December 9th 2008
Oh that crazy Blago
As I’m sure most anyone who’d read this already knows, the current Illinois Governor was arrested today. There was much rejoicing. I’ve been reading through the affidavit and it’s chock full of amazing stuff. The time line of it all is fascinating. As many people have wondered, why would you, if you think you might be impeached by the Spring, try and shake down the President-elect?
Related to that, but focused more on the President-elect, why would Blagojevich think that Obama would be willing to have his Buffet-class billionaire buddies set up a 501(c)(4)? Did Blagojevich not get the memo from the entire Obama campaign that he doesn’t operate that way, that the style of big donors and political payoffs isn’t his modus operandi?
I’m not sure which part of the thing is scarier, that Blagojevich tried alter the editorial board of a newspaper, or that he was trying to strong-arm the President-elect. Neither of them set good precedents, and both are pretty well antithetical to the proper functioning of government by, for and of the people.
Results of quote mining (bracketed dates are my additions for clarity/concision):
- ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated that he is “struggling” financially and does “not want to be Governor for the next two years.”
- During an intercepted call on November 5, 2008, ROD BLAGOJEVICH talked to JOHN HARRIS, Advisor A, and Spokesman, a State of Illinois employee who is the official spokesperson for the Governor’s office. During part of the conversation, ROD BLAGOJEVICH instructed HARRIS to call someone at the Tribune and “lay a foundation with them.” HARRIS agreed to call Tribune Financial Advisor. ROD BLAGOJEVICH told HARRIS to tell Tribune Financial Advisor “this is a serious thing now” and that the only “way around it” is around the legislature and that the Tribune is “trumping up impeachment discussions because I do this stuff to get things done.”
- During a subsequent intercepted call on November 4, 2008, ROD BLAGOJEVICH talked with JOHN HARRIS… “I don’t want to give them a grounds to impeach me.” ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated that “our recommendation is fire all those fucking people, get ‘em the fuck out of there and get us some editorial support.”
- In that conversation, [November 30, 2008] ROD BLAGOJEVICH and Sports Consultant discussed the importance of getting the IFA transaction approved at the IFA’s December 2008 or January 2009 meeting, because ROD BLAGOJEVICH was contemplating leaving office in early January 2009 and ROD BLAGOJEVICH’s IFA appointees would still be in place to approve the IFA deal.
- During the call [November 3, 2008], ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated, “unless I get something real good for [Senate Candidate 1], shit, I’ll just send myself, you know what I’m saying.”
- On November 4, 2008, ROD BLAGOJEVICH spoke with Deputy Governor A. This was the same day as the United States Presidential election. With respect to the Senate seat, Deputy Governor A suggested putting together a list of things that ROD BLAGOJEVICH would accept in exchange for the Senate seat. ROD BLAGOJEVICH responded that the list “can’t be in writing.” Thereafter, ROD BLAGOJEVICH discussed whether he could obtain an ambassadorship in exchange for the Senate seat.
- ROD BLAGOJEVICH said that the consultants (Advisor B and another consultant are believed to be on the call at that time) are telling him that he has to “suck it up” for two years and do nothing and give this “motherfucker [the President-elect] his senator. Fuck him. For nothing? Fuck him.”
- and a desire to remake his image in consideration of a possible run for President in 2016
