Illinois DU'ers...what do you think of Blagojevich so far as Governor?

[terrya]

Happy? Dissatisfied? Or still too soon to tell?

[Devil Dog Dem]

1. A a born and bred Chicagoan (I no longer live there though)

I am a bit disappointed in his failure to push for new legislative districts to settle the score for Texas. Had he made noise about it a year ago and put the fear of God in Hastert and Hyde they may have gone to Delay and told him to knock off his Texas land grab.

Also curious to see if he takes a tough stance on Bush being on the Illinois ballot. I hear that he has his eye on 2008 and wants a Bush win so the WH is open in 2008, thus he wants Bush on the ballot now.

[JHBowden]

2. Good, but weak on the environment.

eom

[Bjornsdotter]

3. I like him...

Hi,

I do like him and I have great hopes for him.

The thing that I really liked was his stand on RX medications for state employees....RX filled in Canada. I hope that will trickle down to the average citizen.

Cheers,
Kim

[sjgman9]

5. Blago

He's this dude who's mostly show and no work.

Ok, he's doing the drug importation thing from Canada so that he can be elected President later.

Like Chicago magazine said, he's Governor Sunshine. Look at an issue of Chicagomag from several (december?) months ago.

Blago could do better, but look, Ryan left him a mess. He cant do worse. Plus, if Durbin gets the VP not, Ryan gets to appoint Danny Hynes as the Senator to take Durbin's place.

[mopinko]

4. same old song

strong arm, insider, buddy buddy. don't like blago, but he is better than the old thugs. lotta bs, tho.

[madrchsod]

6. mell-daley-blago

ya hit the trifecta.......

[dogman]

7. I like him but

he's pissed off so many people with budget cuts he's going to have a really tough time being re-elected and that's going to hurt to see the Rethugs get back in. He has to keep his promise not to raise taxes and Ryan borrowed so much money that his job is almost impossible.

[Nailzberg]

8. Wish he did a little more, but he's been doing good so far.

And I wish he'd move into the Mansion. Downstaters have a pretty negative opinion of him. When voters tell me they wish "Chicago would become it's own state so that they could elect someone to look out for the rest of Illinois," you have a problem. It's not Rod personally, but he is stuck being the embodiment of that the Chicago resentment that most people south of I-80 feel.

Everyone knows he has Presidential hopes. To do so he needs a second term, or he needs to be Kerry's running mate.

Many have suggested that the party needs new blood. And a young, good-looking Dem like G-Rod on the ticket would bring that. Plus, it seems like there is quite a bit of positioning being done by other influential IL Dems with the Kerry camp. So the Gov can keep pretending he isn't seeking higher office? Putting his name in the hat through others perhaps?

[ASanders84]

49. Tell me about it

I live in Springfield and the locals always attack him for that.

[illini]

9. He could be doing a lot better I think.

nt

[Padraig18]

10. I give him a B+

He's done as well as can reasonably be expected, but I wish he'd get his butt back to Springfield, which is where the governor is supposed to live!

[lovedems]

11. I have mixed feelings

While I understand that he has a mess to clean up, that still doesn't help the fact that my husband was laid off from his state job under Blago.

I sometimes get the feeling that he is more concerned with solving our states problems in way that will help his national career rather then in the way that is the best for the state.

I like him more then I dislike him but I do have issues with him. I live in Springfield and think he should spend more time outside Chicago.

[yagotme]

20. I understand

your frustration, I have my papers. I'll have to drive about 120 miles effective Jul 1 to keep my paycheck coming. I work at VCC, and it seems Blago is making a political point, not doing what's best for the state. My $.02.

[laylah]

12. I must say...

that I have NEVER, in my 53 years, encountered people with such a lack of honor and integrity (with the exception of the Bush regime)! His BS about not allowing unethical behavior in his administration was just that...bs!

I have exposed unethical behavior to the Governor's offices in BOTH Chicago and Springfield, about the Lt. Governor's office, the Springfield office of the DOC, to local DOC employees...I sent a 20 page correspondence to all of these offices, as well as to Chicago, QC, and Springfield newspapers, AND the special Inspector General's office created by "Blago" especially for citizens to contact about such behaviours, detailing unethical abuses of power and NADA, NUTHIN', ZERO, ZIP. They lie, they cheat and they abuse their power as they choose.

I know for a FACT that Rod is eyeing the WH...well, if I have anything to do with it, he won't even serve another term as Governor!
His administration is filled with slimey, dishonest, power-wielding, low-life, A$$HOLES and I hope they all burn in hell. :mad:

Jenn

[Nailzberg]

13. Don't sugar coat it, tell us how you really feel.

hehehe.

[laylah]

14. If I told you how I

REALLY feel, they'd ban me here for life :evilgrin:

Jenn

Edited to ask you if Nailzburg = Galesburg?

[Freddie Stubbs]

19. What type of unethical behavior?

:shrug:

[laylah]

21. Freddie...

I have exposed abuses of power and unethical behavior on the parts of IDOC and specifically, STATE employees at a local Corrections Center. I provided the Gov's office with documentation supporting my findings. DOC representatives issued a veiled threat to my elected official that he sign no more letters of support for my issue, then a Deputy Director of the DOC ordered an aide to Ms. Curry to not have any further contact with me. During all of this, the Communications Director for Lt. Gov called and tried to threaten ME...telling me to "back off" (the DOC)...not once but THREE times, the last time saying "I am telling you for the last time to back off or you'll just make it harder on xxxxxxx"...there's much more to this but it is the gist.

I sent an amazing compilation of evidence of these abuses, and others, to the Gov's Springfield AND Chicago offices, news media, Director Walker of the DOC, Lt. Gov's office, my elected officials, the Inspector Generals office, and many others. The DOC lies, cheats, and intimidates, doing what THEY want to do, right or wrong. Hell, the released a MURDERER in Nov/Dec last year, to work release...completely in violation of Administrative Code...a local workcamp has men convicted of home invasion, aggravated assault, ARMED ROBBERY, major drug convictions who have OUTSIDE CLEARANCE, which mean that they go out into our community~the Director of Records of this facility lied about that also. In return, I was able to obtain what is called a Simms sheet, which lists the name and location of all inmates at the facility. I sent this information onto the Gov and Director Walker also...I have proven lies and abuse of authority and nobody cares...this is just the tip of the iceburg...trust me.

I will NEVER vote for Blago again and will speak out against him each and every chance that I get. He PROMISED not to allow unethical behavior in his administration...I have proven beyond a doubt, that this behavior is alive and well, especially within the DOC, to no avail.

Jenn

[Freddie Stubbs]

22. But what abuses of power or unethical behavior

at the Corrections Center did the Governor's office ignore?

[laylah]

23. With all due respect...

I don't know who you are. Because of that and my past experiences with the DOC (as a family member, not an inmate) and the fact that those people are not to be trusted, I am not comfortable giving you specifics at this time. Please forgive me.

Jenn

[scarlet_owl]

15. I'm disappointed.

Downstate issues don't seem to be much of a priority for him. I think he could do a whole lot better.

[davsand]

16. You are not the first person I've heard that from.

This entire Health Alliance decision has generated a huge firestorm downstate--and that is just the last in a long line of things. I started a thread about that here in theIlinois forum over the weekend.

Were you impacted by that as well?


Laura

[ieoeja]

17. What issues Upstate?

What issues upstate seem to be a priority instead?

As I understand it he has been making cuts across the board. This Bush economy sucks.

[Padraig18]

18. A solid 'B'.

Could do better, but could do LOTS worse. He's still learning how to be guv... :)

[Logansquare]

24. Trying to give him a chance

His father-in-law is a rotten bastard of an alderman, though. I have problems with that association, because Mell is corrupt and has caused a lot of problems for folks in my neighborhood.

[greatauntoftriplets]

25. Just heard on NPR....

That Blago voted for Ray-goon -- twice!

Not real fond of him myself. Wrote in Vallas in 2002.

[madrchsod]

26. he was in dixon at reagens church service

yup right there in the newspaper -i voted for reagen twice- i guess i`m a reagen democrat..now with little dickie and georgie being friends , i guess things are pretty much the same old shit here in il. maybe durbin can keep obama from being corrupted

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

27. Not impressed either way

But it makes me sick he's got his eye on the White House. He'd better work on things at home or he won't have a gubernatorial platform from which to launch a Presidential bid.

[metisnation]

28. I actually like him

Il politics takes a certain cuth and a lot it takes patience...this guy is a backdoor politician so understand how the state works folks. The budget thing was putting the GOP's mark on any legislative issues so they can't wipe their hands with it in the future..this guy knows what he is doing. Come on would we have been better of with Ryan?

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

33. Who compared him with Ryan?

Not a discussion I'm even interested in.

[lil-petunia]

29. he has taken a hatchet to lotsa

profs in various departments, and replaced them with people who haven't a clue. And these weren't dyed in the wool repukes, either.

Ever see how he turns on when the camera lights start shining?

Ryan deserves some serious jail time, and will probably be joining much of his staff there, but considering that we have all branches of govt., you'd think that there would be some cooperation. An old, experienced cat like Madigan is a heavyweight. Plus he knows what he is doing. Blogo is turning out to be the merest shadow of his former campaigning self. He could ruin it for the rest of us. You can't administrate state government as though it were a campaign trail.

I am more and more unhappy with him. Vallas would have been great. Except then, Mayor National Asphault would have been angry. Anyone catch Sneed in the Suntimes today?
Or the front page of the Trib? wicked.

[lil-petunia]

30. anyone see bloggo on Chicago Tonight?

Not a hard interview, but a well thought out. Covered a lot of ground. Bloggo was on his campaign trail again, mixing cites and references that he must practice in front of his fool length mirror each day. Lots of rhetoric, little substance. He managed to skip around the fact that both houses are in the same party.

We know the following though, his is the most diverse administration. His is the most ethical administration. His is the most efficient administration. his is the only administration able to stand up against Little Big Mayor. And he told Da Mare, No, you can't have a casino. Bloggo gleamed like a kid with a new lollypop when he related that story.

I'm still giving this guy the benefit of the doubt. But, my expectations were much higher much earlier.

[laylah]

31. "His is the most ethical administration."

Compared to? I was gone from here for 28 years...while I do know that Ryan was a crook, are you saying compared to Ryan? I am here to tell you, they are NOT ethical, no way, no how! He promised the people a more ethical administration and when I brought to light numerous sleazy behaviors (lying, threatening, spinning, etc) on the part of many in the DOC and one in the Lt. Gov's office, it was ignored, anyone of any "consequence" that tried to help me was "urged" not to, veiled threats, etc. Ethical? Not by MY standards.

Jenn

[lil-petunia]

34. sorry

I shudda put that into quotes. He was on Channel 11 and those were his words.

[lovedems]

32. lovedems update

I am liking him less and less.

I keep track of the ISBE issues since my husband USE to work there and he has managed to get his hands wrapped around that agency and according to our state constitution, ISBE is not to be under the Governor's control.

I will be the first one to claim that ISBE has major problems, major problems! But they should be fixed in accordance with our States Constitution.

For those of you who don't know, he will pick a majority of the board members for ISBE and apparentley, he will hand pick a lot of the management staff. There are alot of managers that are getting their walking papers June 30.

More layoffs in a state that just can't afford many more.

I am growing more disappointed with Blago and hope the dems run somebody against him in 06. I want a democratic alternative because republican governors suck in this state.

[iconoclastic cat]

35. He has made me very angry for caving on education.

First he wanted to abolish our pathetic Board of Ed to make a cabinet-level Dept. of Ed that could be voted out of office if it did not improve or satisfy the electorate.

But he caved. And we're stuck with the same old bureaucracy.

Another issue appears to be totally ignored: Illinois has a horrible, bigoted, and unfair formula for funding schools. Blago refuses to take it on at all.

The final straw for me: This week, he said he would cut $50mil from the state education budget.

I want him gone. I loathe him. Unless W himself runs for governor in IL next time, I will vote for Blago's opponent.

With Dem's like this, who need Republicans?

[laylah]

36. Kickin' it cuz

I want to know! :bounce:

Jenn

[bushisanidiot]

37. I Like Blago. He Said We've Got Too Much Waste In Upper Mgmt

administrative levels and he's cutting back on them. I"m all for cutting upper-upper mgmt and giving more to the employees actually DOING work (civil service positions).

[laylah]

38. I respectfully disagree

that he is cutting upper management...there are 3 wardens at our local corrections center, all of which are just window dressing, the director of DOC allowed, against Administrative Code, a person covicted of arson to go on work release just because the grandmother knew Mr. Walker when he was sheriff in the area, Blago cost us thousands a DAY calling for special sessions re: the budget, and on and on and on. He is NOT what he promoted himself to be and I will vote for ANYONE (except Dumbass, were he to run here) but Blago...he's a fraud!

Jenn

[laylah]

39. The man is a

FRAUD...his staff/agency members are uethical and have NO, absolutely NO credibility...I will do my very best to useat this fraud, fake, LIAAR

Jenn

[AngryAmish]

40. No qualitative difference b/w Blago and Ron Jeremy

Both got to where they are due to their genitals.

I would not trust him to park my car. But, Jesse Ventura proved how important governors are I guess.

[laylah]

41. His transparent phoniness

is STILL very apparent! The grandstanding over the state budget cost each and everyone of us $$$$$. That said, he still allows unethical abuses of authority...ESPECIALLY within the DOC and particularly in District 2.

Jenn

[lil-petunia]

42. how true

The stench is no better than when King George governed with his hand open behind his back. And big pockets for the envelopes.

What I don't get is how Dave Wilhelm got so involved. Usually, he has better sense in picking winners.

Once he starts distancing himself from Blogo, that's it.

[Radical Activist]

43. He forgot who brought him to the dance

He became Governor by winning downstate in the primary. Everyone I know in downstate feels blown off and ignored by his administration since then. Laying off state workers won't win him any points with Springfield voters either, since government is the #1 employer there. If downstate had more strong Democratic talent he would have to be worried.

Right now I'm disappointed that the party hasn't done more in the last two years. Democrats finally have control of government and what have we done? What have we done for unions? Where is universal health care for Illinois? Why can't we finally add sexual orientation to the Illinois Human Rights Code? Why haven't we seen meaningful campaign finance reform? What good is having power if no one uses it?

[laylah]

44. Many of the reasons I call

him a FRAUD...he promised much, has delivered little. My biggest beef is his LIE, outright LIE, that he wouldn't tolerate unethical behavior in any office under his administration. He even created an office for citizens like ME and you, to contact with suspicions. When I presented damning EVIDENCE to this sham of an office, concerning the DOC, they sent me a letter telling me that investigating THOSE dishonorable, unethical LIARS and abusers of power was not the job of the Inspector General's office created SPECIFICALLY for that purpose! Then turned the issue over to internal affairs of the DOC, letting them investigate themselves...DUH!

My point being, the man hasn't followed through on much of anything...imvho, he is a fraud and a liar! I truly believe that he is Repub-lite, just as dishonest and shady as the others, and I will campaign for anyone that will run against him! I speak out against him and his (un-)ethical administration every chance I get.

Other than that, how WAS the show, Mrs. Lincoln :evilgrin:

Jenn

[laylah]

45. Kickin' me :) n/t

[lil-petunia]

46. at least she got to see most of the play.

The sight of all three sitting together in Boston - what a hoot. They really came across as friends, no? No.

Blogo is reportedly peeved that he wasn't asked to speak at the Dem Convention instead for some stupid state senator who doesn't even have a powerful father-in-law! Even though he tried to joke about it, he refuses to accept that he is viewed as a lightweight panderbear while Barack is the real deal.

[laylah]

47. You're funny, lil!

I did not have the pleasure of seeing Blago pouting at the Convention but it warms the cockles of my aging heart! The sooner that he and his are OUTTA "here", the better. Maybe we should tap Mr. Obama? Oh, he'll be in Washington...

Jenn

[Tweed]

51. Yeah, it should be interesting to see if they support him again

He has been burning some bridges, but with lost of money and incumbent rule, will it matter?

[ASanders84]

48. Hes a slimeball

Hes more like a Republican dressed up as Democrat.

[newyawker99]

50. Hi ASanders84!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Lenape85]

52. He's like McGreevey, a corrupt jerk

[naryaquid]

53. For what it's worth, I called his office shortly after he took office. I

just had a couple of routine type questions like, "who's my state rep" and his staff was incredibly rude...I figured they had to be relatives or patronage hacks of some sort, because they had no professionalism or problem with being ignorant and/or blatantly hostile...