Posted on 12/09/2008 11:28:24 PM PST by neverdem
In a sequence of events that neatly captures the contradictions of Barack Obama’s 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 law’s restrictions could take effect on Jan. 1, prosecutors say.
Tipped off to Mr. Blagojevich’s 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 don’t get what I want and I’m not satisfied with it, then I’ll 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 don’t 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 governor’s 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 ...
Vel; Ping.
Is more Blago trouble coming?
• • To wit: Sneed is told the feds also visited the home of attorney Bill Quinlan Jr., Gov. Blagojevich’s chief counsel, while the FBI was arresting Blago and his chief of staff, John Harris.
Questions were asked.
Cooperation was requested.
No arrest was made.
You do the math.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/sneed/1322763,CST-NWS-SNEED10.article
Thanks for the ping!
a.k.a. “NY Times doesn’t tarry to water-carry for Barry”
Oh please, Dave---look it up.
Rahm Emanuel IS a CERTIFIED hero.
During the 1991 US Gulf War, Rahm Emanuel volunteered his services to the Israeli army, apparently serving in a civilian capacity. (Rahm did not do military duty in US forces).
Rahm's family are all heroes----Rahm's daddy was a member of the fighting Irgun.
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