Time for a refresher
Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The AP’s John O’Connor has a great preview story today of Tony Rezko’s trial. Go read the whole thing, but I’ll post some excerpts here.
Let’s take a look at Stu Levine and his desire to remain on the Teachers Retirement System and Illinois Health Facilities Planning boards, so he could continue receiving kickbacks and other graft…
In a telephone conversation taped by the government, Levine’s reason for “accommodating” the new [Blagojevich] administration through Rezko was simple.
“He could knock me out and I need his people to get the stuff done,” Levine said, meaning he could be bounced off the boards without Rezko’s backing. “But I brought him stuff that he didn’t know existed and he’s makin’ money.” […]
But Blagojevich came in, promising to clean house, and Levine knew his time was short. He would not get reappointed to the TRS board unless he shared the spoils with Blagojevich’s people. And soon, with board appointments expiring, Rezko would be able to stack the boards with his candidates, Levine said. After the April 2004 meeting with Rezko, he thought his new friend was grateful to have Levine as a “player.”
“I could have succeeded without him, but of course only for a limited period of time,” Levine said in a taped conversation. “He said, ‘Well, what do you need to do to proceed?’ I said, ‘Your permission.’ (He) loved that.” […]
The strange political hybrid that allegedly masterminded the scheme began when Levine and another supposed conspirator approached Rezko and Kelly in 2003 about Blagojevich’s proposal to consolidate several pension funds, including TRS, according to the filing. The merger would have left Levine on the street.
Rezko and Kelly stopped the merger and made sure Levine was reappointed when his term ended in 2004 in exchange for a piece of the action, the government says.
O’Connor’s story is a marvelous refresher course for anyone who is interested in the Rezko trial. Like I said above, go read the whole thing.
- Ghost - Tuesday, Jan 15, 08 @ 9:37 am:
Yah saw this in the SJ-R, very interesting. There is enough in there that the Gov should be sweating. It is amazing to me that they are talking about a single deal with a 10 mil payback!! (almost 4 mil to rezko, and almost 4 mil to Levine). This is not a few thousand here and there, millions from a single scam! AND its millions basically from the teacher retirment plan. The one the State had to bailout a few years back.
- Bill Baar - Tuesday, Jan 15, 08 @ 9:40 am:
These guys really go around calling each other The Pope, and the The Rabbi?
- DumberThanYouTHink - Tuesday, Jan 15, 08 @ 9:56 am:
Great Piece — confirms how the Blaggodiots changed the way business was done. Might have ben nice to mention that Stu came to IL govt and trained by Lee Daniels and Jim Ryan, but hey it was Blaggo/ aka POA who created Open Road Trolling (no mispell Capt.) so why waste the space
- Justice - Tuesday, Jan 15, 08 @ 10:00 am:
The sad part here is that most of those who voted for Blagojevich will only see this as a witch hunt against him, and will continue to vote for him. Short of an indictment, he will stand a good chance of getting re-elected since the republicans aren’t able to put up a decent candidate of their own. Lisa Madigan is looking better and better every day. Actually, just about anyone other than Blagojevich is looking better and better every day. Yep, I can live with “Governor What’s-his/her-name.” Another sad point is that those mentioned above are only the beginning. Think of the many, many who suck off the system and do nothing for their pay. Now that list is long indeed. Individually, they defraud us out of $80,000 to $120,000 each, every year. Multiply that by a thousand or so. Our state government is fraught with thieves and accomplices.
- Ghost - Tuesday, Jan 15, 08 @ 10:02 am:
Bill Baar, that does not surprise me, there are all kinds of nicknames for folks floating around in Government.
- Leave a light on George - Tuesday, Jan 15, 08 @ 10:16 am:
Everybody mark down Feb 1 on your calendar. If I understand correctly it is the deadline given by the judge in the Rezko proceedings for him to cooperate with the Fed’s with the possibility of a reduced penalties. If not they might have to squeeze him from prison like they did Faywell.
- b-dogg - Tuesday, Jan 15, 08 @ 10:26 am:
but it is not their fault, Justice. the nature of the state is to create the thousands of people you describe making $80,000-$120,000 a year. if we would take a portion of our paycheck and give it the school in our neighborhood, to the police officer on our block, or to the local road improvement office we wouldn’t need the state to redistribute income for us. but since humans are animals, we don’t share our income in that way. if we did, there would be no need for the state, and those that “suck off the system” would have to do something else. we are smart animals we can reason, but we are not very good at looking long term. wish we were.
- Just Because - Tuesday, Jan 15, 08 @ 10:27 am:
What about the Pope? whats going to happen to him in all this?
- Macbeth - Tuesday, Jan 15, 08 @ 10:28 am:
I don’t want to go “ad hominem” on Blagojevich, but after reading the gum shoe version of this via the link, I get the feeling that Blagojevich is a dope. I mean, truly — a clueless, dumb guy.
He was elected to a state office that far exceeded his mental abilities. I sense, too, that dumb as Blagojevich is, he can certainly play the sympathy card for his clear lack of brainpower.
I suspect many people (including myself, as details emerge) will find this whole thing pathetic. You’ve got wanna-be mobster-types thinking that they own the kingdom — and knowing (and thrilled, I suspect) that the king really *is* a dope.
Rezko is the shark. He sits down at the poker table and can size up the fish. And the biggest fish — with the biggest bankroll — is Blagojevich. If this is how it played out — if Rezko knew Blagojevich was above his head but played Blagojevich like they were best buddies — that’s impressive. That’s good poker on Rezko’s part. You’re a shark, so eat the fish — but you make them thank you all the way down.
- Enemy of the State - Tuesday, Jan 15, 08 @ 10:30 am:
I believe the nicknames “The Pope” and “The Rabbi” come from the office workers or receptionists who had deal with these gentlemem.
Hopefully, at the trial the jury would be dominated by little old grayed haired retired third grade teachers collecting minimal pensions.
- Little Egypt - Tuesday, Jan 15, 08 @ 11:16 am:
Rezko played Blago alright - like a cheap asian-imported violin. MacBeth, I like your comment, “He was elected to a state office that far exceeded his mental abilities.” Refer to The Peter Principle. The book was written for Blago.
- downhereforyears - Tuesday, Jan 15, 08 @ 11:18 am:
I guess what amazes me the most is that Blagojevich is publicly oblivious to all of this and is already gearing up for the next campaign for governor…..I wonder whose going to run his finance committee if they are all in jail. Goodbye Chris and Tony!
- Little Egypt - Tuesday, Jan 15, 08 @ 12:10 pm:
Blago’s not going to run for a third term. He’s keeping speculation alive because he has to or else he will be perceived as a lame duck, become an ineffective governor and statesman, have no influence over the legislature, fundraising would dry up, his staff would begin dusting off resumes and find other jobs, and no one would care if he showed up in Springfield or not. Now all of that would be really bad to have happen to a sitting governor who really didn’t intend to run for another term so the masterful poker player he is, Blago will keep his cards close to his vest for a while longer. Hey Rod, the trick is to keep the cards facing YOU. Oops, too late slick. well no one said he was a fast learner, or a good one either.
- Captain America - Tuesday, Jan 15, 08 @ 1:53 pm:
Given Governor A’s high negatives among the general public, I am not worried about his chances for reelction in 2010. He’ll probably be indioted for participation in Rezko/Kelly/Levine “pay for play” schemes probably because Kelly and/or Rezko will flip. Even if he is not indicted, Governor A will be convicted by the court of public opinion for his abysmal performance and his close association with corrupt cronies. Fish rot at the head!
- Napoleon has left the building - Tuesday, Jan 15, 08 @ 4:25 pm:
Good work O’Connor. The only thing missing is the quotes from Blago responding to reporters when they asked him why he re-appointed Levine. Maybe you have them somewhere Rich?
I think it was something about bi-partisanship, etc.