Blagojevich Indicts Entire Political Process

By: Brian Simpson (Diary)  |  June 8th at 10:57 PM  | 

The opening statements of the trial of former Governor of Illinois Rod Blagojevich (D-in case you forgot) started today.  In a sign that this truly will be one of the great spectator sports, Blagojevich’s attorneys have mounted an interesting defense of their client. Blagojevich’s attorney, Sam Adam, argues in a motion filed this morning that the federal wiretaps that form the bulk of the government’s evidence | Read More »

Politician’s and Their Sense of Entitlement

By: Brian Simpson (Diary)  |  December 7th at 09:31 PM  | 

It happens at the local level too. Board of Aldermen President Lewis Reed is calling on State Auditor Susan Montee to revise a recent audit critical of his use of a city car. In October, Montee issued an audit that tweaked Reed over the “luxury” options in his city-owned Buick Lucerne, including a heated steering wheel and seats. In a city like St. Louis that | Read More »

Scratch My Back and I’ll Scratch Yours

By: Brian Simpson (Diary)  |  December 2nd at 09:56 AM  | 

St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay has received a donation that can only be seen as a little tit-for-tat. Thompson Coburn — which in October was promised a $700,000 incentive package in exchange for keeping its office downtown — gave the mayor’s re-election account $20,000 on Nov. 26, according to filings with the state Ethics Commission. The venerable law firm — a staple of the St. | Read More »