I'm not sure what "back at work" means in this context, since the Gov. was seldom in his office in Springfield...

Blago probably went to work, today, for Pulaski Day, which honors General Casimir Pulaski, the cavalry officer from Poland, who aided our country, heroically, during our Revolution.

Sorry, Blago, old chap, but, there will never be a Blago Day for you. Not many days are set aside to dishonor anyone. Although in Hell, there should be a set aside for Shrub and Blago Day.

I kind of feel like "innocent until proven guilty" applies less when the FBI has tapes of you basically saying "yep, I'm guilty."

Don't have to seat the guy? And then I suppose an hour later, vote to expel them?

Slightly OT, but does anyone know why Fitzgerald finally wiretapped Blago? Rahm Emmanuel is denying he had anything to do with it, but I'm guessing it had to be someone involved with the Senate selection process. Or perhaps the Trib?

Shorter Obama--"F--- me? F--- YOU!"

@Danp:

Basically, Fitzgerald knew that Illinois is rife with Pay to Play politicians. He also knew that Blago was a money raising Machine and Blago would be hindered by the new campaign finance law that was to take effect January 1 2009. So Fitzgerald sees Blago as the only person with power to fill the vacant senate seat, a reputation of corruption and a fast approaching deadline to make some cash.

As I understand the situation...

As long as he's back to work I think he should immediately name himself as Obama's successor. Let's really go to the circus over this one.

"...the Senate leadership would politely explain to the governor that his choice will not be seated."

Yep. The card Blago thought was so valuable is now worthless.

Greed.

e Bay: Illinois Senate Seat

http://cgi.ebay.com/Illinois-Senate-Seat-for-small-minded-people-look_W0QQitemZ220327136091QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item220327136091&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

This arguably should have come yesterday,

But it is also true to Obama's nature to delay. One of the things that impresses me about Obama is that he rarely engages in 'knee-jerk' respones to anything. He takes time to evaluate the situation before committing himself to a policy. This calm, delibarate approach is something we desparately need right now.

We saw this approach throughout the campaign as Obama and his team avoided getting sidelined by the day-to-day news cycle. We are also seeing it on display during the transition was Obama refues to get caught up in the artificial 'Clinton dramas' the press is trying to create.

It will nice to have President who actually THINKS before he acts and does not commit the country to the first thing that comes out of his mouth for a change.

Blago was complaining about having to live off $177,000 a year. Hard to imagine him making that much again in the future. Republicans can usually get something with a think tank or corporation. I fail to see what Blago is going to be able to get. I guess he needs to open up a law office, unless a conviction rids him of his law license.

I wonder what the over/under line is for his wife filing for divorce?

I doubt Blago will take this otherwise excellent advice. Remember, in his recorded conversation how he speculated that he would have more "resources" to fight an indictment if he was a sitting US Senator? I'm sure he's thinking that the resources a sitting Governor has is better than nothing.

In all the stories I was reading yesterday, I kept hearing that he might appoint someone (even from jail) just to give the middle finger to the world. I took from reading that over and over that the Illinois legislature didn't have approval over the appointment.

Does anyone know the law in IL for a midterm Senate appointment? It would seem to be obvious that the state Senate would get up-or-down approval, but if that is so, why didn't any of the news reports yesterday state this obvious fact?

I'm not sure what "back at work" means in this context, since the Gov. was seldom in his office in Springfield...

The governor has offices in the Thompson Center in downtown Chicago (across the street from City Hall), and does much of his work there (not uncommon for governors to do so).

And in Chicago, Pulaski Day is celebrated on the first Monday in March.

Does anyone know the law in IL for a midterm Senate appointment? It would seem to be obvious that the state Senate would get up-or-down approval, but if that is so, why didn't any of the news reports yesterday state this obvious fact?

Because the Illinois Senate does not have up-or-down approval; the choice is soley the governor's.

It would have been nice if Obama added this yesterday, but true too as the poster above said--it's not his style really--and maybe that's a good thing. He likely wanted a full briefing before putting out a strong statement calling for resignation.

But that said,
I'm sure if it was something horrific like a terrorist attack--he wouldn't sit and read a child's book for seven minutes as Bush did.

He may be cautious and prudent-- but he's certainly not in denial or indifferent.

I have a feeling he'll come out with even more as the situation warrants.

Me thinks Obama wants BLAGOJEVICH disappeared in the most efficient manner.

It's probably safe to assume that right about now, he's coming to grips with the fact that he has no allies and will not be able to function as Illinois' chief executive.

Steve, you're assuming Blago thinks like a rational human being, when it's quite obvious from his behavior that the man is some kind of megalomaniacal sociopath. What kind of idiot brazenly tries to sell the senate seat of the president elect - when he KNOWS that Patrick Fitzgerald has all of his phones tapped and offices bugged? It wouldn't surprise me in the least if he convened a press conference to announce that, yes indeed, he is in fact that best man to replace Obama in the Senate and that he's going to parachute onto the front steps of the Capitol. Come to think of it, that would be teh awesome.

DJ, Thanks for the headsup on Pulaski Day - Canadian Broadcasting was talking about the day, this morning and I, incorrectly, assumed it was today.

However, it appears in Illinois politics that there are two paths in politics - Sorta like the old movies from the '30s, where young kids had two choices - one being becoming a gangster, the other a cop or a priest.

In Illinois, you either become a Lincoln, Dirksen, Durbin, or Obama or you become, well, the list is too long.

"...someone needs to let him know that he needs to focus on his criminal defense full time, starting right about ... now."

Shoulda been sooner.

In Illinois, you either become a Lincoln, Dirksen, Durbin, or Obama or you become, well, the list is too long.

Oh, there are plenty of honest public servants here who toil in relative anonymity. The spectacularly bad apples get a lot of press. You might want to add Paul Simon and Paul Douglas to your list of good politicians. Adlai Stevenson Jr, too.

Back at work? You mean his full time job to cut the best deal he possibly can with Fitzgerald, so he can attend the christening of his first great-grandchild?

The governor has offices in the Thompson Center in downtown Chicago (across the street from City Hall), and does much of his work there (not uncommon for governors to do so).

I don't get that. I'm in Pa., and the governor lives and works almost exclusively in Harrisburg. Even though he's from Philadelphia, I'm almost positive he doesn't spend much time working at any office there.
I kept reading similar stories about Palin in Alaska, traveling back and forth between Juneau and Anchorage even though the capital is in Juneau. I think she even supported moving the capital to Anchorage, probably because it was most convenient for her.
I also don't get him complaining about money when he's already earning a good six-figure salary and can live in the governor's mansion--free public housing. It's just shameless greed.

Blago will lose most of his leverage if he resigns before he cuts a plea agreement.

back at work

He probably has some shredding to attend to.

@ Allen Snyder

When the gov was elected his to his first term , I remember some little kerfuffle about him working out of Chicago instead of Springfield. Downstaters thought he would only serve Chicago and not the whole state. Boy were they wrong! He only serves himself.

Also, my neighbor remembers when the gov used to deliver his pizzas. So he voted for him, being a working class man and all that.

Blago will probably stay in office until removed by impeachment. His only concern now is trying to beat as many of the criminal charges as possible, and resigning could be seen as an admission of guilt. He's already shown he doesn't care about anyone but himself, so appeals based on the good of the citizens of Illinois are useless. If impeached and removed, he'll proclaim his innocence all the way to his cell. He'll figure that will make the post-release book deal more lucrative.

Monday's P.M. Press COnference Where is iT?

"Should the state members of the Electoral College cast their votes for Mr. Obama in the face of such overwhelming evidence, and without verification of Mr. Obama's eligibility, they would be committing treason to the Constitution," said Schulz.

"I don't know who Blagojevich trusts, or who has his ear,..."

I imagine the most important person who has his ear is his classy wife Patricia, as in: "Listen you fucking fool, I want my fucking money, and you better come through before you go to prison, you idiot! Fuck Obama! Fuck the Cubs! I want more money!"