Search

Results

Unfavorable political news

14 Dec 2008 - Preaching the News for Sunday

Sunday's first reading speaks of a "year of favor from the Lord." But in Illinois political history it's been more like an era of favors. Governor Rod Blagojevich, arrested Tuesday on charges of corruption, is only the latest in a long line of corrupt politicians. "Government in Illinois isn't about political ideology or helping people," said Christopher Mooney, who teaches political science at the University of Illinois-Springfield. "It's about which idiot brother-in-law are you going to get a job on a road crew because he helped you get into office." Blagojevich, a Democrat, was charged yesterday with trying to sell Barack Obama's vacated U.S. Senate seat, according to a criminal complaint filed by federal prosecutors. Three previous Illinois governors have been jailed: Otto Kerner, governor from 1961 to 1968; Dan Walker, who held the job from 1973 to 1977; and George Ryan, who served from 1999 to 2003. Two other 20th-century Illinois governors were tried for crimes but not convicted: Len Small, in office from 1921 to 1929 and indicted while governor for embezzlement and money-laundering when he was state treasurer, was acquitted. William Stratton, governor from 1953 to 1961, was acquitted of tax evasion charges in 1965. In 2006 a Chicago federal court jury found Robert Sorich, who led Mayor Richard M. Daley's Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, and three other men guilty of illegal hiring. State politicians being carted off to jail reflects a local indifference to wrongdoing that needs to be changed, said Dick Simpson, a political science professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago and a former city alderman. "We have a culture of machine politics and it lends itself to corruption," said Simpson. "We are the capital of corruption in the U.S." "This is a sad day for government and it's a very sad day for Illinois government," said U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald in announcing the charges against Blagojevich. "Governor Blagojevich has taken us to a new low." Source: Articles by Tony C. Dreibus for the Chicago Tribune and Joe Carroll for Bloomberg News

rod blagojevich corruption illinois christopher mooney barack obama dick simpson patrick fitzgerald

Restricted
The hopes and fears of all the year

28 Dec 2008 - Preaching the News for Sunday

Nearly two years ago, in April 2007, an undergraduate art student at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago unveiled a papier-mache sculpture of Barack Obama as a messianic figure, titled "Blessing." David Cordero, 24, made the sculpture for his senior show after noticing all the attention Obama had received since first hinting he might run for the presidency. Run Obama did, and win he did, and his election was overwhelmingly voted the top news story of the year by U.S. editors and news directors polled by the Associated Press. But as we prepare to celebrate the Savior's birth, Obama must contend with the almost messianic-like hope that many people hold for his presidency. Artist Cordero's explanation for creating his sculpture may prove a healthy cautionary tale: "All of this is a response to what I've been witnessing and hearing, this idea that Barack is sort of a potential savior that might come and absolve the country of all its sins. In a lot of ways it's about caution in assigning all these inflated expectations on one individual, and expecting them to change something that many hands have shaped." As Obama prepares to take office in a few weeks, he inherits a number of daunting challenges not of his own creation, not least of which is the nation's financial meltdown-voted the number-two story of the year in the AP poll. Obama will also be handed the long-running war in Iraq, another top-ten story of the year, not to mention the even longer-running war in Afghanistan. If that were not enough, the U.S. as well as other nations face the ongoing threat of terrorism, as demonstrated by another top story, the recent terrorist attack in Mumbai, India that killed 164 people. The historic political campaigns of two women-Hilary Clinton and Sarah Palin-also made the list of top-ten news stories. Though their campaigns were not victorious, both women finished the year with their political futures intact-Clinton as Obama's choice for U.S. Secretary of State, and Palin as a leading light of the conservative wing of the Republican Party. China and Russia were home to top stories of the year as well. China made the list for a triumph, its largely successful hosting of the Beijing Olympics, as well as a tragedy, a powerful earthquake in May that left more than 70,000 dead and led to the collapse of about 7,000 classrooms in shoddily built schools. The five-day Russian-Georgian war in August rounds out the list, a further reminder that Obama will inherit a number of complex and potentially volatile foreign-relations concerns. Stories that almost made the top ten included Cyclone Nargis, which killed more than 84,000 people in Myanmar; Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, which wreaked deadly damage in the Caribbean and on the U.S. Gulf Coast; and the seesaw fate of same-sex marriage in California, where a court ruling approving it was later overturned by a ballot measure. Several write-in votes were cast for two developments that occurred too late to be included on the AP ballot: the indictment of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and the efforts of struggling U.S. automakers to get a federal bailout. The alleged financial scam involving Bernard Madoff also was revealed too late to make the ballot. Several of the editors who voted commented on how two transcendent developments dominated the news in 2008. "As far as I am concerned, there were only two stories this year," wrote Linda Grist Cunningham of the Rockford (Illinois) Register Star. "Global economy collapses (sending every country into financial, political, and personal chaos) and Obama elected U.S. president, changing the way the America does business-financial, political, and personal." Source: Articles by Joel Roberts and David Crary for the Associated Press

automakers russia beijing olympics georgia cyclone nargis myanmar hurricane gustav hurricane ike same-sex marriage california bailout bernard madoff china sarah palin hilary clinton rod blagojevich barack obama david cordero school of the art institute of chicago associated press savior iraq war afghanistan war top-ten news stories terrorism mumbai global economy

Restricted
A testy political climate

11 Jan 2009 - Preaching the News for Sunday

The reading from the First Letter of John this Sunday speaks to the reliability of human testimony versus the testimony of God. Testimony in various legal proceedings has played a role in political developments unfolding in Washington--including two disputed U.S. senatorial seats as well as one of President-elect Barack Obama's cabinet choices. Roland W. Burris was appointed to take over Obama's Senate seat by embattled Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich last week. At first, Senate leaders and Obama rejected the appointment because federal prosecutors arrested Blagojevich last month and accused him of trying to sell Obama's Senate seat, among other charges. But this Wednesday Burris met with Senate Democratic leaders who reversed course and opened the door to seating him. Following a private meeting with the former Illinois state attorney general, Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority leader, and Senator Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, the no. 2 Senate Democrat, said that they were open to recognizing Burris' appointment as long as he meets a series of conditions. Praising Burris, Reid said the Senate is awaiting a court ruling in a case that tests whether the Illinois secretary of state is required to sign Burris' certification. Senate leaders say that signature is required to seat Burris; Reid suggested that securing it would be a step toward seating him. "We don't have a problem with him as an individual," Reid said at a news conference in which he dramatically softened his party's opposition to seating anyone appointed by Blagojevich. Meanwhile, Minnesota's closely contested Senate race remains unresolved, as Republican Senator Norm Coleman announced Tuesday he is filing a lawsuit challenging the results of the recount that declared Democrat Al Franken the winner."Any attempt to seat a senator who is not properly certified violates senate precedent, and usurps the will of the people of Minnesota," Coleman said. Franken was declared the winner Monday after the state's Canvassing Board concluded the recount. The challenge could extend what has already been a prolonged battle as legal action and appeals could take weeks. Franken was not among the new Democratic senators sworn in this Tuesday. Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico, Obama's choice for commerce secretary, bowed out of the confirmation process in a surprise move on Monday. Richardson said he dropped his bid because a federal probe into his state office went on longer than expected without clearing him of wrongdoing."I had hoped that the CDR investigation would have concluded in December with a clean bill of health for my administration," Richardson told reporters at a brief news conference Monday in Santa Fe. "Since the investigation was not finished in December and, as long as the CDR investigation is ongoing, I made the decision to withdraw as the president-elect's nominee for commerce secretary rather than ask for a delay in my appointment."The FBI is investigating whether CDR, a California-based financial services company, engaged in "pay-to-play" activities after it and its CEO gave thousands of dollars to Richardson political action committees and subsequently won state contracts. Source: Articles by Andy Barr for Politico.com, Ann Sanner for the Associated Press, and Carl Hulse for the New York Times

rod blagojevich bill richardson al franken norm coleman senate harry reid richard durbin cdr minnesota illinois roland burris

Restricted
Jury finds ex-governor’s behavior unpardonable

03 Jul 2011 - Preaching the News for Sunday

The Lord is “faithful in all his words and holy in all his works,” the psalmist affirms this Sunday. A federal jury came to a much different conclusion about former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich Monday. Blagojevich was found guilty of trying to sell or trade President Barack Obama’s old U.S. Senate seat for personal gain, one of 17 convictions on counts ranging from bribery to wire fraud to attempted extortion. U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald calls Blagojevich's conviction a "bittersweet moment." The top federal prosecutor in Chicago says it is sad to again be dealing with a verdict against a former Illinois governor--only five years after ex-Gov. George Ryan was convicted on corruption charges. Jurors who convicted Blagojevich on the charges said they did not buy his argument that his scheming was only talk. Jurors said the charges that were most clear-cut had wire-tapped phone calls as evidence. Prosecutors presented three weeks of evidence, playing tapes and presenting witnesses to show that Blagojevich was holding up legislation until the potential beneficiaries of that legislation gave campaign contributions. Testimony depicted a governor who all but left the state to run itself. Lawmakers quickly concluded they couldn't trust him to spend money fairly and refused to work with him--a political breakdown that carried lasting consequences in a state now facing a massive debt. If Blagojevich was in his office--which was rare--he seemed unwilling to do his job. Aides said he was known to hide in the bathroom to avoid discussing complex issues. They talked about tracking the governor down at his tailor or even a bowling alley to force him to sign legislation. He showed up late for meetings and public events and explained he had been busy jogging or playing video games with his children. The lack of cooperation that developed with lawmakers delayed many proposals, including major public works projects that would have created jobs. "His approach tarnished everything he touched," said Debbie Halvorson, a former Democratic state legislator and member of Congress. Sources: Articles by Rob Wildeboer and Sam Hudzik for wbez.org (Chicago)and Christopher Wills and Don Babwin for the Associated Press

rod blagojevich corruption illinois patrick fitzgerald debbie halvorson

Restricted
Former Illinois governor Blagojevich heading to prison

11 Dec 2011 - Preaching the News for Sunday

This Sunday’s gospel describes the ministry of John the Baptist, who prepared the way for Jesus with a call for repentance and reform. Impeached and convicted former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, who promised government reform after his election, will now have to prepare for federal prison. He stood before a federal judge at a sentencing hearing Wednesday and repented his "terrible mistakes," but it wasn’t enough to soften the stiff 14-year prison sentence he received. "When it is the governor who goes bad, the fabric of Illinois is torn and disfigured and not easily repaired," U.S. District Judge James Zagel told Blagojevich. "The harm is the erosion of public trust in government." U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said that the sentence "sends a strong message that the public has had enough and judges have had enough. This needs to stop." Fitzgerald said the sentence is the longest ever imposed on an Illinois governor. The prospect of a "significant penalty" should deter other politicians who think they can get away with corruption, he said. Blagojevich was convicted on 18 felony charges stemming from his efforts to sell the U.S. Senate seat once held by President Barack Obama, conducting shakedowns for campaign contributions, and lying to federal agents. His schemes were captured in hours of conversations taped by investigators. The prophet Isaiah was sent to “heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners.” Under federal sentencing rules, however, Blagojevich will have to serve a minimum of 85 percent of his sentence, or about 12 years. Steven Miller, a former special prosecutions chief in the U.S. attorney's office, says the severity of the sentence was no surprise. Blagojevich took government corruption "to a whole new level," he says. "He was literally selling state government." Miller says Zagel possibly shaved some time off the sentence after Blagojevich took responsibility for his crimes. Judges must determine whether a defendant has accepted responsibility, said Miller, but if one "gets religion at the last moment," leniency is less likely. Source: An article by Judy Keen for USA Today

rod blagojevich corruption illinois patrick fitzgerald james zagel

Restricted