If only he had read to children.

If only he had read to children.

If only that comment was amusing after the 5,000th time you used it.

Be real, this guy is what Ragsdale wants to be when he grows up.

Check it out.

(link...)

DECEMBER 9--The criminal complaint filed today against Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich contains a remarkable section detailing the Democratic politician's alleged attempt to cash in on his ability to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.

Attached to the U.S. District Court complaint is an FBI affidavit, excerpted below, alleging that Blagojevich was caught on wiretaps noting that the Senate seat "is a fucking valuable thing, you just don't give it away for nothing." He was also recorded saying that unless "I get something real good," he would appoint himself to the vacancy. "I'm going to keep this Senate option for me a real possibility, you know, and therefore I can drive a hard bargain. You hear what I'm saying. And if I don't get what I want and I'm not satisfied with it, then I'll just take the Senate seat myself."

According to surreptitiously recorded conversations, Blagojevich spoke with associates about the possibility of trading the Senate post for either an ambassadorship or a Cabinet post. The politician, according to the affidavit sworn by FBI Agent Daniel Cain, "analogized his situation to that of a sports agent shopping a potential free agent to various teams." During a wiretapped November 10 call, a frustrated and financially strapped Blagojevich referred to Obama as a "motherfucker" and said that he would not appoint an ally of the President-elect to the Senate vacancy if "I don't get anything." Referring to Obama, Blagojevich exclaimed, "Fuck him. For nothing? Fuck him."

In a November 11 conversation, Blagojevich remarked that he knew Obama wanted Valerie Jarrett, a longtime confidante, to succeed him, "but they're not willing to give me anything except appreciation. Fuck them."

I was in my car late this afternoon, and tuned in to Phil Williams' talkshow. Catherine Howell was filling in for Williams, but she picked up the Hallerin/Phil torch of stupidity and ran with it. She admitted she knew "nothing" about the situation, but kept insinuating that Obama was somehow involved -- used the word "fishy" while I was listening.

When one guy challenged her and said that her blather made him wonder if he can trust her as a "news" person, she got real defensive and said that all she was doing to day was a talkshow -- not news, and she repeated her disclaimer that she didn't know what she was talking about -- as if that excused her.

Pretty disappointing. Evidently part of the WNOX job description is checking one's brain at the door. And pandering. Lots of pandering.

Louisiana has a tendency towards more flamboyancy in their corruption, at least.

Quoting the late great Studs Terkel: "Chicago isn't the most corrupt American city. It's the most theatrically corrupt."

____________________________

Dirty deeds done dirt cheap! Special holidays, Sundays and rates!

Louisiana has a tendency towards more flamboyancy in their corruption, at least.

That's the damn truth.

In 1991, Edwin Edwards ran against the infamous David Duke for governor of Louisiana. Edwards (now in prison) had a long, storied history of both corruption and womanizing. During the campaign, a reporter asked Edwards about a comment from Duke (the white supremacist) criticizing his dubious moral character and the stories of his notorious philandering.

Delivering one of my favorite political quotes of all time, Edwards replied, "David Duke and I have one thing in common: we're both wizards under the sheets."

He won the election.

~Russ

I don't care if it's Democrat or Republican in the U.S. or Labour or Conservative in the UK, or any other single party in any other nation, if one party holds the reins of power for too long, things always descend into this kind of BS. Machines require lubrication, and with political machines, the grease is graft.