What's the going rate for a seat in the U.S. Senate? According to a 76 page federal complaint filed Tuesday against Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, not enough. Here's Blago, overheard on wiretap, dishing on the Obama Team: "They're not willing to give me anything except appreciation. Fuck them."

Now, Blago had been the subject of a wide ranging federal probe since 2003, but thus far, he had avoided direct charges. (Unlike his former principal fundraiser and friend, Tony Rezko.) In spite of all this scrutiny, Blago was apparently so comfortable that when the FBI called his home early Tuesday morning, he asked the agent if the phone call was a joke.

Here we're going to track the chronology of the Governor's current troubles, which come down to two issues. First, the solicitation of bribery for Obama's Senate seat-- a position the Governor had the sole authority to fill. Second, a surreal and creepy series of maneuvers where Blago leveraged his power with the Tribune Company to attempt to induce the firing of Chicago Tribune editorial board members critical of Blago's corrupt regime. Blagojevich and his chief of staff John Harris were each charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery.

It's not yet clear whether the feds stumbled across these latest schemes in the course of their ongoing investigation, or whether some new information had come to light to prompt them to set up the tap. What is clear is that the current charges, aside from some evidence obtained from testimony prior to October, stem from a very brief time period from the end of October until December 9. And that the recorded conversations that reveal the story are dirty-mouthed enough to have been scripted by David Mamet.

Did Blago genuinely believe in his own rectitude? In March 2007 the Tribune editorial board questioned the Governor about the wide ranging probe on his office. He responded with characteristic cheer:

"I'm happy to make an appointment, talk to you guys about that. But I feel real good about all the different things that we do because we follow the rules and we do things right and at the end of the day, as they say in the Bible, the truth shall set you free. The truth is what it is. And the truth is we do things right."

Enjoy the ride.

Oct. 21, 2008: The Campaign Fundraisers Are Bugged

Chief Judge Holderman authorized the bugging of two rooms in the Friends of Blagojevich office.

Oct. 29, 2008: On The Home Front

Federal investigators began wiretapping Gov. Blagojevich's home.

Oct. 31, 2008: From The Wiretap, Let The Bidding Begin

The first gem overheard on the wiretap is a big one-- we hear of Senate Candidate Number 5, since identified as Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., who Blagojevich described as a high bidder for Sen. Obama's possible open senate seat. Blago told advisers on a call that an associate of Number 5 sought him out in a "pay-to-play" scheme: "That, you know, he'd raise 500 grand. An emissary came. Then the other guy would raise a million, if I made him (Senate Candidate 5) a Senator."

Nov. 3, 2008: The Lives Of Others

On a call, Blagojevich told Deputy Governor A that if he is not going to get anything of value for Sen. Barack Obama's Senate seat, then he will take the Senate seat himself: "If ... they're not going to offer anything of any value, then I might just take it." Throughout the tap, Blago returned to this idea for a variety of reasons, including a possible run for President in 2016, a belief that he will be able to obtain greater resources if he is indicted as a sitting Senator as opposed to a sitting governor, facilitating his wife's employment as a lobbyist, and higher speaking fees as a U.S. Senator.

Same day, in a different phone call, the Governor discussed the possible sale of the Chicago Cubs. Blago had been involved in this negotiation since The Tribune Company, (owner of the Chicago Cubs, Wrigley Field and The Chicago Tribune, among others) approached the Illinois Finance Authority to ask for assistance with the sale. The IFA's official role is to support the Governor of Illinois' economic development agenda. The governor's wife, Patricia Blagojevich is overheard in the background of this call telling her husband: 'to hold up that fucking Cubs shit ... fuck them.'"

Nov. 4, 2008: I'll Scratch Your Back, You Scratch Mine

The Governor attempted to use state taxing leverage over the Tribune Company: according to the wiretap records, Blago made it clear that he would not help the Tribune Company in their attempted sale of Wrigley Field unless the Chicago Tribune changed the makeup of an-- in his view-- overly critical editorial board: "Fire all those [expletive] people, get 'em the [expletive] out of there and get us some editorial support.

The drama may be slightly undercut by a phone conversation one day earlier. Blago asked Deputy Governor A whether the board had recently 'advocate[d]' that he be impeached." They had not. Something he probably would have known if he actually read the page.

Nov. 4, 2008: Sen. Obama Will Leave The Senate

Sen. Barack Obama won the Presidential election, leaving Blagojevich with the sole authority to appoint his successor.

Nov. 5, 2008: Drunk With Power

In an ecstatic phone call, Blagojevich reveled in his new appointment power. "I've got this thing and it's [expletive] golden, and, uh, uh, I'm just not giving it up for [expletive] nothing. I'm not gonna do it. And, and I can always use it. I can parachute me there." The positions he envisioned for himself included: Sec. of Health and Human Services, various ambassadorships, and a top post at the Red Cross. When chief of staff Harris cautioned that "It's got to be a group that is dependent on [the President-elect]," and that a President probably could not influence the Red Cross, Blagojevich directed Harris to "Look into all of those."

Nov. 7, 2008: Six Of One, Half Dozen Of The Other

Reps. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) and Illinois Veterans' Affairs Director Tammy Duckworth all expressed interest in the open seat. Meanwhile, on the phone, Blagojevich and his advisers continued scheming. Harris said, "We wanted our ask to be reasonable and rather than ... make it look like some sort of selfish grab for quid pro quo." Blagojevich added, "I want to make money."

Nov. 10, 2008: An Offer They Couldn't Refuse

According to a taped conversation from Nov. 11th, Harris met with the Tribune Financial Adviser to discuss the firing of certain members of the editorial board. The TFA told John Harris that the Tribune Owner "got the message" about the editorial staff.

Nov. 11, 2008: Fingers Crossed!

John Harris told Blagojevich that the Tribune Financial Adviser said there will be "certain corporate reorganizations and budget cuts coming and, reading between the lines, he's going after [the editorial] section." Blago: ""Wow. Okay, keep our fingers crossed. You're the man. Good job, John."

Nov. 11, 2008: While The Situation With The Trib Is Developing Nicely, Other Things Aren't Going As Well

In another call, Blagojevich expressed dissatisfaction with the Obama team for not bribing him to appoint their preferred replacement. "They're not willing to give me anything except appreciation. [Expletive] them," he said.

Nov. 12, 2008: Legal. Personal. Political.

In a particularly frank phone call, Blagojevich stated that his decision about the open Senate seat will be based on three criteria in the following order of importance: "Our legal situation, our personal situation, my political situation. This decision, like every other one, needs to be based upon on (sic) that. Legal. Personal. Political."

Nov. 16, 2008: The Seat Is Open At Last

Obama's resignation from his Senate seat went into effect. Top contenders included Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr (D), Illinois Veteran Affairs chief Tammy Duckworth, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, and retiring State Senate President Emil Jones. And of course, Blagojevich himself.

Nov. 21, 2008: John McCormick Is Mean!

Via the tap: John Harris singled out Tribune deputy editorial page editor John McCormick to Blagojevich as being "biased and unfair." (McCormick was never fired and still works for the Tribune editorial board.)

Nov. 26, 2008: The Conversation Continues

Wiretap 30-day authorization renewed.

Nov. 30, 2008: The F--king Cubs!

Blagojevich spoke with a Chicago sports consulting firm who was working with the Cubs. They discussed the importance of getting the Illinois Finance Authority deal with the Tribune approved in December or January.

Dec. 4, 2008: Blagojevich Expresses A Sudden And Weird Concern For Discretion

During one of his negotiations over the Senate seat Blagojevich told a fundraiser, "You gotta be careful how you express that and assume everybody's listening, the whole world is listening. You hear me?"

Dec. 5, 2008: Someone Is Listening

The Chicago Tribune revealed that federal investigators have been covertly recording Blagojevich conversations. That morning Blago discussed McCormick's retention with Harris, concluding: "Okay, at some point we should talk to [Tribune Financial Advisor] again, right?"

Dec. 8, 2008: Don't Fear The Reaper Wiretap

Blagojevich told reporters he does not fear the wiretaps: "I don't believe there's any cloud that hangs over me. I think there's nothing but sunshine hanging over me."

During the same presser, Blagojevich went on: "I should say if anybody wants to tape my conversations, go right ahead, feel free to do it. I appreciate anybody who wants to tape me openly and notoriously, and those who feel like they want to sneakily and wear taping devices, I would remind them that it kind of smells like Nixon and Watergate,"

Dec. 9, 2008: The Joker

Officials woke up Blagojevich with a phone call to inform him that agents were on their way to arrest him. "Is this a joke?" he responded.

Dec. 10, 2008: Happy Birthday!

The Governor turns 52.