Make my Day......GOV Blagojevich arrested.

[Naked Gents Rut]

Blagojevich was just small fry. The real catch would be Daley. Obama would be a decent alternative.

[Ming]

They've been trying to get Daley for years, but I guess he's proven to be a lot smarter than the Gov

And I'm sure Obama was also smart. But all these people that think he's as clean as new fallen snow should take a close look at where he comes from and who his "friends" were

[MarkG]

FBI: Illinois Governor Sought To "Sell" Obama's Senate Seat

Wanted President-Elect to "Put Something Together . . . Something Big"

By BRIAN ROSS

December 9, 2008—

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich wanted President-elect Barack Obama "to put something together&something big" in exchange for going along with Obama's choice to fill his vacant US Senate seat, according to an FBI affidavit unsealed following the Governor's stunning arrest.

"I've got this thing and it's f***ing golden, and, uh, uh, I'm just not giving it up for f***in' nothing. I'm not gonna do it. And I can always use it. I can parachute me there," Blagojevich said in a phone call secretly recorded by the FBI on November 5, the day after the election, according to the affidavit.

Click here to read the full affidavit.

"It is conduct that would make Lincoln roll over in his grave," said U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald in announcing the charges today in Chicago.

He said the Governor's efforts to "sell" the Senate seat was the "most sinister and appalling" of a range of alleged corrupt acts detailed in today's case.

Fitzgerald said "there is no allegation in the complaint that the President-elect was aware of it and that is all I can say." His comment did not close the door on the possibility that Obama or someone on his staff may have known of some aspect of the Govenror's demands.

There was no immediate comment from the office of the President-elect.

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 said.

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."

According to the affidavit, one candidate for the Senate seat, identified as Senate Candidate 5 promised to "raise money" for Blagojevich. The Governor described, in a recorded call, an earlier approach by an associate of Senate Candidate Five. "We were approached 'pay to play.' That, you know he'd raise me 500 grand. An emissary came. Then the other guy would raise a million, if I mad him (Senate Candidate 5) a Senator."

Affidavit Says Blagojevich Knew He Was Under FBI Investigation

The FBI affidavit says Blagojevich thought he might get some "tangible up front" from Senate Candidate 5.

Aware that he was under FBI investigation, Blagojevich apparently considered appointing himself to Obama's Senate seat, the affidavit says. He is quoted as saying "he will be able to obtain greater resources if he is indicted as a sitting Senator as opposed to a sitting governor."

He was arrested this morning on a two count criminal complaint, and is expected in court later today.

"If Illinois isn't the most corrupt state in the United States, it sure is one hell of a the competitors," said the head of the FBI's Chicago office, Robert Grant.

He said veteran FBI agents were "disgusted, sick" as they listened to the intercepted conversations of the Illinois Governor.

The Governor was taken into custody in handcuffs from his home by two FBI agents just after six this morning, according to Grant.

Grant said he had first called the Governor to tell him there was a warrant for his arrest.

"Is this a joke," the Governor responded, according to Grant.

[snoopy369]

KH, your basic problem is you don't accept the federal system - eg, that the Senate represents the whole state, and is basically just an arm of the Governor in the federal government. As such, appointment by the Governor makes perfect sense for a replacement; the expense of an election ($2 per resident, $25m, who the *** cares) is unnecessary, as the added value of electing him/her is minimal.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by snoopy369
KH, your basic problem is you don't accept the federal system - eg, that the Senate represents the whole state, and is basically just an arm of the Governor in the federal government

Your basic problem is that you think anybody gives a damn what you have to say when you wander into a conversation without reading the relevant preceding posts.

This claim was already dealt with when Imran made it 50 posts ago. If this was the case then there would be little to no outcry were Governors to simply ALWAYS select their state's Senators. The Senate has been directly chosen by the people of each state for a very long time now, thus the Governor's power to appoint is anachronistic.

. As such, appointment by the Governor makes perfect sense for a replacement; the expense of an election ($2 per resident, $25m, who the *** cares) is unnecessary, as the added value of electing him/her is minimal.

If the value of choosing your Senator for 2 years is minimal then why the hell is the value of choosing your Senator for 6 years any more than 3 times minimal? Save the expense of paying Senators and let the governors vote by phone.

[Lefty Scaevola]

Originally posted by Ming
Everybody had to know this was coming

Except apparently an idiot governor, who depspite knowing that he was already under investigation for some time in various older matters, and the near certainty that he was under surveilence and likely bugged by the feds, cheerfully commits more crimes on the telephone. How the hell did this maroon ever advance in politics?

Originally posted by Ming
They've been trying to get Daley for years, but I guess he's proven to be a lot smarter than the Gov

At least smart enough not to commits crimes in buggable electronic communications.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Ming
They've been trying to get Daley for years, but I guess he's proven to be a lot smarter than the Gov

Well that's not hard, apparently .

[Zkribbler]

According to one news story I heard, the Governor knew indictments were coming, so he was desparately trying to get appointed to corporate boards, union advisory panels, etc., so he'd have a source of income during his trial. This formed the basis of the quid-pro-quo he was seeking...plus the money of course.

[Whoha]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Question now becomes what happens to that Senate seat? The Senate wouldn't allow a Senator that Blago picks from here on out to be seated would they? Just in case they were involved in bribing their way on?

the Lt. Governor becomes Governor and appoints the next Senator?

[snoopy369]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse


Your basic problem is that you think anybody gives a damn what you have to say when you wander into a conversation without reading the relevant preceding posts.

This claim was already dealt with when Imran made it 50 posts ago. If this was the case then there would be little to no outcry were Governors to simply ALWAYS select their state's Senators. The Senate has been directly chosen by the people of each state for a very long time now, thus the Governor's power to appoint is anachronistic.

. As such, appointment by the Governor makes perfect sense for a replacement; the expense of an election ($2 per resident, $25m, who the *** cares) is unnecessary, as the added value of electing him/her is minimal.

If the value of choosing your Senator for 2 years is minimal then why the hell is the value of choosing your Senator for 6 years any more than 3 times minimal? Save the expense of paying Senators and let the governors vote by phone.

There would be very little outcry if that were to happen, to be honest, except from the generic 'anti-change' outcry. Most people don't know anything about the Senate; the House is much more important for the average person, as that's the person you call to actually get things done.

As far as your second point goes, we elect a bunch of people all at once... so it is not the same cost for just the one office. As you well know.

[snoopy369]

Originally posted by Whoha


the Lt. Governor becomes Governor and appoints the next Senator?

Not until Blago is impeached, which is not an instantaneous action.

[H Tower]

Originally posted by snoopy369


Not until Blago is impeached, which is not an instantaneous action.

they've still got a few days to get this done. And seeing how the legislature hates Blago...

[Imran Siddiqui]

True dat.

But he's still Governor for now.

[MarkG]

now on ebay

[KrazyHorse]

As far as your second point goes, we elect a bunch of people all at once... so it is not the same cost for just the one office. As you well know.

Oh, I'm well aware. But your point is still ridiculous. If elections cost 20$ per resident instead of 2$ per resident it wouldn't be worthwhile to hold them? That's what democracy's worth to you?