# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/141 "2008-12-11T03:57:11Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Any particular reason why teachers do/should hate Blago? No. We hate him because he is totally corrupt. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/142 "2008-12-11T05:11:13Z")
Now that Barack Obama, who received the most votes in 2004, and consequently won the Senate seat, is leaving the office, I think they should give the remainder of the term to the man who received the second largest number of votes, just like they do with Miss America runners-up. Alan Keyes. What? ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/143 "2008-12-11T05:50:03Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Now that Barack Obama, who received the most votes in 2004, and consequently won the Senate seat, is leaving the office, I think they should give the remainder of the term to the man who received the second largest number of votes, just like they do with Miss America runners-up. > > Alan Keyes. > > What? I’m for it just for what it will do to Jim Oberweis’ blood pressure. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/144 "2008-12-11T05:52:32Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Now that Barack Obama, who received the most votes in 2004, and consequently won the Senate seat, is leaving the office, I think they should give the remainder of the term to the man who received the second largest number of votes, just like they do with Miss America runners-up. > > Alan Keyes. > > What? No. That won’t do. Bob Guccione has . . . certain photographs. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/145 "2008-12-11T07:10:33Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > No. That won’t do. Bob Guccione has . . . certain photographs. :eek: Then we better make sure Bob Guccione gets the nod on the appointment, toot sweet! :eek: :eek:, I say! ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/146 "2008-12-11T08:18:33Z")
Gee…Obama is part of a corrupt political machine?? Who’s a thunk it?:smack: ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/147 "2008-12-11T12:08:59Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#): > > Can’t wait for the inevitable bullshit ploy by the right-wing spin machine to somehow smear Obama with this. > [@ralph124c](#): > > Gee..Obama is part of a corrupt political machine?? Who’s a thunk it?:smack: And we see it again. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/148 "2008-12-11T12:13:13Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Gee..Obama is part of a corrupt political machine?? Who’s a thunk it?:smack: Sean Hannity? Is that you? ---
**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 11, 2008, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/149 "2008-12-11T12:41:08Z")
You know, when Obama had something pop up that looked shady at first glance, the Chicago Tribune said come talk to us about this. He did. He sat and answered every question they had, and they published the results. As far as I can tell, nothing that was in that interview was found to be a lie or even a dodge. Blago declined a similar offer. Obama got an ethics bill passed overriding Blago’s veto. There is speculation that one of the reason he was so blatant is that he was trying to get as much as he can before the law took place. Obama and Blago may come from the same party and the same state, but saying that makes them alike is like claiming they are both brunets and so they are just alike. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/150 "2008-12-11T13:59:01Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#): > > The thing that I think people were most annoyed about is that it seemed to be a typically self-serving political move. No one looked at the problem to see if giving seniors free transport was a need that had to be addressed. No one looked at other groups who might need it MORE to see if there was a better use for such freebees. Our public transportation system is constantly in financial trouble, rates are going up for everyone, and giving free rides to some people who might not even need them puts a burden on paying riders, many of whom are not in good financial situations themselves. The only reason anyone could see for the Governor demanding this is that he thought it made him look like a guy who cares about your grandma. And that’s perfectly legitimate. But expecting Obama and Durbin to step in and do something about it is ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/151 "2008-12-11T14:50:10Z")
Is the lieutenant governor appointed directly by the governor? If he was doesn’t that call into question Pat Quinn’s integrity as well? ---
**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 11, 2008, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/152 "2008-12-11T15:00:20Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > Is the lieutenant governor appointed directly by the governor? If he was doesn’t that call into question Pat Quinn’s integrity as well? From [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lieutenant_Governor_of_Illinois): > [@Wikipedia](#): > > The Lieutenant Governor of Illinois is the second highest executive of the State of Illinois. In Illinois, the lieutenant governor and governor run on a joint ticket, and are directly elected by popular vote. Candidates for lieutenant governor run separately in the primary from candidates for governor. So it looks like they are elected on a joint ticket, but they are both selected by primary, so it’s not like the vice-presidential candidate being chosen by the presidential candidate. Incidentally, I’ve seen more than once in articles pertinent to the current situation that Lt. Gov. Quinn hasn’t actually spoken to Blago in months. Were I an Illinois resident, that would make me feel better about Quinn’s judgment, anyway… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/153 "2008-12-11T15:02:47Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > Is the lieutenant governor appointed directly by the governor? If he was doesn’t that call into question Pat Quinn’s integrity as well? Quinn’s supposedly kept his distance from the governor for some time, perhaps because of the longrunning corruption investigation and thorough unpopularity. He was one of the first to say Blago should quit after this news broke. The integrity of at least one of the deputy governors has been called into question, so maybe they’d be sent packing, but I don’t know. ---
**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 11, 2008, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/154 "2008-12-11T15:02:56Z")
As was noted earlier, it appears that there’s no love lost between Blagojevich and Quinn, to say the least. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/155 "2008-12-11T15:17:09Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Incidentally, I’ve seen more than once in articles pertinent to the current situation that Lt. Gov. Quinn hasn’t actually spoken to Blago in months. Were I an Illinois resident, that would make me feel better about Quinn’s judgment, anyway… 😃 I think he said recently that he hasn’t had a real conversation with the Governor since summer of 2007. ---
**Author:** ![KellyM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/57b2e6/32.png) [@KellyM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KellyM)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/156 "2008-12-11T15:47:43Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > Is the lieutenant governor appointed directly by the governor? If he was doesn’t that call into question Pat Quinn’s integrity as well? It’s a join ticket, but Quinn has maintained a safe distance from Blagoyevich during his tenure and has even occasionally criticized Blagoyevich or sided with people opposed to him. The lieutenant governor in Illinois has no inherent duties other than to be ready to take over in the event the governor pops off. It’s not like he’s been an active member of the administration. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/157 "2008-12-11T17:18:45Z")
to me, it looks like the same crew of corrupt cook county hacks!😕 ---
**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 11, 2008, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/158 "2008-12-11T17:19:18Z")
Quinn has been critical of Blagojevich for months if not years. He has been an active advocate in the effort to amend the state Constitution with a recall provision – a barely veiled attempt to get Blagojevich out of office. I’ve listened to him on the AM morning radio shows and he’s consistantly been critical of the governor. Speaking of which, Quinn was on both of the major Chicago “conservative voice” stations this morning (890 & 520) and the hosts of each seem enthusiastic about his taking office. Not because he’s any conservative scion, Quinn is a Democrat, but because he’s viewed as an upright and honest guy who wants to work for the people of Illinois. I think national voices who are predicting a possible resurgance of GOP power in the Prairie State will be disappointed _because_ there are people like Quinn and Lisa Madigan who have been Democratic opposition to Blagojevich for years and who are respected across the state whereas there really hasn’t been many GOP voices with the same qualities. Possibly because the state GOP is so anemic to start with. ---
**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 11, 2008, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/159 "2008-12-11T17:21:12Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > to me, it looks like the same crew of corrupt cook county hacks!😕 Who did the what now? Are you somehow under the impression that Obama promised to clean out the political Augean stables that is Illinois? ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396/160 "2008-12-11T17:22:49Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > to me, it looks like the same crew of corrupt cook county hacks!😕 Obama has stated neither he nor any of his cabinet or personnel have anything to do with Blagojevich’s asshattery. He’s sticking his neck out far here, and he isn’t stupid. I think his hands are clean. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396.md?page=9)