Posted on 12/09/2008 7:00:50 AM PST by STARWISE
Gov. Rod Blagojevich became the state's first Democratic chief executive in more than a quarter of a century after vowing to reform what he labeled the culture of corruption surrounding his predecessor that had fed deep cynicism among Illinoisans.
But little more than a year after replacing George Ryan in office in 2003, Blagojevich found his administration at the early stages of what became a host of state and federal investigations into allegations of wrongdoing involving state hiring, board appointments, contracting and fundraising that battered his tenure.
*snip*
As part of the investigation, in which 13 people have been indicted or convicted, kickbacks were often the prescribed price of doing high-level business, be it the pension board for state teachers or the panel that decided whether hospitals could expand their facilities. And the extortion efforts went beyond merely enriching the participants to include soliciting campaign funds for Blagojevich.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
Apparently, 0's senate seat was the latest plum Blago and company were dealing for. And who knows where this may end.
~~DING DING!
My sister in IL said he was just arrested this morning on corruption charges. Anyone have info?
Another Merry Fitzmas?
Dec. 9, 2008: The Tribune reveals the corruption investigation has expanded to include the governor’s impending selection of a new U.S. senator to succeed President-elect Barack Obama.
I just read a story on foxnews.com and nowhere did it mention his party affiliation. Foxnews.com has become pretty liberal lately.
Hmmm...
I wonder if “The One” had any dealings with any of the 13 in the contracting and “fundraising” activities?
There’s going to be a whole lot of singing going on and I have a feeling they wont be singing Christmas Carols!
Headline across my Bloomberg screen: “ILLINOIS GOVERNOR TRIED TO SELL OBAMA’S SENATE SEAT, U.S. SAYS.”
So you know you’re under investigation, and you decide to commit more corruption? With enemies like this, it truly shows the incompetence of the IL GOP combine that they can’t unseat the Dems.
OR... Pres-Elect Barack Obama became the United states' first Democratic chief executive in almost 1/12th of a century after vowing to reform what he labeled the culture of corruption surrounding his predecessor...
Hmmmmmmmmm.
well thanks to the protesting door workers we all know who this guy is
Or maybe it shows the level of corruption in Illinois politics going back to the fraudulent election of JFK.
Not so much incompetence as monkey see monkey do. The Republican governor that preceeded Blagojevich is presently in federal prison on, dum dada dum, corruption charges!
With enemies like this, it truly shows the incompetence of the IL GOP combine that they can’t unseat the Dems.
Judging by who they've run, last few elections, the IL Republican Party has a death wish.
I’m sure FitzGerald JUST finished his investigation yesterday and there was no way he could have locked Rudy and his gang BEFORE Election Day, RIGHT!
Maybe they don’t realize this, but apparently in IL,
party doesn’t matter. It’s pay to play ... for both
parties.
Blago’s a D.
True. I tell people the IL state GOP is merely an arm of the IL state Democratic Party.
Naturally a bunch of unionites sitting around a closed factory receives 24/7 coverage from our straight-arrow, non biased MSM. But the thuggery and corruption of this DEMOCRAT ( in caps for those depending upon the media for party affiliation info) along with his ties to our Hussein-elect....narry a sound. Personally, I’m just surprised as he**, aren’t you!
“Another charge alleges Blagojevich and Harris conspired to demand the firing of Chicago Tribune editorial board members responsible for editorials critical of him in exchange for state help with the sale of Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs baseball stadium owned by Tribune Co.”
~~~
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-rod-blagojevich-1209,0,7997804.story
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