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The family of Illinois' First Lady, Patti Blagojevich, has come to her defense in the wake of the charges brought against her husband by federal agents. State Rep./sister Debra Mell, Chicago Alderman (33rd Ward)/ father Dick Mell, and brother Rich Mell sat down with NBC 5 for an interview in which they sought to set the record straight on the woman some media outlets have referred to as "Lady Macbeth." Said sister Deb, "That is not my sister. My sister is a good woman, a good mother, a great friend, my closest friend, that's not my sister, no." Ald. Mell, who's relationship with his daughter has been strained since Mell accused the governor of promising positions in exchange for campaign contributions, said, "This is a pressure cooker that she's living in. And right, wrong, indifferent, whether they put themselves there, I don't know. All I know is what I see...She said, as rough as it is, what happened two years ago when her mother died was harder." The family denied any talk of a federal investigation into Patti's real estate dealings.
Family Comes To Patti Blagojevich's Defense
"...hold up that fucking Cubs shit...fuck them.” -- Patti Blagojevich, as quoted in the federal complaint against her husband, Gov. Rod Blagojevich
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Screw the Mells and their TV-friendly grief. Another connected, king-making Chicago family that hardly gives a shit about the normal people. Mell senior deserves blame for helping to elevate Blago. And I am sure Mell senior taught both his daughters how the game is played.
Indeed, Matilda. They know the game. Why else is Patti getting involved in a cussin', screaming match over the phone about the Cubs? What's it to her?... well, other than power and money.
My "fondest" memory of Dick Mell.. him running out of City Council after they ram-rodded mopey ol' Eugene Sawyer into the mayoral seat in that late night power coup after the death of Harold Washington.. Mell ran out screaming "We have a new mayor! We have a new mayor!" as if he was happy for Eugene Sawyer and the city, when in reality they found someone they thought they could control after the battles with Washington.
Sleazebag.
Stealth: Didn't Mell rewrite the city's gun laws recently to protect himself? I forget, and am not sure that was him.
Nice story about Sawyer. I can't imagine what Chicago was like during that period.
patty is a milf.
That's my first time to see Debra Mell, and her demeanor alone in that interview is enough to make me cross to the other side of the street if she was coming down the sidewalk at me. If you really want to help someone out, don't come off as an insane person when doing so.
Vrdolyak & Mell are the two who Blago learned from. It reads to me like Patti was very much behind the push for more money. Patti is the one who has been entrenched in the machine her entire life. Why did they continue to live in a very expensive house when there is a mansion provided for free? That decision seems like something Patti would push for.
According to the Cook county recorder of deeds they have somewhere north of $600,000 in mortgages on the Ravenswood Manor home. Assuming that is a 30 year fixed rate that is a $3,600 monthly payment (and maybe they when with a interest only the is adjusting! Remember Patti is in real estate and would feel like she could play the real estate gain to her advantage). Rod's salary is $155,000 per year and after taxes is probably around $100,000 or $8300 per month. The kids attend a private school so there is another big expense. Basically the Blagojeviches are your standard modern American upwardly aspirational family living beyond their means. Blago stated as much when he talked about the "serious financial pressure" his family is under in the recordings.
Matilda: Yes you are correct Mell failed to register his guns before a certain deadline. He proposed and pushed through a grace period for his guns.
Dopplerd: Thanks for pointing out the Fast Eddie connection. That's important, too.
Someone already explained about the gun thing, so...
Nice story about Sawyer. I can't imagine what Chicago was like during that period.
It was a crazy time but great in a bizarre. And I had the good fortune of writing for newspapers at the time so it was extra insane. That night there were hundreds of people surrounding City Hall, trying to prevent the Vrdolyak group from taking over the city after Washington's death. It was unlike anything I've ever seen in the city, or anyone has seen since. They council was there until almost midnight trying to come up with a suitable replacement (David Orr originally took over and was mayor for like a few hours, but his ascendencde was merely procedural. The council had to name a real replacement. But I do believe Orr had them put his photo up on the wall of Chicago mayors, even though he was mayor for, like, 20 seconds.) Sawyer didn't even want the job, they (the Vrdolyak group) pretty much forcecd him to take it because they saw him as their patsy. There are reports that he was crying at one point. The crowd outside wanted Tim Evans (who I believe is now a judge). When Mell came running out with his "We have a new mayor" stuff, the crowd chant changed to "How much, Sawyer, how much?" alluding to the belief that he was paid off to take the position. But he wasn't a bad mayor given the short time he was in office.
Then there was the time Mell jumped up on a desk in the coucil and started shouting and grandstanding about something, I forget what...
and that is your Chicago political moment for Dec. 11, 2008.
I think they're both coke heads. That explains why she's acting as crazy as he is. I mean, if he's crazy she couldn't catch it from him. So it has to be drugs.
Screw the Mells and their TV-friendly grief. Another connected, king-making Chicago family that hardly gives a shit about the normal people. Mell senior deserves blame for helping to elevate Blago. And I am sure Mell senior taught both his daughters how the game is played.
My sentiments too.
Alarm bells should go off when a good portion of a family are all in political seats. It makes me think of another more violent family business.
@Stealth:
Thank you for that. I LOVE stories of bare-knuckle crook county politics. The complete lack of anything but the most cursory coverage of city hall and springfield these days is just sadness.
Looking at the video, notice what they are wearing. Jeans and sweaters. They're trying to look like JUST YOUR AVERAGE FAMILY as much as they can. Appealing to the public/jury pool at this point, hoping to curry favor and make nice.
Sorry Mell family, your carefully composed video-op isn't going to mean dick compared to your daughter and son-in-law, on tape, selling a senate seat. I just hope they get dragged down too.
Stealth: Great story. Hope you share more as the situation calls for them.
Looking at the video, notice what they are wearing. Jeans and sweaters. They're trying to look like JUST YOUR AVERAGE FAMILY as much as they can. Appealing to the public/jury pool at this point, hoping to curry favor and make nice.
Great catch.
Man, this is the story that keeps on giving ...
I'm very rarely surprised by corruption scandals, they're a matter of course in any government, but this is just breath-taking in the brazenness.
It's also names even the least aware Illinois dweller knows. Tony Rezko was a sad little twerp. this is the governor, on tape, selling a senate seat.
Christmas done come early for the wonks.
Looks like they sent one of their minions to Kohl's and said, "We need sweaters...don't care what kind. Just grab three and get back here as fast as you can."
I would love to hear about what she is like from people who actually know her...classmates, neighbors, bus. associates and the like. I'll bet it is not pretty.
Will Alyssa Milano play her in the TV movie?
Another "my kid is a angel" only "this time" they are white.