:roflmao: The next time the US wants to lecture the UN, or some underdeveloped country over corruption, I’m going to l-a-u-g-h… [quote=“NYT: Governor Is Held in Inquiry Into Filling Obama’s Seat”] Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich of Illinois was arrested on Tuesday morning and charged with corruption, including an allegation that he conspired to profit from his authority to appoint President-elect Barack Obama’s successor in the United States Senate, prosecutors said.
As Mr. Blagojevich mulled the Senate appointment, prosecutors say, he discussed gaining “a substantial salary” at a nonprofit foundation or organization connected to labor unions, placing his wife on corporate boards where she might earn as much as $150,000 a year and trying to gain promises of campaign money, or even a cabinet post or ambassadorship, for himself.
A 76-page affidavit from the United States Attorney’s office in Northern Illinois says Mr. Blagojevich was heard on wiretaps over the last month planning to “sell or trade Illinois’ United States Senate seat vacated by Pres-elect Barack Obama for financial and personal benefits for himself and his wife.”[/quote]Yeah, yeah… at least in the States, they’re charged.
Edit–
Bastard. When I woke up this morning to the news, not kidding, I hear CNN say he’s been arrested. So, I’m thinking that it’s because of Rezko.
The man had a 13% approval rating in Sept/Oct. He’s an arrogant fool with powerful family ties (daddy-in-law: Ald. Mell). I’m expecting for the shit to really hit the fan before the year goes out…
Oh, the shit’s hitting the blades, alright. They tapped his phones and found all kinds of dirt. This man is filthy, filthy, flithy. Apparently, there was even a suggestion at one time that for the right amount of funds through the right hands, that the president elect could select the new senator. Oh, and he also though of appointing himself to have better access to funds, avoid impeachment from the governership, and be better positioned to run for the presidency in 2012!! Really just boggles the mind of a little person like myself.
He would have never run for presidency in 2012. Blago was too busy trying to get papers to convince people here that he’s loved after his 13% approval rating.
:eh: There are selfish, corrupt assholes everywhere. It’s human nature. The difference is that in some countries it is endemic, and goes all the way to the top. No effort is made to combat it. In some other countries, a serious effort is routinely made to stamp it out, which minimizes but can never completely eradicate the problem. So pointing to a single example in the latter kind of country of someone being actively busted for corruption hardly undermines the message that corruption needs to be fought against.
:eh: There are selfish, corrupt assholes everywhere. It’s human nature. The difference is that in some countries it is endemic, and goes all the way to the top. No effort is made to combat it. In some other countries, a serious effort is routinely made to stamp it out, which minimizes but can never completely eradicate the problem. So pointing to a single example in the latter kind of country of someone being actively busted for corruption hardly undermines the message that corruption needs to be fought against.[/quote]
You’re right, save that it’s not a single example. In the US, it’s not condoned, but more and more, seems to be systemic and endemic, rather than episodic.
Off the cuff judgments of the frequency of events tend to be biased, because we form them based on instances recalled. Of course, we can always recall more instances which are recent, due to the way memory works. So many phenomena appear to be on the increase (leading to all the comments like ‘what’s the world coming to?’), when they may in fact be steady or even decreasing over the long run.
The United States ranks eighteenth in the latest table, which is lower than Singapore (#4), Canada (#9), Hong Kong (#12) and the U.K. (#16), but higher than France (#23), Spain (#28), and Taiwan (#39).
The ranking is based on the perception of corruption in both the public and private sector.
There’s 180 countries on the table, so the U.S. tops not just Taiwan, but 161 other countries, putting the U.S. in the top 10%.
That may not be as good as some here would like, but it does put into perspective the notion that corruption is endemic in the United States. For if so, then it would appear corruption is endemic just about everywhere.
Obama endorsed Blagojevich in 2002 and 2006 and served as a top adviser to the Illinois governor in his first 2002 run for the state house. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., Mr. Obama’s incoming White House chief of staff, also has some pretty close links. Axelrod even mentioned that Obama and the governor spoke about the vacancy (although later saying it was a mistake). youtube.com/watch?v=konL35ur … r_embedded
On the Chicago TV show “Public Affairs with Jeff Berkowitz” on June 27, 2002, state Sen. Obama said, “Right now, my main focus is to make sure that we elect Rod Blagojevich as Governor, we…” “You working hard for Rod?” interrupted Berkowitz. “You betcha,” said Obama. “Hot Rod?” asked the host.
“That’s exactly right,” Obama said.
Rezko, Wright, Ayres, and now this crook. All Obama’s closest compadres. Change…Chicago and Springfield style. Maybe he’ll give an ambassador position to Rostenkowski. Perhaps Obama should make a pardon list before he even becomes president.
Wonder what the topic of conversation was with Blago’s talks with Jesse Jr. yesterday?
[quote=“Chewycorns”]Obama endorsed Blagojevich in 2002 and 2006 and served as a top adviser to the Illinois governor in his first 2002 run for the state house. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., Mr. Obama’s incoming White House chief of staff, also has some pretty close links. Axelrod even mentioned that Obama and the governor spoke about the vacancy (although later saying it was a mistake). youtube.com/watch?v=konL35ur … r_embedded
On the Chicago TV show “Public Affairs with Jeff Berkowitz” on June 27, 2002, state Sen. Obama said, “Right now, my main focus is to make sure that we elect Rod Blagojevich as Governor, we…” “You working hard for Rod?” interrupted Berkowitz. “You betcha,” said Obama. “Hot Rod?” asked the host.
“That’s exactly right,” Obama said.
Rezko, Wright, Ayres, and now this crook. All Obama’s closest compadres. Change…Chicago and Springfield style. Maybe he’ll give an ambassador position to Rostenkowski. Perhaps Obama should make a pardon list before he even becomes president. [/quote]
Chewy, every time you see O you should just start singing “Can’t touch this” And how could you forget Emil Jones, Jr?
Really just boggles the mind of a little person like myself.
Well, la dee da. . .
Maybe he’ll give an ambassador position to Rostenkowski. 
Perhaps Obama should make a pardon list before he even becomes president. 
Your people lost the election. Get over it.
