Feds: Ill. gov tried to 'auction' Obama's seat Blagojevich is accused of 'corruption crime spree' over Senate appointment
CHICAGO - Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich embarked on "political corruption crime spree" and tried to benefit from his ability to appoint President-elect Barack Obama's replacement in the U.S. Senate, federal officials said Tuesday.
At a news conference in Chicago on Tuesday, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald called it a sad day for the citizens of Illinois and alleged that the governor tried to "auction off" the Senate seat "to the highest bidder".
He said the alleged behavior "would make (Abe) Lincoln roll over in his grave".
This rest of the story is here.
I work for the state of Illinois and every year we have to take an ethics test online. Even the custodians must take the test. Our jobs depend on it. It galls me every year when I have to take that test because I know that I live in one of the most corrupt states there is.
Maybe he can can go to the same federal prison his predecessor, George Ryan, is at.
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Comments: 42
It's ridiculous that you have to take an ethics test at ALL, let alone every year. Sounds like one of those stupid laws designed to pretend the government is doing things without actually doing anything.
The P/E needs to work hard to overcome the presumption that "they all do it" in Illinois.
the wrong doers just always think everybody is just like them, so you have to take an ethics test ? ? ?
maybe we can make the politicians take that test too........hahaha........hahaha/.........
hahaha//hahahahahahaha........
Linda G., Dec 9, 2008, 3:46pm EST
Hmm ...... let me think about that and get back with you later.
Wash your mouth out for even bringing that crap up!
Another nice outgrowth of Sarbox is what they call the separation of duties. In the past, I use to cut the purchase orders, enter the receipts into our system, then sign off on the invoices before they were sent to accounting for payment. But now with Sarbox, the person who cuts the purchase order cannot also enter the receipts and sign off on invoice accuracy. These functions have to be done by separate people.
Of course, when everything is wrong guess who accounting calls for information? ME! The person who cut the PO, even though by the SOPs I no longer even SEE the receipts or invoices.
“This makes for the fourth out of the last seven elected Illinois governors to be indicted since 1960 (Otto Kerner, Dan Walker, George Ryan, and Rod Blagojevich) … since 1972, 28 Chicago alderman have been convicted of crimes. If this number was extrapolated to the US House, it would be as if over 240 congressman had been indicted in the same period.”
During a wiretapped November 10 call, a frustrated and financially strapped Blagojevich referred to Obama as a "mother----er" and said that he would not appoint an ally of the President-elect to the Senate vacancy if "I don't get anything." Referring to Obama, Blagojevich exclaimed, "F--k him. For nothing? F--k him."
LOL, just one more corrupt SOB finally getting busted tho...wish they'd get the 530 or so we still have in DC.
The ethics training that some of us have to do yearly reinforces the strict separations now in place.
The law itself is a HUGE pain in the arse, btw.
I am familiar with Sarbannes. I just don't understand how that is connected with Blagojevich.
Funny, Axelrod said that Obama's talked to Blago about the senate seat and Obama says he hasn't. Now Axelrod had supposedly "misspoken". From part of the taped conversation it sure sounds like Blago talked to someone in the Obama camp.
I suppose Obama will say something like, "This isn't the Rod Blagojevich that I knew." lol
And I don't feel sorry for his wife either. She has quite the mouth on her, too.
I agree it's not a party thing. It happens on both sides but it just seems to happen more often with the Democrats in Illinois.
..............AND A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!
Lera (sunshine and lollipops) M., Dec 11, 2008, 8:45pm EST
umm.. wouldn't that be because it is as you said and it is only the Democrats that get into power there ?
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I lived in IL from 1955 to 1959--it's a beautiful state but I remember the political days of the 1st Mayor Daly--and also the allegede involvment of IL politics in the election of JFK. Oh the stories that went around back then.
BTW way--thanks for commenting on my article,
900 Billion Stimulus Bill
I appreciate it.
Hang in there. Maybe afte\r what happened to Bloggie, things will improve.