Rod Blagojevich – News Stories About Rod Blagojevich - Page 10

opinion

Dec 31, 2008 7:25 PM CST

Well Played, Blago

'Skin pigment trumps ideas' among Dems: Kass

(Newser) - Roland Burris says this is his media moment, but Illinois' "circus of the politically bizarre" still belongs to Rod Blagojevich, John Kass writes in the Chicago Tribune. No hapless jester, the brazenly calculated governor has dumped Democrats back into the racial politics Obama was supposed to transcend.

Confident Burris:
'I Am the Senator'

Dec 31, 2008 5:14 PM CST

Confident Burris: 'I Am the Senator'

'I am the senator,' former Illinois Attorney General said

(Newser) - Roland Burris is declaring himself the junior senator from Illinois, and he's confident that Democrats will "come around" and ditch their efforts to block his appointment, the Wall Street Journal reports. If they don't, he's got a team of lawyers ready to fight, but he doesn't think it will...

Illinois House Revives Chance of Special Election

Dec 31, 2008 4:03 PM CST

Illinois House Revives Chance of Special Election

Bill returns to committee hearing scheduled for next week

(Newser) - Add this to the confusion over a certain Senate seat in Illinois: Democrats may try to hold a special election to fill it after all. One day after Rod Blagojevich surprised all by naming his own appointment, the Illinois House speaker quietly revived the possibility of holding an election by...

Burris: Don't
Hold Blago
Against Me

Dec 31, 2008 12:19 PM CST

Burris: Don't Hold Blago Against Me

He says guv has power to appoint, objections might just be racist

(Newser) - This should be about me, not Rod Blagojevich, Ronald Burris has been saying in TV interviews since Blago named him to fill Barack Obama’s open Senate seat yesterday. Last night, he told MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, “I have nothing to do with the problems of the governor.”...

Rush Plays
Race Card on Burris Pick

Dec 31, 2008 11:28 AM CST

Rush Plays Race Card on Burris Pick

Tells Senate to take 'chill pill' and accept black member

(Newser) - Bobby Rush thinks Rod Blagojevich’s choice for Barack Obama’s Senate seat ought to get the job despite the governor’s alleged misdeeds, for one simple reason: He’s black. Yesterday at a press conference, Rush applauded the selection of Roland Burris, and urged the press not to “...

Fitzgerald Asks for More Time
in Blago Case

Dec 31, 2008 11:00 AM CST

Fitzgerald Asks for More Time in Blago Case

Citing complexities, attorney seeks to push back Jan. 7 deadline

(Newser) - US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald has asked for more time to bring his indictment against Rod Blagojevich, citing the complexity of the case and holiday distractions as the reasons for the hold up. Unless he gets the extension, Fitzgerald will have to present his evidence to the grand jury on Jan....

Burris Flap Rouses
Ghosts of Obama's Past

ANALYSIS

Dec 31, 2008 10:44 AM CST

Burris Flap Rouses Ghosts of Obama's Past

President-elect probably wants to forget these guys

(Newser) - If Barack Obama caught Rod Blagojevich’s press conference yesterday, in which he named Roland Burris to fill the vacant Senate seat, Obama probably saw everything he doesn’t miss about Illinois. Each member of the trio on stage—Blagojevich, Burris, and Rep. Bobby Rush—claims a history with Obama,...

Blagojevich Offered Job
to Davis First

Dec 31, 2008 10:25 AM CST

Blagojevich Offered Job to Davis First

But rep wouldn't take appointment from disgraced governor

(Newser) - Danny Davis wants to be a US senator, but not badly enough to accept an appointment from Rod Blagojevich. The disgraced governor’s attorney met with Davis and offered him Barack Obama’s seat last Wednesday, the US rep tells the Chicago Sun-Times. Davis had lobbied for the seat when...

Obama Blasts Blago's Move

Dec 30, 2008 5:47 PM CST

Obama Blasts Blago's Move

(Newser) - Barack Obama today criticized Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's decision to appoint a successor to the president-elect's Senate seat, CNN reports. Obama called the governor's move "disappointing" and said he backed Democrats' position of blocking any such appointment. Obama again urged Blagojevich to resign so Illinois could have a "...

Blago Names Burris;
Senate Dems Say
'No Way'

UPDATED

Dec 30, 2008 3:06 PM CST

Blago Names Burris; Senate Dems Say 'No Way'

(Newser) - Rod Blagojevich announced today that former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris will fill Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat, the Chicago Tribune reports. Blagojevich said Burris was a man of "unquestioned integrity" and asked that people not allow "the allegations against me to taint this good and honest...

Emanuel Will Leave
Congress Friday

Dec 29, 2008 4:19 PM CST

Emanuel Will Leave Congress Friday

(Newser) - Rahm Emanuel’s transformation from Congressman to White House chief of staff is almost complete, the Chicago Tribune reports. Emanuel sent a letter to Gov. Rod Blagojevich today stating his intention to resign his seat on Friday. Blagojevich has no power to appoint Emanuel’s successor; rather, he has 5...

The Bra Wire
That Brought
Down Blago

GLOSSIES

Dec 29, 2008 1:25 PM CST

The Bra Wire That Brought Down Blago

Ill. corruption probe started with hospital administrator

(Newser) - The FBI corruption investigation that ended with the Illinois governor started in the bra of a surburban Chicago hospital exec, Nina Burleigh writes in the New Yorker. In 2003, Pamela Davis was trying to get a new building approved when she was told to use a certain contractor or kiss...

Blago: 'I'm on the
Wrong Planet'

Dec 27, 2008 10:52 AM CST

Blago: 'I'm on the Wrong Planet'

'His people' meaning 'crooks'?

(Newser) - Rod Blagojevich said yesterday that if what he's done is an impeachable offense, he's living on the "wrong planet." Speaking to a reporter outside a Chicago law office, the governor said he was hired to fight for the people of Illinois, and that's what he was doing in...

Blago Wants Obama Aides
to Testify in Impeachment

Dec 26, 2008 1:41 PM CST

Blago Wants Obama Aides to Testify in Impeachment

Attorney asks state panel subpoena Emanuel, Jarrett

(Newser) - Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s attorney wants the state’s impeachment panel to subpoena two of Barack Obama’s top aides, Politico reports. Ed Genson is not alleging that Rahm Emanuel and Valerie Jarrett did anything wrong, but rather that their testimony would help prove that Blagojevich’s taped conversations...

2008 Hall of Infamy
Inductees

GLOSSIES

Dec 25, 2008 8:21 PM CST

2008 Hall of Infamy Inductees

A month-by-month gallery of the year's most ignominious figures

(Newser) - As we look back at the great people who made their mark this year, let us not forget to document the schlubby, the sneaky, and the just plain criminal. Vanity Fair has done the legwork, rounding up a month-by-month rogue's gallery. Some highlights:

January: Rudy Giuliani's Florida strategy was

...

The Year in (Wiki) Questions

Dec 25, 2008 2:31 PM CST

The Year in (Wiki) Questions

Month-by-month, WikiAnswers lists the top questions of 2008

(Newser) - Need a primer on 2008? TechCrunch runs down common questions from each month on WikiAnswers:

January: When was the last time snow fell in Baghdad?
February: Why did the Hollywood writers go on strike?
March: Why did Bear Stearns fail?
April: Which races has Danica Patrick won?
May: How successful

...

At Ill. Capitol,
It's a Festivus Miracle!

Dec 25, 2008 10:35 AM CST

At Ill. Capitol, It's a Festivus Miracle!

Teen augments holiday display with 'Seinfeld' homage

(Newser) - The Illinois state capitol's holiday decorations this year include a Nativity scene, a menorah—and a Festivus pole, courtesy of a teenage Seinfeld fan. Michael Tennenhouse visited for the Blagojevich impeachment hearings, stumbled on the holiday displays, and got to thinking. "Religious displays should not be in public buildings,...

Obama Report:
No Ties to
Blago Scandal

updated

Dec 23, 2008 3:54 PM CST

Obama Report: No Ties to Blago Scandal

Emanuel was in touch, but nobody knew Illinois governor was trying to sell Senate seat

(Newser) - Barack Obama's camp pronounced itself clean as a whistle today with regard to the Rod Blagojevich scandal, NBC reports. The president-elect’s team released an internal report saying that no one on the staff, including Obama himself, had any inappropriate contact with the Illinois governor as he considered appointments to...

Emanuel Still Gets Paycheck From Congress

Dec 23, 2008 9:30 AM CST

Emanuel Still Gets Paycheck From Congress

No salary (yet) for White House gig; he hasn't resigned as rep

(Newser) - Rahm Emanuel has started his new job as Barack Obama’s White House chief of staff, but his paycheck is still coming from Congress, the Hill reports. Emanuel is not getting a salary from Obama’s transition team. He hasn’t resigned the House seat to which he was just...

Obama Camp to Clear Air on Blago Contacts

Dec 22, 2008 11:29 AM CST

Obama Camp to Clear Air on Blago Contacts

Report will see light after delay requested by federal prosecutor

(Newser) - President-elect Obama plans to reveal tomorrow his staff's conversations with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. "We have a report," said a rep. "It's been ready for release for a week. We've held off at the request of the US Attorney's office and that continues to be the case,...