Blagojevich Blagojevich Blagojevich

Remember that scene from Being John Malkovich, where John Malkovich goes into his own portal and everyone looks like him, and all they say is "Malkovich Malkovich Malkovich Malkovich Malkovich"? I can't help but think that's not all that different from recently-arrested Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's regular experience of the world.

Everyone in Illinois already knew that Blago is mind-numbingly corrupt. It's frankly a miracle he was re-elected in 2006, more of a testament to weakness in the IL GOP that his strengths as a politician. His approval rating then was around the low 40s; before he was arrested yesterday it was hovering in the 10-15% range. So it came as a surprise to precisely nobody that Blago had been under investigation by the feds for years now and knew about it, but just seemed to not care and went about his daily routine of being a huge jackass. Earlier this year, the state legislature was talking about impeaching him because on top of everything else he's done, he started doing the Bush signing statement thing and was basically either ignoring the substance of bills or inserting his own major legislation in an "amendatory veto". Like I said, he's a huge jackass.

Anyway, back to my original point. In the process of tracking down state budget cut documentation for work, I often have to visit state websites. I've noticed for some time that virtually every official state press release coming out of Illinois has "Governor Blagojevich" in the title. In light of recent events, I thought it'd be amusing to share a chronological listing of state releases. Mind you, this is not a pick and choose sample, but literally every article during a three-week period in November. And these are not Governor's releases, they are official Illinois news releases.

November 25, 2008
Governor Blagojevich Urges Illinoisans to Volunteer Time and Talents during the Holiday Season

November 25, 2008
Governor Blagojevich Approves Illinois Tollway Congestion Relief Green Lanes Plan

November 24, 2008
Governor and First Lady Blagojevich Launch Keep Our Kids Warm and Safe Campaign to Provide Winter Items for Needy Children

November 24, 2008
Governor Blagojevich’s Mortgage Fraud Task Force Moves to Protect Tenants from Eviction

November 23, 2008
Governor Blagojevich Reminds Illinoisans that Services are Still Available after Successful Workforce Outreach Days

November 23, 2008
Governor Blagojevich Urges Skilled Trades Workers to Apply for Illinois’ Home Weatherization Assistance Program

November 21, 2008
Blagojevich Administration Announces State of Illinois’ November “Veteran of the Month”

November 20, 2008
Governor Blagojevich Commends Illinois Tollway for Adopting $1.8 Billion Tomorrow’s Transportation Today

November 20, 2008
Statement from Governor Rod R. Blagojevich

November 20, 2008
Governor Blagojevich Restores Funding for Substance Abuse Addiction Treatment and other Critical Services

November 19, 2008
Governor Blagojevich to Sign International Declaration to Fight Climate Change

November 18, 2008
Governor Blagojevich to Sign International Agreement to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Deforestation

November 18, 2008
Governor Blagojevich Announces Local Governments in Nine Counties Approved for Federal Assistance for September Flooding

November 18, 2008
Governor Blagojevich Announces Plan to Manage Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Deficit

November 17, 2008
Governor Blagojevich Launches Partnership with CareerBuilder.com to Further Assist Illinois Workers

November 17, 2008
Governor Blagojevich Launches Workforce Outreach Days to Connect Illinoisans with Services during Poor Economy

November 17, 2008
Governor Blagojevich Announces Click It or Ticket Enforcement Campaign this Thanksgiving Holiday

November 15, 2008
Governor Blagojevich Encourages Illinois Seniors to Apply for Illinois Cares Rx

November 14, 2008
Governor Blagojevich Proclaims World Diabetes Day in Illinois and Calls for a Stronger Focus on the Growing Diabetes Epidemic among Children

November 14, 2008
Governor Blagojevich Announces Schedule for Illinois Poverty Summit

November 13, 2008
Governor Blagojevich urges people to prepare for dangerous cold temperatures during Winter Storm Preparedness Week

November 13, 2008
Governor Blagojevich Announces Peoria County Approved for Federal Assistance Following September Flooding

November 13, 2008
Governor Blagojevich announces Landmark Lawsuit Settlement Empowering more People with Developmental Disabilities

November 12, 2008
Governor Blagojevich announces John Filan as the New Executive Director of the Illinois Finance Authority

November 12, 2008
Governor Blagojevich Announces Plans for State-of-the-Art Biofuels Production Facility in Northern Illinois

November 10, 2008
Governor Blagojevich to Co-host Governor Schwarzenegger’s Historic Global Climate Summit

November 10, 2008
Blagojevich Administration Offers Financial Assistance to Nurses Working in Veterans’ Homes

November 9, 2008
Governor Blagojevich Announces Nearly $200,000 in Research Grants to Study Alzheimer’s Disease

November 6, 2008
Governor Blagojevich Encourages Those Wanting to Find Birth Parents or Children to Sign Up for the Illinois Adoption Registry during Adoption Awareness Month

November 5, 2008
Governor Blagojevich Congratulates President-elect Obama and Discusses U.S. Senate Seat

November 3, 2008
Governor Blagojevich and Council of Economic Advisors Review Impact of National Slowdown on Illinois