Democratic Corruption: Roland Burris

Was there "pay-to-play" between disgraced (and impeached) former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich and new U.S. Senator Rolad Burris, Barack Obama's successor?

The answer is, we don't know. Sen. Burris keeps changing the story. Read here for the latest story of his.

If he is found to have lied to the Illinois House impeachment committee, how will the Senate react, since they agreed to seat him only if there were no such actions. But then again, they weren't going to seat any of Blagojevich's appointees, so perhaps nothing will be done. Count on the latter.

Corrupt birds of a feather flock together.

BREAKING: Blagojevich Removed From Office, Banned from Future Office

The Illinois State Senate concluded impeachment trials, and voted 59-0 to remove sitting Democrat Governor Rod Blagojevich from office. Lieutenant Governor Patrick Quinn, also a Democrat, replaces Blagojevich.

More here.

It's about time.

UPDATE: The State Senate also voted 59-0 to ban Blagojevich from again holding elected office in Illinois.

Obama: Don't Seat Blagojevich Appointee

The saga continues:

Obama backs Senate refusal to seat Blagojevich appointee

President-elect Obama says he supports Senate Democrats' decision not to seat the man that Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich picked to replace him.

In a statement, Obama called former state Attorney General Roland Burris a fine man but said he agreed that the Senate cannot accept any appointment from Blagojevich, who is accused of trying to sell Obama's seat. Obama repeated his call for Blagojevich to resign and allow the seat to be filled by other means.

At the same time, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White said he would refuse to certify any appointment by Blagojevich.

"I cannot co-sign a document that certifies any appointment by Rod Blagojevich for the vacant United States Senate seat from Illinois," White said in a statement.

Blagojevich said at the news conference that he favored scheduling a special election to fill the seat, but the Illinois General Assembly had taken no steps to schedule one. Without such legislation, Blagojevich has sole authority to fill Obama's seat.

On the Blagojevich topic, check out this post by Kristofer Lorelli at Race 4 2012 (formerly 'Race 4 2008').

Blagojevich Names Burris to Obama's Senate Seat

Embattled Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich defied U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, as well as numerous Illinois elected officials, and named former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris to President-elect Barack Obama's former Senate seat.

"Please don't allow the allegations against me to taint this good and honest man," Blagojevich said.

Personally, the words "good and honest", coming from Rod Blagojevich, aren't very reassuring... but we'll see if the Senate seats Burris or not.

Blagojevich to name Roland Burris at 2pm?

Report: Blagojevich to name Obama successor this afternoon

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

Gov. Blagojevich today is expected to name former state Comptroller and Attorney General Roland Burris to Illinois' vacant U.S. Senate seat, a knowledgeable source said this morning.

A news conference is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris, 71, had lobbied the governor for the position in recent weeks.

Burris made a previous attempt at the Senate seat in the past -- unsuccessfully. In 1984, he was beat out for the Democratic nomination by Paul Simon.

However, Senate Democrat Majority Leader Harry Reid says he will not seat a Blagojevich appointee.

The action comes despite warnings by Democratic Senate leaders that they would not seat anyone appointed by the disgraced governor who faces criminal charges of trying to sell the post, sources familiar with the decision said.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada previously warned Blagojevich, following the governor's Dec. 9 arrest, that Senate Democrats would not seat any appointment the two-term Democratic governor made. Reid's warning was contained in a letter signed by all 50 sitting Democratic senators, including the No. 2 Democrat in Senate leadership, Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois.

This will be interesting to watch unfold. Tune in at 2pm (CST) for the press conference.

84% Say Blagojevich Should Resign

In a Rasmussen poll today, 84% of Illinoisans said that Gov. Rod Blagojevich, now embroiled in a political corruption scandal, should resign. Only 9% disagree.

79% say that Blagojevich should go to jail. Just 7% give the governor a "good" or "excellent" job rating, while 83% gave him a "poor" rating.

The Politics of Change

"Change has come to America," proclaimed President-elect Barack Obama upon defeating John McCain in the recent general election. In a sense, change has come. There will be a new administration; a change from the old.

With Sen. Obama leaving the Senate for the White House, there will be a change in the second Senate seat from Illinois. Governor Rod Blagojevich will appoint a new senator to replace Obama.

Here is what "change" means to Gov. Blagojevich:

Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich and his Chief of Staff, John Harris, were arrested today by FBI agents on federal corruption charges alleging that they and others are engaging in ongoing criminal activity: conspiring to obtain personal financial benefits for Blagojevich by leveraging his sole authority to appoint a United States Senator; threatening to withhold substantial state assistance to the Tribune Company in connection with the sale of Wrigley Field to induce the firing of Chicago Tribune editorial board members sharply critical of Blagojevich; and to obtain campaign contributions in exchange for official actions – both historically and now in a push before a new state ethics law takes effect January 1, 2009.

Change, you see, means cash. Here's more of the details:

A 76-page FBI affidavit alleges that Blagojevich, a Democrat, was intercepted on court-authorized wiretaps during the last month conspiring to sell or trade Illinois' U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama for financial and other personal benefits for himself and his wife. At various times, in exchange for the Senate appointment, Blagojevich discussed obtaining:

A substantial salary for himself at a either a non-profit foundation or an organization affiliated with labor unions;

Placing his wife on paid corporate boards where he speculated she might garner as much as $150,000 a year;

Promises of campaign funds – including cash up front; and

A cabinet post or ambassadorship for himself.

Just last week, on December 4, Blagojevich allegedly told an advisor that he might "get some (money) up front, maybe" from Senate Candidate 5, if he named Senate Candidate 5 to the Senate seat, to insure that Senate Candidate 5 kept a promise about raising money for Blagojevich if he ran for re-election. In a recorded conversation on October 31, Blagojevich claimed he was approached by an associate of Senate Candidate 5 as follows: "We were approached 'pay to play.' That, you know, he'd raise 500 grand. An emissary came. Then the other guy would raise a million, if I made him (Senate Candidate 5) a Senator."

On November 7, while talking on the phone about the Senate seat with Harris and an advisor, Blagojevich said he needed to consider his family and that he is "financially" hurting, the affidavit states. Harris allegedly said that they were considering what would help the "financial security" of the Blagojevich family and what will keep Blagojevich "politically viable." Blagojevich stated, "I want to make money," adding later that he is interested in making $250,000 to $300,000 a year, the complaint alleges.

On November 10, in a lengthy telephone call with numerous advisors that included discussion about Blagojevich obtaining a lucrative job with a union-affiliated organization in exchange for appointing a particular Senate Candidate whom he believed was favored by the President-elect and which is described in more detail below, Blagojevich and others discussed various ways Blagojevich could "monetize" the relationships he has made as governor to make money after leaving that office.

"The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering," Mr. Fitzgerald said. "They allege that Blagojevich put a 'for sale' sign on the naming of a United States Senator; involved himself personally in pay-to-play schemes with the urgency of a salesman meeting his annual sales target; and corruptly used his office in an effort to trample editorial voices of criticism. The citizens of Illinois deserve public officials who act solely in the public's interest, without putting a price tag on government appointments, contracts and decisions," he added.

Mr. Grant said: "Many, including myself, thought that the recent conviction of a former governor would usher in a new era of honesty and reform in Illinois politics. Clearly, the charges announced today reveal that the office of the Governor has become nothing more than a vehicle for self-enrichment, unrestricted by party affiliation and taking Illinois politics to a new low."

Click here for the whole article from CBS 2 (Chicago). The charges leveled at Gov. Blagojevich are extremely detailed and I see no way that the Governor can avoid a very long time in prison.