Ill. Gov. arrested in Obama successor probe

[D1B]

SO what about your boy Coleman getting investigated by the FBI??

What'd he do. Try to use expired grocery coupons?

D...I wrote a lengthy thread on this a while back...there was a crapload of innuendo mud-slinging coming from Frankens campaign. Several MN lib publications that assisted in facilitating the rumors got scalped in the national arena.

re: JJJ...quite frankly, I really don't care if he offered to "buy" the seat or not. Jesse's become an anachronistic hack who is now HINDERING civil rights. Several bright, budding black leaders have been stifled and put down by Jesse and the old-school Rainbow/Julian Bond crew. Again, this is something that several of us heavily debated with JState and some of the other "rights" members a while back.
I'm not 'dissin the cause, but when Obama is not invited to, and real leaders like Kweisi Mfume and Harold Ford are not included in, the State of the Black World Congress meeting this past month (one of Jesse's pet showcases)...even though virtually every notable black leader including every black media celebrity was invited...(hey...even Kool Moe Dee, Davey D, and Black Panther offspring Monifa Akinwole Bandele, founder of the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, and "Copwatch", who filed suit against NYPD and succeeded in forcing them to disband their Street Crimes [gang] Unit. Currently the MXGM is suing to force the government to restore voting rights to convicted felons: Clearly an AA leader of notable importance whose "voice" is worthy of inclusion. ), with Farrakhan as the keynote speaker...the handwriting was plain to see. Neither Obama, Ford or Mfume were included in that hatefest because they've had the courage to stand tall and act as American statesmen, not separatist Bondian schills or race baiters. They refrain from pandering to the Julian Bond disciples, single agenda/AA over all issues Kingmakers, and that simply isn't acceptable to folks like Jesse and Louis.

Farrakhan's and Jackson's times have passed. This isn't the 50's.

Jesse's legacy is missing integrity. There are so many GREAT AA leaders or simply great leaders who carry the banner for civil rights, that the names of the old-school crooks shouldn't even come up in discussion.

Good post. Jackson is an albatross for blacks.

[Appaholic]

SO what about your boy Coleman getting investigated by the FBI??

What'd he do. Try to use expired grocery coupons?

D...I wrote a lengthy thread on this a while back...there was a crapload of innuendo mud-slinging coming from Frankens campaign. Several MN lib publications that assisted in facilitating the rumors got scalped in the national arena.

re: JJJ...quite frankly, I really don't care if he offered to "buy" the seat or not. Jesse's become an anachronistic hack who is now HINDERING civil rights. Several bright, budding black leaders have been stifled and put down by Jesse and the old-school Rainbow/Julian Bond crew. Again, this is something that several of us heavily debated with JState and some of the other "rights" members a while back.
I'm not 'dissin the cause, but when Obama is not invited to, and real leaders like Kweisi Mfume and Harold Ford are not included in, the State of the Black World Congress meeting this past month (one of Jesse's pet showcases)...even though virtually every notable black leader including every black media celebrity was invited...(hey...even Kool Moe Dee, Davey D, and Black Panther offspring Monifa Akinwole Bandele, founder of the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, and "Copwatch", who filed suit against NYPD and succeeded in forcing them to disband their Street Crimes [gang] Unit. Currently the MXGM is suing to force the government to restore voting rights to convicted felons: Clearly an AA leader of notable importance whose "voice" is worthy of inclusion. ), with Farrakhan as the keynote speaker...the handwriting was plain to see. Neither Obama, Ford or Mfume were included in that hatefest because they've had the courage to stand tall and act as American statesmen, not separatist Bondian schills or race baiters. They refrain from pandering to the Julian Bond disciples, single agenda/AA over all issues Kingmakers, and that simply isn't acceptable to folks like Jesse and Louis.

Farrakhan's and Jackson's times have passed. This isn't the 50's.

Jesse's legacy is missing integrity. There are so many GREAT AA leaders or simply great leaders who carry the banner for civil rights, that the names of the old-school crooks shouldn't even come up in discussion.

BAM! Nice post T-Man

[AZGrizFan]

Don't forget little Rhode Island...

Per capita, they might be larger than the other two...

Just sayin'.....

Goddamned easterners and their smug sense of superiorty.

Look pal, Illinois has cities more crooked than Rhode Island. The official motto of the city of Chicago is "Where's mine?".

If there were rep points on this site, THIS would garner some. Out-fucking-standing, Dawg!

[lifesapuntreturn]

Blago and Obama were never close - on opposite ends of the Demo Party.

dback is right about this. Obama is connected to Blago through party affiliation only.

Blago and Obama are joined at the hip, that's how connected they are politically. Obama met regularly with Blago in 2002 to help plan his campaign for gov. Emanuel was also deeply involved with Blago politically and is now Obama's chief of staff, his most trusted personal advisor.

Oh, yeah, Obama and Blago are not only connected politically, they are joined at the hip. Spin away, Obamaites, it won't work and this whole Chicago machine connection isn't going away.

[dbackjon]

dback is right about this. Obama is connected to Blago through party affiliation only.

Blago and Obama are joined at the hip, that's how connected they are politically. Obama met regularly with Blago in 2002 to help plan his campaign for gov. Emanuel was also deeply involved with Blago politically and is now Obama's chief of staff, his most trusted personal advisor.

Oh, yeah, Obama and Blago are not only connected politically, they are joined at the hip. Spin away, Obamaites, it won't work and this whole Chicago machine connection isn't going away.

And you know this how??

[lifesapuntreturn]

Obama has several problems with this mess:

*He is clearly tied to Blagojevich politically. He endorsed Blago for guv in 2002 while Obama was in the Illinois state senate. He campaigned for Blago's re-election in 2006 while he was a US Senator. Those are irrefutable political connections and make Obama look bad. That's politics.

*Obama and Blago have a common business "acquaintance", Rezko. The whole deal between Obama and Rezko still stinks and always will but the media gave Obama a pass on it. That's back on the table now. That combined with Rezko/Blago association again makes Obama look bad. "The company you keep ..."

That's cute and all, but if Obama's association with Rezko, Ayers, Alinsky, et. al, BEFORE the election couldn't sway America's warped opinion of him, this little speed bump ain't even gonna slow down THAT political machine.

This is going to add to the existing issues. The straws keep getting loaded onto the camel's back and one day the back breaks. This is a big, heavy straw that isn't going away.

There's a big difference in people's attention levels in campaigns versus once someone is elected and takes office. There's a huge difference between being a presidential candidate and being the President. Media scrutiny, no matter how reluctant it may be, will increase significantly now that he's president-elect and about to become president.

All of the things in Obama's past that were conveniently ignored during the campaign will not be ignored now. The main stream media is about to go under and the one thing that can temporarily prevent that for them is a good political scandal at the highest level to get them ratings and sell advertising. They'll cover it for self-preservation if for no other reason.

With the whole bailout thing, people are already paying more attention to the crap going on in Washington. A corrupt administration is the last thing they are willing to tolerate now, on top of everything else. They'll pay attention.

There's a little education for you on the ways of the world, AZgrizFan. You're proof that even clueless people are paying attention now. By the way, why don't you enlighten us some more as to the whole CRA excuse for the subprime mess? I noticed you dropped that one like a hot potato because you didn't know your *ss from a hole in the ground about that subject, either, pretender.

[lifesapuntreturn]

Blago and Obama are joined at the hip, that's how connected they are politically. Obama met regularly with Blago in 2002 to help plan his campaign for gov. Emanuel was also deeply involved with Blago politically and is now Obama's chief of staff, his most trusted personal advisor.

Oh, yeah, Obama and Blago are not only connected politically, they are joined at the hip. Spin away, Obamaites, it won't work and this whole Chicago machine connection isn't going away.

And you know this how??

It's all over the news.

[dbackjon]

And you know this how??

It's all over the news.

What, WorldNetDaily?

[UNI88]

And you know this how??

It's all over the news.

First, I live in the Chicago metropolitan area and I'm not sure if this is true (Obama and Emanuel assisting Blago politically). Obama didn't really hit the political radar until the 2004 Dem Convention. Before that he was a State Senator who had lost a congressional race to Rep. Bobby Rush. Any involvement he had in Blago's 2002 campaign was probably minor and just trying to pay his dues to gather party support for his Senate run in 2004. Both Dem's and Rep's do this sort of thing all the time.

Second, what any Dem did to help Blago in 2002 isn't exactly relevant to 2008. In 2002, people didn't know how big of a whack job he was. Blago's campaign theme resonated with a lot of people (reform being a key element). Unfortunately (and obviously) he did the opposite of what he promised. In hindsight, and as Houndawg has pointed out, the wrong candidate was elected in 2002 (Vallas would have been a much better governor). It also might have helped if the Republicans had put up a stronger candidate to run against him (Jim Ryan came across as a cardboard cut-out similar to John Kerry who won the Republican nomination simply because he had been loyal to the party and it was his turn).

Blago has been toxic for quite a while and Obama is too smart and ambitious to become too closely tied to him. IMO, it would be perfectly natural for the President Elect to discuss potential candidates to be appointed to the POTUS Elect's now vacant Senate seatwith the Governor. During that conversation, Obama is much too smart to discuss giving anything in exchange for a voice in that appointment.

Rezko's connection to both of them is more than likely that of a man that likes to associate with those in power in order to curry favor. Rezko is also tied to Bob Kjellander and Bill Cellini, two Republican power-brokers who reportedly asked Bush to remove Patrick Fitzgerald. This sh!tstorm is going to get even messier but in the end will hopefully be good for Illinois politics.

Patrick Fitzgerald is the most important figure in Illinois politics so hopefully Obama keeps his promise and leaves him in place to clean this state up.

[grizzaholic]

Blago and Obama were never close - on opposite ends of the Demo Party.

AZ hasn't seen this yet so I thought I would play him for a second.

Dbackjon, why do you lump all Republicans together while it is ok for you to seperate Obama from other Dems? Just askin.

[AZGrizFan]

That's cute and all, but if Obama's association with Rezko, Ayers, Alinsky, et. al, BEFORE the election couldn't sway America's warped opinion of him, this little speed bump ain't even gonna slow down THAT political machine.

This is going to add to the existing issues. The straws keep getting loaded onto the camel's back and one day the back breaks. This is a big, heavy straw that isn't going away.

There's a big difference in people's attention levels in campaigns versus once someone is elected and takes office. There's a huge difference between being a presidential candidate and being the President. Media scrutiny, no matter how reluctant it may be, will increase significantly now that he's president-elect and about to become president.

All of the things in Obama's past that were conveniently ignored during the campaign will not be ignored now. The main stream media is about to go under and the one thing that can temporarily prevent that for them is a good political scandal at the highest level to get them ratings and sell advertising. They'll cover it for self-preservation if for no other reason.

With the whole bailout thing, people are already paying more attention to the crap going on in Washington. A corrupt administration is the last thing they are willing to tolerate now, on top of everything else. They'll pay attention.

There's a little education for you on the ways of the world, AZgrizFan. You're proof that even clueless people are paying attention now. By the way, why don't you enlighten us some more as to the whole CRA excuse for the subprime mess? I noticed you dropped that one like a hot potato because you didn't know your *ss from a hole in the ground about that subject, either, pretender.

WTF are you talking about? You wanna make this about ME? Yeah...I don't know my ass from a hole in the ground on CRA and subprime....I'm only IN the business, dumbass. Please, oh wise one, let everyone here know what makes YOU the expert? Here's a newsflash for you...people (INCLUDING THE MSM) are still so busy BLOWING Obama they don't have TIME to look up and see who he's associated with. You can try to wish away Obama's impending presidency by thinking that 52% of America just woke up and realized he's in bed with crooks and liars and thieves and communists and terrorists, you can try to wish way America's apathy by saying "they pay more attention after the election"and "a corrupt administration is the last thing they are willing to tolerate", but the only one you're fooling is yourself. We'd all like to know what color the sky is in the fucked up world you live in.

Obama will be JUST LIKE CLINTON. There will be NOTHING he can do that will make that 52% believe he's anything other than this country's savior. Take THAT to the CRA-FUCKED-UP BANK, junior.

Now, go back to dreaming about next year when the Griz kick some Bobshitty ASS again.

[Cap'n Cat]

Easy, Z. Fvck, man. Obama ain't hurtin' no one and he ain't involved in this scandal. Don't be a Rushie.






And, puntreturn, you're whacked beyond comprehension. Give up the hate.

[AZGrizFan]

First, I live in the Chicago metropolitan area and I'm not sure if this is true (Obama and Emanuel assisting Blago politically). Obama didn't really hit the political radar until the 2004 Dem Convention. Before that he was a State Senator who had lost a congressional race to Rep. Bobby Rush. Any involvement he had in Blago's 2002 campaign was probably minor and just trying to pay his dues to gather party support for his Senate run in 2004. Both Dem's and Rep's do this sort of thing all the time.

Second, what any Dem did to help Blago in 2002 isn't exactly relevant to 2008. In 2002, people didn't know how big of a whack job he was. Blago's campaign theme resonated with a lot of people (reform being a key element). Unfortunately (and obviously) he did the opposite of what he promised. In hindsight, and as Houndawg has pointed out, the wrong candidate was elected in 2002 (Vallas would have been a much better governor). It also might have helped if the Republicans had put up a stronger candidate to run against him (Jim Ryan came across as a cardboard cut-out similar to John Kerry who won the Republican nomination simply because he had been loyal to the party and it was his turn).

Blago has been toxic for quite a while and Obama is too smart and ambitious to become too closely tied to him. IMO, it would be perfectly natural for the President Elect to discuss potential candidates to be appointed to the POTUS Elect's now vacant Senate seatwith the Governor. During that conversation, Obama is much too smart to discuss giving anything in exchange for a voice in that appointment.

Rezko's connection to both of them is more than likely that of a man that likes to associate with those in power in order to curry favor. Rezko is also tied to Bob Kjellander and Bill Cellini, two Republican power-brokers who reportedly asked Bush to remove Patrick Fitzgerald. This sh!tstorm is going to get even messier but in the end will hopefully be good for Illinois politics.

Patrick Fitzgerald is the most important figure in Illinois politics so hopefully Obama keeps his promise and leaves him in place to clean this state up.

But puntreturn SAYS they're connected, so it must be so!

[AZGrizFan]

Easy, Z. Fvck, man. Obama ain't hurtin' no one and he ain't involved in this scandal. Don't be a Rushie.






And, puntreturn, you're whacked beyond comprehension. Give up the hate.

Whether he's involved or not, to believe that the MSM AND 52% of America is going to collectively wake up and smell the coffee about Obama is freakin' ludicrous. Then again, he IS a bobshitty fan....

[Appaholic]

First, I live in the Chicago metropolitan area and I'm not sure if this is true (Obama and Emanuel assisting Blago politically). Obama didn't really hit the political radar until the 2004 Dem Convention. Before that he was a State Senator who had lost a congressional race to Rep. Bobby Rush. Any involvement he had in Blago's 2002 campaign was probably minor and just trying to pay his dues to gather party support for his Senate run in 2004. Both Dem's and Rep's do this sort of thing all the time.

Second, what any Dem did to help Blago in 2002 isn't exactly relevant to 2008. In 2002, people didn't know how big of a whack job he was. Blago's campaign theme resonated with a lot of people (reform being a key element). Unfortunately (and obviously) he did the opposite of what he promised. In hindsight, and as Houndawg has pointed out, the wrong candidate was elected in 2002 (Vallas would have been a much better governor). It also might have helped if the Republicans had put up a stronger candidate to run against him (Jim Ryan came across as a cardboard cut-out similar to John Kerry who won the Republican nomination simply because he had been loyal to the party and it was his turn).

Blago has been toxic for quite a while and Obama is too smart and ambitious to become too closely tied to him. IMO, it would be perfectly natural for the President Elect to discuss potential candidates to be appointed to the POTUS Elect's now vacant Senate seatwith the Governor. During that conversation, Obama is much too smart to discuss giving anything in exchange for a voice in that appointment.

Rezko's connection to both of them is more than likely that of a man that likes to associate with those in power in order to curry favor. Rezko is also tied to Bob Kjellander and Bill Cellini, two Republican power-brokers who reportedly asked Bush to remove Patrick Fitzgerald. This sh!tstorm is going to get even messier but in the end will hopefully be good for Illinois politics.

Patrick Fitzgerald is the most important figure in Illinois politics so hopefully Obama keeps his promise and leaves him in place to clean this state up.

But puntreturn SAYS they're connected, so it must be so!

Well, it was in the "news"......

[BigApp]

Gore won in 2000

he did? how so?

[BigApp]

dback is right about this. Obama is connected to Blago through party affiliation only.

Blago and Obama are joined at the hip, that's how connected they are politically. Obama met regularly with Blago in 2002 to help plan his campaign for gov. Emanuel was also deeply involved with Blago politically and is now Obama's chief of staff, his most trusted personal advisor.

Oh, yeah, Obama and Blago are not only connected politically, they are joined at the hip. Spin away, Obamaites, it won't work and this whole Chicago machine connection isn't going away.

ya beat me to it! These guys are in lock-step with each other. You don't get elected to Congress from Illinois without 2 things: 1) The mayor of Chicago's blessing and; 2) the Governor of Illinois' blessing.

And, before you respond: You don't get to be governor without going through the mayor of Chicago.

BHO's not even inaugurated yet and he's getting people indicted and working on his pardon list. He's already trumped Slick Willie!!

[Cap'n Cat]

Easy, Z. Fvck, man. Obama ain't hurtin' no one and he ain't involved in this scandal. Don't be a Rushie.






And, puntreturn, you're whacked beyond comprehension. Give up the hate.

Whether he's involved or not, to believe that the MSM AND 52% of America is going to collectively wake up and smell the coffee about Obama is freakin' ludicrous. Then again, he IS a bobshitty fan....

Jesus, Z. Don't be a Limbaugh Lackey.

[UNI88]

Blago and Obama are joined at the hip, that's how connected they are politically. Obama met regularly with Blago in 2002 to help plan his campaign for gov. Emanuel was also deeply involved with Blago politically and is now Obama's chief of staff, his most trusted personal advisor.

Oh, yeah, Obama and Blago are not only connected politically, they are joined at the hip. Spin away, Obamaites, it won't work and this whole Chicago machine connection isn't going away.

ya beat me to it! These guys are in lock-step with each other. You don't get elected to Congress from Illinois without 2 things: 1) The mayor of Chicago's blessing and; 2) the Governor of Illinois' blessing.

And, before you respond: You don't get to be governor without going through the mayor of Chicago.

BHO's not even inaugurated yet and he's getting people indicted and working on his pardon list. He's already trumped Slick Willie!!

You're not competely wrong about the #1 but I LMAO about #2. The Governor of Illinois is at best the 3rd most powerful person in the state. The Mayor and the Speaker of the House are both more powerful and their power is independent of the other's influence (i.e. they avoid messing with each other because it would be a lose-lose situation). Blago on the other hand has tangled with the Speaker on numerous occasions which helped to further demonstrate his mental incompetence (but he does have testicular virility).

If memory serves, the Mayor didn't come out in support of Vallas (his former head of Chicago schools) in the 2002 Democratic primary and that put a serious dent in his campaign.

Obama is not going to pardo Blago.

[houndawg]

This is going to add to the existing issues. The straws keep getting loaded onto the camel's back and one day the back breaks. This is a big, heavy straw that isn't going away.

There's a big difference in people's attention levels in campaigns versus once someone is elected and takes office. There's a huge difference between being a presidential candidate and being the President. Media scrutiny, no matter how reluctant it may be, will increase significantly now that he's president-elect and about to become president.

All of the things in Obama's past that were conveniently ignored during the campaign will not be ignored now. The main stream media is about to go under and the one thing that can temporarily prevent that for them is a good political scandal at the highest level to get them ratings and sell advertising. They'll cover it for self-preservation if for no other reason.

With the whole bailout thing, people are already paying more attention to the crap going on in Washington. A corrupt administration is the last thing they are willing to tolerate now, on top of everything else. They'll pay attention.

There's a little education for you on the ways of the world, AZgrizFan. You're proof that even clueless people are paying attention now. By the way, why don't you enlighten us some more as to the whole CRA excuse for the subprime mess? I noticed you dropped that one like a hot potato because you didn't know your *ss from a hole in the ground about that subject, either, pretender.

WTF are you talking about? You wanna make this about ME? Yeah...I don't know my ass from a hole in the ground on CRA and subprime....I'm only IN the business, dumbass. Please, oh wise one, let everyone here know what makes YOU the expert?

Obama will be JUST LIKE CLINTON.

You mean we're going to have a balanced budget?

[AZGrizFan]

Obama will be JUST LIKE CLINTON.

You mean we're going to have a balanced budget?

Dawg, at least TRY to give the pretense of being able to stay on topic.

[grizzaholic]

You mean we're going to have a balanced budget?

Dawg, at least TRY to give the pretense of being able to stay on topic.

I think what houndawg meant to say was " You mean we're going to have another incident in the oval office, but this time it will be with a cigarette not a cigar."

[houndawg]

Dawg, at least TRY to give the pretense of being able to stay on topic.

I think what houndawg meant to say was " You mean we're going to have another incident in the oval office, but this time it will be with a cigarette not a cigar."

Nah, I think what he meant to say was "we'll put the guy who bombed the WTC in jail instead of letting him get away".

[dbackjon]

Illinois impeachment panel begins work

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Illinois lawmakers launched an unprecedented impeachment inquiry Tuesday against embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who showed no sign of going down without a fight.

An impeachment panel met briefly and then adjourned until Wednesday, giving Blagojevich time to send a representative to the hearings, which may last into January.

Lawmakers on Monday shelved the idea of setting a special election where voters would fill the vacant Senate seat of President-elect Barack Obama — the seat the governor is accused of trying to sell before his arrest last week on federal corruption charges.

But the House also voted 113-0 to create a bipartisan committee that will recommend whether Blagojevich should be impeached. That 21-member panel met for about an hour Tuesday, with members making speeches about the gravity of the scandal.

Committee chairwoman Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, D-Chicago, began the meeting by saying the Blagojevich scandal had created a "crisis of confidence" in state government. But she cautioned panel members against moving too fast.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081216/ap_ ... s_governor

[dbackjon]

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The attorney for Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (bluh-GOY'-uh-vich) wants some lawmakers removed from the panel that will recommend whether the governor should be impeached.

Attorney Ed Genson says some committee members have made public comments indicating they've already made up their minds. He says they shouldn't be allowed to take part in the impeachment hearings.

Genson also asked the committee to postpone action until the governor and his defense can prepare more thoroughly.

Committee chairwoman Barbara Flynn Currie rejected both requests at Wednesday's bipartisan panel meeting.

Blagojevich was arrested by FBI agents last week on charges that include scheming to appoint President-elect Barack Obama's replacement based on who offered him the best political or financial deal.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081217/ap_ ... s_governor