-
Pray and Grow Rich
May 16, 2013 | 68 comments
-
Ruthie’s Way
May 2, 2013 | 6 comments
-
A Free and Indivisible Union
April 25, 2013 | 70 comments
-
Revoke Obama’s Peace Prize
April 18, 2013 | 80 comments
-
What the New Atheists Ignore
April 11, 2013 | 103 comments
Another Perspective
Life in the Blagosphere
The Windy City doesn’t have the monopoly on corrupt politicians.
Here we go again. Another corrupt Chicago politician hogging all the headlines. It seems like every time you open a newspaper (or surf the Internet) some columnist is snootily recounting Chicago’s colorful past as a Shangri-la of corruption and political intrigue, from Mayor Levi Boone’s 1855 Beer Riots to the zany antics of Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Manhattanites may be ardent arts and culture snobs, but no one appreciates a good political scandal like a Bears fan.
Just the other day Wall Street Journal readers were treated to the giddy recollections of Chicago native Scott Simon, who reminisced wistfully about the colorful history of Chicago politics. “Chicagoans and Illinoisans,” wrote Mr. Simon, “love political scandal the way that Milanese love opera.”
Speaking as a journalist who just happens to be a downstate Illinoisan, I’ll grant that political scandals are wonderful copy, perhaps even comedy gold. But as a disenfranchised citizen of a corrupt, one-party state ruled by Democratic party hacks (and I mean that in the best way possible) there is little to “love” in these continuous scandals.
Chicagoans, no doubt, will say us outsiders are simply jealous. We know better. First of all, the Windy City doesn’t have the monopoly on corrupt politicians. Though Chicagoans would be loath to acknowledge it, I’ll wager downstate Illinois is easily as crooked as The Second City. Indeed, federal investigations into corruption have a long and sustained history downstate. In recent years, FBI raids on a number of city halls in the metro-east (St. Clair and Madison counties, in particular) have led to the conviction of countless mayors, school board presidents and political party bosses, the chairman of the Republican Party in St. Clair County told one southern Illinois newspaper.
One of the more memorable convictions involved the charismatic slum preacher and erstwhile mayor of Alorton, Callie Mobley. Entering the village (usually to purchase crack), one was greeted by large billboards that read: “Welcome to The Village of Alorton, Where Jesus is Lord. Callie Mobley Mayor.” Mobley’s reign as mayor of Illinois’ poorest community ended in 2000 with her guilty plea for federal income tax evasion. During the mayor’s corruption trial it was revealed that she’d paid herself nearly a quarter of a million dollars in excess salary and forced village employees to perform extensive remodeling work on her home and rental properties.
Before Mobley there was the late Paul Powell, who hailed from the small coalmining town of Vienna. According to Powell’s biographer Robert E. Hartley, the former secretary of state never earned more than $30,000 a year, yet he left an estate worth more than $2 million — $800,000 of it in bills packed into shoe boxes, briefcases and strongboxes in the closet of his hotel suite in Springfield.
And who can forget George Ryan, the supposed corruption-fighting governor now serving six and a half years in prison? Ryan hailed from Kankakee, a city of 6,272 families best known as the hometown of actor Fred MacMurray and Little Orphan Annie creator Harold Gray. Ryan had few ties to Chicago politics, but still managed to “steer contracts worth millions of dollars to friends and took payments and vacations in return” then tried to cover his tracks by lying to the FBI. Seventy-nine former state officials, lobbyists and truck drivers were charged in the investigation, and at least 76 have been convicted.
But lest one should think Illinois’ legislative and executive branches hold a monopoly on corruption, consider the state’s judicial branch. Cook County Circuit Court judges are notorious for accepting bribes (18 county judges were convicted on corruption charges between 1987-1997) while the southern Illinois counties of Madison and St. Clair have long been known as two of the nation’s worst judicial hellholes (havens for plaintiffs lawyers and a horror for big business).
I COULD GO ON AND ON. But the point is Chicago is way too full of itself. Chicagoans like to imagine the rest of the state doesn’t exist, or exists only to provide them with sweet corn for their swank dinner parties and ethanol for their Hummers. Gov. Blagojevich certainly didn’t win any friends downstate when he refused to move from his beloved Chicago to the governor’s 16-room mansion in Springfield. Not that he cared. The fact is Blago was never much interested in what happened outside of Cook County. He only wanted to be Emperor of Chicagoland.
If there is a common theme running through these newspaper stories it is that Illinoisans have grown cynical and indifferent to political corruption. This is nonsense. Speaking for my fellow downstaters, we loathe corruption and scandal and would fain see the Blagojeviches and Ryans pilloried and pelted with rotten eggs on the steps of the state capitol. As for our alleged cynicism, we know what to expect from politicians, no matter whether they hail from Cicero or Cairo. Power corrupts, and it matters not whether one is mayor of Alorton or governor of Chicago. Errr, Illinois. Governor of Illinois.
About the Author
Christopher Orlet writes from St. Louis.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (41) | Leave a comment
More Articles by Christopher Orlet
More Articles From Another Perspective
http://spectator.org/archives/2009/01/13/life-in-the-blagosphere
Follow us:
ADVERTISEMENT
SPONSORED LINKS
FLASHBACK TO: 1995
-
Pope Culture
A man of faith in a godless age is hitting Americans where it hurts.
-
Why the GOP Does Not, Like, Totally Suck
Mr. and Mrs. American Spectator Reader, let P.J. O’Rourke talk sense to your kids.
-
Dames at Sea
-
In the Absence of Guns
In Britain, defending your property can get you life.
-
The Metaphysical Martini
-
Counting the Costs of Clintonism
The debacle of this president’s administration is both a cause and a symptom of the decline of American values. Unless Congress impeaches him, that decline will go on unchecked. An eminent jurist surveys the damage and assesses the chances for the recovery of our culture.
-
Chuck McHagel
It won’t take long for conservatives to scratch this presidential wannabe off their 2008 scorecard.
-
The Legacy of Old John and Mother Fresh-Roasted
-
It’s the Best Time of the Year
The American Christmas, like the songs that celebrate it, makes room for everybody under the rainbow. Is that why so many people seem to be hostile to it?
-
The Bush Crack-Up
Was the President done in by the economy, or by the politics of the economy?
Clip of the Day
ADVERTISEMENT
Melvin| 1.13.09 @ 7:00AM
In today's times political corruption is the epitome of success. As one college student penned, "He'll do what ever it takes to be successful," and if that meant cheating on college exams? The answer was quick and without any remorse, "Yes."
Alan Brooks| 1.13.09 @ 8:26AM
no consensus on morals, therefore no morality, hence no virtue.
we are free falling in nihilism. so is anyone really surprised at political corruption? it would be surprising if Blago wasnt a crook, surprising if Chicago wasn't corrupt.
Deborah | 1.13.09 @ 9:23AM
As one who grew up in southern Illinois, I know my friends who are left there are aghast at the corruption in their state. And yet, many in the state and the country at large have no qualms about giving yet more power to government. Go figure?
Rod| 1.13.09 @ 10:21AM
From someone who grew up in southern Illinois, Madison County specifically, and lived outside Chicago for three years before moving away permanently in 1977 nothing surprises me. Everytime I visit my mother, who still lives in Madison County, the papers are filled with the latest ongoing corruption investigation or trial of some politician. Has East St Louis had a mayor in the last 20 years who hasn't had corruption charges filed against them? When truth, morals, and personnal responsibility are denigrated and people can vote themselves favors then they will get what they deserve. Unfortunately, we who do not agree suffer the consequences. The battle goes on.
Joe| 1.13.09 @ 10:22AM
For decades we Louisianans prided ourselves as being recognized as the most politically corrupt state in the Union. Now we have been surpassed by Illinois. A corrupt Governor, a corrupt Chicago Mayor, two corrupted traitors as Senators, and now a corrupt President Elect. Oh woe is me, our star has fallen.
Robert| 1.13.09 @ 10:25AM
The plaintive cry, "...we loathe corruption and scandal" rings hollow. You keep voting these jerks in. Stop complaining and do what's necessary!
Alan Brooks| 1.13.09 @ 11:01AM
no, we wont do whats necessary because again, and again, theres no morality, no community at any level.
you wont ever clean up govt, you will merely once in a while mop the floor.
is that too pessimistic?
No, its too optimistic.
Marc Jeric| 1.13.09 @ 3:41PM
What we have is a government of the lawyers, by the lawyers, and for the lawyers - the only country in the world like this. Why?
Germany has 15,000 lawyers, Japan 10,000, and Great Britain 8,000; we have in the USA 1,100,000 lawyers. That is one reason. The other reason is that the USA is the only civilized country in the world where you can sue anybody and if you lose it will cost you nothing; in all other civilized country the plaintif automatically pays not only his costs but both the direct and indirect cost incurred by the defendant.
Now - how many of these environmental and discrimination and health suits there would be if the loser had to pay?
Interloper| 1.13.09 @ 3:59PM
Yes, let's not forget George Ryan, who was the Republican governor of of Illinois from 1999 until 2003. As is true of a substantial share of the cast of the corrupt there, Ryan was a party leader of the GOP well-known for his largesse to other Republicans.. (Funny that Christopher Orlet missed that fact, eh?) Gov. Blagojevich is a Democrat, but that is hardly probative on the issue of wrongdoing.
In Ohio, on the other hand, the cast of the corrupt is almost exclusively Republican.
I appreciate a likely David Duke supporter bringing up Louisiana. Only time will tell if its record of bipartisan corruption is truly over or just taking a hiatus.
Jim| 1.13.09 @ 4:57PM
Let's look at the practical side. Democrats have no problem voting for corrupt politicians. Look how many voted for Bill Clinton (Troopergate, Monica, Lincoln Bedroom rental, etc.), Hilary Clinton (Filegate, Travelgate, Rose Law firm Billing Records, Cattle Futures, etc.), William Jefferson (Mr. Cold Cash), Marion (Crack) Berry, I could go on but you get the point. The media only cares about republician scandal. Liberals get a pass from the media and their supporters don't care.
DaveS| 1.13.09 @ 5:02PM
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz - so, what else is new?
Interested Conservative| 1.13.09 @ 5:22PM
There goes Interloper again.
Do you know anything of Ohio politics? Please compare the specifics of Republican corruption with democrat corruption. I'm betting you'll miss both, by 20 or more years in either case.
For history's sake, what city has three major political parties and why? (hint: not NY, it has four)
Later.
ruth| 1.13.09 @ 11:31PM
Interloper hates corruption, oops, except when it's in his party--and that's been a lot these days. Even the Treasury nominee is corrupt--didn't pay his taxes. That's a good one! Don't these people know how to vet their nominees, or are ALL of the democrats dirty? Hmmmm?
Interloper| 1.14.09 @ 3:03AM
Interloper can actually DEFINE corruption. Hint: Failure to calculate taxes on income that is reported accurately is not corruption. An intention to deceive is an element in corrupt acts.
ruth| 1.14.09 @ 3:53AM
I bet you can define corruption; your party is steeped in it. Always making excuses for your crimes.
paul| 2.3.09 @ 7:43PM
The real issue is that you have lot your civil right of voting, and it is been done by a vote broker.
Pingback| 10.25.09 @ 3:02PM
Shot in the Dark » Blog Archive » Misplaced Priorities links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
fghgf| 1.11.10 @ 2:06AM
FLV to WMV Converter,
Free FLV to WMV converter
Trackback| 1.20.10 @ 8:21PM
credit repair al, on credit repair al, links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
wangsir| 4.3.10 @ 5:51AM
Trustworthy Blu ray Ripper for Mac is the best software that allows Mac users to rip Blu ray DVD on ther Mac OS X (including snow leopard)