Illinois Governor Busted

[dariusk]

"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

Comments

[surrealkitten]

oh yes? wahoo. i've never heard of him, but i assume he's a republican, so, you know. wahoo.

[dariusk]

No, he's a Democrat, in the Chicago Machine tradition.

[bryant]

It is absolutely worth reading the PDF, particularly the portion on the Senate appointment (page 56 or so onward).

"They're not willing to give me anything except appreciation. Fuck them."

[dariusk]

I love how the Governor tried to screw the Tribune multiple ways, and the Tribune is like, "Uh, no."

[bryant]

Obama appears to have had the same reaction. Senate Candidate 1 is almost certainly Valerie Jarrett; the gender is specified in one line, and Jarrett denied interest in the seat on November 12th, which matches the date that Senate Candidate 1 denied interest. I'd bet the denial is related to the request for quid pro quo -- it fits Obama's hatred of drama.

[dariusk]

I love where he refers to Obama as a "motherfucker":

"ROD BLAGOJEVICH said that the consultants (Advisor B and another consultant are believed to be on the call at that time) are telling him that he has to “suck it up” for two years and do nothing and give this “motherfucker [the President-elect] his senator. Fuck him. For nothing? Fuck him.”

[nishmael]

Oh man, oh man, oh man. Sometimes you just have to laugh at Illinois. Blagosphereowebajevich makes the Daleys look good, for fuck's sake.

[alexx_kay]

This is interesting stuff, but why the "Hahahahaha"? I don't get the humor here.

[dariusk]

Schadenfreude.

[vjnightshade]

Frack, I gotta keep better track of local politics. I've herd Blagojevich was a total dick but I honestly had no idea.