They are not subtle at all, it's "get Whitey's money" all the way, no backing down ever baby!!
The Democrats have to seat the guy or be called racists and traitors to their party, etc, so the guy gets seated and Blogo gets his jury... Blago is a smart guy maybe, not smart enough to be a successful criminal at all, but smart enough for Illinois politics....
I'm seeing these politicians as being on the level of crew chiefs and the advocacy organizations being at the Thug level. The Politicians would not ever make it to the top of a Mafia organization, too stupid for that, in fact they have to love the limelight and the Mob guys have to shun it, that, and about 30-50 IQ points might be the only differences...