Rod Blagojevich officially facing federal corruption charges

[NorthSideSox72]

I watched some segments on CNN, MSNBC and FOX and everytime they read the long list of offenses the entire panel would start laughing because it's so out of control and blatant. Then of course they would be like "ok, we shouldn't be laughing this is really bad in reality".

 

This guy is unbelievably corrupt.

I am going to go find the avatar I was using earlier this year with Blago in that cowboy outfit and put it back up.

 

[StrangeSox]

LINK

That's nice and all, but it doesn't really address the issue of conflicting information coming out of the Obama camp.

 

1. Axelrod says they spoke a little while ago.

 

2. Details on Blago come out, and include him calling Obama a "motherf***er" for not bribing Blago.

 

3. Obama camp denies ever talking to Blago about this.

 

 

Given 1 and especially 2 (why would Blago be pissed if he didn't talk to them?), 3 isn't possible. I think its just Obama distancing himself from the situation without saying "Yeah, he wanted to be bribed and we said no."

[Texsox]

That's nice and all, but it doesn't really address the issue of conflicting information coming out of the Obama camp.

 

1. Axelrod says they spoke a little while ago.

 

2. Details on Blago come out, and include him calling Obama a "motherf***er" for not bribing Blago.

 

3. Obama camp denies ever talking to Blago about this.

 

 

Given 1 and especially 2 (why would Blago be pissed if he didn't talk to them?), 3 isn't possible. I think its just Obama distancing himself from the situation without saying "Yeah, he wanted to be bribed and we said no."

 

We really do not want Obama in Federal Court giving testimony against Blago if it could be avoided

[GoSox05]

I am going to go out on a limb here and predict the next elected governor will be a Rep.

 

 

Maybe we should try a new party here in IL. Maybe a couple years under the Green or Libertarian party would do us good.

[lostfan]

Jesse Jackson Jr. apparently Senate Candidate 5 after all.

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/ConductUnbec...1739&page=1

 

If true, very dumb of him.

[MurcieOne]

Jesse Jackson Jr. apparently Senate Candidate 5 after all.

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/ConductUnbec...1739&page=1

 

If true, very dumb of him.

 

Like father like son, hopefully this will end his political career and save many of us a giant migraine. If Jesse Jr. was ever appointed to the senate... he would have have been there until death.

[ThunderBolt]

Maybe we should try a new party here in IL. Maybe a couple years under the Green or Libertarian party would do us good.

Nay, Vote Bull Moose! You'll have a Bully Good Time!

[lostfan]

Like father like son, hopefully this will end his political career and save many of us a giant migraine. If Jesse Jr. was ever appointed to the senate... he would have have been there until death.

I've always given Jesse Jr. the benefit of the doubt, as being different from his father. I guess I was wrong.

 

edit: I'd be surprised if it did more than stall his political career, actually.

Edited December 10, 2008 by lostfan

[whitesoxfan101]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081210/ap_on_..._governor_obama

 

Obama calls for Illinois governor to resign

 

WASHINGTON – President-elect Barack Obama on Wednesday joined others calling for Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to resign, distancing himself further from the unfolding scandal over allegations that the governor schemed to barter Obama's vacant Senate seat for personal gain.

 

"The president-elect agrees with Lt. Gov. (Pat) Quinn and many others that under the current circumstances it is difficult for the governor to effectively do his job and serve the people of Illinois," Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs said in response to questions from The Associated Press.

 

Blagojevich was arrested Tuesday, accused of seeking money or other favors to influence his choice in picking Obama's replacement. The governor has authority to appoint the replacement, but top Illinois lawmakers have said they are preparing to call the Legislature into session as early as next week to set a special election to choose Obama's successor.

 

Asked whether Obama supports a special election, Gibbs said Obama believes the General Assembly should consider how to fill the Senate seat and "put in place a process to select a new senator that will have the trust and confidence of the people of Illinois."

 

Aides say Obama is refraining from stating what that solution should be.

 

If Blagojevich resigns, Quinn would become governor and have the right to appoint Obama's successor. That would avoid a special election, which can be costly, and speed up the appointment of Illinois' junior senator.

 

Over the past two days since Blagojevich's arrest, Obama and his aides have largely refrained from commenting on the scandal. When Obama has spoken about the case, he's been cautious.

 

In brief comments to reporters Tuesday, Obama said "like the rest of the people of Illinois I am saddened and sobered by the news that came out of the U.S. attorney's office today," but he didn't go so far to condemn Blagojevich's alleged actions.

 

He did add about Blagojevich's process of considering a successor: "I had no contact with the governor or his office, and so I was not aware of what was happening."

 

Obama reiterated that point in an interview published in the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday. "I have not discussed the Senate seat with the governor at any time," he said.

 

But Obama wouldn't answer a question on whether he was aware of any conversations between the governor and his top aides, including incoming White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel. "It's an ongoing investigation," Obama said. "I think it would be inappropriate for me to ... remark on the situation beyond the facts that I know."

 

And, aides didn't say whether Emanuel, a Democratic Illinois congressman, was ever approached by the governor's emissaries involved in allegedly corrupt schemes. Nor did they say whether Obama is investigating his own ranks to determine whether any of his staffers had contact with the governor or his office.

[MurcieOne]

edit: I'd be surprised if it did more than stall his political career, actually.

 

Your probably right, because the dips***s in this state will elect him over and over again, however, for the time being I can't see anyway possible that he could get the vacant senate seat. I'll take that for now.

 

[southsider2k5]

That's nice and all, but it doesn't really address the issue of conflicting information coming out of the Obama camp.

 

1. Axelrod says they spoke a little while ago.

 

2. Details on Blago come out, and include him calling Obama a "motherf***er" for not bribing Blago.

 

3. Obama camp denies ever talking to Blago about this.

 

 

Given 1 and especially 2 (why would Blago be pissed if he didn't talk to them?), 3 isn't possible. I think its just Obama distancing himself from the situation without saying "Yeah, he wanted to be bribed and we said no."

 

The Blago statement is independant verification that he indeed spoke to the Obama camp about the position. It makes sense honestly, before yesterday, why wouldn't he? I find it hard to believe that he wouldn't have spoken to him at all about his old job. Even harder when people from both sides have said they did speak, even if one side is conviently denying it now.

[lostfan]

I think Tex summed it up best a few posts ago. It sounds like to me that Obama is trying to avoid having to testify. Having the president or president-elect involved would make it even more of a circus.

[MurcieOne]

The Blago statement is independant verification that he indeed spoke to the Obama camp about the position. It makes sense honestly, before yesterday, why wouldn't he? I find it hard to believe that he wouldn't have spoken to him at all about his old job. Even harder when people from both sides have said they did speak, even if one side is conviently denying it now.

 

 

I wasn't an Obama supporter, but you have to pretty good that he would only compensate Blago with "appreciation." Do I think that the Obama camp spoke to Blago about the appointment? Yes. Do I think they were going to play ball with him? Probably not.

 

Obama is an ILL Democrat, but a different breed... he's a lot smarter than the rest of them.

[NorthSideSox72]

The Blago statement is independant verification that he indeed spoke to the Obama camp about the position. It makes sense honestly, before yesterday, why wouldn't he? I find it hard to believe that he wouldn't have spoken to him at all about his old job. Even harder when people from both sides have said they did speak, even if one side is conviently denying it now.

The camps definitely talked. I think Obama is saying HE didn't talk to HIM directly. Which is probably true.

 

[StrangeSox]

I agree with what tex, ss2k5, and lost all said.

 

BTW, I think we could use a "multiquote" button to quote more than one person in a reply.

[southsider2k5]

I wasn't an Obama supporter, but you have to pretty good that he would only compensate Blago with "appreciation." Do I think that the Obama camp spoke to Blago about the appointment? Yes. Do I think they were going to play ball with him? Probably not.

 

Obama is an ILL Democrat, but a different breed... he's a lot smarter than the rest of them.

 

I do like that, and I hope it was more than him being smart enough to discuss an illegal activity with a guy under investigation with the Feds. Too bad Jesse Jr wasn't that smart.

[lostfan]

I agree with what tex, ss2k5, and lost all said.

 

BTW, I think we could use a "multiquote" button to quote more than one person in a reply.

There already is, instead of hitting reply, click quote on the ones you want to quote (they turn red) and then go to "add reply."

[BigSqwert]

There already is, instead of hitting reply, click quote on the ones you want to quote (they turn red) and then go to "add reply."

 

Boy do i feel stupid. I was manually cutting and pasting stuff together.

 

[MurcieOne]

I do like that, and I hope it was more than him being smart enough to discuss an illegal activity with a guy under investigation with the Feds. Too bad Jesse Jr wasn't that smart.

 

To be honest, its probably a little from column A and a little from column B. Either way he realizes what the stakes are now that he's the president elect, and he'd rather keep his name clean and try and lead this country than help out a few buddies from back home.

 

I'm sure Obama has his skeleton's as well, but he at least made the right decision for this country and himself.

 

PS: I have a feeling Rahmbo probably tipped off the FBI to this specific misdeed.

[lostfan]

Boy do i feel stupid. I was manually cutting and pasting stuff together.

 

lol. I used to do that too.

[StrangeSox]

There already is, instead of hitting reply, click quote on the ones you want to quote (they turn red) and then go to "add reply."

 

I just tried it with this post and BS's below it and I only get yours?

Edited December 10, 2008 by StrangeSox

[southsider2k5]

The camps definitely talked. I think Obama is saying HE didn't talk to HIM directly. Which is probably true.

 

That isn't what has been reported previously... Not just talked to, but met with.

 

http://www.connecttristates.com/news/story.aspx?id=219212

 

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.

[southsider2k5]

caption time!

 

[lostfan]

I just tried it with this post and BS's below it and I only get yours?

Not "reply" on the post itself. It's "Add Reply" at the bottom which normally brings up a fresh window.

[NorthSideSox72]

Ah, much better avatar for me.

 

 

That rat poster image should be its own thread, BTW. Fun.