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A Cook County judge removed a private law firm that has been representing the Department of Children and Family Services in a criminal case involving a friend of Governor Rod Blagojevich.
Attorney General Lisa Madigan had asked the court to remove the firm of Meckler, Bulger and Tilson in the case of Anita Mahajan, who is accused of billing the state for $2 million worth of drug testing that was never performed. Mahajan and her husband were personal friends of Blagojevich and his wife. Besides being political supporters of the governor, they also did $113,000 worth of real estate business in 2006 with Patti Blagojevich, who is also a real estate agent.
Madigan argued that only her office has the authority to represent the state in court, or to hire those services out. "This order ensures that the interests of the people of the state of Illinois are protected," Madigan spokeswoman Robyn Ziegler told the Tribune. Bruce Meckler, head of the law firm, said that they didn't fight Madigan's efforts. "We’re fine with the judge's ruling," he said, adding that they had no plans to continue representing the state.
Image via Lisa Madigan
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Your future governor.
o.K. I know I'm gonna lose what ever Chicagoist credibility I got, but does any body else think L.M is kina Hwat as in a Hwatie
@ Slap:
It's gonna be Alexi.
Spav: No way. Papa Madigan wants too much to get to the gov mansion by proxy.
That said, anyone have any thoughts on Lisa Madigan? I did not trust her at first because of her dad-I am cynical about any kids of our dear state leaders--but she's made some decent moves, including in Freedom of Information, and I've begun to respect her.
Alexi is the rich version of Manny Flores
Manny will rise, Alexi will not. He's not a bad guy he just lacks the common touch and he's got mob connects that will hurt him.
And I know Lisa Madigan would make a great Gov. with her cute self. But If Blago goes to jail any time soom, then Pat Quinn becomes the new Gov. and he will be more of the reformer and I think he might be able to fend off an attack by Mike Madigan and the Machine. Sure would be interesting!
Spook,
Quinn is a nice guy and has been keeping a low profile while doing good work with vetrens but his temp job as gov when blago goes down wont be extended. I to belive that lisa is doing good work and I was very leary of her 6 years ago. It will be very interesting because obamams seat could be open along with a gov who if not in jail will be very weak, a very interesting 2010.
.....unless Obama gets hosed by the superdelegates. If that happens, he's got next for Governor.
I have it on good authority that Alexi is putting together a run.
He will win over Madigan.
I doubt that Governor would satisy Obama's ambitions.
Spav1, you might be having fun now, but have you seen what meth will do to a women's body?
@curmudgeon
My point is that if he doesn't get to run, its probably the next best thing if he still has Presidential ambitions. It's a hell of a lot easier to win the white house as a governor than a senator (voting records, you know.)
@Celery:
True about governors voting records, but the reason they make better Presidents and candidates is because they are essentially managing the U.S at a micro-level and can campaign on those accomplishments. It is easier for a distractable voting public to say "He improved schools in TX, I bet he can do it in the U.S." then to untangle the myriad of evaluation techniques used on policies sponsored and enacted on the federal level (i.e. No Child Left Behind).
@Spook:
I only do "upper middle class" drugs. That DOES not include METH.
Spav: Well, nearly everyone who follows politics in the state seems to think Alexi is gearing up for a run, at least at some point. That's hardly a scoop.
What specifically makes you think he will beat L Madigan?
Simply making a claim without any support is hardly worthwhile.
That's the Spav1 I know!
Now feel free to admit that you just have a crush on Giannoulias.
And here is a tip, you can catch him playing pick-up B ball at the East Bank Club.
Course I'm sure you're already a member ;-)
I absolutely would Monica Alexi.
He will win beause he will raise more money and has the support of everyone who works out at East Bank. Don't underestimate the cabal of Lawyers, Finance and Media guys that he networks with.
Plus, say what you will, but Illinois is not nearly progressive enough to elect a woman governor. How do you think downstaters react to L? I will tell you: They all think she is a GAY.
Spav: But, I would not see L Madigan as a progressive choice. I would see her election as part of the long history in this state of handing power to children. As well, don't underestimate the power and will of the Madigan clan.
I lived downstate, and still travel there often, as you might as well. I don't really agree with your view about what they will think about having a woman run for gov. And I travel pretty far south in the state, too.
Alexi, as surprising a job as he's done so far (I figured he would fail, so I have low standards) will face questions about this family's bank, and I can't imagine his ethnic name and ethnic look will actually help him much downstate.
Please don't think I support either of them for governor. It is far too soon. I'm just arguing.
Either would be a huge improvment over Blago. One of them will very likely be eyeing a senate run and leave the Gov job to the other.Hynes, madigan and alexi for gov and senate, one will be left out. plus new blood to fill the jobs they will be leaving behind Att. General, Tres. and comptroller. A great idea would be to combine the treasurer and comptroller jobs and save the state a little money but the machine will never go for that.
Alexi will do well over Madigan because he is less attached to the Blago Clusterfuck just by virtue of which office he holds. Attorney Gen is widely seen as being a partner in the dirty work of the Gov's office while Treasurer is seen as more removed almost like a clerical position.
Plus Alexi is young and hot. Plus I want to marry him. He gives me the same general feelings as Bill Clinton with less "daddy issue" involved, and Bill turned out GREAT for me.
And having "too ethnic a name" for downstaters is a retarded argument after "Rod Blagojevich".
Fed Up yes combine the comptroller's Office and get ride of Hynes( he aint new blood) and remember keep Pat Quinn in the equation.
p.s. Why does Chicagoist give Evil Emile Jones such a pass? That dude is spreading his influence into the house of reps!
spook,
I doubt hynes is going anywhere he has been very low key except to push obama on to bigger and better things. I doubt Quinn has the support to take on madigan,alexi,or hynes in a primary. I to believe E. Jones is another machine piece of sh!t. he has stalled ethics laws to benifiet himself and his family. He has as many members of his family on the state payroll and working as subcontractors on no bid projects as the strogers do in the county. The most troubleing thing about E. Jones is he was obamas mentor in springfield and jones is machine hack through and through.
So who hired this private law firm in the first place, and why?
"Attorney Gen is widely seen as being a partner in the dirty work of the Gov's office while Treasurer is seen as more removed almost like a clerical position."
By whom?
I think more people than you realize know that L Madigan is not an Blago fan.
And I don't understand how holding a mere "clerical" position--even if that is just perception--helps win against a person who had a more important job.
Maybe the ethnic argument is retarded, but the Germanic nature of much of southern and central Illinois, I think, would be more wiling to subconsciously embrace a Serbian name that sort of sounds German and masculine rather than a Greek name, including the first name, that comes across as more exotic and feminine.
Fed, yea but if Quinn gets appointed Gov. then he might get reelected. The other cool thing about Lisa is that her whole squade is tight. All pro!
Alexi hired a bunch of hacks
@ Spav - my point exactly. Better for Obama to get away from senate legislation with all kinds of compromises and riders, and on to managing something. Senators have voting records that chase them around for years......Right?
@ matilda - i agree with your point, but offer this: Rod Blago....vich ('i'm so NOT going to take time to google the correct spelling) is a pretty "ethnic" name too, and he managed to pull it off. so who knows?
@Celery:
I agree with your point, but I think the trajectory is Governor, then Senate, not the other way around. Obama would do better to stay in Washington, where is is assured of more national press and can work with/against a Clinton admin if it comes to that.
Celery: Think about this: It pays to be Irish, or have an Irish name in Chicago, doesn't it?
This is just reckless speculation, but I would guess a name that sounds more German might play better in many parts of downstate--probably in a small way, but still better--than a name that does not. Downstate, in general, hasn't known as many Greeks as it has Germans. I realize Blago is Serbian, but his name sounds a bit more German than the name of our treasurer.
Again, this is merely reckless speculation resulting from extreme boredom and my enjoyment of useless arguments.
Matilda:
Everyone downstate thinks Blago is Polish.
Giannoulias is obvioulsy Greek. Since the Olympics were held there, and people like the Olympics, then people will like Alexi.
That is about how much your arguments are making sense today. Shut up.
All this debate regarding whether Alexi's last name will hurt his chances? What the hell, it's not like he's running to be a judge in Cook County. Plus, he's Greek. Not exactly an ethnic group prone to large scale racial slurs, discrimination, and/or general prejudice last time I checked. You would have a hard time convincing me a candidate would face significant prejudice in Illinois if said candidate is of an ethnicity whose mother country qualifies for EU membership. Would you say an Italian would have a hard time getting elected here??
Spav, I might disagree. Governorships make up the immediate past positions of most of the presidents of recent past.....Bush, Clinton, Reagan....and so it goes. And isn't everyone talking about the NY governorship for Hillary if she misses the nomination?
Yes, but no one goes from SENATE to GOVERNOR.
People go from GOVERNOR to PRESIDENT.
That is like Ted Kennedy saying, "I am tired of all this power I have amassed and centered in Washington oh these past 30 years. I am going to go run a marginal state with little trend-setting power so that I can spend my days arguing with a provincial legislature, rural interest groups and the Board of Trustees at Harvard."
Stupid.
Well, Spav, this about sums up your argument: OH FUCKING CHRIST I COULD SOOOO BONE THAT GUY AND THAT IS WHY HE WILL WIN. You sound like a drunk Kappa Kappa whatever who really, really need to get laid before the keg runs dry.
I think it's cute how you speak for everyone downstate, though.
Are you this annoying in real life? I pretty much am, but I believe in being true to oneself, or something like that.
@ spav - i dunno. getting away from a legislative record that is frought with landmines versus making "real progress" (or whatever) for a USA, Jr.? I can see the appeal, that's all. Ted Kennedy wouldn't move, but I betcha Obama would.
And it isn't a terribly novel thought - I'm pretty sure I stole it from Tim Russert at some point.
Um, Matilda, at least one person has gone from the senate to a governorship. John Corzine ring a bell. No one in recent history has done that and then gone on to be president, though.
Sorry, I meant the last comment to refer to Spav1's point, not Matilda's. Going from the senate to a governorship is not unheard of, however. Frank Murkowski left his senate seat to become governor of Alaska. Moreover, there was a lot of speculation Hutchinson would step down from the senate to run as governor of texas (she ended up not doing it in the end and backed out on a self-imposed two-term limit).
Hell, I'd McGreevey Alexi.
That man is handsome. This one girl I've been dating wants to ride him like a rodeo bull. And if she ever pulled it off, I'd shrug and just think, "Fuck, It's Illinois' answer to George Clooney. I can't front on that."