In what surely has to qualify as a 'dog bites man' story, the Governor of Illinois has been arrested for, among other infractions, soliciting bribes from candidates for Barack Obama's old Senate seat.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich has been taken into federal custody, accused of putting Barack Obama's Senate seat up to the highest bidder and attempting to shake down the Tribune Co. on the sale of Wrigley Field.I'm so very shocked that something like this could happen in Chicago. [/sarcasm]
The charges also include alleged attempts by the governor to influence the Tribune editorial board, threatening, that if the Tribune didn’t support him, he wouldn’t approve the sale of Wrigley Field.
The complaint contends Blagojevich, a Democrat, threatened to withhold substantial state assistance to the Tribune Co. in connection with the sale of Wrigley to induce the firing of Chicago Tribune editorial board members critical of Blagojevich.
The governor is also accused of obtaining campaign contributions in exchange for official actions — in the past and recently in a push before a new state ethics law takes effect Jan. 1.
Apparently, part of the Governor's shakedown even involved putting the screws to King-elect Obama.
In one charge related to the appointment of a senator to replace Barack Obama, prosecutors allege that Blagojevich sought appointment for himself as Secretary of Health and Human Services in the new Obama administration, or a lucrative job with a union, in exchange for appointing a union-preferred candidate.Some things never change. Pigs will wallow in their sties. Vultures will lurk, snack on tasty carrion, and soak up as much schadenfreude as possible. And Chicago politicians will wallow in shady company while perfecting the art of corruption.
Surely this guy gets some consideration for Wiener of the Year, right?
Before anyone posts a comment calling me an asshat because "the capital of Illinois is Springfield, not Chicago, dumbass!", stop now. I am fully aware of that. The Chicago connection is still there for this Governor, whose corrupt style of operation dates back to his time as a local politician in the Second City. So there!
