Marathon Pundit: January 2009

Saturday, January 31, 2009

Morton Grove sunset

During my run late this afternoon, I was fortunate enough to enjoy this scene of the sun setting over the North Branch of the Chicago River in Morton Grove's Linne Woods.

Today the was the warmest day in quite a while--37 degrees.

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Illinois

photography

Midwestern Presidential Pathway: Herbert Hoover Birthplace

I-80, America's second-longest interstate highway, is the closest thing to being the nation's main street. Not only does it approximate the old Lincoln Highway, but west of Omaha, the road's path closely matches our first trans-continental railroad.

I've driven on I-80 dozens of times, and noted to myself, when I've seen a sign promoting an historic site, "One day, I'll pull off and go there."

"One day" was a Sunday earlier this month, when Little Marathon Pundit and I visited the Herbert Hoover Birthplace and Museum in West Branch, Iowa. It's about a one-quarter of a mile north of I-80.

Hoover was born in 1874, and amazingly enough, he was the first president born west of the Mississippi River. Louisiana was admitted into the union in 1812, part of that state is west of the great river.

The two room cottage where Hoover was born was built in 1871 by the future president's father, Jesse, and his grandfather. The Hoovers, Herbert had an older brother and a younger sister, lived in the two room house until 1879, when they moved to a larger home in West Branch. They were devout Quakers, on the birthplace site, pictured on the right, is the Friends Meeting House, where the Hoovers and other Quakers--who are formally known as the Society of Friends--worshipped. The 31st president's father was a prosperous blacksmith, and a reconstructed blacksmith shop, pictured on the left, is on the grounds, as is his first school--the original structure survives.

Circumstances for the Hoover family took a tragic turn in 1880 when Jesse died. Four years later, Hulda, Hoover's mother, passed away. The three children were sent to live with different relatives, although they were reunited under one roof in 1888.

A few years later, Hoover enrolled at Stanford University, and began his career that brought him to the White House in that fateful year of 1929.

Hoover never lived in Iowa after the death of his mother, but Iowa never left him, as he reminisced many years later:

My recollection of my father is of necessity dim indeed, but I retain one vivid memento from this time. Playing barefoot around the blacksmith shop, I stepped on a chip of hot iron and carry the brand of Iowa on my foot to this day.

Next: The Herbert Hoover Presidential Museum

Related posts:

Midwestern Presidential Pathway: Where Grant worked as a clerk

Midwestern Presidential Pathway: Mrs. Butterworth

Midwestern Presidential Pathway: Ulysses S. Grant Home

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Running in the winter

But it's so hard to dance that way
When it's cold and there's no music
"Hold On," Tom Waits, 1999.

It's not easy to run when it's cold, but somehow I manage. Although I'm usually the only one on the North Branch of the Chicago River trail when I'm out there.

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run

Blago bungalow for sale

An answer, or one of the anwsers of what the Blagojevich family will do to earn money has been revealed. Illinois' former first couple plan to sell their Northwest Side Chicago bungalow.

Asking price: $957,000.

Supposedly Patti Blagojevich has been looking at condominiums on Chicago's Lake Shore Drive.

That house, however, may figure into the Blago scandals.

Related post:

Did Rezko switch on Gov. Blago's home improvement?

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Friday, January 30, 2009

Some more Blago damage: Park closings

Sitting on my desk is the 2009 Illinois Travel Guide. On the cover is Abraham Lincoln. The anniversary of the birth of the greatest Illinoisan is next month, and the state bureau of tourism made the right decision by focusing on Honest Abe for this year's guide.

A project like this takes months to produce. Most of the work on this year's guide was probably completed when then-Governor Rod Blagojevich sneaked back to Illinois on the day Barack Obama gave his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention in Denver so he can begin the process of drastically to close nearly two dozen state parks and historical sites. Hours were cut and many others. In November, that list was cut slightly to just 19 locations.

Lincoln was hit hard by Blago's pen. Remember, this is Lincoln's bicentennial year, interest in the 16th president is at a peak, Illinois should be primed for the onslaught of tourists coming here to learn more about Lincoln..

I'm looking at page 11 of the travel guide, there is a picture and description of the Lincoln Log Cabin site near Charleston, where his father and beloved stepmother lived, Abe owned the home and the surrounding land. Blago closed in on December 1. Innocent motorists picking up a travel guide at a state welcome center might decide, "Hey, let's go there."

Sorry, it's closed.

On the next page, the Vandalia Statehouse, Illinois' second state capitol, is touted.

Blago closed that too.

Hours were drastically cut at a slew of other Lincoln sites, and some seven-day-a-week sites turned into five-day-a-week locations, or in the case of the Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices, just one day a week.

The offices are promoted on page 8, as is Springfield's Old State Capitol, where Barack Obama began his successful presidential campaign. Blago cut that historical site, where Lincoln gave his "House Divided" speech to five days a week.

What about New Salem, where Lincoln first lived on his own? Five days a week.

Thanks to funding from the Illinois Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, the Lincoln-related sites, but not the closed ones, will go back to a seven-day schedule this spring.

However, that funding will not last forever.

Back to the travel guide: If you go to page 163, you'll see the Carl Sandburg birthplace in Galesburg. It's closed now. As are nine other state historical sites, and seven state parks.

Even when he was still lieutenant governor, Patrick Quinn said he was opposed to the closings. In a press conference yesterday, his first as governor, Quinn said he wants to reopen the parks and historical sites Blago closed.

Which prompted one reporter to shout out, "Where will you get the money?"

Good question.

In an e-mail message sent last night, possible gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) said, "We have had a governor who has balanced the State of Illinois budget with a credit card."

True.

We also just threw out a governor who ran the state on "pay-to-pay" principles. And you can't shakedown an historical reenactor working at the Lincoln Log Cabin site.

How do I know? Well, if there was a way, Blago would have done it.

I have faith that there is a way to reopen these places without breaking the state's bank.

Meanwhile, there are thousands of obsolete Illinois Travel Guides out there, warts and all, that will allow tourists to mistakenly plan their visits to the Land of Lincoln.

Another awful Blago legacy.

Oh, I almost forgot. Illinois' Historic Preservation Agency web site is out-of-date too. It gives internet surfers no notice that some of the locations listed are closed. Although the site does say, "Pat Quinn, Governor."

And when you click on the site-hours button, it leads to a dead link, at least it is that way this evening.

Related posts:

Thirty hours in Lincoln's Springfield, Illinois
"Closed Today" signs coming to many Illinois Lincoln sites
Blago's sleaze reached into the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
Lincoln Log Cabin Historical Site Closing Sunday
Abraham Lincoln birthplace site
Abraham Lincoln birthplace site's log cabin
Stephen A. Douglas Tomb in Chicago
My Mississippi Manifest Destiny: Jonesboro, site of the third Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Midwestern Presidential Pathway: Ulysses S. Grant Home

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Michael Steele is the new RNC chairman

Micheal Steele, the former lieutenant governor of Maryland, is the new chairman of the Republican National Committee.

It's a good choice, and he wants the party everywhere, declaring, "We will grow this party in a way not seen before."

Steele is the first African-American to lead the party of Lincoln.

Congratulations. And don't forget us, chairman, here in Illinois. In fact, winning Illinois for the GOP should be at the top of your list of priorities.

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RNC

gop

RNC chairman update, incumbent withdraws: UPDATED

The Palmetto Scoop is live blogging the choosing of the next Republican National Chairman.

Here's the latest:

1:37 (EST) - Third ballot results: Steele 51, Duncan 44, Dawson 34, Anuzis 24, Blackwell 15.

Mike Duncan the incumbent, just withdrew his name from consideration.

Michael Steele, Maryland's former lieutenant governor, seems (to me) to be the choice of the blogosphere.

The other candidates are Katon Dawson, the chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party, Saul Anuzis, his Michigan counterpart, and former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell.

The fourth round ballots are being handed out as of this writing.

UPDATE 3:00pm CST: The fifth round has ended, and their are only two candidates left: Steele and Dawson. Blackwell has endorsed Steele.

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politics

Republican

RNC

Clinton redux: The perpetual campaign

I'm watching Vice President Joe Biden giving a speech on Fox News. He just announced a new web site, A Strong Middle Class. Biden is the chair of a new task force dedicated to strengthening the middle class.

I don't expect Biden, or Barack Obama, or any politician to be against the middle class, but this sloganeering and overuse of campaign rhetoric reminds me of the "perpetual campaign" style of government practiced by Bill Clinton.

Does anyone seriously expect Biden's task force to achieve anything meaningful?

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Quinn still calling for a recall amendment

In his three decade political career, some say as a gadfly, Illinois' new governor Patrick Quinn has called for the ability for voters to recall officials.

He still favors it.

Last year a recall amendment bill was approved by the Illinois House. But it died in the state Senate, falling three votes short of the needed to place the amendment on November's ballot.

All of the Republican members, save one who was not in Springfield when the vote was taken, voted for the bill. Two Democrats voted "present."

Rod Blagojevich's best friend in Springfield, then-Senate Majority Leader Emil Jones (D-Chicago), a Barack Obama mentor, quashed the bill, claiming public works projects and universal health care were more important.

That's called changing the subject.

Then-Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson (R-Greenville) had this to say that day about the bill's defeat:

To give the people an opportunity to have a vote on this, and slam it down as they did ... I've never seen a quicker roll call taken. I never thought it was going to get a true hearing and I don't think it did today.

I hope I have the opportunity to vote on a recall amendement in 2010. But Patrick Quinn needs to lean on members of his own party to get the job done.

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Thursday, January 29, 2009

Your Good-bye for now Blago scandals reader

Tonight will be my last Blago scandals reader for a while. If there is a big Blago news day, I will revive it. His likely indictment will warrant such a revival. Or a hairstyle change.

It was an historic day, TV newscasters told their viewers today. For the first time, an Illinois governor, our own Rod Blagojevich, was removed from office.

Here is tonight's update:

Chicago Tribune: Blagojevich case timeline: 2 memorable months in Illinois politics

Rockford Register Star: Blagojevich out, loses security detail

AP: Former governor: 'I'm sad but not surprised'

Chicago Sun-Times: Blagojevich clears 2 of crimes in final official acts

AP: GOP head: Dems owe state an apology

Bloomington Pantagraph: New governor could reverse closure of state parks

CBS 2 Chicago: Money troubles mount for Blagojevich

AP: Illinoisans happy to see Blagojevich go

Daily Herald: Erasing all signs of former governor

AP: Burris says he stands behind Blagojevich removal

Chicago Tribune: Pols react to Blagojevich removal

Time: Blago talk (and talks...)

AP: Blago's picture removed from Capitol entrances

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Google subpoenaed about two anonymous Chicago blogs

On the corner of Wilson and Broadway, in the heart of Chicago's Uptown neighborhood, a tax increment financing district (TIF) was created after on the site of a bus-barn, the Wilson Yard, had burned down. A mixed use development site was promised, with movie theaters, retail, and mixed-income housing.

What will be built instead, if the developer and the alderman have their say, is what Fix Wilson Yard calls "two ten-story towers of densely packed low income housing that will poorly serve its residents and undermine the safety and economic progress of the neighborhood surrounding it."

Opposition is fierce, which has led to Google being subpoenaed. More on that in a bit.

Here's what Crain's Chicago Business wrote last month about Fix Wilson Yard's lawsuit to stop the development:

"When you have a city with a significant budget crisis and underpaid pensions, it's time to stop frittering away the taxpayers' dollars," says Thomas Ramsdell, the attorney representing Fix Wilson Yard, which says it has more than 2,000 members. "You've got a group of citizens who are tired of it and are ready to fight City Hall."

The lawsuit, which was filed Wednesday in Cook County Circuit Court, asks a judge to prevent the city from providing TIF financing to the Wilson Yard project. Among other things, the complaint alleges that the city improperly approved changes to the development—including an increase in its budget to $150 million from $130 million—without adequate review of public input.

Moreover, it charges that the city violated the Illinois Open Meetings Act by not giving enough notice of an October meeting in which the TIF agreement was approved.

Uptown residents "will be irreparably harmed by the illegal diversion of substantial tax revenues from public bodies to private development projects" like Wilson Yard, the complaint says.

TIFs are for the most are a scam. Oops, let me rephrase that, in my opinion, TIFs are for the most part a scam. I don't need any subpoenas.

One blog, Uptown Update, run anonymously, has led the charge against the abuses, oops, alleged abuses of the Wilson Yard TIF bunch.

I am not an anonymous blogger, but there is nothing wrong in choosing to blog is such a manner. The Federalist Papers, written mostly by Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, were written anonymously, Hamilton and Madison are the spiritual fathers of bloggers like Uptown Update.

Sometimes it's best to keep your name out of the argument.

However, the attorney for Peter Holsten, Wilson Yard's developer, doesn't share my admiration. This is where Google comes in. From the News-Star:

The attorney representing Wilson Yard developer Peter Holsten in the lawsuit filed against him by Fix Wilson Yard has subpoenaed Google seeking information about two Uptown blogs.

News-Star learned that the blogs in question are Uptown Update and What the Helen. Each blog was notified by e-mail that they had been subpoenaed as third parties through Google and that they have until Feb. 4 to file a motion to quash the subpoena. Both blogs are maintained anonymously and neither is affiliated with Fix Wilson Yard.

More...

(Holsten's attorney) Johnson said the subpoena asks for ownership information of the blogs. Uptown Update is an active blog that has gained popularity as a clearinghouse for information about the neighborhood. What the Helen was active during the 2007 aldermanic election and has not been updated in over a year.

Both blogs have been highly critical of 46th Ward Ald. Helen Shiller. Shiller's supporters and detractors often debate the alderman's policies and neighborhood issues in both blogs' comments sections.

This is bullying plain and simple.

Google should tell Holsten and his attorney to go to Hell.

H/T to Chicago News Bench

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law

Blago's TV goodbye

Here is a great television moment. During a press conference in Springfield, Patrick Quinn was telling reporters that there is more to Illinois than corruption, then casually mentioned, "What happened in the past in the past is something in the rear view mirror."

I was watching Fox 32 Chicago, and at that moment, the screen split, and his predecessor, Rod Blagojevich, walked down the stairs of his Chicago bungalow and spoke the gaggle on Sunnyside Avenue.

What he said was a rehash of his New York media tour statements, and the speech he gave this morning in front of the state Senate.

He said, "I love the people of Illinois." One woman shouted back, "We love you too."
I have to add that most Illinoisans are happy he's gone.

Blago is still sticking to the half-truth that he was not allowed to call witnesses, telling the crowd that he was "deprived of the opportunity to call witnesses and prove my innocence."

He ended the speech and headed back to the door of his home. But then he met with scrum out front, remember he has no security detail, although Chicago police officers were nearby, and he answered more questions. But the former governor stayed on message with his talking points.

How did he find out that we was no longer governor? "A phone call."

Any message for Patrick Quinn? "Don't raise taxes."

He shook hands, smiled, and acted as if he was making a campaign appearance.

Meanwhile, Quinn will spend the night in the governor's mansion.

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crime

Patrick Quinn is Illinois' governor

Illinois has a new governor, lawyer, onetime consumer advocate, and some say, political gadfly, Patrick Quinn.

Quinn is a strong supporter of our troops. I don't believe he has missed a single funeral of a single Illinois soldier who was killed in action serving our country in the War on Terror. And he did this without an entourage, and without fanfare.

I don't agree with him politically on a lot of things, but I believe he is a decent and honest (Yep, honest) man.

However, Quinn was a running mate with Blagojevich twice, and was a beneficiary of Blago's strongarm fundraising tactics. In 2006, Quinn said Blago was "a person who's honest and one of integrity." He also said of Blagojevich, "I have confidence the governor does the right thing all the time."

Quinn's rise to the governor's mansion, although not as amazing as Barack Obama's rise to the presidency, is quite a story. CBS 2 Chicago's Mike Flannery wrote that Quinn has "been a thorn in the side of the state's political establishment for 33 years."

Flannery recalls that Quinn is the only man in history who received a standing "boo-vation," a three minute boo-fest, by members of the Illinois House.

Obama never endured that indignity.

Despite my calling Quinn honest, I'm going to compare him to Warren G. Harding.

The last dark horse candidate to win the White House, Harding, an avid poker player, explained his rise to the presidency this way. "I drew a pair of deuces and filled."

As did Quinn.

While still lieutenant governor, Quinn promised Illinoisans that he's remove those obnoxious "Rod R. Blagojevich, Governor" signs from the state's toll roads.

Let's hope Quinn paints over Blago's name from the "Welcome to Illinois" signs as well.

Quinn's a big winner today, but now he has to govern a state that is broke, and one that has only been somewhat fiscally solvent by Blagojevich's smoke-and-mirrors budgets.

Blago: Now there's a guy who deserves a standing boo-vation.

CLTV is reporting that his state police detail left Blagojevich's home a half hour ago. Chicago Police officers have blocked off Blago's street.

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Breaking: Blago removed from office

The roll call is over, and Rod R. Blagojevich is the first Illinois governor to be removed from office.

The vote was unanimous, 59-0.

UPDATE 5:00pm: The senators have voted a second time, this time on whether Blago should be disqualified from holding public office in Illinois. Blagojevich lost again, unanimously.

The political career of Rod Blagojevich is over.

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Blago deliberations continue

Members of Illinois' state Senate are deliberating, well, they are giving speeches.

I'm watching live coverage on CLTV.

Former Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson (R-Greenville), who has been suffering health problems, became emotional during his presentation just now. He told his colleagues, "Where were the good people areound Governor Blagjojevich." Who was there to say 'No.'"

Watson went on to say that some of them are still in state government.

Which to me says, the clean-up of Illinois isn't over.

Prior to Watson, Sen. Rickey Hendon (D-Chicago) spoke, he spoke more favorably of his fellow Democrat, but he also predicted the Senate would vote unamimously to remove Blagojevich.

Watson's successor, Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) summed up what pretty much else everyone else said, Blagojevich "abused his power repeatedly and over a long period of time."

The last senator just said his bit. Illinois' chief justice explaining the rules of the vote.

Each senator will stand, announce their vote--without explanation, and then they'll vote electronically.

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crime

Blago unplugged in Springfield

I'm watching Rod Blagojevich's "Checkers" speech. In short, he says, "I've done noghing wrong." He skewered the state Senate's case regarding impeachment charges related to his proposals to import pharmaceuticals and flu vaccines.

Regarding the former, he suggested to the Senate the Barack Obama fire his chief-of-staff, Rahm Emanuel, because he was the one, Blago claims, that came up with the idea to import prescription drugs from Canada.

Don't look for that to happen.

He appealed for sympathy, discussing his father's dashed dreams to serve as an officer in Yugoslavian army, and then how he toiled as a factory worker to make the life of his children better. He reminded the Senate that he was elected as governor twice, and the importation plans were conceived, and shot down, during his first term. His reasoning was, "Why wasn't I impeached then?" And he told the Senate, "Imagine yourself walking in my shoes," when the FBI knock on your door.

That line may have put shivers in the spines of at least some Senators--Illinois is of course known for its corrupt political culture.

There was a hiccup of speculation this morning that Blago announce his resignation.

He didn't do that. "I want you to vote to acquit," he declared.

Blago maintains his innocence, and repeated his demand, an empty one, to call all of the witnesses he wants.

I'm watching of the impeachment proceedings on Fox 32 Chicago. The ABC, NBC, CBS, and CW owned-and-operated stations, are also carrying the impeachment coverage live, as are of course the cable news networks, including local news station CLTV.

Blago spoke passionately, without notes, but I don't think he changed many minds.

Next, the prosecution will make its closing argument, then senators, the same men and women the the governor ignored for three days, are allowed to make five minute speeches.

State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, who does not have a vote, was interviewed by Fox 32's Jack Conaty, called Blago's speech "arrogant and selfish," and he doesn't think it changed any votes.

As for how Blago gets hom: He's on his way to the Springfield airport, and he plans to immediately fly back to Chicago. If Blagojevich is not governor, finding a way back to his Northwest Side bungalow might be difficult, unless Patrick Quinn throws a favor to his onetime running mate.

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Unstimulating stimulus

The Washington Post's Martin Feldstein sheds is not impressed by Barack Obama's stimulus bill, which passed the House yesterday without a single Republican vote. Eleven Democrats also voted "No."

As a conservative economist, I might be expected to oppose a stimulus plan. In fact, on this page in October, I declared my support for a stimulus. But the fiscal package now before Congress needs to be thoroughly revised. In its current form, it does too little to raise national spending and employment. It would be better for the Senate to delay legislation for a month, or even two, if that's what it takes to produce a much better bill. We cannot afford an $800 billion mistake.

Start with the tax side. The plan is to give a tax cut of $500 a year for two years to each employed person. That's not a good way to increase consumer spending. Experience shows that the money from such temporary, lump-sum tax cuts is largely saved or used to pay down debt. Only about 15 percent of last year's tax rebates led to additional spending.

The proposed business tax cuts are also likely to do little to increase business investment and employment. The extended loss "carrybacks" are primarily lump-sum payments to selected companies. The bonus depreciation plan would do little to raise capital spending in the current environment of weak demand because the tax benefits in the early years would be recaptured later.

Instead, the tax changes should focus on providing incentives to households and businesses to increase current spending. Why not a temporary refundable tax credit to households that purchase cars or other major consumer durables, analogous to the investment tax credit for businesses? Or a temporary tax credit for home improvements? In that way, the same total tax reduction could produce much more spending and employment.

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Lt. Gov. Quinn en route to Springfield

Carrying his own luggage, Lt. Governor Patrick Quinn, accompanied by state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, left on another state plane from Chicago's Midway Airport.

He's headed to Springfield too, and it looks like he intends to stay a while--he was had some suits over his shoulder--still in the dry cleaning bags.

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Blago's slow drive

I'm watching Fox 32's Good Day Chicago's chopper cam following Rod Blagojevich's caravan from his Northwest Side home.

It looks like he's on Montrose Avenue now.

He's en route to either O'Hare or Midway Airport (the Fox Chicago reporters aren't sure which). From the airport, Blago will take a helicopter ride to Springfield.

At roughly 11am, Blago will give his closing argument to the Illinois state Senate.

Here's the big question. If he is removed from office, how will he get home?

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In like Quinn: Lt. gov and family head to Springfield, Blago's bags packed

Barring a tumultuous turn of events, the Rod Blagojevich era in Illinois will end this afternoon.

And the lieutenant governor, Patrick Quinn, is ready, the Chicago Sun-Times tells us:

The Bible is ready. The oath has been prepared. The lieutenant governor and his family are on their way to Springfield. And the current governor's belongings are boxed up and waiting to be picked up at the Executive Mansion.

"I definitely plan to be in Springfield and I will be ready," Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn told the Chicago Sun-Times on Wednesday. Quinn said he has been careful not to be "presumptuous" over the last seven weeks as the Legislature has marched toward today's expected impeachment and removal from office of Gov. Blagojevich.

But, Quinn said, "You have to be ready. If you run for this office, you have to be on your toes."

If the Illinois Senate votes to remove Blagojevich from office, Quinn will immediately head with his mother, sons and supporters to the state House chamber and place his hand on a Bible while his longtime friend, Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke, will administer an oath of office prepared by Attorney General Lisa Madigan.

Blago has belongings in the governor's mansion? I didn't know that. In the 150 years the house has been the official residence of Illinois' chief executive, he is (soon was) the first governor to choose not to live there.

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Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Your Wednesday night Blago scandals reader

The days of this feature may be numbered. Unless Governor Rod Blagojevich manages to convince more than a third of Illinois' state Senate not to vote to remove him from office, we could have a new governor by tomorrow night.

As I blogged earlier today, Blago will make his own closing argument, giving further proof to the expression, "A lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client."

Now here is your Blago scandals reader:

AP: Senator: Blago better have a ride home

Chicago Tribune: Gov's pension safe, even if he's booted

Daily Herald: As Blago falls, suburban lawmakers rise

Fox News: Boo WHO?!?! Why Blago's getting exactly what he deserves

CBS 2 Chicago: Lt. Gov. Quinn's plans for governor's office

Chicago Tribune: Tollways will be free of Rod Blagojevich's name, Pat Quinn promises

AP: Will Blagojevich try any last-minute mischief?

Chicago Tribune: What should Blagojevich tell his daughters?

CBS News: Blagojevich: The governor of self destruction

Fox News: Would Blagojevich Have Been Better Off Staying Home?

Chicago Tribune: Patti Blagojevich speaks to supporter

More tomorrow...

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Obama's stimulus bill passes House

That boondoggle of a bill containing a boon of boondoggles has passed the House along party lines.

Not a single Republican voted for it.

So much for Barack Obama's post-partisan presidency...

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Red Oaks and white snow

While running on the North Branch trails in the Frank Brobrystke Forest Preserve in Morton Grove this afternoon, I encountered this stately grove of Red Oaks.

Like Pin Oaks, their red cousins keep their leaves, despite being brown and dry, through until the end of winter. Which today seems a long way off.

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Blago to give his own closing argument in Springfield

While watching live coverage of the Rod Blagojevich trial on CLTV, a Chicago cable news channel, Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) dropped a bombshell. Although he boycotted the first three days of his impeachment trial, Blagojevich, Cullerton told his fellow senators, will appear at his trial tomorrow. He will not testify, Cullerton explained, or allow himself to be cross-examined. Rather, Blago will give a closing argument.

That being said, it appears that the the prosecution will give its closing argument tomorrow as well, which means a blanket vote on all impeachment counts--there will not be a separate tally on each charge, could take place Thursday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Lt. Governor Patrick Quinn, who is in Chicago today, plans to travel to Springfield and will be available to be sworn in as Blago's successor--if the state Senate votes to remove Blagojevich from office.

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LBJ's Great Society returns 40 years later

"We waged a war on poverty, and poverty won." Ronald Reagan.

The War on Poverty was carried out by President Lyndon B. Johnson, as part of his "Great Society" program. And yes, the Gipper was right, poverty won.

And liberals have been waiting for another opportunity since LBJ left office forty years ago to start writing big checks. And for younger libs like Obama, this is their first chance to recreate society based upon their visions.

The Wall Street Journal has more:

"Never let a serious crisis go to waste. What I mean by that is it's an opportunity to do things you couldn't do before."

So said White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel in November, and Democrats in Congress are certainly taking his advice to heart. The 647-page, $825 billion House legislation is being sold as an economic "stimulus," but now that Democrats have finally released the details we understand Rahm's point much better. This is a political wonder that manages to spend money on just about every pent-up Democratic proposal of the last 40 years.

We've looked it over, and even we can't quite believe it. There's $1 billion for Amtrak, the federal railroad that hasn't turned a profit in 40 years; $2 billion for child-care subsidies; $50 million for that great engine of job creation, the National Endowment for the Arts; $400 million for global-warming research and another $2.4 billion for carbon-capture demonstration projects. There's even $650 million on top of the billions already doled out to pay for digital TV conversion coupons.

Here's my plan to get out of the recession. Cut taxes, and let the economy fix itself. During the presidential campaign, John McCain was criticized for not having a plan to fix the economy. He did, it's the same as my plan.

What Obama reminds me of is a smooth-talking jack-of-all-trades type who has limited knowledge of his project at hand, then proceeds to breaks things by "fixing" them.

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LBJ

Harsanyi on the stimulus

Author and Denver Post columnist David Harsanyi is like myself, very skeptical about Barack Obama's stimulus bill. He calls it the "The biggest con — ever."

Democrats have concocted a surefire political victory. They've
notified America that the so-called "stimulus" bill might take a long
time to work — which is exceptionally handy, considering we always
come out of a recession at some point.

The problem is there is no evidence that colossal government spending
and expansion will help a nation claw its way out of economic trouble
or, more importantly, generate a single job through real economic
growth.

So what do you do with an unproven idea? Well, you go big. Make the
proposal the most expensive to ever adorn paper — or, more precisely,
a trillion scraps of paper. Scare the holy living hell out of
detractors with doomsday scenarios worthy of Nostradamus.

And for God's sake, unite! Those pikers in Congress can do a lot
better than $825 billion. Surely there are more states to bribe, more
special interests to reward, more unions to pacify?

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White Sox considering Obama cap

Obama-mania has reached a new level. My baseball team, which Hawaii-born Barack Obama started supporting when he moved to Chicago, is considering an Obama-themed cap.

If the White House approves of the hat, proceeds will go to charity.

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mlb

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Your Tuesday night Blago scandals reader

Blago's bizarre bandwagon--a party of one--continued its defeat tour in Manhattan today. Far from Manhattan, Illinois, and far from Springfield. And it's in Abraham Lincoln's home town where his impeachment trial is taking place.

Let's start tonight's Blago scandals reader, which took more than a New York minute to put together. But it was worth the time. Enjoy!

State Journal-Register: Trial wraps up for day after tapes revealed

ABC 7 Chicago: Gov continues on NYC media blitz

CBS 2 Chicago: Blagojevich's media circus costing taxpayers

Southern Illinoisan (EDITORIAL): Depressing news: Winter storm warnings, Blago on TV

AP: Burris: Winfrey 'could care less about politics'

Chicago Tribune: Do blacks and Hispanics support Blagojevich more than whites?

Bloomington Pantagraph: If Blagojevich booted, transition to Quinn would be swift

AP: Blagojevich says he's considering legal action

Chicago Tribune: Blagojevich: 'Anti-Nixon,' soon jobless

NBC 5 Chicago: Blago burger's days are numbered

AP: Supplier drops drug-import plan

Daily Herald: Blago blitz blunder?

Chicago Tribune: Barack Obama's, Rod Blagojevich's neighborhoods reflect opposite attitudes

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Blago impeachment trial update

I'm watching Rep. Chapin Rose (R-Charleston), a member of the House impeachment committee, testify about how a crony of Tony Rezko, Ali Ata, turned a $25,000 Rod Blagojevich campaign contribution into a state job. While the Rezko trial was underway, Ati pleaded guilty to a tax charge and to lying to an FBI agent.

For the first time portions, very short ones I'd like to add, of those legendary Blago tapes were played. Click here to listen, and don't worry, the recordings are safe for work.

Meanwhile, the governor's media tour continues.

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Stimulus for what?

In an editorial this morning, the San Francisco Chronicle raises some concerns about the economic stimulus bill.

Few dispute the need for a powerful stimulus to revive the nation's basket-case economy. The president and both parties in Congress are in sync on that much.

But exactly what should be in the $825 billion package that's due to be hammered out over the next three weeks? All sides - the White House, Democrats on Capitol Hill and their GOP counterparts - have yet to supply cogent explanations as the competing shopping lists are toted up.

The op-ed concludes:

There's no more important task than repairing this nation's economy, and, by extension, the world's. There is little time and enormous pressure for results. But before the solutions are chosen, the administration must present a clear rationale for which items will qualify - and why - for an enormous spending plan that is supposed to lay the foundation for an economic recovery. That hasn't happened yet

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Obama, the Kennedys, and wind power

I've written numerous posts about the hypocrisy of the Kennedy family, from Teddy on down, regarding their opposition to the Cape Wind project off of Cape Cod. After the Gores, the Kennedys are the preeminent environmental family in the nation.

Wind is not the perfect energy source, but it is clean, and Cape Wind will supplement New England's stressed power grid.

But the Kennedys don't want their ocean views altered, nor do they want their yachting playground disrupted. Poor babies.

National Review Online's Jim Geraghty revisits the controversy, and wonders if the Obama administration will overrule the Kennedys, or if it will side the Gov. Deval Patrick, who favors it.

Related posts:

Not in my back yard: Commission rejects Cape Wind project
RFK, Jr: Environmental hypocrite
A Kennedy is on the board of the Chicago Climate Exchange
New North Dakota wind farm, Cape Wind flounders
Wind power update--Michigan this time, UPDATED
North Dakota welcomes new wind farm
My Kansas Kronikles: Gray County Wind Farm

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Geraldo loses his mind...

I mentioned this yesterday in one of my Rod Blagojevich posts. Fox News Channel's Geraldo Rivera is reliving one of the happiest moments of his life, his months-long defense of Bill Clinton on his old CNBC nightly show.

Like Neil Cavuto, I'm not an attorney (as Geraldo is.) And I don't believe Blago should have been impeached for his goofy vaccine scheme. Barack Obama's onetime rival, Sen. Rickey Hendon (D-Chicago) expresses a similar sentiment, and Professor William A. Jacobson concurs.

Yes, the governor's lawyers (Oops, Blagojevich didn't send what's left of his legal team to Springfield) can't call witnesses linked to the Patrick Fitzgerald's ongoing criminal probe, but let me remind the governor and his defenders that serving public office is a privilege, one that Blagojevich clearly abused.

This Chicago Sun-Times editorial puts Blago's complaints, using the governor's favorite phrase, into context.

H/T to Capitol Fax.

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Monday, January 26, 2009

Your Monday night Blago scandals reader

It was an historic day in Illinois. Despite its well-earned reputation for corruption, the first impeachment trial of a state constitutional officer began today.

Which didn't phase the impeach-ee today. Governor Rod Blagojevich, the gangster-governor, was enjoying a Manhattan melodrama.

The credits have rolled, now it's Blago scandals reader time:

State Journal-Regsiter: Senators finish first day of impeachment trial

Bloomington Pantagraph: Lt. Gov. Quinn not at Senate trial, keeping tabs via TV

CNN: Blagojevich takes case to TV circuit

Chicago Tribune: Oprah 'amused' by Blagojevich

NBC 5 Chicago: Pols line up for Blago dunk tank

AP: Quotes from first day of Ill. impeachment trial

Buffalo Grove Countryside: Murphy spars with Blago on 'Good Morning America'

Southern Illinoisan: Taxpayers paying for some of governor's media blitz

AP: Ill. taxpayers won't pay for governor's PR firm

ABC 7 Chicago: Chicagoans weigh in on Blago's media blitz

CBS 23 Rockford: Impeachment trial reaction

AP: Who's who in the Blagojevich impeachment saga

Carmi Times: Jones talks to media about impeachment

NPR: Law professor examines Blagojevich case

AP: Blagojevich controversy downplayed in Olympic bid

Chicago Sun-Times: Gov touts his drug program, critic calls it an 'abject failure'

ABC News: Blagojevich's poetry obsession explained

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: Feingold wants to prevent governors from filling Senate seats

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Senate Republican sources tell me...

Senate Republican in Washington sources tell your humble blogger not to expect a move by the Obama administration or Congressional Democrats on two absurdly named, yet divisive issues: the Employee Free Choice Act (Card Check) and the Fairness Doctrine. These are fighting issues for the far-left, but Obama and the Dems are avoiding a fight on these two--they want to get their $825 billion (and climbing) economic stimulus passed first.

Unlike the stimulus bill, which will end up on President Obama's desk where it will be signed into law, Republicans should be able to prevent EFCA and the Fairness Doctrine from escaping the Senate.

But the Democrats might try something on both this summer.

The GOP will be resolute in its opposition.

Related posts:

"Card check" update: Not so fast, says Obama

Obama and the "Fairness Doctrine": Will you restrict freedom or expand it?"

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Day one of the impeachment trial is over

I caught a large part of today's testimony, via the web, of the first day of testimony in the impeachment trial of Governor Rod Blagojevich.

The prosecution called one witness, John Scully, a former federal prosecutor who went over, in great detail, the intricacies of getting judicial approval for wiretapping activities.

With Blagojevich conducting his defense through national media outlets instead of having his attorneys cross-examine Scully, it made for pretty dry viewing.

It reads much better, and the Chicago Tribune's Clout Street blog has a good summary of today's events in Springfield.

In New York, as I blogged earlier, Blago appeared on ABC's "Good Morning America" and "The View." No one knows how many Illinois state senators were watching.

After the "View" appearance, Fox News' Geraldo Rivera interviewed the disgraced governor outside the show's studio on a sidewalk. In other words, "a man in the street interview." In a flashback to Rivera's old CNBC show where he served as one of Bill Clinton's chief apologists, the attorney turned electronic journalist showed great sympathy to Blago's plight, stating that he is not getting a fair trial. What's bizarre is that Geraldo was forced to interview Blago outdoors because the Chicago Democrat's handlers cancelled his Fox News studio appearance.

Not a fair trial? What crap. Blagojevich is also a lawyer--he is a former assistant Cook County state's attorney, and perhaps he knows better. Then again, maybe he doesn't.

In a Sunday editorial, the Chicago Tribune ripped Blago's "I'm not getting a fair trial" gripe right of of its follicles.

However, I do have to agree with Geraldo on one point. I don't believe the governor should have been impeached over his hair-brained scheme to import flu vaccine from Canada and Europe.

I mean, sheesh, Blagojevich's vaccine caper took place five years ago. Why didn't the Democratic-controlled General Assembly impeach him for that back then?

But Blago needs to go. I hope he's enjoying New York--it looks like the weather is much milder than it is here in Illinois. It's cold and brutal in the Land of Lincoln. In more ways than one.

But to paraphrase the Chance the Gardener character in Being There. "After winter, comes spring."

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Burris: Without me, there'd be no President Obama

What Roland Burris said this morning shouldn't be a shocker. After all, the Rod Blagojevich-appointed senator has already overseen the construction of his mausoleum, one that lists his professional accomplishments.

Burris gave further proof this morning that he is full of himself. The Chicago Sun-Times cuts him down to size:

Speaking this morning at a Martin Luther King Jr. breakfast, the state’s new junior U.S. senator, Roland Burris said that without Burris' own trailblazing, Barack Obama never would have been elected president.

"If there was no Martin Luther King Jr. and no Roland Burris, there would be no Barack Obama in the White House today," Burris said to cheers at a Rainbow PUSH Coalition breakfast in Chicago. “We must recognize, friends, that we all stand on each other's shoulders."

Burris had left elective office in Illinois before Obama was ever elected, though they did know each other. Burris was never a major presence in Obama’s campaigns for state or U.S. senate or for the presidency. When Blagojevich appointed Burris senator, Obama said Burris should decline the appointment, though Obama said he had respect for Burris. Like other Democratic leaders, Obama ultimately relented and said he looked forward to working with Burris.

Burris was elected three times to the post of state comptroller, a political office most people don't care about. He was elected as attorney general in 1990, and rather than run for reelection four years later, he ran for governor--he was defeated in the Democratic primary, the first of four successive primary losses for the Chicagoan.

Burris, even taking into account his race, was hardly a trailblazer when he was a statewide officeholder. He was cautious, risk-averse, and by the way, a lousy attorney general.

He hasn't been president even a week, but even if he fails as commander-in-chief, the rise of Barack Obama will be studied--and debated--for years, if not decades. And scholars will not find a place in that story for Roland Burris. Not even as an asterisk to a footnote.

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Blago impeachment trial starts

No surprises so far from Illinois' state capitol. The impeachment trial of Rod Blagojevich stared an hour ago. Blago is not there, nor did he send a legal team to present a defense.

The Chicago Democrat thinks it's a better idea to appear on national television talk shows. Lord only knows what he hopes to accomplish with this strategy.

In short, this will, excuse me, shorten his impeachment trial, which could mean than Illinois will have a new governor later this week.

The state Senate, after meeting for about 40 minutes, took an hour recess, which means they should be back in the chamber by 1:45pm Central.

Blago's media blitz is already hurting him in Springfield, a recording of the Chicago Democrat's appearance on the Don & Roma WLS radio show has been presented as evidence. Among many things, Blagojevich admitted saying what was listed on the criminal complaint against him.

CBS 2 Chicago has streaming video of the impeachment proceedings.

Capitol Fax is live blogging the proceedings, as is the Chicago Sun-Times.

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WLS

Blago on "The View"

I just finished watching Rod Blagojevich on ABC's "The View."

He's defiant on his innocence." Under no circumstances did I try to sell a Senate seat, under on circumstances did I break the law." He said that, in various rephrasings, several times this morning.

Barbara Walters, via satellite, had first dibs on Blago, and she was tough on the impeached governor. She brought up Blagojevich's estranged in-laws, after Walters mentioned that "The View" was first told his wife Patti would also appear on the show. But Walters said the First Lady's family suggested that she skip the show. That family is of course led by her father, Chicago Alderman Dick Mell.

Regarding the incriminating comments about Blago's alleged attempt to sell Barack Obama's Senate seat, he says, "The tapes will show the whole story." Essentially he said that his conversations were taken out of context.

The other view hosts rehashed some of Walters' questions, but Joy Behar told Blago that she had heard the he did a great Richard Nixon impersonation. She asked him to say, "I am not a crook."

Blago declined, but in his normal voice said "Let me make this perfectly clear..."

Nixon is one of Blagojevich's personal heroes.

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Galena, Illinois

My first stop of my Midwestern Presidential Pathway was Galena, Illinois, where Ulysses S. Grant lived when he re-joined the Army in 1861, and the town was his home when he was elected president in 1868.

Galena, named for the lead ore that was once plentiful nearby, is a popular tourist destination. The lead mines stopped producing in the late 19th century, and the town became stuck in time.

Which is what brings in the crowds. Antique shops, "knick-knack" stores, and bed and breakfast inns adds to the charm.

Several resort properties are located outside of town.

Most of film "Field of Dreams"
was filmed in eastern Iowa. But Galena filled in for Moonlight Graham's hometown of Chisolm, Minnesota.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, northwestern Illinois is very, well, un-Illinois like. The glaciers that flattened most of the state bypassed the area surrounding Galena; the hills and valleys add to the allure of this tourist destination.

Related posts:

Midwestern Presidential Pathway: Where Grant worked as a clerk

Midwestern Presidential Pathway: Mrs. Butterworth

Midwestern Presidential Pathway: Ulysses S. Grant Home

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Blago says he considered Oprah as Obama replacement

Impeached Governor Rod Blagojevich's New York media tour started off with a bang this morning. While appearing on ABC's "Good Morning America," the Chicago Democrat says he considered choosing Oprah Winfrey to fill the US Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama.

"It came to me from a friend," Blagojevich said of Winfrey. "And then along the considerations we discussed whether or not it made any sense, she seemed to be someone who would help Barack Obama in a significant way become president. She was obviously someone with a much broader bully pulpit than other senators. She probably wouldn't take it. And then we talked about if you offered it to her, how would you do it in a way that it didn't look like it was some [unintelligible] to try to embarrass her?"

We've got at least 12 more hours of Blago eruptions. Meanwhile, four hours from now, his impeachment trial starts. Blagojevich and his attorneys won't be there.

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Sunday, January 25, 2009

Your impeachment-trial eve Blago scandals reader

From "Spamalot" to "Blago-alot," it is once again time for a Blago scandals reader:

ABC 7 Chicago: State rep: Governor has 'gone insane'

AP: Impeachment trial to start without governor; he's talking to Whoopi and Larry instead

AP: Durbin: Barbara Walters not on Blagojevich's jury

Daily Herald: If Blagojevich is ousted, his tollway signs will follow suit

Economist: The land of liabilities

Chicago Tribune: Rules of impeachment have rubbery origins

Bloomington Pantagraph: Will Blagojevich have lawyers?

The Times of India: Indian-American businessman heard Obama seat price talks: Report

Busy Blago day tomorrow. Time to get some rest.

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Bush, Blago, and "Spamalot"

This afternoon Little Marathon Pundit and I traveled to Chicago's beautiful Auditorium Theatre for a performance of "Spamalot." I missed the first time around in Chicago, the play actually made it's world premiere in the city.

It's an enjoyable show, although nothing can ever top the film it's based on, which is of course "Monty Python and the Holy Grail."

Veteran actor and miniseries king Richard Chamberlain was terrific as King Arthur, and he sings quite well--remember, Chamberlain is in his seventies.

There where at least a couple of recent revisions of the "Spamalot" script.

The French Taunter, played by Matthew Greer, adds a jab at former President Bush along with such classic lines as "Your mother was a hamster, and your father smelt of elderberries."

Thrown in was. "And we throw shoes at your ex-presidents!"

There was mild applause.

Moving on the second act, Greer, this time playing the lead Knight Who Says Ni, lets loose his sharp tongue on impeached Governor Rod Blagojevich.

Telling Arthur and his loyal servant Patsy that he and his troupe were no longer the "Knights Who Say Ni," but instead, and he goes on for quite a while with his new torment, adds "Blagojevich...is a son of a bitch. You pay to play...he has a bad toupee."

That bit was sung to the tune of the Beach Boys' "Barbara Ann."

The theatergoers responded with roaring approval.

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A wintry North Branch of the Chicago River

Single digit temperatures returned to the Chicago area late last week, but today the termometer climbed up to the upper teens.

Which is why the North Branch of the Chicago River in Morton Grove is still mostly frozen.

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Does Blago have a narcissistic personality disorder?

Bruce Rushton of the State Journal-Register spoke with some Illinois mental health professionals, and while none have first-hand experience impeached Governor Rod Blagojevich, they think he may have a narcissistic personality disorder.

"I'm not sure the question is about (mental) stability," says Dr. Joe Bohlen, a Springfield psychiatrist. "It may be more about personality."

Two years ago, Blagojevich famously implored voters to ask what his election rival was thinking, and short of putting the governor on a couch, it's impossible to say what's in his head. But from what he's heard, seen and read, Bohlen and others say they believe Blagojevich may have a narcissistic personality disorder.

Bohlen also has other sources of information, namely a daughter who won a post-college fellowship with the state and worked as an advance person during Blagojevich's first term, arranging hotel rooms and making sure the governor always looked his best.

"She carried around a bottle of hairspray in her purse," Bohlen said.

Click here for more about narcissistic personality disorder.

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Blago compares self to Gandhi, Mandela, and Martin Luther King

Yesterday it was reported that Rod Blagojevich hired the same public relations firm used by Drew Peterson to improve his abysmal image.

It must be an unusual PR agency, but it can't be telling him to say what he did this morning on NBC's "Today" show, could it?

The Chicago Sun-Times' Lynn Sweet reports:

On the press offensive, Blagojevich has lined up national interviews--NBC, ABC, "The View" to run as his impeachment trail starts Monday before the Illinois state senate in Springfield.

Blagojevich, wearing a blue ivy league shirt, told NBC he has not prepared mentally for possibly going to prison. The impeachment was triggered by Blagojevich's Dec. 9 arrest on criminal charges, including trying to auction off President Obama's vacant senate seat.

As he was taken from his home by federal agents on Dec. 9, Blagojevich told NBC, "I thought about Mandela, Dr. King and Gandhi and tried to put some perspective to all this and that is what I am doing now."

Blagojevich will be in New York tomorrow, where he will appear on several television shows, including the aforementioned "The View."

Here is who I'm comparing Blago to: Lennington Small, Otto Kerner, Dan Walker, and George Ryan.

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MLK

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Your Saturday night Blago scandals reader

After experiencing one of the busiest Rod Blagojevich news days in quite a while, things are back to normal on the Blago front. But there is still plenty to report in regards to our gangster-governor.

Here is tonight's Blago scandals reader:

Bloomington Pantagraph: Some seats for impeachment trial open to public

Crain's Chicago Business: City bans former Blago aide

Sauk Valley News: Feds sought info on dozens before arresting Blagojevich

AP: Gov. Blagojevich says he's battling 'the system'

Daily Herald: Blagojevich's talking points

Crain's Chicago Business: IDOT subpoenaed in Blago case

Bloomington Pantagraph: Elected as reformer, Blagojevich now facing Senate trial

AP: Govs cast in unflattering light with Senate picks

More tomorrow.

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news

Actual headline, "Barack Obama: The nation's first Blackberry president"

Yes, like myself, President Barack Obama can't live without his Blackberry. Which makes him, as the headline from RCR Wireless proclaims, the nation's first Blackberry president.

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America's worst governor hires same PR agency used by America's worst cop

America's worst governor, Illinois' Rod Blagojevich, has hired the same public relations firm, The Publicity Agency, used by America's worst former police officer, Bolingbrook, Illinois' Drew Peterson.

The death of Peterson's third wife was ruled a homicide, and Peterson, who recently became engaged, is a suspect in the disappearance of his fourth wife.

Peterson has not been accused of wrongdoing in either case.

On the other hand, Blagojevich was arrested last month after receiving a criminal complaint from the Chicago US Attorney's office.

If Blago does end up getting his own show on Chicago's WLS-AM, perhaps he can hire Peterson as a sidekick.

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Friday, January 23, 2009

Your Friday night Blago scandals reader

There is quite a bit of Rod Blagojevich news tonight, much of it I've covered already.

Here's a collection of the best of the rest:

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Veterans groups blast Blagojevich's comparison of his shock at arrest to Pearl Harbor Day

Chicago Tribune: Blagojevich to talk to 'Good Morning America' and 'The View'

AP: Blagojevich asks newspapers for help with trial

State Journal-Register: Our Opinion: Sorry, governor, we're not writing what you want

AP: Lt. Gov. says no help with possible transition

CBS 2 Chicago: Quinn, Blagojevich tussle over possible tax hike

NBC 5 Chicago: Judge: Blago tapes can be released

AP: Corruption rampant in Illinois, Quinn tells new reform panel

NBC 3 Wichita: Blagojevich: I want Gov. Sebelius as trial witness

Lake Forester: State legislators support blocking stimulus funds from Blagojevich

Chicago Sun-Times: Burris may face primary challenges from Giannoulias, Schakowsky

ABC 3 Carterville: Gov raises $705,000 despite attention from feds

WGIL Radio: Quinn: Blago doesn't get impeachment process

NPR: Will they be scalping tickets at the Blagojevich trial?

Chicago Tribune: Senate President Cullerton: Impeachment trial rules are fair

Galesburg Register-Mail: Q&A: State GOP chairman sees reasons for optimism

Playbill: Rod Blagojevich Super Star! musical to debut at Second City

More tomorrow. Maybe not a lot more, but Blago is a master of surprises.

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Genson dumps Blago

Governor Rod Blagojevich is three days from the start of his impeachment trial. He spent much of today on a PR blitz, which probably won't help him much with the audience he should be minding--the 59 members of the Illinois State Senate.

Having a good relationship with your primary attorney is important too, but once again, Blago has to be different.

Chicago's most prominent defense lawyer is a talkative sort, that's his job, but had only a few words for reporters when he told them he was dumping the Chicago Democrat as a client, "I never require a client to do what I say. I do (ask) him to at least listen."

There was more bad news for Blago on the legal front. Federal prosecutors have filed a request with a judge to release four tapes requested by the state Senate that the body wants to use in the impeachment trial.

Earlier today, the Blagojevich administration, or what's left of it, released information on 43 subpoenas, including information regarding contacts it had with Barack Obama aides David Axelrod and Valerie Jarrett.

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crime

Blago speaks

If you like politics, or if you are interested in a delusional mind, I recommend that you download the entire forty minute Don & Roma interview of impeached Governor Rod Blagojevich.

Blago talks mostly about himself, which makes for intriguing, yet disturbing listening. And the conversation between the three doesn't ramble into long discussions of "State Senator X" or "State Rep. Y" that could bore even people from Illinois.

The Democrat gave another press conference this afternoon. Blagojevich didn't quote Tennyson this time, but did use an Old West analogy. The hairy one emitted this gem, "I'm not even getting a fair trial, they're just hanging me ... and they're hanging the 12 million people of Illinois."

Funny, I don't feel that I'm being hanged.

Taking the Old West theme a bit further, I say we run Blago out of town--and out of Illinois.

On a rail.

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Mayor Daley: Blago is "cuckoo"

For the second time in the last few months, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley said Governor Rod Blagojevich is "cuckoo."

Yes, Blago is.

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Blago plans 2pm Central press conference

Impeached Governor Rod Blagojevich will hold a press conference in a little more than an hour, 2pm Central Time. In his last press conference, which he held two Fridays ago, the Chicago Democrat quoted Alfred Lord Tennyson. It was possibly the most shameless political event in recent history.

And that's not because he quoted the 19th Century poet.

Look for the press conference to start late. Blago is never on time.

Related post:

Blago defiant at press conference

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crime

Blago speaks again, says his story is a Frank Capra movie

America's worst governor spoke to reporters this morning in front of his Northwest Side Chicago home.

Rod Blagojevich said his right to due process is being denied. He wants to call senior advisers Rahm Emanuel and Valerie Jarrett as witnesses.

I just finished listening to Blago on the Don & Roma show on WLS-AM. The Chicago Democrat said his story "is a 21st Century Frank Capra movie."

For the uniniatated, Capra made a slew of movies, many of them starring James Stewart, where one man fights for "the little guy." Blagojevich talked about the Capra/Stewart film "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington," where Stewart's honest character confronts venal congressmen.

UPDATE 12:45pm CST: The Chicago Tribune's Eric Zorn has compiled a whole bunch of quotes from this morning's interview. I neglected to mention that Blago is claming the General Assembly wants him removed from office so they can raise taxes.

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WLS

John Kass on Transportation Secretary LaHood

During the presidential campaign, Barack Obama made a lot of talk of having a bipartisan cabinet. Obama kept George Bush's Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates on the job, although no one is sure he is a Republican.

Ray LaHood is a Republican. He resigned his central Illinois Congressional seat to head Obama's Transporation Department.

He is not a small government Republican.

The Chicago Tribune's John Kass takes a closer look at the Peorian this morning:

In political terms, Blagojevich is a pimple compared with LaHood, who will have billions of federal dollars to dole out in state grants for contracts for roads, bridges, airport modernization—all the sugarplums the guys behind the guys dream about.

One such guy is the indicted Republican boss of Springfield, William Cellini, a wealthy developer and executive director of the Illinois Asphalt Pavement Association. LaHood is a Cellini guy.

Jay Hansen, vice president of government affairs for the National Asphalt Pavement Association, praised LaHood. But Hansen cooled when we asked if he knew about Cellini.

"Yes, of course," said Hansen. Will LaHood's connections to Cellini be a problem?

"I don't know, no comment" was his reply.

Cellini, also a Republican, was indicted last fall for as part of US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald's Operation Board Games probe, which is the same investigation that brought down Antoin "Tony" Rezko.

Billy Dennis of Peoria Pundit has been keeping an eye on LaHood for years. Click here, scroll, and search.

Related post:

"Rezko scandals" latest indictment victim: Bill Cellini

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Thursday, January 22, 2009

Your Thursday night Blago scandals reader

Another day, another Blago scandals reader. And for the first time in a few days, I have on reason to bring up the inauguration of Barack Obama here.

Oh, that one slipped.

AP: Blagojevich compares strain of arrest to Pearl Harbor

Chicago Tribune: Gov's lawyers expect removal from office

CBS 2 Chicago: Group sues Blagojevich over education funding

AP: Ill. governor's lawyer: I might sue to stop trial

Chicago Sun-Times: Blagojevich's lawyers differ on lawsuit plans

ABC 7 Chicago: Commission sets out to tackle corruption

Southern Illinoisan: Blagojevich trials could expose pay-to-play in Southern Illinois

AP: Blago appointee gets $40K pension boost

AP: Top Democratic consultant on FBI Blagojevich tapes

Chicago Tribune: Rod Blagojevich prosecutor to call 12 witnesses at trial

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Exposed: Prof who nominated George Ryan for a Nobel Prize

Francis A. Boyle, a professor of International Law and Human rights at my alma mater, the University of Illinois, has once again nominated former Illinois Governor George Ryan for the Nobel Peace Prize. A few days before leaving office in the capable hands of Rod Blagojevich (That was a joke), the Kankakee Republican emptied Illinois' death row. A few inmates were pardoned, the rest had their sentences commuted to life in prison.

And prison is where George Ryan is right now. He's serving a six year sentence for fraud and extortion.

Boyle overlooks that stubborn fact. But let's take a look at Boyle, who possesses some pretty out-of-the mainstream views. Writing in Counterpunch, he proposes impeaching then-President George W. Bush. He supports Hawaiian independence. (What does Barack Obama have to say about that?) Boyle appeared on the O'Reilly Factor four days after 9/11, arguing against a military strike.

Okay, for some people, the "Impeach Bush" movement was middle of the road, but Hawaiian independence? Puh-leaze!

Oh, Boyle also favored impeaching Bill Clinton, but not for Whitewater, Monica Lewinsky, or perjury.

Mainstream media reporters left out these details in their reporting of this story.

Why I am doing the mainstream media's job? Because as former Senator Fred Thompson said in front myself and a few other bloggers in St. Paul last year, "We need new media."

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Blago offered weekly radio talk show

WLS-AM is the Chicago home for such popular conservative talk shows such as Rush Limbaugh, Mark Levin, and Sean Hannity. It also possesses great local talent including Mancow Muller, Roe Conn, and Don & Roma.

The station's program director appeared on that last one this morning, and he offered our soon-to-be unemployed governor a job--a Sunday show from 2pm-3pm.

Blago's impeachment trial begins on Monday. If it plays out as expected, the Chicago Democrat might be looking for work around the middle of next month.

If Blagojevich does make it on to WLS, there had better be a seven second delay.
As we learned in the federal complaint against him, Blago likes to swear.

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media

radio

WLS

Politico: 10 Dems Obama should watch out for

"I have no trouble with my enemies. It's my friends who keep me walking the floor nights."
Warren G. Harding

And it may be Barack Obama's friends who will keep him up at night. Glenn Thrush of Politico has compiled a list of 10 Democrats who may be causing the president migraines. None have been accused of corruption. But I'm wondering why House Ways & Means Committee Chairman Charlie Rangel didn't make this list.

Rangel has been tied to several shady financial deals.

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Midwestern Presidential Pathway: Where Grant worked as a clerk

After resigning from the army, Ulysses S. Grant moved to Missouri and became a farmer--he failed, then worked as a bill collector, he failed at that too.

His father owned a leather goods business in Galena, Illinois, which was run by one of his younger brothers, his youngest brother worked there too. Grant was hired as a clerk in 1860, worked there for a year until volunteering for the Illinois State Militia when the Civil War broke out. When the war ended, we was the commanding officer of the United States Army. Quite a reversal of fortune for this clerk.

The leather goods store, Grant & Perkins, closed in 1864, but the structure sill remains, and can be found roughly in the center of downtown Galena, on Main Street, a popular thoroughfare for shoppers and tourists.

Galena Teddy Bear...and Friends is there now. Little Marathon Pundit and I tookd a walk inside, and found quite a few adorable stuffed animals.

Stuffed bears existed then, but it was Theodore Roosevelt, as you'll read below, who as the inspiration of the Teddy Bear.

As I noted below, there is a Roosevelt-Grant connection. The 18th president's son, Frederick Dent Grant, succeeded the future 25th president as New York City's police commissioner.

Related posts:

My Mississippi Manifest Destiny: Teddy Bear

Midwestern Presidential Pathway: Mrs. Butterworth

Midwestern Presidential Pathway: Ulysses S. Grant Home

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Blago's legal fees at $2.6 million

Hey, Rod Blagojevich is a record breaker. Although to my knowledge, no one is keeping track of gubernatorial legal expenses.

The Chicago Sun-Times explains:

Since taking office in 2003, Gov. Blagojevich has spent a staggering $2.6 million out of his campaign fund on legal fees, with the lion's share going to pay criminal defense lawyers.

His most recent criminal-defense expenditures -- a $500,000 payment to the firm of high-profile lawyer Edward Genson and $100,000 to the firm of Sheldon Sorosky -- came Dec. 18, according to a campaign-finance report filed Tuesday night.

The governor also has paid nearly $1.8 million to the law firm of Winston & Strawn since December 2003, records show. About half of that -- $750,000 -- was spent July 15 to cover overdue bills.

The governor's legal costs reflect the heat of multiple federal investigations that began in 2003, court records indicate. The governor was arrested Dec. 9 and accused by federal prosecutors of trying to trade official government actions for campaign cash, jobs and other benefits.

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law

Blago says impeachment trial unfair, won't participate

Once again, Rod Blagojevich just has to be different. The disgraced governors impeachment governor is just four days away. There's is nothing unusual in Blagojevich not showing up to the trial, on the presidential level, neither Andrew Johnson or Bill Clinton appeared at their Senate trials, but it appears that Blago's legal team won't be in Springfield on Monday when his state Senate trial starts.

Blago wants to be able to call witnesses, and he may decide to participate if he is given that right.

The Chicago Democrat told reporters this morning one witness he would call is White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.

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Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Your Wednesday night Blago scandals reader

It's the first full day of the Barack Obama presidency. Times moves on--and we are five days away from the start of Governor Rod Blagojevich's impeachment trial.

Here is tonight's Blago scandals reader:

Chicago Sun-Times: Patti Blagojevich fired from charity job

Daily Herald: Governor fails to meet deadline to seek dismissal of charges

CBS 2 Chicago: Governor's attorneys try to block trial

Reuters: House panel takes shot at Blagojevich in stimulus

Chicago Sun-Times: Gov's brother says he was caught on tape as many as 50 times

Bloomington Pantagraph: Burris opens Senate office, interviewing staff members

More tomorrow.

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Mystery building on Illinois' Lincoln Highway

I'm not really sure what that structure in the picture is. I captured that image late in the day on US Route 30, better known as the Lincoln Highway, in Lee County, Illinois.

To me, it's too fat for a silo, too narrow for a barn, and not airy enough to be a corn crib.

It's a nice picture, though. Whatever it is.

Related posts:

Another view...Lee County, Illinois sunset

Lee County, Illinois sunset

The Lincoln Highway in Illinois

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Caroline Kennedy dropping Senate bid

After a rough month of "campaigning," two New York City newsapers are reporting that Caroline Kennedy is dropping her bid to have Governor David Patterson appoint her to fill the next two years of Hillary Clinton's Senate term.

The New York Post says that Patterson had already decided not to appoint her.

In 2010, a special election is to be held to decide who would serve for the final two years of Clinton's term. By then, the novelty of having JFK's daugher representing them would have worn off, and upstate voters, Kennedy seems unfamiliar with that part of her home state north of Westchester County, might have soured on her for good.

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From the Poet Laureate of Morton Grove: "Blago"

After suffering through a poem read by Elizabeth Alexander during Barack Obama's inaugruation ceremony, I realized that I'm a poet, and I didn't know it.

Moreover, I decided that Morton Grove needs a poet laureate, and I decided that I'm the most qualified person to serve in that position.

So here we go, my first poem as Poet Laureate of Morton Grove:

"Blago"

Impeachment, the bitter fruit of corruption

False reformer

Liar

Testicular virility, Dick Mell

Hair everywhere, Hair dye

Out halfway into his second term

John "Quarters" Boyle

Carrying on George Ryan's legacy

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Ex-con and ex-congressman spotted at inauguration

Mel Reynolds was the predecessor of Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL). "Junior" was at the inaugural, and so was Reynolds.

A refresher: Reynolds resigned his seat in 1995 after being found guilty of having sex with a minor. He was later convicted of tax charges. At the request of the Reverend Jesse Jackson, Bill Clinton commuted Reynolds tax sentence, and he worked for Jackson's Rainbow/PUSH organization for a while. Ungrateful, Reynolds challenged Junior in an attempt to win back his old seat, the younger Jackson clobbered him.

From Michael Sneed's Chicago Sun-Times column:

Scoopsville: Sneed is told former U.S. Rep. Mel Reynolds, who served time in a federal prison for sexual misconduct with an underage campaign worker and tax evasion, was spotted in a celeb section near the inaugural stage getting his picture taken with actress Halle Berry!

• • To wit: Jackie Heard, Mayor Daley's press secretary, tells Sneed she was seated next to Berry, whom she described as "not only beautiful, but kind and warmhearted" and even gave her gloves to someone whose hands were suffering from the cold. "She was wonderful."

• • The shocker: Heard, a former Chicago reporter who remembers the Reynolds scandal, was surprised when she spotted Reynolds. "He looked like he had some sort of congressional pass ... although I can't be sure," said Heard. "But he had a camera in his hands and wanted [Halle Berry] to pose for a picture with him! I have to say I was stunned."

More history: Reynolds presence at the inaugural was fitting. His resignation ignited a flurry of political activity. State Sen. Alice Palmer (D-Chicago) anointed Obama has her successor, she ran for the seat Junior eventually won. After her defeat, she tried to get Obama to quite the race for her old state Senate job. Obama said no, and had his campaign staff knock her name off of the ballot.

Had Reynolds kept his pants on and paid his taxes, someone else very well may have been inaugurated yesterday.

H/T to Capitol Fax

Related post:

Momentous special election: 1995 Illinois' 2nd Congressional race

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Hey President Obama: Tax cuts, not your stimulus, will end the recession

The last time an economic stimulus, heavy on public works projects, was utilized to reinvigorate our nation's economy, was when Franklin Roosevelt's "New Deal" was put in place. It didn't help much, the Great Depression carried on until our entry into the Second World War. In fact, there was a sharp downturn within the Depression when Roosevelt raised taxes in 1937.

To be fair, Obama has put on hold his plan for the tax increases that he touted during the presidential campaign. Obama is placing his economic turnaround plans upon his New Deal-style stimulus.

But the best way, in my opinion (and a lot of other folks' minds) to jump start the economy is a tax cut, or at the very least, making the 2001 Bush tax cuts permanent. That would send a message to businesses that cash will soon be in the hands of consumers and they'll be buying goods.

What about Obama's stimulus? Here is what AP says:

It will take years before an infrastructure spending program proposed by President-elect Barack Obama will boost the economy, according to congressional economists.

The findings, released to lawmakers Sunday, call into question the effectiveness of congressional Democrats' efforts to pump up the economy through old-fashioned public works projects like roads, bridges and repairs of public housing.

Less than half of the $30 billion in highway construction funds detailed by House Democrats would be released into the economy over the next four years, concludes the analysis by the Congressional Budget Office. Less than $4 billion in highway construction money would reach the economy by September 2010.

The economy has been in recession for more than a year, but many economists believe a recovery may begin by the end of 2009. That would mean that most of the infrastructure money wouldn't hit the economy until it's already on the mend.

Not good.

It's not too late, Mr. President, to take Joe the Plumber's advice.

I think a tax cut is the best method of "spreading the wealth around."

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FDR

Obama draft executive order: Gitmo a goner in a year

The only surprise about Barack Obama releasing a draft executive order calling for the closing of the Guantanomo Bay detention center in Cuba is that he didn't release it yesterday.

Gitmo is incarcerating the worst of the worst terrorists and jihadists, and of course the next question is, "What do we do with these guys?"

George W. Bush was completely aware of the bad image Gitmo gave the United States in the latter years of his presidency. However, after some inquiries, Bush learned that our allies didn't want any Gitmo prisoners incarcered on their soil. A few inmates, including some Chinese Muslims, are stateless. China doesn't want them back.

A couple of years ago, there was speculation that Leavenworth, Kansas, a town with plenty of prisons already, might add one more--a facility for the Gitmo prisoners.

Leavenworth didn't want to have to deal with the stigma.

The Leavenworth option might be back on the table. Leavenworth says, "No thank you."

Obama says "Close Gitmo."

Now what?

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law

Midwestern Presidential Pathway: Mrs. Butterworth

Amazingly, just a handful of First Ladies have been honored with statues. Until recently, only Eleanor Roosevelt, Mary Todd Lincoln, and Pat Nixon have been cast in bronze.

The newest honoree is Julia Dent Grant, the wife of our 18th president, Ulysses S. Grant.

Although 19th century photographic techniques were not kind to their subjects, the person at the other end of the lens had to still still for over a minute, and were told by the portraitist to sit with a stern gaze, by all accounts, the woman who was the first to be referred to as "First Lady" was regarded to be rather plain in appearance. She was cross eyed, but her husband liked that look, and told her not to have corrective surgery.

Some Galena residents decided that Mrs. Grant warranted a statue for the grounds of Ulysses S. Grant state historic site. Lily Tolpo, an octogenarian artist, got the job. Okay, this is going to sound cruel, but I have to say it. Tolpo received the commission for two reasons. She lived near Galena, and she was a woman.

Her completed work is horrible. As soon as it was unveiled, locals, tourists, heck everyone said, "That looks like Mrs. Butterworth," of course referring to a brand of maple syrup. It does. Her face is mis-shapen, it appears that Butterworth, I mean Grant, is suffering the mumps. To see what I mean, click on the image to make it larger.

The statue cost $103,000, and was funded by local donations.

They should ask for a refund.

Next: Ulysses S. Grant's place of work

Midwestern Presidential Pathway: Ulysses S. Grant Home

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art

Tag...I'm it

The Metro East Sage, Doug Welch of Stix, has tagged me with a meme. This one requires me to list six inconsequential things about me.

DA RULES:

1. Link to the person who tagged you. (Done.)
2. Post the rules on your blog. (Done.)
3. Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
4. Tag six random people with a link. (Ummmm....)

1) I have only one vice, coffee. Well, one self admitted vice.

2) I have visted 42 of our 50 states.

3) My favorite movie is (are?) "The Lord of the Rings."

4) I eat bagels without condiments.

5) I really run marathons. I've finished 31 of them. The first was in 1990, the most recent last year.

6) Last month I got my first pair of eyeglasses.

The links:

Chicago News Bench
Backyard Conservative
Critical Thoughts
Chicago Bungalow
Left, Right, and Centered
Pitchpull

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Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Your Inauguration Day Blago scandals reader

The eyes of the nation are on Illinois tonight--it's an historic night. We are six days away from the beginning of the impeachement trial of Governor Rod Blagojevich.

And yes, Barack Obama, another Chicago Democrat, was sworn in today as the nation's 44th president.

Here's our first Blago scandals reader of the Obama era:

Chicago Tribune: Obama sworn in, Blagojevich fingerprinted

Southern Illinoisan: For better or worse, Obama shines light on Illinois

AP: Blagojevich makes no answer to Illinois Senate

Daily Egyptian: Pat Quinn may not want to be Pat Quinn in 2010

Daily Illini: Blagojevich has ties to University

AP: Gov hopefuls build campaign funds

Decatur Herald & Review: Illinois faces tough sledding even if governor is removed

NBC 5 Chicago: Making Blago a laughing matter

More tomorrow.

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Midwestern Presidential Pathway: Ulysses S. Grant Home

I'm a bit late starting this series, but the constant Rod Blagojevich outrages have kept me busy. But today is as good of a day as any to start my Midwestern Presidential Pathway series.

First stop is the Ulysses S. Grant home in Galena, Illinois.

I've done several travel series, but this one I'm going to break a rule I've set up for myself. Keep politics out of them. But I can't write about the Grant home without bringing in our impeached governor.

Earlier this month Little Marathon Pundit and I hopped in my car, and drove northwest from Morton Grove to the the upper-left hand corner of Illinois.

Grant was the second president who called Illinois home. The third was of course was Barack Obama. First one? C'mon...we all know who that was.

The future Civil War general and president moved from Missouri to Galena in 1860 after his farm failed. He was a clerk at a leather goods store owned by his brother but run by his younger brothers. He was anything but a success. Grant hadn't lived in Illinois long enough to vote in the 1860 election, although in his brilliantly written memoirs,
the nation's second Republican president wrote that he favored Illinois Democrat Stephen A. Douglas that year. Lincoln was his second choice.

Grant and his family lived in a modest brick home when he joined the Illinois militia when the first call for volunteers went out. Although viewed as an outsider, the West Point graduate was chosen as the colonel of a central Illinois regiment.

After leading the Union forces victory, a group of Galena citizens purchased the Italianate mansion that had been built the same year the clerk-turned-hero arrived in the town.

Grant lived in the home until 1869, when he moved into the White House; he was just 46 years old, one year younger than Obama. Grant owned the home for the rest of his life, although he visited infrequently after his presidency ended.

We visited the home on a Saturday. It's a good thing we didn't decide to drop by on a Monday or Tuesday. That's because the Grant home is closed on those days. It's a fairly recent phenomenon. On the day Obama gave his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention, America's worst governor sneaked back to Chicago and slashed the hours at many state parks and historical sites, and closed some as well.

There isn't much opportunity for graft with history, so Blago isn't interested in it. Historians won't be kind to our crooked governor, they'll have the last laugh.

This spring the Grant home, along with several Lincoln-related sites will go back to a seven-day-a-week schedule thanks to funding from the Illinois Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. But that may only be a temporary fix. However, Blagojevich's successor, Lt. Governor Patrick Quinn, is a strong supporter of Illinois' state parks and historical sites.

The home isn't as large as it looks in the picture, a guided-tour takes about twenty minutes. On the upper right is the bed room of Frederick Dent Grant. Although just 11 years old when the Civil War started, Fred accompanied his father on most of his military campaigns. Which is pretty amazing, since one of the distinguishing characteristics of the War Between The States was the high casualty rate of generals. Those around them were certainly in some amount of peril. Fred not only survived the conflict, but went to West Point himself, became a general, and succeeded Theodore Roosevelt as New York City's police commissioner in 1897.

The home was decorated for the Christmas season, which was probably a holiday Grant's wife Julia enjoyed. She was fond of entertaining and her parties were well-received by Washingtonians during her husband's presidency.

Grant signed the legislation that made Christmas a federal holiday.

There is a stunning view from backyard of the home, which is situated on a bluff overlooking downtown Galena. But there is a blemish in that yard, which is the subject of my next post, entitled "Mrs. Butterworth."

Related posts:

Ulysses S. Grant invades Mississippi

Stephen A. Douglas Tomb in Chicago

Thirty hours in Lincoln's Springfield, Illinois

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St. Paul Woods at sunset

During my afternoon run, I was able to capture this image of an anonymous creek, a tributary of the North Branch of the Chicago River, located in Morton Grove's St. Paul Woods.

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My inaugural poem

Elizabeth Alexander gave what she calls a poem after Barack Obama's flat inauguration speech. Here is mine, which took about 10 minutes to write.

Today was inaguration day. The sun is out, and most people weren't in Washington or watching it on TV.

Man, is it cold where I live. Al Gore was at the inauguration--where is my global warming?

The mainstream media has succumbed to Obama mania. Especially in Illinois.

Blago is bad, which makes Illinois sad.

That's my rhyme, and if I wanted to, I would do it more of the time.

Why didn't Elizabeth Alexander's poem have any rhymes?

Did you see Dan Quayle today? He has gained a lot of weight.

Man, a lot of people probably feel stupid about waiting for hours in the cold for the inauguration.

What was ESPN showing during Obama's speech?

How many more times am I going to hear about William Henry Harrison giving a two hour inaugural address, catching a cold, and then dying a month later?

TV coverage, commericials, more coverage.

Carl Sandburg was a poet, and I went to Carl Sandburg High School. And the Carl Sandburg High School Marching Band is performing in the inaugural parade.

Brit Hume is wearing a tie that is the same color as Michele Obama's dress.

There was a farmer who had a dog and Bingo was his name-oh!

The end.

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Obama's "outtakes" inaugural speech

Man, for a man who is said to be such a great orator, President Barack Obama just delivered a real yawner of a speech. It was a plate of warmed-over leftovers from his two year long presidential campaign.

His address reminded me of an "outtakes" album released by a band's record label after the group's contractual obligations have been met.

If he gave speeches like this one in Iowa, Rod Blagojevich would not have had the opportunity to sell Obama's Senate seat.

From my vantage point of watching it on television, I'm surprised to hear so few cheers duing the speech.

The poem read afterwards was worse. "Wooden spoons?"

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President Barack Obama

After a couple of verbal stumbles by Barack Hussein Obama, Chief Justice John Roberts has sworn him in as the nation's 44th president.

He says he is "humbled by the task before us."

He says we've "chosen hope over fear."

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Inaugural irony: Obama voted against Chief Justice Robert's nomination

In a few minutes, Chief Justice John Roberts will swear in Barack Obama as the nation's 44th president. I'm watching Fox News' coverage, and one of the commentators, I believe it was Brit Hume, mentioned that today will mark the first time a Chief Justice will swear in a president whose nomination the new chief executive voted against.

After his vote, Obama said of Roberts' legal record that he "far more often used his formidable skills on behalf of the strong in opposition to the weak."

Judges are supposed to interpret the law, not pick sides. Let's hope President Obama will remember that when he nominates a Supreme Court justice.

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law

Blago lawyers: Money not the reason they won't represent guv at impeachment trial

I have to get in one more Rod Blagojevich post before Barack Obama is inagurated.

There has been speculation that Blago's legal team, led by Ed Genson Sam Adam, and Sam Adam Jr. backed out of representing Blago in his impeachment trial because they haven't been paid. All three men vehemently deny this.

However, the Chicago Sun-Times has this to say....

Had they attended the proceedings, there's a chance at least some of them wouldn't have been paid.

With the governor strapped for cash, his lawyers were looking to his campaign fund for their fees. But prosecutors wouldn't sign off on lawyers tapping into the Friends of Blagojevich war chest to cover legal expenses for the impeachment. They have agreed that some attorney fees can come out of the fund for the criminal case, though, sources said.

The Blagojevich campaign fund's latest report showed it had more than $3.6 million in it.

While there's no formal government order that bans defense lawyers from tapping the fund, prosecutors have filed a notice that they intended to freeze it. Since receiving that notice -- which came about a week after the governor's Dec. 9 arrest on corruption charges, including an allegation he tried to sell an appointment to succeed Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate -- Blagojevich's lawyers have been careful to take money from the fund only with government permission, fearing the money might be seized later, sources said.

Blag's trial begins on Monday.

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law

Another Biden (Jill) gaffe

After decades of marriage, it's said that couples begin to look like each other.

As for the nation's soon-to-be second couple, they've taken it a step further...both Joe and Jill Biden are masters of the gaffe:

Biden's wife said Monday that he had his pick of being Barack Obama's running mate or the secretary of state nomination that eventually went to Hillary Rodham Clinton, a slip that the vice president-elect immediately tried to shush.

Jill Biden's comment came during an appearance with her husband on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," taped at Washington's Kennedy Center on the eve of the inauguration.

"Joe had the choice to be secretary of state or vice president," she said. Her husband turned to his wife with his finger to his lips and a "Shhhh!" that sent the audience into laughter. "OK, he did," Jill Biden said in her defense.

The vice president-elect blushed, grimaced and gave his wife a hug while the audience continued to erupt in laughter. "That's right," he finally said to his wife. "Go ahead."

We'll have four more years of this.

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Bill Ayers denied entry into Canada

In October, onetime Weather Underground terrorist Bill Ayers was confronted by a Fox News Channel reporter, some say he was ambushed. Ayers decided he needed help, so he called the police, which was quite ironic since his group bombed at least one police station and several police cars.

Ayers has never renounced these acts of violence, nor has he apologized for them.

Two days ago Ayers attempted to enter Canada, but was denied by Canadian officials because of a 1969 anti-war protest arrest.

The Canadian university that was to have hosted Ayers released a statement that Ayers was not allowed to meet with his lawyer.

Interesting. It brings to mind something Victor Davis Hanson wrote last fall:

How strange that an advocate for communalism and an erstwhile attacker of police stations reverts to the notion of property rights and police to protect him from an intrusive reporter. Right out of Thucydides Book III and the strife on Corfu, when the historian warns that those who destroy the protocols of civilization may well one day wish to rely on them.

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Monday, January 19, 2009

Your inauguration-eve Blago scandals reader

Six years ago Rod R. Blagojevich was inaugurated as Illinois' governor. In his twisted little mind, Blago envisioned that he, not someone else from Illinois, would be taking the oath of office as America's 44th president.

Yes, Blagojevich is that messed up.

And here is tonight's Blago scandals reader:

Southern Illinoisan: Open seats to Blagojevich impeachment may be available to the public

State Journal-Register: Blagojevich cites N.C. case to deny clemency file requests

AP: Blagojevich trial just one step forward

Chicago Sun-Times: Another post for gov to fill

AP: GOP gets to use Blagojevich playbook against him

Chicago Sun-Times: The alphabet soup that has Gov. Blagojevich in hot water

More Blago news tomorrow.

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Durbin: Blago woes keep George Ryan in prison

Barring a last minute commutation by President Bush--which is unlikely because many people remember the stench left behind by Bill Clinton on his last day in office when he unloaded a bunch of questionable pardon and commutations--former Illinois Governor George H. Ryan will wake up in his prison cell on January 21.

The Kankakee Republican is in the second year of a six year prison sentence.

Shortly after winning re-election in November, Durbin bravely (sarcasm off) called for Bush to commute Ryan's sentence. Ryan was convicted on various corruption charges in 2007.

But on December 9, Ryan's successor, who declared in his first inaugural address that he would "govern as a reformer," was arrested.

The Bloomington Pantagraph has more:

At an event Monday at the Library of Congress, Durbin said he talked to a top Bush aide several weeks ago about commuting Ryan's prison sentence.

He was told, however, that freeing Ryan likely wouldn't happen in light of the corruption allegations facing Blagojevich.

Asked if Bush would issue a commutation in the waning hours of his administration, Durbin said, "I think it's highly unlikely."

Since a lot of people visit this blog who live outside of Illinois, I have to mention again that unlike most American political scandals, the Ryan case has a death toll.

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Good bye, President Bush

Today is the last full day of President George W. Bush's presidency.

There have been some highlights:

The aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.

The early days of the Iraq War.

No terrorist attacks on American soil since 9/11.

"The Surge."

Ensuring the recession he inherited was a mild one.

And there have been some low lights:

Hurricane Katrina. He can't blame all of the problems on Louisiana officials and then-FEMA director Michael Brown.)

The Iraq War from late 2003 until early 2007.

Too much government spending.

The current recession.

Presidential legacies take decades to develop, and right now, most historians, a left-of-center lot to be sure, place Bush in the bottom quartile in the rankings of American presidents. But Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower left the White House with equally bad assessments. Both men are now typically are viewed among our greatest leaders.

Right now I give President Bush a "thumbs up." Before you leave hostile comments, think of this: How bad would things be in Gaza if Saddam Hussein, or one of his crazy sons, was the dictator of Iraq. Remember the first Gulf War? Saddam fired missiles at Israel--and the Jewish State wasn't involved in the coalition to remove Iraqi forces from Kuwait.

Such attacks from Iraq are now unimaginable.

About the picture: Taken at Texahoma, Texas, July, 2007.

Related posts:

The Texas panhandle

The Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum

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Blago is "King Midas in Reverse"

I wish someone would find me
And help me gain control
Before I lose my reason
And my soul

He's King Midas with a curse
He's King Midas in reverse
The Hollies, "King Midas in Reverse."

In a post titled "Blagojevich Is Good At Making Others Look Bad," law professor William A. Jacobson takes a look at Rod Blagojevich's upcoming state Senate trial, and doesn't like what he sees. Not that Blago won't win, but Jacobson reminds his readers that the Chicago Democrat makes almost everyone near him end up in a bad light.

Or as I phrase it, he's "King Midas in Reverse."

Read the post here.

As far as "saving" Blago, I believe he is too far gone. Luckily for Illinoisans, he'll be far from the governor's mansion very soon.

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Not going to the inaugural? Try this event

The Chicago Tribune has good news for those of you who will not be traveling to tomorrow's Barack Obama inauguration. There are other events out there, and I want to focus one taking place in Chicago for people who aren't in lockstep with Obama.

Well, you're in luck, because Joe Birkett will be the featured guest at the Chicago Young Republicans' Inaugural After Party, which runs Tuesday from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Dugan's on Halsted (128 S. Halsted St.; 312-421-7191; $50, $20 for Young Republicans, free for Chicago Young Republicans paid members).

"This is meant not as an anti-Obama event. It's meant as a pro-Joe Birkett event," said Dan Curry, spokesman for the former prosecutor currently weighing a run for governor or attorney general. "It's just a gathering, a get-together, to watch some of the inauguration festivities and launch a loyal opposition to Democratic rule in Illinois."

RSVP to Barb @ (630) 690-7100 or barb@joebirkett.com

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Sunday, January 18, 2009

Your Sunday night Blago scandals reader

Chicago, America, and the world is indulging itself in Obama-mania. But let's not forget the impeached governor of Barack Obama's home state, the most corrupt state in the union.

Here is tonight's Blago scandals reader:

Chicago Sun-Times: A beginning for Obama, an ending for Blago

Daily Herald: DuPage CEO who blew whistle named to reform panel

Southtown Star: Blago gives state official big raise

AP: Many Ill. voters resigned to political corruption

Chicago Sun-Times: Emanuel says talks with Blagojevich appropriate

More tomorrow.

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Ulysses S. Grant invades Mississippi

General Ulysses S. Grant's first major battle of the Civil War was at Shiloh in Tennessee. Confederate forces led by Albert Sidney Johnston, who was killed on the first day of fighting, attacked Grant's army from their base in nearby Corinth, Mississippi.

A year later Grant's army won a series of battles in Mississippi, culminating in a decisive victory at Vicksburg. The lessons of Grant's Vicksburg campaign are still taught at military academies.

But the Chicago Tribune reports today that the South has risen again. In a legal battle over the largest collection of papers that belonged to the man who also served as our 18th president, Mississippi State University has come out on top.

Presidential libraries, historically speaking, are a fairly recent phenomenon. Franklin Roosevelt's library in Hyde Park, New York, was the first. The closest thing to a Grant library was at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, which is 50 miles north of Cairo, where General Grant assumed his first command.

The papers housed at SIU, however, belong to the Ulysses S. Grant Association, headed by renowned Abraham Lincoln scholar Frank Williams, the chief justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court.

John Simon was in charge of the papers stored at Southern, but was hit with a sexual harassment accusation. Amazingly, that's how the collection's march to the South began.

When Simon died in July, the association selected a new executive director: John Marszalek, professor emeritus of history at Mississippi State and a biographer of William T. Sherman, the Union general who was one of Grant's closest friends.

In August the association sued, accusing SIU of wrongfully detaining the Grant papers and claiming to be the lawful owner of the entire collection. Last month, after reaching an out-of-court settlement, SIU relinquished the papers. Both parties said the settlement prohibits them from discussing their break.

Rod Sievers, an SIU spokesman, confirmed that Simon was accused of sexual harassment but said he could not comment further except to say Simon was never fired.

Shortly before Christmas, movers packed all of the items into trucks and shipped them to Mississippi State's Mitchell Memorial Library.

The leader of the Sons of Confederate Veterans told the Trib, "Southern folks remember well his brutal and bloody tactics of war, and the South will never forget the siege of Vicksburg."

But it looks like the collection has found a good home. We are one country now, and we have been for a while.

Coming this week: My visit to the Ulysses S. Grant home.

Related entries:

Shiloh posts:

Shiloh Part One
Shiloh Part Two
Shiloh Part Three
Shiloh Part Four
Corinth

Vicksburg posts:

Vicksburg Battlefield, Part One
Vicksburg Battlefield, Part Two, State Memorials
Vicksburg Battlefield, Part Three, Illinois Memorial
Vicksburg Battlefield, Part Four, The USS Cairo
Vicksburg Battlefield Part Five

Cairo posts:

Confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers
Cairo, Illinois--Slum Town
Cairo's better side

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SIU

Dems had a non-Blago choice in 2006

When pressed, Illinois Democrats who are forced to explain their support of Rod Blagojevich's 2006 re-election effort shrug that they had no alternative.

Absolutely not true. Former Chicago Alderman Edwin Eisendrath opposed Blago in that year's Democratic primary.

Writing for the State Journal-Register a few days ago, here's what Eisendrath had to say about those Dems:

A very savvy pol recently said to me, "Ed, if we only knew then what we know now." I replied that we did know it then. He laughed and admitted it was so. That's a far more grown up response than the "I-knew-it-was-bad-but not-this-bad" dodge that's in vogue.

They all knew. The majority of the House impeachment report cited documents that were public before the election — the same documents I cited when arguing the governor should not be re-elected. Instead of standing with me at the time, the party leaders poured over my petitions to see if they could keep me off the ballot.

The governor had spent his first term raking in campaign cash at the astonishing rate of $2,667 per hour, giving him millions to spend on re-election. (I won't here revisit how he raised this cash, who is already jailed because of it, or what services the people of Illinois were cheated out of to secure these gifts.)

Nearly all of the state's Democratic politicians calculated, correctly but shortsightedly, that rallying around the governor would ensure their re-election. Voters count on their leaders to stand up when it matters. Voters also deserve choices. With the 2006 election looming, Democrats could look forward to neither.

There's another election next year. Many Blago-enablers will be on the ballot.

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legal

Chicago Alderman Moore named "Most Valuable Local Official" by Nation magazine

Laughs were made at Chicago's expense before impeached Governor Rod Blagojevich became a national punchline. Someone needs to inform the far-Left magazine The Nation, which named Chicago Alderman Joe Moore it's Most Valuable Local Official, that Chicago has more than one joke.

In a city that has been rocked by corruption scandals of the ugliest sort, Chicago Alderman Joe Moore stands out as an example of the sort of steadfast and effective grassroots progressive who has fought the powerbrokers again and again and frequently prevailed. Moore refuses to be constrained by the supposed limits of local government. He has gotten the Chicago city council to oppose the war, defend civil liberties and take on chain-stores that batter local businesses. As the Holiday season approached, Moore was highlighting a "Think Globally, Shop Locally" initiative designed to help local firms compete with the big guys. "In these challenging economic times, retailers, particularly local retailers, often feel the pinch first," declared Moore in a letter to constituents. "We want all of our local businesses to thrive--as the saying goes, a rising tide lifts all boats. Vacant storefronts, on the other hand, have quite a different effect on our community. As we continue striving to make our community more sustainable, we need to build a retail environment where most of our needs are met locally." Moore has been active with the great national group Cities for Progress.

Three years ago, Moore forced through Chicago's City Council a bill banning the sale of the goose liver delicacy foie gras. This was hardly a burning issue in the city, and it certainly wasn't one in his ward. Last year the ban, which Mayor Richard Daley called "the silliest law the City Council has ever passed," was repealed.

As for Moore's "taking on the big guys" of retail, his shopping jewel, the Gateway Shopping Center, has numerous empty storefronts. However, Chicago's 49th Ward has plenty of pawn shops.

The Nation adjudicators clearly haven't walked around Moore's Rogers Park neighborhood.

Moore placed himself on the front line of the ridiculous anti-Wal-Mart battle, authoring a bill that effectively would have banned world's largest corporation from operating in Chicago. When that bill ended up on the mayor's desk, Daley broke precedent by doing something he hadn't done before--he used his veto power. The Council was unable to override the veto,

"Most Valuable Local Official?" How about "Most Ineffective Local Official."

A big tip-of-the-hat to Tom Mannis of the recently renamed Chicago News Bench for this story.

Related posts:

A moronic statement by Ald. Joe Moore

Ald. Moore: Putting the unions' money where his mouth is

Ald. Joe Moore, retail genius

Moore news on Chicago's 49th Ward

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Arrested in internet sex sting, Wisconsin mayor won't be attending Obama inaugural

Gary Becker is the mayor of Racine, Wisconsin, a small city located between Chicago and Milwaukee best known for it being the headquarters of the S.C. Johnson Corporation.

Becker was planning to attend a mayor's conference in Washington this weekend as well as Barack Obama's inauguration on Tuesday.

But that won't be happening. Becker, a Democrat, was arrested in nearby Brookfield for an alleged attempted sexual assault of a minor and possession of child pornography. Becker attempted to meet who he thought was a 14 year-old girl, but the person at the other end of computer hook-up was a police officer.

Becker, that's his mug shot on top, is out on bail. A Racine official cancelled Becker's Washington trip.

The capital city is surely grateful Becker won't be there.

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Eastern Kentucky: A PUMA-free zone

After it became apparent that Barack Obama would become the Democratic nominee for president, some ardent Hillary Clinton supporters formed a group called PUMA, short for Party Unity My Ass. In the general election, it was thought, PUMAs and unaffiliated Dems, the "bitter" white, working class voters, would for for John McCain.

It didn't happen that way.

The Lexington Herald-Leader zooms in on one Eastern Kentucky county. Yes, McCain easily won the state, but what they uncovered is startling.

Menifee County is one of eight counties out of 120 — along with Wolfe, Elliott and Rowan counties in Eastern Kentucky — that bucked Kentucky's overwhelming vote for John McCain in the '08 presidential election. Other Kentucky counties that went for Obama: Fayette, Jefferson, Henderson and Hancock.

Menifee County voted overwhelmingly for Hillary Clinton in June's Democratic primary: She scored 88.5 percent versus only 8.3 percent for Barack Obama. (Emphasis mine.) But then the county — which voted for Bill Clinton in 1996, George W. Bush in 2000 and narrowly for John Kerry in 2004 — went for Obama in the general election.

In the 2008 presidential election: Barack Obama, 1,276; McCain, 1,155

In the 2008 Democratic primary: Hillary Clinton, 1,527; Barack Obama, 143

In the 2004 presidential election: John Kerry, 1,284; George Bush, 1,215

In the 2000 presidential election: George Bush, 1,170; Al Gore, 1,038

It wasn't supposed to be that way for the GOP in November.

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