Blog-ojevich
Unless you've been living in an underground bunker, or if you haven't been regularly logging on to Politics Watch lately (in which case, shame on you) you already know that Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested yesterday morning for what U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald called a "political corruption crime spree."
Specifically, Fitzgerald alleges Blagojevich was attempting to sell to the highest bidder the Illinois' U.S. Senate seat that Pres.-elect Barack Obama is vacating, of which it is his duty as governor of the state to fill with an appointment. Check out the 76-page criminal complaint filed before the two-term governor's arrest and a transcript of Fitzgerald's briefing to the Justice Department.
Today, we found out that Obama has called for Blagojevich to resign, and that the unnamed "Candidate 5" might have very well been Illinois Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr., who has denied any involvement in the governor's deeds.
Today, which is actually Blagojevich's 52nd birthday, the governor returned to work. And, since he still holds the title of governor, he could still appoint it however he likes — he could even give it to himself.
As anyone who is from Illinois should know, this is not the first time that a statesmen from the Land of Lincoln have dabbled in some extralegal activity. And it definitely wasn't the first governor.
Given the high number of MU students that are from Illinois, I'm sure the news of this incident spread rather quickly, and Politics Watch would like to know what everyone is saying about it. Who should fill the vacant seat? Who should take Blagojevich's job after the term is over?