Blagojevich's Crime: Honesty

[corplinx]

I have damning evidence that my senator sold his vote on a bill in return for his earmarks making it into the bill.

Its quid pro quo thats tolerated, legal, and happens all the time.

I think the point of the article was that its a corrupt culture and what he did wasn't much different than the status quo.

I think its sadly true, but I still think they should make an example of the bum.

 

[RandFan]

I have damning evidence that my senator sold his vote on a bill in return for his earmarks making it into the bill.

Its quid pro quo thats tolerated, legal, and happens all the time.

I think the point of the article was that its a corrupt culture and what he did wasn't much different than the status quo.

I think its sadly true, but I still think they should make an example of the bum.

Horse trading happens. This wasn't merely horse trading though. Blago was trying to profit personally, directly. Typical horse trading might end up providing benefits for a senator but kick backs or personal enrichment, AIU, is explicitly illegal.

You might think that your refusal to pay taxes is equivalent to a non-profit organization not paying taxes but there is in fact an important difference. It's called the law.

Now, I'll hold that position provisionally in case I'm wrong for some reason.

 

[leftysergeant]

You just defend political corruption as usual. Doesn't surprise me in the least.

That makes no sense at all. I see the quoted comment as a suggestion that Blago is a thug who is threatening adverse official acts in order to silence a journalist for doing his job. How you get that being a defense of corruption is beyond most English-speaking people.

Those of us who are attacking Blago do so on the basis that he is abusing his official position. What he tried to do to the journalist is an example of that and, as far as I can see, probably grounds in and of itself to send the dirtbag to jail for extortion.

How can accusing the subject individual of a crime be considered a defense of political corruption? Are you competing for the title of least rational poster on this forum?

 

[drkitten]

How you get that being a defense of corruption is beyond most English-speaking people.

Not at all. Most English-speaking people understand the combination of poor reading skills, worse thinking skills, and outright stupidity quite well.

And for those few who don't, may I introduce exhibit A: reality TV; exhibit B: the guests of the Jerry Springer show, and exhibit C: Bush foreign policy.