Thus far, Jackson Jr. doesn't seem to be connected with this - there is some hint that an Illinois house member may have been prepared to pay cash up front, but it's way too early to tell.

What does seem to be clear is that the Obama administration wasn't willing to play along. Obama apparently did have a favorite candidate, a top aide, but wouldn't offer Blagojevich anything for it. As others have said, Blagojevich didn't take to this too kindly. "They're not willing to give me anything except appreciation. [Expletive] them," is the exact quote, according to Politico.

He also referred to Obama as a "mother[expletive]er" and said, "For nothing? [Expletive] him."

So the Republican's already evident attempts to somehow connect the President-elect with this scandal seem doomed from the outset. Obama comes out smelling like a rose.

Still, I imagine Obama woke to this news thinking, "This I don't need."