For Sale

Soon to be vacant Senate seat in rust belt state.

U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald described the corruption charges against Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich as "appalling," saying his "cynical behavior" reached "a truly new low."

"He has been arrested in the middle of what we can only describe as a political corruption crime spree," Fitzgerald said at a news conference in Chicago on Tuesday -- just hours after the Illinois governor and his chief of staff John Harris were arrested on two counts each of federal corruption charges stemming from allegations Blagojevich was trying to sell President-elect Barack Obama's vacated Senate seat to the highest bidder.

Fitzgerald said Blagojevich engaged in "pay-to-play politics" in an attempt to sell Obama's Senate seat. He said Blagojevich was recorded during court-authorized wiretaps as saying, "It's a bleeping valuable thing. You just don't give it away for nothing."

Some passing thoughts...

First, should we assume that Blagojevich is a Republican because, as Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid pointed out a few years back, Republicans are the purveyors of that dastardly "culture of corruption?" Fox News doesn't seem to know.

Second, if Jesse Jackson Jr. was lobbying so hard for the vacant seat, how deeply involved might he be? If not willing to play ball with Blagojevich, was he even aware that the good Gov was holding out for the best offer?

How many politicians in Illinois are going to have their names mentioned as having talked to Blagojevich for the seat? Are any of them corrupt, or, are they all corrupt? I wonder how many of these pols, after weeks of behind the scene lobbying for the position, might suddenly show an almost inexplicable change in their interest levels.

Will the federal prison system open up a special wing at one of its facilities that caters only to ex-Governors of Illinois?