over in his grave. Do I have to say it ag is the most politically c in the union. Now we h poster boys to prove it. Republican Gov. Geo already in federal priso Democrats like U.S. Sen
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This complaint against Gov. Rod Blagojevich is astonishing, even in a state known for its sleazy culture of pay-toplay politics, a state whose last governor is serving time for official corruption. MICHAEL TERCHA/TRIBUNE FILE
Governor, resign
It has been clear for more than a year that Gov. Rod Blagojevich is not capable of governing. As we said in October 2007, he is “an intentionally divisive governor and a profoundly unhelpful influence.” He has tried to circumvent the authority of the legislature and spend money this state doesn’t have. He has been plagued by growing investigations of cronyism and corruption. And now U.S. Atty Patrick . Fitzgerald has laid out a devastating set of criminal charges against Blagojevich and his chief of staff. This complaint is astonishing, even in a state known for its sleazy culture of pay-to-play politics, a state whose last governor is serving time for official corruption. Prosecutors allege that Blagojevich tried to sell an appointment to the U.S. Senate. He tried to barter the powers of his office. He tried to make a deal to get the corporate owner of this newspaper to remove members of the editorial board because this board has been critical of him. Even as the probe was closing in on him, the
His conduct has been terribly destructive to Illinois
pace of the governor’s money-making schemes sped up. Prosecutors said the governor was working “feverishly.” Most appalling: When Barack Obama was elected president, Blagojevich saw opportunity in the vacancy created in the U.S. Senate. “I’ve got this thing and it’s [expletive] golden, and uh, uh, I’m just not giving it up for [expletive] nothing,” he allegedly said on tape. The governor must resign immediately. If he doesn’t, the Illinois House should begin proceedings to impeach him. Blagojevich will get to defend himself in court against the criminal charges. That doesn’t mean Illinois should have to put up with him in office for one more day. His conduct has been terribly destructive to Illinois. The state faces a financial crisis, a $2 billion budget shortfall. The economic situation is bad and getting worse. The state needs a governor who can lead through this crisis. Blagojevich cannot. Governor, resign.
“The breadth of corru out in these charges is s They allege that [Illino Blagojevich put a ‘for s the naming of a United tor; involved himself pe pay-to-play schemes wit gency of a salesman me annual sales target; an used his office in an effo editorial voices of critic Atty. Patrick J. Fitzger release this morning. Fitzgerald has prose political corruption in Chicago, so it’s awfully knock him off stride. In no record in local news Fitzgerald ever before corruption charges as ing.” Yet the charges in th complaint are, in fact, They are stunning. Eye Gob-smacking. Jaw-dro palling. Unprecedented alleged brazenness. These charges say th his predecessor sat in p a corruption convictio his associates and fund were going down, even widely reported that he center of a federal corr
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Mary Schmich
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