A man who knows true value when he sees it and won’t compromise his principles no matter what

“I’ve got this thing and it’s f——— golden and, uh, uh, I’m just not giving it up for f——— nothing. I’m not gonna do it.”

- Gov. Rod Blagojevich, referring to the vacant U.S. Senate seat for the state of Illinois, to which, under the U.S. Constitution, he could appoint anyone he chose.

What we learn about Blagojevich from this utterly frank and sincere comment, taped surreptitiously by the federal prosecutor, is that he may not be true to the laws of the state of Illinois and the United States, he may not be true to his oath of office, and he may not be true to the people who elected him and whom he is supposed to be serving, but he is damned true to himself and to the truth as he sees it. He has a profession to which he has devoted himself, the profession of corrupt politician, and he follows it heart and soul.

PRINCE HENRY

I see a good amendment of life in thee; from praying to purse-taking.

FALSTAFF

Why, Hal, ‘tis my vocation, Hal; ‘tis no sin for a man to labour in his vocation.

(Henry IV, Part I, Act I, Scene 2

But of course what Falstaff—and Blagojevich—are doing is the very essence of sin. They are taking a true and legitimate value, such as the idea of a man’s vocation, such as a governor’s power and duty to fill an empty U.S. Senate seat, and appropriating it for their own illegitimate desires—using legitimacy to justify illegitimacy, using good to justify evil. It’s the same across the board. Look at how liberals take the idea of justice (each person should get what he deserves) to empower injustice (everyone should have equal results regardless of deserts). Look at how the homosexuals take the central institution of human society, marriage, and appropriate it for their own illegitimate purposes.

- end of initial entry -

Adela G. writes:

You write: He [Blagojevich] has a profession to which he has devoted himself, the profession of corrupt politician, and he follows it heart and soul.

“Heartlessly and soullessly” would more accurately describe the actions of this professional narcissist.

And using the phrase “corrupt politician” to describe any one of a number of Chicago’s elected officials is either comically redundant or richly ironic.

Posted by Lawrence Auster at December 10, 2008 02:03 AM | Send