Is Blagojevich looking at jail time?

[Mamama Mia]

Jim Edgar is completely and squeaky clean. George Ryan got himself into trouble on his own, when he was governor.

Blago, just another dirty Chicago politician. They are a dime a dozen.

[Lookout Kid]

Blago has been isolated from the Dems and will fall on his own if he doesn't start cooperating with authorities. People are running away from him like he's radioactive, so I wouldn't expect to see him in Washington unless he appoints himself Senator.

Jim Edgar seems to be clean. I thought "Big Jim" Thompson was clean too, until he decided to represent George Ryan as an attorney. That kind of left a scar on his legacy, as far as I'm concerned.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

... I thought "Big Jim" Thompson was clean too, until he decided to represent George Ryan as an attorney. That kind of left a scar on his legacy, as far as I'm concerned.

Well you know Thompson was Ryan's boss and mentor as well as leading the way for Ryan to become Gov.

What did Thompson have to lose by defending Ryan? Nothing. He has been long retired from public office.

I am not excusing his actions:I am just analyzing the reasons why he did so. I was plenty pissed when he did that as well.

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

Well you know Thompson was Ryan's boss and ...

In Illinois the Lt. Governor is not really subject to the Governor, those that ARE would be the Deputy Governor(s). http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=6&url=http%3A%2F%2Fw ww.cyberdriveillinois.com%2Fpublications%2Fillinoi s_bluebook%2F2005_2006%2Fexecutive_branch%2Fgovern or.pdf&ei=Vg4ZSbzoK4yI1gbGvdySDw&usg=AFQjCNFZJ1Oag 6ifdf1tI90b6RBLMIlaWg&sig2=Be20P3RSOhfghc11Pj2f9w
The Illinois Constitution proscribes the duties of the Lt Gov: Lieutenant Governor of Illinois - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Definition of Boss from dictionary.net

Mentor? Not at all.
mentor: Definition, Synonyms from Answers.com

One is a downstater that climbed the Ladder of Legislative Largess Ladden with Lard George Ryan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

While other was a straight shooting federal prosecutor that tossed a former governor and corrupt scum from both parties in the klink: James R. Thompson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by chet everett

...While other was a straight shooting federal prosecutor that tossed a former governor and corrupt scum from both parties in the klink: James R. Thompson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Forget the semantics and back stepping. Can you explain Thompson defending Ryan against Federal criminal charges any other way then I did? I did not think so.

Perhaps Big Jim agreed to defend Ryan so Ryan would not implicate Big Jim and also keep the trail of corruption silent? Did you ever think of that? Quid Pro Quo.

"In Illinois, the lieutenant governor and governor run on a joint ticket, and are directly elected by popular vote."

"Ryan's defense has been provided pro bono by Winston & Strawn, a law firm managed by former governor Thompson. The defense cost the firm $10 million through mid-November 2005[28] Estimates of the cost to the firm as of September, 2006, ranged as high as $20 million. Ryan served as Thompson's lieutenant governor from 1983 to 1991. After the United States Supreme Court declined to hear Ryan's appeal, Thompson indicated that he would ask President George W. Bush to commute Ryan's sentence to time served.[29]"

Thompson tried to keep scum (Ryan) from the "klink" when Ryan was so obviously guilty. He lost mucho credibility there and so do you.

The quotes above are from your own wiki links.

BTW- I voted for Poshard. I also voted for Edgar,Jim Ryan,and Topinka. There you have my Illinois Gubernatorial voting record. I never voted for George Ryan nor Blago.

I can spot corrupt ass wipes on both sides of the aisle a mile away.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by Mamama Mia

Jim Edgar is completely and squeaky clean...

Yet he took the money of the anti con-con lobby and made a commercial for them.

He also pushed through mandatory liability insurance for all Illinois drivers while he was heavily involved in the insurance industry and stood to gain financially from the law.

[chet everett]

Law firms often take clients because of the 'message' that taking such a case sends to others about the priorities of the firm. One of the messages that W&S wanted to send was that regardless of the kinds of crimes that a client stood accused of. the firm presented a vigorous defense.

They no more condoned Georgie boy's actions than litigators who defend those accused of murder would condone that crime.

Georgie boy was/is a penny-ante loser who cared more about hangin' around with big spenders than pocketing anything himself. His legacy is that under his watch crooks flourished while he got a few pathetic vacations that he could have easily afforded himself. The deal makin' that results in ridiculously inflated construction contracts, pilferage for state pension pools, and never ending consulting gigs hurt the whole image of the state.

[cubssoxfan]

Did I read somewhere that a lot of IL state office corruption has to do with campaign contributions/financing? Any corroboration or insights on this? I think it was the Tribune that explained it in its Con-Con coverage.

[Mamama Mia]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

Yet he took the money of the anti con-con lobby and made a commercial for them.

He also pushed through mandatory liability insurance for all Illinois drivers while he was heavily involved in the insurance industry and stood to gain financially from the law.

I wanna kiss him for the Con-Con ad, I think it helped it to fail. I don't need any more Illinois legislators messing with TRS.
And, call me crazy, but I see mandatory insurance as a good thing, too. I only wish Brenda had allowed him to continue in politics.