Obama's old Senate seat for sale on eBay (Seattle Tech Report, Post-Intelligencer)
He's the clown, but joke's on us (by John Kass, Chicago Tribune)
The people of Illinois needed some good news and they got it. Former Republican Gov. George Ryan is in prison, and the arrest of his successor, Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich, surely means that the Illinois Combine that runs this state can stop with the rumors that U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald will be leaving town. And, as Blagojevich most likely prepares to be Ryan's bunkmate, let's not forget the scores of other politicos, of all parties, who've gone down on corruption charges—including some of Mayor Richard Daley's guys who helped rebuild that Democratic machine the mayor says doesn't exist…
So though Illinois isn't surprised—this is after all the home of the Chicago Way—the national media must be shocked. They've been clinging to the ridiculous notion that Chicago is Camelot for months now, cleaving to the idea with the willfulness of stubborn children. It must help them see Obama as some pristine creature, perhaps a gentle faun of a magic forest, unstained by our grubby politics, a bedtime story for grown-ups who insist upon fairy tales. But now the national media may finally be forced to confront reality.
The Chicago Tribune has the text of the complaint, and Real Clear Politics has the video of Fitzgerald’s press conference.—Caro
Illinois Has Long Been For Sale (by Dennis Byrne, Chicago Tribune)
So, do the rest of you now have some idea of the depth of corruption in Chicago and Illinois, and why some of us were so concerned about electing a president who emerges from this cesspool?... Blagojevich, if convicted, would be the second Illinois governor in a row to go to federal prison. And he would be the fourth of the last eight Illinois governors to be convicted felons. Is there another state that can match such a proud record? From former Rep. Dan Rostenkowski to Chicago aldermen to city inspectors, the miscreants and malefactors have worn a steady path to prison, in numbers too many to accurately count. Graft and corruption are the city and state's orthodoxy…
Obama was both a part of it, but not a part of it. He got his start without the critical support of the Chicago Machine, but most recently has endorsed even the most dubious of the state and local Democratic candidates. Obama ran his campaign as the guy who don't know nobody and managed to rise above the city and state's unseemly political reputation. His reaction to the Blagojevich arrest was right in character. Asked about it at a press conference, Obama replied that he is "saddened and sobered" by the arrest, but because it is an "an ongoing investigation" his comment now would be inappropriate.
Perhaps so, but those of us in Illinois recognize the statement as a standard dodge. Obama could have done himself and the state a big favor by condemning corruption in all its forms, including in Illinois and Chicago. If he's done it before, I haven't noticed. But he did go to Kenya to denounced corruption in Africa, which struck some commentators here as hypocrisy.
That was yesterday. See below for what he says today.—Caro
Obama Calls for Blagojevich to Resign (by Jake Tapper at Political Punch, ABC News)
In response to questions from the AP, Obama Transition Team aide and incoming White House press secretary Robert Gibbs today said that the President-elect believes Gov. Rod Blagojevich should resign, and that the Illinois legislature should consider holding a special election for Mr. Obama's replacement in the Senate. “The President-elect agrees with Lt. Governor 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.”
See? Only when others lead the way does Obama do the right thing.—Caro
From Blago to O: Watch it happen!... (by Joseph Cannon at Cannonfire)
Why were investigators allowed to wiretap a sitting governor? Obviously, because Blago was named by Tony Rezko, who ran afoul of the "Board Games" inquiry. The indictment, by FBI agent Daniel Cain, makes clear in paragraph 2 [of the complaint against Blagojevich] that the Rezko investigation led to the wiretaps. And why was Blago arrested now, on other (more recent) corruption charges, before a complete case could be brought against him on the Board Games matter? Why did the arrest occur before the choice of senator-elect, before the pay-off money for that appointment actually exchanged hands?
Two possible (linked) reasons spring to mind:
1. Fitz wants to pressure Blago into testifying against an even bigger fish. Right now, the only bigger fish is Obama.
2. Fitz wanted to haul in Blago before the transition of power. After this arrest, if Obama quickly replaces Fitzgerald, the stench of rat will become so overpowering as to penetrate even a Kossack's nostrils. If Obama shuts down the investigation, he'll be as villified as Nixon was after the Saturday Night Massacre.
So what would Fitzgerald want Blago to talk about? Oh, gosh -- any number of things. You can read about them in Evelyn Pringle's work. Here's one very important, very basic matter that I've mentioned in this column before -- a fine bit-o-sleaze that all of the pro-O "progressive" bloggers have, so far, refused to acknowledge: [Illinois] SENATE BILL 1332.
Click through for more.—Caro
Rahm and Blago and a bribe (by Joseph Cannon at Cannonfire)
It turns out that Blagojevich may have discussed a bribe with Rahm Emmanuel, Obama's pick for Chief of Staff. You have to read the [complaint] past paragraph 100 or so. Keep two things in mind:
1. Rahm currently represents the Fifth Congressional District of Illinois. It appears that Blago can appoint a replacement until a special election is held.
2. Blago became fixated on a wacky scheme in which he would take charge of a well-funded 501(c)4 lobbying organization. This was to be backed by Warren Buffett and Bill Gates, acting at Obama's request. The org was to be Blago's nest egg after leaving office.
Blago thought he could make a quid-pro-quo arrangement with Obama: He (Blago) would appoint Obama's preferred candidate, Valerie Jarrett, to the Senate -- and in return, Blago would get that comfy sinecure, a place where he could live well and regain his political muscles. Does that sound like a bribe to you? Sounds like a bribe to me.
Click here for more politics and media news headlines.
Carolyn Kay
MakeThemAccountable.com
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I took out the NQ stuff
Cannonfire's trustworthy, so I left him in.
Truthteller, the author of the deleted piece ...
... is also reliable.
I remember a big sad looking white guy
with a familiar look in a wrinkled blazer who caught the Dearborn St subway at Washington one afternoon about 3:30.. He looked down. You could not catch his eye, but his body language said he was really bothered about something. He sat on the other end of the car from me.
We both got off at the same stop, Division & Milwaukee a few minutes later. He was closer to the stairs than me, I lived just across the street. But as I saw him walking fast, still with his sad look and his head down eastbound on Division. I knew the guy. It was Dan Rostenkowski, till a few weeks ago Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee. I knew where he lived because we frequently demonstrated against the wars in Central America on his doorstep. Later that week he was sentenced.
After he got out I saw him on TV talking about prison, talking a surprising amount of sense, more than he would ever have in his previous life about how prisoners are humans, and most don't deserve to be locked up, let alone thrown away. I guess it sort of made a human being out of him.
I recall George Ryan too as the heartless old crook who, as speaker of the Illinois House in the 1970s, took delight in being the state legislature that torpedoed the Equal Rights Amendment. And when he looked me and a delegation of my co-workers from the Pullman plant up and down, him wearing a $700 (in 1980 money) suit and diamond pinky ring, telling us we were losing our jobs cause we got paid too much. Muthafucking sonofasnake.
And then I recall his last act as governor was to grant executive clemency for everybody on death row in Illinois because, as he said, innocent people were being convicted with some regularity in capital cases, and he could not be certain that he had not already thrown the switch on someone who was in fact not guilty. I worked at City Hall alongside two people who had walked off death row, one in Florida, the other in Illinois, because they were innocent. Were I not an atheist I would have thanked all the gods.
George Ryan became human even before he went to prison.
Blago is younger than either of them, and will have plenty of life left after he gets out. Let's hope the experience humbles and humanizes him. Anything is possible.
Bruce Dixon
www.blackagendareport.com
How many who have done far worse
remain free?
A big HEH!
Bruce, that's worth a post
Doesn't deserve to be buried in comments. Heck, I'd sticky it.
it even made tv news in Spain--
i just got back from a week there--did ya miss me? it was fab, as usual. : >
--they did a short thing in their roundup of headlines with video of the governor and the text onscreen called it "escándalo de Obama"
their papers too have been covering it alot, usually on the front page, but down low -- "DICE ESTAR 'CONSTERNADO Y DECEPCIONADO'
Obama asegura que 'nunca' habló con el gobernador sobre la 'venta' de su escaño
* El próximo presidente insiste en que Blagojevich debe dimitir por el escándalo
* 'Este escaño en el Senado no pertenece a ningún político, sino al pueblo', defiende
...
it was the 30th anniversary of their constitution and government post-Franco, and the opening of their Congress, so that and also new ETA killings and stuff -- and the Greek riots too -- dominated the news there.
They call their recession "crisis" and have like 13% unemployment now -- there were "rebajas" signs everywhere (it means "discounts/on sale"), and everyone was talking about it all the time--their Congress opened with budget stuff too.
Do they count everyone without a job in Spain, as they do else-
where in Europe?
If we counted out unemployment the same way (and out government does tract this number, it's just not used very much--can't recall which number designation it has), we would be over 12% unemployed by now. Including those who don't have any unemployment benefits left, etc.
Nice to see you back--hope you had a great time.
u3 vs u6?
was that the number[s] you meant?
big picture on u3 and u6
krugman on u6 [scary picture]
I think they're more honest about the nbrs--
they have a real social safety net -- and they don't ever actually stop helping people in need from what i understand, so it's not like people get put out on the street or left with nothing, like here. I think they keep paying for however long it takes, and/or place them in some kind of job or govt program, and there are strong protections against evictions and stuff too.
The social system (health, welfare, all social things, etc) is so all-encompassing that no one is invisible unless they choose to be but even then it would just be temporary--and they all have national id papers that they carry around everyday, so i guess even then they're still in the system and eligible no matter what.
Their government actually fulfills their responsibility to the people--like all civilized countries, and so unlike here.
Always, whenever i go away and talk to people about economic or political/govt/social stuff like that, they always are shocked or disgusted by how it is for us, or simply refuse to believe it -- even after making me confirm it repeatedly. ("we're just the richest third world country" is how i usually sum it up, and "we're 'free' --to starve and be homeless and die on the street, so we have to take care of ourselves job and homewise bec otherwise that's what happens", etc) --
I'm always envious -- it makes our whole lives and society so very different
-- and the only positive things i invariably notice about us and our system when comparing is -- that bec we all know we have no one to catch us, and it's really up to us -- we have more drive, ambition, and even creativity overall -- and are almost all brought up to achieve-- to hustle -- whether we're type A, or following traditonal paths, etc --or not at all like that. We don't accept that we're always going to be in our "place"/"class", etc, or that it doesn't matter what we do with the majority of our days.
I wish i had their quality and pace of life-- but because the focus isn't as much on work (to a greater or lesser extent), there seems to be a sort of overall personal contentment with the way things are --- even when things are lousy for them. (like--we all arrange our lives in ways that make us happy or fulfill whatever needs/desires/goals we have, etc -- and for us work is probably the most vital part of that -- by necessity -- whether because it is the focus or because we can't do anything without it.
you're back!
*i* missed you!
i'd forgotten you said you were going to spain. can you post pictures for those of us stuck here at home? i love living vicariously through other peoples travels.
: >
i totally will...
some previous trip pics are here -- by monday i should have this trip's pics up -- http://www.flickr.com/photos/amberglow/s...
oh, wow!
all those textures! [seville] fascinating. thanks. i expect to spend several happy hours wandering through your collections, and i'm looking forward to your newest photos already.
cool, no?
wait til you see my Segovia pics
: >
Murdoch's bringing up Rangel now
in articles about IL corruption and Obama -- and says he's a worse problem for Obama -- ugh!
WSJ -- Rangel Hits Obama Closer to Home
The Repubs triad is Blago, Jefferson (LA, defeated), and Rangel-
They're preparing for a continual drumbeat about Dem corruption in hopes it will help them take back seats in 2010. It worked back in '94--when they used some rather small change scandals to persuade voters that Dems had created a nest of corruption in the House--and it worked.
They will be running of Culture of Corruption in 2010--I think...as of now.
it will work, esp if
there isn't real economic progress for us.
(and they're ensuring there won't be, and will obstruct everything good -- and Obama and Pelosi/Reid will let them, of course)
"The cautionary tale here"
According to Peter Flaherty, President of an ethics group, the National Legal and Policy Center, Obama cannot distance himself from Blagojevich. ...