78 Comments - Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 1:38 pm: Today is a very bad day for Joe Cini and all those folks around the governor analogous to Sorich. Indictments have been put on hold while this appeal was pending. Now look out! Ugh, what a State. - Beowulf - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 1:42 pm: Today’s Tip for Rod: “Be afraid, be very afraid!” - A Citizen - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 1:44 pm: Rich, could you slow down all of this breaking news. I need time to savor every nibble and the shear volume is about to overwhelm me with “giddiness”. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 1:44 pm: You’re telling me. I gotta get out of my office, but it keeps coming and coming like a never-ending mudslide. - Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 1:45 pm: Very few days like this one. Oy vey. - Pat collins - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 1:46 pm: Maybe more chilling that the opinion specifically cites US V Warner as a example of criminal conduct? - A Citizen - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 1:47 pm: This just in! Steamroller sighted heading down LaSalle toward the JRTC . . . freight elevator on hold for the 17th? floor. - Anon - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 1:47 pm: I thinbk that this is an abuse of power. I dont think that any criminal activity took place here. There may heve been some policy violations, but this is over the top. Rich, you say this should send a shiver down the governor’s spine. I think that this should send a shiver down the spine of anybody who believes that government is getting too “big brotherish.” - Greg - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 1:52 pm: Too big brotherish by prosecuting public officials? Seems quite the opposite. - Pat collins - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 1:56 pm: Anon 1:47. No, the opionion CLEARLY cites lots of illegal conduct, and why it’s illegal. Now, I personally think it would be quite cool to get contract by faking being a minority of some sort, since I don’t believe in such things. But I know it’s illegal. - plutocrat03 - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 1:56 pm: This appears to be a good day for the citizens. The concept of a firewall between the pol and the person actually doing the dirty work has worked to the detriment of the citizens for many years. It was a novel defense to claim that malfeasance was not a crime if there was no personal benefit. I hope that this will allow the real prosecutors (Fitz and company) to start charging the powerbrokers as well as the footsoldiers. - wordslinger - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 1:56 pm: Is Sorich already in the can or has he been out an apppeal? A quick google didn’t provide the answer. - Leave a light on George - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 1:59 pm: Illegal hiring indictments now on the way. It will make Ryan look like a novice. - plutocrat03 - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 2:06 pm: Wow Anon 1:47! Exactly what is the threshold for criminal behavior in your book? Sorich’s behavior has been found criminal in one court and affirmed in another. The conduct is no longer unseemly it is criminal. We now need to follow up the feeding chain to charge Mr. Sorich’s boss and bosses. With luck, they can share adjoining cells. - Garp - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 2:13 pm: I think McCarthy decided to serve his time already and not wait for the appeal. I hope that is correct and he is well on his way to getting out already. By the way, there are chills going down the spine of lots of folks, mostly in the hall. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 2:15 pm: Agreed. Onward and upward. - Anon - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 2:38 pm: An inane opinion with far-reaching consequences. If this opinion is the law, you would have to be clinically insane to hold public office or work in government. This decision strips away the necessity of proving that a benefit accrued to the “wrongdoer.” In the wake of this decision there is literally no limit whatsoever on the federal government’s ability to prosecute anything they deem — in their infinite wisdom — a “breach” of the duty of honest services. They don’t need hiring. An expectation of VOTES would be enough under the “logic” of the opinion. Obtaining “pork” for your constituents is now as clear a crime as the “criminal” hiring practices underlying the Sorich case. Now that there is no law limiting the federal government’s prosecutorial reach, the only limit is their own limitless resources. The Tribune and the Sun Times (as long as they’re in business) can pick and choose who the government prosecutes next. I’m sure they’ll be happy to do so. - A Citizen - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 2:48 pm: - Anon - “…you would have to be clinically insane to hold public office …” - Well I think we have more than adequately proven that case re: guv! But your point is well taken, politics as usual is becoming unusual and in all probability unlawful. That should make for a very successful business selling clocks that track the statute of limitations for the owner(s). - Ghost - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 2:49 pm: Anon your comment does not look at the obvious protection. Set up a hiring system that selects based upon qualifications, like the civil service exams used for many fed positions. The defesne is then very simple, I did not select this person, they had the highest score. The fed is limited by the burden of having to prove selection based on criteria other then merit for positions tht are not policymaker and thus should be filled only base don merit. Easy to avoid problems, neutral highiring practices based on merit. - OneMan - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 2:53 pm: The Ghost has a point. Suffice to say, lots of mild panic today. Anyone think someone(s) may be calling the feds today to try and get better seats on the bus? - Bill - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 2:54 pm: Bobby Sorich is a decent guy who was just doing his job like he had been trained to do…like his successors had done before. He didn’t break any laws. This was a political prosecution and a political decision on appeal. It is carte blanche now for over zealous feds with political motives themselves. If you work in gov’t you shouldn’t gloat. You could be next. - A Citizen - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 2:55 pm: -Ghost- Therein lies the brilliance of “Category Groupings” in state eligible lists. Everyone in the A category is the high grade. Only an A Cat. Vet trumps and there should definitely be investigations on the non-hiring track record for them. - Anon - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 3:00 pm: BLACK MONDAY!! - Garp - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 3:00 pm: If you are trying to avoid prosecution for fixing jobs, I would suggest not setting up a job rigging scam that fixes thousands of jobs and promotions and unfairly rewards very unsrupulous characters. I wish people would stop trying to defend the indefensible. All the proponents of Daley’s patronage system are just going to have to figure more creative ways of scamming the system. - thomas paine - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 3:00 pm: “Easy to avoid problems, neutral highiring practices based on merit.” Nearly impossible with over 40,000 jobs. Unions would have to consolidate their small empires or you would have to conduct thousands of tests for eveerything from cement mixer to sign poster. Meanwhile, passing a test does nothing to ensure that people will actually produce at a higher level. The test eventually become so watered down that almost everyone will pass (e.g. fire department) - Levois - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 3:02 pm: You mentioned the governor what about the mayor? - Trust - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 3:03 pm: The questions here is, who checks the checker. Federal, state and local governments are guilty of extreme arrogance. Whether people realize it or not, we are all losing freedoms daily. Do not questions those in prosecutorial authority or they will be knocking on your door next. The law in not evenly or fairly applied. So, life is not fair. What else is new? - Lurker - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 3:04 pm: wordslinger: (from Bureau of Prisons website) ROBERT SORICH 18045-424 45 White M UNKNOWN NOT IN BOP CUSTODY - Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 3:07 pm: A Citizen, you sell the clocks, AA will rent a couple bigger buses with comfy seats up front. Thomas, the “G” doesn’t have to suggest a replacement system, they just have to prove the current one is crooked. - A Citizen - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 3:08 pm: -Bill- “…Bobby Sorich is a decent guy who was just doing his job like he had been trained to do…like his successors had done before. He didn’t break any laws…” A couple of years ago I would have strongly agreed with you, however, watching the feds play out this line of prosecution successfully has left me bewildered at best. It is as if they are trying to outlaw the political process in Chicago and Illinois and that just goes against the grain of my experiences with both parties in power over the years. I’m with you, buddy, just hope we can have booze and lobster and steak smuggled in to us in the slammer! - Greg - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 3:09 pm: Bill, that defense worked great in the post-enron prosecutions. I imagine that these politicians’ complaints will get about as much sympathy. Many of us in the private sector wish our bars were as low as our predecessors’. - Macbeth - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 3:14 pm: Anon 1:47 – Big brotherish? Bring it on. Any government official in this state — particularly this state — deserves all they scrutiny they get. So, yeah, big brother? Over here. I’m sick of reading about Blagojevich and his tendency to ignore anything and everything that gets in his way. If anyone deserves a “big brother” it’s Blagojevich. Daley, too. Madigan? Sure, bring it on. But, please — start at the top this time, Mr. Big Brother. Anyone who works with gov’s office knows that they’re a bunch of paranoid nutjobs — straight out of a Thomas Pynchon novel. And believe me, when I say, “Paranoid nut jobs” I’m being kind. This is the reason why I left state employment. I was sick of dealing with gov’s office, hearing about the gov’s office, and fretting over attempting to deal with the gov’s office. So, yeah, bring it on. If anyone — and I mean this — if *anyone* deserves to have their spine shivered, it’s Blagojevich and his inner-circle. - Pat collins - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 3:17 pm: Am I the only one who actually READ the opinion? It is as if they are trying to outlaw the political process in Chicago and Illinois Outlaw sleazy practices, yes. Outlaw getting around court decrees, yes. Maybe you meant to say “outlaw sleazy machine politics”. And the answer is indeed, yes. You don’t need any detailed methods to hire. Just be sure to accept applications from somebody that nobody sent, is all. - A Citizen - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 3:22 pm: - Pat collins - Easy Pat, please! Bill and I are over 50 and one of us over 65. We cut our eyeteeth on the sacred foundation of sleazy politics. It has been the “way things are done in Illinois” for over a hundred years. Pat, I would expect a bit more respect for your elders! Sheeesh! - Ghost - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 3:40 pm: Thomas paine, not that hard at all. We already have a lot of positions set up with standarized questions, plus use the CMS grading system. The Feds have huge numbers of employee that are hired by using a civil service test, as do many universities. After all, before you hire for the position you should know what qualifications you expect for the job, from there create your test and grading system. - Crimefighter - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 3:47 pm: COMMENT: Too late, they’ve shared serviced just about everything…and the damage has been done. SJR posted – Blagojevich’s state agency reorg plan gets cool reception Last Updated 4/15/2008 3:38:58 PM By DOUG FINKE STAFF WRITER Even before the plan gets a public airing, Rep. Jack Franks, D-Woodstock, said he wants to stop a move by Gov. Rod Blagojevich to reorganize state agencies. Blagojevich filed an executive order Tuesday that combines common functions of various state agencies within “shared services” divisions in a handful of agencies. Lawmakers were still trying to grasp all of the plan’s implications, but Franks, a frequent Blagojevich critic, said he’s already seen enough. He’s filed a resolution that, if adopted by the House, would stop the governor’s plan. “I think the governor has been in so much mischief,” Franks said. “This is one way to give him extraordinary power, to have people totally under his thumb, and then bring in outside consultants to increase our costs.” Sen. Dale Risinger, R-Peoria, said the plan may look good on paper, but may not work in reality. “Everythign isn’t ehs ame in every agency,” said Risinger, a former Illinois Department of Transportation engineer. “People that work on environmental issues at IDOT may have a few different rules to abide by than some other agency, like Natural Resources.” Blagojevich’s office did not immediately respond to questions about the plan or Franks’ comments. - A Citizen - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 3:51 pm: Anyone familiar with the “merit system” knows how it works from testing through hiring. The issue of legality comes when the hiring authority exercises their authority to hire. The motivation for that decision is the crux of the legality question. It can be legitimate and yet appear suspect or not legitimate and appear okay. The leadership example set at the top is usually reflected in the quality of decisions made down the chain of command. And in the current administration, that quality score is left wonting. - Skeptic Cal - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 3:53 pm: Ghost, you seem to be saying that the State has a fair system based on CMS grading? If I read you correctly, you must not know personnel in State government. No offense, but CMS grades have nothing to do with the selection process. Many newspaper reports of that system show how it is manipulated by the Governor or other pols — especially with the epar system. The Rezko trial has an exhibit and testimony of the very kind of political sponsorship lists that were taken by Cini to the royal Rezko each Monday to review job applications. This is identical to what is reported in the Sorich opinion. Setting up a true merit based system would be hard and I doubt that any politician is up to the task. Hopefully they will reign it in with the threat of prison time. Time will tell. - Ghost - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 4:06 pm: Skeptical Cal I did not say the CMS system was fair. technically the State has this bizarre “Rutan” process where they use oral exams to grade and score, a process I would condem. I actually refered to the fed civil service system which uses written exams and skills testing to score canidates in a fairly neutral system. The State system has all kinds of flaws from undisclosed standards to answers being recorded not by the person making the response, but by a thrid party interviewer writing donw their interpretation. Not sure why they do not just have the canidates write out their responses. The CMS system has some testing for positions, but for others they use the odd subjective grading system where its never clear what you can get credit for etc. - The KQ - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 4:09 pm: I think that it is interesting that assigning a letter grade as opposed to simply using a candidates actual test score is only one option as spelled out as law. (20 ILCS 415/8b.3) Years ago when the court ruled on veterans’ preference there was a bill drafted to do away with the use of letter grades. It of course didn’t go anywhere because it was believed that it would not be taken very well by veternas, who are granted an absolute preference by the court’s ruling. Using the score instead of assigning a letter grade eliminates the absolute preference and brings merit back into play. - Embee - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 4:15 pm: I think it is important for us to be more mindful of the charges a US prosecutor brings against anyone, but especially elected officials. There is ample evidence that the Bush Administration has a history of political prosecutions. One need to look no further than the scores of US Attorneys who were fired because the Justice Department felt they did not do enough to prosecute Democrats/Liberals/Anyone who didn’t agree with their views. And if those prosecutors were fired for not bending to the will of Bush and Co. (Fmr. Atty General Gonzalez’ poor memory notwithstanding), don’t you think the remaining US Attorneys (like Patrick Fitzgerald) would think it in their best interest to bring charges against people opposed by the Bush Administration (i.e. Mayor Daley, Gov. Blagojevich) in order to appease their superiors and move their careers forward? The media does a poor job (to say the least) exploring the reasons why someone is being charged with a crime. If you want to talk about quid pro quo, let’s talk about the relationship between prosecutors looking for media exposure to boost their careers (to the point of someday maybe running for office themselves) and the headlines these prosecutors create with their charges, which tends to sell newspapers like hotcakes. This is not a comment on Robert Sorich’s guilt or innocence, but a plea to the general news consuming audience to demand the media to be more clear on the possible motives of a prosecutor. - wordslinger - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 4:31 pm: Embee, I’m not sure your analysis tracks in regards to the Bush Administration and Illinois. One, I’d be very surprised if Bush even knows who Blagojevich is. That’s not a knock on either one, by the way. Bush has a lot on his plate and Rod is not on his radar. As far as I recall, Bush didn’t do much for Topinka, either. Two, on the day Sorich was convicted, Bush flew into Chicago to spend his birthday with Daley. They were all buddy-buddy at the Firehouse. Three, Fitzgerald didn’t seem to be cowed by Bush when he went after Scooter Libby. There’s no question this U.S. attorney is different from the previous ones we’ve had since Thompson, many of whom were Thompson proteges. Those guys cut at the edges of corruption — aldermen, ghost payrollers, etc. — while this guy is trying to drive a knife in the heart. I don’t think Fitzgerald wants to run for office, I don’t think he wants a corner office at a LaSalle Street law firm, and I’m very certain he has no interest in playing ball and respecting the way things have always been done. He’s a relentless prosecutor who likes to put the skins on the wall, the bigger the better. My advice is don’t give him a chance. When he’s done, I suspect he’ll leave town and things will, over time, go back to the way they’ve always been. - Macbeth - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 4:33 pm: I can’t believe folks haven’t exposed more of the “shared service” initiative. This seems to be a major series of “How State Government is Costing Taxpayers” articles. Shared services is a joke. It’s like a steamroller. Agencies continued to be impacted by shared services. Why not talk about how much money the so-called “I.T. consolidation” has cost agencies? This OAS re-org will be a *nightmare.* I can’t believe more folks aren’t writing stories about this stuff. And hey: speaking of Rutan … Anyone ever go to Rutan “training”? Oy. - gulag - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 4:33 pm: Embee, to accuse Daley of being “opposed by the Bush Administration” is, to say the least, odd. Further, to accuse USA Fitzgerald of attempting to curry favor with the Bush administration is even odder. Scooter Libby ring a bell? - Levois - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 4:41 pm: I don’t think Bush’ll go after Daley, I think Bush likes Daley too much. - Independent - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 4:45 pm: Embee - Bush and Daley do not have an adversarial relationship. In fact they’re quite chummy on a personal level. Some may think Fitzgerald is overzealous but he has prosecuted both sides of the aisle. After Ryan his targets were Democrats as they dominate Chicago and Illinois. Sorich had his chance to cooperate but due to arrogance, a Bridgeport good ol’ boy culture of keeping one’s mouth shut, poor advice from counsel, or all of the above he chose not to. He gambled, lost, and now must serve his time. Sorich was following orders but still knew what he did was wrong. The Feds need to climb the ladder and discover who gave Sorich his orders as there’s no way he masterminded this scheme. - Embee - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 5:00 pm: Gulag- Yeah, all he got was Scooter Libby. Pretty weak…and suspicious if you ask me. If he’s as good as he thinks he is, the Valerie Plame controversy should have resulted in the conviction of Karl Rove. In response to everyone else…I know that Bush and Daley are not exactly arch enemies…but there are a bevy of Republicans that would like to see the man go down in flames…and I am sure plenty are chummy with prosecutors. Everyone seemed to still miss the point, however, and maybe Fitzgerald was not the best way to illustrate it. Would any one here agree that no one really asks the question of why prosecutors decide to bring charges against specific people? There are a lot of law breakers out there, so how does one choose? And don’t you believe that it is possible that some prosecutors may have motivations based soley on their career ambitions? Let’s not forget that lawyers and politicians are regarded as some of the least trustworthy professionals. So why don’t we start examining the other end? - Embee - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 5:06 pm: Wordslinger- I think we’ll see the day when Patrick Fitzgerald’s true intentions are revealed….Until then, I’ll take your word that he’s an upstanding individual. - Independent - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 5:16 pm: It’s perfectly reasonable to examine the record of prosecutors’ indictments, but I disagree that Fitzgerald is a partisan tool. Fitzgerald only prosecutes cases he’s almost certain he will win. He probably felt uncertain of convicting Rove if he brought charges. He’s also extremely meticulous, and some might say slow. He’s just now going after Al Sanchez and then there are layers above him. At Fitzgerald’s pace I think the next President will move him to Washington before he fries the truly big fish. - Fritzel - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 5:20 pm: Amazing. For the first time ever I agree with Bill and disagree with Levois. Examples of political prosecution are legion, and yes, you could be next if you are in government or tangentially connected if you are on someone’s bad side, regardless of any actual culpability. And, Levois, where do you get the idea that “Bush likes Daley too much.” The heat on City Hall started after Bill Daley stood on stage, election night 2000, and said “The Campaign Continues.” Not a coincidence and not a conspiracy theory. The President’s St. Patrick’s Day appearance in ‘02 was another strike at the Mayor and his family. Presidents never marched in the parade before; possibly out of deference to the local leadership. All security and police arrangements had to be rearranged for this. Three words by the Mayor’s brother started the ball rolling on all this stuff. - Fritzel - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 5:33 pm: Wordslinger in particular, and others to an extent: “[C]hummy at the Firehouse?” It’s called keeping your friends close and your enemies closer…something the Bush family, like most political families, knows something about. The Daleys miscalculated with regard to their post-election activities in Florida on behalf of the Gore campaign. I find it almost unbelievable that this aspect of the relationship is almost never mentioned, either by the MSM or the new media, i.e. bloggers. - Hoisted by their own Petard - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 5:34 pm: “If this opinion is the law, you would have to be clinically insane to hold public office or work in government. This decision strips away the necessity of proving that a benefit accrued to the ‘wrongdoer.’” How about the benefit of collecting a taxpayer-funded salary? And benefits? Without politically-rigged hiring and a vast patronage army, does Daley keep his job? Does Sorich keep his? No, because the mere threat of being able to stack bodies five deep in every precinct in the city is enough to ensure Daley never has a serious challenger and Sorich kept collecting a paycheck. That’s the essence of the crime. Case closed, move onward and upward. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 5:41 pm: BIG BROTHERISH? Big Brother is Google developing software that listens through your PC’s microphone for background noise, so they can sell more advertising. Big Brother is NOT a federal prosecutor — confirmed by an elected U.S. Senate — prosecuting public officials found guilty by a jury of 12 and upheld by a federal judge that was also confirmed by the U.S. Senate. “Survivor Island” maybe, but not “Big Brother.” - Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 5:47 pm: Wow, the grassy knoll folks are out in force today. Bill and A, AA is another old coot. We never get any respect, especially Bill. Why would we get any today? With tongue in cheek, consider this-does anyone know an assistant US Attorney who was clouted into his or her spot? - Fritzel - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 5:54 pm: Hoisted: They can stack five deep but that doesn’t mean you or I are obligated to vote for their candidate any more than you or I are obligated to buy liquor or cigarettes due to the presence of billboards in our neighborhoods. I don’t see why patronage hiring is the end of the world. If you screw up, they will can you. They cannot and/or will not with Civil Servants and Union employees. The problem is if employees are doing political work on the city’s/county’s/state’s dime or time; or if they get comp time for political work. “Culture of corruption” is about as nebulous as “hope” and “change.” - IDOT Guy - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 5:56 pm: Yo MacBeth, I have been through “Rutan Training”, and what they tell you is that the interview matters most. You are not allowed to call former employers or references. If you don’t get a job over someone else all they have to say is that “they interviewed better”. They don’t even have to give details, been there done that. - Fritzel - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 6:06 pm: Arthur Andersen: Every Single One. And every single employee in that building (or any government building) is somebody from somewhere. And trust me, they, of all governmental units, especially don’t want nobody nobody sent, as we all know the sun rises and sets over the US Attorney’s Office. Again, I have no problem with this–these folks are more than qualified for the positions they hold. When hypocrisy is demonstrated, I take issue. Wow, I also agree with YDD for the first time as well: It IS more like Survivor. In more ways than one. - Bubs - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 6:06 pm: Big Big Big Big Big Big Big Big Big Big Big Big Big! The lights will burn late in Democratic Machine offices tonight. - Bill - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 6:31 pm: As long as an employee does his/her job there should be no problem. Actually patronage probably made employees more accountable than they are now. As far as the disrespect is concerned, I’m used to it from these young whippersnappers, AA. I hope Mickey Shakman sleeps really well tonight knowing that his frivolous lawsuit is now considered criminal law and instead of being home with his family Bob Sorich will be in prison. God forbid that the USA goes after some real criminals. That might be too much like work. Now let’s go look for a Mel-O-Creme. - Bubs - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 6:37 pm: 1. Whether there is a problem depends on what your job actually entails. 2. Bob Sorich deserves every bit of it, and should have thought of his family before getting involved in this. He should think of his family now and start talking. 3. The only unfair part of is will be if the Sorich 4 do not see the people above them, who gave the orders and reaped the benefits, go to prison, too. 4. They are real criminals. - Fritzel - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 6:41 pm: Bill: I am not young nor a whippersnapper. I agree with your analysis of the instant situation. My disagreements were with your characterization of Blago as the greatest governor ever. - A Citizen - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 6:48 pm: -Bill- & -AA- We should form a consulting outfit to guide these whippersnappers in the true path of “The Force”. They obviously are naive and desperately in need of the true knowledge only we can provide. - Patrick McDonough - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 6:59 pm: This is a great day for the people that put their necks on the line. Thank God. More work to do. - Fritzel - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 7:07 pm: Bill: Shakman was/is a trouble-maker who started a frivolous lawsuit. The only “solace” for Sorich is that he had, for better or for worse, the built-in protections of our criminal justice system to fight what were essentially civil violations of a consent decree that should never been entered in the first place. A lot of good that did him. U.S.D.C.(N.D. Ill.) juries are, as a general rule, predisposed to believe whatever the Government says. You don’t get a lot of time to pick the jury in federal court, so the lawyers knock off all the social workers from Evanston and the cops from Mt. Greenwood, and cross your fingers on whoever is left. At least it’s the same for both sides at that stage. There is at times an anti-Chicago prejudice stemming from the fact that the base of the venire goes all the way out to Ottawa and beyond. There is also the general philosophy, that, if the feds are prosecuting, s/he MUST be guilty. Finally, if the judge feels strongly one way or the other, the jury will take His/Her Honor’s unspoken guidance. More than the attorneys, and worse, more than the parties–either government or defense. Even though the pattern jury instructions usually say “nothing I say or do should give you reason to believe that one side or the other should prevail…” - A Citizen - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 7:16 pm: Supervising patronage supplied workers is much more effective than those supplied by “civil service” systems. If they in some way cause a problem you simply call their clout (for which you are thanked) and the problem is remedied or you have the green light to fire them. Political referrers have reputations and are loathe to have them tarnished. If anything needs reform it is the merit system, AFSCME, and SEIU. Since Pete Vallone in the Thompson era started giving state employment control to AFSCME along with union shop, guaranteed dues paying members, the state administration has been effectivel neutered. Fitz doesn’t know what he is talking about when it comes to real corruption - note to Fitz, “take a good hard look at AFSCME and how they got control of state employment.” Patronage activity is 5% to 10% what it ever was. State “managers” are even unionized now. Get a clue Fitz, you are chasing a ghost from 2 or 3 decades ago. - Steve - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 7:32 pm: Mayor Daley and gang should be concerned.Chicago’s patronage army is now viewed by the federal courts as something of a racketeering enterprise.Who’s next? Victor Reyes,John Daley(the man Sorich drove downtown)? The fact that many Aldermen funded the city government, an illegal patronage operation,opens up questions on the lack of oversight by such Aldermen as Bernie Stone,Dick Mell,and certainly Ed Burke.Just how could these Aldermen not catch this racketeering enterprise? - Fritzel - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 7:52 pm: Steve: =viewed by the courts as something of a racketeering enterprise= Your equivocation in the guise of passive voice intrigues me and proves a point. Pretty much anything is “mail fraud” and now RICO. My biggest concern is that actual crime (like bribes or extortion) will be ignored or obscured by these “gimmees.” Is it more like Phil Esposito hanging out in front of the net the entire game or slam-dunking a Nerf in your toddler’s basketball net? When someone revered by the MSM (let’s make up a name–Bill Ayers) gets whacked on one of these counts, we’ll see the reaction. - A Citizen - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 8:04 pm: -AA- “… # With tongue in cheek, consider this-does anyone know an assistant US Attorney who was clouted into his or her spot? … ” AA, that is the MOST exclusive patronage club known to mankind! Do you know of any of them that did not get there but for recommendations from judges and other lawyers? That’s just disgusting. The elitism is mind boggling. - just wondering - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 8:16 pm: Please, please, please, check out the hiring practices at IDOT (one of the southern District’s). I’m still mystified how a 20 year old with only 1 college class (that he did not finish) and with less than 1 year full time experience could beat out someone with a Master’s degree in Human Resources and at least 10 years experience with an excellent work history and evaluations. Then tell me how someone with a GED could replace someone with an engineering degree and run a department and the person with the GED can’t even read a map. I’ve got at least 20 more. - Bubs - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 8:21 pm: Bill and Fritzel are missing the legal point. The defendants were convicted of mail fraud for defrauding the City and its people of honest services, not violating the Shakman Decree. - A Citizen - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 8:23 pm: - just wondering - Obviously you are witnessing the political hack process of blago’s administration. True professional political admins do not operate that way. Oddly, it seems, the walker and blago “maverick” types never learned how to administer state gov,t. Cheer up, this too shall pass! - Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 8:40 pm: Bill, we might disagree on a few things, but you are spot on in noting that the patronage system had its own disciplinary process and it worked pretty well. I had quite a few clouted ones on my payroll over the years, and if they wouldn’t shape up, a call to the Chinaman usually cured the matter right pronto. The labor relations were also different then. With the craft/trades guys, (some of the absolute best people to ever work with) they did not want the local to have a meathead in a building and we didn’t want a boiler to blow up or have someone getting fried at a switch panel. If someone wasn’t cutting it, they usually bagged the guy before we could. Nothing like a box of donuts and a bottle of Jack to end a productive day. - Fritzel - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 8:42 pm: Citizen is correct. For example, like him or not, George Ryan had all his peeps in place ready at the curb on Day One, and state government kept running. It was a relatively smooth transition; his downfall was by and large, if not completely, separate from the day-to-day operations of state government. - Roy Slade - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 9:56 pm: The current administration has spent millions acting like they are following the laws- “above reproach”. The fact remains, they have handpicked the employees in the various Human Resources divisions who conduct the interviews and “grade” the applicants. They have taken it to a new low by having the various (career) managers sign a form stipulating that “politics had nothing to do with the appointment of the new employee”, when in fact, all of them play poker with the democratic county chairman each week. It is just a joke! If you contol the “process of hiring” (or contracts, purchasing, etc)- and control the budget- then you should be held accountable when laws are violated. - Plutocrat03 - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 10:12 pm: I can speak to one method used in ’selecting’ candidates for a job. The Civil Service commission has personal interviews as an element of the hiring process. Magically the number or points the Commission awards based on the personal interview is large enough to overcome any deficit from the testing process. They also make judgements based on who will ‘fit in’ to the current workforce. Want to bet what the demographic analysis shows? I lover hearing about the County hiring process as well. The story asserted that the application process is kept open until 7 people who meet the MINIMUM criteria apply. Clearly, that is not geared for the best quality individuals. The citizens who pay for the services deserve better….. - Speaking at Will - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 10:23 pm: The sad part of all of this is that it will never get Daley unseated from his Ivory Tower. When will the voters do thier part and fire that man. - A Citizen - Tuesday, Apr 15, 08 @ 10:33 pm: - Speaking at Will - “…When will the voters do thier part and fire that man. …” When Daley’s son returns from the military in Iraq and can run for Mayor! Illinois, the Land of the Dynasty. And proud of it. - Disgusted - Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 6:14 am: “Just wondering” - It’s very curious, isn’t it, how these things happen. How does a secretary climb to bureau chief with no education and no experience? How come a person with a Master’s degree and tons of experience inside and outside of state government can’t get an interview to rise up the ranks? Could it be they weren’t “somebody what somebody sent?” At least unionization helps them get a raise for the two or three persons’ jobs most are doing. The saddest part of all of this is that the taxpayers of this state wait and wait and wait for paperwork and information from state government and they can’t understand why the wheels turn so slowly. Most corrupt state in the union. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.