Make or Break for Judy
The Levine hearing appears to be the make or break moment for Judy. Either the Levine evidence leads directly to the Governor or it leads to Chris Kelly. To Kelly, it’s more of the same to the average voter. To the Governor, she’s probably alive again.
Just to clarify a poorly written post the other day–I compared MSI to the current scandal and that’s correct in one sense. The allegations are relatively similar and as close to the Governor. There is a huge difference though in that we know there are several investigations going on regarding the Blagojevich adminstration–most notably the hiring scandals that have been turned over to the US Attorney as well.
My point of comparison is not that Rod is no worse than Edgar, it’s that the public pays limited attention to politics and what’s primarily out in the press, especially the television press where most get their information is the Rezko stuff. To most voters then this isn’t a huge deal, but more of the same.
Top that off with a really effective ad campaign making Judy look like she isn’t a saint (she isn’t, but relative to Rod, pretty close) and is out of touch with the average Illinois voter and Rod is rolling to victory barring some bombshell today. I don’t have to like it. I don’t. I don’t have to like that the public doesn’t pay more attention. I don’t. I just recognize what’s going on and while it depresses me, that’s part of being in the reality based community.
And most of this was written before I even read that column so the similarity isn’t due to me copying Rich as much as a similar conclusion about the Levine hearing.
October 27th, 2006 at
Going negative on JBT worked for a couple reasons.
Partly, Blagojevich screwed JBT in a subtle way. Rod Blagojevich was a not-a-reformer-running-as-a-reformer. RB was a disappointment.
So the voters of Illinois weren’t going to fall for the not-a-reformer-running-as-a-reformer thing two elections in a row.
Also, Judy Baar Topinka had to use Bush to help raise money. Whatever Blagojevich’s crimes they are pretty routine compare to Bush’s crimes.
Blagojevich may be a crook. Huey Long was a crook. But sometimes crooks deliver decent government services.
By holding the line on the income tax Blagojevich put JBT in an awkward situation.
So, I don’t see the negative ads as being decisive. Blagojevich deserves credit for outmanuevering JBT on a strategic level.
BTW, Blagojevich did use his money advantage cleverly too. He spent it in a such a way to convince people it was futile to give to Topinka.
What delivered the win for Rod Blagojevich?
1. He used government in a way that they thought he was helping people, like a Democrat should.
2. He spoiled the not-a-reformer-running-as-a-reformer pond before JBT arrived.
3. He used in financial advantage to cut off JBT from her supplies. She was forced to get resources from Bush and that hurt her.
4. He performed well in certain situations, like the Rezko press conference.
5. He had a lieutenant governor running with him who is more popular than his Republican challenger.
October 27th, 2006 at
Those are all interesting points but only possible with proceeds from the massive fundraising operation, which it looks will be declared illegal in coming months. So, cheating to win. Just like George Ryan.
October 28th, 2006 at
Blagojevich used the levers of gov’t to raise money. I’m shocked. Shocked!
What Blagojevich did in Illinois is chump change compared to what Bush did in Iraq and with Katrina. Republican criminality has become a defining feature of Cult Bush. So please, spare me Republican righteousness.
BTW, how much money did Bush help JBT raise? How much of that money came from profiteering on Bush’s elective war in Iraq?
October 29th, 2006 at
Because of this culture of crookedness in politics in Illinois, 53,000 people will have to deal with the governor’s illegalities and egotism and incompetent staff for part of 4 more years. It’s no wonder state employees are so depressed. They have to do the bidding of 30-something arrogant incompetents yet again, while being called lazy. Isn’t it funny that those same “lazy” employees will be expected to administer the gov’s continual “initiatives”, without funding to cover it. If they are so lazy and incompetent, how come he relies on them so much to make All Kids, Vet’s Care and I-Save-RX work? Watch for payments to go back on 200 day delays right after the election, more raiding of whatever funds escapted the first time and watch most long-term bureau chiefs and managers to be shuttled off to Buffalo so the rest of his kiddie staff can get guaranteed state employment when the Feds finally move in on his sleazy operation. This state is going downhill fast towards bankruptcy.
October 29th, 2006 at
That “escaped”, not escapted