Tuesday, December 9, 2008
News / Clout City How long can he hold out?
Posted by Mick Dumke on Tue, Dec 9, 2008 at 6:59 PM
State law may not require that Rod Blagojevich step down when he hasn't been convicted of anything--or even when he has--but the pressure on him to do so is already soaring. Every politician who can get anybody to listen has called on him to quit, starting with his lieutenant governor, Pat Quinn. Meanwhile, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, who so recently was campaigning for the early release of our last governor-turned-convict, asked state legislative leaders to remove the governor's power to fill the Senate seat, and they said they'll comply. Other legislators have threatened to begin impeachment proceedings if the gov doesn't remove himself soon.
And even if, as he maintains, Barack Obama didn't have any conversations with the governor about deals for his old Senate seat, it never helps a politician to have to issue denials of his involvement in payoff scandals back home--especially when he's trying to convince skeptics that his stimulus plan doesn't simply amount to wasteful government spending.
I, for one, won't attempt to predict how Blagojevich will respond; count me among those who never would have guessed that, after watching several inner-circle advisers sent to prison, he'd involve himself in another, even cruder round of pay-to-play and political retribution. (Withholding state payments from Children's Memorial Hospital? Good god.) Blagojevich might see he doesn't have many friends or any political future and summon a little dignity to say so long; he might say screw it, I've got nothing to lose, I'm sticking around til you make me go; or maybe he'll offer Patrick Fitzgerald a U.S. Senate appointment in return for dropping charges against him. Little would shock us at this point.
Still, the worse he makes it on the rest of the Chicago political establishment, the less help he's likely to have for his fight to stay or get out of jail. George Ryan at least figured that one out.
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The real reason the FEDS pulled the trigger so fast, Rod got into the face of the Bank of America crowd. Daley committed the city to not doing Business with Bank of America also. He may also feel the wrath of old money interest.
Hopefully Rod won't hold out too long! Help us in getting Rod Blagojevich to resign by calling the Governor tomorrow! CALLING FOR RESIGNATION: www.resignrod.com
What is fun to see are all the politicians now scrambling to bury a hatchet in the already cooked governor. As if their assistance now is making up for years of playing politics in just about the same way.
Hey Second City Cop: look like there is some police corruption here in this story too. apparently the local police commander gave Ald. Mell a tip that his son in law was about to be arrested. that commander's ass is grass. weiss is gonna be on him like stink on shit. who is the commander in that district ? "Asked how he learned of his son-in-law's arrest, Mell said, "The same way you did." Actually, Mell got the news during a wake-up call from a top aide. The assistant had gotten a tip from the local police commander that Blagojevich was about to be taken into custody. The commander called the staffer, who called Mell." http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/blagojevich/1323293,CST-NWS-mell10.article
It's all about Richie. Blago was being such a bad boy: messing with the CTA fares, going after Federal highway funds that Richie desired, and generally looking like a uncooperative jerk. Richie got one of his flunkies to get in bed with Fitzgerald and they took him down.
This interview with Blagojevich is over the top! http://punkeconomics.blogspot.com/2008/12/rod-just-wont-leave-me-again.html
The best Chicago Political Website is www.ChicagoClout.com Chicago Clout is the best!
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