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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009
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Blago Toyed With Giving Rival's Daughter Senate Seat...

...in exchange for dad's pet-project support

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(Newser) – Ousted Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich considered nominating his rival's daughter to the US Senate in exchange for concessions on pet projects, the AP reports. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, daughter of the state's powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan, was in contention for the spot, according to aides to Sen. Dick Durbin. In turn, Blagojevich wanted capital spending projects and a health care bill stuck in the legislature to move forward.

The appointment of Madigan would have come as a shock, given the then-governor's tumultuous relationship with her father. Durbin's aides confirmed that the Illinois senator thought she would be a good choice, an "innocuous compromise" likely to withstand a Republican challenge. As of November, Madigan, who many believe will run for governor in 2010, believed she had a "less than zero" shot at the seat.

Ill. Attorney General Lisa Madigan. Rod Blagojevich floated a plan to give President Obama's former Senate seat to Madigan, the daughter of his biggest political rival, in exchange for concessions.
Ill. Attorney General Lisa Madigan. Rod Blagojevich floated a plan to give President Obama's former Senate seat to Madigan, the daughter of his biggest political rival, in exchange for concessions.   (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File)
Just two weeks before his arrest on corruption charges, then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich floated a plan to give President Obama's former Senate seat to Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan.
Just two weeks before his arrest on corruption charges, then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich floated a plan to give President Obama's former Senate seat to Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan.   (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File)
Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his wife Patti watch election returns in their Chicago home.
Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his wife Patti watch election returns in their Chicago home.   (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, file)
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[This is] another example of Mr. Blagojevich being a very troubled and very confused person and that's why Illinois is in the predicament that it is today. - Steve Brown, spokesman for Michael Madigan

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3 comments
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Derni
Jun 2, 09 8:19 AM CDT
iLLINOIS-THE sTRATE GOV'T THAT DOESN'T WORK FOR THE PEOPLE-HER DAD NEEDS TO GO AND QUICKLY SO WE CQAN MOVE FORWARD. HE'S A CONTROL FREAK AND IN LOVE WITH HIS "POWER"-NOT WITH MAKING THINGS RIGHT FOR THE P[OPLE BUT FOR HIMSELF. Reply
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northeast
Jun 2, 09 10:30 AM CDT
Why is everyone in Il. politics related to one another? Wait, I already know the answer. Reply
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TerrifiedCitizen
Jun 2, 09 4:48 PM CDT
Arranged marriages were always part of old Europe and the mob... they invented such strategies. Reply
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