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Subscribe to RSSFormer Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich speaks to reporters outside his Chicago home, less than 24 hours before he's due to report to a Colorado prison to begin serving a 14-year sentence for corruption. Watch his entire statement
Updated at 7 p.m. ET: Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who was never one to mince words during his political career, had a final moment in the spotlight on Wednesday when he made a statement before reporting to a federal prison to serve a 14-year sentence for corruption.
Calling his impending imprisonment a "calamity" and a "dark and long journey," Blagojevich told a gaggle of reporters and supporters he was finding it difficult to know what to tell his children in the coming hours. "It's hard for me to say that I have to go to prison," he said.
The former governor also expressed optimism about his appeal on corruption conviction. "This is not over," he said.
More than 50 reporters were swarming his home by mid-afternoon, including two television helicopters hovering overhead and a dozen TV trucks parked along his street. Some neighbors were signing a banner hung over a railing on Blagojevich's house that read, "Thanks Mr. Governor. We Will Pray."
"Everything I talked about doing when it came to campaign fundraising and political horse trading I believed was on the right side of the law," Blagojevich said, echoing comments he made to the judge in the case.
"The decision went against me. I am responsible for the things that I've said," he said. "I accept that decision as hard as it is. And the law as it stands right now is that I have to go do what I have to go do. And this is the hardest thing that I've ever had to do."
Blagojevich spoke outside the home where FBI agents showed up on the morning of Dec. 9, 2008, and arrested him. At the time, a surprised Blagojevich thought the arrest was a joke.
But it was not a joke. Federal agents had spent months wire-tapping Blagojevich's telephones and prosecutors accused him of trying to sell the Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama, in return for political favors and donations.
Three years and two trials later, U.S. District Court Judge James Zagel sentenced the two-term governor and father of two daughters to 14 years in prison for corruption.
Assigned prisoner number 40892-424, Blagojevich, 55, is scheduled to surrender on Thursday and will be sent to a prison in Littleton, Colo.
On Tuesday, Blagojevich took his wife and two daughters to Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo to enjoy the mild weather, NBCNewsChicago.com reported. When the family arrived home, neighbors greeted them, offering the former governor support. On the sidewalk outside his home, posters are still seen with messages thanking Blagojevich and expressing outrage at the severity of his sentence.
"This is what I try to get all my clients to understand," said Wendy Feldman, a prison consultant and coach. "There is a reason that you’ve gotten yourself this ticket to prison. [Blagojevich] is going to have to learn humility, and then respect, and then he’ll need to ease in to the process, because he’s got such a long time to be there."
Read the full story on Rod Blagojevich's day of freedom on NBCChicago.com
The imprisonment of Blagojevich, a Democrat, means the last two Illinois governors are both behind bars, and he becomes the fourth governor in the state to be convicted of crimes since the 1960s. His Republican predecessor George Ryan is also in prison for graft.
One of Blagojevich's aides, Christopher Kelly, committed suicide in 2009 before going to prison, saying that prosecutors had pressed him to cooperate in the case against his former boss.
Northwestern University law professor Ronald Allen has called the corrupt practices in Illinois "a hideous bog" that never seemed to dry up.
When Blagojevich and a top aide were charged, local U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said authorities had halted a potential crime spree that would have made Illinois native Abraham Lincoln "roll over in his grave."
Publicity campaign
Through two trials Blagojevich refused to apologize for his actions, even launching a publicity campaign on national talk shows to declare his innocence. Only at his sentencing in December 2011 did he finally apologize but Zagel said it was too late.
Blagojevich's first trial in August 2009 ended with a conviction on one count of lying to investigators and a mistrial on the bulk of the charges due to the reluctance of a single juror.
At his second trial, with his campaign fund exhausted and his eloquent defense lawyer Sam Adam, Jr., declining to continue on the case, Blagojevich was convicted of 17 of 20 counts.
He was acquitted of a single bribery count and jurors deadlocked on two other counts, including one related to a school grant sought by then-U.S. Representative Rahm Emanuel, later Obama's chief of staff and now Chicago's mayor.
Initially, the case against Blagojevich threatened to taint the nascent Obama administration since the governor was charged with seeking an ambassadorship or cabinet post in exchange for naming Obama aide Valerie Jarrett to the vacated Senate seat. But Emanuel testified Blagojevich was offered nothing and no one from the administration was charged.
Blagojevich and Obama also shared a friendship with Antoin "Tony" Rezko, a Chicago businessman and political fund-raiser who was convicted of bribery related to his unofficial role filling state jobs.
Rezko did not testify at either of Blagojevich's trials but the corrupt practices revealed at his trial further stigmatized the state's political establishment, where Obama made his start.
Blagojevich, the first Democrat elected Illinois governor in 30 years, eventually alienated state lawmakers, passing out largesse while the state's finances suffered.
His popularity sank to unprecedented lows during his second term and Blagojevich was heard on the FBI tape-recordings profanely pushing aides to trade the Senate seat for a well-paid position for him because he despised being governor.
At one point on the tapes Blagojevich cursed Obama for taking away his own chance at higher office, showing the now-disgraced Blagojevich once had loftier aspirations.
Reuters, The Associated Press and NBCChicago.com contributed to this report.
Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich gave a long, rambling speech a day before he heads off to prison. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News
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His final works are likely to be: To the jury that convicted me: "&*%$$&***$#"!!!! To the judge who sentenced me: "&*(^%%$##&**&&"!!!! To the people of Illinois: "%$*&@@(*^^&&*" !!!! And that it will be it, not sorry, no remorse, nothing. May it pass quickly Blago.
Gotta love it. A long article about words he hasn't even said. Only BSNBC could come up with this.
May it pass quickly my arse; more like, may Rod Biglogof@!$%# spend every night with Big Bubba Redneck as his new lover, and wake up every morning banging his head against the bars of his cell for being just another crooked lifer politician.
It's because of this big POS that Obama purchased his seat in the US Senate. $100 bucks says Obama gives this animal a presidential pardon.
It's a shame he will probably be paroled or pardoned after serving only a fraction of his sentence in a nice white collar federal resort. This liberal slimeball deserves to serve every one of those 14 years in a real prison.
calamity" and a "dark and long journey
Some of the people inside the prison will be very glad to keep him some company, so he does not get "lonely"-with an h.
Yup, let us hope and pray he has the bhalls to do it. How about the Mississippi pardon? Murders? And what he did do, run his mouth about something, right. What George Bush Cheney, Powell and crew did cost hundreds of thousands of life base on a lie; in addition to trillions of unpaid debts. What did they get? Let us look forward. US in-justice.
sniff sniff..this chit is F*cking golden!
When he does get out...where can a ex-con get a job...WASHINGTON DC of course!
DC? He doesn't have to even travel that far --- just send him to Detroit!
@ DuncanH.. He will see no mercy.. He betrayed BofA and the central bankster.. Black ball.. Outta the demopublican club..
Well, the bozo should have thought of that before he tried to sell Obama's Senate seat. Loser!
Not defending but
14 years for trying to sell a senate seat.........
0 years for trying buy a presidency for newt
just saying.........
His cellmate might mess up his "trumpy" "hairdo"!
Above and below!
That's the worst part, butt yet, the best!
He's so righty,- tightly "nasal"
I wonder how much Obama Paid for his seat.. Um I mean, how much someone else paid for his seat..
Yes, he's guilty, but 14 years is an f'n travesty. Our justice system is completely broken.
Should have been a lot more.
I agree...should be 20 years. Can't wait to see his new hairdo...the boys will like him...byebye, Blago
You mean like how George W. Bush commuted Scooter Libby's prison sentence? Libby never saw the inside...
Justice system? Remember those infamous words, the color of justice in this country is green.
Yeah Bush could not wait to commute Scooter's sentence and both Cheney and Libby should be rotting in prison right now. They were responsible for the deaths of a number of our CIA assets in the middle east when they outed a covert CIA operative solely for political revenge. Traitorous scum!
Having said that I have no sympathy for poor little Blago. I will say that when it comes to corruption, Illinois is a equal opportunity state. Democrat, republican, black, white, latin, male or female once they get into government all they see is $$$$$$$$$!
i don't care...i liked him anyway....and i'm no democrat. i hope obama does pardon him. he does not deserve 14 yrs. i know of a murder the convicted man spent less than 5. this is bull.
you liked a jerk.
He claims this will be "the hardest thing I will ever have to do ". No, not really correct. He obviously has not met Bubba and seen the 'hard thing' Bubba has waiting for him. THAT, will be the "hardest thing he will ever do"......over, and over, and over again. Good luck , ROD........
How fitting , his name "Rod". That is what he will be seeing alot of. 'Rod' most likely will be getting the 'shaft'. Ironic, that is what "Rod" gave to the people of Illinois, and now some of the people will be giving it right back to him. Guess the old saying what goes around, comes around has some truth to it after all.
He is going to be popular in prison, especially with all that hair for his "classmates" to grab onto while they're teaching him a thing or two about morals and ethics.
Hopefully Scott Walker will be joining him soon :~)
.............................................. "Wrestie" ?????????????????????
Eileen V-635375
I don't think there is enough room in a cell for these two over bloated egomaniacs.
Don't speak, just go, and you won't be missed.
Everyone is so happy but no one can catch the real thief..Wish we could use DNA with these lumpduds
bend over rod here comes bubba dont drop the soap bye bye blago.
@ Duphas Yeah just like Ford gave Nixon a pardon for stealing the presidency. Come Lord Jesus, come quickly.
"Free rides for seniors... free health care programs." ???
My wrinkled sphincter! He should be jailed for these alone. These are NOT legitimate functions of government... In order to implement these programs, no matter HOW noble he 'thought' they were.. he'd have to steal money from one taxpayer to give it to someone else. Stupid, delusional bastard.
And regarding the things for which he DID get convicted - my he rot in hell for presiding over one of the most corrupt state governments ever. Yes, these would be the same bastards who made laws for the Rest of us, but clearly without a thought in the world about it, felt they didn't have to follow any of them.
"Because that's what a father is supposed to do." ??? No... what a father is supposed to do, Mr. ex-governor, is to not lie and cheat and betray the trust of the people who sent him to office to honor his oath. May he never forget this universal principle: "Sow to the wind - Reap a tornado."
Do I feel sorry for the man and his family? Of course I do. And not because justice has been served... but because he's completely and utterly delusional about the reason for his downfall.
As happy as I am that corruption is successfully prosecuted (and hope Wall St will be the next target for arrests and prosecutions), I can't imagine what it would be like to know that you're going to spend the next 14 years in a cell and knowing that when (or if) you survive it, you'll be an old man with more past than future.
Personally, I don't know if I could survive it. But I guess that's what drugs are for.
He got greedy. He got taped. He got caught. He has no one to blame but himself. Running his mouth, seems to be his worse enemy....
Blogo, as a former Corrections (Prison) Officer, my advice is, watch out for yer c*rnhole, Bud.
May he thoroughly enjoy every prison gang rape that awaits him :)
Blago took the "hit" for a lot of unsavory Chicago Machine Gangsters who are in Politics---
They don't reveal themselves, but some are Mayor, the Governor, and Senators who pulled for "Obama's" Senate Seat, having a lot of money to buy it, like Jesse Jackson, Jr.--and-----
I really hate the comments hoping for and laughing about the possibility of someone being raped every time there is a story about a guy headed to prison. No one deserves that and it has nothing to do with justice.
Roland Burris got off the hook as well, trying to buy Obama's Senate Seat.
I don't get how anyone could think this sentence is too severe. Selling a senate seat to the wrong person could have a catastrophic effect on so many lives. A person who buys a senate seat is corrupt. A corrupt senator does not serve the people, he serves business interests.
For example, how many people would want to appoint a senator who happens to be in the pockets of an oil baron polluting the waters with toxic waste, or a pharmacutical company head who wants cancer-causing drugs to hit the market without being fully vetted by the FDA? What about a senator who helps tie up in appropriations the government contracts of well-meaning but financially struggling companies in order to allow corporate raiders to buy and dismantle those companies or provide unfair advantages to less altruistic competitors? Those are the types of events Blagojevich and other governors could potentially unleash by selling senate seats.
The sentence for an attempted crime should be commensurate with the potential impact of that crime. Based on that standard, Blagojevich's sentence was - if anything - far too light.
I agree with you and Blago, this is all Obama's fault.
I doubt Patrick Fitzgerald, the "local U.S. Attorney" (whatever the hell that is) made the statement attributed to him. He would know Abraham Lincoln is not an "Illinois native." In fact, most fourth graders would know it.
Blago's photo: Can't help thinking Blago looks like a cross between Justin Bieber and Robert Blake from the 70's. I hope Bieber never does anything to find himself in jail.
Blago... I'll hand-deliver some soaps-on-a-rope, so you don't have to worry about dropping your soap, little buddy.
Reporting to prison might be the hardest thing he's ever had to do - up until he gets into prison. It will seem like a cake walk once he is the bitch for the cell block.
Yeah. In prison, his new name will be Rod GaperVitch.
Dayum I'm good.
I have zero sympathy for corrupt politicians who betray the trust the public has placed in them. He got such a harsh sentence because he has shown and continues to show no remorse for what he did. He's going where he belongs.
Then you have no sympathy for Obama either? hes just as corrupt as the lot of them.
Yep he hails from that Corrupt machine 8)
Corrupt Politicians such as Blago are common in that State of Crooks and thieves.
"Then you have no sympathy for Obama either? hes just as corrupt as the lot of them."
So we can assume you have no sympathy for Romney, Gingrich, Santorum, Palin, Perry, Bachmann or Bush and think they are all corrupt too?
Show some evidence that Obama is corrupt. Blago was convicted because of his actions, not his location. I understand about politics in general and the corruption that's common in Chicago, but if the President himself has committed crimes in the past, show evidence. Otherwise your're just whining because your guy lost.
Hey we know Bush was after oil and making sweet deals for his buds (e.g. Haliburton). That's sounds corrupt to me.
Blagojevich was convicted just because he has a very big mouth, not because he actually committed any crime. There are no charges against Jesse Jackson Jr. or anyone else related to the alleged attempted sale of the senate seat. Blago will win his appeal, but he will still spend a few years in prison. As much as I dislike the mope, I feel sorry for him. There are much more unethical politicians than Blago in the Madiganistan state government right now that are damaging the state, but the chumbalone voters just keep sending them back to Cullertown.
Obama birth certificate is more than likely a false document but corruption is the norm in today's political realm, Republicans and Democrats. Many speak with forked tongues or serpent tongues.
Corrupt Politicians such as Blago are common in that State of Crooks and thieves.
Be adventourous and take a trip to Texas or Arizona...You will be amazed!!!
How about George Bush? Newt Gingrich?
You realize, ruready4theend, why it is not even relevant where in the world Obama was born right?Oh no you don't - I'm sorry the public education system failed you. Don't feel bad, Donald Trump doesn't get it either and he's allegedly rich.
Just because another person rapes somebody does not mean that you are justified in raping somebody too.
Just because somebody robs a lot of banks does not mean that you should get a free pass because you rob fewer banks.
The same goes for politicians. Stop trying to justify the criminal actions of your favorite politicians by pointing to what you see as more aggregious behavior by somebody else, because it just makes you look really, really stupid.
Big Trouble some food for thought...
1. Back in 1961 people of color were called ‘Negroes.’ So how can the Obama ‘birth certificate’ state he is ‘African-American’ when the term wasn’t even used at that time?
2. The birth certificate that the White House released lists Obama’s birth as August 4, 1961. It also lists Barack Hussein Obama as his father. No big deal, right? At the time of Obama’s birth, it also shows that his father is aged 25 years old, and that Obama’s father was born in ” Kenya , East Africa “. This wouldn’t seem like anything of concern, except the fact that Kenya did not even exist until 1963, two whole years after Obama’s birth, and 27 years after his father’s birth. How could Obama’s father have been born in a country that did not yet exist? Up and until Kenya was formed in 1963, it was known as the “ British East Africa Protectorate”.
3. On the birth certificate released by the White House, the listed place of birth is “Kapi’olani Maternity & Gynecological Hospital “.This cannot be, because the hospital(s) in question in 1961 were called “KauiKeolani Children’s Hospital“ and ”Kapi’olani MaternityHome”, respectively. The name did not change to Kapi’olani Maternity & Gynecological Hospital until 1978, when these two hospitals merged. How can this particular name of the hospital be on a birth certificate dated 1961 if this name had not yet been applied to it until 1978?
ruready4theend... your name says it all. You believe the end is coming... soon... so I'm guessing you are a survivalist or worse... a born again?
When are you people going to realize that Obama's birth certificate is the real deal. Even if it were not the real deal, his mother was an American citizen, which makes him an American citizen. Do you realize how many levels of corruption and lies it would take to fake a birth certificate? Geez, go somewhere far away... preferably Afghanistan, and live in the hills with the other idiots. You'll fit right in.
And oh, by the way... Obama is not Muslim, either.
His Republican predecessor George Ryan went to prison also - Ryan was found guilty of all 18 felony charges they took to trial ...racketeering conspiracy, mail fraud, tax fraud, etc. It's a Donkephant problem. Both political parties. Quit trying to make each other's party look worse and work together against every slime. For every one prosecuted, dozens of others retire rich from politics... at our expense.
If Blago gets 14 years, Dubya should be doing life. Without any possible parole. At least Blago's selfish methods haven't taken and destroyed thousands upon thousands of lives. Sleep well Georgie-boy, sleep well. We know you will...
I'm delighted Blago's going where he needs to go. Corrupt politicos sooner or later find their way to prison.
SHEESH, RUREADY, enough with this BS about his birth certificate already! Don't you think every supercilious little point has been investigated, followed up, and treated with the appropriate level of due diligence? Those bogus arguments are just that - bogus.
Believe me, I am NOT an Obama supporter. But your refusal to move on says more about you than it does about Obama or either side's supporters. There is PLENTY of stuff to criticize Obama about that has more validity, as well as more appropriate legal repercussions than this birth certificate nonsense.
Let's assume for a moment that the birth certificate is proven false, and it's proven he's not really eligible to be President. What do we do with all the laws that have been passed (and not passed) - do we have to revisit them? They've already been discussed, ad nauseum, and decisions have already been made. Legislation has been passed, much of it thorough and significant - do we revoke those? You're being unrealistic and immature. Please grow up and live in the real world with us adults. It's not always pleasant, but at least it's real.
ruready.... u r an idiot.
Charlie-1915998
Nice try Charlie
<Don't you think every supercilious little point has been investigated, followed up, and treated with the appropriate level of due diligence?>
HAHAHAHAHA ..... I've got a lake in the middle of a desert I'd like to sell you..... the only due diligence done regarding Barry is an attempt to cover up the truth and lead the sheeples to believe it....
some people just can't let go of what they perceive as a significant and legitimate point. It is similar to the many people who still blame George Bush for everything from solar flares to potholes. I could care less where the President was born. Where he was born does not make him a bad President. He comes by that all by himself.
This isn't about Bush or Gingrich. It's about Blago. I'm a far-left, liberal Democrat and I hope Blago enjoys his time in the big house getting passed around for cigarettes. May he never be the same again when he's finally released.
Theres a whole lot of politicians out there with the same problem as Blago. They all suffer from pinnochio syndrome. Some say he's getting too much time. Even if he is so what?? Why can't he be an example to the rest of them that truth and justice are going start staring them right in the eye balls and the American citizens are sick and tired of their corrupt BS!!! IT's about time that the entire upper echelon of goverment gets' scrutinized completely and account for every single action of theirs. SO if half of Congress heads to prison so what!!! Plenty of decent Americans would take those postions if we had enough reform where the candidates come from all income levels rather than the filthy rich or their corporate sponsors. Doesn't have to come down to a witch hunt but the hammer needs to come down on most of them.
14 years?!! I've seen murderers get less than that. What is wrong with our justice system?
They accepted responsibility for their crimes. Blago is on tape several times and refuses to admit he did anything wrong. I hope he keeps his position. That way he will get the privilege of serving his whole sentence. Parole boards like that - it makes their decisions easier.
If you think he'll actually serve 14 years, you're dreaming. He'll serve much less time than that. I have no sympathy for him. If you burn your butt, you have to sit on the blisters.
Corruption is much more serious than you give it credit for. It undermines the pillars of democracy. It should be treated as treason is.
The problem is our liberal justice system does not give murderers enough time. Corrupt politicans have a major negative impact on society at large and thus deserve stiff penalities. The crappy part is that we all know Blago won't do anything close to 14 years.
dorothydoll
14 years?!! I've seen murderers get less than that. What is wrong with our justice system?" Post No. 4
Political games and posturing. Remember, awhile back, hefty and mandatory prison sentences so politicians wouldn't be seen as being 'soft on crime'? There's too much kindergarten posturing with legislation and such.
Several years ago, in Wisconsin, a 19 or 20 year old knocked up his 17 year old fiancée. They were planning on getting married when, somehow, law enforcement heard about it. The two sets of parents had no problem with the situation. Nevertheless charges were pressed and the young man was found guilty. He was sentenced to about 20 years and the state legislators were aghast. Legislator's sputtered the law wasn't meant to apply to situations like this one. The judge read the article of law. It said 'will' instead of 'may'.
Like in many other things judicial discretion was eliminated. A couple of other things are; the almost absolute elimination of a lady's ownership of herself, Marijuana, a person's right to marry another consenting adult regardless of sex. The same garbage applied to skin color until it was overturned by the USSC in 1967.
Freedom requires courage. Too bad the country's leaders are so cowardly.
14 years?!! I've seen murderers get less than that. What is wrong with our justice system?
He will be out in 3 years for "Good Behavior" This is the US...where celebrities and politicians are not measured with the same justice.
stoney. Fanned and favved my friend.
Loony Wisconsin. Nuff said.
Like your post Stoney! Well said.
stoney, you're absolutely right about games & posturing -- that is the essence of our criminal justice system. It is a game in which each side tries their best to win, and if by some stroke of luck a thing resembling justice happens to occur, well that's great, but that's not really the goal.
One kid gets 20 years for knocking up his girlfriend and trying to do the right thing by proposing, with his and her parents' blessing, and another kid gets 15-25 for beating his girlfriend to death with a hammer, and then only serves 8 years of that sentence anyway.
Blago won't likely serve more than a few years, but at least he is getting a real punishment for having undermined the sacred trust we place in our elected officials to represent their constituents and uphold the law.
And I absolutely agree that freedom requires real courage. But it's not only our leaders who are cowardly, it's all of us too. Americans like to think they believe in freedom, but truly, most Americans despise freedom. We love making more rules & laws to control our fellow man's behavior and to imprison him when he violates one of those new laws.
It's no wonder we have the highest per capita number of prisoners of any country in the world. We're number one in creating criminals out of people who didn't used to be criminals.
...prison consultant and coach.
Now I've heard it ALL. Oh im going to prison so better see my coach and consultant about the the proper etiquette and communication skills.
No doubt. Why do these white collar criminals get coach/consultants on how to go to prison?? NO ordinary citizen get that kind of luxury! Hope he's paying for this himself!!!
Due to his arrogance 14years sounds good to me. May be other politians will learn from this . LMAO..I doubt it
I am with Dorothy here...fourteen years is absurd and people get less for murder.
Yes Blago, prison is going to be a very "hard journey". Hopefully the boys on the cell block and your "roommate" will be kind.
Watch your corn hole bud!
14 years he'll play the system and get out a lot earlier! He's not going to spend the whole 14 yrs. in prison.He may even get out on appeal.
I'm not cheering this clown, but I bet that's what happens!
We'll have to keep an eye on this slimmy guy. He is suppost to serve 85% of his sentence, a little over 12 years according to federal guide lines.
gloria---
in fed you do most of your time, unlike state. it used to be 52 days a year good time off...don't know what it is now
Hey Blago:
Methinks you'll have plenty of time 'in the spotlight' where you're going. Especially the spotlight in the shower.
Whaa Whaaa Whaaaaa! Do the right thing next time fool.
14 YEARS?!?!?! They are rapists and murderers that don't see near 14 YEARS in prison. Although he may have been a little corrupt, 14 years is ridiculous. Good luck Blago!!!
A little corrupt? Is that like saying a little bit pregnant or a little dead? He is a crook.
If corruption in politics is ever to be curbed the corrupt have to be made examples of so the rest of the politicians get the idea that they just may not get away with their BS. The justice system is completely falling apart and things need to be changed. But to do so we need lawmakers who give a crap about the general public and what their constituents want and need. They have to care more about the victims of crime and protecting the citizens from repeat offenders than the stinkin' criminals rights. A lot of these sub humans housed in prisons on the taxpayers dime get better medical care than a lot of law abiding citizens.
I refuse to believe he's going to prison for merely doing something EVERY SINGLE DEMOCRAT IN ILLINOIS is guilty of......
He pi$$ed somebody off....who?
Don't forget the Republican governors who went to jail, too.
Good guess Obama,Holder, and Emanuel
14 years. We can officially call that "a spell". Oh well. He earned it.
No worse than the rest of the lot-just a little more straightforward.
He's showing how people are so easily betrayed by this kind of con artist schtick. This is how we all get scammed. He has no remorse and clearly views himself as a martyr.
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. You know that feeling of being all powerful, well it is that feeling you get before you fall and bust your knees and teeth on the ground and learn to crawl all over again. Blago, next time remain humble and don't reach so far so fast.
Another applicable cliche would be "Pride goeth before a fall". He never thought he'd be convicted. He's not sorry about what he did, he's just sorry he's being punished for doing it.
Hope they shave is head bald, then it will hit home.
Hope they shave is head bald, then it will hit home.
They may never be able to find his skull, where a brain is supposed to live.
Dead Fish and O'Golfer would probably enjoy prison. They sure enjoyed the gay bath house in Chicago.
Guessing from your name that you are an eye ball witness to that.
Look at the bright side. At least all the former governors, currently imprisoned, will be able to get together for the holidays.
is has a few years to figure out you don't sell your seat in politics.
True but now he has a chance to give it away in prison. LOL
I don't think Blago is guilty of anything except running that big mouth of his. Someone asks for the Senate seat and wise ass Blago says "You want the seat? Whatchi got more me bud?" I just think he was a wise ass and got nailed for trying to trade the seat for political favors, ever seat that is ever filled on a temporary basis like the one in IL was filled for political reasons. Blago is a loud mouth dumb ass, but I can't see him going to prison for this. I have never voted for a Democrat in my life either, but that does not mean I want to see one in prison just because he is an obnoxious dumb $hit.
Terry, really?
He was guilty of trying to sell Owedumbo's senate seat, not running his mouth.
HE TRIED TO SELL A SENATE SEAT, you gd idiot.
Not only did he try to sell a senate seat, he tried to sell the ex-senate seat of the newly elected president. I am so glad the big boys did not let this tripe get away with that.
Urban Roman
You calling me an Idiot? Your attitude and intolerance of other people's opinions just shows your ignorance of other possibilities. Besides, who in their right mind would want to buy a senate seat in a crappy ass state like Illinois.
Jesse Jackson jr. wanted that senate seat
Terry-, Urban Roman, Here is the truth,Blago got busted because he was trying to shake down Edwards Hospital in Naperville,Il. Rod sent 1 of his reps to ask for a $50,000 campaign donation in return for state funding for the hospitals recent building expansion which was underway at the time(the contractor was Mayor Daley's nephew,are you following this?). The Blago rep assured the hosp director that the contribution would come thru if the next phase of construction would be given to another contractor. She declined the offer. So, Rod Blagojevich wasn't only screwing the state of Illinois he was screwing Daley as well! The hospital director contacted their attorneys to see if this was a common practice. They said,"no way". But 1 of the legal team had connections with the FBI and the approached the director and she agreed to wear a wire to record further dealings with Blagojevich's reps. She contacted Blago's people and told them she may want to reconsider their offer. Those tapes busted this corrupt as%^#le. And as far as Blago trying to sell Obama's senate seat. Why was it up for grabs in the first place? Couldn't the President named a successor to his seat? For Christ's sake Sarah Palin did at least that when she vacated her position as Governor! Obama didn't because this is business as usual with Chicago style politics. Obama's seat was left up in the air to return a favor to the political machine in Chicago. You think otherwise? Then why is Bill Daley his campaign manager? Business as usual.
Terry he gave 25 million in taxbreaks to expand the Ameriquest office that stole my home with a forged note.
Immediately the police began following my around, harrassing me, intimidating me and falsely arresting me.
The Il. state police took my clothes off handcuffed me very tight and put me in an unheated paddy wagon for 3 hours while below zero. The police have been involved in many attacks on myself and my property, fabricated driverss licences fabrications, insurance etc. Many victims of bank fraud get harrassed, terrorized and falsely arrested people like me who had clean records before an illegal foreclosure are suddenly treated like terrorists. I have been held under investigation in California for 6 years and the police follow us everywhere we go, I want the maggot dead. I did confront him about all the false arrests, and false suspensions etc. and he did restore my license to perfect and all the records are gone off the DMV, but I still can't drive even with a safe driving award the police mock me and say my license is fake, proof of insurance cards are fakes etc. Our country has become a fascist police state for law abiders. I can't leave the country the state department claims my birth certificate is fake too. In Littleton where he is staying the police were involved in stealing my security deposit, falsifying and stealing evidence, one of my vehicles, and and sabotaging two of my vehicles one of them the steering collumn was rigged to lock up I was driving out of Denver at the time.
As i was reading thru these comments i happened upon this one. WOW! Quite frankly, this is an impossibility! A charge/accusation of this magnitude, would be taken very seriously! I seriously doubt all this actually occured. Embellishment maybe????? This is for Greg Collins by the way!
He will probably be out in half that time.
He was sentenced in December, why isn’t he serving his time already??
If you or I were found guilty and sentenced to 14 years, do you think the law would let us spend two months with our family before we showed up for prison.
Different rules for different people.
Nope. Our happy little behinds would have been in the slammer upon the judge pronouncing sentence.
Lile all Career Politicians, they think they are above the law and won't get caught. This case proves that justice can prevail. Unfortunately there are many more that should share Blog's fate.
To career politicians, I would also add investment bankers and CEOs.
As far as putting corrupt politicians in prison goes I can think of 435 at the top of governnmrnt in DC for starters. Treason and corruption would be the two crimes that should nail all of them.
He's in a country club prison. I could understand his whining if he was going to the SuperMax prison in Florence, but the Federal prison in Lakewood? Not so much.
Uh, that's Littleton, Colorado not Lakewood.
Would you trade places with him?
FCI Englewood at Littleton, Co, a low security prison, according to their web site.
Blagojevich should be wearing an orange jump suit and picking up trash on our roadways for his sentence! The only problem with that is the Il state workers unions would call him a scab and Rod couldn't cross the"paid union picketers", picket line! If that is, they're not to busy going to Wisconsin to petition the recall of a "real Governor" who has created a $urplus of state revenue,unlike Blago's successor, Pat Quinn!
It's just before the foot hills west Littleton. It used to be a boys prison and was changed to a federal prison some years ago. It's still secured and not a place I would want to be in. From history and rumor from I've heard he will probably do ten years. That place doesn't look like a comfortable place to do ten years. I don't know why he picked CO. I've heard it's hard core and not much comfort at all in those places in CO anymore. Of course he's not to smart or he wouldn't be where he's going in the first place.
Well deserved! I hope he gets raped by the people he put down. He is one the fewest despicable idiots that thought could overlook the same laws he enforced. I do not feel sorry for his family either, they have to suffer from what he purposely, and intentionally did. That's politics. Boy, does he have a mouth!