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:
Michelle Malkin, Think Progress, MSNBC, Commentary, Gateway Pundit, Scorecard's Blogs, Power Line, NewsBusters.org, Wonkette, BloggingStocks, The Strata-Sphere, Talking Points Memo, TigerHawk, The Reaction, Taegan Goddard's …, First Draft, Political Machine, BuzzFlash.org, Lost in Transition, Hotline On Call, Don Surber and Sunlight Foundation
RELATED:
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.
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 …
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 …
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:
Brian Beutler, DCist, Democracy in America, Associated Press, Alas, a blog, Pajamas Media and Reason
Associated Press:
US Atty: Not alleging Obama knew of Ill. gov. plan — CHICAGO - Federal prosecutors say the investigation into allegations that Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (bluh-GOY'-uh-vich) tried to sell the Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama found no evidence that Obama did anything wrong.
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 …
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 …
Christy Hardin Smith / Firedoglake:
Blagojevich And Chief Of Staff Indicted For Attempting To Sell Obama's Senate Seat
Blagojevich And Chief Of Staff Indicted For Attempting To Sell Obama's Senate Seat
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
Josh Kraushaar / Scorecard's Blogs:
Impeachment hearings likely against Blagojevich
Impeachment hearings likely against Blagojevich
Discussion:
Washington Monthly
Zachary Roth / TPMMuckraker:
Blagojevich Charged With Selling Obama's Senate Seat, Plotting To Purge Trib
Blagojevich Charged With Selling Obama's Senate Seat, Plotting To Purge Trib
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.
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 …
Andy Barr / The Politico:
Steele to conservatives: ‘Wake up people’ — Former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele (R) said Monday that conservatives need to “wake up” and realize they need moderate Republicans to help rebuild the party. — “They have been beating me upside the head with it and let me give it to you straight on …
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 …