# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/41 "2008-12-09T18:17:54Z")
> [@Duke](#): > > Don’t forget Lisa Madigan, the Illinois Attorney General, who happens to be Michael Madigan’s daughter. And who is a rather strikingly attractive woman. Not that it matters, but Lisa is hot. ---
**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 9, 2008, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/42 "2008-12-09T18:26:06Z")
I’m amazed at how STUPID Blagojovich is. He KNEW he was under investigation, if he had any brains, he should have realized his every word and move was probably being recorded, yet he continue to engage in a jaw-dropping level of corruption. The sheer scope of it is almost comic. If he was a movie character, I would think the writers were overdoing it. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/43 "2008-12-09T18:26:06Z")
> [@Pochacco](#): > > With what little information has been reported so far, the Obama camp comes out looking good. They have Blagojevich complaining on tape that the only thing Obama was offering in exchange for Blagojevich appointing his preferred replacement was “appreciation”. This could be because Obama or some of his advisors suspected or were aware that the seat was being sold and he was avoiding anything remotely resembling collaboration. As an apolitical observer the only potential mud I can see sticking to Obama will be if it comes to light that he was aware of what was going on and did nothing about it. Trying to stretch this to cover Obama is going to require a sheet of pearlescent white unobtanium. And everyone knows that unobtanium only comes in cobalt blue. ---
**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 9, 2008, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/44 "2008-12-09T18:27:11Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Because the only alternatives on the ballot are Republicans? Tough choice. Do you want the pol who’s gonna line his pockets or the pol who’s gonna fuck you over? It is to laugh. As far as I can tell the choice was between corrupt Republicans or corrupt Democrats. Judy Barr Topinka ran, and she had a fair distance between herself and George Ryan, and I very seriously considered voting for her (despite me being a dem and her not) right up until she named that scum as her choice for Lt. Governor. Joseph Birkett repeatedly prosecuted the wrong guys for murder despite exculpatory evidence and a credible confession of someone else and would have gotten the wrong people put to death if it were not for a pardon. He never apologized, he never showed any remorse. Judy knew that and chose him anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/45 "2008-12-09T18:29:11Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Aren’t those two things one and the same? They are both violations of ethics and public trust. Well, to a degree, except there’s a limit to how much someone can steal, but fuckery knows no bounds. ---
**Author:** ![davidw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c4cdca/32.png) [@davidw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidw)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/46 "2008-12-09T18:31:13Z")
> [@KellyM](#): > > Also, I’m very curious who Senate Candidate 1 is; the press release says “Senate Candidate 1 eventually removed herself from consideration for the open seat.” So what female candidate removed herself from consideration? Duckworth? Schakowsky? I’ve lost track of all the names that have been floated. It’s most likely Valerie Jarrett. ---
**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 9, 2008, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/47 "2008-12-09T18:35:19Z")
Lincoln once asked a Pennsylvania pol just how crooked the notoriously crooked Simon Cameron was. The pol paused and thoughtfully said, “Well, I suppose he wouldn’t steal a hot stove…” Lincoln appointed him Secretary of War anyway. Not his finest moment. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/48 "2008-12-09T18:38:13Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I’m amazed at how STUPID Blagojovich is. He KNEW he was under investigation, if he had any brains, he should have realized his every word and move was probably being recorded, yet he continue to engage in a jaw-dropping level of corruption. The sheer scope of it is almost comic. If he was a movie character, I would think the writers were overdoing it. Anyone who thinks **Dio** is exaggerating here must, must read the entire indictment. If even 10% of it is true Hot Rod is one of the all-time champions. Marvel at the arrogance of the governor facing impeachment who thinks he has a shot at the presidency in 2016! Gasp at the crassness of the loyal Democrat who calls the President-elect a “motherfucker” because he won’t take a bribe! Boggle at the chutzpah of the guy who threatens to withhold $8 million from a children’s hospital because its CEO wouldn’t cut him a $50K check! Drop your jaw at the man sworn to uphold the rights of Illinois citizens who demands that a newspaper fire its board members who don’t agree with him! It’s all there and more, kids! ---
**Author:** ![KellyM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/57b2e6/32.png) [@KellyM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KellyM)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/49 "2008-12-09T18:43:57Z")
> [@Duke](#): > > Anyone who thinks **Dio** is exaggerating here must, must read the entire indictment. If even 10% of it is true Hot Rod is one of the all-time champions. > > Marvel at the arrogance of the governor facing impeachment who thinks he has a shot at the presidency in 2016! Gasp at the crassness of the loyal Democrat who calls the President-elect a “motherfucker” because he won’t take a bribe! Boggle at the chutzpah of the guy who threatens to withhold $8 million from a children’s hospital because its CEO wouldn’t cut him a $50K check! Drop your jaw at the man sworn to uphold the rights of Illinois citizens who demands that a newspaper fire its board members who don’t agree with him! It’s all there and more, kids! If Aaron Sorkin had tried to introduce a character like this into the West Wing, they would have booed him off the air. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/50 "2008-12-09T18:45:43Z")
> [@davidw](#): > > It’s most likely Valerie Jarrett. Jarrett has been named a senior adviser in Obama’s administration. I can’t imagine why he would name her to that post if she was going to quit immediately to take his Senate job. ETA: Oh, right, that’s why she would be out of consideration. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Sinaijon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Sinaijon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaijon)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/51 "2008-12-09T18:47:59Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Do you have any basis whatsoever for trying to smear Obama over this? Where did I smear him? How is speculating on who a president will pardon when he leaves office ‘smearing him’? Presidents issue pardons for all sorts of reasons, but hardly ever as a personal favor, but very often for political expediency. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/52 "2008-12-09T18:50:46Z")
Seriously though, what’s the reasoning behind your prediction? ---
**Author:** ![MikeS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MikeS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeS)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/53 "2008-12-09T18:52:15Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Jarrett has been named a senior adviser in Obama’s administration. I can’t imagine why he would name her to that post if she was going to quit immediately to take his Senate job. Jarrett wasn’t named to Obama’s administration until after all of these conversations took place. The indictment says “Candidate 1” was reported to have removed herself from consideration by November 12. Valerie Jarrett took the Obama position on November 14. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/54 "2008-12-09T18:54:05Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Aren’t those two things one and the same? They are both violations of ethics and public trust. Yes, but the latter (fucking over the people) can be done without breaking the law, sometimes without even telling a lie. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/55 "2008-12-09T18:55:48Z")
> [@MikeS](#): > > Jarrett wasn’t named to Obama’s administration until after all of these conversations took place. The indictment says “Candidate 1” was reported to have removed herself from consideration by November 12. Valerie Jarrett took the Obama position on November 14. Yeah… eventually I figured it out. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/56 "2008-12-09T18:57:49Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I’m amazed at how STUPID Blagojovich is. He KNEW he was under investigation, if he had any brains, he should have realized his every word and move was probably being recorded, yet he continue to engage in a jaw-dropping level of corruption. The sheer scope of it is almost comic. If he was a movie character, I would think the writers were overdoing it. It is never easy to quit an addiction cold turkey. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/57 "2008-12-09T18:58:49Z")
> [@Sinaijon](#): > > Where did I smear him? How is speculating on who a president will pardon when he leaves office ‘smearing him’? Presidents issue pardons for all sorts of reasons, but hardly ever as a personal favor, but very often for political expediency. And what would be the political expediency of Obama pardoning Blagojevich? ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/58 "2008-12-09T19:07:40Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > And what would be the political expediency of Obama pardoning Blagojevich? Eh, they’re not always, or even usually, about political expediency. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/59 "2008-12-09T19:13:04Z")
And _what_ is up with his hair? Assuming it’s his…I mean, hasn’t _anybody_ told the governor of Illinois that his hairdo looks…_wrong_?!? ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/60 "2008-12-09T19:18:17Z")
If Blagojevich was already under investigation for one thing or another, it’s no wonder Obama resigned his Senate seat some time ago. I’m curious about the timing of this “nothing but appreciation” conversation now: was it before or after he resigned? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396.md?page=4)