Blagojevich Scandal Sheet
Are you already hopelessly confused about the Blagojevich scandal?
Are you getting whiplash from swiveling your head from one story to another trying to get the latest on what is nauseatingly being called “Blagogate”? (When in the name of all that is good and holy are we going to drop that stupid suffix from our scandals?)
Are you on the edge of your seat waiting for the almost certain resignation of the Illinois governor? (If you are, I suggest you get a life and get back to work.)
Never fear! Pajamas Media is coming to your rescue!
With new information coming out at Internet speed, there’s no possible way a normal human being could keep track of what’s happening — unless you are an Internet addict, in which case you are not a normal human being and belong in a twelve-step program.
But for the rest of us, it might be useful to have a one stop site that can fill you in on the scandal at a glance. That will be the purpose of this “nearly live blog” of the Blagojevich Affair. We’ll strive to bring you the most recent and most relevant information from a wide variety of sources — video, audio, blogs, MSM — anywhere and everywhere someone has an interesting or newsworthy angle on the story.
The most recent entries will be right at the top so you can check back often to keep yourself informed.
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12/12 – 8:30 am PDT - Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. is definitely not out of the woods as far as the Blago Blow-Up is concerned. Three days before Blagojevich was arrested, Jackson cronies held a fundraiser for the governor with the expressed intent of raising money to help Jackson secure the senate seat, according to the Chicago Tribune who spoke with several of those present. Jackson’s campaign surrogate is on tape offering Blago’s people $1 million for the seat back in October. In attendance at this fundraiser for the governor – Jesse Jackson, Jr.’s brother Jonathan and Blago himself. Draw your own conclusions.
12/12 – 7:15 am PDT – A close associate of Chicago Tribune chairman Sam Zell has been confirmed as the middleman who heard out and perhaps even agreed to Blagojevich’s terms that in exchange for help in Springfield with the sale of the Chicago Cubs, Zell would fire members of the Chicago Tribune editorial board because of their pointed editorials against the governor. The Trib has received a subpoena asking for “memos about potential staff cuts or changes to the Chicago Tribune editorial board,” according to one source. The cowardly Zell, who was seeking a $150 million capital gains tax abatement from the IL Finance Authority, may have agreed to the extortion according to a phone call between Blago staff chief John Harris and the governor on November 21 that was taped by the Feds.
12/12 – 6:30 am PDT – Obama chief of staff-designate Rahm Emanuel either can’t come up with a plausible alibi regarding any conversations he might have had with Blago’s crew or is a really, really, devoted father. Yesterday, a Chicago reporter tried to waylay the guy who promised “transparency and openness” in the new administration while he was at city hall watching his kids perform in a pageant but was rebuffed with the excuse that ” “I’m not going to say a word to you. I’m going to do this with my children. Dont do that. I’m a father. I have two kids. I’m not going to do it.” Asked if he couldn’t do both — respond to extremely serious allegations of wrongdoing and be a good father — Emanuel responded in true “Chicago Way” fashion; ““I’m not as capable as you. I’m going to be a father. I’m allowed to be a father.” Mr. Transparency then pushed the reporter’s recording device away.
12/11 – 4:30 pm PDT - According to this report in the Wall Street Journal, Blago owes $500,000 in legal fees already. Now the question “What was he thinking?” can be answered.
12/11 – 4:00 pm EDT – Jim Lindgren at the Volokh Conspiracy has a helpful timeline of events related to the scandal.
12/11 – 2:00 pm PDT – Also at his morning presser, the president elect said he has asked his team to “gather the facts of any contacts with the governor’s office about this vacancy so that we can share them with you over the next few days.” Does he expect someone to come forward and say, “Sure boss, I sat down with Blago’s Boys and tried to deal in Jarrett for that senate seat.” Somehow, I think any report that comes out of this “internal investigation” is either going to find everyone in his shop squeaky clean or they will find one person to throw under the bus. That’s the Chicago way.
12/11 – 1:15 pm PDT – President-elect Obama still insists he never spoke with Blagojevich about his replacement in the senate and the Axelrod statement of November 23 that contradicts him is now totally down the rabbit hole and has disappeared from conscious thought — at least that of the press. I guess we just take the Obama team’s word for it. Obama also solemnly stated that his staff had no part in deal making with Blago’s people on the senate seat because “That would be a violation of everything that this campaign has been about.” Why, yes. Yes it would. But does that mean it didn’t happen?
12/11 – 11:15 am PDT – Another of Chicago’s muckracking columnists, Steve Chapman, has a little history lesson on the appointment of Patrick Fitzgerald to the federal prosecutor’s post in Chicago. Former Senator Peter Fitzgerald recommended his namesake (no relation) for the job back in 2001 because he didn’t trust a local boy to clean up the cesspool. Since then, Fitzy’s takedown of Scooter Libby is small potatoes compared to what else he’s accomplished. Mayor Daley’s two trusted aides and more in a patronage scandal that rocked the machine, aldermen like Ed “Fast Eddie” Vrdolyak, Tony Rezko, and now Blago. “Fitzgerald said Blagojevich’s alleged conduct “would make Lincoln roll over in his grave,” says Chapman. “Forget Lincoln. It would make Bonnie and Clyde flip their coffins.”
12/11 – 10:00 am PDT – A Rasumussen Poll reveals that 84% of Illinoisans believe Blago should resign. I guess the only response to something like that is what are those other 16% smoking and where can I get some?
12/11 – 8:55 am PDT - Chicago’s treasured columnist John Kass takes down all those pundits who thinks that Blagojevich (D-Dead Meat) is crazy. “The pundits who make such diagnoses have never talked to a Chicago machine politician in their lives,” writes Kass. “How do they think Chicago politicians talk in private when they’re muscling some other guy for cash? Like Helen Mirren playing the queen?”
12/11 – 6:45 am PDT – “Rezko Singing” reports Hot Air, quoting a WaPo story that found confirmation in criminal complaint of the long-rumored assistance that convicted Obama friend and financier Antoin “Tony” Rezko was giving prosecutor Fitzgerald. Lots of Chicago and Illinois pols are sweating this news. Rezko collected politicians like little kids collect interesting bugs and wheeled and dealed his way through Illinois politics for two decades. According to the story, he’s not finished yet.
Chicago goes to Washington…
Great Suff, Mr Moran. Keep it up. This site is one valuable resource!
Here’s more insight into Blagojevich’s shamelessness:
http://starcasm.net/archives/2009
12/10 – 1:00 pm PDT – Wouldn’t that be “Blago tried to solicit bribes from as many as…”?
I would add to the timeline, after hearing Jesse Jackson Sr. vehemently say he did nothing unethical, never offered Blagojevich anything, was never asked for anything in return …the 90-Minute Immaculate Conversation into the timeline.
We know a few of the other candidates had a short phone call on the subject(Jan Shakowsky), or no talk with the Gov. at all and were surprised to be on the list (Lisa Madigan).
Yet we are to believe Jesse Jackson Jr. had a 90-minute private face to face meeting he requested, with a Gov he described later as “out of control”, and NO quid Pro Quo was on the table? For a 90 minutes long meeting where Jesse Jr. just pointed out he was in Congress for 13 years, deserved a shot, then just 80 minutes of small talk?
Does not compute!
Though I add Junior is an orders of magnitude better person than Sleazy Shakedown Senior.
As for Obama, I’d be careful if I was a conservative Republican not to try “guilt by association” again after McCain wasted the last weeks as the economy and financial system in America collapsed trying to make the case that 20-year old times of Obama & Ayers being on the same Board was relevant to voters.
Or making the Blagojevich Scandal another sour grapes loser platform against Obama like the Right Wing Truthers tried when they pushed the Secret Kenyan Birth Conspiracy. (Which they would if they DEMAND all Blagojevich conversations with Obama and any in his Administration beyond what the FBI is interested in – where it would appear as a pack of partisan sore loser nutballs on another fishing expedition, trying to overturn an election.)
if I was a conservative Republican not to try “guilt by association” again after McCain wasted the last weeks as the economy and financial system in America collapsed trying to make the case that 20-year old times of Obama & Ayers being on the same Board was relevant to voters.
We know that Churchill wasn’t directly elected but had he been in 1940 and had been his rival Edward Mosley do you think British voters would have had the right to know about his Nazi connections? I were you I wouldn’t bring up memories of who tried and unfortunately succeeded in whitewashing the many friendships Obama has with people who want America destroyed, specially when America is at war. Because, you know, even in peace time, it would be very dangerous to have a president who doesn’t want the best for America.
“We know that Churchill wasn’t directly elected but had he been in 1940 and had been his rival Edward Mosley do you think British voters would have had the right to know about his Nazi connections?”
Umm, what Nazi connections? That he met Hitler once or that he (quite naively) said that Germany was doing pretty darn good, thanks to Hitler?
Unless his “Nazi connections” include him joining the SS and giving the stiff arm, that’s a bit of a boondoggle….
MK
Hitler and Goebbels were presnt on the marriage of Mosley. That is a little more than you wht you describe isn’t it? We would also ask ourselves if Mosley’s loyalties were with his country. Personally I doubt it. Notice also that it si not a question of ethnia but of heart and mind: many German Americans, at times sons of German immigrants, got medals, including the Medal of Honor, fighting Germans or played a significant role in Germany’s defeat like Eisenhower or Kindelberger (designer of the P51 Mustang)
Anyway you managed to skip the real question: Do you consider that in a democracy people need and have the right to know as much as possible in order to form an enlightened opinion before voting? If the answer is yes why did you and your friends your utmost to pull wool on voter’s eyes about it? And what happens if Obama really shares “reverend” Wright’s views on America?
Fantastic pic from the Blaggo not talking with obama.
http://www.illinois.gov/govgazette/pdfs/Gazetteedition_2008Nov.pdf
Great indictment from Blaggos newsletter.
Federal Sources: Fitzgerald Held Off Blagojevich Bust to Protect Obama Election Chances; Did Obama Fail Ethics Requirements of Illinois Bar?
http://www.debbieschlussel.com/
The media is stunned? faking surprise?
JFM makes an excellent point: what happens if Obama’s deep ties to Ayers, the Rev. Wright, Rezko, and so many others, are exactly what he believes in? What now?
The media did such a great job of sweeping it all under the rug… now a pile of dirt sits under the carpet, someone was bound to trip on it and break a leg…. I just hope that Obama isn’t among them.
America is amazing. A black man rises out of the Chicago cesspool in a white robe without a stain on the robe or even a whiff of odour.
I do appreciate the bugs and wiretaps. They left out the juicy ones and just shared enough about one target and are saving the taps that indict the other players alone for now.
Leaving the underwater part of the iceberg alone gives them time to investigate.
My observation on timing is simple. They popped the arrest so they wouldn’t be accused of knowingly allowing him to make a dirty process appointment and be and be accused of not intervening.
Isn’t it great how this so accurately describes how Obama paid for his senate seat and paid his wife with favor?
Jackson’s lawyer says he’s “guiltless.” Is that the same as innocent?
uh-uh. translation: guiltfree (no conscience).
ps hey seven! dot gov is going to a dead link. this quickly. must have been JUICY! can you track the same thing down elsewhere?
google still has an http://www.illinois.gov/govgazette/pdfs/Gazetteedition_2008Nov.pdf&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us” rel=”nofollow”>archive copy in html that, alas, has no images. wonder how long it stays up? (can we say print screen additionally backed up by save page as?)
Please keep the focus on Mr. Obama.
Gov. Blagojevich routinely sold Illinois’ Senate seat
Therefore Mr. Obama’s seat was paid for–
by whom? for what purpose?
Obama reminds me of another famous Chicagoan. Many of his friends went to jail for illegal activities; some ended up dead and other just seemed to disapear. In the end this Chicagoan forgot to pay his income taxes and ended up in jail just like Leona Helmsley. But other then that Mr. Capone was an honest business man. If anybody says otherwise they are slandering the man.
I like what DScott at Newsbusters.org said:
“The real issue for Obama is not that he didn’t like the idea of paying to get his choice for the senate seat, the real issue is that Obama did not contact the proper authorities, the FBI, to report Blagojevich for attempting to engage in fraud, i.e. enterprise corruption. This is particularly troubling since as the President-elect, the leader of our country, this man chose to allow a corrupt politician to carry on with his activity with no opposition. As the POTUS, we expect him to uphold the Law, set the example and not tolerate those who feel they can use their position for personal gain. By Obama not outting Blagojevich to the FBI, what he has essentially said by his deliberate inaction is his loyalty to the Democrat Party is greater than his loyalty to the United States of America.”
the history of 90′ is reapeating itself agian
Blag is an 18th century English slang term meaning carry out a robbery. In modern usage it has also come to mean obtain dishonestly or by coercion, beg aggressively. A blagger is one who blags.
So yeah, drop “gate from your scandals by all means, replace it with “blag” Senate seat blag”, “Bank bailout blag”, “Detroit blags $10billion from Obama.”
It works quite well.
When the Tribune is asked to participate in an unethical quid pro quo scheme is that not news? Should not the Tribune have published it as news when, for firing editorial people Blago didn’t like, Blago said he’d grease the skids for the sale of the Cubs?
When the Obama team was asked to give Blago an ambassadorship or something like that for Blago’s agreement to nominate Obama’s choice for Illinois Senator, doesn’t the Obama team
have an ethical duty to make the possibly criminal offer public?
Anybody who voted for Obama, voted for a corrupt creep who refused to produce an original birth certificate, who participated in an unethical land deal with Tony Rezko. Whose wife received part of a quid pro quo job and raise, for millions of dollars Obama funneled to her hospital. Obama was a bad boy who never quite was caught with his hands in the cookie jar.
Just like Barack, Blago threatened to stop sending money to Memorial Children’s Hospital if his wife didn’t get a Michelle type job there.
Blago entered in deals with Rezko for paybacks to Rezko.
Blago offered to sell a senate seat.
Obama paid “useful and valuable” consideration for Obama’s to secure the money Obama needed to run for the senate.
Obama and Blago have a lot in common. The question is, will the feds use what they have on Obama or will they be bought off.
Fitzgerald is doing what he can about Blaggo now, because he knows once Obama is in he is out. He already knows too much for Obama to tolerate. It is funny to see how loudly the Dems are pronouncing Blaggo to be a whacko. Do you think they are afraid of what Blaggo can say about Resko and Obama and the rest of the gang? Oh well, this takes the heat off of Senator Rangell for a while.
Some people we know seem to be very good at this:
“Throooow ‘em Under the Bus”
By Marinelurp
When the going gets tough,
When mud ‘n slander flies thick.
And the sh*t is hitting the fan,
Someone’s really rockin’ the boat,
Trying to hijack Hope and Change.
Wha’ cha gonna do? Wha’ cha gonna say?
You Beeeetter(slowly):
(Chorus)
Throw ‘em, under the Bus,
Throw ‘em, under the Bus,
Cover your Ass! Try to distance yourself!
Just grab ‘em by the neck,
and throw ‘em, throw ‘em
Under the Bus!
The Press is asking the Governor too much,
His wife cannot even consider divorce.
All their plans are going up in smoke.
Gossip and lies are bringing them down.
What happened to good ole corruption, “Pay for Play”.
Oh!, Wha’ cha gonna do? Wha’ cha gonna say?
(Chorus)
Juuuust, Throw ‘em, under the Bus,
Throw ‘em, under the Bus,
Cover your Ass! Try to distance yourself!
Just grab ‘em by the neck,
and throw ‘em, throw ‘em
Under the Bus!
Political hacks are turning up the heat.
‘Singing to prosecutors’, naming names,
Under surveillance, wiretaps everywhere!
“Not the people I knew” you have to claim.
Scandals threatening to taint you,
Before you even swear in. Oh, wha’ cha gonna do?
(Chorus)
When things got too close on poor Barry,
He put the blame on ole Grannie.
“Just a Typical-White Person”,
Who walked in fear, spouting racial slurs .
Could not disown her, That just wouldn’t be Wright.
But the One thing he could do, WAS:
(Chorus)
When his spiritual mentor got too loud,
Acting like an ‘embarrassing uncle’.
For awhile the ONE made excuses for him.
But like ole Grannie, he finally had to go.
First the pastor, then even the church,
Were too inconvenient and controversial.
(Chorus)
Liberals and youth, they all adored Him,
The ONE was all that they had dreamed of.
He told them everything that they wanted,
Promising to spread the wealth around.
Then after He won the election,
All the promises were dropped, instead they heard:
(Chorus)
Chicago’s Governor was hurting real bad,
He just wanted to get the usual , “Pay for Play”,
To “sell a seat” for the One’s Choice,
It’s a F*cking Golden job after all.
But when the phones were tapped,
All involved were scrambling like roaches.
Well, juuust
(Chorus)
Throw ‘em ALL, under the Bus,
Throw ‘em, under the Bus,
Cover your Ass! Try to distance yourself!
Just grab ‘em ALL by the necks,
and throw ‘em, throw ‘em
Under the Bus!
(Open Source Song- Please feel free to modify or add)
JJ Jr; family tradition
Ok, this whole Blagojevich story really needs to go away. Sadly, the more bad publicity he gets, the more he will make when he writes a book two years from now. He doesn’t deserve it.