Blagojevich Stuff
Ya know, reading through the list of shenanigans, it makes one wonder how often stuff like this happens and we don’t know about it. To root out political corruption, the feds tend to have to go undercover, use recording devices, and generally get all Spy v. Spy. Recall, the Tennessee Waltz took about three years. And look at some of the stuff noted:
[I]ntercepted phone conversations between ROD BLAGOJEVICH and others indicate that ROD BLAGOJEVICH is contemplating rescinding his commitment of state funds to benefit Children’s Memorial Hospital because Hospital Executive 1 has not made a recent campaign contribution to ROD BLAGOJEVICH.
Yup, withholding money from sick children over contributions. Gets better:
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 “motherf**ker [the President-elect] his senator. F**k him. For nothing? F**k him.”
And:
ROD BLAGOJEVICH states that he will appoint “[Senate Candidate 1 [[Obama’s presumed favorite]]] . . . but if they feel like they can do this and not f**king give me anything . . . then I’ll f**king go [Senate Candidate 5].” (Senate Candidate 5 is publicly reported to be interested in the open Senate seat). ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated that if his wife could get on some corporate boards and “picks up another 150 grand a year or whatever” it would help ROD BLAGOJEVICH get through the next several years as Governor. . . .
All the creepiness of shady backroom deals you see in movies. And the guy tried to screw with Warren Buffett.
How much of this stuff happens in politics that we don’t know about? I’d rather they just banged hookers.
December 10th, 2008 at 10:06 am
I would love to hear the wiretaps on Mike Ragsdale. Bet the vocabulary is similar.
The dialog on the Blagojevich tapes is beyond even a David Mamet movie. Did Glengarry Glen Ross even use the F word that much?
December 10th, 2008 at 10:30 am
I didn’t think it was possible, but this guy actually just made me like Obama a little bit.
Because anyone who gets that kind of response out of Blagojevich can’t be all bad.
December 10th, 2008 at 10:44 am
I do wonder if Obama’s sense of political self-preservation saved him.
He had to have known (didn’t the general public know?) that Govorner Rod Blagojevich was under the investigative eye of the Feds. Thus, Obama and company had very good reason to not respond to overtures from the Govorner to do a little mutual back-scratching.
How in heck didn’t the Gov. Blago know when to keep his mouth shut and lay low? Or did he think that his new friend in high places would cover for him?
About that last comment…I agree, Uncle. This makes me wonder how much corruption goes un-noticed.
December 10th, 2008 at 10:50 am
I’m surprised that Blago wasn’t out robbing convenience stores in his spare time, but I haven’t read the complete indictment yet.
December 10th, 2008 at 11:04 am
“This makes me wonder how much corruption goes un-noticed.”
I assume almost all politicians are liars. It is a short hop from habitual liar to criminal. So I’d go with a whole lot of corruption going on.
December 10th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Remember the old dictum: “Everything you ever heard about Illinois- and Chicago politics is true.”
December 10th, 2008 at 11:46 am
I’d bet that our politicians are at least as corrupt as they are in some of the countries to the south who are notorious for that type of thing. Ours is just more “high rent”. Thus less visible.
December 10th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
I hope they fast track Blago, so he can roll over on all thise crooks before Obama can pardon him.
December 10th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Unclear on concept.
December 10th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
I’d rather they just banged hookers.
Or got blowjobs from interns?
December 10th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
For what it’s worth, I’ve heard Blagojevich described elsewhere as “like W, only not quite as bright.” So bear that in mind when considering what he said and when he said it.
December 10th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
“How much of this stuff happens in politics that we don’t know about?”
Virtually every day, in every town, in every county, in every state. Talk to any business person who’s been paying attention to local politics for a number of years, and you’ll hear more than you can stomach. Do it in person though; I have stories I’m still reluctant to repeat in an open forum after 20 years.
And after all; how can there be a fair, equitable and moral method of appropriating or distributing wealth coerced from the public under false pretense? I submit that it’s a logical impossibility.
Oh, and, t; Everything has to come around to Bush for you people, doesn’t it? This is a symptom of the virulent disease we call BDS, and you’re making a mockery of yourself.
December 11th, 2008 at 12:24 am
Hell, in the Mike Carona trial today (Orange Co, CA Sheriff on the stand for federal corruption charges), one of the witnesses indicated that the only reason Sheriff Carona was comfortable taking the money of a known major narcotics trafficker/businessman was because every other CA politician was taking his drug money, too.
//shivers//