And will he hit the bottom? Sure. Single-digit approval ratings and the instinctive public shunning by the national Democratic Party leadership is fairly diagnostic - hey, I’m not going to be on his jury; no harm in me saying what we all know already. Blago’s dirty, he’s finally gotten caught on something that we can hammer him for, and he’s going to get hammered.
But he isn’t going down alone.
The usual rule of thumb in these sorts of situations is for the sacrificial lamb to go nice and quietly, you see. Not that you can blame Blagojevich for not doing that, really: the Democrats have preemptively torpedoed him, what with the national Senate telling him that his nominations won’t be considered and the state Senate turning on the impeachment machine. Bad luck for Blago that the next President is from both his party and Chicago; worse luck that a heck of a lot of Democrats have been finding themselves the subject of corruption probes recently. So what does he have left right now, except to play the innocent down the line and keep a big stink going? Schadenfreude is a naturalized word in English these days, and its pleasures shouldn’t be underrated. The Illinois Combine isn’t showing loyalty to him, so he shows no loyalty to the Combine.
Unless, of course, Blagojevich is trying to run out the clock, or something. Maybe he hopes that after, say, January 20th a certain completely unreasonable US Attorney won’t have a job that troubles the Governor of Illinois anymore. Maybe he hopes that somebody will make a call that will make the Feds go away. Maybe he hopes for a little understanding, from one Chicago guy to another. I’d hate to hear that those hopes were anything but unfounded, of course.
I mean, I keep hearing that Obama is supposed to be smart.

Maybe
10ksnooker Friday, December 19th at 6:56PM EST (link)He has something to say, let him talk. 20 years has a way of clearing the mind and allowing you to focusing on the real problem.
Grey line?
fisk2521 Friday, December 19th at 7:11PM EST (link)I’d really like someone to clarify exactly what is considered illegal in matters like this…..can you offer someone a position in your cabinet if he donates money or has his entire company donate money? Can someone like Caroline offer Sharpton a bonus like grants, or federal funds for his organization if he supports her as Senator? What exactly is she ‘talking’ to people about when she ‘tours around New York, because she isn’t trying to convince the electorate..
Was it illegal for Blagojevich to appoint the Obama choice for Senator if he is guaranteed a ‘top job’ in the union of choice?
I’m not being facetious - - I really don’t know and I think there should be some clarification by our political representatives on what is kosher and what isn’t. I’m think Blagojevich didn’t do anything that many, many others do all the time… maybe he’s getting ready to tell us all just that..
LDavis
Personal Gain vs Public Benefit
Brian Hibbert Saturday, December 20th at 9:15AM EST (link)This isn’t a legal opinion, you’d have to ask one of the many lawyers we have here, but the rough layman’s distinction between what is OK and what is not is who benefits from your request.
For example, it’s OK to say “I’ll appoint you senator if you promise to earmark more highway funds for the new bridge project in my home town.” (This isn’t an endorsement of earmarks, I’m just saying this is an example of public benefit.)
It’s not OK to say, “give me (or my wife) $150,000/year and the seat is yours”.
The first is an example of a public policy position. While earmarks are often used as a near bribe and are on the shady side of politics, they aren’t illegal. The second is a request for an outright bribe and is corruption of the highest order.
What Blago is accused of is asking for an ouright bribe. Unfortunately, it’s how Illinois politics have been played for a long time. The funny thing is that what his predicessor was convicted of is penny ante compared to Blago’s record.
Socialism doesn’t work. It looks nice on paper, but it’s been tried and it’s failed miserably every time (usually accompanied by widespread death and suffering).
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Thanks
fisk2521 Monday, December 22nd at 11:53AM EST (link)Thanks for the explanation….I’d like to see some serious journalism about this topic and what goes on behind closed doors and why. Maybe this could bring about some change that would be good for politics in the US and bring some trust back in our institutions.
LDavis
One of the best headlines *ever*
E Pluribus Unum Friday, December 19th at 7:18PM EST (link)Geeeez, Moe.
:wipes face:
Not while I’m drinking, man.
Carthago delenda est
Maybe
Darin_H Friday, December 19th at 7:33PM EST (link)he can go help OJ find the real killers?he really is innocent….BWHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
___________________________________
You mean
Dan McLaughlin Friday, December 19th at 7:39PM EST (link)he will go on a hunt to catch the real governor.
“No compromise with the main purpose, no peace till victory, no pact with unrepentant wrong.” - Winston Churchill
He Pardoned 22 People Today
dld1717 Friday, December 19th at 7:52PM EST (link)While facing his own legal cloud, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich decided to pardon 22 other people.
The Democratic governor rarely acted on pardon applications during his six years in office. The backlog of requests at one point topped 1,600.
But Blagojevich has acted more often in recent months.
His office says he issued 22 pardons Friday, the same day Blagojevich vowed to fight the federal corruption charges he faces.
I wonder if he will keep his word to not name a replacement Senator and if he is fighting this how long will IL go without 2 US Senators?
Well it is starting to look like he isn't gonna make anything on this Senate deal
zuiko Friday, December 19th at 10:23PM EST (link)So he’s got to pay the bills somehow.
Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. - Milton Friedman
He's just following Gov Ryans example
cookcountyconservative Saturday, December 20th at 6:07AM EST (link)Before you know it he’ll be issuing his letter of apology!
I want him to stay and fight, fight, fight and smear...
JadedByPolitics Friday, December 19th at 8:15PM EST (link)every Democrat who is in or came out of Chicago as he goes down!
Whoever has his enemy at his mercy &
does not destroy him is his own enemy
Ho Ho, hey hey, BlahGovich has got to stay...
JLenardDetroit Friday, December 19th at 8:34PM EST (link)A Republican Christmas wish!
(RS:Help) (JLD) (Hollyweird) (Brain-deads) (SPIN-cycle) (Obamaocare) (Party of kNOw) (Conservatism) (TEApeats) (respectful) (Reco) (Quotes) (removeRINOs.com) (RSmas)
+ 0bama Lies & your Bank acct will Die! (4/15 Truthers)
+ Heil “O” Hell No Obamao is NOT MY PRESIDENT! “No U won’t”
+ I want “O” to FAIL (here, here, & whole Diary (Ofail) here, is why)
“The first Liberal was Satan” - a Rush caller (other Quotes)
He reminds me of a preppy psychopath
SG_Lominac Friday, December 19th at 9:05PM EST (link)like one of the Menendez brothers but hey, he’s their preppy psychopath. I have a feeling this guy is going to leave a few political bodies in his wake.
What the hell is going on out here? - Vince Lombardi
One of my political mentors taught me a rule
Achance Friday, December 19th at 9:12PM EST (link)that always served me well: Make sure the f@#$ing you’re getting is worth the f@#$ing you’re gonna’ get. Ol’ Blago musta’ gotten him some good ones, ’cause, God, did the Ds ever turn on him! They usually stand by their men to the bitter end.
In Vino Veritas
They might have closed ranks, if Clinton had gotten the nod.
Moe Lane Friday, December 19th at 9:25PM EST (link)This story draws on national attention partially because Obama’s from Illinois. Notice how quickly they eviscerated Spitzer back in March, when he was potentially an embarrassment to Hillary?
As it stands, their least-bad option is to firewall the Illinois Democratic Party and hope that the next Fitzmas stocking has some Republicans wrapped up in it. Which it will: this is, after all, the Illinois Combine that we’re talking about. Get ‘em all, as long as we get ‘em all.
Check out my new blog at http://moelane.com/.
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Ironic that "we" suddenly like Fitzgerald,
Achance Friday, December 19th at 9:55PM EST (link)isn’t it? I thought the Libby prosecution was the ultimate evolution of the scumbag prosecutor unless there’s something really, really bad about Libby that Fitz knew and I don’t.
Now, I’ll admit that much of my work life was as pretty much as a prosecutor, and I just loved to play with players. Anybody who thought they were smart enough to play with the government went in to about the same category as becker’s mouse on the spoon. Maybe some of that was going on with Libby.
My first reaction when I heard of the charges - I’d heard Blago’s “sunshine” comments - was, Man, it don’t pay to taunt federal prosecutors, does it? Maybe there’s another story there too. Would the Trib sabotage Fitz’s prosecution in exchange for Blago “perfoming a great service?”
I know I’m paranoid, but I do wonder if I’m paranoid enough.
In Vino Veritas
You beat me to it
Doc Holliday Friday, December 19th at 10:22PM EST (link)Well to mentioning Fitzgerald. Of course I think Blago is crooked, but is that surprising? I think he should fight and have his day in court. I hope there is a split screen on Inauguration Day, two Chicago Machine pols giving speeches, that would be cool, Blago should do that
And to Fitzgerald, you suck, I haven’t forgotten about Scooter Libby, and I don’t trust YOU Sir!.
Molon Labe!
couple plumes of smoke suggesting fires...
JLenardDetroit Friday, December 19th at 10:49PM EST (link)WARNING: WANDERS LIKE A BAD FILM NOIR SKIT ON “Whose Line Is It Anyway….”
Not that we “Like” Fitz, just that we like that he can give them (D’s) Fits for awhile and they can’t whine too much (you know, those old/tired “partisan hack” chants - not now after Libby).
I still think there is something going on with someone (or two) within the Chicago Trib with BlahGo wanting some folks fired and that the Trib should “show the love” all the time! - Shouldn’t seem to be suggesting a “great” working relationship, but then they (Trib) goes and pops the bubble (on the investigation) — seemed to be a CYA for BlahGo to me…. Or, they just felt like having a NYT’s moment (uncovering to soon a spying game)…
The Trib had the chance at the illusive “exclusive” if they would have let it play out. But, they (Trib or someone within Trbi with enough clout/authority to throw the switch and) blow the cover… stopping things before they could add up to too much for BlahGo to wiggle out of…. So whomever in the Trib decided LIBERAL WEENIES OF BROTHERS FIRST and hoping the Paper will last as only secondary thought… But, of course, BlahGo does owe the Trib something!!! If BlahGo gets to Stay…. Trib could’ve helped run some interference in order to get back-door favor later (with their money issues and sale of Wrigley and all)… EVERYBODY IS TRYING TO PLAY EVERYBODY IN THAT DARN TOWN!!! Everybody’s getting screwed, and not any of the enjoyable kind (besides, cigarettes cost to much to light up with afterward).
musical interlude… Should he stay or should BlahGo…. (end lame joke)
There are definitely alot of double, triple, or more dealings going on around these party principles and I’ll bet a bunch we’ve not heard of yet. Shame though, that the Trib didn’t put its “cred” forward in the hopes of being the Chicago Woodward and Bernstein… Hairspray Gate! … There IS alot there, and they could have gone slow with Fritz and come away with some wonderful (and ACTUAL/REAL) Journalism expose’ stories about Power, Corruption, Money, Influence, Nepotism, Patronage, Pay to Play, who knows maybe some sex scandal to boot even…. If they (Trib) would’ve remembered they’re journalists and took the delivering of News seriously rather than trying to become the News.
It stinks so bad we are smelling it all the way over here in Detroit… above and beyond the degree of Democratic Political STENCH of our own!
As Republicans we hope these smolderings get more oxygen so the fire flickers up higher and lofts more smoke. While the Key-Stone Cop type IL Legislatures argue on whether to fan the flames, jump into the flames, run for cover, with one or two actually looking for fire extinguishers.
Keep the Broadcast Network vans cranking the video cameras… somebody is bound to catch someone on film yet. With promises of Pulitzers in their heads, some youthful, principled, ambitious, grunt may emerge… An expose’…. a City’s Soul…. tattered… torn….holed… odor and otherwise infested…. but bear for all to see its disgusting appearance.
(RS:Help) (JLD) (Hollyweird) (Brain-deads) (SPIN-cycle) (Obamaocare) (Party of kNOw) (Conservatism) (TEApeats) (respectful) (Reco) (Quotes) (removeRINOs.com) (RSmas)
+ 0bama Lies & your Bank acct will Die! (4/15 Truthers)
+ Heil “O” Hell No Obamao is NOT MY PRESIDENT! “No U won’t”
+ I want “O” to FAIL (here, here, & whole Diary (Ofail) here, is why)
“The first Liberal was Satan” - a Rush caller (other Quotes)
Reminds me of the Sting
wennejunk Saturday, December 20th at 6:53AM EST (link)or “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”
EVERYBODY IS TRYING TO PLAY EVERYBODY IN THAT DARN TOWN!!!
There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, in the end, ‘Thy will be done.’ -C. S. Lewis
Off Topic, but what's up with his eyes?
phxg Friday, December 19th at 9:46PM EST (link)nt
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. –Aristotle
Betty Davis eyes? (nt)
JLenardDetroit Friday, December 19th at 9:51PM EST (link)(nt)
(RS:Help) (JLD) (Hollyweird) (Brain-deads) (SPIN-cycle) (Obamaocare) (Party of kNOw) (Conservatism) (TEApeats) (respectful) (Reco) (Quotes) (removeRINOs.com) (RSmas)
+ 0bama Lies & your Bank acct will Die! (4/15 Truthers)
+ Heil “O” Hell No Obamao is NOT MY PRESIDENT! “No U won’t”
+ I want “O” to FAIL (here, here, & whole Diary (Ofail) here, is why)
“The first Liberal was Satan” - a Rush caller (other Quotes)
What, do you think that they display the mad glitter...
Moe Lane Friday, December 19th at 9:57PM EST (link)…of a man with nothing left to lose except the chance to inflict as much pain on those hypocrites and false friends that have betrayed him - HIM! - in his hour of greatest need? Or perhaps they reflect the fevered scheming of a trapped feral beast, willing to accept the knife in the heart as long as its betrayers come within distance of its claws? Or is it possibly just the reflected glow of the spluttering magnesium flames as they drip towards the pool of gasoline?
If it’s not any of that, then I can’t tell you. New contacts, maybe?
Check out my new blog at http://moelane.com/.
http://twitter.com/moelane
My (blogging-related) wish list.
I wonder if he could pass the random drug test imposed on many State employees?
cookcountyconservative Friday, December 19th at 10:05PM EST (link)n/t
I'm in no position to point out the goofyness, but....
phxg Friday, December 19th at 10:44PM EST (link)It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. –Aristotle
Don't worry Moe
Doc Holliday Friday, December 19th at 10:25PM EST (link)I am sure The One wants this guy to disappear…….fromt the tv screens of course
Molon Labe!
Here is some real reporting
NoDoze Saturday, December 20th at 3:00PM EST (link)on the deals and details of Rezko, Obama, Blago and many more slimeball Chicago politicians.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0805/S00171.htm
There are several articles on this site taken from gavel to gavel coverage of the Rezko trial.