http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/12/09/Illinois_Gov_Blagojevich_arrested/UPI-71771228835526/
The U.S. Attorney's office in Chicago said Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris, were arrested on charges of, among other things, conspiring to sell or trade Illinois' U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama for financial and other personal benefits for himself and his wife.
This is going to be an interesting story.
WOW!!!! Great balls of fire!
We knew Blago would end up in the Big House, but not so soon! To think I just called his office the other day about appointing that Senator!
Just when he did the best thing he may ever have done: cut off business with Bank of America.
don't blame me: I voted for .....
JUDY JUDY JUDY
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I think what I find most interesting (thus far) is that this is not just about stuff that happened two years ago, or in some distant past, but stuff that has happened with Obama's vacated seat, in the past 4 weeks.
http://riverside.il.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B09530C0F-A168-4C85-A314-1B60D4547076%7D
Call your state senator and rep., and speaker of the house. Impeach Blagojevich, insert Pat Quinn.
I added Quinn should appoint qualified and not-implicated African-American US Senator, now. [Edit: Or special election, what Durbin is saying.] That's what I did anyway.
I voted for Judy too, because I know Blago is a crook. I hope Landmark is on phone getting interview with her.
How embarrassing that our sleazeball political culture nearly made its way into the US Senate. Thank God this did not happen before the presidential election. And thank God, once again, for Patrick Fitzgerald, our Elliot Ness. He is all that stands between us and drowning in corruption. Daley and Stroger will follow.
The complaint:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/acrobat/2008-12/43789434.pdf
I just heard a bit of a press conference with Pat Quinn where he eloquently expressed some of his opinions on what proper government should be. He was asked what would be his priorities. He said he has always been driven by the citizens' needs. He said, in fact, that a citizen is the highest station in government, suggesting the strong role the citizen has in a properly functioning democracy.
I certainly remember his support in the crafting of the citizens' petition to get the TIF question on the ballot.
Yes, we are lucky to have Pat Quinn. Night and day. We must be a place of extremes.
Forget quoting this stuff. You have to read this complaint to believe it. It is even worse than the news coverage makes it sound.
It is hard to truly believe that folks can truly be this corrupt. People say it is true, but I am never really able to believe it. I always think people are doing the right thing from their point of view. But this man appears to be without idealism. Almost a sociopath. Why would anyone care so much about this kind of power that they would go to these lengths?
Listening to WBEZ, it was funny to hear the complain read aloud with the "well, then [bleep] him" every 15 words.
Blagojevich is apparently delusional too. I grabbed a Red Eye or whatever the free Tribune paper is, today, and in there is a statement from the Gov something like "they can listen in to my calls all they want. Everything I say is legal and only with the best interests of the citizens of Illinois in mind." Something like that. The statement was given prior to his arrest this morning.
BTW, he's out of custody on his own recognizance this afternoon.
Just to ask the question: "What ever happened to the concept of innocent until proven guilty in a court of law." As far as I can tell, these are charges, an indictment. I don't know if talking constitutes a crime, but I see a couple of large holes in the indictment I read. No money was proffered or changed hands, no job was given, one report says he is out on $4500. bail, or his own OR as Chris states above. That doesn't sound commensurate to the charges being made, so maybe the judge didn't think it was so bulletproof either. I happened to see him yesterday at Republic when he said that line about "go ahead and tape me." Fitzgerald has had, up to now at least, a seemingly golden halo, and if they have been "investigating" Rod for all these years I wonder as to making these charges so quickly on only this incident. He may indeed be delusional and think he can do anything, but I doubt that will be a slam dunk. That's just my opinion without knowing more. The guy is still Governor and presumably will remain so unless he resigns or is impeached, and that would, again I believe, require a conviction or a confession or something like that. I suppose he could go home and appoint himself or someone else Senator. Or there may be other charges filed. Fitz seemed to be exhorting people who "knew something" to come forward, and I didn't see anyone else indicted except for his pal. Stratton, Kerner, Dan Walker and all the rest really have no bearing on this case. Maybe he can cop an insanity plea if he did it.
I heard some of Fitzgerald's allegations on the radio today. Lots of colorful bleeps. One statement I recall: When the Obama camp said they would only respond with 'some appreciation' for a like minded Senate replacement, Blagovich retorted angrily, 'Bleep them'.
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