No Senate Pick for Blago, No Matter What
EmailIn the affidavit, Illinois Gov. Blagojevich talks about contacts he had with an adviser to President-elect Barack Obama. He also talks about contacts with two advisers based in Washington, DC, including a former congressman. But it’s clear from all of these conversations that he was not going to get any satisfaction from the Obama team. So, even though we don’t know exactly who he might have spoken with inside the Obama transition team, we do know that emissaries were clearly telling him, ‘You’re not going to get anything from Obama, move on.’ Obama worked for two of Blagojevich’s campaigns, in 2002 and 2006. But these investigations of the Governor have been intensifying since 2006, and since then, the relationship has become far more distant. In fact, at the Democratic Convention this summer, the Obama team blocked Blagojevich from speaking at the convention. Blagojevich still has the formal power to appoint who he wants to Obama’s Illinois senate seat — but it’s not going to happen. Republicans and Democrats I’ve spoken to in Washington, DC and Illinois today assure me that there is no way that Blagojevich is going to be able to pick that senator now. Right now, the state legislators say they’re going to come into session next week and pass a bill calling for a special election in February. It takes a fair amount of money to hold a special election like that, but they could do it. Even if that doesn’t pass, the Illinois secretary of state has the power to certify anybody picked by Gov. Blagojevich. And if that doesn’t happen, the United States senate has the power not to seat anybody picked by the Illinois Governor. Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill made it clear today that the Senate will not seat any Blagojevich appointee. –George Stephanopoulos
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hey, way to go george!!! now that you have made it so foolishly clear that obama had absolutely nothing to do with this or no knowledge of his dealings, we can all move on right??!! face it, you could CARE LESS about the ACTUAL facts about this story. the only thing that matters to you (as you have made it abundently clear) is clearing your boy obama of any wrong doing. get a life. THIS ISNT JOURNALISM.
Posted by: tim | December 9, 2008, 7:40 pm 7:40 pm
er,,talk about to jumping to conclusions of innocence.
we already know that obama lied about talking with the governor…
so what else did he lie about
Posted by: Tra la la | December 9, 2008, 7:51 pm 7:51 pm
I hope this is not how Mr. Obama manages the government, unaware of corruption, lies, cover up.
Posted by: young_voter | December 9, 2008, 7:53 pm 7:53 pm
Tim, does anyone know what the “facts” really are at this point?
Posted by: Dixie Down | December 9, 2008, 8:14 pm 8:14 pm
No knowledge of the Governor’s checkered past ; no knowledge of Rev Wright’s hate-filled sermons; no knowledge his friend the terrorist; no knowledge of his crime buddy Rezko….
Do you see a pattern here???? This is what happens when voters fall in love with the candidate and do not hear his message. And Democrtas tried to paint the Republicans as having a monopoly on corruption. Rezko, Blagoyovic, Jefferson, Rangel …. and the list goes on.
Posted by: Keith | December 9, 2008, 8:16 pm 8:16 pm
I was shocked when I saw Rev. Wright speaking again and this time stating how December 7′th was the Anniversary of America killing thousands of Japaneese when indeed it was they who bombed Pearl Harbor on that date. How ignorant.
Posted by: Karen | December 9, 2008, 8:39 pm 8:39 pm
IMPEACH OBAMA
Posted by: Patricio | December 9, 2008, 8:46 pm 8:46 pm
Tra la la, I doubt Obama talked to the governor because it would be too easy to scout out the truth. Of course, it is easier to believe anything that might even remotely smell like a scandal if it fits into your scheme of thinking.
Posted by: two-cats | December 9, 2008, 8:51 pm 8:51 pm
so why hasn’t Obama been arrested for selling the Chief of Staff position to Rahm Emanuel/AIPAC?
Posted by: Tor | December 9, 2008, 8:59 pm 8:59 pm
Obama needs to answer Q’s about what he and his staff knew and when they knew it.
And there will be a special election – but no way that anyone but a caretaker will be willing to step into the hot seat. No rising star would dare connect themselves with the Senate seat until the stain of Blago is long forgotten.
http://www.political-buzz.com/
Posted by: matt | December 9, 2008, 10:17 pm 10:17 pm
Tra la la: “so what else did he lie about”
Um, the assertions of Obama’s innocence are based upon the wiretap recordings made of Blago. There was no possible reason for Blago to be lying on those tapes (and if he knew he was being recorded he sure would not have incriminated himself into a prison sentence!).
Posted by: jhw539 | December 9, 2008, 10:37 pm 10:37 pm
Hehe, republicans still trying to stir the pot? You know…conjuring up conspiracies and smoke-filled rooms against Obama? Heh, it’s weak, but I’ll give them props for a sloppy attempt.
Posted by: Underdog | December 9, 2008, 10:42 pm 10:42 pm
Wow, some of the comments by obvious right wingers are pretty sad. Still bitter after getting stomped, they are foaming at the mouth for the chance to derail Obama. I was not an Obama supporter and am not crazy about the guy. But I will say this, this type of overzealous and unfounded criticism is the very reason why Republicans no longer have the White House, the Senate or the HOR. The Republican party continues to show its true colors. Very sad day in American politics, and I am not talking about Blago.
Posted by: JRS | December 10, 2008, 8:10 am 8:10 am
What is up with this governor? I’m not sure why or how he would think he could get away with something as blatant as this. I was not aware of all the problems in Illinois with dirty politicians. Are they all Chicago mobster wanna-bes?
Posted by: Bob | December 10, 2008, 8:32 am 8:32 am
And, to follow up on Underdog, their bitterness is the reason it could be a very long time before they control either Congress or the White House again. The dittoheads on this comment page sound more like skinheads than Republicans; I haven’t seen a skinhead get elected to anything yet. Good luck, folks, and keep drinking that right-wing Kook-Aid, right up to the point you choke on it.
Posted by: Tim | December 10, 2008, 8:47 am 8:47 am
Rachel Maddow reported last night on her MSNBC show that since 1972, “79″ Illinois politicians, including three other governors, have had trouble with the law for corruption of one kind or another. I don’t believe in assuming “guilt by association,” so until something credible indicts the President-elect, no one should accuse him of anything. Assuming that he is clean and not involved with any of the criminal activities of his state, it would be amazing that he survived without their backing and support. You would think he would make a lot of enemies being surrounded by such politicians. Kudos if it’s true…but if he is eventually found to have been a part of the “culture of corruption” in Illinois, it wouldn’t surprise me, either. Again, he is innocent until someone produces evidence to the contrary, but statistically speaking, I find it improbable that he got where he is without their support. We live in strange times, so anything is possible…good or bad.
Posted by: Gary | December 10, 2008, 8:56 am 8:56 am
to you left-wingers–Have fun while you can–not even in the white house and still fighting corruption rumors? My, my, we are in for a looong 4 years. I will enjoy listening to obamabots and media continually covering Obama’s backside. Why don’t you wake up to the reality of your man? Just another Chicago politician trying to pretend he “knew nothing”. do you remember your last hero’s statement–”I never had sex with that woman”? Is Obama just dumb or is he lying? only time will tell.
Posted by: janey | December 10, 2008, 9:06 am 9:06 am
I have to wonder if any members of the Electoral College are, at this moment, thinking “now is the time the Founding Fathers foresaw, and left to us the final judgment in who becomes President?”
Posted by: RejectPoliticsAsUsual | December 10, 2008, 9:12 am 9:12 am
And, Tim, please stop blaming republicans for assuming that there is guilt by association. I cannot believe Obama is naive and knew nothing for years–Maybe we conservatives are just a little more realistic–not “bitter”. Dems have their big chance this year and they are trying their best to blow it–its not Americans’fault–we want a govt that works-not corruption.
Posted by: janey | December 10, 2008, 9:12 am 9:12 am
I am guessing that the anti-Obama comments on this board are from the 24% of the American public who think George Bush is doing a great job! LOL!!!
Lowest approval rating since they started the rating system. With this guy at the head of your party, I would not be criticizing anyone.
Posted by: JRS | December 10, 2008, 9:26 am 9:26 am
JRS–lets see what Obama ratings are in a couple years–chickens will come home to roost.
Posted by: janey | December 10, 2008, 9:27 am 9:27 am
You can buy an election for $750M, BUT you CANNOT buy character. Wake up my fellow Americans. We have been reduced to worse than a third world country with these liberal thugs running the country. McCain is a man of great character who is well qualified to lead this country but the liberal media crowned “the one” from the get go and this is the result. George, you are an embarrassment to journalism. Get off your obama loving soap box and report the facts. Rezko, Valerie Jarrett, Blagojevich, Wright, Ayers, Khalidi…..c’mon is the America public so dumb to not see the pattern here? From day #1 Hussein has been surrounded by glaring corruption. This election was “won” under very questionable, corrupt circumstances (donations form foreign terrorists, ACORN fraud, intimidation), it is a SAD day in America. Just spend 30 mins and read (in his own words) what Hussein has done for the dozens of corrupt politicians in Chicago and you can make up your own mind. And if that does not suffice, read about Hussein’s donations to Odinga, Gaddafi, others ………………mind boggling!
Posted by: chotolal7 | December 10, 2008, 12:04 pm 12:04 pm
chotolal7: I agree with everything you said. The superdelegates were bought out by Pelosi, Dean and Reid to make sure Obama became president. Hillary was winning in the superdelegates then losing. We all know that Obama’s election was bought and he is involved with the governor and Rezko. And what about Jessie Jackson, Jr.? He was involved with the scheme also. The Dems need to face the fact that American’s have been duped by Obama who was going to make change in Washington. What change? The Clinton’s are back in Washington again except Bill.
Posted by: Mariann Pepitone | December 10, 2008, 2:12 pm 2:12 pm
chotolal7: I agree with everything you said. The superdelegates were bought out by Pelosi, Dean and Reid to make sure Obama became president. Hillary was winning in the superdelegates then losing. We all know that Obama’s election was bought and he is involved with the governor and Rezko. And what about Jessie Jackson, Jr.? He was involved with the scheme also. The Dems need to face the fact that American’s have been duped by Obama who was going to make change in Washington. What change? The Clinton’s are back in Washington again except Bill.
Posted by: Mariann Pepitone | December 10, 2008, 2:12 pm 2:12 pm
Georgie Porgie should be fired by ABC. No matter what Obama does, George will cover Obama’s tracks and Obama will lie himself out of it. Chris Matthews of MSNBC should have been fired also. Let’s face the facts whatever is in the dark is coming to the light and you will soon see Obama in the limelight like the Governor.
Posted by: Mariann Pepitone | December 10, 2008, 2:15 pm 2:15 pm
How did the focus turn from Blago to Obama?
Posted by: God Bless Obama | December 10, 2008, 2:49 pm 2:49 pm
What the heck does Obama have to do with this???? Can’t you all read? The scandal is about the Gov. Blagojevich not Obama. DARN!!!! Why can’t you all accept that Obama was elected President and MOVE the *)(&(*& ON??????????
Posted by: Nevertheless | December 10, 2008, 3:34 pm 3:34 pm
C’Mon now… if you know Chicago politics, you know that about half of them are totally, 100% corrupt, a quarter are “movable” for a price, and maybe one if four, such as Obama, are clean. Does that 1/4 know what’s going on?? They know it is going on, but they do not know particulars as they are not part of those groups trading favors/money/etc.
Posted by: Get Real | December 10, 2008, 4:26 pm 4:26 pm
I just cant believe the writings of the losers in the presidential election.
Why not ask for a constitutional ammendment and re-elect president Bush.
We just need another 4 years of destruction of the economy…
Posted by: Incredible! | December 14, 2008, 3:42 am 3:42 am