[Illinois] Gov. Blagojevich saga continues...

[smahoo]

WASHINGTON - Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was arrested by FBI agents Tuesday morning after being served with a federal arrest warrant, NBC News reported.

His arrest follows a long and highly publicized corruption investigation.

Blagojevich is due to appear in federal court later on Tuesday to face the charges.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28139155/

[Morfin]

A 76-page FBI affidavit alleges that Blagojevich was intercepted on court-authorized wiretaps during the last month conspiring to sell or trade for personal gain the state's U.S. Senate seat, which is being vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.

[Morfin]

Subtle, very subtle.

In one charge related to the appointment of a senator to replace Barack Obama, prosecutors allege that Blagojevich sought appointment for himseld as Secretary of Health and Human Services in the new Obama administration, or a lucrative job with a union, in exchange for appointing a union-preferred candidate.

Another charge alleges Blagojevich and Harris conspired to demand the firing of Chicago Tribune editorial board members responsible for editorials critical of him in exchange for state help with the sale of Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs baseball stadium owned by Tribune Co.Link (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-rod-blagojevich-1209,0,7997804.story)

[CTricksterGirl]

This guy is the most corrupt motherfucker...I hope he gets the book and then anally raped in prison

[TylerDurden]

this guy's a fucking fuck. i hope that while he's being anally raped in prison his erik estrada-esque hair is used like reigns for leverage.

[Rumpleforeskin]

Yeah, people knew this guy was corrupt even before he was sworn in as governor. It was just a matter of time before they got him.

[BIG PIZZLE]

Is this the change we need?

[The Batman]

Is this the change we need?

And its started....

[Gary_Busey]

I need the change he was going to get.

[Da Raider]

What?! A corrupt Illinois politician? And Governor no less. He'll be the 4th Gov to serve time from Illinois...

[Rover]

Also on Nov. 12, in a conversation with Harris, the complaint affidavit states that Blagojevich said his decision about the open Senate seat will be based on three criteria in the following order of importance: “Our legal situation, our personal situation, my political situation. This decision, like every other one, needs to be based upon that. Legal. Personal. Political.”
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/blagojevich/1321300,rod-blagojevich-illinois-governor-custody-120908.article

I love how none of his 3 criteria for making decisions have anything to do with the people of Illinois.

[redsox39]

This guy is the most corrupt motherfucker...I hope he gets the book and then anally raped in prison


Some People (and only some) in detroit might disagree...

[Rover]

Blago hasn't killed any strippers to cover up murder.

Point goes to Detroit.

[TylerDurden]

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/blagojevich/1321300,rod-blagojevich-illinois-governor-custody-120908.article

I love how none of his 3 criteria for making decisions have anything to do with the people of Illinois.

not a shock. it's been this way since he took office during his first term.

[Morfin]

The comparison to Detroit is an apt one. Kilpatrick's lackies have always "suggested" to potential city contractors that they would receive favorable treatment if they contributed to the Kilpatrick family's various "non-profit" foundations.

Come to find out, these foundations merely employee friends and family, pay them exhorbitant salaries, donate little money to charities or do little charity work. Kwame and the family are under FBI investigation for this activity.

But, Rover's right: Dead stripper trumps selling a Senate seat.

[TylerDurden]

But, Rover's right: Dead stripper trumps selling a Senate seat.

no one's disputing that.

this is probably the first of many charges they'll eventually level against blago. the guy's about as crooked as they come (which is what i believe ct was getting at), and i wouldn't be surprised to find out that this financial crisis that illinois is facing is because this fuck funnels money to places where it's not needed, thus padding his own wallet.

[Angry Ass Messican Dude]

THANK GOD, THIS IS FUCKIN GREAT

This guy has been the biggest asswipe in the history of asswipages.

Now if we could get rid of his boss Mayor Daley.

[Rover]

The FBI says Blagojevich wanted an appointment to the Obama cabinet as Secretary of Health and Human Services, a well-paying job, or huge campaign contributions as the price for naming Obama's successor.
Blagojevich was overheard by the FBI saying "I want to make money," complaining he was "financially hurting."
Blagojevich also sought a high paying job for his wife, according to the FBI. "Is there a play here, with these guys, with her" to work for a firm in Washington or New York, he reportedly asked.

The FBI affidavit said Blagojevich had been told by an adviser "the president-elect can get Rod Blagojevich's wife on paid corporate boards in exchange for naming the president-elect's pick to the Senate."
Told by two other advisers he has to "suck it up" for two years, the FBI says it heard Blagojevich complain he has to give this "motherf***er [the president-elect] his senator. F*** him. For nothing? F*** him."
The governor is heard saying he will pick another candidate "before I just give f***ing [Senate Candidate l] a f***ing Senate seat and I don't get anything."http://www.abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=6424985&page=1

[Crack]

Then the Mafia of Chicago...

[madddawggg]

never trust a politician from illinois

[madddawggg]

Obama ties to Blagojevich?
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/12/questions-arise.html

[Mustard]

Obama ties to Blagojevich?
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/12/questions-arise.html
Well of course there are ties between the two. But criminal ties don't seem likely. From that very article:

There are no allegations that President-elect Obama or anyone close to him had anything to do with any of the crimes Gov. Blagojevich is accused of having committed.

In fact, there are indications that Mr. Obama and his team refused to go along with the "pay to play" way Blagojevich is accused of operating, offering only "gratitude" if the governor appointed his friend Valerie Jarrett to take his U.S. Senate seat, much to the governor's chagrin.

But seriously, this is terrible news. Just one more thing for the villagers to pile on Obama. Its not as if he has enough on his plate, lets throw on one more shit sandwich, you know, just for good measure...

[redsox39]

What I want to know is...Why Bust him now? Why not wait until he pulls in a few more corrupt people into this scheme? Heaven forbid they bust more than one corrupt politician!

[Rumpleforeskin]

Because he's the top of the food chain.

[redsox39]

Great, so instead of bringing in his minions, they can just replace him and let the cycle continue! I get it!

[Rumpleforeskin]

It's worked so far.

[heelsguy]

boy, political corruption in the state of illinois...who could have seen THAT coming? I mean those 2 words should be in latin on the state seal.

[UNC]

I hope Obama leaves America as in good of shape as he left Illinois.

[TylerDurden]

obama had nothing to do with the corruption at the governor's mansion, and quite frankly he wasn't a senator long enough to truly fuck anything up, so he gets a pass.

[Yelram]

obama had nothing to do with the corruption at the governor's mansion, and quite frankly he wasn't a senator long enough to truly fuck anything up, so he gets a pass. Again, his inexperience puts him in a position where nothing can be blamed on him.

[Whiffleball]

It's too early to know for sure that Obama's hands are clean, but from the details of the story known so far, it seems as though Blago didn't have too high an opinion of Obama for not playing ball and for wanting to *gasp* follow procedure. I was shocked when I first heard this story, not because I thought Illinois was pure from corruption, but because it just seemed so outlandish that someone would be so brazen to auction off a U.S. Senate seat just for personal profit.

I find it somewhat amusing that some of the right-wingers applauding U.S. attorney Patrick Fitzgerald for taking down a corrupt Democrat were stamping their feet when Fitzgerald was investigating Scooter Libby over the outing of CIA agent Valerie Plame. The likes of Tucker Carlson and Bill Kristol called Fitzgerald a "lunatic" who was "out to discredit the Bush administration".

[Das Kahlua]

It's too early to know for sure that Obama's hands are clean, but from the details of the story known so far, it seems as though Blago didn't have too high an opinion of Obama for not playing ball and for wanting to *gasp* follow procedure. I was shocked when I first heard this story, not because I thought Illinois was pure from corruption, but because it just seemed so outlandish that someone would be so brazen to auction off a U.S. Senate seat just for personal profit.

I find it somewhat amusing that some of the right-wingers applauding U.S. attorney Patrick Fitzgerald for taking down a corrupt Democrat were stamping their feet when Fitzgerald was investigating Scooter Libby over the outing of CIA agent Valerie Plame. The likes of Tucker Carlson and Bill Kristol called Fitzgerald a "lunatic" who was "out to discredit the Bush administration".

Axelrod, a top advisor for Obama, said in an interview on Fox News in November that Obama had talked with Blago about filling his Senate seat. That being said, all the evidence at this time points to Obama denying any attempting extortion attempts by Blago. That doesn't mean that there weren't connections between Obama and Blago, it only means that it appears that Obama acted in a completely honorable and legal manner in this case.

At this point, it is not clear how the US Attorney's office first came upon evidence of the various highly illegal activities that Blago and his staff engaged in, other than a few references to 'highly credible sources.' I can only hope that if Obama and his staff were in fact solicited by Blago, that he turned Blago in.

[Rover]

Chicago Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=6418052), D-Ill., is the anonymous "Senate Candidate No. 5" whose emissaries Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=6424146) reportedly offered up to $1 million to name him to the U.S. Senate, federal law enforcement sources tell ABC News.
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/ConductUnbecoming/Story?id=6431739&page=1
I can't say I'm surprised that Jackson Jr. is the one who was willing to pay $1 million for a senate seat.

[BIG PIZZLE]

That is awesome. I hate all the jacksons except for tito.

[Archangel]

Now if we could get rid of his boss Mayor Daley.


Fat chance. J and M are like Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.

[Morfin]

This is from the article Rover posted. It shows how stupid spokesmen or prepared statements are:

Blagojevich is back to business as usual working in his Chicago office today, which is his 52nd birthday. "The day-to-day operation doesn't change nor is it affected. There are still critical state issues that he wants to address - things like dealing with the current financial crisis, looking at ways to keep people in their homes and finding ways to create jobs - and will continue to do so as governor," said a spokesperson. Or, maybe Illinois should thank God that it has such a self-less governor. Any normal person accused by federal indictment for attempting to line their own pockets would be focusing on the indictment. Yet Blago says, "Damn the indictment. I've got state business to handle. The people need me." Admirable.

[Yelram]

It's too early to know for sure that Obama's hands are clean, but from the details of the story known so far, it seems as though Blago didn't have too high an opinion of Obama for not playing ball and for wanting to *gasp* follow procedure. I was shocked when I first heard this story, not because I thought Illinois was pure from corruption, but because it just seemed so outlandish that someone would be so brazen to auction off a U.S. Senate seat just for personal profit.

I find it somewhat amusing that some of the right-wingers applauding U.S. attorney Patrick Fitzgerald for taking down a corrupt Democrat were stamping their feet when Fitzgerald was investigating Scooter Libby over the outing of CIA agent Valerie Plame. The likes of Tucker Carlson and Bill Kristol called Fitzgerald a "lunatic" who was "out to discredit the Bush administration".

So who leaked the information?

[redsox39]

So who leaked the information?
Yelram, that's not important! what's important is that they got that Scooter SCUM of the streets before he could hurt anyone else!

[Yelram]

Yelram, that's not important! what's important is that they got that Scooter SCUM of the streets before he could hurt anyone else!

If it turns out bagoshit didnt do this, I will gladly call Fitzgerald a fucking scumbag. I still think he is, I just happen to believe this assholes alot worse. Scooter Libby broke no law. There were no tapes of scooter libby saying things, it was his inability to recall correctly events from years past. Which i'm pretty sure would have been covered under the 5th amendment had he taken that oppurtunity. Dick Armitage leaked the information, and Fitzgerald knew it before he started his little Libby witchhunt. THAT IS CRIMINAL.

[Alcestis]

Originally Posted by ABC
Chicago Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., is the anonymous "Senate Candidate No. 5" whose emissaries Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich reportedly offered up to $1 million to name him to the U.S. Senate, federal law enforcement sources tell ABC News.
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Conduc...6431739&page=1

I can't say I'm surprised that Jackson Jr. is the one who was willing to pay $1 million for a senate seat.

And now from NBC...

A law enforcement official confirms that the person referred to in the federal criminal complaint against Gov. Rod Blagojevich as "Candidate 5" is Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr.

However, federal officials caution that they have no evidence, other than statements made by Blagojevich, about whether Candidate 5 actually made any improper approaches to the governor. No conversations with Candidate 5 were ever picked up on any of the bugs or wiretaps.

msnbc LINK (http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/12/10/1709126.aspx)

[Morfin]

Evidence. Smevidence. Blago's dragging everyone else down with 'em. He seems like the kind of guy that'll have his attorney negotiate with the feds that he'll cooperate and name names.

[Alcestis]

Jesse Jackson Jr speaks and he's "appalled".

VIDEO (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/28157909#28163456)

[Smuckers]

I live in Illinois. Very Scandalous for [our] govner. WHY??? :mad:

[Mustard]

I live in Illinois. Very Scandalous for [our] govner. WHY??? :mad:
Why? I'm going to guess corruption, just a shot in the dark, totally wild ass guess...

[riseabove!]

Breaking news: Politicians are corrupt.

[Mustard]

Pish posh. That can't be possible.

[Smuckers]

True, they are corrupt. :mad:

But, WHY?? What was the point...I am mad to be in Illinois and be a Democrat! :mad:

At least Obama didn't do anything wrong..and Rod HELPED him with that by calling him a mother fucker on the phone...karma. :)

[Mustard]

Oh, Why? My mistake, I thought the greed underlying corruption was universally understood.

[Ace Rockola]

The affidavit contends Blagojevich discussed getting a substantial salary for himself at a non-profit foundation or an organization affiliated with labor unions. It also says Blagojevich talked about getting his wife placed on corporate boards where she might get $150,000 a year in director's fees.

Why Sink? Why would anyone do anything like this!?!

[Mustard]

Why Sink? Why would anyone do anything like this!?!
Because he's a Cubs fan.

[Hanover Fist]

This could get pretty good, the guy is a total narcissist and there is no way he's going to keep quiet with the charges and amount of time he is facing. They were discussing some of it and each of the already displayed bribery counts carries 20 year sentences and supposedly that is just the tip of the iceberg. He is facing life in prison basically, I imagine he will give up every name he can think of and if he does have dirt on Obama that might catch him the biggest deal of all (or it might get him dead, but I think it would be worth a shot).

[Alcestis]

According to msnbc.com:

BREAKING NEWS: Illinois AG asks state's top court to declare governor 'unable to serve,' aide says

Edit: www.msnbc.msn.com (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28195524/)

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois. - The Illinois attorney general has filed a motion with the state's highest court asking justices to remove scandal-plagued Gov. Rod Blagojevich from office.

Lisa Madigan took the action Friday as pressure on the governor intensified to step down. The motion challenges his fitness to serve and asks that the Supreme Court oust him.

Madigan scheduled a news conference in Chicago Friday morning to discuss the motion.

The move came as the governor prayed with several ministers in his home before heading to his office, telling them he is innocent and will be vindicated "when you hear each chapter completely written," according to one of the pastors.

Check back for more on this developing story.

[Morfin]

I can picture a Shawshank Redemption-type ending here.

[Rover]

Blago ends up on the Mexican coast, after spending some time in a halfway house?

[Morfin]

Kinda thinkin' about the Warden when the police came to get him. (But I got a feeling you knew that and are just funnin' me cuz I'm old.)

[Okie Medicvet]

At this point, it is not clear how the US Attorney's office first came upon evidence of the various highly illegal activities that Blago and his staff engaged in, other than a few references to 'highly credible sources.' I can only hope that if Obama and his staff were in fact solicited by Blago, that he turned Blago in.

Breaking news says that Jesse Jackson Jr was an informant for the US Attorney's office, so it looks like that is where the info might have come from:


(CNN) — Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. has served as an informant to the U.S. attorney's office in Illinois, two sources close to Jackson tell CNN.
Jackson has served as an informant for more than a decade and has relayed information relating to embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich since 2006, the sources said.
Jackson has not served as an informant in the current investigation into Blagojevich.
Filed under: Jesse Jackson (http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/category/jesse-jackson/)

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/12/16/breaking-jackson-jr-an-informant-to-us-attorney-investigation/

That breaking news does seem slightly contradictory to me, first it talks about him relaying info about Blagojevich since 2006, then says he has not served as an informant in the current investigation. This might be because he might not have talked about the senate seat up for sale, but there are other charges against him, so it might have been this that started said investigation.

[Rover]

Jesse Jackson Jr. being a narc should loose some of his street cred. He must be waist deep in shit to let that information out.

They've had wiretaps on Blago, since October, I'm pretty sure that's why they found out he's trying to sell a Senate seat. And he's been under corruption investigations for years. It isn't a stretch to assume they'd get wiretaps at some point.

More likely:
Jackson: I'd be interested in what you're selling.
Blago: Fuck you. You mother fucker. You aren't willing to pay enough. This shit's golden. I'm gonna be rich, you ****** mother fucker. Fuck you.
Jackson: I'm gonna tell on you.

[Alcestis]

Embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich plans to appoint Ronald Burris, the state's former attorney general, to President-elect Barack Obama's vacated Senate seat, the president of the Illinois state Senate Emil Jones said Tuesday.

The news of Blagojevich's decision was originally reported by the Chicago Tribune. (http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2008/12/blagojevich-to-name-burris-to-senate.html)

The governor has scheduled a 3 p.m. ET news conference Tuesday, but his spokesman Lucio Guerrero declined to tell the Associated Press what the governor plans to discuss. The news conference will be streamed live on msnbc.com.

Blagojevich has been under pressure to step aside or resign since his arrest earlier this month on federal corruption charges. He's accused of trying to sell Obama's vacant U.S. Senate seat to the highest bidder.

Burris did not immediately return a call from The Associated Press. Jones said Burris would be "a great choice."


www.msnbc.msn.com (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28435846)

[Morfin]

Secretary of Senate rejects Burris, aide says

(CNN) -- Secretary of the Senate Nancy Erickson has rejected Roland Burris' appointment to the Senate, an aide to the secretary told CNN.
Roland Burris says Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's problems have nothing to do with him.

Roland Burris says Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's problems have nothing to do with him.

Erickson rejected Burris' appointment because his certificate of appointment was missing the signature of Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, the aide said Monday.

Rule 2 of the Standing Rules of the Senate states that the secretary of state must sign the certificate of election along with the governor.

White has declined to sign the certificate, siding with some Senate Democrats who say Burris should not be seated because of the cloud over Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who is accused of trying to sell President-elect Barack Obama's Senate seat. Link (http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/05/burris/index.html)

Goddamn it. Let's get the lawyers involved in this thing and resolve it the American way -- in the courts.

[redsox39]

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd96/jyce50/snitching.jpg

[BIG PIZZLE]

Can the supreme court force White to sign?

[Morfin]

Off the top of my head, I 'spect the Illinois Supreme Court could. My recollection is that there is an Illinois statute stating that the governor has abolute and sole power to appoint a successor to a vacant U.S. Senate seat.

I assume that the Secretary of State's job in furtherance of the Governor's power of appointment is not a discretionary one, but one of validation. That is, it is not his position to decide if the appointment is good or bad or whether a criminal indictment hanging over Blago's head invalidates his appointment power -- the Secretary of State's job is akin to a notary puclic: Did the Governor make this appointment and is that the Governor's signature?

Seems to me, Burris ought to call the Secretary of State's hand. Go to court for an injunction requiring the SoS's signature and seal. See if the SoS backs down. Burris has few worries about burning any political bridges, he's a pariah now, he might as well do what he can to get into the seat and then hope like hell he gets elected in two years.

[Phil Theehor]

If that's the case, would the Secretary of State simply be trying to hang this up in court long enough for the impeachment process to go through? And would that invalidate Blago's appointment if he were kicked out while this was still hung up in court?

EDIT: It's nice having a lawyer on staff at GMF to answer these questions.

[Morfin]

It'd be even nicer if that staff lawyer got paid. In real -- not GMF or Shrute -- dollars.

[Phil Theehor]

He's not getting paid unless he answers the question.

[Morfin]

If that's the case, would the Secretary of State simply be trying to hang this up in court long enough for the impeachment process to go through? And would that invalidate Blago's appointment if he were kicked out while this was still hung up in court?

EDIT: It's nice having a lawyer on staff at GMF to answer these questions.

Fine. But you promised.

1. Yes. But the legislature hasn't done shit in the several weeks since the indictment -- what're they waiting for. Someone show some balls and impeach this guy. (Of course, in Detroit we had the same situation with Kwame refusing to resign and no one had the balls to do anything except finally the Governor (only after she too dragged her feet hoping someone else would step up). And once she started the hearings, surprise, Kwame magically pled out.)

2. Probably. But it seems to me, Burris should take the offensive (and I'm not talking about a token gesture like showing up at the Senate door tomorrrow) and file suit to force the Secretary of State's hand, which either will get the SoS moving and/or getting the legislature moving.

Now pay up. Real money. Don't stiff me, Auerbach, you dead bastard.

[Le Goat]

The Sealed indictment (you're welcome)

http://rapidshare.com/files/180807478/fbi-blagojevich-2008.pdf.html

[Whiffleball]

This is several days old, but pretty damn funny

3zC7y6lVlSg

"Clearly I have been impeached because the legislature has a bone to pick with me, I went behind their backs in order to save the lives of these people over here, Jesus Christ it's amazing how awesome I am, don't worry I'll take your questions, anyway this dude has liver cancer I mean kidney cancer and I shrunk myself down and had myself inserted in his bloodstream and I tore the tumor to pieces with my bare hands, the legislature doesn't like that I did that without their permission, so before I answer your questions, I would just like to quote the Bard Lord Alfred Tennyson, when he said: "Shine on, you crazy diamond." I will now take your questions"

*runs off stage, out of the building and jumps onto the dangling ladder of a circling helicopter, cackling maniacally*

The only things bigger than his hair are his balls

[Morfin]

Does he always speak so fast, or is that just nerves? With this and the way he pops up on his toes, it seems like he's on uppers.

His actions are straight out of the Clinton School of Politics: No matter how solid the evidence against you, always deny, and attack your attackers.

He cites his parents, their struggles, and hard work. Gee, Blago, you think they're proud of their indicted son?

[Whiffleball]

Does he always speak so fast, or is that just nerves? With this and the way he pops up on his toes, it seems like he's on uppers.

Naw, man, he's just got brass buns. Lesser men would need a teleprompter or an actual point to his speech, but Blago just needs 10 minutes and a rambling collection of ideas and some people to use as props and BAM there you go

His actions are straight out of the Clinton School of Politics: No matter how solid the evidence against you, always deny, and attack your attackers.

Clinton whaaaaaaat

Clinton at least came out and committed perjury about getting a blowjob, Blago doesn't even really address his own misconduct and instead creates a feverish fantasy realm known as Blago World where up is down, black is white and there's no reason a taint should hang over his Senate appointee

Plus Clinton got away with what he did, blowjob in the Oval Office oh yeaaaaaaah