The art of the Chicago deal. What did they know? And when did they know it?

Testimony today in the Rod Blagojevich's corruption trial revealed that Blago's inner circle believed that Barack Obama knew about an offer from the then-governor to appoint Obama-friend Valerie Jarrett to the U.S. Senate in exchange for Obama appointing Blago to a cabinet post, preferably Secretary of Health and Human Services.  (Link to story here.)

Would that really surprise anybody?  Americans elected a Chicago politician to the White House.  Shouldn't America have expected him operate like a Chicago politician?

To what end I'm not sure but Blagojevich's attorneys are now seeking access tot he FBI's notes of an interview with Obama on the subject since today's testimony raises "the issue of President Obama's direct knowledge and communication with emissaries and others regarding the appointment to his Senate seat."

I think that the public has the right to know this cadre of Chicago politicians knew.  What did Obama know?  What did Rahm Emanuel know?  And when did they know it?

And, now that I think about it, what did they do with that knowledge?