I’m from Illinois, Bitches!
Aye, Illinois, my beloved homestate. Over the past 40 years, Illinois has had eight governors. Exactly half have been sent to prison. Can *ANY* other state stake that claim on history?! Gov. Dan Walker was convicted in the Savings and Loan Association scandal of the 80s. Gov. Rod Blagojevich, allegedly tried to “sell” Obama’s senate seat. Gov. Otto Kerner, according to the Chicago Tribune, was convicted of “bribery, conspiracy, income-tax evasion, mail fraud and perjury”. George Ryan: Racketeering? Check. Conspiracy? Check. Fraud? Check. Victim of anal rape? Um, well, we all sadly know what happens in prison. Illinois gangsters, I tell ya. Straight up corn-loving gangsters. Why this topic today? To truly understand today’s Manly Monday pick, you’ve gotta understand how we roll in Illinois. Things are special out in the cornfields. Really special.
John Stroger, the first African-American Cook County Board President, passed away last Friday. I won’t reproduce a eulogy here because others have already done a more thorough job than I ever could. Read all about Stroger online at Cook County’s site and elsewhere. An accomplished man in life, the Chicago Tribune says his he’ll also be remembered as “an old-style politician who put a priority on using government to help his friends and family members”. My response? Um, duh, the man was from Chicago, wasn’t he?
John H. Stroger, Jr. Born: May 19, 1929. Died: January 18, 2008. He joins the Dearly Departed, God rest his soul.
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Photo credit: Image appears at The HistoryMakers
January 21st, 2008 at 5:00 pm
And now, the citizens of Cook County are, ahem, served by John’s son, Todd Stroger. Patronage system is alive and well here in Chicago.
January 21st, 2008 at 5:25 pm
And, who’s the major? Daley XIV? ;)
January 21st, 2008 at 10:23 pm
of course there’s also a very significant ‘adopted son of illinois,’ obama…. any thoughts on him?
January 21st, 2008 at 11:02 pm
My thoughts on Obama? He’s hot. VERY hot. Physically. Intellectually. Everything. He’s the total package. :-) I read his book “Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance,” and I think I kind of fell in love with him a little bit. I mean, yeah, granted, the dude’s married. I’m just saying, you know, if he WASN’T … I’d be try to be ALL OVER THAT!!!
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Illinois: The Louisiana of the Midwest.
Except in Louisiana the cops and courts are just as corrupt as the politicians, so there are fewer arrests and convictions.
January 23rd, 2008 at 1:46 am
INTERESTING comparison!
January 23rd, 2008 at 2:44 am
never heard of, sorry :(
but may his soul rest in peace
January 23rd, 2008 at 2:47 am
ahah that’s funny. i’ve been meaning to ask you your thoughts on obama too.
your elections have a big impact on the world so i try to keep updated. don’t have a favorite. but i don’t want the republicans to win. i guess all europeans feel the same lol
January 23rd, 2008 at 4:19 am
Yeah, I’ve noticed that Europeans tend to send with the Dems. :)
February 4th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Late to the party, but I’ll see your Illinois and submit Alabama, home of perhaps the most brazenly crooked politicians in the country. I can’t do four governors, but of our last eight:
1. Don Siegelman – Tried in federal court in 2006, found guilty of bribery, conspiracy and mail fraud
2. Guy Hunt – Convicted of illegally using campaign and inaugural funds to pay personal debts
Among those eight, of course, is George Wallace. (Yes, THAT George Wallace.) He didn’t go to jail, but for what he did during Alabama’s Jim Crow era, he deserved to.
February 4th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
Can’t argue with you on that one!
December 23rd, 2008 at 2:14 am
well, hi admin adn people nice forum indeed. how’s life? hope it’s introduce branch ;)
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