When the news broke that Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich was arrested Tuesday morning by FBI agents on federal corruption charges - aka trying to sell President-elect Obama's Senate seat (among other things) - our first thought was, "How exactly do you sell a Senate seat?"
The second was, "Who would buy it?"


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It appears that Obama has steered cleared of charges in this case. I believe it's the fourth Governor arrested from the state of Illinois during the past 40 years.

I'm not sure exactly how this is "Obama's" governor. I realize they're from the same state, but then I'm from the same state as Arnie, the Governator, and I don't own him.

What I find pretty fascinating is just how cheap corruption is in this country. Bush sold California to Enron for a pittance. Jefferson was arrested for $90,000 in his freezer. This is the kind of money you'd expect for a bribe in Guatemala, most third world countries sell political power for millions of dollars, not thousands. The governor of IL wanted a job for his wife, in exchange for a seat in the US Senate. Ted Stevens sold himself for a $2,000 chair.

Seems bizarre how little the going price for bribery is.

Originally Posted by Learning Newbie

Seems bizarre how little the going price for bribery is.

Is it that cheap or is it just so common anymore and it is done all the time until they get caught.

Maybe it is just a way of life for these people.

Why do I keep seeing in my head Obama standing behind a podium, biting his lip, pointing his finger, and saying "I did not have political relations with that Governor"..



And yes, bribery is amazingly cheap.. It boggles the mind..

Originally Posted by Learning Newbie

I'm not sure exactly how this is "Obama's" governor. I realize they're from the same state, but then I'm from the same state as Arnie, the Governator, and I don't own him.

We don't own our Governor? Well that explains a lot.

I truly don't understand why the news media feel the need to drag Obamas name in to this, I also have to question if this would have been as big a deal if it where for example the Nevada senate seat, the very fact that it is indeed a process to select Obamas replacement is what's drawing it to the media attention and forcing people to do something. I'm sure politicians have been a little more corrupt in the past to achieve campaign contributions...

They drug his name in because

1. It's his seat being sold
2. Obama and Blagojevich share a common history with Tony Rezko.

Other than that it's no more than they would do to a republican.. The new has worn off and now they are back to slinging dirt at whoever is in charge.. It's what they do and why they can't be trusted..

Of the past 8 people who've been Governor of Illinois, 4 are convicted felons. Blagojevich replaced Gov Ryan, a Republican, who lives in a federal penitentiary in nearby Indiana. There's something very wrong here. Jon Stewart pointed out that only 48 % of murderers wind up in prison - killing somebody is actually a safer thing to do, than becoming Governor of Illinois. Honestly, it seems as corrupt as Alaska.

I think the very low price of bribery and corruption is telling us that people don't think it's terribly risky to sell out the public trust. If people thought it was very likely that they'd be caught, they would charge an awful lot more. If they thought it was almost certain they'd be caught, they wouldn't do it, obviously, but given how pricing works, I think this (a US senate seat for a job!) tells us it's just not a big deal for people in power to abuse that power.

And, obviously, it's not limited to only Democrats or only Republicans. Provides great fodder going into an election, but it's not a partisan problem.

I still think they should put it on eBay and see what it's really worth on the open market.. Besides, Illinois could use the money..

Its definitely not a problem specific to Republicans or Democrats, though it is interesting that Louisiana and Illinois are at the top of the list for corruption (Sorry Newb, not Alaska, though Alaska has a horrible history with that). Interestingly, Louisiana and Illinois were coincidentally entirely run by the Democrats. Unlike Illinois, Louisiana has been elected the Democrats out of office, replacing them with Republicans. I guess it seems pretty clear that Lousiana residents made it clear who they felt was to blame for Katrina, and it wasn't the party of George W. Bush.

Illinois, on the other hand, has been a sewer of corruption since JFK's daddy was stuffing ballot boxes in Chicago with the help of the Mafia to get his boy elected. Back then, you could blame organized crime. Though the mob isnt dead, i'd say the one party rule of the state (Yes they are all Democrats through and through) has much more to do with the continuance of their problem than anything else.