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Posted in:
Click here or on the the promo pic below to watch tonight’s live broadcast of CBS 2 News at 10…
If you need a refresher on what this is all about, here is the promotional script for the story we’re tracking…
How would you like a job which pays you $155,000? You don’t have to talk to co-workers, very much, or attend important meetings. And you don’t even have to go to your main office every day.
Sorry, job’s taken by Rod Blagojevich.
CBS2’s Mike Flannery tracked the governor to see how he’s conducting the State of Illinois’ business. And we’ve got one question: If the governor’s not governing, what’s he doing?
“Exposing Blagojevich” tonight at 10, only on CBS2 News
*** UPDATE *** In case you missed the live broadcast, click here for the full script and the video.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 9:07 pm
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
Previous Post: This just in… *** Governor predicts all of his House loyalists will vote for transit bill *** Hoffman claiming to be a “Yes” vote *** HDEMS to see gaming bill tomorrow *** Not looking good ***
Next Post: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s Capitol Fax (Use all caps in password)
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I can’t wait……
Comment by Joe Schmoe Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 9:14 pm
Another day, another highlight regarding our very own doofus.
Comment by Papa Legba Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 9:26 pm
Well, I can tell you we never, ever see him at the JRTC. Yau could always count on seeing Thompson or Edgar or Ryan coming and going. But Blago? Nope…
He didn’t show for the Christmas tree lighting ceremony earlier this week. He sent Patti, who was 15 minutes late herself… runs in the family, I guess…
Comment by DuPage Dave Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 9:27 pm
Let’s all remember it is sweeps month. Hopfully Flannery has somthing worthwhile and not a bunch of ribbon cuttings. It would not be the first time ch2 teased a big nothing.
Comment by common sense on the road Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 9:28 pm
Rich, the link to Channel 2 is showing “javascript void 0″ - Is there a problem or just too early?
Comment by A Citizen Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 9:34 pm
A, be patient now..
All good things come in time.
Besides, Bill isn’t here yet.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 9:41 pm
True, Channel 2 is ALMOST as good as Fox when it comes to hype without substance. But I’m sure this is giving GRod a ‘bad day’ — especially after his transit fiasco today. Did GRod fly home in time to see it in Chicago, or is he in Springpatch, watching it on Capitol Fax? Hmmmm…
Comment by 312 Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 9:43 pm
Flannery was at the Governor’s press conference today, but Rod refused to even see him much less respond to him in any way. I thought this governor like conflict and wasn’t afraid to face negative opinion?
Well, there’s always the chance to get back on The Daily Show.
Comment by hobnobber Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 9:50 pm
I’m here.
They’ll probably make us watch their whole putrid newscast first and put Rod on towards the end.
Comment by Bill Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:00 pm
Maybe Rod was in Peterson’s drum.
Comment by Bill Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:02 pm
No Bill, that was the Capitol Bill in the Peterson Drum.
Comment by Right On Bill Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:04 pm
Go Hawks!
Comment by Bill Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:18 pm
Blagojevich tried to put an optimistic spin on the situation, arguing that getting a transit package to the Senate should move negotiations along on both issues.
“If you want to look at the glass as half full, and I can’t see how you wouldn’t, this is a big step forward,” Blagojevich said.
Comment by Half Full; or Half Drunk? Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:19 pm
Are they serious? He wants to run in 2010 and he can win by raising more money than he did last year and on his lame health-care initiative? Do they think the people of Illinois are that stupid that they can’t see thru any of this?
Comment by Levois Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:20 pm
The news story was about as disappointing as Blago. Both had plenty of hype, but little substance.
Comment by More Courage Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:21 pm
Bill, couldn’t you have gotten some better seats?
Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:22 pm
So they are slamming the Governor because he went to a hockey game tonight while the House voted?
Ummmm ok. Abby said it best when she called this sleazy journalism.
Madigan is the one that cant get the votes to pass it. The Governor has thrown out several remedies and the only solutions that the Speaker has accepted are ones that he cant pass out of his own chamber.
If Madigan wants the downstate votes on CTA, he needs to accept a capital plan. End of story. Why would downstate legislators support bailing out a chicago mess with state revenue while getting nothing in return?
I hope Flannery decided to “stalk” some more of our elected officials because from my personal experience I dont see any of them doing much!
Comment by EL SALSA Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:23 pm
All in all it was a good day.
Comment by Bill Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:24 pm
No smoking gun in the report — just the continuing slow burn for all Illinoisans who expect their “governor” to provide public, not selfish, service. And what class was displayed by Blago’s spokeslady who had to throw out the word “sleazy” in her first breath!
Comment by Sarge Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:24 pm
Wow! Way to go Mike Flannery! I was wondering how long it would be before someone bothered to stake out the Gov.’s residence and show us his excellency at “work.” I can’t imagine that anyone who saw this piece thinks they’re getting their money’s worth out of Blagojevich.
Comment by roadkill Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:24 pm
As my daughter said when she saw the shot of Blago jogging “Who wears short shorts”. Did the Hawks win tonight Bill?
Comment by Bluefish Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:24 pm
Hey he was able to work on the transit bill while watching the Hawks game, he has mad skillz like that.
Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:25 pm
Yep.
Comment by Bill Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:25 pm
Blago missed a great opportuntiy to go after madigan.. Instead of going to the game, he could have blasted madigan. Stay in Springfield and go out and say madigan has failed to lead as he does not realize the state needs a capitol program. What is nix thinking? She certainly is not helping the gov.
Comment by Just Asking Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:26 pm
You could do a mini-series on this guy, but you’d think Flannery might have worked in just a little bit about the more than 20 federal investigations (that we know about)this bozo and his clown college posse are under.
Comment by FDR's Ghost Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:26 pm
You would trhink Blago would not be so stupid and set himself up for a shot at the Hawks game when his “five” votes could not produce. Doofus with a capital “D”
Comment by Joe Schmoe Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:26 pm
It is not Sheila’s fault. She doesn’t set the Blackhawks schedule.
Comment by Bill Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:27 pm
Well in his defense I can totally understand not wanting to see Pat Quinn for two months.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:29 pm
Does anybody remember the last time a local news program gave a story that much time.
Comment by orb Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:30 pm
While I don’t think the story was exactly Earth-shattering, I do think it reminds us of a good point. There are plenty of jobs in this world that allow people to “work from home” most of the time. Being an elected “public official” is not one of them.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:33 pm
Thanks for the link. Nothing too surprising, though, except that he hasn’t talked with Quinn for 2 or 3 months. This guy is unbelievable. How can anyone defend him? Gotta go and turn on the Cartoon channel. It’s funny on purpose.
Comment by What can I say? Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:33 pm
Hey Bill, I missed part of the audio. Who were Rod and Lon running away from in their underwear?
Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:34 pm
A month or so ago, thought I heard Mike Flannery articulate that the Gov’s ‘07 political intransigence is at least partially tied to a principled effort to undo what the Gov thinks is an undemocratic (little “d”) concentration of power in Mike Madigan’s hands.
Well. Seems Flannery is done cutting Blago any rapporteurial slack.
Comment by Ivory-billed Woodpecker Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:35 pm
With blago sitting in the stands at the hockey game, he must not have thought his CTA bail out was very important.
Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:37 pm
Someone please tell me why the legislature should do a capital bill that throws billions of dollars at the governor so he can misuse it as he always does.
Comment by Lotta Liaison Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:40 pm
I have seen it all. Why would Blago go to a hockey game in Chicago while such an important vote is ocurring in Sprinfield? Why is he always blaming Madigan? This guy is a joke.
Comment by anon Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:50 pm
This report was LAME
Comment by Lotta Liaison Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:51 pm
Someone tell me why downstaters should bail out the CTA without getting some money for their own transportation needs?
The roads and infrastructure downstate are in dire need of repair. We need a capital bill.
Comment by EL SALSA Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:51 pm
Transit bailout sinks as Blagojevich skates.
You can’t make this stuff up. Obviously Flannery spent several weeks putting this together. And on the very day they unleash it, the governor skips out on his own special session to go see a hockey game so Flannery gets to pile on with new footage.
If only he’d been caught at the game with Tony Rezko on one arm and Paris Hilton on the other.
The statement from the gov’s press office was pretty entertaining, but I was hoping Abby would rip Flannery’s ugly shirt and then push him down the stairs.
Comment by Frank Booth Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:57 pm
Come on folks, why shouldn’t the Gov be able to spend quality time with his big bucks donors at a Hawks game? He works so hard he needs the “down” time - or maybe he thinks raising money for his campaign IS his job???
Comment by babs Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:59 pm
Not to scare anybody, but we may think of these as the good old days in a year or two. Sorry, but time wounds all heels.
Comment by A Citizen Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 11:05 pm
Flannery is terrible. He has no clue what’s going on in Springfield. He spied on the Gov. jogging and going to a hockey game. Wow. Waste of my time. Go OBAMA. Now that’s news.
Comment by Eddy Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 11:14 pm
too bad he didn’t have pictures of the guv laying out geting a suntan on the deck of the executive mansion this summer while everyone else was toiling in one of his special sessions.
Comment by Frustrated Democrat Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 11:35 pm
Eddy - Flannery “has no clue what’s going on in Springfield?” He’s been reporting on Illinois government and politics for 30 years. Are you implying that the Guv has any clue what’s happening there?
Btw, I guess you could say tonight’s coverage showed that the Guv has a case of “Puck In Mouth” disease.
I’m betting his approval rating drops below twenty percent sometime around January.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 11:36 pm
Havlet scored two goals tonight. That ’s the real story.
Comment by Mr Ethics Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 11:54 pm
Granted, the CBS report didn’t include any Polaroids of the Guv with his hand in the cookie jar, but it did articulate the beef that many of us have. That the Guv couldn’t find Springfield with a GPS. If nothing else, it’s nice to see criticism start to surface in the traditional media, not just us pajama-clad news junkie.
First the Tribune, now CBS2…is that blood I smell in the water?
Comment by One of his Peons Thursday, Nov 29, 07 @ 12:25 am
we did not lay onthe deck, we used the inflatable pool for tanning
Comment by DumberThanYouThink Thursday, Nov 29, 07 @ 12:39 am
If I were a boss at channel 2, Flannery’s head would be on a stick. No wonder nobody watches channel 2 news — it sucks.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Nov 29, 07 @ 12:56 am
A little anti-climatic. Not one of Flannery’s best. A tad petty at times. Kudos to Mike though for leaving in the shot of Blago kissing his kids goodbye. A lesser class act would have left that out to put the Gov in the worst light possible.
I guess my big question is, if the legislators hate Blago so much, why do they complain when he’s not there, and when he doesn’t have a vote anyway? Why can’t the lawmakers just pass some damn legislation and stop the whining about the Gov?
Comment by 'bout time Thursday, Nov 29, 07 @ 1:10 am
Downstaters should vote for the RTA bill because it helps out their transit districts too (Springfield Mass Transit, Champaign Urbana, etc).
Comment by Lotta Liaison Thursday, Nov 29, 07 @ 1:43 am
they’re whining about the governor’s absence because many (granted, not all) legislators work on bills for extended periods of time, negotiate with all interested parties, and then blago flies down to springfield at the last minute and pulls votes off carefully crafted bills and unveils his half-baked schemes that he plays up like they are creative, groundbreaking policy solutions
Comment by Lotta Liaison Thursday, Nov 29, 07 @ 1:49 am
Wait, the NHL is back?
It’s so sad when the governor knows more about sports than I do and I know more about government than he does.
Comment by Hawks Game? Thursday, Nov 29, 07 @ 3:54 am
[…] While many are drawing their own conclusions about how Blagojevich’s stay-at-home governing style is affecting important issues like the CTA, I thought this wouldn’t be a bad time to look at the lighter side. For instance, how has his Facebook popularity fared? (Please note, you’ll need a Facebook account to view some links.) […]
Pingback by Kiyoshi Martinez - nerdlusus blog » Exposing Blagojevich: Is his approach an obstacle for Facebook popularity? Thursday, Nov 29, 07 @ 4:22 am
if the state government machinery is broken, we all know who threw the monkey wrench in the works–if I were an incumbent pol who has a contested race this February, I’d have a back up plan…
Comment by Loop Lady Thursday, Nov 29, 07 @ 7:28 am
eddy
you Obama folks are getting a little tiring…when does the Rezko trial start? that should bring your guy back to earth a bit
Comment by anon56 Thursday, Nov 29, 07 @ 7:31 am
The thing that gets me is, this boob KNEW what was going on (you can’t really believe that his State Police detail didn’t tip him off, can you???), yet continued casually sitting in and around his house, oblivious to the political damage the exposure of his “work ethic” would cause him. He is just the epitome of arrogance. Coming from Rostenkowskiland, I guess he had a good teacher in the art of thumbing one’s nose at the plebians. At least Rosty actually got up off his butt and went to work, though.
Comment by Snidely Whiplash Thursday, Nov 29, 07 @ 8:04 am
Nothing like attacking the messenger. Sleazy journalism.
This is the governor of our state. Does he have no itinerary ? Why is he not meeting every day with civic leaders, business leaders, legislatures and building bridges for the future of Illinois. Phone calls are not the sames as a in person meeting. This just shows he doesn’t care.
He’s the Governor and the people of Illinois should demand he get up off his butt, put some clothes on and go to work every day.
He constantly attacks Michael Madigan but,at least Madigan shows up at work.
This is why Rod was such a terrible congressman. He never showed up.
What a lazy egoltistical bum.
Comment by Lula May Thursday, Nov 29, 07 @ 8:05 am
I wonder why they did not do a little more investigation. FOIA his schedule and phone records for those days he was at home. Do a FOIA to see what equipment the State has paid for in his home office, and whats there.
Setting aside the indications that the Gov is not working, 155k a year for the Gov of Illinois seems to be a bit low for a salary. The Gov position gets paid less then a Judge?
Comment by Ghost Thursday, Nov 29, 07 @ 8:29 am
Ghost - I’d love to get $155 thousand to sit at home and play with my children.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 29, 07 @ 8:38 am
The governor continues to work hard for the real people of Illinois no matter where he is. He has his priorities in the right order and takes care of his young family and does a great job of running this state. He excells at multi-tasking. He doesn’t have to be sitting in the “patch” to be doing his job as governor. If anything he is over worked and underpaid. Illinois citizens are fortunate to have Rod Blagojevich as their champion. The footage of the governor jogging should serve as a good example of keeping physically fit no matter how busy you may be. He is a role model for the less than slender lobbyists, reporters, and bloggers whose only exercise is flapping their jaws and bending their elbows at the bar.
Comment by Bill Thursday, Nov 29, 07 @ 8:41 am
Maybe I’m just stating the obvious here, but it seems to me there’s a simple explanation for the gov’s work habits. He can’t separate his work from his campaigning for another term, but he can’t (or at least he’s not supposed to) use his official offices for that purpose, so he “works” elsewhere.
He’s working, all right, but he’s working harder at winning the next election than he is at governing the state right now. Even his going to a hockey game probably has a political purpose; there are probably plenty of other wealthy people there with lots of money!
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 29, 07 @ 8:43 am
ho hum!!
move along– nothing to see here!!
train111
Comment by train111 Thursday, Nov 29, 07 @ 8:43 am
So Bill, the Gov is a poor leader, does work on the buisness of the State, but he uses tax dollars to further his personal sporting interests and thats ok. He should use that for his next election campaign, vote for me I am skinny unlike you disgusting fat pig voters.
I guess by example State employee’s should use their work hours to hit the gym. Vote for Blago and keep body image (and hair) as the best way to judge people.
Comment by Ghost Thursday, Nov 29, 07 @ 9:06 am