Former Illinois Governor Rob Blagojevich pled for mercy and got the book thrown at him. Judge Zagel ignored Blago's pleas about his family being ruined and how sorry he was and slapped a 14 year sentence on the impeached Democrat for trying to sell Barack Obama's vacated senate seat, bribes and pay to play kickbacks, and lying to federal agents. Chicago Tribune: Before pronouncing sentence, Zagel told Blagojevich he had abused the public trust. "When it is the governor who goes bad, the fabric of Illinois is torn and disfigured and not easily repaired," Zagel said. The judge said Blagojevich was clearly responsible for his crimes, not his underlings as the former governor had argued. "He marched them and ruined a few of their careers and more than that in the process," the judge said. While Zagel said he was sympathetic to how the sentence would affect Blagojevich's daughters, he asked, "Why did devotion as a father not deter him? ... Now it is too late." Zagel announced the sentence...(Read Full Post)