...get caught!"
Posted on 12/14/2008 8:50:54 AM PST by SmithL
The prosecution of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald is a match made in heaven.
Have you ever seen two people more in love with the spotlight?
In all my years of practicing law, I have never seen a U.S. attorney take to the podium to announce an arrest, then answer any and all questions while at the same time condemning the accused as if he'd already been convicted.
But I'm telling you now, for all the accusations about Blagojevich trying to sell the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama, the feds had better come up with something more solid than just a couple of guys sitting around and talking.
Otherwise, this case could go up in smoke.
Keep in mind, politics is a crazy business. When you're appointing people, you expect them to be supportive of you. You expect them to be loyal to you. You expect them to work for your re-election.
If someone tells you, "I bring the gay community to the table with me, and they will be supportive of your re-election if you appoint me," and then you appoint him, is that a quid pro quo?
Or take Caroline Kennedy, who looks like she's in line to get Hillary Rodham Clinton's Senate seat in New York. If she goes to the governor, David Paterson, and tells him, "I'm Caroline Kennedy, and I have distinguished myself. And I am able to raise a ton of money" - and he appoints her - is there a quid pro quo if she then goes and raises money for him?
I'm not sure. But I do know that those are the kinds of things that come up in discussions about whether a politician will or won't appoint someone to a job.
From the public's perspective,...
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
“Have you ever seen two people more in love with the spotlight?”
Yes..Willie Brown for example.
Start saying that the beginning of the O'Bummer administration looks allot like the
end of the Nixon administration....
Willie B knows how the game is played better than anyone.
...get caught!"
I have grown up watching Willie Brown and although he is a full fledged Democrat I have always admired his political skills. He is completely right in his Blagojevich assessment.
Therein lies the problem. As long as they are talking about campaign contributions, all seems to be perfectly legal. 'Course when these turkeys retire they get to keep that war chest.
(paraphrased) "If you're dining in Oakland, be sure and order the soup, so you have someplace to drop your jewelry when the place gets robbed."
That weekend, we went to the newly opened Punch Line in Sacramento. He shows up with another drop dead gal, Asian this time.
Either he had the world's best black book or lobbysts were flying women into Sacremento to "meet" with the speaker.
I always despised his politics, but he is one of the most interesting characters I've ever seen.
If you notice on his appearances, he will say what's on his mind and seems to not be pulling punches.
That is funny.
I have some of the same thoughts about Fitzgerald and his big mouth on Tv for the indictment. I am not sure a crime has been committed. One may have been discussed, but it may have never occurred.There is a big difference between contemplation and commitment.
This is the same Fitzgerald who played big on Tv when he already knew leaked in the Plame mess.
This is one of the things I have always admired about him. He is a refreshing politician in that regard.
Willie Brown: The biggest crook ever elected to public office.
When the Fed sting on California’s Capitol came down in 1988 Assembly Speaker Willie Brown’s office was one of the offices searched. When they got there the file cabinets were EMPTY. Not empty of incriminating material, but EMPTY ENTIRELY. He clearly had a couple of hours notice. No Chicago crook can hold a candle to Willie Brown on corruption and rigging the system.
No, that is courting votes by supporting political positions which is simply the definition of politics.
Supporting political positions in exchange for money in your own pocket is bribery.
If that person says, "I bring the gay community to the table with me, and they will put over one million dollars in your pocket if you appoint me", that is bribery.
If you tell that person, "You bring the gay community to the table and if you get them to put over one million dollars in my pocket, I will appoint you", that is solicitation of bribery.
Willie knows scandals.
OTOH, I have to agree with him on the Blago Scandal, partly because of my huge dislike and distrust of Fitzgerald. The phony Plame Affair investigation was a political hit job and nothing more. As Willie tells us, Fitz is in love with the spotlight and that is the main driving force in his investigation. Although the "evidence" against Blago seems solid it is in fact "just a bunch of guys sitting around talking". Fitz will need more than that.
OTOOH (on the other, other hand) it is more fun than a one pound bag of M&Ms watching Obama, Emanuel and the rest twist slowly, slowly in the wind (to borrow a phrase from the Nixon era). So I'm still hoping against hope that Fitzgerald will actually do something to spoil the soup for Obama. But I'm not hopeful. He is much more likely to do something that will endear him to the Anointed One, keep him in the spotlight and advance his career.
The Slickest Willie this side of Slick Willie!
"If you can't eat their food, drink their booze, and f--- their women and then vote against them, in the morning, you have no business in politics.
Willie Brown is one of the most corrupt democrat assholes to hold political office in the United States. It makes sense for the Chronicle to publish his thoughts on this, as corrupted as it is.
What the Illinois governor did was wrong. That’s the long and the short of it Willie. I can fully understand how you would get so easily confused.
And Willie, name one prosecutor who announces an arrest of this magnitude who doesn’t act as if he has an open and shut case. BTW, those tapes sure came out clear didn’t they. LMAO. In this case, Fitzgerald does have a slam dunk if he’s charging solicitation. I don’t see anything more yet.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.