Obama says staff is clear of scandal

The Washington Times ^ | 12/12/08 | Stephen Dinan

[MortMan]

President-elect Barack Obama said Thursday that nobody in his transition office tried to make a deal with Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich on filling Illinois' vacant Senate seat...

What, specifically, does "in his transition office" mean? Is Rahmbo "in his transition office" when he's at home, on an untraceable throw-away cell phone? Or does it mean "employed by the transition office", whereas Rahmbo is (tentatively) employed in the presumptive (or is that presumptuous) administration?

Parsing can be fun!!

[Ann Archy]

Either Fitz is saving those THREE WEEKS of Recordings for Batgaining purposes, or he is covering up for the DEMS.....which is it?

[DouglasKC]

adding that he has not been contacted by federal authorities during their investigation of the governor

I'm not sure, but I would think that this would be a huge worry. If Obama isn't a target why don't the prosecutors want to get information from him to build a case against the target? If Obama IS going to be a target in a later indictment the prosecutor wouldn't want to tip his hand by interviewing obama.

Maybe I'm all wet though.

[FrankR]

"nobody in his transition office tried to make a deal with Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich on filling Illinois' vacant Senate seat,"

Well I'm fairly sure no one in obama's transition office was trying to buy the senate seat, that wasn't the question. Democrats are really good at answering questions that weren't even asked.

I think he was asked if they had any knowledge of the tainted Governor's attempts to sell the seat.

Oh what a tangled web we weave....

[maggief]

“Either Fitz is saving those THREE WEEKS of Recordings for Batgaining purposes, or he is covering up for the DEMS.....which is it?”

There was an abrupt change after that marathon phone conversation on 11/10. My hunch is Team 0 was tipped off and began working WITH the Feds.

[Free America52]

No doubt in my mind - he is holding them out for bargaining chips. I really believe this is a coordinated effort to bring Obama down before he assumes the throne. I think they are taking a very meticulous approach to bring down the whole machine, one piece at a time. They can’t go after Obama yet, but once the pieces of the puzzle start coming together, they will be able to, properly exposing him for the fraud that he is.

If I am correct (hopefully), I tip my hat to Bush and the federal government for one of the best chess games that has ever been played.

[paulycy]

[nbhunt]

so sources reported, I can hear Obama now....I AM APPALLED AT HIS INVOLEMENT. Won’t stick to the O, Where’s the tapes, let’s hear them.

[Ann Archy]

Bush had NOTHING to do with this....and I;m not at all sure that Fitzgerald isn’t a huge DEMOCRAT. I have NO FAITH in the GOVERNMENT at ANY LEVEL.

[anoldafvet]

Well that’s a relief! I’m sure glad he cleared that up! I feel so much better because the idiot in the office next to mine told me Obama would never lie.

[Grampa Dave]

Phil has decoded and summarized Zer0's response:

[browardchad]

In between 11/7 and the Blago conference call on 11/10, there were two reports from CNN.

11/9 - Source: Obama wants Valerie Jarrett to replace him in Senate

"(CNN) — A prominent Democratic source close to Barack Obama confirmed Sunday that Valerie Jarrett is Obama’s choice to replace him in the Senate."

11/10 - Sources: Jarrett headed to White House, not Senate

"(CNN) — Two Democratic sources close to President-elect Barack Obama tell CNN that top adviser Valerie Jarrett will not be appointed to replace him in the U.S. Senate." (Posted at 7:56 pm)

Interesting. Could someone have been messing with Blago's mind? I wonder what time  the Blago extravaganza conference call took place on Nov. 10?

Then, yesterday, it got more interesting -- from Lynn Sweet's blog at the Sun-Times:

Axelrod said--counter to Blagojevich--Obama never wanted Valerie Jarrett in the Senate

 "CAMBRIDGE, MASS.--Contrary to comments made by Gov. Blagojevich--according to federal wiretaps--about President elect Barack Obama wanting confidant Valerie Jarrett to replace him in the Senate, David Axelrod said Thursday that Obama's "preference was always she serve in the White House." Jarrett was tapped to be a senior advisor. Axelrod spoke at a forum at Harvard University's Institute of Politics."

[maggief]

See if this update makes more sense.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2147471/posts?page=51#51

Ping me with additions or changes, please.

[Señor Zorro]

Well, that’s good enough for me. /sarcasm

[adm5]

I know it’s an ongoing investigation, but at some point it will end.

Hopefully, the Freedom of Information Act is still available by then.

[GYPSY286]

Perhaps I am parsing words here but did anyone else notice that Obama stated “..no one from my TRANSITION team...” Neither Axelrod or his chief of staff are part of the TRANSITION team. Politalk?

[cricket]

Good to hear that Obama has completed HIS investigation. . .

[cookcounty]

So Rahm did not talk to Blago, then?

[cricket]

Indeed, this is costing him money. . .interesting inasmuch that no one has raised the ‘question’ yet, of his financing his refusal to ‘show us the paper’.