Illinois residents - Blagojevich

[Neroon]

Link to story

Whenever there is a sensational story such as the legal troubles for Illinois governor Blagojevich, I usually like to hear from people closer to the situation for their opinions. I figure they're more likely to see and hear things that might explain better what the situation is really like. Blagojevich's whole story has been rather entertaining, but it's been hyped pretty badly. I end up wondering just what to believe, so... it makes sense to aks folks who actually live there what they know and have learned.

What's this guy been like, from your perspective as Joe Average Citizen of Illinois?

 

[RoJoHen]

Eh, he's another in a long line of corrupt Illinois politicians. And honestly, few of us really care.

I do chuckle occasionally when I drive on the I-88 Tollway and see his name plastered on a huge sign above the road.

 

[Neroon]

I've kept a minimal eye on the story, but what really grabbed my attention today - as it was intended to I'm sure - was that it's reported he wanted to approach Oprah Winfrey for the vacated senate seat. Now, she's a powerful and intelligent force in entertainment.... but I'm not so sure how qualified she'd be to take on that kind of job.

 

[RoJoHen]

She'd be one step closer to total world domination. We all know it's coming eventually.

 

[jkladis]

I do chuckle occasionally when I drive on the I-88 Tollway and see his name plastered on a huge sign above the road.

Those fucking things were around $15,000. FIFTEEN! It promoted his name for the 2006 election and the state payed handsomely for them.

Just another tale in the more subjective line of corruption discussion. Many governments have gems like this. But what's being presented at trial this week...gold. He's going down.

 

[Jenee]

I do chuckle occasionally when I drive on the I-88 Tollway and see his name plastered on a huge sign above the road.

Those fucking things were around $15,000. FIFTEEN! It promoted his name for the 2006 election and the state payed handsomely for them.

Just another tale in the more subjective line of corruption discussion. Many governments have gems like this. But what's being presented at trial this week...gold. He's going down.

The tollway had been paid off years ago. They needed a reason to keep tolling - so they tore the whole damn thing up and started over.

I hate that damn road. - and the signs.

 

[RoJoHen]

I avoid 88 whenever possible. I was always able to take 80 when I needed to head back to the Chicago area, but I have a friend who lives around DeKalb now, so he forces me to take 80. It annoys me because I don't have an I-Pass as I was always able to avoid the tollroads until now.

 

[Spot's Meow]

Toll roads are awful, I'm glad we don't have them out here. My family had to deal with them when we were in Florida a few years ago and it was a huge hassle. We must have passed what seemed like hundreds of tolls, and we just don't carry that much cash on us! Also, it was a real annoyance when we got lost and had to get back on the road and pay the toll again. Ack, bad memories.

 

[John Picard]

I do chuckle occasionally when I drive on the I-88 Tollway and see his name plastered on a huge sign above the road.

Those fucking things were around $15,000. FIFTEEN! It promoted his name for the 2006 election and the state payed handsomely for them.

Just another tale in the more subjective line of corruption discussion. Many governments have gems like this. But what's being presented at trial this week...gold. He's going down.

The tollway had been paid off years ago. They needed a reason to keep tolling - so they tore the whole damn thing up and started over.

I hate that damn road. - and the signs.

Years ago? Try DECADES ago. Back in the 1970's my dad said the tollway would never go away, because crooked Chicago politicians need to get their money. The same is true where I now live, Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority answers to NO ONE. There is no oversight, auditing -- nothing. There is no telling how much of a surplus of money the OTA has. I've always said, since I've lived here, that the Oklahoma politicos could teach the boys in Chicago a thing or two about dirty politics.