DISQUS

ILPundit · 11 months ago

If Bill Daley is running for Governor, he just wrote off the downstate vote, I think

anon · 11 months ago

Wow, he couldn't be more wrong. Using his logic, Cook County and Chicago city politics should be completely free of corruption or close to it given all the media in Chicago.

recover82 · 11 months ago

Springfield, what is basically one a large farm-town is the one being labeled as the problem?

Six Degrees of Separation · 11 months ago

Hmmm...Vrdolyak, Hired Truck, Rosty, our current Gov (a Chicagoan). That took about 5 seconds of thought. Should I go on?

phocion · 11 months ago

Bill Daley is a pretty smart guy. He seems to be saying that because more people get caught in Chicago, that means that because of the scrutiny, less people are tempted. This is a bit of trying to disprove a negative. Is there more corruption in Springfield, but it's just not caught? If not, should the U.S. Attorney there be held to account? Or is Springfield more clean, hence fewer cases of elected officials going to jail? I think many readers would agree that there are flagrant offenders who hold public office in the legislature, and wonder why they never get nailed. Guess we'll never know if Bill Daley is right or not...

RMW Stanfford · 11 months ago

He right in that political culture in Springfield is part of the problem to but Chicago is a large part of the problem, Blagojevich wasn't some pure uncorrupted person in Chicago who was changed by Springfield and Chicago/Cook has had more than their fair share of corruption on the local level. It is all interconnected to create the problem we have with political corruption now, it's not just the fault of Chicago or Springfield but the entire system in Illinois.

This Guy · 11 months ago

Methinks Bill Daley has a certain, obvious something in common with a constipated elephant.

Until he can quantify his claims, they are without quality.

Jake from Elwood · 11 months ago

Springfield could use some bleach to be sure,
but Chicago requires a team of Orkin men.

Anonymous · 11 months ago

What's his last name? "Daley," lest we forget who his father is. Also, didn't Fitzgerald take down his brother's patronage machine? I think that answers the question quite nicely.

VanillaMan · 11 months ago

“It is more about Springfield and not about Chicago,” Daley told me. “Springfield is away from the big city, there is not a lot of press down there, it is incestuous — all one club — and can be a cesspool.”

Bill Daley from Chicago said this?
Bill Daley, the son and brother of Chicago mayors?
Bill Daley, Bill Clinton's appointee?

Talk about insulting! If anyone knows corruption on every level of government, it is Bill Daley. To have Bill Daley claim that Springfield is the source of Illinois' corruption is like hearing OJ Simpson claim I am a criminal because I sometimes jaywalk!

Or like having the Hollywood Madam claim that housewives sell out to their husbands.

Or like McDonald's claim that Subway offers fattening food!

Or like Chevrolet Vega owners claim that Toyota builds crap cars!

Or like Pia Zadora claiming that Meryl Streep couldn't act!

scoot · 11 months ago

He is flat out wrong. The city of Chicago and Cook Co. have a rich history of corruption...I believe over 400 Alderman have been involved w/ corruption in the past decade. Not to mention all the scandals that seem to swirl non-stop around city hall.

There is no Democratic Machine in Springfield, it's in Chicago, and Mayor Daley sends his handpicked cronies down to Springfield to bring the $$$ back to Chicago.

Gov Blago also blamed Springfield when his top fundraiser Tony Rezko was indicted for being the problem. So, it's ridiculous to say Springfield is the cesspool of corruption. I'm not sure why Bill Daley would say something so outrageous.

VanillaMan · 11 months ago

Did Bill Daley pass out after saying this?

VanillaMan · 11 months ago

I think I hear God laughing...

Anita · 11 months ago

In fairness to Bill Daley, there's a huge difference between Chicago, the Illinois delegation in Washington, and Springfield: Chicago and the Illinois delegation function; Springfield is a mess from top to bottom. I don't know if it's because the town is incestuous, if it's because of the caliber of people who go into state government, or what.

John Bambenek · 11 months ago

At least he's honest that he believes that state capitol should be in chicago.

Capitol View · 11 months ago

All one big club??? Most legislators hardly know members of the other three caucuses. And the second floor doesn't talk to the third floor.

I do agree that mass media editors do a terrible job of reporting on state government and featuring non-scandelous stories about it. Public apathy is a potential breeding ground for ego driven corruption.

But Bill (Daley, not "our" Bill), where do state officials come from? The movers and shakers all seem to be coming from the Chicago area of late.

Obama was a good government exception who rose above the fray, as some - too few - public officials seem able to do.

Hey, Bill Daley: start a Henry Horner society of able and honorable potential public servants and groom them to run for state and local office. Either party, any ethnic or religious background - just good and talented people, the types that now may choose to avoid public service and elected office because of the taint of Ryan/Blago/too many others to list.

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.

Anon · 11 months ago

I cant believe he said that. I guess he isnt running for governor. By the way, didnt he say that he would share his future plans regarding teh governor's office after the first of the year? Any word?

Anonymous · 11 months ago

Yes, Springfield is the cesspool. The Davlin Machine has been putting the screws to we un's for years... If Springfield is the cesspool, it is, by Daley's definition, simply the gathering place for the turds from corrupt Chicago.

Excessively rabid · 11 months ago

Between this and the Burris "race card," it's hard to believe the things people will take seriously.

VanillaMan · 11 months ago

Dear Chicago,
Please stop sending us corrupted politicians. It has gotten so bad, that I heard Bill Daley claims that we are the source of Illinois corruption.

Thanks,
Springfield - the capitol you refuse to acknowledge

Cheswick · 11 months ago

Bill Daley is completely wrong.

But, assuming he is right, I believe a case can be made that if Chicago and environs quit sending their crooks and corrupt politicians to Springfield, and only sent their squeaky clean politicians to Springfield, we wouldn't have that problem. Right?

Anon · 11 months ago

If he can convince leaders in Washington that Springfield is more corrupt than Chicago. His brother might get federal funds sent directly to the City of Chicago and not via the State of Illinois

Ghost · 11 months ago

I would say overall he is wrong; but not because springfield is corruption free, but Springfield is not the source.

Corruption comes from private individulas seeking wealth. The center of commerce and wealth in Illinois begin with Chicago. Various persons an entities, from legitimate buisness, to the mob, to the meat packing plants needed to control various aspects of government to smooth the way for thier acitivities and the accumulation of money. Chicago has been the center of this campain since the 1800's and continues on today. Springfield has corruption, but it was born and thrives in Chicago

ILPundit · 11 months ago

I would add that there is a reason that all of the corruption prosections in Illinois-- both city, county, and state-- are taking place in Chicago US Attorney jurisdiction.

Its because to corruption, regardless of government branch, is taking place in northern Illinois

HV in HP · 11 months ago

In support of his argument I offer two words: "member initiatives".

Here's two more: "legislative scholarships".

The Doc · 11 months ago

I wonder if Bill's big brother, who has been very quiet over the past month, is thrilled about that statement.

Phineas J. Whoopee · 11 months ago

Did he really say incestuous when bashing Springfield. Incredible. Every State Senator or Rep from Chicago sent downstate is inbred Chicago: Jones, Mell, Hynes, Fritchey, Madigan, Burke, Joyce, Osterman, Cullerton, D'Amico, McCauliff-it is endless.

Was he kidding?

Toni H. · 11 months ago

The man is wrong oh so wrong. He thinks the problem is because Springy doesn't have ALOT of press and NOT a big city? I think we manage to do quite well down here when THEY are NOT around. Can't say the same for Chicago! Only a complete idiot would spout off such remarks.

Fan of the Game · 11 months ago

If Springfield is the problem, it is likely because all the imports (legislators) come from Chicago.

Ken · 11 months ago

#

- Anon - Wednesday, Jan 7, 09 @ 12:56 pm:

>If he can convince leaders in Washington that >Springfield is more corrupt than Chicago. His >brother might get federal funds sent directly to >the City of Chicago and not via the State of >Illinois

You hit the nail on the head. The Mayor asks for money, and his brother slams the competition for it.

Ken · 11 months ago

Sorry the formatting was bad on that. This is more readable I trust:

- Anon - Wednesday, Jan 7, 09 @ 12:56 pm:

If he can convince leaders in Washington that Springfield is more corrupt than Chicago. His brother might get federal funds sent directly to the City of Chicago and not via the State of Illinois

You hit the nail on the head. The Mayor asks for money, and his brother slams the competition for it

Bill Baar · 11 months ago

His Dad once said, you never have to take back things you don't say.

Bill should have listened to his Dad.

MadDem · 11 months ago

Cellini.

Kjellander.

Yep · 11 months ago

Disagree.

The question is partially addressed in James Knowlan & Samuel Grove's book "Illinois Politics and Government: The Expanding Metropolitan Frontier"

Very good read. A snippet from a review...

This book is comprehensive in its descriptions and assessment of Illinois politics. The Illinois political scene is addressed in early chapters along with a description of the Chicago/Collar County (counties surrounding Chicago)/Downstate triumvirate power structure that dominates Illinois politics. It also focuses on the individualistic mode of governance and politics which is "centered on political influence and patronage."

sneaker · 11 months ago

A Chicagoian calling downstate corrupt is like the pot calling the kettle black. Mr. Daley better take a better look in his own neighborhood because his family may be one of the root causes of problems in IL.

CentralSouth · 11 months ago

Anon 12:47 PM...That was his announcement. He "ain't" runnin!

erstwhilesteve · 11 months ago

It has always seemed to me that Rod's political dysfunction (and thus the key to the impasse that we are in) is that he can't or won't enter into the Springfield culture. He stays in Chicago, doesn't talk to the leaders, etc. This is not to absolve the Springfield culture - it is ingrown and quite capable of producing its own corruption and inaction - but to have a Governor who refuses to connect with it at all is what has produced the depth of disaster we've been experiencing.

John Patterson · 11 months ago

Comments off on the "my office" post???
Your office???
I'd be happy with something along the lines of "our office" tho I greatly prefer "My office."

And do you know who lobbies for Comcast?
That should be your question of the day.

GA Watcher · 11 months ago

The problem is neither Springfield or Chicago. Its more about egos and greed. The effective politicians that I have seen in my thirty years observing our State government have been those who can exercise the power of their positions without their egos or greed affecting their decisions.

Belle · 11 months ago

He's just trying to distract us.

Slugo · 11 months ago

Ahhh ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha....ha...he's kidding....right? No? What a goof. And what's he been in charge of? Like all the others from OZ, Daley lives in a make-believe world.

the Patriot · 11 months ago

The string of scandals in Chicago is well documented by other posters. Lest we forget the power in Springfield is by Chicago Politicians. So much so, they don't even come to Springfield for business. Look at the number of elected officials that work in Springfield that are from I-80 north. No doubt, we have our share of hacks down state, but no argument can be made anything that has occurred in the past 6 years is because of people down state. We have Blago, 2 Madigans, Jones, White, Quinn, Giannolous(sp), Hines. Who of these is from Downstate?

Just My Opinion · 11 months ago

==Cellini. Kjellander.==

OK, that's two. How about naming a whole lot more to match the Cook County numbers.

As for Bill Daley's comment, consider the source. I know of no other part of the State, politically, that is under the press scrutiny like Springfield. Central and Southern Illinois news media don't go to Chicago to report on their political corruption but you can bet that the Chicago press comes to Springfield to report on the business under the dome. That's a given since "the dome" is in Springfield.

I'm still laughing about this one. And to Bill Daley, we hardley knew ye.

Rich Miller · 11 months ago

Yes, Patterson, I should've said "the office I share with Patterson," or some such. Perhaps even: "The office I rarely visit."

All apologies, roomie.

zatoichi · 11 months ago

Basic political philosophy: The fingers always point toward others as the cause. I have to fix what "they" have done. I am here to help "the people" so it can't be me.

MadDem · 11 months ago

Well, there is George Ryan and the Kankakee Republican machine. When I started working for the General Assembly in the early 1970's. I met Senator Ed McBroom and learned that corrupt machine politics were not limited to Chicago. I think Rich Miller is familiar with the political tradition that bred George Ryan. And if we calculate it per capita, Cellini and Kjellander count for 50 Cook County crooks.

wordslinger · 11 months ago

Geography doesn't determine corruption.

There's corruption in Chicago. And in Springfield. And in New York. And in LA. And in Baton Rouge. And in London. And in Moscow. And in Ancient Rome......

Anybody read Shakespeare, Gibbon, Dostoyevsky, Kafka, The Bible.....?

Bill Daley's remark is ridiculous, but so are the holier-than-thou protests.

VMan, you can really hear God? Let us know what else he says.

Bubbles · 11 months ago

== Springfield culture ==

Oxymoron?

You Go Boy · 11 months ago

To MadDem: I'm from K3 and knew Ed, Ellie, and son Vic...I recall Ed's gang standing outside the poll on Water St. on election day "Greeting" the voters - one of them taking notes, I'm sure. Yes, corruption everywhere, but Chicago simply due to sheer numbers and tradition takes the honor. However Springfield does have a lobbyist on every corner, in every hallway, in every bar, etc....cesspool is such a powerful term (phew)...yet totally accurate - location widespread.

Black Ivy · 11 months ago

Billy's right on the money!

cermak_rd · 11 months ago

If more of the crooks come from north of I-80, I would suggest it may be because most of the population of the state lives north of I-80! The population in Central, Southern and West-Central IL has simply shrunk in the past couple of decades so their corruption quota has likewise shrank.

Little Egypt · 11 months ago

MadDem, those of us from the beautiful part of the State consider Kankakee to be Chicago. The lobbyists in Springfield do not all hail from Springfield. We are of the opinion that most are from Chicago. They just bring their stink and corruption downstate with them.

Ditto · 11 months ago

He is right on. It's not a knock on he people of springfield or the city itself. It's about the system and what it breeds. It's incestuous to say the least and there's zero sunshine when the GA and lobbyists hit town.

Larry Mullholland · 11 months ago

Bill Daley's comments are ridiculous and rather offensive to downstaters. It so far from the truth it hardly merits a response. I suspect it was for the national media who don't know any better.

To the point about Cellini and KJ there has been no trial or convictions. Nor do I think there will be for these two... Its interesting thats the best anyone can come up with in a comparision which perhaps proves the point that daily is wrong.

Cheswick · 11 months ago

Springfield is a place where the Daleys have sent their henchmen to do their dirty work.

wordslinger · 11 months ago

LE, they pay most of the bills, too (when bills are being paid).

Everyone needs a scapegoat, I guess. Thanks for the good government statesmanship of Paul Powell and the Phelps clan.

Mommy · 11 months ago

The corruption is in Illinois not just Chicago.

Amuzing Myself · 11 months ago

I could be wrong, but I think the vast majority of Illinoisans, regardless of whether they're from downstate or the City of Chicago itself, would pretty much agree that most of what corruption is in Springfield is the product of Chicago-style politics that goes back at least to the Capone mob days and probably further.

Are there other forces from outside Chicago that are corrupt - without question, but to say that Springfield is more corrupt than Chicago is just hilarity in its purest form.

He's got to be kidding.... unless it's that same "other world" our governor lives in as well.

Pot calling kettle · 11 months ago

So, are Madigan & Jones & White & Madigan & Quinn & Gianoulias (sorry, Alexi) & Hynes from Springfield or Chicago/Cook?

Of course, they all get along. It's those darn downstaters that are the trouble.

Nuance · 11 months ago

In Springfield, everyone seems to know everyone else's business. If two people just meet, evrybody else knows it. You don't need a lot of press. Something you can certainly get around in Chicago. So where is the best place to conduct incest?

Secret Square · 11 months ago

Even allowing for the fact that "Springfield" refers to the state government structure -- not to the city in which it happens to be located, nor to its residents -- this comment is a bit over the top, given that said structure is almost entirely (and unavoidably) controlled by Chicago-based politicians and other figures.
I suspect, as other commenters do, that this represents a rather clumsy attempt by Bill Daley to divert the national press' attention from Blago and convince Congress to send the federal bucks directly to the city. It also probably signals that he's given up on running for governor as well.

sal-says · 11 months ago

“It is more about Springfield and not about Chicago,” Daley told me. “Springfield is away from the big city, there is not a lot of press down there, it is incestuous — all one club — and can be a cesspool.”

Ha Ha. IL politicians get away with most anything and everything; why can't Daley spin his fairy tales and fantasies?

Dual Citizen · 11 months ago

I have lived and worked in all parts of the state. As far as I have seen corruption is evenly spread out. Paul Powell was from Southern Illinois. East St. Louis and Madison County have a reputation for corruption as long as I can remember. Don't forget the Rutan U.S. Supreme Court ruling was related to Republican patronage. And dem side is represented by ex-utility commissioner Bonasinga, who went down for kickbacks. Levine was from a North Suburb. Fawell from Dupage County. Ryan from Kankakee. You get the picture.

There are two factors fueling the idea that Chicago is more corrupt. One is the size of the city. The other issue is Chicago is a highly competitive media market. Corruption gets reported for the most part. I don't think that is as true downstate. I can always remember hearing that the State Journal Register had a policy of never writing anything negative about Bill Cellini.

Southern Illinois Voter · 11 months ago

In the words of one of Chicago's own, "What was he thinking?"

sunshine · 11 months ago

So that's why Rod always stays in the Governor's mansion, because there's no press or scrutiny down here. He never runs back to Chicago to hide. Daley's commens are beyond ridiculous. I think he should hold a press conference in the Blue Room.

bored now · 11 months ago

the state apparently owns some land in peotone which should be more than suitable for a new capitol. moreover, the state would save money, if only in travel expenses. the state's major media outlets would be able to shine a bright light upon the doings there. a very elegant solution...

SouthernGirl · 11 months ago

Bill Daley reminds me of the Wizard of Oz.

"Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain there!"

VanillaMan · 11 months ago

VMan, you can really hear God? Let us know what else he says.

God says, "I empowered you people to solve your own problems, so stop praying for miracles!"

wordslinger · 11 months ago

Blasphemy: The act of claiming for oneself the attributes and rights of God.

steve schnorf · 11 months ago

I think he's wrong about at least one very important point. Only because of the reporters actually located in Springfield do the media in other parts of the state have any remote idea what goes on in Springfield, or why, or how.

Media folks from Chicago, with the exception of a handful that all of us who have worked in Springfield could name, know virtually nothing about state government or politics outside of the Chicago metro area. They come down to Springfield a couple or 3 times a year (something controversial being voted on, end of session etc.), breathlessly shout a question or two at the Governor, file their stories WITHOUT A CLUE.

Generally it has been a joke to us about how much we have to explain to them, but we always had to because they were the big guys, and a stupid story in one of the Chicago papers or TV stations was much harder to unravel, because they were so sure they knew what they were talking about. With the capitol bureau folks, we frequently disagreed with how they reported something, but didn't often think it was because they didn't understand the questions, answers, or stories.

earnest · 11 months ago

>Is he right ...

Yes, about Springfield being corrupt.

>... or wrong

Yes, about Chicago not being corrupt.

Boone Logan Square · 11 months ago

While a Daley denying corruption in Chicago is pretty amusing, there is something to be said about how poorly the state's media covers state government. Imagine if the Chicago TV and radio stations gave time to even a third of the reporting that Rich has done here for years. How much better would the citizenry be informed about what goes on in the capitol?

Maybe the Blagojegeddon will inspire greater coverage of Springfield in the future. It'd be hard to make the case that Illinois state politics will bore audiences now that the governor has inspired comedians from coast to coast.

VanillaMan · 11 months ago

Blasphemy: The act of claiming for oneself the attributes and rights of God.

God told me you would write that.

VanillaMan · 11 months ago

He also told me to let you know that your mom knew those magazines were under your bed.

AwShucks · 11 months ago

OMG!! NOW, the rest of the state is recognized by a Chicago resident? How quaint. Ah....did us "southerns" all of a sudden learn how to be crooks in just one afternoon? I suppose we if that were true, isn't behavior taught? So! Chicago sent legislators to central IL to teach?
Thank goodness not all lawmakers, north, south, east or west are "crooked" shysters. Mr Daily, me thinks your medication should be changed.

Macoupin County Kid · 11 months ago

Whatever Daley's smoking.....pass it this way!!

Dual Citizen · 11 months ago

Can anyone cite any hard hitting investigative reports in the SJ-R on government corruption before Blagojevich? For instance, any articles on the landlords of state office buildings? Or how about the story related to the percentage of asphalt in highways? Or back in the day, the abuse of patronage under Thompson and Edgar? Part of it is a lack of resources, but as I said before, I have heard second-hand that SJ-R had a hands-off policy on Mr. Cellini.

On the flipside, I can cite a lot of examples in the Tribune and SunTimes going after the Mayor and the City with serious investigative reporting. The Tribune has written a lot on patronage in the City, abuses by alderman, etc. I think it was the SunTimes that led the charge against Ryan's dealings at the Secretary of State.

Silverback · 11 months ago

I think Bill Daley just said that it takes people like John Kass to keep Chicago honest!

Bookworm · 11 months ago

I agree with Boone and Steve that more Capitol coverage is needed. Unfortunately, not just in Illinois but nationwide, the trend is in precisely the opposite direction due to all the well-known woes and mismanagement of the newspaper/broadcast industry.

Nose For News · 11 months ago

Very funny.....
A a big bucks banker with pockets full of TARP cash, running full page, five figure newspaper ads on their wonderful decision to buy IL short term debt for an extra $20 million profit.
That sure sounds like a good source for finding honesty
SillyBilly go back to filling the ATMs

cover · 11 months ago

Statements like this just add fuel to the fire among those in Central Illinois who would like to give Chicago, Cook County, and some of the collars their own state. If you put an advisory referendum on the ballot asking if the state should split up, I would not be surprised if most counties south of I-80 voted overwhelmingly in favor of it. Would Chicago miss "Southern Illinois", other than the U of I, and having Sprinfield as a scapegoat for problems that affect everyone in the state?

Little Egypt · 11 months ago

Wordslinger - OUCH. I have no connection to The Phelps Clan but I do think that while Paul Powell was in office, Springfield became aware that there was not only Chicago but Southern Illinois. There are a lot of Southern Illinois transplants who owe their State careers to PP giving them their very first job.

Sweet Polly Purebred · 11 months ago

VMan - Your comments are whiz bang. What can I say, but thank you! Your spin on things, along with Little Egypt's... Just the bestest!

DHee · 11 months ago

Of course Springfield is a cesspool. Just like the Mississippi flows south, so does the *bleep* from Chicago.

wordslinger · 11 months ago

--I do think that while Paul Powell was in office, Springfield became aware that there was not only Chicago but Southern Illinois. There are a lot of Southern Illinois transplants who owe their State careers to PP giving them their very first job.--

LE, can't have it both ways. Corrupt politicians from southern Illinois are good because they gave people jobs? One, they weren't his to "give," and two, given those bulging shoeboxes, I bet a lot of those folks had to kick back to him.

My original point is that geography doesn't determine corruption. And I forgot Kenny Gray earlier.

Dan S, a Voter, Taxpayer & · 11 months ago

I'm no shrink, but looks like Bill Daley is as dilusional as Gov. Goofy. All of Springfields problems seem to take place north of I-80, no one shows up here unless they have to. Where is Gov. Goofy get his phone tapped and where did he get arrested? Not in Springfield!

CharlesR · 11 months ago

Daley is absolutely right. The statehouse press corps here is terribly weak, especially for a large-population state, and the capital city's local newspaper, which should be covering state government like it owned it is an awful paper. My theory is it has something to do with UIS and its public-affairs reporting program, which produces, for the most part, weak reporters and bad writers.

Smitty Irving · 11 months ago

As an immigrant from a state that embraced the Progressive Era (non partisan local government, enforced civil service rules, veteran's preference that could not be evaded), while Chicago / Cook County may have more crooks, per capita, Springfield is the corruption capital of Illinois.

Things that Jim Thompson put Daley's people into jail for were commonplace in Springfield during Thompson's 14 years as governor. In part, because Reagan and Bush let him pick the US Attorneys. Cellini - enough has been said. How about George Mason and the Lottery Building? Thompson's 1976 downstate campaign coordinator being a Xerox employee - and then Thompson exempted copiers from competitive bidding? The selling of State jobs? (For those of you who doubt that, in 1992 AG Roland Burris, using ISP led by Terry Gainer, successfully prosecuted Republicans, winning convictions, in Southern Illinois - Centralia? - for selling State jobs. And the feds, under Bush 41, let the State handle the prosecutions.)

Jim Edgar? With all due respect to the honest people who worked for him, Janis Cellini and Michael Belletire were named unindicted co-conspirators by the federal MSI jury. (And for those of you who doubt that, consult the September 2000 issue of Illinois Issues - http://www.lib.niu.edu/2000/ii0009.pdf - page 20 of the pdf, page 38 of the magazine).

George Ryan? Little can be added.

Sangamon County Republican Party? We'll never know, as the State Journal Register, with Jack Clarke as the Publisher, had a policy that the name "Bill Cellini" could not appear in the paper - unless it was a travel story written by Julie Cellini.

Chicago / Cook County has their crooks - but, per capita, Springfield / Sangamon County has them beat. By a mile.

Downstate Cook County (Macoupi · 11 months ago

Won't you go home Bill Daley, won't you go home. You've lied the whole day long. This is a play out of the Blago playbook: Oh look, there's a kitty!

Frank Booth · 11 months ago

CharlesR so rarely have I read something so completely ignorant that did not come from the Blagojevich administration.
yeah, because all the stories being used as the basis for impeachment came from where???
I'd like to see Mr. Daley actually follow through with one of his acclaimed statewide bids. Outside friendly confines of Chicago he doesn't seem so great and his business affiliations might dare come into view.
NAFTA ... gee, never heard of it. Oh, but in Chicago he's a great business/political leader. Try selling that line in Galesburg you friggin moron.
As for you personally Charles, I assume you couldn't get into the program. You have some Dana Perino hang up or stalker complex.
PAR interns have pointed out Alexi's bizarre Florida gambling contribution connections, how the governor flip flopped on violent video games from Congress to governor, how the state police tried to hide the NIU shooters gun card info, and so on.
The full-time press corps has been the only group focused on illegal hiring, skirting of constitutional requirements in state spending and the impending budget crash that will doom us all.
I assume your post must have been some kind of audition for the Blago press office, why else would someone be so blatantly and completely stupid?
You are, without a doubt, the dumbest poster of 2009 for thecapitolfaxbog. And rest assured, I'll be looking for someone to top your stupidity. But really, it's gonna take a lot to beat that, something along the lines of blaming the media for Blago's re-election.
Enjoy the rest of the year you tool.

ZC · 11 months ago

Daley might just possibly have a point!

To compare states, I just crunched the recent stats released by Corporate Crime Reporter. It just ranked the 35 most populous states by corruption rate, defined as the total number of public corruption convictions from 1997 to 2006 per 100,000 residents. So the higher the number you get, the more corrupt your state is ranked.
(IL came in #6, behind LA, MS, KY, AL and OH).

Next I looked at these 35 states, and I compared whether or not the state capitol was located in one of the top-five population cities in the state (Springfield falls in at #6, just behind Joliet). I looked to see if your state capitol was in the top three most populous cities. Last, for some states, their capitol is in their biggest city, their equivalent of Chicago.

It's only suggestive, but yes, the smaller (relatively) your capitol town is compared to the rest of the state's population center, the higher on average is the per capita convictions of your public officials.

There are 11 states where the capitol isn't in a top five population city (they are CA, FL, IL, KY, MD, MO, NV, NJ, PA, NY and WA). Their average per capita corruption: 3.414. The other 24 states: 2.73.

There are 12 states where the capitol is in that state's biggest city (those states would be AZ, AR, CO, GA, IN, IA, MA, MS, OH, OK, SC, UT). They average out to a 2.599, versus everyone else's 3.13.

OK, so it's just fun with numbers. But, Daley might be partially onto something. It's a common complaint, after all, that D.C. is a political cesspool because it has _nothing else_ besides politics. The whole city is structured around government. Not hard to see why that could be a corrupting culture on the people who work there.

Maybe we should move the capitol to Chicago, so everyone who works there has more on their minds than just the political merry-go-round...

Frank Booth · 11 months ago

It's nice to see another Chicago Democrat putting the Rod Blagojevich playbook to use. I wonder how much Daley paid Rod for it.
Gee, who campaigned about six years ago on a culture of corruption and a cess pool in Springfield.
Hmmmm. I wonder who was then arrested in his Chicago home for a conspiracy to sell of Barack Obama's Senate seat, without ever spending a full week in the capitol city.
Keep it up Bill Daley. Perhaps you might want to skip to the final chapter of that playbook you purchased at Rod's fire sale.
Here's a tease, it doesn't turn out well, kinda like all your other alleged statewide runs that ended about the time you realized one trip to Dem day at the State Fair wasn't going to cut it in the primary.

Lisa · 11 months ago

The sooner the local, regional and national media realize all paths of corruption are related to, controlled by, influenced with or started by the Daley's and their agents, the sooner we can get to the root cause of the problem and CHANGE the culture of corruption.

Blago is a just a small fry. Richard Daley is king of corruption and we all need to scream that loud and clear.

PeoriaOutraged · 11 months ago

How many Chicago alderman/other pols have been convicted of corruption?

I know that I have seen it mentioned lately. (triple digits?)

Bookworm · 11 months ago

If what ZC suggests is true, then the best way to "clean up" Springfield -- and, by extension, state government -- would be to diversify its economy so that not everyone who lives there is dependent upon the government for their livelihood.

A lot of potential exists for that already. We have two (soon to be three) well-known hospitals, two college campuses (UIS and SCI/Benedictine), and of course, the Lincoln sites. UIS is growing fast and has the potential to be a really good (and affordable) school. And we have location, along major transportation arteries that provide relatively quick access to both Chicago AND St. Louis.

I think it would be great if someday, Springfield had a diverse enough economic and cultural life (think Boston, Nashville, or Austin) that being the state capital was secondary. It would benefit the entire state if that were the case.

Smitty Irving · 11 months ago

Another indicator of Springfield's all encompassing corrupt culture? Chicago gets US Attorneys like Patrick Fitzgerald. What does Springfield get? Former US Attorneys who offer the new US Attorney (a Ken Starr alum) to the movers and shakers in Springfield - and the first one they introduce him to is ... Bill Cellini.

Bookworm · 11 months ago

Is ZC also suggesting that the nation's capital would be less of a political "cesspool" if it were moved to New York or L.A. ?

ZC · 11 months ago

Bookworm,

You are right, that would be a logical conclusion. It would be something like what the Brits do, having their capital in London.

I should emphasize again that I don't have any confidence in this theory. My point is only, Daley's assertion isn't ludicrous on its face. The idea of having a diversified capital has been made before; see for instance Kevin Phillips' _Arrogant Capital: Washington, Wall Street and the Frustration of American Politics_ (1995).

From the Sidelines · 11 months ago

ZC while statistics do provide a partial picture, you need to also look at governmental structure in these states. Illinois has a more centralized government while states like Florida have a more decentralized government. There is hardly a way to compare these two structures.