By Lindsey Ellerson

Dec 24, 2008 8:15am

The Note, 12/24/08: Open Christmas — Report Won’t be Last Word on Obama-Blago Contacts

That wasn’t so painful — unless, of course, it was. (Or will be.) Maybe President-elect Barack Obama’s Christmas gift will be that now, two-plus weeks into a scandal he was never really caught up in, he can have his transition back. (Riding an 82 percent approval rating for his transition, per a new CNN poll, that’s not a bad thing to own.) But that gleaming example of transparency and openness that went out in five e-mailed pages late Tuesday cracked open a few doors Obama didn’t mind being shut. To the image of this cartoon-of-a-governor clumsily and colorfully shopping a Senate seat, we add more plot twists that are more “24″ than “The American President”: – A union official apparently feeling out the Obama team about a willingness to cut a deal. – A president-elect working with aides to play — that’s right — politics around his old Senate seat. – A chief of staff working the phones (though nowhere close to 21 times) to communicate preferences his boss never really admitted to having publicly. – And the capper — the president-elect and two of his closest friends and advisers interviewed by federal prosecutors. So as not to lose the big picture here — there’s nothing in the report that changes Obama’s fundamental contention (the one backed up by Patrick Fitzgerald): that Obama and friends weren’t playing in any pay-to-play deal. (Did anyone expect there to be?) “Bottom line — If this is the full extent of contacts, it would appear that if Blagojevich–or anyone working on his behalf–was trying to get anything out of Obama, they were doing it awfully subtly,” Time’s Karen Tumulty writes. “Obama Report Clears Dealings With Blagojevich,” reads The Washington Post headline. Even aside, though, from the handful of unanswered questions (and don’t expect answers so long as Obama is in Hawaii and Emanuel is in Africa), might this have been an avoidable cost? To the extent that there’s news in the report, it exists in part because Obama and company worked so hard before to convince the public that this president-elect would never be involved in something as parochial and tawdry as playing a role in choosing the next junior senator from Illinois. Of course, he did care after all: “Obama has portrayed himself as taking a hands-off approach to the governor’s decision about who to appoint to his Senate seat. In fact, the report noted that he was very much interested in who would succeed him in the Senate,” Jill Zuckman and John McCormick report in the Chicago Tribune. “This is a level of interest and involvement in his Senate seat that Obama has not admitted to publicly,” per ABC News. The report “did shine a light on some backstage politicking by Rahm Emanuel and Valerie Jarrett over the spot,” the Chicago Sun-Times’ Lynn Sweet reports. A toll, already: “The corruption scandal has drained precious energy from Obama’s preparations to take over the White House,” the AP’s Jennifer Loven and Brett J. Blackledge report. “The release of the report was designed to answer questions and clear the incoming administration of any wrongdoing, but also injected the political specter of an incoming president being interviewed by federal authorities in a Chicago corruption investigation shortly before taking the oath of office,” Stephen Dinan and Christina Bellantoni write in the Washington Times. Why this could linger: Remember that this is the last information Obama will put out there on his own — without the involvement of the hard-nosed prosecutor who’s heading up the investigation. “The report’s conclusions are based on the recollections of Obama aides, not on federal wiretap recordings of Mr. Blagojevich, his aides and his advisers, which make up the heart of the federal arrest affidavit,” Jonathan Weisman writes in The Wall Street Journal. Might there be more out there? “The report does not make clear why Blagojevich stated that he thought the Obama staff was ‘not willing to give me anything.’ It states that none of Obama’s staff ever suspected that the governor was seeking anything improper in exchange for the Senate seat,” The Washington Post’s Michael D. Shear reports. Might we hear about it sooner rather than later? “The House Special Investigative Committee still had not heard whether U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald would provide secret recordings of the governor or sign off on a list of witnesses to testify before the panel that could be part of the government’s prosecution of Blagojevich,” the Sun-Times’ Dave McKinney reports. And it may be some union officials who have the most explaining to do. (Do the Obama folks need any more excuses to sideline card-check for a nice long spell?) “A top union official in Illinois called [Valerie] Jarrett to discuss Blagojevich’s desire to join Obama’s Cabinet — a prospect that both the official and Jarrett agreed ‘would never happen,’ according to the report,” per ABC News. “This conversation, outlined for the first time, could be of interest in the criminal case against [Tom] Blagojevich, who was recorded on the same day as the Jarrett-Balanoff meeting in wiretapped phone calls expressing an interest in a job with an arm of the union in exchange for a possible Senate appointment. According to an affidavit, Mr. Blagojevich was also captured on tape that day telling an unnamed adviser that he was willing to ‘trade’ the appointment for the cabinet post,” Jeff Zeleny writes in The New York Times. “Balanoff, I’m told, asked for the meeting,” Lynn Sweet reports. “It was at that meeting that Balanoff told Jarrett he had talked to Blagojevich about picking her for the Senate and then asked — really feeling her out, it seems — if Blagojevich could be secretary of health and human services. No one suggested a link or a quid pro quo. Whatever schemes or dreams Blagojevich had about being in the Obama cabinet should have ended there.” “The questions abound. Was Balanoff taking action in furtherance of a conspiracy to sell the Senate seat? Although the Obama summary says that Balanoff and Jarrett ‘discounted’ the notion of a cabinet spot for Blago, we don’t know if Balanoff was simultaneously working to get Blago a cushy union job. Moreover, why was the SEIU the go-to labor group to begin with? These queries necessitate some answers,” blogs Jennifer Rubin. And another Rahm tidbit: “Just after accepting the top post with Obama, Rahm Emanuel discussed with Blagojevich the possibility of keeping his congressional seat ‘warm’ for him for a couple of years, the Sun-Times has learned,” Natasha Korecki reports. “Emanuel expressed interest in returning one day to his elected position because he was on track to become U.S. House speaker, the Sun-Times previously reported.” For now, it appears, it’s over on the Obama end — until the next time it’s in the news. Writes USA Today’s Jill Lawrence: “John Jackson, a professor at the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, says the only way the Blagojevich mess could damage Obama is if the accounts in the report conflict with information Fitzpatrick reveals later. ‘That would be a formula for long-term trouble,’ he says, and ‘they’re much too bright’ to do that.” Anyone notice that muted GOP response? Here’s guessing Adam Nagourney did: “This image of Republican uncertainty is a testimony to the political skills of the incoming president, and a reminder of just how difficult a situation the Republican Party is in,” Nagourney writes for The New York Times. “More than that, though, Republicans and Democrats say, it is evidence of the unusual place the country is in now: buoyed by prospect of an inauguration while at the same time deeply worried about the country’s future. It is going to be complicated making a case against Mr. Obama, many Republicans said, in an environment where people simply want him to succeed and may not have much of an appetite for partisan politics.” Meanwhile — momentum slows in Caroline Kennedy’s Senate bid. “Resistance is emerging among Democratic officials against Caroline Kennedy as she pursues Hillary Rodham Clinton’s seat in the United States Senate, with Gov. David A. Paterson bristling over suggestions that her selection is inevitable, according to his advisers, and other leading Democrats concerned that she is too beholden to Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg,” Nicholas Confessore reports in The New York Times. There’s a not-so-subtle message here: “The governor is frustrated and chagrined, the advisers said, because he believes that he extended Ms. Kennedy the chance to demonstrate her qualifications but that her operatives have exploited the opportunity to convey a sense that she is all but appointed already. He views this as an attempt to box him in, the advisers said,” Confessore writes. State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver: “If I were the governor, I would look and question whether this is the appointment I would want to make: whether her first obligation might be to the mayor of the City of New York, rather than to the governor who would be appointing her,” Silver said, per the New York Daily News (which dubs Kennedy “Hizzoner’s pet” in a headline). The Daily News’ Michael Saul runs the numbers Kennedy didn’t want to give out: “Caroline Kennedy will feel right at home in the Millionaires’ Club known as the U.S. Senate: The Camelot heiress’ net worth easily tops $100 million, a Daily News review found,” Saul writes. “Public records paint a portrait of an enormously wealthy 51-year-old woman, whose dad, 35th President John F. Kennedy, is featured on the half-dollar coin. Her crown jewel appears to be the 366-acre ocean-side estate on Martha’s Vineyard passed down by her mother, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.” Howard Wolfson’s new job: “Mayor Bloomberg signed on Democratic heavyweight Howard Wolfson to help his reelection bid, suggesting he doesn’t expect to coast to victory,” Kathleen Lucadomo reports in the New York Daily News. “A veteran to New York politics, Wolfson ran Sen. Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign and helped Sen. Chuck Schumer secure his Senate seat in 1998.” “Around the time of the term limits extension, the mayor’s team reached out to me and suggested I might be interested in coming on,” Wolfson told NY1′s Roma Torre. “I was supportive of the mayor and the more we got talking, the more I thought this was a great idea.” From his e-mail to friends, per Politico’s Ben Smith: “As a New Yorker, I am very excited at the prospect of helping the mayor at this very critical time in our city’s history. . . . It is quite clear to me that the mayor’s strong record provides a compelling case for his reelection — and that he will provide the proven leadership we need to guide the city through the unprecedented fiscal challenges we face.” Not all price tags are bargains these days: “The cumulative value of the stimulus plan should be $1 trillion over two years,” Gov. Jon Corzine, D-N.J., writes in a Washington Post op-ed. “This is a large sum, but if the spending is executed effectively, it should be a significant investment in our country’s physical and human resources that will pay long-term dividends while also creating and saving jobs.” Not there yet, though: “With the incoming administration acknowledging the stimulus plan could cost as much as $775 billion over two years, [Vice-president-elect Joe] Biden seemed intent on reassuring Americans the money would not be wasted,” Peter Nicholas writes in the Los Angeles Times. “In marketing the new proposal, Obama aides seem attuned to public perceptions that large federal outlays are often misspent. Advisors are putting out the message that stimulus money would go to only the most worthwhile projects.” “There will be no earmarks in this economic recovery plan,” Biden said, per ABC’s Sunlen Miller. “I know it’s Christmas. I know it’s the Christmas season. But President-elect Obama and I are absolutely determined that this economic recovery package will not become a Christmas tree. Every dollar will be watched to be sure it’s used in an effective manner.” And the story that lingers: “The recount of Minnesota’s Senate election will continue into next year and may still be underway when the new Congress begins to consider an economic stimulus bill early next month,” John Fritze writes for USA Today. “Minnesota’s race, which pit Republican Sen. Norm Coleman against Democrat Al Franken, was the Senate’s most expensive contest and is the only race still undecided from the Nov. 4 election.” The Minneapolis Star Tribune has Franken up 46 — but lots of ground still to cover. The Wall Street Journal wants President Bush to “improve” (!) his legacy by . . . pardoning Scooter Libby. Per the editorial: “The Bush Administration is mythologized as one in which loyalty is a defining virtue, especially on the part of the President himself. In this dark episode, an honest man became the fall guy in a larger political war over the war. Mr. Libby deserved better — and Mr. Bush owes it to Mr. Libby, and to future occupants of the White House, to give him a full pardon.” The Kicker: “That was my evil twin.” — Howard Wolfson, asked about going to work for a man he regularly derided as an “out-of-touch billionaire.” The Note morning analysis will not post from Wednesday, Dec. 25 through Friday, Jan. 2. We’ll be back Monday Jan. 5 — happy holidays! Bookmark the link below to get The Note’s daily morning analysis:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/the_note/index.html For up-to-the-minute political updates check out The Note’s new blog . . . all day every day:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/ Follow The Note blog via Twitter: http://twitter.com/thenote

User Comments

Barry is a dirty, sleazy Chicago politician. We have the mainstream media to thank for our new prez elect. They abandoned all principles of journalism and became part of his campaign.

Posted by: dave | December 24, 2008, 9:12 am 9:12 am

Blagojevich is clearly a leach trying to hang onto the coattails of Obama. He has no pride and is fighting for his life politically. He isolated himself from others in Illinois government. This is not a man who is right mentally. He should just resign and save the people of Illinois millions of dollars in prosecuting him.

Posted by: Bob | December 24, 2008, 9:12 am 9:12 am

Just as we all knew from the start, the very first report on the news was that Obama would NOT play-pay-to-play! Much to do about NOTHING. Now, can we get down and do the dirty work we have to do now, to clean up the horrible mess that the other administration has left. STOP the distractions. Our country needs to focus on the job at hand and stopping all of this nonsense. It would be best for EVERYONE!
Oh, and where-oh-where did the Christmas spirit go? I really don’t give a damn what religion you are or if you are athiest just start remembering the intent of the whole holiday season. Go and read, “Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus”!
All of the progress that our ancesters have made, we blew right out of the proverbial chimney! If the people that were around during the WWII era, were here to see us, “in all of our glory” they would be appalled! And since I was raised by the generation, I too am frankly appalled by all the “improvements” that my generation has made. SO MUCH FOR PROGRESS!
Merry Christmas everyone and PEACE ON EARTH AND GOOD WILL TO MEN.’and ladies, to be politically correct, LOL (STARTING WITH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, RIGHT HERE IN THE OLE GOOD USA!)

Posted by: scentsofroses | December 24, 2008, 9:13 am 9:13 am

Rod, you just have way too much time on your hands. This article lends itself to way too much speculation.
Regardless of the number of contacts or who made them on behalf of the Obama camp, Gov. Blago is on tape stating clearly that the Obama camp was not willing to give him anything except their appreciation in regards to the Senate seat. Obama is not under any obligation whatsoever to reveal whether he met with the federal prosecutors or not. That is strictly between Obama, his attorneys and the federal prosecutor.
Please start writing on worthwhile subjects such as our two wars, the terrible economy, etc.

Posted by: Beto | December 24, 2008, 9:28 am 9:28 am

Much ado about nothing here. Can we not get on with the business of repairing the dire straits we find ourselves in? That is certainly more important than trying to make something out of nothing or something out of a few measly contacts that went nowhere.

Posted by: two-cats | December 24, 2008, 9:34 am 9:34 am

That’s the fox guarding the hen house. Wouldn’t you love to do investigate yourself and clear yourself of any wrongdoing? What happened to Obama saying he was staying out of the Illinois Senate seat selection. Apparently that is not so. If courts allowed accused felons of investigating their own case and deciding their guilt or innocence, where would we be today. That is why we need independent, objective (not biased, subjective) investigations.
Also,a side from that. some media news networks were pondering that the excellent timing of the release of Obama’s report was no accident… released at the end of the day the day before Christmas Eve, as as aptly pointed out, Obama is on vacation… possibly hoping that the interest in their involvement will subside.
And we thought change was in the air.. that his administration was going to be totally open and transparent. I guess not.

Posted by: Fran | December 24, 2008, 9:39 am 9:39 am

“Barry is a dirty, sleazy Chicago politician. We have the mainstream media to thank for our new prez elect. They abandoned all principles of journalism and became part of his campaign.”
Actually, we have the American voters to thank for the new prez elect. And George Bush. And the Republican party. And John McCain’s colossally bad decision-making during the campaign. Sounds like it’s YOU who votes according to media coverage. You’re projecting.

Posted by: Silky | December 24, 2008, 9:40 am 9:40 am

Get over it already. Obama & people did not play. nobody but the blood sucking Obama hatters care about this.

Posted by: watching | December 24, 2008, 9:43 am 9:43 am

“possibly hoping that the interest in their involvement will subside.”
Of course. New to politics, are you? I don’t for a second think that the US Attorneys office asking him to hold off has anything to do with him. But they said the 22nd…him waiting til the afternoon of the 23rd was just a well-played hand on his part. Or course he waited a day. He’s brilliant.

Posted by: Silky | December 24, 2008, 9:43 am 9:43 am

I called the IRS today and told them they wouldn’t need to do the audit they planned because I did an internal audit of my taxes and everything looked good so they can stay home.

Posted by: chaos | December 24, 2008, 9:43 am 9:43 am

Yea, Yea, Yea, Blah, Blah, Blah.
Where is the tin foil?

Posted by: Thinking | December 24, 2008, 9:43 am 9:43 am

A prelude to the next four years of sleazy politics.
AMERICANS, YOU ASKED FOR IT. YOU DESERVE IT.

Posted by: nononsense08 | December 24, 2008, 9:48 am 9:48 am

So Obama’s report, done by Obama’s people, clears him and his entourage of any wrongdoing.. ..yet prosecuters aren’t completely satisfied with that?
Shocking.
The funny thing is that barry is used to this kind of internal investigating being sufficient enough for chicago politics. He has always been given a pass to be a sleaze.
Think of all of the LIES he has told that got little or NO scrutiny from reporters…
“I never knew rev wright was saying those things”
“I thought bill ayers was sorry for what he did”…”he’s just a guy in my neighborhood ”
“Rezko and I had an innocent real-estate venture that was just a boneheaded move on my part”
“No one from my staff talked to blago”
errrrrr….
“No one from my staff talked to blago about anything illegal”
Barry’s prosecution would be the only Christmas present I would need this year!

Posted by: dave | December 24, 2008, 9:48 am 9:48 am

30 days till he takes office and scandal is the only thing were are hearing. What a great pres he will be. Coming from Chicago, you can’t be clean.

Posted by: chaos | December 24, 2008, 9:48 am 9:48 am

Obama Clears Self!
lets be honest.. this report should be thrown in with the “Bush Says He Does Not Torture”
Be a jounalist.. make fun of this tripe, instead of presenting it as the truth.

Posted by: maui | December 24, 2008, 9:50 am 9:50 am

Man this isn’t good. I thought he wouldn’t be involved in any of this.

Posted by: former Obama fan | December 24, 2008, 9:50 am 9:50 am

obama is presedent for 2 months now and i havn’t got my cheks yet where is my chek?

Posted by: obama s the man | December 24, 2008, 9:58 am 9:58 am

Try to picture, if Nixon’s own staff did their own investigating and concluded that Nixon had nothing to do with the Watergate break-ins, I’m pretty sure the media would have had a contest on who could scream the loudest about a cover-up scheme by the Nixon administration.
However, the Obamassiah is the darling of the media and is never in the wrong whether he’s right or wrong. How could ANYBODY suspect a cover-up on the part of the Obama team?

Posted by: marco | December 24, 2008, 9:58 am 9:58 am

Posted by: bugnome | December 24, 2008, 9:59 am 9:59 am

Barack has 27 more days to resign from the presidency to set the record for the first president to elected and to not serve.

Posted by: chaos | December 24, 2008, 10:07 am 10:07 am

On the morning of Sept. 9, 2008,Chicago news reported Obama was flying into Chicago to meet with Governor Blagojevich for the purpose of discussing his senate replacement. That same evening the Quincy, Ill. news reported the meeting had taken place without any report of the substance of the meeting. Now Obama says he’s never spoken with the governor about his replacement. What’s up with that? The so called investigative reporters continue to ignore any and all negative facts about Obama.

Posted by: MMONROELIVESON | December 24, 2008, 10:07 am 10:07 am

Certain people will not be happy unless Obama fails. Patrick F said they did nothing wrong. Obama said they did nothing wrong. Besides that, the freaks who wish we had some “reformin’” going on with Palin and McCain can go back to where they were for the last several weeks. Studying up on conspiracy theories and whittling wood. Or, maybe some are actually “leaving the country.” Please do.

Posted by: Matt | December 24, 2008, 10:11 am 10:11 am

Sounds like the mindless, vitriol-filled Limbaughites took a little time to capitulate the puke on their little pennyloafers. Obama will be the best thing that could have happened to this country at this point in history. There … take that, you little brats!

Posted by: obamaiscool | December 24, 2008, 10:17 am 10:17 am

“30 days till he takes office and scandal is the only thing were are hearing.”
Maybe that’s all you’re hearing, but that’s because you have selective hearing. A spanking fresh CNN poll indicates that 82%….once more….82%….of Americans approve of his transition process. That’s astronomically high. And that’s taking into account the Blago thing.

Posted by: Silky | December 24, 2008, 10:18 am 10:18 am

Of course, the report won’t be the last word on the Obama-Blago contacts. The most obvious reason being that Blagojevich will be on trial for trying to sell Obama’s senate seat along with other charges. It is refreshing that Obama and his administration are cooperating with federal prosecutors unlike the Bush administration. Much to the disappointment of those wishing to sensationalize about Obama, there will, more than likely, be little again but conjecture down the road for the trial. The bone on the report has been picked clean and may as well be tossed out. Though that may not be the case soon for those who were busy making all the ado.

Posted by: kat | December 24, 2008, 10:21 am 10:21 am

“On the morning of Sept. 9, 2008,Chicago news reported Obama was flying into Chicago to meet with Governor Blagojevich for the purpose of discussing his senate replacement. That same evening the Quincy, Ill. news reported the meeting had taken place without any report of the substance of the meeting. Now Obama says he’s never spoken with the governor about his replacement. What’s up with that? The so called investigative reporters continue to ignore any and all negative facts about Obama.”
Or, it was irresponsible journalism, where they extracted what happened. Schedules are changed CONSTANTLY in politics. Proxies are sent. And Obama is way too smart to get too close to Blago, especially, post-Nov. 4. The meeting didn’t happen and that’s why they pulled the story saying they met. There is no evidence anywhere such a meeting took place. It’s time to let that one go.

Posted by: Silky | December 24, 2008, 10:21 am 10:21 am

Matt
We country loving hicks don’t threaten to leave this country if elections don’t go our way, like the long list of celebrity liberals who ALWAYS threaten to escape to more “friendlier” countries like Venezuala each election cycle.

Posted by: dave | December 24, 2008, 10:22 am 10:22 am

“On the morning of Sept. 9, 2008,Chicago news reported Obama was flying into Chicago to meet with Governor Blagojevich for the purpose of discussing his senate replacement. That same evening the Quincy, Ill. news reported the meeting had taken place without any report of the substance of the meeting.”
What a bunch of malarkey! The election was far from over at the time (Sept. 9) with McCain gaining lead. I take it Obama had a card reader on the staff who made the prediction; so in the midst of a consuming battle for election, arrangements are made for a senate replacement. Yes, for sure there is no last word. Is there a way, I wonder, if alien influence can be interjected with this?

Posted by: kat | December 24, 2008, 10:34 am 10:34 am

Yes Silky, you can simply ignore the facts you don’t want to accept like the rest of his devotees. Saying it ain’t so doesn’t make it not so. I wasn’t addressing your kind. I was addressing the others who, although we realize he is to be our leader and therefore our only hope, remain unconvinced of the righteousness of his intent. Or maybe we’re suspicious BECAUSE he’s to be our only hope.

Posted by: MMONROELIVESON | December 24, 2008, 10:37 am 10:37 am

et tu kat?

Posted by: MMONROELIVESON | December 24, 2008, 10:39 am 10:39 am

Silky and Kat, If it’s too hot in the kitchen get out. Why did you remove my post? There was nothing offensive about it. I merely stated the truth…that you have your unswayable opinion and you’ll defend anything he does to the end. It’s obvious. There are still many who are apprehensive about the agenda and the long term intent of our president to be. We are just as entitled as you to have an opinion. We’ll be stating our opinions and airing our discontent as the3 constitution allows. Thank you for your interest. Merry Christmas to all.

Posted by: MMONROELIVESON | December 24, 2008, 10:48 am 10:48 am

Good lord, get over yourselves. Honestly, whether or not you agree with Barack Obama’s politics he will be the next president of this country. Apparently its ok to trash the president elect now because of the trash heaped on W in the last 8 years. Then we have 8 years of trash heaped on Bill before that. Just because it was ok to do so in the past DOES NOT mean its ok now. That is grade school justification. Change begins at home people and if you want more out of your politicians try holding them to higher standards and stop trashing their every breath. If you aren’t willing to change, why should any of them be?

Posted by: Charlie Hicks | December 24, 2008, 10:59 am 10:59 am

This just cries out for a …………
SPECIAL PROSECUTOR.

Posted by: Rasputin3.14 | December 24, 2008, 11:07 am 11:07 am

Yeah better we had Palin’s son-in-law’s mother’s DRUG ARREST to deal with and Sarah’s Alaskan ECONOMY TANKING ’cause of the price of oil and McCain’s fat friends on wall street getting their banks bailed out with NO TRAIL of the billions they were given before
Johnny and Sarah took their oaths…

Posted by: Johnnyr51 | December 24, 2008, 11:11 am 11:11 am

“Yes Silky, you can simply ignore the facts you don’t want to accept like the rest of his devotees.”
What facts am I ignoring?
And I didn’t remove your post. I wouldn’t know how if I wanted to.

Posted by: Silky | December 24, 2008, 11:13 am 11:13 am

Even Obama supporters know he is a racist (Rev. Wright), Marxist (“redistribtue the wealth”)and a liar (campaign financing promise broken). He’s now confirming the liar aspect with his multiple bold-faced lies about the Blago scandal. The press is asleep at the switch on this.

Posted by: Mike from Texas | December 24, 2008, 11:15 am 11:15 am

“Even Obama supporters know he is a racist (Rev. Wright)”
How to lose all credibility in 14 syllables, by Mike from Texas. Don’t worry Mike from Texas, your boy is coming home and you guys can talk nucular physicals and strategery and stuff. The rest of us rationally thinking adults (including the 82% of the country who approve of Obama’s job thus far) will stay focused on what is actually relevant.

Posted by: Silky | December 24, 2008, 11:23 am 11:23 am

“dave”, You’re Crazed and Refuse to accept Facts. “chaos”, did the IRS give you an o.k.? “former”, you’re a liar or a masquerader. “marco”, your jealousy is obvious and you’re Crazed too! “monroe”, “monroe”, “monroe”, you’re still a “Tired Fake” and you’re one of Only 18% “President Elect Obama haters.” (That’s like what? Maybe 2% of you, who are “negro President Elect Obama haters.”) ALL of you; “Accept the loss & Get A Life!!!” Others have accepted reality and we’re ALL ‘moving on.’ With hopes of ‘pulling together’ to resolve our major issues, the Economy, 2 Wars, the Deficit, Energy, Education, the Infrastructure, Trade, Immigration, Healthcare, Social Security, Global Leadership, etc., etc., etc.

Posted by: bobj72 | December 24, 2008, 11:24 am 11:24 am

My guess, the truth will come out that Obama has done nothing illegal apart from being hated and that the conspiracy theorists and tabloid freaks on the right will only serve to further marginalize the republican party.
Their logic is on full display here and goes something like this: a man comes from the ghetto he must therefore be a gang banger. My co-worker got arrested for drugs, I too must be a drug addict.
And this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to these numbskulls. They think that Obama’s internal investigation is meant to clear him of criminal charges, but he isn’t facing any charges to be cleared of. If charges are warranted, his internal report is worth diddly…so why the outrage that the man looked into the dealings of his own house? For shame.
They also say things like, ‘saying it ain’t so doesn’t make it not so,’ – Posted by: MMONROELIVESON – when they fail to understand that the converse is true and that saying something is so doesn’t make it so. They hate the man first, and then dig up or try to manufacture the reasons the rest of us should hate him too. This is much like the blinders they wear when it comes to policy which goes something along the lines of…’our opposition thought of it first, so we disagree…now how can we support our position even if/though it is the wrong one?’
I know, I know…I have a college education (heaven forbid an advanced degree) and therefore I’ve been inundated by our ‘liberal’ universities. As a double whammy, I also read the news and therefore have been brainwashed by the ‘liberal’ media. I also know I shouldn’t try arguing with these radicals (that’s certainly what they sound like to me) because they and they alone control the truth.
I suppose I better be brought to Bush’s Ministry of Truth for reprogramming…we can’t have people just going around thinking and applying logic to things willy-nilly, now can we?

Posted by: mummblemouth | December 24, 2008, 11:35 am 11:35 am

blaw..blaw…blaw…blawwwww. Just the same old, same old from all of you anti-obama/anti-american bloggers.
I could fertilize all of my acreage with all of ths B$!
Merry Christmas to all and to all a GOOD NIGHT!

Posted by: scentsofroses | December 24, 2008, 11:36 am 11:36 am

Silky and Bobj72
Where did you go to get the labatomy procedure done? It worked well!

Posted by: dave | December 24, 2008, 11:38 am 11:38 am

Obama has had always dubious contacts in his past; Wright ,Ayers, Rekzo, Bogo and others.
But he got away with it because of the main stream media supporting and shielding him.
The main stream media knew in two weeks more about Sarah Palin ,then in two years of Obama.
After all , the media gave Obama a “easy ride” to the white house.

Posted by: Jim | December 24, 2008, 11:41 am 11:41 am

Obama , the ONE , ex drugs user, is now becoming our president.
LOL!!

Posted by: Tino | December 24, 2008, 11:43 am 11:43 am

mummblemouth
Just keep braggin bout yer degree cuz barry jus got elected and he’s gonna pay fer my learnin so i can be jus as smart as y’all.
yeeehaaa! free college learnin fer everyone!
start spreadin it around barry!
why aint’ he sent a check fer my gas bill yet?

Posted by: dave | December 24, 2008, 11:45 am 11:45 am

“Where did you go to get the labatomy procedure done?”
Good one. And it’s lobotomy.
I’ll tell you what…I’ve learned a lot about how George Bush got into office twice by reading the comments on this website over the past couple weeks. Goodness gracious.

Posted by: Silky | December 24, 2008, 11:50 am 11:50 am

“Obama , the ONE , ex drugs user, is now becoming our president.
LOL!!”
He’s going to be the third straight president who took drugs in his youth. The last 16 years have seen the White House occupied by people who took drugs. You’re a little late, but welcome to the party.

Posted by: Silky | December 24, 2008, 11:55 am 11:55 am

Good luck with your education, Dave. It sure sounds like you could use one! It’s just too bad that you waited so long to go for it. It isn’t free though, it takes one hell of a lot of hard work and you have to pay the loans back.
Oh, and thanks for giving me a case in point of how people of your ilk have difficulties getting the gist of, let alone following the entirety of an argument and instead hear/read only what they want to.

Posted by: mummblemouth | December 24, 2008, 11:57 am 11:57 am

Wow…from Pat Robertson:
“The Katrina matter was terrible. The rebuilding of Iraq has been terrible. The [handling] of the economy right now has been terrible. It hasn’t been handled in what I would consider a professional manner…But I believe I would look at about a C-minus right now if I were grading him.”
His thoughts on Obama:
“[I'm] remarkably pleased”
This is something else.

Posted by: Silky | December 24, 2008, 12:03 pm 12:03 pm

Sincere gratitude at Christmas!
Thank you Dave, Jim and especially Mike from Texas (where else?).
Every time I despair of the possibility of honourable leadership, wise policy decisions and enlightened public debate on the issues of the day in my own country, I need only attend to the quality of discourse in “threads” such as this and the pain fades into mere annoyance.
Keep it up, ur-Americans, and you will brings blessings of contentment to a tormented world.

Posted by: red maple | December 24, 2008, 12:17 pm 12:17 pm

Bobj; I’ve got your number too. You are an old school black supremist. You are an outdated relic of the 60′s. It’s not about black and white any more. Now it has become about whether the future will be one of free enterprise and capitalism which worked for over 200 years, or socialism that has never worked. Good luck to you and yours on the redisribution of wealth thing. What are the calling it now? Class disparity? What a travesty to blame the government for individual failures and to then reward those failures while penalizing successful enterprising people.

Posted by: MMONROELIVESON | December 24, 2008, 12:24 pm 12:24 pm

And a special word of thanks to Silky and friends.
Your willingness to engage with the frazzled, frustrated and frenetic ultra-right is commendable up to a point. That point is reached when you appear to be taking them more seriously than they deserve.
It’s Christmas Eve!
Be jolly! Forgive (but do not forget). There will be plenty of time for pugilism come “boxing” day. I just wish I could invite you to sit by my fire, offer you a tall glass of Canadian whiskey, and sing out a hearty chorus of “O Tannenbaum” or (to the same tune) “The Red Flag” or both!
Mele Kalikimaka me ka Hau’oli Makahiki Hou

Posted by: red maple | December 24, 2008, 12:31 pm 12:31 pm

The inquiry into whether President-elect Barack Obama’s staff had any inappropriate contacts with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was bound to meet its pre-conceived
President-Elect Barack Obama’s inquiry into “inappropriate contacts” between his staff and Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich over his vacated U.S. Senate seat has the appearance of a closed loop — the conclusion came before the inquiry.
The conclusion was: there were no inappropriate contacts.
The inquiry found: Imagine, no inappropriate contacts.

Posted by: Laura | December 24, 2008, 12:32 pm 12:32 pm

Damn, there must not be much out there that’s newsworthy these days. The way the only note “The Note” strikes with this story is a sour one. The inuendo, the suggestions, the outright BS in this story suggests an agenda may be forming with some in the media, “Let’s pull this guy’s halo off before it’s too late and we won’t ever knock it off”
Why not try something positive, don’t you think this country needs to be more mpositive? I mean with all the negativity about Jobs, Banks, the economy, are stories like this of any value, other than to the hacks that put them together for their own advancement.
Journalism is almost dead in this country. Stories like this illustrate the disease that has infected a once valuable source for news and real information. Perhaps if enough people say they’ve had enough and tune out, maybe they will do some introspective study and conclude they need to change their act and get away from the Tabloid BS they keep shoveling our way.

Posted by: Tom. Tescher | December 24, 2008, 12:59 pm 12:59 pm

mummblemouth
My point was to show your incredible arrogance as an “open minded” liberal when you flash around your degree to denigrate others.
You were attempting to show that it made you more knowledgeable about America’s political scene, when in actuality all you have proven is that you were one of the mindless students that absorbed your professors’liberal nonsense.

Posted by: dave | December 24, 2008, 1:02 pm 1:02 pm

dirt bags, you just can’t admit that you, the media, have made fools of yourselves by hyping the molehill. I will NEVER watch ABC news again, or many of the other “little Eichmanns” who work for the MS news networks.

Posted by: Johnson | December 24, 2008, 1:02 pm 1:02 pm

The comments by the governor about all they would get is apprication shows that there WAS talk about the seat with the incoming Chief of Staff. BUT…the Obama Spin Doctors are running full steam to kill this story.
It however is only the first…

Posted by: Charro Jr. | December 24, 2008, 1:11 pm 1:11 pm

Of course every reporter will have different opinions, but I find it interesting that the above column claims “Obama and company worked so hard before to convince the public that this president-elect would never be involved in something as parochial and tawdry as playing a role in choosing the next junior senator from Illinois. Of course, he did care after all…’This is a level of interest and involvement in his Senate seat that Obama has not admitted to publicly.’” Meanwhile the following column criticizes the opposite: http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/16836
“It seems only logical that Obama would want a say in picking his successor in the Senate…But Obama…steered clear of the Senate-seat derby and ‘was not engaging on this in any personal way and had no interest in dictating the result of the selection process’…Why was the president-elect and leader of the Democratic party playing no role in a key appointment to national office being made in his home state, and by a Democratic governor?” Clearly he’s darned if he does and darned if he doesn’t.

Posted by: 1bluestocking | December 24, 2008, 1:13 pm 1:13 pm

Obama is just as bad as the rest of them, he already claimed on public TV he had no ties or interest, yet they have found he was duelly concerned on who would be his follower

Posted by: Rocky | December 24, 2008, 1:32 pm 1:32 pm

“The comments by the governor about all they would get is apprication shows that there WAS talk about the seat with the incoming Chief of Staff.”
Nobody has said there wasn’t.

Posted by: Silky | December 24, 2008, 1:33 pm 1:33 pm

“when in actuality all you have proven is that you were one of the mindless students that absorbed your professors’liberal nonsense.”
LOL. I love this one. It’s the media. It’s the professors. It’s the Kool Aid. It’s this. It’s that. You guys are too much. I mean, damn those liberals with their….their….their…..educations!

Posted by: Silky | December 24, 2008, 1:38 pm 1:38 pm

Have a Merry Christ’s birthday celebration everyone ! You too Silky

Posted by: chaos | December 24, 2008, 1:40 pm 1:40 pm

“Bobj; I’ve got your number too. You are an old school black supremist.” mmonroeliveson Dec 24, 2008 12:24:41 PM
“Uncle monroe” help me. What is a “black supremist?” It’s a ‘rare and unusual moniker’ to associate with the “Black Power Movement of the 60′s.” The ‘name’ (unfortunately) is likely used – “exclusively” by you and the remaining 1% +, who are members of the “Souther negro aristocracy.” So, without Pride Uncle monroe, you Shuffle’ on, you go head’ n’ Shuffle’ on!

Posted by: bobj72 | December 24, 2008, 1:41 pm 1:41 pm

What do you expect? The Manufactured report which was aimed at vindicating Obama and Team came out the day before Christmas and , surprise, surprise, vindicated Obama and Team of any wrong doing. The report leaves so many questions unanswered. I can just picture Obama with an Arkansan drawl saying ‘I did not have political relations with that man, Gov. Blagojevich’ , and then later saying ‘That depends how you define the word ‘contact”. Obama is about as guiltless of contact with Gov. Blagojevich as Clinton was guiltless of ‘contact’ with Monica Lewinsky. Of course the Obamedia wont point it out. If the Obama transition team says he is in the clear, ofcourse he is in the clear.

Posted by: zxcvbnm | December 24, 2008, 2:02 pm 2:02 pm

Silky
Many teachers, ESPECIALLY English and journalism professors, are extremely liberal. Many of them are the long haired hippie freaks left over from the 60′s. As I have said before, I graduated from mizzou which is highly regarded for its journalism program. Believe me, by the time many of the students left there and entered into the mainstream media, they were about as socialist as chavez and about as smelly as charles manson.
If these “free spirited kids” had spent a little more time in an economics class instead of wasting their time on stories about how dumb George Bush was or how global warming is going to kill us all (yeah right) they might have learned something a little more valuable.
Example. bernadine dorn and bill ayers are terrorist traitors that should have been tarred and feathered long ago. Instead, they teach at America’s colleges and play washers in the obama’s backyard- awesome!

Posted by: dave | December 24, 2008, 2:03 pm 2:03 pm

It was predictable that dave and the other wingnuts would say Obama was somehow dirty no matter what the report said. The prosecutor said there was nothing there, Blago on tape is upset that he can’t get anything from him, the detailed report confirms this. . . but still, the nuts have to find something to attack. Give it up. If Obama had not discussed possible successors, he would have been criticized by these same fruitcakes for being aloof and not caring about the people of his state. Please grow up. There’s still nothing there (although the media you say protects him keeps reporting breathlessly on the latest rumor or speculation) and it’s driving you crazy. (Of course, that doesn’t take much.) Merry Christmas to all, anyway.

Posted by: tmginnova | December 24, 2008, 2:45 pm 2:45 pm

“If these “free spirited kids” had spent a little more time in an economics class instead of wasting their time on stories about how dumb George Bush was or how global warming is going to kill us all (yeah right) they might have learned something a little more valuable.”
Maybe you should have spent some time in science class, because the vast majority of scientific community is saying Global Warming is very real. And not everybody is interested in economics. It’s painfully boring.

Posted by: Silky | December 24, 2008, 3:00 pm 3:00 pm

Give it up, dave. Nothing you’re saying has any traction whatsoever. You’re spinning your wheels.

Posted by: Silky | December 24, 2008, 3:02 pm 3:02 pm

Have we not anything better to do????
What if Blago had a hundred call with Obama? So What???? Maybe we should focusing on how to get the new administration in without petty issues such as this swirling around.
Have we forgotten what happened the last time there was a presidential transition. As the Bush administration got a late start because of the DRAMA IN FLORIDA which was a legitimate issue. Maybe with a smoother transition, 911 could have been diverted.
Now we have a illegitimate issue, DRAMA IN ILLINOIS which, according to the water-carrier Rick, is not over, is turning into somewhat of a witch hunt.
This is something we can do without especially in a volatile world such as this.
Rick, I know you report the news but how about lets focus on something that is going to get us out of this ditch instead of creating the swirl that takes America’s attention off the important things (i.e. 911, madoff, wall street greed, etc.)
This is not some reality show. THIS IS REALITY.

Posted by: Omentum | December 24, 2008, 3:31 pm 3:31 pm

“The Note, 12/24/08: Open Christmas — Report Won’t be Last Word on Obama-Blago Contacts”
Obama will learn soon the downside of trying to be overly ‘transparent’ to the undereducated citizens, who CANNOT handle (and therefore DO NOT deserve)to have so much information.
So, of course the Blago ‘report won’t be the last word’ for the media morons.
First the ignoramuses in the media LIED that the reason that they are so much up Obama’s behind is that Obama did not splain everything to them about BLAGO’s LEGAL PROBLEMS (even if there was NOTHING SUBSTANTIAL to explain about BLAGO’s legal problems).
As the hard charging prosecutor made clear: It’s Blago’s legal woes, remember?
Now that Obama has explained the nothing to the media morons, they are taking the position of the explanation “won’t be the last word”.
And it “won’t be the last word”; because the media morons DO NOT have a life, and only exist to destructively profit from gossip making and dissension among the citizens.
We are sure that this gossipy and divisive role was not the intent of the Constitutional right to a ‘free press’.
When the main stream media is not ignoring serious issues, like the destructive, UNPROVOKED and nation-destroying Iraq war, the main stream media is creating rancor in the nation.

Posted by: Patriot | December 24, 2008, 3:33 pm 3:33 pm

Why is it when a Dem gets indicted or called on the carpet its witchhunt. Wow! They will find so much stuff on this guy it wont be funny. Again, a friend of Obama’s. There will be alot of this stuff come up during his Presidency about people he associates himself with and all he will have to do is just smile and say he was just someone I knew. The thing he should worry about now is that the Media which is so liberal will not care that he is a DEM anymore but the President and will actually go after him and report the truth. He wont be used to this. The people that say this is about race need to move on and get in touch with the new century. Look at America in 1965 and now look at america in 2008. It has changed 9million% since then. Thats just 43 years. Quit using the race card, and just be an american. Obama is the pres. and he happens to be black, thats fine, A leader can be many colors, lets see if he can lead.

Posted by: Tim | December 24, 2008, 5:38 pm 5:38 pm

Thanks for the censorship ABC news, you are ALL FOOLS down there at your compound. Its sad to see how closely most all of the news agencies work with the freemasonic leaders of the shadow government to control all you poor mindless scared little sheep. If you all had an ounce of sack left (which you dont, its quite apparent) you would do something. Anything. try harder you slumbering gods!

Posted by: tehevo | December 24, 2008, 6:18 pm 6:18 pm

Our Greatest Smartest Leader is so brilliant in naming his Vice President to be in charge of W T F on Working Families.
It’s not that W T F, you “morons”. It’s the Whitehouse Task Force.
It sounds better than the Department of Urban Homeless (DUH), our Smartest Leader believes, but it’s certainly a more direct insult on working families.

Posted by: Casper36 | December 24, 2008, 7:07 pm 7:07 pm

“part of what I’m hoping to introduce as the next president is a new ethic of [government enforced] responsibility” – B. Obama
This is one of Barry Soetoro’s direct quotes during the time he was purchasing or shall we say pay to play position of the office of the president elect…whatever the H### that means.

Posted by: lotzahair | December 24, 2008, 7:49 pm 7:49 pm

If you look under the politcs heading on this site…there is another story about O-BOMB-A concerning him being a GEEK….I guess this is what ABC considers politics because BO collects comic books and SPOCK is his idol…all this time I thought it was MICKEY or DUMBO…way to go ABC, you are all over those important issues….Can’t stop licking your newborn

Posted by: lotzahair | December 24, 2008, 7:56 pm 7:56 pm

All of these reporters with their own views and they all think they know what is the truth and what is not. And the funny part about it. Not a one of them know what they are talking about for sure. Just something they want you to believe to be true to get you to see their side only. Bull wash to all of them.

Posted by: bussy55 | December 24, 2008, 8:26 pm 8:26 pm

lotzahair — You’re an idiot. But your opinion counts too, no matter how ignorant or biased. ABC — Can you write about something real and important, or are you just a comic book. Merry Christmas.

Posted by: tmginnova | December 24, 2008, 11:00 pm 11:00 pm

Wait! I know…. since conservatives are always right and liberals are always wrong we should elect a conservative President, Senate and House of Representatives….then everything will be fine… Right? Right?

Posted by: I know | December 25, 2008, 1:21 am 1:21 am

tmginnova
I am sure you are a legend in your own mind, and like me your opinion counts too, just not to me…and yes i can write about many subjects, of interest, but you are not one of them.
merry Christmas to all

Posted by: lotzahair | December 25, 2008, 2:08 am 2:08 am

Isn’t it amazing how Obama rose from the slime (Chicago politics) and remained immaculately clean? I’ll bet Daffy Duck and Bart Simpson are proud of their contributions to his campaign…Soros is probably licking his chops, Gwen Awful is getting ready to release her book, Rahm Emanuel is expecting his book, Big Plan for America to pick up in sales, and Rezko is hoping for a pardon while Ayers holds hands with Hugo Chavez.
So Emanuel is in Africa? Funny that- African news media reported a day or two ago that Obama’s Kenyan family members were gagged- couldn’t speak to the press without authorization. Now we learn Emanuel is in Africa…probably just a coincidence.

Posted by: pecanpii | December 25, 2008, 4:48 am 4:48 am

How could so many fools congregate in one place to play “bash Obama” at the same time? The confluence of the moon and the stars? The Christmas spirit?
All of you seem to forget that Obama and Emanuel were -cleared- by Fitzgerald right off the bat. You forgot that Blagojevich cleared them by calling them names in a wiretap because the Obama team -wouldn’t- pay for play.
You forgot everything rational in your unending hatred that has made you stupid, abetted by articles like these.
There’s nothing these journalists hate more than an effective politician with high approval ratings. They need to manufacture stories (scandals) where they don’t exist. They’re truly ticked off that there’s no scandal involving Obama here. They’ve shown themselves for the venal fools they can be, more interested in a “story” than the truth.
And for those of you (many here) who claim “Obama must be dirty, he came from Chicago”, I say “get a life”. Condemning a whole city and its millions of inhabitants as corrupt based on your own prejudices just shows you drank the McCain/Palin cool-aid instead of exercizing your brain.
Merry Christmas, everyone.

Posted by: Alan A Katz | December 25, 2008, 7:58 am 7:58 am

New GOP THEME.
smear baby smear
smear here
smear now
uh oh
hey…. the election is over……hey….the right wingnuts are irrelevant now……
hey…. now they just have to bear it….. just like the democrats did for the past eight years……..
hahhaha…..how does it feel wingnuts……
Obama is not even in office and you are bellyaching……
my advice ….suck it up…… take some tums, pepto bismol…… the headache pill of your choice and just learn to smile in your agony.

Posted by: Omentum | December 25, 2008, 9:36 am 9:36 am

Wow, a paragon of poor reporting. Hints and baseless allegations.
The big reveal? That Obama was interviewed by Federal prosecutors? And this is a surprise why? And this is news why?
Any government-issued report clearing itself has little credibility, true. But what is the newsworthiness of this?
Journalists have a responsibility to the public to report facts and provide analysis. Here, we have facts used to manufacture a story. It’s sad.

Posted by: Amer (yes,) Ican | December 25, 2008, 11:21 am 11:21 am

Rick Klein has thoroughly embarrassed himself by concocting a story and persists in trying to convince us that his concoction is real without providing any evidence that it is. It assumes some culpability without providing any proof whatsoever. In fact, all of the evidence we have so far points to a totally opposite conclusion.
The gist of the accusation is that the Obama team has done nothing wrong but because Klein and his cohorts in the mainstream media (awakened suddenly after eight years of slumber while great and overt corruption was going on in the highest places in the nation) keep telling us that something MIGHT be wrong then it’s a scandal for the Obama team. I mean it’s in the papers!!!
This article is one of the reasons why mainstream journalism is dying. If one can actually think, one realizes that this is total BS.
Rick Klein should quit journalism and go into something he’s more suited for, like writing novels, for example.

Posted by: Val Vadeboncoeur | December 25, 2008, 3:29 pm 3:29 pm

“Be Aware the EGOBLOGGER!” What’s an EgoBlogger? Individual who will not hesitate to fraudulently manufacture data or facts to support a personal position. “The thrill is in the deception.” They will create or manufacture stories and when such untrue (illegitimate) information is challenged, the EgoBlogger simply withdraws and ‘moves on.’

Posted by: bobj72 | January 2, 2009, 5:56 pm 5:56 pm

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