12/10 Roundup: Crooked Rod, Future Cars, Blago or Tony Soprano?

Blago SopranoLeader: Crooked Rod

- Nobody ever said politics was a squeaky clean business, but Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has taken us to new lows-- new, at least, since the darkest days of Tammany Hall-style machine politics.  The governor was arrested yesterday morning, ending a "corruption crime spree" highlighted by his attempt to sell the Senate seat Barack Obama has vacated and Blago has the exclusive right to fill.

- The Chicago Tribune has the full complaint against Blago here. The Trib itself was caught up in all this, as the paper withheld a story revealing that the Governor's phones had been tapped, to avoid spoiling the investigation.  Further, the paper was one subject of the Governor's wrath-- he threatened to withhold state funding of the paper unless the ownership fired unfriendly editorial writers.  "Slimebag" has been redefined.

- Barack Obama seems to be clean, but Ben Smith of Politico sees risks for Obama nonetheless. The big question, however, is how the empty seat will be filled.  Clearly, nobody thinks Blago should choose, though he still has the constitutional right.  Chris Cillizza covers the tricky processes ahead, and CQ looks at the possibility that the Illinois Legislature will strip Blago of his power and put the seat up for a vote.

Economy

- Congress has reached an agreement that would send $15 billion in loans to GM and Chrysler, and compel President Bush to immediately appoint a Car Czar to oversee the progress of the auto manufacturers as they restructure.

- $15 billion for auto makers now is like $15 billion for the mail-order catalogue business on the eve of eBay. So says Tom Friedman in the NY Times.  Why? Because Shai Agassi has the model of the future, just waiting for an investment like that: A national network of electric car-charging stations.

Politics

- Speaking of corrupt governors, Don Siegelman, the former governor of Alabama, is seeking to have his 2006 bribery conviction overturned.  

- Gebe Martinez writes in Politico that immigration is an issue Obama can't ignore.  It will undoubtedly claim much of his attention in his first term.

International

- Riots rage into their fourth day in Greece following the shooting of a boy by a police officer. The riots have pulled together an odd coalition: Anarchists, left-wing pacifists, and high school students.

One More Thing

- Benjy Sarlin has a really fun game: Guess the speaker of the quote, Blago or Tony Soprano!

- Joe the Plumber tells all!  Turns out he was appalled by John McCain.

- Last, perhaps all this Blagononsense will be more believable coming from a US Attorney, rather than me: