CapitolFax.com - Latest Comments in Our day together

Re: Our day together

dena — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 15:02:55 -0000

The man has not been convicted yet all the wolf are out for his jobs. If guilty by association is a crime than yes Illinois goverment is on hold for all are guilty in public opinion thrown out and replace the courts and have a public trial run by the media the jury pool is already taint. Governor time to laywer up see what laws were broken on the issuing of the warrents to bug your publice office and home and on what cause of national emergency they found to do so to throw out a sitting Governor voted in by the people.

Re: Our day together

come on glenn — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:05:43 -0000

Have not posted for a long time but was really posting when Blago and Edwin E were in the primary so I am back just to say I told you so. I predicted his indictment way back then and bingo here we are. Having said that Mike Madigan needs to resign too. He was up to his eyeballs in Blago's campaign as co-chairman. Blago is a democrat, Madigan is democratic chairman, Blago is his guy. Hit the road Mike!

Re: Our day together

jimbo — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 20:44:22 -0000

Wouldn't you like to be on the "Directors Flight" for it's regular return to Chicago from Springfield on Thursday afternoon. Should be some interesting conversations-if anyone dares speak.

Re: Our day together

Six Degrees of Separation — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 19:05:14 -0000

Jon Shibley-

It's got to be a big time contractor who could be bonded by themselves or a joint venture for half a bil or more. Possible suspects - Walsh, K-5?

Re: Our day together

Rich Miller — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:37:59 -0000

starthrower68, Candidate 2 wasn't a candidate. Read the complaint. They floated Lisa's name to Sneed as a way to warn Obama.

Sheesh.

Re: Our day together

starthrower68 — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:14:11 -0000

This just in on ABC news, Lisa Madigan is Candidate #2 for the vacant senate seat. Hmmmm...the plot thickens.....

Re: Our day together

Laura — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:31:57 -0000

Rich, clearly you are the best at reporting IL politics! I love that your mom and dad post here...they should be very proud of your hard work and fairness.
Is there speculation on who Individual A is and some of the others in the indictment?

Re: Our day together

wordslinger — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:22:06 -0000

In waiting for the Triple J presser, CNN is pounding Obama and Illinois.

First, they took Obama's "no further comment" quote from yesterday and juxtaposed it with similar statements from Scott McCellan. "Sound familiar?" the anchorchick said.

Then some talking head named Cafferty did a quick rundown on Kerner, Walker, Ryan, and Blago. He ended by putting a question on his CNN blog. "What's the problem with Illinois politics?"

Wolf Blitzer (all-time best anchor name) just said all this is "putting a big, fat spotlight on Illinois politics and it's not pretty by any means."

And now a teaser for a story on Durbin's request for commutation for Ryan.

Re: Our day together

wordslinger — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:32:22 -0000

I'm curious if you any insight into the "financial stress" the governor was feeling?

Everyone's comfort level is different. But according to the Trib, Patti made $700,000 in real estate commissions since 2000. Rod pulls down $170 grand plus as governor. That's pretty good coin.

What's the nature of the stress?

Re: Our day together

47th Ward — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:27:00 -0000

Thanks Rich, for giving us the best coverage of Illinois politics ever. You are truly irreplaceable and a public servant in the finest sense.

Bravo.

Re: Our day together

Anon — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:25:42 -0000

Filan
Lavin
Rumman
Hamer
Campbell
Adams
Martin
DCFS

Re: Our day together

Little Egypt — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:16:21 -0000

There has been much information for us all to soak up yesterday and more today. Rich Miller - YOU ROCK. You are THE PREMIER website, the go-to place for up-to-the-minute information for this fiasco. Your parents have a right to be busting their buttons not only for your coverage yesterday but, just in general, how you have run this blog and for the fine reputation you have of breaking political news that is accurate.

I have been one of the many who have been glued to the national news programs. I believe that some of them have a better understanding of Illinois politics than most of the residents of this state. Questions they have been asking have been on the order of: The Illinois citizens did not know what they were getting in 2002 but by 2006 they knew Blagojevich was a crook so why did he get re-elected; Illinois has such a long history of political corruption, who else is to blame for this but the citizens themselves for continuing to vote the crooks in office.

And to that I say AMEN. We really have no one to blame but ourselves for Blago getting back into office in 2006. I will admit to voting for him in 2002 because I was pretty tired of 26 years or so of GOP rule and I was ready for a change. Blago promised that change to us. However, it didn't take too long into his first term to know that he was keeping up his campaign promise of "no more business as usual". And in 2006, or probably even in 2005, he jumped out of the box with his huge campaign warchest and bought up prime TV time with his "What Was She Thinking" ads linking JBT to GRyan. And a majority of those who still had a sense of civic duty and bothered to vote, bought that mantra and voted for Blago AGAIN.

So we can impeach, Blago can resign, LMadigan can ask the Supreme Court to remove him from office. It all makes not one single bit of difference if we, the voters, have not learned our lesson and demand better representation by first CLEANING HOUSE. We need to stop falling for the excuse from our legislators that experience will trump inexperience and we should vote the incumbants back into office. This state would be better off with high school students sitting in the House and Senate.

Illinois is now know by the entire nation (and probably those in the world who give a rats behind) as the MOST CORRUPT STATE IN THE NATION. We owe it to ourselves, to our children, and to our grandchildren to clean up this system. We can't rely on the politicans to do it themselves.

On one last note about Blago. It wouldn't surprise me if he were to plead an insanity defense. Rich I'm serious about this. I can't understand why someone who knew he was in deep hot water would continue on his merry way with "business as usual". I don't think he's stupid. I think he's as sharp as a tack in certain areas. I believe he has continued with this whole senate appointee business with the thought in mind that no sane person would do this and thus, if caught, he would cop an insanity plea. This is not a real far stretch of the imagination.

And he thought he could run for U.S. President in 2016. OMG, what a state.

Re: Our day together

Say WHAT? — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:03:17 -0000

What will happen to all of the people appointed by the Governor during this "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" spree. Is there a way to take a closer look at those appointments eventually?

Re: Our day together

dupage progressive — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:36:17 -0000

who is deputy gov. A, mentioned throughout the criminal complaint?

Re: Our day together

From the Sidelines — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:25:41 -0000

I do not want the Supreme Court removing the governor. It's too much of a constitutional stretch. Disability was clearly intended to be physical or mental disability.

It's the General Assembly responsibility to remove him. The longer he stays in office the more damage it will do to Obama, the next U.S. Senator from Illinois and the Democrats in 2010.

Every picture, every quote of every Democrat posed with Blagojevich or whoever said anything nice about the rat will be used in the next primary and then in the general election.

As we find out more and more of the details look for campaign materials to use those quotes and pictures interspersed with datelines of what the governor was doing.

Remember, Blago almost always came downstate for official events when it corresponded with a fundraiser. On those dates those pictures were taken and those positive quotes given.

When overlaid with whatever illegal action taken in conjunction with the fundraiser (and yes, those connections may be a stretch, but they will be used), it will make a very damning indictment for use in all sorts of campaign ads, commercials, mailers, and whatnot.

If Rod is still governor Sunday, Madigan will be forced to take action Monday.

Remember, the tapes show the first lady (ahem!), took part in the conspiracy to defraud the taxpayers of honest government. The complaint wasn't against her, but what will the grand jury do when they get to hear her voice on the tapes.

It took Spitzer a few days in New York to realize that he was going to resign. Just don't panic by the attorney's statement yesterday that Blago won't.

I would still bet he will.

Note: Having said this, if they go with the insanity defense which would explain much of his actions, then there is a mental disability at play and the Supremes would have the opening to act.

Re: Our day together

I'm just saying — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:19:32 -0000

No Durbin really has a distaste for Quinn after the 1996 run for Senate.

Quinn made insinuations that Durbin's daughter recieved a scholarship that may have been of a nefarious nature.

I dont' think he has ever forgot that one.

Honestly, Quinn has never been popular with anyone.

One memory that I have was being at O'Hare on the Sunday before the convention in Boston four years ago seeing all the other pols socializing amongst themselves after a tough legislative session and Pat Quinn was sitting there by himself like the lonesome kicker.

I have witnessed the same thing at parades also.

Well I never thought the first Fenwick man to be governor would be Quinn. I have heard that many times too.....

Re: Our day together

One of the 35 — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:12:13 -0000

Six degrees - Good Question. I would think Lavin at DCEO will be seeking legal counsel.

Re: Our day together

JonShibleyFan — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:09:46 -0000

Sorry, meant "Highway Contractor 1."

Re: Our day together

JonShibleyFan — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:07:50 -0000

Low on the list, and apologies if I missed this, but any ideas who Highway Contractor C is?

Re: Our day together

VanillaMan — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:02:40 -0000

You are correct Captain Flume - more people than just Rod Blagojevich let us down. They should all be expected to defend their inactions.

We will not get better government until we demand better government.

Re: Our day together

Six Degrees of Separation — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:01:02 -0000

My question: Which present or former of the gov's Agency Directors are (or should be) the most nervous?

Re: Our day together

Phil Collins — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:54:00 -0000

Jail house Rod, I don't think that Quinn ran for the U.S. Senate. What year do you think he ran?

Re: Our day together

Captain Flume — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:46:59 -0000

"more saddened by the recent turn of events than relieved"-- I don't Mr. miller's feelings on this, but we should be sad we elected the Governor a second time, we should be sad that the Illinois political mythos will probably eventually find his actions stupid because he got caught but heroic in his intentions, we should be sad that we need to feel relieved of his administration should he actually leave office before his term expires. Yes, there is a great deal to feel sad about.

Re: Our day together

Cheswick — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:46:23 -0000

== What is the current status of guvâ€™s license to practice law? ==

According to the ARDC: "Voluntarily inactive and not authorized to practice law - Last Registered Year: 2008"

Interesting.

Re: Our day together

Jail house Rod — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:38:46 -0000

I don't think Durbin and Quinn are close. Didn't they run against one another in a US Senate primary?