Senate seat for sale?
James Forsyth 3:18pm
Illinois politics is legendarily corrupt. But even by the state’s high standards, the charge sheet against the current governor, Rod Blagojevich, is impressive. Blagojevich was, so it is alleged, trying to sell the Senate seat that Obama’s election had left vacant. If that wasn’t enough, Blagojevich was apparently attempting to shake down the president-elect.
The sale of the Senate seat isn’t the only charge against the governor. The New York Times summarises the others as follows:
“The governor is accused of racing to solicit millions of dollars in donations from people with state business before an ethics law bars such behavior in January, and threatening to rescind state money this fall from businesses, including a Chicago hospital for children, whose executives refused to give him money. He is also accused of putting pressure on The Chicago Tribune to fire members of its editorial board who had criticized him or lose the governor’s help on the possible sale of Wrigley Field, which is owned by the Tribune Company and is home to the Chicago Cubs.”The transcripts of Blagojevich’s conversations - his phone was tapped - reveal a positively Nixonian level of swearing and remarkable levels of self-delusion, he thought he could be a presidential contender in 2016. They also suggest that a couple of other Illinois politicians could soon get dragged into this scandal; Obama himself is in the clear but it remains to be seen if all of his political allies are. The nature of Illinois politics is summed up by the fact that three of the last five governors of the state have been indicted.
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THX1138
December 10th, 2008 3:36pm Report this commentIt's a disgrace but you need to watch Season 4 & 5 of The Wire for a real understanding of how it all works. Fantastic fictional shake down artist Senator Clay Davis of Maryland.
How I miss that show.
Bocephus
December 10th, 2008 5:24pm Report this commentObama may be in the clear in regard to crimes committed, he is most certainly not in the clear when it comes to his entanglements with the many dubious characters in Chicagoland politics.
He was one of Blago's principal advisers in his 2002 gubernatorial run and endorsed him in 2006 despite it being obvious to anyone paying attention that the the Governor was in legal jeopardy. Obama was also involved in the infamous property transaction with Tony Rezko, when Rezko was under investigation, which still does not pass the smell test.
Finally in 2006 he endorsed Todd Stroger for President of Cook County despite the fact he new Stroger was not qualified and was only nominated in a back room deal by Democrats after Stroger's father, the previous President, fell ill. If Obama was truly a man of principle and change he would have backed reformer Forest Claypool, who was robbed of the Democratic nomination, that he didn't is a disgrace.
Chris
December 10th, 2008 6:06pm Report this commentIt's the nature of Illinois DEMOCRAT politics that is illustrated. I've complained to the BBC about their failure to identify the governor's party, but I didn't expect the same from the Speccie.
TGF UKIP
December 10th, 2008 6:08pm Report this comment"Blago was attempting to shake down the president-elect." Now I wonder what leverage he was using.
Obama is and was of the sewer, by the sewer and from the sewer.
Who is going to be the more mortified the Republicans or the Clintons when it finally does emerge just who and what Obama was.
Wouldn't it be fun if Blago decides to collapse the temple!
Herbert Thornton
December 10th, 2008 6:11pm Report this commentIt sounds pretty shocking.
At the same time, I have no faith in the kind of law that the prosecutor, Fitzgerald, has used so ruthlessly, & by means of which he has obtained draconianly unjust sentences on the basis of things like "mail fraud" where there is not enough evidence to prove more serious crimes of which there is no evidence other than innuendo.
James Forsyth
December 10th, 2008 6:20pm Report this commentChris, My bad I thought folk would know Blagojevich was a Dem. But worth noting that George Ryan, the last Republican govenor, was convicted on corruption charges in 2006
Kenneth Allen
December 10th, 2008 6:23pm Report this commentPositively Nixonian level of swearing, eh? You are out of date. Rahm Emanuel (Obama's new Cheif of Staff) is a Chicago pol whose foul language would make Blagojevich blush. Nixon was a piker.
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