Blago’s newest toy: Roland Burris

December 30th, 2008

Blago is reported to be in the process of naming Roland Burris to fill the vacant U.S. Senate seat formerly held by Barack Obama. You may not remember Roland Burris, but for a time, his name on a Democratic ballot was the equivalent of “other.” After holding statewide office, he lost a succession of races and disappeared from the political scene for several years.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has said he will not seat anyone Blago names. Email Sen. Reid to remind him of his pledge.

Blago won’t go. Why not?

December 20th, 2008

“The conduct would make Lincoln roll over in his grave.”

December 9th, 2008

Christmas came early for Illinois today. It arrived around 6 AM, as Rod Blagojevich was led out of his house in an ill-fitting sweatsuit and handcuffs. Thanks to Pat Fitzgerald, this may be the beginning of the end of the Blago era, at long last.


Related Information

Curious about who has contributed to Blago’s campaign/legal fund lately? Download the Excel file and find out.

Release the felon George Ryan? (updated)

November 28th, 2008

Rod “The Unreformer” Blagojevich supports Dick Durbin’s quest to free George Ryan, felon and former Illinois governor. This is no trivial matter. It is helpful to remember that people died as a result of the pervasive culture of corruption Ryan cultivated as Secretary of State.

If you believe corruption should be punished, please contact Blago and Dick to let them know you’ve had enough. Do it soon - with George Bush’s term rapidly coming to a close, this could happen soon.

Sen. Dick Durbin
(202) 224-2152
(312) 353-4952

Rod Blagojevich
217-782-0244
312-814-2121

Media reaction to Durbin’s request:

Rod for U.S. Senate?

November 9th, 2008

Did you know that Rod “Public Official A” could name himself to fill Sen. Obama’s vacant Senate seat?

Don’t let it happen. Rod “The Unreformer” has been bad enough here. Imagine how thoroughly ineffective he could be in Washington.

Call or write:

Office of the Governor
207 State House
Springfield, IL 62706
Phone: 217-782-0244 or 312-814-2121
TTY: 888-261-3336

Web contact form

It’s not Rod. It’s the economy.

October 29th, 2008

It couldn’t possibly be the federal ethics investigation, questionable friends and associates, or total incompetence, could it? No, says Public Official A.

Related: Just how much of a mess is the state in? Read the Crain’s article.

Poll: Impeach or Indict?

October 11th, 2008

Haven’t we had enough of this guy? Voice your opinion.

Ethics legislation becomes law in Illinois - add your own punchline

September 23rd, 2008

The Senate overrode Blagojevich’s veto of the ethics reform bill on Monday, then acted on Tuesday to pass his amended “ethics” package. Business as usual. The House is expected to reject the bill.

From the Chicago Tribune:

“’The problem in Illinois, the cancer in Illinois, is the governor,’ said Sen. Mike Jacobs (D-East Moline). ‘I find it ironic that the governor is proposing ethics bills.’”

Sen. Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago) argued the legislative package amounted to no more than “face-saving legislation” that Blagojevich pushed after the prior ethics bill targeted him.”

From the Sun-Times:

“‘This shows he has zero credibility on the issue,’ said Comptroller Dan Hynes.”

“As Gov. Blagojevich called lawmakers to Springfield on Monday to talk ethics, he couldn’t explain how his campaign fund has been holding onto $65,000 given by a former state employee who pleaded guilty to felony charges in April….After taking office in January 2003, Blagojevich appointed Ata to the $127,000-a-year Finance Authority job.” (Continue reading)

All of Blago’s buddies in one list

September 6th, 2008

moneySince January of this year, “Friends of Blagojevich” has pulled in nearly $2 million, according to the committee’s semiannual report. Who would continue to support a governor who “prizes publicity over substance?”

Aside from organized labor, Blago’s last source of consistent support, a lot of your favorite brands and local political hacks are on the list. Download the entire donor list in Excel format, and find out if the businesses you patronize are supporting the man some call Public Official A.

Exelon/ComEd? Check. Comcast? Check. Kraft? Check. Anheuser-Busch, Nicor, Pepsi, and too many law firms too count are there, too. Next time you are shopping for beer or mac and cheese, think twice about where you want your dollars to go.

Get the list.

Data source: Illinois State Board of Elections

Rod’s best buddies, early 2008 edition

July 30th, 2008

The D-2 Semiannual report for Friends of Blagojevich is now available from the Illinois State Board of Elections. Here are the $20,000 clubmembers for the first half of 2008:

  • Illinois Pipe Trades PAC Account - Bloomington: $120,000
  • Illinois Laborers’ Legislative Committee - Springfield: $100,000
  • Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois PAC - Springfield: $50,000
  • Dream World, Inc. - Niles: $50,000
    Does that seem generous for a company with only $400,000 in estimated sales? Dream World, indeed.
  • Drive Committee (Teamsters) - Washington, DC: $50,000*
  • SEIU Illinois Council PAC - Chicago: $50,000
  • North Central Illinois Laborers’ District Council - Peoria: $33,000
  • Southwestern Illinois Laborers Political League - Collinsville: $33,000
  • IHA Political Action Committee - Springfield: $30,000
  • Democratic Central Committee of Christian County - Taylorville: $25,000
  • IUPAT (International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, AFL-CIO) - Washington, DC: $25,000*
  • Mansoor & Shamim Lakhani (Pres., Lakhani Hospitality - Skokie Holiday Inn) - Skokie: $25,000
  • SEIU Local 880 PAC - Chicago: $25,000
  • Teamsters Volunteers in Politics - Chicago: $25,000
  • Bell Boyd & Lloyd LLC - Chicago: $20,000
  • Timothy Rand (Midway Wholesalers) - Chicago: $20,000

* Contribution from outside of Illinois

Data source: Illinois State Board of Elections