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Illinois governor taken into custody
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Anonymous
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I guess this is how Democrats in IL get things done. Is this what we call change?
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/09/illinois.govenor/ Some highlights: Federal prosecutors say Blagojevich, Harris and others conspired to gain financial benefits in appointing President-elect Barack Obama's Senate replacement, according to the statement. "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." The Obama transition team is aware that Blagojevich is in federal custody, but has no comment, according to a senior Democratic source. |
jsteele
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I was just reading through the indictment which is really interesting. I suspect that the Obama campaign was involved in getting this guy arrested because one thing he tried to extort was his appointment as HHS Secretary (which we know he did not get). Blago was also withholding state funds for Wrigley Field unless Zell fired some members of the Chicago Tribune's editorial board.
As an Illinois native who once worked for George Ryan, a former Illinois governor who is currently in jail, I'm beginning to wonder if they should swear in and indict Illinois governors at the same time. The same judge could even do both tasks. Ryan is a Republican (yes, I worked for a Republican, but made clear I was a Dem the whole time) and Blago is a Democrat. So, they can carry on some interesting debates in prison. Just imagine, "Dems are more corrput". "No, Reps are more corrupt, you got six years, I only got five.", etc. The Lt. Gov. is someone nobody ever heard of. I called my mom -- who pays more than average attention to politics -- and she had no idea who the guy is. I checked Wikipedia and noticed his page was already updated to include Blago's arrest, but his own web server was crashed. I guess everyone is trying to figure out who he is. Now, he will probably get to appoint Obama's replacement. |
Anonymous
| Just finished reading the complaint myself. Yikes this guy is STUPID. I was really worried that Obama would be implicated in this until I got to paragraph 104. |
Anonymous
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Bad guy, but don't blame the party for a corrupt politician. If we were to tally convictions on corruption over the last 20 years, you would not like the result.
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Anonymous
| What an idiot!!!!!! |
Anonymous
| I feel a little dirty saying it-- but this sort of scandal is almost worth it when we get to watch 'em stick the sonofabitch's head on a pike. I'm really looking forward to the trial, perpwalks, press conferences, the whole nine. From the evidence that's been released, it sounds like they have him cold. I hope he doesn't make a deal. |
Anonymous
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So who is "Senate Candiate 5"? 1 is Valerie Jarrett, 2 is Lisa Madigan. Any idea?
Did you see where Blago referred to Obama as a motherf&*#er because he wasn't willing to give Blago a payoff to appoint Jarrett to the Senate? Good Lord! |
Anonymous
| 14:29 here. I hope Senate Candidate 5 is Jesse Jackson, Jr. |
Anonymous
| Geeze, and I thought his hair was bad - it must be hiding the empty brain cavity. |
Anonymous
Recent elections: Cao beats Bill Jefferson in LA, Begich beats Stevens in AK. Voters 2, crooks 0, and Dems v Reps tied!! |
Anonymous
According to the Post, Candidate 5 is state Attorney General Lisa Madigan http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/?hpid=topnews |
Anonymous
14:29/14:31. The Fix doesn't identify or speculate that Senate Candidate 5 is Madigan. According to several sources, Madigan is apparently Senate Candidate 2. Senate Candidate 5 is specifically referred to as "he" in the wiretap transcripts. The primary speculation is that it's JJJ or Emil Jones. I spent a ridiculous amount of time this afternoon reading the entire complaint. Blago is really delusional. He thought the Senate would rehabilitate him more effectively for a presidential run in 2016! |
Anonymous
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Chicago Trib is reporting Blago is set to appoint the new IL Senator....
Will Harry Reid seat whoever it is? |
Anonymous
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What is being published right now is that there is a 2 PM news conference, and the appointee will be the former AG.
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2008/12/blagojevich-to-name-burris-to-senate.html |
jsteele
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Roland Burris is an excellent choice and nobody should have any issues with him. Frankly, I'm surprised to see that he is still living because he was fairly old 20 years ago when I was working in Illinois politics. But, he is a great guy who has respect throughout the state. I had always hoped he would run for the Senate. |