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The governor appeared at the Daily Herald editorial board yesterday.
Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich predicted Monday his campaign fundraising friend won’t be indicted for corruption, argued it’s not a bad thing that his plan to sell the lottery leaves a $1 billion school funding shortfall, and apologized for once comparing state lawmakers to “drunken sailors.” […]The indictment alleged Rezko worked on the scheme with an “Individual B,” whom multiple sources have identified to the Daily Herald and other media outlets as Christopher Kelly, a roofing contractor and another top fundraiser for the governor.
Asked if he’ll stand by Kelly in the event of an indictment, Blagojevich said he wouldn’t answer, because “I don’t believe that will ever happen.”
The governor also said he was surprised the Rezko had been indicted and said Rezko was never a close adviser.
“He’s a friend of mine, I don’t dispute that. Never a key adviser. He made recommendations to agencies. I sought out his advice on recommendations for agency directors because we wanted diversity in my administration,” Blagojevich said.
Diversity? That’s some interesting spin.
The governor finally gave a straight answer on the $1500 check, after waffling for weeks over which daughter may have benefitted from it.
“That was a birthday gift to my daughter, pure and simple,” he said Monday. “And I disclosed it. Followed the law.”
Animal Farm has more.
*I asked Blagojevich if, given all the oceans of newspaper ink that have been spilled the past four years about his ethics and numerous policy ideas, what he would take back. The governor paused for a while, as you might expect given that type of question, then threw out some Ditka-esque “In life..â€-type rhetoric, even quoting Socrates at one point: “The unexamined life is not worth living.†[…]*The governor also gave what I believe to be a preview to what his statements will be after Friday’s guilty plea by Stuart Levine in the teacher pension corruption case. “You’ve got a longtime Republican operative in Stuart Levine,†Blagojevich said. “By all accounts, and I suspect we’ll learn more shortly, this was probably a continuation of a scheme that happened long before I was governor…It spilled into my first year and got detected at some point during that time.†The governor also said Rezko somehow got involved with Levine during 2003, his first year in office.
The full transcript is expected tomorrow.
*** UPDATE *** Gov. Blagojevich can recite the list of John Wayne’s B movies, he can rattle off 40-year-old lineups from long gone baseball teams, has memorized the lyrics to just about every Elvis song ever recorded, but has a difficult time recalling much of what happened during less than four years in statewide office.
Governor Rod Blagojevich says he doesn’t remember getting a list of people that a now-indicted friend and fundraiser wanted to be appointed to state boards.Blagojevich doesn’t deny getting the list. He said today that it’s no secret that Tony Rezko recommended people to serve in his administration.
The Democratic governor wouldn’t comment on what he discussed with Rezko when the two met around the time the list was written.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Oct 24, 06 @ 9:01 am
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A birthday gift to his daughter. Well a nice state job that is trasnferred from hundreds of miles away to the next county over to a family friend who failed the qualifying exam and whose husband was your campaign treasurer who you also asked your patronage guy to find something that she is qualified for….is one heck of a thank you card…breathe
Comment by Wumpus Diva Tuesday, Oct 24, 06 @ 9:14 am
Regarding John Kass column in Chicago’s Sunday Tribune
Behind-scenes guy is elephant in room
October 15, 2006
“The most significant item in the indictment was the naming of `Individual A,’ who appears to be Bill Cellini.
Fitzgerald said.
Connecting the dots of the CREW. . . . . . . . . . .
Two of Bill Cellini’s personnel placements are Illinois Transportation Secretary - Timothy Martin and the Illinois Tollway’s Chief Engineer - Jeff Dailey.
All Mr. Martin and Mr. Dailey are, are rubber stamps for Cellini, Levine, Rezko & Kelly to get very rich at the taxpayer’s and tollway patron’s expense.
Martin and Dailey are plainly over their heads with many legal battles regarding mismanagement, illegal hiring and firing in the name of reorganization.
Dailey’s staff jokingly ask who, when asked about what he does? He’s never around to answer questions, his whereabouts are always a mystery even when you ask his administrative assistant. And when you do corner him, he’s much to busy to answer the simplest of questions. Most of Dailey’s staff equate his interpersonal skills with that of a deer in the headlights and clueless.
Dailey recently won the Government Civil Engineer of the year (2006) award for the Illinois ASCE Transportation Group, an obvious attempt to pad his resume and a political thank you from his buddies Cellini, Levine, Rezko & Kelly for rubber stamping everything that comes across their desks.
Both Martin and Dailey are much like our current all-arrogant Governor who’s only interested in promoting himself at everyone else’s expense.
Someday, perhaps sooner than later, Martin and Dailey will leave or will be asked to leave these state agencies.
Indeed, that will be a great day for the engineering staffs at I.D.O.T and The Illinois Tollway and the good law bidding citizens of Illinois.
Illinois Civil Servants
Comment by Illinois Civil Servants Tuesday, Oct 24, 06 @ 9:25 am
Rod, that dog won’t hunt.
If the Feds had evidence on Levine being dirty long before your time, they would charge him for those crimes. Besides, he was only on the TRS for about two years before you were elected. None of the indictments, filings, news articles or any other reasonably reliable source shows any attempts by Levine to rig the system at TRS or the health board UNTIL YOU TOOK OVER.
In one of the great ironies/co-inky-dinks of the past decade, filings show Levine didn’t really go into high gear at the pension fund until another trustee had to leave due to the passage of the Ethics Act. That trustee? Registered Lobbyist John Glennon.
Blago is also misinformed if he thinks that Tony and Stu never knew each other before 2003. Check an old Blue Book and see which Board they served on together.
The words regret, sorry, and their synonyms remain absent from the Blago vocabulary even as he quotes Socrates.
AA thinks Rod will have plenty of chances to have his life examined over the next few years.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Oct 24, 06 @ 9:57 am
Isn’t it amazing how many times we have seen Blagojevich suprised by what everyone else has known for fact these past two years.
When is he going to get the message that we don’t buy his lies anymore? When the handcuffs go on?
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Oct 24, 06 @ 10:01 am
I’m surprised that the feds would lay out everything Levine says about people and what the wire taps say unless they are out to catch a great white instead of these bottom feeders.You know LET’S MAKE A DEAL.
Comment by DOWNSTATE Tuesday, Oct 24, 06 @ 10:05 am
- Illinois Civil Servants - Tuesday, Oct 24, 06 @ 9:25 am: wrote:
“Two of Bill Cellini’s personnel placements are Illinois Transportation Secretary - Timothy Martin and the Illinois Tollway’s Chief Engineer - Jeff Dailey.”
If the above is true, then it is not hard to understand why the “ONLY” person NOT given the boot when the so-called “reorganization” massacre at IDOT’s Traffic Safety Programs took place over two years ago, was Janis Cellini’s former secretary/assistant, Janell Hilgers. She was moved over to another job at her same exorbitant salary.
Comment by anon Tuesday, Oct 24, 06 @ 10:21 am
TO: Illinois Civil Servants
HALLELUJAH!
Only the connected become rich and powerful while the unconnected become poorer and powerless.
Comment by United Illinois Tollway Workers Tuesday, Oct 24, 06 @ 10:31 am
Illinois Civil Servants & United Illinois Tollway Workers
DITTO!
Comment by I.D.O.T. Bleachers Tuesday, Oct 24, 06 @ 10:34 am
The IDOT Janell Hilgers is the same person who was given the post of director of Illinois Boards and Commissions during the end of the Edgar admin. That is the office through which the appointments to both paying and non-paying “board and commission” seats are given out to politically connect folks. She came to that job straight from her position in the patronage office as Ms. Cellini’s secretary.
Comment by ghosts from the past Tuesday, Oct 24, 06 @ 11:01 am
It is interesting to consider the awkward position of the U.S. Attorney, whether he will acknowledge it or not. Mr. Fitzgerald faces the bleak prospect of affecting this election either way, whether he releases what he knows, or he does not. So it is “Fitz in a Fix.”
I suspect the indictment of Rezko well before the Levine plea hearing was a means to avoid allegations of a “last minute bombshell” from the Feds, since Levine’s plea agreement is sure to point a finger squarely at Rezko. Plus, if the Feds believed they had enough basis for an indictment of Rezko, revealed such evidence at the Levine plea hearing, but did not indict before the election, they could be justly criticized for pulling their punches. Messy, messy, either way.
There is reason to give Chris Kelly the benefit of the doubt he currently (and I carefully say “currently”) deserves. Kelly was not indicted with Rezko, which points to a conclusion that Levine’s testimony will not be as damning to Kelly as to Rezko.
But if the allegations and recordings are anything like the quiet rumors running around, Kelly will face indictment. Rumors AIN’T evidence, however, and we will all have to wait and see.
Comment by Bubs Tuesday, Oct 24, 06 @ 11:05 am
When will people start believing that Fitzgerald does not care about the upcoming elections?
Comment by Garp Tuesday, Oct 24, 06 @ 11:56 am
J. Hilgers was laid off. A rep made a phone call. It’s who ya know.
Bill Cellini should be ashamed for recommending Martin to head IDOT. Martin has totally distroyed the reputation and integrity of this department.
Comment by Rex Tuesday, Oct 24, 06 @ 12:25 pm
I think it’s a big year for the dems but I can only predict locally.
Beam wins-It isn’t really that close, her voters seem to like her and she is looking pretty hot lately.
Seals wins-dems, independents and progressive repubs flock to the polls and bury Kirk.
Duckworth loses-very close but dems disgruntled from primary torpedo her.
Topinka wins-I just can’t believe woman voters are not going to come to their senses. I could be wrong on this one but it will be closer than anyone thinks-2 points either way.
Peraica wins-Huge numbers of independent voters that come out to bury the Republicans also target the county board race.
Giannoulias wins-Huge numbers of independent voters almost take him out but with Obama, money, good looks and an under funded opponent he wins.
All other statewide and county races go to the dems.
Comment by Garp Tuesday, Oct 24, 06 @ 12:32 pm
Rex - Tuesday, Oct 24, 06 @ 12:25 pm:
Additionally Illinois Tollway’s Chief Engineer Jeff Dailey destroyed the reputation and integrity of the entire engineering department.
He’s an embarrassment!
Comment by Hydraulics - Da Pressure of Things Tuesday, Oct 24, 06 @ 1:00 pm
Gotta love the governor’s selective memory…
I am your Guv!
-You robbed the state.
I was on time.
-No, you were late.
Ah yes! I remember it well.
We dined with friends, in neat attire.
-We dined alone; I wore a wire.
Oh yes, You’ll remember Dick Mell.
That August birthday, was so nice- the check, a great delight..
-Then you tried to cash it… twice!
That’s right! That’s right!
It warms my heart to know that you,
remember Tony, Lon and Stu.
Ah yes! I’ll remember them well!
How often I’ve thought of those favors,
Then forgot them when they came due…
And somehow I’ve foolishly wondered
if Patrick, might by some chance…
be thinking of them, too?
The vows I made.
-You lied to all.
I bought your love!
-You lost your soul!
Ah yes! I remember it well.
That audit trail.
-We tried to sue.
Great jobs I made!
-heh, for friends of YOU.
Ah yes! I remember it well!
I was the great reformer.
-You ran a scurvy crew.
Do you think I’m …going bald, or to jail???
-Oh no! Not you! (brush,brush) Not YOU!
How bad you lied, how bad you led; our state of money has been bled…
Ah yes!
We’ll remember it well!
Comment by Maurice Chevalier Blagojevich Tuesday, Oct 24, 06 @ 1:01 pm
Rex - Tuesday, Oct 24, 06 @ 12:25 pm:
Additionally Illinois Tollway’s Chief Engineer Jeff Dailey, is an embarrassment!
Comment by Hydraulics - Da Pressure of Things Tuesday, Oct 24, 06 @ 1:02 pm
It just amazes me the depth of the river of denial that Blago is swimming in. I’m surprised he hasn’t drowned yet. He doesn’t know Rezko that well, doesn’t remember seeing the list, isn’t that close to Kelly, and now suddenly remembers that the $1500 check was a birthday present for his daughter.
I can’t believe he can look at himself in the mirror in the morning straight faced and I can’t imagine why anyone would vote for him a second time. Spare me the “he’s done so many good things for Illinois” speech.
Let Fitz do his job and let the indictment happen when he has the paperwork just right.
Comment by Tessa Tuesday, Oct 24, 06 @ 1:04 pm
Governor Rainman. I love it!
Comment by Wumpus Diva Tuesday, Oct 24, 06 @ 1:27 pm
The Rezko report . . .
October 24, 2006
BY MICHAEL SNEED Sun-Times Columnist
Cheep. Cheep.
Is a little birdie preparing to sing?
Sneed hears rumbles that Antoin “Tony” Rezko, the indicted political fund-raiser who was this/close to Gov. Blagojevich, returned to the offices of federal investigators following his recent court appearance. Word is, a deal is being hatched with the feds by Rezko, who was charged in two fraud schemes — one tied directly to state government.
Comment by Just In Tuesday, Oct 24, 06 @ 2:06 pm
Nixon didn’t recall, Ryan didn’t recall, Walker didn’t recall, now Blago doesn’t recall. Great Company!!!
Comment by He Makes Ryan look like a saint Tuesday, Oct 24, 06 @ 2:26 pm
Maurice Chevalier Blagojevich 1:01 PM,
Bravo!
Comment by Jaded Tuesday, Oct 24, 06 @ 2:48 pm
This guy can’t look a cyclops in the eye!
Comment by Daniel Simpson Day Tuesday, Oct 24, 06 @ 4:12 pm
Short excerpt for Governor Blagojevich
The End - The Doors, Jim Morrison
This is the end, beautiful friend
This is the end, my only friend
The end of our elaborate plans
The end of everything that stands
The end
No safety or surprise
The end
I’ll never look into your eyes again
We aren’t as ignorant as you think!
Comment by The End Tuesday, Oct 24, 06 @ 4:20 pm
the Governor’s explainations sound like bunk. He must think the voters are stupid. Yes, I like the progressive programs, but I am more insulted by the Governor and his spokespeople’s insult of our intelligence on the gifts and these lobbyist ties.
I am voting for Whitney. I am naturally adverse to voting for third party candidates b/c they cannot win, but cannot bring myself to vote for Topinka and Birkett.
Comment by Mike Williams Tuesday, Oct 24, 06 @ 5:06 pm
It appears the Governor is trying to rebuild bridges. Obama, the Drunken Sailors, the eight million people of Illinois that he has ticked off in the last four years. I am afraid he sees the handwriting on the wall better than the many bloggers to this site. He and Rezko are joined at the hip. How many appointments are tied to Rezko, Monk and Blagojevich. Thank goodness Rezko wasn’t an advisor. There could have been thousands appointed if there was any favortism shown. The governor better save some of his millions for his retirement.
Comment by Muletown Tuesday, Oct 24, 06 @ 5:26 pm
tim martin is a patsy. he is not the sharpest and that is why he was chosen. he truly can claim the stupid defense. if the people only cared how many 100s of millions if not a billion that had been taken in the last 3 11/12 years jbt might gain some ground. the goodfellas took advantage of the rookies and got fatter than ever. most of those in the entrenched power structure of the illinois transportation industry are older fellas looking to cash out in the not so distant future, so they took as much as they could under the new folk.
note to crazy joe: no
Comment by howard marks Tuesday, Oct 24, 06 @ 5:41 pm
You IL Civil Service folks are blaming the wrong guy for your ace secretary. Tim Martin came from Chris Kelly, not Cellini. Not that Bill didn’t recommend plenty of IDOT secretaries over time, but not this one. It would not be his way to recommend a Chicagoan.
Comment by Individual Z Tuesday, Oct 24, 06 @ 5:47 pm
Blasphemy! How dare you soil the Doors by using one of their songs for Blago. They don’t deserve to be taken down to his level.
Comment by Tessa Tuesday, Oct 24, 06 @ 6:18 pm
Hydraulics 1:02
IDOT does not have many engineers left who know what they are doing. Most of them are gone. We feel your pain.
howard marks - 5:41
Martin is a patsy and a stupid childish baby. He throws his baby fits when he doesn’t get his way. Tosses his pens/pencils up in the air to stick in the ceiling. So unprofessional. He is no leader - that is why he gets no respect. Most of the executives at IDOT are starting to “eat their own.”
Comment by Rex Tuesday, Oct 24, 06 @ 6:44 pm
MCB — That was fantastic!
Comment by friend of the devil Tuesday, Oct 24, 06 @ 7:10 pm
Hey, when Martin gets the boot we always have Dave Phelps to take over-lmao
Comment by There's Ole Uncle Joe Tuesday, Oct 24, 06 @ 10:38 pm
Gang Blagojevich Zero - Team Topinka Won
JBT supports Law Enforcement Blago is hiding from it.
Comment by Citizen A Tuesday, Oct 24, 06 @ 10:41 pm