* Years ago, when George Ryan was still governor and under constant siege by the media and the US Attorney’s office, I ran into Ryan at a Greektown restaurant. Ryan sat at my table for a bit and chatted with my ever-polite guests, even though none of them voted for him and all of them thought he was an embarrassment to the state. Other restaurant patrons approached Ryan while he sat with us and asked for photos and autographs.
Keep that in mind while reading this New York Times report…
As to signs that Mr. Blagojevich has overwhelmingly lost support in this state of more than 12 million, and that, in the words of the lieutenant governor, “nobody will get within 10 feet of him,” Mr. Guerrero looked to other indicators. He said that the governor had received 400 letters of support since his arrest on Dec. 9, and that there were perhaps less tangible glimmers of hope, too, like thumbs-up signs from passers-by at places like Starbucks.
Rod Blagojevich is a notorious celebrity. Of course he’s receiving “fan” mail and the occasional thumbs-up. George Ryan got that all the time.
In fact, Ryan was convinced that the support and friendliness he experienced almost wherever he went meant that the public opinion polls which showed his job approval rating in the low 20s were flat-out wrong.
Ryan was the one who was wrong.
* This, however, is one area where I believe the governor’s staff…
Some lawmakers had predicted Blagojevich might try to play games with the senators [during Wednesday’s swearing-in ceremony], such as refusing to seat the new Senate and thereby stalling his impeachment trial.
But Blagojevich spokesman Lucio Guerrero said Monday there’s “no chance” the governor would refuse to seat the Senate.
The governor has claimed two things: 1) He did nothing wrong; and 2) He expects to receive much fairer treatment in the Senate. By abdicating his Constitutional responsibilities Wednesday, he would disprove the first item and endanger the second.
I think Blagojevich will exceed expectations and behave himself. Then again, he is Rod Blagojevich.
Senators will be “cordial,” according to GateHouse…
“I’ll be cordial; that’s my plan, that’s the statesman-like thing to do,” said Larry Bomke, R-Springfield. “I suspect all other senators will be cordial. Not necessarily friendly, but cordial.” […]
At most Senate inaugurations, governors are greeted with strong, standing ovations as they are escorted by a group of senators from both parties down the center aisle on the way up to the podium, shaking hands with legislators as they go.
But this time, incoming Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno said she’s had few takers for the escort role and thinks Blagojevich may instead come in more quietly through a back entrance. Applause will be muted, she predicted.
* Now, this is funny…
Embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich has at least one friend left in Illinois. […]
State lawmakers who impeached him last week have long said that policy was irresponsible, but the group, National Taxpayers United of Illinois, said Blagojevich has been “a friend to taxpayers.”
“(Blagojevich) has done some goofy things, but oh well,” said James Tobin, the group’s president. “At least he’s kept his promise” and not raised the income tax, he said.
Tobin hearts Blagojevich. You can’t make this stuff up.
* And speaking of Blagojevich friends, Senate President Emil Jones urged the Senate to proceed with caution in its upcoming impeachment trial…
“Maybe all the evidence may point in one direction, but it may be the wrong person,” Jones said. “We don’t have all the facts.'’
The wrong person? Does Jones mean somebody else is on those surveillance tapes and Rod Blagojevich was framed? Please.
Jones said he had no apologies for often siding with a governor who has been impeached and is charged with federal corruption. ‘’Through it all, I have few regrets,'’ Jones said.
And that’s his biggest problem. He has no regrets for blowing chance after chance to better the state. Instead, he opted for political payback and family gain.
…Adding… Scott Reeder points to the ironic result of a governor who relentlessly attempted to expand his office’s power…
Recruiting skilled financiers, top-notch agency directors and public policy experts, may be more than a bit problematic for a new governor, whose term ends in fewer than two years.
So it’s likely legislative leaders will step into the void and use their staff to draft state budgets, form comprehensive public policies and do the heavy lifting on issues like raising taxes and cutting spending.
That may well be Blagojevich’s most lasting legacy: less respect, reduced power and fewer duties for the office he leaves behind.
* Related…
* Blagojevich got $80,000 from road builders
* Who would give Rod Blagojevich $617,643?
*Ill. Sen. John O. Jones: Ex-nurse I tried to help is unemployed
* SJ-R Opinion: Illinoisans could witness more history tomorrow
* The joke’s on us as long as Blagojevich remains governor
- OneMan - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 9:20 am:
Perhaps the governor mistook what finger they were giving him ‘up’
- Greg - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 9:24 am:
Tobin has a point on income and sales tax increases but how can one forget the gross receipts tax? And the business taxes that serve as a double whammy of taking away from the economy and creating an unstable business climate? The governor has been no friend to tax payers.
- One of the 35 - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 9:28 am:
If the Governor refuses to show up to swear in the new Senate, can Quinn step forward and do it? i.e. the governor is not available so the Lt. gov pinch hits.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 9:29 am:
Single-issue people like Tobin can’t see the forest for the trees. Just like the cheap watch that stops ticking 2 weeks after you buy it, the best “bargain” is not always the best “value”. The above is not an endorsement for raising taxes, but an indication that “not raising taxes” is not the only criteria by which efficiency in government can be judged. If taxes are not raised, but fees are, and the agencies are horribly mismanaged, the situation has hardly been improved…and the net cost to the taxpayer might very well be like an effective tax raise.
- Captain Flume - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 9:34 am:
== But Blagojevich spokesman Lucio Guerrero said Monday there’s “no chance” the governor would refuse to seat the Senate. ==
And Ed Genson told the Special Investigative Committee that the Governor would not appoint a new U.S. Senator. The people speaking for the Governor just lay the groundwork for an expectation, not a reality. Let’s see what really happens in the Senate tomorrow. Will Sen. Cullerton’s planned party for tomorrow night to celebrate his ascendancy to the President’s chair need to be postponed?
- Fan of the Game - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 9:35 am:
People, for the most part, are publicly compassionate. Everyone knew Ryan was going through a hard time–and would serve it. There was no reason to put the man thorugh more in a public place. Same holds true for Blagojevich.
What people think in private is often different but what really matters.
- Fan of the Game - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 9:38 am:
And the governor will seat the Senate.
- The Doc - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 9:39 am:
Tobin’s statement is both intellectually dishonest and continues to fuel the notion that taxes are inherently evil. Nobody likes paying taxes and seeing tax revenue wasted or misappropriated, but Blago’s unequivocal refusal to consider an income tax hike (not that I’m promoting one) has, like Greg indicated, resulted in the state embracing a de facto anti-business environment and needing to throw tons of cash to businesses in order for them to consider relocating to or remaining in Illinois.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 9:56 am:
It’s the difference between famous and infamous, celebrated and notorious.
- Illinois Democarat - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 9:59 am:
Where is State Senator James Meeks during all of this?
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 10:03 am:
===Where is State Senator James Meeks during all of this? ===
Why would you ask that?
- Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 10:36 am:
James Tobin. Because every state needs a Grover Norquist.
- Ken in Aurora - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 10:57 am:
“…like thumbs-up signs from passers-by at places like Starbucks.”
Are we sure those are raised *thumbs*?
- Ken in Aurora - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 10:58 am:
Sorry, OneMan - I didn’t notice that you already posted that.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 12:06 pm:
Blagojevich doesn’t raise taxes the way a junked car doesn’t burn gasoline. That doesn’t make him a taxpayer’s best friend anymore than the junked car could claim to be fuel efficient.
- Ghost - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 12:19 pm:
=== Then again, he is Rod Blagojevich. ===
You mean: “This is Rod Blagojevich”
and
Senators are encouraged to leave their kittens at home and not let them wander free in the chamber.
- Secret Square - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 12:26 pm:
Blanket opposition to tax increases is somewhat like blanket opposition to military action. No reasonable person wants either one, and every effort should be made to avoid them; but there are times when they are necessary to avoid a greater evil or disaster.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 12:48 pm:
Charles Manson got fan mail too. I can name a few others.
- ANON - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 12:51 pm:
$50,000 from Dream Works. What is that? Anything to do with tax break for film industry signed days after gov’s arrest??
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 12:54 pm:
Dream World, not DreamWorks.
- Conservative Republican - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 1:42 pm:
You are dead on with your George Ryan/ Blago analogy - hey, even Drew Peterson has fans, and even a new live in girlfriend in her 20s! Notoriety has its own celebrity appeal….
Laugh at Tobin if you will, but he is a single issue lobbyist, and they all operate the same way, eg. Garcia with the gay lobby. And Tobin has hit on a genuine feature of Blago’s electoral success — holding the line on state income taxes. Let’s see if any other Dem takes a raise-the-income-tax line and gets to the Governor’s mansion in 2012.
- Cheswick - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 1:52 pm:
Doing a little searching. Dream World, Inc., is an “FDA-Registered Company” according to Zapconnect. The president of Dream World, Inc., is Scott Jhin according to the Secretary of State database.
Also, one Scott Jhin is in charge of the Chicago facility of Jinny Corp., in Niles, which is owned by his mother. Jinny appears to be a hair care and beauty wholesaler. I can’t imagine they’d be lobbying for Rod’s hairspray business to the tune of $50,000.
- history - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 2:11 pm:
In my humble opinion, Emil Jones squandered his reputation and legacy in his blind obedience to Blagojevich and his quest to enrich his family.
- steve schnorf - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 3:22 pm:
Rich, perhaps one notable difference is that, in my opinion, virtually no one who knew George Ryan at all well would have voted to convict him on most of those charges, because they knew that in every normal sense of the word he wasn’t a “crook”. He didn’t knowingly and intentionally break the law to enrich himself. Would you have voted to convict him? Can this Governor say the same? I don’t know, but perhaps you have an opinion on that.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 9:43 pm:
Schnorf, that’s not the point Rich is making, but your point is well made, too.
If we get a trial, and a full accounting of the Blago as we did of the Ryan, there will be no comparison. Any fool can see that. Just look at the amount of money involved.
As a matter of degree, as the regular blogger’s handle says, “He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint.”
Lost in the insanity of the last month, Ryan made a statement through Thompson. The Willis’ family wants to speak with Ryan. I hope those who have been involved with this situation make that conversation happen.
I hope Ryan gives the satisfaction of allowing the Willis’ to forgive him, which is what they want. And then I hope Ryan gets out of prison before he dies, which is what he wants.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 10:07 pm:
Is a “new live in girlfriend in her 20s” a good thing or a bad thing?
Celebrity…careful about what you ask for.
(Sorry. Couldn’t resist, guys.)