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December 09, 2008

Illinois Governor Arrested

Hmmm, he must be an Independent* because nowhere in the article does CNN say if he's a Democrat or a Republican

(CNN) -- Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is in federal custody on corruption charges, a law enforcement official said Tuesday. Rod Blagojevich is currently serving his second term as governor of Illinois.

Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris, are charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's office for the Northern District of Illinois.

Both men are expected in U.S. District Court in Chicago later Tuesday.

A news conference is expected at noon ET.

Federal prosecutors say Blagojevich, Harris and others conspired to gain financial benefits in appointing President-elect Barack Obama's Senate replacement, according to the statement.

"The 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."

Once again, the corrupt nature of our entrenched machine politicians comes to the fore.


*that's a joke, obviously. He's a Democrat.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at December 9, 2008 10:49 AM

Comments

What's even funnier in a funny=sad way was that he was elected because he was going CLEAN UP corruption in Illinois.

Gotta love IL politics. Just when you think it can't get any worse.

Posted by: Lisa at December 9, 2008 11:13 AM

"he was elected because he was going CLEAN UP corruption"

Aren't they all?

Posted by: Rob at December 9, 2008 11:20 AM

Well, yeah, but that was the whole focus of his campaign. He was going to unseat Gov. Ryan and put him in jail, which he did.

Maybe they'll be cellmates.

Posted by: Lisa at December 9, 2008 11:28 AM

The state would be better off if they moved the capital to Antarctica. I lived there for 5 years, and I don't think I ever saw a politician do something without palms getting greased.

Posted by: JeffS at December 9, 2008 11:36 AM

Drain that SCHWAMP, baby!!!!!

Posted by: tree hugging sister at December 9, 2008 12:14 PM

The state would be better off if they moved the capital to Antarctica. I lived there for 5 years, and I don't think I ever saw a politician do something without palms getting greased.

They have palm trees in Antarctica? You must have been mighty cold there...

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at December 9, 2008 12:33 PM

I have friends and relatives who worked for state agencies or the state higher-ed system. Some of them pretty staunch Democrats. Not a one had anything good to say about Blago last time I checked.

One of my relatives who lives in Illinois called me this morning to gleefully report his arrest. That's how much some people hate this guy.

Posted by: ricki at December 9, 2008 12:45 PM

They have palm trees in Antarctica? You must have been mighty cold there...

Hey, how do you think we got the palm trees down there in the first place? ;-D

Ricki, that's an amazing statement to hear from Illinois. When I lived in Chicago (late 1980's), the typical Democrat voter there simply checked any name with a "D". This was painfully obvious more than once.

Posted by: JeffS at December 9, 2008 03:08 PM

Actually, Jeff, there's a link at HotAir to the latest Rasmussen survey, which had Blag's approval rating at 4% (that's not a typo) in October.

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at December 9, 2008 03:12 PM

Yeah, I saw that at Hot Air, Mr. B, and was mightily surprised. There's a reason why Illinois is a bastion for the Democrats.

Illinois in general, I mean, and Chicago in particular.

Maybe you could move to Illinois, and run for Governor? Springfield is a very nice city.

Posted by: JeffS at December 9, 2008 03:41 PM

CHICAGO may be a bastion for Democrats (and is the reason IL always goes blue in presidential election years) but honey, downstate is AAALLL red. My hometown has had the same GOP mayor since 1964.

I talked with my mom this morning and we read the indictment aloud to each other, laughing our butts off. I mean, it was so ridiculous it HAD to be from Illinois -- who ELSE would have a criminal complaint that has an objectionable language warning?! And this was who they elected because he was going to FIGHT government corruption!

Hilarious.

Posted by: Lisa at December 9, 2008 05:17 PM

My favorite part is the conversation about how's he not going to be "stuck" with being governor for two more years with nothing more than Obama's "appreciation." Fuck that. And fuck him.

AWESOME.

Posted by: Lisa at December 9, 2008 05:21 PM

Lisa, unfortunately, I lived and worked in Chicago, and never had much contact with the rest of the state. There was a reason why my job search at that point was "Any where west of the Mississippi, except for California".

But I do recall one of the best danged gun shows that I evah went to was up in Lake County. Woo hoo!

Posted by: JeffS at December 9, 2008 05:29 PM

Outside of the Chicago area, Illinois is like living in another country.

As for Blago the "reformer", AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Rot in the pokey you scum!!! I've been laughing about this all day.

Posted by: Gunslinger at December 9, 2008 06:07 PM

EZf8OZ

Posted by: Rcuhfele at July 14, 2009 11:10 PM