* Everybody wants to get into the act…
Last week’s revelation that Gov. Blagojevich was secretly recorded in his campaign office and on his home phone has prompted more than a dozen potential witnesses in recent days to come forward. They’ve been calling investigators and defense lawyers to talk about deals or discussions they’ve had with Blagojevich.
One prominent criminal defense attorney, who asked not to be named, said he alone received calls from three potential clients claiming to be victims of pay-to-play schemes under the governor.
“This is something they’ve been carrying around that they finally want to talk about,” the attorney said.
* And remember the “traffic jam” we heard about Friday? Well…
Other lawyers say they’ve been contacted by potential witnesses or subjects of the investigation who believe they are discussed in the complaint or who believe they may have been recorded.
* In other developments…
The Illinois Republican Party launched a new Web site that it says will link 12 different state Democrats to scandal-ridden Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
The site, Friendsofblago.com, is the latest incarnation of the state party’s hopes of turning President-elect Barack Obama’s Senate seat over to the GOP. […]
Currently, though, the web with strands connecting 12 postage-stamp sized squares to the embattled governor, links Blagojevich to only one other Democrat, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn. The other slots contain a question mark, and the words, “WHO’S NEXT?”
It’ll be over a week before visitors to the site find out.
The state GOP says it will “unveil a new Democrat and their Blagojevich connection each day to remind voters that Blagojevich Democrats should not be choosing our next U.S. Senator.”
- Anonymous - Sunday, Dec 14, 08 @ 5:50 am:
The Republican Party is puny, weak, and pathetic. Lacking in ideas and convictions, strenghs and strategies to win the war of ideas, they gather to figure out how to pounce on the chance to gain via the crook Blago and his ilk. They think winning is showing the public they aren’t as sleazy and low as Blago/Dems…and they aren’t…as far as we know. That may only be because they haven’t the power to demonstrate it (again)
- Justice - Sunday, Dec 14, 08 @ 6:25 am:
Rich you do a terrific job here and know what we know, it seems outside of Illinois they find it hard to believe when we have been living it. I am glad my name is not Harris or Blago or whatever happened to Levine……
- Bill Baar - Sunday, Dec 14, 08 @ 6:44 am:
The ignorance about Illinois politics from the National media is pretty stunning.
- Budget Watcher - Sunday, Dec 14, 08 @ 7:36 am:
Economically speaking, it’s a great time to be a defense attorney in Illinois. Mr. Blagojevich and friends have created a cottage industry for Illinois lawyers.
- Anonymous - Sunday, Dec 14, 08 @ 7:42 am:
yeah because Quinn and Blago were sooo close on ideology…ethics or any other relevant issue…
- Kirk Kut-ups - Sunday, Dec 14, 08 @ 8:43 am:
Wow. Another dynamic GOP website. Who dreamed this one up Oberweis? Keyes? How many links to the GOP/Blaggo gambling talks?
This is a breathtaking move.
- Chanahan Man - Sunday, Dec 14, 08 @ 9:54 am:
When will Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner be added to the web?
- wordslinger - Sunday, Dec 14, 08 @ 9:57 am:
There should be a GOP section on the website of those who played ball with Blago, too, right? Tom Cross, are you ready for your closeup?
- Southern Illinois - Sunday, Dec 14, 08 @ 11:03 am:
Two clowns that should make the list; Gary “Were goin to be great again” Forby and Brandon “It’s about jobs” Phelps.
- Pot calling kettle - Sunday, Dec 14, 08 @ 11:17 am:
Imagine all of the suits being prepared to halt implementation of bills the governor signed or action he took…and the same will go for any future actions.
This should be at the heart of Lisa M’s case before the Supreme Court. The Gov. can no longer act in his official capacity and must step aside (or be forced to do so) until his case is resolved.
- LS - Sunday, Dec 14, 08 @ 12:26 pm:
Who’s been a better “Friendofblago” than Tom Cross? Even while we knew he was under investigation, Cross wanted to give Rod a blank check for capital. All of Blago’s “friends” have something to answer for.
- "low level paper pusher" - Sunday, Dec 14, 08 @ 1:16 pm:
#1 connection should be Jay Hoffman.
By the way, is “Speaker Jay” (as so many Blagoites wanted) in hiding? Has anyone heard from him, or is he in a bunker way down there?
- Ms Port Belly Mushroom - Sunday, Dec 14, 08 @ 1:24 pm:
Low level–If I feel for anyone it’s Jay Hoffman. He is simply a victim of circumstances and this certainly can’t be the Rod Blagojevich he knew all those years. Hoffman really only wanted to do what’s right for the state, make a little money, and become the next Secretary of State. What’s wrong with that? Really . . .
- Anonymous - Sunday, Dec 14, 08 @ 5:49 pm:
Um, Ms Port…”only wanted to do what’s right for the state, make a little money, and become the next Secretary of State” sounds a lot like Blago….
- Ms Port Belly Mushroom - Sunday, Dec 14, 08 @ 6:27 pm:
Anon–Agreed,and that was my maybe too subtle point.
- hisgirlfriday - Sunday, Dec 14, 08 @ 7:19 pm:
Dear state GOP, how about a plan to get us out of this financial morass? Just because a Chicago Democrat in Blagojevich is corrupt (duh!) doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten about George Ryan, Lee Daniels or especially all the shenanigans at the national level under Bush and DeLay. You STILL need a positive message and positive plan to turn this state around and you still need to prove to Illinois voters you aren’t extreme right-wing nutbags like your cousins at the national level.
Blagojevich had a 13 percent approval rating for a reason and it was widely publicized how he got along with no one and had no real friends save for a few people like Emil and Jay Hoffman. If you are going to base your whole new strategy on criticizing “Blagojevich Democrats” you are insulting the intelligence of voters (not that we don’t have it coming after Blago was reelected in 2006… although I can’t say I had any part of that as an Eisendrath-JBT voter) considering how many Democrats were speaking out against him before this.
Heck, why not try to run on a strategy of presenting yourself as the COMPETENT party since that was as big of a problem with Blago as his corruption, even if Bush really undercuts that.
- this voter will remember - Sunday, Dec 14, 08 @ 8:19 pm:
Jay Hoffman’s picture should be on the spiderweb somewhere close to Blagojevich. Remember Jay Hoffman was at the table when the money was being exchanged for the other case.
- Oberon - Sunday, Dec 14, 08 @ 9:38 pm:
If Jay hasn’t lawyered up already, he should now. Along with a few other legislators…
And please remember, folks, Blago was re-elected by a plurality, not a majority. More than half the voters cast a ballot for the other candidates, having caught on long ago. That’s the only downside of a more-than-two-party race.
- Carbon Deforestation - formerly known as Soy Milk - Formerly Known As Napoleon has left the building - Sunday, Dec 14, 08 @ 11:29 pm:
The coming out of the woodwork issue is what is going to doom Blago from a criminal trial perspective. Some have said that they think the tape evidence and what Fitz charged this week isn’t the strongest case. Maybe not, but I believe from things I have heard that Team Blago has been shaking down lobbyists and contractors since at least 2004 and now that people are feeling free to talk - you’re going to see a flood of additional evidence against a guy who is hated by nearly all involved.
CD
- Ghost - Monday, Dec 15, 08 @ 8:17 am:
GOP has a good strategy. After all, when people here the name Quin they think of a die hard Blago supporter.
The repubs went donw with Ryan because they had actully supported him. The problem wth Blago, he was at war with alomost every dem in the State. Linking Blago to the dems has a good chance to backfire. The repubs did well with moderator canidates. intead of powerpoint presenations they may want to get back to looking fior electable canidates.
Mark Kirk can only hold so many offices.
- VanillaMan - Monday, Dec 15, 08 @ 9:05 am:
Ridiculous.
Everyone has been waiting for this train wreck and after four years - this is the best they can do?
Give voters a reason to vote GOP and stop telling what everyone already knows.
The Illinois Democrats sat on their hands or had their hands out and none of them with few exceptions should be trusted again.