Karl Rove! Bush!

////////

"Yes we it can. Yes we it can."

We can hope!

He's the left's miracle baby. He could kill someone on video and it wouldn't stick.

How many hours of Rahm on tape do they have?

I'm OK with Bush sticking around.

I seriously doubt it. The One did not spend 20 months and upwards of a billion dollars to have it go poof like this.

Even if Obama did something, he didnt do anything (wink wink)

re: #7 rawmuse

I seriously doubt it. The One did not spend 20 months and upwards of a billion dollars to have it go poof like this.

Maybe not "poof" but more than a toe stub.

Obama is so insulated by the media that I think it will be some time before any public scrutiny will be placed on an Obama administration, and Fitzgerald's investigation will be thorough, but lengthy.
I wonder what Blago has to say.

Charles,

Why was my post on the overnight thread, #869 deleted? What rule did I violate with that post?

This investigation might even be better then throwing shoes.

Three near-invisible drawings discovered on back of Da Vinci masterpiece

[Link: entertainment.timesonline.co.uk...]

Ok the horse head I see. GodFather 1 right. But the others?

Obama will take office as planned in January. Any evidence of wrongdoing will be ignored until afterwards. This should be a wake-up call to every American: Do not put too much faith in a political leader. They will let you down EVERY SINGLE TIME!

I just get the feeling that the Obama Administration, by its own composition and character, will be swamped with scandal and malfeasance.

re: #5 mean Gene

How many hours of Rahm on tape do they have?

And how many hours are left if you cut out the expletives?

Rod Blagojevich will Bring About A Political Bloodbath

Chicago, IL—Today veteran criminal lawyer Ed Genson had a sit down with a client who could unleash the Gates of Hell. Genson has been practicing criminal law for more than 40 years in Cook County. Genson knows the ropes and will do his best work for Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich provided that he ponies up a huge retainer.

I know Genson and have been examined and cross-examined by him in several criminal cases while I was a cop. Everyone always underestimated his ability. He and his long time partner Sam Adam are gifted litigators from Hell.

Patrick Fitzgerald, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois can potentially make orphans out of Blagojevich’s children. Fitzgerald has the goods on the Illinois First Lady too. With both parents in prison the family damage is mindboggling.

Blagojevich and his wife have no choice but to implicate everyone they can. There is no question that Blagojevich has the goods on every major Democratic Party politician in Chicago including President-elect Barack Obama. You can’t hold any major position in the party without selling your soul to the devil.

Being slated for major office is being a, Made Man by mob standards.

Chicago’s organized crime begins and ends with the Democratic Party power brokers. Fitzgerald is in danger over this prosecution and is a likely murder target.

Blagojevich himself is in mortal danger because of the power he now holds to destroy the lives of other crooked politicians. Blagojevich will be better protected if he sings than if the criminal cabal has to speculate he might. The Illinois State police bodyguards will vanish as soon as Blagojevich is out of office.

Let’s argue and say Blagojevich can’t bring down the President-elect someone else he snitches on will. The rats are already biting each other and this cancer will spread faster and deadlier than any we’ve seen before.

re: #13 Nevergiveup

I see some scribbles. Maybe DaVinci started the daily crossword before he realized he was doing it on top of a painting.
//

It's conceivable that Obama emerged from the Chicago political machine without being corrupted.

No, seriously. It's conceivable. But is it likely? Mmmm ... naaah.

re: #7 rawmuse

I seriously doubt it. The One did not spend 20 months and upwards of a billion dollars to have it go poof like this.

I agree with your assessment about "O", but there is no way he (nor anyone for that matter) can assure that anyone close to him (Emanual , Jackson Jr., ) hasn't done something that teeters on crossing the line. That said, because of the MSM love affair with Obama no matter who/ what may have been involved with Blago it won't harm Obama in the least (please refer to Wright, Jeremiah ,,, Ayers, William, ,,, Dorn, Bernadette, ,, etc etc)

re: #10 Bumr50

Obama is so insulated by the media that I think it will be some time before any public scrutiny will be placed on an Obama administration, and Fitzgerald's investigation will be thorough, but lengthy.
I wonder what Blago has to say.

But they are asking hard hitting questions, such as: How's your jump shot?

Pathetic, the lack of curiosity in the media.

re: #17 Kenneth

Excellent. I was wondering if Blago was staying indoors to avoid a lead rain shower.

re: #17 Kenneth

Oooooooo, Kenneth!
That's a good find.
But no one and nothing is going to bring down ''the 0ne.''
His feet don't actually touch the ground.

re: #17 Kenneth

Rod Blagojevich will Bring About A Political Bloodbath

Chicago, IL—Today veteran criminal lawyer Ed Genson had a sit down with a client who could unleash the Gates of Hell. Genson has been practicing criminal law for more than 40 years in Cook County. Genson knows the ropes and will do his best work for Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich provided that he ponies up a huge retainer.

I know Genson and have been examined and cross-examined by him in several criminal cases while I was a cop. Everyone always underestimated his ability. He and his long time partner Sam Adam are gifted litigators from Hell.

Patrick Fitzgerald, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois can potentially make orphans out of Blagojevich’s children. Fitzgerald has the goods on the Illinois First Lady too. With both parents in prison the family damage is mindboggling.

Blagojevich and his wife have no choice but to implicate everyone they can. There is no question that Blagojevich has the goods on every major Democratic Party politician in Chicago including President-elect Barack Obama. You can’t hold any major position in the party without selling your soul to the devil.

Being slated for major office is being a, Made Man by mob standards.

Chicago’s organized crime begins and ends with the Democratic Party power brokers. Fitzgerald is in danger over this prosecution and is a likely murder target.

Blagojevich himself is in mortal danger because of the power he now holds to destroy the lives of other crooked politicians. Blagojevich will be better protected if he sings than if the criminal cabal has to speculate he might. The Illinois State police bodyguards will vanish as soon as Blagojevich is out of office.

Let’s argue and say Blagojevich can’t bring down the President-elect someone else he snitches on will. The rats are already biting each other and this cancer will spread faster and deadlier than any we’ve seen before.

Can't shake the Devil's hand and say you are only kidding.

It's another Catch 22. Obama has been asked by the prosecution to keep quite about his staff's contacts until next week,and while we wait, we speculate.
My hunch is that Obama was not involved in pay to play, not because I think it's beneath most politicians honor, but because he's too bright to do it for the risk/gain involved.

Could the sun rise in the morning?

Barack Obama and Rod Blagojevich were pals for years.

They with convicted fundraiser Tony Rezko were cooking up crooked deals all over the place. Obama’s residence in Hyde Park is one small product of that cabal. Simply take a gander at Michelle Obama’s lucrative board appointments resume.

Someone please tell me why Patty Blagojevich collected a huge commission on that Obama real estate deal when she was not the broker selling the property? Was that just another bribe? Reportedly the US Attorney has renewed interest in looking at that specific deal.

Not likely. The One will be elevated as scheduled in January. We will find out all sorts of horrible things about him once his term is over. While he is in office it will be all gumdrops and lollipops and unicorns and rainbows.

re: #19 Thom

It's conceivable that Obama emerged from the Chicago political machine without being corrupted.

No, seriously. It's conceivable. But is it likely? Mmmm ... naaah.

What? You don't believe some guy, who barely knows some other guys in the neighborhood, decides to be a State Senator and then a US Senator and then President, in just a few years, and the Chicago machine doesn't step back and say, you go kid, we need fresh honest blood to make us irrelevant.

re: #25 avanti

It's another Catch 22. Obama has been asked by the prosecution to keep quite about his staff's contacts until next week,and while we wait, we speculate.
My hunch is that Obama was not involved in pay to play, not because I think it's beneath most politicians honor, but because he's too bright to do it for the risk/gain involved.

Missing a sarc tag?

re: #7 rawmuse

I seriously doubt it. The One did not spend 20 months and upwards of a billion dollars to have it go poof like this.

I think that Byron York isn't saying that it's likely that team Obama did something wrong as much as he's saying that given the Fitzgerald operates it's a matter of time before someone on his staff gets tripped up.

Like Libby.

So it might very well be that President-elect Obama was proper in its dealings with Blagojevich, but that doesn't mean that someone won't mis-speak during the investigation.

Well, fine, then. If Charles insists on opening a new thread while I'm trying to type, then I'll just have to repost this here. My apologies to those who are even slower than I making the jump. Both of you.

From The Iowahawk:
SantaCorp Pleads Case For Bailout

Kringle warned that failure to approve the plan would have dire global economic consequences.

Pure quality entertainment!

Obama hasn't even been elected yet and the corruption just oozes from his pores like sweat afterone of his show basketball games. I am not that old but has any president ever had this much corruption prior to being inaugurated?

re: #19 Thom

It's conceivable that Obama emerged from the Chicago political machine without being corrupted.

No, seriously. It's conceivable. But is it likely? Mmmm ... naaah.

No, it is not remotely possible that he could have. The question is what can proven.

If Obama is implicated in all of this to the point where he is unable to take office or, more likely, is forced to step down, that would simply mean that Biden takes over. Do we really want that?

re: #33 Jetpilot1101

Obama hasn't even been elected yet and the corruption just oozes from his pores like sweat afterone of his show basketball games. I am not that old but has any president ever had this much corruption prior to being inaugurated?

Andrew Jackson?

re: #4 Kailen

He's the left's miracle baby. He could kill someone on video and it wouldn't stick.

Ain't dat the twoof.

re: #29 Opinionated

LOL.

One thing is certain - Obama is no Truman.

re: #30 Oh no...Sand People!

I think it's a legitimate point that Obama very well COULD have been deliberately kept out of any discussion of his elevation through the system. He's smart enough to be complicit without acknowledging complicity.

Difficult, twisted, and VERY deliberate, but not impossible.

re: #33 Jetpilot1101

Obama hasn't even been elected yet and the corruption just oozes from his pores like sweat afterone of his show basketball games. I am not that old but has any president ever had this much corruption prior to being inaugurated?

The messi'uh' oozed corruption from every pore. Heh.

Obama needs no Metamucil....
Fitzgerald is doing a fine job .....keep up the heat Fitz!

......But Obama says Fitzgerald has asked him to postpone releasing the investigation’s results until December 22. Fitzgerald’s office later issued a one-sentence statement confirming the request, so that it can “conduct certain interviews.”

I think what I like best about Byron York is how cool, calm, and collected he is in interviews and debates. He never gets frustrated with dissenting opinion and always, always, waits to be asked a question rather than talk over the other people. Classy guy, and obviously very smart.

I am certain many here are hoping it takes Obama down. The gleeful hopefull mudslinging is a dead end at best and will backfire at worst.

OK so Obama once said nice things about Blago. So What? Lots of republicans said nice things about Lott and Fente before they were disgraced. That is politics. It means nothing.

Like I said few days ago, so some people on Obamas staff indicated preferences. That does not mean they were buying anything or telling people to sell.

The attempt to smear Obama with this is not going to work.

re: #20 sattv4u2

because of the MSM love affair with Obama no matter who/ what may have been involved with Blago it won't harm Obama in the least (please refer to Wright, Jeremiah ,,, Ayers, William, ,,, Dorn, Bernadette, ,, etc etc)

I keep thinking of that scene in the production of Chicago, where the press is all on puppet strings and buys all the BS from the defense attorney.

"Understandable, understandable, yes it's perfectly understandable."

re: #39 Bumr50

Is complicity a word? Sorry if it's not.

re: #39 Bumr50

I think it's a legitimate point that Obama very well COULD have been deliberately kept out of any discussion of his elevation through the system. He's smart enough to be complicit without acknowledging complicity.

Difficult, twisted, and VERY deliberate, but not impossible.

Well, this election cycle showed us he can do no wrong, or associate with wrong either.

Does anyone truly believe Rahm Emmanuel is either stupid enough or careless enough to get caught up in the Blagojevich schemozzle? If so give Mr. Bernie Madoff a call. Mr. Madoff is apparently starting an offshore investment program with guaranteed 6% growth and you'll want to get in on the bottom bunk, I mean floor.

This reminds me of many headlines from the Clinton administration. So many legitimate scandals but nothing ever stuck. Unfortunately, I fear the Messiah will be no different.

re: #30 Oh no...Sand People!

Missing a sarc tag?

Not really, what would he gain by paying for his pick ? He'd get a Democrat anyway, what's the upside for the risk ? Now if Blanko had threatened to appoint a Rep unless he got say a million for his campaign, my faith would be a bit more shaky knowing the history of such deals.

If Rahm Emmanuel is as heavily involved as has been reported, clearly his position as Chief of Staff would be untenable. Perhaps that is why we have not yet seen Emmanuel resign his Congressional seat. He needs a place to land once he's thrown off the bus.

Getting off on the right foot. Major scandal before he even fakes the Oath of Office. Gotta be a record, and an omen.

Ot: Will Hillary still take the Sec.. of state position? of course - they are the Clintons- above the law above reproach democrats

re: #49 bound4er

Upding. My thoughts exactly, and I wasn't even politically aware during the Clinton admin.- so all I have to go on is past articles, commentary, and you folks.

The real reason I think that this affair will not touch BHO is because the timing of the arrests, which were made before the actual crime (exchange of money for influence) took place. They pulled the trigger too soon, on purpose. The Tribune leaked details so that the Governor would take the hit and it would end right there.

re: #48 RoyalCanadian

Does anyone truly believe Rahm Emmanuel is either stupid enough or careless enough to get caught up in the Blagojevich schemozzle? If so give Mr. Bernie Madoff a call. Mr. Madoff is apparently starting an offshore investment program with guaranteed 6% growth and you'll want to get in on the bottom bunk, I mean floor.

No - but possibly arrogant enough. Arrogance is what will bring these people down. Seen it happen before.

“Fitzgerald will try to do perjury traps, because that is what he does.”

And that sucks wether it's Obama's people or Bush's.

those who let the O get away w/ any criminal involvement in the dirty chicago deeds, are true racists. and cowards.

re: #55 rawmuse

I remember having similar thoughts about the "big economic collapse."
It seems that things have a way of working out for The One.

re: #2 Oh no...Sand People!

"Yes we it can. Yes we it candid think we could get away with it."

and they might. . .

re: #4 Kailen

He's the left's miracle baby. He could kill someone on video and it wouldn't stick.

Its my understanding that a ritualized murder was part of the first draft of his Inauguration Address. But it was thrown out due to concerns about staining his tie.

/

re: #46 Bumr50

Is complicity a word? Sorry if it's not.

Not just a word, the word, and well-chosen.

re: #55 rawmuse

The real reason I think that this affair will not touch BHO is because the timing of the arrests, which were made before the actual crime (exchange of money for influence) took place. They pulled the trigger too soon, on purpose. The Tribune leaked details so that the Governor would take the hit and it would end right there.

I think Jacksons screwed though, even if he didn't actually have time to pay.

According to John McCain, we should all just move along...the integrity of a Democratic politician is nothing we should worry our sweet little souls over for one minute.

re: #61 fish

Its my understanding that a ritualized murder was part of the first draft of his Inauguration Address. But it was thrown out due to concerns about staining his tie.

/

which cost more than Sarah Palin's dresses. . .

re: #64 SagamoreGal

According to John McCain, we should all just move along...the integrity of a Democratic politician is nothing we should worry our sweet little souls over for one minute.

don't remind me- I do not regret voting for him- but I really doubt I would do it again. . .

Hey Rancher

Be careful what you wish for. I don't think the US has ever had two lame duck presidents at the same time. Given the realities of the day what good would it do the US if BO was damaged goods from day one?

re: #61 fish

Its my understanding that a ritualized murder was part of the first draft of his Inauguration Address. But it was thrown out due to concerns about staining his tie.

/

So they are going to settle for a rereading of his 3 votes for the infanticide legislation. While a lefty op's for a public abortion onstage with grant funding by the National Endowment of the Arts.
/

re: #48 RoyalCanadian

Maybe not stupid,but it seems a lot of people inside the machine feel protected by it.

re: #50 avanti

Not really, what would he gain by paying for his pick ? He'd get a Democrat anyway, what's the upside for the risk ? Now if Blanko had threatened to appoint a Rep unless he got say a million for his campaign, my faith would be a bit more shaky knowing the history of such deals.

I don't beleive Obama is involved, but to your point, there's a difference between getting A democrat as opposed to getting HIS democrat. That would be his (and anyone's for that matter) upside

re: #17 Kenneth

Yep, they're playing real "tightass"poker at the highest level and with the highest stakes now. Let's just wait until the cards start getting laid, and it won't be long.

If the Grand Jury indicts, the rat-fight will spill into the streets of Chi.

After enduring eight years of constant, politically driven, mindless, baseless insult and accusation, George Bush will be laughing his ass off, as he rides off into the sunset in TX with Laura. Meanwhile, brickbats, not shoes, will be likely thrown in all directions in Chi, and beyond. Stay tuned!

(back to work, for me)

re: #51 Chasing Zero

If Rahm Emmanuel is as heavily involved as has been reported, clearly his position as Chief of Staff would be untenable. Perhaps that is why we have not yet seen Emmanuel resign his Congressional seat. He needs a place to land once he's thrown off the bus.

I think you're right on. If Fitzy has the goods on Rahmbo (and I think he does) the O will be telling him to check the tire pressure while he's under the bus.

re: #55 rawmuse

That's what I think too. If the Trib held the story for a few days, which I understand is almost unprecedented, then why wouldn't they hold it until Fitz had some real dirt on someone? Maybe they were afraid of being scooped but it doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but hey I'm not the sharpest pencil in the box.

re: #32 Clemente

From The Iowahawk:
SantaCorp Pleads Case For Bailout

Pure quality entertainment!

Classic:

"I want to insurer the American People and the evil doers that I and the Crongress and the Hankster [Treasury Sec. Paulsen] and Big Ben [possibly Fed Chair Bernanke] and [unintelligible] and me are unineted together to approve the financial aid and regulations and federal takeovers to get our American free ennerpise system back on track," said the President, speaking from inside his new shoe-proof plexiglas enclosure.

re: #66 DisturbedEma

In the long run, I honestly think that Obama will turn out to be a FAR better choice for the future of the conservative movement. McCain would have been one gargantuan disappointment after another.
At least with Obama, we have the mojo of "opposition" going for us.

re: #64 SagamoreGal

According to John McCain, we should all just move along...the integrity of a Democratic politician is nothing we should worry our sweet little souls over for one minute.

I think John McCain should move along, back to AZ and stay there. He will become largely irrelevant in the next few years.

Hey Charles - a nice open thread quote (plus this)

Science fiction writer Alan Moore once wrote, "The truth is, that it is not the Jewish banking conspiracy or the grey aliens or the 12 foot reptiloids from another dimension that are in control. The truth is more frightening, nobody is in control."

re: #58 nyc redneck

those who let the O get away w/ any criminal involvement in the dirty chicago deeds, are true racists. and cowards.

That's a pretty broad bush there RN, calling all Democrats racists and cowards.
/

ot:

Israel Under Attack By UN For Barring The "Jews Are Nazis" Falker

re: #76 Bumr50

In the long run, I honestly think that Obama will turn out to be a FAR better choice for the future of the conservative movement. McCain would have been one gargantuan disappointment after another.
At least with Obama, we have the mojo of "opposition" going for us.

well, I was a democrat until this year, so I think you may be on to something. . .

re: #61 fish

LOL

re: #80 WrathofG-d

ot:

Israel Under Attack By UN For Barring The "Jews Are Nazis" Falker

yeah, don't they know that the Holocaust is SOOO 20th century.//////

. .fucking A I hate the UN

They have announced my new Boss:

Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis

Ciao Chao!

re: #76 Bumr50

In the long run, I honestly think that Obama will turn out to be a FAR better choice for the future of the conservative movement. McCain would have been one gargantuan disappointment after another.
At least with Obama, we have the mojo of "opposition" going for us.

we should have but will we grasp the mojo and get any milage from it?...I'm not so sure yet...

What we have in Obama is something better then the what Left use to call Reagan "The Teflon President".

Thermolon™. " it contains no PTFE and there is no PFOA involved in any step of its production process.

In February 2006, EPA's Science Advisory Board voted to approve a recommendation that PFOA should be considered a 'likely' carcinogen.

Absolutely nothing will stick to Obama AND, It's safe!

re: #80 WrathofG-d

Cowards.

Well I think Obama is fully aware of all the bullshit going on. He's from Chicago fer Chrissake. You wanna believe he swam in the quagmire for 15 years and crawled out without any mud on his suit, well delude on dude!

re: #81 DisturbedEma

well, I was a democrat until this year, so I think you may be on to something. . .

wow ,,, you really HAVE been disturbed! How did you escape the Dark Side!?!?!

Now those people I talked to before the election who said "WHAT Chicago machine?" might be enlightened. I say "might" because some of them are really in denial.

Do I smell popcorn?

re: #88 maddogg

Well I think Obama is fully aware of all the bullshit going on. He's from Chicago fer Chrissake. You wanna believe he swam in the quagmire for 15 years and crawled out without any mud on his suit, well delude on dude!

Ding Ding! We have the winner.

re: #89 sattv4u2

wow ,,, you really HAVE been disturbed! How did you escape the Dark Side!?!?!

Maybe she got mugged?

re: #52 maddogg

Getting off on the right foot. Major scandal before he even fakes the Oath of Office. Gotta be a record, and an omen.

OK, illuminate me, what proof do we have at this moment that BO was involved in a scandal other then wet dream hopes that he won't take office ? We'll know the details before Santa heads out in his sleigh and even those that hate the guy may want to wait before speculating about his replacement.

re: #89 sattv4u2

wow ,,, you really HAVE been disturbed! How did you escape the Dark Side!?!?!

dear leader and his followers did it for me- did I mention that for today and tomorrow, I am a teacher in Chihellgo:)

re: #43 LudwigVanQuixote

I am certain many here are hoping it takes Obama down. The gleeful hopefull mudslinging is a dead end at best and will backfire at worst.

OK so Obama once said nice things about Blago. So What? Lots of republicans said nice things about Lott and Fente before they were disgraced. That is politics. It means nothing.

Like I said few days ago, so some people on Obamas staff indicated preferences. That does not mean they were buying anything or telling people to sell.

The attempt to smear Obama with this is not going to work.

There are at least some folks here who believe the O was not the best choice for president of the U.S. - that he is not the person he has been portrayed to be, that he lacks character, he has an over-inflated sense of himself, he feels "entitled", and his views are socialistic.

However, it isn't necessarily true that we want him brought down - he is the president-elect, and the country would suffer if he were to be brought down, much as I, personally, believe he is the wrong person to be president-elect.

The public was not well-served by the media's failure to scrutinize Obama and his associations, and his true colors are only now being brought to light.

You are correct that we do not yet know the full extent of this "buying and selling" of Obama's senate seat. Whether Obama was directly involved or not, he was awful close to the people who right now seem to have been involved.

re: #93 MJBrutus

Maybe she got mugged?

no but I lost my job. . .

re: #84 Guy_Philly

Can you say "verde"?

re: #80 WrathofG-d

ot:

Israel Under Attack By UN For Barring The "Jews Are Nazis" Falker

will somebody please just 'fuck them'...call em out on their total lack of cred?

re: #97 DisturbedEma

no but I lost my job. . .

and gained your sanity

re: #64 SagamoreGal

According to John McCain, we should all just move along...the integrity of a Democratic politician is nothing we should worry our sweet little souls over for one minute.

Did McCain really downplay this scandal? Please tell me he did, I need more reasons before I just come out and say how disgusted with him I am.

Inshallah!

re: #99 albusteve

I've always wondered what Israel gets out of the U.N. Why be a member?

~not a rhetorical

re: #88 maddogg

I just think that he's smart enough to have never recorded his awareness.

re: #100 sattv4u2

and gained your sanity

and my soul

I'm out for the rest of the day, but before I go, I have just one request:
Play the danged tapes!

re: #103 WrathofG-d

I've always wondered what Israel gets out of the U.N. Why be a member?

~not a rhetorical

keep your friends close, and your enemies closer! Imagine how MORE vile things could be there without the appearance of propriety!

As I have said before... look forward to a Blago pardon to "encourage" him to talk to the feds. This, of course, will come with the stipulation that no Obama Dirt be leaked.

Look, if Rahm was in for 21 phone calls, he didn't make those calls on his own initiative. He wasn't sitting around in his office when the idea occurs to him, out of the blue, "I think I'll call the governor." He was calling on behalf of someone else. We know who that someone else was, and it wasn't Michelle.

This isn't Rahm Emmanuel making calls. This is Obama's man making calls for him. The only question left is what exactly was said.

re: #103 WrathofG-d

I've always wondered what Israel gets out of the U.N. Why be a member?

~not a rhetorical

the UN...the ultimate shakedown gangsters...they have Israels number because Israel gives it to them...no offense

re: #106 rawmuse

I'm out for the rest of the day, but before I go, I have just one request:
Play the danged tapes!

They'll all come out in due time. i'll bet the Fitz team hasn't even dissected app of them fully yet (putting snippetts from tape #2, person #3 together with tape #12, person # 1, etc etc0

re: #94 avanti

OK, illuminate me, what proof do we have at this moment that BO was involved in a scandal other then wet dream hopes that he won't take office ? We'll know the details before Santa heads out in his sleigh and even those that hate the guy may want to wait before speculating about his replacement.

I don't think you have been reading very thoroughly. No one thinks that Barry won't take office. But it's not a good situation when you have swirls of scandal all around an incoming President - in the middle of a two front war, a war on terror, economic instability and imminent inflation.

As others have said many times on LGF.....we are so f#cked.

One thing assumed is that these rats would be willing to turn on Obama if it keeps them out of jail.

One factor complicates that assumption - Obama has the power of the pardon.

"But that would be a public relations nightmare. He'd lose all credibility."

Obama is a slick operator - he can work one PR front via proxies that accuses Fitzgerald of being a Ken Star in an effort to legitimize the investigation. At the same time he can squawk about "distractions" and "a time for healing" and "coming together" and "changing the tone of politics in this country".

Obama and his Chicago cronies then work out who will go to jail and who will be saved from being informed on, and they then let the one's going to jail know that they won't be in for 6 months before a pardon is granted in order to "get this episode behind us".

It is all very easy when the country and media are as star struck with a personality like Obama's. And we will all be made to look small and divisive when we scream about how they got away with it.

Have witnesses been brought before a grand jury? We don’t know. If so, who are they? We don’t know. What witnesses have been interviewed by FBI agents working for Fitzgerald? We don’t know. Do Fitzgerald and his investigators have any doubts about the truthfulness of those who have talked? We don’t know.

... and was Obama born in this country? We don't know [ducking!]

re: #51 Chasing Zero

If Rahm Emmanuel is as heavily involved as has been reported, clearly his position as Chief of Staff would be untenable. Perhaps that is why we have not yet seen Emmanuel resign his Congressional seat. He needs a place to land once he's thrown off the bus.

Emmanuel is still one of the more pro-Israel people in 0bama's administration-to-be; I'm afraid he would be replaced by someone more willing to dump Israel.

re: #113 karmic_inquisitor

pimf - "in an effort to delegitimize the investigation"

re: #107 sattv4u2

yes but without Israel involved, it wouldn't matter. They would have no authority over Israel.

I've got the perfect defence for Blago and the Dems. Turn this into a sex scandal. With all the fuck words being used on the tapes, I think he could make a credible case that this was a private sexual matter and the Republicans need to stay out of the bedroom. Maybe they could even dust off Michael Moore and his pilgrim costumed gnomes so they could torment Fitzgerald like they did Ken Starr......
/

re: #86 Elcid

Polysiloxane would also be a good choice for the Chosen One.

re: #96 reine.de.tout

There are at least some folks here who believe the O was not the best choice for president of the U.S. - that he is not the person he has been portrayed to be, that he lacks character, he has an over-inflated sense of himself, he feels "entitled", and his views are socialistic.

However, it isn't necessarily true that we want him brought down - he is the president-elect, and the country would suffer if he were to be brought down, much as I, personally, believe he is the wrong person to be president-elect.

The public was not well-served by the media's failure to scrutinize Obama and his associations, and his true colors are only now being brought to light.

You are correct that we do not yet know the full extent of this "buying and selling" of Obama's senate seat. Whether Obama was directly involved or not, he was awful close to the people who right now seem to have been involved.

What you have said is completley reasonable. I am all for a full investigation. Actually hoping that this brings down the president is another thing. If he is dirty on this, then so be it, but hoping he is so that he can be brought down or discredited is another thing. You are not doing that. Others are. It makes us consevatives look like whiny sore loosers.

re: #96 reine.de.tout

Very nicely done Reine! We respect the authority of the President while having cast a different vote. I was no Clinton fan but rigged the back of my pickup with an American flag and waved to him when he drove through my much out of the way home town years ago. Took the whole family too.

re: #84 Guy_Philly

They have announced my new Boss:

Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis

Ciao Chao!

Congratulations. I know nothing about her, but at least you dodged the Jennifer Granholm bullet.

re: #101 turn

Did McCain really downplay this scandal? Please tell me he did, I need more reasons before I just come out and say how disgusted with him I am.

OK, a reason for you i guess:Mcain link.

I respect the Presidency, not this man. The sooner he is out, the better. And if this expedites the process, great!

re: #120 LudwigVanQuixote

It makes us consevatives look like whiny sore loosers.

It would also make us look shortsighted and stupid - Biden would become POTUS.

I don't know which is worse, frankly.

re: #124 keyword

I respect the Presidency, not this man. The sooner he is out, the better. And if this expedites the process, great!

be careful what you wish for, you just may get

BIDEN !

Somewhere, within the last week, I heard or read that after Rezko sold the Obamas the strip of land so that the Obamas could increase the size of their lot, that Rezko was left with an unbuildable lot. If so, then the Obamas essentially have use and control of the entire Rezko property by paying only a token amount for the smaller strip of land. Rezko can't do anything with the remaining property, and he can't sell it, except maybe to the Obamas. Could the remaining value of Rezko's now unbuildable lot be construed as a gift/bribe to Obama? Has anyone else seen or heard this?

re: #122 doppelganglander

Congratulations. I know nothing about her, but at least you dodged the Jennifer Granholm bullet.

Who is that Doppel? Sounds like you have personal experience or inside knowledge?

re: #127 Son of the Black Dog

Could the remaining value of Rezko's now unbuildable lot be construed as a gift/bribe to Obama

In a word,,,,NO. As long as Rezko's name (or someone other than Obama's) is on the deed, there is no gift.

re: #32 Clemente

From The Iowahawk:
SantaCorp Pleads Case For Bailout

I was talking to an old high-school buddy of mine, one Mr. I. B. Goodelf, who is currently Santa's head IT Elf. Ole IB was telling me that given the current economic and moral climate, Santa has had to raise the bar concerning Naughty and Nice. Where as last year marginal behavior was acceptable, now the same acts will sure get you on the naughty list.

Santa's Naughty / Nice List

Mr. I. B. Good-Elf, Santa Claus' Chief Information Officer, announced that the Real-Time Naughty-Nice List has successfully passed re-certification and has been fully implemented since the 2006 Christmas Holiday season.

In the past, children around the world could be naughty after Christmas Eve and still receive gifts, due to the size and complexity of maintaining The List. However, by using Open Source Software Tools, Global Positioning Technology and Military-Grade Satellite Communications equipment, Santa Claus will be receiving real-time updates while in flight.

"This enables the Elves on 24-hour duty in Santa's World Gift Headquarters to issue an Bad-child Abort anytime up to on-site delivery" said Mr. Good-Elf.

"We are confident after extensive field-testing last year, and significant upgrades and optimization, that this will enable faster and more reliable delivery of gifts to good boys and girls” said Mr. Good-Elf “I know that Santa is really excited to be in real-time communications with the North Pole - at least that's what Mrs. Claus says.”

Mr. Good-Elf would neither confirm not deny reports of RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) tags being placed on gifts to prevent "label swapping" and "re-gifting". "There are concerns about the ramifications from re-gifting that need to be further investigated", commented Mr. Good-Elf.

To schedule an interview with Santa Claus, or Mr. I. B. Good-Elf please wait until after Boxing Day.

"Merry Christmas to All! And to All a Very Happy Holiday Season!" stated Santa Claus.

folks, Fitzgerald is on their side
nothing will come of this for 0bama

how did Fitzgerald go from being in DC investigating Scooter Libby over a leak he did not make

then magically appear a thousand miles away investigating a democrat ?

someone at DOJ just sent in a friendly to pretend to root out some corruption, but he will find Blago acted alone
and jessie jackson jr and sr were very helpful
and team 0bama was the reason for the success of bringing down Blago, who will magically be found to have been a Republican all this time after all

re: #125 karmic_inquisitor

It would also make us look shortsighted and stupid - Biden would become POTUS.

I don't know which is worse, frankly.

Thank You! Exactly!

re: #131 Adrenalyn

how did Fitzgerald go from being in DC investigating Scooter Libby over a leak he did not make

then magically appear a thousand miles away investigating a democrat

as FEDERAL prosecutor, it's called doing his job!

re: #36 MJBrutus

Andrew Jackson?

Ah! One of the patron saints of the Democrat party. Figures.

A radical or a 4-year lame duck? Hmmm, let me think about that.

re: #135 keyword

A radical or a 4-year lame duck? Hmmm, let me think about that.

With Obama, we'll have BOTH!

Who does everyone think Rahm Emanuel was on the phone with Blagojevich negotiating for? You think maybe he was doing it for Obama? No, really. Isn't Rahm ostensibly the chief of staff of the The One?

Illinois supreme court rejects attempt to remove governor

Let's look at who the Illinois supreme court justices are, shall we?

Starting with Anne M. Burke: In 1996, she was elected to the Appellate Court, First District, for a full term. She is married to Alderman Edward M. Burke

Edward Burke is said to be the real power behind the throne, the mad who runs the Chicago political machine: the city, the cops & the courts.

Is Richard M. Daley Ed Burke’s Puppet?

Burke has some interesting friends & clients:

Burke tried to cut Rezko’s taxes

And of course, for some unknown reason Blago's wife got a nice big commission fee on that shady real estate deal between Rezko & Obama.

So one of the judges who is entrusted to hear the case against Blago is the wife of a man who did political favors for Blago's friend & business partner, Tony Rezko. Rezko is involved in a shady real estate deal with Obama, and Obama's office is somehow involved in the Blago senate seat sale scandal. Tidy little package, isn't it?

re: #131 Adrenalyn

folks, Fitzgerald is on their side
nothing will come of this for 0bama

how did Fitzgerald go from being in DC investigating Scooter Libby over a leak he did not make

then magically appear a thousand miles away investigating a democrat ?

someone at DOJ just sent in a friendly to pretend to root out some corruption, but he will find Blago acted alone
and jessie jackson jr and sr were very helpful
and team 0bama was the reason for the success of bringing down Blago, who will magically be found to have been a Republican all this time after all

Fitzgerald was appointed special counsel for the so called Plamegate is how he was in DC. He is an appointed (2001) US attorney for the district in which Chicago is located.

re: #133 sattv4u2

how did Fitzgerald go from being in DC investigating Scooter Libby over a leak he did not make

then magically appear a thousand miles away investigating a democrat

as FEDERAL prosecutor, it's called doing his job!

nah !

he has a district
and it is not that big

it's like Valerie Plame's hubby being sent to Nigeria for the CIA when he is known to be opposed to all things Bush (forget about the nepotism thing)

re: #139 HDrepub

Fitzgerald was appointed special counsel for the so called Plamegate is how he was in DC. He is an appointed (2001) US attorney for the district in which Chicago is located.

ok, I sit corrected
than again, why Chicago ?

still does not sit well with me
but I sit corrected nonetheless

fair is fair

re: #137 bill-tb

My guess is Obama will hang Rahm out to dry. He will claim Rahm was a loose cannon, acting on his own. They will also try to push the Blago is crazy meme. The media will lap it up.

What Fitzgerald did during Plame is no guarantee he will do the same now. I will believe it when I see it. Of course the media will tell me that Obama's or Emanuel's or whoever's guilt is proof of their innocence just like all this cold is proof of global warming. We have all fallen down the rabbit hole in America.

Anyone else going to get tired of the press asking the equivalent of "who has a better jump shot"? I was hoping they would grow a pair once they had O installed, but alas...they don't seem to have.

re: #128 Guy_Philly

Who is that Doppel? Sounds like you have personal experience or inside knowledge?

Not personal knowledge at all. She's the governor of Michigan. I heard her name floated as Secretary of Labor a couple of days ago. Michigan presently has an unemployment rate of 9.6%, making her uniquely unqualified to run anything involving jobs.

re: #59 Bumr50

I remember having similar thoughts about the "big economic collapse."
It seems that things have a way of working out for The One.

IIRC, the financial meltdown in the finance and banking sector started with Chuck Schumer trashing Indymac Bank in the media. They went down and it snowballed from there. Was the timing of Chuckie's news conference just a coincidence? I think not.

re: #131 Adrenalyn

folks, Fitzgerald is on their side
nothing will come of this for 0bama

how did Fitzgerald go from being in DC investigating Scooter Libby over a leak he did not make

then magically appear a thousand miles away investigating a democrat ?

someone at DOJ just sent in a friendly to pretend to root out some corruption, but he will find Blago acted alone
and jessie jackson jr and sr were very helpful
and team 0bama was the reason for the success of bringing down Blago, who will magically be found to have been a Republican all this time after all

This is what I think, too. This happens in New Mexico repeatedly. First, they stall in the investigation and keep their findings sealed until MAJIC after an important election. Then they blow it open and a bunch of people settle (plea bargains, cooperation, etc.) in such a way that they never get to the top of the thing. They have ways of swirling around and keeping their point person out of the legal circle.

This will be one of many scandals that will plague the administration: the tape no one was allowed to see before the election, Rezko, Ayers, Blagojevich, scandals E, F, G. Obama might sound smooth but he can't stay that way for long.
That's assuming the welfare junkies who want his promised generous hand-outs don't turn on him first (as I'm betting they will).

re: #142 Kenneth

My guess is Obama will hang Rahm out to dry. He will claim Rahm was a loose cannon, acting on his own. They will also try to push the Blago is crazy meme. The media will lap it up.

I haven't decided yet whether Blago is really crazy or just amazingly arrogant. It seems as though he has this air about him that says you can't touch me because I know too much.

[Link: www.reason.com...]
Why the Democrats should nominate Republican Peter Fitzgerald to the U.S. Senate

re: #134 Son of the Black Dog

Ah! One of the patron saints of the Democrat party. Figures.

Yeah but Andrew Jackson would not recognize these Democrats...

re: #131 Adrenalyn

re: #147 Sunlight

folks, Fitzgerald is on their side

What proof do you have of that? You didn't even know that Fitz IS the prosecutor servicing Northen Illinois! He was appointed by a REPUBLICAN, and has investigated both dems and repubs.
Unless you have some evidence that Fitz is "on their side", either show it, or make a cogent argument for it, bit don't just spwe something you "feel"

re: #149 HDrepub

In the 1980's Blago worked as a bookie for the mob in suburban west Chicago. The mob owns Chicago, and by extension, the state of Illinois. So yeah, Blago knows where a lot of bodies are burried.

I think the quote Byron York is looking for is this one.

"I think that there's no doubt about the seriousness of the problem we've got. We have a cancer within-close to the presidency, that's growing. It's growing daily. It's compounding. It grows geometrically now, because it compounds itself. That'll be clear as I explain, you know, some of the details of why it is, and it basically is because (1) we're being blackmailed; (2) people are going to start perjuring themselves very quickly that have not had to perjure themselves to protect other people and the like...."

Resignation of Axelrod and Emmanuel will no doubt bring this statement the The One.

"Two of the finest public servants I have had the privilege to know."

"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas,
Just like the ones I used to know...
Where Chi politicians and their Obamessiah
are thrown in jaaaaaail
Thanks to Blaaaaa - go....."

(cue the chirping birds...;-)

re: #151 experiencedtraveller

Yeah but Andrew Jackson would not recognize these Democrats...

Neither would any dem President up to and including LBJ

re: #131 Adrenalyn

Fitz got put up to investigating Plame by the same people he's investigating right now. They seriously hoped he'd piss Bush off enough to fire him. Bush didn't fire Fitz, and the whole scheme backfired.

Now they're reaping their just rewards.
MUAWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

re: #141 Adrenalyn

ok, I sit corrected
than again, why Chicago ?

still does not sit well with me
but I sit corrected nonetheless

fair is fair

Patrick Fitzgerald was suggested as US Attorney for the Chicago District by former US Senator Peter Fitzgerald (no relation). Peter Fitzgerald was reviled by the Illinois Combine/Chicago Machine because the man was honest, and did not participate in their pay-to-play schemes. They hate him still for puting Patrick Fitzgerald in as US Attorney. It was the Combine's idea to have Fitz be the attorney in charge of the Plame case. They wanted Bush to fire him and remove the heat. The heat that Fitz was puting on the Combine as he put away former Governor Ryan (R-Licenses4Sale), Sorich (Daley crony in the hired truck scandal), and others, including many Outfit members.

Remember, The Outfit = The Machine = The Outfit = The Machine.

It's how it is in Chicago.

re: #149 HDrepub

I haven't decided yet whether Blago is really crazy or just amazingly arrogant. It seems as though he has this air about him that says you can't touch me because I know too much.

Arrogant. Most of the Chicago Machine pols are that way. They think they own the place. You should see Daley when he's mad on TV. He puts Blago to shame.

re: #150 notutopia

[Link: www.reason.com...]
Why the Democrats should nominate Republican Peter Fitzgerald to the U.S. Senate

They won't. He's too honest for the Combine. They hate his guts.

re: #159 Honorary Yooper

Arrogant. Most of the Chicago Machine pols are that way. They think they own the place. You should see Daley when he's mad on TV. He puts Blago to shame.

Obama appears arrogant to me also. Must be something in the water LOL.

Blah Blah Blah. Could this story be any more dead?

Nothing to see here. Move along.

re: #157 Honorary Yooper

Fitz got put up to investigating Plame by the same people he's investigating right now. They seriously hoped he'd piss Bush off enough to fire him. Bush didn't fire Fitz, and the whole scheme backfired.

Now they're reaping their just rewards.
MUAWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

excellent information, thanks

re: #152 sattv4u2

re: #147 Sunlight

folks, Fitzgerald is on their side

What proof do you have of that? You didn't even know that Fitz IS the prosecutor servicing Northen Illinois! He was appointed by a REPUBLICAN, and has investigated both dems and repubs.
Unless you have some evidence that Fitz is "on their side", either show it, or make a cogent argument for it, bit don't just spwe something you "feel"

wow, someone needs to watch "Elf" a couple more times and chill

what came out, came out
live with it please

In an unrelated story: “Always Have Something to Fall Back On.” Rahm Emanuel has been spotted at the BodySmith Training Gym in Washington D.C. He was last seen practicing Arabesques, Ballons and the Chassé. Could it be that Rahmbo is considering trading in his politically slick acumen for the silky slippers yet once more?

Merry Fitzmas!

Twas the night before Fitzmas

Twas the night before Fitzmas and all through the house
The federals were listening for the sound of a mouse.
The wiretaps were hung by the chimneys with care
With sugarplum visions of the rats they would snare.

And I in my tracksuit with Patti in bed
With visions of "bleepin' gold" running through our heads,
When out on the lawn, there arose such a herald,
I knew in an instant it must be Fitzgerald.

For a second, I thought this must be in jest,
Then the telephone said, "You're under arrest."
I rushed to the window and what did appear?
A sled full of subpoenas pulled by eight tiny reindeer.

More rapid than Outfit bookies, the coursers they came
And Patrick did whistle, and call them by name.
"Now Rezko! Now Kelly! Now Amrish and Stu!
On Wyma! On Harris! On Rahm and Ata too!"

And with a winsome grand jury so lively and quick
Jimmy called Genson, 'cause I'm in the thick.
Then I drew in my head and was turning around
And there stood Fitzgerald, who made not a sound.

But with a wink of his eye and a twist of his head
He let me know that I had plenty to bleepin' dread.
He pointed his finger alongside his nose,
I told him, "Hang loose," but up the chimney he rose.

I started to spill because I am no tool,
But then Eddie and Jimmy said, "Shut up you fool!"
Then Patti awoke all sweetness and light,
"You're bleeping holding up that bleeping Cubs bleep, Right?"

Fitz sprang to his sleigh and the reindeer did bristle
While off in the distance, sang the jailhouse whistle.
I heard him exclaim to all within sight,
"Merry Fitzmas to all, except those I indict."

re: #146 Son of the Black Dog

I don't know about that. That would require Schumer to be competant. Maybe he is and maybe he ain't, but I've certainly not seen anything from him to make me think he is competant.

167: the comments are even better.

To the tune of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"

Get packin', Rod Blagojevich
The state's in disarray
The Tribune wants you unemployed
At least by Christmas Day.
The TV pundits want your head
Could there be pay to play?
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy
Save Illinois !
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy.

Good riddance Rod Blagojevich
Your Elvis look's inane,
The Senate's mad, so's Lisa's dad.
You drive us all insane.
Our transit's broke, the state's a joke,
The Tollway's one big pain.
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy
Save Illinois !
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy.

Good luck old Rod Blagojevich
The feds have quite a place.
Fitzgerald's poked his nose around
And if he has a case,
George Ryan's moving stuff around
Creating extra space.
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy
Save Illinois !
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy.

It took Nixon running for re-election to get embroiled in a big enough scandal to warrant his resignation. Our Messiah-King is so good He is doing it before His Anointment and Coronation.

re 169, I didn't write it. "dmm" wrote it. I wish I had written it.

re: #168 Iron Fist

I don't know about that. That would require Schumer to be competant. Maybe he is and maybe he ain't, but I've certainly not seen anything from him to make me think he is competant.

All it takes is for a politician to open their mouth, competence is NOT required. I would give good odds Schumer had little to no clue the can of worms he was opening when he flapped his gums, but is happy it trashed the electability of the Socialist Lite candidate.

re: #171 Zimriel

re 169, I didn't write it. "dmm" wrote it. I wish I had written it.

Kass has that effect on people. :-)

re: #169 Zimriel

Here's another good one, by Mike R (#63),

O come O Rahm Emanuel
And ransom captive Obamaville.
That mourns in lonely transition here
Until the 20th of Jan appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emanuel
Shall name the country, Obamaville

O come, Thou Rod of Illinois, free
Thine own from Fitz's tyranny
From gates of hell thy people slave
And give them victory o'er the State
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emanuel
Shall name the country, Obamaville.

O come, Thou Daley Machine come and cheer
Our cronies by the thousands here
Disperse the gloomy clout of might
And the D.C.'s dark shadows put to flight
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emanuel
Shall name the country , Obamaville

O come, Thou Key of Patrick, come
and wire tap our heavenly home
Make safe the way that leads on high
and close the path to Hillary
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emanuel
Shall name the country, Obamaville

O come, O come, Thou Boss of might,
Who to thy wards, on Bridgeports Height
In ancient times did'st give the Law
In clout, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emanuel
Shall name the country, Obamaville.

I'm sure that Blago has dirt on Obama...it would be next to impossible for "the Messiah" to be virgin snow white clean in the world of Chicago politics. Money had to be exchanged for Obama to be a player in that cesspool - he had to have known players in those circles that made his rapid rise happen...

I got to see how it worked when I was stationed at Great Lakes...the pols in the entire Chicago area like to play their games...and their families and friends usually make out pretty well, at the taxpayers expense. The School districts are no better...there would be stories of teachers and administrators putting in HUGE amounts of overtime, while the schools they were working in were in danger of being taken over under No Child Left Behind.

Eric Holder has all too many ties to Rezko and Blago. But so what? Even Blago isn't going down. His attorney explains:

The wiretaps wuz illegal. An executive order of da guv instructed da FBI to submit any wiretaps taken in Illinois to da office of da guv before forwarding them to any appointee of da so-called "president". But da FBI snuck around behind our backs and wiretapped us like we wuz ordinary crooks instead of exempt by reason of bein high muckymucks. I ask ya!

He's actually trying that case, cleaned up a bit, before the court. Who knows? With enough appointments in the right places enough strategic firings, and enough strategically lost evidence, Blago could win this thing.

Any Philadelphians out there? This reminds me of finding "the BUG" in Mayor John Street's office right before the election.

The police commissioner said he was doing "a routine sweep of the mayor's office," but theory is someone tipped him off to end the investigation before Street was implicated.

Street was reelected though there was a criminal investigation and some people went to jail. A major player died of cancer before the trial.

Street likely caught a break. The similarities with this investigation are interesting.

I also think Obama will avoid being ensnarled. But damage was done to Street's administration and it may be done to Obama's as well.

What is selling a senate seat,
compared to buying the presidency, with disabled information fields for credit cards, and untraced overseas donations?

I'm just saying.

We live in pretty corrupt times.

Obama is like Teflon

re: #19 Thom

It's conceivable that Obama emerged from the Chicago political machine without being corrupted.

No, seriously. It's conceivable. But is it likely? Mmmm ... naaah.

Heh. Anyone who thinks someone who floated as fast to the top of that political cess pool as Obamba isn't one of its biggest turds . . . well, I know of a hedge fund you need to invest in.

re: #178 Ojoe

What is selling a senate seat,
compared to buying the presidency, with disabled information fields for credit cards, and untraced overseas donations?

I'm just saying.

We live in pretty corrupt times.

Normally I downding "just sayin'" posts but you're absolutely right. It seems to be forgotten that Obama got donations from overseas, and (unless he's incredibly lucky) from identity theft.

I suggest that anyone holding their breath for Obama to get ensnared in anything go ahead and breathe. Been my observation it requires the media to interest the public.

re: #185 kansas

I suggest that anyone holding their breath for Obama to get ensnared in anything go ahead and breathe. Been my observation it requires the media to interest the public.

True, that. And also, the only thing swirling around at the moment is pure speculation. There's nothing even remotely implicating The One at the moment.

Any investigation of this size and profile is going to be thorough. This will certainly involve cleaning up all the underlings involved who participated in Blago's malfeasance in any way. It may also - possibly - extend up the food chain from Blago. My own feeling is that any such extension won't go far. I'd be surprised if it snared anyone higher up than Rahm Emanuel. But it's possible.

Keep in mind, though, that this turd was peddling a Senate seat to the highest bidder. At this point, there's no telling where that might lead. It could just as easily ensnare a Republican as a Democrat, for all that is known. And it's just as possible that the Obama team may come off smelling like roses, if the tapes and other records reveal that they did all the right things - refused to accept a bribe, contacted the authorities, and so on. Look what happened with Jesse Jackson, Jr. - turns out he was informing on Blago for years before his name was leaked. Not the outcome I would have hoped for, but there it is. The same sort of thing could, for all we know, happen in this case as well.

Best to simply sit tight and wait for actual facts to appear. As fun as it may be to see the stain of scandal seeping into the fabric of the Obama Presidency before he even takes the Oath of Office, strong condemnations based on speculation that are later proved false will only serve to strengthen his position, and make future, legitimate criticisms that much harder to promote.

re: #131 Adrenalyn

folks, Fitzgerald is on their side
nothing will come of this for 0bama

how did Fitzgerald go from being in DC investigating Scooter Libby over a leak he did not make

then magically appear a thousand miles away investigating a democrat ?

someone at DOJ just sent in a friendly to pretend to root out some corruption, but he will find Blago acted alone
and jessie jackson jr and sr were very helpful
and team 0bama was the reason for the success of bringing down Blago, who will magically be found to have been a Republican all this time after all

He took United to ORD. Mega corruption. Knows all involved (including the O and his campaign Mafia staff.) Corrupt Dem.
There I feel better.

I think there will be splatter, but the One swims in Teflon for now. With this congress, already salivating at the possible tax increases, throwing trillions down the bailout hole, and bringing the fairness doctrine back in to the light, they NEED barry in office. No hint of charges will see the light of day. The dems learned their lesson with Clinton. Squash it quick and dirty, before it grows legs. Attack, lie,smear,deny. The Obamanation bus will need suspension like Bigfoot before this administration is over.

re: #67 RoyalCanadian

Hey Rancher

Be careful what you wish for. I don't think the US has ever had two lame duck presidents at the same time. Given the realities of the day what good would it do the US if BO was damaged goods from day one?

I'm not wishing for that. Jackson should go down because he solicited a bribe. What I hate seeing is Fitzgerald prosecuting anyone because they can't recall events correctly like Libby.

They're democrats. They always get a pass.

Somewhere, within the last week, I heard or read that after Rezko sold the Obamas the strip of land so that the Obamas could increase the size of their lot, that Rezko was left with an unbuildable lot. If so, then the Obamas essentially have use and control of the entire Rezko property by paying only a token amount for the smaller strip of land. Rezko can't do anything with the remaining property, and he can't sell it, except maybe to the Obamas. Could the remaining value of Rezko's now unbuildable lot be construed as a gift/bribe to Obama? Has anyone else seen or heard this?

This is as close as anything known in connecting Obama to the Chicago corruption in actions. The property was originally for sale as one piece. By buying part (at an inflated price) Rezko saved Obama $300,000 on his part. Later as State Senator Obama made sure Rezko benefited from state business.
This has all been known, the tough part is proving the quid pro quo. Somehow Obama's State Senate office records have disappeared. Go figure.

From IL,
thefarmer

i want this to blow up in B.O.'s face , but I want the country to move forward even more.

Don't expect much from Fitz. He's already shown to be demo house boy. He's more apt to play "make it go away" than "shine the light of truth".

191-the farmer.I wonder if the portion of the lot was legally subdivided. Usually a 'lot-split' requires a "conditional use permit" at the least and a variance thereafter. It is the city or county planners that require it.
The unusable portion of the Rezco's property would probably be written up in the planningreaport to the Planning commission as a disallowed use.
A lot of cities discourage goofy lot-splits.It contributes to helter-skelter prperty uses.Just as you said the Pbam's got the use of the corner lot for very little. Usually corner lots are subdivided larger. Having an extra portion of land protects the first lot from the corner. That wouldbe scretching at stop signs and traffic. I'll bet somehow that portion was split off . Whether it was formally done or not shall be revealed.
Like the movie "Being There", the Obamas just move through life with unbelievable benefits raining down on them thru no action of their own direction.

154-raiderdan-whatever happenedto Debby Wasserman-Schulz and David Plouffe and Axelrod and McCaskil they were all over tv for Obama I and now they are no-where to be seen....
That Rahm Emanuel seems all hat no cattle...

Where's Ken what's-his-name when you need him?

Democrats are Teflon...Republicans are Velcro!

I don't see a whole lot shaking out of it that is seriously damaging to president-elect Obama. If Rezko didn't damage him why will this?

It seems Rahm was talking to Blago but there is nothing criminal about talking or suggesting replacements. I would guess Rahm & Obama have some ideas of who they would like for the open seat and Rahm said so. However, since Rahm did not say anything about a payoff we get colorful quotes about some fun activities the president elect can engage in.

It is amazing how similar the Obama team is to mob families: nearly everyone in the organization, with the exception of "The Boss," is associated with or directly linked to dubious activities, while "The Boss" can claim to be completely incognizant to the goings-on around him.