Call me a writer who just loves an underdog and in this case said underdog is Governor Rod Blagojevich who was served with impeachment papers today by the Illinois State Senate shortly after swearing in the new senate body. The main stream media certainly had a field day tearing him down.
As I wrote in my prior piece concerning Gov. Blagojevich, I feel he does not deserve to be impeached when our current president, George W. Bush will skirt any impeachment for war crimes. I know two separate cases, but the crimes committed by Bush scream louder than the ones allegedly committed by Blagojevich. I say allegedly because we are all innocent under the law until a jury of our peers finds us guilty.
I again call your attention to this YouTube.com feed where Governor Blagojevich stood in solidarity with the workers of the Republic Windows and Doors. In that feed you will clearly hear where the governor sought to suspend any future business endeavors with Bank of America and was set to go to court in support of these workers. Incidentally the day he was set to go to court was the day he was arrested.
I truly believe that Blagojevich’s high-profiled appearance with those workers helped save their jobs at the end when I just read via the Chicago Tribune that Serious Materials located in Sunnydale, California is in talks to purchase Republic Windows.
As reported by the Tribune, “Negotiations over that deal are in their final stages, said Mark Meinster, organizer for United Electrical Workers, the union representing the former Republic workers.” They also reported while the deal is close, the decision rests with the bankruptcy judge.
The Tribune also reported absent any mention of Governor Rod Blagojevich, “Surace said he learned of the factory's closure from national media coverage of the workers' sit-in.” Kevin Surace is the CEO of Serious Materials.
Surace commented on these workers plight by stating, “It was very sad to see what looks like it could be a world-class operation just fall on terrible hard times and then all of the workers quite abruptly laid off," While some saw that as a sad time in these workers lives, it was Blagojevich who took action. Ask yourselves this question: When was the last time you saw any governor stand shoulder-to-shoulder with workers who are about to lose their jobs?
Again absent any mention of Blagojevich, the Tribune reported, "Serious Materials contacted the union after media reports about the successful sit-in, which led to an agreement giving each worker roughly $6,000 in unpaid severance, vacation pay and health benefits." Exactly who helped these workers get the benefits they rightly deserved? It was Governor Rod Blagojevich. Again, this is a case of the media out to get Governor Blagojevich and no one is standing up for him except yours truly.
In these past eight-years during the Bush administration, exactly how many jobs did he create? None, unless you are employed at Halliburton, KBR, Bechtel, Black Water, and other contractors associated with the Iraq War.
The Department of Labor and Statistics has reported that the jobless rate stands at 7.2%, but according to Dan Gross of Newsweek who appeared on MSNBC’s 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue on Wednesday spot lighted in the ‘Myth buster’ section of the show the actual rate stands at 14%. Please go to the show’s web site and view the feed titled, “Unemployment stat belies harsher reality” to listen to the full report. There in lies the sorry state of the Bush economy.
So, while the Illinois State Legislature pats themselves on the back for seeking to impeach their governor, it was Governor Rod Blagojevich who just may have saved the jobs of those who worked for Republic Windows by his on-air appearance with them. How many of those legislators came out on that cold day right before Christmas to help save these good American jobs? How many of them called for food and cots to be delivered to these workers as they fought for their jobs?
If anything, Governor Rod Blagojevich deserves a medal in his plight to help save these jobs and now these workers will most likely get if this deal goes through will obtain new jobs, will get to keep a roof over their heads, a salary to feed their families, and medical benefits. Consider that where millions of Americans are losing their jobs coast-to-coast.
To the Illinois State legislature, you are small in comparison and stature by fighting this fight when so many more workers in your state need your assistance. Go ahead and pat yourselves on the back, because I will not.
Authors email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
