Following Blagojevich Arrest, Obama Senate Seat Put On eBay

Various elements of the Rod Blagojevich arrest today are unavoidably humorous -- whether it is his completely cynical approach to politics, the idea that he was even considering a possible run for President in 2016, his wife's disdain for the Chicago Cubs, or the fact that he and his aides contemplated shaking down Warren Buffett for cash (allegedly, of course).

In fact, when authorities rang Blagojevich this morning to let him know that they were coming to arrest him, he responded: "Is this a joke?"

There was an almost cartoonish-aspect to the corruption exhibited by the Illinois Governor. And now, that buffoonery has rubbed off on all aspects surrounding the case. On eBay, a poster from Illinois has put up a listing for the United States Senate Seat, a nod to the auction that Blagojevich was apparently hoping to host from within the confines of his own office.

The current bid is a mere $0.99 cents. And the end time for the bid is December 19, 2008.

Comments

[JohnFObama]

11:09 PM on 12/09/2008

Blagojevich '16.

[saltpeter]

09:39 PM on 12/09/2008

Isn't this essentially how George Bush got elected but instead of selling his Presidency on eBay he sold to Ken Lay in secret meetings w/ Cheney and to Halliburton in some back room wrangling over how they were going to sell the war. I know, let's sell Iraq and Afghanistan to the highest bidder. Maybe they can do a better job than we have.

[unite4change]

09:24 PM on 12/09/2008

Here the link to the Blagojevich indictman:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/acrobat/2008-12/43789434.pdf

[GingerB]

10:22 PM on 12/09/2008

Thanks for the link!

Anyone know if there's video of his perp walk?

[jcollell]

09:16 PM on 12/09/2008

Geez. I am having a vision of the movie Spartacus when the rebels stand up one by one and shout "I am Spartacus". I am Obama! No, I am Obama. According to eBay, I am Obama, and for a mere 99 cents! Talk about cheap politics. Good gag to add some levity to a very sad affair.

http://www.youspar.com/

[tothcarp]

09:15 PM on 12/09/2008

I believe the CEO of Ebay is some kind of republican operative, worked for McCain. All the answers in a single sentence

[blurredtruth]

08:30 PM on 12/09/2008

Considering Chicago and Illinois politics this comes as no surprise.

[breakingpoint]

08:20 PM on 12/09/2008

this was very funny.
I bet the guy who posted this was shaking with excitement when he came up with the idea.

Wish we could sell all their seats on ebay, least we'd get some frugal folks and an ebay guarantee.

[aweissnet]

09:09 PM on 12/09/2008

That was really good! I'd like to see all Congresspeople and Senate seats on e-bay, for just that reason.

One day maybe we'll see our elections run on e-bay to the highest bidder (which would mean the wealthy & privileged would still get in) :-( McCain said he'd make Ebay CEO Meg Whitman (who was actually ex-ceo at that time) the Secy of the Treasury cuz "she's good at making money."

But, he was ill-informed as usual, and E-bay was in the process of downsizing .... and it's not doing so well, but neither is selling in general ...

[GingerB]

10:20 PM on 12/09/2008

Meg Whitman made a bunch of money, but she ruined ebay IMO. It was great in the days before she ran it.

[SurrealPumpkin]

10:27 PM on 12/09/2008

how about if candidates have to use on-line donations which they can match dollar for dollar out of their personal funds.

The proceeds should go to pay off the National Debt.

[GingerB]

10:19 PM on 12/09/2008

That guy is xthehaunting. He's posting below.

[blagboogers]

07:39 PM on 12/09/2008

I won!!! I AM YOUR NEXT SENATOR!!!

Greet me at http://theliePolitiC.com/

[lafrance]

07:37 PM on 12/09/2008

I'm surprised Blago didn't think of it himself.

[SurrealPumpkin]

10:27 PM on 12/09/2008

He probably didn't want to pay the commission.

[xthehaunting]

07:26 PM on 12/09/2008

I am still wanting to just sell the picture. I don't know why eBay had to go and ruin my fun. They said I was inciting "illegal activity." Humph!

No matter! New account!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=250340549968

[aweissnet]

09:10 PM on 12/09/2008

Nope. Good to know e-bay is on the ball during the hard work of watching those auctions!

[GingerB]

10:17 PM on 12/09/2008

Ebay doesn't do squat to police the auctions. Members do and report violations of the TOS. Ebay only wants your $$$.

[GingerB]

10:15 PM on 12/09/2008

Congrats on your 15 minutes of fame, Jason! I checked out your myspace page and the links you provided. Pretty cool.

[eggman]

06:59 PM on 12/09/2008

Another funny thing is Blago's hair. We in Illinois are used to that particular joke, but now the rest of the country can have a laugh.

[lafrance]

07:38 PM on 12/09/2008

That Hair. Yes, we in Illinois do find that one funny.

[PuzzledinPeoria]

05:12 PM on 12/10/2008

His nickname in Illinois is "Eddie Munster."

See the resemblance?

[BigHeadTodd]

06:45 PM on 12/09/2008

Coming soon to FOX Reality...."When Governors Go Rogue" starring Jim McGreevey, Eliot Spitzer, Sarah Palin and Rod Blagojevich.

[lafrance]

07:39 PM on 12/09/2008

ROFLOL

[lisakaz2]

06:01 PM on 12/09/2008

This was pretty funny imo. Too bad it didnt' continue.

[Petey131]

05:38 PM on 12/09/2008

Oh great! Now your going to have Palin and Joe the Plumber betting on this. Nice job ebay!

[FG]

05:29 PM on 12/09/2008

The auction is still open - it is a donation to the Children's Hospital that Blagojevich denied funds too. have fun and donate to a very worthy cause.....

[thesimulacra]

05:46 PM on 12/09/2008

Update: it's been closed (obviously, for being against eBay policy). But donate your money anyway!

[GingerB]

09:34 PM on 12/09/2008

Obama's Senate Seat for Sale
100% of profits go to Children's Memorial Hospital

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330293352046