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.
See what others have said
Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.
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
- Right Wing News
Comments
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Categories: Corruption
Mudville Gazette
» The five-year plan
Legal Insurrection
» Is "Finish the Job" the New "Peace With Honor"?Sister Toldjah
» WaPo and NYT to Obama: We love ya, you stylish deep thinkerPundit & Pundette
» Hiding the decline: Deniers made them do itPower Line
» More From the East Anglia ArchivesFounding Bloggers
» Did The New York Times Just Tell Glenn Reynolds To “STFU”?Doug Ross @ Journal
» 'Hope is fading fast' --- the T-Shirt
I wonder how long before they link Blego to Obama. Wouldn’t it be sweet if he were impeached in his first hundred days in office?
Hey Chapy old boy:
He meant stupid not corrupt
then Liberal stupid and corrupt usually fit well in the same sentence.
I see a Presidential pardon in the future… Or at least the Obama DOJ dropping the investigation. There is absolutely no way this slime ball will go to jail during a Democrat administration.
On December 9th, 2008 at 11:07 am, jangar said:
Oh, and there’s yet another parallel…
I did not follow that post at all.
Who is “he”? Are you using the enter key in lieu of punctuation?
Drudge has ‘Grand jury subpoenas issued on Rezko/bho land deal. Fun day!
L
If blago starts squeeling to the feds
How many can he take down with him?
The phone lines must be burning up in Illinois and even in Hyde Park……
The MSM will drag out all their “moral equivalancies” and list every republican who has even jay-walked. They like to do that to obscure the current issues. They actually believe that jay-walking and bribery are equally evil. I do believe the democrats have the majority of the “culture of corruption” market.
I wouldn’t be so sure. If nothing else, it’s an opportunity for Obama to “prove” that he’s not biased and actually gain more support from Illinois democrats. Blagojevich’s influence has been rapidly waning in Illinois. I don’t think Obama’s ties to Blagojevich are strong.
I would bet that Obama would like to see his basketball buddy and current Illinois secretary of state, Alexi Giannoulias, get the governor’s seat.
Just another one of Sen. Obama good friends, but shh the media does not want to you know that.
Remember Rostenkowski? This makes Rosty look like a choirboy!
Too funny!
chapoutier said (#56)
(sound of loud laughter)
Thanks. I needed that laugh! Well said.
Question…If Obama, for any reason, is unable to serve as President before he is innaugurated, who would get the Presidency? Biden? Or would McCain/Palin win the election by default? Maybe that is a dumb question, but I really don’t know!
On October 8, Blagojevich told Individual A that he wanted to obtain a
WOW! If Gov Blagojevich survives this, then Illinois is lost!
BTW, where’s the investigative arm of the MSM been while all this was going down in Illinois – Alaska, perhaps, trying manufacture a scandal to pin on Governor Palin?!
One more here.
Sometimes I still can’t believe that this New Hampshire boy moved into Massataxes (for a job) from God’s country to the north.
Although, from the number of Mass. and other blue state liberal clowns that have moved into NH, it seems that they are striving mightily to ruin my beloved home state, too.
…*sigh*…
Blag-Rezko-Obama/Soetoro = Schadenfreudilicious
I wish you all would get a clue. If this was a Republican, the (R) would have been in every article written – every time the name was mentioned. No (R) = (D). There is no need to research his name. The (lack of)work is already done by the MSM.
There is no fun in “Name that Party” anymore.
Yeah, this guy is history – looks like Democrats can be corrupt.
With Republicans you get the gay old guy in the bathroom or the gay (ex male prostitute) reporter.
Typical politics in Chicago. I wonder how much Obama paid to get where he is?
BTW it looks like Tom Cruise could play Blago in the movie!
What? You’re gay bashing? Wait till the Prop 8 crowd gets a hold of this. You’ll lose your Liberal Sycophant card.
Wow…there really is a striking resemblance! But you know, they will never make a movie about a corrupt democrat! Only corrupt republicans, of which there are few.
The possibilities for “pithy” rejoinders border on infinite. But at least you cheerfully admit to your personal corruption. Blagowhat’shisname will probably fight this out in court for years, and end up with a suspended $20 fine, while being re-elected three times. You gotta love Chicago politics. Even better than N’Orleans. The amazing thing is that so many people blissfully assume that Obama has been untouched by it all, even though he is a direct product of the system.
I think the real motto for the Dem’s is
“Change you can buy into.”
By the way…remember how the dems completely go ballistic over any transgression by a republican (Maccaca, Trent Lott’s comment, the gay stuff, etc.) These are all so trivial compared to this horrible corruption. But you can bet the MSM will drag it all out like it is just as bad.
If I was Obama and his transition team I would pack the bags, load up the trucks and get the hell out of Illinois and move the office to DC before Fitz and the Feds start investigating the Obamaites!
Priceless!!
Obama’s list of future pardons grows: Tony Rezko, OJ Simpson, the Illinois Governor…who will be next?
I’m from Chicago and I couldn’t be happier to see this slime go. Another crooked Chicago democrat. Now let Fitzgerald off his leash to go after Daley and Obama – the two most corrupt Chicago dirt bag politicians.
On December 9th, 2008 at 11:33 am, RTater said:
Schadenfreudilicious
————————————
Great word!
Hehe. Good riddance, ya creep.
Unfortunately the Illinois GOP is so dysfunctional that there is almost zero chance that they can capitalize on this and reclaim the governorship in 2010.
Don’t feel alone granite, they did the same to North Carolina, Virginia and now Florida. The fungus spreads.
On December 9th, 2008 at 10:28 am, wighttrasch said:
I thought I smelled something over here in Missouri…
————————————
A-ha, a fellow Missourian!
Yes, that smell do travel, don’t it. I just hope this could be a step in shutting down the “Chicago Machine”.
On December 9th, 2008 at 11:36 am, On-my-soap-box said:
My opinion exactly!
If the MSM had paid any attention to what was going on in Illinois with corrupt Democrat Governor Blagojevich instead of running a witch-hunt against Governor Palin (R) in Alaska, then maybe the media could have begun to repair some the self-inflicted damage they sustained to their credibility during Obama’s presidential election.
The MSM is rabid for Democrats and clueless on objectivity.
Yep. I work with some NH people, and it seems they like taxes just fine. They’ll be coming for your guns next.
You’ll have to change your plates to “Live Free Or Don’t!”
The carpetbaggers are ruining your state.
Corruption is bipartisan, with an emphasis on Republicans. The previous Governor of Illinois also went to jail for corruption, put away by the same prosecutor, Republican appointee Patrick Fitzgerald.
On the other hand, it’s looking like former Alabama Governor Siegelman is about to be exonerated.
More like “The Zombie Apocolypse!”
If anyone believes that Obama, as a Illinois senator is not neck deep in the corruption there, I have a wonderful time share for sale on ocean front property in Oklahoma.
idoiot, they name is lgm (with and emphasis on IDIOT).
I’m waiting to see if and when today’s socialist thug politicians and bureaucrats can match the style of past corrupt politicians (I know, I know…that term is soooo ofetn redundant), like this, for example:
AUTHOR: Edwin W Edwards, Governor of Louisiana
QUOTATION: [I could not lose unless I was] caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy.
ATTRIBUTION: On 1983 race against David C Treen, recalled on his grand jury indictment for racketeering and fraud, Time 11 Mar 85
Here’ the link:
http://www.bartleby.com/63/35/635.html
What’s that?
To which party did Edwards belong, did you ask?
Why,…:
The Cajun Prince” Edwin Edwards
Lousiana’s four-term Democratic governor, Edwin “The Cajun Prince” Edwards, was convicted in 2000 of racketeering over extorting payoffs for casino riverboat licenses.
And, here’s that link:
http://www.predictify.com/q/the-cajun-prince-gets-get-out-of-jail-card-from
Hope this is not a double post.
I posted it a few minutes ago, and it went pffftttt…to…where??!?
Please, can’t we just move on? /sarc
Your daily moral equivalency was brought to you by the letters l, g, and m.
Remember folks, when it comes to avoiding any conversation about a corrupt democrat to attempt to reinforce an image of Republicans being worse, look no further than lgm. Serving the MM.com community for years.
On December 9th, 2008 at 12:00 pm, Misscheryl said:
If anyone believes that Obama, as a Illinois senator is not neck deep in the corruption there, I have a wonderful time share for sale on ocean front property in Oklahoma.
————————————–
Barbara Streisand called; she wants to make you an offer!
Blogo probably tried to put the squeeze on Jesse Jackson Jr. for the Senate seat. Jesse Sr. said, “If there’s gonna be any political extortion goin’ on I’m gonna be the one gettin’ paid!”
One can always count on an ineffectual smoke screen from lgm.
Yep, that’s my Illinois leading the way.
We have a long, distinguished list of corrupt politicians. Let’s see, we have:
Gov. Blagojevich (D): For the above.
Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun (D): “[S]ubject of a 1993 Federal Elections Commission investigation over $249,000 in unaccounted campaign funds. The agency found several violations, but took no action against Moseley Braun, citing a lack of resources.”
Gov. George Ryan (R): “[I]llegal sale of government licenses, contracts and leases by state employees during his prior service as Secretary of State.”
Rep. Jerry Weller (R): “[R]epeated failure to report assets he bought and sold in Nicaragua, the misuse of his position to sell some of his foreign land holdings, his acceptance of campaign contributions from Puerto
Rican interests in apparent exchange for supporting legislation that benefitted Puerto Rico and his acceptance of campaign contributions from Jeffrey Prosser in apparent exchange for assisting Mr. Prosser in his legal battle with the government of Belize.”
Rep. Daniel Lipinski (D): “[E}thics issues stem[ming] from the outside employment of a top Washington D.C. congressional aide.”
Rep. Dennis Hastert (R): numerous campaign finance issues
President-elect Obama (D): Do we really need to retread this old ground?
http://www.crewsmostcorrupt.org/
Hey Rethuglicans: Troopergate! Troopergate! Troopergate! Troopergate! Troopergate! Troopergate! Troopergate! Troopergate! Troopergate!
Hey, doing troll impressions is fun!
Can you imagine Jesse Jackson Jr as a US Senator? We know he has the requisite skin color. He’s fake, so he’ll fit right in with the other Democratic Senators. And he’s inexperienced, which makes him a logical Obama replacement.
Too bad the current lieutenant governor is a Democrat. That would be sweet if he was a Repub.
???
My post was blocked twice.
All I did was wonder when today’s socialist thug politicans and bureaucrats are going to display something approaching the style of Lousiana’s former Democrat governor Edwin Edwards, who famously said (possible paraphrase) that the only way he could lose an upcoming election would be if he were to be found in bed with a dead girl or a live boy.
I used indirect discourse this time, because in my previous two attempts, I used direct quotations from the internet and posted the links (very easy to find). Perhaps that is why my first two attempts “disappeared”?
Here goes; third time is a charm…?
B Hussein might be involved.
then
LGM -
Bribery charges for corrupt work contracts pale in comparison to taking bribes for a US SENATOR. If you can’t tell the difference than you have serious, serious problems. Both bums should be in jail, no doubt, but the seriousness of electing a US Senator based on how much loot you can score is about the pinnacle of corruption. Boss Tweed at Tammany Hall couldn’t have dreamed of such grandiose villainy. And trust me when I say this rabbit hole goes deep. Chicago is a cesspool of corruption and if you don’t think Obama is highly involved you need to buy a clue.
Governor “Hair Helmet” is a special kind of stupid. He knows he was under investigation for previous dealings and then does this. His arrogance is what brought him down.
As for Obama, it does cause some problems. It makes it very difficult to get rid of Patrick Fitzgerald without appearing uber-partisan (see Alberto Gonzalez). It puts him up to scrutiny just by association, even though his links to Blagojevich are not probably strong. It puts the Tony Rezko issue back on the front page. And finally, it makes it difficult to appoint any more staff with Chicago connections. I would not be suprised if Obama turns up the heat on Blagojevich just to get this behind him.
My sentiments exactly.
There ya go. Predictable.
lgm, this implies that the two parties get together to be corrupt. Are you sure this is what you mean?
It does put a new spin on the term “traditional values” doesn’t it?
Looks like Tony Resco might get a bunkbuddy after all.
You don’t get to dance in Chicago politics without “paying the fiddler.”
Example? Attendance in Rev. Wright’s church for 20+ years. Gotta get that punch on the ticket. How do you suppose he got the other punches?
Their mission – the Left Red intend that no state left red : (
Wow..Isn’t today a good day for USA? I mean in addition to this corrupt rascal being arrested, I see the news that restroom jerk Larry Craig loses his appeal. Awesome…. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iM7VsmCI91xXDASkhgtGf3_zk__gD94V9JQ00
I also believe if Obama’s involvment in all of this is discovered, it would be kept out of the public domain, as is his birth certificate. However, you think he is a house ni*&%r now, wait until Pelosi gets the goods on this guy.
How about: “what you can buy with ‘change’”.
I’m starting to see a pattern here… first, the honorable (Ha!) Gov. of New York, then the (Un)respectable Mayor of Detroit, now the Goverupt of Illinois. Who’s next? We seem to be moving westward.
Remember, according to one local troll, Illinois Democrat Governor Rod Blagojevich wouldn’t even have been governor if Conservatives hadn’t supported him!!
Obama’s going to have a lot of pardons for Day 1, even for himself for not being a natural born citizen.
it does give me hope but not the kind Obama meant.
I’ll throw in my deep-sea fishing business, too.
Memo to Osama Obama from Satchel Paige: “Don’t look back…something may be gaining on you!”
This is not helping Michelle’s children or Obama quit smoking.
I hope Obama isnt involved’
Can you say “President Joe Biden” ?
Ugh
the highway repair process in illinois will tell you all you need to know about how corrupt the state government is. they proceed with a lowball contract, dig up large stretches of interstate, then go back to the government to up the bid or they won’t complete the highway. at any time, huge hunks of illinois highway are down to one lane while politicians wrangle with thugs over the split of the new contract to complete the road. as a young man i sold equipment in chicago area, and it is the only place in over 30 years of selling equipment where i had not one, but 3 people call me up in the span of a year and tell me that if i wanted to sell the equipment to the customer i was going to have to pay a bribe to someone. crook county for sure.
This scandal needs a catchy name that can be hung on Democrats for decades to come.
Obama has many other failures and negative qualities to be attacked upon…You don’t have to be so cheap
and immature and attack him by linking Osama on his name just because he has a strange name. Such low class tactics will only hurt GOP.
Let’s play spot-the-coincidence:
Blago gets busted the same day the Trib files for bankruptcy.
Blago tries to get wife peachy-plum-paid-big-money positions on boards in exchange for political favors. You know, those high-paid boards like Michelle Obama sat on?
(best church-lady imitation) What else do you think happened here, HMMMMM????(/end imitation)
Just sayin’.
I retired from military intelligence many years ago having spent 27 years involved in espionage and counter-espionage activities. Because of my training and experience, I am good at accurately sizing up a person based on a few observations. The first time I saw this guy on TV and heard him speak, alarms started going off in my head. One thing that my training and experience never taught me is WHY people do things like this, WHY people like Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff John Harris are NEVER SATISFIED. Why do they risk everything, reputation, honor, dignity, just for money?? I guess that now, after the jail doors slam shut, they will have lots of time to think about it.
Blagogate ?
BuyObamaSeatCheap ?
TheRevengeofJessieJackson
New thread for Michelle?
frostrt….well, we have our own problems here in MO
Gotta keep The Lou’ at the top of the ‘most dangerous city’ list!
Hey, this is a guy that thinks Gloria Steinem is a hottie-hard to tell.
Mr. Patrick Fitzgerald (overseeing Federal Prosecutor) is saying in the current press conference that the scheme by Blago also involved Change To Win/SEIU union. …[roll eyes...]
It should be called “Obama’s senate seat scandal.”
Blagojevich got elected because the “Ship of Fools” IL Republican party ran a guy with the same last name as the Governor who was about to be indicted (George Ryan former Governor,current inmate vs. Jim Ryan 2002 Gubernatorial candidate). Blagojevich ran as a reformer (cough,cough) and won.
In 2006, the IL GOP Titanic party ran a “moderate”, Judy Baar Topinka. She was a social liberal and her “endearing” quality was a very raspy voice from chain-smoking. At one time, State Senator Rev. James Meeks, almost threw his hat in the ring as a third party candidate, but pulled out when Blago promised him more school funding.
Unless the IL Republican party pulls its head from a place it does not belong, it probably will not take advantage of this.
I’ve noticed that the AP stories, as well as the coverage on most of the networks refuse to identify Blog as a “Democrat”, but they didn’t fail to identify former Governor Ryan as a “Republican”. Anyone else notice that?
See, I don’t know why but … this stuff always shocks me. One shouldn’t be an criminal to begin with but a stupid criminal who would not only do this but … do it stupidly? … as a Governor?
::: sigh ::: It says something that a sitting “Governor” could be so criminal and dumb.
Misscheryl, you may have gotten your wish. Check it out…. It’s creeping closer…
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/18/whistleblower-hits-obama-friends-appraisal/
The Blagojevich Caper(s).
OBTW, The New York Times will give the Blagojevich scan one paragraph coverage on page G-27 tomorrow.
eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ONE-1-ILLINOIS-US-SENATE-SEAT-FOR-SALE_W0QQitemZ170286089884QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item170286089884&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50
You too can be an Illinois Senator!
I totally didn’t see this coming, after 30 some odd dead people voted for him in 2006. Big shocker: Illinois Democratic policians are corrupt? Say it ain’t so! Oh wait, even that phrase about corruption comes from Chicago. Hey, doesn’t some recently-elected national policitican come from Chicago?
Kwame, meet Rod…
Bloggo could have brought the 1960s full circle by appointing one of the dead people that voted for JFK.
Does anybody in Illinois obey the law?
I should stop asking rhetorical questions.
Respectfully,
eric aka the Tygrrrr Express
Ladies and Gentleman today is just a singular example of what a Chicago politician means when he says he wants to bring change to Washington.
He is not upset by the corruption in Washington. Rather he is upset that there is not more corruption in Washington.
And being from Chicago who knows more about corruption than their favorite son.
Welcome to hell.
Pathetic! Doesn’t matter anymore. No one reads that rag. They remind me of the Pig3 auto execs. Perpetually have their heads up their, well, a place that is vewy, vewy dark.