http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0805/S00171.htm

There are several articles on this site taken from gavel to gavel coverage of the Rezko trial.

For example, it’s OK to say “I’ll appoint you senator if you promise to earmark more highway funds for the new bridge project in my home town.” (This isn’t an endorsement of earmarks, I’m just saying this is an example of public benefit.)

It’s not OK to say, “give me (or my wife) $150,000/year and the seat is yours”.

The first is an example of a public policy position. While earmarks are often used as a near bribe and are on the shady side of politics, they aren’t illegal. The second is a request for an outright bribe and is corruption of the highest order.

What Blago is accused of is asking for an ouright bribe. Unfortunately, it’s how Illinois politics have been played for a long time. The funny thing is that what his predicessor was convicted of is penny ante compared to Blago’s record.

EVERYBODY IS TRYING TO PLAY EVERYBODY IN THAT DARN TOWN!!!

Not that we “Like” Fitz, just that we like that he can give them (D’s) Fits for awhile and they can’t whine too much (you know, those old/tired “partisan hack” chants – not now after Libby).

I still think there is something going on with someone (or two) within the Chicago Trib with BlahGo wanting some folks fired and that the Trib should “show the love” all the time! – Shouldn’t seem to be suggesting a “great” working relationship, but then they (Trib) goes and pops the bubble (on the investigation) — seemed to be a CYA for BlahGo to me…. Or, they just felt like having a NYT’s moment (uncovering to soon a spying game)…

The Trib had the chance at the illusive “exclusive” if they would have let it play out. But, they (Trib or someone within Trbi with enough clout/authority to throw the switch and) blow the cover… stopping things before they could add up to too much for BlahGo to wiggle out of…. So whomever in the Trib decided LIBERAL WEENIES OF BROTHERS FIRST and hoping the Paper will last as only secondary thought… But, of course, BlahGo does owe the Trib something!!! If BlahGo gets to Stay…. Trib could’ve helped run some interference in order to get back-door favor later (with their money issues and sale of Wrigley and all)… EVERYBODY IS TRYING TO PLAY EVERYBODY IN THAT DARN TOWN!!! Everybody’s getting screwed, and not any of the enjoyable kind (besides, cigarettes cost to much to light up with afterward).

musical interlude… Should he stay or should BlahGo…. (end lame joke)

There are definitely alot of double, triple, or more dealings going on around these party principles and I’ll bet a bunch we’ve not heard of yet. Shame though, that the Trib didn’t put its “cred” forward in the hopes of being the Chicago Woodward and Bernstein… Hairspray Gate! … There IS alot there, and they could have gone slow with Fritz and come away with some wonderful (and ACTUAL/REAL) Journalism expose’ stories about Power, Corruption, Money, Influence, Nepotism, Patronage, Pay to Play, who knows maybe some sex scandal to boot even…. If they (Trib) would’ve remembered they’re journalists and took the delivering of News seriously rather than trying to become the News.

It stinks so bad we are smelling it all the way over here in Detroit… above and beyond the degree of Democratic Political STENCH of our own!

As Republicans we hope these smolderings get more oxygen so the fire flickers up higher and lofts more smoke. While the Key-Stone Cop type IL Legislatures argue on whether to fan the flames, jump into the flames, run for cover, with one or two actually looking for fire extinguishers.

Keep the Broadcast Network vans cranking the video cameras… somebody is bound to catch someone on film yet. With promises of Pulitzers in their heads, some youthful, principled, ambitious, grunt may emerge… An expose’…. a City’s Soul…. tattered… torn….holed… odor and otherwise infested…. but bear for all to see its disgusting appearance.

And to Fitzgerald, you suck, I haven’t forgotten about Scooter Libby, and I don’t trust YOU Sir!.

If it’s not any of that, then I can’t tell you. New contacts, maybe?

Now, I’ll admit that much of my work life was as pretty much as a prosecutor, and I just loved to play with players. Anybody who thought they were smart enough to play with the government went in to about the same category as becker’s mouse on the spoon. Maybe some of that was going on with Libby.

My first reaction when I heard of the charges – I’d heard Blago’s “sunshine” comments – was, Man, it don’t pay to taunt federal prosecutors, does it? Maybe there’s another story there too. Would the Trib sabotage Fitz’s prosecution in exchange for Blago “perfoming a great service?”

I know I’m paranoid, but I do wonder if I’m paranoid enough.

As it stands, their least-bad option is to firewall the Illinois Democratic Party and hope that the next Fitzmas stocking has some Republicans wrapped up in it. Which it will: this is, after all, the Illinois Combine that we’re talking about. Get ‘em all, as long as we get ‘em all.