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