The governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, is becoming a
folk hero. Have you noticed? Among other things, he has succeeded in sticking
his thumb in the collective eye of the politicians, not just in Illinois, but in
D.C. as well. While those politicians run around in apoplectic circles, trying
to figure out how to clip Blago’s wings, he outflanks and outmaneuvers them at
every turn. Resign from office—up yours (and watch as the Illinois Supreme
Court refuses to remove him). Refrain from appointing a replacement for Barrack
Obama’s Senate seat—fahgitaboutit (and watch as the Senate’s Democrats are
forced to seat Blago’s appointment). Impeachment—a mere technicality, a
political hatchet job. After all, we know how bogus Bill Clinton’s impeachment
was (not to mention that he survived it quite nicely, thank you).
Blago is, if nothing else, a lovable rogue, if only because
he’s figured out he doesn’t have to buckle under the pressure of the
“powers-that-be.” He has managed to survive the all-out collective onslaught of
the State of Illinois, the United States Department of Justice and the United
States Senate. Talk about grace under fire! With the full arsenal of state and
federal government aimed at him, what does he do? Goes jogging, of course. Oh
sure, everyone says that someone who’s charged with a crime is innocent until
they’re proven guilty, but we all know that’s an exercise in lip service.
Everyone knows Blago is guilty, if only because everyone has already decided he
is. How can anyone with that much hair, or who reveres Elvis, not be guilty of
something. Right to trial? Just a formality. And yet, many capable criminal law
practitioners believe he may very well not be guilty of any crimes, based on
what has come to light about his conduct so far.
Think about it. We idolize criminals, convicted or not. We
may not admire them, but we sure do erect legends around them. How else to
explain the Bonnie and Clyde phenomenon. Or D.B. Cooper, Jesse James, John
Dillinger, Billy the Kid (or Captain Kidd, for that matter). How about the
entire “Mafia” (a la “The Godfather,” and “The Sopranos”). We even name
products after criminals (e.g., “Captain Morgan” rum, named for the famous
pirate). Sometimes, we even secretly hope they outwit the “authorities,” if
only because we know the “authorities” aren’t always right, and there, but for
the grace of luck, go we. Remember, even Robin Hood was considered a criminal by
the “authorities.” It’s no accident that “true crime” books are perennially best
sellers (especially the kind that have pictures). We are fascinated by anyone
who can commit crimes, and sometimes, for however long, even get away with them.
Don’t get me wrong. We pick and choose which criminals we
idolize. No one idolized Jeffery Dahmer, and yet the film, loosely replicating
his exploits, was a multiple Academy Award winner, and one of the most popular
films of all time. Same for Don Corleone or Tony Soprano.
There’s no telling how much longer Blago will survive the
withering pressure he’s under, both politically and criminally, but in the
meantime we can all watch his exploits and marvel at his chutzpah.
