Dec 09 2008
Blagojevich Arrested for Corruption
Sorry about missing the post yesterday. I’m sure you’ve heard about Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s arrest today on corruption charges.
Barack Obama resigned his U.S. Senate seat after he was elected president. Blagojevich is vested with appointing someone to fill the seat until the next general election. Since Obama’s term would expire in Jan. 2011, the person named could run for a full six-year term as an incumbent. No need to worry about a special election, then another contest after completing the shortened term.
Federal prosecutors say Blagojevich tried to sell the appointment to the highest bidder, among other things. Blagojevich, according to the complaint unsealed today, is also forcing a board member of a state children’s hospital to give him a donation before he releases $8 million in allocated funds to the hospital.
There is some question about whether Obama talked to Blagojevich about who would replace the president-elect in the Senate. David Axelrod, a key Obama adviser, said there was a meeting but has since recanted.
It makes no sense for Obama not to try to influence who will be in the Senate through any legal means possible. He’ll have to work with the person to advance his agenda. Better to approve of the choice than to disapprove. However, it’s clear Obama and his team don’t want Americans to think he’s negotiating.
Progressives are complaining that he’s not giving enough to them. That he’s appointed too many centrists and Clintonites to key positions. Here would be a great chance to placate liberals and make sure his old seat remains a loyal asset.
Speaking of loyal assets, U.S. attorneys say Blagojevich was angered that Obama wouldn’t offer anything to get his favored person appointed. Maybe the governor wants to be U.N. Ambassador or Secretary of Labor. Anything to get out of Springfield before he’s arrested. Oh wait…
Obviously Obama doesn’t want to be tied to this. Which is why he’s lucky it was Valerie Jarrett, and not someone better known, that Blago was thinking of as a potential candidate from Obama’s camp.
Notice how Obama and other Illinois politicians have said that this is a “sad day” and that “given the situation” the governor shouldn’t appoint anybody? Nobody’s actually said that what he did was either a) surprising, or b) bad.
http://thezspot.today.com
http://gamingtips.today.com