Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Media / Politics / News Bites / News / Clout City A dollop of mercy for Blago
Posted by Michael Miner on 12.07.11 at 02:43 PM
It is not a crime not to admit your crimes. It is not a crime not to beg for mercy. Yet until the day that Rod Blagojevich was sentenced to prison for 14 years he had done neither of these things and the press had hammered him for it. The last-minute conversion mattered to Judge James Zagel, who said he gave the former governor credit for facing up to his sins.
Far down the tracks, farther than he might ever travel, atonement and redemption await Blagojevich. Well, it is pretty to think so. And because at the last moment he reached the way station of repentance, Zagel apparently extended him a dollop of mercy. The state had asked for a sentence of at least 15 years.
Should we care if Blagojevich remains blind to his own corruption and goes to his grave thinking himself an exemplary public servant? No one believes his sight was miraculously restored — yet we reward the hypocrisy of him saying it has been. Oscar Wilde called hypocrisy the tribute vice pays to virtue. When paid not to virtue but to power, the tribute looks more like something extorted.
Is it because prison is supposed to break people that we think it’s a fair deal to shorten their sentence if they show us they’re already broken? They show us they’re broken when they grovel.
“Betraying the public trust” is certainly reason enough to punish Blagojevich, though the language is heavily perfumed. I’d say he screwed the enablers who twice put him in office. I suppose “The people got what they deserved” spoken on his own behalf wouldn’t sway a judge.
Comments (6)
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his crime was getting caught. that anyone in public office dare speak of another's betrayal of public trust is the grand irony
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the man was born & raised, then married into a corrupt political ideology; on top of that, he’s a fucking lawyer …. how can you so conveniently ignore context every week?
oh well…la de da.
Blagojevich got what he deserved, but it's sad to think that many bigger crooks in this town have had buildings named after them.
well, hope for Blago’s sake they allow conjugal visits, from what I’ve read, prison sex isn’t all that satisfying & you can’t really kick back & have a smoke when you’re done.
but good point FGFM - & not just buildings — “Northwestern University School of Law honored [Former 1st Ward Alderman Don Parrillo’s father] in 2003 by naming the William Parrillo Courtroom for his adept handling of a leading labor law case in 1934 before the United States Supreme Court,” according the former alderman in his book that eventually came out & you can read the 1st 20 pages via this link, if it works.
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/77493090/Free-…
If not mistaken, think there was also a million dollar gift involved, but don’t quote me, don’t need any more trouble.
Interestingly, Northwestern Law is also where my lovely wife went. Unfortunately, needed to file for a divorce the day before Thanksgiving for, shall we say, health & safety reasons. Only down side, other than a lot of my money disappearing w/ her (along w/ one of her very vey good friends), is that I’m out all that pro bono work.
But, if interested, you can read all about it in my next book. Might have to call it fiction though, ‘cause no one is going to fucking believe it anyway.
Sorry, just being moody. Someone tried to steal my car last weekend. And they had a key. Fortunately, my anti-theft device (it’s been really hard to get my manual trans into reverse lately) saved my ass.
"Interestingly, Northwestern Law is also where my lovely wife went."
As did Jerry Springer, who interestingly enough was born in a London Underground station during the Blitz. Manual is definitely the way to go when protecting the car from the ex or anyone else.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/…
ya FGFM, the manual trans helps, since there seems to be fewer & fewer people who’ve even seen a car so equipped… but as a temporary measure immediately ran out & bought one those pain-in-the-ass steering wheel locks for 20 bucks you hook to the brake pedal…that’s the worst part of it.
but let me be clear - did not mean to even imply that my lovely wife was in any way at all involved in the attempted heist….have absolutely no proof…it’s just that timing of events have created some suspicions, which i do believe i am still legally entitled to own…besides, through her attorney she has denied any involvement in this unfortunate event, and if a man can’t trust his wife, who the hell can he trust?
that said, have been advised to just get the ignition/door locks changed and/or an expensive alarm….just hate to spend the $.
another friend simply suggested i go out & buy myself a nice replacement vehicle, but my current jeep is only 7 yrs olds - my last jeep i drove for 17 years, then sold for a grand…i’m, how you say, frugal.
but then my friend reminded me, until the settlement/divorce, the wife will be picking up half the tab of the new vehicle….but i just don’t have the ability to think like your normal, run of the mill pond scum attorney.
wish i could.
seriously.
but can’t.
think it’s ‘cause i have one of those - what you call it?….oh ya, a soul.
