# Blagojevich, will you please just resign already?! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 12, 2008, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blagojevich-will-you-please-just-resign-already/476804 "2008-12-12T00:50:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blagojevich-will-you-please-just-resign-already/476804/1 "2008-12-12T00:50:23Z")
[Face facts, Blago.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Blagojevich_federal_corruption_investigation) Your career is over. You tried to auction off Obama’s Senate seat like an autographed baseball card on ebay. You tried to strongarm the editorial staff of the _Chicago Tribune._ **You tried to shake down a children’s hospital.** And you’re such an incompetent asstard loser that you couldn’t even pull any of it off! And you kept on keeping on when you **knew** the feds were bugging you! The whole country is laughing at you. You are an embarrassment to the state of Illinois, and that takes some doing. Politicians generations hence will use you as a story to frighten their children. You will never again hold another public office and you’re almost certainly going on a vacation to Club Fed. Pols accused of corruption usually can count on at least a few defenders, at least within their own party. But in your case, the Democrats want you gone. Obama wants you to resign. The Democratic Congressional Caucus wants you to resign. Every pol in Illinois but yourself wants you to resign. The people of Illinois want you to resign. Bushmen in the Kalahari Desert want you to resign. **Everybody** wants you to resign. You need to take a page from [Elliot Spitzer’s](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elliot_spitzer#Scandal_and_resignation) book. All they had on him was **hookers.** Parking-ticket stuff, compared to what you’re facing. He might conceivably have wriggled out. But he cared enough for the great state of New York to step aside as gracefully as possible under the circumstances and allow a smooth transition to Paterson. Go thou and do likewise. Let Quinn take over and start cleaning up your mess. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blagojevich-will-you-please-just-resign-already/476804/2 "2008-12-12T00:59:35Z")
I wish the Feds had let the whole thing play out. I would have loved to see who would have been the highest bidder. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blagojevich-will-you-please-just-resign-already/476804/3 "2008-12-12T01:17:31Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Pols accused of corruption usually can count on at least a few defenders, at least within their own party. But in your case, the Democrats want you gone. Obama wants you to resign. The Democratic Congressional Caucus wants you to resign. Every pol in Illinois but yourself wants you to resign. The people of Illinois want you to resign. Bushmen in the Kalahari Desert want you to resign. **Everybody** wants you to resign. Both the Wiki article and the GD thread on this guy mention that he has a 4% approval rating. THAT’S unpopular. I’d have thought that he’d need to drive a limousine painted with a hammer and sickle over a grandmother’s convention while eating kittens to get that low a rating. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blagojevich-will-you-please-just-resign-already/476804/4 "2008-12-12T01:32:31Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Both the Wiki article and the GD thread on this guy mention that he has a 4% approval rating. THAT’S unpopular. I’d have thought that he’d need to drive a limousine painted with a hammer and sickle over a grandmother’s convention while eating kittens to get that low a rating. I’m pretty sure that was even **before** the scandal broke; I do recall a 13% approval rating a few months back. His own Lt. Governor hasn’t spoken to him at length in over a year, and attempted to introduce a recall election mechanism so that we could get the Gov out of office. Now **that’s** hated! ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blagojevich-will-you-please-just-resign-already/476804/5 "2008-12-12T01:40:50Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Both the Wiki article and the GD thread on this guy mention that he has a 4% approval rating. THAT’S unpopular. I’d have thought that he’d need to drive a limousine painted with a hammer and sickle over a grandmother’s convention while eating kittens to get that low a rating. I would love to talk to the 4% just to see what makes them tick. Did they misunderstand the question? Drunk? Just being contrary? Thought they were being funny? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blagojevich-will-you-please-just-resign-already/476804/6 "2008-12-12T01:56:25Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I would love to talk to the 4% just to see what makes them tick. Did they misunderstand the question? Drunk? Just being contrary? Thought they were being funny? Paid $500,000 and received the favorable ruling/government position/state financial aid package of their choice? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blagojevich-will-you-please-just-resign-already/476804/7 "2008-12-12T01:57:47Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I would love to talk to the 4% just to see what makes them tick. Did they misunderstand the question? Drunk? Just being contrary? Thought they were being funny? “I saw him on TV and thought he looked like such a nice young man.”–Mary Estelle Gruberfinckel, 89 ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blagojevich-will-you-please-just-resign-already/476804/8 "2008-12-12T01:58:21Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I would love to talk to the 4% just to see what makes them tick. Did they misunderstand the question? Drunk? Just being contrary? Thought they were being funny? Frightenly enough, I think that 4% approval rating was from BEFORE he was arrested the other day. I would hope it’s even lower than that now. ETA: Just checked Wikipedia…that 4% number was from a poll completed back in October. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blagojevich-will-you-please-just-resign-already/476804/9 "2008-12-12T02:01:11Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I would love to talk to the 4% just to see what makes them tick. Did they misunderstand the question? Drunk? Just being contrary? Thought they were being funny? Probably mostly relatives. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blagojevich-will-you-please-just-resign-already/476804/10 "2008-12-12T02:04:11Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Probably mostly relatives. Blood relatives, perhaps. The in-laws aren’t too crazy about him either. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blagojevich-will-you-please-just-resign-already/476804/11 "2008-12-12T02:06:28Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#): > > Frightenly enough, I think that 4% approval rating was from BEFORE he was arrested the other day. I would hope it’s even lower than that now. > > ETA: Just checked Wikipedia…that 4% number was from a poll completed back in October. OK, I meant “Frighteningly.” ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blagojevich-will-you-please-just-resign-already/476804/12 "2008-12-12T02:33:52Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > I wish the Feds had let the whole thing play out. I would have loved to see who would have been the highest bidder. The couldn’t .He was about to name someone. That would have given us a lot to discuss.It would have installed someone who would have been under immediate question and scrutiny. ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blagojevich-will-you-please-just-resign-already/476804/13 "2008-12-12T03:09:53Z")
From here – [http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hVNAcA-xtCA6PKQ8h5s7dBlD\_BKwD950PKRG0](http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hVNAcA-xtCA6PKQ8h5s7dBlD_BKwD950PKRG0) > [@](#): > > \ > > It was unclear what incentive the governor has to give up his office. > > A resignation might make him appear guilty. The office also gives him a certain amount of clout, which can help him raise money for his defense. > > Republican Sen. Christine Radogno said it’s possible Blagojevich would use his resignation as a bargaining chip with prosecutors and agree to step down in exchange for leniency. > > \ It seems that the sleazebag will not go without a fight. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blagojevich-will-you-please-just-resign-already/476804/14 "2008-12-12T03:15:42Z")
People. If Blago resigns, that might negatively impact his chances of winning the presidency in 2016. You need to look at the big picture. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blagojevich-will-you-please-just-resign-already/476804/15 "2008-12-12T03:17:53Z")
Remind me why Illinois voters elected this clown in the first place? Was he running against Satan or something? ---
**Author:** ![brownie55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f14d63/32.png) [@brownie55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brownie55)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blagojevich-will-you-please-just-resign-already/476804/16 "2008-12-12T03:21:48Z")
Coming from the land of the Tydings brothers, Marvin Mandell, and Spiro T. Agnew I want to thank the great state of Illinois for lowering the bar and then burying it when in comes to corruption. You guys know how to party! ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blagojevich-will-you-please-just-resign-already/476804/17 "2008-12-12T03:30:22Z")
From linked site: _“A resignation might make him appear guilty.”_ Yeah, it could taint the jury pool. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blagojevich-will-you-please-just-resign-already/476804/18 "2008-12-12T03:33:27Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > Remind me why Illinois voters elected this clown in the first place? Was he running against Satan or something? He (Blago) tried to confuse us. Seriously. See, there was this previous asshole governor, George Ryan. Then this guy named Jim Ryan, no relation, ran against Blago for his first term. Blago spent a huge chunk of his advertising and speechifying trying to convince people that the two Ryans were the same. Or, in the words of wikipedia: > [@](#): > > In the general election, Blagojevich defeated Republican Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan.[15] Blagojevich’s campaign was helped by his connected father-in-law, Chicago alderman Richard Mell.[15] Ethics scandals had plagued the previous administration of Republican George Ryan (no relation to Jim), and Blagojevich’s campaign focused on the theme of “ending business as usual” in state government.[23] Polls prior to the election found that many Illinois voters were confused about the names of George Ryan and Jim Ryan, a fact Blagojevich capitalized on.[24] He asked, “How can you replace one Ryan with another Ryan and call that change? You want change? Elect a guy named Blagojevich.”[24] Blagojevich won with 52% of the vote over Jim Ryan.[24] On election night, he said: “Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, Illinois has voted for change.” [23] Then later he ran for reelection against a Republican chick no one had ever heard of with a funny name (Judy Baar Topinka). The only thing we hate more than a crooked politician is a Republican. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blagojevich-will-you-please-just-resign-already/476804/19 "2008-12-12T03:34:54Z")
I’d like to thank the Governor of Illinois for proving himself a bigger dickwad than our own Kwame Kilpatrick, mayor of Detroit, who resigned recently amid scandal. Yes, he used his resignation as a bargaining chip as well. Thank heavens we got him out before he qualified for a full pension… ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blagojevich-will-you-please-just-resign-already/476804/20 "2008-12-12T03:45:04Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Then later he ran for reelection against a Republican chick no one had ever heard of with a funny name (Judy Baar Topinka). The only thing we hate more than a crooked politician is a Republican. 😉 And from what I’ve heard, a lot of people who liked Topinka and weren’t too enamored of Rod.were turned off by Birkett, her choice for Lt. Gov. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blagojevich-will-you-please-just-resign-already/476804.md?page=2)