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:
Talking Points Memo, Michelle Malkin, Think Progress, MSNBC, The Swamp, Ben Smith's Blogs, Commentary, Power Line, Gateway Pundit, Wonkette, Scorecard's Blogs, PoliBlog (TM), The Strata-Sphere, BloggingStocks, TigerHawk, NewsBusters.org, First Draft, Political Machine, The Reaction, BuzzFlash.org, Lost in Transition, Taegan Goddard's …, 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:
Reason, DCist, Democracy in America, Brian Beutler, Associated Press, Alas, a blog and Pajamas Media
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.”
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
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 …
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 …
Brian Ross / ABCNEWS:
FBI: Illinois Governor Sought To “Sell” Obama's Senate Seat — Wanted President-Elect to “Put Something Together . . . Something Big” — Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich wanted President-elect Barack Obama “to put something together...something big” in exchange for going along …
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
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
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
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.
Syed Irfan Raza / DAWN:
Operation continues against LeT-Dawa — ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: The government launched on Monday a countrywide crackdown on the banned jihadi outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba and charity organisation Jamaatud Dawa. — Over two dozen people, including top Lashkar commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi wanted …
RELATED:
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 …
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 …