That was a complete shock. Brazen corruption and greed on such a high level is something we all guess about. Rarely is it ever exposed.

Hi Gotham and Everyone,

Well Blah..vich...certainly has been caught with his big mouth open for business..maybe they should just call him Mr. Blatant Blah-Blah...vich.

Yes, it seem he was playing for payin like there was no tomorrow, but, really, doesn't this kind of stuff go on all the time...just not so upfront and blatantly obvious. Afterall, look at how many family members in our House and Senate who have "great" jobs through the "so-called" grape-vine of networking. How much and how many funded dollars make there way here and there because of the scratching of back and palms.....

It seems outright trying to "sell" the Senate seat...was a bit over the top, if, it was this particular situation that brought him down.

Yes, on the surface Mr. Blatant Blah-Blah-vich is a WOW, he's a bad sass, but I have to wonder...hasn't our whole system pretty much been infected with the more sophisticated, more subtle but just as bad sass approach to playing and paying that is popular in the Windy City and it's Capital...I mean...isn't this how it works, normally? Just with a bit less vulgarity and more....oh, what, am I looking for here....winks!...yeah, a wink or two to close the deal is probably the more accepted approach, the less said the better....Sarah...knows about the wink...look were it got her....close enough to the Oval Office to scare the beejeepers out of the American eletorate.....

hmmmm...wondering..ruth

In one context we owe Governor Blagojevich's some gratitude for this revelation. Everything happens perfectly.

He has illustrated two things.

1. The need for total transparency, citizen oversight of government legislators and departments, and the need for measured authenticated citizen voice that carries the weight of a vote and creates a measure by which it can be determined if the representative is representing their constituents properly.

2. That there is a very good chance now of getting caught in any type of corruption that one may participate in, the truth has a tendency to leak onto the Internet. The SD ego is always involved in corruption and is known for it's propensity for ignorance and mistakes. Ego by it's nature has a hard time keeping secrets and cannot be trusted and will attempt revenge if crossed.

The citizens have ears and eyes everywhere, sort of a like Big Uncle for individuals playing public sector roles and working in the large economy critical corporations.

Like I said before we don’t need cameras in the streets on every corner we need them everywhere legislators and govenors meet and in the corporate boardrooms of public companies. This is where disparity and the environment conducive for crime is created.

Can you imagine a piece of legislation sitting online, we sign in and it has check boxes where we the people can line item veto by our collective vote? It would have places where we can question things in a public forum and get answers and perhaps submit ideas. That would bring an end to the pork. It’s coming. We should also be able to audit government projects and contractors.

My city just passed a city law that voters must vote to approve tax increases in the city. The State kind of freaked out about it when they heard because it was setting a precedent that they couldn’t deal with, what if the idea expands to the state level, and then the federal level and then the global level?

pollitics like any other vocation attracts all types, even crooks...why would anyone be surprised

if they are not soliciting sex, influence, or money...they usually tell lies about this and about that rank ...corruption runs thru out the system...

Democratic Governors haven't fared well lately, Ill,NY, Jersey and with regards to Blagojevich, just see another questionable affilation for Obama that could casue him problems. I honestly hope it doesn't, the country doesn't need this right now.

I guess we will hear this name for a long time and everyone will be able to pronounce it at their holiday parties.

Cheers,

Steve

amber...dude u suck!

Hi Steve,

I see a translator is need for D's comment....he means to say....to you....amber...dude good luck!!:))......english, it seems is his second language....hahahah...have a good evening....amber and D.....

English is definitely granny's second language!

She writes all her stories in one long boring paragraph...I suppose if she went to grade school, she would have learned how to write to get people's attention rather than have them just skip it...

Diablo...nothing new. He made personal attacks on Michel(for sharing his travel plans) without provocation (and no one accused Diablo of being a fake and a liar when he claimed going to Cayman islands or somewhere for vacation -- I guess he is simply projecting).

Now he viciously attacks ruth for her friendly jab which would have been taken as a constructive criticism by a matured person. And he was the one crying, complaining and shouting for decency, an apology and attention when Irivne Welsh called him a "moron" when pointing out his idiocy a few days ago.

If only they tapped Bush/Cheney phones...if only...

Diablo and Ruth, yeah too bad for the wingnut ilk. Obama wouldn't play!

When the news of the arrest of Illinois Governor Rob Blagojevich broke, it took the RNC less than an hour to try and tie him to President-elect Barack Obama, an attempt so pitiful that even the Washington Times(!) wasn't buying it. Apparently the RNC didn't bother to read the Criminal Complaint.

Here it is:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/acrobat/2008-12/43789434.pdf

Here's where it talks about Candidate 1, Obama's preference to replace him in the US Senate:

____________________________
"By this time, media reports indicated that Senate Candidate 1, an advisor to the President-elect, was interested in the Senate seat if it became vacant, and was likely to be supported by the President-elect. During the call, ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated, “unless I get something real good for [Senate Candidate 1], shit, I’ll just send myself, you know what I’m saying....And if I don’t get what I want and I’m not satisfied with it, then I’ll just take the Senate seat myself.” Later, ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated that the Senate seat “is a fucking valuable thing, you just don’t give it away for nothing.”"
___________________________

But Obama wouldn't play:

____________
"ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated that he is "struggling" financially and does "not want to be Governor for the next two years." ROD BLAGOJEVICH said that the consultants (Advisor B and another consultant are believed to be on the call at that time) are telling him that he has to "suck it up" for two years and do nothing and give this "motherfucker [the President-elect] his senator. Fuck him. For nothing? Fuck him." ROD BLAGOJEVICH states that he will put "[Senate Candidate 4]" in the Senate "before I just give fucking [Senate Candidate 1] a fucking Senate seat and I don't get anything."

Later in the conversation, ROD BLAGOJEVICH said he knows that the President-elect wants Senate Candidate 1 for the open seat but "they're not willing to give me anything except appreciation. Fuck them.""
__________

No, fuck you, Governor.

Too bad for the Republicans that Blagojevich had no role in Obama's campaign, his transition, and that the two men have never been close.

john,

when it comes to going to the caymans, it is not wishful thinking...dude...

but u are one and the same...and most folks know that...

y shud u be offended by me calling a fraud for what he is..gee u are really sensitive...when u operate under the same MO under a million fakes

and Merry Christmas to you as well Diablo, thanks for the clarification Ruth.

I didn't realize the Obama crackup would happen this quickly, not even President yet, oh my goodness.

Cheers all,

Steve

santa is busy 'greasing' his sleigh, feeding the reindeers, rubbing his tummmy and smiling from sea to shining sea and he's been looking at you too from the NP all yr...dude is polishing that magic key till it glistens...

but he'll be skippin' a few doors this year...the dream traveler is one of them...hoehoehoe...

Wow Diablo.. that was a pretty harsh comment towards Ruth..
you surely know how to get people's attention!!
(And I thought teenagers having such behaviour was sad)