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, Hot Air, Think Progress, MSNBC, A Blog For All, Power Line, Mere Rhetoric, Scorecard's Blogs, Wonkette, BloggingStocks, The Strata-Sphere, Taegan Goddard's …, TigerHawk, NewsBusters.org, The Reaction, First Draft, Hotline On Call, Political Machine, Gateway Pundit, BuzzFlash.org, Lost in Transition, Don Surber, Tennessee Guerilla Women, Sunlight Foundation and AMERICAblog News
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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.
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, Shakesville, GINA COBB, The New Republic, Gawker, Riehl World View, Pajamas Media, Left in the West, Daily Kos and Blogs of War
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:
The New Republic, Ben Smith's Blogs, The Debatable Land, marbury, Portfolio, Chicago Sun Times, Roger Ailes and The Caucus
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:
Michelle Malkin, Democracy in America, Brian Beutler, DCist, Alas, a blog, Associated Press, Pajamas Media, Reason and The Foundry
Associated Press:
Prosecutor: Feds bugged Ill. gov's office, home — CHICAGO - Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested today on charges that accuse him of trying to benefit from his ability to appoint President-elect Barack Obama's replacement in the U.S. Senate. — The U.S. Attorney in Chicago …
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 …
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
The Smoking Gun:
Obama Senate Seat For Sale? — Feds: Blagojevich saw Obama's vacated job as a “valuable thing” — The criminal complaint filed today against Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich contains a remarkable section detailing the Democratic politician's alleged attempt to cash in on his ability …
MSNBC:
Feds: Ill. gov tried to ‘auction’ Obama's seat — Blagojevich is accused of ‘corruption crime spree’ over Senate appointment — CHICAGO - Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich embarked on “political corruption crime spree” and tried to benefit from his ability to appoint President-elect Barack Obama's replacement …
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
Josh Kraushaar / Scorecard's Blogs:
Impeachment hearings likely against Blagojevich
Impeachment hearings likely against Blagojevich
Discussion:
Washington Monthly
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, MyDD, Minnesota Independent, 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.
RELATED:
Jeanne Cummings / The Politico:
Did Democrats peak too early? — Did the Democrats' exile end too soon? — That may be a question that nags at more than a few party activists once all the partying is done. — Democrats have clearly come a long way in rebuilding their party infrastructure since falling from power in the late 1990s.
RELATED:
Jonathan Martin / The Politico:
Al Gore waves off official role
Al Gore waves off official role
Discussion:
The Caucus, Political Machine, Becoming 44, Washington Post, The Note, TIME.com and Associated Press
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 …