Odds Blago Gets Popped Before 2010? nvm POP POP POP

[Sbane]

why would he use his house phone?  he should use payphones/a cell to take bribes.

Because he's the most careless criminal out there. I mean he used a phone that he basically already knew the FBI was tapping!

In fact he dared them to tap it. lol

[Boris]

why would he use his house phone?  he should use payphones/a cell to take bribes.

Because he's the most careless criminal out there. I mean he used a phone that he basically already knew the FBI was tapping!

guess he's never seen the last 30 minutes of Goodfellas

[muon2]

Here's what we know. Candidate 5 is:

-"publicly reported to be interested in the open Senate seat"

- not who Blagojevich thought Obama wanted

- not someone with whom, by November 10, Blagojevich had a "long, productive discussion"

- someone with fundraising wherewithal who could produce something "tangible up front"

- someone Blago was "getting a lot of pressure" not to appoint

- someone with whom Blago had "a prior bad experience...not keeping his word"

The complaint also says that on November 10, Blagojevich told an advisor to leak to the Sun-Times's Michael Sneed that Blagojevich "is seriously considering Senate Candidate 5 for the open Senate seat" and that the advisor agreed to call the Sun-Times to leak the story, apparently false, that Blagojevich
end of the conversation Advisor A agreed to call the Sun Times columnist to leak the story had a “long, productive discussion” with Candidate 5.

Sneed's November 14 column included this:

Sneed hears Gov. Blago, who will choose Obama's replacement in the U.S. Senate, privately feels there may be only one choice that makes sense: His buddy, outgoing Senate President Emil Jones.

That isn't exactly what they discussed leaking, and the complaint doesn't say whether or not the call was even made, but it's the only Sneed item on the subject that week.

One other tidbit: Jackson isn't particularly known as a fundraising specialist, but Jones, Miller notes, has money in his State Senate account that could be transferred to Blagojevich.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1208/Senate_Candidate_5.html?showall

ABC now reports that it's JJJ.

[Sam Spade]

Here's what we know. Candidate 5 is:

-"publicly reported to be interested in the open Senate seat"

- not who Blagojevich thought Obama wanted

- not someone with whom, by November 10, Blagojevich had a "long, productive discussion"

- someone with fundraising wherewithal who could produce something "tangible up front"

- someone Blago was "getting a lot of pressure" not to appoint

- someone with whom Blago had "a prior bad experience...not keeping his word"

The complaint also says that on November 10, Blagojevich told an advisor to leak to the Sun-Times's Michael Sneed that Blagojevich "is seriously considering Senate Candidate 5 for the open Senate seat" and that the advisor agreed to call the Sun-Times to leak the story, apparently false, that Blagojevich
end of the conversation Advisor A agreed to call the Sun Times columnist to leak the story had a “long, productive discussion” with Candidate 5.

Sneed's November 14 column included this:

Sneed hears Gov. Blago, who will choose Obama's replacement in the U.S. Senate, privately feels there may be only one choice that makes sense: His buddy, outgoing Senate President Emil Jones.

That isn't exactly what they discussed leaking, and the complaint doesn't say whether or not the call was even made, but it's the only Sneed item on the subject that week.

One other tidbit: Jackson isn't particularly known as a fundraising specialist, but Jones, Miller notes, has money in his State Senate account that could be transferred to Blagojevich.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1208/Senate_Candidate_5.html?showall

ABC now reports that it's JJJ.

What a surprise...

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

why would he use his house phone?  he should use payphones/a cell to take bribes.

Because he's the most careless criminal out there. I mean he used a phone that he basically already knew the FBI was tapping!

In fact he dared them to tap it. lol

Well, he dared the voters to re-elect him, and they were stupid enough to give him a second term, so why wouldn't he feel invincible?

[Lunar]

but but but Obama said it was ok!

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Here's what we know. Candidate 5 is:

-"publicly reported to be interested in the open Senate seat"

- not who Blagojevich thought Obama wanted

- not someone with whom, by November 10, Blagojevich had a "long, productive discussion"

- someone with fundraising wherewithal who could produce something "tangible up front"

- someone Blago was "getting a lot of pressure" not to appoint

- someone with whom Blago had "a prior bad experience...not keeping his word"

The complaint also says that on November 10, Blagojevich told an advisor to leak to the Sun-Times's Michael Sneed that Blagojevich "is seriously considering Senate Candidate 5 for the open Senate seat" and that the advisor agreed to call the Sun-Times to leak the story, apparently false, that Blagojevich
end of the conversation Advisor A agreed to call the Sun Times columnist to leak the story had a “long, productive discussion” with Candidate 5.

Sneed's November 14 column included this:

Sneed hears Gov. Blago, who will choose Obama's replacement in the U.S. Senate, privately feels there may be only one choice that makes sense: His buddy, outgoing Senate President Emil Jones.

That isn't exactly what they discussed leaking, and the complaint doesn't say whether or not the call was even made, but it's the only Sneed item on the subject that week.

One other tidbit: Jackson isn't particularly known as a fundraising specialist, but Jones, Miller notes, has money in his State Senate account that could be transferred to Blagojevich.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1208/Senate_Candidate_5.html?showall

ABC now reports that it's JJJ.

What a surprise...

I myself am stunned at this shocking and totally surprising development.

[rbt48]

As best I recall, a governor cannot appoint himself to a Senate vacancy.  I think the governor has to resign, then under a pre-signed agreement, the new governor appoints the previous one to the Senate.  I know this happened in Oklahoma in 1963 when Governor Edmondson resigned, was replaced by Lt Gov Nigh, then appointed to the Senate 8 days before Henry Bellmon became governor.

Strongly doubt that the IL Lt Gov would appoint Blago to the Senate!

[Bacon King]

As best I recall, a governor cannot appoint himself to a Senate vacancy.  I think the governor has to resign, then under a pre-signed agreement, the new governor appoints the previous one to the Senate.  I know this happened in Oklahoma in 1963 when Governor Edmondson resigned, was replaced by Lt Gov Nigh, then appointed to the Senate 8 days before Henry Bellmon became governor.

Strongly doubt that the IL Lt Gov would appoint Blago to the Senate!

Depends on state law I think.

[muon2]

As best I recall, a governor cannot appoint himself to a Senate vacancy.  I think the governor has to resign, then under a pre-signed agreement, the new governor appoints the previous one to the Senate.  I know this happened in Oklahoma in 1963 when Governor Edmondson resigned, was replaced by Lt Gov Nigh, then appointed to the Senate 8 days before Henry Bellmon became governor.

Strongly doubt that the IL Lt Gov would appoint Blago to the Senate!

IL law does not prevent the Gov from a self-appointment. Each state may enact its own laws to deal with the replacement of a US Senator.

[rbt48]

Well, then, has it ever happened that a sitting Governor appointed himself to a Senate vacancy?

[Lunar]

Yes, it's happened a few times before.  The Senate won't seat anyone who Blago names and would certainly deny Blago from being seated.

But the current IL SoS White would almost certainly refuse to certify any appointment Blago makes, and would be even more likely to refuse a self-appointment.

So it'd be denied in a large number of levels

But Blagojevich has a strong legitimate personality disorder

[JohnnyLongtorso]

Well, then, has it ever happened that a sitting Governor appointed himself to a Senate vacancy?

Several times, although none in the past three decades. NPR's political junkie Ken Rudin had an interesting breakdown of how it usually goes (hint: badly).

http://www.npr.org/blogs/politicaljunkie/2008/12/when_governors_not_blagojevich_1.html

[Stranger in a strange land]

Well, then, has it ever happened that a sitting Governor appointed himself to a Senate vacancy?

Several times, although none in the past three decades. NPR's political junkie Ken Rudin had an interesting breakdown of how it usually goes (hint: badly).

http://www.npr.org/blogs/politicaljunkie/2008/12/when_governors_not_blagojevich_1.html

yes, voters generally tend to look down on this sort of thing.

[RIP Robert H Bork]

It is quite possible.

[Lunar]

Him being popped?  I just meant arrested by that.

My hypothesis of <2010 was more than true, it ended up being <2009.  I really knew Blago was corrupt, but I didn't know he was the worst combination of insane and stupid of any politician in the last century.

[Beet]

Does Blagojevich remind anyone of the Al Pacino character in City Hall?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Does Blagojevich remind anyone of the Al Pacino character in City Hall?

Far more than anyone really should, actually...

[JSojourner]

None of this surprises me.  Illinois and Alaska are the new New Jersey.

Oh.  Wait.  Never mind.  Illinois has always been Illinois.

Indeed it has. I recommend a read (or reread) of Royko's Boss for anyone who wants to get a sense of the deep roots of hardball, pay-to-play politics in IL.

It's a great read...I second that!

[Lunar]

In a smart move to prove he's still capable of being governor to the Supreme Court, Blago's signed an autism bill and spoke a bit about it...

Here's all the bills he can sign or veto before being removed:
http://www.ilga.gov/reports/Preview.asp?t=cr&k=8&ga=9&y=2&h=Bills%20Pending%20Governor%20Action%20(2nd%20Yr)

[Lunar]

Hahhaha, he just hired the lawyer who defended R. Kelley.  Genson doesn't usually defend clients who plan to plead guilty says the SunTimes.

How can Blago afford a team of lawyers, may I ask?  He's like, what, $700k in debt?  It's ironic that Blago's corruption made him start dropping hundreds of thousands on legal defense, which caused him to be more corrupt to try and pay for it all...