Blagojevich seriously considered offering Oprah Winfrey the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama

On tapes played in court, Blagojevich makes clear that he seriously considered offering the Barack Obama Senate seat to Oprah Winfrey. Oprah would probably make a better Senator than the joke from Minnesota Al Franken. WGNtv has a video that includes the audio of the Blagojevich Oprah comments.

 

The Washington Post reported:

In a Nov. 21, 2008, conversation, Blagojevich makes clear that he seriously considered offering the job to Oprah Winfrey. His chief of staff, John Harris, calls the idea “crazy” and says, “So . . . you’re trying to shed some grace on thee by picking her?”

“What do you mean?” Blagojevich asks.

“Meaning,” Harris replies, “isn’t it just simply you’re looking for a celebrity to be your friend?”

“No, not at all,” Blagojevich continues. “This one, she’s so up there, so high, that nobody can assail this pick. This would be huge.”

Testimony: Rod Blagojevich only worked 2 ~6 hours a week and hid in bathroom to avoid bad news

No wonder Illinois is nearing bankruptcy.

The Chicago Tribune reported:

The jury this morning is hearing more testimony about how inattentive Gov. Rod Blagojevich could be on the job...

Greenlee said Blagojevich rarely came in to the office -- generally just two to eight hours a week.

Like other former top aides and advisers to Blagojevich, Greenlee said that he quickly found he had to tread lightly when telling the then-governor something he didn’t want to hear. Blagojevich froze out advisers who told him bad news, Greenlee said.

One example, Greenlee said, was John Filan, who had long been the architect of Blagojevich’s budgets...

Blagojevich would go out of his way to avoid Filan, hiding in the bathroom and holding up in his office until Filan left, Greenlee recalled.

Obama endorsed this loser for Governor of Illinois twice. Here is the 2002 endorsement.(00:45 mark)


In 2006, Obama endorsed Blagojevich again even though he was under the dark cloud of a hiring scandal at the time.

In an interview with the Chicago Daily Herald in July 2006, then-Sen. Obama said, "I have not followed closely enough what's been taking place in these investigations to comment on them. Obviously I'm concerned about reports that hiring practices at the state weren't, at times, following appropriate procedures. How high up that went, the degree at which the governor was involved, is not something I'm going to speculate on.

"If I received information that made me believe that any Democrat had not been acting in the public interest, I'd be concerned," Obama said....

"We've got a governor in Rod Blagojevich who has delivered consistently on behalf of the people of Illinois," Obama told the crowd.

Blagojevich Update: Rezko asked him to write a $10,000 check to Friends of Obama.

No surprise here.

Sun Times reported: The name of President Obama came into play this afternoon at the political corruption trial of former governor Rod Blagojevich as an associate of political fund-raiser Tony Rezko testified that Rezko asked him to write a $10,000 check to Friends of Obama....

Hmm...Dick Durbin Subpoenaed In Blagojevich Trial

We have to wonder what this is about. Will Durbin rollover on Obama? Popcorn anyone?

MSNBC reported:

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin says he's been subpoenaed by Rod Blagojevich's defense attorneys to testify at the ousted Illinois governor's upcoming corruption trial.

Durbin discussed the subpoena during an appearance in Chicago on Friday — a day after Blagojevich's lawyers asked a federal judge to issue a subpoena to force President Barack Obama to testify.

Obama Played a Big Role in Selecting Blagojevich's Replacement

Ron Blagojevich is being prosecuted for allegedly selling his Senate seat. He claims he is innocent and wants to force President Obama to testify. President Obama claims he had no contact with Blagojevich's office during this time, but records but censored court records released by Mediaite indicate Obama was not only involved, but actually seemed to be trying to control the process. Could this implicate Obama in a crime?

From Mediaite:

These pieces of alleged evidence mostly serve to highlight the level of involvement the President had in the negotiations. He was, according to these conversations, overseeing all the talks and very invested in giving the seat to Senate candidate B (identified in the original federal complaint at IL Attorney General Lisa Madigan, though whether the defense is using the same identification numbers that the federal complaint used is unclear). In fact, if his “Supporter” “offered ‘fundraising’ in exchange for Senate Candidate B,” it would follow that it wasn’t Blagojevich who tried to sell the seat, but the unidentified supporter who tried to buy it.

Go here to see the exclusive leaked court records.

Burris Promised to 'do something' for Blagojevich

Many people wondered exactly how Roland Burris got nominated for Obama's Senate seat by then Gov. Blagojevich. Blagojevich was under investigation for trying to sell the seat to the highest bidder. Burris denied any wrong doing. Now, the FBI is releaseing audio tapes. The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting:

In a Nov. 13 conversation recorded by the FBI, Roland Burris told Rod Blagojevich's brother he feared donating money to the governor would make it look as if he was "trying to buy an appointment," but Burris ends the call saying he would kick in to the fund.

Burris says on tape that he's trying to figure out "how to deal with this and still be in the consideration for the appointment."



Burris ends the call saying: "I will personally do something OK? And it will come to you before the 15th of December."

Rod Blagojevich was arrested Dec. 9 on charges that included trying to sell President Obama's vacant Senate seat to the highest bidder.

Like father, Like son-Roland Burris's son landed job from Blagojevich

The apple did not fall far from the tree in the case of Roland Burris's son. Roland W. Burris II got a job as housing authority senior counsel on Sept. 10 despite facing foreclosure on his own home and a federal tax lien for $34,163 in unpaid taxes. Burris II built his home in the booming Bronzeville neighborhood on land he bought from the city of Chicago in 2000 for $1. In late December, then Governor Blagojevich appointed Roland Burris Sr. to the senate seat vacated by Barack Obama. This doesn't pass the smell test, but little about Chicago and Illinois politics ever does.

BURRIS' SON GOT STATE JOB FROM BLAGO
SCANDAL MUSHROOMS | He serves as housing authority counsel despite facing foreclosure on his own home

February 26, 2009

BY CHRIS FUSCO, TIM NOVAK AND DAVE MCKINNEY Staff Reporters

The son of embattled Sen. Roland Burris is a federal tax deadbeat who landed a $75,000-a-year state job under former Gov. Rod Blagojevich five months ago, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned.

Blagojevich's administration hired Roland W. Burris II as a senior counsel for the state's housing authority Sept. 10 -- about six weeks after the Internal Revenue Service slapped a $34,163 tax lien on Burris II and three weeks after a mortgage company filed a foreclosure suit on his South Side house. (excerpted) read more at suntimes.com

Illinois Senate tells Rod Blagojevich to not let the door hit him in the butt on the way out

Personally, I am going to miss this guy. He epitomizes the worst of Democratic politics. He has been an embarrassment to Democrats in general and the State of Illinois. Well, Democrats anyway. He is just following a long tradition of corrupt politicians in Illinois. Wait a minute. Doesn't Barack Obama hail from the State of Illinois?

Illinois Senate Kicks Blagojevich Out of Office
Illinois senators were unswayed by Rod Blagojevich's closing statement delivered earlier in the day in which the former governor insisted that he should not be thrown out of office on what he called incomplete evidence.

FOXNews.com
Thursday, January 29, 2009

Illinois senators stripped Rod Blagojevich of power Thursday in the final act of a political drama that handed the reins of state government to his estranged lieutenant, Pat Quinn, and will likely end Blagojevich's career in politics. (excerpted) from FoxNews.com...

More infomation is coming out on Obama's Blagojevich contacts

In spite of what the Obama team has told us, the contacts than had with Blagojevich ran deep. The most troubling thing is Obama wanted to maintain a close relationship with Blagojevich even after he was under suspicion. New information has been uncovered through the Freedom of Information act.

Blagojevich Contacts with Obama and Transition Team: Update
January 10, 2009
Judicial Watch Obtains Documents Re: Blagojevich Contacts with Obama and Transition Team
by Tom Fitton
Judical Watch

When federal authorities arrested Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich in early December for attempting to "sell" Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat, among other corruption charges, focus immediately turned to Barack Obama. Did the Obama team have any knowledge about the scheme? Obama vehemently denied he had any contacts with Blagojevich.

Not true, according to documents obtained by Judicial Watch this week from Blagojevich's office through the Freedom of Information Act. (You may recall that we filed a FOIA request on December 18th.)

The documents include a December 3, 2008, letter from Barack Obama following his well-publicized December 2, 2008, meeting with Blagojevich as well as a November 17, 2008, letter signed by Presidential Transition Team co-chairs Valerie Jarrett and John Podesta providing Blagojevich with a list of transition team contacts. Full story here.

Blagojevich impeached

The Illinois House finally got around to impeaching embattled Governor Rod Blagojevich. The vote was 114-1. One vote of "present" was cast by Rep. Elga Jefferies (D-Chicago). I guess she did that to honor President Elect Obama who often used that tactic. In the tradition of Former President Bill Clinton, Blogojevich is refusing to resign.

House impeaches Blagojevich
January 9, 2009 2:28 PM | 27 Comments

SPRINGFIELD---In a historic vote, the Illinois House has impeached Gov. Rod Blagojevich, directing the Senate to put the state's 40th chief executive on trial with the goal of removing him from office.

The vote by the House was 114-1 with one member voting "present." It marks the first time in the state's 190-year history that a governor has been impeached, despite Illinois' longstanding reputation for political corruption.

Rep. Milt Patterson (D-Chicago) was the lone vote against impeachment. The "present" vote was cast by Rep. Elga Jefferies (D-Chicago).

A spokesman for the governor said he won't resign. Full story here.

The Roland Burris circus arrived at the Senate today

The man appointed by tainted Governor Rod Blagojevich arrived to claim his Senate seat. He found the door figuratively shut in his face. The Secretary of the Senate Nancy Erickson refused to allow Burris to be placed in the record books. He was not allowed to proceed to the floor for the purpose of taking an oath. His papers were not in order. Is anyone surprised by the outcome? I guess Burris got his 15 minutes of fame today. I hope he can now be forgotten. I am afraid we will hear from this blowhard again.

Burris denied seat in US Senate to succeed Obama
Jan 6 01:45 PM US/Eastern
By LAURIE KELLMAN and ANN SANNER
Associated Press Writers


WASHINGTON (AP) - Roland Burris failed in his bid to take President-elect Barack Obama's Illinois Senate seat on Tuesday in a scripted piece of political theater staged just before the opening of the 111th Congress.

"My credentials were not in order, I will not be accepted, I will not be seated," Burris, 71, told a mob of reporters who had followed him across the street for a news conference in a cold and steady rain outside the Capitol.

The former Illinois attorney general said he was "not seeking to have any type of confrontation" over taking the seat that he was appointed to by embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich. But Burris, who would be the Senate's only black member, also said he was considering a federal lawsuit to force Senate Democrats to seat him.

It was a major distraction for majority Democrats eager to project an image of progress with Obama on an economic stimulus package that could cost up to $1 trillion.

Democrats and Obama have said that the corruption charges against Blagojevich would strip credibility from anyone he appoints to the seat. Burris and many of his supporters have suggested that the real reason for the rejection involved race.

Blagojevich denies federal accusations that he tried to sell Obama's seat. Democrats, for their part, deny that race has anything to do with Burris' rejection and say that it's a reflection on Blagojevich.

That Secretary of the Senate Nancy Erickson turned away Burris was no surprise; Senate Democrats had warned for weeks that if Burris showed up to be sworn in on Tuesday without the signature of the Illinois secretary of state, he would be turned away. That's just what happened. Link here.

Incoming Blagojevich drama bomb at US Senate

Tuesday, Gov. Rod Blagojevich appointed former State Comptroller and Attorney General Roland Burris to Obama's Senate seat. This is the same seat he allegedly tried to sell. Why would Roland Burris accept the offer of a tainted Senatorial seat from Gov. Rod Blagojevich? He has little hope of ever being allowed to hold that Senatorial seat. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has said he will refuse to seat Roland Burris. If anyone has an idea why he may have made this decision, please post your opinion in the comments section. There are rumors he may show up Tuesday at the Capitol with disgraced Gov. Rod Blagojevich in tow. Popcorn anyone?

Burris battles road blocks to Senate
December 31, 2008 at 5:37 PM | Comments (24)
WASHINGTON -- As U.S. Senate leadership developed an elaborate set of contingency plans today to keep Roland Burris from taking over President-elect Barack Obama's seat, the disputed appointee promised not to "create a scene" when the Senate convenes next week.

If Burris shows up Tuesday to claim the seat given to him by disgraced Gov. Rod Blagojevich, the outcomes range from a denial of entry to a limbo where he can hire staff but not vote.

Today, Burris' lawyers took the first legal action in what could be a prolonged court fight, seeking to force Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White to certify Blagojevich's paperwork making the appointment.

Should Burris appear in Washington without that certification, armed police officers stand ready to bar him from the Senate floor, said a Democratic official briefed on Senate leaders' plans.

Leadership also is considering the possibility of Blagojevich appearing in person to escort Burris. Ironically, the scandal-plagued governor would be allowed onto the Senate floor, because sitting governors are allowed floor privileges, while Burris would not without certification. Blagojevich spokesman Lucio Guerrero said the governor had not decided whether he will appear in Washington next week with Burris. Full story here.

Obama's team clears Obama's team in Blagojevich scandal

Well, I for one am not shocked. When people or organizations investigate themselves, they never seem to find any wrong doing. According to The Smoking Gun Obama and two members of his team were interviewed by federal prosecutors about the Blagojevich scandal.

Obama Interviewed In Blagojevich Probe
President-elect, two aides quizzed last week by federal prosecutors

DECEMBER 23--President-elect Barack Obama and two of his top advisers were interviewed last week by federal prosecutors probing Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's alleged bid to sell Obama's vacated Senate seat, according to a report issued today by an Obama lawyer. The lawyer, Gregory Craig, concluded that Obama and his aides engaged in no improper conduct in connection with the Senate opening. A copy of the Craig report can be found below. As part of his review of transition team "contacts" with Blagojevich, Craig reported that only incoming White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel had spoke with the Illinois pol. Emanuel, Craig disclosed, had "one or two telephone calls" with Blagojevich in early-November. The Smoking Gun.

I will await the report from Federal Prosecutor Fitzgerald. Meanwhile, President Elect Obama took off on a Hawaiian vacation and White House Chief of Staff designate Rahm Emanuel has gone on vacation to Africa. I guess they did not want to answer any questions about the report.

No Improper Contact With Governor, Says Obama Report

Article Tools Sponsored By
By JEFF ZELENY
Published: December 23, 2008

HONOLULU — An internal report issued on Tuesday by lawyers for President-elect Barack Obama found that his top advisers had numerous contacts with the office of Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich and attempted to guide his choice to fill a vacant Illinois Senate seat, but none of the talks suggested an attempt to play along with the governor’s alleged attempts to sell the seat.

Rahm Emanuel, the new White House chief of staff, had two conversations with Mr. Blagojevich and four calls with John Harris, the governor’s chief of staff, about the Senate seat. He provided a list of six names of Illinois Democrats whom Mr. Obama favored to fill his Senate seat.

“At no time in the discussion of the Senate seat or of possible replacements did the president-elect hear of a suggestion that the governor expected a personal benefit in return for making this appointment to the Senate,” said the report, which was written by Gregory Craig, the new White House counsel. Full story here.

Obama's Blagojevich story is crumbling

Obama insisted that none of his staff had a part in the attempted selling of his Senate seat by Gov. Blagojevich. "I have never spoken with the governor on this subject. I am confident that no representative of mine would have any part in any deals related to this seat," Obama said. It appears that Obama's chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, has been talking to Blagojevich. The details of those discussions are not yet known.


Emanuel Had Contact With Governor’s Office on Senate Seat

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By HELENE COOPER and JACKIE CALMES
Published: December 13, 2008

CHICAGO — President-elect Barack Obama’s chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, communicated with the office of Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich of Illinois about potential candidates for Mr. Obama’s Senate seat and provided a list of names, according to two Obama associates briefed on the matter. Full story here.

Another of Obama's buddies goes to jail

Inauguration day is not here and two of Obama's Chicago buddies are already in jail for corruption. How can we forget his friend Tony Rezko. Now, the Governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, has been arrested and is accused of trying to sell Obama's Senate seat appointment. Illinois and Chicago are certainly in the running for having the dirtiest politicians in the world. Of course, the MSM refused to report this detail during the election. Obama said he has had no contact with Gov. Blagojevich since his election. That contradicts an interview by David Axelrod on Nov. 23. The question now is will Blagojevich sing?

Blagojevich arrested on federal charges
December 9, 2008 at 2:11 PM | Comments (107)

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.

Blagojevich is accused of a wide-ranging criminal conspiracy, including alleged attempts by the governor to try to sell or trade the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by President-elect Barack Obama in exchange for financial benefits for the governor and his wife. Blagojevich also is accused of obtaining campaign contributions in exchange for other official actions.

Blagojevich was taken into federal custody at his North Side home this morning--one day shy of his 52nd birthday. Full story here.