GoslingLooking Up Soccer In Mongolia Right Now, ProbablyWatertown, WIRegistered Userregular
edited December 2008
Well, if we must have corruption in this country, I like it as high-profile as possible. That way everyone knows who it is and, these days, that tends to make people a bit radioactive.
Gosling on
I have a new soccer blog The Minnow Tank. Reading it psychically kicks Sepp Blatter in the bean bag.
It isn'tjustourgovernors, either. You can't get into Illinois politics if you aren't either batshit crazy or a scumbag.
So how is Obama immune or is there something we don't know about... yet. Obama's dealings with Rezko is old news but there is a real scratch my back or I'll kill you mentality in Chicago politics. You have to be naive to think that Obama and his crew are squeaky clean after all this.
So you're saying that the vocally psychotic Alan Keyes isn't a good example of how horrible Illinois politics are because he's just the willing carpet-bagger the Illinois GOP brought in after their first candidate turned out to be a sicko?
Like... that's better?
Well, it's not worse exactly.
I grew up in the Chicago burbs, and after moving out East I miss good old Illinois politics. These days New England can't do the same kind of sheer balls-to-the-wall corruption as back home. I mean, sure, Buddy Cianci in Providence, but it's not the same.
It isn'tjustourgovernors, either. You can't get into Illinois politics if you aren't either batshit crazy or a scumbag.
So how is Obama immune or is there something we don't know about... yet. Obama's dealings with Rezko is old news but there is a real scratch my back or I'll kill you mentality in Chicago politics. You have to be naive to think that Obama and his crew are squeaky clean after all this.
I mean.. when the guy says they won't give me anything but appreciation, Fuck them. And calls Obama a motherfucker..
It just seems to me that there wasn't much collusion there.
It isn'tjustourgovernors, either. You can't get into Illinois politics if you aren't either batshit crazy or a scumbag.
So how is Obama immune or is there something we don't know about... yet. Obama's dealings with Rezko is old news but there is a real scratch my back or I'll kill you mentality in Chicago politics. You have to be naive to think that Obama and his crew are squeaky clean after all this.
Nobody is going to like my answer. But.
He's kind of a carpet-bagger.
Don't get me wrong, I met the guy a couple of times when he was campaigning for his senate seat, and he always struck me as a good guy. But looking back at his career, every single move he made -- starting with moving to Chicago to become a community activist in a bad part of town -- was made with political advancement in mind. He probably didn't get entangled in Illinois politics because he knew he was just using us as a springboard for bigger and better. And good on him. I guess.
Edit: You also have to bear in mind that he played hardball even by Chicago standards, he was just a rule-lawyer dick instead of a scumbag. He'd head off the opposition by getting their names removed from the ballots. Perfectly fair and legal, but man, that's some pretty calculating shit right there.
It isn'tjustourgovernors, either. You can't get into Illinois politics if you aren't either batshit crazy or a scumbag.
So how is Obama immune or is there something we don't know about... yet. Obama's dealings with Rezko is old news but there is a real scratch my back or I'll kill you mentality in Chicago politics. You have to be naive to think that Obama and his crew are squeaky clean after all this.
I don't expect to see Obama tied up in any of this. He's always been kind of... detached when it came to state-level politics. I'm sure he's got some former staffers or people who worked on his campaign that are going to be in some hot water about this, but that's kind of unavoidable; politics is a very small world when you get to that level and everyone has been at least peripherally involved in his campaign at some point if they're a Democratic politician anywhere in the country.
Really, it comes down to the fact that Blagojevich was obviously a corrupt douchebag to anyone who spent more than two minutes in earshot of him and Obama is shrewd enough to distance himself from those types of people. You don't make it to being President elect as a black man from Chicago if you've allowed yourself to get caught up in anything remotely like this stuff from Blago. The O-man is smart enough to have known that from the start.
It isn'tjustourgovernors, either. You can't get into Illinois politics if you aren't either batshit crazy or a scumbag.
So how is Obama immune or is there something we don't know about... yet. Obama's dealings with Rezko is old news but there is a real scratch my back or I'll kill you mentality in Chicago politics. You have to be naive to think that Obama and his crew are squeaky clean after all this.
Nobody is going to like my answer. But.
He's kind of a carpet-bagger.
Don't get me wrong, I met the guy a couple of times when he was campaigning for his senate seat, and he always struck me as a good guy. But looking back at his career, every single move he made -- starting with moving to Chicago to become a community activist in a bad part of town -- was made with political advancement in mind. He probably didn't get entangled in Illinois politics because he knew he was just using us as a springboard for bigger and better. And good on him. I guess.
Edit: You also have to bear in mind that he played hardball even by Chicago standards, he was just a rule-lawyer dick instead of a scumbag. He'd head off the opposition by getting their names removed from the ballots. Perfectly fair and legal, but man, that's some pretty calculating shit right there.
Plus he went Federal, and most of our Senators have been pretty cool. Sure, Braun was corrupt as well, but look at Durbin, Simon, the other Fitzgerald. Our Senators have generally been pretty awesome. State, city, and county are the levels where everything sucks.
It isn'tjustourgovernors, either. You can't get into Illinois politics if you aren't either batshit crazy or a scumbag.
So how is Obama immune or is there something we don't know about... yet. Obama's dealings with Rezko is old news but there is a real scratch my back or I'll kill you mentality in Chicago politics. You have to be naive to think that Obama and his crew are squeaky clean after all this.
Nobody is going to like my answer. But.
He's kind of a carpet-bagger.
Don't get me wrong, I met the guy a couple of times when he was campaigning for his senate seat, and he always struck me as a good guy. But looking back at his career, every single move he made -- starting with moving to Chicago to become a community activist in a bad part of town -- was made with political advancement in mind. He probably didn't get entangled in Illinois politics because he knew he was just using us as a springboard for bigger and better. And good on him. I guess.
Edit: You also have to bear in mind that he played hardball even by Chicago standards, he was just a rule-lawyer dick instead of a scumbag. He'd head off the opposition by getting their names removed from the ballots. Perfectly fair and legal, but man, that's some pretty calculating shit right there.
If only more people out for self-advancement did it by being community organizers in bad parts of town.
It isn'tjustourgovernors, either. You can't get into Illinois politics if you aren't either batshit crazy or a scumbag.
Hey, hey, hey. Alan Keyes is not one of our guys. The IL GOP brought him in because nobody else wanted to get a public whipping. And Jack Ryan? Come on, who wouldn't want to get kinky with [Jeri Ryan]
Also, the IL Lt. Governor hasn't spoken to Blago in over a year. That seems absurd; I mean, imagine if Bush and Cheney didn't talk to one another... Actually, that's a bad example.
How alike must 2 buy/sell situations be before we compare them?
I'm still upset about no-bid contracts going to Halliburton, a company that I believe Cheney was still earning income from running when they "won" said contracts.
I heard something about him trying to blackmail a childrens hospital.
Is this actually true?
The last italicized line of widoson's OP mentioned that. He was going to withhold like 8mil because someone on the board of the hospital refused to donate to Rod's campaign.
I heard something about him trying to blackmail a childrens hospital.
Is this actually true?
If I'm remembering correctly, one of the allegations is that he threatened to withhold $8m in state funds from the children's hospital if the CEO of that hospital didn't give him $50,000.
I may have the figures wrong, but I think that's the gist of it.
I heard something about him trying to blackmail a childrens hospital.
Is this actually true?
If I'm remembering correctly, one of the allegations is that he threatened to withhold $8m in state funds from the children's hospital if the CEO of that hospital didn't give him $50,000.
I may have the figures wrong, but I think that's the gist of it.
That's right.
I love this story because the goofball can't even do this right. The dude is caught on tape ordering one of his goons to intimidate the Tribune I think. He tells the guys not to outright say what they want because people may be listening.
"Assume anyone can hear anything you say" or something like that. The dumbass doesn't even take his own advice. Do politicians believe the can't be wiretapped?
I heard something about him trying to blackmail a childrens hospital.
Is this actually true?
If I'm remembering correctly, one of the allegations is that he threatened to withhold $8m in state funds from the children's hospital if the CEO of that hospital didn't give him $50,000.
I may have the figures wrong, but I think that's the gist of it.
That's right.
I love this story because the goofball can't even do this right. The dude is caught on tape ordering one of his goons to intimidate the Tribune I think. He tells the guys not to outright say what they want because people may be listening.
"Assume anyone can hear anything you say" or something like that. The dumbass doesn't even take his own advice. Do politicians believe the can't be wiretapped?
Well, what's even worse with the Trib story is that the fact that they didn't report at all on it is an indication that Zell was thinking Blago's offer over.
I heard something about him trying to blackmail a childrens hospital.
Is this actually true?
If I'm remembering correctly, one of the allegations is that he threatened to withhold $8m in state funds from the children's hospital if the CEO of that hospital didn't give him $50,000.
I may have the figures wrong, but I think that's the gist of it.
That's right.
I love this story because the goofball can't even do this right. The dude is caught on tape ordering one of his goons to intimidate the Tribune I think. He tells the guys not to outright say what they want because people may be listening.
"Assume anyone can hear anything you say" or something like that. The dumbass doesn't even take his own advice. Do politicians believe the can't be wiretapped?
Well, what's even worse with the Trib story is that the fact that they didn't report at all on it is an indication that Zell was thinking Blago's offer over.
There's a whole slew of other reasons as to why they wouldn't report something like that.
Mithrandir86 on
0
GoslingLooking Up Soccer In Mongolia Right Now, ProbablyWatertown, WIRegistered Userregular
I heard something about him trying to blackmail a childrens hospital.
Is this actually true?
If I'm remembering correctly, one of the allegations is that he threatened to withhold $8m in state funds from the children's hospital if the CEO of that hospital didn't give him $50,000.
I may have the figures wrong, but I think that's the gist of it.
That's right.
I love this story because the goofball can't even do this right. The dude is caught on tape ordering one of his goons to intimidate the Tribune I think. He tells the guys not to outright say what they want because people may be listening.
"Assume anyone can hear anything you say" or something like that. The dumbass doesn't even take his own advice. Do politicians believe the can't be wiretapped?
GOSLING'S BIG BOOK O' POLITICAL ADVICE, TIP #517:
Eventually, everything you say in the presence of a recording device, electronic or otherwise, will find its way into public domain. Perhaps sooner than you'd like.
Gosling on
I have a new soccer blog The Minnow Tank. Reading it psychically kicks Sepp Blatter in the bean bag.
Well, what's even worse with the Trib story is that the fact that they didn't report at all on it is an indication that Zell was thinking Blago's offer over.
The pressure was applied on Zell himself, so there's no reason for the Trib to even know about it unless Zell gave in. And Blago wanted a specific editor fired. But with the last wave of firings at the Tribune, this guy somehow managed to stay on. The possibilities are that Zell either didn't get the message or just didn't give in, he might have even went to the FBI (which I think is likely because he was reticent to comment on the case when he appeared on CNBC).
I love how ppl are getting worked up about Obama not saying anything.
i mean it's an open Federal investigation is it really appropriate to stick ones nose in there?
I'm loving Hannity. "Well, there is no evidence that Obama did anything wrong. Actually, the evidence points to him having absolutely no involvement in this. But he came up in Chicago politics, he's clearly dirty!"
I heard something about him trying to blackmail a childrens hospital.
Is this actually true?
If I'm remembering correctly, one of the allegations is that he threatened to withhold $8m in state funds from the children's hospital if the CEO of that hospital didn't give him $50,000.
I may have the figures wrong, but I think that's the gist of it.
That's right.
I love this story because the goofball can't even do this right. The dude is caught on tape ordering one of his goons to intimidate the Tribune I think. He tells the guys not to outright say what they want because people may be listening.
"Assume anyone can hear anything you say" or something like that. The dumbass doesn't even take his own advice. Do politicians believe the can't be wiretapped?
Well, what's even worse with the Trib story is that the fact that they didn't report at all on it is an indication that Zell was thinking Blago's offer over.
There's a whole slew of other reasons as to why they wouldn't report something like that.
Yea, at that point the point the Feds have the deed to Blag's balls. They probably told the tribune to keep quiet and let him hang himself some more.
How alike must 2 buy/sell situations be before we compare them?
I'm still upset about no-bid contracts going to Halliburton, a company that I believe Cheney was still earning income from running when they "won" said contracts.
I suppose there might be a difference between trying to sell political favors to the highest bidder and selling political favors to someone who didn't bid at all.
I'm still upset about no-bid contracts going to Halliburton, a company that I believe Cheney was still earning income from running when they "won" said contracts.
Federal officials have all their assets placed in a blind trust when they are elected, to prevent conflicts of interest such as this. While it's possible (nee likely) that Cheney profited off of the Haliburton contracts there was really no way for him to know that one way or the other.
Posts
Confined to a tiny spit of sand, unable to escape,
But tonight, it's heavy stuff.
I love this man, by the way. Every new detail about him is more and more amusing.
So how is Obama immune or is there something we don't know about... yet. Obama's dealings with Rezko is old news but there is a real scratch my back or I'll kill you mentality in Chicago politics. You have to be naive to think that Obama and his crew are squeaky clean after all this.
Well, it's not worse exactly.
I grew up in the Chicago burbs, and after moving out East I miss good old Illinois politics. These days New England can't do the same kind of sheer balls-to-the-wall corruption as back home. I mean, sure, Buddy Cianci in Providence, but it's not the same.
IOS Game Center ID: Isotope-X
I blame the water from Lake Michigan. It's amazing they all don't look like Mohinder Suresh.
IOS Game Center ID: Isotope-X
I think if I met a younger Studs Terkel I would immediately give him a sloppy, enthusiastic blowjob on principle.
I mean.. when the guy says they won't give me anything but appreciation, Fuck them. And calls Obama a motherfucker..
It just seems to me that there wasn't much collusion there.
Nobody is going to like my answer. But.
Don't get me wrong, I met the guy a couple of times when he was campaigning for his senate seat, and he always struck me as a good guy. But looking back at his career, every single move he made -- starting with moving to Chicago to become a community activist in a bad part of town -- was made with political advancement in mind. He probably didn't get entangled in Illinois politics because he knew he was just using us as a springboard for bigger and better. And good on him. I guess.
Edit: You also have to bear in mind that he played hardball even by Chicago standards, he was just a rule-lawyer dick instead of a scumbag. He'd head off the opposition by getting their names removed from the ballots. Perfectly fair and legal, but man, that's some pretty calculating shit right there.
Really, it comes down to the fact that Blagojevich was obviously a corrupt douchebag to anyone who spent more than two minutes in earshot of him and Obama is shrewd enough to distance himself from those types of people. You don't make it to being President elect as a black man from Chicago if you've allowed yourself to get caught up in anything remotely like this stuff from Blago. The O-man is smart enough to have known that from the start.
They tried to bury us. They didn't know that we were seeds. 2018 Midterms. Get your shit together.
http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=115852&title=pill-of-rights
Plus he went Federal, and most of our Senators have been pretty cool. Sure, Braun was corrupt as well, but look at Durbin, Simon, the other Fitzgerald. Our Senators have generally been pretty awesome. State, city, and county are the levels where everything sucks.
Also, there's a lot of speculation that it was Obama (or his staff) that dropped the dime on Blago. Artist's rendition:
They tried to bury us. They didn't know that we were seeds. 2018 Midterms. Get your shit together.
If only more people out for self-advancement did it by being community organizers in bad parts of town.
How so?
Was Bush caught selling Senate seats?!? AGAIN?!?
Jack Ryan ruined Jack Ryan's good name.
Also, the IL Lt. Governor hasn't spoken to Blago in over a year. That seems absurd; I mean, imagine if Bush and Cheney didn't talk to one another... Actually, that's a bad example.
I'm still upset about no-bid contracts going to Halliburton, a company that I believe Cheney was still earning income from running when they "won" said contracts.
Is this actually true?
Children's Memorial Hospital. It's a research hospital and pretty much the place in the midwest for pediatrics more complicated than a fever.
At this point, calling Blago scum is an insult to good, respectible, God-fearing scum the world over.
If I'm remembering correctly, one of the allegations is that he threatened to withhold $8m in state funds from the children's hospital if the CEO of that hospital didn't give him $50,000.
I may have the figures wrong, but I think that's the gist of it.
That's right.
I love this story because the goofball can't even do this right. The dude is caught on tape ordering one of his goons to intimidate the Tribune I think. He tells the guys not to outright say what they want because people may be listening.
"Assume anyone can hear anything you say" or something like that. The dumbass doesn't even take his own advice. Do politicians believe the can't be wiretapped?
Well, what's even worse with the Trib story is that the fact that they didn't report at all on it is an indication that Zell was thinking Blago's offer over.
There's a whole slew of other reasons as to why they wouldn't report something like that.
Eventually, everything you say in the presence of a recording device, electronic or otherwise, will find its way into public domain. Perhaps sooner than you'd like.
i mean it's an open Federal investigation is it really appropriate to stick ones nose in there?
I'm loving Hannity. "Well, there is no evidence that Obama did anything wrong. Actually, the evidence points to him having absolutely no involvement in this. But he came up in Chicago politics, he's clearly dirty!"
Yea, at that point the point the Feds have the deed to Blag's balls. They probably told the tribune to keep quiet and let him hang himself some more.
I suppose there might be a difference between trying to sell political favors to the highest bidder and selling political favors to someone who didn't bid at all.
That is so win.
So majorly win.
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Federal officials have all their assets placed in a blind trust when they are elected, to prevent conflicts of interest such as this. While it's possible (nee likely) that Cheney profited off of the Haliburton contracts there was really no way for him to know that one way or the other.