We noted yesterday that Steve Diamond, who has been leading the charge on the Obama/Ayers/Chicago Annenberg Challenge story, had received documents indicating that Ken Rolling, an Obama associate and former Executive Director of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, had attempted to prevent disclosure of some of the files.
Today the Chicago Tribune picks up the story, assuring us that Ken Rolling's requests were denied:
The Chicago Annenberg Challenge turned over all of its documents to be archived in the Richard J. Daley Library at the university in 2001, but last month university officials balked when it received a request from National Review magazine reporter Stanley Kurtz to review the files. The university initially said it temporarily blocked that request in order to do an inquiry into the circumstances of the gift of the records.
...U. of I. spokesman Thomas Hardy confirmed that the university first closed the document collection after being contacted Aug. 11 by Rolling.
Rolling subsequently asked the university not to release several of the charity's files, including records outlining its search for an executive director. In an Aug. 23 e-mail, Rolling said he was concerned about the "confidential nature of some documents" in the grant files.
But university officials said that despite the request by Rolling, none of the documents were withheld when the university reopened the documents to public inspection Aug. 26.
"Absolutely, unequivocally not," said UIC lawyer Thomas Bearrows when asked whether the university had bowed to any of Rolling's requests.
According to minutes from a December 2001 charity board meeting reviewed by the Tribune, board members agreed to turn the files over to UIC with the understanding they could oversee access for up to five years.
Bearrows said it was his review of those board minutes that led to the university's decision to open the collection.
That actually sounds plausible - I can understand the library wanting to pause and assure themselves of their legal footing before wading into controversy. Steve Diamond gets props at the end:
The discussions between Rolling and university officials had been sought by Jason Wilcox, 26, a law student at the University of Chicago, and they became public when he provided the information on Saturday to a California law professor, Stephen Diamond, who has been blogging about the controversy.
A spokesman for the Obama campaign said Monday that it had never had any discussions with university officials about the Annenberg collection.
I love that "denial" from the Obama campaign - they "never had any discussions with university officials about the Annenberg collection". Fine, but did anyone from the campaign talk to Ken Rolling or (LOL) Bill Ayers? Seems like an obvious follow-up, so let's fault the Trib for not asking (or for not printing the response).
And let's toss in a timeline question - Kurtz went public with the library's evasions on August 18. By his account Mr. Kurtz had been in discussions with the library and had made an appointment to view the documents prior to the 18th.
So why did Mr. Rolling contact the library on the 11th? Was his spider sense tingling? Or did someone at the library mention to him that the Annenberg Challenge files were in play? One might think that the library spokesperson could address the question of whether someone from the library contacted Mr. Rolling, thereby precipitating his call.
Rolling subsequently asked the university not to release several of the charity's files, including records outlining its search for an executive director.
Hmmmm... Might there have been some discussion about the ineffectiveness of the chairman or closeness of the chairman to Bill Ayers, who was suggesting grant recipients?
Posted by: Ranger | September 09, 2008 at 11:19 AM
I doubt it official minutes rarely are so detailed and filled with problematic things.
Posted by: clarice | September 09, 2008 at 11:48 AM
There's ass covering going on here somewhere. And what about the call to the Annenberg Foundation?
National Reivew should be very proud. Just the idea that they were sending someone apparently struck fear into the heart of Chicago.
Posted by: JM Hanes | September 09, 2008 at 11:51 AM
Maybe questions on the qualifications of Obama to be the chairman. The subject was education, after all, right?
Posted by: Caro | September 09, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Here and education story with Obama .. leave a comment
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/09/barack-obama-fu.html?cid=129803308#comments
Posted by: Neo | September 09, 2008 at 11:58 AM
Rolling contributed to Obama in 2004, but I see no 2007-08 contributions for Obama, per the fec system.
Posted by: samson | September 09, 2008 at 12:10 PM
I think--and it's just my guess because I'm writing this up for PM and thinking about it--that the folks involved had enough sense to know that work was not a feather in Obama's cap and instinctively tried to hide what they could.(No feather in U of I's cap either.)
Posted by: clarice | September 09, 2008 at 12:25 PM
DAYTON, OHIO -- At the beginning of his remarks on education Tuesday, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., joked about taking his daughters to the first day of school yesterday. Talking to the teacher of his oldest daughter, Malia, he asked what happens in 5th grade.
"Boys," the teacher said.
Obama joked that wasn't the answer her was looking for. But he explained that "one of the benefits of running for president is we have Secret Service around here at all times. And they have guns at all times."
-----------
Today, for the first time in my life, I am really proud of Obama.
Posted by: has-been | September 09, 2008 at 12:28 PM
And, right on cue, here comes http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/09/in-a-not-remote.html>Bill Ayers to try and explain his "we didn't do enough" comment from September 2001.
Note that he continues the lie about not wanting to kill people.
Via Hot Air.
Posted by: Ranger | September 09, 2008 at 12:29 PM
• In spring of 2004, the Daily News reported that you cited family considerations in deciding not to try for the U.S. Senate: "How could I be the team mom if I was a U.S. senator?" What was different this time as you decided to run for vice president?
• If you were a fully qualified vice-presidential candidate from the get-go, why did you wait more than 10 days to face reporters?
• McCain spokesman Rick Davis told Fox News the media didn't show you enough "deference." How much deference do you expect to get from Vladimir Putin or Hugo Chavez?
• You have said victory is in sight in Iraq. In July 2007, when you visited Kuwait, you said, "I'm not going to judge the surge." In the March 2007 issue of Alaska Business Monthly, you were asked about the surge and quoted saying:
"I've been so focused on state government, I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq. . . . While I support our president, Condoleezza Rice and the administration, I want to know that we have an exit plan in place."
Define "victory" in Iraq? What is the exit plan?
BOTTOM LINE: The nation deserves to hear Palin's unfiltered answers to serious questions.
http://www.adn.com/opinion/view/story/520272.html
Posted by: baked alaska | September 09, 2008 at 12:41 PM
But he explained that "one of the benefits of running for president is we have Secret Service around here at all times. And they have guns at all times."
But he doesn't want others to have the right to own guns to protect themselves. Hunting and target shooting are okay though.
Posted by: DebinNC | September 09, 2008 at 12:47 PM
Wow, the Anchorage Daily News is full of closet Democrats. Who'd a thunk it?
I'd be a lot more impressed with those penetrating questions if they showed similar interest in the qualifications of the man at the top of the D ticket. Since they don't . . .
Posted by: Cecil Turner | September 09, 2008 at 01:01 PM
Does anyone else have any ideas other than what I suggested as an explanation for Rollings' move to block the release of these records? I'd really value the input of your shrewdies.
Posted by: clarice | September 09, 2008 at 01:03 PM
On topic, I'm not too sure why I should be concerned that the library may have called the donor to check on access stuff. Seems to me they probably ought to.
Absent some actual evidence in the files (or evidence something was removed), this isn't terribly compelling.
Stanley Kurtz's claims on the WGN radio program (essentially that money was funneled to lefty programs that provided indoctrination, with little connection to actual education) were very interesting. That's the connection I'd like to see explored.
Posted by: Cecil Turner | September 09, 2008 at 01:05 PM
The search for executive director may contain info Rollings has issue with the general public knowing since Rollings got the job as CAC's executive director. His salary is on record via the tax returns.
Perhaps his objections are based on information about himself, job history, experience, income, etc. He wouldn't be the first person to fudge a resume.
Posted by: bad | September 09, 2008 at 01:05 PM
Baked Alaska:
1. I think you only get to ask question 1 if you can ask the same question to Obama (who has two small children and a wife on the endless campaign trail). "Family" being off limits is a better answer.
2. Given the nature of the press reception, and the really ugly nature of some of the questions, she has an excuse for staying out. (I'm sure watching Ms. Palin whack a reporter with a hockey stick after the umpteenth tough, relevent question on whether she's willing to submit a dna sample to prove all her kids are hers would have been edifying.) The real answer is that media scrutiny on Palin makes all of her first appearences quite positive for the McCain campaign.
3. That's actually a good question, but its far more of a softball than you think. I'm sure Gibson will ask a question like that in his interview, and the answer will be knocked out of the park.
4. I don't think this a bad question, but Palin can certainly give a "circumstances have changed" answer in the same way the Obama has answered similar questions.
Posted by: Appalled | September 09, 2008 at 01:10 PM
Rolling also told the Tribune he is thinking of suing to block the documents that Kurtz is using for a story.
The Tribune was also told that someone else accessed the records this past summer.
Rolling said he saw reports about CAC records on the web and unilaterally called UIC. But the only reports all summer about the CAC records were mine based on what I clearly identified as CAC records provided by Brown University not UIC.
However, soon after I posted my analysis on June 18 based on those records Brown stopped answering my email inquiries, while until then they had been very responsive.
I have now asked them if they were also contacted by anyone associated with the CAC.
Posted by: Steve Diamond | September 09, 2008 at 01:13 PM
I want to categorically deny that anyone died in Obama's office while he was chairman of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge.
Posted by: Neo | September 09, 2008 at 01:16 PM
Thanks, bad and Cecil. Of course every institution is different but I' ve binvolved in searches for school heads and the resumes never made it to the minutes. Committees reviewed that, made recommendations based on their reviews and interviews etc and the minutes would reflect only that the committee made its report, there was discussion and a vote.
Posted by: clarice | September 09, 2008 at 01:18 PM
Faked Alaskan,
" In spring of 2004, the Daily News reported that you cited family considerations in deciding not to try for the U.S. Senate: "How could I be the team mom if I was a U.S. senator?" What was different this time as you decided to run for vice president?"
She talked it over with her family and they said "Go for it Mom" Her son said "If I serve I want you as VP,someone I can trust"
" If you were a fully qualified vice-presidential candidate from the get-go, why did you wait more than 10 days to face reporters?"
It isn't like burger flipping school,you dont just walk out a start burger flipping,there are policy issue to discuss,paperwork to attend to.
" McCain spokesman Rick Davis told Fox News the media didn't show you enough "deference." How much deference do you expect to get from Vladimir Putin or Hugo Chavez?"
The media aren't heads of state,simply gossip merchants,rumour mongers and pimps of human misery.
" You have said victory is in sight in Iraq. In July 2007, when you visited Kuwait, you said, "I'm not going to judge the surge." In the March 2007 issue of Alaska Business Monthly, you were asked about the surge and quoted saying:
"I've been so focused on state government, I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq. . . . While I support our president, Condoleezza Rice and the administration, I want to know that we have an exit plan in place."
Sensible woman,rather than play at toy soldiers like General Community Organiser Obama,Sarah Palin seeks knowledge.
"Define "victory" in Iraq? What is the exit plan?"
Define defeat.Sarah Palin was asking about the exit plan,or had you not noticed?
"BOTTOM LINE: The nation deserves to hear Palin's unfiltered answers to serious questions."
Did you not notice that Sarah Palin is standing for Vice President,in that position her policies will no doubt mirror those of the president.
Posted by: PeterUK | September 09, 2008 at 01:18 PM
Here's my question: Why is Stanley Kurtz the first reporter to try to dig into these files? Where are Time, the NYT, Newsweek, Dateline, 60 Minutes? How come every major news organization can send a reporter to Wasilla within a week of Palin being announced, but can't go to Chicago for over a year?
Posted by: MartyH | September 09, 2008 at 01:19 PM
Steve, Do you have any thoughts you'd like to share on why the library and or Rollings is trying to block access/publication of these records?
Posted by: clarice | September 09, 2008 at 01:20 PM
Steve,
Thanks for the comment. To me this just seems very odd. I'll grant that I have no experience with this part of academic libraries, but it would seem that they would be donated specifically to *provide* access.
Also, how is it that Brown had the CAC documentation? Because that is where the Annenberg Challenge was hosted originally?
Posted by: DrJ | September 09, 2008 at 01:21 PM
Good question, MartyH.
Posted by: MayBee | September 09, 2008 at 01:21 PM
Well, it wasn't just the hiring of Rolling, it was the entire search process. That would indicate what specific things they were looking for in such a person and who was not hired and possibly why. I have a feeling there were some pretty strong ideological considerations about views on educaiton reform that lead to this particular hire. Perhapse, given the subsiquent failure of the project, they would prefer not to expose just how wrong they were on educaiton reform at the time.
Posted by: Ranger | September 09, 2008 at 01:21 PM
I had the same thought, Ranger.
Posted by: DrJ | September 09, 2008 at 01:23 PM
Here - let me try and make it easy for the 2nd grader -
In spring of 2004, the Daily News reported that you cited family considerations in deciding not to try for the U.S. Senate: "How could I be the team mom if I was a U.S. senator?" What was different this time as you decided to run for vice president?
It's been four years since that remark, my children are now older and more independent, and our family decided together we could make this work. I am honored to show the world that yes, working Moms matter
If you were a fully qualified vice-presidential candidate from the get-go, why did you wait more than 10 days to face reporters?
Being a student of Journalism, I am well aware of "reporters" motives. There is no rulebook as to when or if a VP candidate must "face" reporters.
McCain spokesman Rick Davis told Fox News the media didn't show you enough "deference." How much deference do you expect to get from Vladimir Putin or Hugo Chavez?
As the Vice President of the United States I expect to be treated with the same deference and respect as the 40 or so previous Vice Presidents were treated by foreign heads of state.
You have said victory is in sight in Iraq. In July 2007, when you visited Kuwait, you said, "I'm not going to judge the surge." In the March 2007 issue of Alaska Business Monthly, you were asked about the surge and quoted saying:
"I've been so focused on state government, I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq. . . . While I support our president, Condoleezza Rice and the administration, I want to know that we have an exit plan in place."
Define "victory" in Iraq? What is the exit plan?
Firstly, what we cannot and I will not do is define an Exit Plan that terrorists or other entities that wish harm on the Iraqi's or the US can blue print off of. Victory in Iraq means that good triumphs over evil - and as you can see (if you follow milbloggers and/or other mediums that factually report on our Iraqi progress) we are taking more and more victorious steps every day.
"baked" being a definitve identifier of said commenter.
Posted by: Enlightened | September 09, 2008 at 01:28 PM
As long as we're asking questions, my googlefu is busted and I can't find out what institution conferred a doctorate upon Michael Klonsky (whose bio has been scrubbed from the Small Schools site). He also presents himself as being on the faculty at UIC but I can't find him in the Ed department. Ayers is easy to find but Klonsky is a little obscure.
What were the qualifications that made him acceptable as a CAC grant recipient? Aside from being a commie, of course.
Posted by: Rick Ballard | September 09, 2008 at 01:36 PM
He drove a cab and therefore qualified as an expert on transportation, interfacing with traffic lights and geography, Rick.
Posted by: clarice | September 09, 2008 at 01:40 PM
What were the qualifications that made him acceptable as a CAC grant recipient?
Clearly he wrote an outstanding grant application. (*grin*) What on earth would his education have to do with an application for education?
Posted by: DrJ | September 09, 2008 at 01:40 PM
Rick,
This is from the FreeRepublic, so I have no idea if it right or not:
"Mike Klonsky, a Chicago cab driver who had earned a Ph.D. in education from the University of South Florida..."
Posted by: DrJ | September 09, 2008 at 01:42 PM
I think the thing that's important about Klonsky is that he shows just how corrupt the Chicago machine is. Bill Ayers got a nice teaching job at UIC and his wife (Dorhn) got a slot in a high powered law firm, then shifted over to North Western when the state denied her law license because Daddy Ayers was friends with the old Mayor Daley. Klonsky ended up driving a cab because no one would hire him due to his radical past, even though it was less violent than Ayers and Dorhn. Everyone knew who Bill Ayers was, but they gave him a pass because no one would buck the corrupt system. When Obama came in contact with this corruption, he didn't reject it, he befriended it.
Posted by: Ranger | September 09, 2008 at 01:49 PM
Univ of South Fla, was that were Sami Al Arian was hanging out? I assume its in Ft Myers?
Posted by: GMax | September 09, 2008 at 01:58 PM
GMax
LUN on Sami.
Posted by: bad | September 09, 2008 at 02:04 PM
It appears that Klonsky took a sabbatical to Nova Southeastern University (in Florida); at least that's how I would gauge the "visiting professor" title. The announcement may be of some interest:
Link
Posted by: DrJ | September 09, 2008 at 02:06 PM
Info on Sami Al-arian LUN
Posted by: bad | September 09, 2008 at 02:06 PM
GMax-
Univ of South Fla, was that were Sami Al Arian was hanging out?
Yes and its in Tampa. al-Arian wasn't the only problem there in the 80's and 90's. I was looking for his CV, but coming up empty, but his undergraduate was at Cal State Northridge.
If he went to USF, they would have a record of his dissertation...
Posted by: RichatUF | September 09, 2008 at 02:09 PM
And that dissertation title should be accessible electronically through the library, if the FL universities are like they are here in CA. RichatUF -- want to give it a go?
Posted by: DrJ | September 09, 2008 at 02:12 PM
Clarice --
Steve hasn't answered yet, but according to his updated post, this jumps out:
Posted by: JBean | September 09, 2008 at 02:16 PM
That's odd-
Small Schools: Creating a Model for School Restructuring in Chicago (1997 doctoral dissertation)
Did he get his EdD at UI-Chicago under Ayers' advisement? Seems that wouldn't have been a very good use of grant money-
Posted by: RichatUF | September 09, 2008 at 02:19 PM
JBean--I understand the auditor's records hold up was justified by a need to scrub soc sec and similar private info from the records and they were released when that was done.
I still can't figure out why the initial meeting was on hold and don't want to make charges without evidence or without having first discounted every other innocent explanation.
Posted by: clarice | September 09, 2008 at 02:25 PM
I'll note that Track is on a new team now; she seems to be perfectly placed to continue to be Team Mom.
Posted by: Charlie (Colorado) | September 09, 2008 at 02:27 PM
Small Schools: Creating a Model for School Restructuring in Chicago (1997 doctoral dissertation)
Very interesting. If he deposited in 97, that means what ever course work his program required was finished at least a year or two earlier, right around the time that CAC was getting set up. If Klonsky was driving a cab in 95, that means he couldn't get a job as a teacher or as a Prof. of Educaiton or find funding to finish up his degree. The no funding isn't surprising, since so many people in educaiton are working as teachers while they advance their education. But, it is starting to look like Ayers used CAC to fund Klonsky's project, then gave him a degree for the work CAC funded. So, CAC became a way of rehabilitating Ayers' radical friend who didn't have a rich and powerful family to buy his way back into society.
Posted by: Ranger | September 09, 2008 at 02:29 PM
OT - McCain and Palin answered the "Palin Freddie/Fannie" "McCain Has No Economic Plan" kerfuffle in a WSJ editorial - nice.
Tap.Tap.Tap.Tap..Tap...Tap..........waiting for the Obama Quick Response Team. I'm hoping they send out Michael Moore with a rebuttal. Since he appears to be one of the legion of Obama advisors.
Posted by: Enlightened | September 09, 2008 at 02:30 PM
Indeed. Here is the library record for the dissertation. Odd that he wouldn't have even had his EdD when he started up the SSW and got his grants.
Posted by: RichatUF | September 09, 2008 at 02:32 PM
What is Ken Rolling thinking? Ask him.
[email protected]
312-673-3827 -- phone
312-427-6130 -- fax
My guess is Ken Rolling is covering his own ass. He's still drawing a 6 figure paycheck in the non-profit industry of...er...advocacy for education I guess. Mr. Rolling is the current Executive Director of Parents for Public Schools.
Hopefully that August 11th kernel can be cooked into a nice piece of popcorn. I'm asking the Tribune reporters for more information on that date.
Ken Rolling knows what he's doing. Parents for Public Schools recently was conducting a job search for a director to lead their Mississippi office in Jackson. Guess what now shows up as a request for a federal appropriation?
Thad Cochrane requests $50,000 for Parents for Public Schools in Jackson, MS
Posted by: Gabriel Sutherland | September 09, 2008 at 02:32 PM
OK -- I looked it up.
Klonsky got his Ph.D. in 1996 from UIC. The thesis is held in long-term storage in S. Cal, after having been on the shelves at UCLA. This is from Melvyl, the front-end for the complete UC system, so it undoubtedly is available at UIC and other places.
If it were local I would have a look. The thesis committee members always have to sign off on these things, and that is part of the thesis proper.
So the FreeRepublic citation was wrong, it seems.
Posted by: DrJ | September 09, 2008 at 02:33 PM
Grants from CAC to Small Schools Workshop, the Ayers/Klonsky group:
$175,000 in 1995 per 1996 program report
$175,000 1998 tax return page 19 pdf
$432,662 2000 tax return page 18 pdf
$ 50,000 2001 tax return page 18 pdf
That is a total of $832,662 (so far) from the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, founded by Bill Ayers, to another group, Small Schools Workshop, founded by Bill Ayers and Mike Klonsky.
LUN
I have been unable to find records of financial contributions for 1997.
Posted by: bad | September 09, 2008 at 02:35 PM
Hey, something is happening with Bush's approval numbers. They are going up. His average at RCP is 32.
Posted by: Sue | September 09, 2008 at 02:36 PM
clarice and Steve-
I'm just going to throw the suggestion out there: Since Ayers is a professor of ed at UI-C, someone could also secure his emails from all of his email accounts hosted by UI-C servers and if the SSW still has office space at UI-C emails from them might also be secured.
Posted by: RichatUF | September 09, 2008 at 02:37 PM
It took Obama roughly a year to agree to appear on Fox News. Where is it written that Palin must immediately agree to be questioned by all comers?
As the Left and the media are just beginning to understand, she is going to run her campaign, and they are not. Tough cheese.
Posted by: Danube of Thought | September 09, 2008 at 02:37 PM
I still can't figure out why the initial meeting was on hold and don't want to make charges without evidence or without having first discounted every other innocent explanation.
Posted by: clarice | September 09, 2008 at 02:25 PM
Sounds like the originators of the CAC are claiming some sort of charitable executive privlidge.
Those initial meetings have been identified as where the core errors were made that doomed the CAC to ineffectiveness. Sealing them unless you get concent from everyone at the meetings meants no embarrasment for anyone. It also means that any evidence as to who recommended recruiting a certain relatively unknown local lawyer to be chairman remains undiscovered.
Posted by: Ranger | September 09, 2008 at 02:38 PM
Here's the current address for SSW:
Small Schools Workshop
Dr. Michael Klonsky, Director
1608 North Milwaukee Avenue, ste 912
Chicago, IL 60647
No idea if this is on the UIC campus or not.
Posted by: DrJ | September 09, 2008 at 02:39 PM
Oh, and Congress has dropped from 19 to 17.
Posted by: Sue | September 09, 2008 at 02:40 PM
Sue
I've wondered if Obama is making a mistake by campaigning against Bush so contemptuously and openly. I suspect there are closet Bush lovers who don't advertise that affection and would be very happy to see more of the same, because their lives are doing very well in spite of the media telling them their lives suck.
Posted by: bad | September 09, 2008 at 02:42 PM
Heh, Sue. As if the nutroots weren't already tearing their hair out...
Posted by: Porchlight | September 09, 2008 at 02:42 PM
Rich: The FOIA request filed by Jason Wilcox requested records and communications from "University Officials". That ended up being Presidents, spokespeople, and other NON-FACULTY.
My presumption is that Ayers would be exempt from FOIA requests because he's credentialed on the faculty.
Posted by: Gabriel Sutherland | September 09, 2008 at 02:43 PM
I don't have time but someone might drop an email to Cochrane explaining whohe's working for. C
Posted by: clarice | September 09, 2008 at 02:43 PM
Bad,
Guidestar should have the 990s for Klonsky's front. I believe that he was funded by CPEF when CAC folded its tent. Interesting thread in the web, isn't it? Comrade Ayers supports Comrade Klonsky (using money from Chicago's kids) under the thoughtful, nuanced and subtle gaze of the President of the Board of Directors of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge - Comrade Barack Hussein Obama.
What a cesspool.
Posted by: Rick Ballard | September 09, 2008 at 02:46 PM
Gabriel:
Posting name and phone number of private citizens really is not cricket. I'm sure Mr. Rolling will enjoy changing his e-mail and phone numbers.
Posted by: Appalled | September 09, 2008 at 02:46 PM
1608 N. Milwaukee Ave?
I doubt that's a UIC location. That's about 5 miles from the main campus. In suite 912 that's probably the 9th floor. I know Chicago, but I don't know this building.
Posted by: Gabriel Sutherland | September 09, 2008 at 02:48 PM
Rick
Guidestar only goes as far back as 1998.
Posted by: bad | September 09, 2008 at 02:48 PM
Appalled: That information is what Ken Rolling lists to contact him at Parents for Public Schools.
It's part of the public domain.
Posted by: Gabriel Sutherland | September 09, 2008 at 02:49 PM
It took Obama roughly a year to agree to appear on Fox News. Where is it written that Palin must immediately agree to be questioned by all comers?
As the Left and the media are just beginning to understand, she is going to run her campaign, and they are not. Tough cheese.
Coming from the campaign that kept their candidate completely sequestered from the press is laughable.
I would remind that Reagan believed that the best way to reach the grassroots was to give local interviews speaking directly to the communities and shun the national press. One of the reasons they hated him.
Posted by: Sara (Pal2Pal) | September 09, 2008 at 02:51 PM
The N. Milwaukee address is listed as the mailing address. I suppose it is possible that the actual group is housed elsewhere, but that would be surprising.
Posted by: DrJ | September 09, 2008 at 02:53 PM
Virginia 49% - 47% for McCain
Posted by: Sara (Pal2Pal) | September 09, 2008 at 02:53 PM
Ranger --
If Klonsky was driving a cab in 95, that means he couldn't get a job as a teacher or as a Prof. of Educaiton or find funding to finish up his degree. The no funding isn't surprising, since so many people in educaiton are working as teachers while they advance their education.
It gets even weirder. Here's a message board post by Klonsky on June 23, 2000, in which he states "As co-director (with Bill Ayers) of the Small Schools Workshop, my work for the past 9 years has been mainly inside of schools--not in the area of policy." So that puts the SS Workshop back to '91 -- four years before the CAC. (There's some other things in the post worth reading, including the fact that his "dad went to prison during the McCarthy period.")
Posted by: JBean | September 09, 2008 at 02:55 PM
Bad,
The info from '98 on would still be interesting. Total take and employee payout especially. If CPEF is still funding him then it would be fun to send a letter to their corporate sponsors outling his career. Would Boeing really want to support a commie's endeavors at indoctrination within public schools?
Posted by: Rick Ballard | September 09, 2008 at 02:55 PM
Joe Biden - the gift that keeps on giving -
“If you (Republicans) care about [children with developmental disabilities], why don’t you support stem cell research?”
Answer: (Assuming he is blathering about fetal stem cells) Because we care more about cord stems cells:
"holds promise for reducing some of the symptoms of Down syndrome. This is a new frontier for human umbilical cord stem cells and one that is very exciting. We are optimistic because some of the children with cerebral palsy have responded to cord stem cells with cognitive improvements, including improvements in comprehension, logic, increased vocabulary, learning and memory.
http://www.stemcelltherapies.org/umresearch/downs.html
Posted by: Enlightened | September 09, 2008 at 02:57 PM
Ranger --
Those initial meetings have been identified as where the core errors were made that doomed the CAC to ineffectiveness. Sealing them unless you get concent from everyone at the meetings meants no embarrasment for anyone. It also means that any evidence as to who recommended recruiting a certain relatively unknown local lawyer to be chairman remains undiscovered.
Exactly.
Posted by: JBean | September 09, 2008 at 02:59 PM
Gabriel Sutherland-
My presumption is that Ayers would be exempt from FOIA requests because he's credentialed on the faculty.
That looks like a lawyers interperation to me-ie "University Officials" meaning officers. I looked over the Illinois open records law for public university's and don't recall a specific faculty or "academic freedom" privilege regarding the email system. I did speed read it so it might be there, but another request for faculty, grad/research assistants, &c. might be worthwhile.
Posted by: RichatUF | September 09, 2008 at 03:00 PM
Rich: FOIA requests of faculty and students communications creeps the shit out of me.
Is this where we want to go?
Posted by: Gabriel Sutherland | September 09, 2008 at 03:02 PM
"BOTTOM LINE: The nation deserves to hear Palin's unfiltered answers to serious questions."
The nation deserves to know what Obama's legal name is? How a bank vice president with no apparent ties to serious money was willing to spent what ever was necessary to send her grandson to one of the most exclusive high schools in Hawaii? (I was in Hawaii the day Obama was born. My daughter was born there prior to that time and Unlike Obama's records, I know exactly which hospital my daughter was born in.) I would be real surprised if Obama's grandmother was paying the bills , if Obama wasn't the poorest (financially) student in that school.
Why was Frank Davis the only memory from those days? Why doesn't this nation know what grades He got in colleges? Why would a Muslim with a really radical record show up as someone trying to get Obama into Harvard?
What made some publisher decide to advance money to someone who hadn't done anything, to create a reason for anyone to someone to read the story of his life, to write the story of his life? What made George Soros decide to visit Obama and to provide serious money to finance his Senate campaign? LUN
There are a thousand more questions that need to be asked of Obama.
IMO, this entire campaign should be suspended until America knows a whole lot more about Obama and his collection of non pro American friends.
Palin' life has been made an open book,in a matter of days, and yet America knows nothing about the candidate the Democrats want to make President. This is media fraud.
Posted by: Pagar | September 09, 2008 at 03:03 PM
More Inconvenient Truths for Ayers from LGF:
LGF links to Zombies interesting comment within an interesting Ayers thread.
The reason Ayers should be shunned by society until he crawls back under his rock and dies is that in his drug addled mind and puny worldview, he decided - *he decided* - that the world should bow to his worldview. There are a thousand ways that normal folks work for change if, in their view, the world needs some kind of improvement. Making bombs and inciting other people to violence should be way down on that list of last possible resorts.
Posted by: Bill in AZ | September 09, 2008 at 03:04 PM
Fox says McCain camp has picture of the 3 who are on the panel to judge whether Palin abused power in Tasergate so-called scandal showing them at the Obama campaign HQ earlier this Summer, June, I think.
Posted by: Sara (Pal2Pal) | September 09, 2008 at 03:09 PM
Fox says McCain camp has picture of the 3 who are on the panel to judge whether Palin abused power in Tasergate so-called scandal showing them at the Obama campaign HQ earlier this Summer, June, I think.
Whoa!
Posted by: JBean | September 09, 2008 at 03:12 PM
Gabriel-
Is this where we want to go?
I'm more creeped out that a University library and University Officals would tip off a member of CAC that a journalist wanted to take a look at a deposited archive. The request could be limited by key words.
Posted by: RichatUF | September 09, 2008 at 03:14 PM
Yeah, Isn't Harris or Ferris, the guy in charge of this legislative investigation, the chairman of the Obama campaign in Alaska?? I am pretty sure that I heard that reliably.
Posted by: bio mom | September 09, 2008 at 03:21 PM
I'm more creeped out that a University library and University Officals would tip off a member of CAC that a journalist wanted to take a look at a deposited archive.
Ditto, Rich. That goes against everything I've ever learned and observed about confidentiality in the library/archives environment.
Posted by: Porchlight | September 09, 2008 at 03:23 PM
Steve Diamond has a post up at No Quarter.
Posted by: M. Simon | September 09, 2008 at 03:30 PM
Rich: While I'm not exactly thrilled with the idea that a finding aide or a member of the faculty could have an informant when there are requests to access certain records in the library, the idea of accessing the private emails of a member of the faculty or a student for something that isn't illegal -- yes, very unusual -- is very creepy to me.
I think it's fine to continue to press the issue to learn if someone from inside UIC did in fact alert outside parties about accessing CAC records. I'm just not going to support using the FOIA to pine through faculty and students' emails to learn more.
To use that power there has to be a criminal element to constitute that type of search. Is there a crime here? I don't think so. Not in the case of UIC.
Posted by: Gabriel Sutherland | September 09, 2008 at 03:32 PM
May I?
• In spring of 2004, the Daily News reported that you cited family considerations in deciding not to try for the U.S. Senate: "How could I be the team mom if I was a U.S. senator?" What was different this time as you decided to run for vice president?
Considering the stakes -- and the choice between an inexperienced candidate with not much in the way of accomplishments, and a highly experienced, highly accomplished reformer, war hero and patriotic American -- this could be the most important election in our lifetimes. When Senator McCain asked for my help, I and my family could only agree to do all we can to help this great man win the presidency, and that's what we're going to do.
• If you were a fully qualified vice-presidential candidate from the get-go, why did you wait more than 10 days to face reporters?
As I mentioned in my acceptance speech, I'm not running in order to seek the good opinion of reporters or the national media; I'm running to serve the people of the United States of America, and that's who I'll worry about facing on Election Day.
• McCain spokesman Rick Davis told Fox News the media didn't show you enough "deference." How much deference do you expect to get from Vladimir Putin or Hugo Chavez?
You'll have to ask Mr. Davis about his comments. I expect no special deference from anyone.
• You have said victory is in sight in Iraq. In July 2007, when you visited Kuwait, you said, "I'm not going to judge the surge." In the March 2007 issue of Alaska Business Monthly, you were asked about the surge and quoted saying:
"I've been so focused on state government, I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq. . . . While I support our president, Condoleezza Rice and the administration, I want to know that we have an exit plan in place."
Define "victory" in Iraq? What is the exit plan?
Unlike our opponents, who never speak in terms of victory and were more than willing to surrender in disgrace and leave the Iraqi people to suffer their fates alone, John McCain has stated time and time again that our objective is a strong and stable Iraq, an ally in the heart of the Middle East, able to protect its people from enemies both foreign and domestic. That's our exit strategy, and, thanks to the great men and women of our military and the steadfastness of the citizens and leaders of Iraq, we're succeeding.
Posted by: Extraneus | September 09, 2008 at 03:33 PM
Rick
Guidestar has nothing on Small Schools Workshop. I've tried individual searches on each word as well as network. Ideas anyone?
Posted by: bad | September 09, 2008 at 03:34 PM
She was not offered the Senate job, Murkowski appointed his daughter to fill his seat. Why is this even a question? And why would anyone want to be a Senator when they had their eye on the Governorship?
Posted by: Sara (Pal2Pal) | September 09, 2008 at 03:39 PM
Fox just showed the picture I mentioned above. Anyone found it yet?
Posted by: Sara (Pal2Pal) | September 09, 2008 at 03:51 PM
Rich, I'm with Gabriel, though I suppose the FOIA request could be reduced down to emails between Rollings and Ayres and the library respecting the CAC files.
As for Ayers, he's an authoritarian creep who found an ideology which allowed him to give full sway to his perpetually juvenile narcissism.
Posted by: clarice | September 09, 2008 at 04:02 PM
Well, I looked up part of Klonsky's thesis (it was on UMI, as I figured).
His thesis committee was chaired by William Schubert; the other committee members were Ayers, May Anne Raywid, William Watkins and Ward Weldon.
So strictly Klonsky was not Ayers' student, as usually the dissertation chair is the faculty advisor. Things might be different in the Education department than physical sciences and engineering though (and that's what I know).
More on this later -- my mouse needed recharging in the middle of the session.
Posted by: DrJ | September 09, 2008 at 04:09 PM
bad: I'm not sure where to turn next to obtain 990 forms for SSW if they're not available on Guidestar. The next place I would look is the IRS. However, that process won't be near as fast as Guidestar.
SSW may have compliance standards for the State of Illinois that they have to adhere to. That may include financial statements, but the 990 is strictly federal.
Posted by: Gabriel Sutherland | September 09, 2008 at 04:09 PM
OT and posted on the Bridge thread also -
Fox has a report out that the good Rev Wright was having an affair with a white gal, sometime this year, and that he told this gal he was leavin ghsi wife of twnety years to be with her. Her husband divorced her and she was fired for having the affair.
Bwaahahhahah. I just can't get enough of this Obambi scandal stuff.
Posted by: Enlightened | September 09, 2008 at 04:14 PM
"if someone from inside UIC did in fact alert outside parties about accessing CAC records."
Even more creepy,is the fact that somebody had flagged the records in case anyone did access them.This indicates that the tipoff was part of a prearranged plan.It would lead one to suspect there is something incriminating in the records.
Posted by: PeterUK | September 09, 2008 at 04:21 PM
Clarice -- (Sorry for the delay, but my wireless and/or FF3 have taken to major malfunctioning lately).
I still can't figure out why the initial meeting was on hold and don't want to make charges without evidence or without having first discounted every other innocent explanation.
1995 was the critical year for the CAC, since the grants were front-loaded. Those BOD minutes are critical, and they are not available.
Posted by: JBean | September 09, 2008 at 04:23 PM
SSW may not be a non-profit or even a corporation. It doesn't show up in Illinois corporate or LLC records. It could be a sole proprietorship or partnership. Klonsky's wife is involved with SSW as well. Nice comfy capitalist front.
Ayers' involvement in the initial grant process may be the reason that the startup records are under cover. Klonsky really did use the CAC main address as his mailing address for the first SSW grant. What a nice, tight arrangement.
Posted by: Rick Ballard | September 09, 2008 at 04:29 PM
Bill Ayers and Obama [Greg Pollowitz]
Posted by: Sara (Pal2Pal) | September 09, 2008 at 04:31 PM
Way to go JBean!!
Rolling is from the community organizing world and now firmly entrenched in the Education world. Which pays well compared to Obama's community organizing days.
Rollings salary in 2001, per 2001 tax return, page 6 pdf was $137,743 per year.
Posted by: bad | September 09, 2008 at 04:34 PM
PUK"It would lead one to suspect there is something incriminating in the records. "
If there were something incriminating in the records I doubt they'd have been donated to the UIC. We're talking about Chicago, PUK..Ever hear of Mrs. O'LEary?
No one puts obviously incriminating stuff in minutes and certianly no one donates obviously incriminating records to a library where they'll be publicly available after 5 years.
I still think the stuff is more embarrassing to O and his friends than it is incriminating and Rollings threat to sue to block publication is not based so much on a belief he'll win that suit as it is in a desire to delay the publication until after the election.
Posted by: clarice | September 09, 2008 at 04:34 PM
Gabriel-
...the idea of accessing the private emails of a member of the faculty or a student ...
I came off a bit hot tempered. One, I would have to re-read the open records to determine if faculty or assistants e-mail is off limits, but I don't remember a specific exemption. It is probable there is some exemption. Also, I don't think a communications between Ayers and Rollings or Ayers and the Obama campaign (if such communications were to exist) would qualify as any sort of university work product or under any sort of academic privilege.
It comes down to this-a public university and their computer system isn't "private" and the IT policy of the University should spell that out clearly. Also it seems to be a serious breach of ethics for University officials to tell an outside party of access requests to an already deposited record collection and then to prevent access. The university should have to answer for this and any sort of coordination among faculty members, university officials, and outside parties to close the records, even for a short period of time, should be determined and explained.
Posted by: RichatUF | September 09, 2008 at 04:36 PM
JBean "despite the request by Rolling, none of the documents were withheld when the university reopened the documents to public inspection Aug. 26."
Those records are available for Kurtz and others to see, Rollings just seems to be threateneing to publish more braodly what those Minutes show..Again I think we are talking embarrassment to Obama and not illegal conduct.
Posted by: clarice | September 09, 2008 at 04:38 PM
Well, Rich, now we are marching to a similar tune. There is a way to reduce the email production to this issue without interfering with private rights to communicate with other faculty and students on entirely different matters.
Posted by: clarice | September 09, 2008 at 04:40 PM
Again I think we are talking embarrassment to Obama and not illegal conduct.
It also follow the Obama campaign's position to release absolutely no paper on anything that he has ever done. What is so damaging about a birth certificate? I'd bet there is no there there, but it is one part of an absolute refusal to release anything.
Posted by: DrJ | September 09, 2008 at 04:41 PM
Clarice,
Living,as I do,in a country where top secret documents are left on trains,discs with millions of social security details get lost by couriers,MoD laptops go walkabout on a weekly basis,I can believe that people can be that stupid and incompetent.
"You gave the whole thing to UIC you cretin? For God's sake make sure nobody looks at them".
Posted by: PeterUK | September 09, 2008 at 04:43 PM