BLAGO TO WEAR PRISON FASHIONS – AT 7:15 P.M. ET:  From the Chicago Sun-Times:

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was found guilty Monday of 17 out of 20 federal corruption charges — including all charges tied to allegations that the Chicago Democrat tried to trade an appointment to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama.

“Patti and I are obviously very disappointed in the outcome,” Blagojevich, standing with his wife, Patti Blagojevich, told reporters after the verdict was announced. “I, frankly, am stunned.”

The former governor blew kisses to supporters as he got in an SUV to leave, to the sound of some boos directed his way by spectators who gathered outside the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in downtown Chicago.

COMMENT:  All right, let's get beyond the obvious, that Blago is going to jail, like some other Illinois governors.   The key question involves his attempt to, in effect, sell the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama when Obama was elected president. 

So the questions:  What did President Obama know, and when did he know it?  What did the president's aides, including now Mayor Rahm Emanuel of Chicago know, and when did they know it?  What did Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. of Chicago, apparently the subject of some cash-for-appointment talks know, and when did he know it? 

The stonewalling has just begun.  But we have a right to know whether major public officials, including the president of the United State, were involved in these schemes, which would clearly be illegal.

Will the mainstream media start probing?  Or will it spend it time going through the high-school records of Republican presidential candidates?  Guess.

June 27, 2011