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:
Hot Air, MSNBC, Michelle Malkin, Power Line, Mere Rhetoric, Scorecard's Blogs, BloggingStocks, The Strata-Sphere, TigerHawk, NewsBusters.org, Taegan Goddard's …, The Reaction, BuzzFlash.org, Hotline On Call, Political Machine, First Draft, Gateway Pundit, Lost in Transition, Don Surber, Sunlight Foundation, Tennessee Guerilla Women, AMERICAblog News, Wonkette and Real Clear Politics
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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.
Monica Davey / New York Times:
Governor Is Held in Inquiry Into Filling Obama's Seat — Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich of Illinois was arrested on Tuesday morning and charged with corruption, including an allegation that he conspired to profit from his authority to appoint President-elect Barack Obama's successor in the United States Senate, prosecutors said.
Discussion:
Ben Smith's Blogs, marbury, Portfolio, Chicago Sun Times, Roger Ailes, The Caucus, Centerfield, Maggie's Farm and Group News Blog
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, The New Republic, Gawker, Pajamas Media, Left in the West, Daily Kos, Riehl World View, Blogs of War and Romenesko
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:
Democracy in America, Pajamas Media, Brian Beutler, Alas, a blog, Associated Press, Reason, The Foundry and Towleroad
Mike Robinson / Associated Press:
Ill. Gov. arrested in Obama successor probe — CHICAGO - Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested on Tuesday on charges that he brazenly conspired to sell or trade the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by President-elect Barack Obama to the highest bidder. — Blagojevich also was charged …
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 …
Discussion:
Washington Monthly
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 …
MSNBC:
Ill. governor arrested on corruption charges — Feds: Blagojevich sought to profit from choosing Obama's Senate successor — WASHINGTON - Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested Tuesday on charges of conspiring to get financial benefits through his authority to appoint a U.S. senator …
Jonathan Martin / The Politico:
Blago: A Senate seat is a ‘f***ing valuable thing’ — Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was captured on tape saying that unless he received “something real good” for the appointment of a top adviser to Barack Obama to fill the president-elect's Senate seat he would appoint himself, according to the criminal complaint.
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 …
Christy Hardin Smith / Firedoglake: Blagojevich And Chief Of Staff Indicted For Attempting To Sell Obama's Senate Seat
Natasha Korecki / Chicago Sun Times:
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich taken into federal custody
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich taken into federal custody
Discussion:
Weekly Standard, On Deadline, Ben Smith's Blogs, USA Today, The New Republic, Minnesota Independent, MyDD, PoliticalBase.com Blog and Truthdig
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.
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Kris Kitto / The Hill:
Breitbart's big, red Hollywood — After playing supporting roles to big names in media and politics, Andrew Breitbart is poised to become the protagonist in his own story. — The publisher of the online news aggregator Breitbart.com helped launch and run two of today's most influential media …
Paul Steinhauser / CNN:
Poll: 79% approve of way Obama is handling transition — WASHINGTON (CNN) — With six weeks before taking office, President-elect Barack Obama is having one heck of a honeymoon, a new national poll suggests. — Nearly eight in 10 Americans questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey …
Linda Hirshman / New York Times:
Where Are the New Jobs for Women? — BARACK OBAMA has announced a plan to stimulate the economy by creating 2.5 million jobs over the next two years. He intends to use the opportunity to make good on two campaign promises — to invest in road and bridge maintenance and school repair …
The Politico:
Boehner: Future of GOP is Cao — One week ago, most Republicans had never heard of Anh “Joseph” Cao. Those who were aware he was challenging Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) thought he had almost no chance of winning. Not a single Republican in the state's congressional delegation donated to his campaign.