For the record, as a citizen of the state of Illinois, I do not think it was a bad day for Illinois! I wouldn't be surprised if people are dancing in the streets celebrating! This has been a long time coming, and finally Blago has been indicted!
How ironic that yesterday was officially "Cheap Trick Day" in Illinois. Maybe we should call today the beginning of "The End of Dirty Tricks Day." and now for the news article...
(photo from Creative Commons)
It was a bad day for Illinois
(Tomorrow's Tribune Headline, from ChicagoTribune.com)
Now will we demand that our public officials serve us instead of themselves?
Story By Charles Lipson
for April 3, 2009
for April 3, 2009
It's hard to remember now, but ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich was actually elected to reform state government. He ran as the antidote to Gov. George Ryan, who spent years defending himself from corruption charges but was eventually convicted of them. Blagojevich promised to end Springfield's pay-to-play politics and to run a clean, efficient government.
It didn't work out exactly that way. Blagojevich now stands accused of staggering crimes, systematically using his control over state contracts, appointments and regulations to raise campaign cash. The indictment, announced Thursday by U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald, runs 75 pages. It charges Blagojevich with 16 felony counts, including racketeering conspiracy, extortion (and conspiring to extort), wire fraud and lying to federal agents. These include the most incendiary charges in Fitzgerald's earlier criminal complaint: trying to sell Barack Obama's Senate seat and leaning on the Chicago Tribune's owner to fire editorial writers who criticized the Blagojevich administration. Most of these counts carry 20-year jail terms.
The indictment goes beyond the former governor to include his brother Rob, his chief of staff, a former top aide and two businessmen.
(Click the title link for the rest of the story!)
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3 comments:
Haha, Blagojevich, I remember picking out a name for his book LOL.
Those are some tough accusations against him, running over 75 pages? That's just too much. Of course a lot of those accusations are true! That's kinda disgusting to know. He promises for a better government and now this!
Now there's a mother with a sense of humor...name your sons Rob and Rod!! He's still a putz. If I hear his "I'm innocent" one more time, I may have to make a trip up there.
Quick comment, then back to work:
Thanks for the comments ladies!
Heard on the news last night that Blago (nobody spells his name out LOL) will surely get at least a ten year prison sentence.
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