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* My Sun-Times column was pushed back to Monday because I got bumped by a special Roger Ebert column on Friday. Not like I could complain. He is Roger Ebert, after all, and Monday has a much higher readership than Friday. It came out OK for me. Here’s the beginning…
The politics of fear is as old as politics itself. And it usually works. At least for a while.
President Bush’s more visceral opponents have decried his administration’s blatant use of fear to railroad through legislation that curtails Americans’ freedoms. “If this legislation to [fill in the blank] doesn’t pass, then the terrorists will win and we’ll all die,” has seemed to be the rallying cry since 9/11.
They have a point, but Bush’s detractors ignore how fear of “Commies” was used so successfully for decades in this country.
Before the Godless Communists, it was the Germans, the Japanese, the unions, the Anarchists, the Confederates, the Indians, the Mexicans (several times, including today), plus far too many more to list here.
Many of these fears were legitimate, some were not. And almost all were misused as blunt instruments against political opponents — an ugly, divisive and destructive tactic.
All of that occurred to me as I watched the coverage of Gov. Blagojevich’s latest political stunt.
* The “stunt” I referred to was the governor’s anti-violence “plan” that he attached to the capital bill. This is what Blagojevich had to tell reporters after the unveiling…
“This is an emergency,” Blagojevich told reporters after the announcement. “Children are being shot and killed. And for lawmakers to say we can’t do it, that’s exactly the reason why there’s so much violence out there today and so we’re just not gonna take ‘no’ for an answer.”
No lawmakers had yet said that they couldn’t do what the governor wanted. Blagojevich briefed just a couple of them beforehand, so how would he even know how lawmakers felt? The governor hadn’t submitted legislation containing the proposal, so lawmakers hadn’t even seen it. Heck, they probably hadn’t even seen the press release at that point.
What he meant was that he would make the choice very clear to the General Assembly: “If you don’t vote for my capital plan, then you’re siding with the killers.”
* And the homestretch…
As if the Statehouse atmosphere wasn’t poisoned enough with broken promises, stalled legislation, rising deficits, corruption allegations (most of them against the governor himself) and general dysfunction, now we’re going to be subjected to crud like this?
Fear-mongering doesn’t work forever. Bush’s use of the tactic isn’t producing the results it once did, partly because we’ve become almost dulled to the overuse of fear and partly because he’s been so discredited in the public’s eyes.
Blagojevich is even more discredited than Bush, if the polls are correct, so it’s doubtful that this gambit will work to persuade a skeptical General Assembly and an angry public to climb aboard. Just the opposite.
And that’s too bad because his plan is pretty good.
* A reporter friend who was at the event read the column this morning and sent this e-mail…
[Blagojevich] bolted for the exits as we surrounded him attempting to ask (gasp!) QUESTIONS! It was like one of those shots of Britney Spears coming out of court after being caught binge drinking with an infant.
We all owe George Ryan an apology
He may have a point.
* I couldn’t resist sharing with my syndicated newspaper column readers the Automated Rod Blagojevich Story Generator posted here by an anonymous commenter…
Sometimes, you run across something so perfect that you just have to share it.
Last week, an anonymous commenter on my blog composed a thing of pure beauty. The Automated Rod Blagojevich Story Generator is a very funny satire on how our state politics are stuck in a bizarre, ever-repeating spectacle.
* Meanwhile, the New York Times takes a look at the damage the Rezko case has inflicted on Blagojevich. There isn’t anything new in the story at all, but I thought you’d like to know about it.
* Related…
* Gadfly Quinn transforms image as he clashes with Blagojevich
* Tony Rezko trial nears conclusion as prosecution, defense strategize on best closing arguments
* 10 key developments in case of gov’s indicted fund-raiser
* Embattled Blagojevich’s agenda could take hit with Rezko verdict
* Who’s who in Rezko corruption trial
* What to expect on last day of Rezko trial
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, May 12, 08 @ 9:41 am
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I heard that 3 children were injured when this “apologetic” reporter and his friends trampled through the crowd to run after the Governor, too.
Maybe he should have apologized to the kids.
Comment by GoBearsss Monday, May 12, 08 @ 9:52 am
That’s a powerful last line in the NYT article.
Comment by Greg Monday, May 12, 08 @ 9:53 am
GoBearsss, I hadn’t heard that, and it’s very troubling if true. However, the governor should really stop surrounding himself with human shields. Particularly children.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, May 12, 08 @ 9:56 am
We are all set up to make last years budget process look like a mild disagreement. Facing what looks to be a hostirically tumultous budget process the Gov, in his role as leader, seeks not to try and build concenous and support for a worthwhile program but instead seeks to kill its from self inflicted wounds generated by such an acromonous announcement. This is a budget year that will live in infamy.
Comment by Ghost Monday, May 12, 08 @ 9:57 am
I don’t know the details - but to say he used them as human shields would be completely different from the telling I heard.
I heard he exited off the stage. The press ran through a crowd of 300 or so kids from their perch behind the crowd.
I heard this from 2 different attendees who were at the event and watched with incredulity at the way they swarmed him.
Comment by GoBearsss Monday, May 12, 08 @ 10:05 am
I don’t which capital budget contains the anti-violence plan (or the language of the plan), but wouldn’t such legislation violate the single subject rule?
And you know that fear is an acronym for False Expressions Appearing Real.
Comment by anon Monday, May 12, 08 @ 10:05 am
I understand the do-what-you-have-to-do-to-win thing. I really do. And I understand there are obligations to pay for an election. I get that, too.
But, Good Lord in Heaven, can the governor just once govern by working with members of the GA to do what is best for the state of Illinois? Can he put aside the bickering and the press-conference surprises and the beratings and figure out what it will take to stabilize the state?
It’s fun sometimes watch the train wreck this administration has become, but after awhile it just becomes sad.
Comment by Fan of the Game Monday, May 12, 08 @ 10:09 am
I actually heard the same thing as GoBearsss.
Is there video?
Comment by problem Monday, May 12, 08 @ 10:11 am
Maybe Blagoof needs to quit using human shields…just stay at the real estate office and wait for the verdict(s)
BTW go get a copy of Jay Magoo’s lame response to the House Dem Caucus. Lots of double talks, small print, no real explanation why IL shold sell the lottery for 30 cents on the dollar and …TA DA…he mentions ethics last on his.
Comment by Wild Bill Monday, May 12, 08 @ 10:11 am
The only thing we have to be fearful of is Blagojevich’s remaining days in office. You think Illinois is in bad shape now, just wait.
Comment by Sinking Ship Blago Monday, May 12, 08 @ 10:19 am
I don’t know if you can characterize the governor’s anti-violence announcement as a plan at this point — a good idea, perhaps, it’s been done many times before to various degrees. Obviously, with any plan, details as to where the money would go are important — with this administration more so than others.
If the governor was a Workhorse and not a Showhorse, he would have an actual plan to build support and get it passed. I mean, we are taking about trying to prevent young people from killing each other here, right? It’s not just pork barrel like a highway exit ramp or bike path.
I think at best he’s hoping to use it as a way to gain support on other issues from African-American and Hispanic House members whose districts presumably would get the lion’s share of the money.
At worst, it’s a photo op where he pretends to be doing something with no expectation of following through and blames his enemies. If that’s the case, it’s just cynical and vulgar.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, May 12, 08 @ 10:38 am
Blagojevich is so toxic he could announce the days of the week and be denouced. This is what happens when we have a public official too dead politically to function.
But then, did Blagojevich ever function?
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, May 12, 08 @ 11:04 am
Thomas Rosenberg should put together a movie about all of this
Comment by anon Monday, May 12, 08 @ 11:10 am
Blagojevich is able to use the politics of fear because he is the walking embodiment of it.
He is the personification of gridlock. When he shows up in public, the electric tingling Chris Matthews feels up his leg isn’t due to something Blagojevich says.
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, May 12, 08 @ 11:12 am
Yes and who put the children up close and elected an exit path that kept the children between him and the press.
Gov uses Children as human shields, decries violence amongst youth?
Comment by Ghost Monday, May 12, 08 @ 11:51 am
anon, any appropriation is germane to any appropriation bill
Comment by steve schnorf Monday, May 12, 08 @ 12:19 pm
What if Rezko is acquitted?
Comment by chiatty Monday, May 12, 08 @ 1:14 pm
steve schnorf 12:19 pm
It has been so long since there has been a capital bill passed, I had forgotten that they are approp bills, and not “malapprop” (sic) bills.
Comment by anon Monday, May 12, 08 @ 2:55 pm
Anyone remember how at Blago’s 1st Inauguration he stood and stage and basically chastised George Ryan and his administration for corruption? I do and believe me he’s lucky that George Ryan didn’t stand up behind him where he was seated on stage and put one of his size 13+ wing-tips right up Blago’s butt and put it up around his shoulders. Looks like George will get to do that after all when Blago arrives at Club Fed. I’m sure that Blago will run and hide when he hears Ryan’s baritone voice calling for him.
Comment by George Has Got To Be Laughing Now.... Monday, May 12, 08 @ 9:30 pm
King Rod has made it clear that he will do anything, including breaching the boundaries set by the Illinois constitution, to further his personal wishes and whims. This disingenuous “we’ve gotta act now” routine on the gang violence in Chicago should be taken straight to the doorsteps of Blagojevich’s tony north side bungalow, and to Clown Prince Emil Jones’ home. Jones KILLED reinstatement of the CeaseFire program in the Senate - how many of his constituents have been the victims of the violence as a consequence?
We’ll be lucky to see a budget by next January.
Comment by W Thomas Payne Tuesday, May 13, 08 @ 7:35 am