AP: “Businessmen with ties to both Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson discussed raising $1 million for Blagojevich to help persuade him to appoint Jackson to President-elect Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat, according to a published report.”
>> Blagojevich fundraiser held by Jackson allies Saturday
>> Jackson Jr. denies wrongdoing in Ill. gov scandal
ME: And that, friends, is the end of Jesse Jackson Jr.’s aspirations to go above being a U.S. congressman. Forget the senate, his concerns now are probably staying out of jail and keeping his job.
This Democratic culture of corruption thing must be kilin’ you. I’ll try to keep the shadenfreude to a minimum as this hurts us all. But I’m just sayin’.
Look like Rahm could be done too. I think Ed Rendell is right- Obama has certainly blown this one with his first statements. It ain’t going away for a long time.
Look like Rahm could be done too.
You really ought to read past the headlines, Marty. Either that, or stop making s**t up.
I think that we should stop aiding and abetting the idiots… Rahm gave a list of possible people to the guv,standard practice, or you think politicians don’t consult each other about things like this? Then, when THE OBAMA TEAM WOULD NOT PLAY THE GAME, as shown by the guv’s own words, he goes ballistic on Obama for showing “nothing but appreciation”. That’s the story, kiddos, thanks for playing.
Yes, Marty, the corruption of isolated officials is the same as the wholesale corruption of the entire federal government by the GOP who has used our national institutions like their personal plaything and a generator of income for their corporate cronies.
Yeah, same thing. Sheesh.
First off, Oliver, kudos for talking about this.
Next, I think Emanuel might be toast, too — but through no fault of his own.
The likeliest scenario I can see is that Blagojevich (or his people) reached out to Emanuel, a former aide, to feel him out about some quid pro quoing over Obama’s seat. Emanuel, firmly but politely, shot him down. That sent Blagojevich into his profanity-laden tirades.
Unfortunately, Obama decided that that wouldn’t be enough, and started talking about there had been NO talks between the two groups. At that point, Emanuel’s refusal to play ball suddenly became “inoperative,” and could end up costing him big-time.
Corruption like this knows no party. Scumbags like these need to be exposed and cast out of power. (And, if possible, jailed.) Glad to see Oliver is agreeing, and dumping on his own party.
J.
>Yes, Marty, the corruption of isolated officials
I think Marty is being sarcastic in part, and it is entirely deserved. I lost count of the number of posts where Oliver would take an example of a Republican acting badly and make sweeping claims about how that that was representative of the entire party or anyone who was a republican or a conservative. Well, right back at you Oliver. You earned it.
Unfortunately, Obama decided that that wouldn’t be enough, and started talking about there had been NO talks between the two groups.
Uh, no.
You have your facts wrong not once, but twice. Mr. Obama did not say there had been no talks between the two groups. He said the HE had not talked to the governor. Then he later promised to poll his staff to see if any of them had been in contact with the governor’s office.
Second, there’s no indication at all that Mr. Emanuel was involved in any quid pro quo arrangement regarding the Senate vacancy. As a matter of fact, the criminal complaint quotes Blagojevich telling his staff NOT to link the Senate seat to any other requests when they’re talking to “President-elect Advisor.”
Once again, Mr. Tea, the simplest facts prove too elusive for you to grasp.
All ironic because JJJr. just despises Blagodonuts.
Once again, Mr. Tea, the simplest facts prove too elusive for you to grasp.
You are assuming, of course, that Jay Tea has ever bothered to actually look for the actual facts in the first place. In situations like this, the facts aren’t elusive at all. They’re out their in plain view for anyone to find. But when you deliberately limit yourself to the “information” spewed by the right wing media machine you’re just never going to see them. Elusive has nothing to do with it.
Now, now, faffer.
That Mr. Tea takes the time to peck out his little observations shows that he’s at least trying to herd a few facts together. Really, I believe this is the most charitable way to look at his efforts, lacking as they may be.
Yet, whether he seeks facts in earnest or only perfunctorily isn’t really the issue. Every time he thinks he has caught one, he comes up empty-handed again.
That’s some primo snark, though. Can I have another hit?
Ah hell, I confess.
I was using “elusive” in the same sense I use it to describe the strike zone when Rockies pitchers are on the mound.
In plain English, for those who can’t comprehend it, Blagojavich told his staff NOT to ask “President-elect Advisor” for a deal.
On topic: I feel badly for Mr. Jackson. I’d have liked to see him advance and I do not see that as likely now. Very disappointing.
Off topic: I thought of you, Mr Willis when I saw this:
http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/12/the_dachshund_song.php
Hey, Ed –
Look!
“Yes, Marty, the corruption of isolated officials is the same as the wholesale corruption of the entire federal government by the GOP who has used our national institutions like their personal plaything and a generator of income for their corporate cronies.”
That’s generalization number two!
I’m sure Oliver will provide number 3 shortly.
“That’s generalization number two!”
Do you dispute the facts? Or have you not heard of the no-bid contracts and the corruption within the DoJ?
It ain’t going away for a long time.
I am still not getting how this reflects poorly on Obama, regardless of how often I’m told it does.
Stroke,
I can tell you’re not from Illinois, are ya?
Here in suburban Cook County, we know Illinois Democrats (you know, the isolated ones that never get near enough to tarnish the shining image of The Dalai Bama?) cut their teeth on no-bid contracts.
You want to treat it like it’s a big deal, remember the blade cuts both ways, okay?
I dispute nothing – I’m just pointing out another of Oliver’s stable of generalizations (Republican corruption is systemic, but Democrat corruption is isolated – HA!) for Ed, who challenged me to come up with three in another thread. As if it’s any of your concern.
On balance, I’m just happy Obama got out of Illinois politics without any major scandals besmirching him. The DNC or somebody needs to take a flame-thrower to Chicago politics.
But yeah, it’s over for Jackson Jr. He should have known better. Blago is going to take down as many people with him as possible.
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. His daddy has been shaking down corporations for years. I wouldn’t write Jackson Jr. off yet, Democrats have a peculiar view of corruption when it’s one of their own.
As far as Jesse Jr is concerned…
Black folk don’t come back. They can only come back with other Black folk, and Black folk were never Jesse Jr’s problem to begin with.
While I will never say never, I will say this:
His ambitions have just been derailed for a decade.
He already had 1 1/2 strikes against him – his name was Jesse Jackson, Jr.
And though, there’s no chance he’ll lose his Congressional seat – any hope for anything statewide is now gone.
PERIOD.
And no way to Obama appointing him to anything – that road is gone too, until a second Obama term.
He just better be content with being in Congress, and that his wife has solidified her control over their Ward – she is both the Alderman and Committeeman – which means, nothing happens in that ward without her permission, and……
You can fill in the and…..
That ward sits on the largest parcel of undeveloped lakefront land.
So, you fill in the and….
Jesse Jr. should have known better. When a weasel like Luis Gutierrez backs away from something, that should have been the signal : RUN FOR THE HILLS.
everytime jjj3 wants a position someone goes directly to jail…..mel reynolds