(another serr8d joint)
We . . . I . . .
The Chicago Tribune reports it has learned that “Rahm Emanuel, President-elect Barack Obama’s pick to be White House chief of staff, had conversations with Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s administration about who would replace Obama in the U.S. Senate.”
It quickly adds that “the revelation does not suggest Obama’s new gatekeeper was involved in any talk of dealmaking involving the seat.”
According to the Tribune, “one source confirmed that communications between Emanuel and the Blagojevich administration were captured on court-approved wiretaps. Another source said that contact between the Obama camp and the governor’s administration regarding the Senate seat began the Saturday before the Nov. 4 election.”
Emanuel’s role, the Tribune writes, basically came down to giving the Blagojevich team a list of Illinois Democrats who Obama would approve of as potential replacements for him in the Senate.
There’s this interesting detail:
Emanuel delivered a list of candidates who would be “acceptable” to Obama, the source said. On the list were Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett, Illinois Veterans Affairs director Tammy Duckworth, state Comptroller Dan Hynes and U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Chicago, the source said. All are Democrats.
Sometime after the election, Emanuel called (Blagojevic aide John) Harris back to add the name of Democratic Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan to the approved list.*
Not among that group of names: Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., the “Senate Candidate No. 5” referred to in the criminal complaint filed against Blagojevich. Jackson has confirmed he was interested in the seat and spoke with Blagojevich about it, but says he did not discuss with the governor any “pay to play” scheme.
UPDATE: Gateway Pundit on why *Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is asking the Illinois Judiciary to remove Blago, rather than letting the Legislature take care of it, as provided in the State Constitution:
Lisa Madigan’s father is Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.
He’s another big time ward boss in the Chicago Machine.
Kass says, “They don’t want a Blogojevich impeachment hearing which would basically allow Blagojevich to talk about all of the deals they’ve done.”
I’m sure there’s a point to this post, but it eluded me.
The head doesn’t match, besides it being effen stupid.
No, thorie, this is not the Rahm Emmanuel that we thought we knew……..
your photoshop sux so obama isn’t connected
Obama better remember that it’s the cover-up, not the crime that bites you.
Duh, I honestly didn’t recognize the guy. I try to avoid TV news.
Your sock puppetry sucks. You’re too obviously a redumblican.
Thumbelina looks like George Clooney’s gay brother in that shot.
See, thor, it’s not that we have fanciful dreams of Obama being unable to attend his inauguration due to being held in the clink (well, I’m not at least), it’s just that this puts an end to all that HOPEANDCHANGE bullshit we had piled up on us over the last 18 months.
Turns out, Obama and his staff are human, and Chicago Democrats to boot. Kinda hard to reshape an entire nation around a normal human.
Emanuel delivered a list of candidates who would be “acceptable†to Obama
And Obama knew nothing about this.
He said so! And OBAMA WOULDN’T LIE!
I give Emmanuel credit for stiff-arming the pressies who tried to spring ambush interviews on him while he was on family time.
What are you talking about Techie thor keeps trying to tell people on here he is an independant.
TSI, I only award him partial credit for that. If he hadn’t been hiding out from the press, he’d get full credit.
SBP I wonder how the left in this country would take this if you replaced the names with Bush, Rove, and Jack Abramoff.
Hear that “BEEP-BEEP-BEEP” sound? That’s the bus getting ready to back up, I think.
TSI,
Only odd thing about Rham getting asked questions at family time… it was by a long, long time local radio guy (Bill Cameron) and it was at City Hall. Weird setting to try and have some family quality time. Meh.
I still don’t understand why it is so verbot for these guys to simply say – “of course we talked to the $%&*ing guy who was going to appoint the Senator. Duh. We didn’t deal or anything, so there is nothing here.” That would have ended any curiosity about the whole thing. At least on the press’ part. Talk about self-inflicted molehill/mountain making…
Is this the evolution of O’s story so far?
“No contact.”
“I personally haven’t had any contact, but we’re investigating to see if someone on the staff might have.”
“Emanuel may have talked to him.”
“Emanuel delivered a list of the people I liked, but I didn’t know anything about it. And no bribe was discussed.”
Well, Maj. (P) John, that’s what makes me suspicious.
Of course any reasonable person would expect Blago to talk to Obama about his replacement. That’d be only common courtesy.
So, why the instant and vehement denials of any contact whatsoever? The denials which now seem to be unraveling?
I do not think his supporters have to worry though. There was lines of spin about O! attending a racist church for 20 yeras they snorted up their nose using O!-4-Prez posters, I am sure there will be excuses they can spit back at us about this forthcoming too. Patience thor you will get your thoughts fed to you soon. No need to go and post anthing now.
The thing is, Mr. Pink, Obama won with 52%.
You won’t need to get the hardcore Koolaid drinkers to switch in order to make a big difference.
“So, why the instant and vehement denials of any contact whatsoever? The denials which now seem to be unraveling?”
I just think their first instincts are bad. The whole thing could have been waved away early. Sigh…this is going to be a long, bumbling 4 years if people don’t learn from this. When you have a friendly press, and a public that is willing to extend the benefit of the doubt to new folks coming into the White House, stop going into such a defensive crouch over what I am sure is darned little. Sheesh.
The grown ups are in charge now. You might have to learn to read and/or listen to exactly what is said and in what context.
Check your tutu at the door, girly/boy berserker.
Either they are dirty, know it, believe it may be on tape (the missing days in the transcript), and hope to prevent those tapes from ever being made public.
Or they are hopelessly caught, and living in, their own self-created, self-inflated, reality bubble. Victims, as is Blago of over developed self-esteem that has no basis in fact.
The grown ups are in charge now.
You define “grown ups” as “clumsy liars”?
Oh, wait: you do.
Poor thor.
Check your tutu at the door
BTW, thor, Emanuel is the ballet dancer, not me.
NTTAWWT.
TSI
What Maj John says at #16.
Obama has been filling his appointments with Clinton retreads yet everyone has failed to let The One know the way to diffuse any potential scandal is to be ahead of the curve on bad news.
WHY didn’t Obama, within a day at most of the filed complaint gather all the information on who said what to whom and when and hold a press conference then to place it all before the people who are being asked to “unite” behind the P.E.? Somehow all the people who did not vote for Obama are to shut up and line up and the press is to make this happen for Obama by continuing their non-reporting press puff pieces?
It is unacceptable that Rahm wasn’t making clear his contacts with Blagocrook on day one. This dribbling of bits and pieces, whether he is “innocent” of deal making or not, is bad judgment — either Rahm’s if he is covering or Obama’s if he directed Rahm to obfuscate.
At minimum, Rahm’s career is over right now. If he isn’t (careerwise) dead man walking then the Obama admin starts in January with a very soiled hem on that messiah robe.
What do you think about Vicky Toensing’s smackdown (granted up front, she has an ax to grind with P. Fitzgerald, but still) of Fitz on the presser? Seemed pretty reasonable to me.
“You might have to learn to read and/or listen to exactly what is said and in what context.”
Yes learn to listen to what the meaning of “is” is and wait for the appropriate talking points to disseminate from Mount OKosmus. You must get the “proper” context. Hahahahahhahahaha. You are a f@ckin idiot.
Maj. (P) John, my instinct (which could well be wrong) is that Blago started hinting at some kind of payoff and Emanuel tromped on it as soon as he realized the road the conversation was leading toward.
We’ll see.
stop going into such a defensive crouch over what I am sure is darned little. Sheesh.
I agree with you right up to that point Maj John. I think they have to shut Blago up and soon. He is the thread that is going to unravel a huge ball of scumbags. The big question is, is this just the locals doing everything they can to cover their own asses, or are they all trying to cover Obama’s?
Remember too that Blagojevich isn’t the only indictee here. John Harris may have a thing or two to say in any effort to receive a softer sentence if he thinks he’s likely to be convicted.
“Either they are dirty, know it, believe it may be on tape (the missing days in the transcript), and hope to prevent those tapes from ever being made public.
Or they are hopelessly caught, and living in, their own self-created, self-inflated, reality bubble. Victims, as is Blago of over developed self-esteem that has no basis in fact.”
I think it is the bubble thingie. There is no way in H&ll that Patrick Fitzgerald would sit on some tape incriminating big fish – he would be trumpeting that, I think.
Something the trolls have yet to consider: IF Blago “hates” Team O! so much, as indicated by the “motherfuckers” comments, then, that sorta gives him motivation to inflict as much legal damage upon them as possible, doesn’t it?
Then again, Fitzy may have decided to move before this posed a “Constitutional crisis.”
Techie – Blago only hates the O! Force because they wouldn’t send bags o’ cash his way for an appointment. That is my take anyway. That is why I am so puzzled by all the hiding by Rahm E.
SBP
Is Blago capable of “hinting”? In any case, if Rahm knew Blago was crooked, he should have been on the phone turning him in … just as others that were being shaken down by Blago should have done.
If Rahm didn’t turn in an obvious crook, yet another career-fatal lapse of judgment. Why should Rahm be held to lesser standards then we demand of police officers?
Your daily quota for wishful-hysteria is now filled. Gov’t job well done.
That’s pretty much Maguire’s take on the situation, Darleen.
Or before Obama had a chance to fire him.
I’m still cracking up about thor’s “context” spin.
Before today, Obama had absolutely no idea that his Chief of Staff had sent a list of acceptable candidates to Blagojevich. Yep. We all believe that, right?
It’s all about the “context”. Also the meaning of “contact”, “list”, “no”, and “is”.
Worst case scenario for Team O!: Rahm is on tape negotiating the bribe down, leading Blago to call them “motherfucking cheapskates”.
Now, this is highly unlikely. Something this big would have probably been leaked by now.
So, what are the alternatives? Why go into CRISIS MODE if it’s your guys playing the noble whistleblower?
Is Blago capable of “hinting�
Could’ve been Harris, and probably would have been.
Hey SBP are they admitting they sent him a list of candidates now?
Check Dan’s update to the original post, Mr. Pink.
If any one is hysterical, basement boy, it is Obamabots shrieking no one did anything wrong how dare you suggest it why don’t you leave Obama and his people alone WAAAAAAAAH.
Someone should find that hysterical Spears fan youtube video and redo the audio about STOP PICKING ON BARRY AND RAHM!
Harris was the bagman/go between for almost everything, I think. Even if Blago was weird enough to occassionally call his shake down targets.
I think the only thing that could come out of this is that Blago tried to shake down the O! Force and they didn’t bite – but they also didn’t turn him in. Nothing really serious for anyone involved, but sure doesn’t fit with the Hope! And sure ain’t Change! here in Illinois…
I like reading about cars, honk, honk, Dan.
[…] (Via Dan) […]
Blago tried to shake down the O! Force and they didn’t bite – but they also didn’t turn him in
And that’s the crux of it. Every day that has passed since the complaint became public that Camp Barry has ducked, spun, remained silent, denied “any” contact, etc, makes this a bigger deal. Because the “why” of it, when it has been shown time and time again that such conduct is counterproductive, just keeps growing.
What I am amazed at is the sheer volume of ink being spilled on the opinion pages the likes of LATimes, WaPo, et al, that sound like professional PR pieces written by Obama’s own staff. The desperation at propping up the plaster sainthood of Obama and his ring of disciples is jaw-dropping.
“Obama has been filling his appointments with Clinton retreads…”
BECAUSE OF TEH CHANGINESSS!!!!!11!!1!1
Yeah it’s funny.
Wall to wall white guys.
They couldn’t shake that tree without getting a lot of people to spill on the deep background, including bringing attention to O!s past campaigning on behalf of Blago and whatever his political mentor and patron Emil Jones has been up to.
shorter Darleen: I gush for Hannity and Rush.
O!merta.
“What I am amazed at is the sheer volume of ink being spilled on the opinion pages the likes of LATimes, WaPo, et al, that sound like professional PR pieces written by Obama’s own staff. The desperation at propping up the plaster sainthood of Obama and his ring of disciples is jaw-dropping.”
That is what puzzles me most. This should be the most minor footnote in the whole saga. I just want this to play out and unravel the Mayor Daley, Mike Madigan, Dick Mell, Emil Jones, Blago crime syndicates. Plus it would be fun to play “Name that Party!” for a few months of stories.
“O!merta”
LOL
Do you think we can get crazy thor to sign on?
shorter thor: I’m starting to realize that I’ve been sucking the dick of a standard-issue Chicago machine politician, and it hurts.
Is it time to gird my loins or should I wait til after Jan 20th?
I guess I should correct my #23 and add a both of the above option.
Dirty and crazy.
Well, outside the possible ordinary fanboydom going on, this is an unprecedented challenge to an elected unconfirmed yet to be inaugurated future President. Should the damned thing (scandal) spread to reach PeBHO himself (which I don’t think nor hope it will) there will be political hell to pay in ways we’ve never seen before as a nation. It’s bad enough that it could take down people actually close to the guy.
Insults flying back and forth aside, I do wish someone who is a staunch Obama supporter to tell me why Rahm didn’t just say “we told that knucklehead Blago who we wanted, he wouldn’t do it without all sorts of weird quid pro quos, and we wouldn’t play ball, so there.” That would have (and still could) end the whole thing.
basement boy is still creating cartoons to argue with.
I don’t watch TV news and certainly not talking heads … and Rush airs at 9am in the Los Angeles market at the same time as Dennis Prager. I never miss Dennis, so I haven’t heard Rush in years.
Basement boy is most comfortable with cartoons and inflatable dolls.
Hussein could’ve just told the press that he’s instructed his staff not to comment during an ongoing investigation.
Because that’s a fuckin’ given, and outside of a hysterical harpy circle in full buddy stoke, everyone fully understands that.
Unless, like the stain on a blue dress, there is actual physical evidence that that was not the case, or they suspect that there is such evidence. “I did not have sex with that woman” only works if there is no semen stain.
Because that’s a fuckin’ given
The only “given” here is that unless Rahm went rogue and passed off his own list of candidates as Obama’s, your Messiah lied to the press.
Why, thor?
stoke = stroke
Where stoke, in a odd random occurrence, was a typo but a preferred choice intellectually.
#62 – but it IS NOT a given, hence the amount of press semi-effort on this. Why not do it now? I believe it was just a bad first instinct on Rahm’s part – and it STILL can be corrected. The longer this drags out, the perception gets worse. If reality (which I think would show very little) is contrary to perception – then it should be shown, and therefore counter the perception. This should have been/be so easy.
Wow, thorhoid’s going all Ron Burgundy on this thread. STFU comment in 5, 4, 3…
Sdferr
Blagocrooks down fall is only remarkable in how utterly crude and blatant his avarice revealed by the tapes. The transcripts show Blago acting like a dinner theater version of Goodfellas.
But for any adult not wearing Obama-approved HopeChange prism glasses, Chicago has always meant dirty politics and ANYONE that comes out of it is going to have at least some mud clinging to their shoes. What a valid HopeyChangy person does is change those shoes immediately after leaving and doesn’t try to hide the old shoes under the bed and pretend they never existed.
Really, Camp Obama could have put their role in this on page 24 by day three by being transparent on day two.
Even leftwing syphocants, the Assoc. Press, is not happy with the stonewalling from Camp O.
OT: Obama announces Housing Sec.
Yet another Clinton retread.
Hope! Change!
I don’t ask for very much on this site – but I would like a single-thread, insult cease-fire. PLEASE.
I think this subject is dead serious – and I cannot figure out why it has become so. Insults aside, I think everyone here is capable of providing a dispassionate analysis.
I will summarize my position and ask all of you to provide explanation as to why I am wrong, right or what I missed.
ahem: Blago is trying (as he has since day one of his first term) to shake the bushes for $ – not just from the President-Elect either. The most eye-catching part of the story is the attempt to get something in return for appointing a Senator to the liking of someone. As a lawyer, I could probably put on a good defense that there was no crime asking for a job or such – just good old fashioned log-rolling – but I’ll let that lie for now). The P-E is approached, through staff, to see what he would offer. It sure sounds like NOTHING. The ONLY, and I mean ONLY thing I can see is that it is embarrassing to have it revealed that Rahm E. may have sent/discussed the P-E’s choices to Blago… as he darn well SHOULD have done. I mean, cripes, it was the P-E’s own flippin’ Senate seat for crying out loud! I think he should be given vast deferrance as to who he wants in it.
If there was ANY sort of attempt to negotiate some pay-off, Blago would not have reacted as he did, nor would he have tried to get others to “bid”. I don’t think the P-E had ANYTHING to do with any kind of wrongful act.
All that said, is it so darn awful to simply have it revealed that Rahm E. communicated some preferrences to Blago? Is the idea that any contact with Blago is so radioactive that it must be hidden, no matter how innocent? That should be laughed away – politics is rougher than that. If the idea is to keep the campaign aura of “Hope and Change”, then that should be dropped – it served it’s purpose in getting the P-E elected. The leader of the Free World cannot get through 4 years, let alone 4 weeks if any slight appearance of something that does not match campaign themes is going to cause a ruckus.
Running the Executive branch of the United States Govt is damned hard, and should not be attempted with worrying about minor piffle like this. There is a huge benefit of the doubt and good-will reservior for a new administration – it should not be tapped down for trivia like this.
I understand that it can be said that the odd behavior is hiding guilt of something – but the US Attorney hasn’t shown ANY sign of this.
So why is Rahm E. acting so snarly? Please explain (it could something as simple as he is damned tired and doesn’t want to deal with this crap while trying to set up a White House staff – in that case he could simply say such and dust this whole thing away).
Maybe Obama and Co. have more pressing issues to deal with and have little else relevant to add to what they have already stated and could care less if the drama-driven press does the macarena outside their door, which has a do-not-disturb tag hangin’ on the knob. They, to me, seem totally uninterested in suspicious nature of soap opera crowd.
We noticed last night that Sen./VP-e Biden didn’t vote for the bailout bill though he still officially holds his Senate seat and could have done. The questions arise, why has he not resigned his seat, why has his seat not been filled? What is so damned hard about nominating a replacement? Why so slow? Isn’t Sen Biden awfully busy these days with his role in transition to the executive? Shouldn’t the citizens of Delaware have an active representation in the Senate? What gives?
Because he likes to keep in character with his snarly nature is my guess.
#71 – then they have erred, and can still correct this.
Lisa Madigan was one of Obama’s acceptable picks that he was in NO WAY involved or communicating to Blago.
Incidentally, if Blago’s hair is proof he is insane as pushed by the rational left, then isn’t Chris Dodd unfit for office as well?
compare and contrast
“The grown ups are in charge now.”
This childish expostulation actually has some truth to it, unintentional and ironic as it may be.
For while in most respects of strategy and intent the Obama campaign was adolescent, or driven to appeal to the adolescent political imagination, in fact, as David Solway writes in his recent essay, “A Meditation on Hope and Change,” Obama is fundamentally an old man. He “takes his cues for political change from old Europe.” Not good news, he points out, as Europe is “enervated and varicose, unable even to reproduce itself.” He continues: “The recycling of hack advisors and stale officials from a previous administration is only further proof of what can be done to avoid innovation in thought and policy under the mandate of change and the rhetoric of hope.”
Major John, expect to be called a “harpy” now by our resident cO!missar.
Maj John, won’t there be a Grand Jury on the heels of this indictment? Might not that fact be some source of concern to any potential witness (such as Mr. Emanuel) and hence put anyone in that position a bit on edge when offered the opportunity to speak publicly to the press, for fear of getting caught in (even innocent) contradiction thereafter?
When people are all behaving in a manner that defies logic theyare either all crazy or there is something they know that we don’t.
Wow, thor, I see that Team O! has so many other important things to focus on at the moment, such as naming yet another former Clinton official to the Cabinet. That’s a real tough decision, probably kept the staff up for days.
Maybe Obama and Co. have more pressing issues to deal with
That doesn’t explain the initial lie, thor.
“No comment” or “We’re not going to comment on an ongoing investigation” would’ve worked just as well.
It could be that Rahm learned from Scooter Libby what happens when you don’t recall exactly what you said to a reporter to Fitzgerald.
I am willing to give him that much benefit of the doubt.
rrpjr, Hussein is the change!
I have to resort to the Nixon parallels, here, Maj. John. Obama and Rahm may be relatively innocent of this first charge, but you have Blago, his chief aide, and Rezko all playing let’s make a deal right now, and who knows what might see daylight if they get to singing.
Then there is also the fact that Obama has been secretive, defensive and paranoid this whole campaign, why stop now?
Pull that thread B Moe and see what comes away.
Maj John
All that said, is it so darn awful to simply have it revealed that Rahm E. communicated some preferrences to Blago? Is the idea that any contact with Blago is so radioactive that it must be hidden, no matter how innocent? That should be laughed away – politics is rougher than that. If the idea is to keep the campaign aura of “Hope and Changeâ€Â, then that should be dropped – it served it’s purpose in getting the P-E elected. The leader of the Free World cannot get through 4 years, let alone 4 weeks if any slight appearance of something that does not match campaign themes is going to cause a ruckus.
What we may have here, sir, is that while Camp Obama sees “Hope and Change” internally as a mere rhetorical device to get elected, they still are counting on riding it for all its worth — to keep the true believers willing to engage in mob reaction to any criticism and to provide cover for a leader who is painfully lacking any executive experience. In many ways I understand why so many Clinton retreads are filling Obama’s administration … it’s the only pool of Washington insider talent that Obama can draw on that will be minimally acceptable to the leftwingers who are expecting a putsch against anyone minimally Republican or conservative. Obama is unwilling at this moment to step beyond his campaign. Indeed his post election speeches sound little different then the ones on the campaign trail.
Running the Executive branch of the United States Govt is damned hard, and should not be attempted with worrying about minor piffle like this. There is a huge benefit of the doubt and good-will reservior for a new administration – it should not be tapped down for trivia like this.
IMO, I believe this kerfuffle has caught Obama by surprise — which makes me wonder about the judgment of the Clinton retreads — they, of all people, should be advising him how to handle potential scandals. This could also be indicative, yet again, of Obama’s enormous ego. He may have truly believed that since the press has covered for him and accepted face value anything he has said up to the election, they would continue in kind afterwards. Either Obama is being illserved by his new appointees already or he is ignoring them. At best, we will find out whether Barry has learned any lessons from this come the next Obama admin scandal.
I understand that it can be said that the odd behavior is hiding guilt of something – but the US Attorney hasn’t shown ANY sign of this.
That’s if you accept that the complaint filed is everything from a years’ long investigation. Remember, too, that Fitzgerald picks and chooses who he goes after …making sometimes for some strange decisions (Libbey was convicted of non-cooperation but Armitage the leaker was never charged for anything).
Complaints can be amended and it may be that kind of leverage is something Fitzgerald wants to hold onto as a stick to get more information.
I think an exculpating explanation can be found by taking into account the Obama camp’s attitude toward the press. They’ve never seriously needed to cultivate the press, the press has been mooning and sighing over Obama from the get-go. So when the press starts trying to get Obama’s attention about something, even something substantive for a change, his reaction is going to be not much different than the high-school quarterback’s reaction to the gawky freshman girl trying to warn him that somebody snuck the stolen test answers into his locker that the principal is about to open up and search. “What’s that braceface going on about now? Jeez, why doesn’t she just leave me alone?”
In which case, a reaction like “Maybe Obama and Co. have more pressing issues to deal with” might actually be to the point. Unfortunately, that won’t alter the fact that the principal is going to find the stolen test nswers in the jock’s locker, and suddenly all those other “more pressing” matters aren’t going to be so pressing, and the Wizard of Uhhs is going to need to talk fast.
Good luck with that, Barry.
Maj John’s point isn’t really being addressed. Why all the secrecy? Why all the mystery? The Obama team is fumbling their way through these events with dribs of statements that end up being regarded as “misspoken” within 24 hours, and NO ONE is giving a straight answer. This has nothing to do at all with them supposedly having more important things to do–making sure that Obama’s Senate seat is properly filled OUGHT to be high on the list of things that are necessary, seeing as Obama is not in office yet and continuity will be needed once Jan 20th rolls around.
As Maj John pointed out, this could have all been taken care of with a simple press statement regarding what they can reveal without hindering Fitz’s investigation and, just to show that they were cooperative, that Rahm or someone else on the team notified the feds of their concerns (if indeed there were discussions of pay for play–and if pay for play never entered the equation, then why not state that as well?)
Right now the Obama team, and Rahm in particular, are acting like teenagers who drove their parents car into a ditch and aren’t sure how to say the thing that will get them in the least trouble. The press may not go after Obama, but they are smelling blood in the water on this scandal and I think it’s naive to believe that someone from Obama’s team isn’t going to ultimately get thrown under the bus at some point as more information comes to light. He did it all through his campaign, so what’s to lead anyone to believe he wouldn’t do the same now?
Topsecretk9: I don’t know what that style is called — I just call it “Senator Hair”. Very common in the 70s and 80s. It looks weird as hell now, though. Nearly as archaic as John Dean’s ‘do at the Watergate Hearings.
Ted NSP
Why all the secrecy? Why all the mystery?
Short of what I said in #86 – Obama’s ego and lack of experience.
Right now the Obama team, and Rahm in particular, are acting like teenagers who drove their parents car into a ditch and aren’t sure how to say the thing that will get them in the least trouble.
It’s ok mom I wasn’t hurt did the trick for me.
SBP
IIRC that hair style was popular in the early late 60’s early 70’s as a kind of alternative to long hair. At my high school, boys were not allowed to have the hair at the back touch their shirt collars, but growing it long on top and sweeping it to the sides was kind of a way to get some volume without having the vice-principal cut your hair in his office.
My year books of 69 and 70 show a lot of that style.
By thoriboi..
Obama isn’t connected..BWAHAHAHAHA!!!
Cui prodest scelus, is fecit.
Oh, and insults from the thoricicle? highest praise possible. Thanks, daddy’s money boi!
It seems most likely that Rahm didn’t play ball, but didn’t turn over any evidence of offered quid pro quo, either. Emanuel and Axelrod don’t want to shake the political tree in Chicago, for fear of what might come out regarding Obama’s prior involvement with Blago and the activities of such people as Emil Jones, his political mentor and patron. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s dad is also a Chicago machine boss, and she was on Emanuel’s list as a supplementary pick after he’d submitted O’s first three picks, with Jesse Jackson, Jr, candidate 5, not on it. Why was she added? Now she’s trying to get the IL judiciary to throw Blago out of office, thus circumventing any nasty revelations during impeachment hearings–and the provisions of the State Constitution, as well. I think that’s the crux.
Maj John’s point isn’t really being addressed. Why all the secrecy? Why all the mystery?
Why has he been so secretive about his time at Columbia? When he first met Ayers and their background together? Why he decided to move to Chicago? His job history in Chicago? Who his friends and associates are? He has been secretive and evasive about his entire history, the real question is why has it taken this long for people to notice?
Keep on pulling B Moe. I think you’re on to something.
Emanuel. What profane wretch art thou, motherfucker?
Blago. I am one, sir, that comes to tell you I’ve got this
fuckin’ thing and it’s fuckin’ golden. The Moor ain’t gettin’
dick without I get my cut.
Emanuel. Thou art a villain.
Blago. You areâ€â€a congressman.
Hmmm. I don’t think it was someone from the P-E’s team who actually called the Feds – this started BEFORE they would have been involved. Besides, if they had dropped dime, they would be boasting of it – and I would be cheering them on for all it is worth – Obama skeptic though I am. The IL swamp needs big time draining, and I don’t care who turns the pumps on.
I’ll check back later – time for brunch with the missus.
Acording to idiots like Thor: The very important things that the Obama has been doing include vacationing lavishly in Hawaii, keeping Bush’s Iraq policy and Defense Secretary in place, meeting all of Hillary’s demands so that there is at least a tiny bit of gravitas in his foreign policy team and getting everyone’s story straight on how much they have traded with Blago that is on audiotape.
Merry Fitzmas to all, and to all a good laugh!
I think the dime dropped by the Obama team was to the Chicago Tribune, it resulted in their Dec. 5th article, that is being said to be the cause of Fitzgerald going public. It was done, I believe also, to stop an investigation that was getting too close to too many in the cesspool.
Will Fitzgerald now try to force the Trib. to name the sources of their article? He has done so in the recent past to get that info.
It is hard to say what the secrecy is because Rahm Emanuel is a seasoned politician. He has seen scandals erupt before, he has seen what was done with those scandals and has had to have discussed with others what ought to have been done – it is natural to talk shop like that.
Mr. Emanuel was brought in to be CoS for this administration because he is good at organizing people and messages and not because of his sunny temperment. So, as Maj. John asked – why the hamfisted response to this when the obvious response is as Maj. John put it?
Here are my guesses, in no particular order.
(1) They aren’t sure exactly what they said to Blago when he brought up ‘pay to play’ and are panicking slightly as they try to remember who said what.
(2) ‘Pay to play’ came up and they made several offers to Blago, offers which may or may not be technically criminal, but really do not look good at all.
(3) They flatly turned down ‘pay to play’, but they also said other things about other deals done in the past, prior quid pro quos, and those are on tape and they are praying that Fitzgerald doesn’t pursue those.
(4) They got caught utterly by surprise (although why? everyone knew Blago was under investigation), went into Plan A – complete denial – and now realize that the denial they issued wasn’t plausible in the least and they can’t think of a way to tell the truth without looking foolish.
[…] h/t Dan Collins, who posts this link to USA Today… The Chicago Tribune reports it has learned that […]
The only explanation for 4) would be that they couldn’t believe that Blago would carry on as he did unless he had what he considered good inside information that he wasn’t being wiretapped.
Just noticed this one:
https://proteinwisdom.com/?p=13875#comment-610553
That would certainly explain the careful parsing of words, if discussions had been made preceding the elections. It would also explain Blago thinking Obama was a motherfucker for welshing on the deal.
Imagine yourself as having absolutely no executive experience. You have betrayed and dismissed many supporters as you clawed your way to power and are unwilling to extend any trust because you know that you would betray anyone – why wouldn’t any of your advisers? Additionally, many of your advisers have ties to another power center that predate your rise by decades. Your intelligence system within DoJ is lacking and this prosecutor has his own rule book at any rate.
You may have done absolutely nothing wrong in this instance but you rose from the sewers of Chicago and many of those whom you used in rising are far dirtier than the governor (hi Emil!). Your whole rise has been predicated upon the illusion of your being clean, you know it’s a damnable lie and you know that Fitzgerald has the power, authority and will to expose you for the fraud that you are prior to your inauguration.
Let’s give Obama a break here. This is only the first time we see the “deer in the headlights” look of the truly incompetent elevated to a position for which they are unsuitable. We’ll have plenty of occasions to remark upon his lack of skill and talent in the future.
Emanuel should be in the clear unless he lies to investigators or Fitz. I’m not sure he’s capable of not lying but if his attorney can have him fitted with a shock collar prior to questioning he may be able to minimize the damage.
“Karma” sounds vaguely un-American, BMoe. One of the trolls said that.
That shock collar damned well better be hardwired — not wireless — lest any unfriendlies start monitoring the signal and then mimicking it for their personal jollies.
[…] Not to be too Aristotelian about it, Dan, but Blago lacks the stature to be a tragic figure, and the Illinois electorate has been too complicit with the political shenanigans to make them proper victims. NB: O! isn’t a tragic figure yet, either. He’s not O!thello. […]
I’m guessing Obama is either crooked or stupid. Pick one. Neither is a good trait to have as POTUS.
They’re not mutually exclusive!
Too good to not steal:
“Uh, I…I did NOT have verbal relations with that governor, Mr. Blagojevich”
We have the “stonewall” when will we get to the “limited hangout”? Possibly Blago is the limited hangout or is meant to be if he plays along.
http://dailywoof.wordpress.com/2006/02/08/democrat-congressman-predicts-war-right-before-midterms/
Hey, Rahm, how’s that war with Iran before the 2006 mid-terms going for you?
Give the guy a break, Techie. He was only four years early.
Regards,
Ric
Ted NSP
Why all the secrecy? Why all the mystery?
Anybody else I’d say confusion and inexperience, but since it’s Illinois they’re hiding something.
mmmmmm ALL of BO’s associations are dirty….but he’s not.
Illinois is a swamp and nobody walks through the swamp without getting a little muddy. These swamp dwellers are an incestuous lot and there’s probably more than a couple of them who know where O!’s skeletons are buried. Even if he and his motley crew are innocent in this situation I’m guessing O! has plenty of things on his conscience to be guilty about and he’s got to be just a bit nervous right now that someone might cut a deal by dishing the dirt on him on some entirely unrelated matter. That’s why the reflexive defensive crouch.