Rod Blagojevich on The Huffington Post

Blagojevich Aide Googled Law On Temporarily Filling Rahm Emanuel Congressional Seat

2009-12-21T12:38:18Z

CHICAGO, Dec. 21 (UPI) -- Illinois' ousted governor researched if he could keep the White House chief of staff's former U.S. House seat warm for him, The Chicago Sun-Times said Monday.

Dr. Jim Taylor: 2009 Hall of Shame Inductees

2009-12-21T10:24:46Z

Three words have been weighing heavily on my mind lately: unconscionable, outrage, and cynicism. I haven't used unconscionable too often in my life; it's an extreme and unforgiving descriptor. But in the last year (okay, the last decade really, but you have to let go sometime), unconscionable has been a steady mantra cycling through my brain. When unconscionable crosses my mental landscape, its fellow travel companion, outrage, is always at its side. And their favorite destination these days is the state of cynicism.

Unconscionable is the judgment I make when seeing the brazen acts that certain individuals and institutions have perpetrated on the American people. Outrage is the emotion I feel by their acting with such wanton disregard for reason, respect, and just plain decency. Given that such behavior does not occur in a vacuum, cynicism is the attitude that arises in me causing me to have serious misgivings about the zeitgeist within which this unconscionable and outrageous behavior takes place.

These three words have driven me to create the American Hall of Shame (Motto: Have You No Shame? Obviously Not), devoted to highlighting (or rather lowlighting) the individuals and institutions that have triggered the appearance of those three words most frequently and most strongly in me during the past year. After a thorough vetting from the Hall's induction committee (of one), the 2009 inductees who have been selected have distinguished themselves by their egregious behavior (even by America's supersized standards) that has brought shame on themselves and soiled all those who have been touched by them.

With that preface, I introduce to you, in five categories, the 2009 inductees into the American Hall of Shame:

Category #1: Popular Culture

Kanye West: Beyonce lost. Sit down and shut up! I'm never going to illegally download your songs again (never have actually).

Richard Heene: For concocting your "balloon boy" hoax in a frantic attempt at prolonging your already-expired 15 minutes of fame. What kind of father would allow his son to be a part of such a deception?

Tareq and Michaele Salahi: For your equally desperate Gatsby-esque attempt to climb the social ladder by crashing a White House dinner. Just demonstrates where on the social food chain you two belong.

Category #2: Sports

Michael Vick: For abusing puppy dogs (induction delayed until he was released from prison so he could attend the induction ceremony). At least you chose to play a violent game; your doggies didn't have that choice.

Tiger Woods: 'Nuff said. Okay, not 'nuff said. I have one question for you: What were you thinking? Answer: It's not what you were thinking, but rather which part of your anatomy was doing the thinking.

Category #3: Government

Joe Lieberman: For your flip-flops on expanding Medicare and party loyalty (you were for them before you were against them), and filibusters (you were against it before you were for it) that may derail the current health-care legislation. May you spend the rest of your days ballroom dancing with Tom DeLay.

Rod Blagojevich: For using your governorship as your own personal ebay. And for continuing to make an ass out of yourself long after everyone stopped caring. Do you really believe what you've been saying or are you just trying to fool us?

Michele Bachman: For your endless litany of truly stupid public statements. Please go back to the back bench where you belong.

President Obama: For continuing to play nice in the government sandbox when the opposition party (and some of your own party) just want to mud wrestle. Step into the muck, Mr. President, and start grappling.

Category #4: Business

Bernie Madoff: For living a lie for so many years that cost so many people so dearly. How could you look at yourself in the mirror every morning?

Larry Blankfein: For saying that your firm is doing "God's work." Missionaries do God's work, you sir do not.

Bailed-out banks: For rushing to return bailout money to the federal government (even though these banks are hardly stable) just so you can pay big bonuses to your executives again. If the Great Recession was caused by the Best and the Brightest, I think we should give the Good and the Pretty Smart a shot at it.

Mortgage lenders: For being unwilling to now make loans to people who are creditworthy when, just a year ago, you were overjoyed to provide loans to those who were decidedly uncreditworthy. And for being equally unwilling to modify customers' loans so they don't have to face foreclosure. Are greed and heartlessness in your mission statements?

Big Pharma: For raising drug prices before the new health-care legislation kicks in and holds prices down. And for saying that the increases are justified to ensure continued research and development of new life-saving drugs. You've been drinking too much of your own pharmaceutical-laced Kool-Aid.

Credit-card companies: For raising interest rates before new financial-reform legislation takes effect. People already can't afford to pay their credit-card balances. Where's the sense in making it even harder?

Health insurance companies: For raising premiums at a rate well above inflation (my perfectly healthy family's premium has risen 60% in the last 18 months). You need to get a check-up because you are sick. At least you can afford one.

Category #5: News

Lou Dobbs: For going from being a serious newsman to a egomaniacal bloviator. Please run for President.

Glenn Beck: For living by the rule that you should never let the truth stand in the way of a good rant. And for having the highest word-to-substance ratio (courtesy of David Segal) in America. Please check the facts before you open your mouth.

To all of the 2009 American Hall of Shame inductees, I say, "Congratulations! And you ought to be ashamed of yourselves."

Which individuals and institutions would be on your list? Should I add new categories in 2010?

P.S. Addendum 12/21/09, 3:00 pm PST: As you'll see if you read the comments, interesting that the vast majority of suggestions for inductees are in the political realm. Unfortunately, that creates a political battlefield with lines clearly drawn and a lot of grenade launching from both sides.

Pretty much everyone else I inducted (I first mistakenly typed indicted; Freudian slip!) outside of the Politics category was ignored (or I was attacked for trivializing shame).

At the same time, that's why I have categories and there are varying degrees of shame. Plus, with some of the other categories, we can get some bipartisan consensus (unlike in Congress). And we can have some fun with them too.

So don't forget to comment on the other categories' inductees.

Illinois Democrats Need Obama's Help To Keep His Old Senate Seat

2009-12-20T14:52:31Z

Some Chicagoans grouse that President Obama has reneged on promises to return home regularly. Midway through a desultory, prickly United States Senate debate last week, I realized he might need to get back to help save his old seat for Democrats.

Shawn Healy: Swinging Senators to Be

2009-12-17T12:31:37Z

Seven more shopping days until Christmas, and a mere forty more until voters must make their Election Day decisions for who will represent the Democratic, Republican, and Green parties on the ballot next November in Illinois. Yesterday's attendees of the Union League Club's Democratic U.S. Senatorial Candidate Forum were treated to a delectable selection of candidates largely in agreement on the issues of the day, but whose words and actions show little evidence that they have been infected by the holiday spirit.

In their respective four corners, the four candidates vying for the Democratic senatorial nomination include State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, former Chicago Inspector General David Hoffman, Chicago Urban League President Cheryle Robinson Jackson and commercial litigator Jacob Meister. Giannoulias, a mere 33, has served as treasurer since 2007, and before that was vice president of family-owned Broadway Bank. Hoffman was inspector general the past four years and also boasts experience as an assistant U.S. attorney and Supreme Court clerk. Jackson has been with the Urban League since resigning as Governor Rod Blagojevich's press secretary after his first term in office. Meister worked previously as a congressional staffer.

Giannoulias struck early at probable Republican nominee U.S. Representative Mark Kirk by tying him to former President Bush's "failed" economic policies. As state treasurer, he boasts of a record of consumer advocacy and economic development. Giannoulias celebrated his refusal to accept campaign contributions from federal lobbyists and political action committees (PACs), then went on with a story about "Tim and Susan," a husband and wife he allegedly met on the campaign trail who have fallen on hard times and stand as a microcosm of what plagues the country and the rationale for his candidacy.

Hoffman suggests that this campaign is about who voters trust to be a strong and effective leader. In Illinois, he claims, the system works for those with political clout and hefty campaign war chests. Hoffman prods us to examine the character of those who we elect, and touted his credentials as a member of the Illinois Reform Commission, plus that fact that he has no ties to Blagojevich nor his financier Tony Rezko.

Jackson, in her position at the Urban League, is "on the front lines and in the trenches." She shifted the organizational focus from social services to economic development, and from this vantage point witnessed the first signs of the recent recession. She listed early childhood education, access to health care, and investment in women as the issues closest to her heart.

Meister has premised his campaign on "experience and purpose," and calls his 2020 jobs plan the "most comprehensive in the race."

What follows is an issue-by-issue synopsis of the candidate's answers to a laundry list of questions posed by Union League Club moderator Chris Robling and members of the audience.

Economic Development

* Giannoulias: Tax credits for businesses who hire new employees, a pay roll tax holiday for workers.
* Hoffman: Need to distribute stimulus funding immediately and encourage banks to lend to small businesses.
* Jackson: Help small businesses with cash flow, focus on job training.
* Meister: Develop green technologies and industries.

Financial Reform

* Giannoulias: Create a "living will" for failing institutions.
* Hoffman: Focus on consumer protection.
* Jackson: Oversight and regulation a must, would create a consumer protection financial oversight agency.
* Meister: House legislation a good start, but should also regulate derivatives and further separate banking and securities.

Health Care

* Giannoulias: Spent the bulk of this segment railing on Hoffman for investing in banks and later critiquing them.
* Hoffman: Countered with Giannoulias' association with Broadway Bank, one the "worst-performing institutions in the country."
* Jackson: The health care crisis must be addressed now, as current cost trends are simply unsustainable.
* Meister: Supports national health care which will help offset some of the legacy costs borne by the flailing auto industry.

Public Option

* Giannoulias: Supports, and predicts it would create competition and rid system of waste.
* Hoffman: Supports system of universal coverage, and critiques Kirk's vote against lowering prescription drug costs.
* Jackson: Yes, to drive down costs and compete with private providers, but also to emphasize outcome-based medicine.
* Meister: "Absolutely"--lack of competition locks people out of the current system.

Thomson Detention Center

* Giannoulias: Need to close Guantanamo, and Thomson is largely unused. Must address national security concerns, but we shouldn't engage in fear mongering (alluding to Kirk).
* Hoffman: Attacks Giannoulias for his youth, the fact that he's held only two jobs, one of them at his family's bank, and the fact that he couldn't protect the peoples' money while overseeing the Brightstar college savings program as treasurer.
* Jackson: The question is what's best for Illinois, and she responds with an unequivocal "yes."
* Meister: Touts the creation of 2,500-3,000 jobs, and therefore considers a "win-win" for Illinois and the nation.

Unemployment

* Giannoulias: Need to extend unemployment benefits.
* Hoffman: Banks must begin lending again, and the federal government should secure state safety nets.
* Jackson: Invest in emerging industries, better train our existing workforce, and improve our schools.

Afghanistan

* Giannoulias: Supports the policies of the Obama Administration; cites the need to also focus on Pakistan and pursue an integrated approach in the region that transcends mere military force; considers a timetable for withdrawal "necessary."
* Hoffman: Against the recent escalation, but admits that the US must remain in the region. Sees Obama's new strategy as an expansion of our mission, with no form commitment for withdrawal.
* Jackson: Opposed expansion, and considers our national priorities flawed. Invasion is the wrong approach.
* Meister: Supports our president and the troops, and reminds us not to forget about Pakistan. Withdrawal should protect our "vital interests."

Middle East Peace Process

* Giannoulias: First priority is the safety and security of the Israeli people; then, isolate Hamas and work to build a moderate alternative organization to represent the Palestinian people.
* Hoffman: A two-state solution is necessary, and the U.S. must play an active leadership role in this process, prodding both sides to make concessions.

From a global perspective, this debate was clearly a standoff between Giannoulias and Hoffman. The latter's implied barbs drew direct fire from the former, which spawned repeated jabs throughout the balance of the debate that served to distract the candidates and audience from the issues before them. Jackson and Meister preferred to stay above the fray. The proverbial elephant in the room was Mark Kirk, who drew the ire of both Giannoulias and Hoffman.

Hoffman delivered the most compelling performance of the quartet, though he did come off an unnecessarily mean at times. Giannoulias nailed his talking points and did nothing to undermine his frontrunner status. Jackson, on the other hand, asked the moderator to repeat questions a handful of times, even after the other three candidates has responded, and then proceeded to stammer through her responses. Meister read directly from his briefing book, but showed sporadic flashes of brilliance, all the while invoking hand gestures off kilter with his words.

While voters may have visions of sugar plums currently dancing in their heads, the Senate primary will follow the holiday hangover. It's never too early to pick a horse in this after Christmas sale with well-stocked shelves.

Blagojevich Attorney: Obama As Witness Would Be 'Awesome'

2009-12-16T14:25:39Z

CHICAGO — One of Rod Blagojevich's attorneys said Wednesday it was possible the defense could call President Obama to take the witness stand if the corruption charges against the former governor go to trial, but added that it wasn't clear that doing so would be necessary.

Defense attorney Samuel E. Adam said following a hearing in the case that it would be "an awesome experience in any career" to question Obama, who is not accused of any wrongdoing but did answer questions from federal investigators.

Rich Robinson: Top Ten PR Blunders of 2009

2009-12-15T15:04:19Z

For some this was, as Queen Elizabeth might say, "annus horribilis" - a horrible year. For the rest of us, it was another lesson in public relations crisis management. Here are the Top 10 PR blunders of 2009:

10. Fox News Caught Using Fake Footage. To make it seem like a protest over health care reform was larger than it actually was; the lying liars over at FNC used footage from a previous protest on the National Mall. Jon Stewart played clips from both events, clearly showing that the network used archived footage from a better-attended rally on Sept. 12 (with green trees, cloudy skies) to show thousands of protesters taking to the streets in Washington, D.C, which took place in November that had fall trees and sunny skies.

9. Michael Steele, Human Gaffe Machine. The chairman of the GOP discovered a comfortable place for his foot all year long: his mouth. From his attempt to "urbanize" the Republican Party to his "strategic" use of the uttered gaffe, he has personified a political party that is lost far, far out in the woods.

8. Serena Williams' Outburst. After losing to Kim Clijsters at the US Open Semi-finals in September on a foot-fault call, the tennis powerhouse walked over to the diminutive judge and began berating her. "I swear to God, I'm [bleeping] taking this ball and I'm shoving it down your [bleeping] throat," Williams said. She was fined $10,000 for the outburst.

7. Tom Daschle's Tax Lax. Nominated as Obama's Secretary of Health and Human Services, Daschle was looked upon as a key player in the looming fight over health care reform. But in February, he withdrew his nomination in embarrassment, due to his neglect over paying taxes on the use of a chauffeur service. In 1999 Daschle stated that "tax cheaters cheat us all, and that the IRS should enforce our laws to the letter," only underlining the irony of his blunder.

6. Kanye West Interrupts. During the MTV Video Music Awards, Taylor Swift unexpectedly won for Best Female Video. As she was making her acceptance speech, West leaped up on stage, grabbed the mic from her and said, "Yo Taylor, I'm really happy for you, I'll let you finish, but Beyoncé has one of the best videos of all time. One of the best videos of all time!" He ruined Swift's moment and was quickly and roundly condemned by performers of all stripes, via the Twitter-verse. During an interview, the topic arose and President Obama commented that Swift seemed like perfectly nice person. "Why would he do that?" asked CNBC's John Harwood. "Because he's a jackass," Obama replied, to many laughs in the room. Nice call, Mr. President.

5. Balloon Boy Hoax. Richard Heene claimed his son had floated away in a home-made balloon. After a flight that lasted hours and was covered live on television, it landed about 12 miles from the Denver Airport. Once on the ground, the boy was not inside, so authorities began a manhunt of the area, raising fears that he had fallen from the balloon. Later that afternoon the he was reported to have been hiding at his house the entire time. Suspicions arose that the incident was a hoax following the Heene's interview on CNN. Responding to a question about why he was hiding, the boy said "You guys said that, um, we did this for the show." The Larimer County Sheriff announced the incident was indeed a hoax, and the parents would likely face several felony charges. Heene pleaded guilty to the charge of "attempting to influence a public servant."

4. Bobby Jindal Flops. It was supposed to be the governor of Louisiana's national coming out party: he was selected to give the GOP response to President Obama's first State of the Union speech. And little Bobby fell flat on his face. His reviews were harsh: "amateurish," "laughable" and, "a missed opportunity." On PBS, conservative New York Times columnist David Brooks said, "to come up at this moment in history with a stale 'government is the problem,' 'we can't trust the federal government' - it's just a disaster for the Republican Party."

3. Gov. Mark Sanford's Hike Through the Appalachian Trail. Hey, you can't blame a guy for falling in love. It even happens to guys that are already married, and that much is none of our business. But when said guy is the governor of a state who leaves his duties behind (without telling his staff how he can be reached) to travel to South America to be with his lover, a few questions might come up. Mark Sanford (R-South Carolina), disappeared to Argentina several times to be with the woman he calls his "soul mate." Touching, but perhaps not to his wife, who recently filed for divorce. The funniest aspect of this is Sanford told his senior staff that he was going to be away and out of touch, "hiking on the Appalachian Trail" - which has now become code for "off boinking my mistress."

2. Rod Blagojevich Attempts to "Sell" Obama's Senate Seat. Illinois Democrat and Tammany Hall wannabe Blagojevich is caught trying to get cash for his appointment to fill Barack Obama's seat in the United States Senate. In possession of recorded phone conversations, the FBI will have none of it. "Blago" loses his job and still faces federal corruption charges. Meanwhile, Roland Burris is named to the seat, but that's an entirely different PR blunder from the get-go.

1. Tiger Woods' Fall From Grace. Few public figures have assumed such a carefully constructed persona only to have the bottom fall out so harshly. Woods' bevy of infidelities has caused huge damage to his reputation and will take time to fix. The good news is all he will have to do is win golf tournaments. The bad news is it takes a great deal of concentration to win at golf ... so for the moment, he is not in a good place. Walking away from the game is a smart move. Now he needs to shut up, make amends with his wife and stop with the waitresses and porn stars.

Bill Lucey: 2009: A Year in "Quotes"

2009-12-13T22:04:51Z

Cross-posted with The Morning Delivery.

The year began on an uplifting note with Barack Obama sworn in as the 44th U.S. President and the first African-American elected to the nation's highest office.

It was all down hill from there, however.

2009 quickly became known as the year of the Great Recession; with jobs shed at an alarming rate (unemployment the highest its been in 26 years), fears of banks on the brink of insolvency, foreclosures at an all-time high, reduced credit availability for consumers, shrinking investor confidence, and a marked decline in business and consumer spending.

It was also the year of men behaving badly, whether it was Alex Rodriquez admitting he took steroids to Mark Sanford flying off to Argentina to fall into the arms of his real "soul mate" or David Letterman's confession he has slept with young female staffers.

These indiscretions, however, pale in comparison with the stunning revelation that Tiger Woods has been leading a double life away from the golf course, one that involves multiple affairs with an assortment of women unbeknownst to his wife Elin.

By far, the biggest shocker of the year came during the summer with the tragic news that the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, died from a drug overdose at age 50, just weeks away from launching his worldwide comeback tour.

Not all the news in 2009 was so bleak. In fact, there were some remarkable success stories: the world (thanks to YouTube) learned who Susan Boyle was; Brett Favre came back from the dead; Sonia Sotomayor was confirmed as the first Hispanic U.S. Supreme Court justice; and Tom Delay showed America, if only for a brief shining moment before his injury -- that Republicans -- especially those from Texas -- know how to flaunt some razzle-dazzle on the dance floor.

So as 2009 draws to a close, I compiled a selection of quotes from leading newsmakers as a way of highlighting some of the biggest news stories of the year.

January 20, 2009
"Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this America. They will be met."
-President Barack Obama delivers his inaugural address from the nation's capitol

January 29, 2009
"I did a lot of things that were mostly right.''
Rod Blagojevich's comments to the media, moments after the Illinois State Senate removed him from office on charges of abuse of power.

January 30, 2009
"We're going to bring this party to every corner, to every boardroom, to every neighborhood, to every community."
Michael Steele, the former lieutenant governor of Maryland, on being elected the first black chairman of the Republican National Committee.

February 17, 2009
"I knew we weren't taking Tic Tacs.''
Alex Rodriguez during a press conference in Tampa, Fla., about his admission that he took performance-enhancing drugs while with the Texas Rangers from 2001 through 2003.

March 4, 2009
"If only I'd listened to CNBC, I'd have $1 million today -- provided I had started with $100 million."
-Jon Stewart scoffing at CNBC's financial analysts for offering such reckless investment advice and stock market predictions.

March, 14, 2009
"We cannot attract and retain the best and the brightest talent to lead and staff the A.I.G. businesses -- which are now being operated principally on behalf of American taxpayers -- if employees believe their compensation is subject to continued and arbitrary adjustment by the U.S. Treasury.''
-Edward M. Liddy, chairman of the American International Group explaining why it plans to pay out $165 million in bonuses despite receiving more than $170 billion in taxpayer bailout money.

April 11, 2009
"I'm 47 years old...I'm trying to be a professional singer...but have never been given the chance before.''
Scottish singer Susan Boyle, who gained overnight fame singing "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Misérables on "Britain's Got Talent',' a music reality show.

April 19, 2009
"I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised."
Miss North Carolina Kristen Dalton, crowned Miss USA, (later dethroned) answer to a question about gay marriage; comments which touched off a stormy controversy, particularly among gay activists.

April 27, 2009
"First thing is, I'm annoyed -- furious is a better word -- that I wasn't told.''
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's response to not being informed by the White House that there would be a flyover by an Air Force One backup and two F-16 fighters through parts of New York and New Jersey.

May 9, 2009
"What's up with all these governors not wanting to take the [bailout] money? Who turns down money? Maybe you should give it to Oprah to give it away. Oprah would say, "OK, governors, look under your seats!"
Comedian Wanda Sykes at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

June 12, 2009
"It is our duty to defend people's votes. There is no turning back."
Mir Hussein Moussavi, the chief rival to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claims there was widespread voting fraud in the Iranian presidential election and was convinced he won by a large margin.

June, 25, 2009
"I am absolutely devastated at this tragic and unexpected news'...I've lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him."
Music producer Quincy Jones reaction to the news of the death of pop icon Michael Jackson on June 25th.

June 26, 2009
"Those reported cases are really just the tip of the iceberg...We know we're not tracking every single one of them. ''
Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of respiratory diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announcing that the swine flu has infected more than a million Americans, with 3,000 hospitalized and another 127 having died from the novel influenza.

June 30, 2009
"This was a whole lot more than a simple affair. This was a love story.''
Mark Sanford, South Carolina governor, tells reporters about his extra-marital affair with an Argentine woman, a woman he considered his "soul mate.''

July 3, 2009
"I'm determined to take the right path for Alaska, even though it is unconventional and it's not so comfortable."
Sarah Palin announcing she will step down as governor at the end of the month and transfer power to Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell.

July 5, 2009
"We misread how bad the economy was''
-Vice President Joe Biden's reaction to news that unemployment had reached 9.5 percent despite a $787 billion infusion of stimulus money during an interview on ABC News.

July 14, 2009
"So I was trying to play on her words. My play was -- fell flat. It was bad because it left an impression that I believe that life experiences commanded a result in a case.''
Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor tells members of the Senate Judiciary Committee that her "wise Latina judge'' statement was merely referring to Sandra Day O'Connor's maxim that a "wise old man and a wise old women will reach the same conclusion in deciding cases."

July 16, 2009
"Why? Because I'm a black man in America?'
Henry Louis Gates Jr. a Harvard University professor, tells Cambridge police after being arrested outside his home on suspicion of a break-in.

August 4, 2009
"Well, then they really didn't love me in the first place. Whatever.''
Brett Favre when asked by sports writer Peter King how he feels about fans who say they are sick of him and don't love him anymore.

August, 4, 2009
"I'll miss nurturing all the new talent, but most of all being a part of a show that I helped from day one become an international phenomenon.'
Paula Abdul, via her Twitter page, writes about her decision to leave "American Idol'' after eight seasons.

August 10 2009
"My husband is not Secretary of State. I am.''
Hillary Clinton responding to a question from a Congolese university student during her tour of Africa. The student reportedly meant to ask what President Barack Obama thought about the Chinese loan, but mistakenly referred to former President Bill Clinton instead.

August 18, 2009
"Conservatives can have fun too.''
Tom Delay, former Republican House majority leader, on "Good Morning America'' about his plans to participate in the reality show "Dancing with the Stars.''

August 18, 2009
"Ma'am, trying to have a conversation with you would be like trying to argue with a dining-room table. I have no interest in doing it.''
Democratic Congressman Barney Frank appearing at a town hall meeting on health care, responds to a Massachusetts woman who asked why the congressman supports what she considers a "Nazi policy."

August 29, 2009
"I will try to live up to the high standard that my father set for all of us when he said, 'the work goes on; the cause endures; the hope still lives; and the dream shall never die.'''
Ted Kennedy Jr. delivering the eulogy to his father, Senator Edward M. Kennedy who died of brain cancer on August 25, 2009 at age 77.

September, 2009
"When I talk to groups of journalists these days about the state of our business, I feel like a motivational speaker in a hospice.''
Bill Keller, Executive Editor of the New York Times (from Esquire magazine.)

September 9, 2009
"You lie! You lie!"
Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), shouting at President Obama during his State of the Union address after the president informed the Joint Session of Congress that illegal immigrants would not be covered under his health care reform efforts.

September 15, 2009
'We're going to have no paper, no printing plants, no unions. It's going to be great.''
Rupert Murdoch, chairman of News Corp., tells audience members at a Goldman Sachs' annual media conference that devices like the Amazon Kindle will replace newspapers completely in about 20 years.

September 23, 2009
"The mayor of Newark, N.J., wants to set up a citywide program to improve residents' health ... The health-care program would consist of a bus ticket out of Newark.''
Tonight Show host Conan O'Brien poking fun at Newark's reputation for being a crime infested city.

October 4, 2009
"I got my work cut out for me.''
David Letterman after apologizing to his wife Regina for his admitted sexual dalliance with female staffers.

October 11, 2009
"We're going to treat them the way we would treat an opponent.''
Anita Dunn, the White House communications director, during a phone interview with the New York Times, speaking about the Fox News Channel's war against the Obama administration.

October 19, 2009
"You guys said we did this for the show.''
During a live broadcast on CNN with anchor Wolf Blitzer---Six year-old Falcon Heene, aka "Balloon Boy'' responds to his father's question why he didn't come out from hiding when they called his name.

October 30, 2009
"I wish they caught me six years ago, eight years ago.''
Bernie Madoff tells Security Exchange Commission inspector general, H. David Kotz during an interview that was made public on October 30, 2009. The disgraced financier was sentenced to 150 years in prison on June 29, 2009 for his ponzi scheme in one of the biggest financial frauds in American history.

November 5, 2009
"It's difficult enough when we lose these great Americans in battles overseas.....It's horrifying that they should come under fire at an Army base on American soil."
President Obama addresses the tragedy at Fort Hood Texas, when Army psychiatrist Mark Hassan opened fire, killing 12 people and wounding 31 others.

November 19, 2009
"Gender is between your ears, not between your legs.''
Chaz Bono talks about undergoing a sex change on Good Morning America.

November 19, 2009
"I certainly never could have imagined the yellow brick road of blessings that have led me to this moment."
Oprah Winfrey informs her studio audience that she will end her talk show in September, 2011 after 25 years on the air.

December 1, 2009
"Our lives have been destroyed, everything we've worked for...''
Michaele Salahi, appearing on the Today Show with her husband Tareq, responds to Matt Lauer's question about the sensational media coverage surrounding the couple slipping past security at a White House State Dinner without an invitation.

December 1, 2009
"I have determined that it is in our vital national interest to send an additional 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan.''
President Obama's speech at West Point announces the deployment of additional U.S. troops in Afghanistan, beginning in January, 2010.

December 11, 2009
"After much soul searching, I have decided to take an indefinite break from professional golf. I need to focus my attention on being a better husband, father, and person.''
In a statement posted on his website, Tiger Woods announces his hiatus from golf.

The 35 Funniest People Of The '00s (PHOTOS)

2009-12-10T07:59:02Z

Whatever we call the past 9 years -- the Naughts, the Aughts, the 2000s -- we can all agree it's been tumultuous at best. The only way we've stayed sane is by watching these people mock it all. Of course, there are some surprises on the list: Folks who made us laugh without trying, but they're no less laughable than those who make a career of comedy.

Blagojevich Book Signing: Debut Event For 'The Governor' Takes Place At University Of Chicago

2009-12-08T15:43:48Z

Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich is holding the first book signing of his recently-released memoir Tuesday, almost exactly one year after he was arrested for allegedly scheming to sell Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat.

Blagojevich Evidence Stolen: Burglary At Lawyer's Offices

2009-12-04T16:14:32Z

CHICAGO — Burglars broke into the offices occupied by two members of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's legal defense team overnight and stole eight computers and a safe, police said Friday.

The break-in occurred at the South Side offices of veteran Chicago criminal defense lawyer Sam Adam and his son, Samuel E. Adam, police said. They are two of the three leading members of the team defending Blagojevich on charges that he schemed to sell or trade President Barack Obama's former U.S. Senate seat.

Quinn Confirms Federal Probe Into Blagojevich Appointees Still Active

2009-12-01T09:18:46Z

Despite no charges yet filed, a federal probe into alleged hiring fraud under impeached ex-Gov. Blagojevich remains active, Gov. Quinn's office confirmed Monday.

Blago Confidante Christopher Kelly's Dying Words Before Overdose: 'Tell Them They Won'

2009-11-24T09:18:00Z

As Christopher Kelly was being treated for a fatal overdose, the political fundraiser who was being pressured to testify against ex- Gov. Rod Blagojevich confided to his girlfriend to "tell them they won."

Byron Williams: People Of Illinois Should Get The Facts From California About Recalling Governors

2009-11-23T10:50:25Z

Dear good people of Illinois:

I understand that you will have a measure on the ballot next year for your approval that would give you a process for recalling a governor.

Given that your last governor was arrested on federal corruption charges and his predecessor is serving time in federal prison, it makes sense that you would entertain any proposal that would seemingly put power back into your hands.

But take it from someone who remembers the last time a governor was recalled: Having the power to recall the governor might feel empowering, but that feeling is temporary at best.

I realize your current governor, Pat Quinn, is responsible for this proposal. He has framed recall as the "ultimate ethics measure for the people of Illinois," based on having two bad governors -- one from each party.

For Quinn, the recall proposal is a no-brainer. He carries the populist banner running against one person who's incarcerated and the other who's indicted. In light of recent history alone, simply putting recall on the ballot makes Quinn appear as the personification of good government.

Eighteen states have the power to recall a governor, but it is rarely used. In 2003, we in California recalled Gray Davis. Before that, the last governor to be recalled was in North Dakota in 1921. Any feeling of elation that you have must be tempered by the rarity of such an occurrence.

Moreover, the Illinois recall measure sets an especially high bar. Thirty state legislators, 15 from each party, would have to sign affidavits to start the process. Proponents would then need to get hundreds of thousands of signed petitions by voters before a special recall election could be set.

The other cautionary point is recall tends to be marked by emotion, which can blind one to judicious reasoning. The political climate that shaped the California recall was the state's energy crisis, which caused energy bills to triple in some cases.

Many of the players responsible for the partial deregulation in 1996 were no longer in office when the crisis occurred.

Californians were justifiably angry and we needed someone to blame. Davis became the convenient fall guy. But Davis was also a key ally in his own demise.

Davis was viewed rightly or wrongly as not fighting for Californians. He was also seen as spending more time fundraising than governing the state.

Davis accepted $2 million from the California Correctional Peace Officers Association and used his political connections to pass an estimated $5 billion raise for the association over the coming years. Though he was not guilty of anything illegal, he was guilty in the court of public opinion on charges of corruption.

This led to Davis' recall and the election of Arnold Schwarzenegger, who defeated a plethora of candidates that included Hustler magazine Publisher Larry Flynt and former child actor Gary Coleman.

There's clearly nothing in the Illinois proposal that could rival the circus atmosphere of California's recall. But I do offer a cautionary note based on the perfection of hindsight.

For all of the emotion and frustration that led to the recall, I cannot say it was a net positive for the state. Tens of millions were spent and California today makes the Davis years look like "good old days."

Economically, the state is worse off. Davis was also recalled in part for the Vehicle Licensing Fee (VLF), which would have reduced the current projected deficits.

Many of those who cheered as Schwarzenegger announced that his first act after his election in 2003 would be to cut the VLF are now the primary obstructionists to any proposal that seeks to close the state's annual budget gaps by increasing revenues.

Would California have been better off not recalling Davis? The facts on the ground suggest probably.

The other thing to keep in mind is that part of your frustration is the result of the system working. Neither George Ryan nor Rod Blagojevich got away with their misdeeds.

It was a system based on judicious reasoning and evidence, and it requires time. Don't replace that with the emotion also known as the "will of the people." Trust me, it may feel good in the short-term, but it is hardly a long-term solution.

I wish you the very best whatever you decide.

Sincerely,
A Concerned Californian

Byron Williams is an Oakland pastor and syndicated columnist and blog-talk radio host. He is the author of "Strip Mall Patriotism: Moral Reflections of the Iraq War." E-mail him byron@byronspeaks.com or visit his Web site: byronspeaks.com.

Many Blago Hires Still Employed By State

2009-11-23T10:24:07Z

Gov. Quinn took office nearly 10 months ago saying he'd "fumigate state government" in the wake of his predecessor, Rod Blagojevich, being booted from office.

Roland Burris Reprimanded By Senate Ethics Committee

2009-11-20T11:40:07Z

A Senate ethics committee issued a mild reprimand to Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill) on Friday after an investigation into his appointment to the U.S. Senate revealed he had been less than candid and, at times, misleading about his appointment to the seat.

On Friday, the Select Committee on Ethics issued a Public Letter of Qualified Admonition to Burris after months of investigating the circumstances of his appointment by former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Their verdict is more a shaming than a punishment of the Illinois Democrat. The committee found that Burris's sworn affidavit and testimony before the Illinois House of Representatives as to how he was appointed "were inconsistent, incomplete and misleading."

"The Committee found that you should have known that you were providing incorrect, inconsistent, misleading, or incomplete information to the public, the Senate, and those conducting legitimate inquiries into your appointment to the Senate," the letter reads. "The Committee also found that your November 13, 2008 phone call with Robert Blagojevich was inappropriate. Although some of these events happened before you were sworn in as a U.S. Senator, they were inextricably linked to your appointment and therefore fall within the jurisdiction of this Committee."

Pointing to specific elements of Burris's testimony, the signatories conclude that he "gave multiple and at times contradictory explanations for failing to disclose all your contacts with the Governor's associates, which individually and collectively gave the appearance that you were being less than candid..."

"Your November 13, 2008 phone call with Robert Blagojevich, while not rising to the level of an explicit quid pro quo was inappropriate," the statement reads later.

In explaining the circumstances of his appointment many months ago, Burris clearly left out contacts that he and close associates had with Blacojevich and his staff. At the time, there were serious legal debates as to whether the revelations would be enough to allow Senate leadership to actually remove him from office. But the Illinois Democrat persevered even as the Select Committee on Ethics agreed to look into the issue.

The committee's final verdict is, in many respects, an affirmation of what the evidence clearly suggested. Beyond that, it is not much more than a slap on the wrist. The senator is not running for election in 2010 so it seems likely that he will end up serving out the term with limited punishment for the misleading testimony he gave upon taking the seat.

burris -

Blagojevich's Brother Wants Own Trial As Power Broker Cellini Cut Loose

2009-11-16T16:21:30Z

CHICAGO — A millionaire power broker who was to go to trial on corruption charges alongside ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was dropped Monday from the list of defendants.

The decision to remove William Cellini leaves only the former Illinois governor and his brother on the defendant list for the June trial. Robert Blagojevich's attorney, Michael Ettinger, said Monday he also plans to try to get his client dropped from the trial.

Emily F. Shaw: The Lifeblood of Undergraduate Education Is on Strike

2009-11-16T10:45:03Z

The Fighting Illini don't have much fight on the gridiron this year. But the disgraced administrators who perpetrated the "Clout List" scandal had enough fight to win golden parachutes even after they lose their top administrative positions. And now the University administration has allowed a strike of its teaching assistants -- the lifeblood of undergraduate education -- to begin today, November 16th, at 8am. What are this University's priorities? Following the pay-to-play legacy of disgraced former governor Rod Blagojevich? Or cleansing itself and resuming its mission as a bastion of higher education offered to the sons and daughters of hard-working taxpaying Illinois residents. The U of I is at a crossroads, and to my mind, it has only one option left.

The Graduate Employees' Organization (GEO), the labor union that represents all TAs and Graduate Assistants (GAs) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, have called a strike that will disrupt undergraduate instruction and other critical functions on the University campus. Many of us are teachers, and it goes without saying that we do not wish for our jobs and the education of our students to be disrupted with a work strike so close to the end of the semester. We have been forced into this position because the administration has refused to seriously negotiate on the issue that's most important to GEO members: a guarantee in our contracts that protects our tuition waivers, not just as a matter of practice, but as a contractual obligation. This demand is clearly not about grabbing for cash in the middle of a recession: it's about ensuring that the University does not try to reduce the compensation of graduate students in order to address its budgetary problems. If the University cannot meet this demand, it is willingly ensuring that the future of graduate education at this state's largest and most prestigious public university is less accessible and a less attractive option for people from all socioeconomic backgrounds. By refusing to seriously negotiate on this issue, the administration demonstrates that it is not committed to recruiting and retaining top graduate students to come study at this university and provide education to its undergraduates. In essence, we're demanding that the university hold itself accountable to its own purported standards of excellence in public education.

The GEO came to the table with a full contract proposal on the first day of negotiations, while the administration failed to present a counterproposal for more than three months. Even then, the counterproposal offered by the administration was actually regressive in a number of respects from the GEO's previous contract. Although the GEO has made many concessions over the course of 18 bargaining sessions, the first movement we saw from the administration came only after a unanimous membership vote to file an Intent to Strike last month. Tuition waiver guarantees have been of a pillar of our platform since day one; this is no "11th hour" demand. The GEO believes that the administration's unwillingness to concede on the issue that matters most to its graduate employees demonstrates that the university is seriously considering graduate tuition as a promising source of revenue during difficult economic times. A work strike is clearly a last resort in our effort to secure a fair contract.

This university is still reeling from an admissions scandal that forced most of the Board of Trustees, the chancellor, and the university president to resign. We have a (mostly) new Board of Trustees and are looking for new administrative leadership. The members of the GEO and so many of our supporters in this struggle stand firm in our belief that now is the time for the university to reassess its priorities.

The former chancellor diverted $450,000 of discretionary funds to provide jobs and scholarships for politically well-connected but dubiously deserving applicants. At the same time that the administration was failing to bargain a fair contract for its graduate employees, $400,000 went to the attorneys who represented the university before the governor's investigative committee, and another went to $550,000 to the generous new faculty appointments of the former president and chancellor under the terms of their respective resignations. While these misguided former leaders of the university quickly negotiated cushy faculty appointments, the GEO is still being told that there is no money at all to meet our fair and reasonable demands. Last year's remarkable failure, the University of Illinois Global Campus, cost the university more than it would cost to meet all of the GEO's contract demands. We find it hard to trust an interim administration that has not yet given us cause to trust it, nor an outgoing administration which has proven itself untrustworthy and unethical. From the GEO's perspective, it appears that the University's budget crisis is, at least in part, a crisis of priorities.

No one can deny that the university and the State of Illinois are facing economic woes the likes of which we haven't seen in decades. So the administration is holding fast to the position that they have no money and cannot make any concessions to the TAs and GAs who largely determine the quality of undergraduate education at the University of Illinois. If they have "no intention" of changing the current policy on tuition waivers, why do they refuse to guarantee them in our contract? TAs on this campus teach nearly a quarter of all undergraduate classes, and many of us are the sole instructors of record for our courses. I, for one, am currently doing the work of a faculty member, teaching an undergraduate course of 135 students. I am assistant to no one, as I deliver all lectures, plan and deliver weekly discussion sections, write exams and grade all work with the collaboration of another excellent grad student. Yet we're both considered "assistants." I'm not complaining; it's been a phenomenal experience. But I wish to provide some perspective on what it means for many of us to be "teaching assistants" at this university.

I regret that I have been forced into the position of having to cancel my class and picket the buildings into which my students go to get an education. I resent the fact that the University of Illinois administration is so determined to convince the people of Illinois that our demands are unreasonable and untenable. By refusing to bargain in good faith on the issue that matters most to the GEO, the administration demonstrates that in hard economic times, it is prepared to compromise its core missions of providing accessible public education and quality instruction for the sons and daughters of Illinois by making sure the people who provide that education feel like respected workers.

This is one of those defining moments for a major institution like the U of I. Tuition waiver security is not the only thing still on the bargaining table, but it is the issue that has united our membership and rallied support from across the state and the country. As we walk out on this cold, rainy morning, 13 million Illinois residents are now wondering if the university can stop talking about how much they value us, and step up to show some real respect to the TAs who play such a key role in the education of our sons and daughters.

Blagojevich Seeks To Have Trial Moved ... To Election Season

2009-11-13T14:14:55Z

Lawyers for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich are seeking to delay the start of his trial next summer, court records show.

Christopher Kelly OD'ed On Pain Killers, No Rat Poision: Toxicology Report

2009-11-10T11:16:34Z

Political fundraiser Christopher Kelly died after taking an overdose of pain medications, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Quinn Lands Endorsements, Jabs With Hynes Over Blago Ties

2009-11-06T18:59:48Z

Updated

The fierce intra-party feuding between Gov. Pat Quinn and Comptroller Dan Hynes reached a new pitch Friday after Quinn announced his latest set of backers in the 2010 Democratic gubernatorial primary.

The day started with several North Side Democratic politicians, most notably Rod Blagojevich's estranged father-in-law, Ald. Richard Mell (33rd), endorsing Gov. Quinn at a press conference at Ann Sather's in Lakeview.

"He's a straight shooter," Mell said of Quinn. "He might not do the most popular thing, I think he'd rather do the right thing rather than the popular thing, and that's unique today."

State Sen. Ira Silverstein, State Reps. John Fritchey and Lou Lang and a host of aldermen who backed Blagojevich and then soured on him -- long before he was impeached from office -- made the case that Quinn is the right man to lead the state out of its Blagojevich-era shame.

But where Quinn's allies saw change, Quinn's gubernatorial rival, state Comptroller Dan Hynes, saw more of the same.

"Pat Quinn, once a self-styled reformer, continued his gravitation toward ultimate political insider-dom today by accepting the endorsement of Alderman Dick Mell, the father-in-law and political patron of Rod Blagojevich, and a man synonymous with Chicago Machine politics," read a blistering e-mail from the campaign.

"It would never even occur to us to seek the endorsement of the single individual most responsible for inflicting this state with Rod Blagojevich, let alone hold a press conference, but for Pat Quinn, it's all in a day's work," added campaign spokesman Matt McGrath.

Mell and Blagojevich, though family, have had a rough run the last few years. While Mell was crucial in getting his son-in-law into office, the two later had a public falling out that has never been truly repaired.

The Quinn campaign wasted little time with a response that accuses Hynes, who comes from a family entrenched in Democratic politics, of hypocrisy.

"Dan Hynes' hypocrisy knows no bounds," spokeswoman Elizabeth Austin wrote in an e-mail. "He is a child of the old-time Chicago Machine and owes his entire career to his ward boss father. Without Machine backing and his father's political muscle, how could he have won statewide office at the age of 28?

"In September, when Comptroller Hynes appeared at the endorsement session of the Cook County Democrats, he spoke movingly of his pride in seeking -- and accepting -- their endorsements over the many years he has spent sitting behind the Comptroller's desk. At that time, he shared his warm recollections of growing up in a ward office, learning about Machine politics at his father's knee. Yet now, when the Democratic Party is embracing reform and putting state government back on track, he's now Dan Hynes, the independent maverick?"

The two leading Democratic gubernatorial candidates have recently been at each other's throats, sniping in the media and pouring millions of campaign dollars into negative TV ads.

This week the Quinn campaign offered a truce: it would stop running a controversial ad if the Hynes campaign would take down one that Quinn's people said unfairly characterized the governor's tax plan.

The Hynes campaign rejected the truce-- and attacked the Quinn campaign for its supposed hypocrisy in offering it.

Update

The Hynes campaign issued the following response from spokesman Matt McGrath:

"The Quinn campaign's response is over-the-top and full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. Pat Quinn says he spent his life fighting for everyday people, but as soon as he became governor he tried to stick middle class families with a 50 percent tax hike.

"Meanwhile, he continues to assemble the team that gave us Rod Blagojevich as the foundation for his very own campaign, and no amount of name-calling and attacks on Dan's family can obscure that fact. While Dan challenged Blagojevich's ruinous spending policies at every turn, Pat Quinn was busy telling us Blagojevich is an 'honest person' who does the 'right thing all the time.' It's little wonder why the Blagojevich gang would rally behind him."

Quinn's campaign also released a new ad featuring the governor's longtime barber, Herb.

Watch:

State Senator Asks Trump To Fire Blago Already

2009-11-02T10:15:54Z

Illinois Senator Syverson of Rockford penned a letter to the Donald this week to say having former governor Rod Blagojevich on the NBC show is a unfunny, bad idea.

Madigan's Campaign Finance Reform Bill Passes House

2009-10-30T08:56:34Z

With time running out, the Illinois House late tonight approved a measure that for the first time would put major restrictions on how politicians pay for their campaigns in the wake of the impeachment and indictment of disgraced ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Roland Burris Basically Contributing Incoherent Babbling To The Senate

2009-10-27T11:58:35Z

We really should take a minute today to appreciate the greatest contribution made by disgraced Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich to America: the gift of Roland Burris. Burris has been making huge contributions to the legislative process. And by "huge contributions," I mean "longwinded surrealist tone-poetry about politics and his tenuous intellectual grasp of same." Take it away, Dave Weigel:

I've just gotten my hands on the transcript of last Thursday's Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearing on czars. There's a lot in there, but the first thing I want to highlight is the dramatically incoherent testimony of Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.). I don't know where to start with it. But Burris, in his short time on the Hill, has been plagued as much by the scandal surrounding his appointment as the rumors that he isn't up to the job. This hearing didn't help.

Oh! How bad could it possibly be? Pretty bad, as it turns out!

BURRIS: This has -- being a constitutional and political science student, I mean, this is Political Science 101 or Political Science, maybe, 1000. The panel's just been terrific.

And I have so many thoughts just rolling through my head, I don't even know where to start. I mean, this is -- this is the meat that caused us political scientists to even exist, because you're dealing with these major issues of the separation of powers and the creation of this country and whether or not you want your president to really have the powers that you granted it, and whether or not the Congress, which is on similar or equal footing, can then control or muscle in on those powers of the president.

I also like this part, where Burris wrestles with the whole idea of a "Cabinet":

BURRIS: Is there a law that would require us or require the president to appoint a secretary of state? Is there? Is there?

CASEY: A law that requires the president to appoint a secretary of state?

BURRIS: Yes.

CASEY: Specifically, there would not be a law requiring him to do that. Now, of course, if he wants the functions that you vested in a secretary of state performed, he -- he probably has to do...

(CROSSTALK)

BURRIS: But there is no law that says he has to even appoint a secretary of state, is that -- am I correct?

(CROSSTALK)

BURRIS: There's a statute that says there's a position -- a secretary of state position...

CASEY: Right, right -- shall be appointed in the following -- yes -- I'm unaware of any...

(CROSSTALK)

BURRIS: But is there a law that says the president has to make that appointment?

CASEY: Not that I'm aware of.

At any rate, Burris told the committee that he found the discussion "so fascinating," and promised his colleagues, "I'm certainly going read each and every one of you all's testimony." In the meantime, could someone please recut this Levi's commercial so that the topless youths gallivanting through the wilderness do so to Burris' testimony instead of "Pioneers! O Pioneers!" by Walt Whitman? Thank you.

RELATED:
Roland Burris Has a Lot of Questions About How the Federal Government Works [The Washington Independent]

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Last-Minute Halloween Costumes: Download Your Free Mask Now!

2009-10-23T14:14:07Z

Click on any image below to get a high-res version to wear next week!

Lon Monk, Former Blagojevich Confidante, Pleads Guilty, Will Testify Against Blago

2009-10-20T13:19:03Z

CHICAGO — A former chief of staff and longtime friend of ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich pleaded guilty to wire fraud Tuesday and promised to cooperate with federal prosecutors in their corruption case against the former governor.

Alonzo "Lon" Monk, 51, said that as Blagojevich's top aide he had witnessed efforts to shake down roadbuilders, a hospital executive and a racetrack owner for hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions for the governor.