Rahm Emanuel Reportedly Spoke with Blagojevich About Senate Seat

[I can't think of a name]

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=15FE80D5DF88681C80B506FF4E0DE056?contentId=8054792&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1


Chicago -- The firestorm surrounding Governor Blagojevich is putting some heat on Barack Obama’s transition team. Fox Chicago News has learned about possible conversations between a top Obama aide and the governor regarding the open senate seat. Craig Wall has the exclusive. Blago might have known he was wiretapped but did Obama's team? I think Obama will be insulated from this but it is hard to believe his aides were not talking to Blago about the senate seat.

Judging by how Obama handled people detrimental to his campaign, I think Rahm will be another body under the Bus if this turns out to be true.

I want to hear this conversation, I bet there was a lot of cussing back and forth.

[American Patriot]

Ooh, it's starting to get interesting.

[Invisigoth]

Not really anything shocking there. So Emmanuel talked to Blago about the seat. Big deal, we already know the what the answer was and how Blago felt about "that motherf*****" Obama.

[I can't think of a name]

More of this is bound to happen, Obama makes promises to everyone. The joke about his Harvard days was that everyone could leave a meeting thinking Obama agreed with them. People like Blago are starting to expect something in return for support and favors.

[I can't think of a name]

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/1326788,rahm-emanuel-blagojevich-obama-121108.article

Rahm is ducking reporters now.

[MichaelF]

Rahm's problem is that being aware of the Governor's actions and not reporting them is a Felony itself....

[philbob]

The less people from Clintons era around him the better....

[Zoomie]

Not really anything shocking there. So Emmanuel talked to Blago about the seat. Big deal, we already know the what the answer was and how Blago felt about "that motherf*****" Obama.
So what if he had bad feelings about Obama? That means nothing. It's becoming more apparent that not everything is what it seems to be, as Obama's claimed that he's had no contact with Blago's office, though there is evidence that shows otherwise.

The less people from Clintons era around him the better....
lol, have you even seen his cabinet selections? Almost Clinton 3.0.

[delio]

being aware of the Governor's actions and not reporting them is a Felony itself....

Not really.

[philbob]

lol, have you even seen his cabinet selections? Almost Clinton 3.0.

god i know but im really just big on his foreign policy group being the right people...i acutally prefer liberals domesticly and converatives foreignly....

it generalizing but it sometimes gets the job done

[Winger]

Rahm's problem is that being aware of the Governor's actions and not reporting them is a Felony itself....

That also seems to be the historical problem with Obama, and at least 50% of all politicians, having a huge blind eye. They may not take part in the act but they know about it.

In Obama's situation, getting to where he did I can't believe that he didn't have any direct knowledge of shady or illegal activities going on in Illinois. On this issue Senate seat sale I think he's clear but I shudder to think of all the other dealings he has knowledge of. Of course, Obama wouldn't be the first nor the last. Just another politician.

[Invisigoth]

The fact that Emanuel spoke with Blago is a non-issue, the real question is who knew what when and who told whom what when. Obviously Obama has an interest in who fills his Senate seat, the only time that becomes an liability in my eyes is when he agrees to a pay-off/quid pro quo of some sort.

With that being said, Obama hasn't handled this as well as he should have up until now.

[JJC]

That also seems to be the historical problem with Obama, and at least 50% of all politicians, having a huge blind eye. They may not take part in the act but they know about it.

In Obama's situation, getting to where he did I can't believe that he didn't have any direct knowledge of shady or illegal activities going on in Illinois. On this issue Senate seat sale I think he's clear but I shudder to think of all the other dealings he has knowledge of. Of course, Obama wouldn't be the first nor the last. Just another politician.

To say that Obama knew but turned a blind eye to this is not fair at this point, since there is no evidence of that happening. But shady and unethical deals are found not only in politics but in any everyday work environment. To survive in life's game, you sometimes have to turn a blind eye on these issues or else you will not last long, especially in government/politics. All the humanities and justice crap they teach you in college never works in real life. Sometimes, you will have to just go with the flow and if you try to be virtuous and ethical and all that stuff, you will be on the bottom of life's game. Unfortunate reality.

[delio]

I wouldn't be surprised if both camps had direct, legitimate contact about the seat, but I also wouldn't be surprised if the Obama ruled against it either. The reason is context: Look at Blagojevich state disclosures, and you'll see they guy had already spent around 5 million dollars in lawyers. The Feds had - before the November election - already gotten an indictment against Blago for some other things, and it well known that investigation and other were active and very serious. It was public knowledge some of Blago's close associates were already ratting him out and cooperating with the FBI and Fitzgerald's office. Under that circumstance, I think it would've been reasonable for Obama to avoid any serious dealing with him, as if he were the plague.

[Andrew Chalmers]

Reading the taps... Obama's people obviously expressed preference for a candidate - and offered their appreciation in return.

That obvious means someone in Obama's staff spoke with the governor's people. Big deal.

[11 Bravo]

The fact that Emanuel spoke with Blago is a non-issue, the real question is who knew what when and who told whom what when. Obviously Obama has an interest in who fills his Senate seat, the only time that becomes an liability in my eyes is when he agrees to a pay-off/quid pro quo of some sort.

With that being said, Obama hasn't handled this as well as he should have up until now.

Ha ha... chicago politics front and center. How's that go now "cut me in , or cut it out".
That rammy talked to count blago in certain terms on this issue surely makes it an issue , unless you are a democratchnik or oblahmaton ( one in the same really ). This may turn out to be a afro-nixonion debacle...... if only the anointed one did not have so many fall guys to take the hits for him.
America... welcome to chicago politics as usual on a national scale...hurrah !.

[FlintHillBilly]

This is from all hear-say. Is it true that the FBI spokesperson said that Illinoise is the most corrupt state? If so... i find it funny that Obama was senator there...

[MichaelF]

This is from all hear-say. Is it true that the FBI spokesperson said that Illinoise is the most corrupt state?

It's basically a contest between Louisiana and Illinois for most "Third World" State. Louisiana is at least making some progress (due to Jindal starting to break up the Machine and the disruption and demographic shift in New Orleans). Chicago is especially bad ("Gilded Age" bad).

[budgie]

Judging by how Obama handled people detrimental to his campaign, I think Rahm will be another body under the Bus if this turns out to be true.

And so he should be, if his boss finds out he's been up to any political mischief on his watch.


The joke about his Harvard days was that everyone could leave a meeting thinking Obama agreed with them .

Ambrose reports the same of Eisenhower. Good leaders/orators often have that effect on people. Not necessarily saying this makes Obama pwn all, of course. Just saying...

[Kaplanr]

Who the hell else is anyone going to speak to about it? The governor (like in NY) holds all the cards.

We survived Halibrton, we'll survive this. Illinois may be the 1st or 2nd most corrupt, but at least the Democrats can have a convention in Chi town now without getting the crap kicked out of themselves.


Originally Posted by I can't think of a name
The joke about his Harvard days was that everyone could leave a meeting thinking Obama agreed with them.
FDR was the master of that.

[budgie]

Ha ha... chicago politics front and center

That seems to be the theme now in GOP circles; Chicago this and Chicago that. Remember when it was all about Taxacheussets? Kalifornia? "Jew" York? It never ceases to amaze me which blue state gets to be the un-American flavour du jour...

[randy10]

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Jav7FPZftEU/SJmgYxMX8PI/AAAAAAAAAXk/svTEoBgIXKs/s400/barack+with+cigarette+cropped.jpg

Sold my Senate seat yet, biatch!!?

[khaz]

That seems to be the theme now in GOP circles; Chicago this and Chicago that. Remember when it was all about Taxacheussets? Kalifornia? "Jew" York? It never ceases to amaze me which blue state gets to be the un-American flavour du jour...

If you want to say some American politicians are anti semites with "jew york" comments, go see Jesse Jackson Sr, Father of JJ JR, who was trying to buy a Senate Seat.

Blago was openly talking about selling the senate seat it appears, so why wouldnt Rahm who spoke to him alert the authorities, I mean he is the next Presidents top man, he should stand for Law and Order,,, sorry forgot he is a demo nm

[11 Bravo]

That seems to be the theme now in GOP circles; Chicago this and Chicago that. Remember when it was all about Taxacheussets? Kalifornia? "Jew" York? It never ceases to amaze me which blue state gets to be the un-American flavour du jour...

Making excuses for chicago political mafia is unbecoming of you...... and it is the people living in mass that coined taxachusettes , and some blcak politicos that coined "jew york and heimy town".... but knowing which side of the isle you speak from I can laugh at your "hyperbolie".

[budgie]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=chicago+political+machine

[11 Bravo]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/search=chicago+political+machine

I would not waste my time with wkipedia - it's a source for corrupted and biased data.

[budgie]

Or lack thereof in this case.

[California Joe]

Could everyone get a little bit logical here for a minute and think that the Chief of Staff for the President elect, or the PE himself and any number of other people, have very valid and legal reasons to offer an opinion of who this whackjob douchebag might pick to fill the seat? Like maybe they want to make sure the seat isn't turned over to some sh*thead like the one picking him?

The idea that anyone of either party wouldn't offer an opinion is retarded.

[budgie]

CJ it's a conspiracy by Bill Ayers and Obama and the 'Chicago Political Machine' ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/search=...itical+machine) Everybody knows that.