Rahm Emanuel's Run For Cover (re allegations he tipped off Fitzie)

Wiz Bang Blog ^ | 12-9-08

[STARWISE]

Published: December 9, 2008 - 3:50 PM

The latest buzz about the arrest of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is that President-elect Barrack Obama's appointed Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel, "turned" him in.

While Emanuel's conduct is sure to be part of the ongoing investigation and potential trial, the notion that he is responsible for Blagojevich's indictment is not supported by the facts contained in the criminal complaint (PDF).

Federal investigators received permission to bug the Governor's telephone lines BEFORE the presidential election took place.

Emanuel may well have declined to get involved in any of Blagojevich's schemes, but to suggest that he is some how a hero for "turning in" Blagojevich doesn't square with the facts presented so far.

The Feds already knew about Blagojevich's attempts to sell Obama's Senate seat because THEY WERE LISTENING TO HIM TRY TO SELL IT. What could Emanuel have told them that they didn't already know?

That "tip" is obviously a trial balloon (and lefty blog fodder) to try and throw the scent off of Obama and Emanuel. Don't buy it...

Hat Tip: Politico commenter furytrader for wording

[Just mythoughts]

So you think the Feds tipped off Rahm to stay away from Blago? This is one convoluted mess and the names are just plain foreign to me to keep up with.

[kcvl]

Rahm Emanuel: Barack and Michelle are friends, he says. “I’ve known him a long time. We used to sit around helping our governor get elected, help those strategy meetings, stuff like that.”

[advance_copy]

From the complaint pg. 71:

114. Later on November 13, 2008, ROD BLAGOJEVICH spoke with Advisor A. ROD BLAGOJEVICH asked Advisor A to call Individual A and have Individual A pitch the idea of the 501(c)(4) to “[President-elect Advisor].” Advisor A said that, “while it’s not said this is a play to put in play other things.” ROD BLAGOJEVICH responded, “correct.” Advisor A asked if this is “because we think there’s still some life in [Senate Candidate 1] potentially?” ROD BLAGOJEVICH said, “not so much her, but possibly her. But others.”

In other words, Blago had reason to believe that Obama still had someone in mind and might be approachable on the "idea of the 501(c)(4)".

Why didn't Obama's people, i.e. Rahm or somebody just call Blago and say they are not willing to "purchase" the daggone Senate seat and that he should just can any ideas he has about that? You'd think a new President-elect would want to ensure that no Governor in the entire country could think they might "sell" favors to the President, much less, the Governor of the President's HOME STATE.

These people are making Arkansas look like a Boy Scout camp compared to the crap that comes out of Illinois. They're giving corrupt politicians a bad name.

[Aliska]

Blago deserved to be arrested .. have you ever seen such sheer unadulterated stupidity?

Well, yes, but not like this! I watched a video of the presser a day before the arrest, and he seemed, flippant, arrogant, and almost defiant that anybody seriously would touch him.

I've been aware that complaints have been piling up on him for a long time because it's been on local news off and on for a couple years or more, actually tuned a lot of it out.

Now what Ryan did, selling those drivers' licenses and then the family being killed is a little easier to get my mind around that kind of corruption.

Don't misunderstand, I'm not saying he's didn't deserve to be arrested and that what he was attempting as well as trying to get the Trib editor fired (and the language of both him and his wife!) weren't egregious. It all sounds very serious, but then maybe I'm so used to seeing so many get a pass, it really is shock when somebody has their hand in the cookie jars and somebody actually DOES something about it.

So much of the ones who do get caught and punished, Ken Lay, Scooter Libby, Martha Stewart, Sandy Berger - others have done similar or worse and nothing ever comes of it or they just get off easy.

Was what Ken Lay did any worse than those Wall Street CEO's?

[hoosiermama]

That tic...tic...tic...Rahm is hearing are footsteps....He doesn't know which side they're coming from...Paranoia! Rahm and Blanko both have had targets painted on their backs......tic ....tic....tic....

[advance_copy]

As much as some folks here will never accept it, it’s entirely possible Obama had nothing to do with Blago’s dirty dealings.

I hope that turns out to be the truth. I really do because I hate the idea of another daggone President who is crooked as a dog's hind leg.

I hope that Obama's folks called Fitz up and said, "Look, Blago is crazy - bust him now before he does any more damage." I'd like to think that's what happened.

But here's the thing. There's an awful lot of blagobama simpatico with Rezko, Axelrod, and all the money money money. It doesn't look good.

[budwiesest]

wow! you are good! (I've thought this before but just wanted to take a moment to thank you for your efforts)

I feel we are being tempted/tested. By that I mean, we suffered eight years of the Clinton Arkansas Mafia machine and came away no better (as a country, that is) and now have in office an unknown Chicago Mob possible plant who could make Hillary's 900 FBI files pale in comparison.(A couple of which might have earned her the SoS job)

The 'Aw, shucks, we didn't mean to do no harm" has given way to a brazeness that comes only from a place where corruption and cronyism exist to such an extent it raises little suspicion and less ire. This place elects them over and over again.

When all is said and done, Ted Stevens of Alaska will come out smelling like a rose- not to mention Larry Craig and his wide-stance, foot-dance. America is about to enter the dirtiest four years of it's history. She may not survive.

[CaribouCrossing]

I’m thinking we should send cases of deodorant to Obama, Rahm, Rezko, Blagojevich, et al. They’re all sweating and we can smell it.

[STARWISE]

A lot of folks will be having very sleepless
nights in Chicago, Springfield, IL and DC
tonight.

[CaribouCrossing]

You know it!

Thanks for all of the pings, STARWISE. I’ve been busy getting ready for Christmas but I’m still finding a bit of time to read the latest.

[stylin19a]

[Senate Candidate 1] potentially?” ROD BLAGOJEVICH said, “not so much her, but possibly her.

It does everything but spell out Valerie Jarrett's name. No way Obama can say he never had contact with Blago and have people believe it.

[Katarina]

Thanks for the links.

[Stentor]

From my earlier days of watching TV, all you needed was a tree branch to wipe away any evidence of horse tracks.

Last time I saw that in a movie, I think it starred Johnny Mack Brown.

[fso301]

The latest buzz about the arrest of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is that President-elect Barrack Obama's appointed Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel, "turned" him in.

It's easy to do the right thing when you have been forewarned that someone under close Federal scrutiny will solicit a bribe from you.

Remember, someone leaked word of the wiretaps possibly as early as a few days before the court order for the wiretaps was issued back on Oct 21.

[fso301]

Be interested in anyone's comments on this theory.

See post #34.

[AmericanGirlRising]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2145475/posts

See 908.

[Lancey Howard]

Those two Chicago scumbags Obama and Emanuel are corrupt to the core.

And I wonder about Fitz, too. Blowing the investigation sky high with the arrest of the governor today in the midst of ongoing Democrat corruption stinks to high heaven. Somebody tipped somebody off, that’s for sure. If Fitz fails to expose both the tipper and the tippee, then it is only because he is one or the other.

[advance_copy]

"I had no contact with the governor or his office, and so I was not aware of what was happening."

-- Barak H. Obama, December 09, 2008

Either we are to believe that Obama never talked the Governor about who he would appoint to the Senate, or Obama is an outright liar. I'm sorry, but if you vacate your seat in the Senate to take a higher office, you speak with the person who is going to appoint your replacement.

Does he expect us to believe that he never spoke with Blago about this? It's sad to think of Obama's statement today and realize the significant probability that we've got another Democrat President who will lie to our face.

And this is not a lie about "sex", it's about very serious crimes. If Blago spoke with Obama and asked for a job for him or his wife in return for appointing Obama's choice for the Senate, Obama has an obligation to notify authorities. If he did not, he is covering up. And then lying about it on TV is, well, how many times have we been through this?

It is dangerous, every time. And the rotten lapdogs in the media had better be ashamed of themselves, and they'd better stop giving Democrats a pass on it. Because this is really really bad.

[arrogantsob]

Interesting that you should mention Arkansas. Some of the major players in Chicago politics have Arkansas roots: the Stroegers and Danny Davis among them.

[arrogantsob]

Mark Levin calls Emanuel “Al Capone” for a reason. Any idea that he assisted Justice is ludicrous unless he has the idea of putting someone more beneficial to him in Blago’s place.