# 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:** 4
**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, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/61 "2008-12-09T19:25:08Z")
> [@Fish](#): > > I’m curious about the timing of this “nothing but appreciation” conversation now: was it before or after he resigned? He resigned Nov. 16, which is several days after that conversation must have taken place. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/47e85d/32.png) [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Lance_Murdoch)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/62 "2008-12-09T19:34:12Z")
> [@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. Bush will probably pardon George Ryan. See, that’s a baseless smear. I wish I could bet against such a crazy proposition as the Obama pardon, but no one would be dumb enough to offer action on it. * * * Now in a perfect world, Blag will end up sharing a jail cell with Ryan. They could install TV cameras and make it a reality show. ---
**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, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/63 "2008-12-09T19:34:58Z")
Dick Durbin has now called for a quick change to Illinois law to provide for a special election to fill any midterm U.S. Senate vacancy. ---
**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, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/64 "2008-12-09T19:37:25Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Dick Durbin has now called for a quick change to Illinois law to provide for a special election to fill any midterm U.S. Senate vacancy. Such a change would require a special session of the legislature and the Governor’s signature on the bill. It’s close enough to the end of the legislative term that the governor can pocket-veto any bill passed at this point. Who here thinks that Blago would sign a bill stripping him of his senatorial appointment power? If you’re going to hold a special session at this point, you might as well impeach Blago while you’re at it. Frankly I’d rather not wait until January 12th (when the 96th General Assembly convenes) to get resolution on this issue. ---
**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, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/65 "2008-12-09T19:37:38Z")
> [@An\_Arky](#): > > 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_?!? It’s ok when your name is Rod Blowdryovich. 🆒 ---
**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 9, 2008, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/66 "2008-12-09T19:44:34Z")
> [@An\_Arky](#): > > 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_?!? That is a genyooine vintage 80s blowdried hairdo, suitable for 13-year-old boys from 1985. What it’s doing habitating the top of a 52-year-old man’s head, I have no idea. Hey! Blago’s birthday is tomorrow! Hope you enjoyed the present, Rod, courtesy of the United States Department of Justice! ---
**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, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/67 "2008-12-09T19:47:36Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Hey! Blago’s birthday is tomorrow! Hope you enjoyed the present, Rod, courtesy of the United States Department of Justice! Maybe we should bake him a cake with a picture of a nail file on it. And then not include the nail file. ---
**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 9, 2008, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/68 "2008-12-09T19:47:47Z")
> [@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. Oh, he’s an idiot of epic proportions, that’s for sure. Probably the dumbest thing he’s done is to underestimate how much smarter Barack Obama is, and how unlikely he would be to go along with such a retarded scheme as to “pay” for his own Senate replacement. He’s the President of the United States (well, almost). If he has an idea who he’d like to replace him (which I’m sure he does), he’s not about to give Blago some fancy job to make it happen. That’s not the kind of “favor” a President is going to do for a guy like Blagojevich. Whatever Obama offers him is going to fall into the “just playing politics” category and not the “insane, over-the-top personal favor” category. ---
**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 9, 2008, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/69 "2008-12-09T19:47:51Z")
So who will Blago take down with him? Any one who seems to have been willing to pay to play is going to be some pretty damaged goods and one suspects that some previously rising stars are among them. ---
**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, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/70 "2008-12-09T20:00:48Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Seriously though, what’s the reasoning behind your prediction? Just that in 8 years, the details fade, and the whole thing gets reduced to 'guy who tried to scalp Obama’s Senate seat." It’s a text book pardon case. Pardoning him would be a nice nod back to his home state party, that noboby will get all the worked up over in 8 years time. ---
**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, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/71 "2008-12-09T20:01:53Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > And what would be the political expediency of Obama pardoning Blagojevich? Same as for Bush pardoning Stevens: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=10409326&postcount=14](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=10409326&postcount=14) ---
**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, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/72 "2008-12-09T20:05:43Z")
> [@Sinaijon](#): > > Just that in 8 years, the details fade, and the whole thing gets reduced to 'guy who tried to scalp Obama’s Senate seat." > > It’s a text book pardon case. Pardoning him would be a nice nod back to his home state party, that noboby will get all the worked up over in 8 years time. I don’t think that’s how people will remember an ex-governor who got sent to jail for corruption. Actually I don’t see the benefit to the Illinois Democrats if he gets pardoned, either. ---
**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, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/73 "2008-12-09T20:06:33Z")
> [@Sinaijon](#): > > Just that in 8 years, the details fade, and the whole thing gets reduced to 'guy who tried to scalp Obama’s Senate seat." > > It’s a text book pardon case. Pardoning him would be a nice nod back to his home state party, that noboby will get all the worked up over in 8 years time. What would Obama gain from that? A nod to his home state? That would be an insult to his home state. I don’t think the Illinois Dems would particularly want to be reminded of this or appreciate the bad pub from it either, 8 years hence. ---
**Author:** ![Humble\_Servant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/47e85d/32.png) [@Humble\_Servant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Humble_Servant)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/74 "2008-12-09T20:14:00Z")
Blagojevich is almost universally hated by IL politicians, Dem and Pub alike. Not really sure how he managed that, but it leads to two things: (1) most elected politicians have long since distanced themselves from him, so those he takes down are likely to be his board, staff and political appointees, not other elected politicians; and (2) no one cares about pardoning him–many politicians will be quietly happy about this. ---
**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, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/75 "2008-12-09T20:15:35Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > What would Obama gain from that? A nod to his home state? That would be an insult to his home state. I don’t think the Illinois Dems would particularly want to be reminded of this or appreciate the bad pub from it either, 8 years hence. Ha! You’re really not from around here brother. In eight years there will be a whole new cast of screwballs doing the same stuff in different proportions. This is Illinois, the Democrats are literally untouchable. If the Machine has to eat a few people here and there to keep the wheels rolling, fine, but bad publicity isn’t something they sweat. Deep down in my heart, I know Daley was behind Blago getting caught so red handedly. That’s what he gets for not handing over the last Casino license when asked nicely. \They pull a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue. _That’s_ the Chicago way. \ ---
**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, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/76 "2008-12-09T20:18:24Z")
> [@Cluricaun](#): > > This is Illinois, the Democrats are literally untouchable. Blagojevich was the first Democrat to be elected governor in how long? ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/77 "2008-12-09T20:19:56Z")
> [@Sinaijon](#): > > Just that in 8 years, the details fade, and the whole thing gets reduced to 'guy who tried to scalp Obama’s Senate seat." > > It’s a text book pardon case. Pardoning him would be a nice nod back to his home state party, that noboby will get all the worked up over in 8 years time. What? Illinois Dems would riot at the prospect of ANY future president pardoning Blagojevich - but especially so with Obama. There’s no home court loyalty here. Blagojevich is extremely unpopular and that was before this latest revelation of gross corruption - including withholding funds from a children’s hospital. Obama wouldn’t vouch for this guy selling Amway products, let alone pardon him. Either your barometer of Illinois politics is way off, or you got caught trying to baselessly smear Obama. ---
**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, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/78 "2008-12-09T20:25:14Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Blagojevich was the first Democrat to be elected governor in how long? Ok, Ok, Dems are untouchable within 100 miles of Chicago. 😉 ---
**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, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/79 "2008-12-09T20:26:26Z")
> [@Cluricaun](#): > > Ha! You’re really not from around here brother. In eight years there will be a whole new cast of screwballs doing the same stuff in different proportions. This is Illinois, the Democrats are literally untouchable. If the Machine has to eat a few people here and there to keep the wheels rolling, fine, but bad publicity isn’t something they sweat. They might not sweat it, but they don’t _crave_ it either. They might be able to survive the bad pub of a future Blago pardon, but they’d certainly have nothing to _gain_ from it, and no reaosn to want Obama to do it. P.S. I have a brother who lives in Chicago, so I actually do have a slight connection there. ---
**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, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/80 "2008-12-09T20:51:38Z")
Agreed that an Obama pardon of Blagojevich, anytime between 2009 and, say, 2017, is very, very unlikely. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396.md?page=5)