"I should have known better," former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich told the federal judge who today sent him to prison for 14 years.
Indeed he should have. The prosecutors who called Gov. Blagojevich "incredibly manipulative" in his attempt to sell the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama and to shake down a children's hospital for money probably understated the case against him.
But it's also true that Gov. Blagojevich is the product of a political culture that has thrived in Illinois for longer than anyone can remember and is doing pretty well for itself in the rest of the country too. It's a culture built on big money, in the form of bribes disguised as campaign contributions.
Sadly, our Supreme Court's decision in the Citizens United case, freeing big corporations and other special interests to spend even more on our elections, ensures that Blagojevich-style corruption will continue -- in Illinois and across America. Illinoisians can't fix Springfield, and Americans can't fix Washington, until we make it possible for decent, dedicated people to win elections without relying on big money.
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Sen. Bernie Sanders: Saving Our Democracy
Citizens Unitied bristles. They need to accept responsibility for unleashing a torrent of cash into the political system and then claiming "free speech".
Most of the countries politicians are immoral and self serving. For example:
Former President Clinton is worth millions due to fees paid from his speaking engagements and former President Bush encited war and enriched his friends.
And my favorite Newt Gingrich the "historian" at Fannie-Mae.
Both parties use deceptive practices to encourage Americans of differing views to attack each other and during the confusion they enrich themselves.
The entire system is corrupt. The American people are sick of the corruption.
Hey, Aren't you suppose to complain about the absolute and distilled Corruption of the Dems in Chicago? And demonstrate how Blago gets 14 years in the Big House, and how Obama is rewarded with 4 years in the White HOUSE? ESP when they are in cahoots?
Well, not really. Most of the coverage on TV, radio or web sites that aren't explicitly right wing have not bothered to mention that little fact. And yes, I have seen, heard and read from plenty of sources today...
Funny how studies of the media find that whenever a Republican is even alleged to be involved in a scandal that the public is bombarded with their party affiliation...
Double-standard, anyone?
If you want the money out of politics - and much of the corruption - you must first get the POWER out of government.
Rant all you want and call me names, but the government should do little more than macro infrastructure, police and courts and national defense.
Most of what the feds do is unconstitutional, but no establishment judge will EVER be honest about that either. They like their power too...
Blago went to jail because he is stupid. Because he didn't work the system intelligently.
The real question in my mind is how is campaign finance reform going to happen when most everyone in Congress is bought? When they directly owe their office to big money? And when the SCOTUS supports this nonsense?