Rod Blagojevich: one of the greatest public displays ever of behaviors indicating alcoholism
Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich: His God-Complex Indicates Alcoholism
In the latest of a series of scandals emanating from the Illinois governor’s mansion, Rod R. Blagojevich, 51, and his chief of staff John Harris, 46, have been charged with, among other extraordinary acts, solicitation of bribery in connection with an attempt to sell the Senate seat recently vacated by President-elect Obama.
In “How to Spot Hidden Alcoholics: Using Behavioral Clues to Recognize Addiction in its Early Stages” I describe several key early-stage generic clues to alcoholism, including a “Supreme Being” complex and sense of invincibility rooted in egomania. Here are a few of the specific egomaniacal power-seeking symptoms that may be relevant in explaining Gov. Blagojevich’s otherwise inexplicable behaviors:
1) Is employed in an occupation that allows one to wield power
2) is a great liar
3) wields power over others capriciously (or attempts to do so)
4) regularly uses obscenities
5) has a “rules don’t apply to me” attitude
6) behaves in an unnecessarily reckless fashion
7) engages in felonious behavior
8) uses twisted logic to win an argument, get one’s way or justify one’s actions
Let us view the Governor’s words and behaviors through the lens of these clues. Keep in mind that several indicators are required to suggest that alcoholism is the best explanation for the behaviors, and without absolute proof of addictive use the odds must be capped at 80%. We’ll begin by stating the obvious: as a politician, clue number 1 is satisfied.
Blagojevich, a Democrat, ran in 2003 on an anti-corruption platform for the spot vacated by former Republican Governor George Ryan, now serving a six-year prison sentence for racketeering and fraud charges, the sordid story of which is recounted in the “runners-up” section of the May 2006 Thorburn Addiction Report at http://www.preventragedy.com/pages/TAR/020.may06.html. If the accusations against Blagojevich prove true, the fact that he got elected under the pretense of being eager to clean up Ryan’s mess satisfies clue number 2: he had to be a great and prolific liar to win the election.
While Blagojevich has reportedly been under investigation by the FBI ever since the 2003 election, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said that federal investigators only recently began bugging his campaign offices and home phone. When he announced the charges, Fitzgerald called the two-term governor’s actions “the most staggering crime spree in office I have ever seen” and said he is guilty of “appalling conduct” that “has taken us to a truly new low.” Special agent-in-charge of the FBI’s Chicago office, Robert Grant, said colleagues are “disgusted and revolted” by the case. According to the 76-page FBI affidavit, Blagojevich:
Conspired to sell or trade the Senate seat vacated by President-elect Obama for the personal benefit of himself and his wife Patti. Fitzgerald alleges he wanted “tangible and up front” cash in return for appointing Obama’s successor. If true, this qualifies Blagojevich under clues 3, 5 and 7—capricious use of power, a “rules don’t apply to me” attitude and the commission of one or more felonies.
Said, “I want to make money,” adding that if he was not going to get anything of value for the seat, he would appoint himself as Senator. This provides more corroboration for clue 3.
Also said, the seat “is a f—— valuable thing; you just don’t give it away for nothing;” “…It’s a f—— golden, and, uh, uh, I’m just not giving it up for f—— nothing….And I can always use it.” Clue number 4, the propitious use of foul language, is satisfied in spades.
Called for the Chicago Tribune, whose editorial writers often criticized Blagojevich, to dump them, saying: “Our recommendation is to fire all those f—— people, get ‘em the f— out of there and get us some editorial support.” This provides more evidence for clues 3 and 4, which require attempts at wielding power capriciously and the use of gutter language.
Said that Obama wanted an unnamed candidate for the seat, but “they’re not willing to give me anything except appreciation. F— them,” adding to behavioral clues 3, 4 and 5.
Blagojevich committed brazen acts while knowing he was being watched. Such behavior is exceedingly reckless, satisfying clue 6. After his arrest, he attempted to explain the words he was quoted as using in the FBI affidavit as not meaning what we mere mortals would think they would mean, satisfying clue 8, the use of twisted logic in an attempt to justify one’s misbehaviors.
As Fitzgerald put it, “The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering.” The degree of hubris and delusions of grandeur, which are also behavioral and attitudinal clues to alcoholism, are also stunning. The government alleges in the affidavit that he was considering appointing himself to the Senate, hoping to avoid impeachment, rebuild his career, polish his image and make contacts that might pay off after leaving office. He figured he could rehabilitate his reputation and build his power base in a bid for a 2016 presidential run. He believed this was possible despite talk of impeachment and an approval rating that had already plummeted to 13% in the weeks leading up to his arrest.
Incredibly, he is also accused of attempting to bribe the CEO of Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago, demanding $50,000 in exchange for about $8 million in state funding. He threatened, in a style worthy of Venezuela’s de facto (and I believe psychotropic-drug addicted) dictator Hugo Chavez, to stall the sale of Tribune-owned Wrigley Field if the Chicago Tribune newspaper failed to fire editors who had been critical of the governor. He expressed frustration at being “stuck” in his $177,000 per year job as governor, complaining he is financially “hurting” and needs to consider his family. Financial disarray and lack of savings in high income earners is an excellent clue to alcoholism, as described in numerous stories throughout “Drunks, Drugs & Debits: How to Recognize Addicts and Avoid Financial Abuse.” This is especially significant considering his real estate broker wife’s annual income, largely because of her connections, was as much as several hundred thousand dollars in recent years.
As discussed in the Top Story on Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo in the July 2007 TAR, journalists and historians generally don’t understand alcoholism or its relevance and, therefore, rarely report heavy drinking in their subjects. In the May 2006 TAR, a compelling case was made for alcoholism in Governor Ryan, and there’s no question about the diagnosis in another Illinois cellmate alumnus, former Rep. Daniel Rostenkowski. In the case of Governor Blagojevich, the behavioral indications are overwhelming. However, to up the odds to 100% (and, therefore, explain—but not excuse—his behaviors), proof of heavy drinking or use is required. While such proof is elusive, Blagojevich exhibits a physical clue that is rare among non-alcoholics, which author James Graham in “The Secret History of Alcoholism” refers to as the “chipmunk” look. Graham explains: “Heavy drinking can cause enlargement of the salivary glands, leading to swelling in the cheek area which gives the drinker a facial appearance suggestive of a chipmunk.” He points out that the late alcoholic Senator John Tower had this symptom, as did W. C. Fields. So does, in my opinion, Rod R. Blagojevich, which suggests that his behaviors are rooted in—and best explained by—alcoholism.