14 years for Blago!!!!!!

Should have been longer. IMHO At least they nailed this guy. Trying to Sell a senate seat appointment is just stupid.

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/07/blagojevich-apologizes-at-sentencing-hearing/?hpt=hp_t1

Got Beat to the post by 9 minutes. :smack:

Well never mind then.

Maintaining a dynasty of corruption in the office of the Illinois governor.

Leggo my Blago!

Several people at my office have commented that it’s excessive. I think it’s fine.

Why would it be excessive?

I can only think it’s because they liked him on whatever island show that was.

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich apologized to his state, his family and the judge, saying he is “unbelievably sorry,” …

You got that right.

“There is a line between routine politics, horse trading and campaign politics,” Blagojevich said. “I thought they were permissible and I was mistaken.”

He’s lying still. Give the SOB 20.

How does it compare to past sentences for corruption from Illinois governors compared to what they were convicted for doing? We’ve got a pretty good sample as Illinois governors have been convicted quite a bit in the past few decades.

Politicians do routinely make deals. You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours. I’ll support your legislation and you support mine. That’s legal and nothing wrong with it.

Blago flat out asked for money and a job appointment for himself. That’s way, way over any ethical or legal line. This guy was a prosecutor at one time and he pulls a stunt like this?

14 years is a lot. But I bet he only serves five or six and gets parole.

According to what I’ve read, his sentence requires him to serve 85% of his sentence. So whatever 85% of 14 is. He will be going in early February.

He’s sorry that he got caught, and he’s sorry that his attempts to manipulate his trial through the media backfired. :stuck_out_tongue:

I know! That’s exactly what I thought. When I saw an apology I felt good about it for half a second, then in the very next second I see Blago says this: "I never set out to break the law. I never set out to cross lines.” Ah, what scum.

When is his hair going to be sentenced?

It would only be proper that Blago be forced to serve his time at a different correctional facility from his hair.

Translation: “Apparently I did something illegal. Damned if I know what it was.”

There’s not a single iota of remorse in that “apology.”

That seat is fucking gold. How could any moral man be expected to resist the allure of gain

This was a report posted on our local news station’s website:
http://www.wthitv.com/dpps/news/national/midwest/blago-gets-14-year-prison-term-nt11-jpe_4006862

At the end of page two, there is this:
'…Blagojevich also explained that the family dog Skittles was bought after his arrest in to help his school-age daughters, Amy and Annie, cope with the stress of his legal troubles. He said he joked with them that, “If the worst happens (and I go to prison), you can get another dog and call him ‘Daddy.’”

Way classy. :rolleyes:

He’d likely see being separated from his hair as a greater punishment than being sent to prison.

Gwuh? This is the least slimy thing he’s said and is somewhat funny to me.

Rezko got 10 years and Blago 14. Neither seems excessive.

Rezko has already announced he’ll appeal. Blago hasn’t said if he’ll appeal.

George “Licenses for Bribes” Ryan only got sentenced to 6.5 years for directing prime contracts to friends/the highest bidder, as well as for conspiring to cover up his fundraising misdeeds. I’m not sure if that is too high or too low, compared to this.

“If you are Rod Blagojevich , and you are in a room with 3 or 4 other former Illinois governors, then you are probably in prison.”

Was that a Jon Stewart joke? I forget. I remember laughing so hard.