Corruptocrat alert: Blagojevich taken into custody by FBI; conspired to sell/trade Senate seat, HHS position, stifle newspaper; Team Obama contradicts itself
Scroll down for updates…
All that grandstanding yesterday by Illinois Dem. Gov. Rod Blagojevich over the Republic Windows and Doors plant closure was smoke and mirrors to distract from his corruption scandal.
The FBI was keeping its eye on the ball.
Blagojevich was taken into custody today by federal agents, the Chicago Tribune reports. The dirtbag details, which prosecutors call “staggering:”
Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff John Harris were arrested today by FBI agents on federal corruption charges.
Blagojevich and Harris were accused of a wide-ranging criminal conspiracy that included Blagojevich conspiring to sell or trade the Senate seat left vacant by President-elect Barack Obama in exchange for financial benefits for the governor and his wife. The governor was also accused of obtaining campaign contributions in exchange for other official actions.
Blagojevich was taken into federal custody at his North Side home this morning.
On the issue of the U.S. Senate selection, federal prosecutors alleged Blagojevich sought appointment as Secretary of Health and Human Services in the new Obama administration, or a lucrative job with a union in exchange for appointing a union-preferred candidate.
Blagojevich and Harris conspired to demand the firing of Chicago Tribune editorial board members responsible for editorials critical of Blagojevich in exchange for state help with the sale of Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs baseball stadium owned by Tribune Co.
Blagojevich and Harris, along with others, obtained and sought to gain financial benefits for the governor, members of his family and his campaign fund in exchange for appointments to state boards and commissions, state jobs and state contracts.
“The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering,” U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said in a statement.
“They allege that Blagojevich put a ‘for sale’ sign on the naming of a United States senator; involved himself personally in pay-to-play schemes with the urgency of a salesman meeting his annual sales target; and corruptly used his office in an effort to trample editorial voices of criticism.”
***
Time to play: Name that party!
***
The 12-page USDOJ release is here. The intro:
A 76-page FBI affidavit alleges that Blagojevich was intercepted on court-authorized wiretaps during the last month conspiring to sell or trade Illinois’ U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama for financial and other personal benefits for himself and his wife. At various times, in exchange for the Senate appointment, Blagojevich discussed obtaining: a substantial salary for himself at a either a non-profit foundation or an organization affiliated with labor unions; placing his wife on paid corporate boards where he speculated she might garner as much as $150,000 a year; promises of campaign funds – including cash up front; and a cabinet post or ambassadorship for himself.
Just last week, on December 4, Blagojevich allegedly told an advisor that he might “get some (money) up front, maybe” from Senate Candidate 5, if he named Senate Candidate 5 to the Senate seat, to insure that Senate Candidate 5 kept a promise about raising money for Blagojevich if he ran for re-election. In a recorded conversation on October 31, Blagojevich claimed he was approached by an associate of Senate Candidate 5 as follows: “We were approached ‘pay to play.’ That, you know, he’d raise 500 grand. An emissary came. Then the other guy would raise a million, if I made him (Senate Candidate 5) a Senator.”
On November 7, while talking on the phone about the Senate seat with Harris and an advisor, Blagojevich said he needed to consider his family and that he is “financially” hurting, the affidavit states. Harris allegedly said that they were considering what would help the “financial security” of the Blagojevich family and what will keep Blagojevich “politically viable.” Blagojevich stated, “I want to make money,” adding later that he is interested in making $250,000 to $300,000 a year, the complaint alleges.
On November 10, in a lengthy telephone call with numerous advisors that included discussion about Blagojevich obtaining a lucrative job with a union-affiliated organization in exchange for appointing a particular Senate Candidate whom he believed was favored by the President-elect and which is described in more detail below, Blagojevich and others discussed various ways Blagojevich could “monetize” the relationships he has made as governor to make money after leaving that office.
Some details of Blago’s pay-to-play schemes:
The charges include historical allegations that Blagojevich and Harris schemed with others – including previously convicted defendants Antoin Rezko, Stuart Levine, Ali Ata and others – since becoming governor in 2002 to obtain and attempt to obtain financial benefits for himself, his family and third parties, including his campaign committee, Friends of Blagojevich, in exchange for appointments to state boards and commissions, state employment, state contracts and access to state funds. A portion of the affidavit recounts the testimony of various witnesses at Rezko’s trial earlier this year.
The charges focus, however, on events since October when the Government obtained information that Blagojevich and Fundraiser A, who is chairman of Friends of Blagojevich, were accelerating Blagojevich’s allegedly corrupt fund-raising activities to accumulate as much money as possible this year before a new state ethics law would severely curtail Blagojevich’s ability to raise money from individuals and entities that have existing contracts worth more than $50,000 with the State of Illinois. Agents learned that Blagojevich was seeking approximately $2.5 million in campaign contributions by the end of the year, principally from or through individuals or entities – many of which have received state contacts or appointments – identified on a list maintained by Friends of Blagojevich, which the FBI has obtained.
The affidavit details multiple incidents involving efforts by Blagojevich to obtain campaign contributions in connection with his official actions as governor, including these three in early October:
After an October 6 meeting with Harris and Individuals A and B, during which Individual B sought state help with a business venture, Blagojevich told Individual A to approach Individual B about raising $100,000 for Friends of Blagojevich this year.
Individual A said he later learned that Blagojevich reached out directly to Individual B to ask about holding a fund-raiser;
Also on October 6, Blagojevich told Individual A that he expected Highway Contractor 1 to raise $500,000 in contributions and that he was willing to commit additional state money to a Tollway project – beyond $1.8 billion that Blagojevich announced on October15 – but was waiting to see how much money the contractor raised for Friends of Blagojevich; and
On October 8, Blagojevich told Individual A that he wanted to obtain a $50,000 contribution from Hospital Executive 1, the chief executive officer of Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago, which had recently received a commitment of $8 million in state funds.
When the contribution was not forthcoming, Blagojevich discussed with Deputy Governor A the feasibility of rescinding the funding.
The Smoking Gun has an excerpt of the criminal complaint. The entire brief is here.
***
More: Meet Patty “F’ing” Blagojevich.
Fun fact from Tom Elia: “This makes for the fourth out of the last seven elected Illinois governors to be indicted since 1960 (Otto Kerner, Dan Walker, George Ryan, and Rod Blagojevich) … since 1972, 28 Chicago alderman have been convicted of crimes. If this number was extrapolated to the US House, it would be as if over 240 congressman had been indicted in the same period.”
Update 3:41pm Eastern. Blago is free on his own recognizance.
Update 4:25pm Eastern. Obama and his team contradict each other on who knew what when.
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Trackbacks
- BREAKING NEWS: Illinois Gov. Blagojevich Arrested on Corruption Charges! « Jane Q. Republican
- Breaking: Illinois Gov. Blagojevich taken into custody | Right Voices
- The Jawa Report
- http://michellemalkin.com/2008/12/09/corruptocrat-alert-blagojevich-taken-into-custody-by-fbi-conspired-to-selltrade-hhs-position-stifle-newspaper/ « Goodtimepolitics
- Gov. Rod Blagojevich Arrested by FBI Agents « Goodtimepolitics
- SHOCKER: Chicago Politician Is Corrupt « The Forum
- Another Obama Pal does the Perp Walk « The Liberty Boys
- Stuck On Stupid
- Obama Suppporter Democrat Illinois Governor Blagojevich Arrested By FBI | Stuck On Stupid
- Bloodthirsty Liberal » Just Another Person in His Neighborhood
- Democrat=Socialist
- Does The Blagojevich Bust Count As A Ricochet Near Obama? | Democrat=Socialist
- The Other McCain: FBI arrests Obama ally
- Another Wrench Thrown Into the Chicago Political Machine « Trust, But Verify
- I Believe In Patrick Fitzgerald : Political Capital
- This ain’t Hell, but you can see it from here » Blog Archive » This is what corruption looks like
- Governor Blagojevich (D-IL) Arrested | Axis of Right
- And Obama’s first pardon goes to… UPDATED « musings from the disloyal opposition…
- Musing Minds » Blog Archive » Blagojevich Arrested!
- Political Party Poop
- A Sweet Story - and other news « Being Fed
- Elephant Owners » Blog Archive » Corruption in Illinois. Surprised?
- The Irascible Chef » Chicago Politics—Change We can Count on!
- Balgojevich & Obama - Links? | RightSidePolitics.com
- MishMashZone » Illinois Govenor Busted: Old Style Chicago Politics Still Alive
- Kerfuffles :: Obama’s Senate Seat on Ebay :: December :: 2008
- Governor accused of “selling” Obama’s seat (updated) | skewred.com
- Rod Blagojevich, Illinois Gov Arrested… Barack Obama’s Arrest Is Probably Not Far Off… : P.U.M.A
- As Illinois Governor, Rod Blagojevic is arrested, is Barack Obama next? : P.U.M.A
- DEMOCRAT Gov. Rod Blagojevich Arrested « Decidedly Right
- Welcome to Chicago America | Dabubbler.com
- The Wide Awake Cafe » Ye Gods and Little Fishes! There’s Corruption in Chicago!
- Contracts Crisis Solved! « No 634
- "Mother F****er" | Hennessy's View
- Blagopalooza! Summary of Illinois Governor’s Senate-for-Sale Scandal « Jane Q. Republican
- This is bleeping golden! Blagojevich tries to sell Obama Hussein’s senate seat! | Fire Andrea Mitchell!
- Hope and Change: Questions Come Up on Obama Blagojevich Relationship : Stop The ACLU
- ‘Okie’ on the Lam » Blog Archive » Illinois Governor Arrested By Federal Agents — My, My, My . . .
- Obama, I know nothing, nothing… « Riggword Weblog
- Speaking Of Corrupt Democrats… « The Forum
- Opps! Illinois Dem. Gov. Rod Blagojevich In HOT Water « Dianej’s Weblog
- THE YELLING BOX › Blagogone
- SOS Poll: Change You Can Believe In? Is Obama Just Another Corrupt Politician From Chicago? | Stuck On Stupid
- Illinois: Business as usual? « Mark Epstein
- Tel-Chai Nation
- Steynian 295 « Free Canuckistan!
- Seat for sale « Right Minded Online
- Jackson “5″ And Obama’s Moonwalking « Blog Entry « Dr. Melissa Clouthier
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“That’s not the Rod Blagojevich I know” – B. Obama
but but but Republicans do it too wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Let’s play: “Identify the Party!”
I can’t wait to see lgm and chapoutier twist this into “proof” that liberal Democrats aren’t corrupt.
There is something particularly sweet about this execution of justice. Maybe “hope and change” really are coming to politics?
LMC, you beat me to it. Also, you’re not the last, I’m right there with you, but we are few and far between here in Taxachusetts.
I keep telling you about Chicago politicians. Now do you believe me?
Maybe he and George Ryan can share a cell.
If only the FBI and other law enforcement people are this efficient in watching out for other crimes in Chicago….
Today is a great day. Local Chicago TV news hinted that Blago knew this was coming and was grabbing all he could before it went down.
Feds forced into action by Blago phone tap claim that he intended to take vacant Obama senate seat for himself.
Hooray!
As an Illinois and Chicago resident, I can say it’s about time!!
Rogue Cheddar – Nice to meet another Massachusetts Conservative.
Did you guys notice how none of the media stories mention that he is a DEMOCRAT?
They conveniently left that part out.
Thanks Michelle, even though I had guessed, I had to come to your site to confirm that Blagojevich’s name should have a (D) behind it. I wasn’t finding it in the MSM articles.
Yes, but we know Chicago politics has NOTHING to do with conspiracies
This news has stunned me!! Not because I am surprised by the “news” that Chicago has the most corrupt politicians in the country, but that they are actually being held accountable! I am so encouraged to know that the FBI is not intimidated by the fact that the new President-elect is also a Chicago politician. Maybe now they will start investigating him!
I doubt anyone will see a (D) next to his name, although an erroneous (R) is highly likely.
The FBI had to act now. Come January 21, they would have to look the other way.
Bump, bump, bump, …..another one under the bus.
Bump, bump, bump, ….. another one under the bus.
And another ones gone, and another ones gone, another one under the bus…..
That does not make any sense whatsoever. However, I eagerly await your twisting this into “proof” that all liberal Democrats are corrupt. But don’t worry. I am sure you won’t be alone here.
Well, they didn’t need to put that in. It was obvious. How many republicans do you know in Illinois?
Not many.
I really doubt that this was the first time he tried to sell the Senate seat. Those divorce records just don’t just unseal by themselves…
So when is Oprah going to have an exclusive interview with Blago?
I live in IL, I dont even bother with the IL GOP. My campaign contributions always go out of state.
The slimy ba$tard$ thought they already had it all wrapped up didn’t they?
Wonder what else might turn up if the FBI keeps shaking the bushes and turns over a few more rocks. I hope they get into the dealings of ACORN in several states including my own Indiana. Of course Blagojevich is just an isolated case and was caused by overzealous agents and prosecutors.
I bet Obama makes a few ‘friendly’ changes to the FBI command structure after his Jan. 18th coronation.
They are still going to have a problem when obama fires all of the US attorneys, leaving no one to prosecute the case…
This is the guy that spent 2 years investigating the Rove-Plame-Wilson scandal, conspiracy, cover-up only to come up with some ridiculous perjury charges against Libby, much the the Dems dismay. Looks like another lousy Fitzmas for the Dems.
His hair alone is reason enough to arrest him. typical Illinois corruption. Now we get it on a national scale.
Memo from Barry to Rod:
Man, you sure are sloppy!
I just have to say that I laughed out loud when I heard this on the radio this morning while taking my daughter to school. Not because it’s funny, just because I know that the libs will be scrambling on this one. Kinda nice to be out of the hot seat for a change.
BTW, the station did mention he is a D.
I thought I smelled something over here in Missouri…
Deadeye:
As I commented on Rottie,
Recently Cisco and John on WIND560 suggested that if Blogo got arrested he COULD share a cell with George Ryan.
George could comb Rod’s hair and they could reminisce about the good old days.
LOL
Good grief!!! Can any good ever come out of CHICAGO POLITICS??? This is not some SMALL ASSEMBLYMAN… This is the head of STATE GOVERNMENT we’re talking about… I hope, if found guilty, they hang him by his BUSTER BROWNS… For PET’S SAKE GOV, “ALL THE KING’S MEN” was just a movie!!! You surely get the government you deserve…
It’s not surprising, but the TV at work is tuned to CNN and I watched for a few minutes. Not once did they mention Blagojevich is a democrat, but they managed to work in a comparison to a former “Republican” governor who been charged with corruption. The talking head repeated it several times.
Illinois = 3rd world corrupt dysfunctional gov’t.
But but that would be wrong and require years worth investigations form congress… Oh never mind…..
Btw-Gov. Hojo(Howard Johnson) was picked up in the Ravenswood area of Chi-near where I live.
As usual…he wasn’t in Springfield.
With hair like that, I am sure he will do just fine…in prison.
Rod Blagojevich, Kwame Kilpatrick, Charlie Rangel, Sharon Pratt Dixon, John Murtha, William Jefferson, Diane Feinstein, Harry Reid…
… and yet, the phrase ‘Culture of Corruption’ does not seem to have currency in the current political climate.
What is it with corruption of Illinois high level officials, especially governors? I grew up in Chicago 50 years ago. As a child I remember some guy, maybe sec of state of Ill, with a shoebox full of money in his closet. The level of corruption is just amazing.
Looks like we have a good candidate for the first presidential pardon come January.
“Land Of
LincolnCorruption”It goes back to the mob.
Not all, but a trend is developing.
I’ll have a smile on my face all day.
but Democrat is such a precious word…we just can’t utter its sweet name..BOFLH
BOFLH-BARFING ON FLOOR LAUGHING HYSTERICALLY
yes, yes, yes, we know all that, but, do you have any comments about the article, and the Governor in particular? (holds breath in anticipation)
My sentiments exactly.
Mark this: Blago is just an appetizer for the massive corruption that’s going to come out of the Chairman O regime.
The Democrat Congress and Chairman Zero are preparing to hand out trillions of dollars, and operate with nigh on absolute power. The corruption will pale anything that came before.
Rod Blago and Eric “Pardon Me” Holder are just harbingers of things to come.
YAY!!!!!!!
DLTDHYOTWO!!!!!
I’ve been waiting so long!!!
To celebrate I will announce my candidacy for State Representative of the 12th District of Illinois.
(Pssst… Rep. Sara Feigenholz, who’s gonna protect your Rep. seat now??)
Talk about a “Culture of Corruption!”
But then, Corrupt Democrat is a redundancy.
Now if only they could nail Cadillac Deval on something.
But alas, that won’t happen here. Pretty sure he and the Globe are chums.
But this kind of seedy Chicago style politics could not possibly effect the Messiah’s ethics, could it?
Certainly not, says Chris Matthews.
Like my momma always said – give ‘em enough rope…
“Name that party?”
In CHICAGO? What’re you, nuts?
This is great. I’m from Mass and have watched as two corrupt Dems have gone down in flames. Add that to Bill Jefferson and the Mayor of Birmingham. Now we’ve got Rod B. I loved that Rezko was named b/c didn’t he sell a house to someone famous? what’s his name again? oh yeah, our President. I bet Obama is Shocked, SHOCKED I tell ya, to know that there was corruption going on in his city.
Well, let me really go out on a limb here and say that if the accusations are true, he should be impeached and held criminally responsible.
Can you exhale now? Or do you need me to delve into some speculation somehow connecting this to Blagojech’s impending appointment of William Ayers to the seat to keep Ayers quiet about his knowedge that Sasha Obama’s father is actually Reverend Wright?
1) Chicago…Obama’s Kind Of Town
2)
GO FOR IT!
Now I see another parallel to Clinton, taught about politics in the corrupt city of Hot Springs, and Obama taught in Chicago. Neither had a Daddy so this is where they get their values. What are we in for the next 4 years.
We can only pray that the investigations continue and won’t be thwarted by other corrupt politicians (I am not naming names, but One very prominent One comes instantly to mind). By the way, I heard that this same Governor also tried to get some big shot at the Chicago Tribune fired because he wrote something the Governor didn’t like. So, add to his other charges, “trying to stifle freedom of speech”. That also brings another prominent Chicago politician to mind, One who Will Remain Nameless, lest I get investigated.
Bush will probably pardon him, just like the drug dealers he has already pardoned.
Name one LIBERAL Democrat – currently serving – who isn’t standing accused of being a co-conspirator (or at least a witness), isn’t facing probable indictment or isn’t about to be prosecuted all as a result of his/her direct involvement in some scandal.
It seems to me all the big name Dems are facing some legal controversy – jus’ sayin’!
AGREED! Left, right, blue, red, whatever. If there is one place where bipartisanship should reign is intolerance to any corruption.
The is no political excuse for providing cover for any corrupt politician. We should all be “equal opportunity destroyers” of corrupt politicians.
Kusinich.
I have this terrible feeling that you’re right. When Demoncraps say “social justice” they really mean “a big fat trough that I can stick my porcine snout into”.
Let’s have our next nominee for POTUS campaign on the death penalty for betraying the public trust while in office.
Let’s see…governor of Illinois, mayor of St. Louis both under Federal investigation (and arrest in one instance), mayor of Birmingham arrested for corruption, mayors of Newark, Atlanta, Detroit already in prison for corruption…hmmm…the common thread? Ahh, yes. They’re all Democrats.
(exhale) Whew! That was close! I almost passed out. Thanks. No need to speculate any further on those other matters you spoke of. In the sordid world of Chicago politics, I believe that truth, will indeed, be stranger than fiction.
Do as I say, not as I do!”
…Jeez, from the land of ‘vote early and often’, etc.
DLTDHYOTWO. Sounds like a complete scumbag to me…
Interesting soft spin the NYT’s (online) headline reads now…
“Governor Is Held in Inquiry Into Filling Obama’s Seat”
Held in inquiry? Why not say it like it is? He was arrested on charges of corruption!
Yeah, they mention that in the article, but still, that headline is pathetic.
-Jeddite
Yeah, I had to do a websearch to figure it out.
I’m so used to the media pulling that crap (leaving out the party affiliations of Democrats when corruption occurs, but identifying the Republicans), that I’ve gotten used to assuming any time they do that, it’s a Dem.
In fact, yesterday I read a story on MSNBC about New York Rep Vito Fossella, who was arrested for drunk driving.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28116186/
They left out his party affiliation in the article, and I bet a liberal co-worker that he was a Dem, because of that. I looked it up, and was surprised to find he’s a Republican.
So sometimes, it goes the other way as well.
Here’s a question for everybody. Do you think the Dems will circle the wagons (or buses), or do you think they will eat their own, on this issue? And how much water will the MSM carry on this? I want exact tonnage.
Well, this thread certainly has sucked the life out of the Oregon dealership/blue law thread. And I was really about to work myself up into a lather over there.
Just can’t beat the cachet of Chicago politics!
wouldn’t surprise me if bush pardoned blago in the spirit of bendovership..(bipartisanship)
Get a rope!
Gov. Rod Blagojevich looks awfully pretty to be going to prison, doesn’t he? He should do well, or not.
Perhaps the lad should learn to sing:
I Feel Pretty to entertain his new friends. Mayor Kwame of Detroit, and that starts with a D, could be his friend.
pleading guilty in 3…2…1…
Yep, they left it out of the NYT’s as well, which, according to the AP’s manual of style, is not appropriate.
If it’s a local paper (Chicago Tribune, etc.,) party affiliations are typically left out because the locals, etc., already know those things. However, when you have an out of state, nationwide (worldwide) paper such as the NYT’s, you’re supposed to identify political affiliation.
Oh how they protect their own…
I’m sure if this was a republican, the headline would read: “Republican Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich of Illinois arrested on corruption charges”
Instead of the soft headline I pointed out earlier.
Heck yeah – an unbreakable, media-driven circle! Democrats never eat their own – no matter how egregious the crime.
When it comes to guesstimating that, like the Tootsie Roll owl said, the may never know!
Chicago and Illinois seem like one giant cesspool. Al Capone would approve of this crew.
***
What chutzpah to try to sell the O’Bummer’s Senate seat. Didn’t the governor know that it belongs to one of the democratic ruling class princes or princesses? And that since Obama was the Black Senator that only a Black Democrat can be appointed and annointed to this position? Can you say Jesse Jackson, Louis Farrakan, or Clown Prince Al Sharpton?
***
No elections by the people needed here–or any sale of the set aside senate seat. Caroline Kennedy, B.J. Clinton need not apply–wrong race.
***
John Bibb
Lest the country forget, it was the Chicago political machine that also birthed Barack Obama along with his political sibling Rod Blagojevich. I’m sure he doesn’t fall too far from the tree. He’s just smarter and let’s others take the fall.
While I think he probably deserves to be some big fat killer’s byatch in the general population, I think if he even gets that far, it will be to some cushy “rehabilitation farm” that’s more comfortable that most college dorms (which I know doesn’t narrow the field much, but still…).
that most college = than most college
You misunderstand Chappie. He doesn’t care how corrupt they are. He only wants them prosecuted because they get caught and give his more adroit comrades a bad name.
They need to keep marching on up straight to Daley.Indict that S.O.B. This state is as corrupt as can be, and this is where Obama learned his politics.
Change? What a freaking joke!!!
More parallels for you…a little history…
Chicago crime bosses and gansters often came to Hot Springs to enjoy the bath houses and hide out from the law. Look it up.
Chicago . . . corruption . . . politics . . . how is this helping my kids?
Our founders knew that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. The goal of the founders was to divide power among many people, so that no one person’s corruption could cause too much damage.
Our founders also knew that every Democracy in the history of the world had failed (usually soon after the majority realized that they could vote themselves money out of the treasury).
That is why our Founders created a Republic, not a Democracy.
The only part of our government that the unamended Constitution specifies be elected by popular vote is: the House of Representatives.
In fact, being a Representative in the House of Representatives is the ONLY position in our government to which you cannot be appointed. When there is a vacancy, it can only be filled with a special election.
Judges are nominated, Senators can be appointed by Governors, and we’ve even had a President (Ford) who was not elected. (Ford was nominated as VP by Nixon, then rose to President when Nixon resigned).
No matter how many times the media repeats the lie of “the USA is a Democracy”, don’t believe the lie. Our nation is a Constitutional Republic, not a Democracy.
I firmly believe that it is time to repeal the 17th Amendment and return to the wisdom of our Founders regarding the selection of Senators.
There is bipartisanship in Illinois in that nearly all, Democrat or Republican, have despised Blagojevich for some time now. I expect that Rod will be left to his own devices on this one by the Dems. I believe he lost Mike Madigan’s support long ago. Plus, Mike’s daughter Lisa, former AG of the state, was also passed over for Obama’s senate seat. Madigan’s got a lot of sway with Illinois democrats and I just don’t envision him trying to help out Blagojevich in the least.
The MSM will work themselves up in a frenzy as this is the second Illinois Governor (in a row) to come up on corruption charges.
No, you misunderstand me, txvet. I only want Blag prosecuted because he apparently found a higher bid for the seat than what I was willing to offer him.
Free lessons on how to write pithy messageboard comments? I mean, who could pass that up?