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* What questions should Don & Roma have asked Gov. Rod Blagojevich today?
No snark, please. Others (including outsiders) will have the chance to interview the governor in the coming hours and days, so let’s help them out.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 9:54 am
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Governor, wouldnt it have been easier to pass a tax hike and then override your veto than get a sufficient number of members of the GA to go along with this secret plot to raise taxes?
Comment by Downstate weed chewing hick Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 9:59 am
Does the state have a moral obligation to pay it’s bills in a timely manner? If so, how specifically do you propose to do so?
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:00 am
Governor, your state is woefully behind in paying bills to social service providers. In fact, many social service agencies across Illinois are closing, leaving employees jobless and recipients without benefits. You say that the impeachment process is a plot to prevent you from stopping a tax increase. If you remain in office, and prevent a tax increase, how do you plan on seeing that Illinois’s bills get paid?
Comment by Cinho Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:01 am
Gov Blagojevich, can you explain why you persisted on buying those flu vaccinations for 2.7 million dollars when you knew you wouldn’t be able to use them? Can you explain why you wasted those tax dollars that came from the PEOPLE OF ILLINOIS you claim to suport?
Comment by dupage dan Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:01 am
Governor, you have stated you wouldn’t have used such language if you knew you were being taped. Do you, therefore, admit that what is alledged to have been taped is in fact what you have said?
Comment by tanstaafl Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:02 am
If your impeachment is an unconstitutional violation of your 6th Amendment Rights, why have you not filed suit in federal court? Don’t you owe that to the people and future governors?
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:05 am
Do you think the delays in paying vendors, processing pardon and clemency requests, filling seats on state boards, making leadership appointments are indicative of your ability to govern? If so why or why not?
If you are not going to mount a defense at your impeachment trial and feel the verdict is a foregone conclusion why haven’t you just resigned?
When your attorney said you were not going to appoint a US Senator was he incorrect or did you change your mind?
Comment by OneMan Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:06 am
What action would it be justifiable to impeach a governer for? Is obtaining contributions to your campaign fund in exchange for state funds part of the normal political process?
Comment by Barnum and Blago Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:06 am
Governor, since you claim the rules set up for your impeachment are unfair and assure your impeachment, could you explain how the same rules used in the President Clinton impeachment trial resulted in his acquittal?
Comment by tanstaafl Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:08 am
GREAT question, tan. Someone else said “enter the interview into evidence”…I think he DID make a tacit admission there. Beautiful.
Anyway, my question: What Illinois lawmakers would you consider ‘friends’ at this point in time? If you needed to get a bill passed, right now, who would you ask to help push it through the legislature?
Comment by Concerned Observer Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:10 am
Why haven’t the funds been released to Childrens Memorial Hospital? Did you feel it is appropriate to try and get a campaign contribution from a senior leader at any entity who is looking for a state grant?
Comment by OneMan Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:14 am
Why did you tell your brother Rob to “undo your Raghuveer P. Nayak thing” if you never did anything wrong?
Nayak, of course, was the person who was allegedly acting as Jesse Jackson Jr.’s emissary and was allegedly being pressured to raise money for Blagojevich in exchange for the US Senate appointment. Rob Blagojevich is the governor’s campaign finance chairman.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:14 am
I would ask specifically about his knowlage of appoinments, hiring and the awarding of contracts to large donators.
Another words, Person x gave you 50 thousand dollars in May and were place on a board in June, who intitiated the process, did you ask for resume’s, when did you approve it? ect.
I would go down the long list to try to get him on record about what happened with pay to play.
Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:16 am
Why did you ignore a law you yourself signed in 2004 — strengthening JCAR’s authority to prohibit rules — in order to implement your health care expansion plan?
Comment by Secret Square Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:18 am
You have been accused of being out of touch and not engaged in the process of governing, starting with your decision to be less visable in Springfield during your 1 1/2 terms. Can you point to an accomplishment that shows your full engagement with the legislature in the last tow years that would rebuff your lack of engagement?
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:18 am
How much have all of your special “appointments” to high paying state jobs cost the taxpayers of Illinois? Please provide a breakdown of the salaries and benefits cost, and how much your campaign got for each of them.
Comment by Say WHAT? Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:20 am
To follow up on Barnum’s question… Do you think a Governor who is thinking about and focused on commiting an illegal act should be impeched even if they don’t follow through? Do you think that mindset would impair a persons ability to lead in an open and honest manor?
Comment by follow Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:20 am
Governor,
How much do you expect to collect for your interviews? Are you more interested in the money than defending yourself in the Senate trial?
Doug Dobmeyer
Comment by Doug Dobmeyer Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:22 am
When Obama and his people started discussing his Senate replacement, did you assume that they wanted a deal and walked into a trap when dealing with them?
Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:26 am
Governor, do you maintain a to-do list of projects you promised funding for in person but never followed through on?
Comment by Vote Quimby! Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:27 am
The criminal wrongdoing alleged in the Fitzgerald complaint is only the latest of many allegations against your administration over the years - from a systemic pattern of hiring fraud that cheated veterans out of jobs to which they were entitled, to the $7,500 “birthday gift” to your daughter from someone who received one of those allegedly rigged jobs, and much more.
In every case, you have always claimed to have an innocent explanation. How can you expect the people of Illinois to believe that in every case–every case–lawmakers of both parties, law enforcement, the state auditor, the state inspector general, judges who have ruled against you, your critics, witnesses who have testified against you, investigative reporters and every other authority is wrong?
Comment by Reality Check Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:27 am
All snark aside, the question that should be asked of the man is, “Have you no shame, sir?”
“Have you no shame?”
Comment by Adrian Veidt Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:28 am
You have spoken often about the legislature impeaching you for importing flu vaccine and the injustice of that as a legitimate reason for impeachment.
However I have not heard you talk about the with holding of funds from Chicago Childrens Hospital as a reason for Impeachment. Why have you not addressed that?
Comment by Speaking At Will Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:29 am
Governor, you claim that you have done nothing wrong, can you explain the 2.5 million dollars you have spent on Legal Fees out of your campaign over your tenure as governor?
Comment by He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:38 am
Governor, what goes through your mind, each day, knowing about all the evidence of corruption the feds have compiled on you over the past few years, and the indictments that will surely follow….without consideration of the Obama Senate seat issues?
Comment by Justice Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:39 am
You were caught on tape saying you didn’t want to be governor anymore — that you were “stuck” in this job. Why are you fighting so hard to keep a job you no longer want?
Comment by Secret Square Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:44 am
Mr Blagojevich, why do you persist in ignoring the time honored set procedures for accomplishing goals and then follow your own made up procedures for accomplishing those goals which fly in the face of policies that have been followed for years by other Governors? Examples: Disregarding the GA and JACAR then pushing health care your own way. Violating FDA rules and laws and Federal Government warnings not to buy flu vaccine overseas and then wasting taxpayers money on vaccine you knew you would never get. Making a Senate appointment when the President elect, all the other Constitutional Officers in the State, the US Senate and others told you not to. Not responding to the Senate’s offer for you to provide some defense in your impeachmnent and then taking to the airways to lambast the impeachment procedures. Do you have oppositional behavior issues? Or is it a means of gaining more attention for yourself? Do you realize that you have done just about everything you could to take the medias and country’s attention away from the candidacy and first days of President Obama? Are you doing this out of jealousy? Do you realize that there are greater issues facing the State and Country than appeasing your need for attention?
Comment by Irish Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:46 am
Why are you consistently late, for every meeting, and in fact spend most of your time in your campaign headquarters? And are you using your vacation time and personal time for those days spent at the headquarters?
Comment by Shelbyville Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:51 am
Secret Square, that is a truly excellent question. I’m gonna pass it on.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:51 am
Who exactly do you think is behind this witch hunt to get you? How might we (the press) expose this conspiracy to take you out of the governor’s office, which you have repeatedly mentioned the “people” elected you to?
Comment by DisenfranchisedConservative Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:52 am
If you are convicted of criminal charges and sent to prison, will you write a “tell-all” book?
Comment by casual observer Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:53 am
Secret Square, I really like your question. That is an excellent point to bring back up.
I have a few questions to offer:
Do you think you owe Pearl Harbor survivors, those who lost their lives and their family members an apology for likening your current situation to an unprovoked sneak-attack on the United States that took 2,402 American lives, wounded 1,282 and launched the United States into World War II? Isn’t it a bit grandiose and gross to liken your situation to theirs? Doesn’t that betray something unflattering about your character?
You repeatedly claim that your due process rights are being denied, yet you have refused to participate in any part of the process so far. Refusing to appear before the committee and refusing to file documents requested by the Senate. Is it not disingenuous to say that your rights are being infringed when you are not, as you claimed in your radio interview, someone who like Teddy Roosevelt who steps into the arena and gets dust and blood on your face? All you are doing is sitting outside the ring, yelling at the referee that the rules are unfair.
You have held a couple of press events since your arrest, but you’ve refused to take questions from reporters. Why won’t you hold a press conference and let reporters ask you the questions they want? You talk a lot about the 6th Amendment, but what about the 1st? If the truth will set you free, as you like to say, what are you hiding from?
You keep talking about Rahm Emanuel, Valerie Jarrett and Jesse Jackson, Jr. with regards to the Senate seat. Who else did you talk to, both candidates and emissaries for candidates as you were trying to make your decision?
Why do you think so many of your top staff has resigned? John Harris, your chief of staff, Robert Greenlee, your deputy governor, and William Quinlan, your chief legal counsel, for example. What conclusion do you think the public should draw from their resignations?
Comment by Willie Stark Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:53 am
Although the GA set up sufficient funding for the state parks and historic sites, you chose to reinstate no money AT ALL for historic sites. Its a minor 2.2 million. Your legal bills are more than that! The money you have wasted on flu vacines, reprinting brochures with your name all over them and trips that you have taken, including flying back and forth from Chicago to Springfield cost more than 2.2 million. Governor - how can you possibly look the citizens of Illinois in their eyes and the 19 employees who lost their jobs in THEIR eyes and say that not restoring this funding was about money? Why can’t you admit that you have a huge grudge against the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency and wanted to see it totally closed down?
Comment by lincolnlover Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 10:59 am
Is it true you are going on “The View”???!!!! And, exactly what purpose would that be for?
Comment by Southern IL Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 11:07 am
You claim to have held taxes in check. It has been determined that your malfeasance alone has cost the taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars in mis-spent funds, why shouldn’t you be thrown out of office - for that fact alone!
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 11:08 am
Governor, your main objection to the Senate trial is that you cannot call witnesses on your behlaf. In fact, the Senate offered you the opportunity to present your defense, including the opportunity to bring witnesses, but you and your lawyers ignored the deadline. So haven’t you denied yourself these due process rights? Why shouldn’t the Senate proceed with the trial when you knew its rules and neglected them?
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 11:09 am
==When Obama and his people started discussing his Senate replacement, did you assume that they wanted a deal and walked into a trap when dealing with them?==
They trapped him, huh? Two years running for pres, $700 million and the first thing they want to do is trap Blago? What deal did they want? Rod says they wouldn’t give him anything.
You and Bill ought to have show on the Sci Fi channel.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 11:13 am
Governor, you have said that you want the Senate to change its rules, but the Senate Democrats say that no one from your legal team or your office has contacted them either formally or informally about the subject. Why are you choosing to talk to the Senate via public appearances rather than through your legal counsel?
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 11:15 am
Despite the fact your approval ratings are in the single digits, why do you continue to insist that the General Assembly is thwarting the will of the people?
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 11:15 am
Governor: Your campaign fund has spent $2.5 million on legal fees in recent years. May we see the billing statements from the law firms and the headings and subject-matter lines of all correspondence and memoranda to and from the law firms? (We are not asking for the detailed explanations of matters or legal analyses and conclusions, which would be too intrusive, but for the topics of interest.)
Comment by Anon Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 11:20 am
Given the fact that every member of the GA has at least one district office and visits their district regularly, how can you claim they are “faceless and nameless” to voters? And how is Springfield a “far away place” to Illinois residents who live south of I-80?
Comment by Secret Square Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 11:20 am
How did you occupy your time when you were in the federal holding cell all day last month? And did you really curl up into a fetal position when the FBI showed up at your door?
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 11:22 am
Why did you make an appointment to fill the vacant Senate seat of Barack Obama after one of your criminal defense attorneys represented that you would not do so? And why was, according to Roland Burris, one of your criminal defense attorneys involved in soliciting his interest in filling that seat?
Comment by Ron Burgundy Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 11:27 am
Why have you not paticipated in the impeachment process and how can you say you are being denied your rights when you refuse to participate.
Comment by Dan S, a Voter and Cubs Fan Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 11:29 am
You claim the General Assembly is acting against the will of the people who elected in you in proceeding with impeachment. Didn’t the people also elect the members of the General Assembly? Couldn’t the General Assemby be carrying out the will of the people?
Comment by Crafty Girl Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 11:51 am
You have been impeached for, among other things, holding up the funding for a children’s hospital until that children’s hospital made a very large contribution to your campaign. Why shouldn’t someone who would demand a campaign contribution to fund a children’s hospital be thrown out of office?
Comment by Scooby Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 11:52 am
Does Children’s Memorial Hospital still deserve an additional $8 million in state assistance or was that funding conditional?
Comment by Budget Watcher Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 11:53 am
Governor, you have apologized for the profanity on the tapes. Do you think you should apologize for calling President Obama’s vacant Senate seat “golden” and treating it like a commodity? Can you tell us what you were expecting to get for that “golden” seat, given that you have made it clear that “appreciation” was insufficient compensation for you?
Since the President has said he was “appalled” by your behavior on this issue, have you issued an apology to him yet? If not, when were you planning to apologize to him?
Comment by Boone Logan Square Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 11:54 am
You stated you were going to “fight, fight, fight” yet you and your lawyers are not even participating in the impeachment process - in a sense, running away. Why are you refusing to “fight” as you promised?
Comment by Anon E. Mouse Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 12:00 pm
==They trapped him, huh?==
Calm down! It is taking his weird little world, running with it, and seeing where he ends up.
Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 12:02 pm
===- Phineas J. Whoopee - Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 8:20 am: Out of the mouth of babes.
As I drove my son to school this morning I happened to be listening to this radio show which forced him to do so also. I thought it odd that he actually seemed to be paying attention.
As he left my car, he turned to me and said, that guy is worse than Jafar. I had to search my memory banks to remember that Jafar is the snake from the movie Aladin.===
The above is from an earlier thread but it made me wonder about what the governor’s kids are thinking. Maybe a question to him about his kids thoughts might jar him back into reality. At a minimum, he should realize his charade is causing angst not only to everyone in this state but his family as well. If PJW’s kid knows what is going on, then I am sure his kids do also.
Comment by Been There Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 12:02 pm
Governor, Wouldn’t you agree that a federal criminal arrest complaint executed by the US Justice Department, a long and detailed FBI agent criminal affidavit, and a 117-1 House impeachment vote…wouldn’t this be a difficuly conspiracy to orchestrate? Who’s behind a conspiracy of this complexity?
Comment by Budget Watcher Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 12:09 pm
Governor, Presidents Richard Nixon and George W. Bush governed, in part, on the principle that the Congress could be bypassed when the President felt there was an urgent need to act. Would it be fair to say that you ascribe to that doctrine with respect to governing the state of Illinois?
If he says yes: Where do you find that power in the Illinois Constitution?
If he says no: Under what authority did you import the flu vaccine, implement expansion of All Kids, withhold money from approved programs, etc.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 12:18 pm
Governor, If you so strongly believe the Senate Impeachment trial is unfair, why not file a suit asking the State Supreme Court to either invalidate or sanction the Senate rules?
Comment by Budget Watcher Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 12:20 pm
Governor, would you tell us how much public money has been spent by the state in the last 6 years defending personnel decisions you have made?
Comment by One of the 35 Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 12:29 pm
Governor, please provide your definition of the “will of the people” and how one would arrive at a conclusion of something being such?
Comment by Nuance Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 12:47 pm
Governor, there was some confusion at the House impeachment hearings regarding Sam Adam’s role as your attorney.
Who is paying his fee?
How much has he been paid so far?
Comment by Cheswick Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 1:11 pm
Governor, how do you know the Senate won’t call your witnesses if you do not give them the opportunity to do so?
Comment by Pot calling kettle Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 1:11 pm
Have you, or anyone on your behalf, been in contact with any state Senators to discuss the impeachment trial? What has been discussed?
Comment by Cheswick Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 1:13 pm
You were recorded as saying that in deciding who to appoint to the Senate that the decision was bsed on, “Our legal situation, our personal situation, my political situation. This decision, LIKE EVERY OTHER ONE, needs to be based upon that. Legal. Personal. Political.”
Question: Qovernor, I know you got a C in Constitutional Law, but where in the State Constitution do you find that the Governor of the State of Illinois is to base his decisions on his legal, personal, and political futures? Aren’t those decisions supposed to be on what is good for the State?
Comment by Its Just Me Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 1:36 pm
Would you submit to a hair follicle drug test?
Comment by PPHS Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 1:39 pm
Governor: If you have such a high opinion of the presumption of innocence, then why did you immediately fire the Director of the Lincoln Museum when he was charged with theft? He had not yet been convicted, yet you fired him immediately.
Comment by One of the 35 Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 4:17 pm
Governor, are you alleging that the United States Attorney, the Chicago FBI, multiple Federal judges, and numerous main Justice and FBI officials who reviewed and approved the wiretaps and listening devices at your home and campaign office all part of the conspiracy to remove you from office?
Comment by Arthur Andersen Saturday, Jan 24, 09 @ 10:08 pm