Rod Blagojevich the Democratic Bob Taft?

[HardRCafé]

Emil Jones sure as Hell ain't.

Except in his safe district.  Eat that, rest of Illinois!

[WalterMitty]

i dont have any sympathy for illinois.

they just reelected that s.o.b last year.

they should stop bellyaching and live with their bad choice.

[AndrewTX]

i dont have any sympathy for illinois.

they just reelected that s.o.b last year.

they should stop bellyaching and live with their bad choice.

I couldn't agree with you more!

 Man up Illinois! Look at New Jersey, they elect and re-elect horrible politicians every year, but you don't see them making a fuss about it.

[ill ind]

    It is indeed that bad here in Ill.  The State's government has gone from moderately corrupt but reasonably functional to totally disfunctional and absolute gridlock.  This with 1 party controlling every statewide office and having large majorities in both houses of the state legislature.
  Yes it is indeed the fault of the Illinois voters for buying into Rod Blagojevich's TV adds and reelecting him governor.  Personally, I voted for the Green Party candidate.  I voted in the Dem primary earlier that year specifically to vote against Blago.
  Also Michael Madigan as leader of the state house has nothing to complain about.  He personally was honorary co-chair of the governor's reelection campaign.  A move by him and Senate President Emil Jones to scare off any serious contendors for the Democratic nomination.  You stood behind Rod B and put your names down as his campaign co-chairs--now live with it!!
  Sad thing -- Emil Jones despite walking lock step with the governor on everything, renegging on his promise to pass a budget, and causing much gridlock is unopposed for reelection in his 90%+ Democratic district.  Michael Madigan doesn't face any serious opposition in his reelection bid either, so neither of the two other leaders in this mess face any type of punishment for their actions--and the vast majority of the state's residents are still in the same position--stuck.

Ill Ind

[StateBoiler]

I think that we should also blame the Illinois Republican Party for being just as corrupt and incompetent as the Democrats. It's the Republicans' fault that they cannot take advantage of the poor leadership of the Democrats.

-George Ryan's corruption, which led to Blagojevich being elected over Jim Ryan in 2002 by a margin of 52-45.
-Ran Jim Ryan (no relation to George) against Barack Obama for Senate in 2004, only for him to fall out because it became public his desire for kinky sex.
-After Jim Ryan fell out, the Illinois Republicans got the bright idea to parachute in Alan Keyes from Maryland; he lost 70-27.
-In 2006, they have a corrupt incompetent Democratic incumbent governor, and they decide to run a corrupt incompetent Republican against him. She loses 50-39. The only third-party candidate in the race, a Green from southern Illinois, gets 10% in a huge protest vote, ensuring major party status for a third party for the first time in a long time in Illinois.

Personally, I think moderate Democrat and moderate Republican voters should band together to form their own political movement as their way to stick up their middle finger to the corrupt party leaderships. It's the only way Illinois will ever be ran competently.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Blagojevich has to balance the needs of the Southern Dems who helped him get elected by pledging to not raise taxes and balance the needs of Chicago by providing enough funding for schools and mass transit, and so far it hasn't worked out.

[HardRCafé]

-George Ryan's corruption, which led to Blagojevich being elected over Jim Ryan in 2002 by a margin of 52-45.
-Ran Jim Ryan (no relation to George) against Barack Obama for Senate in 2004, only for him to fall out because it became public his desire for kinky sex.
-After Jim Ryan fell out, the Illinois Republicans got the bright idea to parachute in Alan Keyes from Maryland; he lost 70-27.

Jim (2002) and Jack (2004) are extremely different people, also no relation.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

-George Ryan's corruption, which led to Blagojevich being elected over Jim Ryan in 2002 by a margin of 52-45.
-Ran Jim Ryan (no relation to George) against Barack Obama for Senate in 2004, only for him to fall out because it became public his desire for kinky sex.
-After Jim Ryan fell out, the Illinois Republicans got the bright idea to parachute in Alan Keyes from Maryland; he lost 70-27.

Jim (2002) and Jack (2004) are extremely different people, also no relation.

One's in jail, and the other is a little turned on by that

HAW HAW

[muon2]

-George Ryan's corruption, which led to Blagojevich being elected over Jim Ryan in 2002 by a margin of 52-45.
-Ran Jim Ryan (no relation to George) against Barack Obama for Senate in 2004, only for him to fall out because it became public his desire for kinky sex.
-After Jim Ryan fell out, the Illinois Republicans got the bright idea to parachute in Alan Keyes from Maryland; he lost 70-27.

Jim (2002) and Jack (2004) are extremely different people, also no relation.

One's in jail, and the other is a little turned on by that

HAW HAW

Neither Jim nor Jack is in jail. George is in jail. You have to have a scorecard to track the IL GOP Ryans (none related).

[HardRCafé]

They should recruit Ryan George of Chicago for 2010.

[muon2]

The low esteem for the Gov spawned entries on a parody song contest by Tribune columnist Eric Zorn. Here's their winner:

“Get packin’, Rod Blagojevich,"  by John McHugh
(to the tune of "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen")   

    Get packin’, Rod Blagojevich
    The state’s in disarray
    The Tribune wants you unemployed
    At least by Christmas Day.
    The TV pundits want your head
    Could there be pay to play?
    Oh, tidings of comfort and joy
    Save Illinois!
    Oh, tidings of comfort and joy.

    Good riddance Rod Blagojevich
    Your Elvis look’s inane,
    The Senate’s mad, so’s Lisa’s dad.
    You drive us all insane.
    Our transit’s broke, the state's a joke,
    The Tollway’s one big pain.
    Oh, tidings of comfort and joy
    Save Illinois!
    Oh, tidings of comfort and joy.

    Good luck old Rod Blagojevich
    The feds have quite a place.
    Fitzgerald’s poked his nose around
    And if he has a case,
    George Ryan’s moving stuff around
    Creating extra space.
    Oh, tidings of comfort and joy
    Save Illinois!
    Oh, tidings of comfort and joy.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

And Judy Barr Topinka had everything going for her, and she still couldn't beat an inept governor.  All the offices in IL are held by Dems and still will be held by Dems in 2010. The George Ryan fiasco will be here for a long time.  The Dems will nominate someone in the political family for Gov and still probably will win.