Reality TV Blago Style

Rarely have I been more entertained by the news recently, than when Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich holds a press conference. It truly is exciting!

Shortly after the Illinois House chose to move forward with Impeachment proceedings against him, he appeared before me on my television screen. He surely had quite a bit to say too! It was quite obvious that he dislikes the Illinois House of Representatives, and is certain that they have grouped together in this big conspiracy against him. Maybe he suffers from delusions, grand delusions, who knows, anything is possible, but the man is fun to watch and listen to! I wouldn't want him as a Governor, or a best friend, but I like him for topic materials and heck, I would have dinner with him - pass up a chance to pick the mind of that man - not in a million years!

So out walks this group of people no one knows and they stand off to the side of the side of the stage. They were never formerly introduced, so I'm still not sure who they were, maybe they were some of the people who Blago referenced that he helped in his long speech about conspiracy against him and how he has done nothing but help the people of Illinois, while the rest of the legislature has stuck it to the people of Illinois.

He finally came out, all silly smiling, as usual, because you know he has absolutely nothing to worry about - he is innocent and he can prove it! (The one thing we definitely have to give him in all this mess is that he is correct on that aspect - in this Country we are all entitled to be innocent until proven guilty, and he really isn't getting that treatment, is he?) He does make it complicated, however, to offer no judgment of any kind, but I am not judging him - just offering up an opinion on his latest reality TV appearance.

He stated:

"The House's action was not a surprise it was a foregone conclusion."

"This is not something that came a complete surprise to me."

"This is part of the dynamic of Illinois."

"I've worked very hard with the House." (and went on to claim that they've stuck it to him at just about every turn and have done all they could to try and get him out of the Governor's seat for quite some time now.)

"The House has stood in the way.." He claims they have barred the way for almost all of the projects or programs he has attempted to propose or start that would do nothing but benefit the people of Illinois because he was:

"taught to believe in Sunday school do unto to others as you would have done unto you."

Some of these programs or projects are people, like this young man he spoke about helping:

A young person who did not qualify for the All Kids Program because was 19. He had a rare kidney disease and needed surgery. He was only 19 and had no health insurance which made him ineligible for All Kids . Blago says "We found away, he got the surgery – is that an impeachable offense – the kid lived because of me taking action."

I guess a question here that I would naturally ask the ask the Governor would be did you talk to someone at Childrens Memorial Hospital in Chicago? That wonderful hospital which will reach out to the uninsured and terribly sick? That hospital which you allegedly were willing to withhold funds from for your own personal gain? But that's just me having an opinion and asking.

I think it is wonderful that Blago helped this young boy who was in need, truly wonderful. We need to make sure all of the children who are in need like this are helped, even more all people who need to be medically treated have access to that treatment. God bless you Governor for what you did for this young man, and for the woman who lived in Humboldt Park that you spoke of who could not afford a mammogram. If it were not for your Pink Potluck Program she never would have found out she had breast cancer. God Bless you for your efforts in helping those in need.

The Governor asked if these were impeachable acts? No Sir, they are not impeachable acts, but they are not the reasons you are in trouble either, are they? Really, c'mon, you can't seriously expect people to think that the entire State Legislature is out to pick on little ole you just because you wanted to help some sick people. That is equal to saying every other politician besides Rod Blagojevich hates the people of Illinois - which by the way Governor Blagojevich is beyond ridiculous!

Blago then went on to say:

"I am not guilty of any criminal wrong doing! I am confident at the end of the day I will be exonerated – they[the people of Illinois] hired me to fight for them and that is what I will do!"

This one goes to the Governor, after all the people did elect the man twice! But has he noticed his approval rating? Does he read his email? What are the people saying now? On the other hand, why hasn't the Prosecutor taken this to a Grand Jury for indictment? Why the extension? What's the hold-up? Innocent until proven guilty, yet again.

He ended his reality television moment with a poem, he said Ted Kennedy quoted it and it inspires him. This poem reminds him of the situation he's in and that he should be fighting for families; reminds him of his immigrant father who sacrificed, his working mom who worked for the CTA (Chicago Transit Authority). The poem talks about sacrifice, and he says "there hasn't been a day gone by that I haven’t thought about my parents and their sacrifices."

He was quoting the last four lines of Ulysses. What is more interesting than the last 4 lines of what he quotes, is the opening of this poem! It is eerily befitting in an odd way. I wonder if he knew about this before he quoted it? Here is Ulysses in it's entirety.

It little profits that an idle king,
By this still hearth, among these barren crags,
Match'd with an aged wife, I mete and dole
Unequal laws unto a savage race,
That hoard, and sleep, and feed, and know not me.
I cannot rest from travel:
I will drink Life to the lees:
All times I have enjoy'd
Greatly, have suffer'd greatly,
both with those That loved me, and alone, on shore,and when
Thro' scudding drifts the rainy Hyades
Vext the dim sea:
I am become a name;
For always roaming with a hungry heart
Much have I seen and known; cities of men
And manners, climates, councils, governments,
Myself not least, but honour'd of them all;
And drunk delight of battle with my peers,
Far on the ringing plains of windy Troy.
I am a part of all that I have met;
Yet all experience is an arch wherethro'
Gleams that untravell'd world whose margin fades
For ever and forever when I move.
How dull it is to pause, to make an end,
To rust unburnish'd, not to shine in use!
As tho' to breathe were life! Life piled on life
Were all too little, and of one to me
Little remains: but every hour is saved
From that eternal silence, something more,
A bringer of new things; and vile it were
For some three suns to store and hoard myself,
And this gray spirit yearning in desire
To follow knowledge like a sinking star,
Beyond the utmost bound of human thought.

This is my son, mine own Telemachus,
To whom I leave the sceptre and the isle,
Well-loved of me, discerning to fulfil
This labour, by slow prudence to make mild
A rugged people, and thro' soft degrees
Subdue them to the useful and the good.
Most blameless is he, centred in the sphere
Of common duties, decent not to fail
In offices of tenderness, and pay
Meet adoration to my household gods,
When I am gone. He works his work, I mine.

There lies the port; the vessel puffs her sail:
There gloom the dark, broad seas. My mariners,
Souls that have toil'd, and wrought, and thought with me
That ever with a frolic welcome took
The thunder and the sunshine, and opposed
Free hearts, free foreheads - you and I are old;
Old age hath yet his honour and his toil;
Death closes all: but something ere the end,
Some work of noble note, may yet be done,
Not unbecoming men that strove with Gods.
The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks:
The long day wanes: the slow moon climbs: the deep
Moans round with many voices. Come, my friends,
'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.
Push off, and sitting well in order smite
The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds
To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths
Of all the western stars, until I die.
It may be that the gulfs will wash us down:
It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,
And see the great Achilles, whom we knew.
Tho' much is taken, much abides; and tho'


What Blago quoted:

"We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."
Alfred Lord Tennyson

I say we give Blago his own channel! He is just too much fun to watch and listen too, and you just never know what goodies are going to come from him next! If not his own channel, at least put him on once a day for about 30 minutes - just for the fun of it.

Humpty Dumpty and all that..

Impeachment Begins and A Secretary of State Weighs In

Aaahhh....and the story begins to unfold! Roland Burris heads off to Washington, and a committee of 21 members of the Illinois House get together and unanimously decides to move forward with an Impeachment proceeding recommendation.

"The citizens of this state must have confidence that their governor will faithfully serve the people and put their interests before his own. It is with profound regret that the committee finds that our current governor has not done so."

Roland Burris, of course, was put directly in the center of this circus. He was asked many questions in regard to when and how he came into contact with the Governor and accepted the appointment to the vacant Senate Seat.

This morning it was announced that the Illinois Legislature voted 114-1 to begin Impeachment proceedings against Governor Rod Blagojevich. The one who voted no is Representative Milton Patterson (D) 32nd District. (He has stated his reasoning as "I voted the way I felt. I didn't think I needed to vote to Impeach (the Governor). I voted the way I felt." He sounded sincere to me. My guess is he is saddened by the entire mess and is sick to simply take part in all of this. Just my guess though. This should be interesting to see how his peers and the media now crucify him. Will they automatically assume he is a Blago lackey? Well, they need to keep the drama going don't they? But on the other hand, it is a fair question - Sir, why did you vote no? What was your reasoning? I will offer up the invite for him to answer this question in a statement here as well, even though he has already answered it.)

So, during this unfolding drama, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White is appearing on a televised interview on Fox News Channel, Happening Now. In an interview with Jane Skinner he said some interesting things!

He stated that Roland Burris and he are "the best of friends."

Jane Skinner asked him if he felt as if he were being made to be the fall guy and he responded by stating:

"Yes I do."

He went on to state:

"It's a moral thing I'm working on right now," and "There's such a thing as honesty in government," and "You're looking at it."

He said that once ordered by the Courts to certify the appointment he would but that, "I did not want to affix my signature to a man out on bond," and "I believe he can be seated now without the Secretary of State," further saying his signature was only "ceremonial."

Then he went on to tell a story of how Congressman Rush, Senator Roland Burris and himself had gotten together when this mess with the Governor Blagojevich started and discussed it between themselves. He stated:

"Burris is a good friend of mine - all of us said he should resign and not appoint anyone," going on to say in reference to Burris accepting the appointment" I'm upset he did something we all said he [the Governor] should not do."

Jane Skinner asked if the Impeachment proceeding will have any reflection upon Burris' appointment and the IL Secretary of State Jesse White said:

"No it doesn't," but he turned back the topic back to him and stated, "I did not want to be any part of this charade put forth by the Governor of Illinois."

In reference to the Impeachment Jesse White had this to say:

"He [Blagojevich] could stand down and still receive his salary. We need him out and out immediately!"

This last statement really gets my attention and I hope it gets the attention of every listening reporter out there! If Blagojevich steps down he will still be able to collect his SALARY?? Are you kidding? With Impeachment proceedings in the works this guy could still step down and collect a paycheck? If you quit your job you can still get paid. You can play games with all of them and keep those political friends of yours jumping through hoop after hoop, and collect a check! Resign Blago! Heck you get paid while you await a long away trial date, if there will be one!! Jesse White just gave you the out on a national television interview!

Can the rest of the people get in on this deal? Can they get paid for quitting their jobs too? Sounds like a fair deal to me! Almost as fair as the bail out plan our buddies, I mean elected officials in Washington put together on our behalf that has been working out so good for us the people!

Like I said yesterday, the drama hasn't even begun to unfold in the State of Illinois. Don't think for one second Blago doesn't have hundreds of tricks and plans to twist it all up for his peers up his sleeve - this man is definitely not going down alone, and it surely won't be boring! Washington has somehow managed to allow Blagojevich to suck them into this nonsense too. He has more power than he thought, apparently. It will be interesting to watch this "powerful" Governor fall.

Humpty Dumpty and all that..

Harry, Harry, Harry. What are you thinking?

My Senator Harry Reid continues to confuse me. I am friendly with my Senator, and he has in the past appeared openly through lettered statements on my political blogs to answer questions. He has always been fair with me when it comes to answering my questions. I do my best to be fair with him in return. Senator, Sir, you are free to respond to this article and I will openly post your response as I have done so in the past.



I am however, suffering from a state of confusion over my Senators statements in regard to this issue of the appointment of Senator Roland Burris from the State of Illinois. From part of his official statement that he originally put out he said:



"But this is not about Mr. Burris; it is about the integrity of a governor accused of attempting to sell this United States Senate seat. Under these circumstances, anyone appointed by Gov. Blagojevich cannot be an effective representative of the people of Illinois and, as we have said, will not be seated by the Democratic Caucus."



and



"First of all, understand we don't have a problem with him as an individual," Reid said of Burris, calling him an "extremely nice" and "forthright" man. "At this stage, the process is working out," he said.



and then in the begining he brought the Constitution into it saying:



"We determine who sits in the Senate. And the House (of Representatives) determines who sits in the House. So there's clearly legal authority for us to do whatever we want to do. This goes back for generations."



I must admit it was this last posted statement that gave me serious pause. On Tuesday January 6th I sent another email to my Senator Harry Reid, urging him to quickly do the right thing and seat Roland Burris for the good of the Nation. I asked that Illinois be allowed to move on as the politically corrupt State that it is and that mess can play itself out. The World is watching us, though, (and this was in my email), and with all this talk of racism, the longer this nonsense goes on it just perpetuates that charge.



We all know - those of us who are familiar with the US Constitution - that the appointment is legitimate, so just welcome him with open arms and get around to working already! We need you people to do the jobs we pay you for with our tax dollars.



Stop allowing the game playing of the Illinois Governor to dictate what happens in Washington. All of you should be well above this. He (Mr. Burris) is the Senator, we all know it, let you all move on and get back to the business of serving the people.



Just the opinions of this one little citizen..

The State of The State of Illinois

My home state. My home town, Chicago. This is so sad, but not in the least surprising. I grew up around politicians, and then worked with them as a volunteer as an adult. They never disappoint, especially when it comes to finding something to write about.

I heartily laughed out loud when I watched the Governor Rod Blagojevich do something good for a change and choose to seat Roland Burris as the Senator, filling the vacany left by President Elect Barack Obama.

Why did I laugh? I knew what he was up to - or at least I have my opinions, which is what this blog is all about - political opinions! He stuck it to them, all of his buddies - the other politicians in the State of Illinois, who were going to be left with their heads spinning over this choice. How could they not? Roland Burris is the perfect choice. He is qualified, without blemish, deserving, and the perfect choice to fill the vacant seat. The people of the State of Illinois would probably vote him in if given the chance, and when the man runs in a few short years, they probably will send him straight back to Washington where he belongs! The Governor shocked everyone by doing something right!

The thing is, in my opinion, he did it on purpose, because it created contention and boy did he know it. Contention is fun when you are the center of attention - especially negative attention! Why not take the spin off you for a bit and twist it up to something like playing the race card, and turning Washington inside out for a while? I bet he sits back in his chair watching the television and just giggles away. Do we really believe he did this for the good of the people of Illinois?

In the end it thankfully works out for the best and does benefit the people of Illinois, and the Nation as a whole because Roland Burris, Senator Roland Burris is the most deserving and the perfect choice.

But Blago is in some serious hot water and he knows it. What's next? Who's next? Do we really think this guy is going down all alone? Not for one second is this anywhere close to over. The names have not even begun to start dropping yet. I can't help but wonder what his father-in-law, Alderman (City Councilman, 33rd Ward Chicago) Dick Mell is thinking now about being such a driving force in that darling son-in-law of his gubernatorial campaign in 2002? Hindsight being 20/20 and all that..

Lots of players in the Chicago political scene, or machine as some call it to consider, and you have to sit back and wonder what names will be dropped as the story of Blago unfolds. Will he silently go off to prison? Will he even go to prison - following in the legacy footsteps of Illinois Governors before him? Will he take down prominent politicians with him simply because he can? Somewhat like he named Roland Burris against adamant requests that he not, but yet he did because he could? This pundit thinks he will, and believes he will because he will take personal enjoyment from it. Why go down alone when you can go down and take your peers with you - because you can and have the "power" to do so? He has shown that he likes to do this already, along with a slew of foul words that make up his favorite vocabulary.

After all anyone who allegedly will withhold funds from a hospital that treats all sick children regardless of insurance status, well that is just a super guy, right? Gotta love a guy like that!

I wonder if he will start to do all he can to help do in Mayor Daley next, as some kind of effort to save himself.

I guess we just have to wait and see.

Just one persons opinion on the state of the State of Illinois.