Judge says Blagojevich can’t travel to Costa Rica for reality TV show

You have to give Rod Blagojevich some credit.  Despite defining corrupt Chicago politics, Blagojevich deals with the sticks and stones with such nonchalance that it is difficult to despise him.

How can you not love the man?

Last week, Blago tried to petition the District court system to allow him to travel to Costa Rica for a reality TV show.  Filmed deep in the foliage of a rain forest, the show is called, “I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!”  A bit ironic that Blago would petition the court to participate in such a show.

In any case, Costa Rica is about the most goddamn beautiful place I’ve ever been.  Even in the thick of the rain forests, there are paths everywhere.  Stay on the path and you’ll be perfectly safe from threats.

Anyway, U.S. District Judge James Zagel denied Blagojevich’s request to be on the show, saying:

I don’t think this defendant fully understands and I don’t think he could understand … the position he finds himself in.

Ouch.  You mean the law applies to politicians as well?  Surely you jest!

RWP Rating: Strange

Full Story: Mlive

Illinois Governor flip-flops on White Sox / Cubs support

Governor Pat Quinn may be in trouble with his south side supporters.  On a WGN radio program, the Governor uttered more damning words than any expletive he could have used.  They were simple: “Go Cubs Go.”

Right hook landed.

Heads exploded on the south side in anger.  Grown men with hairy chests and hardhats were reduced to tears.  Quinn, a native of the south side, is supposed to have complete loyalty to the White Sox, not the Cubs.

Chicago politics are so crazy that this may actually affect his favoribility numbers.  Good luck, Governor.

RWP Rating: Strange

Full Story: Clout Street

Real News of the Day: Blagojevic indicted on Corruption charges, justice rears its ugly mug

A federal grand jury indicted former Governor of Illinois Rod Blagojevich, his brother, and their top aides on 19 Corruption counts for operating a “wide-ranging scheme to deprive the people of Illinois of honest government.”

PWN'D

Blagojevich drew controversy earlier this year for allegedly attempting to sell Barack Obama’s Senate seat after the Junior Senator ascended to the Presidency.  Blago’s brother Robert, his fundraiser Christopher Kelly, former chief of staff Alonzo Monk, other former chief of staff John Harris, and Springfield political strategist William Cellini were named as co-defendants.

The US Attorney’s Office issued the following statement:

Since 2002, even before he was first elected governor that November, and continuing until he was arrested on Dec. 9, 2008, former Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich and a circle of his closest aides and advisors allegedly engaged in a wide-ranging scheme to deprive the people of Illinois of honest government, according to a 19-count indictment returned today by a federal grand jury. Blagojevich, 52, of Chicago, was charged with 16 felony counts, including racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud, extortion conspiracy, attempted extortion and making false statements to federal agents. He allegedly used his office in numerous matters involving state appointments, business, legislation and pension fund investments to seek or obtain such financial benefits as money, campaign contributions, and employment for himself and others, in exchange for official actions, including trying to leverage his authority to appoint a United States Senator, announced Patrick J. Fitzgerald, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.

Also charged as co-defendants in the same indictment are:

John Harris, 47, of Chicago, Blagojevich’s chief of staff from late 2005 until last December after he was arrested along with Blagojevich. Through his attorney, Harris, who is charged with a single count of wire fraud, has authorized the Government to disclose that he has agreed to cooperate with the United States Attorney’s Office in the prosecution of this case;

Alonzo Monk, 50, of Park Ridge, a lobbyist doing business as AM3 Consulting, Ltd., and a long-time Blagojevich associate who served as his general counsel when Blagojevich represented Illinois’ Fifth Congressional District, and later managed his 2002 and 2006 gubernatorial campaigns, was his first gubernatorial chief of staff from 2003 through 2005, and later chairman of his campaign fund;

Robert Blagojevich, 53, of Nashville, Tenn., Blagojevich’s brother, who became chairman of his campaign fund in August 2008;

Christopher Kelly, 50, of Burr Ridge, a businessman and a principal campaign fundraiser who also served as chairman of Blagojevich’s campaign fund from early 2004 until August 2005. The indictment alleges that with Blagojevich’s knowledge and permission, Kelly at times exercised substantial influence over certain activities of the governor’s office; and

William F. Cellini, Sr., 74, of Springfield, a businessman who also raised significant funds for Blagojevich, in part through his role as the executive director of the Illinois Asphalt Pavement Association. Cellini had longstanding relationships and influence with trustees and staff members of the Teachers Retirement System of Illinois (TRS), and he was associated with Commonwealth Realty Advisors, a real estate asset management firm that invested hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of TRS, the indictment alleges.

All six defendants will be arraigned on dates yet to be determined before U.S. District Judge James B. Zagel in Federal Court in Chicago. Blagojevich was charged with 11 counts of wire fraud, two counts of attempted extortion, and one count each of racketeering conspiracy, extortion conspiracy, and making false statements. The specific counts and maximum penalties each defendant is facing are listed separately.

The stiff arm of the law only rears its vicious mug every once in a while in American politics.  Today is a good day.

RWP Rating: Real Fucking Weird

Full Story: Huffington Post