Senator Chris Matthews for Pennsylvania. 
Rod Blagojevich has what every TV host must have: the audience cannot take its eyes from him, even when he is barely in the frame (e.g., in his State-trooper-driven SUV late on
December 11); and also Blago has what every politician yearns for, box-office: whatever he says from now on is not only news but also deeply witty and weird and perfectly in tune with American politics. The case by Patrick Fitzgerald will take much of Mr. Obama's first two years to the bi-election to assemble and prosecute and render and appeal. Meanwhile, Chris Matthews will leave his signature forum "Hardball" in 2009 to assemble the $30 million needed to secure the Democratic primary and then defeat whoever the Republicans find to run for the empty seat in 2010 (presuming the aged and less than healthy Arlen Specter retires honorably). This makes the symmetry of Blago steps down from Illinois, Matthews steps up to Pennsylvania, Blago takes Matthews's seat in Washington, Matthews is a guest on Hardball with Blago and then takes Arlen Specter's seat in Washington, all a natural projection of how show biz and politics can work together to dazzle us. Yes, the Patrick Fitzgerald TV presence and the Barack Obama TV presidency does make it extremely unlikely that it will ever happen, but --
No More Unlikely Than--
Blago on MSNBC nightly to interview not only Chicago cronies but also paragons of good government such as Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan, Vladimir Putin of Russia, Ehud Olmert of Jerusalem, is no more unlikely than Tony Rezko coincidentally using mysterious
money from the London based Iraqi-born billionaire Nadhmi Auchi to buy the front yard of a Chicago mansion on the same day that freshly nouveau Senator Barack Obama buys the mansion in June 2005. I mention this ancient historical fact, 42 months out of date, because the London Times reminds everyone in Europe today that Blago and Obama are tied together by Rezko and by the still unexplained facts of those coincidental and highly convenient twin purchases. And the London Times also mentions that Rezko is part of the criminal complaint against Blago including $90k in home improvements to the Blago manse that may not have been build on the level. Tony fixed things, y'know? Continuing, Blago on MSNBC nightly is also no more unlikely than Rahm Emanuel and Jesse Jackson Jr, superstars of the Chicago congressional delegation, both blowing themselves up in negotiations with Blago for the Obama Senate seat. Emanuel is still hiding from the media, five and six days after the
Patrick Fitzgerald press conference. Jackson is still claiming he is in the clear of suspicions and ready to to cooperate with the Federal prosecutors, five and six days after the Fitzgerald press conference. The remarks by Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell (who welcomes Chris Matthews to Pennsylvania) that the Obama team is mishandling the scandal do not help Rahm Emanuel, who is supposed to be a tough guy and whose job as Chief of Staff is to handle all scandals. The facts of a protest against Jackson by Chicago voters that is featured on the Chicago Tribune home page are not helping Jesse Jackson Jr. The noise and headlines and the wondrous wordsmith John Kass continue. It is extremely unlikely that both Rahm Emanuel and Jesse Jackson Jr. will be pulled down by the unanswered questions. It is extremely unlikely that the troubled NBC network's troubled boss Jeff Zucker would offer Blago a nightly TV host job. Still. The opening monologue. "Hi, I'm Rod Blagojevich (smile), (softly) you can call me Blago, and let's play effing Hardball..." It does ring box office. And what I have learned in show biz and news is that the box office is the only question that the networks ask.
Why would Rod Blagojevich resign now, when his every word has become worth more than U.S. currency in the blogosphere where men’s reputations hang in the balance? As long as he has the ear of the national press corps, he can wheel and deal to his heart's content. The scope of his power now reaches all the way to the White House, the very pinnacle of cesspool politics. Why would he resign when all he has to do is wait until his own political intern takes office (as soon as January 20th) who will surely wield his constitutional power of pardon (or else)?
After that he could compel Hollywood scriptwriters to come forward – supported, no doubt, by the likes of Stephen Spielberg – to claim that Fitzgerald’s phone taps yielded nothing more than an expertly written script a la Orson Wells’ American radio drama anthology series, "Mercury Theater on the Air", broadcast October 30, 1938 and aired over the Columbia Broadcasting System radio network. At that time the show was entitled “War of the Worlds”. This time around it’s likely to read, something along the lines of “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.”
John, you are soooooo droll! Blago replacing Matthews on Hardball. And why not? Pols become "journalists" every day, just as Matthews did. Why shouldn't Blago take a whack at the world's second oldest profession, since he's done so well in the oldest.
Peter said: Why would he resign when all he has to do is wait until his own political intern takes office (as soon as January 20th) who will surely wield his constitutional power of pardon (or else)?
Wanna bet Obama don't touch that one with a 100 ft pole?