Posting this tonite because I’ll be away tomorrow -So maybe that reported Obama-Blago meeting never happened? I’m totally confused now, but Volokh’s timeline helps clear it up. Related, Mad or Bad? Warnings about BlagoDoes time exist? New Scientist…

Seems like a red herring to me. Nothing wrong with Obama telling Blago who his preference for the replacement would be. In fact, I would be suprised if he didn’t. A politician lying to the media? Chuckle. Like that has never happened before.
percysunshine on December 10, 2008 at 11:47 AM

Exactly. The most telling aspect of this in terms of Obama is that his choice, Valerie Jarrett, pulled her name out of contention weeks ago and got a job as an important Obama adviser. If Obama was willing to “play ball” with Blago, then Jarrett would still be in the running and things would have been promised. As is, the affadavit has Blago cursing Obama (multiple times) for not being offered anything. Or if anything was offered it was small time, something within the bounds of quid pro quo politics. In short, this isn’t an Obama scandal. Obama’s senate seat is involved, btu that’s about it.

DeathToMediaHacks on December 10, 2008 at 11:55 AM

Your faith that Obama is without corruption is touching, but naive. Unless, of course, it’s cynical, but well-paid.

I think the taped quotes by Blagojevich about Obama make it pretty clear that Obama did nothing wrong. But it’ll be fun to watch you guys grasp at straws for the next week or so.

crr6 on December 10, 2008 at 11:42 AM

You don’t think that, you hope that.

Anybody else think Obama or someone from his campaign fingered Blagojevich to Fitzgerald? These sorts of wiretaps normally go on for many months.

jim m on December 10, 2008 at 4:25 PM
The Feds have been after the Gov for several years. This was just serendipity, or bad karma, depending on your political shade.

BobMbx on December 10, 2008 at 4:40 PM

The timing of this definitely stinks, and has caused me to wonder if Fitzgerald learned of some effort coming from Team Obama to end his investigation in some manner.

What B. Hussein Obama doesn’t understand is there are a LOT more people who will be digging for every scrap of dirt they can get from this, and dirt they will certainly find.

How long was the shortest time in office for a sitting President? I’m getting the feeling that any previous record is in danger. :oP

This one goes out to Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich (D)…

Katie Favazza wonders what is on Blago’s iPod. He strikes me as a punk rock fan.
Charles Henrickson wishes all the DUmmies a Merry Fitzmas, complete with……

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/tom-blumer/2008/12/10/obama-busted-his-no-contact-statement-oh-i-think-so

DeathToMediaHacks on December 10, 2008 at 12:43 PM

didn’t cite my original post.

Be that as it may, there is sufficient evidence, documentation, literature, etc. that points to an environment of corruption that seeps to the very marrow of Chicago/Illinois politics. For example, Kenneth Timmerman’s book, Shakedown
offers credible evidence of less than altruistic motives behind Jesse Jackson’s career. Al Capone is known to have ‘dozens’ of Chicago politicians on his payroll. Does that mean every citizen in Chicago and Illinois is corrupt? Absolutely not. It does suggest that anyone getting involved in Chicago/Illinois politics and rises to State/National Prominence is likely to be ‘dirty’.

Anybody else think Obama or someone from his campaign fingered Blagojevich to Fitzgerald? These sorts of wiretaps normally go on for many months.

jim m on December 10, 2008 at 4:25 PM

The Feds have been after the Gov for several years. This was just serendipity, or bad karma, depending on your political shade.

From Katie Granju’s comments and Instapundit comes a link to this Nov. 5 news story, reporting that “[Obama]‘s meeting with Governor Rod Blagojevich this afternoon in Chicago to discuss” his Senate replacement.

If Obama……

Hit back harder, tell a bigger lie, give them nothing, delay answers, keep liabilities around long enough to see how badly they can hurt you…and then…under the bus they go!

Nothing wrong with Obama telling Blago who his preference for the replacement would be. In fact, I would be suprised if he didn’t.

percysunshine on December 10, 2008 at 11:47 AM

Absolutely. The claim that there was NO contact raises even more red flags, at least for me.

If Obama had said something like, “we had some contact with the Governor’s office, but only discussed generalities and offered a few names for possible consideration,” that would be very plausible… and expected.

No contact? Please.

How is than an Obama issue?

DeathToMediaHacks on December 10, 2008 at 12:43 PM

It wasn’t, until He Himself corrected the record. Cardinal Axelrod made a statement some weeks ago that confirmed in no uncertain terms that someone in the Office of the President-elect (OOTPE) had spoken to Gov. Blago. This statement stood un-corrected until yesterday.

The proof of the contact between the Gov’s office and the OOTPE is in the reported transcripts, where the Gov is heard cursing The One for not playing ball. If there was no contact, why the profane outburst at The One?

Why doesn’t the OOTPE just come out and say “Blago did in fact want a quid pro quo from Obama, and for that reason we said no, and removed our preferred candidate from contention”.

As I read and hear analysis of the complaint, those appear to be the facts.

Why deny having done the right thing? I believe this is an automatic response from the OOTPE, and something we will hear more often than in any previous administration. Just deny all accusations, suggestions and implications of wrong-doing. Carte Blanc.

Gee….isn’t that the Clinton strategy?