CapitolFax.com - Latest Comments in A tangled web, or an innocent gift? – Updated x6

Re: A tangled web, or an innocent gift? – Updated x6

Rich Miller — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 10:10:00 -0000

As much as I'd like to hit 200 comments on a post, I'm gonna close this one. Go here instead. Thanks!

Re: A tangled web, or an innocent gift? – Updated x6

Randolph Reader — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 10:01:53 -0000

I believe State Representative Dan Reitz has a wife employed at DNR and sons employed at other state agencies. Is DNR one of the agenices where the Governor's office dumps political hires? Can we say Sam Flood! Taxpayers need lists of relatives and close associates of our ELECTED OFFICIALS who have been hired under the Blagojevich administration.

Re: A tangled web, or an innocent gift? – Updated x6

I know noTHINK! — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 09:03:26 -0000

Here's the skinny. Ascaridis' PSA job posted in Whiteside county as part-time. No vets on list there I would bet. She started in the position August 1, 2003. One month later, the job is geographically transferred to DuPage County and changed to full-time, all with her in it. Rutan-exempt or not, this one still covered by vets' preference. DuPage County was/is probably full of PSA veteran candidates. Even if there was a vet in Whiteside, he/she may not have been interested in part-time work, Now when was that check written and when was the rabbit statement made?

Interestingly as a follow-up, gov's office top lawyer puts out memo to Paul Campbell (CMS "Director") in July 2006 saying no more transferring people until they complete two years of service. Isn't that weird since CMS is statutorily charged with administering personnel? Anyway, it's all a little too late; apparently horse was already out of the gate.

Wonder which underling will go under the bus for this one? Will be real hard to throw the DNR personnel operative under; she cohabitates with a gov office deputy chief.

If these things come out one at a time, we're going to be reading for years. Real stand up operation.

Re: A tangled web, or an innocent gift? – Updated x6

GetAGrip — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 07:41:11 -0000

Not to worry, the Governor can stand in a soy bean field and talk about how ethanol is the answer to pay for AllKIds, IsaveRX and that all gifts from employees or those about to be employed should make the checks out Amy Blago.

Re: A tangled web, or an innocent gift? – Updated x6

annon. in central illinois — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 07:34:42 -0000

Pretty bad using the child as a "conduit" to run funds, campaign $$, illegal or otherwise. Who in the hell hands over a check for $1,500.00 to a small child, who's dad happens to be governor & wa-la a "state job". If the concern was the kids education buy a savings bond or open up an account in her name.....at pass book rate it might amount to something when she's ready for school. Why doesn't someone really point this "stuff" out or it's 4 more of this guy & his tribe !!!!

Re: A tangled web, or an innocent gift? – Updated x6

Buck Flagojevich — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 02:00:50 -0000

From what I recall, and from looking through a State Telephone directory, there was no DNR Office in DuPage County a couple years back. Did I miss this facility or was there an office opened in DuPage while Rod was busy downsizing DNR everywhere else in the state?

Re: A tangled web, or an innocent gift? – Updated x6

Buck Flagojevich — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 01:41:20 -0000

NoneOfTheAbove, You are definitely barking up the wrong tree. I was with the state from Thompson through Blagojevich. The crap that has gone on since Blago took office cannot be matched by anything that happened prior. Yes, GRyan was just sentenced to prison for his misdeeds while being an elected official, but his term as Governor was positively humanitarian compared to what Blago and his merry band of miscreants have orchestrated. It's a wonder this state can still manage to function with how badly this administration has crippled service delivering agencies. The big reason why it is messed up? Because Rod gets a kick seeing his name plastered everywhere. The government in Illinois grinds to a halt until a blessing is sent from the Governor's office to proceed with an action. Whether it be new letterhead or money for the poor, nothing moves until it gets the blesing. What a vain, primping little boy Rod is.

Re: A tangled web, or an innocent gift? – Updated x6

eec — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 00:52:34 -0000

exactly. now how else could you show tribute to the boss? what other family member could you 'assist'? how? would there be a way to check it? how? think.

Re: A tangled web, or an innocent gift? – Updated x6

the Other Anonymous — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 00:33:30 -0000

Regarding update #5 -- did the Blagojevich family deposit the check in the college fund.

If the money went into the college fund, I think the Governor and his wife get the same benefit. I mean, the college fund reduces the amount of money the Blagojevich family will pay out of pocket for college expenses in the future. Such a gift certainly wasn't made to please Blagojevich's daughter; I don't know of any seven-year who gets excited about a college fund.

No, the gift was clearly intended to impress or give tribute to the Governor. I tend to agree that Ms. Ascaridis did not "pay" to get her job. But it's equally clear that the check was some sort of "thank you" for the Governor's help.

I'll leave it to a judge and jury to decide if this violates the law. But it certainly opens a window into how Blagojevich -- or at least those close to him -- views his position.

It's almost like bringing a lavish birthday gift to Tony Soprano's daughter; it doesn't directly get you anything, but it shows the appropriate tribute to the boss.

Re: A tangled web, or an innocent gift? – Updated x6

NoneOfTheAbove — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 00:17:44 -0000

Didn't Jim Edgar get a free computer for his home from MSI that was worth a lot more than $1,500? If he paid for it, it was only after it became an issue. Funny how after all the, not just investigations, but actually indictments during his administration, he's considered Mr. Clean. Meanwhile some bitter state workers on here want to lynch Blago. Let's face it, it's all about who's better for state workers, and nothing about outrage over corruption.

Re: A tangled web, or an innocent gift? – Updated x6

the ole precinct captain — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 00:16:17 -0000

After surfing the Tribune and reading the latest poll the party is over, the spending of the Blago campaign continues, the captains hit the streets, and Topinka has no money or an organization which leads to a victory by the governor. We all know a lot can happen and has but it is beginning to point in the right direction for the Gov. We will all see and continue to post.

Re: A tangled web, or an innocent gift? – Updated x6

larry — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 23:50:41 -0000

TO Just Saying, you left out the fact that Blago amended his disclosure to include a gift from the baby sitter as well. Not sure yet if that after her appointment to the Civil Service Commission ot if gift was $1,500 also....BTW didn't G Ryan accept gifts from low level employees?

Re: A tangled web, or an innocent gift? – Updated x6

Anon — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 23:48:40 -0000

I think Bill is probably right about one thing - that it is probably right that the Guy gave the kid a gift b/c they had known the family a long time. May seem like a lot to most of us, but hey, if she can collect then more power to her.

I think that the bigger part of the story is the job for Mrs. A. I don't think it had anything to do with the check. If it did that is pretty pathetic and stuipid. While I don't put it past this Gov to do something so stupid, I doubt that this was quid pro quo - at least in terms of the check for the girl.

I think this story fits in with the bigger hiring issue with this Governor. It is clear to me that the hiring rules were manipulated to get this family friend a job. She admits she never worked in Whiteside County, which is where the job was "located" when she got it. I think there is some major explaining to do here.

And don't give me that "bad apples" crap. This kind of stuff does not get done unless somebody is ordered to do so. Somebody high up in the Governor's office (yes I said Governor's office, not CMS) screwed up BIG TIME.

While it may have been "open season" after so many years of Republican rule, there is a right way and a wrong way to go about hiring. You cannot fire and hire on a wholesale basis anybody you want to. A decision called Rutan got rid of that little legacy in this state.

I hope people recognize the incompetence (at a minimum) or lawbreaking callousness (at a maximum) of this administration prior to the election. It would be gravy if the feds came out with indictments before then, but I think that has as much chance of happening as pigs flying.

People need to think before they vote. If they do, the Governor can say goodbye to being Governor.

Re: A tangled web, or an innocent gift? – Updated x6

the ole precinct captain — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 23:40:45 -0000

Madame Defarge forgot to add that the treasurer refused to transfer the funds and now all are in court. One of the funniest comments I have read in awhile. I think that deserves a free lunch.

Re: A tangled web, or an innocent gift? – Updated x6

Just Saying — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 23:32:55 -0000

I just couldn't let this one go...

"The answer from all of the musketeers should be that it is a family matter, has nothing to do with the camapign, and is none of your business. I think that that is what Abbey and Power were nicely trying to say in their statement. They probably also told the guy to muzzle his big mouthed wife."

Ahem... The governor is SO worried about his family privacy that he used a state agency to pursue a grudge against his father-in-law, blamed his wife for refusing to take a pay cut, blamed his own daughter for not moving to Springfield, inserted his other child into the first press availability he had with the Springfield press corps in eons, put the babysitter on the civil service commission and now accepted a $1,500 check to his daughter's "college fund" from his campaign treasurer?

I don't think the press is the one dragging the governor's family into the nasty world of politics. No. That would be the governor himself.

Re: A tangled web, or an innocent gift? – Updated x6

Martha Mitchell — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 23:17:00 -0000

Remember how the feds got Al Capone? It wasn't racketeering, murder, numbers, illegal hooch hauling or making sure that jobs got filled by "somebody that somebody sent." It was for tax evasion! So a little thing like this check affair could be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

I was right about Nixon and Rich Mell is right about his so-called son-in-law.

Re: A tangled web, or an innocent gift? – Updated x6

cynically anonymous — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 23:15:40 -0000

This administration seems to have a habit of putting people in jobs that belong in one county and then moving the job to wherever the person needs it to be (i know it happened at dhs). Actually, this administration seems to do whatever it wants, whenever it wants, just because it can. And I was a little surprised to see the IFT endorsement (buried as it was) because none of my friends who teach are particularly enamored of the wonderful things the gov has done for them. Rich Whitney would probably win if he had changed his name to "none of the above".

Re: A tangled web, or an innocent gift? – Updated x6

larry — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 23:13:32 -0000

Yeah!... She was misquoted. Thats the ticket.

Reminds me of the time I asked the hot girl for a dance, when she rudly refused my offer, I said "No, no, you misunderstood me, I said, You Look FAT in Those Pants"

Re: A tangled web, or an innocent gift? – Updated x6

Rex — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 22:58:14 -0000

Let's try this spin - Mrs. Ascaridis said she had been misquoted. Instead of saying "I hate the Governor with every fiber of my being," she meant to say "she should have eaten more fiber in her beef." Poor Mrs. Ascaridis.

Re: A tangled web, or an innocent gift? – Updated x6

Just the facts — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 22:46:13 -0000

Schnorf @ 4:27 - so this is different than Larry Warner paying for the band at George's daughter's wedding?

Read Rich's Capital Fax of today again. He makes a good point about what the feds do, and should do (in my estimation), about this kind of stuff.

Re: A tangled web, or an innocent gift? – Updated x6

leigh — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 22:41:06 -0000

Does anybody think the Gov's spokesperson does anything but make him look dumber?

Re: A tangled web, or an innocent gift? – Updated x6

Anonymous — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 22:35:44 -0000

hooray for 9:03; you get it. BA went directly to the feds. why? what prompted the public airing of this issue to start with? how did a simple city worker happen to lawyer up with Joseph Power? why? is this a new issue or part of an ongoing one? think.

Re: A tangled web, or an innocent gift? – Updated x6

TEDDY — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 22:34:48 -0000

LIES ALL LIES
ROD IS THE BEST GOVERNOR SINCE ABE LINCOLN
STOPS THE LIES
PRESCHOOL HEALTH CARE

Re: A tangled web, or an innocent gift? – Updated x6

wondering — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 22:26:04 -0000

Rich - Did the gov take, I mean pass his ethics test?

Re: A tangled web, or an innocent gift? – Updated x6

A check for what.... — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 22:03:12 -0000

Alright, issues aside. Buying jobs... Inappropriate gifts... albeit mega generous...family matter, etc. etc. What wife/husband finds a suspicious check...calls the feds... THEN decides she might want to ask the spouse and the 'lawyer?' Let's talk basics...c'mon married people out there... oh, gee, honey the tribune called today... oh, it was nothing important...

What lies beneath the turbid waters that may soon churn to the surface....