“Mr. Governor,” said Mulvey, pointing his camera at Blagojevich and getting his question in despite the competition from older reporters, “I’m a junior at Rochester High School and I’m still wondering — three years ago, you came to our school and told us we were going to get our money. I was just wondering where it is. We’re still on the top of that list.”
Mulvey was referring to the March 2006 visit Blagojevich made to Rochester High. At that time, Blagojevich traveled to the school as part of his public relations attempt to get the General Assembly to approve a $3.2 billion construction plan — which seemed like a lot at the time. He entered the school gymnasium through a column of cheerleaders and urged students to contact their legislators, particularly GOP lawmakers. Senate Republican Leader FRANK WATSON hadn’t had any contact from the governor in more than a month, a spokeswoman said at the time.
And — surprise, surprise — the program did not pass.
“Um, yes, yeah, look, I want to work with you,” Blagojevich said Wednesday after Mulvey’s question. “We got to call those legislators and free up that money. I’m dying to do it.”
If nothing else, it’s a lesson to the kids on the difference between showhorses and workhorses.
- Tired of the Mess... - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 8:08 am:
He is obviously lying…his mouth is moving.
Message to all of the children of the state of Illinois–don’t trust anyone by the name of Milorod (or Emil, or Hendon).
- Dan S. a Voter and Cubs Fan - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 8:12 am:
This is proof that 1) this clown needs to go and 2) we are in dire need of recall in this state. Was Blagoof intimidated by the kid or does he really not have a clue? I suspect both.
- Speaking At Will - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 8:13 am:
You watch the video, and you see why nobody can work with this guy. He is a complete liar about everything he says. I guess you could work with him, but you would have to be a complete liar and a complete butt hole. I see how he and Emil get along. Who are you? I need a pay raise!!! I need a pay raise!!!
- Fan of the Game - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 8:26 am:
I think Rochester is right behind Carterville on this list. Carterville received its money this summer, but they had to spend it on renovating their old school instead of building a new one because that is what the governor said they must do until a capital plan is passed.
As I recall they approved the money, But Blago signed the bill the next fiscal year (aug or sept), then came up with some excuse about the schools not having put applications in on time (by june 30 fiscal year end, but before the funding had been approved to apply for) so he would not release the funds.
- common sense prevails - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 8:31 am:
Proof that Blago is a sociopath, pathalogical liar is in his statement about being misstaken for Daley, says it was just recently,oh wait,it was Easter Sunday (which was March 24th) says it was a nice day, had the window down… well it rained and was cold that day, I checked the weather archives. He throws in alot of unnecessary details, I gues to make it more believable. What a joke, someone please help him.
Umm … Carterville wasnt’ on the list. The gov skipped over Rochester and two dozen similar districts who’d been waiting to give Carterville money because it made a nice headline in Southern Illinois, made him look like he cared.
Forty-some-odd percent voted for this guy in 2006. A lot of state and local officials supported him, even though he had a primary opponent - albeit a poor one. I can’t help but think that at least those that voted for this guy actually DESERVE this mess. Too bad the rest of us have to suffer, too.
After Blago said he wanted to work with the youngster, the youngster should have responded like this;
“Work with us how? Like how you worked with that Chicago church that burn’t down, or how you worked with that guy from southern Illinois to build a baseball stadium? Eithier way is cool with me dude, because they got money out of you and they were not even on a list. Yeah man, I want to work with you like that! Would that be cool?”
- Six Degrees of Separation - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 9:08 am:
Too bad the rest of us have to suffer, too.
The rest of us deserve to suffer, too, because our intervention skills were lacking.
- Fan of the Game - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 9:11 am:
Frank Booth, I understand that. Just using Carterville as an example of how, when the governor says something, the timelines and procedures and truth are extremely elastic.
I am not defending, but it was nice on Easter Sunday. I have pics of my kids and dog playing in the back yard, and pics of my house guests sitting in the living room, with the sun streaming in the windows behind them. I know it was Easter because 1) the kids were throwing confetti eggs in the yard, and 2) the relatives at my house were last there on Easter.
I’m not defending anything the Blago says (though this video seems to show nothing especially provocative), but don’t call someone a liar if your proof isn’t solid.
Also, I don’t think Blago specified that it was Easter Sunday THIS YEAR. It could have been anytime in the last five years. In fact, if there is any truth to this story at all, it probably did happen several years ago because he’s been repeating it for a long time.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 8:02 am:
If nothing else, it’s a lesson to the kids on the difference between showhorses and workhorses.
- Tired of the Mess... - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 8:08 am:
He is obviously lying…his mouth is moving.
Message to all of the children of the state of Illinois–don’t trust anyone by the name of Milorod (or Emil, or Hendon).
- Dan S. a Voter and Cubs Fan - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 8:12 am:
This is proof that 1) this clown needs to go and 2) we are in dire need of recall in this state. Was Blagoof intimidated by the kid or does he really not have a clue? I suspect both.
- Speaking At Will - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 8:13 am:
Kids say the Darndest Things!
- Heartless Libertarian - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 8:22 am:
You watch the video, and you see why nobody can work with this guy. He is a complete liar about everything he says. I guess you could work with him, but you would have to be a complete liar and a complete butt hole. I see how he and Emil get along. Who are you? I need a pay raise!!! I need a pay raise!!!
- Fan of the Game - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 8:26 am:
I think Rochester is right behind Carterville on this list. Carterville received its money this summer, but they had to spend it on renovating their old school instead of building a new one because that is what the governor said they must do until a capital plan is passed.
http://www.wsiltv.com/p/news_details.php?newsID=5419&type=top
Maybe in another two years Rochester will start to see some of their promised funds. Then again, maybe not.
- Ghost - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 8:26 am:
As I recall they approved the money, But Blago signed the bill the next fiscal year (aug or sept), then came up with some excuse about the schools not having put applications in on time (by june 30 fiscal year end, but before the funding had been approved to apply for) so he would not release the funds.
- common sense prevails - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 8:31 am:
Proof that Blago is a sociopath, pathalogical liar is in his statement about being misstaken for Daley, says it was just recently,oh wait,it was Easter Sunday (which was March 24th) says it was a nice day, had the window down… well it rained and was cold that day, I checked the weather archives. He throws in alot of unnecessary details, I gues to make it more believable. What a joke, someone please help him.
- Carlos - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 8:34 am:
“B-B-B-B-Th-th-th-that’s all folks!”
He lies in front of his family too….
What a goof!
- Frank Booth - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 8:40 am:
Umm … Carterville wasnt’ on the list. The gov skipped over Rochester and two dozen similar districts who’d been waiting to give Carterville money because it made a nice headline in Southern Illinois, made him look like he cared.
- Amuzing Myself - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 8:58 am:
Don’t forget:
Forty-some-odd percent voted for this guy in 2006. A lot of state and local officials supported him, even though he had a primary opponent - albeit a poor one. I can’t help but think that at least those that voted for this guy actually DESERVE this mess. Too bad the rest of us have to suffer, too.
- Moderate Repub - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 8:58 am:
After Blago said he wanted to work with the youngster, the youngster should have responded like this;
“Work with us how? Like how you worked with that Chicago church that burn’t down, or how you worked with that guy from southern Illinois to build a baseball stadium? Eithier way is cool with me dude, because they got money out of you and they were not even on a list. Yeah man, I want to work with you like that! Would that be cool?”
- Six Degrees of Separation - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 9:08 am:
Too bad the rest of us have to suffer, too.
The rest of us deserve to suffer, too, because our intervention skills were lacking.
- Fan of the Game - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 9:11 am:
Frank Booth, I understand that. Just using Carterville as an example of how, when the governor says something, the timelines and procedures and truth are extremely elastic.
- Frank Booth - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 10:35 am:
My bad. I read your post as literal. I now see the point.
See, it’s not so hard to admit a mistake and move on. Now if only the governor could …
- Lame - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 11:00 am:
High schoolers are now getting the drop on this guy and he can’t even handle that. School kids! Sheesh.
- The Doc - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 12:35 pm:
New Trier - phooey! Sen. Meeks should be attempting to enroll CPS kids at Rochester High.
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 1:04 pm:
Open mouth, insert foot again at about 1:25..”I guess everybody lies down here”
Rich, you may have found some new interns.
- JonShibleyFan - Thursday, Aug 14, 08 @ 3:55 pm:
Common,
I am not defending, but it was nice on Easter Sunday. I have pics of my kids and dog playing in the back yard, and pics of my house guests sitting in the living room, with the sun streaming in the windows behind them. I know it was Easter because 1) the kids were throwing confetti eggs in the yard, and 2) the relatives at my house were last there on Easter.
I’m not defending anything the Blago says (though this video seems to show nothing especially provocative), but don’t call someone a liar if your proof isn’t solid.
- Bookworm - Friday, Aug 15, 08 @ 12:42 am:
Also, I don’t think Blago specified that it was Easter Sunday THIS YEAR. It could have been anytime in the last five years. In fact, if there is any truth to this story at all, it probably did happen several years ago because he’s been repeating it for a long time.