Category: Illinois

Rod Blagojevich’s Flying Circus

April 26, 2009
HumorIllinoisLegalSportsStrange
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View more news videos at: http://www.nbcchicago.com/video.

This time, Blago is really flying. 

When I first saw the video above, I thought I was watching an actor playing Blago. Turns out it was Himself, suspended in front of a green screen, arms and legs out of control.

Rachel Maddow had a blast with the footage of Blago flying:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

The Illinois Legislature must be laughing hysterically. (If you’re accessing this post from one of our affiliates, click here to watch the videos.)

I have to admit, I was starting to feel sorry for Rod Blagojevich.  Then I remembered his intransigence as governor, how he ignored the legislature, governed by press conference, laughed when I told him we need school funding reform.  And then there’s that senate seat and the indictment.

And then I saw this video: Blago, trying to fly, in a suit.

In a suit, Rod? Really?

Look: Rod Blagojevich wants to make a lot of money, fast.

Strike that.

Rod Blagojevich needs to make a lot of money, fast.  Also, Rod Blagojevich lives for the camera.  In a way, he reminds me of Estelle from Jean-Paul Sartre’s No Exit.  Estelle, recently deceased, shares with her new acquaintences in Hell — or wherever they are — that when she was alive, she made sure to always position herself in front of a mirror.  Why?  Estelle needed to see herself in a mirror… so she knew she existed.

Blago reminds me of Estelle.  All cameras, all the time, or he fades in real life.

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

On Friday, Illinois’ ex-governor was filmed suspended in midair, flying before a giant green screen.

Blagojevich was in Los Angeles Friday promoting “I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here,” an NBC reality TV show that a judge said he couldn’t join. That’s because the series will be filmed in Costa Rica and the charged ex-governor cannot leave the country due to bond restrictions. But on Friday, Blagojevich’s PR agent released a statement saying that actor Stephen Baldwin was willing to fly to Chicago and ask a judge to “Leggo my Blago.” (Or, ask U.S. District Judge James Zagel’s permission to go to Costa Rica.)

“I would love for Blagojevich to be on the show,” Baldwin said in a statement. “He would add intensity and spice.”

Welcome to the party, Rod.  We all need a lot of money, fast, right now. Let Stephen Baldwin find another Spice Guy.

News from the Blagosphere: Rod Runs to Cameras at Arraignment

April 14, 2009
ChicagoIllinoisLegal
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“You have the right to remain silent.”  Words to live by in some situations.

Rod Blagojevich can’t keep his mouth shut.

Blago ran to the media today, and even stopped for a pedestrian who asked to take a picture with him.

The former Illinois governor entered a plea of, “Not guilty.”

The media continuously refers to Blago with the adjective “disgraced.”  If I do that here, that’s fine.  This is my blog, and you know this is news and commentary interwoven.  But for the media to do that in broadcasts about Blago is wildly inappropriate.

Is the media responding to our desire for commentary?  Why were we so attentive to Walter Cronkite decades ago?  Cronkite gave us THE NEWS.  Is the mainstream media giving up on 24/7 news and giving in to 24/7 commentary?

That’s fine for the blogosphere.  Not for the media.

Back to our reason for writing today, which is news from the Blagosphere, not blogosphere…

Rod Blagojevich may run out of money soon for his defense.   If that happens, he will run to the talk shows and even more cameras.  It’s only our ability to turn the channel that will keep him silent.


Illinois State House to Discuss Civil Unions Bill

March 5, 2009
Civil LibertiesDemocratic NewsGLBTIllinois
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Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) does not advance legislation that doesn’t have a chance of passing.  So, with cautious optimism, we applaud his efforts to bring Civil Unions to Illinois.

From CBS 2 Chicago:

A bill on civil unions for same sex couples goes before an Illinois House committee on Thursday, and published reports say a downstate Mormon Church plans to fight the legislation.

The Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, or HB 2234, would give same-sex couples the same protections and benefits as married couples.

The legislation was introduced in February by state Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago). It supplants an earlier civil unions bill, HB 1834, which Harris introduced two years ago. That bill passed out of committee, but died at the end of the legislative session due to the impeachment of Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The Mormon Church, always full of smiles, is fighting against the legislation.  However, as Harris says, their objections are “full of errors,” and used “exaggeration, distortion and lies.”

The California Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments today to overturn Proposition 8, which banned same sex marriage.  If Prop. 8 is overturned, that bodes well for Illinois.

And perhaps all the Mormons won’t be smiling as much any more — except, of course, those Mormons who are gay.

Update March 5, 2009, 12:15 p.m. –  State Rep. Greg Harris posted a status update to his Facebook page:

Greg Civil Union bill HB2234 just approved by Committee 4-3. It now goes to the full House for a vote.

Harris adds that the Mormon churches have “pulled out all the stops” to fight passage of this bill.  “Illinois, it appears, will be the next national battleground after California.”

Good work, Greg!

Rod Blagojevich’s Last Campaign: Will You Buy His Book?

March 2, 2009
HumorIllinois
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Rod Blagojevich, who former State Rep. now Judge George Scully said tried “to solve every problem by campaigning,” now wants to write a book and tell you about the “dark side.”

Yup.  This is Blago’s last campaign, the one where he either saves himself, or takes everyone he’s ever spoken with down with him.

The man has not had an unspoken thought since he was elected, and now, many of them have been recorded for posterity, and the jury.

From the Sun-Times:

Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich is vowing to expose “the dark side of politics that he witnessed in both the state and national level” in a book due out in October, his publicist announced today.

The publicist, Glenn Selig, said Blagojevich signed the “six-figure book deal” with Phoenix Books, “run by maverick publisher Michael Viner.” The working title is The Governor.

The Captain of the Dark Side has more to say, apparently. Will you be mentioned in Rod’s tell-all?

Selig described the planned book as a tell-all. The governor, according to a news release, will write about the discussions, the considerations and the factors involved in picking President Obama’ s successor to the U.S. Senate.

“The governor chose to go with a large independent company because he wanted to tell his story without any restrictions over content that might’ve come with a major publishing house,” Selig said in the release. “He simply did not want to accept constraints or conditions on what he could say in this book.”

Selig said Blagojevich won’t “pull any punches” and plans to “reveal information and provide insights that will at times be embarrassing to himself as well as to others.”

“There were some people in high places who didn’t want the governor to write this book and worked to try to squash a book deal,” Selig said.

Well, we’ll see about that.  Blago can say anything he wants, now.  The loosest cannon Illinois ever produced has is now spinning full-speed.

Active Bomb Found Near Bar at Western Illinois University

February 28, 2009
IllinoisViolence
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From the Western Courier:

An active bomb was found Saturday near the beer garden of a Macomb bar frequented by Western Illinois University students.

According to a release by the Macomb Police Department, a suspected improvised explosive device, or IED, was found at the Change of Pace Bar, 301 N. Campbell St., at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

Members of the state bomb squad came to Macomb and used its robotic bomb recovery equipment to secure the IED. It was determined device was an active bomb that had not yet been detonated. Bomb squad members destroyed the device at a secure location.

McDonough County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Chris Mason said the bomb was a small device with some shotgun shells hooked to it and a radio attached. He said this type of device could be sensitive to cell phone calls nearby.

There are no suspects at this time.  Very frightening.

Read full story here.

Did Roland Burris Perjure Himself?

February 14, 2009
Democratic NewsIllinois
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Senator Roland Burris now says Robert Blagojevich, brother of the former Illinois governor, asked for up to $10,000 in campaign contributions before Blago named Burris to the seat.

Did Burris simply forget, or did he commit perjury?

Burris disclosed the new information the Chicago Sun-Times.  Burris’ statements before the appointment are riddled with inconsistencies:

In all, Burris expressed interest in the Senate seat to five people in Blagojevich’s camp, documents obtained by the Sun-Times show. He disclosed just one of those contacts when asked Jan. 8 by state Rep. James Durkin (R-Western Springs) during the impeachment hearings to name any contact he had with Blagojevich’s people about the seat.

“I’m very surprised he didn’t make these disclosures,” Durkin said. “I don’t know if Mr. Burris was purposely being evasive during the committee or had selected memory issues.”

In a sworn statement filed with the House panel Jan. 5, before he testified, Burris said he had no contact with Blagojevich’s camp about the Senate seat aside from his appointment in late December. In testimony before the committee, he added that he spoke with Lon Monk, Blagojevich’s former chief of staff. In his new affidavit, Burris confirms he also spoke of his interest in the Senate appointment with Blagojevich insiders John Harris, Doug Scofield and John Wyma.

The discussions with Robert Blagojevich about money came after Burris spoke with those people. Burris had told the House committee he was unaware of any quid pro quo dangled by Blagojevich’s camp.

Republicans already are charging perjury.  Democrats so far are tight-lipped.  None of this looks good.

Whether Burris’ disclosure proves actionable or not, Burris stands no chance of winning the senate seat.  The junior senator from Illinios should not make plans for a campaign.   He should announce soon that he will not run.

Rod Blagojevich’s Flying Circus on David Letterman

February 3, 2009
Democratic NewsHumorIllinoisStrange
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Rod Blagojevich’s Flying Circus made its way to the Late Show with David Letterman.

The quote of the interview belongs to Letterman, “I saw you on ‘The View,’ I saw you on ‘The Rachel Maddow Show,’ I saw you on ‘The Today Show.’ I saw you, I think, every other show that is in production currently. And the more you talked and the more you repeated your innocence, the more I said to myself, “Oh, this guy is guilty.'”

Enjoy the clip, and be glad he’s gone.

Bring On Governor Pat Quinn

January 28, 2009
ChicagoChicagolandConstitutionIllinois
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Prepare for Governor Pat Quinn, at last.  Quinn is the only member of the executive branch who has made any sense the last few years.

One of his first acts as governor will be the removal of Rod Blagojevich’s name from signs over state tollways.

From the Chicago Tribune:

“The signs will go down, and we’ll probably have a ceremony to do it,” Quinn told the Tribune. “I might even ask some toll payers to help us out.”

Speaking in his Chicago office with the Senate impeachment trial blaring in the background, Quinn said he would end a period of “imperial governorship” that began under Republican Gov. George Ryan and was continued by Democrat Blagojevich.

As he prepared to head to Springfield for a Senate vote that could oust Blagojevich this week, Quinn sounded more than ever like the governor-in-waiting. He has already tapped several potential top aides to join him in a new administration.

I’ll look forward to that ceremony.

Personally, I’m looking forward to Pat Quinn in the Executive Mansion in Springfield.  Pat Quinn has been dependable the past several years, and I think he really wants to govern.

Welcome Governor Quinn.

Curtain Call on Rod Blagojevich’s Flying Circus

January 28, 2009
ChicagoChicagolandDemocratic NewsElectionsIllinoisStrange
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I am so tired of everything Blagojevich right now.  Governor Blago’s Flying Circus will near its final act Thursday when the soon-to-be former governor addresses the deliver a 90-minute plea to garner support from lawmakers so he can stay in office.

Unbelievable.

I have no doubt that Blago will continue to court the media.  He needs that book deal.  He needs that movie.

Personally?  I’d cast George Wendt as Blagojevich.  Poetic justice, you know.

Blago’s newest best friend is Geraldo Rivera.  Rivera somehow believes Blago is getting a raw deal.  Watch him here on Fake News.

The last hurrah will be Thursday.  Finally.

From the Sun-Times:

The governor has boycotted the first three days of his impeachment trial, arguing in a national media barnstorming blitz that the rules are stacked against him.

Under those rules, the governor will get 90 minutes to make his case that he should not be convicted of the pending impeachment article against him. House prosecutor David Ellis, meanwhile, will get one hour to argue for Blagojevich to be removed.

And when all is said and done and the last gavel has finally sounded on this bizarre ordeal, legislators will return to the task of actually governing.

I’m ready for the final curtain on this one.

Cheney to Swear In Roland Burris

January 13, 2009
Barack ObamaChicagoChicagolandCongressIllinoisStrange
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How surreal will this be?

In one of his last official acts as Vice-President of the United States, Dick Cheney will swear in Rolan Burris as the junior senator from Illinois.  According to the Chicago Tribune, “Following the swearing in, Sen. Dick Durbin, the assistant majority leader who had initially blocked the Burris appointment, will host a reception in his honor.”

Yoi, and double yoi, as Myron Cope would have said.

I know that Roland Burris is the legal appointee for President-Elect Barack Obama’s senate seat.  I get that.  I understand that Gov. Blagojevich is defiant and crazy all rolled into one.

And Rolan Burris will be the junior senator from the Illinois.

I look forward to finally focusing on President Barack Obama.  The world desperately needs a voice of reason and sanity right now.

Six days.

Senator Roland Burris.

Yoi.  And Double yoi.