Posted by Jim Lindgren:
It appears that Obama was not willing to cut a deal with Blagojevich.
http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2008_12_07-2008_12_13.shtml#1228849627
Here are the government allegations that include Blagojevich�s
frustration with the idea that Obama appears not to be willing to pay
him for appointing Obama�s presumed favorite as Senator.
101. c. ROD BLAGOJEVICH said that the consultants (Advisor B and
another consultant are believed to be on the call at that time) are
telling him that he has to �suck it up� for two years and do
nothing and give this �motherf**ker [the President-elect] his
senator. F**k him. For nothing? F**k him.�
ROD BLAGOJEVICH states that he will put �[Senate Candidate 4]� in
the Senate �before I just give f**king [Senate Candidate 1] a
f**king Senate seat and I don�t get anything.� (Senate Candidate 4
is a Deputy Governor of the State of Illinois). ROD BLAGOJEVICH
stated that he needs to find a way to take the �financial stress�
off of his family and that his wife is as qualified or more
qualified than another specifically named individual to sit on
corporate boards.
According to ROD BLAGOJEVICH, �the immediate challenge [is] how do
we take some of the financial pressure off of our family.� Later in
the phone call, ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated that absent getting
something back, ROD BLAGOJEVICH will not pick Senate Candidate 1.
HARRIS re-stated ROD BLAGOJEVICH�s thoughts that they should ask
the President-elect for something for ROD BLAGOJEVICH�s financial
security as well as maintain his political viability.
HARRIS said they could work out a three-way deal with SEIU and the
President-elect where SEIU could help the President-elect with ROD
BLAGOJEVICH�s appointment of Senate Candidate 1 to the vacant
Senate seat, ROD BLAGOJEVICH would obtain a position as the
National Director of the Change to Win campaign, and SEIU would get
something favorable from the President-elect in the future.
d. One of ROD BLAGOJEVICH�s advisors said he likes the idea, it
sounds like a good idea, but advised ROD BLAGOJEVICH to be leery of
promises for something two years from now. ROD BLAGOJEVICH�s wife
said they would take the job now. Thereafter, ROD BLAGOJEVICH and
others on the phone call discussed various ways ROD BLAGOJEVICH can
�monetize� the relationships he is making as Governor to make money
after ROD BLAGOJEVICH is no longer Governor.
102. Later on November 10, 2008, ROD BLAGOJEVICH and Advisor A
discussed the open Senate seat. Among other things, ROD BLAGOJEVICH
raised the issue of whether the President-elect could help get ROD
BLAGOJEVICH�s wife on �paid corporate boards right now.� Advisor A
responded that he �think[s] they could� and that a �President-elect
. . . can do almost anything he sets his mind to.�
ROD BLAGOJEVICH states that he will appoint �[Senate Candidate 1
[[Obama�s presumed favorite]]] . . . but if they feel like they can
do this and not f**king give me anything . . . then I�ll f**king go
[Senate Candidate 5].� (Senate Candidate 5 is publicly reported to
be interested in the open Senate seat). ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated that
if his wife could get on some corporate boards and �picks up
another 150 grand a year or whatever� it would help ROD BLAGOJEVICH
get through the next several years as Governor. . . .
104. On November 11, 2008, ROD BLAGOJEVICH talked with JOHN HARRIS
about the Senate seat. ROD BLAGOJEVICH suggested starting a
501(c)(4) organization (a non-profit organization that may engage
in political activity and lobbying) and getting �his (believed to
be the President-elect�s) friend Warren Buffett or some of those
guys to help us on something like that.�
HARRIS asked, �what, for you?� ROD BLAGOJEVICH replied, �yeah.�
Later in the conversation, ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated that if he
appoints Senate Candidate 4 to the Senate seat and, thereafter, it
appears that ROD BLAGOJEVICH might get impeached, he could �count
on [Senate Candidate 4], if things got hot, to give [the Senate
seat] up and let me parachute over there.� HARRIS said, �you can
count on [Senate Candidate 4] to do that.�
Later in the conversation, ROD BLAGOJEVICH said he knows that the
President-elect wants Senate Candidate 1 for the Senate seat but
�they�re not willing to give me anything except appreciation. F**k
them.�
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