Wonkette gets its digs in on the “esteemed statistical clearinghouse,” USA Today, coming to North Dakota’s defense:

[O]ne arrives at this metric by dividing the number of political corruption convictions in the past ten years by the number of residents. Thus, low-population states with normal-sized governments are disproportionately “corrupt,” as evidenced by the shameful badge of corruption affixed to neighboring South Dakota and Montana. Meanwhile, the truly corrupt states (Rhode Island, anyone?) emerge a shade better, because they never bother to arrest, or god forbid convict, their political criminals. Instead, they elect them Mayor of Providence.

In a conversation with Harris on November 11, the charges state, Blagojevich said he knew that the President-elect wanted Senate Candidate 1 for the open seat but “they’re not willing to give me anything except appreciation. [Expletive] them.”

The criminal complaint against Blagojevich and Harris (pdf) shows how Blagojevich felt about Obama; as it’s not-safe-for-work, I’ll hide it after the jump.

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ROD BLAGOJEVICH said that the consultants (Advisor B and another consultant are believed to be on the call at that time) are telling him that he has to “suck it  up” for two years and do nothing and give this “motherfucker [the President-elect] his  senator.  Fuck him.  For nothing?  Fuck him.”  ROD BLAGOJEVICH states that he will put “[Senate Candidate 4]” in the Senate “before I just give fucking [Senate Candidate 1] a  fucking Senate seat and I don’t get anything.”  (Senate Candidate 4 is a Deputy Governor of the State of Illinois).

As commenters are sure to note — in 3, 2, 1 — the criminal complaint references Tony Rezko, the former Democratic party fundraiser convicted on multiple charges of fraud and bribery. Rezko, who will be sentenced on Jan. 6, did some fundraising for Obama and at one time was his neighbor, selling a parcel of land he and his wife owned to Obama in a deal some say gives the appearance that Obama received a a favor in the purchase. At that time, Rezko was already under federal investigation; Obama has called the deal “boneheaded.” None of the 170 references to Rezko in the criminal complaint reference Obama in any way. US Attorney Fitzgerald stated that Obama is in no way implicated, a point of view others share.

According to a 76-page affidavit, Blagojevich asked for the following in exchange for the Senate appointment: “A substantial salary for himself at a either a non-profit foundation or an organization affiliated with labor unions. Placing his wife on paid corporate boards where he speculated she might garner as much as $150,000 a year. Promises of campaign funds — including cash up front. A cabinet post or ambassadorship for himself.”

According to reports, Blagojevich was recorded as saying, “if . . . they’re not going to offer anything of any value, then I might just take it.” Later that day, speaking to Advisor A, Blagojevich said: “I’m going to keep this Senate option for me a real possibility, you know, and therefore I can drive a hard bargain.” He added later that the seat “is a [expletive] valuable thing, you just don’t give it away for nothing.”

The following is a portion of a 12-page press release by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald (PDF):

CHICAGO – Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich and his Chief of Staff, John Harris, were arrested today by FBI agents on federal corruption charges alleging that they and others are engaging in ongoing criminal activity: conspiring to obtain personal financial benefits for Blagojevich by leveraging his sole authority to appoint a United States Senator; threatening to withhold substantial state assistance to the Tribune Company in connection with the sale of Wrigley Field to induce the firing of Chicago Tribune editorial board members sharply critical of Blagojevich; and to obtain campaign contributions in exchange for official actions – both historically and now in a push before a new state ethics law takes effect January 1, 2009.

Blagojevich, 51, and Harris, 46, both of Chicago, were each charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery. They were charged in a two-count criminal complaint that was sworn out on Sunday and unsealed today following their arrests, which occurred without incident, announced Patrick J. Fitzgerald, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Bothmen were expected to appear later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nan Nolan in U.S. District Court in Chicago.

Actually, part of the answer is explained in the documentary. For example, all those congressional junkets to posh resorts in Scotland, the south of France, Florida and elsewhere? Yes, the congressmen had to fill out forms about their travel, but they were all sequestered

“I can’t imagine this loan would’ve ever passed if we had due process.”

Taxpayers Go Trick-or-Treating

Washington, D.C. Much scarier than the prospect of being haunted by the undead is the prospect of being spooked by a record $8.6 trillion national debt.  In the Halloween spirit, Citizens Against Government Waste provides a list of who deserves taxpayer tricks and treats.

more inside

Trick:  To Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) for helping to secure a $2.3 billion loan from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for a company for whom he was a lobbyist: the Dakota, Minnesota, and Easter Railroad (DM&E).  Sen. Thune had earlier increased the FRA’s budget from $3.5 to $35 billion in apparent anticipation of the loan.  With a poor safety record and revenues of less than $200 million, DM&E does not appear capable of making the annual $246 million payment, leaving taxpayers with the scary prospect of having to cover the shortfall.

The press release is here. See also David Williams’ companion piece, “The Rail Subsidy That Could“. In it he writes:

The loan makes no sense from a fiscal, security, or commonsense standpoint. The most confusing, and relevant, aspect to taxpayers is the financing. Currently, DM&E has revenue of less $200 million. According to BearingPoint (a strategic consulting firm), this loan would require an annual payment of $246 million on top of the $15 million from another loan. To put this number in perspective, the Chrysler bailout was valued at $1.5 billion. The numbers alone signal a red flag to stop this handout in its tracks. A senior manager at BearingPoint stated, “This loan finances a project with many financial uncertainties, ultimately calling into question whether or not DM&E can repay the loan.”