Welcome to Chicago.

Nice to see Democrats taking advantage of the system too.
Sheesh.

I thought Pat Fitzgerald was a partisan Democrat, eager to take down Republicans.

Funny how that works, isn’t it? *G*

Must be all that post-partisanship in the air right now.

That’s pretty ballsy stuff for a governor who knew he was already under intense federal scrutiny — and had known it for some time.

that’s what shocks me

DOH!

What an arrogant maroon!

Wiretaps? Wow, hardly even knew they existed!

Digg is open, ladies and gentlemen - let’s DIGG for it!!!

The digg is up and running on this as well.

Elliott @ 6
Me too. I’m speechless. (That will pass shortly.)

THe cynical Chicagoan sees this as the last hurrah of Fitzgerald’s Illinois tenure.
I see a significant promotion in the new Administration.

Illinois:
Land of Lincoln and true bi-partisan corruption.

Mega Doozy

these clowns did everything but supply the videotape

amazing arrogance, like clinton and his “ceegars”, to think you’ll never get caught. an adolscent mentality that believes in its own immortality, non? So if this guy can’t appoint O’s replacement, who will? anybody

One factor that always surprises me in the case of political corruption is how low the bribe is. $2.5 million payment, $150,000 job for his wife? These are pittances by standards of what is routine for top players in corporations. Why do pols sell out so cheap, and with such great risk?

EPU’ed

Blago isn’t that popular even among Democrats. He got re-elected in 2006 because the Republicans had no real candidate to run against him. And I have to say I refused to vote for him at the time because I wouldn’t vote for someone who I thought was going to get indicted. I’m just surprised that it took so long.

Illinois has had a budgeting crisis that has been going on for years. Rather than raising the state income tax by half a point to 3 1/2% (a move now made more problematic than ever by the collapsing economy), state politicians of both parties refused to do anything. This left Blago with all these weird screwball ways of collecting money. The state budget each year was a cross between a joke and a horror show. Add to this that Blago never moved to the state capital in Springfield but stayed in Chicago, that he was famous for pissing off state legislators, had epic battles with them (Democrats even more than Republicans who were usually left out of the loop entirely), and often used the budget to punish his enemies, and basically you have a recipe for the current mess.

Pay for play has become part of the lexicon of Illinois politics. We have been talking about this stuff literally for years.

And Pat Quinn is the Lieutenant Governor. He and Blago got along like oil and water. I would assume he will now pick Obama’s replacement.

There are a number of potential options on that, including the fact that IL law allows for him to temporarily step aside and allow for the Lt. Gov. to take the reins while sorting this out, thereby allowing that person to make that call.

This is all fairly sudden, though, and no word on whether that’s even been considered as yet given the legal ramifications of a lot of this…

Because people are stupid, including pols?

Arrogance is the domain of the corrupt … like Bush, Cheney, Rummy, Wolfie, …

share your thoughts on Lt Gov Quinn -

said downstairs he looks to be long time well oiled cog in Cook County Machinery (not necessarily a bad thing - prolly a pre requisite for higher office)) but definitely someone looking for a Patronage pick

I don’t see that this has much to do with Clinton’s cigars.
Let’s hope it doesn’t have anything to do with Obama.

The stupidity of what Blago did is just breathtaking.

He goes around trying to shake down potential senators and their supporters (including, it seems the transition team–looking for a cabinet post or ambassadorship) and he doesn’t think anybody else has the brains to turn him in?

After all the whole world has known for year that he was under investigation. Even those not otherwise inclined to get involved in something messy like turning him in, would have to in order to bulletproof themselves.

WHY? Because everyone knew he was under investigation and therefore wiretaps had to be assumed as a given.

Unfreaking believably stoopid.

They might have thought that the sum is small enough to go unnoticed …

Anybody think Obama knew about any of this? what is the reference to “organization affiliated with labor unions”? Jeesh the unions don’t need any bad press right now. Any way this could come back to bite the O?

BTW as my local public station is reporting that Blago can only be forced to resign if he is convicted. There is also language in the state constitution that he can ask to be replaced if he is incapacitated.

That behavior is well above and beyond (or perhaps below and beyond might be more accurate) stupid.

The richest pols I’ve come in contact with (e.g., son of mayor of Mexico city while subway was being built) were the ones who got kickbacks from construction projects. There the pot is very big.

Sounds like IL was not in a position to allow Blago to line his pockets that way.

Is the Lt Gov an “R” or “D”?

not just any “intense scrutiny”, but Fitz intense scrutiny - who is what ? 11-0 in big time prosecutions that include Blago’s predecessor, a WH Chief of Staff and a major media mogul - none of whom provided the cache of smoking guns Blago turned over

Think about it in risk adjusted return terms. How much was the risk reduced when apparently they were soliticing everyone and his brother? That’s hardly a recipe for staying under the radar. (You can take that mixed metaphor out & shoot it if you like.)

Waccamaw, Cnn said a dem

DUGG

i’m withholding any conclusions here.
i keep thinking “Seigleman”……………
not a lawyer, but will just take a breath and see…………….

thanks again for all you do here , folks. it’s 6 degrees outside , gotta go start a fire.

Chrissy,

While thrilled to see another Thief in Chief go down, my immediate response is…. What happens to the Governor’s position according to Illinois law? And how does this play into the appointment of Obama’s replacement?

Is it too early in the a.m. to say … Fitz !

D

Pat Quinn - wiki

www.myfoxchicagolive.com/ This is a live feed from the local Fox station in Chicago

Unfreaking believably stoopid.

did I ever tell you my old saying?

“power corrupts, absolute power stupidifies”

this is about ten seconds old but will become my time honored from hence and forward

Happy Fitzmas! yea! it means Lt Gov. Pat Quinn gets to make the selection, which is excellent: he’s not only a Dem, but a progressive :) And supported the recall ballot entirely because he thought Blago was corrupt ….

As a DJ this morning pointed out, not all of our governors have been indicted in the last 50 years — I think its 4 out 9 though ….

I’m just happy you’ve gotten your tongue back … *g*

G’Morning eCAHN … can’t wait for Christmas Morn, when it is acceptable to have Bailey’s in my coffee … brrrrrr

Obama like everyone else in the state has known about Blago’s problems for forever. You have to understand how cockamamie the state government budgeting process has been for years. Even if Blago wasn’t a crook (and he is), all the wheeling and dealing to keep the state afloat, all while practising Chicago style politics, would have made him look crooked anyway.

Following politics in Illinois is like watching a convention of cockroaches. It doesn’t seem to matter if the politician has a D or an R after their name, once they get to Springfield, the corruption virus seizes them in its jaws.

For non-Illinoisans, I’ll note that Blago ran as a “reform” candidate vowing to clean up the ethical messes of his Republican predecessor, George Ryan, who is currently serving a 6 1/2 year federal sentence for corruption. (He’s been in the news lately because Sen. Dick Durbin is urging W. to commute his sentence because Ryan’s wife is frail and ill.) Instead, Blago showed himself to be even oilier and sleazier than Ryan. He’s been grabbing with both hands since Day One.

A Chicago Tribune columnist has dubbed the political establishment in Illinois “the combine,” because both parties are filthy dirty and more than willing to waive any partisan concerns when there are fat contracts or hefty political donations to be gained. We don’t really have a two-party system here. It’s all just one big sewer where the rats are always frolicking at taxpayer expense.

Hah … Brilliant !

G’morn back atcha Petro.

Mimosas? I actually don’t like them. Think it ruins both ingredients. But a glass of OJ and another glass of champagne on New Year’s morn is a good combo.

I wonder how much he will earn when he goes to the big house.

Governor Strong Arms Bank Of America To Restore Credit to failing Chicago Firm:

http://www.wgntv.com/landing/?.....eedID=1503

Hours later…Same Governor indicted on Federal Charges.

Moral: “Don’t Fuck With The Banksters!”

the Republics, esp the talk radio kind, will do everything they can to tar Obama with this - there appears to be the possibility the Transition Team may have dropped this dime on him

Quinn is a Dem - sort of a (pardon me) maverick - long history of pushing for measures like recall and other direct citizen involvement. It is possible that this ups the chance for Jan Schacowski. Regarding the references to Siegelman and the like, as a resident of the Chicago area who has heard part of what has been recorded, I think this is a different kind of case. Blogo seems bizarre.

The local fox station in Chicago is saying that they moved quickly because Brago had contacted Rahm Emmanuel. I didn’t catch the whole statement.

Yes, I have some hope for Pat Quinn but I don’t know if even he can deal with the current mix of the crashing economy, the state budget, and all the ins and outs of downstate vs Chicagoland politics.

I am more concerned about the Republic Window demonstrators and BofA. Not knowing Blagojevich was a crook just yesterday he was my new hero for spanking BofA. His motives are now suspect.

His wife sells real estate.
Prospects not so bright in the Blago household.

Obama will ensure that the book gets thrown at this guy, so as to distance himself and Rahm from any of the smell.

Except Blago never really made it to Springfield, he seldom came to the state capital and ran his operation out of Chicago.

I’m going to link again to the FOX station www.myfoxchicagolive.com/ They are repeating that he contacted Emmanuel.

For those of us here in IL — Blago is no Seigelman, he’s rumored to be corrupt for years, and Fitz will get a conviction based on the merits of the case (or not, i suppose: innocent until proven guilty, but in this case …) not based on corrupt judges or prosecutors …. More of the Illinois politicians’ belief that this is how politics are played here: its normal.

Agreed, it is a travesty to adulterate perfectly good champagne.

Not the sharpest apple in the drawer, eh?

Prosecuting Dem-Governor Blagojevich after putting away Rep-Governor Ryan should Clear Any Ethics Considerations - as in No Conflict of Interest, Only Principled Service to the Rule of Law - should Fitz later prosecute a Former-President…

serves blago right. i wish we could have some more fitzmas cheer by giving him bush, cheney and rumsfeld for company in the slammer.

Whew! That helps (only a little) to at least keep the seat in the dim category.

Mornin’ siri -

like you, my initial thoughts were of Gov Seigelman - and then I remembered Fitz is the USA in the case -

read the timeline in the downstair’s post and read the Gov’s wiki page

thanks cbl2.
i have a bad feeling about this now.
will do the reading.
sheeeeeeesh.
and IL of all states right now.
ouch.

Which state is more corrupt? Illinois or Louisiana?
or Texas, Mass., Georgia, Indiana, Ohio?
Which is worse? Buying and selling votes or buying and selling political seats?
Sorta make the Elliot Spitzer drama seem like small potatoes.

I am sick of the American people being left out in the cold.

Here’s more evidence of Obama’s good sense in this. From page 66 of the indictment:

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

Why does this sound a lot like Alaska?

thought the same downstairs - if they want an untainted, above reproach Senate pick, and they are certainly going to need one - Congresswoman Schakowsky, fits the bill

What happens if they impeach him? The local news is speculating that if the governor does not resign, he will be impeached.

That seems to be the quote du jour.

THe cynical Chicagoan sees this as the last hurrah of Fitzgerald’s Illinois tenure.

I see a significant promotion in the new Administration.

Fitzy is hated equally by corrupt Dems and Reps in Illinois, but the only people who actually tried to get him ousted from his USA slot were Republicans like the Goodling people at Main Justice and Karl Rove’s buddy and prominent Illinois Republican Bob Kjellander.

I am more concerned about the Republic Window demonstrators and BofA. Not knowing Blagojevich was a crook just yesterday he was my new hero for spanking BofA. His motives are now suspect.

I had to smile at this. First, because this has been going on for years and second, because Illinois politics are always about more than one thing. So Blago,a Democrat, standing up for workers and being a crook is really not that much different than Ryan, a Republican, moving against the death penalty in the state (after numerous errors had been found in its application) and also being a crook.

Oh, Jeebus. Isn’t the Seigelman hearing soon? Like today or tomorrow. Bad timing. I am getting paranoid in my old age. Oh, wait….what is that old saying?

Yup. This might be the thing that finally cleans up the century-and-a-half-old pigsty that is Chicago politics.

Thanks, I only read through page 34 and started listening to the Chicago local news on line.

HT Wikipedia

Blagojevich is married to the former Patricia Mell, daughter of Chicago Alderman Richard Mell

Which is why my old nextdoor neighbor, Chicago Alderman Chuck Bernadini introduced himself to me after i had only been there 8 years.
Machine Politics as usual in Chicago.
Fitz is throwing some sand in the works, but they grind on.

Been holding my breath.

The swiftness of this is a little stunning, though.

Ding

*small potatoes* ? ... that hits below the belt …

I’m kinda half-wondering if one reason that the Bushies didn’t interfere, AFAIK, with the Ryan prosecution is precisely because of Ryan’s principled stand against the death penalty. It would fit with their habit of punishing people only when they do the right thing.

Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. When will they ever learn?

Why, what evah are you talkin’ about?

I’m just wondering…but does Fitz have a food taster?

Sure seems like he would need one with all the scum he has been going after. What a guy.

Why not Fitz for AG? You have to wonder.

Swift? I expected the indictment to happen the day after the election and had almost given up hope :)

Why not Fitz for AG?

Not bi enough.

I’m sure other states have their own corruption problems. I remember that Kentucky governors almost always faced investigations after their time in office. But Illinois corruption has a certain flair about it that most state residents could live without but still take a perverse pride in.

Fitz’s legandary dining habits might well make him immune to any but the strongest poisons.

Reckon the Republicans are on this like cat hair on black slacks. Dig, babies, dig.

huh?

Why isn’t Florida on your list?

Sniff. I’m offended.

Chicago - The City That Works (TM)

I wonder if he has spent some time working on his immunity to iocaine powder.

I’d like to think they’re keeping him where he is, in case they have to appoint a Special Prosecutor for BushCo’s criminal actions.

You mean just because they’re so “in your face?”

You just don’t get it, do you eCAHNomics?

/Dr. Evil

Skimming these threads I haven’t seen anything about a reaction yet from Teh Wingnuts.
They are going to have wet dreams for weeks over this.

It seems like any prosecution, either impeachment or federal is going to happen quickly. If Blago does not resign it could be a while before anyone is appointed. He will probably use this as a bargaining chip.

Another point that is being brought up here is that with Obama taking over in January, US Attorneys are going to get replaced. So now is the time to indict in any cases that they didn’t want to see face delays if new USAs were brought on. And then to Blago seems really to have jumped the shark both with the replacement for Obama and the Trib thing. The principal question people have around here is whether it was hubris or stupidity that made Blago engage in these latest acts.

How long before Obama MUST issue a statemen & then do a presser? Tempus fugit in this 24/7 internet era.

Do you have any opinions? It does sound like he is a stupid crook. Does anyone from Illinois have any feelings about this.

Naaaaaaaw, they’ll be having ‘em for minimum four, maximum eight years…….just like that forkin’ birth certificate business (only with some justification).

The principal question people have around here is whether it was hubris or stupidity that made Blago engage in these latest acts

With Blago, I’m sure it was both.

Nope. I don’t get it. I could understand BIG corruption for pols, and I understand petty theft for the poor, but I don’t understand petty theft for pols.

You mean just because they’re so “in your face?”

Well that but more like mack says in #89.

Chicago - The City That Works (TM)

The idea has been that Illinoisans would tolerate a certain level of corruption as long as things worked.

Christy, Can Obama comment on a case in which he is mentioned?

is going to happen quickly

Should read is not going to happen quickly.
Preview is my fren

Well, suppose he’d got that plus the union or non-profit job. Cash flow to tap. Also, if you’ve got your hand out all over the place, and to people who pay other people, there’s probably no point in holding out for a big haul from just one place. I don’t know, maybe going for a $2.5M lump would have been a big blunder anyway.

Chicago - The City That Works It (TM)

Fixed

Another point that is being brought up here is that with Obama taking over in January, US Attorneys are going to get replaced.

This is not the realistic Hugh I know……..you’re laboring under the assumption that *any* of shrub’s USAs are gonna resign. :-(

Hubridity

as in Roach Motel…. roaches check in, they don’t check out?

True, but the only counts seem to be new stuff. That old stuff from the Rezko investigation is still hanging.

Just saw some footage from yesterday showing Blago challenging law enforcement to tape his conversations. Sort of reminds me of Gary Hart, when he dared journalists to follow him and they eventually caught him with Donna Rice.

That dare, plus the flagrance of his many conversations soliciting bribes, makes me think he has an unconscious need to be punished and flouts the law or conventions until someone does so. I’m training to be a therapist, so this is my quick diagnosis of his issues.

that is certainly one very big aspect of this for sure.

Wow, that’s quite a revelation if true. the transition team dropping the dime? now, would you call that aspiring to be squeaky clean, or just self preservation?

With Blago, I’m sure it was both.

Yeah, he had to see this coming. He knew the Ryan investigation took years to develop. He knew that Fitzgerald was implacable. He had to have known that he was under the gun for years and would be also for years. Everybody knew he was corrupt. I think what shocks us is how sloppy he was about it. And that I suppose is the question I have. If Blago was this inept and open about being corrupt, I am surprised that it has taken this long to indict him.

Blago is so terminally stupid especially if the system is corrupt! WHen you offer a senate seat out for bid all of the low bidders are pissed and they have the goods on him.

Don’t go to CNBC…it’s ugly.

Larry Kudlow is so delighted, he’s masturbating.

It also occurs to me that it’s not only illegal to seek bribes, it’s also illegal to agree to pay them. So I wonder how many Illinois Dems might be in a bit of trouble for dealing with Blago and his people.

We’ve all watched Fitz circling the governor for a couple years now and knew it was only a matter of time before an indictment. But it is sort of startling they arrested a sitting governor. Usually here in Illinois, they wait until they’ve left office before conducting a perp walk.

We in Illinois have a sort of grudging respect for corrupt pols, but none at all for stupid corrupt pols. Like Blago.

Larry Craig’s appeal to have his case overturned was denied. I guess he’s still gay.

Yes, but things haven’t worked at the state government level for a long time and people are getting very pissed that corruption is preventing sensible reforms and legislation … Blago’s approval ratings rival GWB’s.

I immediately checked the party affiliation of the Illinois lieutenant governor, but it turns out that he (Pat Quinn) is a democrat.

Nevertheless, when the Bush justice department prosecutes a Democratic governor, I can’t help but be suspicious that they’re up to their old trickery.

Well, if Obama was going to keep any USAs on, Fitzgerald would definitely be a keeper.

cbl2, hubridity. I like it.

Hubridity … LOL

LOL!
maybe he can get the “not gay” thing for a Christmas present this year?

From reading the announcement at TPM:
Apparently Obama wasn’t going to play ball with Blago; Blago was complaining about it.
The organization associated with a labor union seems to be ‘Change to Win’, and the union SEIU.

Fitz has been busy, it looks like.

i did wonder that as well, why not fitz for AG? interesting stat: AG deaths up 6% over the last 8 yrs.

frankly, it’s a smart move. they have a well rec’d, recently launched Brand to protect and this sloppy clown endangered it

the speed of the indictment (so unlike Fitz) was my first clue

Wondering why they didn’t go for his gonads before the election, though. Apparently they needed this Senate fix thing to ice the cake.

Thanks for the comic relief.

We in Illinois have a sort of grudging respect for corrupt pols, but none at all for stupid corrupt pols. Like Blago.

Yes, as RAMA says,

We in Illinois have a sort of grudging respect for corrupt pols, but none at all for stupid corrupt pols. Like Blago.

Personally, I thought Fitzgerald would nail Blago shortly after the 2006 election.

Ian’s upstairs.

I wonder is this is going to take some of that shiny Obama glow off the Windy City’s new found go-getter reputation. Business as usual IMO.

Take the glow off Chicago’s go-getter reputation? I think not. Remember, the late, great Mike Royko suggested the city adopt for it’s municipal motto: Ubi Est Mea — Where’s mine?

I was just googling to confirm but the Obama campaign was aware of a Blago problem even at the time of the Democratic National Convention. I think Blago showed up for part of it but was not allowed to address the convention. That is pretty surprising given that he was the Governor of Obama’s home state.

Ok, the guy is corrupt beyond belief, but does anyone see the “coincidence” in that he is arrested THE DAY AFTER he urges state agencies to stop using Bank of America????

Nope.

good ole Fitz…

No: I do think that he played the BofA card to curry favor, i.e., make himself look like a good guy, in the face of the impending indictment. Reverse your supposition, in other words, and I bet that’s true.

We don’t really have a two-party system here. It’s all just one big sewer where the rats are always frolicking at taxpayer expense.

Quotable!

Is it too early in the a.m. to say … Fitz !

Never!! It’s always Fitz-time.