Top Items:
Chicago Breaking News:
Blagojevich arrested on federal charges — Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris, were arrested today by FBI agents for what U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald called a “staggering” level of corruption involving pay-to-play politics in Illinois' top office.
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars, Talking Points Memo, The Next Right, Think Progress, The Swamp, driftglass, WBBM-TV, Gawker, MSNBC, Ben Smith's Blogs, Michelle Malkin, Commentary, Power Line, Gateway Pundit, Firedoglake, NewsBusters.org, PoliBlog (TM), TigerHawk, First Draft, BloggingStocks, Political Machine, The Strata-Sphere, BuzzFlash.org, The Reaction, Wonkette and Lost in Transition
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Chicago Tribune:
Blagojevich's Senate selection process investigated — Federal probe widens to Obama's vacant seat — UPDATE: Source: Feds take Gov. Blagojevich into custody — A source said today that Gov. Rod Blagojevich was taken into federal custody at his North Side home this morning.
Discussion:
The Swamp, Firedoglake, TPMMuckraker, TalkLeft, The Moderate Voice, Think Progress, The Hill's Blog Briefing Room, MoJoBlog, MyDD, Washington Post, AlterNet.org, The Raw Story, Atlas Shrugs, Flopping Aces, The Anonymous Liberal, RedState, The New Editor, Right Wing News, Wizbang and Don Surber
Marc Ambinder:
Blago Indictment: Who Is Senate Candidate 5? — Gov. Blagojevich's own words make it clear that he did not believe that Barack Obama wanted a person called “Senate Candidate 5” to be appointed to the Senate. … In other words — if Blago doesn't get what he wanted, then he'd stiff the PEOTUS …
Discussion:
TalkLeft, The Capitol Fax Blog, Democracy in America, ArchPundit, The American Scene, Gawker and Sunlight Foundation
WBBM-TV:
Details Of Complaint Against Blagojevich — CHICAGO (CBS) ― Full release from U.S. Attorney's Office: — 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 …
Discussion:
Fox News, Michelle Malkin, NewsBusters.org, CANNONFIRE, Wizbang, The New Republic, Shakesville, RIGHTWINGSPARKLE, Gawker, GINA COBB, 24Ahead and Riehl World View
New York Times:
Illinois Governor in Corruption Scandal — CHICAGO — Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich of Illinois was arrested by federal authorities on Tuesday morning on corruption charges, including an allegation that he conspired to effectively sell President-elect Barack Obama's seat in the United States Senate to the highest bidder.
Discussion:
Ben Smith's Blogs, ABCNEWS, Ta-Nehisi Coates, The New Republic, The Caucus, TalkLeft, Harry's Place, marbury and The Debatable Land
Chicago Tribune:
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich arrested — Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff John Harris were arrested today by FBI agents on federal corruption charges. — Tribune staff report — Gov. Rod Blagojevich arrives at the Tribune Tower for an interview with CNN in Chicago.
Discussion:
Right Wing Nut House, Reason, Democracy in America, Pajamas Media, Brian Beutler, Alas, a blog, Associated Press and DCist
Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blogs:
What the transition knew — The transition hasn't yet responded to questions about Rod Blagojevich's indictment, but the key question is whether the transition was talking to prosecutors, whether Obama and Valerie Jarrett knew that Blagojevich had offered her the Senate seat in exchange for a labor job …
Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
AMAZING — Even setting aside the primordial level of corruption of trying to sell the senate seat of the President-elect of the United States, I never fail to be amazed at the brazenness and stupidity of some political crooks. I mean, I think everyone involved in politics or interested …
Mike Robinson / Associated Press:
Ill. Gov. charged in Obama successor probe — CHICAGO - Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested on Tuesday on charges he brazenly conspired to sell or trade the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by President-elect Barack Obama to the highest bidder in what a federal prosecutor called a “corruption crime spree.”
Tom Maguire / JustOneMinute:
I Need Help On The Latest Rezko-Obama Story — Apparently there is a new plot twist in the Obama-Rezko saga: … So the controversial re-appraisal occurred when the Rezkos sold a 10 foot wide strip of land to the Obamas, and the original appraisal put a lower value on the property. — Well.
Discussion:
Gawker
CNN:
Durbin wants special election to replace Obama — (CNN) — Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin said Tuesday he wants a special election called to fill President-elect Barack Obama's Senate seat. — At a press conference with reporters on Capitol Hill, Durbin said he wants the Illinois legislature …
Allahpundit / Hot Air:
Feds arrest Illinois Gov. Blagojevich for trying to sell Obama's vacant Senate seat; Update: Wanted cash to appoint Obama crony? — “Staggering.” … Fitzmas arrives early this year. I haven't followed the Blago saga, but it's as old as Hot Air is: The investigation's been active …
CNN:
Feds: Blagojevich put ‘for sale’ sign on Obama replacement — (CNN) — Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is in federal custody on corruption charges, a law enforcement official said Tuesday. — Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris, are charged with conspiracy to commit mail …
Jonathan Martin / The Politico:
Blago: A Senate seat is a ‘f***ing valuable thing’
Blago: A Senate seat is a ‘f***ing valuable thing’
Discussion:
Michael Calderone's Blogs, Wall Street Journal, Commentary and Thoughts of a Regular Guy
Chicago Tribune:
Statement from Gerould Kern, editor of the Chicago Tribune
Statement from Gerould Kern, editor of the Chicago Tribune
Discussion:
Chicago Sun Times, The Raw Story, Michael Calderone's Blogs, Talking Points Memo, TPMMuckraker and TIME.com
Chris Cillizza / The Fix:
Blagojevich Criminal Complaint: The Best of the Best
Blagojevich Criminal Complaint: The Best of the Best
Discussion:
Washington Post
David Kurtz / Talking Points Memo:
CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR — This is Gov. Blagojevich yesterday …
CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR — This is Gov. Blagojevich yesterday …
Discussion:
Washington Monthly
Mike Colias / Chicago Business:
Children's Memorial target of guv's shakedown efforts, charges say
Children's Memorial target of guv's shakedown efforts, charges say
Discussion:
The Capitol Fax Blog
Josh Kraushaar / Scorecard's Blogs:
Impeachment hearings likely against Blagojevich
Impeachment hearings likely against Blagojevich
Discussion:
Washington Monthly
Matthew Lee / Associated Press:
Cracks appear in Obama foreign policy team … WASHINGTON (AP) - The first sign of cracks in President-elect Barack Obama's foreign policy team of rivals emerged on Monday as his choices for secretary of state and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations visited the State Department.
Discussion:
Ta-Nehisi Coates
Ruth Marcus / Washington Post:
A Vote for Senator Caroline — On the question of Caroline Kennedy for Senate, my head says no, on balance. My heart says yes! Yes! Right now, as you might guess from the hedging on the former and the exclamation points on the latter, my heart is winning.
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