Obligatory Blagojevich scandal post

By GottaLaff

Just to keep you up to date:

The United States attorney prosecuting Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich of Illinois on federal corruption charges asked Wednesday for a 90-day extension to bring an indictment against the governor, as more details emerged about how Mr. Blagojevich worked behind closed doors to find someone to fill President-elect Barack Obama’s former Senate seat.[...]

Federal prosecutors normally have 30 days to file an indictment against a defendant. That deadline would have been Jan. 7, and the extension would give prosecutors until April 7 instead. [...]

In the motion filed in federal court on Wednesday, United States Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald asked for more time because “multiple witnesses” have come forward in recent weeks and investigators have to review “thousands of intercepted phone calls.”

Here is an example of what this time extension will provide for ratings-hungry, gossip-worshiping news [sic] outlets:

But, if nothing else, the image of all three standing together in front of flashing cameras served as a reminder of the political environment in which Obama developed: Blagojevich is awaiting an indictment; Burris may be blocked from claiming the Senate seat by leaders in Illinois and Washington; and Rush pushed for a black senator to replace Obama, who prefers not to participate in "the politics of race." [...]

It is that "taint" of controversy with which Obama has become associated during the past month. [...]

Activist Al Sharpton said yesterday: "I think that Governor Blagojevich is trying to save himself and cynically trying to draw the president-elect into this. But President-elect Obama should stay out of this. The worst thing that he could do is be drawn back into Illinois politics."

90 more days of opportunity for Republicans/the news [sic] media (synonymous, for the most part) to stumble all over themselves to manufacture stories that chip away at Obama. They need no justification other than an attempted bump in poll numbers/ratings/self-aggrandizement.

Happy New Year.