Academic

So if you opened your email to receive an alert that your governor had been arrested on charges of corruption, this might be a surprise to you.  Here in Illinois, however, we say, "Which charges?"  Since we've moved here, there have been trials involving various members of first Governor Ryan's regime, and now Governor Blagojevich's house of bizarre politics.  (Really, the fact that Barack Obama was involved in Chicago and Illinois politics for so long and had "associations" only with a reformed terrorist is fairly amazing.)

So, which corruption charges?  These.  According to the Department of Justice, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich conspired to of course commit mail and wire fraud and solicited bribes.  But in what context?  Read the press release -- it's better than any network nighttime drama I know.  Specifically, Blagojevich put Obama's senate seat up for sale in a "pay-to-play" scheme, using Blagojevich's own words, caught on wiretap.  Apparently "Senate Candidate 5" was willing to put some money upfront.  (I am not Senate Candidate 5, by the way.)  Blagojevich was willing to deal -- he was interested in perhaps a salaried position for himself, an ambassadorship, a director seat for his wife that paid $150k a year, or maybe just some campaign contributions.  He sounds like he's easy to work with.  He said that if no one stepped up to the plate, then he might just nominate himself to fill Obama's seat.  Well, we're glad it didn't come to that.

But wait, there's more.  Apropos of the Tribune Co., which owns the Chicago Tribune, the L.A. Times and the Chicago Cubs, filing for bankruptcy protection today, the press release alleges that Blagojevich threatened to hold up a sale of Wrigley Field unless the Tribune fired certain members of its editorial staff that were anti-Blagojevich.

You know, Governor, if you were worried about having good financial prospects after your term was over, there was something you could have done.  And, it would have been legal.  You could have been a really good governor.  It's a thought.  Chicago Tribune story here.