In Defense of Chicago Politics (by Dan Rostenkowski) (I Kid You Not)

The Daily Beast ^ | 12/13/08 | Dan Rostenkowski

[Reaganesque]

I'm at a loss for words. Dan Rostenkowski, a man who was convicted and jailed for "convert(ing)_ office funds for his own use for gifts; put(ing) people on the his payroll who did little or no work; and mailed payroll checks to his district office for workers who did political or personal service for him" (Referrence), is concerned that all Chicago politicians are getting a bad name because of Gov. Blagojevich. Are Democrats born without a sense of irony or shame or do they have it removed surgically?

[raybbr]

I went to Chicago recently. A 10.5% sales tax.

Rosty was almost as corrupt as "Fast" Eddie Vrdolyak.

[Tax-chick]

He’s still alive? What post will he have in the Osama administration?

[mainepatsfan]

This presupposes that Chicago pols had a stellar reputation to begin with.

[mainepatsfan]

Post master general? :)

[Drango]

This has to be from the Onion????

[Texas Eagle]

I always tried to steer away from the minority of my colleagues who viewed public service as a potential commercial enterprise.

Uh-huh.

[CaliGirlGodHelpMe]

“Are Democrats born without a sense of irony or shame or do they have it removed surgically?”

Great rhetorical question bump.

[Tax-chick]

LOL!

[wolfcreek]

Is that the Stockyards I smell?

[RichInOC]

“It’s different when we do it.”

[LibWhacker]

Jesus, I guess the cockroaches are really going to start crawling out of the woodwork in numbers now that their pals are back in power.

[Texas Eagle]

During my career as a public official, I always tried to steer away from the minority of my colleagues who viewed public service as a potential commercial enterprise.

Uh-huh. Rosty sung a different tune in 1996:

Rostenkowski Pleads Guilty To Mail Fraud

Published: April 10, 1996 Saying he had behaved no differently from most other members of Congress, former Representative Dan Rostenkowski pleaded guilty to two charges of mail fraud today and agreed to begin serving a 17-month prison sentence in 30 days.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804E6DB1039F933A25757C0A960958260

[mainepatsfan]

Yeah I’m sure Obama appreciates this dinosaur popping his head up from the tar pits. /s

[Krankor]

The Feds just nailed Fast Eddie.

[hinckley buzzard]

As a politician who more than a decade ago was disciplined for breaking the rules, I’m still uncomfortable writing about it. It continues to overshadow the positive things I did, including a lonely battle to write and enact tax reform in l986. Apparently bad news trumps.

Behold the career criminal, feeling sorry for himself.

[Velveeta]

What a POS. He invokes Ronald and Nancy Reagan, yet never mentions he was a “big shot” DEMOCRAT.

Rosti, wash your mouth out, you’re not fit to speak the Reagan name.

[LibLieSlayer]

“hell ain’t so bad this time of year”.

satan

[CRBDeuce]

Dan...Dan...Dan,
Sure explains a lot! another Chicago Mafia type! AND TEFRA-1986!!!! Single-handedly Killed an entire industry (boating)...almost buried the housing industry (the first time)!. Who knew...thanks for coming clean (Is Dan on his death-bed yet?)