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Kevin McDermott nails it.
Four years ago, gubernatorial candidate Rod Blagojevich’s favorite campaign prop was a broom. His supporters waved them around at rallies to remind voters of the corruption that had soiled state government under George Ryan’s Republican Party - and of Democrat Blagojevich’s vow to sweep away that political dirt.You won’t find any brooms at Blagojevich’s re-election rallies this year, nor much rhetoric about cleaning up government. Even Wednesday’s criminal sentencing of Ryan on corruption charges - an event that should have been the ultimate campaign gift to the Democratic Party this year - has produced a surprisingly restrained reaction from Blagojevich.
That may be because some of the same ethical issues that ultimately brought down Ryan are now hovering around Blagojevich’s administration. Federal investigators and the media are looking into some eerily familiar allegations: State contracts steered toward campaign contributors; personal gifts from politically connected business people that weren’t initially disclosed as required by law; secret lists of names used to keep track of - and reward - political supporters.
And there are more similarities to come. Stay tuned.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 7:26 am
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All evidence to the contrary Rich. The Blagojevich Administration uses brooms every minute of every day.
First they deny the charges, then they blame someone else, then they sweep them under the rug.
Comment by well informed Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 6:20 am
Can’t wait to see how the Blago crew tries to spin this one. I wouldn’t be surprised though if Elvis tried to take credit for ex-Gov Ryan’s downfall and makes a weak press-conference attempt at saying this is how he has cleaned up corruption while throwing the 1000 failed Ethics exam takers under the proverbial bus yet again. His ego can’t handle not having a press conference on this….
Comment by Anon Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 6:33 am
Like Rod, a lot of governors come in with a ‘it’s our turn, dammit’ attitude. They think they get to reward their friends simply because the voters elected them:
Our friends get the contracts for leasing, procurement and consulting. Our friends and baby sitters get the commission appointments. Our friends get hired with complete disregard for the personnel code. Our friends get paid salaries that make a mockery of hardworking people. Our friends get huge raises when the rest get pay cuts. Our friends can throw huge amounts of money at us and, well, maybe we’ll honestly report that.
It was your friends that had no level ethics.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 6:38 am
The differance is that Rod has not been accused or convicted of any wrong doing, it has not been alleged that he accepted any money from janitors or his lowest paid staff, nor has it been alleged that he went 7 years without spending any of his own money due to cash payments he got from employees. No one on the clout list has been accused of paying for their job or vegas trips in return for a job.
Only Rod opponents using wishful thinking are having deja vu all over again.
Comment by pyrman Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 6:40 am
After the Ryan verdict, Judy stood in front of a microphone and did a press conference. She answered questions posed to her.
Rod did not but had a spokesman give a brief statement.
Says a lot.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 6:41 am
pyrman - first blago person to start the defense….
please check your info again before you make statements such as:
“has not been alleged that he accepted any money from janitors or his lowest paid staff”
or
“No one on the clout list has been accused of paying for their job”
Comment by Anon Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 6:43 am
pyrman is right
‘hovering around’ is not equal to ‘convicted of’.
Comment by speedy Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 6:44 am
Judy Bore had no choice. It was her mentors on the hot seat. And she was the person in charge of counting the state cash while all of it was going on. Keep on dreaming GOPer. Wonder when the news or Party Chair( opps former Party Chair) Fast Eddie will pop?
Comment by Reddbyrd Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 6:52 am
No Judy supporter, however it took guts to take the mic yesterday. I believe in saying well done when it is earned. Perhaps Rod was checking evacuation routes if needed.
Comment by The Conservative Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 6:55 am
Actually, JBT spoke before the verdict was handed down and while most political reporters were at the federal building.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 6:59 am
That may be because some of the same ethical issues that ultimately brought down Ryan are now hovering around Blagojevich’s administration.
may be?
Comment by Bill Baar Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 6:59 am
Rich did you see the new series of “What she thinking?” ads? Very funny. Caught them this morning on NBC5 in Chicago and nearly spit up my cereal.
Comment by wndycty Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 7:01 am
wndycty: did the new ads distort the facts as much as the old ones?
Comment by Anon Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 7:03 am
its all sad, if we look deep inside ourself, do any of us REALLY fee any better about JBT? Politics aside… is this part of what it takes to be Gov?
Comment by anon Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 7:09 am
Cmone on, Red. Pretend to tell the truth.
Oh. You are pretending. Sorry.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 7:27 am
Mr. Byrd, you really get under their skin.
Keep pecking away.
BH
Comment by B Hicks Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 7:32 am
Wndy, it should be funny. Blah-Blah’s entire time as an elected official has been a joke.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 7:33 am
7:09, excuse me, but have you conducted the same kind of soul searching examination about Blago?
By any reasonable ethics test, pardon the expression, he and his entire gang of thieves (Tony, Chris, MIke Cherry, the Tollway bandits, Monk and his sis, Wilhelm in witness protection in Ohio and all the rest if you need examples) fail miserably.
I hear those brooms from 2002 are still around, but getting a little worn from knocking all those people under the Blago Bus..
Oh, and BTW, Reddbyrd, ask your friends in Chicago who did legal work and errands for Rddie V in the late 80’s. Clue: not Judy Topinka.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 7:34 am
Blogo must be feeling very, very uncomfortable this morning. It’s just a matter of time. Oops, there is that word “time”, something a good many of his staff will be doing and a good likelihood he may too. Judy’s latest ad is excellent, just excellent!! Well got to go to buy a broom. Maybe I’ll take the bus, as I’m not afraid of being thrown under one!!
Comment by Justice Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 7:38 am
I don’t get it why do they say she was the one counting cash, she should have known or said something. What about Madigan, Emil, the Lt. Gov, the Comptroller wern’t they also elected officals working at the same time as Judy?
Comment by PR Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 7:51 am
Blago needs to pull ALL his staff in and try to stop the onslought of corruption that is going on in his admin. He didn’t sweep out corruption..he raised the bar on it.
Comment by Wheres the leadership??? Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 8:39 am
Rod does not bother with lowly janitors, he only messes with big time donors.
Comment by Wumpus Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 9:19 am
JBT’s new ads do a nice job of portraying her as likeable. I think they will totally move her numbers up.
Comment by Goodbye Napoleon Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 9:43 am
Rich,
Can you please ban from this blog the phrase “throwing [X] under the bus” or any other similar reference to any politician (Republican or Democrat) throwing any person under either a parked or moving bus. It is so overused and tiresome. Just a thought!
Comment by Anon Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 9:58 am
There is no broom for Rod because he wants us to forget his promises four years ago. He wants us to forget how he ran as a reformer. He wants us to forget how he promised us reform before he was elected, and every time he found himself in hot water over corruption issues. He wants us to forget all the investigations. He wants us to specifically forget the FBI fraud investigation. He wants us to forget how he had stood before us and claimed testicular virility while proposing campaign reform that never happened.
It is one thing when a Ryan turns out corrupt. It is another when the guy promising to fix it turns out as corrupt as Ryan. Ryan smiles, backslaps and slips you cash. Blagojevich smiles, thinks you are stupid, repeated lies to you, makes empty promises, then gives his buddies cash.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 9:59 am
After the convictions in Chicago and now the sentencing of Ryan and his cronies do you think that these investigations on the governor will bring people forward wanting to make a deal? If so which investigation will be first.
Comment by DOWNSTATE Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 10:06 am
Never let them see you sweat. That’s why we’re not seeing anything of Elvis. “The differance is that Rod has not been accused or convicted of any wrong doing…” I remind all of you that very thing was said about GRyan for a few years. The word “alleged” was bounced back and forth and also the postscript “The Governor has not been accused of any wrongdoing” was also something we had to endure for years. All of you Blogo supporters can hang your hats on that statement if you like. I prefer to have more faith in our Federal prosecutors, knowing that they cannot be bought, and they are slowly and very methodically doing all of their behind-the-scenes work. Yes Elvis is entitled to those words for now. It does not, by a long shot, mean they are not after him, nor does it mean he is not guilty as heck. The Feds just aren’t done with their investigation. And all of you who read this blog know that. So continue your trash talk of JBT and talking up your hero, Rodney Reformer, if you like. My confidence is in the Feds that THEY WILL GET BLOGO. If he wins or loses in November, they will get him. If it takes a year, they will get him. If it takes 2 years, they will get him. And you know what? HE KNOWS IT AND HE’S SWEATING.
Comment by Little Egypt Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 10:09 am
And as Butch and Sundance would say, “Who is that guy in the white hat?” Patrick Fitzgerald looks great in a white hat.
Comment by Little Egypt Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 10:12 am
Since the gov has done nothing wrong the only indictments that come down will probably be for our esteemed teasurer putting state funds into banks that contributed to her various (usually empty) camapign funds. Is Club Fed co-ed?
Comment by Bill Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 10:48 am
Oh Bill, please enlighten us with some of your inside information. Give us ONE objective source for your wild-a** assertions that 1) “the Governor has done nothing wrong” or better yet 2) “the only indictments..will be for our..Treasurer putting State funds into banks that contributed to her..campaign funds.”
As you are fond of saying, bring it on. If not, go back to your day job of washing Rezko’s car or whatever.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 11:13 am
Art,
I think it works the other way around. Someone has to prove that Rod has done something wrong which is impossible since he hasn’t. Did the banking accusation hit a nerve? There were subpenas you know. At this point the investigations into both candidates appear to have the same status…ongoing. Given the proven guilt of Judy’s mentor and benefactor, George Ryan, I’d put my money on her indictment coming down first.
Don’t dish out the innuendo if you can’t take some yourself.
What are you thinking?
Bring it on, Red!
Comment by Bill Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 11:57 am
Oh Bill, boy, what are you smokin’? I believe that the investigation into JBT is CLOSED. The investigation into Rodney Reformer is OPEN with several “subpoenas”(learn how to spell the word) that have been issued. I’m not keeping track of how many but I’m pretty sure Rich will have the number. Don’t put your wishes out here on this blog as facts. You make yourself look stupid.
Comment by Little Egypt Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 12:28 pm
Bill knows that this village idiot’s time is almost up and that whatever credabilty Democrats like him have will be gone with the gov.How many does Blago have 18 no 19 maybe 20 investigations.Common Bill give us the web address where Topinka’s investigations are listed.
Comment by DOWNSTATE Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 12:29 pm
Let’s tone it down a bit, please. I’m tired of deleting posts. Go to the SJ-R website if you want to get nuts.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 12:30 pm
Egypt,
Please…grammar and spelling have never been your forte so don’t comment on mine.
Downstate, show me a website where it says Judy’s investigation is closed.
Oh and Egypt, we will see who looks stupid on election day.
Until then,
Have a hunka, hunka burnin’ love,
You ain’t nuttin but a hound dog!
Comment by Bill Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 12:48 pm
Hey, if it makes you feel better, believe that this is going to have a greater impact on the Governor than Judy.
I guarantee you that the Governor is going to launch a ton of ads showing Judy dancing with George, holding hands, and praising his leadership. He’ll follow up with the usual ad reminding voters that she was in charge of the money under the Ryan watch. And maybe, a small piece reminding people that Judy was on Scott’s list a dozen times.
Oh my goodness, the Judy lovers are defensive today.
Comment by B Hicks Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 1:13 pm
3 little words bind George and Rod, Hicks. They will be easy for even you and Bill to memorize:
PUBLIC OFFICIAL A!
Rich, I promise I’m done now.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 1:22 pm
To all of you evil mean JBT supporters just stop picking on our finely couifed golden boy Rod, just look at that hair. We need Rod to maintain our lucrative upper level state jobs.
So what if he has a measly 14 or 15 ongoing investigations into the conduct of his administration. Judy had one investigation too you know, so what if it was closed without any wrongdoing found.
If you would just ask Rod he’ll tell you he’s innocent and he never lies. Besides when Ryan proclaimed his innocence we always believed him even if he was from another party because we’re fair minded. So let us win one more election for governor and then when Rod’s indicted we can still keep our jobs because Quinn will get to be governor we won’t need Rod anymore.
Comment by Blago Spinsters Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 1:26 pm
After reading Bill’s last post, he confirmed what I have suspected for a while - he is Governor Rod!
Comment by Hard Working Taxpayer Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 1:32 pm
Arthur Anderson,
Here is one word for you and it is easy to memorize
TRISTANO
Comment by Bill Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 1:37 pm
I’m sure others would have one word for you, too, Bill. LOL. Let’s move on, shall we?
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 1:38 pm
I’m done now too… just lay offa my blue suede shoes.
Bring it on!
Comment by Bill Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 1:39 pm
We’ll see who gets bound to King George. I don’t recall any clips showing Rod praising Ryan’s leadership or dancing the tango. Yeah, we’ll see.
Stay tuned.
Comment by B Hicks Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 1:43 pm
I thought Monday was the State Holiday and not today. Don’t all you state workers have some applications to process?
Comment by confused Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 2:49 pm
I’m tired of seeing bloggers using the tape of Ryan and Topinka dancing as though it were a smoking gun. There are so much to dislike about this juvenile dialog.
This attack is based on the fact that Topinka is a woman. If she were a man, she wouldn’t be on tape doing a polka with George Ryan. But we expect ladies to dance, pretend to listen, and pretend to enjoy everyone’s company. It is called social courtesy.
Finally, the attack is just plain juvenile. Like a bunch of goofy high school boys spreading rumors, Democrats and conservative Republicans like Oberweis are heckling a woman politician because she danced with an old fat man.
What’s next? Blagojevich showing the polka and asking Topinka, “Why don’t you MARRY him!”, or “Judy and George sitting in a tree…”
Lets pretend we’re all adults and understand social graces and stop using gotcha pictures like 12 year old junior high geeks, OK?
It is time to grow up.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 4:31 pm
Mr. Hicks,
I think that you have upset Vanilla Man.Good work!
Don’t be cruel!
Bring it on!
Comment by Bill Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 4:54 pm
She has thin skin. She’ll get over it.
Comment by B Hicks Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 5:02 pm
Lest anybody forget, the “governor” used “classic political puffery” (i.e. lying in a campaign speech) as a legal strategy and unfortunately won the case.
If lying on the campaign trail is ok, then by all means vote for the hairdo. If it’s not ok, then vote for somebody else.
If governing via press conference is ok, then vote for the finely coiffed hairdo.
I will be voting for somebody other than the current non-occupant of the governor’s mansion.
Comment by Huh? Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 5:16 pm
Rich, trying to be polite, affirmative, mature, and helpful to our patient host, I write to offer you tomorrow’s QOTD: “If the Blagojevich campaign symbol four years ago was a broom, what should it be now?”
Having said that, I’m reminded today of the dedication ceremony for George Ryan’s official portrait in the old Supreme Court Chambers. (Room 212 Capitol for you kids) The “clips” Bill and Hicks might find instructive were 1) Blago arriving 25 minutes late and almost knocking over a mike stand and 2) The heartfelt and bipartisan tributes offered to George by many in attendance, most notably Emil Jones, who rose, stared down Blago and said “This man is my friend. And you need to start acting more like him.” The place went up in cheers. Rod was speechless.
Today is a day we recall the flaws of George Ryan. On another day, many will remember the good deeds of George Ryan as we did that morning.
Somehow I have a sense that the crowd will be smaller, and the tributes will ring hollow, on that day in the future when Rod Blagojevich joins the Hall Of Governors. Bring on that day.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 5:17 pm
Vanilla Man has a point. Constant airing of the polka is bigotted against old people and women.
Comment by Huh? Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 5:19 pm
pyrman: The Governor doesn’t have to take money directly, it shows up as family income through real estate deals. According to his tax returns made public, he isn’t the primary breadwinner.
Comment by In the Sticks Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 5:27 pm
Yippee!!!
The ‘bring it on’ folks are back!!!
I love supporters of Gov. Endemichiringfraud.
BTW - If GRyan’s deals are all JBT’s fault, does that must mean that all of POA’s shifty shenanigans are all her fault, too? How ’bout it, ‘Bill’?
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 5:34 pm
C’mon Art,
Lets all join hands and shed a tear for poor old George. What a great American! Then let’s all go out and vote for Judy because she is just like he is. She has so much more class than that crass bohemian Rod. So tactful, well spoken, a true statesman(statesperson?),never late, so cute with that coffee and smoke. So unlike Rod. What nerve!Being late for Ryan’s picture hanging. I wonder if they will take his picture down now.Just another insult for the poor, old guy. Let’s vote for Judy so the legacy of that great American and Ilinoisian, George Ryan, can continue. I’m sure that Emil would like Judy better. So would Richie Daley, another fine upstanding American and Illinoisian, and so ,probably would both Madigans, Mike and Lisa, to say nothing of the big guy himself, W.
….but the Real people, who work hard everyday to support their families, who pay income taxes, who need health care for their children and their parents, who need pre-school for their children, and quality schools, who don’t care where the governor lives, but HOW he lives; the Real people, the majority of the people have had it with the same old story, the Ryans, the Topinkas, the Daleys, the Madigans, the Jones. Those are the people who will stand up and be counted on election day. Those are the people who will send an overwhelming mandate to the governor…to watch out for them, to help them improve the quality of their lives, to not raise their taxes, to keep them safe. We, the real people, will prevail and return the governor to the governor’s mansion in Ravenswood.
Comment by Bill Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 5:53 pm
Bill, PLEASE
Comment by Little Egypt Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 5:59 pm
Sorry to destroy the future QOTD Art… but I think I know what it is….
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1630370/posts
Comment by Lovie's Leather Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 5:59 pm
To - Anon - Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 9:58 am: I have just one word for you: BUS!!!! Make you uncomfortable? I bet it does the Blogo crowd!!
Comment by Justice Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 6:05 pm
Lovie, I have one of those, but only for special occasions.
Bill. I apologize for calling you Tony Rezko’s car washer. I misspoke. You must be Blago’s Kool-Aid server.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 6:26 pm
It will be hard for Topinka to distance herself from Ryan. It is one thing to say a person is a good friend or a political ally but when you can show it on TV over and over again it drives home the truth.
Topinka can’t run from the fact that she was Ryan’s political ally, a very close friend and that she praised his leadership when it can be shown in her own words from filmed footage.
Comment by (618) Democrat Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 7:03 pm
I’m reminded of Rich’s post the other day where no self-respecting IL Dem will ever want to go down in history as a “Rod Blagojevich Democrat.”
Bill, looks like you’re the first, bud. You, Hicks, and Redd.
Chin, by the time we get Blago and Filan out of here, Illinois will be so flat broke that all we will be able to afford for Rod’s “official portrait” is one of those $15 black velvet Elvis pics from the parking lot of a K Mart. Maybe the 2 guys above would kick in $5 apiece and buy one mow.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 9:23 pm
. . . cut off . . .
But come on, I don’t believe pilots or secretaries qualify as political jobs. The Governor had a chance to clean things up. He did the opposite. No amount of campaign rhetoric will convince me to vote for him.
I’m a Democrat and have voted Democrat all my life. But the Governor from “Ravenswood” can keep his butt up there permanently (as if he already doesn’t) come 2007.
Comment by Objective Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 9:36 pm
All the real people have never, and will never, have a father-in -law, uncle, cousin, or whatever who will find them a job that pays a very good salary, do little or no work, and get a wonderful pension, on top of all the money they want from friend, campaign contributors and hangers-on.
We all have to go to work every day, be on time or suffer the consequences, work with people that are difficult, show up when we really don’t feel well, go home and fix dinner, help kids with their homework, clean, cook, do laundry, volunteer - and all the parts of a real person’s life. I would guess that most politicians do very little that resembles the life of the real person that Bill describes - and mostly they never have.
It is a life so distant from middle class life that they don’t understand. The governor may talk to farmers, but I don’t think he has a clue what that life is like - nor does he care.
Comment by In the Sticks Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 9:55 pm
618- They know it’s over. That’s why they are so angry.
4 more, 4 more, 4 more………..
Comment by B Hicks Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 10:10 pm
I am certain Rod will get four more regardless of indictments now or post election. The public has drawn a conclusion that corruption in government is a standard. Rod’s goals of fattening the campaign warchest have been achieved and based on the number of investigations and US Attorney’s letter indicate he will have to explain his actions in a court of law.
Comment by chet Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 10:38 pm
BHicks, he’s going to get 4 more for sure. 4 more years on top of the mandatory Federal sentencing from that thorough Fed. judge in Chicago. That would make it 10 1/2 for Elvis. Can you chant 10 1/2 more, 10 1/2 more?
Comment by Little Egypt Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 10:57 pm
What a sad state we have come to when we forget that we have to vote to choose the lesser of two evils AGAIN; and that we have to discuss our governors and other elected officials by degrees of corruption. Shame on all of you who keep saying things about candidates that you know in your heart to be wrong. Be a real man or woman and if your candidate is a crook, admit it. Stop trying to polish a t–d.
Comment by Disgusted Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 11:03 pm
There is something much more dangerous going on here, and many of you are feeding it incessantly. Argue all you wish about how the Ryan conviction is tied more to Judy or Rod, but all the average voter hears is that the entirety of Illinois politics is corrupt, so why even bother. The greatest result of the Ryan conviction and sentencing (and consequent political sniping) is going to be unprecedented voter apathy.
I want to hear how someone is going to keep my property tax bill from soon outpacing my mortgage. I want to hear how someone plans to stem the flight of doctors from our area. I want to hear how someone plans to address the plight of thousands of people like a coworker of mine who has to decide whether to pay for the $100 a day pills for his wife’s cancer treatments or pay for his daughter’s tuition. I want to know who has an answer for families who were already living hand-to-mouth before $3 a gallon gas.
I don’t give a damn who did a polka with whom or who’s fighting with what relatives! I just want someone to, for once, care more about the very serious needs of the millions in the middle of the political spectrum than the partisan yammerers on the extremes who also happen to have a check in their hands.
Comment by S. Illinois Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 11:26 pm