Friday, December 7, 2007

The Sharks are Circling, and They Smell Blood in Springfield

The Feds are investigating some of Patti Blagojevich's real estate deals in a three-year probe of Blago's corruption.

Patricia Blagojevich's real estate deals with power brokers close to her husband first came under scrutiny in 2005 when the Tribune disclosed her eight-year business relationship with Antoin "Tony" Rezko, a Chicago developer who became one of the governor's top fundraisers and a member of his kitchen cabinet.

Tony Rezko was indicted last year on federal charges of soliciting kickbacks from firms involved in state contracts. He is involved in a shady real estate deal with presidential candidate Barak Obama.

Blago Gets Sued

Rod Blagojevich is at it again, trying to appropriate money for his own pet projects without the approval of the General Assembly. However, Ron Gidwitz of the Illinois Job Coalition is taking him to task for it. According to Andy Shaw of ABC7, Gidwitz is suing Blago to stop him from moving money appropriated for other projects to health care.

The governor is expanding access to free breast and cervical cancer screenings for women to three additional health clinics, including one in Oak Park, even though a lawsuit supported by a lot of Illinois lawmakers is challenging Blagojevich's decision to spend money on new health programs without the approval of the state legislature.

Oak Park!?! Posh Oak Park needs a free clinic!?!

What's Blago thinking!?

"It's mind boggling that the heir of a shampoo fortune would go out of his way to take health care away through the courts. And, yeah, it is Scrooge-like in many ways," said Blagojevich.

No, Governor Nero, it is not "Scrooge-like" of Mr. Gidwitz. It is more "Hugo-like" or "Fidel-like" or, dare I say "Mugabe-like" of you to move money without the permission of the General Assembly to your own pet projects.

Monday, December 3, 2007

Where's Roddo?

Someone should make a children's book when all is said and done. You know, the point being to find the guy in the striped shirt or something like that. At least I have a name for it: "Where's Roddo?". I'm willing to bet it could become a best seller, maybe even a cult following.

Here's Tom Cross's staff (R-Oswego) on the debacle with Blago at the Hawks game:

"What we really need is a political Zamboni," said David Dring, spokesman for House Republican leader Tom Cross of Oswego, "to clean up this mess that's been the 2007 legislative session."

How apt an image.