The Feds origanally was going to wait until

G Rod was out of office to prosecute him. He forced their hands by putting the Senate seat up for auction.

[Tatiana]

31. Just a wild guess... you don't live in Illinois? n/t

[onenote]

33. an even wilder guess. the OP lives on planet unreal

[pinto]

35. Sometimes a crook is just a crook.

[nemo137]

36. In this case, no.

Blago is massively corrupt, and arrogant to boot, with a history of attaching his name to things (kids healthcare, books for tots) to make himself look like less of a jackass.

And he wasn't just doling out jobs as a favor, he was auctioning the senate seat. Go on smokinggun and look at the indictment. Motherfucker deserved this.

[donheld]

42. Full of Shit

Totally

[LuckyTheDog]

43. Sorry, Blagojevich is a crook

People in Illinois have known it for years now It was only a matter of time before he was arrested.

[BoneDaddy]

46. Denial

of the facts. Liberals can have there head in the sand as much as conservatives when it comes to their own tribe. Had this been a republican, all bets would be off.

Sad

[Dorian Gray]

49. You should stab him in the back

He's scum and he deserves what is coming to him now.

[sendero]

50. I'm working on the assumption..

... that most of the media accounts of the evidence are essentially correct, fuck this creep. I'm an equal opportunity loather of corruption.

Corruption is, in large part, what has brought our economy to its knees. Yes it was deregulation, but there were a lot of people looking the other way to let this thing get this far out of control.

I'm firmly in the camp of "we have to get the money out of the system". Since the courts seem pretty recalcitrant on this point, we may have to get a constitutional amendment to make it happen, but we have to. This country is OVER if we don't stop this crap, and soon.

[Odin2005]

52. That tin-foil hat is screwed on your head too tightly.

:crazy:

[Orsino]

54. I just got finished expressing my disbelief that there are Blago defenders on DU.

I am startled to see your post.

I thought I was being mercilessly fair by merely insisting that he explain himself fully or resign immediately. :shrug:

[sufrommich]

55. He's corrupt as hell,regardless of who his enemies are. The only

thing worse than freepers justifying criminal behavior in order to advance their cause is seeing democrats mimic the same goddamned shit.

[LanternWaste]

56. There is no political party so pure...

There is no political party so pure as to be absolutely devoid of crime. And, all other things being equal, I allow myself a sense of satisfaction when I see justice awarded to those whom I think deserve it-- including any Democrat.

I don't perceive justice served as stabbing anyone in the back.

From his mouth to my ears, the message came from Fitzpatrick. However, I'm sure there are many who are dogmatic enough in their secular faiths to believe that any crime committed by a Democrat is indeed not a crime, and worthy of our twisted justifications, our illogical defenses, and our faux-righteous condemnations of justice served.

[slackmaster]

57. What a bunch of horse shit

The Blagster is a crook. He got caught, now he's probably going to prison and deservedly so.

Politicians dole out jobs as favors.

Sure they do, but attempting to sell a seat on the US Senate to the highest bidder is not at all the same thing as hiring your former campaign manager to be your chief of staff. One is legal, the other is not. If you don't understand what makes one wrong and the other not wrong, you either have no clue or have allowed yourself to be blinded by partisan loyalty.

[Shiver]

68. Thank you for putting it so succinctly

'Sure they do, but attempting to sell a seat on the US Senate to the highest bidder is not at all the same thing as hiring your former campaign manager to be your chief of staff. One is legal, the other is not.

There is a subtle but massive difference between the two, and some people seem incapable of seeing it.

[ProfessorGAC]

62. But, You Don't Live In IL

I do. He's a crook and no, this isn't normal. We have bad corruption problems here, and at the highest levels, but this situation is unprecedented.

Your basic premise that it's a "everyone does it" thing doesn't seem to wash with the facts.
GAC

[Bluenorthwest]

69. Gee, that is just stupid

Stupid and amoral.

[Raskolnik]

70. This is a remarkably uninformed OP.

Do youself a favor and read the complaint.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/acrobat/2008-12/43789434.pdf

[blondeatlast]

71. Blago at Republic Windows reminds me of this--the OP will NOT like it, but oh well,

this is an opinion board:

[slackmaster]

73. I appreciate the parallel and agree with blondeatlast

Goose, gander.

[ProfessorGAC]

102. Me, Too

GAC

[Nye Bevan]

72. Oh please. I wish DUers would stop defending this scumbag.

They are just embarrassing themselves.

[KharmaTrain]

74. And How Just Does This Benefit Bank Of America?

They're still on the hook today as they were yesterday and the workers at Republic Windows still are holding their sit in...resolve is as strong as ever and there's a lot of popular support for them.

I laughed when I saw Blago show up there...trying to grab the spotlight, and now it's obvious why. It wasn't Bank of America, it was Blago trying to use them...he knew the shit was about to hit the fan and was out to try to get the first spin in. This dude is the ulimate opportunist and I'm pissed he tried to exploit this distressing situation to try to get one last shot of good PR on the 10:00 news before the shit hit the fan.

If anything, I wouldn't be surprised if we learned that Blago tried to shake BOA down.

[blondeatlast]

75. Blago is so 1) arrogant, 2) stupid, and 3) corrupt (in that order)

that I wouldn't be shocked to learn that he did try to shake down BofA.

We know from Bush that arrogance can blind one's self to own's own limitations.

[blindpig]

76. What people don't get

is that the man can be corrupt and this can still be a 'message' from the bankers. I don't think many are defending the man, only questioning the timing of his arrest. For my part that timing was very suspicious. That the authorities would say otherwise is no surprise, of course they'd cover their asses.

That folks around here place so much faith in the PTB is disturbing. That people should be so dismissive of the position of labor makes ya wonder: which side are DUers on?

It's funny, the centrists here complain of black/white thinking, yet here they indulge in it themselves.

[zorahopkins]

77. Exactly Correct!

Blagojevich did nothing that any other pouuerful person doesn't do. He uuas just not as careful as others are, and he got caught.

And he DARED to challenge the pouuerful banking interests, and to stand up for the poor and the oppressed.

He uuould have been allouued to stay out of jail, except that he dared challenge the Bank of America.

Note: In protest of the continuing occupation of OUR Uuhite House by the illegal and totally corrupt Bush/Cheney regime of thugs and cronies, I REFUSE to use the letter betuueen "V" and "X". Instead, I use a "double U", as in "Uhite House".

[nemo137]

79. No, he did it worse and more brazenly.

We're talking up there with William "Cash in the Freezer" Jefferson here, not normal "scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" politicking. Blago hasn't defended shit for the poor and oppressed, except when it was directly in his best interests to do so. You got played by his attempt to save face and ass.

[PVnRT]

115. By your logic, since some get away with crimes, we should not prosecute criminals

[guruoo]

80. Is defending Blagojevich really any different than defending ...Tom Delay?

Just askin'.
:shrug:

[Marrah_G]

82. I don't get it either.

I'm really at a loss as to how to respond to these posts defending this corrupt and greedy jackass. Everything I want to say would probably get deleted and reminds me alot of how I react to RW zealots.

[blondeatlast]

88. Not very. I have no use for "true blievers" of any stripe but find the logical and rhetorical

macrame it requires to make such statements on a public message board, well, entertaining.

[Marrah_G]

81. Un-fucking believable.

I just don't get it.

I can't even respond to your post in any way that would not be seen as insulting.

[onenote]

83. Hit. Meet run.

Haven't seen much of the OP. Maybe defending the indefensible isn't their thing.

[LBJDemocrat]

107. I have a job (for now)

I can't really post during the day.

Look; I don't know for a fact that Blagojevich is a decent guy. He's probably not. But I know that he's recently been pro-labor, and it seems logical to assume that powerful people do have influence over the way government and policing works. This will intimidate governors across the country.

Exchanging favors is part of politics. Auctioning a Senate seat crosses the line into illegality, but it's no more immoral than trading non-financial favors.

[blondeatlast]

113. RECENTLY pro-labor; like "I was tipped off Sunday that I'd be arrested,

so Monday I went to a labor rally" recently.

He's as DINO as they come. Apparently you have no friends, family, or biz contacts in or from Illinois.

I used to love Disneyland but I couldn't tolerate Fantasyland for longer than a ride on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and the Mad Tea Party--then I HAD to get out.

But kudos for your shining optimism, I guess.

[dysfunctional press]

84. patti?...`patti blagojevich?...is that you?

what a stupid bleepin' sentiment. :eyes:

the guy put the dumb-fucking scum in dumb-fucking scumbag.

[specimenfred1984]

85. 3 Cheers for Cronyism!

That's just the way it is punk, grow up and be a criminal huh?

[robinlynne]

90. PLease!!!!!!!!!! couldn't be more wrong. This arrest protects Obama and the presidency!.

not the banks. And besides, the owner of the Republic factory has plenty of money to pay his workers. he blamed it on BofA but he had enough money to buy a brand new window factory in another state, and buy a new 3 million dollar home last year, but not enough for severance pay? I don't think so.
The banks are predatory mofos, no doubt. but this guy could have brought down the newly elected president if they didn't arrest him before a Senator was named by him!

[jmg257]

97. Dirty politican that got what was coming to him. Sheesh -

Some people in this country are frigging unreal with what they are willing to put up with (or try to justify!?!) from those we trust to give power to.

Maybe we should take lesson from the Greeks.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

99. ROFLMAO At The Typical Tinfoil Hat Lunacy!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Critters2]

104. Thank you!

I think I'll join you!


:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[NNN0LHI]

109. You certainly have a right to express your opinion

I don't agree with it though.

Don

[Annces]

116. Gov Ryan of Illinois did something similar

Before he got indicted, he did some humanitarian type work, going to Cuba and putting hold on executions by the state.