Welcome To Chicago - See You In November

Columnist John Kass of the Chicago Tribune welcomes Stanley Kurtz to Chicago and laughs at the idea that Kurtz will get ahold of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge archives linking Obama and Ayers before the election.

The relationship between the ambitious Obama and the unrepentant Ayers is a subject that excites Republicans, who haven't really thwacked that pinata as hard as they might. It really irritates Obama and his political champion, Chicago's sovereign lord, Mayor Richard M. Daley.

"This is a public entity," Kurtz told us Wednesday. "I don't understand how confidentiality of the donor would be an issue."

You don't understand, Mr. Kurtz? Allow me to explain. The secret is hidden in the name of the library:

The Richard J. Daley Library.

Eureka!

The Richard J. Daley Library doesn't want nobody nobody sent. And Richard J.'s son, Shortshanks, is now the mayor.

Hard to believe that with our aggressive national media covering a Presidential campaign that Obama and Daley could mange this cover-up in plain sight.  Yeah, real hard.

VERY INTERESTING:  Mata Harley at Flopping Aces is trying to reason backwards, figuring someone at the Annenberg Foundation ought to be in charge.

Well - I bet they don't want their reputation sullied, so they may be able to influence events (but one quick hint of their predilections would be to see which board members are donors to Obama.)

However - IANAL but my guess is that legally the Chicago Annenberg Challenge was a separate legal entity with a separate board and another successor group.  The archives would have been in the possession of who - the Secretary?  Obama was a former chairman and current board member by the time the Challenge folded; he could surely find out who the donor is, but very probably is not the donor.  Ken Rolling, Executive Director, would be a good candidate.

This 2003 return tells us the Chicago Annenberg Challenge dissolved as of Jan 30, 2002 and transferred $68,500.55 to the Chicago Public Education Fund.

Ken Rolling signed the tax return as Executive Director. 

The article of dissolution was signed by Victoria Chou as Secretary and Edward Bottum as President.  The officers and directors are listed on pages 20-21.  Ms. Chou is a Dean in the College of Education at the University of Illinois, Chicago.  For whatever reason, Mr. Bottum does not appear.

OK, for my money, Ken Rolling and Ms. Chou are the two people most likely to have ended up in possession of the archives, which were not specifically mentioned in the resolution of dissolution.  Although to laymen possession is nine/tenths of the law, I doubt that mere possession would make either Rolling or Chou the "owner" in a legal sense.

Both Ken Rolling and Victoria Chou are currently on the Leadership Council of the Chicago Public Education Fund, the successor to the Chicago Annenberg Challenge.  From the 2001 report I see Barack Obama, Ken Rolling, and Edward Bottum on the leadership council (along with Thomas and John Ayers).

Rolling, Bottum and Chou know the donor or one of them is the donor.  IMHO.  And I am not a lawyer but I don't see how they can claim with a straight face to "own" these archives in a way that would allow them to be kept from the public.

I imagine they will be getting some phone calls from our eager press corps.

MORE:  Amy Ridenour of the National Center for Public Policy Research thinks the archives are owned by the successor entity, the Chicago Public Education Fund.

STILL MORE:  Amusing faux-solidarity from the LA Times blog coverage:

School seals records on Obama's service with radical Ayers

These annoying journalists are at it again, trying to poke around into papers in the background of candidates' lives. This time it involves freshman Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, his friend and former radical activist William Ayers and the University of Illinois.

Right, journalists have been pushing this story hard.  Later we will read "The Little Red Hen".

But to be fair, the LA Times goes above and beyond by showing the classic photo of Bill Ayers tromping on an American flag.

FOR THE TO-DO LIST:  Here is a listing of the grant recipients from the Chicago Annenberg Challenge.  Anyone spot anything?

IN THE FAIRWAY:  The WSJ blog plays the Ayers story straight.

 

Comments

[JM hanes]

I suspect that whoever showed up with a truck first probably took possession of the files -- and made arrangements for their "preservation" by the library, It would look like a perfectly normal transaction designed to protect [wink,nod] the record -- which might even have originally been intended or expected by the "donor" to remain conveniently unprocessed till the '08 elections were over, if not permanently.

The idea that a successor organization would transfer ownership of would likely be very useful records in their possession strikes me as unlikely, but that doesn't qualify as a particularly well informed opinion. Even if they were hard pressed for space, a transfer wouldn't make much sense unless it included ongoing access. OTOH, some sort of access could conceivably be a reason for the processing which clearly occurred, but which perhaps was not intended to facilitate public access to the pile -- something of which the librarian Kurtz dealt might not have been aware, if she were not really in the loop.

Just thinking out loud and enjoying the coolest part of the southern day. Good morning to all (including Elliott who seems to have gone missing!) and Ciao.

[Elliott]

Still here, and there.

Good morning, JMH and early rising crew.

[pagar]

Good Morning to All!

Here's hoping we have another exciting day with more NoObama news.

[clarice]

Good morning--toothache kept me awake and I was grateful for all the late late night, early early morning company here.

[Cecil Turner]

This is hilarious, and eerily reminiscent of the Swift Vet coverage: the MSM trying to spike a story--until forced to cover it--and the very coverup adding fuel to the fire. Having the media in the tank for a particular party or candidate is inimical to the democratic process . . . and the voters understand this viscerally. Besides, nobody likes being manipulated by "their betters." I predict the MSM's lack of curiousity on some of Obama's less-than-attractive features is going to blow up on them, here and elsewhere.

[Chuck C]

At this point, I think it would be better if the records are not released. My guess is they are being given a thorough scrub down as we speak. 132 boxes will turn into 132 pages. In Chicago, you can't win against the Democrat Political Machine.

On a side note, I am guessing there will be a mysterious hut fire in Nairobi and Obama's brother "George" will become unaccessible as well. The only evidence left behind will be the crust remnants from a Chicago style deep dish pizza.

[Pofarmer]

Ya know, according to an article linked in another thread(I could be more vague, but, heh.)anyway, the main function of the CAC was funneling money to Local School Board races. 150 million is an awful lot of money for electing school board members.

[Jane]

My goodness you guys are busy in the middle of the night!

[BumperStickerist]

It's at times like this that I miss Mike Royko.
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[Semanticleo]

I guess Bush is going to agree to a TIMETABLE (GRRRRRR!)for a 2011 withdrawal from Iraq.

Kevin Drum has some interesting thoughts.

"This is very good news for Democrats. It means that our eventual withdrawal from Iraq will not only be a bipartisan action, it will have been the creation of a Republican president. This is going to make it almost impossible for conservatives to ramp up any kind of serious stab-in-the-back narrative against anti-war liberals.

Basic Obama spin: "I'm glad to see that President Bush has finally come around to my view etc. etc." This ought to be a big win for him: he visits Iraq, meets with Nouri al-Maliki, gets Maliki's endorsement for a near-term troop withdrawal, and then gets to applaud as President Bush signs on."

Wonder what Cap'n Ahab is gonna say?

[rhodeymark]

It's not like they wasted all the money. The docs said they transferred the princely sum of $50k to the succeeding organization. Turning nine figures (poof!) into five - keep the Change (You Can Believe In).

[Captain Hate]

Having the media in the tank for a particular party or candidate is inimical to the democratic process . . . and the voters understand this viscerally.

One of the bigger dangers of a donk controlled government, particularly with a stacked Supreme Court, would be that a national "shield law" that the MSM has been stumping for would be passed. It's hard to believe that their coverage could be any worse with that in place, but I can do without finding that out.

[Marilyn J]

The "timetable" is dependent on conditions on the ground. So basically no real timetable. Plus Iraq is old news anyway. Iraq is low on issue list, plus Barack already lost on the surge point, so he won't bring it up.

Russia is up next. And who is best to confront that problem a seasoned war vet or a failed community activist?

[Fat Man]

The records are not being scrubbed -- they have been shredded, and the shredded stuff was burned.

[The Other Ed]

I'm amused to see the hysteria over records that you don't even know contain anything of any interest. What, the kerning on the Obama Birth Certificate didn't work out for you?

[Ranger]

I'm amused to see the hysteria over records that you don't even know contain anything of any interest. What, the kerning on the Obama Birth Certificate didn't work out for you?

Posted by: The Other Ed | August 21, 2008 at 08:56 AM

And I am amused to see how the same people who see an evil intent behind everything one party does, can turn around and see nothing wrong with documents that were available for public research suddenly withdrawn and hidden from public view when a reporter from a conservative publication is granted access to them. No, I can see how that wouldn't raise any questions at all in somebody's mind (as long as you have the correct ideological filter in place).

[willis]

"I'm amused to see the hysteria over records that you don't even know contain anything of any interest..."

Glad to see we can provide you with a little entertainment Ed. If the hysteria bothers you just release the records. Surely, they've been sanitized by now, what with them being in the possession of far-left progressive Chicago democrats. What can you lose?

[The Ace]

This is very good news for Democrats

Hilarious.

Except for the 5+ years of on the record comments saying they were "tricked" into voting for the war in the first place.

And, except for the 1+ years of on the record comments saying not only would "the surge" not work, it wasn't working, and trying to cut off funding for it.

You people are an embarrassment to anyone with an actual brain.

[Pofarmer]

I'm amused to see the hysteria over records that you don't even know contain anything of any interest. What, the kerning on the Obama Birth Certificate didn't work out for you?

I would simply like to note that a non-forged birth certificate has not yet been produced.

[The Ace]

This is going to make it almost impossible for conservatives to ramp up any kind of serious stab-in-the-back narrative against anti-war liberals

Is this what you simpletons tell yourselves every morning to pretend your ideas are popular with the average American or something?

[Semanticleo]

"Hilarious."

*nervous laughter track*

[Pofarmer]

One of the bigger dangers of a donk controlled government, particularly with a stacked Supreme Court, would be that a national "shield law" that the MSM has been stumping for would be passed. It's hard to believe that their coverage could be any worse with that in place, but I can do without finding that out.

Add in the fairness doctrine and gets spookier yet.

[Appalled]

Semanticleo:

A timetable agreed to by both sides under the circumstances is actually a very nice thing. It probably binds Obama to staying until the close of the period, if things are not so bad that it is generating stories in the US. It binds McCain to leaving at the close of the period, if Iraq has settled down (like it seems to be doing). And nobody can really complain because this has been agreed to by old Mr. Steadfast himself.

As for the politics? I think this actually takes Iraq off the table in the campaign. That has benefits for both sides. Obama wins as his campaign can focus on the economy and domestic concerns. McCain wins, to a certain extent, because the consequences of his bellicose foreign policy beliefs will not be in the news every day.

So -- both campaigns can claim victory. Iraq can claim victory. And the president can puzzle out how he manged to get something right for a change.

[michaelt]

tic,

There is a bit of difference between saving the patient and then leaving, and abandoning the patient (in a closet, perhaps) to fend for itself.

[Pofarmer]

See, Ace, leaving after we've won, is analogous to cutting and running in the middle to the avg Lefty.

Oh, and did I mention the Broken Military?

[MikeS]

Annenberg/Obamagate has taught us a lot about Obama, even before we have seen the records.
We have learned that Obama will try to deceive, misdirect, and stonewall us. That is awful, but not as awful as his policy prescriptions.

[The Ace]

This is going to make it almost impossible for conservatives to ramp up any kind of serious stab-in-the-back narrative against anti-war liberals

Really?

The Senate rejected Democratic- backed legislation that calls for U.S. troops to be withdrawn from Iraq just hours after a House panel approved a plan to bring the troops home. ... Bush met today with Iraq's Vice President Adil abdel Mahdi at the White House, where he told the Iraqi leader that U.S. troop reinforcements will ``give leaders such as yourself the opportunity to do the hard work of reconciliation.''

In liberal land I guess the saying goes, we were wrong before we were right!

Or something.

[The Ace]

*nervous laughter track*

Don't worry clown, you don't have an answer.

[Semanticleo]

"both campaigns can claim victory"

Do you think the negotiated deal trades troop immunity for repayment to US? IOW, the $79 Billion (Oil budget surplus) tax increase for the average american?

[Charlie (Colorado)]

So -- both campaigns can claim victory. Iraq can claim victory. And the president can puzzle out how he manged to get something right for a change.

And you guys can keep averting your eyes from things like the "What Bush did right" newsweek cover. And Bush's popularity increasing again. And try not tto think of whether you're really going to be able to make a government shutdown over preventing oil drilling look like a good thing.

Above all, don't wonder how it is that simpleton managed to generally have his way with you for eight years.

[Semanticleo]

"that simpleton managed to generally have his way with you for eight years."

I don't wonder, what, with the impressive list of enablers who've kept him right where they want. (useful idiot.)

[Great Banana]

Do you think the negotiated deal trades troop immunity for repayment to US?

You mean troop immunity from Iraqi prosecution I assume - since troops aren't immune from prosecution under the UCMJ? I doubt it - I certainly hope they would never do that and can't imagine they would.

IOW, the $79 Billion (Oil budget surplus) tax increase for the average american?

What? It's a tax increase to U.S. taxpayers now in your mind for the U.S. not to simply take another country's natural resources?

I would love for Iraq to pay more to the U.S. to cover our expenses, but your use of language is silly.

[Great Banana]

Add me to the impressive list of enablers - although I must confess, Bush has done a lot of things I disagree with. Unfortunatley for people like Cleo, it only counts if I disagree with Bush in the same way he disagrees with Bush.

In other words, in a leftist's mind I am a Bushbot b/c I don't spout the left line, even as I disagree strenuously with Bush from the right (i.e., Harriet Meiers, Immigration Reform, No Child Left Behind, Medicare Plan B, Campaign Finance Reform, failure to secure borders, etc.).

Imagine that.

[Appalled]

Charlie:

Yes, I will be enjoying that budget deficit and debt and dollar in the dumpster (most all due to funding Iraq wars and tax cuts and perscription drug benefits) for years and years to come.

[Jane]

Obama wins as his campaign can focus on the economy and domestic concerns

Not sure that's gonna help him too much. He's getting creamed on infanticide, he's hiding from drilling, he's dreaming about a single payer health insurance plan, the Ayers stuff is rising to the surface and it's becoming clear he would tax us into oblivion. I suspect that's the last thing his campaign wants to talk about.

The only thing he's got is all that hopey changey stuff. And I think that's run its course.

[GMax]

Can anyone explain to me why unless you are traveling abroad, that you should give a fig about the dollar being lower in value today or tomorrow? So freakin what?

If it triggers a bunch of exports from here to there and reduces the trade deficit, is that a good thing or a bad thing?

How does it impact you individually?

[Danube of Thought]

"Wonder what Cap'n Ahab is gonna say?"

I think McCain will say "Barack Obama introduced legislation which, had it passed, would have required all US troops to be out of Iraq by March, 2008. If Barack Obama's legislation had passed, the US would have lost a war it is now going to win, with catastrophic results for Iraqis and the entire Middle East. And to this day, Barack Obama has never acknowledged the success of the Surge, and has never identified victory as his goal in Iraq. He lacks the judgment to be commander-in-chief."

[M. Simon]

I'm amused to see the hysteria over records that you don't even know contain anything of any interest. What, the kerning on the Obama Birth Certificate didn't work out for you?

Posted by: The Other Ed

Hiding stuff always makes it more interesting. I thought Democrats knew that. Been following the Edwards saga lately?

However, there are enough of the records cached to create a very smokey fire. Then the speculation will begin. The speculation will always be worse than the truth. Because you can make shit up.

[pagar]

The enablers who are most responsible for Pres Bush, IMO are the Democrat political leaders, they could have ran Americans who believed in America, instead they ran John Kerry. Now they have apparently found someone who likes America even less. Someone, who like John Kerry, believes "We cannot Win"

[kim]

Heh, Semi, it was bait and switch. You were baited with an unwinnable war, then when you committed to an extreme anti-war candidate, poof, the war goes away. Suckers.
===================================

[Appalled]

GMax:

It's inflationary -- and if you hadn't npoticed, the inflation indicators have been a little 70s-like lately.

[plutosdad]

I would think that Democrats upset at the President invoking presidential privilege would be all over Daley/Ayers/Obama and angry at Obama for allowing this coverup. Isn't the coverup worse than the crime? Don't the people have a right to know? What about all those slogans I keep hearing from the Left when it's dirt on Republicans they want?

[M. Simon]

dollar in the dumpster

You aren't keeping up my man.

Dollar Up Gold Down

“The U.S. dollar has recently begun to show initial signs of strength as the fundamental picture for the dollar has improved substantially in recent weeks, Goldman Sachs reports, adding that “as the dollar is now expected to strengthen…we are lowering our gold price forecast.”

[kim]

The way Obama has handled crises within his campaign does not auger well for any administration he might head. An executive would deal swiftly and definitively with things like Wright, COLB, and Ayers. That he has merely hoped to manipulate around the situations is a devastating critique of Operations ability; that he could not foresee that these things might become problems is a fatal condemnation of his Executive capacity.

What a big time loser. Oops, hush your mouth, kim, for at least another week.
=================================

[plutosdad]

"here are enough of the records cached to create a very smokey fire"

I would not be surprised if there is literally a fire. It would not be the first time records got caught on fire that helped protect politicians in Illinois:

http://cms.firehouse.com/web/online/News/Chicago-Fire-Department-Says-Burn-Patterns-Point-To-Human-Cause-Of-Deadly-High-Rise-Fire-/46$32244

[plutosdad]

oops maybe this will work:
href="http://cms.firehouse.com/web/online/News/Chicago-Fire-Department-Says-Burn-Patterns-Point-To-Human-Cause-Of-Deadly-High-Rise-Fire-/46$32244" fire"

[bio mom]

I don't thing the trade deficit or the value of the dollar really resonates with the American electorate as a voting issue.

[sbw]

Appalled: dollar in the dumpster

Appalled, you have poor data, and a very strange ledger:
-- The dollar index closed at an eleven month high against other currencies.
-- And you do not factor in the real costs of Saddam's proven support of exporting terror, the real costs of the failing attempts to box him in, the potential costs of increasing instability in the middle east, the... oh, what's the point in continuing to list how we're better off. You're wrong.

[Jane]

And to this day, Barack Obama has never acknowledged the success of the Surge

DOT,

He acknowledged it yesterday to the VFW.

"Let's be clear, our troops have completed every mission they've been given," Mr. Obama said at the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Orlando, Fla., where the likely Democratic presidential nominee courted military voters who are expected to play a pivotal role in several swing states. "They have created the space for political reconciliation."

LUN via Glenn

[sbw]

Appalled: the inflation indicators have been a little 70s-like lately.

Sigh. Wrong, again. M2 Growth Suggests 1970s Inflation Won't Return

How many fish are there in this barrel?