Ask Politely #45
Unless you’ve spent the last week on a vision quest in the Australian Outback, you have no doubt heard that Blago was caught trying to sell President-elect Obama’s Senate seat.
In some ways, we could consider this a highly populist move. After all, never has a position of such power been so brazenly open to those with such simple qualifications (namely, a big wad of cash to throw at the governor).
Aside from cash, he was also looking for a board appointment for his wife, a post as Health and Human Services Secretary and the resignation of the Chicago Tribune editorial board (not directly related to the Senate seat, but I’m sure all things are possible with Blago).
So, aside from appreciation, which is all so cheap and meaningless these days, what would you be willing to part with in order to secure your own shot at a seat in the Senate?
8 comments
Sunah
A Klondike bar.
matt fender
An easier to pronounce last name.
rob mccolley
a quiet response:
“which law forbids a governor from selling a senate seat?”
yes, ms. madigan does not like him. yes, the man who would succeed him calls for his impeachment.
they benefit from his removal.
if i were him, i’d lay low for a while. there’s not much political risk in condemning the governor right now.
ml
$75
It’s a legal gift, according to the state ethics test. I’m sure that I’m at least as qualified to be senator as the pool of Illinois politicians he was fishing in.
amy
soliciting a bribe is forbidden by law, so he’s got that goin’ for him.
i’d give him a part on the wire… and i love that show, so i’d hope for some serious appreciation in return.
rob mccolley
well, if you’re a public official, especially one seeking another shot at being a public official, you don’t want your name involved in these discussions.
the real ethics problems occur when contractors get contracts (lots of public money) in return for donations to politicians. that really hurts the little guy trying to compete.
but any money/benefit to a public official causes concern for the public good.
that’s why we have transparency. gifts over $75 must be reported, yes. but they’re not forbidden. illinois has no campaign contribution limit comparable to the federal limit.
i think amy is referring to 720 ILCS 5/33 which mostly concerns the behavior of offerors. the parts which regulate public officials require that it’s not forbidden to give whatever is being gotten.
rob mccolley
sometimes, public officials do things which are not illegal, cause a great stir among the public, and involve palpitating ethical considerations.
the pardoning of marc rich is not a bad example. but despite rabid (and under-researched, ill-advised) republican attempts at investigation & prosecution, bill clinton’s actions in that case were not only legal, they were constitutional.
it’s called “executive privilege.”
this is one of the under-appreciated aspects of power. you can do things, real things, even if most people don’t like it.
and if we the people want to change favors-for-favors, there oughta be a law. but in order for there to be a law, we have to make a law. in some cases, amend our foundational law.
i don’t recommend it.
the framers got it right when they did what they did. and that’s because they had hundreds of years of trial and error from which to learn.
non-voter
Bullets!
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Okay, almost 24 hours later and I finally got Issac’s Summer joke. I’m an idiot.
Swap the dog for a fire pit and it sounds like you’re writing about my back yard. Very nice.
funny, as your summer begins, another Summer ends.
And that, my friend, is love. Bob, I think I still owe you for my wedding cake, served in 1998. But nevermind.
I believe the kiss between Rob and I was documented on low-quality videotape in the mid-ninties porn classic, Dirty Harry…and Sticky.
“Do I have to sign some forms, or am I just considered ‘in.’” You’re in!
Got damn, Coulter. You are the greatest.
I have no specific memory of it, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I’d kissed Mike, too—once we’d both drunk ourselves gay. And earlier this week I gave Clarence Shelley a back rub. Do I have to sign some forms, or am I just considered “in.”
FWIW, I got a copy of the letter in question. It was written in a way that would be plausible to a casual reader who didn’t scrutinize it too carefully. It announced the formation of an organization called G.L.A.B.A. (which actually exists), and had discussion about typical…
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Oh nice! I’d totally vote for Matt Campbell!
“Smile Politely sports writer announces candidacy for city government.”
I also got to visit Big Grove Tavern during the soft open and definitely enjoyed the pork belly the most of all the dishes I sampled. The cheesy grits and the vinegary pickled vegetables were a perfect compliment to the rich pork belly.
The Alan Partridge lookalike on the right in the first small photo has nothing to condescend to anyone about. AH HA!
Snell and the little Hitlers of the neighborhood association need to chill out. Legitimate businesses should have the freedom to exist without having to endure the slings and arrows of ignorant and misguided opposition.
represent, Matt.
Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.
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This weekend will mark the first appearance of Kayla Brown’s Fire Doll Candle booth at the Market. Check it: http://www.facebook.com/firedollcandles
And without bloodshed. Sounds like the Savoy trustees aren’t as narrow-minded as some of their whiny pants constituents. Do you think quack Snell is already planning an asinine counterattack or is he still laying low after those “threats” against his person?
hey, if hair ain’t gon’ be over your head, my jokes may as well be.
Okay, almost 24 hours later and I finally got Issac’s Summer joke. I’m an idiot.
Excellent. I am glad sometimes American dreams are encouraged, rather than stifled.
Swap the dog for a fire pit and it sounds like you’re writing about my back yard. Very nice.
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hey, if hair ain’t gon’ be over your head, my jokes may as well be.