# Governor Blagojevich taken into custody this morning **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 9, 2008, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-taken-into-custody-this-morning/476386 "2008-12-09T14:09:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-taken-into-custody-this-morning/476386/41 "2008-12-09T18:39:28Z")
Though it’s gray and gloomy outside, there’s a little ray of sunshine in my heart knowing that Rod Blowdryer is off to the governors wing at statesville. Under the Il. Constitution though, Blago can still rule and keep his job, but he’d be a fool to do it, which hasn’t stopped him so far. He is still in charge of picking a replacement, until he’s convicted which could run until the end of his term. Does make me wonder though, how much more information did they get in the month between the election and now? Was this staged to distance Obama from Blago before the election? And who is Senate Candidate #5? ---
**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, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-taken-into-custody-this-morning/476386/42 "2008-12-09T18:41:04Z")
> [@buttonjockey308](#): > > And who is Senate Candidate #5? Hmm…rich guy from Illinois, desperately wants to be in Congress…I know! It’s Jim Oberweis! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Finally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/67e7ee/32.png) [@Finally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finally)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-taken-into-custody-this-morning/476386/43 "2008-12-09T19:20:35Z")
I was thinking maybe Jesse Jr was #5. The legacy that is his father makes it seem likely to me. ---
**Author:** ![Ro\_Carter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7feea3/32.png) [@Ro\_Carter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ro_Carter)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-taken-into-custody-this-morning/476386/44 "2008-12-09T19:40:55Z")
The article I read on this had a sidebar about Governors that went to jail. As I was reading the list, I realized there were no state names next to the people, so I went back up to the title and read it again… It was of Governors solely from Illinois, and only from the last 35 years. Couldn’t believe it. I knew Chicago was rough, but I guess I didn’t realize it stretched to the state government as well. Unfortunately, MI has already had its political scandal, and Granholm, while stupid and ineffectual, doesn’t strike me as someone that’ll get herself canned for something illegal. Guess we’re stuck with her. ---
**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, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-taken-into-custody-this-morning/476386/45 "2008-12-09T19:41:02Z")
> [@buttonjockey308](#): > > how much more information did they get in the month between the election and now? Was this staged to distance Obama from Blago before the election? And who is Senate Candidate #5? Much of the indictment focuses on the sale of the Senate seat, based on post-election phone conversations. I get the vibe that they indicted now because they wanted to do so before Blago made that appointment. I guess that Senate Candidate #1 is Tammy Duckworth–don’t know about #5. > [@](#): > > It’s too bad that the wife and girls will have to go through the next few years of this. His wife’s on the tapes too saying the same things Blago says. ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-taken-into-custody-this-morning/476386/46 "2008-12-09T19:41:35Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > I think Fitz is pretty much the definition of “squeaky clean”. He’s Elliott Ness reincarnated. He is the first “political hack” to have put two governors away consecutively, one from each party. Leaves me to wonder whose hack he would be? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-taken-into-custody-this-morning/476386/47 "2008-12-09T20:16:09Z")
> [@Mr Bus Guy](#): > > Not so bad actually. She bears a strong resemblance to Ronald Mac Donald, but seemed like a decent, non-fundy, middle of the road choice for the Republicans. > > Which, come to think of it, is probably why she lost. She went through the primaries getting mud thrown at her from all sides - mostly her own party. > > Also, 2002 was a veddy, veddy bad year to be running for state office in Illinois. If I remember, that was about when all the Ryan feces started getting tossed in to the proverbial fan. > > I met her ex several times - really nice guy. Heck, part of the reason Blago got elected the first time was that his opponent had the misfortune to be naed Ryan (and didn’t have the wisdom to put the words “no relation” on all his campaign signs). ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-taken-into-custody-this-morning/476386/48 "2008-12-09T20:33:39Z")
> [@Humble\_Servant](#): > > Much of the indictment focuses on the sale of the Senate seat, based on post-election phone conversations. I get the vibe that they indicted now because they wanted to do so before Blago made that appointment. I guess that Senate Candidate #1 is Tammy Duckworth–don’t know about #5.His wife’s on the tapes too saying the same things Blago says. I saw a woman I didn’t recognize on a street interview earlier today. I was distracted by work so I didn’t catch her name or even a good look at her face. She was saying a lot of “I know No-TING!” I wonder if she’s #5. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-taken-into-custody-this-morning/476386/49 "2008-12-09T20:44:28Z")
Ha, Obama’s Senate seat is [up for auction on ebay](http://cgi.ebay.com/OBAMAS-ILLINOIS-SENATE-SEAT-FOR-SALE_W0QQitemZ160303950570QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item160303950570&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50)\*. This whole thing is hilarious and surreal. \*actually, it’s a photograph that’s for sale. ---
**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, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-taken-into-custody-this-morning/476386/50 "2008-12-09T20:47:28Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Heck, part of the reason Blago got elected the first time was that his opponent had the misfortune to be naed Ryan (and didn’t have the wisdom to put the words “no relation” on all his campaign signs). The same could be said of Obama (before Jack Ryan dropped out)! ---
**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, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-taken-into-custody-this-morning/476386/51 "2008-12-09T21:17:28Z")
Here, for the record, are all the “clues” in the indictment concerning who Blagojevich’s custom^H^H^H^H^H^H candidates were: [ol][li]Senate Candidate 1 was one of Obama’s advisors. By November 3, media reports indicated that he/she "was interested in the Senate seat if it became vacant, and was supported by the President-Elect. By November 12, however, “CNN [was] reporting that Senate Candidate 1 does not want the open Senate seat.” Referred to as female (“she”, “her”) in multiple locations in the indictment.[_]The name of Senate Candidate 2 was leaked to the press as a possible candidate on November 6; a subsequent editorial in the Chicago Sun-Times on November 7 “indicate[d] references to the specific language and arguments regarding Senate Candidate 2 as a potential candidate for the Senate seat, as discussed by Blagojevich.”[_]Senate Candidate 3 is only referred to once in the indictment, obliquely. No identifying characteristics are given.[_]Senate Candidate 4 “is a Deputy Governor of the State of Illinois”. Blagojevich believed that if he appointed Candidate 4 and, later, was about to be impeached, he could “count on” Candidate 4 to resign and let Blago move over to the Senate at that point.[_]Senate Candidate 5 was “publicly reported to be interested in the open Senate seat” by November 10. Blagojevich’s office leaked Candidate 5’s name to the Sun-Times (in fact, to the same reporter as for #2) later on. Candidate 5 and Blago were supposed to have had a meeting within a “few days” of December 4. Blago claimed to have “had a prior bad experience with Senate Candidate 5 not keeping his word.” Referred to as male in quotes from the wiretaps & bugs. [\*]“Senate Candidate 6, based on other intercepted conversations, is believed to be a wealthy person from Illinois.” Blago considered offering him/her the Senate seat in exchange for helping to raise money to start a foundation that Blago would head.[/ol][/li]Marc Ambinder, over at the Atlantic blogs, thinks that [Candidate 1 is Valerie Jarrett](http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/12/blago_indictment_senate_candid.php), [Candidate 2 is Lisa Madigan](http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/12/the_blago_indictment_fun_with.php), and [Candidate 5 is either Jesse Jackson, Jr. or Emil Jones, Jr.](http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/12/blago_indictment_who_is_senate.php). Candidate 4 is one of the three Deputy Governors of Illinois, Dean Martinez, Bob Greenlee, or Louanner Peters; but which one is not clear. ---
**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, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-taken-into-custody-this-morning/476386/52 "2008-12-09T21:33:32Z")
Hmm…looks like in my earlier post I confused Candidate 5 and Candidate 6. It’s hard to keep track of Fundraiser A and Candidate 4 and Client 9 and all that. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-taken-into-custody-this-morning/476386/53 "2008-12-09T21:45:07Z")
Ha! [$4,500 bond](http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/09/illinois.governor/index.html) and he’s back on the streets. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-taken-into-custody-this-morning/476386/54 "2008-12-09T21:54:48Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > Ha! [$4,500 bond](http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/09/illinois.governor/index.html) and he’s back on the streets. Interesting quote from that article: > [@](#): > > Quinn said he had not spoken to Blagojevich at length since summer 2007. Yes folks, that’s Blago’s own lieutenant governor, and he hasn’t spoken at any length to his boss for maybe a year and a half. ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-taken-into-custody-this-morning/476386/55 "2008-12-09T21:55:23Z")
This whole thing just intrigues the hell out of me. I picture the dinner table at the Blago home tonight. Wife slopping cold smashed potatoes on the Gov’s plate, just glaring. No way he’s getting the remote out of her hands - not for a long time. Phone rings: “if that’s your _friends_ from work, you’re busy” Forget sex. Probably forever. The “which in law do we go to for Christmas” question will no longer be a discussion. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-taken-into-custody-this-morning/476386/56 "2008-12-09T21:57:33Z")
> [@Mr Bus Guy](#): > > The “which in law do we go to for Christmas” question will no longer be a discussion. I don’t think that’s been a discussion for years; I’d read an interview with his FIL in Chicago Magazine last year or even longer ago, in which his FIL called him a son of a bitch and said he hadn’t seen his grandkids in a long time. And from my reading of the article, I sure wasn’t sympathizing with Rod on the topic. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-taken-into-custody-this-morning/476386/57 "2008-12-09T22:18:30Z")
[Obama’s careful comments on the matter.](http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x248643) The Freepers sure are having a field day. They think A-Rod is going to “rat out” Obama and it’s his turn to be arrested next. Some of them also are hailing Fitz as a hero, conveniently forgetting all the nasty names they called him when he was trying to figure out the Valerie Plame mess and got Scooter Libby out of the picture. They think Obama’s going to fire Fitz immediately after O takes office! How delusional can you get? Pretty damned, I guess. Fitz _is_ a hero and he’ll be gold to the Obama administration. I was rooting for Fitzgerald to be named Attorney General (well, 2nd choice after Vincent Bugliosi) but I suppose it would have looked bad if Obama named him AG and then Fitz had gotten Blago arrested. I suppose it all worked out for the best. [/talking out my ass, but it’s all fun to think about] ---
**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, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-taken-into-custody-this-morning/476386/58 "2008-12-09T22:36:49Z")
> [@Mr Bus Guy](#): > > This whole thing just intrigues the hell out of me. > > I picture the dinner table at the Blago home tonight. Wife slopping cold smashed potatoes on the Gov’s plate, just glaring. > > No way he’s getting the remote out of her hands - not for a long time. > > Phone rings: “if that’s your _friends_ from work, you’re busy” > > Forget sex. Probably forever. > > The “which in law do we go to for Christmas” question will no longer be a discussion. Take a look at the indictment–Patti Blago is on the tapes too, saying the same things he was saying, along the lines of [paraphrase]: “if the Trib won’t fire those guys then fuck the Cubs.” She comes off as cut from the same stupid venal mold as him. Her Daddy is probably shaking his head as to where he went wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-taken-into-custody-this-morning/476386/59 "2008-12-09T23:16:20Z")
Is there anyone here familiar with IL law? How will this play out? For instance, is the governor leagally obliged to fill a vacant Senate seat within some certain time frame? Politically, how can _anybody_ now accept an appointment from the guy? Does he have to be impeached? Does he automatically lose office if convicted of a crime? Is Patrick Fitzgerald going to get an offer to name the next IL senator in exchange for reduced charges or sentences? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-taken-into-custody-this-morning/476386/60 "2008-12-09T23:19:51Z")
I can hear the closing argument now “ladies and gentlemen of the jury, who wants to be a senator?” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-taken-into-custody-this-morning/476386.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-taken-into-custody-this-morning/476386.md?page=4)