warpedskydiver 0 #1 November 8, 2007 Ill. Governors' Office Rocked by Scandal In this April 18, 2007 file picture, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich speaks at the 45th Annu... By JOHN O'CONNOR, AP Thu Nov 8, 7:28 AM EST It might seem incredible that as a former Illinois governor reports to federal prison, the current chief faces similar misconduct allegations, from handing out state contracts as political rewards to accepting money under suspicious circumstances. But this is Illinois. Democrat Rod Blagojevich, who won the chief executive's office five years ago on a promise to clean up former Gov. George Ryan's mess, has wound up besieged by accusations. Two people already have pleaded guilty to federal charges in a shakedown scheme that also ensnared one of the governor's closest fundraisers. And federal prosecutors have acknowledged they are also investigating "serious allegations of endemic hiring fraud" under Blagojevich. Jay Stewart, executive director of the Better Government Association, blames an arrogant political culture in Illinois where the philosophy is "take what you can get." "It's not about serving the people," Stewart said. "It's not even about serving partisan interests. It's about enriching yourself and your friends." A Blagojevich aide noted that prosecutors are examining all levels of government, not just the state Capitol. The governor has not been charged with any wrongdoing. Ryan, a Republican, entered a federal prison in Oxford, Wis., on Wednesday after the U.S. Supreme Court denied him bail while he appeals his April 2006 conviction on racketeering and fraud charges. The decade-long investigation began with the sale of driver's licenses for bribes and led to the conviction of dozens of people who worked for Ryan when he was secretary of state and governor. Blagojevich said he was different, declaring upon taking office in 2003 that he would "shake up a system in Springfield that accepts corruption." But Antoin "Tony" Rezko, a Blagojevich political confidant and friend, is under indictment, accused of seeking campaign contributions from investment companies in exchange for getting them business with a state pension fund. In one case, the indictment claims Rezko demanded a company make a $1.5 million contribution to "a certain public official." That was Blagojevich, according to a person familiar with the investigation, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the probe is continuing. The administration also has been accused of trading state jobs, appointments and contracts for political contributions. And a friend whose wife had just gotten a state job gave Blagojevich a check for $1,500. The governor said it was a gift for one of his daughters, but he wasn't sure which one. Also, federal prosecutors have subpoenaed records from Blagojevich's political campaign fund, according to the Chicago Tribune. Ryan's campaign committee was convicted of racketeering in 2003. Taxpayers just shake their heads. "Setting the bar at a level of honest, competent government should not be an unattainable goal," said Rep. John Fritchey, a Chicago Democrat and legislative leader on ethics issues. Blagojevich spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff said Blagojevich signed tough ethics legislation that created an independent inspector general, unlike what she called the "puppet" who served Ryan as secretary of state and was convicted of obstructing inquiries. Blagojevich also is not the only one under the gun. Ottenhoff pointed to recent convictions for improper political hiring at Chicago City Hall. "In recent years, we've seen government at every level is under closer scrutiny and we think that's good for the system," Ottenhoff said. Former U.S. Attorney William Roberts, now in private practice, represented at least two dozen people questioned in the Ryan case. He said he has never seen "a more intense investigation" and doesn't see the government easing up. "One wonders why anyone who reads the papers would get within a mile of questionable conduct," Roberts said. Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Quote Rezko is also a supporter of Obama, and was proven to have given Sen. Obama an adjacent lot to Obama's home, the lot was valued at $450,000 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites idrankwhat 0 #2 November 8, 2007 http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=3007739;#3007739 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites warpedskydiver 0 #3 November 9, 2007 and?What do you prefer that the state I live in keep extremely corrupt politicians in office? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites kallend 2,148 #4 November 9, 2007 Quote and?What do you prefer that the state I live in keep extremely corrupt politicians in office? We could actually wait for a trial and conviction before jumping to conclusions, like we did with George Ryan. All we can really say right now is that there is a rather bad odor around the Governor's Mansion.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Gene03 0 #5 November 9, 2007 EEEEWWWWWHHH. I wouldn't let that slimey fucker go down on me, ain't enough tequila in th world for that.“The only fool bigger than the person who knows it all is the person who argues with him. Stanislaw Jerzy Lec quotes (Polish writer, poet and satirist 1906-1966) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites warpedskydiver 0 #6 November 9, 2007 I was of the opinion that George Ryan was a criminal and a true asshole who would value money over lives and the welfare of those he was to be watching over, even before he became govenor. The fact that he was at the helm of the Secretary of states office when the illegally licensed driver confessed to having paid for his CDL, after he was arrested in connection with the death of the pastors children on I-94, was a huge warning sign that a career criminal was running for govenor. I did not vote for him, did you? Now what was it you were saying? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites warpedskydiver 0 #7 November 9, 2007 Heck there may be someone on this forum that rubbed elbows with him, and may have been quite enamored of him. I think that may be a very well founded assertion. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites kallend 2,148 #8 November 9, 2007 Quote Now what was it you were saying? Something to do with being a country of laws, and that Springfield IL seems rather stinky right now.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites warpedskydiver 0 #9 November 9, 2007 Yep business as usual for the Daley crew. Ryan should have gotten the death sentence Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
idrankwhat 0 #2 November 8, 2007 http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=3007739;#3007739 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warpedskydiver 0 #3 November 9, 2007 and?What do you prefer that the state I live in keep extremely corrupt politicians in office? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,148 #4 November 9, 2007 Quote and?What do you prefer that the state I live in keep extremely corrupt politicians in office? We could actually wait for a trial and conviction before jumping to conclusions, like we did with George Ryan. All we can really say right now is that there is a rather bad odor around the Governor's Mansion.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gene03 0 #5 November 9, 2007 EEEEWWWWWHHH. I wouldn't let that slimey fucker go down on me, ain't enough tequila in th world for that.“The only fool bigger than the person who knows it all is the person who argues with him. Stanislaw Jerzy Lec quotes (Polish writer, poet and satirist 1906-1966) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warpedskydiver 0 #6 November 9, 2007 I was of the opinion that George Ryan was a criminal and a true asshole who would value money over lives and the welfare of those he was to be watching over, even before he became govenor. The fact that he was at the helm of the Secretary of states office when the illegally licensed driver confessed to having paid for his CDL, after he was arrested in connection with the death of the pastors children on I-94, was a huge warning sign that a career criminal was running for govenor. I did not vote for him, did you? Now what was it you were saying? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warpedskydiver 0 #7 November 9, 2007 Heck there may be someone on this forum that rubbed elbows with him, and may have been quite enamored of him. I think that may be a very well founded assertion. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,148 #8 November 9, 2007 Quote Now what was it you were saying? Something to do with being a country of laws, and that Springfield IL seems rather stinky right now.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warpedskydiver 0 #9 November 9, 2007 Yep business as usual for the Daley crew. Ryan should have gotten the death sentence Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
