By now, just about everyone knows that IL Governor Rod Blagojevich has reportedly been caught on tape as saying that “Obama's Senate seat was “*expletive deleted* valuable” and that “it wasn't something to be given away for free”.

The scenario is that ‘Blago’ - as he is called by both supporters and opponents - was being taped by the Feds as part of another investigation. And, if true, just about everyone concluded, among other descriptors, ‘how stupid’ ‘Blago’ must be.

But now, ‘Blago’ has shown he can also be ‘politically clever’.

Rather than wait to see what the Feds will do next, or when the state political machine will let the legislature actually move forward with possible impeachment, and despite Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White having said publicly he will not sign Burris' certificate, Blagojevich has gone on the offensive and taken the political and legal battle to his opponents. Using his authority as sitting governor, Blagojevich has appointed Roland Burris, a former state attorney general, to serve the balance of President-elect Obama’s Senate term.

The move by Blagojevich puts democrats, political institutions, and the political maestros in Illinois and Washington on notice.

In reaction, Harry Reid’s Senate has already been “gaming out scenarios” to use in order to prevent Roland Burris being sworn-in should he appear on the floor of the U.S. Senate.

Here’s a recap:

In one maneuver - Burris “would not be allowed on the floor, but instead directed to the office of the Secretary of the Senate who would review his credentials. Without both signatures, the certificates would be considered incomplete”. Continued...