Some Unsophisticated Thoughts on Rod Blagojevich

From the annals of Facebook, of course...

Matthew Rozsa

According to the tapes played at the Rod Blagojevich trial, when Blago tried to extract a bribe from the Obama administration in return for letting them decide who he would appoint to the Senate, they replied that if he chose who they wanted, he would only receive their "appreciation". Blago's response:

"Give this motherfucker his senator... for nothing? Fuck him!"

No, good for him... and fuck YOU, Blago!

Kirk Harlan
The fact that he's gaining success in television now enrages me. The American people should utterly ostracize him in every way. Chain a boulder to his neck and send him into exile.

Matthew Rozsa
Another comment that ex-Governor Blagojevich made in private (and was recorded on tapes from his wiretapped phone calls) refers to his frustration at not making more money because of his gubernatorial duties:

"I'm stuck. The whole world is passing me by and I'm stuck in the job of governor."

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Stuck in the job of governor? STUCK in the job of governor?!?! Quite seriously, it is one of my career dreams to become governor (either of Pennsylvania or New Jersey, depending on where I wind up residing). I would JUMP at the chance to achieve meaningful and lasting progressive change in one of the two states I call home. And this SOB considers himself to be STUCK in that job?

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Once again... FUCK YOU BLAGOJEVICH!

Matthew Rozsa
Rod Blagojevich reminds me of another ex-governor who was frustrated with the lack of money-making opportunities in the job.

I refer, of course, to Sarah Palin. From "The Huffington Post":

"The former fiance of Gov. Sarah Palin's 18-year-old daughter says he thinks he knows why the Alaska governor is resigning - concerns over money.

Levi Johnston, 19, whose wedding to Bristol Palin was called off earlier this year, says he believes the governor is resigning over personal finances.

Johnston says he lived with the Palin family from early December to the second week in January. He claims he heard the governor several times say how nice it would be to take advantage of the lucrative deals that were being offered, including a reality show and a book."

While I wouldn't say that Sarah Palin is more honest than Rod Blagojevich (see Mike Wooten, Bridge to Nowhere, or Palin and cronyism), she is - I can't believe I'm writing (this) - smarter than him. At least she had the common sense to figure out that if you want to make more money and being governor is hindering that goal, one easy solution is to just RESIGN.

Granted, this decision may interfere with her presidential aspirations in 2012 (assuming she has any), which would detract somewhat from the wisdom of the move, but even then she would still be a couple of notches higher than Blago.

Kirk Harlan
I am now day dreaming of them both in the Thunderdome. Regardless of who wins, nothing of value will be lost.

Matthew Rozsa
Now that last comment was beyond the pale, Kirk. Even creators of savage steel-cage jousting arenas have standards. They deserve more credit than that!

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My anger at Rod Blagojevich aside, though, I am genuinely proud to say that I vote for a man who turned down a bribe. It may not seem like much (indeed, one could argue that this sort of thing should be taken for granted), but the reality is that it says a lot about Obama's character that he never even considered a deal with Blago.

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The wretch, concentrated all in self,
Living, shall forfeit fair renown,
And, doubly dying, shall go down
To the vile dust, from whence he sprung,
Unwept, unhonoured, and unsung.
- Sir Walter Scott