# 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:** 12
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/221 "2008-12-12T22:00:14Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > 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? Fitzgerald isn’t saying Obama did anything, and he’s not saying Obama didn’t do anything. He’s making no statements whatsoever about Obama’s connection. ---
**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, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/222 "2008-12-12T22:03:12Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > Fitzgerald isn’t saying Obama did anything, and he’s not saying Obama didn’t do anything. He’s making no statements whatsoever about Obama’s connection. Except to say that there ISN’T any connection. ---
**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, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/223 "2008-12-12T22:12:22Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Except to say that there ISN’T any connection. Wrong … he’s basically saying he has no comment with regard to Obama. ---
**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, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/224 "2008-12-12T22:15:03Z")
For the record, prosecutors NEVER categorically state that “X is absolutely innocent” before an investigation is done. The most they _ever_ say is that there is no evidence against X or that X is not accused of anything. Fitzgerald said at the press conference that “We don’t give clean bills of health.” He took some pretty specific pains to make it clear that Obama was not suspected of anything, though, and even quoted the portions of the tapes that exonerated him. In prosecutor speak, he came as close as he could to saying Obama was squeaky. ---
**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, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/225 "2008-12-12T22:16:26Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > Wrong … he’s basically saying he has no comment with regard to Obama. Wrong, he commented extensively on Obama to point out that there was no evidence against him, that he was accused of nothing and that the tapes were exculpatory towrards him. He’s clean as a whistle, dude. Keep hoping, though. ---
**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, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/226 "2008-12-12T22:20:06Z")
So it’s like the difference between “not guilty” and “innocent”? ---
**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, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/227 "2008-12-12T22:24:13Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > So it’s like the difference between “not guilty” and “innocent”? “Not guilty” implies there has at least been an accusation. Obama has not even been accused of anything, nor is there any reason to believe he ever will be or should be. ---
**Author:** ![Sinaijon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Sinaijon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaijon)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/228 "2008-12-12T22:50:49Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > 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? Nixon wasn’t alleged to have done anything either when they arrested, indicted, and tried those 5 guys who broke into the Watergate office complex. Criminal complaints are just that. They spark an investigation that does the actual dirt digging. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/229 "2008-12-12T23:04:36Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > 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. I don’t understand this provision. Why is there even an impeachment process if the state Supreme Court can simply declare the Governor ineligible? If you read the text of the law it talks of a “disability” like the Governor was in the booby hatch, or he had a paralytic stroke or something. How can Blago now physically do his job? What is happening now is purely a political/legal thing which should be in the hands of the legislature.. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/230 "2008-12-12T23:17:06Z")
Reagan wasn’t involved at all in Abscam, but you can’t say “Go ahead and do it, just don’t tell me about it.” That is like hiring a hit man then complaining when you’re arrested for murder. Obama and Dick Durbin, need to explain WHY the governor was busted now? Why not before the elections. G-Rod tried to use his influence to stop the Chicago Tribune from saying bad things about him. Did Obama and Dick Durbin (who was a Democrat running from Illinois for the Senate) stop the FBI from saying anything BEFORE the November election. If not then my question is WHY with all the evidence, did they wait. From news reports I have seen they had pretty much everything except the governor trying to sell the Senate seat before the Nov elections. If Obama and Durbin didn’t influence the FBI then WHY didn’t they bust him early. That needs to be explained in full Why was G-Rod so mad at Obama, did Obama or one of Obama’s men offer him a deal then back out, once he got elected, because he thought he was now president elect and above rereproach? Maybe none of this happened, but Obama needs to explain things and do it clearly. For instance with his birth certificate. I don’t believe anything was wrong, but why not just give proof instead of this hemming and hawing for months, when a simple “here it is” would have shut everyone up. Obama is hiding again. Why? Didn’t he get elected as the voice of change. If you have nothing to hide, open up your vault and let people look. The reason he isn’t is he wants to be president so he can claim, “You can’t look it would be in violation of national security.” This is why he is urging G-Rod to quit so he can sweep this under the rug till he’s president and claim immunity. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/231 "2008-12-12T23:19:26Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > What is happening now is purely a political/legal thing which should be in the hands of the legislature.. I agree, and I expect the Illinois Supreme Court will too. This is entirely an issue that will be resolved by resignation or impeachment. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/232 "2008-12-12T23:30:46Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > For instance with his birth certificate. I don’t believe anything was wrong, but why not just give proof instead of this hemming and hawing for months, when a simple “here it is” would have shut everyone up. [responding to hijack] :rolleyes: He did say, “Here it is.” [/responding to hijack - I promise] As to the remainder of your post, rather than an arrest being delayed, Fitzpatrick jumped the gun. The investigation is not complete, and an immediate arrest was not planned. Fitzpatrick himself stated that he had Blagojevich arrested early to prevent the corrupt actions that were imminent. Most spectacularly, the sale of a Senate seat. All you are doing is throwing mud up against the wall in the hopes that some of it sticks. You have no evidence of anything you say; not even a tenuous chain of weak logic. You’re shouting “Fire!” when there’s not even a smoldering match in an ashtray. ---
**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, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/233 "2008-12-12T23:31:07Z")
Are you saying, “Why didn’t the arrest him for selling Obama’s Senate Seat prior to the election?” Do the math. Prior to the election it didn’t need to be filled. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/234 "2008-12-12T23:42:47Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Ok, then it was probably the Rahm version of Michael Corleone: “My offer is this…FUCK YOU.” so… in a hypothetical conversation mr emmanuel suggested sexual favours? the oldest meaning of appreciation! ---
**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 13, 2008, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/235 "2008-12-13T00:19:36Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > “Not guilty” implies there has at least been an accusation. Obama has not even been accused of anything, nor is there any reason to believe he ever will be or should be. **Dio** the point being only that the difference is similar - just as a court would max out by saying “not guilty”, a prosecutor would maximally say “makes no allegations about” - it’s the highest grade they can give. BTW, I hear that Obama is also not guilty of being a sleeper cell operative for the Lizard people … ---
**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 13, 2008, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/236 "2008-12-13T00:21:53Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > 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? One is a much more sweeping statement than the other. I’ve never been accused of a criminal act, but it would be false to say that I was never involved in a criminal act. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/237 "2008-12-13T01:00:53Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > Obama and Dick Durbin, need to explain WHY the governor was busted now? Why not before the elections. G-Rod tried to use his influence to stop the Chicago Tribune from saying bad things about him. Did Obama and Dick Durbin (who was a Democrat running from Illinois for the Senate) stop the FBI from saying anything BEFORE the November election. So, you think the FBI commonly makes comments about ongoing investigations of high political figures, especially when wiretaps are involved? :rolleyes: > [@](#): > > If Obama and Durbin didn’t influence the FBI then WHY didn’t they bust him early. That needs to be explained in full Fitzgerald - who happens to be a Republican (though a virtuous one) made the decision, not the FBI. > [@](#): > > Maybe none of this happened, but Obama needs to explain things and do it clearly. > > For instance with his birth certificate. I don’t believe anything was wrong, but why not just give proof instead of this hemming and hawing for months, when a simple “here it is” would have shut everyone up. > > Obama is hiding again. Why? Didn’t he get elected as the voice of change. If you have nothing to hide, open up your vault and let people look. > > The reason he isn’t is he wants to be president so he can claim, “You can’t look it would be in violation of national security.” This is why he is urging G-Rod to quit so he can sweep this under the rug till he’s president and claim immunity. You lost. McCain lost. Obama is an American citizen. He didn’t pal around with terrorists. Why don’t you give it a rest until he actually does something worth criticizing? ---
**Author:** ![slime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@slime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slime)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/238 "2008-12-13T01:03:19Z")
I’m no legal scholar, but I thought unfit for office was meant that the guy was legaly insane not a criminal. Even if they do try this can’t he still fight it and draw this out as long as possible. I sure hopr so. As the good Dr. said, “better than sex.” ---
**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 13, 2008, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/239 "2008-12-13T01:08:56Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > You lost. McCain lost. Obama is an American citizen. He didn’t pal around with terrorists. Why don’t you give it a rest until he actually does something worth criticizing? It’s becoming obvious that the next 8 years are going to be Clinton II as far as the Republican playbook goes. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/240 "2008-12-13T02:38:32Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > It’s becoming obvious that the next 8 years are going to be Clinton II as far as the Republican playbook goes. I would say it’s looking like the Clinton playbook now. Blagojevich had[3 pastors](http://www.truveo.com/AP-Exclusive-Pastor-Prays-With-Gov-Blagojevich/id/40062650)over to his house to pray for his political soul. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396.md?page=13)