Its another bad omen for the presidency that he is far and close involved in the Chicago filth 'Al Capone' brought to the windy city. Just by common sense everyone can guess that he wanted to have a saying about his replacement since its his town and to have a loyal Senator in voting battles is crucial. The guys in Chicago are drunk of their new powers and we had a chicago gang kind of internal power war going on , which does not speak for the leadership qualities of Obama as even on his own turf he has no command over the political infrasrtructure. Such things are done anyway in this rotten world and that Obama is part of it should be a warning but the fact that he has not enough power or loyalty to handle the matter quitely is scaring. Reality takes over much faster than its good for anyone as he gets damaged in his presidential power even before his term has started.
Excerpts from Bloomberg
By Catherine Dodge and Michael Tackett
Dec. 10 (Bloomberg) -- Barack Obama’s hometown of Chicago has an unofficial political handshake: palms extended, facing up. It goes with the city’s unwritten motto, “Where is mine?”
The mythology of official corruption added another chapter yesterday in the form of a 76-page federal criminal complaint against Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. It charged him with attempting to sell his choice of President-elect Obama’s replacement in the U.S. Senate in exchange for a lucrative job or prestigious appointment, among other allegations.
“The conduct would make Lincoln roll over in his grave,” said U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald in announcing the corruption charges against the governor.
....
Tangential Relationship
Obama’s relationship to the case appears tangential, though the charges lump his name in the same stories as Blagojevich at a time when he is trying to focus public attention on his plan to revive the U.S. economy.
He wasn’t a political ally of Blagojevich, according to Dan Sprehe, a investigator at the Better Government Association, a Chicago government-watchdog group that is calling on Blagojevich to step down. The governor’s arrest may not become a major concern for Obama because “given the circumstances the country is in, it would take a lot to distract a president-elect.”
Still, Blagojevich has previous political connections to Obama, U.S. Representative Rahm Emanuel, who will be White House chief of staff, and David Axelrod, who will be a senior White House adviser.
Obama gave Blagojevich informal counsel on his gubernatorial race in 2002. Blagojevich gave up a seat in the U.S. House when he won the governor’s race and was succeeded by Emanuel. Axelrod, a political consultant, has given advice to all three at times.
Axelrod ‘Mistaken’
In an appearance on Nov. 23 on “Fox Chicago Sunday,” Axelrod said Obama had spoken to Blagojevich about his replacement. Yesterday, the transition released a statement by Axelrod saying he had misspoken.
“I was mistaken when I told an interviewer last month that the president-elect has spoken directly to Governor Blagojevich about the Senate vacancy. They did not then or at any time discuss this subject,” the statement said.
Blagojevich’s actions surrounding the Senate vacancy are at the heart of the federal charges.
Seeking Cabinet Post
He had a number of possible ways he wanted to be paid off for the appointment, the complaint alleged. He proposed being tapped to head an arm of the Service Employees International Union called Change to Win. He speculated that Obama could persuade billionaires like Warren Buffett or Bill Gates to set up a charitable organization for him to run, or that he might be rewarded with a Cabinet post or an ambassadorship, according to the charges.
Here are some other thoughts for the background of the events - keep in mind this is officially owned by Rothschilds (Economist)
- Posted by:
- The Economist | NEW YORK
- Categories:
- Scandal
IN NO particular order, a few subjects of office chatter and my own idle speculation:
- Rod Blagojevich's feathering of his nest does not seem to be impinging on Barack Obama too much, though they're from the same town. The complaint has Mr Blagojevich saying "fuck him" to the notion of picking Mr Obama's favoured successor to his Senate seat. (Mr Obama's crime: not offering anything but thanks.) Classy. But if, as Marc Ambinder seems to think, Jesse Jackson unior. was "Candidate 5", who approached Mr Blagojevich for the Senate spot, the heat gets a little closer to Mr Obama. Mr Jackson was a supporter of Mr Obama's and even defended the candidate from the ugly remarks of his own father, Jesse Jackson senior, who said he wanted to cut Mr Obama's testicles off.
- Remember Patrick Fitzgerald, the hack who was (though appointed by a Republican) doing Democrats' bidding in pursuing the Valerie Plame case? Yeah, we thought you'd forgotten that, partisan Republicans. Just thought we'd remind you.
- Remember Patrick Fitzgerald, honest crusader? Don't forget him, partisan Democrats.
- Finally, and most significantly, are the Democrats trying to pull even in the corruption race? Not too long ago, you said "political sleaze" and thought of Jack Abramoff, Duke Cunningham and Bob Ney. Now I'm thinking of Bill Jefferson, Charlie Rangel and Rod Blagojevich. One hopes the Larry Craig/Mark Foley/Ted Haggard style of right-wing sex scandal doesn't migrate over the aisle as well. But the Democrats have not yet even taken the White House. Give it time.
- Or, as a colleague suggests, are the Democrats getting all their messes out now, before a nice long holiday break and a lovely, re-affirming inauguration? It would be hard to imagine someone in Democratic Headquarters saying "now's the time; let's hang Blago, cut Jefferson loose and clear out any other messes. I want this place spotless by January 20th." But if they're not saying that, maybe they should.
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