I hadn’t watched the entire CBS2 report on the back and forth between Blagojevich and Topinka over the Ryan fallout. But some commenters pointed out Mike Flannery’s reaction to one of Gov. Blagojevich’s statements and so I headed over there.
It’s priceless. The photos here are two screen shots of Flannery’s reaction. Go watch the whole thing. The transcript isn’t online, but I’ve reproduced it here.
BLAGOJEVICH: When news broke about the license for bribes scandal, I’m not gonna take credit for it, but it was very easy for those of us who were in other political parties to criticize that. I’m not asking for any credit for that.
FLANNERY: What? Exactly what does Gov. Blagojevich mean to be claiming there? I don’t recall him speaking out when the first reports surfaced 13 years ago of illicit fundraising in then Secretary of State George Ryan’s office. The dilemma for voters, of course, is that neither did Judy Baar Topinka.
What’s particularly galling is that when the License for Bribes scandal broke out, not even the media was willing to believe it. I recall that Poshard tried to make an issue of it during his campaign and was shot down by everyone.
Too bad for Illinois citizens.
- Common Sense in Illinois - Wednesday, Apr 19, 06 @ 12:01 pm:
Ah, history revisionist time — Lt. Governor Pat Quinn?. Glenn Poshard was the only person who spoke up at the time and was uniformly chastised for it; it may have even cost him the 1998 election for Illinois Governor. At the time, most people simply didn’t believe the license for bribes practices. Certainly no back-bencher like Governor Rod Blagojevich (at that time) didn’t raise his head, and Treasurer Topinka? … whether or not she should have is arguable, but let’s remember that the original disclosure came with two weeks left in a gubernatorial campaign and many wrote it off as an “October Surprise”. Flannery’s reaction to Governor Blagojevich is right on target — he’s not going to take credit? What the hell is that?
OK, kids, let’s not get revisionist here. The Sun-Times did an excellent series in 1998 about the licenses for bribes scandal. Dick Kay was also all over that stuff and did many follow-ups. There were others. The Tribune almost completely ignored it, and few downstate papers picked it up, but some of us (myself included) did cover that story.
Let’s consider Blago’s history of friends and alliance. In 1994, when he was running for reelection as state rep, and was part of the 33rd ward organization, who was endorsed for congress on their palm cards?
Was it Dick Simpson the reformer, or embattled and soon to be convicted Dan Rostenkowski. Who lifted a finger then to do something?
Where is Pat Quinn now? The stench is worse now that it was then.
- Common Sense in Illinois - Wednesday, Apr 19, 06 @ 12:10 pm:
Rich, as always you make a good point — I had forgotten about the Sun-Times series. I’m just trying to recall which came first…the CST, Dick Kay or Poshard’s commercial and its subsequent backlash? My comments were meant only to apply to the public official world, not the media.
Anon 12:06, that’s a good question, and I just sent an e-mail to the Blagojevich campaign asking whether Rod Blagojevich endorsed Dan Rostenkowski in 1994.
The Trib apoligized to Poshard later I believe. They admitted not doing their job.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Wednesday, Apr 19, 06 @ 12:43 pm:
While he’s at it, our governor could decline to take credit for inventing the internet. I agree Glenn Poshard was way out in front of the curve on this one, unlike most politicos of the day; and history will likely judge him more kindly as time goes on.
I think it’s fair to say the relationship between he and Daley is comparable to Judy George. So what does the Governor have to say about the Mayor (one of his key supporters, and – if I am not mistaken – a chair of his ’02 campaign) not similarly “lifting a finger†to stop the corruption to which Laski just plead guilty.
The Governor may have gotten away with tarnishing the good name of a respectable man who was simply doing what the feds wanted him to do, which was stay out of their way, but he shouldn’t be allowed to score twice with the same cheap, hypocritical shot.
That was a great reaction by Mike Flannery, something I’ve never quite seen from a serious reporter before especially on air-during the report. Blago looks the stooge trying to play the wise, honest, thoughtful Statesman. What a puffoon.
Quinn made Ryan’s corruption the centerpiece of his 1994 campaign for Secretary of State.
He introduced legislation to ban secretary of state employees from selling fundraising tickets (which Ryan blocked);
He brought witnesses into committee hearings from both northern and southern Illinois who testified to have been “shaken down” for campaign contributions by SOS regulatory employees under Ryan.
He was the first person to uncover irregularites in the way Ryan was using his campaign fund, detailing hundreds of thousands of dollars in personal expenditures from Citizens for Ryan and asking if Ryan had paid income taxes on the use of the funds (charges Ryan refused to answer).
Whether you like Quinn or not, he was ahead of the curve on Ryan’s corruption by about 4 years.
Let’s all not paint Pat Quinn as our ultimate savior as his record as State Treasurer leaves a lot to be desired. Pat Quinn is no friend of the taxpayer as his actions as Treasurer proves and he’s definitely not above board within his professional conduct.
When Pat Quinn was elected Treasurer he was noted for giving his politically connected employees exorbitant pay increases at the same time he refused pay increases to the rank and file employees. This was all uncovered many years ago through simple FOI inquiries and is easily proven. This is but one example of Quinn’s own corruptness.
Pat Quinn might not be a saint but compared to the other politicians in this state he is one of the best thing we got going, He might be a tad too liberal for some folks but he has always stood up for the regular guy, he started the Citizens Utility Board which has saved hundreds of millions of dollars for people.
Pat was going after George Ryan when He ran for Secretary of State but the media pretty much ignored him. Right now he is doing his best to highlight the Illinois Veterans and what obstacles they and their families have. I don’t want the Pat Quinn legacy to read he was the Lt. Governor under the corrupt Blagojevich administration. Pat is a smart guy, He knows he got this spot on his own, after he won his primary the Rod folks pretty much just exploited Quinn to get votes for Rod. It is possible we are going to have a political power void in the near future, Pat Quinn would be foolish if he was not considering a run for Mayor. Pat has a great following in the African American community, perhaps better than Congressman Jackson.
Spare the Pat Quinn nobility crap. Pat Quinn has sold out. Pat Quinn has kept his mouth shut while jobs are sold, no bid contracts are flying around like confetti, veterans seeking state jobs are being sh*t on by this administration and lying liars everywhere around him.
“…he always stood up for the regular guy…”? Until he sold his soul to Blago, that is. How about the guy in Stephenson County who saw that a state job in Stephenson County that was lawfully reserved for a veteran was given to a political hack in Chicago who, by the way, did not have to show up for work in Stephenson County?
Pat Quinn sure as hell did not stand up for that regular guy. He kept his mouth shut to placate the big-money Chicago boys. E-T-H-I-C-S.
Let’s all hold our breath and wait for the media to ask Pat Quinn the same types of questions that are being asked of Topinka.
Here is my issue… I never have any idea what in the hell the governor is talking about. Now, either he is the smartest man in the world, or the dumbest…. I have made my decision… but there seems to be this very dogmatic following of our lord Rod. Whatever… but I think in honor of that awesome reaction… Lovie’s Leather will now be forever ever known as… “Mike Flannery’s ‘what?’” Thank you Mr Flannery for providing entertainment at the cost of our governor. This is my homage to you.
Lovie’s Leather - I’m as confused as you are, because it sounds to me like the Governor said twice that he’s not taking credit for the scandal breaking. It just sounds like he did a little “Gotchya Sucka” Dance like about every other Democrat in the state. Which, for some, was followed by a brief silence, and then a little quiet time wondering who was next.
Having said that, it’s very easy for the Governor to criticize Topinka for her silence, but that’s par for the course when someone from your own party finds themselves in hot water. Atleast we haven’t found any record yet of Topinka defending George Ryan, as U.S. Attorney Scott Lassar did, or as State Senator Peter Roskam defended Tom DeLay.
I think Topinka is taking the wrong track here, though. She should’ve followed the advice of Jack Ryan in Tom Clancy’s “Clear and Present Danger.” Don’t defend the guy’s actions, but don’t pretend you don’t know him. The harder she tries to run away from George Ryan, the more guilty she looks.
YDD: I was 100% with you, until the last paragraph. How has Judy “pretended not to know” George. Is she distancing herself from him? Sure. But I think you’re exaggerating to the point of discrediting yourself by saying she’s pretending not to know who he is.
I hadn’t watched the entire 
BLAGOJEVICH: When news broke about the license for bribes scandal, I’m not gonna take credit for it, but it was very easy for those of us who were in other political parties to criticize that. I’m not asking for any credit for that.
- anon1 - Wednesday, Apr 19, 06 @ 11:38 am:
I gurantee you that one of the first (and only) to be discussing it at the time was Pat Quinn.
- Walking Wounded - Wednesday, Apr 19, 06 @ 11:58 am:
What’s particularly galling is that when the License for Bribes scandal broke out, not even the media was willing to believe it. I recall that Poshard tried to make an issue of it during his campaign and was shot down by everyone.
Too bad for Illinois citizens.
- Common Sense in Illinois - Wednesday, Apr 19, 06 @ 12:01 pm:
Ah, history revisionist time — Lt. Governor Pat Quinn?. Glenn Poshard was the only person who spoke up at the time and was uniformly chastised for it; it may have even cost him the 1998 election for Illinois Governor. At the time, most people simply didn’t believe the license for bribes practices. Certainly no back-bencher like Governor Rod Blagojevich (at that time) didn’t raise his head, and Treasurer Topinka? … whether or not she should have is arguable, but let’s remember that the original disclosure came with two weeks left in a gubernatorial campaign and many wrote it off as an “October Surprise”. Flannery’s reaction to Governor Blagojevich is right on target — he’s not going to take credit? What the hell is that?
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Apr 19, 06 @ 12:04 pm:
OK, kids, let’s not get revisionist here. The Sun-Times did an excellent series in 1998 about the licenses for bribes scandal. Dick Kay was also all over that stuff and did many follow-ups. There were others. The Tribune almost completely ignored it, and few downstate papers picked it up, but some of us (myself included) did cover that story.
- Anon - Wednesday, Apr 19, 06 @ 12:06 pm:
Let’s consider Blago’s history of friends and alliance. In 1994, when he was running for reelection as state rep, and was part of the 33rd ward organization, who was endorsed for congress on their palm cards?
Was it Dick Simpson the reformer, or embattled and soon to be convicted Dan Rostenkowski. Who lifted a finger then to do something?
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Apr 19, 06 @ 12:10 pm:
Where is Pat Quinn now? The stench is worse now that it was then.
- Common Sense in Illinois - Wednesday, Apr 19, 06 @ 12:10 pm:
Rich, as always you make a good point — I had forgotten about the Sun-Times series. I’m just trying to recall which came first…the CST, Dick Kay or Poshard’s commercial and its subsequent backlash? My comments were meant only to apply to the public official world, not the media.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Apr 19, 06 @ 12:12 pm:
Anon 12:06, that’s a good question, and I just sent an e-mail to the Blagojevich campaign asking whether Rod Blagojevich endorsed Dan Rostenkowski in 1994.
- Bill Baar - Wednesday, Apr 19, 06 @ 12:32 pm:
The Trib apoligized to Poshard later I believe. They admitted not doing their job.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Wednesday, Apr 19, 06 @ 12:43 pm:
While he’s at it, our governor could decline to take credit for inventing the internet. I agree Glenn Poshard was way out in front of the curve on this one, unlike most politicos of the day; and history will likely judge him more kindly as time goes on.
- anon1 - Wednesday, Apr 19, 06 @ 1:19 pm:
Pat Quinn was talking about Ryan’s Culture of Corruption in 1994…Poshard to his credit was also on the issue 4 years later.
- Bob - Wednesday, Apr 19, 06 @ 1:29 pm:
I wish Quinn could be governor but he isn’t crooked enough, however, things are changing and maybe his time is coming.
- Navin Johnson - Wednesday, Apr 19, 06 @ 1:30 pm:
Quinn spoke out against Ryan in 1994. Poshard deserves recognition too, but Quinn was there first amongst elected officials.
- grand old partisan - Wednesday, Apr 19, 06 @ 1:36 pm:
Don’t forget about Laski.
I think it’s fair to say the relationship between he and Daley is comparable to Judy George. So what does the Governor have to say about the Mayor (one of his key supporters, and – if I am not mistaken – a chair of his ’02 campaign) not similarly “lifting a finger†to stop the corruption to which Laski just plead guilty.
The Governor may have gotten away with tarnishing the good name of a respectable man who was simply doing what the feds wanted him to do, which was stay out of their way, but he shouldn’t be allowed to score twice with the same cheap, hypocritical shot.
- Papa Legba - Wednesday, Apr 19, 06 @ 2:03 pm:
That was a great reaction by Mike Flannery, something I’ve never quite seen from a serious reporter before especially on air-during the report. Blago looks the stooge trying to play the wise, honest, thoughtful Statesman. What a puffoon.
- Eight is Enough - Wednesday, Apr 19, 06 @ 2:09 pm:
Quinn made Ryan’s corruption the centerpiece of his 1994 campaign for Secretary of State.
He introduced legislation to ban secretary of state employees from selling fundraising tickets (which Ryan blocked);
He brought witnesses into committee hearings from both northern and southern Illinois who testified to have been “shaken down” for campaign contributions by SOS regulatory employees under Ryan.
He was the first person to uncover irregularites in the way Ryan was using his campaign fund, detailing hundreds of thousands of dollars in personal expenditures from Citizens for Ryan and asking if Ryan had paid income taxes on the use of the funds (charges Ryan refused to answer).
Whether you like Quinn or not, he was ahead of the curve on Ryan’s corruption by about 4 years.
- Levois - Wednesday, Apr 19, 06 @ 2:30 pm:
This is a good call. And I’m gonna check this out when I get the first opportunity.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Apr 19, 06 @ 2:39 pm:
Poshard was right. Tribune and most pols were in bed with the crooks.
Pat Quinn was real right, that was why Richie Daley did not want him.
- Sound Reasoning - Wednesday, Apr 19, 06 @ 4:01 pm:
Let’s all not paint Pat Quinn as our ultimate savior as his record as State Treasurer leaves a lot to be desired. Pat Quinn is no friend of the taxpayer as his actions as Treasurer proves and he’s definitely not above board within his professional conduct.
When Pat Quinn was elected Treasurer he was noted for giving his politically connected employees exorbitant pay increases at the same time he refused pay increases to the rank and file employees. This was all uncovered many years ago through simple FOI inquiries and is easily proven. This is but one example of Quinn’s own corruptness.
- James T Kirk - Wednesday, Apr 19, 06 @ 6:51 pm:
Pat Quinn might not be a saint but compared to the other politicians in this state he is one of the best thing we got going, He might be a tad too liberal for some folks but he has always stood up for the regular guy, he started the Citizens Utility Board which has saved hundreds of millions of dollars for people.
Pat was going after George Ryan when He ran for Secretary of State but the media pretty much ignored him. Right now he is doing his best to highlight the Illinois Veterans and what obstacles they and their families have. I don’t want the Pat Quinn legacy to read he was the Lt. Governor under the corrupt Blagojevich administration. Pat is a smart guy, He knows he got this spot on his own, after he won his primary the Rod folks pretty much just exploited Quinn to get votes for Rod. It is possible we are going to have a political power void in the near future, Pat Quinn would be foolish if he was not considering a run for Mayor. Pat has a great following in the African American community, perhaps better than Congressman Jackson.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Apr 19, 06 @ 7:44 pm:
Spare the Pat Quinn nobility crap. Pat Quinn has sold out. Pat Quinn has kept his mouth shut while jobs are sold, no bid contracts are flying around like confetti, veterans seeking state jobs are being sh*t on by this administration and lying liars everywhere around him.
“…he always stood up for the regular guy…”? Until he sold his soul to Blago, that is. How about the guy in Stephenson County who saw that a state job in Stephenson County that was lawfully reserved for a veteran was given to a political hack in Chicago who, by the way, did not have to show up for work in Stephenson County?
Pat Quinn sure as hell did not stand up for that regular guy. He kept his mouth shut to placate the big-money Chicago boys. E-T-H-I-C-S.
Let’s all hold our breath and wait for the media to ask Pat Quinn the same types of questions that are being asked of Topinka.
- Lovie's Leather - Wednesday, Apr 19, 06 @ 9:22 pm:
Here is my issue… I never have any idea what in the hell the governor is talking about. Now, either he is the smartest man in the world, or the dumbest…. I have made my decision… but there seems to be this very dogmatic following of our lord Rod. Whatever… but I think in honor of that awesome reaction… Lovie’s Leather will now be forever ever known as… “Mike Flannery’s ‘what?’” Thank you Mr Flannery for providing entertainment at the cost of our governor. This is my homage to you.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Apr 19, 06 @ 10:40 pm:
Lovie’s Leather - I’m as confused as you are, because it sounds to me like the Governor said twice that he’s not taking credit for the scandal breaking. It just sounds like he did a little “Gotchya Sucka” Dance like about every other Democrat in the state. Which, for some, was followed by a brief silence, and then a little quiet time wondering who was next.
Having said that, it’s very easy for the Governor to criticize Topinka for her silence, but that’s par for the course when someone from your own party finds themselves in hot water. Atleast we haven’t found any record yet of Topinka defending George Ryan, as U.S. Attorney Scott Lassar did, or as State Senator Peter Roskam defended Tom DeLay.
I think Topinka is taking the wrong track here, though. She should’ve followed the advice of Jack Ryan in Tom Clancy’s “Clear and Present Danger.” Don’t defend the guy’s actions, but don’t pretend you don’t know him. The harder she tries to run away from George Ryan, the more guilty she looks.
- grand old partisan - Thursday, Apr 20, 06 @ 8:32 am:
YDD: I was 100% with you, until the last paragraph. How has Judy “pretended not to know” George. Is she distancing herself from him? Sure. But I think you’re exaggerating to the point of discrediting yourself by saying she’s pretending not to know who he is.