New Blagojevich Thread

The post below was getting a bit long so I'm starting a fresh one here.

Ha, ha. Andrea Mitchell on MSNBC made a big deal about how Blago used dirty words in his taped conversation. It was one of the first things she wanted to talk about, and at length, with correspondent Pete Williams right after the Fitzgerald press conference ended. Yes Andrea, the bad words are the big story. Sheesh. Unfortunatly, Andrea and Pete's fainting couch extravaganza was interupted by breaking news...a press conference on Jay Leno's new prime time show on NBC. Double sheesh.

Update I: I had been wondering for a long time why it was taking Blago so long to come up with a successor to Obama. I mean, it's been a really good possibility that the seat would come open for many many months. If I were governor, I would have been thinking about it since at least February of 2007. But now it all makes sense; Blago was looking for the highest bidder.

Of all the alleged wrongdoings, this is the one that really enrages me. Selling a senate a fucking seat (sorry Andrea). What a son of a bitch (again Andrea, my bad). He is now not able to appoint anyone because it would be tainted and, as I said earlier, no one would accept it now anyway. Yet he is the only one who can legally make the appointment while he is governor. Therefore, Blagojevich must resign or be impeached immediately. This isn’t just a case of alleged political corruption where the perp is able to await trial and hang on to his job in the meantime. The senate seat situation makes it imperative he step aside or be removed. Now.

Update II: The best line in the Fitz-conference was Fitz himself saying that Blago's corruption would make Lincoln roll over in his grave. I thought I heard some strange rumblings coming from the far north part of town.

Update III: Say, couldn’t we get something out of this yet by inviting the national media to stake out Lincoln’s tomb in case the Great Emancipator does roll over in his grave?

Update IV: Maybe there are other options if Blago doesn’t resign?

Does Governor Blagojevich still have the authority to appoint Obama's successor to the open seat, now that he's been accused of, er, conspiring to sell that same seat?
We checked in with the Illinois Attorney General's office for an answer. And guess what -- they don't have one yet!

In yet another sign of just how bizarre and murky this story is, the AG's office tells us that they're researching the question of what happens now and will have an answer soon. As if this story needed any more oddball twists.

Separately, on CNN just now, commentator Jeffrey Toobin just opined that he thinks Blago does retain that power but that the Senate would refuse to seat his choice under these circumstances. We'll let you know when the Illinois AG's office makes it official.

Late Update: In a televised interview just now, Illinois Senator Dick Durbin just called for a special election to fill the seat. The legalities of this course, too, are uncertain.

Hmmm. If Madigan makes a decision on this, does that take her out of the running as the senate pick? Can't we just give Durbin two votes until 2010? This is all making my head hurt.

Update V: A.G. Lisa Madigan calls on Blago to resign saying he is “incapable of governing”. And as we all know, governing is right in the job title. She joins Lt. Governor Pat Quinn, Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and millions of average Illinoisians in that call for resignation. BTW, the SJ-R’s Blagojevich Blog is giving good coverage updates.

Update VI: Blago out on a $4500.00 recognizance bond. I guess they aren’t worried about him as a flight risk since he’s loathe to ever leave Chicago.

Update VII: So Rich Miller wants to have a Fitzmas party at the Alamo tonight. Sounds good but I think I’ll just have one for the Fitzster at home.

Update VIII: You might want to get to know Pat Quinn.

Update IX: Blago's attorney says the Guv will not resign, has done nothing wrong and will be in the office tomorrow. Blago, you dipshit. Time to crank up the impeachment machine. Governor, you are toast.

Adding: If he really goes into the office tomorrow, I suspect the protests outside the building will be huge. Isn't his Chicago office in the Thompson Center? I'm going to set up a pitchfork and torch concession at the corner of Randolph and Clark.