Selling Senate Seats
QandO — He may not govern from Chicago, but this is an example of Chicago politics at its "finest". Federal agents arrested IL governor Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff at their homes early this morning: ...

Blagojevich Arrested?
Talking Points Memo — Chicago Tribune: 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. ...

re: Rod Blagojevich
The Corner on National Review Online — [image] [image] NRO BLOG ROW | THE CORNER | ARCHIVES SEARCH E-MAIL PRINT RSS [image] [image] Tuesday, December 09, 2008 [image] re: Rod Blagojevich [ Kathryn Jean Lopez ] Was apparently taken into federal custody sometime after that interview. 12/09 09:26 AM [image] [image] [image] © National Review Online 2008. All Rights Reserved. Home | Search | NR / Digital | Donate | Media Kit | Contact Us

Yikes
Talking Points Memo — ... The feds' investigation of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) has been going on for a very long time, but this latest wrinkle is most curious: ...

Blagojevich taken into custody
Political Animal — ... of Blagojevich and others. [...] Investigators are looking into allegations of corruption, involving Blagojevich and the Health Facilities Planning Board, as well as the Teachers Retirement System. The investigation has been going on for several years, and initially, Blagojevich dismissed the claims. But the probe later resulted in the indictment and conviction of Antoin "Tony" Rezko, Blagojevich's chief political fundraiser. The announcement comes shortly after the Chicago Tribune reported that the three-year corruption investigation of pay-to-play politics in Blagojevich's ...

Blagojevich Headed to the Hoosegow (?)*
RedState: Conservative News and Community — ... The Chicago Tribune is reporting that the Feds have at long last come to haul off IL Gov Rod Blagojevich. This, of course, is no surprise, given that Blagojevich was exposed as a crook during his election campaign and the Rezko sharks have been circling him for months. The interesting part of this story is that despite knowing that he was the subject of a Federal investigation, the Feds think that he simply can’t stop his pay-for-play ways: ...

Illinois Governor Arrested
TPMMuckraker — ... Hours earlier, the Chicago Tribune reported that the federal probe of pay-to-play politics in the Blagojevich administration had expanded to include the question whether the process of filling Barack Obama's US Senate seat -- for which the governor is responsible -- had become tainted. ...

Chickens… Coming Home… To ROOST! (UPDATED)
Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler — This may become an ongoing series at this rate… Thanks to LCs Mike in Chi , LuckyLeo and Ranger 6 , this just in : Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff were arrested today by FBI agents on federal corruption charges. Click here for the latest updates from the Breaking News Center. A three-year federal corruption investigation of pay-to-play politics in Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s administration has expanded to include his impending selection of a new U.S. senator to succeed President-elect Barack Obama, the Tribune has learned. Federal authorities got approval from a ...

IL-Gov: Blago Arrested on Corruption Charges
Swing State Project — Whoa: Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff were arrested today by FBI agents on federal corruption charges. A three-year federal corruption investigation of pay-to-play politics in Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration has expanded to include his impending selection of a new U.S. senator to succeed President-elect Barack Obama, the Tribune has learned. Federal authorities got approval from a judge before the November general election to secretly record the governor, sources told the Tribune, and among their concerns was whether the selection process ...

Governor Blagojevich arrested!
Althouse — "U.S. Attorney's office spokesman Randall Samborn says both Blagojevich and his chief of staff John Harris were arrested Tuesday." AND: The Chicago Tribune published this article shortly before the news of the arrest broke: A three-year federal corruption investigation of pay-to-play politics in Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration has expanded to include his impending selection of a new U.S. senator to succeed President-elect Barack Obama, the Tribune has learned. Federal authorities got approval from a judge before the November general ...

Gov. Blagojevich Selling A Senate Seat?
Daily Kos — Well, the long-running investigation of Illinois Governor Blagojevich just got interesting: Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff were arrested today by FBI agents on federal corruption charges. A three-year federal corruption investigation of pay-to-play politics in Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration has expanded to include his impending selection of a new U.S. senator to succeed President-elect Barack Obama, the Tribune has learned.  [...] Speaking to reporters Monday for the first time since the Tribune revealed federal ...

Blagojevich And Chief Of Staff Indicted For Attempting To Sell Obama’s Senate Seat
Firedoglake — ... That's pretty ballsy stuff for a governor who knew he was already under intense federal scrutiny -- and had known it for some time. There is a lot to this -- including allegations regarding a host of other Chicago pols and national names that are hidden behind the usual "candidate x" indictment nomenclature, but whomever the Fundraiser for "Friends of Blagojevich" is, I'd contact an attorney -- stat -- just based on my quick skim through.  Am still reading through legal documents and accompanying materials sent to me via e-mail. More details as I get them... ...

Illinois Governor Taken Into Federal Custody For Abusing His Authority To Appoint Obama Successor»
Think Progress — ... Federal authorities took Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) and his chief of staff John Harris into custody this morning on federal corruption charges. Before the arrest, the Chicago Tribune had ...

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich Is the Ballsiest Governor in America
MoJo Blog Posts: mojo — ... The most corrupt politician in America is, apparently, also the gutsiest. Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat, has been under investigation for three years because of a litany of corruption charges and has the most famous prosecutor in America, Patrick Fitzgerald, circling him — so what does he do? He embarks on an effort to literally SELL the senate seat vacated by the president-elect. And for that, he is finally in FBI custody. ...

Land of Stinkin’
Vodkapundit — In Illinois, it’s politics as usual : A three-year federal corruption investigation of pay-to-play politics in Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s administration has expanded to include his impending selection of a new U.S. senator to succeed President-elect Barack Obama, the Tribune has learned. Federal authorities got approval from a judge before the November general election to secretly record the governor, sources told the Tribune, and among their concerns was whether the selection process might be tainted. That possibility has become a focus in an intensifying investigation that has ...

Quote For The Day
The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan — ... "I don't believe there's any cloud that hangs over me. I think there's nothing but sunshine hanging over me," - IL Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) to reporters yesterday. One hour ago, he was taken into federal custody. ...

Morning Links
The Agitator — ... a socialist country–by beating him to it. Homeland Security forks over a $275,000 anti-terror grant to get the local police department a Bearcat armored personnel carrier . . . in Longview, Texas. Here’s the lede: “Utica Police have released numbers from their drug raids over the past year, and it appears their aggressive campaign is working.” Why, just a few more years of this, and Utica will be drug free! Illinois governor taken into custody, apparently for trying to auction off Barack Obama’s open senate seat. ...

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich Arrested Trying To Sell A Senate Seat
DownWithTyranny! — ... This morning Blogojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris, were arrested-- at least in part-- for trying to sell Barack Obama's Senate seat! The report from Federal Prosector Patrick Fitzgerald's office is absolutely shocking: ...

Report: Gov. wanted Trib editors gone
Michael Calderone's Blog — Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, and his chief of staff, John Harris were arrested today on charges of federal corruption. From the Chicago Tribune: In one charge related to the appointment of a senator to replace Barack Obama, prosecutors allege that Blagojevich sought appointment for himseld as Secretary of Health and Human Services in the new Obama administration, or a lucrative job with a union, in exchange for appointing a union-preferred candidate. Another charge alleges Blagojevich and Harris conspired to demand the firing of Chicago Tribune ...

Breaking News
Wizbang — Governor Blagojevich and his chief of staff were taken into custody by the FBI today . Breaking news of the arrest of the governor of Illinois seem ...

Who Will Blagojevich Take Down With Him?
The Anonymous Liberal — The complaint against Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who was arrested by federal agents this morning, is rather stunning. The feds apparently wiretapped his phones and recorded conversations of him and his aides attempting to ...

Feds arrest Illinois Gov. Blagojevich for trying to sell Obama’s vacant Senate seat
Hot Air » Top Picks — ... for months, culminating in a former aide named John Wyma having somehow cooperated with the feds to obtain recordings of Blagojevich yakking about graft. (The Tribune, which broke the news, won’t say if he wore a wire.) Another top crony was convicted six months ago of mail fraud, among other things, but his sentencing was postponed from October to January amid rumors that he was singing to the U.S. Attorney about the Chicago machine in hopes of a better deal. ...

THE CHICAGO WAY: Illinois Gov. Blagojevich, chief of staff, arrested. “In one charge related to the…
Instapundit — ... THE CHICAGO WAY: Illinois Gov. Blagojevich, chief of staff, arrested. “In one charge related to the appointment of a senator to replace Barack Obama, prosecutors allege that Blagojevich sought appointment for himself as Secretary of Health and Human Services in the new Obama administration, or a lucrative job with a union, in exchange for appointing a union-preferred candidate.” ...

THE CHICAGO WAY: Illinois Gov. Blagojevich, chief of staff, arrested. “In one charge related to th…
Instapundit — ... THE CHICAGO WAY: Illinois Gov. Blagojevich, chief of staff, arrested. “In one charge related to the appointment of a senator to replace Barack Obama, prosecutors allege that Blagojevich sought appointment for himseld as Secretary of Health and Human Services in the new Obama administration, or a lucrative job with a union, in exchange for appointing a union-preferred candidate.” ...

Blagojevich Arrested
California Conservative — ... The Chicago Tribune is reporting that Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has been arrested. Here’s what they’re reporting: ...

No More Mister Nice Blog — ... You're the subject of a three-year federal corruption investigation, fate hands you the opportunity to name a senator to replace the president-elect, and you try to corrupt that process, too? What the hell? ...

Blag
Belmont Club — The Governor of Illinois and his chief of staff have been arrested by Federal agents. They were awakened in their homes at 06:15 and taken to FBI headquarters, accused of wide-ranging acts of corruption and influence-peddling. The Chicago Tribune reports: In one charge related to the appointment of a senator to replace Barack Obama, prosecutors allege that Blagojevich sought appointment for himself as Secretary of Health and Human Services in the new Obama administration, or a lucrative job with a union, in exchange for appointing a union-preferred candidate. Another charge ...

Chicago Problem
Right Wing Nation — Blowjobjevich taken away in cuffs: Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris, were arrested by FBI agents on federal corruption charges Tuesday morning. Blagojevich and Harris were arrested simultaneously at their homes at about 6:15 a.m., according to Frank Bochte of the FBI. Both were transported to FBI headquarters in Chicago. In one charge related to the appointment of a senator to replace Barack Obama, prosecutors allege that Blagojevich sought appointment for himseld [sic] as Secretary of Health ...

Governor Blagojevich and Chief of Staff Cuffed and Stuffed
Wizbang — This is amazing. Have we ever seen such a spectacle before? A sitting governor and his chief of staff arrested and taken into custody on federal corruption charges . For how long have the Kos Kiddies and the DUmmies dreamt of ...

Governor of Illinois Busted, Tried to Sell Obama's Senate Seat
Tennessee Guerilla Women — ... Blagojevich had one offer of $500,000. Has that person been arrested? Yet? Before his arrest, the Governor had a 13% approval rating. Bush and the Republicans are so loving this! Smoking Gun: Obama Senate Seat For Sale? Blago: A Senate seat is a ‘f***ing valuable thing’ Feds: Blagojevich put ‘for sale’ sign on Obama replacement Blagojevich's Senate selection process investigated Details Of Complaint Against Blagojevich ...

The Chicago Candidate
small dead animals — ... , where the headline reads "Grand Jury subpeonas issued on Rezko/Obama land deal." In one charge related to the appointment of a senator to replace Barack Obama, prosecutors allege that Blagojevich sought appointment for himself as Secretary of Health and Human Services in the new Obama administration... ...

Illinois Gov. Blagojevich, Chief of Staff, Arrested
The New Editor — The Chicago Tribune's Jeff Coen, David Kidwell and Monique Garcia report: Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris, were arrested by FBI agents on federal corruption charges Tuesday morning. Blagojevich and Harris were arrested simultaneously at their homes at about 6:15 a.m., according to Frank Bochte of the FBI. Both were transported to FBI headquarters in Chicago. In one charge related to the appointment of a senator to replace Barack Obama, prosecutors allege that Blagojevich sought appointment for himseld as ...

Blagojevich: Cashing in on the big time
The Moderate Voice — Holly already broke this story here, but in terms of media coverage regarding the arrest of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, this headline from the Chicago Tribune really has to take the cake. Blagojevich’s Senate Selection Process Investigated Really? You’re investigating his selection process? Given the details leaking out already, isn’t that somewhat akin to checking out Jeffrey Dhamer’s kitchen for questionable cooking techniques? In one charge related to the appointment of a senator to replace ...

Gov. Blagojevich Alleged to have Tried to Sell Senate Appointment (Among other Charges)
PoliBlog: A Rough Draft of my Thoughts — ... beyond just this incident, just in case one needs more. Apparently the feds have been investigating the Governor for five years on “pay to play” deals: At a news conference, Patrick Fitzgerald, the prosecutor, said that Mr. Blagojevich had gone on a “political corruption crime spree,” and that his actions had “taken us to a truly new low.” “The conduct would make Lincoln roll over in his grave,” Mr. Fitzgerald said. Indeed. The Chicago Times notes that Blagojevich’s chief of staff was arrested as ...

Obama Backer, Illinois Governor Blagojevich (DEMOCRAT) Arrested For Attempt to Sell Appointment Obama’s Senate Seat and Other Corruption Charges!
Flopping Aces — ... Today’s arrest of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich on multiple corruption charges strikes pretty near the top of the Obama pyramid scheme. The criminal complaint ( ...

Things I friggin' hate : Stupidly corrupt Democrats
culturekitchen - fresh dissent served daily — ... United State. You know, because this is just an obscure little state that's under the radar AFTER HAVING ONE OF IT'S SENATORS BECOME THE FIRST BLACK MAN Not only that, the guy has been under investigation for ages by the same U. S. Attorney that took out Scooter Libby. You read that right : The dimwit has the nerve to doubt the prosecutorial abilities of Patrick Fitzgerald. I just love the way Jazz Shaw of The Moderate Voice put it : "Blagojevich’s Senate Selection Process Investigated" Really? You’re investigating ...

Governor Shakedown
Gates of Vienna — Rod Blagojevich, the governor of Illinois, was arrested on federal corruption charges early this morning. The wheels of the FBI juggernaut have just splattered a lot of mud very, very close to President-Elect Barack Hussein Obama. According to The Chicago Tribune: Illinois Gov. Blagojevich, chief of staff, arrested Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris, were arrested by FBI agents on federal corruption charges Tuesday morning. Blagojevich and Harris were arrested simultaneously at their ...

Illinois sleaze
Betsy's Page — ... this scandal? As a Republican, I figure it's about time that we have a nice, juicy Democratic scandal to chew over. This guy Blagojevich is a real prize. He knows taht he's under federal investigation for a whole slew of corruption scandals, and he goes around trying to shake down a union, an independent political group, other politicians, and the Chicago Tribune. It sounds like he was lining his pockets on every occasion he could. In addition to the charges revealed today, there are lots of other scandals involving the guy. Blagojevich also was alleged to be using a favors ...

Where is Their Sense of Humor?
Wizbang — I'm still waiting for the unctuous sermons from the usual suspects on the left about a Culture of Corruption that infects the Executive Offices of Democrat governors. What a year this has been . Where is that odd combination of sermonizing and raucous humor that signals how much fun everyone is having? What? Everyone is not enjoying this? The legacy media chorus practices for these moments every day but now their glee is strangely subdued. Amidst the wreckage of Representative William Jefferson (turned out before convicted), ...

Blagojevich, Obama and The Chicago Way
Chicago Boyz — ... I think most people familiar with Illinois politics expected that eventually some kind of Chicago landmine was going to go off under President-elect Barack Obama - it’s just that few people expected it might happen before the 20th of January. ...

Links for 2008-12-09 [del.icio.us]
FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog — ... "Haven't heard anything -- you are first to call," Lucio Guerrero said in an e-mail. The stunning, early morning visit by authorities to the governor's North Side home came amid revelations that federal investigators had recorded the governor with the cooperation of a longtime confidant and had begun to focus on the possibility that the process of choosing a Senate successor to President-elect Barack Obama could be tainted by pay-to-play politics. Blagojevich's Senate Selection Process Investigated A three-year federal corruption ...

So, Things Are Kind Of Eventful In My Home State . . .
A Chequer-Board of Nights and Days — Those who follow Illinois politics with even a mild degree of interest are not in the least bit surprised to find out that Governor Rod Blagojevich was arrested and accused of having involved in pay-to-play schemes at the highest levels of Illinois government. What happens with Blagojevich is anyone's guess; he may try to remain Governor through this entire sordid mess, he may resign or he may be impeached and convicted. One thing appears to be certain--he will have his power to name the next Senator from the State of Illinois taken away from him as a result of having ...

So, Things Are Kind Of Eventful In My Home State . . .
RedState: Conservative News and Community — ... Those who follow Illinois politics with even a mild degree of interest are not in the least bit surprised to find out that Governor Rod Blagojevich was arrested and accused of having involved in pay-to-play schemes at the highest levels of Illinois government. What happens with Blagojevich is anyone’s guess; he may try to remain Governor through this entire sordid mess, he may resign or he may be impeached and convicted. One thing appears to be certain–he will have his power to name the next Senator from the State of Illinois taken away from him as a result of having ...

links for 2008-12-10
FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog — ... (tags: barack_obama Rod_Blagojevich) Blagojevich's Senate Selection Process Investigated A three-year federal corruption investigation of pay-to-play politics in Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration has expanded to ...