It's a funny thing about the dinosaur media these days.
Normally, when a juicy story comes along about a corrupt politician, they're all over it...they want to flood the news cycle with every last questionable bit. Except when there's a Democrat involved, and particularly when that Democrat is Barack Obama. There are special rules for that.
As I mentioned before, one of the things the Feds have Dem governor of Illinois Rod Blagojevich on is his attempt to auction off Barack Obama's Illinois senate seat...which Blago had sole authority to do and was, as he put it 'a f**kin' gold mine' that he wasn't 'going to give away for nothing'.
Now Obama just went public,saying that he never spoke to Blagojevich about his senate seat..except that David Axelrod did an interview on November 23 and admitted that The Chosen One and Blagojevich had indeed discussed it:
Whoopsie.
Of course, now that this popped out of the sewer (courtesy of Jake Tapper), it turns out Axelrod ummm misspoke.
Now here's something interesting. As I mentioned previously, according to the FBI Blagojevich was trying to barter for things like a cabinet appointment, or an ambassadorship with the senate seat. And those are things that only would have been on the table if Blagojevich was talking to the president-elect or a trusted go-between - Rahm Emanuel maybe?
In that context, reports on Blagojevich saying he wasn't going to give up the seat for nothing and cursing out long-time political associate and ally Barack Obama as a 'motherf***er' make sense, especially if Obama refused to play ball.
But here's the thing about that - did Barack Obama know Blagojevich was trying to illegally auction off a US senate seat and keep quiet about it? Did he flat out refuse or did negotiations just break down because Blagojevich got too greedy? Was Obama part of a coverup?
What did Obama know, and when did he know it?
This is just business as usual in Chicago, one hand washes the other, and what Blagojevich was doing wasn't unknown..nor was it exactly unique.
One would expect the media to be going into every nuance of this, probing the long standing close ties between Obama and Blagojevich and rooting out every instance of corruption and questionable ethics they can ferret out.
Rest assured, they will avoid that stuff like the plague.
For instance, the National Review has a story about a certain brand new US senator who requested $1 million dollars in earmarks for construction of a new hospital pavilion at the University Of Chicago back in 2006.
And, funny thing, his wife just happened to work there as 'vice president of community affairs'.
Turns out that before her husband became a senator, her salary was a generous $121,910..and magically leapfrogged to a princely in $316,962 in 2005, just after he took office.
That senator's name, as you've probably guessed, was Barack Obama. Let's just call it a commission he earned through the back door where it wouldn't show up by tossing the hospital some of your tax dollars.
Get used to the smell of Chicago politics. It's going to be a familiar stench in the air come January 20th, I think.
UPDATE: The above video has been yanked by YouTube, as one of the members of Joshua's Army has pointed out. That was quick.
You've probably read that the Tribune Co filed for bankruptcy today...Also the NY Slimes is looking to either mortgage their building in Times Square or do a sale-leaseback to raise cash. Is it the "Poor Economy?" Or is it because the dinosaurs have abdicated their responsibility for tough investigative reporting...The blogoshpere and talk radio if it still exists is becoming the only place for investigative reporting. The writing was all over the wall, but they still elected this scumbag. The people's stomach for electing and re-electing totally corrupt politicians boggles the mind.
ReplyDeleteTo Rosey : Please don't confuse the Tribune Company's flag-ship newspaper, The Chicago Tribune, with the wretched NY paper ( which I agree with you about ). The Tribune has been spot-lighting the Ill gov's corruption & calling for his resignation for a long time. In fact, both The Trib & the competing Chicago Sun Times are good papers ( even though both have had to adjust to an increasingly alliterate, sometimes genuinely illiterate, public, & a dismal economy ). Best regards.
ReplyDelete'We're sorry, this video is no longer available.' In less than 12 hours from your original posting, it has vanished. Spooky.
ReplyDeleteFF, I'd strongly caution you re 1 thing : Ill Gov Blagojevich is such a delusional braggart & psychopath that anything he says in those recorded conversations re ambassadorships, cabinet posts, & c, can only be treated as so much of his typical bragging ( unless the person on the phone's other end was, in fact, in a position to deliver these goodies ) ; however, they have have caught him in flagrante delicto apropos of & vis - a - vis the Senate seat : his authority to appoint unilaterally a replacement leaves him fully culpable ( plus, of course, all his self - initiated kickback & blackmail schemes, eg : the effort to extract a 'contribution' of $ 50,000 from the exec of a children's hospital which had previously received assurances of desperately - needed state aid ). He did all of this even though he knew -HE KNEW- that Fitzgerald & the Feds were investigating him ! He's a psychopath !
ReplyDeleteGood Morning Anonymous 5:28 AM,
ReplyDeleteI would also point out that Barack Obama knew these things about Governor Blagojevich -and still put in a major effort and was a huge force in getting him elected in `02.
And why not? They were both pals ( and beneficieries) of Tony Rezco and Rezco's friend, Iraqi billionaire and oil-for -food scammer Nadhni Auchi.
Needless to say, you read nothing about this in the dinosaur media.
Obama came from this sewer and was perfectly content to be part of it for years, something the media would have glommed on with both hands if he had been a conservative Republican.
Now, we need to know - what did Obama know about these shenanigans and when did he know it?
Regards,
ff
Axelrod didn't misspeak. Obama is a liar. Here, have some evidence:
ReplyDelete1) Ill. governor meeting with Obama today
By Carol Sowers Wednesday, November 05, 2008 at 10:39 a.m.
CHICAGO, ILL. -- Now that Barack Obama will be moving to the White House, his seat in the U.S. Senate representing Illinois will have to be filled.
That's one of Obama's first priorities today.
He's meeting with Governor Rod Blagojevich this afternoon in Chicago to discuss it.
Illinois law states that the governor chooses that replacement.
There's already been speculation about his selection...from Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. of Chicago's south side who co-chaired Obama's presidential campaign, to recently-retired state senate president Emil Jones, to the governor himself.
It's likely the governor will make his decision quickly so the new senator will get some seniority before newly-elected senators take office in January.
Part of the timing depends on when Obama officially vacates his senate seat.
KHQA's Alexis Hunt is speaking with Illinois Senator John Sullivan today about his thoughts on that replacement process, his time working with Obama in the state senate, and if there's a chance Sullivan might play a role in the Obama administration. Watch KHQA News at 5:00, 6:00 and 10:00 p.m. tonight to hear what he has to say.
2) Duckworth comments on consideration for Senate
By Alexis Hunt
Saturday, November 08, 2008 at 9:48 p.m.
QUINCY, IL — Now that Barack Obama will be moving to the White House, his seat in the U.S. Senate representing Illinois will have to be filled.
Obama met with Governor Rod Blagojevich earlier this week to discuss it. Illinois law states that the governor chooses that replacement. There's already been speculation about his selection…from Congressman Jesse Jackson, Junior to Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs Director Tammy Duckworth.
Duckworth made an appearance in Saturday's Veterans' parade in Quincy. We asked her about the possibility of filling Obama's seat.
"The Governor's office confirmed yesterday that he is considering me and I am deeply honored jus to be considered. I hope whoever is selected is someone who is willing to travel around the state and gets to know this wonderful state. I'm just honored to be considered," Duckworth said.
The governor expects to make his decision before Christmas. Part of the timing depends on when Obama officially vacates his senate seat.
3) http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2008/10/gov-mum-on-who-may-succeed-obama.html
Blagojevich mum on possible successors to Obama
Chicago Tribune (IL) - Friday, October 31, 2008
Author: Rick Pearson and Monique Garcia, TRIBUNE REPORTERS
Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Thursday cited the potential for bad "karma" and avoided discussing potential Senate successors to Barack Obama should the Democratic nominee win the White House, but acknowledged he has a process in mind for making the most important appointment of his career.
"I just don't want to jinx him and I don't like the karma of me thinking that far ahead," Blagojevich said of Obama 's prospects in Tuesday's election. The governor added, "We have had some discussions about a process which we'll share ... if all goes well."