Question of the day
Tuesday, Feb 23, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The College Democrats at Northwestern University are bringing in Rod Blagojevich for a publicity stunt… er… um… speaking engagement…
As stated on the event’s Facebook page, a Northwestern faculty panel including law Professor Tonja Jacobi, Political Science Professor Donald Gordon and Medill Professor Donna Leff, will interview the former governor, and students will be allowed to ask questions afterward.
Why a group of Democrats thinks this is a good idea is simply beyond me, but whatever. Free country and all that.
More…
Blagojevich (WCAS ’79) will have 15 minutes to plead his case before an NU faculty panel can begin asking questions, Rockoff said. The panel will include Law Professor Tonja Jacobi, Political Science Professor Donald Gordon and Medill Professor Donna Leff, the Communication senior said.
“The majority of the event will be an interplay between the faculty panel and the former governor,” he said.
After the faculty panel has finished, students will have the opportunity to ask questions, Rockoff said.
“Our belief is that students at Northwestern are interested in debating this issue,” he said. “They will be interested to see this kind of dialogue.”
* The Question: What questions would you ask RRB if you attended this function? Try to avoid snark, please.
- tubbfan - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 10:36 am:
I think it is appropriate to ask, “what were you thinking?”
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 10:37 am:
Again, easy on the snark, please.
- LathamPlace - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 10:41 am:
What were your favorite/least favorite duties as Governor?
- raising kane - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 10:46 am:
“Do your lawyers know about this stunt” Even his attorneys have to know how insane it is to let him answer questions and lock himself in before the trial. Does he really need the attention so much that he would further jepordize his case like this? I hope the feds are taping it all.
- Tom Joad - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 10:47 am:
Ask him why he tried to make money off of the $10 billion pension bond issue his first year in office.
- Angry Chicagoan - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 10:48 am:
What do you think the state should do about the budget crisis, and the pension deficit, and taxation?
- Will County Woman - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 10:49 am:
Questions for Blago?
Why didn’t you try to work (better) with Pat Quinn, especially since he tried to work with you?
Do you now believe in the old saying: be careful how you treat people on your way up because you might have to deal with them on your way down? If so, what are your thoughts about that —what does that saying mean to you—as it pertains to your experience as governor?
Why didn’t you like being governor? According to the feds you are on tape moaning about how being gov was not good enough and how you wanted out, and everyone knows you didn’t come to work on a regular basis. you were working from home? whatever. then, when you did bother to come go to your chicago or springfield offices you were chronically late. no one was forcing you to be governor. Why were you even bothering to gear- up to run in 2010?
(after you were arrested you started showing up to work everday, as if that was going to help you)
If you could go back in time and do things differently, what things would you do differently in the time you were governor?
I get that you didn’t want to be bullied by Madigan and Daley, and wanted them to respect the fact that you were governor. You fought both of them, which in many ways is commendable on your part, but you chose to get down on their level and fight them. If you had it to do all over again would you have chosen some other way to fight them? if so what way(s) would that be?
- 2010 - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 10:49 am:
Who will you vote for Governor this year and why?
- the Patriot - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 10:50 am:
The Senate seat aside, how much coordination was there between your office and the offices of Rahm Emanual, Barrack Obama, Richard Daley, and Mike Madigan in your first 6 years in office?
We know he was being investigated long before the Senate Seat debacle. Lisa Madigan refused to endorse hin in 2006 because of “ongoing investigations.” Funny how all of the pre Senate seat stuff has just gone away.
My second question would be, Why did all of those questions surrounding corruption before the Senate Seate issue just disappear? What can I say, I am a sucker for conspiracy theories.
- lake county democrat - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 10:57 am:
For a guy who wanted Rickey Hendon on the Dem ticket for the laughs (and admitted it in public), you should cut some college kids a bit more slack.
- lake county democrat - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 10:58 am:
Oh, I’d ask him for his opinion on health care reform, though he’d use it as a chance to claim (with a soupcon of justification) that he was the precursor to Romney’s MA plan which was the precursor for today’s bills.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 10:58 am:
===For a guy who wanted Rickey Hendon on the Dem ticket for the laughs===
It was a joke. Now, please, get back to the question.
- siriusly - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 10:59 am:
As someone who has followed the details of his case very closely, the kinds of questions I would ask him would be prosecutorial in nature. He would of course refuse or avoid answering them. They would include:
What exactly do you expect is on the tapes that will “exonerate” you?
You claim that the deal you were brokering for the Senate seat was not a “sale” for personal benefit but rather a political deal. Yet, the day after the Tribune reported all of your phone calls were being taped (I believe it was a Thursday) you told John Harris to “un-do” any offers or deals you were working on. Did the political dynamic change when your wiretaps were disclosed by the Tribune?
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 11:01 am:
Where do you see yourself in five years, and what will you be doing?
Why did you drag your brother into this mess?
- Steve - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 11:03 am:
My question for Blago:
Are you now or ever been an associate of organized crime?
- Wumpus - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 11:08 am:
Who else will you implicate?
- tominchicago - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 11:35 am:
What specific action did you take as governor makes you the most proud and what action do you most regret.
- Moving to Oklahoma - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 11:36 am:
So that I could get an honest answer out of him, in all seriousness, I would ask him what he thought of the Cubs chances this year.
- OneMan - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 11:41 am:
If you were your defense counsel would you recommend that you do this appearance?
Do you think the way you downplay your intelligence (the C student stuff) reflects poorly on NU?
- Joe from Joliet - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 11:41 am:
What does the term “endemic hiring fraud” mean to you?
- cermak_rd - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 11:41 am:
Where do you think the line is between the cozy back-scratching of politics and breaking the law? Is there a grey area? Is the usual way the game is played consistent with the way the law is written?
- dupage dan - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 11:48 am:
Since many, including myself, consider RB to be a sociopath it is pointless to ask any questions expecting a truthful answer, so what is the point of having him there? Especially the College Democrats. What are they thinking?
I would ask RB if he is has considered the impact his behavior has, and will have, on his children. They are the only truly innocent people in this whole mess.
- Reality Updated - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 11:55 am:
Would you support an individual income tax increase now, in light of the current crisis? And if not, what would you do?
- cermak_rd - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 11:56 am:
dupage dan,
Even a sociopath has an internal logic, his actions make sense to him. The point of asking him questions is to try to understand his actions and thought process that lead to those actions.
So clearly, we need Det. Goren and Eames to be present at the questioning.
- Goldwater Guy - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 11:57 am:
Your assignment: write a paragraph you think will be written about you in future college textbooks. Then write a paragraph you would write on the same subject.
- Red Ranger - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 12:42 pm:
If you were facing a $10 to $13 billion budget shortfall, would you still maintain your pledge not to raise taxes? If so, which programs would you cut to close the budget gap?
- Gregor - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 12:55 pm:
What do you think your parents would say about you today, and what will your kids say about you, in ten years?
Was it worth it?
- Levois - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 12:55 pm:
What do you really expect from those wiretaps?
- KC - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 12:56 pm:
Top bunk or Bottom ?
- Fed up - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 1:09 pm:
Are you controlling pat Quinn? He changed his mind about firing your hires like he promised and now your good buddy Emil Jones is helping Quinn. Blago are you still in charge?
- fedup dem - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 1:28 pm:
Do you still think your attorneys should forget about an insanity defense?
- red bird - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 1:42 pm:
Whan was the last time you talked to John Wyma and are you guys still budies today? Why do you think he turned on you and why hasn’t he been indicted.
- Northsider - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 1:44 pm:
How much are you getting paid for this appearance?
- Ghost - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 1:46 pm:
Will this be televised? I would would actually pay to watch this. I am tired of these softball uninformed interviews of Blago the media has been doing, here is hoping these folks are prepared and ask the real questions blag has been skating.
I would ask Blago if his freezing all hiring in the state and mandating that every job be approved through the Gov’s office isn’t the eppitome of a pay to play structure for jobs in IL.
- snuffles - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 1:47 pm:
What does Donald Trump smell like?
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 2:16 pm:
Are you still seing that Kitty?
- dupage dan - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 2:24 pm:
cermak rd,
While I agree a sociopath may have internal logic it has been clear for years that RB ain’t gonna share with the public his deepest thoughts and feelings. I like the idea that RB would be asked if his own attorneys know about this visit and do they approve. However, RB talks every Sunday on WGN radio and has done so for months. He is shameless and apparently without fear.
Dets Goren and Eames would be perfect. They can get so much by just watching and listening - they don’t even have to ask questions, cause they know the perp is lyin’.
I could be as clever if I had a script, too.
- OdysseusVL - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 2:31 pm:
Not to ignore the question, but is anybody else slightly offended by the conduct of the College Dems? I don’t have questions for Mr. Blagojevich, but I do have some for the organizers:
What do you hope to accomplish with this?
Isn’t it clear that he is not going to do anything other than offer his same creepy “I was a great gov.”, “People are out to get me for being good to the poor”, and “wait until the full tapes are played” answers?
Isn’t this ultimately just a freak show, with the goal to be “let’s see what he will do next”?
- PPHS - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 2:49 pm:
College Democrats have done worse things than this. They are kids. I wouldn’t take it too seriously.
I would ask him if he thinks George Ryan should be released from prison.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 3:06 pm:
===Try to avoid snark, please.===
Yeah, I’ve got nothing.
- siriusly - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 3:08 pm:
Do your friends still give your kids $5,000 birthday presents now that you are no longer Governor?
- rudy - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 3:12 pm:
“Do you believe the state prosecutors are overreaching in the Andrew McKinney case by subpoenaing the notes of the Northwestern journalism students that are seeking to have McKinney’s murder conviction overturned?
- siriusly - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 3:13 pm:
You previously claimed that your wife’s success in real estate was because of her skills, not because of your inappropriate dealings.
Does Patti plan to get back into the real estate business?
- really? ? - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 3:13 pm:
If you are found innocent in your upcoming trial, what do you see as your next career?
- sal-says - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 3:16 pm:
Questions for THIS Frm. [disgraced] Gov?
WHY should ANYBODY care what he thinks?
- siriusly - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 3:33 pm:
We have been waiting for a very long time.
Are you finally ready to announce your ethics reform proposals that will rock the system?
- Obamarama - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 3:38 pm:
How do you feel about Scott Lee Cohen being forced to withdrawal from the Democratic nomination for Lt. Gov?
Also, are you two long lost brothers?
- Responsa - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 3:49 pm:
Do you regret not continuing your legislative career in Washington instead of returning to Il to become governor?
Did your father-in-law give you political advice that you did not heed and now wish you had taken?–and if so what was it? Conversely, did you take action based on political advice from Mr. Mell which you now regret?—and if so what was it?
- dupage dan - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 4:07 pm:
I got one. RB, if convicted, would you encourage Patti to make up with her father so that she can get the support she will need now that you are in prison?
I tried to remove all the snark but please don’t read between the lines.
- Third Generation Chicago Native - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 4:17 pm:
Do you disagree with your legal team in any areas? If so which ones.
- Justice - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 5:22 pm:
You say you look forward to taking your case to the people.
What do you consider to be the strongest defense of your actions to siphon money off of the Teachers Retirement deal and did you receive any financial consideration from Bob Kjellander?
- T.J. - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 8:36 pm:
This is consistent with the University of Illinois inviting John Edwards to come speak for a lot of money after everybody already knew about the baby.
- Eliot Ness - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 9:44 pm:
Do you ever wonder why Mike Rumman wasn’t indicted?
- Yadier - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 10:01 pm:
What’s your best marathon time (not in your mind-actual time)? NU you embarrassed yourself with this stunt.
- one of the 35 - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 10:04 pm:
Rod: Why did you jog in place and fall to the ground in the fetal postion when you were being arrested by Federal agents?
- Steve Downstate - Tuesday, Feb 23, 10 @ 10:06 pm:
Did you, in fact, withhold $8 million in funds from Children’s Memorial Hospital (money for helping poor children) pending a $50,000 campaign contribution from the hospital’s director? If so, how would you respond to the parent of a sick child who wondered if his child’s health might have been adversely affected by your actions in this matter? (And please, sir, answer the question; don’t try to throw us off the path by insisting that you did all sorts of things to benefit Illinois children.)