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* As we discussed earlier this week, Rod Blagojevich will be sentenced next month.
* The Question: How long should his prison sentence be? Explain.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 1:08 pm
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12 - 15 years. He deserves 10 - 12 but the extra time is for lying about it all and going on TV
Comment by Just Because Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 1:15 pm
Blago did a huge amount of damage in undermining the stated goals and missions of state government agencies, boards, and commissions. He seeded them with crooked and incompetent agency deputies and other high-level miscreants. While some of these mischief-makers are gone, there legacy of damage could last for another decade. He and his associates should serve the time equal to the long-term damage they have done. Therefore, 20-25 years would be appropriate.
Comment by WronglyFiredByQuinnovich Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 1:29 pm
anything over 10yrs keeps him out of a camp and into the main prison.
Comment by filo Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 1:42 pm
Since he obviously was lying while on the stand, I hope the judge will give him at least 10 to 12 years.
A strong message needs to be sent when a governor seems unable to learn from the crimes of his predecessor. Sentences in these crimes should keep increasing until they do.
Comment by Wensicia Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 1:43 pm
At least seven years. I’d like to see him serve ten, but he’ll niss out on seeing his girls mature and graduate from high school and elementary school.
My heart goes out to both his daughters, but their Dad is a scoundrel. He owes the State of IL at least two billion dollars of our accumulated debt. In a word: unforgiveable.
Comment by Borealis Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 1:43 pm
Oops, I can’t type today. I’m done.
Comment by Borealis Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 1:44 pm
Time served. He’s gone through enough.
Comment by Sympathetic Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 1:50 pm
5 hours - He and Lindsay Lohan need to be available for the next “Dancing with the Stars”. I hope it is a lot longer.
Comment by Just the Facts Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 1:51 pm
If we are using the measure of how much damage he did consider George Ryan. Without doubt he committed acts that damaged the credibility and operations of state government. Blago’s crimes are at such a level above that benchmark that he should get at least 3 times the sentence. George got 6. Then Blago should get 18.
Comment by Springfield Skeptic Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 1:52 pm
I think it should be double George Ryan’s sentence. George should have been an example to Rod, and in some ways he was, but not in the good ways.
There was an example before him. He chose to ignore it. He should feel the consequences of his decision.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 2:08 pm
Life without parole. Okay, that’s what I wish he’d get. I’m really thinking 10 years.
Comment by Cherylrr Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 2:09 pm
==over 10yrs…into the main prison==
10 yrs and a day then.
==time served==
Nice try, Rod.
Comment by Joe from Joliet Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 2:12 pm
As long as Elvis is dead
Comment by jt Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 2:25 pm
george got 6 for traditional graft for personal benefit, while the govt still operated reasonably well. blago was enthusiastically dirty even before he got sworn in, and did great damage to the government (mismanagement, personnel and patronage abuse, etc) and the people generally. so for that reason AND for being our second consecutive governor convicted he should get double georges sentence.
Comment by langhorne Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 2:26 pm
His sentence should run until the time that he realizes he did something wrong and no longer wants to profess his innocence, or talk about it.
Comment by Irish Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 2:28 pm
I decided to get a bit creative with this one, so I’ll say two days out of every week for the next thirty years. However, the cell needs to be placed in the basement of Michael Madigan’s house.
Comment by Timmeh Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 2:32 pm
Blagojevich’s actions hurt every citizen of Illinois. We, the taxpayers, will be paying for his crimes and overspending for years to come (I know his overspending is not a crime). His crimes were much worse that George Ryan. Therefore I propose a minimum of 30 years.
Comment by DRB Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 3:01 pm
@Timmeh — are you trying to punish Rod, or Madigan?
Comment by Elo Kiddies Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 3:02 pm
How long? However long it needs to be to keep him off TV and from profiting from his time as Gov. & as another IL convicted felon.
Comment by sal-says Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 3:04 pm
18-22 years plus the ‘up day’ when he is sentenced.
Comment by Justice Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 3:05 pm
All things being relative, I think Rod’s corruption was twice as blatant and bad as George Ryan, so I’ll go with 12 years. However, it is possible (maybe even likely) that Rod will get on the stand at sentencing with a pack of lies so self-serving and detestable that Judge Zagel will feel obligated into tacking on another 4-5 years.
Comment by Quizzical Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 3:10 pm
Three times the sentence George Ryan reveived.
Comment by Stooges Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 3:11 pm
I’d say 15 years or until he pays the state back the $2 billion.
Comment by Publius Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 3:12 pm
if 10 years gives him the prison not the camp, then I’m saying less than 10. federal prisons are filled with physically dangerous people now, and he is quite objectionable, but he’s not one of those folks. 9 years will be long enough to forget about him.
last time I checked, if you look up on ARDC the lawyers who recently lost the license, he’s listed at the top. kind of visually impactful.
Comment by amalia Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 3:16 pm
Not long enough.
Comment by lincolnlover Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 3:24 pm
–Time served. He’s gone through enough. –
He hasn’t served any time!
More than Ryan.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 3:42 pm
I hope the prosecutors will remind the judge of that self-righteous, smug statement that he made when George Ryan was convicted. That statement alone should ensure he gets at least 12-15 years.
Comment by LincolnLounger Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 3:56 pm
@Word
I am so surprised. You bash the federalies every chance you get but want to reward their work with more time than George received.
Comment by Leave a Light on George Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 4:00 pm
10 years or until his hair turns gray/falls out.
Comment by Secret Square Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 4:01 pm
Eight years.
However, if he’s willing to shave his head and go hatless and wigless I would give him 2 years in the pen and the rest suspended as long as his head remained shorn.
Also no TV interviews ever. Suspend the 1st amendment in his case.
Prison sentencing should both be about punishment and protecting society. He clearly needs to be punished, but at this point he is only a danger to himself.
Comment by Irishpirate Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 4:13 pm
Wow, there are some strong feelings about Rod.
Including AA.
20 years-no early outs.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 4:39 pm
For his crimes 10 years
For his stupidity 5 years
For his arrogance 25 years.
Comment by ah HA Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 4:51 pm
No more than a quarter of whatever Bill Cellini would get. Blago’s a small fry compared to the kingpin.
Comment by just sayin' Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 4:59 pm
To be fair life without parole seems about right.
Comment by mokenavince Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 5:02 pm
3-5 years. Parole in 1 year 8 months.
Comment by Cincinnatus Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 5:03 pm
“Oh no! I thought it was supposed to be five years. Didn’t you get five years?”
Comment by Boone Logan Square Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 5:31 pm
I agree with Springfield Sceptic that we should use Ryan’s prison term as a standard. If Ryan got 6, Blago easily deserves at least 12.
Comment by Its Just Me Wednesday, Nov 9, 11 @ 5:51 pm
In my opinion, Rod should get 10-years at 85%. That seems fair.
However, I think he will get between 15-20 years because he won’t accept any responsibility. The Federal Judge will use Rod as an example. In support of my opinion, I found this article about the Birmingham, Alabama Mayor whose corruption led to the Counties bankruptcy. His crimes seem less severe than Rod’s crimes, and the Federal Judge gave the Mayor 15-years in the Federal Penitentiary because the Mayor showed no remorse.
P.S. - Mayor Langford started his sentence at FCI Ashford in Kentucky. Could Rod maybe end up there? Should we create a pool where readers can guess the actual months in prison and his actual initial prison designation?
p.p.s. - I have been trying to put myself in Rod’s shoes, and so, I have been wondering what I would do with my last few days of freedom if I knew I would have to spend the next 10-years in a Federal Prison? Unfortunately, all of my ideas I have come up with would get me banned from this board if I actually listed them.
Comment by Cuban Pilot Thursday, Nov 10, 11 @ 12:10 am