So, it's true what they say about Illinois/Chicago politics is it? I don't know, but I do know that Illinois governor Blagojevich was arrested today on federal corruption charges. A quote from the U.S. attorney on the charges reads: "U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said in a statement. "They allege that Blagojevich put a 'for sale' sign on the naming of a United States Senator; involved himself personally in pay-to-play schemes with the urgency of a salesman meeting his annual sales target; and corruptly used his office in an effort to trample editorial voices of criticism.""
His pay off for all of this? Hmm... other than getting more Chicago cronies in Washington, he alleged to have requested the following:
1. a substantial salary for himself at either a non-profit foundation or an organization affiliated with labor unions;
2. a spot for his wife on paid corporate boards, where he speculated she might garner as much as $150,000 a year;
3. promises of campaign funds -- including cash up front;
4. a Cabinet post or ambassadorship for himself.
Who knows what else is going on there. At any rate, this is despicable and I'd hope there is outrage from both parties in Washington about this. I'm afraid somebody is going to decide it is somehow a witch hunt on the part of the lame duck Bush administration, but that would be obviously nothing more than lame attempts to shift the blame. This guy is a product of corrupt Chicago politics, as is our new President and judging by the people he has started to surround himself with, I'd have to say this is exactly the kind of thing we can expect from our next administration.
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