Okay, I am not making this up. Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, faced with having to appoint someone to replace President-elect Barack Obama in his state’s Senate seat, thought it would be a good idea to sell it. In addition, he thought that if he appointed the right person he could get the President to appoint him to an ambassadorship, to cabinet, or to some other lucrative post. He also thought it was a good idea to withhold state funding to the Tribune Company until it fired certain editorial writers at the Chicago Tribune who’d written negative articles about him. He even allegedly demanded a $50,000 contribution from the Children's Memorial Hospital for approving $8 million in state funding. This week, he was arrested at his home. He refuses to quit, even when asked by Obama to do so. Blagojevich is charged with conspiracy and solicitation to commit bribery, punishable by up to 20 years in prison and 10 years, respectively. The Governor apparently knew he was under surveillance by the FBI and yet still uttered some pretty extraordinary statements about selling Obama’s Senate seat. Widely reported is the fact the FBI wiretap reveals a staffer suggesting the Governor should properly appoint as Obama’s replacement whomever Obama wants him to. “F--- him. For nothing? F--- him!” Blagojevich is allegedly heard to say. The Governor also allegedly added: “It’s a (expletive) valuable thing. You just don’t give it away for nothing… I’ve got this thing and it’s (expletive) golden and uh, uh, I’m not just giving it up for (expletive) nothing.” Folks, whether it’s email, taped telephone calls, you name it, first you don’t have these kinds of conversations. And you certainly don’t have them if you know you’re under investigation. Unless you’re just plain crazy, as the Chicago media is now beginning to suggest as a possible Blagojevich legal defense strategy. Coming soon to Law and Order.
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