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Subscribe to RSSFormer Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich left federal court a disgraced man, headed for 14 years in federal prison, convicted of 17 counts of bribery and attempted extortion. NBC's Ron Allen reports.
CHICAGO -- Rod Blagojevich, the ousted Illinois governor whose three-year battle against criminal charges became a spectacle, was sentenced to 14 years in prison Wednesday, a stiff penalty for the man convicted of trying to sell President Barack Obama's vacated Senate seat to raise campaign cash or land a high-paying job.
Judge James Zagel gave Blagojevich some credit for taking responsibility for his actions — which the former governor did in an address to the court earlier in the day — but said that didn't mitigate his crimes. Zagel also said Blagojevich did some good things for people as governor, but was more concerned about using his powers for himself.
"When it is the governor who goes bad, the fabric of Illinois is torn and disfigured and not easily repaired," Zagel said.
As the judge announced the sentence, which includes a $20,000 fine, Blagojevich hunched forward and his face appeared frozen. Minutes later, his wife, Patti Blagojevich, stood up and fell into her husband's arms. He pulled back to brush tears off her cheek and then rubbed her shoulders.
On his way out of the courthouse, Blagojevich spoke briefly to reporters, quoting from the poem "If" by Rudyard Kipling: "If you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two imposters just the same."
"This is a time for me to be strong for my children and for (wife) Patti ... a time for Patti and me to explain to our kids what this means and where we go from here... See you soon," he said. He then left without answering any questions.
The twice-elected Democrat received by far the harshest sentence among the four Illinois governors sent to prison in the last four decades. He is the second in a row to go to prison; his Republican predecessor, George Ryan, currently is serving 6 1/2 years. The other two got three years or less.
Blagojevich, in a last plea for mercy, tried something he never had before: an apology. After years of insisting he was innocent, he told the judge he'd made "terrible mistakes" and acknowledged that he broke the law.
"I'm here convicted of crimes ... ," Blagojevich said, "and I am accepting of it, I acknowledge it and I of course am unbelievably sorry for it."
But Zagel gave him little leeway, telling him that he gave him credit for taking responsibility but that his apology didn't mitigate his crimes.
"Whatever good things you did for people as governor, and you did some, I am more concerned with the occasions when you wanted to use your powers when you wanted to do things that were only good for yourself."
Blagojevich's attorneys had said the sentence of 15 to 20 years prosecutors wanted was too harsh. The defense also presented heartfelt appeals from Blagojevich's family, including letters from his wife Patti and one of his two daughters that pleaded for mercy.
Former Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich is sentenced to 14 years in prison.
But the judge made it clear early in the hearing that he believed that Blagojevich had lied on the witness stand when he tried to explain his scheming for the Senate seat, and he did not believe defense suggestions that the former governor was duped by his advisers.
Read local coverage of Blagojevich sentencing from NBC Chicago
"Rod Blagojevich's staff did not march him down the path of corruption," Zagel said during his sentencing. "He marched them."
The 54-year-old was not taken immediately into custody. His surrender date was set for Feb. 16. In white-collar cases, convicted felons are usually given at least a few weeks to report to prison while federal authorities select a suitable facility. Blagojevich is expected to appeal his conviction, but it is unlikely to affect when he reports to prison.
Most of the prisons where Blagojevich could end up are outside Illinois. One is in Terre Haute, Indiana, where Ryan is serving his own sentence. In prison, he'll largely be cut off from the outside world. Visits by family are strictly limited, Blagojevich will have to share a cell with other inmates and he must work an eight-hour-a-day menial job — possibly scrubbing toilets or mopping floors — at just 12 cents an hour.
According to federal rules, felons must serve at least 85 percent of the sentence a judge imposes — meaning Blagojevich wouldn't be eligible for early release until he serves nearly 12 years.
Going into the sentencing, many legal experts said the governor — who became a national punch line while doing several reality TV appearances while his legal case unfolded — was likely to get around 10 years. A former Blagojevich fundraiser, Tony Rezko, recently was sentenced to 10 1/2 years, minus time served, and many were confident the governor would get more.
Prosecutors have said Blagojevich misused the power of his office "from the very moment he became governor." He was initially elected in 2002 on a platform of cleaning up Illinois politics in the midst of federal investigations that led to the prosecution and conviction of Ryan.
"Blagojevich engaged in extensive criminal conduct with and without Rezko, provided no cooperation, perjured himself for seven days on the witness stand, and has accepted no responsibility for his criminal conduct," prosecutors said. And they said Blagojevich, who campaigned as a reformer, was "acutely aware of the damage" Ryan had created.
Defense attorneys have said he has already paid a price in public ridicule and financial ruin, and propose a term of just a few years.
Blagojevich's sentencing came just days before his 55th birthday on Saturday, and nearly three years to the day of his arrest at dawn on Dec. 9, 2008, when the startled governor asked one federal agent, "Is this a joke?" In a state where corruption has been commonplace, images of Blagojevich being led away in handcuffs still came as a shock.
Blagojevich was impeached from the governor's office after being charged with racketeering, bribery, wire fraud and attempted extortion.
It took two trials for prosecutors to snare Blagojevich on sweeping corruption charges. His first ended deadlocked with jurors agreeing on just one of 24 counts — that Blagojevich lied to the FBI. Jurors at his retrial convicted him on 17 of 20 counts, including bribery and attempted extortion.
FBI wiretap evidence proved decisive. In the most notorious recording, Blagojevich is heard crowing that his chance to name someone to Obama's seat was "f---ing golden" and he wouldn't let it go "for f---ing nothing."
NBC Chicago contributed to this story.
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Where are the people in jail from Wall street and the Banks CEO? Not right only some go to jail and others are given a free pass....come on bring the wall street thieves in.
How about those jokers who lied us into war with Iraq, and got away with billions?
take them down one by one...
Silly lil democrats... always quick to divert from their party's woes.
Yes I assumed pretty obvious.
it should start from the top down ..not the bottom down
Blago did little harm. What a railroad job, 14 years for acting like every other politician and the Wall Street Criminals jeer at us.
So when will they convict Newt ? Oops, I forgot they already did (and he's running for President!)
Another filthy Illinois democrat gets his due. Only a few thousand left to go. (Madigan, Stroger, Daley, etc.)
Democrats in Chicago, Cook County, and Illinois personify evil. Guess who gets hurt? Not Wall Street. Not the rich in Winnetka or Lincoln Park. The middle class families that liberals claim to care about get hurt. A 1000 SF modest house in Cook County can have a $7500 tax bill. Democrats just raised state income taxes 66%. Democrats just raised tolls 87%. Democrats just raised Metra fares 25%. Mayor Tiny Dancer is raising parking, concession, water fees right and left. Chicago Public Schools are among the worst in the nation. Employers are leaving the state due to high worker compensation costs and all the tax increases. Politicians lay awake nights thinking of ways to raise taxes and fees on the middle class and businesses. No one will touch the labor unions. The average union city worker in Chicago works 5.5 hours per day and is paid a full days wage. No one will touch the patronage workers, the consultants and legal firms with clout and campaign contributions.
The typical family making $50M in Chicago that lives in a $175M house is being beaten and bloodied by democrats.
START A REVOLUTION, START A REVOLUTION! VOTE REPUBLICAN IF YOU WANT HOPE AND CHANGE.
TO: Mixman34 who wrote:
Why not go fly a kite? You don't dictate which way anybody's conversation goes, but I bet you'd like to.
Republicans = Dictators.
START A REVOLUTION, START A REVOLUTION! VOTE REPUBLICAN IF YOU WANT HOPE AND CHANGE.
Yes let's vote in republicans just like Blagos republican predecessor, Oh wait George Ryan is in prison for corruption.
We the people lose; it’s time for 1776 again! Both sides are out for themselves!!!!! Not the people..................................................
Silly lil democrat American Girl.
Blago pissed off Obama and his friends. He never should have asked for supeonas from the big guys in DC. That is why he got the long sentence. It is the party that you defend that has the worst reputation for dirty politics in Chicago and all you want to do is talk about the lying to go to war by Bush. Tell me, wasn't everyone in the Clinton administration telling us about WMD's for eight years before Bush even went to DC? Didn't the democrats have a say in going to war in Iraq? Our current Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, spoke on the Senate floor about her giving long hours of serious thought and that going to Iraq was the right thing to do. She knew more about the situation than most others in high office because she had been in the loop for over nine years. You should go fly a kite.
newtISaPIG,
Whats wrong with Newt running for president? Clinton was a draft dodger and had to be pardoned by Jimmy Carter or he could not have run for president.
I know of at least one other big time Chicago politician that needs to be put on trial.
As a Dem, I say good riddance to bad rubbish. He can take his conceited, power hungry behind to jail and I won't utter a word to defend him.
Now...if only repubs would do the same with corrupt members of their party.
mixman and Gary - silly ignorant Republicans. We should get to prosecute Bush/Cheney for the war crimes they committed. And, just for the record, Blago got exactly what he deserved. At some point the filthy Republicans will get their due. Oh wait - you already are - look at the morons that represent you!
Will you all put the partisan hack attacks back in your lockers, please? Reflect on what this actually is:
an example of a crooked politician actually being taken to task for their corruption.
I don't care which party is currently being prosecuted, the fact that he was prosecuted is enough for me to celebrate.
"Republicrat, Democran: One Party System!" --Sage Francis
Are all politicians from Illinois corrupt? He is just one in a string of them in prison.
Actually, Clinton got a student deferment - just like Dick Cheney.
He admitted breaking the law, apologized but is still appealing?
I am from Illinois...and yes, a LOT of the politicians are corrupt. A friend of mine is a lobbyist and took me down to the capital one day to see how things worked. I was disgusted and pissed by the time I got out of there. People are being paid for sitting on their asses and shopping for furniture online....huddling in a corner while someone presents something on the floor...I can't remember the facts on this one, but it involved a politician's wife who somehow got a raise because he was able to do it for her...
BTW...it doesn't matter what political party that idiot is in, he is a thief...so please, no party favors, ok? They are all capable of stealing...
Gary 420,
Let's see now, wasn't his predecessor, Ryan, a Republican who is currently serving time for corruption? Not to mention Bush and Cheney who seem to have gotten away with massive fraud and crimes against humanity.
PHYSICIST: Right you are, though Cheney received a total of FIVE deferments and unlike Clinton who opposed the war, Cheney supported it.
That kind of hypocrisy gets Cheney nominated for the rank of "Chicken Hawk, First Class", a rank he so richly deserves.
Damn...I'm a conservative but I actually liked Blago.
At least he gets to serve his time at Club Fed...
Two things. 1) I'm glad he's going to jail and the damn jails should be full of politicians on both sides of the fence. If anybody is delusional enough to think that they are out to help us then you need to up your meds. They are only out to help themselves. 2) Somebody said Jimmy Carter pardoned Clinton so that he could then go on to be President. Here's an honest question. Are you high? Please point me to the source of your statement.
Ex Governer did little harm I agree with Truthseeker "What a railroad job) 14 years for acting like every other politician. Another thought comes to mind. We need a clean sweep of Congress in order to get this country back on track.
Regarding George Ryan. He is in jail as he deserves to be. The voters cleaned house and brought in something worse. Chicago democrats are so stupid they keep putting the same criminals in year after year when it is common knowledge they are corrupt and costing mom and pop big $$. Republicans will punish their own when scandal hits even if it hurts them in the short term. ( who defended Nixon? No one. Who defended Clinton? All democrats)
Regarding Bush/Cheney. More liberals on the crack rock dreaming up conspiracy theories. No laws were broken. Deal with it. No war crimes, no secret billion dollar bank accounts. Cheney is in Wyoming fishing. Bush has a decent house in Texas, but not something a billionaire would own. I heard something about him having family money anyway.
Regarding Wall Street CEOs. Were they stupid? Yes. Should they have received bonuses? No. Did they break any laws? Sorry still no.
Blago and Chicago democrats are filthy to the core. He got what he deserved. There are no Republicans in Chicago, so enough with the "both parties are guilty" malarkey.
Obama was smart once again and got out of town. Don't like his politics, but the guy is smooth. I didn't say innocent, I said smooth.
Gary 420.....did you just wash up with the last tide? Who defended Nixon.....the entire Republican party it was the mother of all cover-ups, half his staff if not more wound up in jail, Nixon lied from the very beginning but the Repubs supported him all the way until he resigned to stave off impeachment. You need to get a history book and READ IT! before you make statements like that.
Who supported Clinton well I can tell I didn't and still don't and he did not have alot of support from Democrats and would never have won re-election had he been caught with his pants down in his first term.
As for Blogo he got what he deserved a criminal is a criminal is a criminal they belong in jail, just like his Repub predecessor....criminals are generally smooth talkers and in these 2 cases they fooled the fools into voting for them.....Nixon on the other hand got away with murder (Viet Nam) resigned, was pardoned by his unelected VP (Look up Spiro Agnew - the elected VP who resigned under corruption charges) Ford who made the point the he was pardoning him even though he had not been charged and was as far as Ford was concerned innocent of any wrong doing???????????
TERM LIMITS - Will stop criminals from running for elected office.....career criminals want to make a career of it not a short term position.
No Republicans in Chicago......who elected Ryan????????
Corrupt Politicians are always operating on the edge of the the law so to say no laws were broken by Bush/Cheney......is a fine point..... Clinton didn't break any laws either......it's a question of honesty not law and none of those three pass the test in my book.......obviously you have your own book.....but you need to make sure of your facts before you open your mouth to change feet.
Yank,
Nice retort to Gary 420! I love your candor and your argument was to the point. End of story for Gary 420 post I would say, but I'm curious as to why your handle refers to you in Australia. Did you get so fed up with this American Corruption and leave, or are you there on business? Anyway, good job
Jim
If you ask me, the current governor should be in there with Blago.
Hey Blago, power corrupts means that it corrupts your mind and life. The poverty you left behind for another to suffer is only collateral damage. The real damage you did to yourself. There is always a price to pay.
Don't worry about Blago, nappy headed "Bubba" gonna look after him real good. Those gay bath houses in Chicago have turned out some interesting folks.....Blago, Raham, Barry...etc.......You know how those Dems do it.......
Yank and Jim,
sorry boys your facts are wrong. Suggest YOU read a history book. John Dean turned on Nixon and testified before Congress, doing him in. In 1974, Senator Barry Goldwater was the guy that drove to the White House and told Nixon his GOP support was gone and he had to resign. Nixon resigned days later. The Ford pardon was trashed at the time and cost him the election to moron Jimmy Carter. When Ford died a few years back, even the most rabid democrats including Ted Kennedy, conceded it was the correct decision for the nation.
Please note your buddies JFK and LBJ got us into Vietnam and Nixon got us out.
Not one democrat in the Clinton White House spoke the truth. The lies and misdirection cost this nation 2 years where something productive could have been done.
Nixon was a terrible president. Not defending him, just pointing out the contrast between the two parties.
Yank, you don't understand Illinois geography. There are 0 democrats in Chicago. Democrats carry only 2 counties in this state and lose the other 100 counties. Obama lost most of Illinois. The large plurality of ignorant democrats in Chicago and Cook County make Illinois a mostly blue state. Chicago is a cancer on Illinois. Republicans picked up house seats in the last election. Chicago democrats are remapping the state to overturn the will of the people.
Get your facts right Yank. Or don't post.
Has been? HAS BEEN!? Replace those two words with "is"!
I'm glad at least one of them got the shaft. I don't care if he got a bum rap while others just like him get off scott free. The fact that he is in is good news. I'll take good news where I can get it. Hopfully they'll stop the corruption, but I'm not holding my breath.
Wall Street, Bush, Cheney and any politician in D.C. who is obstructing and ripping off us taxpayers should be in prison.
I forgot that filthy thief in Florida Rick Scott who played a role in Alabama through the healthcare company he was part of ripping off millions and pleading the 5th. What a travesty. They can also throw Scott Walker in their also. He's nothing but a lying criminal.
I forgot that filthy thief in Florida Rick Scott who played a role in Alabama through the healthcare company he was part of ripping off millions and pleading the 5th. What a travesty. They can also throw Scott Walker in their also. He's nothing but a lying criminal.
W. Goin banned, out of chances. First rule:
Gary 420,
Please don't resort to snippets of history to justify your lack of a total knowledge of the subject you are commenting on. Go get John Dean's book and read it, in it you will find some inside info on the subject of Watergate and the Nixon Presidency. The Repubs (including my Dad) rallied around Nixon saying the whole Watergate thing was a Democrat and Liberal Media beat up (sound familiar). John Dean and the rest of Nixon's henchmen and the Republicans hung by Nixon until it came to a point that the evidence was so overwhelming and obvious that the Repubs went in to self protection mode and finally turned against him. Most of the Nixon Whitehouse players went down kicking and screaming, John Dean was sacrificed, he did not turn on Nixon ..... Nixon turned on him. This is not a good point to argue with me I am somewhat of an expert on Watergate.....you are obviously a Repub and still clutching at straws that Nixon was hard done by and ratted out by his staff.......wrong.
The Military Industrial Complex got us into the Southeast Asia "police action", JFK sent a few advisers to help the French, the Gulf Of Tonkin Spoof was staged and the M.I.C (and their proxies in Congress) pressured Johnson to "defend America's Sphere of Influence" and he bit. You are not old enough obviously to know such things and I understand History is not a taught subject in US schools any more....too bad, you'll have to read a book....not a couple of snippets off the internet.
Nixon did not "end" the war in Viet Nam, he happened to still be in office and public opinion was so overwhelmingly against the War, he and his minders saw an opportunity to possibly detract the public's attention from Watergate and got Henry Kissinger to negotiate a withdrawal of US Forces from Southeast Asia, in other words he surrendered in the hopes of saving his own skin.
You said there were "no Republicans in Chicago" that is obviously factually incorrect.....or was it one of those statements that "was not meant to be factual" that's a standard Republican line in Congress, have you taken it up as a habit?
Be careful about making statements like "get your facts right", Foot In Mouth is not a pleasant affliction, it can be avoided by engaging your brain before opening your mouth (or commenting on Newvine).
G'day
Newt, dick, and bush next.
We need a few more judges just like James Zagel, who will put the crooks exactly where they belong. Disgraced former governor Rod Blagojevich believed that he was immune from prosecution, and there are hundreds of folks hanging around Washington DC with the same belief system. That will not change until the first hundred or so get real jail terms and don't get to skate on corruption charges.
Sounds like jungle porn.
Chris, those guys are innocent, I would like to see Barney Frank go down for his part in the housing crises.
TO: Texas-505356 who wrote:
What about Newt? He was "housing's" advisor, AND he's running for the Republicans' Presidential Nominee!
That is EXACTLY why people think of Republicans as hypocrits! Because Republicans can have a room full of crooks, but the only ones they want to prosecute are the ones who are Democrats.
Newt was Freddie Mac's advisor, and if anybody should go down, THEY SHOULD ALL go down.
I don't know what you think Barney Frank had to do with anything, but we KNOW that NEWT GINGRICH was getting paid by Freddie Mac, so shall we assume that Newt was supposed to advise Freddie Mac WISELY, or shall we assume that Newt just made a bunch of very very poor recommendations which ultimately led to Freddie Mac crashing and burning?
Cheney? Innocent? Just don't ask him about those 'hunting' trips he takes with Democrats.
Newt Gingrich has never broken the law, was never involved in any kind of criminal activity or the kind of corrupt politics that got Obama to the White House. He's never had to resort to electoral fraud or mafia tactics that the Zionista Dems are involved in. Shut your mouth you seedy maggot or I'll arrange to have it shut for you.
Another of Obamas buddies goes to prison. And dont for a second think Obama isnt just as crooked as the rest of them.
STEVE: I guess you missed the part of the article spelling out plainly, the his predecessor, a REPUBLICAN is currently cooling his heels in a federal prison. Or does it only count when a Democrat is convicted???
Would you like me to list for the litany of GOP Congress people who have either resigned in disgrace and/or been convicted on felony counts??? Corruption is not unique to any one group or party and if anything, the GOP has proven itself not only corrupt but morally bankrupt with all your "Family Values" candidates who get caught with their pants down in compromising situations.
Mot, I hope your threat gets you suspended. Never a good reason to threaten someone physically or any other way on here. It contributes nothing.
Newt is a republican politician, therefore, he HAS been involved in electoral fraud usually in the form of gerrymandering or by supporting legislation that restricts people's right to vote under the guise of preventing non-exstant fraud.
Dems are Zionist huh? What a moronic thing to say. Both parties enjoy the support of some measure of the jewish population and as many have posted around this board, the Israeli government is not riding on the Obama train right now.
If you've got it for ole Newt The Snoot so bad you should spend more time hanging around Faux. They will eventually come around and see him as your standard bearer.
MOT from down under
Newt Gingrich has never broken the law, was never involved in any kind of criminal activity or the kind of corrupt politics that got Obama to the White House. He's never had to resort to electoral fraud or mafia tactics that the Zionista Dems are involved in. Shut your mouth you seedy maggot or I'll arrange to have it shut for you.
Is that your best joke?
Texas-505356
Chris, those guys are innocent, I would like to see Barney Frank go down for his part in the housing crises.
Innocent of what?
They are more dirty than a ho's behind.
Chris,
Thats the point; they have done nothing akin to Blogo's crimes nor have they ever been charged with any crimes.
Texas-505356
they have done nothing
That is a good Joke, indeed.
The non partisan history books have a whole chapter on these clowns.
Pull your head out of the sand, even republicans know what these liars did.
They don't allow over 3000 character here, less than 1/10 of what would be needed just to start printing "what they did".
MOT from down under, you're suspended for a day for violating #1 of the Code of Honor.
...
Yeah we do. There's some limit, but I've never seen anyone reach it.
Prolly best to not encourage long comments. Some people write War And Peace on here but end up not saying ANYTHING.
tyler
Thanks I must be thinking of a blog I know
It was an expression [rather than writing it all out] that 3000 pages let alone characters, couldn't express the bad deeds of the person in question.
Dear Blagojevich,
I'm so glad that your greed has finally paid you what you've wanted.
Sincerely,
Everyone in this country.
Bambi, contrary to misguided opinions, Republicans do NOT speak for "Everyone in this country" and, in fact, don't even speak for 1/2 of everyone in this country.
Most of the time, Republicans have no knowledge of what they're even speaking about.
So please, next time, just speak for yourself.
Thank you!
American Girl
Your opinion of anyone is as disgusting as you look. Please refrain from sharing it in the future.
Thank you!
American girl, wow, are you saying you are for corruption in defending Blago through diversion!? And that the majority of Americans concurred with his crooked ways?
Another democrat, another diversion, ya'll never cease to amaze.
For once can you just think as an American as your name suggests and not down the party line!?
It's about time this lying thief got what he deserves! His dishonorable conduct was an embarrassment to the Democratic party as well as to our political process as a nation. Good riddance; you will not be missed!!!
He will be singing a Denver tune....."Handprints....on my shoulders, make me happy."
"Handprints from another prison guy."
TO: John-3806548 who wrote:
Ha! More of those phoney "freedom loving" Republicans trying to interfere with my Constitutional free speech rights!
Hypocrit!
If you don't want to read what I write, you have the option of clicking on that little exclamation mark on the right over here to our right, and going down to where it says "ignore author" and click on that, and you will no longer be able to read anything I post, just as I have already done to you.
Other than that, I will NOT allow you to deny me my Constitutional Right to Freedom of Speech, NOR will I allow you to speak for me!
Bye bye, dictator!
This has done my heart good! I would love to see that smirk wipe off The Donald as he is handcuffed and taken away, just for his pompadour and his smugness. But first I think we need to visit Wall street and arrest all those CEO who believe they should not pay the bailout. That's were the Untied States went wrong. The government did not give, the big shots, a line to pay back the billions they received. And then, these elitists, have the audacity to stand and drink campaign and laugh, at the Occupy Wall street Protesters.
I hope I live to see everyone of Bush birds do time. Including GW himself, for war crimes, lying to Congress, out Valerie Plame, and the list goes on.
God Bless America AND
Obama/Biden 2012.
I'm all for making some of the Wall Street CEOs pay for their part in the financial crisis, but the problem is, how?
Legally, there simply is not much you can do, unless you can prove that they defrauded their stakeholders.
It's the system that is stupid. How we allow a compensation committee comprised of a few individuals (who usually lack independence) decide the legally bound compensation packages for the executives of a public company on behalf of thousands of shareholders is beyond me. That is where it begins.
The government should impose rules on the compensation-setting process. Like limiting pay to $5 million per year (how can you justify giving more than that?). I don't believe the crap about how it would make the corporations less competitive. A bunch of horsecrap peddled by the executives in a futile attempt to convince the public that they are worth $10million+ a year.
Two criminal Illinois governors in a row both got what they deserved. The fact that one was a Republican and one was a Democrat simply illustrates that corruption knows no party affiliation. To some extent, the mere fact that a person is a politician implies a certain susceptibility to corruption. The system itself practically encourages unethical behavior.
It is a terrible crime to attempt to sell a U.S. Senate seat. But it's not much better for a duly elected Senator to vote a certain way on legislation simply because a big contributor to his campaign wants him to vote that way. Why isn't selling your vote illegal?
Wanna bet Blogojevich strings out a series of BS appeals? I hope that these can only be made from INSIDE. I do not know how many of the fourteen years he'll actually have to serve, but I hope he gets used to playing Momma and Poppa with a three hundred and fifty pound cell-MATE.
Now, if he could have that slippery Congressman John Boehner as a cell-mate - THAT would be real justice.
AmericanGirl. First of all, no one is taking away or trying to take away your right to free speech, just saying that your opinion is dumb and asking you keep it to yourself...very different from being a dictator. Secondly, Bambi made no mention of a political party and your assumption he is republican (unless you already knew that) is in itself ignorant and shows extreme bias. The OP was simply stating that the American people don't want corruption in politics, which I think is a pretty legit statement. I can't tell if you are actually defending Blago, or just lashing out because a democrat got caught being corrupt, neither of which is commendable or even justifiable. I don't defend reps for being corrupt or for having bad policies, but I also don't judge other's based on whatever party I perceive them to associate with. I myself dont associate with any "party." Thirdly, you're contradicting yourself. With full knowledge of the "ignore author" button, you decide to write a response claiming someone else is trying to deny you your right to free speech. No one took your post down. No one came to your house to take your computer...and in fact, by your own admission, you are the one blocking people's comments from your view. You're crying that someone is denying your free speech when they said "please refrain from posting in the future" while you go ahead and legitimately deny their ability to communicate with you.
Politics are not inherently evil, it's the people who blindly follow those that lead, blindly support the policies that they endorse, and blindly attack those that they perceive to be against them. You're completely and absolutely free to write what you want, but I kindly ask you to leave the political generalizations and ignorant bias behind.
This human garbage got what he deserves. He always thought he is smarter than everybody else, well, he is not. Typical Democrat though.
American Girl-724855
when did i ever mention political parties? i'm neither republican or democrat, but i guess your inability to read and comprehend got in the way again. i do lean to dem with most social issues such as gay marriage and the importance of welfare programs and taxes (to an extent) . however, i do agree with republicans with the 2nd amendment, because shooting golf balls out of an AR15 is great fun.
John-3806548, American Girl-724855, you're each suspended for a day for violating #1 of the Code of Honor.
If the wall street crooks are guilty of crimes they will probably get jail time. But right now they are only doing what our elected officials let them do.
Kind of funny that MSNBC actually stated that Illinois was a state with "a history of crooked politics". So true.
World class understatement...but I like it anyway because of its truthfulness......
About Damned Time
Blagojevich, spawn of the same corrupt political cesspool that produced our Commander in Chief and his advisers.
Bambi, I told you so! Here's one such wacko right here.
Nowhere near as bad as the GOP scum (Bush, Cheney, Gingrich, Romney, et al) though.
yabecoo, are you calling America a cesspool? The cesspool that brought us George, Dick and Don?
Guilt by geographical association is ludicrous.
Hey yabecoo... Using that same logic you come from that evil, sinning race cesspool called humanity... Would that be a fair assesment or is there a chance you're different?
Go ahead and deny it, enablers. Call it guilt by political association. I didn't notice Bush, Cheney, Gingrich, Romney serving time but Blago is going to.
Let me correct, yabecco, if I may. It is Liar in Chief.
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I laughed my ass off when I heard about this, too. Listen, I've been a guest at Club Fed myself and the best advice I can give Ron is this: If you drop your soap, walk away...just walk away.
Too damned funny.
Maybe he'll get to go to Lompoc and he can commiserate with Randy "Duke" Cunningham, another "disgraced" politician (are there any other kind?), who rumor has it is a whiny little b**ch.
Wall street and congress are best bud's! why else do you think your tax money was gifted to the people who screwed things in the first place!
enjoy..
keep up those votes.. and wonder how people get back into office with such low rates of folks.
really are the people THAT dumb?
George Ryan got 6 years and man slaughter was involved -- Conrad Murray got a smaller sentence. Blago did lots of good for the senior citizens and kids health. But he stepped on the wrong toes. This is not justice this is more politcal pandering. 2 years for being stupid acceptable 14 years unacceptable. This is not justice. This is not the USA I am proud of. This is some other place, not my country. SHAME ON YOU JUDGE
TO: Grace Jewell who wrote:
Grace, you really make good practical sense. 14 years is pretty darn steep for not having actually hurt anybody, he didn't steal anything, he didn't even get away with anything.
I suppose that old saying is true: It's the "thought" that counts!
Grace, your logic is distorted. Joe Paterno is thought of as a great man, except that he allowed boys to be molested. Clinton was a great president, expect he is a convicted liar. Bush was a compassionate conservative, but he killed more Americans than Osama bin Laden.
The list of scum goes on, but the sheep continue to try to shape the image of scum. 10 good deeds don't erase criminal behavior.
TO: Jake Reyna who wrote:
Wow! Nobody had better mess with you because they'd be condemned for life! Wouldn't they?
To err is human, to forgive is devine.
Blago was corrupt to his core. It wasn't one act of trying of trying to sell Obama's previous position. This guy never thought the law really applied to him, which is why he is so shocked that he's going to prison.
If I steal something from my neighbour, I can reasonably expect to be criminally charged. These arrogant politicians think they are above the law. I feel bad for Blago's family, but it's time to set an example. Unfortunate for him, but then again, it is his fault.
What a douche btw - the only time he has ever apologized is 5 minutes before his sentencing! I understand that legally it would have been stupid for him to say something before conviction, but does anyone honestly believe that he really feels sorry for what he did? He's sorry he's going to prison. He's sorry for himself. That's about it. Good riddance.
You think he should get less time because he's BAD at crime?
I can't believe that people are defending Blago. I don't care what side of the aisle you sit on, the man clearly did not have your interests at heart when he tried to sell Obama's senate seat versus appointing someone to best represent the people of Illinois.
The good he did? Perhaps we should wonder what favors had to be exchanged for any "good" that he did. Illinois is flat-out broke. No- Illinois would like to get to "broke" versus the choking debt this state has. What "good" did Blago do, pray tell?
As a lifelong Illinois resident, I can tell you that no one in this state was surprised at the arrest in 2008- other than the surprise that it finally happened. Many of us had bumper stickers that read "Buck Flago" before his arrest. He was a dirty politician that abused his office and he got what he deserved.
Don't want to serve 14 years? Don't commit federal crimes. Seems easy enough.
My god. Domestic abusers/drug offenders/armed robbers get @!$%#ing probation and this guy gets 14 years. I'm not saying he didn't deserve punishment/time in prison because he does but if you juxtapose this with scumbags who kill and violently abuse people. Amazing. Of course it didn't help this little jack ass was loving the spotlight and flaunting it.
H25, I wouldn't say that abusers/drug offenders/armed robbers get probation, but I do agree that it probably sometimes happens, but this guy is a sleaze ball, when you have so much power like he a has and abuses it, then we have a big problem because it affects the entire state. This is a problem when people in power abuse it such as in Wall Stress and in the political arena. The thing is that he is serving a state sentence and he will be eligible for parole, unless he was tried by a federal court, I don't remember, which in that case, he will have to serve the full 14 years.
He will have to serve 85% of his sentence, He was tried in Federal Court.
Don't worry about this Democratic statesman.....nappy headed "Bubba" is going to look after him real good.... (You know how them "Dems" do it.......)
Not defending him, but what politician doesn't deal dirty, and has not done things like him? Certainly none among the GOP, who works a nationalized agenda that is directly against the best interests of the constituents they represent. Who is worse than Pennsylvania's Governor, who as attorney general of the state, slowed the investigation of child molestation charges, but the day after Obama's health plan came out, would file a federal suit? I know who I'd rather see rot in prison!
I think you're right Russ.
Conrad Murray was found to be responsible for the death of Michael Jackson, the "King of Pop" and he'll only do 2 years out the 4 he was sentenced to.
Seems like somebody really had something against Blago over and above Blago's big mouth, and that somebody was able to influence the sentencing decision.
14 years for talking crap! Wow!
American Girl
You do remember who Blago wanted to supeona don't you? Yup, higher ups in this current administration. He pissed off the other crooks running the show in Washington DC.
Russ, I see your point, and Republicans and Democrats alike do it, but I hope that is a small minority!! Maybe, I'm being naive!!
Blago tried to drag Rahm dead fish and Obama whats my name again into court.
That's why he got the book thrown at him for being a turncoat.
My Mom always said watch out for Fast Talking people. Well the Rod was not only a Fast talker, but the Dude was smooth too and neither one of those attributes saved him from Prison. Now we need to see some BANKSTERS follow him to the Iron Bar Hotel. White collar criminals have gotten a pass for far too long and many of them do much more damage with a pen then any common criminal can ever think of doing.
I like the way you're thinkin' there ted.
Ted, your mom is wise, I see those kind of people where I work at-Corp America!!
I'm from Chicago and the prosecutors made an example of him. He did nothing more than most politicians do. Why not haul the Wall Street pirates into court and hold them accountable for all the money lost in 2008 under Bush? Why not Bush, Cheney &Company for lying about Iraq, leaving Afghanistan before the job was done to invade Iraq and spending trillions of $$$ to privatize these wars. Let's not forget about all the deaths and seriously injured.
So Blago does some manipulations that didn't really hurt anyone, but he gets to do time.
God liberals whine so much. Didn't Dan Ryan go to prison to and wasn't he a Republican? This is about Illinois being so freaking corrupt and people finally paying the price. You can go to sleep at night that Daley was Chicago's mayor forever and never got caught doing anything wrong.
It's George Ryan and he's still in prison 6 1/2 year sentence for crimes worse than Blagos.
The sentence could have been for multiple counts.
When George Ryan was in charge of the DMV (I forget the actual position) in IL, he revoked my DL for speeding tickets (I had a lead foot in those days)-- when I heard he went to prison I had a great laugh - karma.
And the Dan Ryan is also a highway (from hell sometimes).
Now he's remorseful...and the judge gives him a little break when he lied right up to his conviction...what a piece of crap
and he's still appealing it.
Wall -street people ..and Bush with his lies.of war should be next..you cannot just pick and choose..the ones you want in Prison.
"Wall street people" lol.
More than half of our elected officials should be put in jail for corruption and ethics violations...Newt being just one. If he winds up in the White House there will be no end to the hypocracy. After Mr. B let's move up the ladder and start getting the real big sharks. Bernanke, Geithner, the Wall Street gang who were responsible for the collapes. Americans should not rest until these criminals pay one way or another. End the Fed now....cause its a corrupt and unconstitutional organization.
I was with you until you said that the Fed was unconstitutional. Do you realize that the Constitution gives Congress the power and duty to regulate the value of money? It also gives Congress the authority to pass any laws that require it to carry out its Constitutional functions. Hence, they passed a law to create the Federal Reserve. What is unconstitutional about its existence?
(looks around)
What, nobody thinks he's innocent?
(ok, I couldn't even type that with a straight face)
Hey Spielman, we KNOW he's not innocent. We all heard the recording the FBI made of Blago saying that Blago's chance to name someone to Obama's Senate Seat was "f---ing golden" and he wouldn't let it go "for f---ing nothing."
We all saw and heard that on TV. But 14 years? Holy crap! That's like a life sentence.
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American Girl..........talk about someone who is a card carrying apologist for their "party". Your arguments are no better than the republicans you are attacking.
They need to round up the rest of the crooked politicians that have sold their souls to Corporations. Supreme Court Justice Thomas is another person that belongs in jail. Failing to report your wife's income for 14 years by someone who is on the highest court in the United States should not be brushed under the rug.
Blagojevich is the kind of guy that reminds me of that episode of South Park where Jimmy makes up that joke and Eric Cartman takes credit for it. As the show continues we see how Eric's version of how things happened are based in fantasy land, but he truly believes that his version is the correct one. Eric buys into his own bull and so does Blagojevich. Which leads me to think that he probably believes that he is actually lying to get the judges mercy. I mean, this is reality tv at it's best. Which is kind of sad as well.
Really...where do you start looking for corruption because where ever...when ever...you look into politics you find the scum bags.
To answer your question Blago, no it's not a joke. As the Governor of the state of Illinois, you screwed many of the people you were elected to serve and one of those people is waiting for you to arrive at prison. His name is Bubba and he is going to make sure you serve him well. Just remember not to drop the soap in the shower.
He's going to Club Fed and will probaby have a roommate named Chad or something snooty like that.
It time to expose the ongoing corruption at all levels of government before we end up like Mexico.
We are already like Mexico. Worse when you consider we were the first nation in history to believe if men were free, they wouldn't be corrupt.
The founding fathers assumed men ARE corrupt but we should be free FROM them; as much as possible.
Ok then Bush just spoke of mass destruction ...he said they have them but they did not...he lied to America..
He wasn't the only one. Don't you read anything but trash from the left?
Actually Saddam still had wmd just not in the amount the American people were told he had.
We were also lead to believe he still had active programs when the ones he still had were moth balled.
Blago down Rahm, corozine and Obama sould be next.
Then we can look at the last set of admistration officials.
going to war for oil is bribery money folks..
Why are people so shocked about a resource war. That's what most of them are. Land, water, naval ports, something...
It's not a very shocking outcome, nor is the reaction by you ignorant sheep who suck on the partisan teet. Even when Obama pardons him before he's ousted from office next year, you will still claim that he had no knowledge or involvement. Sickening.
Right John!
Thank you.