Story - The Meade County Messenger


Vol. 117, No. 06	February 11, 2009

To the Messenger:

As someone who was born and raised in Chicago, I’d like to respond to the letter by “Name withheld by request” in the Jan. 28 Messenger.

First: Ex-Gov. Blago has not been indicted for any crime much less convicted by a jury of his peers. He’s innocent until proven guilty. That’s America.

Second: Ex-Gov. Blago’s “crime” was to shuttle some funding around and implement programs that the Illinois Legislature has previously voted down. For that he made some powerful enemies and they got even. That’s Illinois politics.

Third: If Ex-Gov. Blago is found guilty of the alleged federal charges against him, he will join a distinguished group of former Illinois Governors in the slammer.

Fourth: Former Kentucky House Speaker, Don Blanford, went to jail for accepting a $500 bribe, and that’s Kentucky politics. But to impune the reputation of Magistrate Wardrip for providing a service to the county at his cost with the full knowledge and consent of the Fiscal Court is craven. This is like comparing a mole hill to Mount Everest. I’ve known and done business with Steve Wardrip for over thirty years and there is not a more honest and hard working person in this county. Magistrate Wardrip, as well as the rest of the Fiscal Court, give us their time and effort to make this a better place to live. The next time you speak to a magistrate, thank him for his service. Don’t kick him in the backside.

The greatest power broker and machine politician in Illinois was the late Chicago mayor Richard J. Daley, not to be confused with his anti-gun son currently in the job. As part of a distinguished career Hizhonor helped steal the 1960 election for John F. Kennedy. Don’t believe it? I was there. Read “Boss” by Mike Royko, an unauthorized and unflattering, yet true, biography of Mayor Daley. He was a real Illinois politician, he never got caught.

If you want to talk Illinois politics, “withheld,” give me a call. I’m signing this letter and am in the telephone book.

Donald H. Frenzl
Buck Grove Community

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