Kathianne
03-24-2008, 08:48 AM
It's nearly impossible to find a 'clean' Illinois politician, this story indicates why. I think it's why so many of us are waiting to see what ties Obama has that have yet to surface:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-kass_bdmar23,1,3237979.column
In Combine, cash is king, corruption is bipartisan
John Kass
March 23, 2008
All week, Stuart Levine, the Republican snitch who loves his gladiator movies, has been telling the story of Illinois.
He tells it from the witness stand in federal court, weaving the tale of this political boss and that political boss, that Democrat, this Republican, all working together for the common good....
...Actually, he's telling a larger tale, about power and clout in our state.
...At one point in the testimony last week, Levine explained how ecumenical it is.
He wrangled an invitation to a 2003 Christmas reception at the Bush White House. The invitation was courtesy of Robert Kjellander (pronounced $hell-an-der) a big shot Republican from Illinois who would become treasurer of the Republican National Committee.
Kjellander is currently setting up the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul, where Republican nominee John McCain will no doubt denounce corruption and pay-to-play politics, with Kjellander in the wings.
During the testimony last week, Levine said there had been others invited to the Bush White House, courtesy of Kjellander. There was Kjellander's buddy—and political boss—William Cellini, the road builder, hotelier, gaming czar and leader of the Springfield Republicans.
And there was Rezko, the conduit to Democratic Gov. Rod "The Unreformer" Blagojevich, with whom Cellini and Kjellander had business ties. They brought their wives. They enjoyed themselves.
Cellini and Kjellander haven't been indicted. Blagojevich hasn't been indicted, but he reeks of George Ryan, and if he goes down, the Illinois political scorecard will read:
Illinois Governors 4
Chicago Mayors 0...
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-kass_bdmar23,1,3237979.column
In Combine, cash is king, corruption is bipartisan
John Kass
March 23, 2008
All week, Stuart Levine, the Republican snitch who loves his gladiator movies, has been telling the story of Illinois.
He tells it from the witness stand in federal court, weaving the tale of this political boss and that political boss, that Democrat, this Republican, all working together for the common good....
...Actually, he's telling a larger tale, about power and clout in our state.
...At one point in the testimony last week, Levine explained how ecumenical it is.
He wrangled an invitation to a 2003 Christmas reception at the Bush White House. The invitation was courtesy of Robert Kjellander (pronounced $hell-an-der) a big shot Republican from Illinois who would become treasurer of the Republican National Committee.
Kjellander is currently setting up the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul, where Republican nominee John McCain will no doubt denounce corruption and pay-to-play politics, with Kjellander in the wings.
During the testimony last week, Levine said there had been others invited to the Bush White House, courtesy of Kjellander. There was Kjellander's buddy—and political boss—William Cellini, the road builder, hotelier, gaming czar and leader of the Springfield Republicans.
And there was Rezko, the conduit to Democratic Gov. Rod "The Unreformer" Blagojevich, with whom Cellini and Kjellander had business ties. They brought their wives. They enjoyed themselves.
Cellini and Kjellander haven't been indicted. Blagojevich hasn't been indicted, but he reeks of George Ryan, and if he goes down, the Illinois political scorecard will read:
Illinois Governors 4
Chicago Mayors 0...