Did Pat Leahy Compare Bond to Blago?

It sure seems like it.

Earlier Wednesday, The Washington Times scooped up that Sen. Kit Bond planned to support Eric Holder for Attorney General after the nominee assured him he wouldn't prosecute intelligence officials engaged in harsh interrogation techniques.

According to Talking Points Memo, Judiciary Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy denied that that type of exchange could have happened?

"It would be completely wrong if a senator said, 'I'll vote for you if you promise to withhold prosecution of a crime'," Leahy told Talking Points Memo. "No senator would make a request like that. It'd be improper."

"Maybe Governor [Rod] Blagojevich [D-IL]" would have sought such an assurance, Leahy quipped. He never specifically referenced Bond, who declined to answer questions about the while leaving the Senate chamber this afternoon.

McCaskill Says Blago Must Go

Missouri's Junior Senator becomes the first top statewide official to officially call for the Illinois Governor's resignation.

"Having read the transcript of Governor Blagojevich’s conversations I only have one word – prison," said Sen. Claire McCaskill in a statement.

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McCaskill joined a letter, signed by all Democratic members of the Senate, that says that should Gov. Rod Blagojevich refuse to resign and appoint someone to fill Obama’s position, Congress would exercise their constitutional right to refuse to seat the Senate appointee.

"We write to insist that you step down as Governor of Illinois and under no circumstance make an appointment to fill the vacant Illinois Senate seat. In light of your arrest yesterday on alleged federal corruption charges related to that Senate seat, any appointment by you would raise serious questions," reads the letter.

What Should Jay Say?

As the fast-moving story about the arrest of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich soaks up the news coverage for the day, politicians everywhere have got to be shaking their heads -- and then quickly considering how to react.

It's no surprise that politicians outside Illinois aren't jumping in front of a microphone or shooting out a press release to have their say. To be fair, the President-elect just made his first public comments. So you can't blame anyone for not reacting immediately.

For our incoming Governor, the question then becomes, could this be a moment of assertiveness, clarity and leadership. Democratic lawmakers have already announced they want to pursue aggressive ethics reform legislation. Is this a moment that Gov.-elect Nixon should capitalize on?

One smart politico e-mailed me to say that Nixon should turn this bordering state embarrassment into an advantage. Public officials, after all, do have a responsibility to step up and call out when their colleagues break their position of trust. Blagojevich is part of the reason people have become more jaded about public service and government.

This politico, who asked not to be named, said he would give Nixon this advice: "Nixon should say this conduct is unacceptable, reassure people that this conduct will never happen in his administration and demand a resignation. Doing so would allow him to shine. If I were advising him I would use this as an opportunity to propose ethics reform and make sure Missourians know that he is a different type of politician. It shows leadership to criticize someone from the same party."

So while no one will blame Nixon if he stays as far away from this as possible, there may be an opportunity for him to show his political independence and a bit of chutzpah weeks before he takes office.

Call it taking lemons and making lemonade.

Blagojevich Busted

"PAY FOR PLAY"

"A TRULY NEW LOW"
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff are arrested at their homes this morning on federal corruption charges.
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U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald says Gov. Blagojevich tried to sell the appointment to Barack Obama's Senate seat. The Governor was taken by F.B.I. agents from his home at 6 a.m. in handcuffs. Blagojevich at first reportedly thought it was a joke.

Prosecutor Fitzgerald says the Governor's conduct "would make Lincoln roll over in his grave."
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NBC's Pete Williams: Charges came today to "put an end to what could have been a disaster for the state and the nation."

CNN's Jeffrey Toobin: "The most cynical interpretation of politics is completely justified based on how Governor Blagojevich appears to have run his office. The idea that Blagojevich would appoint someone because they might be a good Senator seems never to have crossed his mind. It is all about how he could get more money, how he could get money for his wife, how he could advance his political career, how he could set himself up to run for president in 2016."

There's no indication Obama knew anything about Blagojevich's intentions. The Atlantic's Marc Ambinder: "Having read through the charging document twice, there's no evidence whatsoever that anyone associated with the Obama presidential transition did anything improper. Obama is barely mentioned."

The Illinois Constitution requires that the sitting Governor alone has the power to appoint President-elect Obama's Senate replacement. Unless Gov. Blagojevich decides to step aside pending a trial, he will name Obama's successor. The state legislature could move to impeach him.

DEVELOPING . . .