UPDATE: Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris, were arrested by FBI agents on federal corruption charges Tuesday morning.
Blagojevich and Harris were arrested simultaneously at their homes at about 6:15 a.m., according to Frank Bochte of the FBI. Both were transported to FBI headquarters in Chicago.
In one charge related to the appointment of a senator to replace Barack Obama, prosecutors allege that Blagojevich sought appointment for himself as secretary of Health and Human Services in the new Obama administration, or a lucrative job with a union, in exchange for appointing a union-preferred candidate.
Another charge alleges Blagojevich and Harris conspired to demand the firing of Chicago Tribune editorial board members responsible for editorials critical of him in exchange for state help with the sale of Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs baseball stadium owned by Tribune Co.
Blagojevich and Harris, along with others, obtained and sought to gain financial benefits for the governor, members of his family and his campaign fund in exchange for appointments to state boards and commissions, state jobs and state contracts, according to the charges.
"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."
Blagojevich is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nan Nolan later today, according to Randall Samborn of the U.S. attorney's office.
Yeah this is pretty hysterical. Guarantee the fucks at Fox try and blame this on Obama though.Obama may have not been in on it, but you cant deny that he knew/knows about corruption in Illinois.
Yeah, but the governor is on record as complaining that Obama wasn't playing ball. So it's kind of hard to tar him with this brush.
Yeah this is pretty hysterical. Guarantee the fucks at Fox try and blame this on Obama though.Obama may have not been in on it, but you cant deny that he knew/knows about corruption in Illinois.
i read that Rahm turned the guy in.:lol
he must not have heard his boss was involved
Hopenchange folks...since when did blago talk about hope and change?
lol @ republicans
lol @ republicans
Has there been a more detestable group of people lately?
what the fuck? Republican governors are some how less corrupt? :lollol @ republicans
Has there been a more detestable group of people lately?
Democrat Governors?
nah, at least they're entertaining
what the fuck? Republican governors are some how less corrupt? :lollol @ republicans
Has there been a more detestable group of people lately?
Democrat Governors?
what the fuck? Republican governors are some how less corrupt? :lollol @ republicans
Has there been a more detestable group of people lately?
Democrat Governors?
*Looks at todays new.
Yes, yes they are less corrupt.
I retract that statement and replace it with this one.
Has there been a more detestable group of people given an open mic and a large following of sheep?
jesus christ, you are a fucking idiot if you think blago' being the headline news today magically erases the endless corruption of republicans somehow.
I retract that statement and replace it with this one.
Has there been a more detestable group of people given an open mic and a large following of sheep?
Michael Moore?
I like how the office of the Obama administration-elect throws Axeldouche under the bus without batting an eye.Douche? David Axelrod is a great guy, what's your problem today SD? You are normally pretty level headed in political threads.
I googled around to see wtf siamese was talking about and omg the comments here (http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1208/Aide_Ax_misspoke.html?showall) ::) ::) ::) ::)Never read comments on political news stories. They are always full of wackos.
Axelrod is one of the few political campaign managers who is really seen as a nice and friendly guy, by both parties.
Axelrod is one of the few political campaign managers who is really seen as a nice and friendly guy, by both parties.
He's a smart guy. That's about it.
Explain to me how he is a douche though?Axelrod is one of the few political campaign managers who is really seen as a nice and friendly guy, by both parties.
He's a smart guy. That's about it.
Axelrod is one of the few political campaign managers who is really seen as a nice and friendly guy, by both parties.
He's a smart guy. That's about it.
Explain to me how he is a douche though?
Beardo never ceases to amaze me.
I'm not comfortable with Willco being a token Jew and a Republican. I like my stereotypes simple and easy to digest.
I'm not comfortable with Willco being a token Jew and a Republican. I like my stereotypes simple and easy to digest.
Well you are a democrat so that makes sense. Would't want things to get too complicated.
Bank of America along with 8 other banks got a share of about 300 Billion of the bailout money no strings attached. They were supposed to lend that money out to help the ecconomy. Instead these banks are not lending the money. They are closing lines of credit all over the country and putting business like Republic Windows into bankruptcy. Costing thousands if not millions of jobs.
The Feds could have indicted Blogojevich almost anytime over the last year, but they didn't. The labor action at Republic Windows has been going on for the ten days or so, and Blogojevich did the right thing in trying to help the little guy by theatening to boycott BoA unless they started to lend the bailout money. Do you think Blogojevich woke up monday and just decided to boycott BoA? No, he was planning this last week, and the word must have leaked out because he was indicted on Saturday, and arrested one day after annoucing the boycott.
Do you think the governors of New York, California, Ohio, or Florida, or the Mayors of New York City, Los Angles, Chicago, or Detroit will dare organize a boycott of a bank that isn't lending now? No, the big banks that are getting a fee ride on our money, and that are pulling in credit (not expanding it) have made an example of Blogojevich. Anyone who complains, or tries a boycott will be punished.
I had no contact with the governor or his office and so we were not, I was not aware of what was happening.
Obama National Co-Chair involved:
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/ConductUnbecoming/Story?id=6431739&page=1 (http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/ConductUnbecoming/Story?id=6431739&page=1)
The weird thing is that Fitz said the tapes clear Obama from wrong doing. So why are they backtracking so much? Look at what Obama said yesterday:QuoteI had no contact with the governor or his office and so we were not, I was not aware of what was happening.
Why would he correct himself mid-sentence?
My guess is that they knew what Blago was doing and don't want to be connected with not turning him in.
ABC News: Jesse Jackson Jr. is “Senate Candidate #5”
The network cites federal law enforcement sources saying the Chicago congressman is the anonymous candidate whose emissaries reportedly offered Blagojevich up to $1 million to name him to Obama's seat.
The Illinois Rep. denies anyone had been authorized to make payments or promises to the Governor on his behalf.
I'd say Ill. and Alaska are the most corrupt. Palin, the Rep. for Alaska, and (formerly) Stevens put up a big challenge to be more corrupt than them but Ill' tries pretty hard.
I'd say Ill. and Alaska are the most corrupt. Palin, the Rep. for Alaska, and (formerly) Stevens put up a big challenge to be more corrupt than them but Ill' tries pretty hard.
Key word there. I bet that the Illinois democrats re-elect him just like the D.C. Mayor.
The clothes were bought by the RNC.Yet there are multiple sources who claim she personally went on shopping sprees using RNC employee credit cards like Newsweek and even Fox News. And he report still said what she did was wrong, even if she was not found to have broken the law. She was not cleared of wrong doing, just LEGAL wrong doing. What she did was corrupt politics at it's finest still. Need I mention the shit she did as mayor putting pressure on people and firing people based on moral values and loyalty and not competence? Come on. Lovely how you ignored the bridge to nowhere part. t This isn't a Palin thread, but the mere fact you can't accept the fact that Palin is a corrupt politician is absurd.
She was cleared of any legal wrong doing in the firing case.
The troopergate report concluded that she abused her powers. I think I heard that there was a civil suit filed.Exactly, I don't even know why this is debatable. How anyone but the Rush/Hannity drones could ever think that Palin isn't a corrupt politician is amazing. Going back to day one when she was Mayor she has abused her job and has been shown to continue to do so as governor. Even if she has done nothing illegal she has been shown to abuse power her whole career and abuse loopholes to her personal gain and has supported absurdly corrupt govt. decisions.
I used her as an example of corrupt politicians purely cause I thought it was accepted fact by EVERYONE she was corrupt and didn't expect anyone to try to claim she is miss perfect. holy shit beardo.
Cheebs, Lets pretend that she did fire someone based on personal bias.Did I ever say she on her own was more corrupt than Ill. or even Blago? I used her as a example of the MANY MANY corrupt alaska politicians in recent years to showcase this isn't some problem only in Ill. Don Young, Ted Stevens, Sarah Palin are all peas in a pod of alaska corruption. You were the one to focus on her of the various alaska politicians I was talking about.
What is more corrupt? Firing a state trooper and spending RNC money on clothes. Or selling a fucking U.S. senate seat?
Actually I dont even need to argue with you. Let's just see who spends more time in jail. If Palin spends even an hour more than Blagojevich you can call me wrong.Too bad I never said Palin was more corrupt or even as corrupt as Blago. You just went batshit and defensive of her when I listed her among other (and more corrupt) alaska politics. You right wingers are so paranoid since Obam won. :lol You were trying to pick an argument. Why didn't you try to argue about Don Young? Hmm? Palin was the one you went crazy about.
I hate Palin. For all I care she could go to jail. I just think its funny that you would list her in the same sentence as Blago. :lolExcept I didn't. I listed her alongside Young and Stevens. I never said one ion their own was more or equally corrupt as Blago. I was just citing how Alaska politics itself is just as corrupt as Illinois. Which includes the former governer prior to palin, palin herself, stevens, don young and endless others. I wasn't even focusing on Blago alone. You were the one who was trying to compare person to person. I never even claimed Alaska was MORE corrupt than Illinois. :lol
Who ISN'T admitting that? Democrat or Republican, he's still a piece of shit.
But trying to connect him to Obama is just fucking incredible.
Palin isnt even in the same ballpark as Stevens. I'm really not sure why you listed her at all other than to regurgitate democrat talking points from two months ago.Blago is the most corrupt politician at the moment! I don't deny that. Stop thinking I am trying to claim he is some how not that corrupt. Although he being a democrat has nothing to do with it at all. If his political affiliation determines in any way his corruption then that means Mark Foley and Larry Craig means the Republican party is all gay people. If we are playing the weird admit game of yours then who is more corrupt Obama or Bush, hmm? See how silly you asking these childish ADMIT IT questions are?
Just admit that Blago is a democrat and is probably the most corrupt person at the moment. It's okay to admit that.
Damage control? Fuck that. Hannity, Rush, and Bill-O have already came out saying stupid shit like OMG OMG OMG SEEEEEEE?!?!?!Oh yeah, I forgot that Hannity and Rush post on evilbore.
Stating the facts isn't fucking damage control.
Oh for fucks sake. NO ONE in this thread tried to deny or explain away anything Blago did. You listen to far too much Rush or Hannity. Democrats aren't at all giving ANY sympathy to Blago or trying to explain away what he did.Who ISN'T admitting that? Democrat or Republican, he's still a piece of shit.
But trying to connect him to Obama is just fucking incredible.
Nobody is doing that in this thread. In fact the only reason it is even mentioned in this thread is because the dems came in for damage control.
I dont even listen to talk radio. I wouldn't even have known that Rush was saying all these things if you guys weren't doing damage control in this thread.Yet no one in this thread once defended Blago or tried to explain away his crimes. No one. You are living in a crazy right wing world where you think EB liberals are rushing to protect the precious Blago.
Jackson Jr.=Senate Candidate #5? I saw that comingHow could he be so stupid to offer $1 million dollars (if he is indeed the person)? Did he really think doing a illegal bribery with a politician under federal investigation was a good ideal? smh
If true...what a dumbass. Huge Obama supporter who would have been taken care of eventually decides he wants a prize NOW. Wow...
I won't deny that we aren't "damage controlling" Obama's involvement however. But THAT IS BECAUSE THERE IS NONE. Still no one is trying to explain away/defend what Blago did like you seem to believe.
I won't deny that we aren't "damage controlling" Obama's involvement however. But THAT IS BECAUSE THERE IS NONE. Still no one is trying to explain away/defend what Blago did like you seem to believe.
i think it's pretty suspicious that we can't find any flaws in obama.
what is he able to hide so well?
I won't deny that we aren't "damage controlling" Obama's involvement however. But THAT IS BECAUSE THERE IS NONE. Still no one is trying to explain away/defend what Blago did like you seem to believe.
i think it's pretty suspicious that we can't find any flaws in obama.
what is he able to hide so well?
CHICAGO—In a devastating blow to millions of unsuspecting Americans, newly elected president and international con man Barack Obama fled the country Wednesday with nearly $85 million in campaign funds.http://www.theonion.com/content/news/international_con_man_barack_obama
According to FBI investigators, Obama's sudden disappearance was discovered at 6:15 p.m. when the former Illinois senator failed to arrive at a gala event in Lincoln Square, prompting several aides to rush back to his campaign headquarters. At 6:23 p.m., flight logs at O'Hare International Airport confirmed that two passengers, a male carrying two silver briefcases and dressed in a perfectly tailored Brioni tuxedo, and an African-American female wearing a fur coat and speaking in a thick Russian accent, were seen boarding a private plane.
Obama's campaign office, sources said, was completely vacant aside from a discarded Abraham Lincoln portrait, behind which was an emptied safe that his aides claimed never to have seen before.
In addition, three unconscious Secret Service agents were discovered at the scene, along with two lit cigarettes still burning in an ashtray, and Obama's daughters, who authorities now believe were taken from an Alabama foster home six years ago.
The only item found inside the metal safe was a letter, handwritten with a fountain pen and titled "An Explanation, My Dears."
"To my tender little pawns, the all-too-trusting people of America," said FBI lead investigator Ray Hilland, quoting the letter at a press conference Wednesday. "If you are reading this, then I have already left your silly country in my private jet, and am right now sipping fine champagne with my lovely associate, a woman you have come to know as 'Michelle.'"
"I assure you, this was the most pleasurable and fulfilling con I have ever pulled off," the note continued. "Not since the Moroccan elections in 1984 have I taken so much joy in raising, and then crushing, the hopes and dreams of so many pathetic, disenfranchised, and downtrodden people."
"It's been an absolute delight doing business with you. Rest assured, your generous contributions will be well spent," the note concluded. "Fondly yours, Ψ."
After initiating a further search of his campaign office, officials found more than two dozen counterfeit passports inside Obama's desk drawer. Authorities suspect that this is not the first time that the man who inspired millions has preyed upon a leadership-starved country, raised a record amount of money by running for office, and then vanished without a trace.
"This explains Portugal in '86, Finland in '94, and Greece in '90," CIA director Michael Hayden said. "He used the same faultless cover in those elections as he did here—a dead mother, a runaway father, a grandfather who fought in Patton's or Järnefelt's or Papdopoulous' army, and his signature calling card: change."
Multiple translations of Obama's books Dreams From My Father and The Audacity Of Hope were also discovered at the scene, each seemingly authored by a different world leader, including former Malaysian president Mohamad Mahathir, former Belgian prime minister Jean-Luc Dehaene, and the 14th Dalai Lama.
Of particular interest were the titles Les Rêves De Mon Père and L'audace D'espére, both of which feature a cover photo of French president Nicolas Sarkozy, a man Paris officials claim hasn't been seen or heard from in nearly eight months.
According to investigators, it appears that over the past 15 years, Obama has been elected president or prime minister in nearly 45 countries, many of them African. Officials estimate that since 1983 Obama has amassed more than $2.3 billion in stolen campaign financing.
"He's good, real good," Hayden said. "Sometimes he'll have three campaigns going on at once. Recently uncovered video of him in Bangladesh, Ukraine, and Italy in 1989 shows him shifting seamlessly between three languages. And no matter what dialect he speaks, he speaks it passionately. He also abides by a flawless formula: a desperate country, plus hope, plus the promise of a bold new tomorrow equals big bucks."
"Hell, even I donated the $2,400 to his campaign," he added.
Obama's closest aides, including head campaign strategist David Axelrod, admitted that they never once suspected their candidate was anyone other than who he claimed to be. Nevertheless, Axelrod said that the recent revelation did explain why he once overheard Michelle Obama tell her husband that "the time had come for their coup de grâce."
"He completely suckered me," said a visibly dejected vice president-elect Joe Biden, who estimated that he raised over $10 million for Obama. "I trusted him. Change, 'Yes We Can,' a new kind of politics, bringing the nation together, valuing an open dialogue about the issues—I trusted all of it."
Added Biden, "I should have known it was too good to be true."
Everyday Americans, whom Obama referred to as "so many unwitting chess pieces in my elaborate game," also expressed shock Wednesday.
"I'm devastated," Pennsylvania resident and Obama donor Denise Bell told reporters. "I just hope he comes back soon so he can be our president."
Beardo you are so full of shit.
but I do hear liberals whine about them more than I hear conservatives talk about them.
but I do hear liberals whine about them more than I hear conservatives talk about them.
damn obama, throwing corrupt politics under the busHow dare he not be a corrupt politician!