Friends of Public Official A

Until then, don’t forget to download the list of Blago’s loyal enablers [sortable Excel format].

Governor Blagojevich.

As late as December of last year, the dollars were still rolling in to Blago’s coffers.

Fortunately, the contributor list is public record. His top donors this time around were the following, according to Illinois State Board of Elections data:

• Dream World, Inc. - Niles, IL
• Southern Central Illinois Laborers’ Political League - Marion, IL  (transfer in)
• Market Street Bancshares Inc. - Mount Vernon, IL
• Cable Television & Communications Assoc. of IL - Springfield, IL (transfer in)
• Omega and Associates Inc. - Lisle, IL
• Ulrich Meyer - Chicago, IL
• Ronald Scarlato - Oak Brook, IL
• Power Rogers & Smith P.C. - Chicago, IL
• Accurate Group, Inc. - Lincolnshire, IL
• Clifford Law Offices P.C. - Chicago, IL
• Dorris Law Firm P.C. - Bloomington, IL
• Geo Services Inc. - Naperville, IL

Download the entire list in Excel format

The Senate has been in session for less than a month, and already it has fouled itself by seating Gov. Blagojevich’s choice for Obama’s former seat. The stench of Illinois politics now fills two Senate offices, and the voters are left with a continuing lack of leadership in the upper house.

Related: Chicago City Council declares Senator Lite, like, the bestest, like, Senator ever; also, like, needs a ride to the mall later.

Blago will finally be impeached, maybe as early as tomorrow.  Unfortunately, it looks like Roland “Taking a huge pay cut to earn more than $150,000 as a U.S. Senator” Burris will likely join Dick “Milquetoast” Durbin in failing to represent Illinois adequately in the Senate.

Burris was hardly an outstanding comptroller or attorney general, but he has now ensured that he will be remembered not for whatever he may have accomplished in office, but instead as the man who accepted a tainted appointment from a disgraced governor. No matter what he may achieve as a Senator, the sad way he came into office ensures that he will be little more than a footnote in Blago’s story. Anyone fit for the office should have known better.

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.

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.

• Blagojevich arrested (Tribune)
• Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich taken into federal custody (Sun-Times)
• Illinois’ top lawmakers to strip Blago of senate pick power (Crain’s)
• Blagojevich free on $4,500 bail after arrest (CNN)
• Illinois First Lady Prominent in FBI Affidavit Charging Governor (Fox)

Related Information

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

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:

• John Kass: Forget ‘redemption’ and say their names
• AG Madigan comes out against Ryan Clemency
• Mark Brown: An open letter to Sen. Durbin: Don’t do it
• Durbin wrong to seek Ryan clemency
• Our opinion: George Ryan should finish his sentence

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