so,... where's the blagojevch smoking gun?

[unblock]

i've seen several quotes that make it clear that blagojevich was negotiating hard for something beyond "appreciation" in exchange for an appointment to obama's vacated senate seat.

THIS IS NOT ILLEGAL! it all depends on WHAT exactly you are negotiating for.

if he negotiated for cash or other personal gain, then of course that would be illegal, and screw him, he belongs in jail.

if he was negotiating for support for a favorite bill or to steer federal funds or jobs to illinois, then, well, that's exactly what a governor is supposed to do!

if he was negotiating for political support such as, i appoint your guy and in return you appoint my guy to a plum position, OR, you promise to campaign for my re-election, well, that's a more ethically gray area but it's certainly the way the game is played and has been for eons and it's not illegal.


now, one would hope that a prosecutor wouldn't seek and indictment and have someone arrested if he didn't have the goods, but of all the quotes i have seen so far, i've not seen one that indicates actual criminality. maybe he's saving the juicy ones for the trial. until i see something rather more incriminating, i'm keeping an open mind on this one.

[babylonsister]

1. Fitz wouldn't be holding a press conference if he didn't have the goods. nt

[unblock]

7. one would hope, but i still cling to that "innocent until proven guilty" thing

[babylonsister]

11. This guy sounds guilty as hell, though I'm sure he'll have the benefit

of a trial. All self-inflicted, so don't feel too bad.

[WI_DEM]

2. I think Fitz is smart enough to indict somebody for real crimes.

[DJ13]

3. Transcripts report on TV says he wanted a job for him or his wife after

...he was out of office.

Something about a job that paid "a minimum of $250,000 per year".

[olkaz]

4. Yeah, those quotes from the telephone REALLY make it sound like he's in it for the good of Illinois.

It's laughable. The man is a crook, get him the heck out of my state.

[Jennicut]

5. it was all about favors and money, that is totally illegal!

[unblock]

10. that certainly sounds illegal. please post a quote if you've heard or seen one.

[Uzybone]

6. are you watching the presser? or reading the complaintt?

might want to do that. Its pretty clear where the smoking guns are.

[unblock]

8. just reading du. everybody's posting like he's toast, but i haven't seen a smoking gun posted yet.

maybe i missed it, everyone's acting like it's there, but i haven't seen it, that's all.

please post if you have access to a killer quote.

[Uzybone]

12. This is just one quote

From the complaint:

ROD BLAGOJEVICH again raised the idea
of the 501(c)(4) organization and asked whether “they” (believed be the President-elect and
his associates) can get Warren Buffett and others to put $10, $12, or $15 million into the
organization. Advisor A responded that “they” should be able to find a way to fund the
67
organization. Later in the conversation, ROD BLAGOJEVICH returned to the issue of the
501(c)(4) organization and noted that he is looking for “$10, $15, $20 million in an
organization like that.” ROD BLAGOJEVICH said that when he is “no longer Governor”
he could go over to the organization.

Read the complaint here: http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/national/10illinois_complaint.pdf

[unblock]

16. i'm not sure it's illegal for a governor to set up a non-profit organization

it's the personal enrichment part that would be illegal, so that would depend on if the non-profit was legit, the eventual pay at the non-profit was commensurate with the actual work, etc.

[goodhue]

9. read pages 56 to 74 of complaint . . .

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

[unblock]

13. thanks! here's a good one from p.64:

“the immediate challenge how do we take some of the financial
pressure off of our family.”

[Jennicut]

15. Yeah, he wanted his wife ot get a lobbyist job, he wanted campaign contributions...bad stuff

Maybe he share a cell with Ted Stevens.

[WeDidIt]

14. He was negotiating for money or monetary gain. n/t