Delicious Irony: Judge Who Nixed Blagojevich's Game Law approved FBI Wiretap of Crooked Illinois Guv
Delicious Irony: Judge Who Nixed Blagojevich's Game Law approved FBI Wiretap of Crooked Illinois Guv
December 9, 2008
Pop Quiz - the following line is from:
- A Grand Theft Auto cut scene
- The potty mouth of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich
I’ve got this thing and it’s f***ing golden, and, uh, uh, I’m just not giving it up for f***in’ nothing. I’m not gonna do it. And, and I can always use it. I can parachute me there.
The answer, as you might have guessed, is Rod Blagojevich.
The foul-mouthed Guv was picked up on FBI wiretaps trying to figure out how to trade his constitutional ability to name a replacement for Barack Obama's remaining term in the Senate for something of value to himself. The chicanery over the Senate appointment is but one of several corruption charges against Blagojevich.
And, in a yummy twist of fate, U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Kennelly, who ruled in 2005 that Blagojevich's video game law was unconstitutional, was one of two federal judges who authorized recent FBI wiretaps that led to Blagojevich's downfall.
In fact, a reading of the FBI's complaint against Blagojevich shows that both the Guv and his wife have a penchant for dropping the F-bomb. And this is the guy who was so concerned about the mature content in GTA?
In still more LOL-type Blagojevich news, GP reader amuler1 reminds us that - at least according to Jack Thompson - Blagojevich asserted that violent video games were behind February's shooting rampage at Northern Illinois University. In a February 16th press release, Thompson wrote:
Today at 3:55 pm, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was interviewed on the Fox News Channel about yesterday’s massacre at Northern Illinois University. When asked why these school shootings are occurring, the Governor stated, “A lot of people smarter than I can be asked that question, but I believe we have to look to the violent entertainment that glamorizes and motivates and trains people to engage in these behaviors, most especially video games.”
The Governor echoes what Miami attorney Jack Thompson said on Fox News this morning at 10:15 am this same day, as he noted that the Virginia Tech and other school shooters have been immersed in these murder simulators.
At the time we were unable to confirm Thompson's assertions regarding Blagojevich's linking of NIU and violent games, although we have no reason to doubt that Thompson is correct concerning what the disgraced Guv may have said.
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Posted 07/04/09 at 09:24pm
PHX Corp: For those that want to know what i watching it's called man vs cartoon(a.k.a fixing Wile E. coyote's Mistakes one trap at a time by EMERTEC)
PHX Corp: For those that want to know what i watching it's called man vs cartoon(a.k.a fixing Wile E. coyote's Mistakes one trap at a time by EMERTEC)
Posted 07/04/09 at 08:20pm
GoodRobotUs: Went out for my Mum's 65th Birthday, which is the only relevance 4/7 has in the UK for me ;)
GoodRobotUs: Went out for my Mum's 65th Birthday, which is the only relevance 4/7 has in the UK for me ;)
Posted 07/04/09 at 08:18pm
Andrew Eisen: Beach + fireworks + root beer + strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, whipped topping, and pound cake = my Fourth of July!
Andrew Eisen: Beach + fireworks + root beer + strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, whipped topping, and pound cake = my Fourth of July!
Posted 07/04/09 at 07:58pm
GoodRobotUs: Which seems to be the only point Jack proved, that some people find some games offensive. i.e. Nothing.
GoodRobotUs: Which seems to be the only point Jack proved, that some people find some games offensive. i.e. Nothing.
Posted 07/04/09 at 07:57pm
GoodRobotUs: The discussion was supposed to be whether games were dangerous not 'Do you find some games offensive'...
GoodRobotUs: The discussion was supposed to be whether games were dangerous not 'Do you find some games offensive'...
Posted 07/04/09 at 07:55pm
GoodRobotUs: Some agreed, some didn't, but it was their choice to make, not the governments.
GoodRobotUs: Some agreed, some didn't, but it was their choice to make, not the governments.
Posted 07/04/09 at 07:55pm
GoodRobotUs: By asking the audience their opinion, he more or less proved that it's a matter of personal choice
GoodRobotUs: By asking the audience their opinion, he more or less proved that it's a matter of personal choice
Posted 07/04/09 at 07:55pm
GoodRobotUs: Meh, he ended proving Mark's point for him
GoodRobotUs: Meh, he ended proving Mark's point for him
Posted 07/04/09 at 07:26pm
Erik: Jack if you are reading this you are a LIAR. There is no legal weight to the MPAA's ratings.
Erik: Jack if you are reading this you are a LIAR. There is no legal weight to the MPAA's ratings.
Posted 07/04/09 at 07:24pm
JDKJ: I still think my buddy the midget who rides a unicycle backwards while juggling four bowling pins would have been a much bigger hit with that crowd. And he can make up statistics and misinterpret studies, too.
JDKJ: I still think my buddy the midget who rides a unicycle backwards while juggling four bowling pins would have been a much bigger hit with that crowd. And he can make up statistics and misinterpret studies, too.
Posted 07/04/09 at 06:33pm
Alyric: Of course, Mark falls into the common trap about Columbine, which had nothing to do with bullying, etc. See: http://slate.msn.com/id/2099203/?GT1=3256 for a more thorough explanation.
Alyric: Of course, Mark falls into the common trap about Columbine, which had nothing to do with bullying, etc. See: http://slate.msn.com/id/2099203/?GT1=3256 for a more thorough explanation.
Posted 07/04/09 at 06:32pm
PHX Corp: Read this http://www.destructoid.com/sgc-09-liveblogging-the-jack-thompson-debate-138502.phtml#ext
PHX Corp: Read this http://www.destructoid.com/sgc-09-liveblogging-the-jack-thompson-debate-138502.phtml#ext
Posted 07/04/09 at 05:54pm
PHX Corp: JT is afraid of such ban then advocates it That's what i call a total Hypocrite
PHX Corp: JT is afraid of such ban then advocates it That's what i call a total Hypocrite
Posted 07/04/09 at 05:50pm
PHX Corp: AE: JT is a -Bleeping- Jackass
PHX Corp: AE: JT is a -Bleeping- Jackass
Posted 07/04/09 at 05:07pm
Andrew Eisen: JT "knew it would be a good audience." Not what he said on Tuesday.
Andrew Eisen: JT "knew it would be a good audience." Not what he said on Tuesday.
Posted 07/04/09 at 05:01pm
Andrew Eisen: VG cause violent behavior. VG companies influence behavior to get sales. Yeah, that makes sense. (To be fair, the Twitter feed makes deciphering JT's point pretty tough.)
Andrew Eisen: VG cause violent behavior. VG companies influence behavior to get sales. Yeah, that makes sense. (To be fair, the Twitter feed makes deciphering JT's point pretty tough.)
Posted 07/04/09 at 04:52pm
Andrew Eisen: Yes, it's been proposed but as far as I know it has not been passed. Big difference.
Andrew Eisen: Yes, it's been proposed but as far as I know it has not been passed. Big difference.
Posted 07/04/09 at 04:50pm
Cheater87: http://www.gamezine.co.uk/news/formats/xbox360/all-violent-video-games-be-banned-in-germany-$1301757.htm
Cheater87: http://www.gamezine.co.uk/news/formats/xbox360/all-violent-video-games-be-banned-in-germany-$1301757.htm
Posted 07/04/09 at 04:49pm
Andrew Eisen: Far as I know, Germany has not banned all violent video games.
Andrew Eisen: Far as I know, Germany has not banned all violent video games.
Posted 07/04/09 at 04:44pm
Cheater87: Jack wants the US to follow Germany's total video game ban.
Cheater87: Jack wants the US to follow Germany's total video game ban.
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Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Comments
It is a delicious irony, you must taste it! Was GP ever able to find out what Thompson was asserting when he says that the video game industry lied in court?
nah... he always says stuff like that.
As far as I can tell, when you disagree with Jack Thompson, you're wrong. When you're paid to disagree with Jack Thompson, you're lying.
When Jack supports you, then your political career is finished...
The cynical side of videogames (spanish only): http://thelostlevel.blogspot.com/ My DeviantArt Page (aka DeviantCensorship): http://www.darkknightstrikes.deviantart.com/
LOL, they will need also to mouth wash Blagojevich...
The motivational pic...
The cynical side of videogames (spanish only): http://thelostlevel.blogspot.com/ My DeviantArt Page (aka DeviantCensorship): http://www.darkknightstrikes.deviantart.com/
you know what really grinds my axe for this type of scumbag? its not the fact that he tried to ban video games.... its rather the fact when he took $8 million from a children's hospital to build a horse racing track... tell me that's not despicable and i'll show you a shitbag
Jesus Jack Jones Thompson.... is dead... (funeral udruge, followed by Celebrate :D )
WTF?!?! where's that story? O.o
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http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/sections/news/081209_FINAL_complaint_cover_and_aff.pdf
read p.g. 36 and you'll get the full story in this complaint
Jesus Jack Jones Thompson.... is dead... (funeral udruge, followed by Celebrate :D )
It's not his fault! he was obviously playing GTAIV with it's much-publicised "Corruption" mission
Anyone else hearing Penn & Teller in their head?
"And then there's THIS asshole!"
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
Anyone know when the episode JT did with those guys is supposed to air? That's gonna be some good TV!
I believe it is suppose to be the first episode of Season 7, either way it wont be until (I'm guessing) March at the earliest and July at the latest...
Nido Web Flash Tutorials AS2 and AS3 Tutorials for anyone interested.
How to set Xbox 360 Parental Controls
I've been waiting for that one for so long. I love Penn and Teller, and I hate JT. Anyone seen the dolphin episode? LOL.
I love it when corrupt politicians go down in flames. Think of all the other elected representatives that are involved with scandals such as this.
So, let me get this straight. Gamers are the absolute scum of the Earth... and the people who hate us are the ones who are crashing and burning.
I think the gods of gaming are finally fed up with all this nonsense.
---You are likely to be eaten by a Grue.
All the more reason to celebrate Wintereenmas.
Dennis, could you add a comment in there about how the VT shooter never played video games please? I just can't stand an article that says anything about the VT shooting and video games and doesn't mention that there is no evidence that he ever played the things, and that his roommates thought he was weird because he would never play with them because he thought video games were stupid.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seung-Hui_Cho
http://kotaku.com/gaming/hardball/clip-jack-thompson-gets-hardballed-253...
http://www.gwn.com/news/story.php/id/12287/No_Games_Found_in_Shooters_Do...
Wow there is a lot of stuff about that kid online. Only JT ever said anything about videos in high school form what I could find though. Maybe he fabricated it to try to get the guy to shut up so he could get the rest of his point across, either way... no evidence that this guy ever played video games. Hell, even my friend that only played video games when he was younger and barely does now has Sims 2 on his computer.
Nido Web Flash Tutorials AS2 and AS3 Tutorials for anyone interested.
How to set Xbox 360 Parental Controls
Didn't he play Sonic years ago? Although how that translates to the shootings, I can't quite figure out.
300 Episodes and counting: http://www.orangeloungeradio.com/
Oh come on, that's too easy. Sonic shoots about at high speed like a bullet out of a gun! If the link were any more obvious you wouldn't need a crippling mental disability to see it.
Since the city I live is boarderline to Blagojecvich's state, I have been hearing of this news all morning, day, and night in all the local media outlets! I can tell you right now, even St. Louisians don't like this man, and he's from Illinois!
I am so happy this man is exposed for the fake he is! This calls for a celebration!
-Snow_Storm
"We may be human, but we're still animals" -Steve Vai (World's greatest guitarist!)
That is just beautiful... Kudos to the Judge.
Libertarian Republican from Mesa Arizona: MySpace http://profile.myspace.com/32118614 Facebook http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1441642492&ref=name
Oh, and about the Jack Thompson deal, I may have heard Blagojevich was speaking with him after the NIU school shooting. I am going to check any sorces of that and come back with some more infomation
"We may be human, but we're still animals" -Steve Vai (World's greatest guita
Reporters should always list the party to which a politician belongs when they make the news. Even when the news is bad.
This guy is a Democrat and a scumbag.
. . Wisdom begins in wonder. - Socrates . .
Reporters should always list the party to which a politician belongs when they make the news. Even when the news is bad.
................Whyyy?
Game on, brothers and sisters.
Yeah, let's be divisive just for the sake of being divisive. :p
Ha, ha, ha... If you don't already understand the importance there's no reason to explain it to you. And, it has nothing to do with divisiveness.
*edit* - That's not intended to be a sleight at you, I hope you don't take it as one.
. . Wisdom begins in wonder. - Socrates . .
You mean that rule where most of the time news shows put either the (D) or the (R) after a politician's name? I thought they only did that for senators and representatives?
True, they tend to not do that for governors unless the story is about a debate. I'm just glad that yet another rotten apple is getting trashed.
Hunting the shadows of the troubled dreams.
Hipocracy.... so satifying
A corrupt politician, from Illinois...are we really that shocked? Of course im sorry for his family though it sounds like his wife may have been in on it as well.
Forgot about his gaming connection, well done GP *Tips hat*
A corrupt politician, from Illinois...are we really that shocked?
Only by the shear brazenness of this particular politician. Blatantly shopping around for bribes for appointment to the US Senate is a new one. A bloody stupid one as well to do so when he know's he's under scrutiny.
-Gray17
That's not ironic. That's justice.
That should be your signature.
--- Official Protector of Videoland!
Will do, and here I thought I was just meeting my badass quota for the week.
Testing. Sweet.
"That's not ironic. That's justice." - Me
No offense, because I like your quote, but don't you think it makes you appear arrogant to have your signature be a quote from yourself?
"There is no sin except stupidity." - Oscar Wilde
Just take off the "-me" part and it will be good.
--- Official Protector of Videoland!
"Only an idiot quotes himself."-Me.
---
I'm not under the affluence of incohol as some thinkle peep I am. I'm not half as thunk as you might drink. I fool so feelish I don't know who is me, and the drunker I stand here, the longer I get.
Dude do not listen to these guys, keep the -me simply because it does make you look arrogant, internet modesty is highly overrated.
You lousy Americans! Just when Canada starts to have an interesting political season, you have to go and show us up. ;D
---
The Mammon Industry
Yay! Finally some internet "criticism" of Americans I actually don't mind to hear, lol. The internet hates us anymore Even though technically, you're 'American' too, along with the Mexicans. It's not like the US owns the whole continent, lol.
We should ship some of our disgraced politicians your direction once they get out of jail, that way you can sit back and have a good laugh :P
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We're close to having our first african american president, and all these corrupt politicians are beign brought down.
Beautiful.
that guy is like Tony Montana.
One must remember the more corrupt high society( IE the part of society that leads the populace) the more moralistic they get.
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I is fuzzy brained mew =^^=
http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/
Low society is the same way. Look at all the devout Christian rednecks and white trash folk who are wife-beating, gay-hatin', bar-fightin', child abusin' lowlifes.
Sinners pray the loudest.
I live in illinois and its about time he got arrested and i love yummy irony.
Shobidoo, the hardcore gamer
So, we got Eliot Spitzer and then this guy. Sweet, now all we have to do is see if Leland Yee do something way criminal (or very terrorists). I did found out that he shot down a peice of legislation where it could have ban Lead in children's toys. Why would he turn that down? I got a few ideas why:
-He's probably working with the communist government in China. Remember we had many products recall because of high levels of dangerous chemicals. Do you also remember that the computer hackings was thought to came from China, what if he's the one helping with that.
-He's in league with Al-Queda, or Iran.
-Just wait until he do something stupid.
Anyway to answer that pop quiz, I don't think it's from GTA. Nope, it's probably from the movie Scarface, and The Departed. I think this guy was secretly listening to gangsta rap music.
Hi Everyone,
In light of all the events around Blagojevich, I created two Blago games as political satire here:
http://www.headlinegames.com
I beleive it is fitting that the very industry he tried to pass legislation on now has games making fun the situation he is in in the currentl headlines.
Regards,
Shawn Recinto
HeadlineGames.com