Blagojevich Wanted Oprah to Fill Obama's Vacant Senate Seat

The federal corruption trial of disgraced former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was always expected to be as colorful, unpredictable and ostentatious as the man himself. Still, it's a shock to learn that in his scheme to fill the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama (allegedly in exchange for material compensation), "Blago" was hoping to secure at least one other eminently famous Chicago resident: Oprah Winfrey.

That's the big news to emerge out of the testimony of former Blago chief-of-staff John Harris on Monday. In a call secretly recorded on Nov. 21, 2008, and replayed for the jury, Blagojevich can be heard making his case for the queen of daytime talk to take the post.

Harris also appears on the recording, telling Blagojevich what he thinks of the idea.

"I think that's, that's crazy," Harris said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

The ever-defiant Blagojevich is quick to hit back:

That's where you're wrong. ... She's the kingmaker. She made Obama. We know she's a Democrat. We know she's for Obama. ... This one, she's so up there, so high, that nobody can assail this pick. This would be huge. ... The odds of her actually taking it are f------ slim to none. Who's going to complain about it? It's going to be huge.

Among Blagojevich's other candidates revealed in the recording include:

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
Jesse Jackson Jr.
An unspecified "black Albert Einstein"
A "Mother Teresa" figure
Illinois state Sen. Jacqueline Collins
And even William "Bill" Daley, brother of Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley -- despite the fact that Blagojevich has an infamously contentious relationship with the powerful family

A choice quote related to that last idea:

This thing's a whole f-----', it's a mess because [out of breath] there's so much negativity in me, it's not healthy. On the other hand, I'm willing to overlook the Daleys and Bill Daley, he's an a------. He's a f-----n' a------. So I guess I have negativity and I don't, right?

The Chicago Tribune also prints more incriminating statements. A refresher: The open Senate seat ended up going to former Illinois Comptroller and state Sen. Roland Burris.

Surge Desk is awaiting comment from Oprah's company, Harpo Productions, on the news.