I guess he thinks since no money actually changed hands he's in the clear.

I watched that. This guy is seriously delusional. The people of Illinois are some lucky folks to have him in charge.

And you make fun of us Floridians. We'll keep our Crist. Hell, we'll keep our Jeb over this creep.

And the truth shall set you free, if the state legislature doesn't do so first.

"Besides, I have the personal knowledge that I have not done anything wrong."

The dude is on tape demanding money for Obama's Senate seat, yet he says he has done nothing wrong? How delusional can someone get? I seriously think this guy is mentally ill.

Walker
"Besides, I have the personal knowledge that I have not done anything wrong."

The dude is on tape demanding money for Obama's Senate seat, yet he says he has done nothing wrong? How delusional can someone get? I seriously think this guy is mentally ill.

Might be that he truly believes he did nothing wrong. Jails and prisons are loaded with folks like that.

Walker: "Besides, I have the personal knowledge that I have not done anything wrong."

The dude is on tape demanding money for Obama's Senate seat, yet he says he has done nothing wrong? How delusional can someone get? I seriously think this guy is mentally ill.

Technically, he's on tape saying it's a valuable thing and he's not giving it up for nothin'. Most politicians don't just toss away the opportunity for a horse-trade. It is entirely possible this is all he was hunting for: "Governor, you have my endorsement in your next election and I always help my friends raise as much for their campaigns as I can." That would not be illegal.

And the actual words used are susceptible to that interpretation. The "Sell the Senate Seat" thing may actually be the weakest of the claims against him.

The more interesting one is exactly what he said or demanded of the hospital administrator. If Blago was actually holding up state funding until the admin coughed up a political contribution, and you can prove that case, he's going to jail.

But be clear. Fitzgerald was selling hard when he arrested the governor, and prosecutors often talk loudest when their cases sound cool but are superficial and weak at their core.

Dude, you just alientated your best protective ally; your Rollerballesque helmet-hair.

Even if by some miracle he is innocent of the charges, he can't just step aside for the good of the political process. Not only is he delusional, he's a farking baby.

Let's just hope for a long, drawn out trial. Lots of rocks turned over, lots of corrupt political hacks exposed for what they are. Chicago politics is dirty and broken. Blago will do Illinois a favor by taking down as many of his fellow scumbags as possible with him. Shine the sun, drain the swamp, expose the filth.

I read a quote from an Illinois legislator that said even if Blago stays, he will only be able to accomplish routine "housekeeping".

"I don't think the instrument has yet been invented that can measure how little credibility he has."

FTFA: Blagojevic: "Besides, I have the personal knowledge that I have not done anything wrong."

Make that, "not done anything illegal" and I'd sadly agree, but don't insult me by saying you've done nothing wrong, Blago.

Amateur.

Remove all Republicans: coco ebert: Even if by some miracle he is innocent of the charges, he can't just step aside for the good of the political process. Not only is he delusional, he's a farking baby.

Why should he step aside? To give the Republicans a chance at taking his seat or calling the Democrats corrupt? He's earned that seat. He won reelection. If he's going to give up that seat, he should make sure that his wife has some job in the administration or ambassadorship or something so that they are taken care of.

Well, he has to step down if he wants to avoid impeachment proceedings - but I see what you mean about the Republicans copping a free seat out of the deal. To avoid any appearance of impropriety, they should appoint a Libertarian to complete his term - they need to find a really insane one, who lives in a shack in the woods with six or eight dogs.

When you hear a politician or an attorney start talking passionately about "the truth" or the "real story" you know they are in trouble.

Then again that depends on what your definition of is is.

Why is everyone so focused on the most harmless thing Blago did: trying to sell Obama's senate seat to the highest bidder? What about him blackmailing the Chicago Tribune demanding they fire the editorial staff who critisized him and Blago threatening to stop funding hospitals if they did not rehire people who were forced to only report what Blago wanted?

How often is the media influenced in this way by the real powerful politicians with big money (Clinton.... $750 million of donations from the middle east). Hmmmmm. Stop listening to the shoe stories and stuff meant to redirect your attention from what is really going on! Nowadays, all media is owned by biased business that have agendas which are generally harmful to the taxpayer and general public.

wejash: Technically, he's on tape saying it's a valuable thing and he's not giving it up for nothin'. Most politicians don't just toss away the opportunity for a horse-trade. It is entirely possible this is all he was hunting for: "Governor, you have my endorsement in your next election and I always help my friends raise as much for their campaigns as I can." That would not be illegal.

Sorry, nice try. That's illegal too. You're still selling the Senate seat. Does this sort of thing happen often? Maybe. Still wrong, still illegal. Selling is selling. Pure, simple money isn't always involved.

But beyond this one tiny item are 20-30 other things equally as bad or worse.

Read page 74 of the indictment on thesmokinggun.com. The dude KNEW there was going to be an indictment! And he considered naming himself senator merely because of the power that would give him in fighting the indictment. That's about as criminal as you get.

Maybe he knows that the judicial branch won't let him go down with Obama.

He did his own investigation...like Obama

/and OJ

shirtsbyeric: He did his own investigation...like Obama

/and OJ

And Palin!

jso2897: Well, he has to step down if he wants to avoid impeachment proceedings - but I see what you mean about the Republicans copping a free seat out of the deal. To avoid any appearance of impropriety, they should appoint a Libertarian to complete his term - they need to find a really insane one, who lives in a shack in the woods with six or eight dogs.

Oh God, did you just respond to RaR?

Am I responding to a post RESPONDING to RaR?

Jesus.

Anyway. Moot point anyway (though I take it you were joking about the crazy Libertarian thing) - the Lieutenant Governor would succeed him in any case. And Blago's a lame duck with an approval rating of 13% BEFORE the indictment and something like 7% after. If the governorship doesn't go to the Repubs in 2010, I'll eat my hat.

Heck, I'll track down Tatsuma and eat his hat.

Why does this sound like "Lies run sprints, but the truth runs marathons" to me?

Man, even if Blagy is innocent, I don't see how he can function as a governor after this. It would be in his state's best interest to leave the post until the trial proves him innocent/guilty. How can anyone trust him anymore?

/wonders what is written on his forehead.

Look, I've got the truth and it's farking golden. And I'm just not giving it up for farkin' nothing. I'm not gonna do it. And, I can always use it. So, you know, if you want the farking truth you're gonna have to start showing me something. Tangible support. Know what I'm saying?

Walker: "Besides, I have the personal knowledge that I have not done anything wrong."

The dude is on tape demanding money for Obama's Senate seat, yet he says he has done nothing wrong? How delusional can someone get? I seriously think this guy is mentally ill.

Most politicians are. You have to be a psychopath to succeed in that arena. Once you understand that, their behavior ceases to be surprising.

maybe the hairstyle is to cover a lobotomy scar.

Remove all Republicans: coco ebert: Even if by some miracle he is innocent of the charges, he can't just step aside for the good of the political process. Not only is he delusional, he's a farking baby.

Why should he step aside? To give the Republicans a chance at taking his seat or calling the Democrats corrupt? He's earned that seat. He won reelection. If he's going to give up that seat, he should make sure that his wife has some job in the administration or ambassadorship or something so that they are taken care of.

I hear Caroline Kennedy would consider taking the governorship if she was begged sufficiently. She could appoint Patti to be her lady-in-waiting or something.

Remove all Republicans:

coco ebert: Even if by some miracle he is innocent of the charges, he can't just step aside for the good of the political process. Not only is he delusional, he's a farking baby.


Why should he step aside? To give the Republicans a chance at taking his seat or calling the Democrats corrupt? He's earned that seat. He won reelection. If he's going to give up that seat, he should make sure that his wife has some job in the administration or ambassadorship or something so that they are taken care of.

Hotlinked. Because you're not worth the effort of uploading an image.

Blagojevic: a Dem implementation of

Change you can believe in

along with cash in the freezer, and fill up my Presidential Library with foreign cash Clinton.

Yea...change

Remove all Republicans: coco ebert: Even if by some miracle he is innocent of the charges, he can't just step aside for the good of the political process. Not only is he delusional, he's a farking baby.

Why should he step aside? To give the Republicans a chance at taking his seat or calling the Democrats corrupt? He's earned that seat. He won reelection. If he's going to give up that seat, he should make sure that his wife has some job in the administration or ambassadorship or something so that they are taken care of.

I see from your profile you're from Cali, so let me explain something live and direct from the Prairie State:

The Republican Party does not exist in Illinois. Not at the present.

All state elected officers are Democrats. The Dems hold the House and the Senate. The Dems have both Senate seats, and won those seats in 04 and 08 with 70% and 68% of the votes respectively. In the last gubernatorial election, a corrupt, hated, mop-haired poor excuse of a human being ran with a D after his name, lost 10% of the vote to a Green Party candidate, and STILL beat the Republican.

The leading candidates for the 2010 gubernatorial election: Lisa Madigan (D), Dan Hynes (D), Alexi Gia... gia... gianotgonnaworkhereanymore (D). The GOP is in shambles, and the best thing the Dems can do is have Blago resign. They'll be fine with or without him, but better without him.

As for his personal views on it, he's dead meat no matter what. Step aside and save the state time, trouble and money ($20 million lost in interest alone thanks to the scandal hurting the state's credit rating) and maybe he has a future...flipping burgers, I don't know. But he's going to be impeached - not because of Fitz's allegations but because of the abuse of power that the Democrats were talking about impeaching him for last summer - so he might as well walk out the door rather than being pushed.

It's kind of like those people trapped in a skyscraper on fire who jump rather than burn to death so they still control their own destiny. Rod needs to jump.

peterstork670:

Nice explanation, but you just wasted it on a notoriously partisan wackjob, silver spooned limousine liberal, wannabe communist troll with absolutely zero real world practical experience. She is a cross product of her parents failures to teach her anything about the world and the UCLA Liberal Arts programs.

Her parents, who are both professionals, probably sit awake at night staring at the ceiling wondering where they farked up.

Just so you know next time.

kerpal32: peterstork670:

Nice explanation, but you just wasted it on a notoriously partisan wackjob, silver spooned limousine liberal, wannabe communist troll with absolutely zero real world practical experience. She is a cross product of her parents failures to teach her anything about the world and the UCLA Liberal Arts programs.

Her parents, who are both professionals, probably sit awake at night staring at the ceiling wondering where they farked up.

Just so you know next time.

It's cool. I'm always looking for chances to educate those outside of Illinois, and others will read. And learn.

Maybe Blagojevic can borrow his simple sword of truth and trusty shield of traditional British fair play.

wejash: Fitzgerald was selling hard when he arrested the governor, and prosecutors often talk loudest when their cases sound cool but are superficial and weak at their core.

I was under the impression Fitzgerald was a pretty sharp guy. Would he go after Blago without being pretty sure of a conviction? On something?

I hear once he clears his name he'll help OJ find the real killer...

Nina_Hartley's_Ass: I was under the impression Fitzgerald was a pretty sharp guy. Would he go after Blago without being pretty sure of a conviction? On something?

Fitz is sharp. He knew he had to move fast. Blago was running towards the fan with a bucket of shiat. He had to make this public before the senate seat had been filled.

Switchblades: jso2897: Well, he has to step down if he wants to avoid impeachment proceedings - but I see what you mean about the Republicans copping a free seat out of the deal. To avoid any appearance of impropriety, they should appoint a Libertarian to complete his term - they need to find a really insane one, who lives in a shack in the woods with six or eight dogs.

Oh God, did you just respond to RaR?

Am I responding to a post RESPONDING to RaR?

Jesus.

Anyway. Moot point anyway (though I take it you were joking about the crazy Libertarian thing) - the Lieutenant Governor would succeed him in any case. And Blago's a lame duck with an approval rating of 13% BEFORE the indictment and something like 7% after. If the governorship doesn't go to the Repubs in 2010, I'll eat my hat.

Heck, I'll track down Tatsuma and eat his hat.

Switchblades, I feel like we may have had this conversation before but... have we met? And WTF--you're in Jersey too? There must be something in the water.

/I'll sell you my sn.

Switchblades: jso2897: Well, he has to step down if he wants to avoid impeachment proceedings - but I see what you mean about the Republicans copping a free seat out of the deal. To avoid any appearance of impropriety, they should appoint a Libertarian to complete his term - they need to find a really insane one, who lives in a shack in the woods with six or eight dogs.

Oh God, did you just respond to RaR?

Am I responding to a post RESPONDING to RaR?

Jesus.

Anyway. Moot point anyway (though I take it you were joking about the crazy Libertarian thing) - the Lieutenant Governor would succeed him in any case. And Blago's a lame duck with an approval rating of 13% BEFORE the indictment and something like 7% after. If the governorship doesn't go to the Repubs in 2010, I'll eat my hat.

Heck, I'll track down Tatsuma and eat his hat.

Get prepared to eat your hat. It's common knowledge here that Blago's only friend is Emil Jones, who is retiring, and that everyone else (Dem or Republican) hates him. He won't drag down anyone but himself.

Besides, who are the Republicans going to run? McKenna? Oberweis? Syverson? The only Republicans who have any chance of winning are Jim Edgar, who is too moderate for the GOP these days and who wouldn't come out of retirement anyway, and Bill Brady, who is relatively unknown outside of Bloomington.