Blago Bye-Bye - Part 2
What started with a whisper to a fellow Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board about changing a vote on Mercy Health System’s proposed Crystal Lake hospital, looks like it is going to be quite injurious to Governor Rod Blagojevich’s health.
Stuart Levine was indicted for stopping hospital expansions where the administrators would not agree to hire his buddy Jacob Kiferbaum’s construction firm. (Mercy agreed.)
But, Levin was multi-talented.
He was appointed by Blagojevich, not only to the hospital approval board, but also to the Downstate Teachers Retirement Fund’s Board.
There, he apparently co-opted former Democratic Party National Finance Chairman Joe Cari of Chicago to try to shake down a firm who wanted pension fund investments.
Blagojevich received $4,267 in airfare from Levine after his law school study partner and candidate for governor, Attorney General Jim Ryan, was defeated in 2002. Levine was Jim Ryan’s biggest contributor. (One can only wonder what corruption would have been attempted had Ryan beaten Blagojevich.)
In his plea agreement, felon Cari swore that Levine had told him about how campaign contributions were directed to Public Official A” and two associates in exchange for state government investments.
The Chicago Tribune reveals the flip in a very small and, I believe, last minute story.
The Sun-Times chimed in Sunday, providing additional confirmation that Levine is cooperating with the U.S. Attorney's Office.
See also “Time for Blago Bye-Bye.”
And, “Blago in the Toaster.”
And, maybe even, “Blago Roasting on an Open Fire.”
And, there are two more McHenry County connections--one certainly significant, one maybe relevant--to this story. To read them, go to McHenry County Blog.
5 comments:
What happens if he's indicted and steps down from the race?
Do the state dem committemen get together and name a replacement?
His kids aren't old enough yet, so does he have a nephew, godchild who could fill in?
That's how it works in Illinois, right?
Blogo's NOT stepping down for anything or anyone.
That's one of the major problems with Blago - arrogance. He thinks he's above the law, as do his sychophants. If he is so smart, why is Illiois at the bottom of the 50 state fiscally and why does every new initiative, as his group like to call his far-fetched ideas, always have a problem with it right from the start - no funding, no support, no registrants. He offends everyone, even his initial supporters. And, dummy that he is, he is especially vitriolic to state employees, who are charged with carrying out his plans. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you. Duh!
Don't expect Blago to step aside if he or one of his pals (other than Levine) gets indicted.
Based on how he has handled all other adversity, if he does get indicted watch for him to:
1). Act as if the indictment isn't really serious, that it comes down to a fight between "bean counters." He'll say he hadn't had time to review the indictment because he's too busy doing the good work of the people, that sort of thing. He'll say that, besides, it doesn't really matter because he's looking out for the kids all else that's good in the world. He'll be oblivious.
2). Disappear. After initially acting as if he's oblivious to what's happening around him, or that he's the only one in the universe riding the white horse and that the world just hasn't figured that out yet, watch for him to disappear for a few days. Rebecca Rausch, Abby Ottenhoff et al. will get out and talk about All Kids and pre-school. "What? Where's the governor? Why hasn't he shown his face for four days? Well, he's busy governing. He's in meetings. Very, very important negotiations over the budget, uh, for next year. Yeah, we're just getting ahead of the game with the budget and making sure all our ducks are in a row. Uh, yeah, he's really busy ... with the budget."
3). Attack the messenger. Finally, in the third phase of his crisis management strategy, watch for Blago to attack Fitzgerald or the federal government generally or the particular witnesses that lined up against him. He'll call them "cynical" and part of the "old way." But, he will never, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, admit that he is wrong - or just absolutely cooked.
The man is so predictable it's pathetic.
Here's betting he refuses to step aside if indicted. Madigan and the party will have to force him out.
What is Blagojevich going to do about AFSCME and IDOC promoting compulsory unionism at Sheridan Correctional Center? AFSCME has persuaded IDOC to lock out Gateway Foundation employees from getting into Sheridan to work. IDOC will not let Gateway employees cross AFSCME's picket lines. See my blog for more information on this fiasco, at http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/ or C.L.I.C.K. for Justice and Equality.
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