Series I: Fitzgerald said this…So why isn’t Blagojevich in jail?

“This is a sad day for government.”

“Governor Blagojevich has been arrested in the middle of what we can only describe as a political corruption crime spree.”

“The most appalling conduct…”

“…pay-to-play…”

“…extortionate attempt against the Chicago Tribune newspaper…”

“The conduct would make Lincoln roll over in his grave.”

“But I can tell you one thing: If it isn't the most corrupt state in the United States, its certainly one hell of a competitor.”

“So, when you say you want a job for four years; you want a salary of about $300,000, and you basically want to work on behalf of a union and cost them $1.2 million to basically add no value, because people are already doing your job, and part of that is an exchange, where -- an exchange, if you don't get that job, no one's getting the appointed Senate seat, we're comfortable in the law that someone who schemes to do that has broken the law.

And we're not trying to criminalize people making political horse trades on policies or that sort of thing. But it is criminal when people are doing it for their personal enrichment and they're doing it in a way that is, in this case, clearly criminal.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/09/us/politics/09text-illinois.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/09/us/politics/09text-illinois.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/09/us/politics/09text-illinois.html?pagewanted=4&_r=1

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/09/us/politics/09text-illinois.html?pagewanted=7&_r=1

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/09/us/politics/09text-illinois.html?pagewanted=9&_r=1

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/09/us/politics/09text-illinois.html?pagewanted=10&_r=1

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/09/us/politics/09text-illinois.html?pagewanted=11&_r=1

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/09/us/politics/09text-illinois.html?pagewanted=12&_r=1

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/09/us/politics/09text-illinois.html?pagewanted=13&_r=1
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If Blago is such a criminal why isn’t he in jail?

Why is he still the governor?

If Blago is such a dangerous criminal why was his bail set for less than $5000?

Why wasn’t his bail set at $50 million?

Fitzgerald made Blago sound like he was the most dangerous criminal alive today.

Since Fitz did not request high bail, and allowed Blago to continue as governor, then Blago can continue all of his duties, including making the Burris appointment.

Reid has no legal basis to deny Burris his seat.
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