Illinois - wow!

Nice.

[DCJenn]

Re: Illinois - wow!

I think there are compelling reasons why Obama has made a concerted effort to keep his distance (as much as possible) from appearing to be a "chicago politician".

They make Louisiana politics look like child's play.

J.

[GrayMatterWife]

Re: Illinois - wow!

Chicago politics. Makes Louisiana politics look on the up-and-up.

[alison]

Re: Illinois - wow!

Not surprising AT ALL. This city and state have been corrupt for decades!

Re: Illinois - wow!

Lovely. The day I was driving out of Chicago earlier this month, the local NPR station was having a big discussion about Blagojevich & his "troubles". The moron was already under investigation for other "questionable" decisions ... how could he be so stupid as to try this?

Re: Illinois - wow!

Go for broke, I guess? What an idiot.

[Deebs]

Re: Illinois - wow!

If you follow Illinois politics, you know that the governor was really groomed into politics by his father-in-law, Dick Mell, who came out a couple of years ago and called his son in law corrupt, said he didn't trust him, yada, yada, yada... If I had to guess, the big Chicago politicians initially had hopes for Rod becoming president, and then abandoned ship once he was in the governor's mansion and screwing up royally, throwing their full support behind Obama. The state is going to have years of undoing the mess in the governor's office.

[alison]

Re: Illinois - wow!

...except he doesn't live in the mansion, and commutes between his home in Chicago and Springfield.
His approval rating earlier this year was something in the single digits!

[Auspicious]

Re: Illinois - wow!

Yup that's one stunning trainwreck. I don't have anything to add, really. I don't know anyone who likes Blagojevich, but the Illinois Republicans are also in shambles so he managed to stay in. Hope they get it straightened out, there's still a state to be run here.

Re: Illinois - wow!

... how could he be so stupid as to try this?

Complete and utter arrogance.

true dat.

looking at video footage of the guy yesterday -- he looks like a wanna-be "Goodfella".

[alison]

Re: Illinois - wow!

Why is NOTHING happening? Blagojevich won't speak to the media, and he hides out at home and in an office downtown. Why does he not live and work in Springfield?

Could it be that he'll actually get away with this? I mean, he hasn't DONE anything wrong. He was just PLANNING to sell the seat, as far as they can tell. :huh:

[DCJenn]

Re: Illinois - wow!

Well, he can't talk to the press per Fitzgerald and he's apparently 'working from home'.

His legal team is saying that the Feds have nothing because he can SAY anything he wants. That said, since the Feds have had him under investigation for four years, I'm betting this was the straw for them.

Apparently Jesse Jackson, III was one of the informants and has been for years.

Jenn

Re: Illinois - wow!

What a mess. I agree with Julie -- there is a state, with a good number of people, that needs to be run. He's even more of a jerk if he can't see that and step aside.