This stuff goes on ALL THE TIME. Our elected officials talk to us about issues and ideals, only to turn around and, behind closed doers, behave like the sleaze we should know them to be.

This stuff isn't limited to one state or one party. It goes on all over Washington and in every state house and city hall. Government has gotten so big that there is too much to be gained and the temptation to benefit becomes too strong. In fact, it's hard to blame temptation because this behavior has become practically essential to get elected and even to govern.

I would just add that every phone call they tapped had someone on the other end. Any person who directly or indirectly offered any goods or services in exchange for the Senate appointment should be immediately disqualified and sent to a cell down the hall from Blagojevich.

As exciting as it is to watch this case unfold, we should not succumb to our voyeuristic tendency to focus on the minutiae of this case. The most important fact that will be lost in this story is that THIS STUFF HAPPENS ALL THE TIME and is the root of everything that's wrong with our politics.

There's a flip side to this story. Yes, Blagojevich seems to have been relentless in his scheming to use his power to gain wealth to gain more power and even more wealth. He is a scoundrel and he should pay. However, the more important and revealing question isn't being asked: Why did Blagojevich think he could make money for himself and his wife in this manner? Answer: Because this is what happens all the time. The systemic problem is more troubling and damaging than the failings of a corrupt individual.

I hope you're wrong but Obama's statement seems just vague enough to be politics as usual. This guy's been running at full speed lining up his team and weighing in on issues from the economic stimulus to automakers to Joe Lieberman's role in the Senate. It's hard to believe that he didn't have anything to say about who would be chosen to take his place. As a fan of the guy, I would hope that he had an opinion about who would succeed him and would have made an effort to share that opinion with the man who would make the decision. Especially given how corrupt Blagojevich is, Obama should have taken an interest in making sure his successor was selected based on qualifications and not donations/favors. The sad thing is that Blagojevich's comments about Obama disclosed in this report make Obama look good -- the rare principled politician. It's Obama's statement this afternoon that feels like business as usual.

I hope you're wrong but Obama's statement seems just vague enough to be politics as usual. This guy's been running at full speed lining up his team and weighing in on issues from the economic stimulus to automakers to Joe Lieberman's role in the Senate. It's hard to believe that he didn't have anything to say about who would be chosen to take his place. As a fan of the guy, I would hope that he had an opinion about who would succeed him and would have made an effort to share that opinion with the man who would make the decision. Especially given how corrupt Blagojevich is, Obama should have taken an interest in making sure his successor was selected based on qualifications and not donations/favors. The sad thing is that Blagojevich's comments about Obama disclosed in this report make Obama look good -- the rare principled politician. It's Obama's statement this afternoon that feels like business as usual.

In order to bring about any broad change, this investigation needs to bring down people on all sides. The governor and his family, the various senatorial hopefuls, the Tribune company, the donors and all the various aids, advisors and negotiators. Blagojevich's role in the tapped pay-to-play discussions is shameful and he should suffer the consequences. But, we run the risk on focusing on the captivating details of this story. We need to take a step back and realize that pay-to-play is not a game you can play by yourself. Blagojevich did not develop his expectations in a vacuum. This stuff goes on all the time. The investigation has uncovered many parties having alarming discussions with Blagojevich. A wide net should be cast in exposing, and prosecuting where appropriate, all the parties in this scandal. This is the only way we can start to send a message that we won't tolerate this type of behavior in politics.

Agreed. The difference is that GM, Chrysler and Ford will reduce production but see little or no reduction in labor costs. Other automakers with non-union workers can reduce production and see a corresponding reduction in expenses. GM may save on other operating expenses and avoid overproduction in a down market but the labor costs will remain as an albatross around its neck.