The main reason to start this thread is to see what others think of Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich now, and Illinois politics in general.

If you are anyone that has had any news station on over the past 36 hours you have heard something about Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. However for us Illinois residents we are getting to hear about it non stop. My local station has it as EVERY top story on their website even, and local papers has his face plastered all over them...a whole lot more than when he won in 2006 that's for sure!

For those who are still lost Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff were arrested and taken from their Chicago homes at 6 a.m. on Tuesday morning and will be brought up for corruption charges.

However Rod Blagojevich is NOT the FIRST governor of Illinois to have allegations brought against him. We have actually already had FOUR governors get prison time, including one who is still locked up!

Illinois governors who have served in prison or currently serving:

• William Stratton, a republican who was governor from 1953-1961, was later indicted but was acquitted on charges of income tax evasion in 1965.
• Otto Kerner, a Democrat who was governor from 1961 to 1968, served less than a year of a three year sentence after his 1973 conviction on bribery, tax evasion and other counts. He was convicted of arranging favorable horse racing dates as governor in return for getting horse racing association stock at reduced prices. Kerner died in 1976.
• Dan Walker, a Democrat who was governor from 1973 to 1977, served 1½ years of a seven year sentence after pleading guilty in 1987 to bank fraud, misapplication of funds and perjury. The charges were not related to his service as governor.
• George Ryan, a Republican who was governor from 1999 to 2003, was convicted of corruption in 2006 for steering state contracts and leases to political insiders while he was Illinois secretary of state and then governor. He is serving a 6½-year prison term.
• (source)

As you can see currently the Democrats and Republicans are tied 2-2, will Blagojevich be the tie breaker? If Blagojevich does end up in prison he will make a grand total of five governors who have/are serving prison sentences in the state of Illinois.

For a time line of his charges click here.

I don't don't know if it's possible for Blagojevich's wife to get any kind of sentence but she definitely has a hand in the pot of corruption.
(source)


I do not think this ever happened:
I beleive in "innocent till proven guilty" and right now I bet he will not be innocent for long.

So what are your views of our wonderful governor? Chicago politics? Do you think he is guilty? You can take a poll at WSIL TV • The Southern Illinois News Station


*Edit: I forgot to say "Happy Birthday" to Rod Blagojevich, he turned 52 today. Wonder what he did to celebrate?

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Corruption in Illinois is definitely an interesting topic. Perhaps the people of Illinois just prefer jerks as their governor. However, I am very skeptical of this indictment just like I am of any indictment of a politician because we all know this kind of kind of stuff goes on all the time. Not to say that it's acceptable, it just raises my eyebrows as to why this particular politician is being targeted.

Either the crime is true and Blagojevich just did something to piss someone off or, as is often the case, the charges are a work of fiction or derived from alleged 'bad' acts. The latter seems to be the case here because I've read all the transcripts and I can't really see that he's done anything wrong that can be proved beyond a reasonable doubt.

Blago has been disliked for a long time, I questioned his re-election but now I really question it...

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I never liked Blagojevich and had a feeling he was dirty. I haven't liked the direction he has led the state and his decisions. There was a decision he made last year that I strongly disagreed with but it has nothing to do with this discussion. If it turns out that the allegations against him are true, I hope he's found guilty and serves the jail time he deserves.

coaster (living in dirty Illinois) love

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YOUR HATRED AMUSES ME

It's interesting to hear about this from the perspective of his constituents. I appreciate hearing from you. Make me wish Mohead was still here. I'd like to get his perspective on it, too.

And, seeing Illinois' governor go to prison gives me hope that we can send our idiot governor to prison someday, too.

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ThrillNetwork Lead Moderator
My neighbor got a big new house, and all I got was his lousy payments

Did Obama team have contact with Ill. governor? - Yahoo! News

Way to go Mr. President Elect. You've got worldwide humanity issues like the economy and wars going on, and this is the type of crap we have to hear about?

I'm glad it's not New Jersey this year.

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Thrillnetwork Moderator - Sophomore Original sn: CHILLERLC1
2008 & 2009 TN Coaster Draft Champion
You knew I wanted the other repeat too

Now Obama's telling all his aides to keep their mouths shut, cause he doesn't wanna have to backtrack when the truth comes pouring out...

Obama aides won't discuss Ill. governor probe

Obama aides won't discuss Ill. governor probe - Yahoo! News

Are we gonna be dealing with this crap for 4 years?

I don't know if this will be what we can expect over the next four years but I will guarantee you this it will be interesting to see just how much Obama AND his chief of staff are connected to this (if they are).

On Hannity and Colmes the other night Hannity showed a picture of Obama and the Governor shaking hands dated December 3rd, 2008. However Obama said that he has had no contact with Rod for three months. So make your own opinion here. Has it been months or has it just been days?

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Wow I guess ignorance is really blessed...while lawmakers in the state of Illinois are starting impeachment proceedings the governor decides to leave the state and do 17 national interviews in 48 hours. Interviews such as the View. Then he claims to CNN he is "trying to do to the best of my ability is to highlight to the people of Illinois" (read the rest in the link) If you want to talk to the people of Illinois shouldn't you just go to the local news stations and papers?

If you would like some political entertainment read this transcript from Rod Blagojevich where he tells a CNN reporter he is "innocent."
Blagojevich tells CNN's Brown he's innocent - CNN.com

This is probably my favorite moment:
Seriously you are a governor in a major media whirlwind right now and you don't even know what your past state senator now President is saying about you? Seriously I wonder if this man even lives in this world because most of the time he seems pretty clueless.

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Again America I'm very sorry for our Governor, if it's any consolation I have not supported him at any point during his terms or during either election.

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His hair should be declared illegal and being forced to view it should be against my civil liberties.

And leave the President out of this mess, he has money- why would he be in on it? Just some wishful thinking on part of some conservatives. He and his team have more important things to be worrying about.

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2008 - Tennessee Tornado Crew

Happy 10th Anniversary to the coaster that started it all- Tennessee Tornado!

All hail the return of the "right wing conspiracy!" I'll have to send in my re-enrollment. I need to get my new wallet card, decoder ring and wall certificate (suitable for framing)

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ThrillNetwork Lead Moderator
My neighbor got a big new house, and all I got was his lousy payments

On MSNBC today: Illinois Senate ousts Blagojevich

And finally the state has paid for the LAST of his plane rides. Maybe the taxpayers will be through paying for our governor to fly back and forth from his house and his actual place of work.
And I found this in another article here:
Quite a corrupt state:

Quote:

At least 79 elected officials have been convicted of wrongdoing since 1972

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^ I think Blago saw the writing on the wall and hopped on the plane while he was still Governor being afraid that if he didn't do it now he would be stuck in springfield as they would refuse access and have to take a cab back to Chicago...

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