Illinois, A Governor, and the Sword of Power

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is not planning on resigning. After all, why should he? The people of Illinois want him there; they voted him into office, signifying by divine right, that he, Rod Blagojevich should wield Excalibur. That is why he is the King!

Eliot Spitzer had the decency to step down. But then he also had the benefit of the knowledge, that he gained when he was New York’s Attorney General and was actively prosecuting prostitution rings, that prostitution is illegal. Blagojevich doesn’t think he did anything wrong.

Sure, putting the appointment to a United States Senate Seat up on e-bay might be going a bit far, but even he didn’t go that far.

I’m sure the Kennedy’s, Cuomo’s and every single union in New York have ‘expressed interest’ with Governor David Patterson for the Clinton Senate Seat that is about to be vacant. During this ‘expression of interest’ I’m sure the interested parties let Governor David Patterson know what the ‘benefits’ are for their candidate of choice.

Surely some of these ‘benefits’ are what’s good (in their opinion) for New York or what’s good (in their opinion) for the Country. But some of it is just as surely what’s good for David Patterson.

So what’s the big deal? All Blagojevich did was define what ‘benefits’ he was willing to listen too. That and ask for cash. Oh, and start the conversation with those he really wanted to talk to.

So three differences, which one crossed the line? It cannot have to do with the taking of a bribe, oops, sorry, considering personal ‘benefits’, because, hell, that’s how we finance campaigns these days.

Was it the cash? We all know that once cash is involved it’s a dirty deal. Then again, politicians are programmed now days to take as much cash from as many people as possible. We call it fundraising to get elected and taxes once elected.

Was it having the balls to make the call first instead of waiting for them to come to him? Blagojevich was just being efficient, getting the ball rolling quickly so as to be able to get back to the work he was elected to do.

Or was is it defining what he wanted? Again, The Governor was just trying to be helpful, and not waste anyone’s time. After all, all those poor folks who were just interested in the good of Illinois and the Country but couldn’t afford the price would know right away not to even try.

No, I’m sure Blagojevich doesn’t think he did anything wrong. In fact, all he did was take what is currently the political norm and go one step further.

Rod, clearly the Chicago Mob/Corruption scene is to tame for someone with your vision and talents. I suggest you name yourself to the Senate Seat, you’d fit right in with the D.C. crowds. Besides, in Chicago you’ll have to put up with those ‘Moral High-Ground’ Illinois Supreme Court Justices, the U.S. Senate Committee will be more understanding.

Long Live the King.

Sometimes my sarcasm knows no bounds.

OMG - This is too funny.

I love Fred.

The Feel Good Philosophy of Failure

One of the hardest things about being a Conservative Republican is being hated, loathed and constantly made out to be the bad guy. Now I know how doctor feel.

Think about it. We as a society have become an emotional, feel good driven people.

How often do we do things just because it instantly satisfies our feelings? And how often are those things good for us? We want something sweet, we eat ice-cream. Given the choice between mashed potatoes smothered in gravy or rice with steamed eggplant, we take the artery clogging potatoes and gravy.

And we don’t do it just for ourselves; we feel the need to do it for everyone. Why look, the poorest of Americans cannot afford to buy their own home. We must make sure that there is a government sponsored program that helps them buy a house.

We conservatives are the ones who advocate not eating the ice-cream. We conservatives are the ones who said changing reality to allow the poorest of Americans buy a house is not a good idea. And we are hated for both.

It all comes down to consequences and results. Consequence is a four-letter-word now days. And results are no longer as important as intentions.

Someone gets heart disease from eating too much ice-cream and it’s the fault of the ice-cream manufacture. The U.S. economy goes into the toilet and greedy Wall-Street is to blame.

Pointing out that the heart disease victim had a choice of what to eat makes you unsympathetic and cold. Laying blame on the good intentions of mandatory government sponsored loan policies gets turned into accusations of Racism and Class-Warfare.

How do we respond to that?

We can do what many of our so called Conservative elected officials are doing, join the Liberals and try to make the irresponsible feel-good decisions they champions a little less destructive. Playing by the bi-partisan rules they so artfully created (that means sacrificing our ideals and beliefs).

Or perhaps we can take a page out of the past, a page out of Ronald Regan’s book. Educate Fight and Win!

I find it amusing that all the people Regan crushed are now claiming that the Regan Republicans are dead. That they cannot win elections anymore, that those ideas should be left behind and not tried again.

The enemy has a weak run defense and they are telling us, to beat them, we need to abandon the run and pass more.

The one thing that Liberalism and Socialism can never stand on is their results. That’s the one thing Conservatives can always stand on and win with.

Or is it just me?