For Sale: Obama's Senate Seat (no, really)

[cannon_fodder]

Just when we started to forget about Chicago politicians, the governor says on a wiretap:

"A Senate Seat is a f***ing valuable thing, you just don't give it away for nothing.  I'm the one that gets to make the decision, I want to make some money."  

How did the FBI get to it so quick?  They were investigating him for blackmailing the Tribune company by withdrawing public funds from the Cubs until they fired an editor who was critical of the Governors corruption.  Also an investigation into illegal campaign funds and selling official acts.

In other news, there are a few high-level job openings in the Chicago area today.  There are whispers that Rezco was the one that tipped the FBI onto the ongoing corruption, which would be an interesting twist to what surely is already fodder for Right Wing talking heads.

Unreal.  I'm dying to know what the going rate is for a Senate seat.

http://cbs2chicago.com/local/rod.blagojevich.charged.2.883170.html

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-rod-blagojevich-1209,0,7997804.story

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/blagojevich/1321300,rod-blagojevich-illinois-governor-custody-120908.article

[cannon_fodder]

FYI, the going rate:

quote:At various times, in exchange for the Senate appointment, Blagojevich allegedly discussed obtaining:

•      A substantial salary for himself at a either a non-profit foundation or an organization affiliated with labor unions.

•      Placing his wife on paid corporate boards where he speculated she might garner as much as $150,000 a year.

•      Promises of campaign funds — including cash up front.

•      A cabinet post or ambassadorship for himself.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/blagojevich/1321300,rod-blagojevich-illinois-governor-custody-120908.article

I wish we could hang corrupt politicians (after proven guilty by a court of law).

[we vs us]

Thanks for the summary, CF.

FYI, as a former Chicagoan, I can tell you definitively that Blagojevich is scum.  He was when he was first elected, and has only gotten worse since. I'll be very happy to have him out of the system and locked away somewhere dark.  He's that proverbial bad apple that spoils the whole bunch.

[Townsend]

quote:Originally posted by we vs us

Thanks for the summary, CF.

FYI, as a former Chicagoan, I can tell you definitively that Blagojevich is scum.  He was when he was first elected, and has only gotten worse since. I'll be very happy to have him out of the system and locked away somewhere dark.  He's that proverbial bad apple that spoils the whole bunch.

Didn't he replace another bad apple who is now in the pen?

[we vs us]

George Ryan, and yes.  

[rwarn17588]

I grew up in Illinois and still have many relatives who live there.

And I can tell you that almost no one in the state will be unhappy to see Blagojevich go. He was/is an extremely unpopular governor. I'm talking George W. Bush unpopular in the approval ratings, which is pretty horrific.

Still, Blago got re-elected a couple of years ago because his Republican opponent, Judy Baar Topinka, was even worse as a candidate, had ethical problems of her own, and was the first GOP candidate for governor since former Gov. George Ryan absolutely decimated the state GOP because of his corruption.

I find it interesting that the prosecuting attorney is none other than Patrick Fitzgerald, who convicted Ryan (and about five dozen other in the corruption probe) and vice president chief of staff Scooter Libby. Looks like Patrick's gonna put another notch on his gun.

[Cubs]

Why the people of Illinois re-elected this guy in 2006 I could never understand. He was already accused of several fraudulent activities. Judy Barr Topinka was a much better candidate.
Blago's actions, when fully revealed, will make George Ryan's (the previous governor who also was up to no good) acitons look like kindergarten.

[sgrizzle]

I'm sure he's the only politician in Illinois who's corrupt.

Can't believe I typed that with a straight face.

[Cubs]

quote:  Just when we started to forget about Chicago politicians

Yeah .... we just elected one of these Chicago starlites President of the United States ...... [B)]

[we vs us]

The good news is that Obama wouldn't play ball with Blago for the empty Senate seat.  O didn't offer him anything at all for his preferred replacement, to which Blago then says "**** him. For nothing? **** him."  To which Obama replied, "Book him, Fitzy."

[rwarn17588]

quote:Originally posted by Cubs

Why the people of Illinois re-elected this guy in 2006 I could never understand. He was already accused of several fraudulent activities. Judy Barr Topinka was a much better candidate.

Um, no she wasn't. She was, in fact, a terrible candidate with horrible approval ratings.

[we vs us]

quote:Originally posted by rwarn17588

quote:Originally posted by Cubs

Why the people of Illinois re-elected this guy in 2006 I could never understand. He was already accused of several fraudulent activities. Judy Barr Topinka was a much better candidate.

Um, no she wasn't. She was, in fact, a terrible candidate with horrible approval ratings.

With godawful hair to boot.

[sgrizzle]

I enjoy how people like to try and find huge corruption in Tulsa (like giving away $30M to a ballpark might net a few thousand for some of their friends) when cities like Chicago have ACTUAL corruption.

[cannon_fodder]

WOW.  Just wow.  Reading over the indictment if they have on tape what they claim to this man should really be hanged.  The Smoking Gun has part of the file and it reads like a bad novel:

"I'm going to keep appointing myself to the Senate Seat a real possibility, and therefor I can drive a real hard bargain.  You hear what I am saying?  If I don't get what I want, if I am not satisified I'll just take the seat myself.
. . .
The Senate would be a much better situation to be in should I ever get indicted.  I would have access to much better resources from there.  Instead of being stuck as a governor.
. . .
You know what?  I've got this and it's f***ing golden and uh, I'm just not gonna give it up for f***ing nothin'.  I'm not gonna do it.  And I can always use it.  I can parachute me there."

There is also a surprising amount of discussion about Obama and what Obama would give the governor for appointing his chosen prospect.  No indication that Obama was in on it, but this sleeze certainly seemed to think he could get him in on it at some level.  When an adviser thought otherwise and said he had to remain governor for 2 years and appoint whoever Obama wanted to curry the most favor he replied:

"Suck it up?  And give this motherf***er his senator?  F*** him.  For nothing? F*** him. I'll give the seat to [candidate 4, candidates are not named] before give f***ing [Obamas pick] a f***ing Senate seat and I don't get anything.  F*** him.  The immediate goal is taking financial pressure off of our family."

The later pages are mostly about setting up fraudulent non-profits and getting Obama to pressure wealthy people (including Buffett) to fund it.  

If we were in Japan right now, about half the offices in the governors wing of the State House would be filled with bodies of people who committed suicide.  Unbelievable.  

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/1209081rod1.html

[Hoss]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

I enjoy how people like to try and find huge corruption in Tulsa (like giving away $30M to a ballpark might net a few thousand for some of their friends) when cities like Chicago have ACTUAL corruption.

Look no further than Mayor Richard Daley and his overnight closing of Meigs Field, of which the FAA fined the city of Chicago $3 million for doing.  His donkey should have gone to jail for that.