Link to ongoing developments in the Chicago Tribune
Governor Blagojevich has been arrested by federal authorities on corruption charges, related to selling Obama’s senate seat in exchange for personal favors, and several other charges. What happens now, both for Illinois and for Obama’s senate seat?
What is it with Illinois politics that their Governors can’t stay out of trouble? D’s or R’s!
Is there something in the water in Springfield? Jeesh…
IL governor Blagojevich was arrested following an investigation that found he had attempted to sell Obama’s recently-vacated Senator seat, and other corruption charges.
These are serious allegations, but it seems pretty hard to deny this actually happened. I can’t remember the last time a major politician was actually arrested for something this big. The guy had aspirations to leverage himself into a presidential cabinet position or ambassadorship.
So, how hard do you think this guy will go down? Will Obama try to protect him from too much trouble, the way Bush and Cheney did for their corrupt minions? Is this guy even anyone’s minion? It seems from the linked story like the Democrats are washing their hands of Blagojevich and leaving him out to dry.
another thread started while i was typing. delete this one please!
I think he’s in for a world of trouble, because he has apparently pissed a lot of people off. He’s even on the outs with his own father-in-law, who helped him get into politics in the first place (his FIL is a Chicago Alderman).
I’m sure that he’s guilty, but I don’t know if one can acutally ascend to the governor’s seat in Illinois without becoming so ethically warped in the process that you play the game the way you found it, or that only people willing to play ball as it were are backed with enough resources to actually make a good run for the office.
Wow, what a complete wanker, if true. It really is satisfying to see many corrupt politicians getting what they deserve lately. I was also glad to see Patrick Fitzgerald on this case - he’s just the guy to follow this all the way through.
Can’t wait for the inevitable bullshit ploy by the right-wing spin machine to somehow smear Obama with this.
If there is, Blagojevich wouldn’t know about it.
I don’t see Blagojevich getting any help from Obama. The guy was trying to sell off Obama’s senate seat, for heaven’s sake. Everyone in the state knows he’s slimey – that he won a second term said more about the impotent IL GOP than it did anything about Blagojevich’s virtues.
I guess the question will be: Who will Governor Quinn appoint to Obama’s senate seat?
I call “Obama’s first pardon when he leaves office”.
Well, I heard Rod Blagojevich needs a job . . .
Only took 6 replies for someone to take a back handed crack at Republicans over this. Longer than I thought, actually.
That’s okay, it only took eight posts before someone suggested Obama would issue a pardon. 
What happens now is, sooner or later the name of “Candidate 5” gets leaked and he or she loses any chance at getting this seat. It’s still hard to say who ends up with the job.
And only 2 more for someone to take that crack at Obama as predicted. :rolleyes:
Blago was no one’s minion. Just an stupid and corrupt and arrogant politician.
Did you know that Obama launched his political career at a meeting in Rod Blagojevich’s home state?!?
I’m not an expert on Blagojevich, but he’s hardly an Illinois powerbroker like the Daleys. He was elected to Congress in 1992 and then elected governor in 2002; Obama won election to the Illinois state senate in 1996 and the Senate in 2004. Obama’s pretty much a phenomenon on his own and while he made some important contacts in Illinois, I don’t think you can say he relied on Blagojevich for anything.
I think he really benefited from the backlash against Bush that occurred during the 2006 elections.
Even though Blagojevich has been arrested, isn’t he still governor until he’s convicted or impeached? In other words, assuming someone would be willing to take the appointment from him, couldn’t he appoint someone today?
If he did, I suppose the Senate could refuse to seat the appointment but if the appointee had no personal issues I wonder if they would/could?
Well, Obama is probably the cleanest politician in Illinois, which is kinda like being the skinniest guy at fat camp.
Do you have any basis whatsoever for trying to smear Obama over this? What does any of Blago’s garbage have to do with Obama? How has Obama benefited, and what would he have to gain (or hide) by pardoning him?
I’m sure he could, but there’s no reason for him to do so. Any appointment he made right now would be viewed under a cloud of suspicion and would be vulnerable in two years.