Gov Blagojevich convicted and removed

[RL3AO]

The biggest is that he apparently tried to sell Obama's senate seat, which he as governor would appoint a replacement.


(CNN) -- Hours after federal investigators announced they had arrested Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff on corruption charges, U.S. attorney Patrick Fitzgerald declared Tuesday a "sad day for government."
Rod Blagojevich is currently serving his second term as governor of Illinois.

"Gov. Blagojevich has taken us to a new low," he said. "This conduct would make [Abraham] Lincoln roll over in his grave."


http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/09/illinois.governor/index.html

[Ed Mahmoud]

I love the bipartisanship that the previous governor, a Republican, and the current governor, a Democrat, might share a cell together.

[somethingfunny]

Wow...I thought Louisiana was a mess.

[Brent]

I wish I was shocked but I'm sadly not.

[Cyclenall]

Why are they so shocked at this? This is nothing compared to what is going on behind the smoke.

[Stephanie]

Well, at least they are being caught. Surprised that this happened? I guess not. Nothing really surprises me any more.

[Nimbus]

Influence peddling goes on at many different levels in both the government and corporate world.
The public has become complacent in recent years so they apparently decided to shine a little media spotlight to illustrate. As a wise person once said if you can't explain it to a 5 year old you can't explain it.

[Tampa Bay Hurricane]

I read a 3 page article on what this guy did, and all I have to say, I hope this
nutcase gets fired/resigns. We don't need any more looney toon politicians.
First Larry Craig, then Eliot Spitzer, and Now this Nutcase. Wow.
I'm rooting for the Prosecuting Attorney Fitzgerald to get this guy out of
his job.

[Stephanie]

He doesn't even have the decency to step down. What an arrogant ....!

[gtalum]

Why would he step down? He's guilty and he's not likely to get a plea bargain, so he's best served by taking his paycheck for as long as he can.

[Nimbus]

The FBI are not stupid,well at least most of them are not stupid. If they really wanted to make a solid case, they would have waited till there was a clear tangible exchange before moving in.

At this point no senate seat has been filled and Blagojevich won't even be able to get a promotional airline upgrade without media coverage. You can't prosecute someone just for engaging in loud one hand washes the other negotiations with JJ. There is no audit trail to any exchange of funds and there never will be now.

[gtalum]

The FBI are not stupid,well at least most of them are not stupid. If they really wanted to make a solid case, they would have waited till there was a clear tangible exchange before moving in.

At this point no senate seat has been filled and Blagojevich won't even be able to get a promotional airline upgrade without media coverage. You can't prosecute someone just for engaging in loud one hand washes the other negotiations with JJ. There is no audit trail to any exchange of funds and there never will be now.

They moved in now because they didn't want him to appoint a Senator who would then be obviously tainted.

This investigation covers far more than the senate deal, as he's been under investigation for more than 5 years. Blago's going away for a long time.

[CajunMama]

Wow...I thought Louisiana was a mess.

We can be the bottomfeeders for only so long. We moved up in the chain and it's someone elses turn now

[Ptarmigan]

I love the bipartisanship that the previous governor, a Republican, and the current governor, a Democrat, might share a cell together.

That bipartisanship for ya! They will be cellmates. They will be fighting over which bed they want to sleep in their cell.

[Brent]

Embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich plans to appoint Ronald Burris, the state's former attorney general, to President-elect Barack Obama's vacated Senate seat, the president of the Illinois state Senate Emil Jones said Tuesday.

The news of Blagojevich's decision was originally reported by the Chicago Tribune.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28435846/

[gtalum]

Slick move by Blago. His pick will put the Senate in a tough spot if they try to block Burris from taking his seat, and it may punch big holes in Fitzie's criminal case against him.

[RL3AO]

Who in their right mind would accept the appointment from Blago?

[Stephanie]

The guy is a scum-***. Truly delusional and has no respect for his office what so ever.

[vbhoutex]

Who in their right mind would accept the appointment from Blago?

I don't pretend to know anything about the Illinois laws, but if the only way the office can be filled right now is for him to appoint someone, then I think anyone who really wanted it would accept. Of course, to say the very least, there would be a fine toothed comb scrutiny of the appointment to make sure all was on the up and up.

[quote="Stephanie[The guy is a scum-***. Truly delusional and has no respect for his office what so ever.[quote]

He has no respect whatsoever for anyone or anything, including himself. He doesn't even understand the R in respect!!

[HURAKAN]

Obama rejects his appointed replacement. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7805412.stm