Blagojevich and all of That
Governor Rod Blagojevich is the talk of the country. All the political leaders in Illinois and beyond say that he should resign immediately or be impeached. The federal prosecutor, Pat Fitzgerald, whose parents come from County Clare, stated that his behavior was so awful, so ignominious, that Abe Lincoln would turn in his grave with shame that a leader from his State could be so corrupt.
What, you ask, did this, “devil painted,” to use an expression of my late mother, do to deserve such obloquy? Did he invade neighboring Michigan or Indiana on some false pretext? Surely he killed somebody, or, at least, caused physical injury to some enemy, real or imagined? After all, we expect such stories out of Chicago! However, so far, there is no suggestion that he even threatened anyone.
Let’s look at the facts as they have come out over the last week. First, Blago, as he is now called, took advantage of his power to influence State contracts to milk money for his campaign from contractors. Nobody, so far, says that the contractors did second-rate work or that the bureaucrats did not supervise them properly. No! It seems that prior to any of his fundraisers, phone calls would be made to the appropriate people in these construction companies letting them know what was expected. The figure of $10000 was the amount often mentioned. Not nice stuff, but hardly damning in the light of what we know of American politics. Tonight CNN reported that the 50 billion dollars allocated to infrastructural developments in Iraq was mostly squandered. Who is calling for the impeachment or trial of Bush, Cheney or Rumsfeld?
Secondly, the Governor is a first-rate cad, who treated his underlings with disdain. He is completely bereft of any ability for self-evaluation. This empty-headedness combined with overweening ambition has led him into all kinds of trouble, an ideal subject for a Shakespearean tragicomedy. In 2004, he was satisfied that he was going to be asked to be John Kerry’s choice for vice-president. The only question in his mind was whether he should accept or not! In fact, he was never even considered. Everybody knew that he was under federal investigation for the past few years; yet, he showed no circumspection, none of the cuteness that would have alerted him not to incriminate himself.
He loved the real power that comes with appointing a senator to replace President-elect Osama. That is big stuff!! And, it seems that he saw a golden opportunity to squeeze some real cash out of the many possible appointees. The only problem was that they all eschewed such deals, except for the man that Fitzgerald named Candidate Number Five. It seems that Blago’s people got some indication that substantial money would be provided if the right appointment was made. There was no agreement, no definite quid pro quo, and no hard and fast arrangement, just talk of possibilities. This candidate has been identified as Jesse Jackson Jr., and he has been on television adamantly claiming that he or his staff never discussed possible payments with the Governor, and most people seem to believe him.
No doubt, Blago is a blackguard and and a silly and inane fool. He may also be delusional, thinking that he could pull off some grandiose deal from the senate appointment, while the feds were looking over his shoulder. By the way, I thought it completely inappropriate that Fitzgerald, a top federal lawyer, seemed to forget the central importance in American jurisprudence of every citizen’s right to a presumption of innocence, when he publicly excoriated the Governor. Outside of a trial, I expect facts from prosecutors, not sermons. I will watch this case carefully because I think that they have very little on the silly Governor, and I predict that the Clare man will end up with egg all over his face.
Governor Rod Blagojevich is the talk of the country. All the political leaders in Illinois and beyond say that he should resign immediately or be impeached. The federal prosecutor, Pat Fitzgerald, whose parents come from County Clare, stated that his behavior was so awful, so ignominious, that Abe Lincoln would turn in his grave with shame that a leader from his State could be so corrupt.
What, you ask, did this, “devil painted,” to use an expression of my late mother, do to deserve such obloquy? Did he invade neighboring Michigan or Indiana on some false pretext? Surely he killed somebody, or, at least, caused physical injury to some enemy, real or imagined? After all, we expect such stories out of Chicago! However, so far, there is no suggestion that he even threatened anyone.
Let’s look at the facts as they have come out over the last week. First, Blago, as he is now called, took advantage of his power to influence State contracts to milk money for his campaign from contractors. Nobody, so far, says that the contractors did second-rate work or that the bureaucrats did not supervise them properly. No! It seems that prior to any of his fundraisers, phone calls would be made to the appropriate people in these construction companies letting them know what was expected. The figure of $10000 was the amount often mentioned. Not nice stuff, but hardly damning in the light of what we know of American politics. Tonight CNN reported that the 50 billion dollars allocated to infrastructural developments in Iraq was mostly squandered. Who is calling for the impeachment or trial of Bush, Cheney or Rumsfeld?
Secondly, the Governor is a first-rate cad, who treated his underlings with disdain. He is completely bereft of any ability for self-evaluation. This empty-headedness combined with overweening ambition has led him into all kinds of trouble, an ideal subject for a Shakespearean tragicomedy. In 2004, he was satisfied that he was going to be asked to be John Kerry’s choice for vice-president. The only question in his mind was whether he should accept or not! In fact, he was never even considered. Everybody knew that he was under federal investigation for the past few years; yet, he showed no circumspection, none of the cuteness that would have alerted him not to incriminate himself.
He loved the real power that comes with appointing a senator to replace President-elect Osama. That is big stuff!! And, it seems that he saw a golden opportunity to squeeze some real cash out of the many possible appointees. The only problem was that they all eschewed such deals, except for the man that Fitzgerald named Candidate Number Five. It seems that Blago’s people got some indication that substantial money would be provided if the right appointment was made. There was no agreement, no definite quid pro quo, and no hard and fast arrangement, just talk of possibilities. This candidate has been identified as Jesse Jackson Jr., and he has been on television adamantly claiming that he or his staff never discussed possible payments with the Governor, and most people seem to believe him.
No doubt, Blago is a blackguard and and a silly and inane fool. He may also be delusional, thinking that he could pull off some grandiose deal from the senate appointment, while the feds were looking over his shoulder. By the way, I thought it completely inappropriate that Fitzgerald, a top federal lawyer, seemed to forget the central importance in American jurisprudence of every citizen’s right to a presumption of innocence, when he publicly excoriated the Governor. Outside of a trial, I expect facts from prosecutors, not sermons. I will watch this case carefully because I think that they have very little on the silly Governor, and I predict that the Clare man will end up with egg all over his face.
6 comments:
You're very forgiving Dad! It seems to me that Blagojevich was selling the appointment to the highest bidder -- in a pretty open way. He's certainly no credit to the office, or people he serves.
Siobhan: This has nothing to do with being forgiving. I'd like to see proof, beyond possibly delusional conversations between his chief-of-staff and unknown representatives of Jesse Jackson Jr. about big payouts if Blago did the "right thing!" By the way, for such a corrupt politician, he must be extraordinarily inept because it seems that he and his wife do not have fat bank accounts.
What is crazy to me is that Blagojevich was so arrogant to believe he would not get caught! I also think this was not about a single cash payment, but, rather, he sought a "cushy" job for himself and his wife.
Brenda: Seeking a cushy job for oneself or one's partner is not illegal. In fact, I suspect it is very common. Of course, if there was firm evidence of a quid pro quo, of an offer of a job for a senate seat, that would be illegal. That did not happen!! Fitzgerald comes out worse out of this. I wonder why he didn't pontificate last year when he was dealing with Cheney and company.
Gerry,
Follow the Benjamins: That's how you read politics. Blago is a crook, but don't tell me that Rahm Bama Emmanuel was not a player in this (remember there was a biding war going on!). Why do you think His candidate got seated. A deal was made. It seems O'Bama was a great candidate; campaigning only. The debates showed he was not very good with details. I suspect that is what is scaring the market. Take a look at the bank index today: it hit a new low. What does that tell you?
Neil
Neil: I think you are a bit of a conspiracy theorist! Fitzgerald said that there was only one vague bid by someone who has plenty money and is a supporter of Jesse Jackson Jr.So far, nobody has said that Jackson or his staff knew about this. We will see what Fitzgerald can prove in court.
You are out in a limb saying that Obama's lack of detailed plans somehow caused the market collapse! That must be Kilgarvan logic!! I hate to think what you will blame him for after he becomes president!
Thanks for visiting my blog. Gerry
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