Breaking News: Feds take Gov. Blagojevich into custody

[Horse with no Name]

>>>>snip
A source said today that Gov. Rod Blagojevich was taken into federal custody at his North Side home this morning. The U.S. attorney's office would not confirm the information, and a spokesman for the governor did not immediately return a phone call for comment.

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2008/12/source-feds-take-gov-blagojevich-into-custody.html

[bdamomma]

1. for what, because of speaking out against the BOA?

and taking the side of the workers?

[Horse with no Name]

2. It doesn't say yet

but whatever reason THEY give, the answer you gave is probably more correct.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

5. $40k for jobs.

that's what you had to donate to get a top state job.
bribery, it is called.

[Phred42]

20. A three-year federal corruption investigation of pay-to-play politics

This has been going on for a while but the timing of this is interesting - isn't it?

[tritsofme]

3. This makes his "stand" against the BoA look even more disengenuous.

[babylonsister]

4. Or maybe it's retribution for his stand against BoA, . nt

[ChairmanAgnostic]

7. nope. not at all.

Pat Fitzgerald has been working on this for quite some time, and has way too many tapes proving bribery, graft and worse.

[trollybob]

25. You'll probably be one of those sheep who sits on a federal jury

willing to convict anyone the F.B.I./U.S. Attorney tells you to.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

28. Look, Bloggo has been a scab on the political system of Illinois for

5 horrible years. He is a criminal. Period. Ask his daddy-in-law. Ask Tony Rezko. Ask the guys who tried to expand Children's Memorial Hospital. Ask Jesse Jackson Junior, who was told that the price for his getting the senate seat was a cool Million. Oh, and a job for his wife. Ask the union

[tritsofme]

8. Not from Chicago are you?

This man is a crook.

[atreides1]

17. What does that say....

.....about the people who elected him?

[AngryAmish]

18. That we thought the republicans were worse

This is how he came to be elected....

Rod is/was a good looking guy. He was smart (not that smart, but smart enough to pass the bar). Many ladies were hot for him...but Rod was ambitious. As a lawyer he was a good ladies man. He worked for Ed Vrdolyak, an alderman (recently plead guilty himself).

So there is this other Alderman in Chicago named Dick Mell. Ald. Mell is very powerful, rich and crooked. He had a daughter. Daughter could not be fairly called ugly...but she was not a prize either. Rod marries Ald. Mell's daughter and things begin to happen for him.

Ald. Mell gets him elected to first the IL House of Representatives than the US House of Representatives. After a few high profile things (Serbia rescue mission with Jesse Jackson Sr.) he (in his and his father-in-law's ambition) he decides to run for governor.

He wins the primary (surprisingly) and defeats the republican because the previous republican was George Ryan (totally crooked, sitting in the federal pen now).

So, bottom line: his rise was due to 1. picking the ugly daughter of a powerful politician to be his wife and 2. luck.

he is a scumbag, I hope he goes to jail.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

29. you put it perfectly.

also, people have to recognize the braindead institution that is the Illinois GOP. They are fucking nuts, when they aren't fucking their neighbor's wives. They sought out Alan Keyes, fer cripes sake, for the senate run against Obama. Their right wingnuts are screwed on so tight that those wheels are never coming off. There is no longer a moderate wing of the GOP in Illinois, at least not one that functions. The rapid right castrates anyone who dares try, if they don't pass their abortion, gay, stem cell, gun, and god tests.

That is the real reason why the democratic party is so strong in Illinois. Tis not strength, it is widespread, deep, ever-lasting revulsion at the GOP loonies. Luckily for us, there is no movement to change the GOP. Unfortunately for us, we collect some real questionable criminals in our party. But not just us - the GOP has their own share of criminals. Stu Levin, the state head of the party in DuPage - Kjilander, that big financier who was just indicted in springpatch, and most of Ryan's aides, and more.

[saracat]

11. Blag has been investigated for corruption for a long time.

[babylonsister]

6. The timing is really suspect; how powerful is BoA anyway? nt

[tritsofme]

9. Blago intentionally made a scene with the BoA knowing he would be imminently

indicted by the feds.

His only intention was a cynical attempt at currying public opinion before he gets sent to jail.

[Sannum]

10. Good Riddance.

Corrupt SOB.

[beyurslf]

12. So who will pick Obama's successor?

Does he get to do it from a jail cell?

[tritsofme]

13. If he refuses to resign, I assume he would be impeached.

Either way, I believe that Lt Governor Pat Quinn will become governor.

[riderinthestorm]

14. The Lt Gov Pat Quinn is a fantastic human being and a great politician

If it falls to him, he'll do right by the selection.

[Phred42]

21. Good to know

[trollybob]

26. If he doesn't get indicted as well on some bullshit charges.

Hey, why not? I could get YOU indicted for something or other if I taped all of your phone calls and had your house under constant surveillance.

[nemo137]

31. You really have no damn clue about any of this, do you?

It's been spelled out time and again. Blago was involved in pay-for-play, hard. He tried to extort a bribe from a fucking children's hospital. He was trying to auction a goddamn senate seat. He has been, if possible, more corrupt and less effective than George (inmate #1138) Ryan. His statements on BoA were the ONE TIME in his career that he sided with workers over corporations.

Pat Quinn, by contrast, has been working for actual reform for decades now, stands by his convictions (especially regarding the Constitutional Referendum), and has not talked to Blago since last year. I have more chance of getting charged by Fitz than he does.

This world is not quite as manichean as you think it is. Blago is a Democrat, and a shitbag, and the only surprise in most Illinoisans' minds right now is that he was so blatant about it, and what he was on.

[PVnRT]

33. Note the screen name

Specifically, the first five letters.

[nemo137]

34. I was giving him the benefit of the doubt.

Like, maybe he really likes streetcars. One time in flight school, I was on a planet where people juggled baby geese. Gosling.

[PVnRT]

36. Quaint!

[undeterred]

15. Illinois has a tradition of great Senators and corrupt governors.

:shrug:

[trollybob]

27. Another one willing to take the word of a federal prosecutor, and by the way,

George Ryan was convicted for actions pertaining to his job as Sec. of State, BEFORE he was elected Gov.

[Critters2]

35. Actions intended to further his campaign to become governor.

Not that it matters.

[kentuck]

16. Homeland Security doing its job...

and probably have it on tape?

[NashVegas]

22. I Would Assume 'Yes'

How legal was the wiretap, that is the question.

[Phred42]

19. Click here for the latest updates.

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2008/12/source-feds-take-gov-blagojevich-into-custody.html


Got him.

[Phred42]

23. He was HOLDING AN AUCTION for Obama's seat

Moron!

:banghead:

[Renew Deal]

24. Was it on Ebay?

Can I get in on it?

[ChairmanAgnostic]

30. Bloggo would have tried, given half a chance.

[Horse with no Name]

32. I didn't realize that when I posted this

We don't need more corrupt politicians.:(