The Chicago Way: Careful What You Wish For

Update: Damn, the details are stunning. This is about as corrupt as it gets.

Sweet!

On Monday, Blagojevich said he has done nothing wrong in his stewardship of the state and challenged critics to record him because his discussions were "always lawful.

Ahem!

Blagojevich was taken into federal custody at his North Side home this morning.

The stunning, early morning visit by authorities to the governor's North Side home came amid revelations that federal investigators had recorded the governor with the cooperation of a longtime confidant and had begun to focus on the possibility that the process of choosing a Senate successor to President-elect Barack Obama could be tainted by pay-to-play politics.

Pay-to-play for Obama's replacement? I wonder what Obama sold, or sold-out on, to the Chicago machine for support when he ran for the seat? I moved the sequence around some. You can read it all here.

What a scumbag.

Blagojevich was taken into custody hours after the Tribune reported that the investigation into allegations of pay-to-play politics within his administration had been expanded to include his pending choice of a Senate replacement for Obama. The Democratic governor has said he expects to make a decision on the state's next senator in weeks.

Blagojevich and Harris were accused of a wide-ranging criminal conspiracy that included Blagojevich conspiring to sell or trade the Senate seat left vacant by President-elect Barack Obama in exchange for financial benefits for the governor and his wife. The governor was also accused of obtaining campaign contributions in exchange for other official actions.

Sources told the Tribune that investigators intensified their investigation into Blagojevich amid concerns that the process of choosing a new senator could be tainted. The actions by federal authorities came a day before Blagojevich's 52nd birthday.

Updated at 9:17 a.m.: Blagojevich also was alleged to be using a favors list, made up largely of individuals and firms that have state contracts or received taxpayer benefits, from which to conduct a $2.5 million fundraising drive before year's end.

Even Blagojevich's recently announced $1.8 billion plan for new interchanges and "green lanes" on the Illinois Tollway was subject to corruption, prosecutors alleged.

The complaint repeatedly makes reference to conversations secretly recorded by federal authorities.

The criminal complaint alleges Blagojevich expected an unnamed highway concrete contractor to raise a half-million dollars for his campaign fund in exchange for state money for the tollway project. "If they don't perform, (expletive) 'em," Blagojevich said, according to the complaint.

Updated at 9:08 a.m.: Blagojevich and Harris were arrested simultaneously at their homes at about 6:15 a.m., according to the FBI. They were transported to FBI headquarters in Chicago, where they remained at 9 a.m.

Updated at 9 a.m.: Blagojevich is slated to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nan Nolan today at a time that has not yet been scheduled, according to Randall Samborn of the U.S. attorney's office.

Updated at 8:57 a.m.: On the issue of the U.S. Senate selection, federal prosecutors alleged Blagojevich sought appointment 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. An Obama spokesman had no immediate comment.

Blagojevich and Harris conspired to demand the firing of Chicago Tribune editorial board members responsible for editorials critical of Blagojevich in exchange for state help with the sale of Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs baseball stadium owned by Tribune Co.

Updated at 8:48 a.m.: Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris, were arrested today by FBI agents on federal corruption charges.

Comments

[Roberto LaForza del Destino]

Obama is GOING DOWN!

Don't tell me that he is not getting part of this action!

Fitzy will have him behind bars so fast the black will fly off of him.

You are going DOWN, Obama!

[SacTownMan]

Nothing like the Chicago graft machine at work!

Home to Barry and his cronies, a little "change you can believe in"!

[Fred Beloit]

From another thread: "Lala points out the need for more McMansions in suburban DC. Much of the loose money that is causing a shortage of high-cost housing comes from the miasma of malfeasance emanating from the Democratics with Rangel as one of their star tax evaders.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/12072008/postopinion/editorials/more_rangel_muck_142992.htm
Posted by: Fred Beloit | Tuesday, December 09, 2008 at 09:42 AM
New York (Congressman Rangel) and Illinois (Governor Braggadocio and jailbird Resko) both tainted by the Democraticic maelstrom of mendacity, malfeasance, and misbehavior. Aren't any of them honest socialists?

[Fred Beloit]

Those Illinois voters sure can pick 'em.
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/1209081rod1.html

[jharp]

"Obama is GOING DOWN!"

"Don't tell me that he is not getting part of this action!"

In a conversation with Harris on November 11, the charges state, Blagojevich said he knew that the President-elect wanted Senate Candidate 1 for the open seat but “they’re not willing to give me anything except appreciation. [Expletive] them.”

Sorry to burst your bubble.

[Fred Beloit]

WOW, How did that happen? Anyway, here is the edited version:

A Vote for Caroline
"By Ruth Marcus [WAPO]
Tuesday, December 9, 2008; Page A19

"On the question of Caroline Kennedy for Senate, my head says no, on balance. My heart says yes! Yes! Right now, as you might guess from the hedging on the former and the exclamation points on the latter, my heart is winning.

As to the head: I always find it a bit creepy when children follow the career paths of their parents. It bespeaks a certain undue eagerness to please, not to mention a decided lack of imagination. In particular, even though politics as family business has a lengthy pedigree in American history, I recoil from political dynasties."

Ruth recoils from dynasties but her heart must have won out. Ruth, I hate to be the one to clue your heart in to this, but it may not matter that you would vote for Caroline Kennedy. It might just be a question of, "How much is it worth to you, baby?"

[Lala]

And Senators get so little pay too! There has to be some secret going on there in Washington that so many of Congress end up so rich. Boxer, Pelosi, Feinstein come to mind immediately.

[Fred Beloit]

More malfeasance from the Democraticic ministers of misappropriation.
http://thephoenix.com/Boston/News/70878-Dianne-Wilkerson-nabbed/?page=9#TOPCONTENT

[SacTownMan]

Well LaLa I think it helps with Botox Queen Pelosi and Feinkinstien having filthy rich husbands, not sure about Babs Boxer though!

Pelosi;

http://www.nndb.com/people/231/000030141/

"Like most members of Congress, Pelosi is a multi-millionaire. Mostly on the strength of her husband's portfolio of commercial real estate, the Pelosis' net worth is at least $25M and may be as high at $92M "

Feinkinstein;

http://thehill.com/david-keene/feinsteins-cardinal-shenanigans-2007-04-30.html

Their combined net worth increased that year with the sale of the two companies by some 25 percent, to more than $40 million.

Boxer;

http://www.opensecrets.org/pfds/CIDsummary.php?CID=N00006692&year=2005

Nothing like representing the "little" people as a Democrat

[Worst President Ever]

Like all corrupt politicians of ANY party, Blagojevich deserves to go to jail - after a public humiliation.

[SacTownMan]

Jimmy says,

"Like all corrupt politicians of ANY party, Blagojevich deserves to go to jail - after a public humiliation."

I vote for a public flogging! Maybe we can get a two for one with "Freezer bag" Jefferson!

What culture breeds a loser like this that thinks he can "sell" a US Senatorship?

[syn]

"Like all corrupt politicians of ANY party, Blagojevich deserves to go to jail - after a public humiliation."

I agree, so why are Harry Reed, John Murtha, Chuck Rangel, Chuck Schumer, Clinton the Hillary one, Chris Dodd, Barney Franks still serving in Congress yet not serving time in jail?

[LOL]

ah now the wingnuts care about corruption. Never mind that this pay-for-play thing has been going on in our whitehouse for nearly 8 years.

The most amusing part is that somehow Obama is a part of this:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/acrobat/2008-12/43789434.pdf

From blagojevich's own words: ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated that he is "struggling" financially and does "not want to be Governor for the next two years." ROD BLAGOJEVICH said that the consultants (Advisor B and another consultant are believed to be on the call at that time) are telling him that he has to "suck it up" for two years and do nothing and give this "motherfucker [the President-elect] his senator. Fuck him. For nothing? Fuck him." ROD BLAGOJEVICH states that he will put "[Senate Candidate 4]" in the Senate "before I just give fucking [Senate Candidate 1] a fucking Senate seat and I don't get anything."

Later in the conversation, ROD BLAGOJEVICH said he knows that the President-elect wants Senate Candidate 1 for the open seat but "they're not willing to give me anything except appreciation. Fuck them."

Sound like they were REAL close alright.

[syn]

oops that's Reid, the other corrupt politician.

I apologize for any confusion

I would add Obama and his corrupt slumlord Rezko problem BUT that would be meaningless to 52% of America's voting population so I won't bother.

[syn]

"Sound like they were REAL close alright."

I think you are perhaps quite naive about the incestuous nature of Chicago politics; like Malone said about that city...it "stinks like a whorehouse in low tide"

Obama made his own choice to begin his political career in Chicago, it's not my problem if he put himself up to his eyeballs in the town which thrives on corruption; someone from that town is going to turn on him sooner or later..that's the Chicago way.

[Totally Heterosexual Conservative]

Damn, reality strikes winger stupidity once again:

"Pay-to-play for Obama's replacement? I wonder what Obama sold, or sold-out on, to the Chicago machine for support when he ran for the seat?"

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/12/feds_obama_wouldnt_play_ball_w.php

Lemme guess, the fact that the FBI says Obama DIDN'T pay to play proves the existence of the "whitey" tape and that Obama was born in South Africa to a mother from Planet Vulcan and a father from Tazmania. To the archives, brave patriots! WOLVERINES!!!

[IslamoLlama]

"-- I vote for a public flogging! Maybe we can get a two for one with "Freezer bag" Jefferson! --"

And we can toss in Senator "Fix my house for free" Stevens and Senator "Gay Sex in a Public Place" Craig.

Oh. Oh wait. Those are old white Republicans. Forgot. My bad.

Btw, can we get another round of "Patrick Fitzgerald is on a partisan witch hunt!" refrain? During the Scooter Libby trial I was informed on multiple occasions that no one was dirtier than the current Special Prosecutor investigating the Illinois Governor.

So wonderful to see the wingnuts come back around to the rule of law. It's been a long time. The reality-based community has missed you. Welcome back into the liberal fold.

[IslamoLlama]

"-- Obama made his own choice to begin his political career in Chicago, it's not my problem if he put himself up to his eyeballs in the town which thrives on corruption; someone from that town is going to turn on him sooner or later..that's the Chicago way. --"

Guilt by pure associative speculation: 1
Intelligent discourse: 0

:-p Keep swinging.

[JustOneMan]

Within 6 months Barry will be tied up in a scandal...I predict he will be forced to resign before he serves one term....

[neelynzus]

Funny thing. I notice the Guv is charged with conspiracy. Back in the days when I was prosecuting, we would have waited a while to see who turned up trying to buy the Senate seat. Much easier to prove corruption after a bribery offer has been made. That's pretty basic stuff.

So what was the hurry? Well, the front runners are mostly Obama associates and it just wouldn't have been cool to wait long enough to entangle one or more of them in Blagojevich's web. Right?

I'm guessing Fitz's chances of reappointment by The Great One just improved.

[neelynzus]

Or maybe the Tribune -- if it disclosed the investigation prematurely -- gets its bailout.

[joeb]

I think I commented before the election that scandals will mark this new Democratic crowd just as they did the Clinton years. Seems "power corrupts" jharp. And "absolute power corrupts absolutely".Where did I hear that? Hypocrisy is just beginning. First Obama sends his kids to private schools. Just like Clinton did. Now this from Chicago home of corruption in politics. So watch out DC hotels for the crowd coming into DC from Chicago. Could be you will be stiffed on the bills by a bunch of deadbeats and non payers. Watch out for the Rainbow crowd in particular. Ah the good old days of Democratic slime and payoffs and bribes is just beginning to surface. Have fun jharp and Michael Moore and Jon Stewart and David Letterman and MSNBC and that raving nut Keith Olbermann.

[joeb]

And don't forget the former mayor of DC(also known as mayor for life) Marion Barry. To quote the former mayor: "The bitch set me up".

[Lala]

This statement is floating around

“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.

[Worst President Ever]

Like I said, any corrupt politician deserves to be humiliated and thrown in jail - Republican or Democrat. Seems like a number of the conservatives here only care about corruption among Democrats but break their moralistic backs rationalizing a pass to Republicans.

Hypocrites?

[Lala]

107. On November 12, 2008, ROD BLAGOJEVICH talked with Advisor B. ROD BLAGOJEVICH discussed with Advisor B his idea for a 501(c)(4) organization. Advisor B stated that he likes the idea, but liked the Change to Win option better because, according to Advisor B, from the President-elect’s perspective, there would be fewer “fingerprints” on the President-elect’s involvement with Change to Win because Change to Win already has an existing stream of revenue and, therefore, “you won’t have stories in four years that they bought you off.” ROD BLAGOJEVICH said that he likes the 501(c)(4) idea because he knows it will be there in two years when he is no longer Governor, whereas Change to Win might not be.

[SacTownMan]

Lame-O pipes in with,

"And we can toss in Senator "Fix my house for free" Stevens and Senator "Gay Sex in a Public Place" Craig."

I'm all for adding ANY corrupt offical to which both Stevens and Jefferson appear to be as rotten as the Ill Gov.

Old "bath house" Craig is another story, not aware of any "gay sex in a public place" proven against him, though the whole footsie under the stall thing is a strange way to get busted!

But come-on, the Dems got it "down with the sickness" when it comes to the womanizing; Clinton, the Breck Boy, NY Gov. and his replacement. The Dem. NY governor was a little higher on the "dumb ass / kinky" scale compared to poor Craig. Soon followed by his blind "player" replacement Patterson.

These guys just can't follow through on their marriage vows can they?

Regardless of party any corrupt official need to spend some "quality time" at the OJ Hilton!

What about the Ill. Gov's wife she sounds like a real "sweet lady"?

Her mouth makes Harpo seem like a choir boy!

[joeb]

wpe: you got it wrong. it is the Democrats who always give a pass on corruption. Can you say Jefferson from La. How long did it take to get rid of him?
I never gave a pass to any Republican law breaker.
Prosecute them all.

[WBestPresidentEver]

CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN !! LMAO

Oh boy, here we go again. From what I have heard about his thus far, this is only the tip of the iceburg. A lot more are going down. We will see what transpires.
And Obama, "I have not talked to the governor"..... YEAH RIGHT, BLOW THAT SMOKE UP SOMEONE ELSE BUTT ! Sure Obama, YOU HAVE talked to the govenor and you damn well know it. The truth is not in you. That is what coke will do to your brain. That's probably why he say uh uh uh all the time when he is giving his news conferences.
"LIAR LIAR" PANTS ON FIRE.
ROTL.
This is gonna be fun.

[neelynzus]

Worst President Ever: "Seems like a number of the conservatives here only care about corruption among Democrats but break their moralistic backs rationalizing a pass to Republicans."

You've been blabbing about Republicans for some time now. Nobody here is excusing Republican corruption, but we're talking about corrupt Democrats today, aren't we? Is that a problem for you?

Better get used to it.

[WAHOO WILLIE]

"Oh. Oh wait. Those are old white Republicans. Forgot. My bad."

Pookie the LLama is absolutely correct once again!! Trying to sell a senate seat is not any worse than trying to find a glory hole in a public rest room. When will you wingers get it through your heads that if party a commits a crime it's ok for party b to do the same? What's the saw about "Two wrongs making a right"

For the record. Obie's a lot of things but I really doubt he'd put his hands in this steaming pile of kickynog