Blagojevich File (Madigan, Rahm, & Blago)

Due to the amount of breaking news about the Blagojevich scandal, we are going to roll the pertinent stories into one article. What can I say, he is a blogger's dream. Blago impeachment hearings stall, Rahm and his "discussions" with Blag the Self-Impaler, and Gov. will speak when time is right, evidently he has a lot to say.


Illinois Supreme Court rejects Madigan bid to declare Blagojevich 'unfit'

Chicago Tribune-The Illinois Supreme Court today rejected Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan's attempt to have disgraced Gov. Rod Blagojevich declared unable to hold the office of Illinois chief executive, court officials said.

The high court, without comment, denied Madigan's attempt to file a complaint with justices arguing Blagojevich's fitness to serve. The court also rejected Madigan's attempt for a temporary restraining order, aimed at preventing him from using state law to appoint a U.S. Senate replacement for President-elect Barack Obama. read more...

Madigan, Illinois Attorney General, has been a long time foe of Blagojevich and is openly ambitious about her intent to run for the Governorship. Even though her motives for a political hit are obvious, so is Blagojevich's attempt at extortion.

Until Blago is impeached, (Which could take months), indicted and convicted, (Which could take much longer)or the Illinois State Congress or Supreme Court decides to do something, Blagojevich can still make the appointment for Obama's Senate seat.

If he chooses to be so brazen, this is the point at which the rest of the country gets dragged into Chicago-Machine politics even further. Due to his erratic behavior it will be difficult to determine whether or not he will attempt it.

Other related stories: Blagojevich impeachment inquiry stalls
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Blago drama for Obama

The Sun Times-President-elect Barack Obama's incoming chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, was pushing for Obama's successor just days after the Nov. 4 election, sources told the Chicago Sun-Times.

Emanuel privately urged Gov. Blagojevich's administration to appoint Obama confidante Valerie Jarrett, and the Sun-Times learned Tuesday that he also pressed that it be done by a certain deadline. read more...

This is not the "transparency" and "clean-governance" we were promised by the Obama administration. Since Congress has been plagued with its fair share of corruption, on both sides of the aisle, it is very disheartening to see lack of information coming from Obama about this scandal and his aide's involvement. A self-probe whose results will not be known for awhile hardly count.

However, any release of information by the White House-elect concerning Emanuel or any other aide's contact with Blagojevich, could interfere with the federal indictment against Balgo. Being that Obama is a Constitutional lawyer, and a very good one, his motivations are always open to speculation. But keep in mind, he (Obama) and Emanuel did grow up in the same political environment as Blagojevich.

Related Stories: Rahm's calls on tape
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Blago Set to Break His Silence

The Note-ABC News' Matthew Jaffe Reports from Chicago: Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich will likely hold a press conference toward the end of this week, ABC News has learned.

The embattled governor, arrested last Tuesday, has yet to respond to charges that he tried to sell President-elect Barack Obama's former Senate seat.

Instead, the reclusive lawmaker has stayed silent, only saying that he looks forward to speaking at the appropriate time. read more...

When he speaks the Gov. will either offer a laundry list of excuses as to why he is not guilty or a vast array of implications against some fairly high profile Pols. The atmosphere this scandal is generating implies it extends to some high reaching places in Washington. Who it extends to and to what degree are the questions.


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