Selling Obama's senate seat?

Barack Obama confident staff clear in governor Rod Blagojevich scandal | The Australian

Look at the illinois governor.  selling obama's senate seat? I was wondering whether obama and that jackass communicate since he became president elect.

PRESIDENT-ELECT Barack Obama says he will release in a matter of days the results of an internal investigation into what conversations his aides and advisers may have had with embattled Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.

The internal probe, which aides described as thorough, is looking to root out every contact between Obama's camp and Blagojevich's camp, according to Obama's representatives.

There was no clear timeline for the self-investigation to end, although Obama told reporters Thursday he would make the results public during "the next few days."

Blagojevich was arrested Tuesday on charges that he put Obama's vacant U.S. Senate seat up for bidding. The governor has ignored repeated calls for his resignation, including another one by Obama on Thursday, and retains the power to appoint Obama's replacement.

Nothing in the federal complaint suggests any wrongdoing by Obama or his staff. But the accusations against Blagojevich are an unwelcome distraction to Obama's transition, bringing fresh attention to some of the unsavory characters that have connections, however distant, to Obama and to questions of whether he can follow through on his message of change and clean government.

Blagojevich, meanwhile, went to work in his Chicago office Thursday in what a spokesman described in an "upbeat, positive" mood. Blagojevich's lawyers have insisted he is innocent, and stressed that he still has important work to do for the state of Illinois. Spokesman Lucio Guerrero added that he doesn't know if Blagojevich will step down.

Obama has said he was "absolutely certain" no one close to him was involved with the Illinois governor's alleged scheme.

Meanwhile, Illinois' attorney general has threatened to go to the state Supreme Court to have the governor declared unfit to hold office if he doesn't resign soon or get impeached by state lawmakers.

"Obviously right now in the best of all possible worlds the governor would do what's right for the people of the state of Illinois, he would resign," state Attorney General Lisa Madigan, a longtime Blagojevich foe considering a run for governor in 2010, told The Associated Press.

But "at this point he appears to be staying put" and Madigan wants a signal from lawmakers about whether they will move quickly on impeachment proceedings.

Legislative leaders, including Madigan's father, House Speaker Michael Madigan, planned a special session Monday to strip Blagojevich of his power to pick a new U.S. senator. Lawmakers also prepared to discuss the possibility of impeachment.

The White House on Thursday said President George W. Bush finds Blagojevich's alleged behavior "astounding." Obama said he was "as appalled and disappointed as anybody."

Obama called again on Thursday for Blagojevich to resign.

"I think the public trust has been violated," he said. "I do not think that the governor at this point can effectively serve the people of Illinois."

The prospect that the second-term Democratic governor might still try to appoint someone to the Senate also loomed.

"He appears to listen to no one, and his conduct becomes more outrageous as time goes on," said Steve Brown, spokesman for Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.

Four House Democrats sent a letter to their colleagues Thursday seeking support for a motion to impeach Blagojevich. The letter asks members to indicate whether they oppose the idea or support it, or even whether they want to co-sponsor the motion.

On Tuesday, FBI agents arrested Blagojevich at his home and prosecutors released a thick document that included excerpts of wiretapped conversations in which the governor allegedly schemed to enrich himself by offering to sell Obama's Senate seat for campaign cash or a lucrative job.

They also alleged he pressured the Tribune Co. to fire editorial writers at the Chicago Tribune after several negative editorials about Blagojevich.

Blagojevich is charged with conspiracy and solicitation to commit bribery, punishable by up to 20 years in prison and 10 years, respectively.

But it was unclear what incentive the governor had to give up his office.

A resignation might make him appear guilty. The office also gives him a certain amount of clout, which can help him raise money for his defense.

Republican Sen. Christine Radogno said it's possible Blagojevich would use his resignation as a bargaining chip with prosecutors and agree to step down in exchange for leniency.