Illinois Govenor Taken Into Federal Custody

[jonanthans]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2008...deral-custody/

wow....coincidence?......Looks like someone stepped where they should not have dared stray...

My personal theory on this is that all politicians are kept under watch, and little negative tidbits that can destroy them are always just one "mistake" away from going public if the need arises. It would be so easy to do that I can't see how it wouldn't happen.

Governor Blagojevich just made his mistake. He screwed with a big bank that doesn't want to be messed with.

[ganjagolfer]

this had nothing to do with screwing a bank, he screwed himself

[Fat Slice]

Wiretap any politician and they can get indicted.

[jonanthans]

yeah, but the timing is incredibly coincidental, no? tell on us, we slam you with the charges we have been accumulating....

[Jay-Bird]

Illinois with corrupt politicians? never .

[grassbutcher]

yeah, but the timing is incredibly coincidental, no? tell on us, we slam you with the charges we have been accumulating....

I think it is a coincidence...this case has been building for quite some time - read the complaint..this guy tried to squeeze money out of any and everybody he could and on top of all of that - he's been a horrible governor...some of his decisions have been mind-boggling - hopefully he spends the rest of his life behind bars.

[Shindig]

Governor Blagojevich just made his mistake. He screwed with a big bank that doesn't want to be messed with.

Or it could be that he tried to sell a Senate seat . I suspect that had a lot more to do with it than a quibble with Bank of America.

[jonanthans]

Or it could be that he tried

again, I understand the 2 are not related, I know

what and why he is being charged, my point is the when (timing) of the charges being brought forth and him being arrested. He declares a boycott of Bank of America and suddenly these charges come forth. No one is debating whether or not he is guilty, it just seems pretty coincidential.

[PEZGolf]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2008...deral-custody/

My conclusions are that he is a corrupt, arrogant fool, and I hope he gets a jail sentence and as a result of his conviction, never holds elective office again. Let him be a cell mate of former Senator Ted Stevens. Republicans or Democrats---they are the same---Tweedle Dee or Tweedle Dumb. That is why I refused to vote for either Obama or McCain in the Presidential election. If those two are the best the two parties can choose, then the United States is in real trouble.

[jonanthans]

My conclusions are that he is a corrupt, arrogant fool, and I hope he gets a jail sentence and as a result of his conviction, never holds elective office again. Let him be a cell mate of former Senator Ted Stevens. Republicans or Democrats---they are the same---Tweedle Dee or Tweedle Dumb.

My thoughts exactly, but when I stated as such, then I was labeled an Obama hater and a racist, lol. Simply because I didnt believe either of them deserved to even be considered. But that is fodder for another topic....

[mako224]

My prediction is that this will either haunt Obama or ends his presidency even before it starts. A guy can hope and wish right. Seriously though this and the Rezco investigation that appears now to be moving forward will dog Obama much like Whitewate dogged the Clintons.

[PEZGolf]

My prediction is that this will either haunt Obama or ends his presidency even before it starts. A guy can hope and wish right. Seriously though this and the Rezco investigation that appears now to be moving forward will dog Obama much like Whitewate dogged the Clintons.

You may be right. Are the words "honesty" and "politician" mutually exclusive at any level today? I ran for the office of Mayor of my Village two years ago as an independent. In a convenience store, in front of a witness, I was offered a cash bribe by one of my opponents to withdraw because he regarded me as a vote splitter that would enable the incumbent to get reelected. When I called the State Attorney General's office, I was told that it was a felony. When I called the witness, he got "cold feet", and said that he had difficulty remembering the exact words, even though I asked my opponent to repeat, more loudly, what he had offered. He did that.

In the election, the incumbent lost, getting only 33% of the vote. The candidate who offered me the bribe won, and I did make it known what he had done, but I could not press charges. One voter, who knew me well, had a sign for him on his lawn. After I left the handout at his house about the offer to withdraw, he promptly removed the sign. But------he still won, and is now in the middle of a 4 year term!!! If it is like this at the local level, imagine what it gets like at the upper levels. Remember Tom DeLay, Jack Abramoff, the Keating 5 and Senator Alan Cranston, the Mayor of Detroit, Congressman Jefferson, now Congressman Rangel, etc.??

[Shindig]

again, I understand the 2 are not related, I know

Alternately, he knew the charges were forthcoming and wanted to appear to be the sympathetic character in the situation.

[sam004]

I think the timing of it had more to do with his desire to sell the vacant senator position.
I think it will be interesting to see how the relationship of Tony Rezko ties in with him and Obama. I think Obama has enough people around him to stay insulated.
What amazes me is how the Chicago machine has ran for all of these years without a salvo from the fed hitting the top. Talk about Teflon !

Words of wisdom -

Never trust a democrat from Chicago

[jonanthans]

Alternately, he knew the charges were forthcoming and wanted to appear to be the sympathetic character in the situation.

Very good point. At the very least, possibly, some good came from him before he left.

Is it just a rule that when you take a public office you become corrupt? Our (Louisiana) current Governor Bobby Jindal so far seems like a truly honest person with the interest of the people in mind. Hopefully, he remains that way, one of apparently very few remaining....

[Shindig]

Very good point. At the very least, possibly, some good came from him before he left.

In any public office of any significant influence, you will have lobbyists and interest groups (for lack of a better term) try to corrupt you. They won't call it that, of course, but anyone trying to change your voting habits is seen as corrupting you by those who liked your previous voting habits. Even if you're sufficiently wealthy to not need their handouts/prizes/bribes, there's still the threat that they could fund one or more rivals or competitors if you ignore them. If you're sufficiently cynical, you might say that a subset of people seeking political office are doing so with the intent of being corrupted.

[OHgolfnut]

Illinois with corrupt politicians?

Suuuuure! I think that he's like the 4th Governor (JUST in IL) out of what, the past 8-9, that's abused his position in a similar manner. It's sad that someone in his position would abuse his "power". Just a shame. I guess that he's innocent until proven guilty, eh?

[PEZGolf]

Suuuuure! I think that he's like the 4th Governor (JUST in IL) out of what, the past 8-9, that's abused his position in a similar manner. It's sad that someone in his position would abuse his "power". Just a shame. I guess that he's innocent until proven guilty, eh?

Certain states have incredible records for elected officials being "caught with their hands in the cookie jar", and Illinois is one of the worst. This is no surprise but this guy was just brazen about it. How did he ever get elected the first time, and then re-elected in 2006? Apparently, his election in 2002 was accomplished as he ran as a "reformer"!!