Governor Rod Blagojevich can add a new "F word" to his vocabulary: Fitzgerald

Remember that old childhood ditty "Dry Bones"? (The thigh bone's connected to the hip bone...) The skeleton of corrupt 21st century Illinois politics is being excavated from the dark back rooms and assembled in federal courtrooms. The latest bone was put in place by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, the FBI and SAIC Robert Grant, when Governor Milorad "Rod" Blagojevich was arrested at his home before dawn on Tuesday. Although the allegations against Blago were news to me (I live in Alaska and there is only one governor), it seems this has been a long time coming:

-Getting a boost up into politics by his father-in-law, Alderman Dick Mell, Blago later shut down a landfill operated by a Mell relative. Mell accused him of trading state board and commissions appointments for campaign contributions. He later retracted his statement.
-John Aramanda, who served in Obama's DC office in 2005, is the son of Joseph Aramanda, an Obama campaign contributor. Joseph is “Individual D” in (Blago's close friend) Tony Rezko's indictment, and allegedly received $250,000 in state pension money, in exchange for donating to Blago's campaign.
-Last year, Amrish and Anita Mahajan raised more than $500,000 in campaign money, hoping for political favors in a case pending with state regulators.
-Last November, lobbyist John Wyma bought a house through Patricia Blagojevich, earning her $30K in commission. The original homeowner, Mark Wight, was rewarded a $10 million state roads deal.
-This year, Ali Ata admitted to buying his job with the IL Finance Authority for a $127K campaign donation.

The Chicago Tribune reported that at least 75% of $25,000 donors gained something in return: jobs, contracts or favorable regulatory rulings. Similarly, they report that 75% of Patricia's $700K home-based business earnings came from state contractors and others with political ties. There is no doubt that Blagojevich could/can be bought. I hope some of those jobs went to Social Services, because involving his wife in his dirty works may potentially leave their daughters without both their parents for a few years.

Left wing news agencies are defending Barack Obama's non-statement on the case, but Republican party members are getting a bit impatient with Teflon Barry's ability to disconnect himself from his supporters whenever they become inconvenient to him. RNC Chairman Mike Duncan stated: "Americans expect strong leadership, but President-elect Barack Obama's comments on the matter are insufficient at best. Given the President-elect's history of supporting and advising Governor Blagojevich, he has a responsibility to speak out and fully address the issue." You see, when Blago ran for governor in 2002, one of his top advisors was Barack Obama. Another top advisor, Rahm Emanuel, this week recanted his statement from earlier this year that he and Obama "met weekly" with Blago during his campaign. Although there were rumblings of Blago "selling jobs" in his first term, Obama still endorsed Blago's run in 2006.

Two weeks ago David Axelrod said of the Senate replacement: "I know he [Obama] has talked to the governor, and there are a whole range of names, many of which have surfaced, and I think he has a fondness for alot of them." Tuesday Obama said he had no contact with the governor or his office. Personally, I trust that Axelrod would remember if there were conversations between his current boss and his former boss. Axelrod is currently Obama's top political advisor, and was Blago's campaign manager during his run for Congress in 1996.

As when Tony Rezko was indicted, Obama stated that he was "saddened" by Blago's indictment. I'm guessing his sadness might come with a fair share of fear. Can his voice be heard on the hours of tape the FBI has collected from wiretaps in Blago's office, conference room, and home? Had he been approached by Blago regarding a cabinet position (HHS) or an ambassadorship (maybe Cameron Munter's position?) in exchange for naming Valerie Jarrett as the new junior senator? On a side note, Jarrett has since pulled her name from consideration. Maybe Blago has some old dirt that would taint Obama's image. Short of physical evidence, what kind of testimony could Blago give that would be a threat to Obama? It makes you wonder. If Rezko hadn't gotten caught, would he have been bartering or blackmailing for a lucrative position on Obama's team, as well? Maybe if these guys keep their mouths shut, they'll warrant a presidential pardon. Hey, Hillary played the game and look where it got her.

I did not vote for Obama. However, I do defend him to those who want to unfairly tear him down before he even takes the oath. I am cautiously optimist with the emphasis on caution. I have resigned myself to the fact that he will be my President in a little over a month. As this case is brought out into the light, we will hear many more names of "bones" that can be connected to the crime syndicate that seems to rule Chicago politics. I sincerely hope those names do not include the Head of State bone.

-Blackfoot