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http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/...nor/index.html
Man, I can't wait for Obama's response to this. It will probably be something like this, "This is not the Rod Blagojevich I knew"....
Anyway, I have a feeling this is the tip of the iceberg. Please read the PDF on the conversations that they've taped on this guy. Classic stuff!!! What's your opinion?
We know this kind of wheeling/dealing happens sometimes, but even corrupt politicians generally have more class & panache than this. Maybe he can be the grand pooba of the Jail-House Lawyers Club when he goes to prison.
Good riddance to the governor of Chicago.
Downstate everybody dislikes him even the hardcore democrats.
Sometimes Illinois makes even Louisiana look good. Thanks guys!
Now why did I put my Edwin Edwards statuette... Oh yeah, next to the William Jefferson poster.
LOL, maybe he can get a room with former IL governor Ryan!!!!
I think this is the tip of the iceberg. Looks like Rezko is gonna spill the beans on everyone and the underbelly of Chicago politics where Obama sucked on the teet of these characters will FINALLY come out. I'm glad the media might actually have to cover this story instead searching the Alaska tundra for whatever dirt they can did on Palin before the 2012 election...
Just wondering: has there ever been shred of evidence (or even credible allegations) that Obama is as dirty as you hope he is?Quote:
Originally Posted by Devastatin Dave
Nope: There's evidence he knew/worked with some political scumbags -- but that can be said of a good chunk of Illinois. Unless you believe in guilt by association it says nothing of Obama himself.
I was having a nice chuckle about having to get 2/3 of the way through the piece before I found out Blag-boy was a Dem. The cynic in me says that if he'd been GOP we'd have seen a (R) after his name in every sentence except the headline -- but perhaps I'm just spitballing.
Here's a better question: even though evidence that Obama is a total Chicago scum politician has been posted thousands of times in the backroom, would you ever allow yourelf to believe it? Let me put it to you this way... go to the projects that Mr Obama was "organising" and see how much they've "change" since the time he "organised" them till the time he left them. You guys have been so busy praying to the Obama alter to even really look at where this guy and his associates come from. To say he's clean is about the most niave thing to believe. Look at how he got his original state senate seat. Tony Rezco, William Ayers, Blogojevich, Rohm Emanuel, Rev Wright, Mayor Daley, and the list goes on and on. Come on Goofball, even you can't be that smitten to not see that this guy is neck deep in the Chicago machine.Quote:
Originally Posted by Goofball
The Governor will roll over and this is going to get interesting.
He is still the Governor, so he is still able to appoint Obama's successor. Now ask yourself - would you want to be the guy he chooses?
LOL, talk about the kiss of death.:laugh4:Quote:
Originally Posted by CountArach
I'll do you even one better. This investigation has been going on for 5 years- if he was a Republican, I bet it would've broke in October, not December. :beam:Quote:
Originally Posted by Seamus Fermanagh
And he got the shaft. :beam:Quote:
Originally Posted by Devastatin Dave
I hope they get Daley next.
CR
Durbin is pushing for a special election because he knows what the appointment would mean for whoever was appointed. Blagojevich has made a Senate seat toxic.Quote:
Originally Posted by CountArach
Yeah a Special Election is the best bet... I honestly don't know why it isn't like that anyway. An interesting theory for how Blagojevich could get out of it from here:Quote:
Originally Posted by TuffStuffMcGruff
"Probably the only thing he could do now to make sure the new senator gets a clean start is to ask Obama himself to make a suggestion and then follow it, but that is unlikely, especially since Blagojevich has not admitted to any wrongdoing."
I don't believe that Obama will come out of this as clean as you expect. Blagojevich was his very good buddy. I hope that there is a fast honeymoon.Quote:
Originally Posted by CountArach
Let the decay of the Democratic party begin.
Special elections are a fine ideas. Runoffs should be more common.
I'm willing to bet that there is a very long honeymoon. 79% approve of the way he is handling the transition - that is going to take a long time to fade. At even the faintest hint of economic recovery his approval ratings will soar.Quote:
Originally Posted by TuffStuffMcGruff
Instead of putting such power and temptation in the hands of one man, why not do it the old fashioned way and have the state legislature select the new senator?
Quote:
Originally Posted by drone
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article...e_4:_Vacancies
Well, the state legislature has to approve the governor's request for an appointment, so in a sense there is a check.Quote:
As originally established, Senators were elected by the Legislature of the State they represented in the Senate. If a senator died, resigned, or was expelled, the legislature of the state would appoint a replacement to serve out the remainder of the senator's term. If the State Legislature was not in session, its Governor could appoint a temporary replacement to serve until the legislature could elect a permanent replacement. This was superseded by the Seventeenth Amendment, which provided for the Popular Election of Senators, instead of their appointment by the State Legislature. In a nod to the less populist nature of the Senate, the Amendment tracks the vacancy procedures for the House of Representatives in requiring that the Governor call a special election to fill the vacancy, but (unlike in the House) it vests in the State Legislature the authority to allow the Governor to appoint a temporary replacement until the special election is held. Note, however, that under the original Constitution, the Governors of the states were expressly allowed by the Constitution to make temporary appointments. The current system, under the Seventeenth Amendment, allows Governors to appoint a replacement only if their state legislature has previously decided to allow the Governor to do so; otherwise, the seat must remain vacant until the special election is held to fill the seat, as in the case of a vacancy in the House.
Besides, legislatures would tend to squabble over an issue like this. With their consent, it's best left up to an individual. Let the people pick a permanent replacement.
Actually, from what little I've read, Obama's people are hilariously unwilling to play ball with Blageoimadinnerjacket (D).
[Blagojevich] also appears to think little of the president-elect, whom he calls a ":daisy:" at one point.
“:daisy: him,” Blagjoveich says of Obama during a lengthy call with top aides and his wife recorded on November 10th, “For nothing? :daisy: him.”
In another section of the complaint, Blagojevich expresses exasperation that Obama and his team aren't willing to offer him an inducement in exchange for appointing an aide, apparently Valerie Jarrett, to the Senate.
Blagojevich "said he knows that the President-elect wants Senate Candidate 1 for the Senate seat but 'they’re not willing to give me anything except appreciation. :daisy: them,'" says the complaint.
Yea. I heard about the "N" bomb and "MF" bomb last night. That will cushion the blow quite a bit for Obama.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lemur
My point is that maybe Obama's words are just that - words. The praise that he has heaped on a man who is obviously some sort of deranged ego maniac is totally undeserved. Over time people might just think Obama speaks gold irrespective of the issue or reality. It kind of slays the credibility of his words.
This is not the only issue. He has already contradicted reality more than any candidate that I can remember in such a short period of time. I really love it when he is asked about Clinton having Zero foreign policy experience and then nominating her for Secretary of State. Then, when he is called on the flip at the announcement he says that the reporter is having fun with him and that it isn't fair to hold him to account for things said during the campaign (not in as many words).
Your link is to the replacement of the House seats. ~;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Kush
Of course, I would prefer the 17th repealed, so my view is already skewed on this matter. As originally laid out, the House of Representatives is for the people, the Senate is for the states. If states want to squabble of filling the seats, they pay the price of not being represented. Giving the replacement power to an individual means less money needs to be spent on the bribe. :deal:
Candidate 5 appears to be Jesse Jackson Jr according to ABC. Candidate 5 said he would raise a million bucks for Blago's campaign in exchange for Obama's senate seat...
Obama was one of Blago's main advisors for his governor's campaign in 02 and Obama endorsed Blago in 05 for his second term. maybe if folks would take a crowbar and pry their mandables off Obama's groin for 5 minutes, maybe they can start connecting the dots a little better... Present company excluded of course...:beam:
The Daily Show's Take.
Hilarious. Especially the quote of blagojerk the day before he was arrested.
CR
Okay. So, your answer to my question is "no" then...Quote:
Originally Posted by Devastatin Dave
For the record: I'm really not a big fan of Obama. I just think he was a better choice than McCain. Which really is not that much of a ringing endorsement.
Yeah I saw that, it was great :laugh4:Quote:
Originally Posted by Crazed Rabbit
I agree with you. Obama was a better choice than McCain for America this year. That said, it would have been even better for America if he were pro-life.Quote:
Originally Posted by Goofball
Let's be honest, this stuff happens everyday in a less blunt sort of way.
And not recorded...:2thumbsup:Quote:
Originally Posted by Alexanderofmacedon
He just got caught doing what probably 80% of all politicos do.
And does anybody here care to bet that Nixon was the only one who taped stuff in the White House?Quote:
Originally Posted by Devastatin Dave
And to what extent is that sort of sentiment a self-fulfilling feedback loop?Quote:
Originally Posted by Alexanderofmacedon
Blagevodinnerjacket (D) is a scumbag who is going to prison. Let's not extrapolate him onto all politicos just because we feel like casting lazy aspersions.
Right.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lemur
Jesse Jackson Jr seems to be relatively innocent of this thing. His associate just seems to have suggested that Jackson would raise a ton of funds for re-election.
It is a bit uncouth, but politics works through making trades. It makes me sick to my stomach when they are bartering for themselves rather than the electorate.
Obama is rather clean as well, but again the things that he has said about the Governor give me more reason not to trust him, his judgment or the depth of his words on any subject.
If he thought "The people of Illinois have a dedicated servant in Rod" (among many other stellar comments), how wrong will he be on issues that he isn't intimately associated with.
Claiming that this shows anything about obama's lack of judgement is completely false. How could Obama have known about this in advance?
Well it is kind of a strange trend of Obama to hang out with some of the shaddiest SOB's in politics, religion, and money sources. There comes a time when even His worshippers should question is strange lack of judgement.Quote:
Originally Posted by CountArach
Oh, I should hope he has some skill at judging character, Obama's certainly been in power in the same state as Blagovejerk long enough and I doubt he never heard or saw anything shady.Quote:
Originally Posted by CountArach
But still all politicians go around saying how the other guy who's supporting them is such a great fellow (at least until that other guy gets caught). In the future, though, Obama's endorsements for governor may not mean as much.
CR
One more point...
This is kind of conspiracy, tin foil hat thinking on my part, but I have the feeling that the investigation only went as far as it did in order to protect Obama. We'll see I guess..
Is knee-jerk lying a lack of judgment?Quote:
Originally Posted by CountArach
Obama quickly denied having any discussions with the governor about his senate replacement- despite multiple sources that mentioned him having discussions with the governor about it. That doesn't prove that Obama had anything to do with corrupt dealings, but it sure sounds like he lied. :shrug:
Note: Before someone gets apoplectic, the source I linked was only chosen because it listed the multiple sources that contradict Obama. These sources include David Axelrod and the Chicago Tribune, among others.
Obama comments on the Blagoyovittich (D) controversy. Also, kittens.
http://media1.suntimes.com/multimedi...0.imageContent
Heehee.
Related story.
Also, Rahm Emanuel isn't answering questions. That looks good.
CR
Obama rose like a rocket in one of the most corrupt parts of a pretty corrupt / plutocratic system. Did he do this as he was such a nice, honest person who would clean house? No. He made deals and traded influence with the best of them, but is bright enough to manage to get away clean.
In a leader I want one who is a devious bastard and is good at what he does - as that's who he's going to meet on the world stage and also in his own country. I don't want a Neville Chamberlin who is open and honest, but a complete berk. Of course the hope is that these "skills" are used for the benefit of the country and not to its detriment.
~:smoking:
Apparently Rod has even been banished from Ichigoland. :shocked:
https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/...igoland3-1.jpg
Quote:
Originally Posted by rory_20_uk
According to this North Dakota is the worst. Hard to believe that the most disfunctional state government in the US, New York, isn't leading this category too, but not for lack of trying. I guess they just have better defense lawyers and a more complacent definition of corruption.
Looks as though Illinois Dems have found a potential way to block Blagodinnerjacket's (D) latest asinine move ...
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White said he will not co-sign an appointment from embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to the U.S. Senate.
Any appointment made by the governor to the seat left vacant by Pres-Elect Barack Obama would have to be co-signed by White.
So White won't let a black get the job?
~:smoking:
Quote:
Louisiana, Alaska and North Dakota all fared worse than the Land of Lincoln in that analysis.
Ahem. Thank you very much?
Y'all better watch it or we're going to start trying to find another Huey P. Long.
Happy New Year, Illinoisians ...
Brilliant :laugh4:
That is funny as :daisy:. LeatherCreations must not have any Illinois State contracts. Wonder when they come out with the Blago Sofa?
From the election thread, for Lemur.Quote:
Originally Posted by Crazed Rabbit
CR
Even without seeing that article Burris strikes me as a man with a warped sense of integrity to even accept any endorsement from Blago. No one should cooperate with nor enable this soon to be ex-Guv. Burris, and his supporters are just revealing themselves to be the grasping,shameless, power-hungry political animals that we have too many of already. Yeah, OJ's already in jail so I guess we got to go with Roland...
The selection of Burris is a MASTERSTROKE by Blago!!! And I'm loving every minute of it!!! First, this shows who's boss and the imense balls the current governor has. Now it will show the complete and total hypocricy of the democrats in the senate when they try to block a BLACK MAN, and only BLACK MAN in the senate, from taking is legal place as senator of the state of Illinois. My god this is delicious. Funny watching the dems having to act like a bunch of cross burning hicks keeping a brutha down. :laugh4:
double
I agree with Buchanan's opinion of the Burris appointment. If there is no suspicion that Burris gave anything in return for his appointment, then there is nothing wrong with it. Obviously if the ruminations about contributions to Blagojevich by associates pans out, he should be barred, but as it stands I don't see the real problem.
I would prefer a special election, but that was always unlikely. As a conservative, I have nothing against a constant reminder of Democratic corruption stuck to the Senate - especially since the guy in question isn't the corrupt one.
No brainer. Experienced politico in the Senate, Democrats look stupid.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/art...he_stakes.html