BUSTED!... ILLINOIS GOVERNOR BLAGOJEVICH ARRESTED!
Gateway Pundit — ... More... Breaking News reported that Blagojevich is slated to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nan Nolan today at a time that has not yet been scheduled.

Blagojevich Arrested on Federal Charges
Taylor Marsh — ... Early this morning all hell broke loose in Illinois. Not exactly the early birthday present you’d want. Here’s a timeline: ...

The Teevee Tells Me
Eschaton — The Teevee Tells Me Gov. Blagojevich has been taken in custody by the Feds. ...more: 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. A Blagojevich spokesman said he was unaware of the development. "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 ...

Report: Gov. Blagojevich Taken Into Federal Custody
The Page by Mark Halperin — ... Chicago Tribune: Source says the Illinois Governor was taken into custody at his North Side home Tuesday morning. The U.S. attorney's office would not confirm the information. Developing...        ...

Blagojevich Taken Into Custody
Taegan Goddard's Political Wire — A source tells the Chicago Tribune that Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) was taken into federal custody at his home this morning. The U.S. attorney's office would not confirm the information. ...

Illinois Governor Arrested
The Moderate Voice — With a hat-tip to NPR and MSNBC, I have gone to the Chicago Tribune’s website: Source: Feds take Gov. Blagojevich into custody 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. A Blagojevich spokesman said he was unaware of the development. “Haven’t heard anything — you are first to call,” Lucio Guerrero said in an e-mail. The stunning, early ...

It’s Fitzmas!
No Runny Eggs — ... The Chicago Tribume is reporting that Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich (D-with the reference in paragraph #4) was taken into federal custody this morning. This comes a few hours after the Trib reported that the federal investigation into pay-for-play allegations against Blagojevich led by US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald had been expanded to include Blagojevich’s choice for Barack Obama’s replacement in the Senate. ...

It’s Fitzmas! (now complete with indictm…er, criminal complaint)
No Runny Eggs — ... The Chicago Tribume is reporting that Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich (D-with the reference in paragraph #4) was taken into federal custody this morning. This comes a few hours after the Trib reported that the federal investigation into pay-for-play allegations against Blagojevich led by US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald had been expanded to include Blagojevich’s choice for Barack Obama’s replacement in the Senate. ...

Breaking News
Suburban Guerrilla — Feds take Illinois Gov. Blagojevich into custody.

Illinois Governor Arrested
TPMMuckraker — ... Beleaguered Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich was taken into custody by law enforcement authorities at his home this morning, reports the Tribune Company, sourcing a US Attorney's office spokesman. The governor's chief of staff, John Harris, was also arrested. ...

Illinois Governor Taken Into Custody By Feds
The Agonist - thoughtful, global, timely — Yeoowch: Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff John Harris were arrested today by FBI agents on federal corruption charges. Blagojevich and Harris were accused of a wide-ranging criminal conspiracy that included Blagojevich conspiring to sell or trade the Senate seat left vacant by President-elect Barack Obama in exchange for financial benefits for the governor and his wife. The governor was also accused of obtaining campaign contributions in exchange for other official actions. Here's the *.pdf from Fitzmas. ...

Illinois governor Blagojevich arrested
The Swamp — ... So do you still get to pick the Senate replacement for President-elect Barack Obama if you've been arrested on federal corruption charges as Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was today? ...

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich arrested on corruption-related charges
AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth — We kept wondering why the Governor of Illinois hadn't appointed a new Senator yet. Now, we have a better idea. The Governor, Rod Blagojevich, was arrested this morning: ...

Corruptocrat alert: Blagojevich taken into custody by FBI; conspired to sell/trade HHS position, stifle newspaper
Michelle Malkin — [image] All that grandstanding yesterday by Illinois Dem. Gov. Rod Blagojevich over the Republic Windows and Doors plant closure was smoke and mirrors to distract from his corruption scandal. The FBI was keeping its eye on the ball. Blagojevich was taken into custody today by federal agents, the Chicago Tribune reports. The dirtbag details, which prosecutors call “staggering:” Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff John Harris were arrested today by FBI agents on federal corruption charges. Blagojevich and Harris were accused of a wide-ranging criminal conspiracy that ...

Blagojevich Arrested On Federal Corruption Charges
Hotline On Call Part Deux — ... Federal authorities today arrested IL Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris, on corruption charges, a move that's been brewing for some time but that has thrown a wrench into the governor's process for selecting a replacement for Sen. Barack Obama. ...

Blago Arrested
Real Clear Politics - TIME.com — The Chicago Tribune is reporting that Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and his Chief of Staff, John Harris, have been arrested by the FBI.  Blago had long been under investigation for public corruption, but it seems that the investigation was spurred on by new charges related to the possible replacement for Barack Obama's Senate seat. U.S Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said in a statement, ""The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering. They allege that Blagojevich put a 'for sale' sign on the naming of a United States senator; involved himself personally in ...

Breaking: Feds Bust the Blagoo
d r i f t g l a s s — Rico! Youngblood! Search his hair! This morning, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich -- who always wanted to be called G-Rod, but never was -- was busted by the Feds. In a fine example of the financially bankrupt reporting on the morally bankrupt, the recently-bought-and-now-dead-broke Tribune has more here: Feds take Gov. Blagojevich into custody December 9, 2008 at 9:08 AM | Comments (0) Updated at 9:08 a.m.: Blagojevich and Harris were arrested ...

Illinois Governor Arrested
Classical Values — Illinois Governor Arrested Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has been taken into custody by Federal authorities. All times are Central Standard Time Which is GMT -6. Updated at 9:08 a.m.: Blagojevich and Harris were arrested simultaneously at their homes at about 6:15 a.m., according to the FBI. Both were awakened in their residences and transported to FBI headquarters in Chicago, where they remained at 9 a.m. Updated at 9 a.m.: Blagojevich is slated to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nan Nolan today at a time that has not yet been scheduled, according to Randall Samborn ...

Blagojevich, Illinois Governor Arrested (VIDEO)
Politics on HuffingtonPost.com — ... The public is reminded that a complaint contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Curses abound in the Blagojevich indictment -- particularly the f-word, which is used 18 times. Blagojevich has become incredibly unpopular in Illinois. Read more about Blagojevich's arrest, Blagojevich arrested, Illinois governor arrested, Rod Blagojevich arrested. Read ...

Hot Rod did what?
Power Line — ... The news of the day is that Democratic Illinois Governor Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff John Harris were arrested by FBI agents on federal corruption charges. The charges themselves are mind-boggling. Is it really possible that a guy who must have known he was under investigation kept grubbing for money and power this blatantly? ...

Feds arrest Illinois Gov. Blagojevich for trying to sell Obama’s vacant Senate seat
Hot Air » Top Picks — ... “Staggering.” On the issue of the U.S. Senate selection, federal prosecutors alleged Blagojevich sought appointment 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 and Harris conspired to demand the firing of Chicago Tribune editorial board members responsible for editorials critical of Blagojevich in exchange for state help with the sale of Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs baseball stadium owned by Tribune Co. Blagojevich and Harris, along with ...

Illinois Dem Governor Rod Blajojevich Arrested on Multiple Federal Felony Charges, As BuzzFlash Has Predicted for Months
BuzzFlash.org - Progressive News and Commentary with an Attitude | Fight Ignorance: Read BuzzFlash — THE BUZZFLASH EDITOR'S BLOG: The View from Chicago by Mark Karlin  As BuzzFlash has been predicting for months, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has been the target of the federal investigation into Tony Rezko, with U.S. Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald focusing in on an alleged pattern of "pay to play."In the early morning of December 9, BuzzFlash proved right.  Rod Blagojevich was arrested at his north side Chicago Ravenswood neighborhood home and indicted on a range of illegalities so broad as to be breathtaking.  His chief of staff, John Harris, was simultaneously arrested. ...

The Chicago Way: Careful What You Wish For
Riehl World View — ... Pay-to-play for Obama's replacement? I wonder what Obama sold, or sold-out on, to the Chicago machine for support when he ran for the seat? I moved the sequence around some. You can read it all here. ...

Blagojevich Arrested
California Conservative — ... Rod Blagojevich is innocent until proven guilty but the FBI doesn’t get involved without a reason. Here’s an update: ...

Chicago Problem
Right Wing Nation — ... [sic] 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 editorial board members responsible for editorials critical of him in exchange for state help with the sale of Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs baseball stadium owned by Tribune Co. Chicago Breaking News: Blagojevich also was alleged to be using a ...

Governor of Illinois Busted, Tried to Sell Obama's Senate Seat
Tennessee Guerilla Women — ... Governor 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! ...

Illinois Governor Blagojevich Arrested On Corruption Charges
PoliGazette — ... In a stunning blow to Democratic Party claims to represent a reversal of years of Republican corruption, Illinois Governor Blagojevich has been arrested this morning.  Charges include attempts by the Governor to trade an appointment to President-Elect Obama’s Senate seat for Blagojevich’s own appointment in the Obama administration or an appointment to a lucrative union position. ...

Whoa!
The Reaction — ... Well, I figured there would be some fallout from the whole Illinois corruption thing, going back to the Rezko trial, but this? ...

MIDDAY ROUNDUP
News — ... The Fix [image] Some Serious Chutzpah – D. Kurtz, TalkingPointsMemo [image] Blago Going Up the River? – E.M. Zanotti, American Princess [image] What Prompted This Indictment? – S. Benen, Political Animal [image] Selling Obama’s Senate Seat – Christy H. Smith, firedoglake [image] Whither Bankers of Yesteryear? – Megan McArdle OTHER NEWS SOURCES: A Lobbying Frenzy for Federal Funds – Washington Post Feds Take Ill. Gov. Blagojevich Into Custody – Chicago Tribune Feds Flex Political Muscle ...

Illinois Gov. Blagojevich Arrested In Comical Chicago Corruption Case
Wonkette » top — ... famous scumbags. Although, to be fair, former Illinois Governor George Ryan is Republican, and he’s already in prison. This state’s political history is just a long episode of The Simpsons. The U.S. Attorney, at the press conference just now, made sure to say several times that none of this has anything to do with Barack Obama or the transition team or whatever, so this proves Barack Obama really is a sleazy street hustler from Chicago! Blagojevich arrested on federal charges [Chicago Tribune]

Fitzgerald On Blagojevich’s ‘Political Corruption Crime Spree’: It Would ‘Make Lincoln Roll Over In His Grave’
Think Progress — ... In a press conference explaining the arrest and the corruption charges filed against Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D-IL), U.S. attorney Patrick Fitzgerald — who successfully prosecuted Scooter Libby — declared the current case as a “new low.” Fitzgerald described the charges as a “political corruption crime spree.” ...

Blagojevich
The Mahablog — ... I don’t follow Illinois politics, but it appears Gov. Blagojevich could be a very naughty boy. People are innocent until proven guilty, but it seems there’s a solid cause that the ...

12/9: Scandalous!
Blogometer — December 09, 2008 12/9: Scandalous! Like the rest of the political world, the blogosphere is buzzing about the news that IL Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested by FBI agents this morning on charges of ...

Gov. Blagojevich Alleged to have Tried to Sell Senate Appointment (Among other Charges)
PoliBlog: A Rough Draft of my Thoughts — ... board members responsible for editorials critical of him in exchange for state help with the sale of Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs baseball stadium owned by Tribune Co. Blagojevich and Harris, along with others, obtained and sought to gain financial benefits for the governor, members of his family and his campaign fund in exchange for appointments to state boards and commissions, state jobs and state contracts, according to the charges. According to Chicago Breaking News: Blagojevich and Harris were arrested simultaneously at their ...

Is Rod Blagojevich still Governor of Illinois?
Stubborn Facts — ... The Governor of Illinois has been arrested and indicted. I don't know Illinois law, and I've not researched this, but my instinct is to say that, absent caselaw to the contrary, Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn is the acting Governor, by operation of ...

Governor Blagojevich is caught. What happens next?
The Next Right — News of the arrest of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is focusing on his own crimes, which appear to be brazen and deplorable.  I don't think anybody is defending him against what appears to be smoking gun evidence.   But this isn't an isolated example.  As Dave Schuler says at Outside the Beltway, "within my lifetime three Illinois governors have been convicted of corruption and served time in prison after serving their terms as governor. It’s not just a few bad apples here, not just ...

land of lincoln is sinkin'
skippy the bush kangaroo — as we've said elsewhere, the only thing sleazier than a washington politician is a chicago politician. tho he's not technically from chicago, illinois gov. rod rlagojevich is pretty damn sleazy: ...

Governor Shakedown
Gates of Vienna — ... breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering,” U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said in a statement. “They allege that Blagojevich put a ‘for sale’ sign on the naming of a United States senator; involved himself personally in pay-to-play schemes with the urgency of a salesman meeting his annual sales target; and corruptly used his office in an effort to trample editorial voices of criticism.” The President-Elect, needless to say, knew nothing about the whole ugly affair: Obama told reporters he was ...

Links for 2008-12-09 [del.icio.us]
FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog — Feds take Gov. Blagojevich into custody 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. A Blagojevich spokesman said he was unaware of the development. "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 ...

links for 2008-12-10
FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog — ... (tags: barack_obama Rod_Blagojevich) Feds take Gov. Blagojevich into custody 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 ...

BLAGOJEVICH: BEYOND ‘BUSINESS AS USUAL’ IN ILLINOIS
Right Wing Nut House — ... beat has been the statehouse for years are shocked. In the long history of official Illinois corruption, the Blagojevich schemes to personally enrich himself, enrich his cronies, and use the power of his office to further his nefarious designs are unprecedented.“I want to make money” the governor was heard admitting on tape. Evidently, the opportunities that presented themselves for Blagojevich to clean up were too tempting to pass up. Here’s a partial list of the charges via the Chicago Tribune: Prosecutors alleged Blagojevich sought appointment as Secretary of Health and ...

WTF? After all this, Jesse White certifies Burris.
Daily Kos — Cross-posted from Congress Matters. Blagojevich gets arrested. The Senate leadership warns him not to appoint anyone to Obama's seat, and if he does, they won't swear him in, no matter who it is. Blagojevich appoints Burris, anyway. Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White refuses to sign Burris' certificate of appointment. Harry Reid and Dick Dubrin say no way, and he's definitely not getting in without a signed certificate. Burris sues to force White to sign. The ...