Rod Blagojevich
The political soap opera involving impeached Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich caused a ripple effect in the U.S. Senate.
Blagojevich was governor when it was time to replace President Barack Obama in the Senate. Despite advice, warnings and political threats to not make an appointment to Obama’s vacated Senate seat, Blagojevich did.
I e-mailed a friend and told her that in Illinois, state statute should prevent someone running for governor unless he or she already faces an indictment.
She replied that the state came up with a new slogan: “Illinois, where our governors make our license plates.”
And so it goes in the “Land of Lincoln,” as in “Honest Abe,” where the odds of finding an honest governor equate to hitting the Lotto.
By Tom Hubbard
News marches on, but one facet of the Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich affair deserves more attention: The Chicago Tribune risked losing a $100 million tax break by not firing one employee. Blagojevich threatened to withhold the tax break if they did not fire the guy.
(Some reports say it was several employees.) I call that integrity.
The Tribune values its editorial freedom so much it would risk $100 million to maintain it. The Tribune took the ethical stand while facing corporate bankruptcy.
