Posted on 12/09/2008 11:28:24 PM PST by neverdem
In a sequence of events that neatly captures the contradictions of Barack Obamas rise through Illinois politics, a phone call he made three months ago to urge passage of a state ethics bill indirectly contributed to the downfall of a fellow Democrat he twice supported, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich.
Mr. Obama placed the call to his political mentor, Emil Jones Jr., president of the Illinois Senate. Mr. Jones was a critic of the legislation, which sought to curb the influence of money in politics, as was Mr. Blagojevich, who had vetoed it. But after the call from Mr. Obama, the Senate overrode the veto, prompting the governor to press state contractors for campaign contributions before the laws restrictions could take effect on Jan. 1, prosecutors say.
Tipped off to Mr. Blagojevichs efforts, federal agents obtained wiretaps for his phones and eventually overheard what they say was scheming by the governor to profit from his appointment of a successor to the United States Senate seat being vacated by President-elect Obama. One official whose name has long been mentioned in Chicago political circles as a potential successor is Mr. Jones, a machine...
--snip--
If I dont get what I want and Im not satisfied with it, then Ill just take the Senate seat myself, the governor said, according to the criminal complaint. Later, he said the Senate seat was a valuable thing you just dont give it away for nothing.
Meanwhile, Mr. Blagojevich was busily trying to shake loose up to $2.5 million in campaign donations, much of it from contributors with business before the state, according to federal prosecutors. The governors goal was to bring in the money before the end of the year, the complaint said, before a new state ethics law goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2009.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
The “trap?”
That I agree on.
Looks like Blago was using Sneed to send messages to team 0. Did they send one back to Blago ...
“Sneed hears a plan is afoot to impeach Gov. Blagojevich following the presidential election next month. Word is the votes are there. Stay tuned.”
As usual, BO was happy to throw a confederate under the bus because he had no more use for Blago. And the ethics bill that “sought to curb the influence of money in politics” in the state of Illinois is a total joke. BO banked $700,000,000 in his campaign. I’m sure that was all untainted money with no strings attached.
The crazy, broke NYT must think we are as brain-washed as their editorial staff is.
Hopefully, Blago will sing like a bird before his trial, and that his family will be assured protection. In Democrat politics, that’s always a must.
B;ago won’t squeal because “people” will offer to “take care” of his wife and children if he remains silent. He’s already PROVEN he can be BOUGHT....the price will have to be right.
Two friends enjoying a tall tale about an unknown leftist rising to the presidency of the United Nations.
(Well, after all, Billy Goat Clinton as his winsome sow of a frau proved that any leftist scum can crawl up the steps of the White House. He did accomplish one first, however. He masturbated in the oval orifice washroom.)
So it begins already. The msm will give The One credit for the Blago bust.
I am SO SHOCKED TheObamaTimes is twisting things to make the fake messiah a hero :rollseyes:
By "two years" I assume you mean from the time Obama announced his candidacy. I'd guess that specifics weren't discussed until after he clinched the nomination. A usual understanding based on the general tradition of Chicago corruption, perhaps, but not specifics. It's also quite possible that Obama's capitulation on the ethics bill in the form of intervention (and a possible deal) with Emil Jones is what prompted Blago to demand payback. He certainly reacted to Obama's reluctant action as a personal stab in the back, i.e. he could feel the wheels of the bus rolling over him.
AV, everyone should read Evelyn Pringle about the ChiTown Crooks...thanks for keeping this in mind.
I'd agree if he was your garden variety corrupt Chicago pol. But the wild card is that he's also, imho, mentally imbalanced. The normal cost/benefit calculations might not compute. I just don't see him as someone who will go quietly, even for the sake of his family...especially the lovely and genteel F bomb- throwing wife who's up to her foul mouth in the same swamp.
Bingo. Either Obama or someone on O's staff had contact with Blag and knew the game that was being played. It appears that O didn't play the game, but he was invited to. How else would Blag know he had refused to play and why else did Blag call O those choice vulgar words? Were the contacts made by phone, by email, in person? Fitz probably knows and Obama/Axelrod are going to have to do better than say they "mispoke".
Hoist on his own petard?
At the time, one week before the first presidential debate of the general election campaign, Republicans were trying to tarnish him in the eyes of voters by attempting to link him to Chicagos history of corrupt politics.
Even in the midst of this ridiculous campaign press release of an article, this line really stands out.
Most of the article is an attempt to outline all these perfectly good reasons why Obama had to cozy up with these crooks to get things done in Chicago, then the author claims that Republicans (those bastards!) were trying to establish these connections the same article just told you exist!
This article, and its "the dog ate my homework" excuse making, makes a perfect example of why this newspaper is in the crapper.
It actually started out like it was going to explain that a moonlighting Obama brought down the evil politician while bravely stepping away from his day job of running for president. But this toadying typist apparently has at least some limit on how much stupidity he can cram into one article. So then he just switched into "well he did it, but he meant well" defense.
Pathetic. Start to finish.
Thanks, good explanation.
“By “two years” I assume you mean from the time Obama announced his candidacy.”
No, it means that one of Blago’s aides said in one of the taps that Blago would just have to be patient. He could get what he wanted from president-elect, but it would have to kick in after his term as governor expired, i.e., 2 years, so it wouldn’t look like a payoff. Remember that Blago felt “stuck” in his “low-paying” ($171K a year: poor guy!) governor’s job, so from his point, this offer was “nothing” both because he wanted to get rich faster, but also because it meant that he’d have to trust Obama to deliver in 2 years, but obviously would have no recourse if Obama chose to stiff him on the “quid pro quo.” He had the same reservations about trusting J Jackson, which is why he wanted a “deal” with his pay-off upfront, or at least a sizable down-payment.
Given the timetable of the taps, Rahm Emanuel almost certainly is on tape engaged in this back-and-forth of offers and counter-offers, laying out the parameters of what might be acceptable or unacceptable from president-elect’s point of view. Clearly, Obama could just throw Rahm under the bus and say he was speaking without authorization OR Rahm could claim he was stringing along Blago aides just to confirm he really was dealing with pay-for-play and had grounds for turning information over to FBI. We don’t know for certain Emanuel ratted these guys out: it has only been speculated. If he DIDN’T, he’s presumably in deep doo-doo. If he did, much of what otherwise might appear incriminating on the tapes can then be spun as exculpatory.
To make it easier:
Must Lists:
http://therealbarackobama.wordpress.com/2008/03/29/pringle-barack-obama-wizard-of-oz/
http://therealbarackobama.wordpress.com/2008/12/10/the-blagogate-reading-list/
http://therealbarackobama.wordpress.com/2008/12/04/the-rezkobama-reading-list/
Trial Watch, other docs:
http://rezkowatch.blogspot.com
Back later with my relationship maps.
Reparations, R.I.P. - Cause of death: 9/11, public opinion, and the courts
Bill Ayers Whitewashes History, Again (The Nation?!!)
Some noteworthy articles about politics, foreign and military affairs, IMHO, FReepmail me if you want on or off my list.
That didn’t take long for the NY Slimes to try to make Zer0 the her0. It was very predictable, and I predicted at 6:11 am today that the MSM mediots would make Zero/Rahm heros in this mess.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/backroom/2145959/posts?page=54#49
To: STARWISE; Ernest_at_the_Beach; BIGLOOK; george76; PhilDragoo; Enchante
~~Making like Rahms the hero PING!
Yesterday, I put this same theory out after reading Fitzys bs that Obama was not involved.
Good investigators dont 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.
49 posted on Wednesday, December 10, 2008 6:11:32 AM by Grampa Dave (Does Zer0 have any friends, who are not foriegn or domestic terrorists, or crimina
"Good investigators dont pull the plug on undercover work until the really big fish are caught red handed."
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.