Illinois Governor Tried to Sell Obama's Senate Seat.
 

CHICAGO – Federal authorities arrested Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich Tuesday on charges that he brazenly conspired to sell or trade the Senate seat left vacant by President-elect Barack Obama to the highest bidder.

Blagojevich also was charged with illegally threatening to withhold state assistance to Tribune Co., the owner of the Chicago Tribune, in the sale of Wrigley Field, according to a federal criminal complaint. In return for state assistance, Blagojevich allegedly wanted members of the paper's editorial board who had been critical of him fired.

A 76-page FBI affidavit said the 51-year-old Democratic governor was intercepted on court-authorized wiretaps over the last month conspiring to sell or trade the vacant Senate seat for personal benefits for himself and his wife, Patti.

Otherwise, Blagojevich considered appointing himself. The affidavit said that as late as Nov. 3, he told his deputy governor that if "they're not going to offer me anything of value I might as well take it."

"I'm going to keep this Senate option for me a real possibility, you know, and therefore I can drive a hard bargain," Blagojevich allegedly said later that day, according to the affidavit, which also quoted him as saying in a remark punctuated by profanity that the seat was "a valuable thing — you just don't give it away for nothing."

The affidavit said Blagojevich also discussed getting a substantial salary for himself at a nonprofit foundation or an organization affiliated with labor unions.

It said Blagojevich also talked about getting his wife placed on corporate boards where she might get $150,000 a year in director's fees.

He also allegedly discussed getting campaign funds for himself or possibly a post in the president's cabinet or an ambassadorship once he left the governor's office. He noted becoming a U.S. senator might remake his image for a possible presidential run in 2016, according to the affidavit. And he allegedly said a Senate seat would also provide him with corporate contacts if he needed a job and present an opportunity for his wife to work as a lobbyist.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081209/...rruption_probe

This guy is a Class A jerk.

It's like I said before, you can't walk thru the political playground without getting your feet dirty...in this case, he was kicking up some mud.

If you remember, he went in with the purpose of cleaning up the corruption left by Governor Ryan.

Haha! He did a good job didn't he. What a scumbag.

Gotta love that Chicago party of "change."

How about we not jump to the conclusion that Blago's actions are associated with our President-elect? There are millions of voters in Illinois who have hated Blago (and his corruption) for years now. Legislators who have introduced legislation just so we can kick him out.

Blago is not the posterboy for all of Illinois. It's sad that not only do we have to deal with Chicago being seen as nothing but a machine politics city, but now we have this to deal with.

When I first saw the headline, I thought it must be fake a la Onion. Too over-the-top . . . is that hair really his?

Apparently everything the man does is a little too over the top. There's been rumors floating around that he was thinking of appointing himself to Obama's senate seat since September.

This household voted yes on the legislation to remove political figures. I can't speak for myself (since I'm new here) but my boyfriend, his family, all his friends - each one has a different reason to hate the guy. 90% of which are longtime democrat supporters.

I don't know if that's some type of toupe, but I think his hair is a riot.

Sometimes if it looks like a duck...

I agree. Bman does not represent all of Illinois. There are other Illinois politicians who have done good things for the state.

The worst part is that people associate this type of going on with the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago. Chicago's a really nice place, and I really like it here. Illinois is a nice state - the people in general, even immigrant populations, have that mid-western charm, are friendly, and on the whole, are just good people.

It's too bad that more people won't associate the real Chicago or the real Illinois with the city or state, just the corrupt politicians that have come out of it (and let's face it, there have been more than a few).

Honestly, the reactions that I get when I tell people that I've moved here is "Why would you move there?! You're gonna get murdered!" or "You moving in with all the corrupt politicians?" I don't blame my family members because they all live in a rural area - they said the murder thing when I moved to Erie, PA too. My friends, however, were all surprised that I would want to live in such a "dangerous place". I don't feel like it's dangerous at all - if you have a little bit of street smarts and learn your neighborhood you shouldn't have too many worries. Locked doors, flashlights at night, cell phones always, and being aware of your surroundings go a long way. It's no more dangerous than any other large city.

I understand it can be annoying, but these types of generalizations happen no matter where you live. Whether you say you're from Chicago, Boston, Texas, Pittsburgh, Connecticut, wherever, you're going to get snap judgments from people about that city or that area of the country (sort of how you chose to list "Podunk, Iowa"). It's not something everyone has to accept, but it's something we all have to live with, no matter where we live.

All of us Detroiters reading this are saying.....

boooooo hooooooo How does it feel?

Probably the same as all the Northerners, Southerners, West Coasters, and other people from geographic areas that have been slighted on this board?

No area of the country has been spared from the generalizations on the board.

You know, I am becoming a huge proponent of psych evaluations for those seeking high office from governorships, senators (only because they are around for 7 years) to above...



That being said, I am nuttier than a fruitcake... Guess I am not running for office... LOL... :D

I'm a little disappointed Gov. Blago wasn't arrested wearing his Elvis jammies, but what are you going to do?

Seriously, I'm surprised that this happened this way. Oh, not that he's corrupt (like, sadly, other Illinois governors). I think most people in the state fully expected him to be arrested after his term expired for his many other misdeeds. I just can't believe he was so monumentally stupid as to pull something like this. Knowing that many of his cronies have been convicted, did he really think that he could escape this time. Un-freakin'-believable.

I can stand here and tell you that the term "Honest Illinois Politician" is not an oxymoron, but I can see why outsiders don't believe it. We do have some wonderful people representing our state...we just picked a politically connected dipweed to run our state.

Oh, alphagamzetagam, we love the hair in our house, too. We call it the hair helmet. Did you notice how it didn't move during his press conference in front of Republic?

Ironically, today is International Anti-Corruption Day... (According to the Rachel Maddow Show)... :rolleyes:

It's like Betty White's hair in Golden Girls...

If only they'd elected Judy Barr Topinka instead ...She's a Republican, but she's an Alpha Gam, pro-choice and pro gay rights, so if I was in the area, I would probably have voted for her.

Elvis jammies? I would vote for someone who campaigned in Elvis jammies!

Blagojevich explains himself in 30 seconds

They just nailed a bunch of Chicago cops for corruption last week, too... It's not a good month for Chicago.

The FBI called it a new low for Illinois Political Corruption... wow.

Oh, definitely - I just find it to be a trend on the site that people think that their city (whether it be Chicago, Pittsburgh, Detroit, NYC, Boston, wherever) is the most disrespected city in the country, etc. The fact is that all areas of the country have been ripped on this site - apparently we're equal opportunity critics here ;) .

I seriously have no idea what you're really railing against here, and I suspect you really don't either.

Chicago politics are basically implicitly corrupt at this point. However, nobody is claiming that the citizens of Chicago suddenly live in Gomorrah, or that Chicago is somehow insanely dangerous as a result of rampant political corruption. Rage, rage against the dying of . . . whatever?

About the hair...

Friends of mine live right around the corner from his Chicago home, and we've all met him/seen him jog more times than I care to think about. If that's a toupee, more men who are going that route should find out the brand, because it really does move, at least when he jogs.

Politically, while "Call me Rod" got caught with his hand in the cookie jar, I have no doubt that far worse political scandals have gone done, and we'll never even know about most of them.

So, they said Bla----- called Rahm Emanuel to shake him down. So I think this is very fitting from SNL...

Introducing Rahm Emanuel

LOL...

And in the Batman lingo.. This is fitting, too...

Does that excuse it, though? I mean, this is blatant and pretty disturbing. Politically, this is near the top of the "naughty" list (to stay in the spirit of the holiday season). The only thing that might save it is that it was so blatant that there was little chance he would get away with it.

I think all she meant was "Welcome to the Club" (or "I see you're still in the Club.") As KSigRC has said, what Chicagoans/Illinoisians (is that right?) are now experiencing is pretty much what Detroiters have been experiencing and, speaking more broadly than just corrupt politics, what GCers from every part of the country have experienced at one time or another. (Just for an example of what we Southerners get, check out the first picture in this post.)

Every part of the country gets a bad rap from time to time. Sometimes it's deserved, but often it's not. No need to take it personally. Somethings really aren't worth rallying against.

I think people that live near his Chicago home should go put coal in his mailbox on Christmas. He lives on the North Side, right?

As far as the "boo hoo" comment, which I ignored until I realized that you're not actually being an ignorant prick, PM_Mama, I know Detroit's really gotten it pretty bad in the media and on GC, however I think we can all agree that most of us, especially those of us in the midwest, are scared shitless about the possible demise of the Auto Industry. Chicagoans are going to be far more affected than we know. Let's try to be friendly with one another for a little bit, hmm? It's the holiday season.

The irony is, for us in Detroit, Chicago is a popular weekend destination! We love Chicago, look at Chicago and think "Why didn't they do this with Detroit???" There has been a stigma attached to being from Detroit for as long as I can remember, even in other parts of Michigan! When I was a kid and we went on vacations in northern Michigan, as young as 7 or 8 years old, I remember noticing that people physically took a step back when you said you were from Detroit. I learned at that young age to say "near Detroit" or just say the actual city name rather than say "Detroit" because the reaction was so strong. Sad...

Slightly used Senate Seat - $500000 (WDC)
Reply to: sale-951993431@craigslist.org [?]
Date: 2008-12-09, 9:58PM EST






For Sale/Barter,

Slightly used United States Senate seat. Only one owner this term, though rarely present -- like new. Illinois ties preferred.

Must be willing to barter 1/2 million in monetary compensation, and employment (either government or nonprofit, preferably the latter) for myself and my wife. I'd like to do this for more than recognition. Please don't relegate me to the the "free" postings. This is too valuable for that.

Union friendly, would not like corporate work (like BofA).

Let's make sure we do all negotiations by telephone.

Email for more info.

"Hot" Rod B.
Springfield, IL





Location: WDC
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/d...951993431.html


and reply:


Hi,

My name is Sid and I am very interested in the seat that you described in the offer. Me and my gal pal Sarah was looking to buy a house in DC but at the last minute the deal fell thru. So, I was wondering what it would take to purchase said seat. I have no problems with the money as a matter of fact, my wife Cindy can front the cash but I don't want any paper trails left behind. I also want to make sure that if I purchase said seat that I can have a like minded individual to use it.

But, I have a few questions about this seat:

1. What color is it?

2. What kind of material is used for it? Is it real leather or faux leather?

3. When you say 'used' how used was it?

4. What is the proximity of the seat from the Senate floor? In other words, if I (exscuse me soory!)...I mean, if my associates use the chair is it far enough back to permit naps during sessions without getting caught and does it have easy access to the men's room?

5. Is the area handicap accessible?


Lastly will you be available today? I asked Cindy to run to the bank and get the money and I could meet you today as I would like to pay upfront in full.


Give me a call on 1-800-MAVERICK

Thanks....

JSM

Not at all, and I'd never say that it did.
I'm sure I could get you the exact address, should you want it. I don't think "around the corner from Bill & Rhonda" would work.

I just heard on the news while I was working out that three former Illinois governors have gone to prison in the past 25 years...that is one crazy stat.

How do you measure corruption?
 

Thank you.

What can you expect, they are trying to fill the Messiah's seat.

OMG - you must hang out on digg too much.

I mean . . .

The only reason I didn't vote for her was because she picked the absolute worst running mate there is. I did not want Joe Birkett anywhere near the statehouse. Had she picked anyone else she would have gotten my vote. (I did vote for her for treasurer twice)

As for Blagojevich, what's most shocking to me is not that he's so sleazy, but how stupid he was about all this. (Hello, you've been under investigation since 2002 or so and yet you still pull this crap?) The honorable thing for him to do would be to step down, but he probably won't. (The legislature is coming back for an emergency session on Monday - methinks impeachment proceedings are in the works.)

DaemonSeid - there are loads of those ads on craigslist in Chicago. I like this one:

U S Senate seat - $9999999 (Washington D C)
Reply to: see below
Date: 2008-12-09, 1:32PM CST


For sale to the highest bidder: 1 United States Senate Seat, very lightly used for the last 4 years. Recently vacated by A President Elect. As Governor, I have the supreme right to appoint the successor & am willing to award the seat to the highest bidder. No Federal Investigators, please. Contact Rod B. at:
METROPOLITAN CORRECTIONAL CENTER
71 WEST VAN BUREN STREET
CHICAGO, IL 60605
312-322-0567

I cannot stand Rod Blagojevich. I'm from Illinois and have met him on a few different occasions, and something about him has always rubbed me the wrong way. Not to mention he's a total creeper. One day he toured our facilities at work, and while we were all in there working at the computer, he came up behind my best friend and proceeded to give her a shoulder massage (we took pictures inconspiculously and hung them at her desk the next day). He then invited us all over to his mansion for a soiree that night. Just a tad creepy...

Back to politics. I know that this is going to sound like the typical whine-y Southern Illinoisan - but he forgot about us. I love Chicago - don't get me wrong. I'd love to live there one day. But honestly, anything further south than Springfield he completely ignored. So that has always bugged me about him.

Have ya'll read the affidavit/indictment document? It's quite interesting. He was pretty vulgar in a lot of the phone conversations. It's sickening.