Never Forget: Dan Rostenkowski Stamps

Nick Gillespie | August 11, 2010

Corrupt, disgraced, and newly deceased Rep. Dan Rostenkowski (D-Ill.) saw his career unspool over misused campaign funds and pled guilty to two counts of mail fraud and acknowledged creating phantom jobs for staffers and other layabouts. His case helped fuel the GOP takeover of Congress in 1994, as he was among the highest profile bum that voters wanted to boot (the whole House banking scandal, despite its telling bipartisanship, only added more stench to the bonfire).

Rosty wasn't all bad: He helped push NAFTA through, for instance. But he wasn't particularly good either, including backing away from Medicare reform after being cornered by a gang of old folks complaining about having to pay for new benefits (great video here). He became predictably upset at politics in the post-Rosty era because, well, the world didn't end with his fall from power. From the obit linked above:

But he believed in compromise and expressed dismay at the partisanship that descended on Capitol Hill after he left. He was fond of closed-door meetings where political dramatics were shelved in favor of deal making.

"We looked at politics as compromise," Rostenkowski said. "We were going to work together. We were going to get something done. We were Democrats and Republicans but we were also legislators. Politics is war today. Everybody wants to fight. Nobody wants to give in."

"As much as people criticize the back room, the dark room or the cigar or smoke-filled room, you get things done when you're not acting," he told an interviewer. In his day, he said, "we'd argue like hell on the floor of the House of Representatives but we were out playing golf that night."

That's what I want from my elected leaders: Night golfing. Though as a taxpayer, the green fees are always way too steep.

He wanted his epitaph to read "He wrote good law." Ultimately, he helped as much as anyone to make it increasingly difficult to believe that politicians weren't glad-hanginghanding thieves who can't be trusted. Which in its own way is probably a public service.

To get the full story on the stamp above, click here.

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|8.11.10 @ 2:08PM|#

And don't forget Clinton pardoned the son of bitch as he went out the door.

kilroy|8.11.10 @ 2:16PM|#

glad-hanging

Who got hung? Or were they well-hung?

Suki|8.11.10 @ 2:17PM|#

Odd timing too. Wasn't he the last congressman to face what Rangle and Waters are facing? They both desperately want a distraction and this cannot be a coincidence!

Same thing with the death of that Peak Oil guy over the weekend.

Suki|8.11.10 @ 2:19PM|#

Getting serious now, the real big story is the burqa wearing man who robbed a Maryland bank.

☼|8.11.10 @ 2:22PM|#

Let me guess: cable-news wits are calling him the Burqa Bandit?

Suki|8.11.10 @ 2:30PM|#

Haven't caught the local news heads on that one yet. Caught it from some radio network news (ABC or FOX) and it was professional, just the facts.

Suki|8.12.10 @ 7:54AM|#

Looks like this is not that new.

Hugh Akston|8.11.10 @ 2:24PM|#

At least he didn't rob a bank in Manhattan. That would be insensitive.

Suki|8.11.10 @ 2:29PM|#

Ground Zero Burqa bank robber?

Spartacus|8.11.10 @ 2:30PM|#

He was fond of closed-door meetings where political dramatics were shelved in favor of deal making.

I'll bet he was. It makes the paper bags full of cash easier to conceal too.

Suki|8.11.10 @ 2:34PM|#

You know this bandit? Are you two going to the grand opening of Greg Gutfeld's bar together?

Pip|8.11.10 @ 4:08PM|#

You mean The Queer'an?

Suki|8.12.10 @ 7:35AM|#

Suki|8.11.10 @ 2:32PM|#

Or, as ☼ suggests Ground Zero Burqa Bandit.

☼|8.11.10 @ 2:47PM|#

Pundits and retards cannot resist alliteration.
Balloon Boy.
Barefoot Bandit.
Cash for Clunkers.

Suki|8.11.10 @ 3:04PM|#

Zeb|8.11.10 @ 3:11PM|#

Why won't you go away, Suki. You are not funny or interesting.

☼|8.11.10 @ 4:09PM|#

You are not funny or interesting

This critique applies to at least 99.98% of the blogosphere.
Why do you hate the blogosphere, "Zeb"?

slayer of beer|8.11.10 @ 9:42PM|#

Because it is not funny or interesting.

Suki|8.12.10 @ 7:36AM|#

+1.9998

|8.11.10 @ 2:33PM|#

Rostenkowski perfected the art of pocketing campaign contributions. His most famous was owning a building and then charging exorbitant rents to his campaign headquarters to be housed there.

The frustrating thing about Rostenkowski was everybody in his district knew he was a thief but their logic was that he's "our thief" and so they kept voting for him.

|8.11.10 @ 2:43PM|#

That logic sounds strangely familiar.

Mike M.|8.11.10 @ 2:59PM|#

He was just another Chicago democrat machine thug like pretty much all of the democrats are who come out of that filthy, mobbed-up criminal cesspool.

And nothing has changed one iota in all the years since the crook went out the door.

|8.11.10 @ 3:06PM|#

A lot of Detroiters feel the same way about Kwame Kilpatrick. No, I don't understand it either.

T|8.11.10 @ 3:09PM|#

Marion Barry is another example of the "our crook" sub-genre.

TickleStick|8.11.10 @ 4:08PM|#

So is Rangle.

Fist of Etiquette|8.11.10 @ 2:52PM|#

Ha! I remember when those old teabaggers chased Rosty down the street. (I think a few of them called him the n-word.)

|8.11.10 @ 3:04PM|#

ninja?

BakedPenguin|8.11.10 @ 3:05PM|#

That was hilarious.

|8.11.10 @ 3:11PM|#

Necrophiliac.

|8.11.10 @ 3:19PM|#

Nickelback?

BakedPenguin|8.11.10 @ 3:21PM|#

Dude, that's low. Even for Rostenkowski.

|8.11.10 @ 2:53PM|#

"You guys want cake. These guys want cake. That's okay, I want cake, too. Now those guys out there (*waves arm at window, indicating the Great American Taxpayer*) have more fucking cake than they know what to do with. Why should we argue about a little teeny slice, when we can each have a great big slice? (*lowers voice*) Now, here's what we're gonna do...."

BakedPenguin|8.11.10 @ 2:54PM|#

"Corrupt Chicago politician" is redundant. Here are some real stamps honoring another one.

MWG|8.11.10 @ 3:44PM|#

Ha! That's priceless. I love how it says "Presidents of the US" above, then there's a picture of Marilyn Monroe next to JFK... and, is it just me, or is that Monica next Clinton?

BakedPenguin|8.11.10 @ 3:45PM|#

I think you're right. That's hilarious.

|8.11.10 @ 3:17PM|#

That's what I want from my elected leaders: Night golfing.

Ooh... that gives me a great idea for a new action/comedy: "Knight Golf"! It's about a professional golfer named Michael who has a talking golf ball that serves as his caddy. "I wouldn't use a two-iron if I were you, Michael."

BakedPenguin|8.11.10 @ 3:22PM|#

Shouldn't that be his talking golf cart?

|8.11.10 @ 3:26PM|#

I dunno, a talking golf ball would be pretty funny.

"C'mon, hit me! Don't dig up the grass, hit me! Aaaaaaaannddd...SWING! Oh, did I break your concentration? What a helmet! HIT ME!"

BakedPenguin|8.11.10 @ 3:43PM|#

Nacht Boot!

|8.11.10 @ 3:20PM|#

"As much as people criticize the back room, the dark room or the cigar or smoke-filled room, you get things done when you're not acting,"

I want a panic room. So I can hit Dwight Yoakam in the head with a sledgehammer.

|8.11.10 @ 3:31PM|#

I was disappointed in Fincher; that movie could have been much better.

|8.11.10 @ 3:34PM|#

Ya, the best part is in my comment above (sorry for the spoilers everyone).

|8.11.10 @ 3:24PM|#

Night golfing is a Rosty euphemism for getting plastered. In the early 80s, I performed @ The King's Manor in Chicago. Rosty and his entourage attended one evening. Ostensibly, he "played" the front nine before he arrived and the back nine while he was there. A fine night of golfing.

Pip|8.11.10 @ 3:25PM|#

Has this bneen a great 12 months or what?

Kennedy
Murtha
Byrd
Stevens
Rostenkowski

Pip|8.11.10 @ 3:26PM|#

That's gotta be like 200+ Senate years

|8.11.10 @ 4:02PM|#

When Hell fills up - the Dead will walk the Earth.

slayer of beer|8.11.10 @ 9:45PM|#

Does it fill up based on number of people or amount of evil it's trying to contain? I hope it's the former...

Juan Doez|8.11.10 @ 3:28PM|#

Gridlock is the American people's only hope at this point.

cheap watches|8.16.10 @ 5:01AM|#

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Suprashoesweb|9.15.10 @ 11:57PM|#

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mengkd476|11.7.10 @ 1:33AM|#

Ostensibly, he "played" the front nine before he arrived and the back nine while he was there. A fine night of golfing.

Ostensibly, he "played" the front nine before he arrived and the back nine while he was there. A fine night of golfing.rome dvdThe frustrating thing about Rostenkowski was everybody in his district knew he was a thief but their logic was that he's "our thief" and so they kept voting for him.

drop dead diva dvdI dunno, a talking golf ball would be pretty funny.

دردشة|7.5.11 @ 6:50AM|#

thanks

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