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* The question isn’t what’s on the list, but what isn’t…
When you’re governor, people give you all sorts of things. An Al Franken book. An Abe Lincoln Christmas ornament. A sterling silver spoon.
And that’s just from givers who’ve been convicted of federal crimes or are under federal indictment.
Blagojevich has been given hundreds of gifts since taking office in 2003 — from politicians, lobbyists, self-published authors, unknown musicians, foreign dignitaries and since-convicted felons.
His office’s gift log stretches 56 pages, detailing $16,475 worth of goodies — most of which accumulate in his downtown Chicago office at the Thompson Center.
* There are some on the list who probably wish they weren’t because it could impact any future statewide bids…
* Comptroller Dan Hynes — book, Illinois 24/7, $24.95 (2004)
* State Rep. Jack Franks (D-Woodstock) — “Serbian sausage and vegetable spread,” $9.50 (2005)
* State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias — Eli’s Cheesecake, $28 (2007)
Sure, they’re all noted Blagojevich critics. But a couple thousand advertising points can twist a $24.95 book into something totally different. Judy Baar Topinka was one of the most ethical politicians I’ve ever known and kept her distance from President Bush. But by the time Blagojevich’s ad campaign was finished with her in 2006, she was a George H. Ryan hack and a George W. Bush fangirl.
By the way, I’m probably on the guv’s gift list as well. I sent the governor an Elvis DVD this year. I bought the Vegas Comeback show (which has previously unseen footage) for my dad, so I figured I’d just get two of them.
The difference between myself and those three gifters above is I won’t have to explain that DVD during a campaign.
* The Sun-Times editorializes today on behalf of a capital plan, but doesn’t really say how we should fund it and dismisses real concerns over how the money will be distributed by the governor as mere intra-party bickering…
Illinois’ legislators convene in Springfield on Wednesday, likely their last session this year.
It’s easy to anticipate what will be on the agenda: bickering, recriminations and politicking.
It’s also easy to anticipate what won’t be: a desperately needed construction bill that would create jobs and rebuild roads, bridges, schools and mass transit across Illinois.
Sure, we need a capital plan. But does the Sun-Times trust the governor to hand out the projects? That’s the question.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Nov 10, 08 @ 9:27 am
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Unlike Elvis, GRod will never have a “comeback” special.
Comment by Anon Monday, Nov 10, 08 @ 9:38 am
My favorite:” Eliot Spitzer, jar of fish fry chow-chow, $8.”
How thoughtful. Eliot must have been short on cash.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Nov 10, 08 @ 9:40 am
A gift to a politician, whether you are another politician or a journalist - is sucking up in hopes it will pay off in some way. Even some small way…why would you do it, under any circumstances, particularly with this guy who deserves a cell, not a DVD. C’mon Rich. Justify all you want, but you blew it.
Comment by You Go Boy Monday, Nov 10, 08 @ 9:42 am
I’d love to see the governor with that Stetson hat on…
Comment by Heartless Libertarian Monday, Nov 10, 08 @ 9:43 am
Maybe Illinois legislators will be bickering while waiting for Obama’s economic bailout, I mean, stimulus, for the states, mentioned in speeches and by pundits as a likely priority for his first term.
Imagine how much money could fall off that federal truck on the way to building the Illinois roads and bridges. Some powerful Dem supporters are about to get beyond rich, not to mention some Democratic campaign chests….ethics bill or no.
Ehtics shmethics.
Comment by Cassandra Monday, Nov 10, 08 @ 9:47 am
The ‘I don’t trust the gov. to dole out the projects’ argument is losing effectiveness by the day. We are inside of 2 years before the 2010 election. A capital bill won’t pass before May (June? July?…). Projects won’t be let for a couple months thereafter. That leaves about only a month or two in the 2009 construction season to break ground and only a few months more before the 2010 primary. No matter how you slice it, the Gov. will not be around for 4-5 years of a multi-year capital program.
Comment by Anon II Monday, Nov 10, 08 @ 9:48 am
Wouldn’t be counting on any money from the feds at this juncture. That which will be available will likely be doled out to resolve even bigger problems than we here in Illinois have. We need to rely on ourselves to bail us out, and unfortunately those most likely to help are in the middle of a meltdown; enter our governor and his ongoing destructive saga with the leaders of our state. Any financial gain we’ll realize will be several years away and under new leadership. We are a strong and diverse state and will pull through….after some sacrifice.
Comment by Justice Monday, Nov 10, 08 @ 10:08 am
Anon II-
You are correct. Other than repair projects (which should not be the focus of a long term bonding program), there are precious few “major capital projects” that are on the shelf, ready to go within a year’s time. A lot of these proposals will take five years to cut the ribbon on.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Monday, Nov 10, 08 @ 10:17 am
Rich, I think your analysis on the gifts from statewide contenders is off base and a bit over-reaching. But lets assume you are correct for a second and it becomes an issue and these candidates lose because of the gifts. I’d say the public deserves a governor like Rod. They would deserve cynical government.
But I think you are not correct. I think that the public has grown wise to the antics of a Blagojevich type attack in Illinois just like they have grown wise to Rovian political tactics nationally. It takes a couple cycles but the public figures this stuff out eventually. A book or a cheesecake or a sausage is not complicity in the corruption that exists under this governor.
I guess we’ll find out in 16 months.
Comment by 2for2 Monday, Nov 10, 08 @ 11:51 am
===I think that the public has grown wise to the antics of a Blagojevich type attack in Illinois just like they have grown wise to Rovian political tactics nationally.===
Please see: 2008 Con-Con referendum.
Thanks.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Nov 10, 08 @ 11:57 am
It’s wise to remember, Rove couldn’t make it here in Illinois.
Comment by ArchPundit Monday, Nov 10, 08 @ 12:06 pm
No one I know outside of this blog cared one iota about con con. I don’t think that is the case for our next governor. We shall see.
Comment by 2for2 Monday, Nov 10, 08 @ 12:20 pm
Let him eat (Eli’s) cake!
Comment by Take It Easy Monday, Nov 10, 08 @ 12:26 pm
Get over the con- con loss. Geez
Comment by Leave a light on George Monday, Nov 10, 08 @ 12:27 pm
Two different topics here…
1.) What elected officials need to do is accept gifts in the name of their offices and separate themselves entirely. So when an opponent wishes to claim that they received gifts from Satan, they can clearly point out that they actually receive no gifts. The Office receives the gift where it is registered by a specific staff and disposed of properly, the elected official never sees any gifts.
2.) The Sun-Times is not recognizing the toll seven years of Blagojevich mischief has taken on state legislators and state officials. The Governor has ensured that no good deed goes unpunished if a political benefit could be derived through that punishment. Consequentially, we cannot expect enough votes to pass a Bill to give this Governor a $1.50 worth of pesos, let alone US currency.
However, if Blagojevich thought this through, he could turn his gift list into a source of political support for a Capital Bill. His Office merely contacts those who has sent the Governor a gift, and remind them that their contacts in the media would love to be reminded of their gifts unless they supported a Bill. That may do enough of a trick to get the job done, right?
“Rovian” tactics - that is so Millennial! Have you seen Rove on television? If you believe that nerdy civics teacher is some kind of a mastermind, then you are only insulting yourselves!
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Nov 10, 08 @ 12:45 pm
“yourselves”?
“yourself”!
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Nov 10, 08 @ 12:46 pm
Whatever you think about his politics or tactics, Rove has been quite successful. The 2004 Bush win was most impressive — they wrung every vote out of the base without running to the center. Great old-fashioned ground game.
Giving credit where credit is due is not insulting to anyone.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Nov 10, 08 @ 12:51 pm
Leave a light on George, for someone who has posted over and over about Gov. Blagojevich, you have no standing to tell me what I should or shouldn’t “get over.”
But, FYI, a brief mention in comments doesn’t mean a whole lot.
Perhaps you should get over yourself.
Just sayin’. lol
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Nov 10, 08 @ 1:26 pm
I would have prefered an official “Bite me.”
Comment by Leave a light on George Monday, Nov 10, 08 @ 2:12 pm
LOL
It didn’t rise to that level of annoyance.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Nov 10, 08 @ 2:12 pm
Must…Resist…Urge…to…make…’Serbian Sausage’…joke!!!
Comment by Frank Sobotka Tuesday, Nov 11, 08 @ 1:51 am