Yes- Blagojevich is a piece of crap, and Yes- he got caught trying to sell a u.s. senate seat...

[dysfunctional press]

BUT- how many people honestly believe that it's the first time that something like that has happened? (the senate seat being "sold" to the highest bidder, that is- not the guy being caught for trying to do so.)

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

1. As my grandfather said,

"All politicians are corrupt. Only the stupid ones get caught."

[Cronopio]

7. As my stepfather said ...

"It's only wrong if you don't get away with it."

You can see why I never thought much of my stepfather's advice. But, as much as I hate to acknowledge it, he was right about the current game of politics.

My response to your grandfather would be, "They *all* get caught, sooner or later, one way or the other."

[saltpoint]

2. Politics has been a virtuous and squeaky-clean enterprise up to the

very second that Blagojevich took office.

I'm just sure of it.

- - -

Let's give the man his day in court, a right all of us deserve.

[ananda]

3. Look at Bush, Cheney, and Delay.

They've been selling patronage, access, and jobs
for a good while.

Where's the investigation and the impeachment for
Bush and Cheney?

Where's the moral and civic outrage?

I HATE DOUBLE STANDARDS!!!!!!!!!!

[glowing]

4. I think he's usable.. which should shake down the really corrupt.

[pretzel4gore]

5. what about palin's medical records, or cheney's indictment in 'Axes?

it sweems the pigmedia needs to spend time in frying pan to understand it is too obvious in its bias against President Obama (and lovingly kissing the bush stooge's ass, as usual)

[theoldman]

6. I wonder just how many other Senate seats were bought

in the past. I am sure that many political appointments are bought and paid for. This one just went a little too far and the dumb shit got caught.

[gristy]

8. It matters not if it is the first time it has happened.

Completely irrelevant. You do not state why you think it is.

[dysfunctional press]

18. "You do not state why you think it is."

ummm...how long have you been following american politics, exactly...?

[gristy]

22. Other than that you perceive others as viewing this event as "the end of the political world",

you have not stated your position. I really have no clue. And thanks for the snide question. Always helps to liven things up.

[dysfunctional press]

30. i thought i stated my position in my first statement...maybe you missed it?

try re-reading it...:shrug:

[PeaceNikki]

9. It doesn't make it acceptable and it doesn't mean that it shouldn't be investigated and prosecuted.

In fact, I think it's quite the contrary. Attempts to stop this kind of corruption should be made.

[dysfunctional press]

14. i never said or implied that it was or that it shouldn't...

i just think that all the hand-wringing by the media and others like it was some kind of new low, and the end of the political world seems a little over-wrought at times.

[terrya]

24. I'm hoping that soon to be Governor Pat Quinn will spearhead a reform bill.

I'm getting tired of our state being a national laughing stock. Yes, corruption is everywhere. But goddammit, I'm pissed. I'm pissed that Blagojevich has introduced a whole new low in political corruption.

First thing is Blagojevich being removed from office. I want this to happen very quickly. If, goddammit, he won't do one honorable thing in his life and resign from office, then the Illinois House needs to move quickly on impeachment and the Senate then needs to remove him from office. Again, quickly. Blagojevich now has approval ratings of 8%. Eight freaking percent. He can no longer govern. The chorus of voices demanding that he resign gets larger with each passing day.

And then when Blagojevich is gone, the investigations can continue. And I believe the people of this state will demand reform. I know I'll be contacting my State Rep and Senator about a comprehensive reform bill. Illinoisans are getting weary of seeing our governors ending up in prison.

[stray cat]

10. So maybe its time politicans were required to have a modicum of integrity

[Junkdrawer]

11. When you tap everyone's phones, you know when and where to get a "legal tap"...

And you have enough material to blackmail everyone else...

J. Edgar Hoover on steroids.

[On the Road]

12. It's Not the First Time Something Like This Happened?

That's possibly the most libertarian or anarchic sentiment I have ever heard. Nothing is new; everything is allowable.

[dysfunctional press]

15. who said or implied that it was allowable?

:shrug:

[gristy]

17. You did not make your position clear - pardon us for make assumptions

:eyes:

[dysfunctional press]

19. it was just a simple question- i apologize if the concept was particularly difficult for anyone,

:eyes: :eyes:

[gristy]

21. Oh, so now you state the problem is we aren't bright enough to know what you meant

Brilliant. Just brilliant.

[dysfunctional press]

28. no- most of the peope understood it was just a simple question...

the rational ones, anyway.

[On the Road]

23. It's the Attitude Expressed by the Comment

"It's not the first this has happened." Apply that same comment to some behavior you find particularly egregious and you will see the difference. Betrayal? Murder? Theft? Not the first time any of those things have happened.

It does not quite sanction the behavior, but it diminishes it.

[EFerrari]

25. I'd say, it contextualizes Blaggo. I was thinking the same thing last night.

That after so many years of horrible corruption, he's just the tip. Plus, since we haven't really held anyone accountable since Nixon, we have a lot of recycled criminals who only get better at covering their tracks, like the Iran Contra gang.

[Initech]

13. So what? We're supposed to just let this slide?

[dysfunctional press]

16. why would you think that?

:shrug:

[gristy]

20. Because of your OP?

:shrug:

[dysfunctional press]

29. what in particular about it, then...?

if you please...?

:shrug:

[Radical Activist]

26. Let's hope its the last time.

That's what this is about.

[EFerrari]

27. Imho, Blaggo has pointed out the issue that really should be top of our list

for what we want over the next 4-8 years: Cleaning up the government. Starting with DoJ because without that, nothing else can really work. That's why Bush / Cheney went after DoJ first and so thoroughly. Subverting that made their whole program possible.

This will most certainly not be the last time unless someone(s) somewhere roll up sleeves and get to work.

[dysfunctional press]

31. as long as there's money, people with power, and human nature- it probably won't be.

:shrug: