Blagojevich stories

I don't think I'll do another Blagojevich post after this one. I have a lot to say about Rep. Jackson because I saw the press conference with his lawyer. I didn't really see too much of Jackson's press conference, I'm sure some of you out there might have something to say about it. If any other story breaks such as resignation or impeachment, you will see it here!

The Sun-Times talks about how people in the Governor's north side neighborhood are taking this news. There are people who still support him vs. those who are outraged. One neighborhood, a public school teacher actually says that he wished he had voted for someone else.

This story should be no surprise. His health care legacy is now tainted. It doesn't help that he tried to extort campaign contributions and withhold state funds from a local children's hospital. Southtown:

"It always has surprised me that he supposedly is the governor for health care but his actions certainly have shown just the opposite," said state Rep. Lisa Dugan (D-Kankakee), who co-chairs a task force charged with ensuring the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board's pay-for-play past doesn't repeat itself.

Other hospitals' projects were denied in the wake, and as with the trials of former Health Facilities Planning Board members Antoin "Tony" Rezko and Stuart Levine, more details came to light Tuesday with the governor's arrest that money, not quality of care concerns, fueled the decision-making process on hospital projects during this time.

"The agenda was to move certain projects through based on political donations; at the end of the day taxpayers, health providers and people who need medical attention have suffered," said state Sen. Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest), who also co-chairs the task force.

I've often wondered how well the CapFax did thanks to this story, however, we know now how well the Trib did.

More readers visited the Chicago Tribune's Web site on Tuesday than at any time in its 13-year history, according to Digital Editor Bill Adee, who said the online coverage amounted to an "ass-whipping" of the rival Chicago Sun-Times. "Our investigative crew gave an ass-whipping that we have not seen," said Adee, claiming his paper broke the story at 8 a.m. "We had it alone for at least 35 to 40 minutes. That is pretty good."

Great job, Trib! Now we just need to get you guys out of bankruptcy, especially if you can keep up good work like that.

State-Journal Register: IL shamed embarrased by the Governor.

Former Gov. Jim Edgar regrets not challenging Blagojevich in 2006.

Most of those links are via the CapFax, but here's a "photo of the day" seems a bit ironic.

Irish Pirate at Uptown Avenger has been posting some good Blagojevich cartoons.

Wall Street Journal talks about the cash strapped Governor. He had $500,ooo in unpaid legal bills.

Eric Zorn says that we shouldn't feel sorry for the Governor. Lately I have been even if I understand that he brought it upon himself.