Malcolm: What’s taking Obama so long?
posted at 8:58 am on December 14, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
Share on Facebook | regular view
When the FBI arrested Governor Rod Blagojevich for his alleged attempts to sell Barack Obama’s open Senate seat, the president-elect promised a full accounting of contacts between his team and Blagojevich’s office “in a few days”. It’s been a few days, and the media has received information about contacts at levels as high as Rahm Emanuel, but not from Team Obama. Andrew Malcolm at the Los Angeles Times wonders what’s taking so long:
That does not mean, of course, that Emanuel was involved in any wrongdoing. He’s a close political friend of Blagojevich’s in the clan-filled world of Chicago machine politics and inherited his 5th District House seat from Blagojevich when he became governor in 2002 on a reform platform.
As a representative of the outgoing senator and president-elect and a member of the same party, it would be hard to believe Emanuel or someone did not communicate somehow with Blagojevich or his staff.
What’s puzzled some people and raised suspicions among others is Emanuel’s refusal to talk about it (reportedly physically pushing one reporter’s tape recorder away and having a verbal altercation with another) and the delay on Obama’s part in releasing the promised diary of contacts.
From a practical point of view, if everything is above board, what’s to hide?
From a political communications and PR point of view, the atypically clumsy silence and delay creates doubts among even some Democrats, an information vacuum that opponents seek to fill with items like this video below and that has turned what could have been a one- or two-day state scandal story into nearly a week-long saga now involving a new national leader who promised to change the way the people’s business is done.
The New York Times suggests a partial answer:
Mr. Obama has said he has never spoken with the governor about the seat. But Mr. Obama’s aides have declined for five days to answer publicly questions about what discussions they had about the seat, with several saying they were doing so at the request of the office of Patrick J. Fitzgerald, the United States attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.
However, three paragraphs down from that explanation:
Mr. Obama said Thursday that his aides were looking through all of their possible contacts with the governor and would release more information in the coming days.
Well, which is it? Has Fitzgerald’s office asked them to keep quiet, or will they get around to releasing the promised information on contacts between the two staffs? If Fitzgerald asked them to keep that information quiet, why did Obama promise its release more than two days after the arrests?
Perhaps it’s just incompetence, but as Malcolm notes, that’s not exactly a confidence builder, either. It looks like Team Obama has learned the art of stonewalling already, and he hasn’t even taken the oath of office yet.
Update: Stacy McCain wonders whether Emanuel will turn out to be the new Bert Lance.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages: 1 2 Next »
Quelle surprise.
Democrat politican: He’s lying even when his lips aren’t moving.
johnsteele on December 14, 2008 at 9:00 AM
If there is nothing here then Obama’s handling sure is extending its life.
Jamson64 on December 14, 2008 at 9:01 AM
Rahm is toast.
He’s buddies with Blago – so both their guards were probably down. The reports of him being ‘beet red’ and angry make me think he knows he’s screwed.
Mr Purple on December 14, 2008 at 9:04 AM
If I were Prez elect and if I were completely in the clear, I’d be on the TV daily stating that fact.
He can’t do that because he’s NOT in the clear.
Oink on December 14, 2008 at 9:05 AM
A liar and a commie in the front door is a liar and a commie in the back door. ObaMcCarthy is, as ObaMcCarthy does.
Thanks McCain. I hope you are resting comfortably on your concession speech laurels.
csdeven on December 14, 2008 at 9:05 AM
Furthermore, WHO believes that Rahm didn’t tell Obama about the conversations? At the least, they discussed the conversations and Rahm may have told O that Blago wanted favors for the seat or two, they were in active negotiation. Either way, Rahm and quite possibly O KNEW about the illegal behavior and were wrong for not reporting it.
Oink on December 14, 2008 at 9:08 AM
Well, which is it? Has Fitzgerald’s office asked them to keep quiet, or will they get around to releasing the promised information on contacts between the two staffs?
Ever think it might be both? Obama compiled all the contacts his staff had with Blagojevich’s office, but they had to run it by justice to see what information could be released to the public?
Tom_Shipley on December 14, 2008 at 9:09 AM
Why? Because they’re all neck-deep in this.
But don’t worry, when he does say something, they’ll put an (R) next to his name.
JoeAvg on December 14, 2008 at 9:09 AM
It’s true, McCain could have run a better campaign, but I’m sure he could have run the “perfect” campaign and it wouldn’t have been enough. O had the media on his side and that was more than enough to put him over the top.
Oink on December 14, 2008 at 9:09 AM
This is not McCain’s fault – it’s the fault of the electorate: the Republican electorate (whomever that is), and the general electorate. Barry was known to be dirty all along (Ayers, Wright, Emil Jones, Blago, etc.) – for anyone educated enough to care about looking.
ManUFan on December 14, 2008 at 9:10 AM
I never heard him say anything that led me to believe he understood the stakes in the election. I hoped for the best, but never fooled myself.
JiangxiDad on December 14, 2008 at 9:11 AM
Managing a campaign is one thing; exercising power is another. Why people think that running one tells you anything about the other always puzzles me. It may tell you; but more often than not, they’re just not comparable.
Different environment, different rules, different attention.
SteveMG on December 14, 2008 at 9:13 AM
The idiot messiah is counting on his sycophants in the media to handle everything for him, as they have been doing all along.
It’s interesting that the LA Times has any complaints. Maybe if they released that tape that they are STILL holding for the Precedent-Elect, it might prompt him to be a little more forthcoming with some answers. But … Noooooo, the LA Times would never hurt their affirmative action hero like that.
The media is a total joke, and Malcolm would do well to look at the liars he works for, and their many attempts to cover for leftist politicians (remember how they were spiking the Edwards story, too) to get a clue as to why the Precedent-Elect thinks that he can stonewall and lie and his buddies in the treasonous MSM will run cover for him.
Meanwhile, I’m still waiting to hear Daley’s name come up with respect to Blago – as the Daley machine has its hands in just about everything of value that politicians can get their grubby little hands on.
“Confidence builder”? I tried to explain to you that the idiot messiah is, indeed, an idiot (Harvard Law joke J.D. notwithstanding) but there are just too many people who are swept away by Ivy credentials (the same way many used to think that the nightly news was a paragon of objectivity). You’ll all learn … the hard way.
progressoverpeace on December 14, 2008 at 9:16 AM
Excellent post, but you’re wrong about “You’ll all learn” – many, many never will . . .
ManUFan on December 14, 2008 at 9:19 AM
Whenever there was a screw-up during the campaign, Obama blamed “staff” or “fatigue.” One assumes ultimately it will be staff with this situation, and Emanuel in particular.
Obama must be worrying because he needed someone like Emanuel as CoS/Enforcer.
In the meantime, I suppose Obama and Staff are scrubbing their Blackberries and email, not realizing all this is probably on a server somewhere and capable of being subpoenaed. No executive privilege untli you’re sworn in.
300 hours of tapes. And all we’ve heard about is 8 minutes or so.
Wethal on December 14, 2008 at 9:20 AM
I am sorry to bring this up but I think his handling of this is like the birth certificate deal. How hard could it be to just lay the information out there? Instead it is all this shady side stepping that makes him look either dishonest or inept. Is he trying to find out just how far he can push it before someone (MSM) pushes back? It’s fascinating to watch from my point of view but I don’t know how healthy it is for his administration.
Cindy Munford on December 14, 2008 at 9:31 AM
Obama and his staff are trying to find an angle to blame all this on GW.
jake-the-goose on December 14, 2008 at 9:35 AM
Fixed it for you.
ManUFan on December 14, 2008 at 9:36 AM
ManUFan on December 14, 2008 at 9:10 AM
Why would the public draw conclusions about Obama based on these associations when McCain avoided reference to them and treated Obama in the debates like he was beyond reproach?
McCain had no trouble lying in order to smear Romney but he couldn’t bring himself to tell the truth about Obama. If he hadn’t chosen Palin as his running mate he wouls have lost by 20 points.
“Stand up and fight because I won’t”.
Basilsbest on December 14, 2008 at 9:37 AM
I agree, the longer this festers, the more it seems like they’re crapping in their pants and scrambling to cover up.
Can we not all hear O’Boingo when Putin moves into Ukraine: “Uhh, I’ll uhh, conduct an investigation and, uhh, get back to you in, uhh, a few days.”
Just wait until we have 20% inflation and 17% interest rates. The stalling, obfuscating and ultimate inaction will be truly world-class.
mr.blacksheep on December 14, 2008 at 9:37 AM
20% inflation and 17% interest rates = 20% interest rates and 17% inflation , sorry
mr.blacksheep on December 14, 2008 at 9:37 AM
Well I think you are right on both counts. Shady is all he knows and I am afraid for the future because he is inept.
tru2tx on December 14, 2008 at 9:38 AM
This guy is a narcissist and he believes he is entitled to everything with no questions asked. He has been groomed to feel this way for a long time and he won’t change any time soon. He makes no mistakes, and any mistakes that occur in his presence are made by someone else.
thomasaur on December 14, 2008 at 9:39 AM
I can’t help but find it funny when the MSM types find out their god has $hit on his hands! It was hilarious when the Clintons were in and it will be equally funny this time around.
conservnut on December 14, 2008 at 9:39 AM
Remember McCain at that town hall “Obama is a honorable” man who you don’t have to fear as President
“stand up and fight” … while I run this campaign so Mark Salter can write about my honor
and then when we lost, my campaign weasels will throw my running mate under the bus
joey24007 on December 14, 2008 at 9:40 AM
Thank you fellow Floridian!
Cindy Munford on December 14, 2008 at 9:42 AM
Aw Man, you owe me a new keyboard for that one.. I see now, Super Secret 000000 is secretly compiling the intelligence that no one but a messiah could possibly gather. If we put Occam’s razor to this, the answer is (1) choir practice (2) Scrubbing any data to remove any damaging info.
I just hope that if we ever find that there is an Iranian ship headed toward our coast with nuclear armed missiles on board (Yes, they have the capbaility..), we will have someone in the whitehouse who is competent and capable of making a decision..
bullseye on December 14, 2008 at 9:43 AM
thomasaur on December 14, 2008 at 9:44 AM
I was a good little elephant and donated to Juan Queeg and the RiNOs but never again.
It takes a serious RiNO to tell the TV at every opportunity, that Bambi will be a good President and not notice that Bambi repaid the compliment not a single time.
The Leftoid GOP is as happy with defeat as victory…the donks are totally wrapped up in winning and we the conservatives have seen the result.
sven10077 on December 14, 2008 at 9:44 AM
“‘Mawnin’!’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee—‘nice wedder dis mawnin’,’ sezee.
“Tar-Baby ain’t sayin’ nuthin’, en Brer Fox he lay low.
“‘How duz yo’ sym’tums seem ter segashuate?’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee.
“Brer Fox, he wink his eye slow, en lay low, en de Tar-Baby, she ain’t sayin’ nuthin’.
“‘How you come on, den? Is you deaf?’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee. ‘Kaze if you is, I kin holler louder,’ sezee.
“Tar-Baby stay still, en Brer Fox, he lay low.
MikeA on December 14, 2008 at 9:45 AM
Too little and too late Malcolm. Not only is the election over, but so is the LA Times. Any info on your owner, Zell, and how he figures in the whole thing?
JiangxiDad on December 14, 2008 at 9:46 AM
Don’t be sorry about pointing this out, Cindy. If others can try and compare the legitimate BC concerns to the Trig crackpottery, then this situation is well within the realm of acceptable analogizing. But the fact is that the idiot messiah follows this same script for every situation he faces (denying Wright was a loon, claiming that he didn’t know anything about Ayers, before claiming he thought he had been rehabilitated, …). We all know the Precedent-Elect’s standard approach and lines as well as he does, himself, and any of us could have predicted that this was exactly how he was going to handle this – though we are still waiting for the classic, “That’s not the Blago I knew [in 2006 when I endorsed him]“.
progressoverpeace on December 14, 2008 at 9:46 AM
It would be a great spectator sport if it didn’t directly involve our lives. I alternate between being afraid of what he can do and creeped out by what he thinks he can do. My husband’s grandmother had an old saying and I hope you all won’t take it as racist since she was referencing my husband and not Mr. Obama. “I wish I could buy you for what I think you are worth and sell you for what you think you are worth, I would be set for life”.
Cindy Munford on December 14, 2008 at 9:47 AM
What do you mean learning the art of stonewalling and they haven’t even been sworn in yet. May I remind you that Obama continues to refuse to release his birth certificate to answer the question of the birth requirement to be POTUS when it is such a simple thing to do.
devolvingtowardsidiocracy on December 14, 2008 at 9:47 AM
pretty pathetic.
JiangxiDad on December 14, 2008 at 9:49 AM
Well, since the NYT’s picked McCain, you can’t really blame him for not winning. They have already started picking our 2012 candidate. Looks like they are leaning towards Huckabee(YUCK)…
reshas1 on December 14, 2008 at 9:50 AM
BC, medical records, college grades, etc, etc, etc, etc.
reshas1 on December 14, 2008 at 9:51 AM
LOL. I think in one way or another, most married men have heard that one :)
JiangxiDad on December 14, 2008 at 9:52 AM
To mimic Cindy Munford, the above statement could also apply to Obama’s BC.
OldEnglish on December 14, 2008 at 9:52 AM
Your right, a lot of gapping holes that the investigative journalists don’t care about.
Cindy Munford on December 14, 2008 at 9:53 AM
The donks cannot look at a foreign power that has sworn to nuke us and see evil, but by God you better believe that on the domestic front they see every action they engage in as a battle between good and evil.
That is why they can justify away ANYTHING they do here at home, and I cannot overstate the danger to the Republic because of it.
The GOP sees FISA as a way to track foreign enemies and keep America safe, Bambi is suddenly not against FISA but if you think his targets of opportunity are Arab Muslim Extremists you’ve got another thing coming friends….
Donk wailing at excess of power is never against the power itself just that they are not the ones wielding it.
sven10077 on December 14, 2008 at 9:53 AM
32% of Illinois Voters Say Obama Not Tied to Blagojevich Scandal
Friday, December 12, 2008
One-third of Illinois voters (32%) say there is no way that Barack Obama was involved in the Blagojevich corruption case as questions mount over whether an Obama adviser discussed the president-elect’s vacant Senate seat with the Illinois governor or his staff.
RAS
artist on December 14, 2008 at 9:53 AM
.
Every time the Clintons were under inquiry, they publicly promised full cooperation and then stonewalled at every turn — with a complicit failure by the MSM to hold them accountable. Hope ‘n Change is morphing into Hope Arkansas.
Mark30339 on December 14, 2008 at 9:55 AM
I believe that statement makes you a “truther” now. Better watch it…
TMK on December 14, 2008 at 9:56 AM
wonder what nancy pelosi will say to all of this? after all, rahm is one of her little “helpers” in the congress.
kelley in virginia on December 14, 2008 at 9:57 AM
Sorry, but it is just to hard to believe that one could be surrounded by so much corruption and so many truly miserable people and walk away clean. I would have to believe he is super human and I don’t.
Cindy Munford on December 14, 2008 at 9:57 AM
The inaugural flight of “Yes We Can” has alarm bells going off all over the cockpit, but they are still just on the taxi-way. I wonder when some of the passengers will start to demand to be let off.
They paid for the ticket, they go for the ride. Fools.
Yoop on December 14, 2008 at 9:57 AM
Oink on December 14, 2008 at 9:08 AM
Obviously R.E. would not have told Blago who was acceptable to O without O’s prior approval. There is nothing illegal about O having one of his staff telling Blago who is acceptable to him. The crime occurs when he offers something in exchange. The safe but unethical way to do this is to offer nothing in return while winking and nodding. At this point all we know is that O lied to the public when he said he had no contact with Blago as the public would have understood that he meant his staff as well and not just himself.
Anyone with knowledge of O’s background who believes he will bring positive change to the office of POTUS is delusional.
Basilsbest on December 14, 2008 at 9:57 AM
Have come to a similar conclusion. But that realization should open the way to aim our attacks at them. We always intellectually challenge the content of their message, but rarely point out that they couldn’t care less one way or another, and like you say, it’s all a ploy to gain power.
They weren’t against the war in Iraq either btw, if they could have figured out how to use victory to their advantage. Even Rush doesn’t stress this mercenary streak in them fully enough imo ( sheepishly looks for lightning bolt.)
JiangxiDad on December 14, 2008 at 9:57 AM
one incredible statement that came from lisa madigan, illinois AG. she said that she had not spoken to blago in 1 year outside of seeing him at “ceremonial” functions.
they are from the same party. and even if they didn’t like each other & are rivals, i damn well am certain they speak regularly.
kelley in virginia on December 14, 2008 at 9:59 AM
I figured that at some point during the Obama administration there would be something he could be impeached over. I didn’t think it would come this soon. I also don’t think it will ever happen no matter what he does.
boomer on December 14, 2008 at 9:59 AM
I’m not buying 100% into that. A significant amount of this lies at the feet of the Republican Leadership that allowed the process to be set up such that the MSM and cross-over voters were a large deciding factor in picking the Republican nominee. The early head of steam McCain picked up from those early open primaries sunk Rudy and Mitt.
Then, once the campaign kicked off, McCain was no longer the media darling and the campaign he ran was, to be kind, inept. Whenever anyone on his side did go on attack, McCain threw them under the bus.
However, to your point, I am completely stunned that the American voters actually elected someone with so little experience and such close ties to both marxists and crooks (Chicago machine politicians — but I’m being redundant). Every time I see a car with an Obama sticker on it, I drive up to see what stupid people look like.
AZfederalist on December 14, 2008 at 9:59 AM
They paid for the ticket WE go for the ride.
Cindy Munford on December 14, 2008 at 9:59 AM
We should all be ‘TRUTHERS’ with guy. He needs to be the one explaining his actions on everything that concerns the American people. I wouldn’t accept an explanation from my employees ’spokesperson’ as to why something is screwed up and I won’t accept one from his.
thomasaur on December 14, 2008 at 10:01 AM
In case you don’t know it, Lisa Madigan’s father is Michael Madigan, the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives. They don’t call it the Chicago Loop for nothing.
JiangxiDad on December 14, 2008 at 10:02 AM
The only part of this that I am enjoying is the Democrats turning themselves inside out to keep this from becoming a special election. They really really don’t want the people to have a say in this right now.
Cindy Munford on December 14, 2008 at 10:02 AM
Around here, they look rich and spoiled.
TMK on December 14, 2008 at 10:03 AM
so far the Obamabots can argue that this scandal is all about blago & doesn’t touch them because rahm never offered anything to blago. they will never smell the stink coming from millenium park.
kelley in virginia on December 14, 2008 at 10:03 AM
It came much sooner. The campaign credit card AVS fraud is more than enough for impeachment, and even long-term imprisonment. But the McMoron who wrote the unconstitutional campaign finance bill couldn’t even be bothered to point this out, himself.
progressoverpeace on December 14, 2008 at 10:05 AM
And when The One gives his own explanation, it is so painful to listen to we all stop listening within seconds. Sorry to those folks who think this man’s eloquence is a huge improvement over W. At least you could count on W to make up some new words for entertainment.
Cindy Munford on December 14, 2008 at 10:05 AM
Well said. I agree with it all. And I also do that thing with looking at the person driving the Obama vehicle. It’s always what I expect–woman and men who appear less feminine and masculine than my ideal, or someone who somehow radiates a hippyish pacifism. Such a turn-off.
JiangxiDad on December 14, 2008 at 10:06 AM
where is the last honest man in illinois? is there not one person there who can come out & roar for a special election. rather than protest about jesse jackson jr (his sister is proud of him), why don’t they roar that they want a special election.
kelley in virginia on December 14, 2008 at 10:06 AM
Barry can’t stand up to the exposure that comes with being President.
Sort of like Ron Popeil and his “hair in a can”. His pitch for “spray on hair” worked well on Analog TV. However when High Def TV took over, it became apparent that he was just some shmuck trying to con people into spray painting their bald heads.
It’s beginning to look like the “Messiah’s” three card Monte days might be over.
there it is on December 14, 2008 at 10:07 AM
Maybe it’s because I have lived a long time, and in various places, but I don’t think the Obama voters are stupid. I am fully convinced that such people are plain avaricious.
OldEnglish on December 14, 2008 at 10:07 AM
Wow. I agree with that,and also largely forgot about it. They (the media and Dems) are wearing down my ability to be outraged. That is very insidious. I seem to be becoming resigned to it, like people in Chicago are resigned to corruption.
JiangxiDad on December 14, 2008 at 10:08 AM
Anybody else listening to The One when he was talking about the situation start parsing his words? I don’t have the transcript, but I was certainly able to pick enough weasel words and remove enough commas to see that he was covering his backside so that a strictly legal reading of his statement couldn’t be used against him.
AZfederalist on December 14, 2008 at 10:09 AM
That’s funny, I do the same thing. Right after hurricane Ike slammed us I was walking around my neighborhood looking at the damage and I noticed one house that had a huge magnolia tree crashed right through it. My first thought was “oh those poor people” then I noticed the car in the driveway and the Obama sticker on the bumper then my thought was “oh those poor stupid people” perhaps karma bit them on the arse.
conservnut on December 14, 2008 at 10:10 AM
I know only a tiny handful of Republicans. Obama voters are clearly both. My family, neighbors and acquaintances are largely stupid, easily led by a few who know exactly what they’re doing. That’s why Alinsky and other marxists wanted control of the schools and other institutions. What I described is human nature.
JiangxiDad on December 14, 2008 at 10:11 AM
I can’t even watch Barry. He is so arrogant and phoney, I can’t stand it. He knows all about this situation. Rahmbo would not have gotten that deeply involved with Blago without letting Barry know what was going on. However, for political expediency and to cover his…self, Barry will probably make Rahmbo the sacrificial lamb.
kingsjester on December 14, 2008 at 10:12 AM
OldEnglish on December 14, 2008 at 10:07 AM
I’ll concede the point that a lot of the O voters are avaricious as well as stupid.
Adding to JianxiDad: In addition to the traits you describe I see what can only be described as angry grey-haired grandmothers.
AZfederalist on December 14, 2008 at 10:13 AM
Yeah … there have been so many of these instances that it’s easy to forget them. And I believe that you are correct, part of the problem, as it turns out, is to be deluged by so much impropriety as to not feel particularly moved about any individual act. And, even if something does really tick someone off, there is some new problem coming in a few days to divert the attention. This is very hard to fight against, especially once the public has been conditioned to it.
progressoverpeace on December 14, 2008 at 10:13 AM
His handlers tell him to go out and use some big words, throw in a few gratuitous platitudes laced with uhs and ums, tell them that you want to make this one thing clear and the media will say that you have settled any confusion people may have had. (I know that was a rambling and mindless sentence but it was by design.)
thomasaur on December 14, 2008 at 10:13 AM
LOL. You should write analogies for a living!
JiangxiDad on December 14, 2008 at 10:15 AM
Obama is doing everything he can to aviod a “Scooter Libby” slip up. He doesn’t know what P.Fitz has and the momumental job of getting the story straight before they go public is daunting I’m sure.
katy on December 14, 2008 at 10:16 AM
Well that may be what they are shooting for but I just figure someone else is bringing the potato salad to the annual Mensa picnic.
Cindy Munford on December 14, 2008 at 10:16 AM
Why would Fitzgerald tell anyone to keep quiet when the target of the investigation has been arrested and charged?
He certainly didn’t keep quiet in his press conference about the nature of the charges and the purported behavior of the accused…
It’s more likely that they have been advised by their own counsel to hunker down and button up, in the expectation that someone sent from Fitzgerald’s office will read them their Miranda rights.
The whole thing looks like a slow motion train wreck.
Now, the clincher question: Can the barber shave himself? All he has to do is make it past the swearing-in and everything is smooth.
unclesmrgol on December 14, 2008 at 10:17 AM
I didn’t know what to make of them, so I left them out. I think they may be the Woodstock girls who never married and had kids. And nobody wants them to burn their bras anymore. Bitter.
JiangxiDad on December 14, 2008 at 10:22 AM
You’ve got to admit there’d be a certain irony in the left spending the better part of 2 1/2 years orgasming over the idea of Patrick Fitzgerald indicting and perp walking Karl Rove over the Valerie Plame investigation, without ever achieving climax, and then Fitzgerald ruins the career of Obama’s White House chief-of-staff before he even formally assumes the position.
jon1979 on December 14, 2008 at 10:22 AM
Very true. During the campaign there was an almost constant stream of allegations coming at Obama about his associations and radical positions on issues and he moved down the court so fast nothing had time to stick until we were on to the next one. Look at the Fraud during his campaign, ACORN, illegal foreign money and contributions etc. and nothing has been looked into until we’re on to the next scandal.
katy on December 14, 2008 at 10:23 AM
Here’s another factor that has been mentioned before. What if Rezko starts singing like a bird? Come to think of it, what if Blago starts singing to save himself? And, why did the Obamas really want to get into Blair House early? So much for a smooth transition of power. Too many questions, no answers.
kingsjester on December 14, 2008 at 10:24 AM
totally excellent. Fitz is so pivotal here.
JiangxiDad on December 14, 2008 at 10:24 AM
If Rahm resigns then Obama has to have a new chief of staff.
That is what Obama is doing – finding a new chief of staff.
It would look real bad if Rahm resigns and Obama would have no replacement lined up for him.
And Obama just does not know a lot of things…like what Rezko and others have said about him to the FBI and possible questionable involvement in other slimeball Chicago “politics”. Obama may have not done anything illegal, but it will look bad if Obama has Chicago politics’ mud on him.
Hope and change.
albill on December 14, 2008 at 10:24 AM
barry needs to pick Bruce Cutter (John Gotti’s attorney)
thomasaur on December 14, 2008 at 10:29 AM
Yes, it’s an interesting conundrum Are they easily led because they are stupid, or because they are told precisely what they wish to hear?
As for catching them young, that would best be directed towards those who might otherwise go their own way, rather than follow the easy money. When I attended school, the kids who were destined to be a waste of space were taught by the behaviour of their parents. The left-wing attitude of the teachers sucked in most of the others.
Sometimes, stupid behaviour is, in fact, very calculated, and I wonder how much of that calculation will apply in this instance with regard to giving Obama a pass, regardless of what may come out against him in the next few weeks.
OldEnglish on December 14, 2008 at 10:30 AM
will rahm fall on his sword for The Precious? of course, he could always be fired. and he has his congressional seat as a back up plan because the district in illinois elected him to it.
kelley in virginia on December 14, 2008 at 10:30 AM
A problem that the one has right now is this period of slow news prior to the inauguration. There is more time to examine some of these issues and he is having a hard time shrugging them off. I doubt seriously if anything will stick though. The media is pre-orgasmic right now waiting for the day when he is sworn in. Personally, I plan on turning off the TV and the computer that day lest I spend most of it retching.
conservnut on December 14, 2008 at 10:31 AM
before the election, there were many posters to this blog & others that said they were from chicago or other places in illinois who said they were definitely not for obama. why can’t these people stand somewhere with a few signs saying “we want a special election” & get on tv? we need a media campaign here.
kelley in virginia on December 14, 2008 at 10:32 AM
What is Hillary doing right now, laughing or crying?
Wonderful.
thegreatbeast on December 14, 2008 at 10:33 AM
reshas:
The New York Times will not have a say in the 2012 election. They will be out of business by March ‘09
jerryofva on December 14, 2008 at 10:35 AM
hillary wants to shout from the rooftops “i told you so”. and as much baggage as the clintons had/have, we know most of it anyway.
kelley in virginia on December 14, 2008 at 10:35 AM
I wonder if Bloomberg’s ego will let him pass.
JiangxiDad on December 14, 2008 at 10:37 AM
and i dont think bambi is too worried about this scandal. the Christmas holiday/football playoffs will keep everyone occupied until the inauguration. then he can accept fitzpatrick’s resignation & all will be well with The Precious.
kelley in virginia on December 14, 2008 at 10:38 AM
Obama’s a choke artist when he’s off the teleprompter. I don’t care how smart his backers try to tell us he is; he can’t think on his feet. If they don’t come clean very quickly, his administration will be engulfed by this by the time he’s inaugurated.
I think they’re taking so much time because they’re trying to assess the damage. At a minimum, they have three wild cards (Rezko, Blago, and Blago’s chief of staff)–and possibly more–who could be singing about a lot of embarrassing things about Obama. Obama needs to stop the bleeding, and I think Rahm is the guy who’s going to take the fall.
I’m loving this.
BuckeyeSam on December 14, 2008 at 10:41 AM
The people I know will only go against him after the tide has turned. They require the safety of the crowd, on this, and every issue. It is so tiresome, but is why they are largely impervious to reason.
JiangxiDad on December 14, 2008 at 10:42 AM
why don’t these people in chicago protest rahm’s congressional seat? if it weren’t so damn cold up there, i might go try to raise a little hell in chicago myself.
kelley in virginia on December 14, 2008 at 10:46 AM
kelley in virginia on December 14, 2008 at 10:35 AM
Hillary’s more overrated than man made boobs. She ran a very ineffective campaign against him and then sunk herself when she shook his hand and told everyone how proud she was of him.
Basilsbest on December 14, 2008 at 10:46 AM
zzzzz.
It’s taking so long because the Fool has to get all the lies coordinated, and make sure the media knows what the story will be ahead of time so the propaganda works correctly.
notagool on December 14, 2008 at 10:48 AM
BuckeyeSam on December 14, 2008 at 10:41 AM
This is a lot more fun than defending a man who wouldn’t defend himself.
Basilsbest on December 14, 2008 at 10:49 AM
Comment pages: 1 2 Next »