EasyEd
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 7,272
|
Post by EasyEd on Dec 16, 2008 19:47:44 GMT -5
It seems to me that it would be rather insane if the Chief of Staff designate, who's previous job was a powerful member of congress from Illinois, did NOT talk to the Governor of Illinois about a Senate seat vacated by the former junior Senator from Illinois and now President-Elect Barack Obama. That strikes me as part of the job description. If someone wishes to suggest, as the RNC has done, that this sort of dealing should implicate Barack Obama, I guess they can do so. But John McCain and Newt Gingrich have both come out to condemn such a line of attack. I agree with you that it was proper for Rahm or someone else from the Obama camp to be talking to the governor about possible appointments to the Senate seat. My only question is why hasn't Obama said this and why has he made somewhat conflicting statements over the days about the situation. When he comes up with the rationale that Fitzgerald asked him not to say anything - this coming several days into the discussion - it kinda invites suspicion. Just come clean and move on.
|
|
Elvado
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,080
|
Post by Elvado on Dec 16, 2008 20:07:14 GMT -5
My question remains: Where did Blagojevic get the information that all Obama would offer was "appreciation"? I do not believe Obam or Emanuel were involved in Blagojevic's scheme. However if Blagojevic broached the topic with Emanuel was he not obligated to notify someone? In my earliest post on the topic, I suggested that hje might have told Justice.
|
|
TC
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 9,441
|
Post by TC on Dec 17, 2008 3:25:43 GMT -5
My question remains: Where did Blagojevic get the information that all Obama would offer was "appreciation"? I do not believe Obam or Emanuel were involved in Blagojevic's scheme. However if Blagojevic broached the topic with Emanuel was he not obligated to notify someone? In my earliest post on the topic, I suggested that hje might have told Justice. It depends if Blago came out and said "I want X for Y". From reading the complaint, we know he didn't.
|
|
TBird41
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
"Roy! I Love All 7'2" of you Roy!"
Posts: 8,740
|
Post by TBird41 on Dec 17, 2008 9:24:01 GMT -5
It seems to me that it would be rather insane if the Chief of Staff designate, who's previous job was a powerful member of congress from Illinois, did NOT talk to the Governor of Illinois about a Senate seat vacated by the former junior Senator from Illinois and now President-Elect Barack Obama. That strikes me as part of the job description. If someone wishes to suggest, as the RNC has done, that this sort of dealing should implicate Barack Obama, I guess they can do so. But John McCain and Newt Gingrich have both come out to condemn such a line of attack. That's pretty smart of Newt and McCain. This is a scandal all the Democrats own. Unless it is handled well (and I'm not sure this CAN be handled well), it's going to hurt everyone involved, including Obama, which is why the national Republicans should keep their mouths shut and not distract from / get involved with this scandal. Give them enough rope, as they saying goes...
|
|
Bando
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
I've got some regrets!
Posts: 2,431
|
Post by Bando on Dec 17, 2008 10:22:09 GMT -5
I've lived in a blue state for a long time (seems even longer). I don't believe Obama is involved, aware or culpable. OK is that clear? Emanuel on the other hand... Just so I'm clear, are you disputing that Chicago politics is a filthy sewer. This is the city that spawned inter alia, Rostenkowski, Daley, Mosely-Braun, Harold Washington, etc, etc, etc. If your position is that Chicago is not a cesspool politically, you are hopelessly out of touch. Based on this chart, I expect to hear your denunciations of Louisiana and Mississippi forthwith.
|
|
Elvado
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,080
|
Post by Elvado on Dec 17, 2008 10:30:54 GMT -5
Okay. I'll make you happy. Chicago is a cesspool as are Louisiana and Mississippi. I live in Philadelphia, also a political cesspool. None of the other three reduce the stnch that rises off Chicago. But if this makes you feel better, done.
|
|
|
Post by strummer8526 on Dec 17, 2008 10:47:32 GMT -5
Look, these cities themselves are not cesspools. The common thread here is that POLITICS is a cesspool. Wherever and whenever politics is going on, cess is sure to pool. The pool is just deeper in some places. Chicago is just one of those fancy pools with waterfalls and a grotto.
As far as who talked to who, I think this is again a situation where there is too much nuance and detail for anyone to really know. Personally, I bet Obama has had a few conversations with Blago about the seat. But he knows that 3/4 of this country is stupid and will assume that any discussion AT ALL makes him culpable. So he says "Nope, never said nothing." Fair enough. It riles up skeptical conservatives, but it quiets a whole lot more stupid people who don't pay much attention. Until there's any proof that those conversations involved wrong-doing from Obama people, I will assume that it didn't happen, because that's all we can do. No one's going to know every detail of these long-standing, complicated, political relationships. It's not worth doing a psychoanalysis on Rahm because ultimately, we'll never get a full picture.
I think this applies in most political contexts. Getting a hooker is getting a hooker. Gay footsie in the bathroom is...gay footsie in the bathroom. But when you get into who bribed who, who scratched whose back, etc., I don't believe that anyone ever gets to the bottom of it in a way worthy of our confidence one way or the other.
|
|
Elvado
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,080
|
Post by Elvado on Dec 17, 2008 10:50:37 GMT -5
Fair enough. Certain places ;like Chicago and Philadelphia have perfected the art of the pool if you will...
As to whether Obama people were in on any wrongdoing, I'm with you that we have to assume they were not. However, Obama's statement did little to burnish his image as a change agent or someone in any way different than thos who have come before.
|
|
TBird41
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
"Roy! I Love All 7'2" of you Roy!"
Posts: 8,740
|
Post by TBird41 on Dec 17, 2008 11:19:21 GMT -5
Look, these cities themselves are not cesspools. The common thread here is that POLITICS is a cesspool. Wherever and whenever politics is going on, cess is sure to pool. The pool is just deeper in some places. Chicago is just one of those fancy pools with waterfalls and a grotto. Chicago, the Playboy Mansion of political cesspools!
|
|
|
Post by jerseyhoya34 on Dec 17, 2008 21:30:19 GMT -5
There is nothing good to say about Blajo and, to the extent he does not resign, he remains a cancer on the country, not the least because his presence fuels the kind of intellectually challenged fishing expeditions of the RNC. Blajo/whoever would be well-advised to pick someone neutral, perhaps an academic, to fill President-Elect Obama's seat. There's no need to elevate people who have campaigned for the seat and who will be involved, either as witnesses or targets, in what should be a thorough investigation of Blajo.
|
|
TC
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 9,441
|
Post by TC on Dec 18, 2008 3:46:35 GMT -5
Blajo/whoever would be well-advised to pick someone neutral, perhaps an academic, to fill President-Elect Obama's seat. Counting the minutes until easyed/Elvado suggest Chicago's most famous academic for the seat. Hint : he's in education. I don't really agree with Tbird that McCain / Newt have some scheme to let the Democrats hang themselves - McCain has gone back to being a reasonable guy since the campaign ended and Newt wants a change in RNC leadership so he wants to criticize the RNC chair for whatever he can.
|
|
TBird41
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
"Roy! I Love All 7'2" of you Roy!"
Posts: 8,740
|
Post by TBird41 on Dec 18, 2008 9:23:20 GMT -5
Blajo/whoever would be well-advised to pick someone neutral, perhaps an academic, to fill President-Elect Obama's seat. Counting the minutes until easyed/Elvado suggest Chicago's most famous academic for the seat. Hint : he's in education. I don't really agree with Tbird that McCain / Newt have some scheme to let the Democrats hang themselves - McCain has gone back to being a reasonable guy since the campaign ended and Newt wants a change in RNC leadership so he wants to criticize the RNC chair for whatever he can. Yeah, I don't really believe that either of them are scheming to hurt the Dems, but I think they're right and that it's good for the Republicans to keep their mouths shut for the reasons I mentioned before.
|
|
Boz
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
123 Fireballs!
Posts: 10,355
|
Post by Boz on Dec 18, 2008 10:04:32 GMT -5
Counting the minutes until easyed/Elvado suggest Chicago's most famous academic for the seat. Hint : he's in education. Ben Stein? Anyone? Anyone?
|
|
EasyEd
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 7,272
|
Post by EasyEd on Dec 18, 2008 11:56:44 GMT -5
Blajo/whoever would be well-advised to pick someone neutral, perhaps an academic, to fill President-Elect Obama's seat. Counting the minutes until easyed/Elvado suggest Chicago's most famous academic for the seat. Hint : he's in education. I don't really agree with Tbird that McCain / Newt have some scheme to let the Democrats hang themselves - McCain has gone back to being a reasonable guy since the campaign ended and Newt wants a change in RNC leadership so he wants to criticize the RNC chair for whatever he can. I'm waiting for easyed to suggest it too. And, since I'm easyed, let me tell you I don't have any clue as to who you are talking about. Please clue me in.
|
|
Elvado
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,080
|
Post by Elvado on Dec 18, 2008 12:03:52 GMT -5
I am also waiting though I believe he should hold out for a post with Homeland Security.
|
|
DFW HOYA
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 5,731
|
Post by DFW HOYA on Dec 18, 2008 13:04:01 GMT -5
Counting the minutes until easyed/Elvado suggest Chicago's most famous academic for the seat. Hint : he's in education. Lou Piniella?
|
|
Bando
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
I've got some regrets!
Posts: 2,431
|
Post by Bando on Dec 18, 2008 13:39:43 GMT -5
Counting the minutes until easyed/Elvado suggest Chicago's most famous academic for the seat. Hint : he's in education. Lou Piniella? Zombie Al Capone?
|
|
Elvado
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,080
|
Post by Elvado on Dec 30, 2008 8:06:00 GMT -5
Was happy to see that the Obama transition team investigated and cleared itself. Now I know there was no wrongdoing.
|
|
rosslynhoya
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 2,595
|
Post by rosslynhoya on Dec 30, 2008 12:55:38 GMT -5
Senate seat sold!!! to the nice former attorney general from Illinois, for an undisclosed price.
Congratulations Blago and Burris, may your names live in the annals of trivia for many a year.
|
|
EasyEd
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 7,272
|
Post by EasyEd on Dec 30, 2008 13:35:18 GMT -5
Earlier Harry Reid said he would not seat anyone named by Blago. I bet he will seat Burris because he is African American.
|
|