# Governor Blagojevich Arrested, What Now? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 9, 2008, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396 "2008-12-09T15:36:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/201 "2008-12-12T16:37:46Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I think the most that happened is that one of Blago’s minions got through to Rahm Emanuel after like three weeks of trying and asked who Obama wanted in the seat. Rahm told them who Obama would like to see. Blago’s minion asked what Obama would offer in return and Rahm basically went Michael Corleone on him — “My offer is this…nothing.” He then hung up on the dude and called the feds to drop the dime. Except apparently, that Rahm can’t utter a sentence off camera without dropping the f-bomb. I keep wondering why they don’t put him in front of a camera to satisfy the press and then I remember Josh Lyman is based on Rahm, and then I remember what happens when Josh ran a press briefing. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/202 "2008-12-12T16:42:29Z")
I don’t think Obama has to backpedal off shit. Fitzgerald has already said that Obama is clean on this and he’s the one who has all the evidence. Why are people so eager to try to throw shit on Obama even when the prosecutor says he’s completely uninvolved? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/203 "2008-12-12T16:43:57Z")
> [@lee](#): > > Except apparently, that Rahm can’t utter a sentence off camera without dropping the f-bomb. I keep wondering why they don’t put him in front of a camera to satisfy the press and then I remember Josh Lyman is based on Rahm, and then I remember what happens when Josh ran a press briefing. Ok, then it was probably the Rahm version of Michael Corleone: “My offer is this…FUCK YOU.” ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/204 "2008-12-12T16:52:24Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I don’t think Obama has to backpedal off shit. Fitzgerald has already said that Obama is clean on this and he’s the one who has all the evidence. Why are people so eager to try to throw shit on Obama even when the prosecutor says he’s completely uninvolved? Dude, you are being way too defensive about Obama, here. No one here is saying that he is involved in this, and as far as I can tell, most people are saying it looks very much as though he _isn’t_ involved. But I believe he was probably hasty in saying that NO ONE from his transition team had spoken to Blago’s camp about this matter. If he finds out that someone has, he’s going to have to backpedal off saying that no one had. That’s what backpedaling is. I said _right in the same post where I mentioned backpedaling_ that having a conversation about who Obama would LIKE to see in the seat doesn’t mean that there was any conversation about making a “deal” for it. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/205 "2008-12-12T16:58:29Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#): > > Everyone hates Blago. He has, like 3 friends in the world now, and one of them is his wife. The other two being his daughters. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/206 "2008-12-12T18:19:50Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#): > > But I believe he was probably hasty in saying that NO ONE from his transition team had spoken to Blago’s camp about this matter. If he finds out that someone has, he’s going to have to backpedal off saying that no one had. This was my first thought as well. Maybe it’s still the Obamania in me, but I have to believe he wouldn’t stick his neck out this far this early if he wasn’t absolutely sure. No one has yet produced any evidence that there is even a wiff taint on any of Obama’s people so until then everyone just needs to settle down. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/207 "2008-12-12T18:36:18Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I don’t think Obama has to backpedal off shit. Fitzgerald has already said that Obama is clean on this and he’s the one who has all the evidence. Why are people so eager to try to throw shit on Obama even when the prosecutor says he’s completely uninvolved? “says he’s completely uninvolved”? Got a cite for that Dio? ---
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/208 "2008-12-12T18:53:38Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Never mind. With the edit, I’m clear now. But the thing is, we weren’t talking about Jackson, we were discussing the Obama quote. Oops. My bad. In that case, I think Obama’s on the right track. He didn’t REALLY get in bed with Blago while he served here, there’s no real reason to believe that he’s in bed with him now. He’s got nothing to apologize for or back off of or from. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/209 "2008-12-12T18:56:25Z")
My question is how does Blagojevich not understand that he’s not going to be governor much longer? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/210 "2008-12-12T19:05:50Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > My question is how does Blagojevich not understand that he’s not going to be governor much longer? Maybe he’s trying to cut a deal. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/211 "2008-12-12T19:09:22Z")
Now the Illinois AG (who herself has been mentioned as a gubernatorial prospect) has asked the Illinois Supreme Court to relieve Blago from his duties and permit Quinn to take over as Acting Governor. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/212 "2008-12-12T19:48:48Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > “says he’s completely uninvolved”? Got a cite for that Dio? He said it at the press conference. [“I should make clear the complaint makes no allegations about the president-elect whatsoever – his conduct.”](http://mediamatters.org/items/200812090012) It’s 3 day old news that Obama is clean in this thing. Keep up. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/213 "2008-12-12T20:12:54Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > He said it at the press conference. > > [“I should make clear the complaint makes no allegations about the president-elect whatsoever – his conduct.”](http://mediamatters.org/items/200812090012) > > It’s 3 day old news that Obama is clean in this thing. Keep up. It’s amazing how long primary-season bitterness hangs on, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/214 "2008-12-12T20:20:48Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Maybe he’s trying to cut a deal. “I’ve got this thing that’s fucking golden. And I’m not giving it up for anything less than getting off on parole or they can fuck themselves those motherfuckers. They’d _appreciate_ me stepping down … screw 'em!” ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/215 "2008-12-12T20:32:56Z")
He won’t leave. To a certain kind of mind, _right now_ is the opportunity to sell that Senate seat, because now it’s a _limited time offer._ Must sell. Close that deal. All Senate Seats Must Go! ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/216 "2008-12-12T20:39:56Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > My question is how does Blagojevich not understand that he’s not going to be governor much longer? Blago is all about Blago’s interests. What is in the best interests of the state is irrelevant. and as far as him being clueless, as recently as a few weeks ago he still thought of himself as a serious candidate for US president in 2016, despite having a 13% approval rating at the time. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/217 "2008-12-12T20:40:49Z")
> [@Fish](#): > > He won’t leave. To a certain kind of mind, _right now_ is the opportunity to sell that Senate seat, because now it’s a _limited time offer._ Must sell. Close that deal. All Senate Seats Must Go! But wait, there’s more! If you call in the next 10 minutes, we’ll double the open government positions. Now how much would you pay?!! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/218 "2008-12-12T20:46:52Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > He said it at the press conference. > > [“I should make clear the complaint makes no allegations about the president-elect whatsoever – his conduct.”](http://mediamatters.org/items/200812090012) > > It’s 3 day old news that Obama is clean in this thing. Keep up. But note that isn’t what you said he said. “Makes no allegations” vs “he’s completely uninvolved”. Not that I’m saying I think he is involved, it’s just that you are overstating the case. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/219 "2008-12-12T20:52:35Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > But note that isn’t what you said he said. “Makes no allegations” vs “he’s completely uninvolved”. Not that I’m saying I think he is involved, it’s just that you are overstating the case. I fail to see a difference. You’ll have to explain it. How is not accused of having anything to do with it not the same thing as being uninvolved? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/220 "2008-12-12T21:02:53Z")
As I mentioned earlier, if Blago appoints himself to the Senate seat, assuming the whole Senate even let him in the door, he would be virtually doomed when he next went before the voters. Scroll to the bottom of this for an instructive historical survey: [http://www.npr.org/blogs/politicaljunkie/](http://www.npr.org/blogs/politicaljunkie/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396.md?page=12)