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

[Cheapskate]

Yeah Baroki looked kinda green around the gills today!

[Kickass Conservative]

Mark Levin said today that he thought Fitz closed the case prematurely.

It's like going for the drug Kingpin, but stopping short and arresting the street dealers.

The Media is already saying this is a boost for Obama because he didn't take the deal the Governor wanted, Obama’s Senate pick for a cushy job for the Governor.

I tend to think the details weren't worked out between the Gov and Obambi yet and Fitz jumped the gun to cover Obama’s ass. Maybe I still have some trust issues to work out.

[kcvl]

What a mess we are going to have for at least four long years! I don't think anyone could get more corrupt than these people (including the Clintons).

I never thought I would say this but I may be saying before this is over "I MISS BILL (Clinton)!"

Valerie Jarrett

Jarrett got her start in Chicago politics in 1987 working for Mayor Harold Washington[8] as Deputy Corporation Counsel for Finance and Development.

Jarrett continued to work in the mayor's office in the 1990s. She was Deputy Chief of Staff for Mayor Richard Daley, during which time (1991) she hired Michelle Robinson, then engaged to Barack Obama, away from a private law firm. Jarrett served as Commissioner of the Department of Planning and Development from 1992 through 1995, and was Chair of the Chicago Transit Board from 1995 to 2005.

She is currently the CEO of The Habitat Company, a real estate development and management company, which she joined in 1995. She was a member of the board of Chicago Stock Exchange (2000-2007, as Chairman, 2004-2007).

She is also the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of Chicago Medical Center, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of Chicago and a Trustee of Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry. Jarrett serves on the board of directors of USG Corporation, a Chicago based building materials corporation.

[budwiesest]

That jacket looks like it came from the same bunt of cloth Yassar Arafat wrapped around his head.

[kevinw]

Rahm Emmanuel is in the House, not the Senate.

[browardchad]

Jim Lindgren has two good posts up at Volokh.

The first is on the timeline of who knew what and when. Lindgren's conclusion:

From the evening of Nov. 10 until yesterday, Blagojevich, Obama, and his transition team acted in ways that are consistent with a knowledge of Blagojevich’s bribery attempt and a rejection of that attempt. What doesn't fit easily with the timeline is Obama's statement yesterday.

The second is about the "unnamed players" in the case. Lindgren's (educated) guesses on the "candidates" are as  follows:

(1) Jarrett; (2) Lisa Madigan, State Atty. General; (3) possibly US Rep. Jan Schakowsky; (4) Dean Martinez, Bob Greenlee, or Louanner Peters (all Deputy Governors); (5) Emil Jones; (6) possibly J.B. Pritzker or Edwin Eisendrath

[Lee'sGhost]

“tobacco road soap opera”

Why are you associating “tobacco road” with dims? Likening them to ghetto streets would be more appropriate.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

In the days before the election, the governor had to figure out what to do with Richard E. Beard, the $200,000-a-year executive director of the Lincoln Library and Museum. Beard had just been arrested shoplifting a DVD box set of the TV show “House” from a local Target. (He has pleaded not guilty; Target also identified him as having previously walked off with a box set of “Seinfeld” DVDs.) And as it turned out, he was convicted last year of stealing neckties from Macy’s. Blagojevich fired him–an executive decision to restore integrity in the land of Lincoln.

This may seem trivial but I believe it is indicative of the Democrat mindset. They feel entitled and and they're so arrogant, they believe they are above the law. This is not unique.

[Grampa Dave]

~~Making like Rahm’s the hero PING!

Yesterday, I put this same theory out after reading Fitzy’s bs that Obama was not involved.

Good investigators don’t pull the plug on undercover work until the really big fish are caught red handed with their pants down doing the crime.

Obama was tipped off about this. Rahm went to Fitzy and said, “End this now!”

How long did Fitzy allow the CIA Plame bs case to run after he knew that Armitage was the leaker. Years!

Fitzy ended this investigation before Obama/Rahm were caught in the net.

This was a good career move for Fitzy with his friend the Zer0 as president elect.

Before this is over, the Zer0 and Rahm will touted by the MSM as heroes in burying Blag.

[Grampa Dave]

The bs that Obama knew nothing about this is starting to spew out from the MSM:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2146092/posts

Obama seen untouched by Illinois governor charges(Teflon Barf Alert)
reuters ^ | Dec 10, 2008 | Deborah Charles

Posted on Wednesday, December 10, 2008 5:59:25 AM by mdittmar

President-elect Barack Obama’s decision to keep a distance from his state’s governor, who was arrested on corruption charges on Tuesday, should enable him to escape becoming tainted by the scandal, analysts said.

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich stands accused of trying to sell the president-elect’s vacant U.S. Senate seat for financial and other personal benefits for himself and his wife, among other charges.

“Obama is not related to the corruption pattern in Chicago,” said political scientist Dick Simpson of the University of Illinois in Chicago. “He has not been pressing for any person to replace him in his Senate seat.”

U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, announcing the charges, also said Obama was in no way implicated.

Obama, who takes office on January 20, left the Senate soon after winning the November 4 presidential election. As governor, Blagojevich, a Democrat, has sole authority to announce a replacement to serve the remaining two years of Obama’s term.

Obama told reporters he was “saddened and sobered.”

“I had no contact with the governor or his office and so I was not aware of what was happening. As I said, it is a sad day for Illinois. Beyond that I don’t think it’s appropriate to comment,” he said.

[nufsed]

I’m new on that one. What’s the connection between Rezko and the gov?

[EQAndyBuzz]

Rezko raised over a million dollars for Blago’s campaigns. That was according to the LA Times no less.

[Enchante]

Rezko had been one of the chief fundraisers and go-to guys for the Gov. and all the pay-to-play schemes..... campaign donations in exchange for IL govt. posts, etc.

Rezko’s name comes up more than 60 times in the indictment.

Rezko was one of the key political and financial sponsors for the rise of Blago. and for the rise of the Obamanation.

[george76]

Then BHO can pardon Blag in a few months.

---

Fitzy ended this investigation before Obama/Rahm were caught in the net.

This was a good career move for Fitzy with his friend the Zer0 as president elect.

Before this is over, the Zer0 and Rahm will touted by the MSM as heroes in burying Blag.

[Grampa Dave]

“Then BHO can pardon Blag in a few months.”

If some big Black Muslim, Nation of Islam or al Fuqra thug doesn’t fillet Blag with a shiv before then.

[Frantzie]

I agree. Fitz was fed Blago by Emmanuel and Obama as a snack. The pathetic Wall Street Journal editorial fawned that “it is amazing that Obama is so untainted coming out of IL.” WSJ is Murdoch aka Fox News, Times of London, AU Times etc etc.

The media is spinning Blago is a crook but Obama is so pure. Just pathetic. Emmanuel and O are smarter than dumb Blago. Emmanuel looted Fannie or Freddie for tens of millions and he is probably a bigger crook than Blago.

[nufsed]

thanx

[longtermmemmory]

I think this is an intentional misdirection in order to protect Obama from the obvious.

All Chicago machine politics is interconnected.

[longtermmemmory]

Obama just appointed 32 cabinet heads who all KNOW they have more competence and experience to run the country than obama. (just ask them)

They are going to regret this trial balloon. The Rham Emmanuel can turn in a chicago machine democrat, then those 32 cabinet leaders will be safe turning in each other!

it is going to be a scandal-pa-looza with the reporters cultivating their “contacts”. (see Mark Foley and the Miami Herald trading life style secrecy for access)

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The Messiah must be protected.