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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsJailbird Turned Stoolpigeon Blagojevich Writes Op-Ed In Defense of Trump
And, SURPRISE, its on the top of the front page of the Fox News website. Too bad for Blago that Trump doesnt READ. Not even websites. He only watches TV. So, presumably, Fux & Fiends will have him on for a telephone interview soon. (I can already see Doucey and Kilmead shooting each other worried glances as a robotic voice cuts in on the sound feed, saying An inmate named Rod Blagojevich is calling from the Englewood Federal Corrections facility. Will you accept the charges?)In a thinly veiled attempt to tickle Trumps ego, and earn a pardon, Blagojevich penned a cringeworthy Op/Ed for conservative website Newsmax claiming Trump is the equivalent of Lincoln, and withholding military aid in exchange for dirt on a political opponent is the equivalent of Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation.
Recently I've wondered what would have happened had Nancy Pelosi been the Speaker of the House when Abraham Lincoln was president. Would Speaker Pelosi's House Democrats use the same flimsy impeachment standard they are currently using to impeach Honest Abe, one of the greatest presidents in the history of our country?
First, today's Democrats would have impeached Lincoln for obstruction of Congress and abuse of power when he unilaterally issued his Emancipation Proclamation.
In fact, at the time Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, the Democrats of that day opposed it.
It might work. I can see Trump giving him a pardon. After all, jailbirds of a feather flock together. But it does draw a stark contrast between modern Democrats and modern Republicans. Democrats want the CROOKS in their Party IN JAIL, while Republicans want the crooks in THEIR party in the White House.
Dennis Donovan
(18,770 posts)Pelts of a feather...
aeromanKC
(3,328 posts)For all of Blago's misgivings, he did get fucked with his sentence. I wish him luck getting out.
TrollBuster9090
(5,955 posts)...that they don't apply the same standers against corruption to the whole country.
Don Siegelman, on the other hand, ...HE got royally fucked. That's the worst example of political prosecution I've ever seen. But I have a feeling Bill Barr might break that record.
aeromanKC
(3,328 posts)That was the jump the shark example. Boggles the mind that that actually happened. And again, it always seems like its the Dems that get fucked. GOP get mulligans.
questionseverything
(9,663 posts)he didn't get caught using state or campaign funds for personal reasons...that was jesse Jackson jr
he suggested corporations that paid no income tax pay a 1/2 percent if they operated in Illinois...I thought it was a great idea
Archive Hunter
(17 posts)It makes sense.
dem4decades
(11,307 posts)RockRaven
(15,035 posts)They both held off executing a clearly designated and non-optional job/function of their office for the purpose of coercing someone to compensate them personally for performing the official act.
Blago is EXACTLY the test case which blows up bullshit media both-siderism/partisan narratives because Democrats can point to all the fucking elected Democrats who didn't tolerate or excuse Rod, while there is nary a GrOPer in office to be found who will say the same of Trump.
TrollBuster9090
(5,955 posts)Democrats weren't willing to compromise their demand for honesty and integrity in public office in exchange for judges, or tax cuts for the middle class, or better healthcare...even though Weiner was willing to deliver on all those things. Ironically, Republicans are willing to compromise integrity in exchange for a bunch of stuff that doesn't even benefit them! Not only morally bankrupt, but as stupid as a bag of rocks.
Skittles
(153,226 posts)OMG TrollBuster who the f*** is that barfing puppet???
TrollBuster9090
(5,955 posts)If you haven't seen it, you should take a look for it, even on Youtube. It's hilarious. (Made by the same guys who make South Park.)
Skittles
(153,226 posts)it did make me laugh!
mopinko
(70,268 posts)but, i think it means that in illinois, when they are crooks, we put them in prison. i wonder what other states have a similar record.
blaggo's prosecution was a little politically motivated, imho, tho. everyone in springfield was tearing their hair out because he just wasnt doing his job. at.all.
he wasnt even in springfield. he was in chicago most of the time.
that was really the root of it all.
most of those who get prosecuted pissed someone off, and sometimes it is some petty shit.
if they dont get the job done, tho, buhbye.
murielm99
(30,777 posts)I would say a lot.
He pissed off Madigan. Thou shalt not piss off Madigan. The two simply could not get along. Someone tried to get Durbin to mediate, and he would not go near the situation.
I seem to recall Thompson spending a lot of time in Chicago. And he went antique shopping a lot, too. He was criticized for using state cops as bodyguards in an improper way.
I think Blago might have been okay if he had found a way to work with Madigan.
You are right, though, that we put our crooks in prison. Repubbie governors go to jail in Illinois, too. I wonder about Rauner. I fully expected him to go to jail. Maybe Madigan is getting too old to be as vindictive as he was in the past. And JB is too busy getting things done to worry about Rauner.
I love Illinois politics. They are so wonderfully Byzantine.
mopinko
(70,268 posts)jim kept a house here, but he spent plenty of time in the mansion. and he spent his time here in the building downtown, not at home.
he was nuts is what i was told, and could not be reasoned w.
that aint politics. that making it work. as we all know, you can skim all you want as long as things get done. they just werent.
Beringia
(4,316 posts)I think it was a Chinese restaurant.
Cartoonist
(7,323 posts)Yeah, that was the Confederate States. They're all repubs now.
TrollBuster9090
(5,955 posts)Recursion
(56,582 posts)It's why I'm never quite on board with those paeans to the old days of the party.
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(108,304 posts)mnmoderatedem
(3,732 posts)that the way things work in the trump orbit is that individuals get convicted AFTER they get appointed by him, not before.
Clearly he's angling for a position.