This whole mess with Gov. Blagojevich really isn't funny, folks.

[ColesCountyDem]

My state is facing the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, state government is paralyzed, unemployment is soaring, our state's capital spending bill (which would create jobs, improve infrastructure, etc.) is in cold storage, etc., etc., etc. . This is ALL because of Gov. Blagojevich's past and present behavior.

I notice that many posters here are finding this situation incredibly and inexplicably (to me, at least) amusing. Please remember that the current mess here in Illinois means real suffering for real people.

Thanks.

:hi:

[ShortnFiery]

1. As long as the Governor is not CONVICTED, allow him to function?

This is stupid - he may have been convicted on the M$M but the guy has not even been indicted yet.

I think the Burgess appointment is acceptable given the fact that IMO, Fitzgerald "jumped the gun" and is the culprit who created this mess. :(

[ColesCountyDem]

4. He wasn't functional before this, either.

He's played chicken with the Leg for two years, refused to spend appropriated funds, redirected funds, etc., etc., etc. . This latest trouble is simply that-- the latest trouble.

[babylonsister]

5. And I disagree; I think Fitz has plenty on him, otherwise why

would every Dem in the Senate and the majority in the IL house want him out?

Edit to add: idiot son hasn't been indicted, as someone pointed out, unlike Blago, but we all pretty much agree he should go.

[babylonsister]

2. Thanks for a dose of reality-rec'd. nt

[ColesCountyDem]

7. Thank you. n/t

[firedupdem]

3. K & R

Not funny. And the spin on it isn't either.

[ColesCountyDem]

6. Thank you. n/t

[NashVegas]

8. Pretty Much Everyone's State Is Facing Its Worst Financial Crisis Since TGD, So Can We Dispense?

Blago is giving weak-kneed Dems the lesson of a life-time. You bet your ass I'm amused.

Here is a Democrat whom the Justice Department purposely went public with charges against, for the sole purpose of humiliating him into stepping down immediately, and his state to booting him if he doesn't. Unlike "Steamroller" Spitzer - who might very well have exposed a Seigleman-style railroading if he'd only had the stones to fight back - Blago is demonstrating to Democrats how you go about defying criminal Republicans.

I don't care if he's guilty or not at this point: Blago is showing all the wimps in DC and more importantly, voters what a backbone looks like.

[babylonsister]

11. Blago is defying rethugs? Who? I missed something. nt

[ColesCountyDem]

13. Using that criteria, Al Capone showed people what a 'backbone' was, too.

Your point being...?

:eyes:

[NashVegas]

18. Except He Wasn't Elected to Office

[ColesCountyDem]

23. No disagreement there.

Your point?

:shrug:

[NashVegas]

42. Nevermind

Forget it. Sucks trying to have a discussion with the purposefully obtuse.

[ColesCountyDem]

44. Oe someone used to the Socratic method...

I'm far from obtuse. I just have an objection to having to accept nonsense at face value.

[NashVegas]

54. Really? My Estimation of Socrates Just Went Down

To find out the method included ignoring conclusive remarks for the sake of a snark display.

Next, you can tell me how you just destroyed my argument ...

[ColesCountyDem]

58. This is how:

I destroyed your argument by demonstrating that what you call 'backbone' is not a sign of virtue, per se. In the instant case, it smacks of hubris, if anything...

[Name removed]

40. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

41. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[IsItJustMe]

17. I know what you talking about. After watching Dems buckle under every time a Republican says boo.

it's kind of nice to see one with balls.

[ColesCountyDem]

27. Don't mistake abject fear masquerading as bravado for 'balls'.

All Blago's doing is trying desperately to hold on to the one big 'card' he has left to play-- his tenure in office. After he loses that, he has no bargaining power left. Rod is in this for Rod, and no one else.

[Hippo_Tron]

49. People having spines when it comes to saving their own ass isn't exactly new

Bill Clinton certainly had a spine when it came to saving his own ass but not when it came to doing things that were politically unpopular. IMO, Spitzer caved because he knew that no matter what his presidential ambitions were ruined.

[NashVegas]

52. Interesting Opinion

About Spitzer. If you're correct, it would be very telling about his character.

As for Bill's spine: What controversial rules or decisions that were liberal and/or working-class-friendly did he push through, while all those scandals were going on?

[Hippo_Tron]

56. That's my point, he didn't

Politicians have spines when it comes to saving their own asses. They tend to not have spines when it comes to doing things that are politically unpopular. Thus I don't see how Blagojevich having a spine about saving his ass is going to teach other Democrats how to have a spine.

[NashVegas]

57. And My Point Is

That Blago's defiance is much more politically couched. Burris. Bank of America.

[Hippo_Tron]

59. Burris was just stirring shit and Bank of America had nothing to do with any of it

[JeanGrey]

9. We unfortunately have a very bad habit of wanting to ignore

the same things in ourselves we despise in others.

[October]

14. Really?

In my time here, I find we Dems are the first to attack one of our own.

[ColesCountyDem]

16. The 'circular firing squad' tendency?

Unfortunately, we seem to be unable to shake it, in my experience...

[NashVegas]

19. "Oh, The Irony ..."

:rofl:

[ColesCountyDem]

22. I know!

:rofl:

[mucifer]

10. I blame fitzgerald for this mess. If he wasn't willing to do anything for three months

why would he arrest blago? I believe fitzgerald is trying doing the work for the republicans.

[rosesaylavee]

12. Thank you for the reasonable post.

Blagojevich is causing real trouble for the state and I don't many posters here know his history. A decent human would resign. His political future is toast.

On the other hand, Burris is a great choice and I was glad to see it. Of course, Burris was a great candidate for Governor - Blago may just be eliminating competition with this pick too.

[ColesCountyDem]

15. Burris would be an awesome US Senator.

I just hope that Pat Quinn appoints him to the vacancy, too, if the US Senate refuses to seat him the first time.

:hi:

[WeDidIt]

25. Burris is completely tainted now

My hope is that PAtrick Fitzgerald immediately begins investigating him.

[ColesCountyDem]

29. Burris isn't done, I predict.

I'll even go out on a limb and predict that Lt. Gov. Quinn will also appoint him to fill the vacancy, if and when that becomes necessary. Roland is 'Mr. Clean', basically.

[WeDidIt]

31. I predict Quinn won't go anywhere near Burris.

And Burris is no longer 'Mr. Clean'. In fact, the simple act of accepting this appointment from Blagojevich puts an air of suspicion over him.

I know I'll never trust him after he accepted a tainted appointment to the Senate. I'd never vote for him for anything ever again.

[ColesCountyDem]

36. You could be right.

It's like a horse race: everyone knows a horse is going to win; the vital question is which one?

:hi:

[Critters2]

34. If he were to investigate, he wouldn't find anything.

Burris isn't a part of the Chicago machine. There have never been any questions about his ethics.

[WeDidIt]

35. I have plenty of questions about his ethics now.

Accepting this appointment makes him suspect, IMO.

And I'm an Illinoisian voter.

[Critters2]

39. So am I. And I have no problems with Burris. He's a known entity,

unlike Blago when he first ran for statewide office.

[rosesaylavee]

48. I hope so too.

Happy New Year!

:hi:

[alcibiades_mystery]

20. The notion that the State's economic problems are directly attributable to Blago is LAUGHABLE

Nearly every state is in financial crisis as a result of poor federal management and the crisis in the capitalist business cycle. Your post is like accusing one person on a sinking ship of being too heavy.

[ColesCountyDem]

24. Are you familiar with what's been going on between the Gov and the Leg here?

This isn't a recent development. The recession has only magnified a problem that's existed for at least the last 2 years, and about 99.9% of the blame can be laid at Blago's feet.

[alcibiades_mystery]

26. Two to tango

I'm well familiar with the politics in my state, thanks.

[ColesCountyDem]

28. So am I.

We must follow different news sources, or something.

:shrug:

[babylonsister]

30. Then spill please. You think Blago has helped the residents in your state? nt

[alcibiades_mystery]

32. No better or worse than dozens of others

I know the GOP news organs hate him like poison, as do various others who are just as intransigent, particularly other power hungry Dems. I also assume that Blago is as power hungry and manipulative as dozens of other governors, so I'll wait until Everybody's SuperHero the Mighty Fitzmas actually bothers to get an indictment before I strip duly elected people of their offices.

[Critters2]

37. Bullshit. Blago has acted like the state treasury was his personal

bank account, withholding funds granted by the legislature. His decision to close state parks was enough of an abuse of power. I have three unemployed parishioners, thanks to this asshat. He closed Illini State Park, among others, even having admitted he'd never been there. None of that kind of crap hits you in Chicago, though.

He should've run for mayor. He's got no business serving as governor of a state he's not even interested in. It's time to impeach him already.

[alcibiades_mystery]

47. Oh, here we go with the downstate bellyaching

:rofl:

It was only a matter of time.

[babylonsister]

43. Sounds like you trust Blago more than Fitz. Why is that?

I have the exact opposite reaction, but I don't live in IL. Or have your pov.

[alcibiades_mystery]

46. I don't trust prosecutors as a rule

Prosecutors who grandstand for cameras rather getting indictments even less so.

I don't trust Blago at all. The whole thing is an amusing spectacle, but I don't trust any police apparatus that smears people without due process.

[rwheeler31]

21. This guy has been a mess for years impeach him already.

Burris is making himself look foolish just like Blago. Fitz is blowing up the court case. Dammit do something.

[elocs]

33. Was Blago elected or did he simply drop down from Mars and take control of the state?

Were the people of IL clueless about what kind of man Blago is, or didn't it matter?

[Critters2]

38. This is a fair question. I wasn't in the state when he ran, and won,

the first time. He beat Burris in the primary. Burris has never been a part of the Chicago machine, as Blago is, so didn't get the kind of mobilization one needs to win Chicago. And Blago ran as a reform candidate (:rofl:) which was attractive after the George Ryan debacle.

I honestly don't know why anyone voted for him the second time. I didn't. My former alderman ran against him in the primary, and I voted for him. But somehow, Blago won the primary. The Repug candidate wasn't very attractive, and people were still stinging from Ryan. So, once Blago got the Dem nomination, he was likely to win. Still, the Greens had their best showing in any Illinois election. That was largely due to people like me, who couldn't bring ourselves to vote for either major party candidate.

I didn't vote for Blago. And I, too, would like someone to explain why others did. We pretty much knew where this was headed before the last election. People who voted for him have no one but themselves to blame.

[davsand]

45. Actually, Burris has run some pretty dismal campaigns in recent years.

Sigh.

I'm not out to bash Burris, per se, but I have gotta say the few campaigns that Burris ran were absolutely dreadful--borderline of non-existent. I think he's lost something like the last three or four Primaries he's run in. Literally, his last Primary campaign amounted to yard signs stuck in the medians the day of elections.

I have no personal animosity for Burris, nor do I have any dirt on him. I DO, however, have a very real fear that he'll never be able to hold that office if he has to face an adequate challenger.

YMMV.



Laura

[boppers]

50. It sounds like Illinois has been so corrupt, for so long, that some purging is needed.

Once they realize that "horse-trading" is criminal, and inappropriate, maybe things will change.

[MrGreene]

51. The most ironic thing is...

It appears that so far every crisis or every serious challenge to Obama has come from his own party or spectrum of political views. Be it Bobby Rush, Jeremiah Wright, William Ayers, Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, Jesse Jackson, and now Blago and his nutty gang. It seems like the Republicans were always a piece of cake to walk all over every time he got through the Democratic minefield. Such big time Republican losers like Alan Keyes, John McCain, Sara Palin, hell even our current President George W Bush was reluctant to throw any shots at him. Didn't Reagan attack Dukakis at least occasionally?

It really seems like Obama can probably handle the Republicans just fine. So far. That gives me hope. He just needs to save himself from the petty problems of his own "party" and he should be ok.

[babylonsister]

53. That's an interesting observation, and welcome to DU, MrGreene. nt

[WinkyDink]

55. Gallows humor ye shall always have with you.

[Lilith Velkor]

60. In that respect, this situation is a fucking laff riot.