Source: Feds take Gov. Blagojevich into custody

[Ptarmigan]

This will be bipartisan when Rod Blagojevich shares a cell with George Ryan.

[Atomic Lib Smasher]

A children's hospital.  Wow.  Rod sounds like a swell guy.

Steaming pile of cockroach shit is really how to explain it.... and that is being nice. I knew something was REALLY fishy wit the guy when he refused to stay in the governor's mansion in Springfield and decided to live in Chicago while using (taxpayer funded of course) a private jet to travel to the capital to work.

[thundley4]

It's been reported all over that Valerie Jarrett was Obama's preference to the Senate seat, but then she took herself out of the running on 11/12.

Chicago businesswoman Valerie Jarrett has earned all sorts of nicknames as an aide to President-elect Barack Obama — from "First Friend" to "big sister" to "the other half of Obama's brain." As co-chair of his transition team, Jarrett has spent the past week denying rumors, parsing policy changes and insisting that she doesn't know where she'll end up in the new administration (although Beltway gossip suggests she may be appointed to Obama's seat in the Senate). Of her relationship with the 44th commander-in-chief, Jarrett says simply: "He is my dear friend. I would do anything the President of the United States asked me to do."

Time


She didn't so much withdraw herself as she took the the job of being Obama's senior White House Advisor. Could it be that Team Obama new something was going to go down and so removed her from the firing line?

[JohnnyReb]

If they keep illiminating Obama's people, howze duh brutha gonna make any money? 'Shell ain't gonna be happy if she don't get her bling-bling......and if 'Shell ain't happy, ain't nobody gonna be happy.

[Eupher]

This will be bipartisan when Rod Blagojevich shares a cell with George Ryan.

 

h5

[Baruch Menachem]

I saw this post earlier and it cracked me up. 

I am glad you liked it.

[thundley4]

snip
But Obama wouldn't answer a question on whether he was aware of any conversations between the governor and his top aides, including incoming White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel. "It's an ongoing investigation," Obama said. "I think it would be inappropriate for me to ... remark on the situation beyond the facts that I know."
In Chicago on Tuesday, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said prosecutors were making no allegations that Obama was aware of any scheming. And Blagojevich himself, in taped conversations cited by prosecutors, suggested that Obama wouldn't be helpful to him. Even if the governor was to appoint a candidate favored by the Obama team, Blagojevich said, "they're not willing to give me anything except appreciation."

Link


Doesn't this seem like Team Obama had been approached by Blago or his cronies at least for some kind of a deal? 

[BEG]

Link


Doesn't this seem like Team Obama had been approached by Blago or his cronies at least for some kind of a deal? 

Yes

[Wretched Excess]

yesterday's speculation appears to be correct.  and the plot thickens yet again.  the fact that he hauled ass
to talk to his attorney would seem to indicate that everything in the complaint is substantially true.

Sources Say Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is 'Senate Candidate #5'

Chicago Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL) is the anonymous "Senate Candidate #5" whose emissaries Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich reportedly claimed offered up to a million dollars to name him to the U.S. Senate, federal law enforcement sources tell ABC News.

According to the FBI affidavit in the case, Blagojevich "stated he might be able to cut a deal with Senate Candidate 5 that provided ROD BLAGOJEVICH" with something "tangible up front."

Jackson Jr. said this morning he was contacted yesterday by federal prosecutors in Chicago who he said "asked me to come in and share with them my insights and thoughts about the selection process."

Jackson Jr. said "I don't know" when asked if he was Candidate #5, but said he was told "I am not a target of this investigation."

Jackson Jr. said he agreed to talk with federal investigators "as quickly as possible" after he consults with a lawyer.

more

[Wretched Excess]

Yup. Unless he manages to throw his own statement under a passing bus.

hmmmm.  what obama actually said yesterday was that he personally hadn't had any contact with blago.  that leaves open a whole range of staff contacts that could have occurred with the disgraced governor.  in fact, he actually said "we" in his comments yesterday, and corrected himself to say "I".

“I had no contact with the governor or his office, and so we were not — I was not aware of what was happening, and as I said it is a sad day for Illinois. Beyond that I don’t think it’s appropriate to comment.”

I just found that interesting.

[bijou]

hmmmm.  what obama actually said yesterday was that he personally hadn't had any contact with blago.  that leaves open a whole range of staff contacts that could have occurred with the disgraced governor.  in fact, he actually said "we" in his comments yesterday, and corrected himself to say "I".

“I had no contact with the governor or his office, and so we were not — I was not aware of what was happening, and as I said it is a sad day for Illinois. Beyond that I don’t think it’s appropriate to comment.”

I just found that interesting.

I saw a reference on Free Republic in a post (and I can't remember which thread, grrr) that an Obama aide had told the press that Axelrod 'misspoke'. If that's right then he is going to need to tap Ray Nagin for spare buses soon. 

[Wretched Excess]

I saw a reference on Free Republic in a post (and I can't remember which thread, grrr) that an Obama aide had told the press that Axelrod 'misspoke'. If that's right then he is going to need to tap Ray Nagin for spare buses soon. 

yep.  as predicted by you, someone wound up under the bus.

[Wretched Excess]

I saw a reference on Free Republic in a post (and I can't remember which thread, grrr) that an Obama aide had told the press that Axelrod 'misspoke'. If that's right then he is going to need to tap Ray Nagin for spare buses soon. 

here is the statement he released last night;  it's all over the place. just google "Axelrod" and "bus"

"I was mistaken when I told an interviewer last month that the President-elect has spoken directly to Governor Blagojevich about the Senate vacancy. They did not then or at any time discuss the subject."

[NHSparky]

Damn bus sure is running out of room fast.  The UNDERSIDE of the bus, that is...

[thundley4]

yesterday's speculation appears to be correct.  and the plot thickens yet again.  the fact that he hauled ass
to talk to his attorney would seem to indicate that everything in the complaint is substantially true.

Jackson Jr. said "I don't know" when asked if he was Candidate #5, but said he was told "I am not a target of this investigation."

No dumbass, but you may be the subject of another investigation, say one for offering bribes to elected officials?  

[Wretched Excess]

finally.  yesterday, he was sobered and saddened when he should have been outraged.  I hope he gets better at this president thing pretty quick.

Obama: Blagojevich Should Resign

President-elect Barack Obama believes that Gov. Rod Blagojevich should resign, his advisers said on Wednesday. "The President-elect agrees with Lt. Gov. Quinn and many others that under the current circumstances it is difficult for the governor to effectively do his job and serve the people of Illinois," Robert Gibbs, the incoming White House press secretary, said.

On Tuesday, shortly after news of the criminal corruption complaint against Blagojevich broke, Obama said he was "saddened and sobered" by the news. But he stopped short of demanding the governor's resignation or addressing the questions that arose in the wake of Blagojevich's arrest, including how his successor to the Senate will be picked. The Obama transition team has worked to distance itself from Blagojevich, with whom relations were already strained.

Gibbs said that Obama believes the Illinois general assembly should now take control of the issue of picking a new U.S. Senator for Illinois. The assembly is expected to reconvene next week to debate whether to hold a special election to fill the seat. The assembly should "consider the issue and put in place a process to select a new senator that will have the trust and confidence of the people of Illinois," Gibbs said.

Link

[Atomic Lib Smasher]

finally.  yesterday, he was sobered and saddened when he should have been outraged.  I hope he gets better at this president thing pretty quick.

There's been talk of impeaching Blowjobabitch for a year now. Hell, let that happen instead of him just resigning.

[Chris_]

There's been talk of impeaching Blowjobabitch for a year now. Hell, let that happen instead of him just resigning.

However Rowdy Roddy is pushed out of the Gub'nor's chair, Der Fuhrer just wants it done as quickly as possible; before he is forced to answer "uncomfortable" questions.

[Atomic Lib Smasher]

However Rowdy Roddy is pushed out of the Gub'nor's chair, Der Fuhrer just wants it done as quickly as possible; before he is forced to answer "uncomfortable" questions.

I wouldn't put anything past the Big Zero. They're all corrupt pukes in Crook county. They've been ruining it for us downstaters for a long, long time. I can't even remember the last time when someone outside of Chicago was elected governor or to the U.S. Senate.

[Wretched Excess]

However Rowdy Roddy is pushed out of the Gub'nor's chair, Der Fuhrer just wants it done as quickly as possible; before he is forced to answer "uncomfortable" questions.

or before too many pictures similar to these get around

[Eupher]

However Rowdy Roddy is pushed out of the Gub'nor's chair, Der Fuhrer just wants it done as quickly as possible; before he is forced to answer "uncomfortable" questions.

Bingo.

[bijou]

Hat tip to BulletBobCo at FR for this find

Who will fill Obama's senate seat? (So Obama says never met with Blagojevich)
Connect Tri States ^ | November 05, 2008 | Carol Sowers

Posted on 10 December 2008 14:30:39 by BulletBobCo

CHICAGO, ILL. -- Now that Barack Obama will be moving to the White House, his seat in the U.S. Senate representing Illinois will have to be filled.


That's one of Obama's first priorities today.


He's meeting with Governor Rod Blagojevich this afternoon in Chicago to discuss it.


Illinois law states that the governor chooses that replacement.

There's already been speculation about his selection...from Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. of Chicago's south side who co-chaired Obama's presidential campaign, to recently-retired state senate president Emil Jones, to the governor himself.


It's likely the governor will make his decision quickly so the new senator will get some seniority before newly-elected senators take office in January.

Part of the timing depends on when Obama officially vacates his senate seat.

KHQA's Alexis Hunt is speaking with Illinois Senator John Sullivan today about his thoughts on that replacement process, his time working with Obama in the state senate, and if there's a chance Sullivan might play a role in the Obama administration. Watch KHQA News at 5:00, 6:00 and 10:00 p.m. tonight to hear what he has to say.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2146114/posts

and further down the same thread is this link: http://www.connecttristates.com/news/story.aspx?id=219212

Duckworth comments on consideration for Senate

By Alexis Hunt
Saturday, November 08, 2008 at 9:48 p.m.


QUINCY, IL -- Now that Barack Obama will be moving to the White House, his seat in the U.S. Senate representing Illinois will have to be filled.

Obama met with Governor Rod Blagojevich earlier this week to discuss it.  Illinois law states that the governor chooses that replacement. There's already been speculation about his selection...from Congressman Jesse Jackson, Junior to Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs Director Tammy Duckworth.

...

[bijou]

"FBI mole "logged frequent visits to Rezko" by Obama (renamed)"
Posted by Gabrielle Cusumano on Wednesday, December 10, 2008 12:57:42 PM
“[In 2004 and 2005,] Sources said Thomas also logged frequent visits to Rezko from Gov. Blagojevich and U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.). Blagojevich and Obama were among the many politicians for whom Rezko raised campaign cash…. Sources said the government had him wear a hidden wire to record conversations with a Chicago alderman–but that he did not record Blagojevich or Obama.”

...

http://gabriellecusumano.blogtownhall.com/2008/12/10/fbi_mole_logged_frequent_visits_to_rezko_by_obama_renamed.thtml

[JohnnyReb]

....and you won't hear Obama singing this old favorite around the White House....

Chicago is.......my kind of town.....Chicago is......

[Wretched Excess]

from an LAT interview yesterday with obama;  the answer to the question, "did YOU have contact with blago or his staff?" is "no".  the answer to the question, "did anyone on your staff have contact with blago or his staff" is "I won't answer that question".

Q: Have you ever spoken to [Illinois] Gov. [Rod R.] Blagojevich (photo left) about the Senate seat?

O: I have not discussed the Senate seat with the governor at any time. My strong belief is that it needed to be filled by somebody who is going to represent the people of Illinois and fight for them. And beyond that, I was focused on the transition.

Q: And that was before and after the election?

O: Yes.

Q: Are you aware of any conversations between Blagojevich or [chief of staff] John Harris and any of your top aides, including Rahm [Emanuel]?

O: Let me stop you there because . . . it's an ongoing....

...investigation. I think it would be inappropriate for me to, you know, remark on the situation beyond the facts that I know. And that's the fact that I didn't discuss this issue with the governor at all.

Link