A Senate seat is vacant because it's holder is now President-Elect.

So why not...sell it to the highest bidder? One problem here: That's illegal.

Too bad the Governor of Illinois did not pay attention to THAT little detail; he has been arrested on charges of conspiracy for attempting to do just that according to this Associated Press story (via. the "Waynesboro News Virginian" )--"Illinois gov. released on own recognizance".

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BLAGOJEVICH_CORRUPTION_PROBE?SITE=VAWAY&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was arrested on Federal corruption charges today (Tuesday, December 9); he has been released on orders of a federal judge...on his own recognisance??

He was released on a signature bond that specifies that he'll forfeit $4,500 bond if he doesn't appear in court. Blagojevich also was ordered to relinquish his passport and his firearm owner's identification car[d].

Huh?? I am sorry, but someone who is accused of trying to sell a Senate seat should not be released so easily. After all, he has been accused of not only trying to do that, but...

Blagojevich also was charged with illegally threatening to withhold state assistance to Tribune Co., the owner of the Chicago Tribune, in an attempt to strong-arm the newspaper into firing editorial writers who had criticized him.

The 51-year-old Democrat was also accused of engaging in pay-to-play politics - that is, doling out jobs, contracts and appointments in return for campaign contributions.

Interfering with freedom of the press. Giving out contracts and appointments for the price of campaign contributions.

According to Federal investigators, Blagojevich's method was one that would make Tony Soprano green with envy:

Federal investigators bugged the governor's campaign offices and tapped his home phone, capturing conversations laced with profanity and tough-guy talk from the governor. Chicago FBI chief Robert Grant said even seasoned investigators were stunned by what they heard, particularly since the governor had known for three years [he] was under investigation for alleged hiring fraud.

How blatant! The Governor KNEW he was being investigated for years. Yet he continued his sh*t anyway?
And it took this long for the Feds to act? Was the "tipping point" the attempt to sell President-Elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat? And if it was? Well, the Feds seeem to be convinced that Obama has no connection to this situation.

Are the federal investigators wrong? Apparently not, for this is what Blagojevich said about his chances of getting what he wanted from Obama:

Blagojevich was overheard complaining at one that Obama's people are "not going to give me anything except appreciation." He added: "(Expletive) them."

Why did Blagojevich risk everything? Well...

In court papers, the FBI said Blagojevich expressed frustration at being "stuck" as governor. "I want to make money," the governor, whose salary is $177,412, was quoted as saying in one conversation.

Money talks, doesn't it?

And who exactly were trying for this vacancy?

The charges do not identify by name...[T]hose being considered for the post include: Reps. Jesse Jackson Jr., Danny Davis, Jan Schakowsky and Luis Gutierrez; Illinois Senate President Emil Jones; and Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs Director Tammy Duckworth.

All Democrats...very liberal Democrats. Like Obama-type liberal. (A better term might be "socialist assholes".)

Also note what Governor-on-the-Take tried to get:

Money for the Senate seat and/or a "plum job" for his wife;
A job with a non-profit or union-affiliated group;
A Cabinet post;
An Ambassadorship;
His wife placed on corporate boards (a possible $150K+ a year);
or even..
Appointing HIMSELF to the Senate seat (where he would get more resources (apparently in his defense) if he had been indicted while there).

The biggest irony of all?

What was the biggest campaign promise he made in 2003?

The one that got him elected to the Governorship?

How about that he promised "to clean up former Gov. George Ryan's mess": Ryan is now serving a six-year prison sentence after being convicted on racketeering and fraud charges!

The same charges that Blagojevich is now facing himself.
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I guess his seat in Club Fed will be the winning offer