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Obama Serves Reid Humble Pie, Chicago Style

OPINION

Jan 8, 2009 2:02 PM CST

Obama Serves Reid Humble Pie, Chicago Style

President-elect's reversal on Burris straight from rough-and-tumble Windy City roots

(Newser) - Barack Obama served Harry Reid up a Chicago-style, deep-dish slice of humble pie this week, telling the Senate majority leader to seat Roland “Tombstone” Burris, John Kass writes in the Chicago Tribune. Reid, for his part, “scarfed it down in front of reporters, without a fork, all but...

Ill. House Panel: Impeach Blago

Jan 8, 2009 11:41 AM CST

Ill. House Panel: Impeach Blago

Body documents numerous charges against governor

(Newser) - The Illinois House panel investigating Rod Blagojevich today released a report recommending his impeachment, the Chicago Tribune reports. The 69-page draft includes a laundry list of offenses, including misuse of state funds, refusing to release federal subpoenas to the public, and the much-publicized pay-to-play allegation. The committee said the governor’...

Blago's Impeachment Is a Go, Even Without Tapes

Jan 6, 2009 10:38 AM CST

Blago's Impeachment Is a Go, Even Without Tapes

Panel says it has sufficient evidence

(Newser) - Members of Rod Blagojevich's impeachment panel say they will move forward despite the possibility that they might not get to hear federal wiretaps of the governor's conversations with aides and others. "These tapes are relevant evidence, we'd like to have them," said a lawyer for the impeachment panel,...

Burris Arrives at Senate,
Not Allowed to Take Oath

Jan 6, 2009 10:28 AM CST

Burris Arrives at Senate, Not Allowed to Take Oath

Franken also not seated

(Newser) - Roland Burris strode briskly past the cameras through the rain into the Capitol today, demanding to be seated as Illinois’ Senator but was denied entry, CNN reports. The secretary of the Senate rejected his credentials, preventing him from taking the floor or the oath of office. It was "improperly...

Prosecution Gets 3 More
Months to Indict Blago

Jan 5, 2009 12:40 PM CST

Prosecution Gets 3 More Months to Indict Blago

(Newser) - A federal judge in Chicago today granted prosecutors an additional 3 months to present evidence and obtain an indictment in the corruption case against Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Chief Judge James Holderman said the case against Blagojevich is too complex to expect prosecutors to obtain an indictment by a...

Richardson
Camp Mum
to Vetters
on Pay-to-Play

Jan 5, 2009 7:42 AM CST

Richardson Camp Mum to Vetters on Pay-to-Play

Gov. tight-lipped about investigation

(Newser) - Bill Richardson’s sudden exit from the prospective Obama Cabinet is causing some Democrats to question the transition team’s vetting process. Sources tell Politico that Richardson evaded the team’s questions about the “pay-to-play” investigation he cited as his reason for backing out. The investigation has been public...

Reid Pressured
Blago on Senate Pick

Jan 3, 2009 3:37 PM CST

Reid Pressured Blago on Senate Pick

(Newser) - Harry Reid called Rod Blagojevich after the election, but before the governor’s arrest, to discourage him from appointing unelectable candidates to Barack Obama’s Senate seat, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. The Senate majority leader sought to put the kibosh on Reps. Jesse Jackson Jr. and Danny Davis, along with...

Ill. Puts Blago
Impeachment
on Fast Track

Jan 3, 2009 9:38 AM CST

Ill. Puts Blago Impeachment on Fast Track

Gov's access to Homeland Security info yanked

(Newser) - The Illinois House speaker is calling lawmakers back to session early for a possible impeachment vote on Rod Blagojevich next week, the Chicago Tribune reports. The move could help Democrats block Blago nominee Roland Burris from taking Barack Obama's Senate seat, reports the New York Times. Illinois House officials say...

Blago's the 'Gift That
Keeps On Giving'

OPINION

Jan 2, 2009 3:50 PM CST

Blago's the 'Gift That Keeps On Giving'

No end to antics for Governor Dead Meat

(Newser) - Covering Rod Blagojevich—aka “Gov. Dead Meat”—has been so much fun for Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass that in today’s mailbag column, a reader asks how much he’s paying Blago for the “gift that keeps on giving.” Kass’ reply: “As our esteemed...

A State of
Shameless
Opportunism

OPINION

Jan 1, 2009 12:55 PM CST

A State of Shameless Opportunism

Like all of its shameless politicos

(Newser) - Illinois politicians are swiftly revealing themselves as a pack of opportunists. Rod Blagojevich saw Obama’s seat as an opportunity to make a buck, Illinois Dems see an opportunity to oust their hated governor, and Roland Burris sees an opportunity to vault himself into the Senate—“no matter what...

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...

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...

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...

Best Political Scoops of '08

Dec 27, 2008 9:19 PM CST

Best Political Scoops of '08

(Newser) - Traditional media outlets and on-the-spot amateurs alike captured the year's biggest US political moments. Here is Politico's look at some of the biggest scoops:

Palin meets Couric: Interviewed by Katie Couric on CBS, Sarah Palin fumbled with softball questions such as which publications she reads. Democrats and Tina Fey pounced.

...

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...

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,...