Obligatory Obama-Blago Blogging

Did Obama and disgraced Illinois Governor Blagojevich discuss the Senate seat being vacated by Obama?  Glenn has some useful links, including one to this KHQA story saying they met the day after the election on November 5. 

But Blagojevich held a press conference on November 5 suggesting otherwise.  Roll the tape.  This is at the 4:00 mark  in response to a question about whether he would consult with Obama about filling Obama's vacant Senate seat.

"I have not spoken to him and at the appropriate time we are going to certainly seek his sentiments, if he has any".

That makes an odd contrast with the KHQA story, datelined Nov 5, which reports that Obama was "meeting with Governor Rod Blagojevich this afternoon in Chicago to discuss it."

More puzzlement - no one else picked up on a meeting between the President-elect and the Illinois Governor?  The Times had a long article about Obama's day-after, starting with his morning constitutional on Lake Michigan and ending with his dinnertime transformation of water to wine.  No mention of a meeting with the governor, but we get this:

Mr. Obama stayed largely out of sight on Wednesday as Democrats counted their gains and Republicans stewed over what went wrong.

...On his first morning as president-elect, Mr. Obama did something he rarely did the last 22 months: he woke up at home in Chicago and had breakfast with his wife, Michelle, and his two young daughters, Malia and Sasha. He spent the day out of view, making thank you calls and meeting with transition advisers, a decision aides said was intended to draw a line between the campaign and the coming task of governing. They said he canceled fireworks at the Tuesday night celebration to underscore the seriousness of the moment.

I could believe Obama spoke with the governor by phone, but a meeting that went unnoticed and unremarked?  How?

On the other hand, Axelrod is involved with this, having said on a talk show that Obama and Blagojevich had discussed it, then recanting.  Since Axelrod lied plenty of times on the Ayers story, so the idea that he is saying what is expedient, rather than true, is pretty familiar.  And clearly someone from the Obama side told someone from the Blago side that they would not play ball.  I suppose the potentially embarrassing question is whether the Obama side then mentioned this to Prosecutor Fitzgerald.

Comments

[Jane/fairweatherfan]

What on earth happened to the title? Perhaps I should bide my time.

[Neo]

The gov's web site says they did meet.

LUN

[Neo]

Maybe they just talked on the phone

[Topsecretk9]

There is a followup Nov. 8th KHQA story that mentions the meeting in the past tense.

"Duckworth comments on consideration for Senate
By Alexis Hunt
Saturday, November 08, 2008 at 9:48 p.m.

QUINCY, IL — Now that Barack Obama will be moving to the White House, his seat in the U.S. Senate representing Illinois will have to be filled.

Obama met with Governor Rod Blagojevich earlier this week to discuss it. "

STACLU LUN

LUN

[bad]

Blackberry

[Thomas Collins]

Right, Zero and Blago never discussed the Senate appointment. And anyone caught in a car at 3 am in a red light district with an "erotic entertainer" never discussed price and act.

I'll give Zero this: I don't think he is dumb enough to engage in a direct sale of Senate seat discussion with Blago, or encourage his OOTPE folks to do so. The likelihood is that Blago is not important enough to Zero for Zero to have become enmeshed in this. Besides, say what you will about Zero, anyone savvy enough to claw his or her way to POTUS knows that a wink or a nod is better than a word (whether spoken or on a piece of paper).

My prediction is that Zero won't go down over this or anything else; he'll be just part of an Administration in which the odor of corruption will have to be masked by slick staff work and MSM perfume.

[Mofish]

Politico - Ben Smith say's the tapes have of Blagojevich have him saying "F" Obama - and he won't give up the seat for nothing. So if Obama did not turn the Gov over to the Feds he's not telling the truth. It would appear he was asked to pay and refused but he would still be turning a blind eye to corruption.

Unless he told Fitz about his meeting....

[Pofarmer]

I wonder, where is unCurious now?

This is how it works.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Another Blago thread, deja vu as I run to keep up. Cross-posted:

TRIBUNE withheld publishing at Fitzgerald's request...

As the federal probe into Gov. Rod Blagojevich intensified in recent weeks, editors and reporters at the Chicago Tribune balanced a competitive story with a rare request from U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald's office: To hold off on what they uncovered until a key phase in the investigation could be carried out.

[24AheadDotCom]

Neo: that page doesn't explicitly say they met, although it's likely that the congratulations were given face-to-face or at least over the phone.

However, the PDF version does have this wonderful photo of the two:

http://24ahead.com/photo-barack-obama-and-rod-blagojevich-confer-about-senate

[24AheadDotCom]

Let's try that again.

Here's the photo of the two.

[bad]

That photo is priceless, 24ahead.

[bgates]

Didn't one of Obama's .gov fanboy sites advertise it would post daily schedules of his comings and goings? A moment of google doesn't help me, but maybe someone here knows what I'm thinking of.

[C.R.]

Obama said, "I had no CONTACT with the governor or his office and so we were not, I was not aware of what was happening."

Blackberry counts as contact. If he were Clinton he would have said "I have not talked...

[bad]

Thanks C.R.

I was going by Axelrod's "spoken" backtrack.

Not that I'm inclined to take either of them at their word.

[Daddy]

I haven't followed all the threads yet today, but has the MSM come out and started publically criticizing the Chicago Tribune for colluding with a Federal Prosecutor by not publishing investigation details FitZ asked them to keep mum about? I thought the job of the Press in this country was to leak and to lie and to damage National Security, and that anything else was a violation of their integrity. Whats up with that?

[Pofarmer]

Well, if nothing else we know they were also supposed to have a private meeting at the Governors Conference.

Has Barry resumed his monklike habits or something?

[Personal Comment]

I doubt that Obama did anything untoward. His staff, if not brought under control, might make it appear that he may have. If nothing else, he might want to make it clear as he can as to what contacts he had and what he said.

Since he's a smart guy, I would presume that he would see the potential pitfall with a quid pro quo, however discussing who should fill his Senate seat should not be all that problematic especially with the guy who is supposed to appoint the replacement.

[Pofarmer]

If he were Clinton, you would have known he was lying by the fact that his lips were moving. I'm not so sure that the same standard doesn't apply here, though.

[hit and run]

C.R.
If he were Clinton he would have said "I have not talked...

"I did not have oral relations with that man, Mr. Blagojevich."

[PeterUK]

Jesse Jackson implicated in Senate Scandal.

"Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la. "

[Pofarmer]

would presume that he would see the potential pitfall with a quid pro quo,

In IL politics, I would guess that would be SOP.

[Soylent Red]

Here's the photo of the two.

Caption for that photo?

"I want half."

[Extraneus]

By the Clintonian standard, he may have simply meant that they didn't make actual physical contact.

[Neo]

I don't know why it would be necessary to replace Obama in the US Senate as he voluntarily hasn't been there for but a few days in the past 2 years.

[Soylent Red]

No shit neo. How would we know?

[TCO]

Hellooooo RINOs! There's a new bailout for you to sign onto. Do it now, or disaster will happen. Do more. Bailout more. Transfer MORE taxpayer money to private firms. Do it! Don't question. Anyone who thinks otherwise is a purist. and not fast. Not DOING. Go do. Do. Do. Bail out the auto companies, you slimy maggots.

[TCO]

"poor credit risks remain poor credit risks, even after you give them a free pony"

http://tjic.com/?p=10503

[LindaK]

Will Fitz be fired on 1/21 or by virtue of the indictment continue in office? Jackson has an upcoming press conference.

[Ranger]

Well, I will post this again in this thread. This snippet that bad noticed and posted in a previous thread indicates some interesting possibilites:

107. On November 12, 2008, ROD BLAGOJEVICH talked with Advisor B. ROD BLAGOJEVICH discussed with Advisor B his idea for a 501(c)(4) organization. Advisor B stated that he likes the idea, but liked the Change to Win option better because, according to Advisor B, from the President-elect’s perspective, there would be fewer “fingerprints” on the President-elect’s involvement with Change to Win because Change to Win already has an existing stream of revenue and, therefore, “you won’t have stories in four years that they bought you off.” ROD BLAGOJEVICH said that he likes the 501(c)(4) idea because he knows it will be there in two years when he is no longer Governor, whereas Change to Win might not be.

This sounds a lot like Advisor B is expressing Team Obama's view of the union work around for paying off Blago. So, Blago went to Team Barry and said, 'I want an appointment to put your person in the seat' and Team Barry said no. Then Blago goes back and says, 'Ok, what will you give me?' and the unioin comes forward and says, 'we have some nice paying positions that could be filled, is that enough?' Now, we are not clear on how much co-ordination there was between Team Barry and the union, but it sounds like someone at Team Barry made their views clear to Advisor B sometime between the 10th and the 12th of November.

[Bill in AZ]

but has the MSM come out and started publically criticizing the Chicago Tribune for colluding with a Federal Prosecutor by not publishing investigation details FitZ asked them to keep mum about?

Given FITZ!!!!!'s ability to manufacture crimes out of thin air, I would do anything he asked.

[Thomas Collins]

My prediction for Jackson's press conference claim: "I did not have Senate Seat For Pay Relations with that Governor, Mr. Blagojevich."

[PeterUK]

Sorry,Thank should be Jesse Jackson Jr in Senate Scandal.Jesse Jackson Jr is an advisor to Barrack Hussein Obama Jr.

[bad]

Ranger, I think I commented on the 501(c)4 but someone else must have actually posted those parts. Thanks for the props but I'm pretty sure they are undeserved.

[cathyf]

Well don't underestimate the cool-kid-blows-off-the-dumb-kid effect. I mean there is one thing you think of when you think of Gov Haircut, and that's "dumber than a box of rocks." Now Obama is no genius, but you have to be pretty stupid to get mixed up in anything hinky with somebody as dumb as Blago. So don't discount the possibility that the Obama - Blago conversation went something like:

Blago: "Congratulations, Barack!"

Obama: "Thanks very much!"

Blago: "About appointing your repla--"

(call waiting signal)

Obama: "Just a minute --"

(long silence)

Obama: "Rod? You there? Look I gotta take this call... Talk to you soon, ok?"

[LindaK]

Jackson will say "That's not the Balgo I knew." And throw him off the bus.

[LindaK]

Blago

[Jane]

TC,

I agree with your prediction:

My prediction is that Zero won't go down over this or anything else; he'll be just part of an Administration in which the odor of corruption will have to be masked by slick staff work and MSM perfume.

However I do plan to have as much fun with this little episode as the left had frog-marching Karl Rove from the Whitehouse.

[TCO]

Here's a good post to read:

http://beetlebabee.wordpress.com/2008/11/16/jane-galt-a-libertarian-view/

[Ranger]

Hey Bad,

I could have sworn it was you, but the thread was over 400 posts long before I even started reading it, so I just went with my memory rather than double checking.

So, props to who ever originally posted that clip.

[Daddy]

Hey Jane, Clarice, JMH etc,

Your boyfriend Mark Steyn was on the Dennis Miller radio show today politely dumping on Burl Ives as a Holiday crooner. Good radio!

[ben]

I second this motion by Daily Pundit...

"UPDATE: A suggestion that the Obama team has been working with Fitzgerald.

Obviously, the only thing that can clear the air - and Obama’s reputation - is for George Bush to appoint a Special Counsel, preferably Fitzgerald himself, to investigate every slimy strand of this mess."

[ben]

So just how much "up front" money was Jesse II willing to ante up? Just asking.....

[Thomas Collins]

The Zero Administration-To-Be, Jane, has already provided you with a wealth of material for your radio show. Just think how fun things will get when there is actually a Zero Administration!

[matt]

the worm is surely turning on the Dems and their corruption issues.....not sure if Obama can talk himself out of the lie about Blagojevich now. It was in a Nov 5 newspaper article, and surely a loot at someones's calendar will turn it up. I wonder if Fitz will be as hard on Obama as he was on Libby?

[clarice]

I figured something like that Cathy though graph 107 of the complaint indicates that someone went back and forth between the two to feel out O...maybe Blag's former staffer who now works for O.

Why did Blag fire his aide Greenlee today? Was he the wire wearer?

[matt]

how can anyione dump on Burl Ives? One of the most inoffensive actors/singers/Hollywood Squares in history....

[matt]

and now I'm going to have that dam song in my head all afternoon....

[Danube of Thought]

Bryan Ross of ABC News is also reporting that Jesse Junior is "Senate Candidate 5." Let the grand jury testimony and the immunity deals begin!

I share the view--or at least the hunch--that Obama himself did nothing wrong. After the past eight years, I'm almost ready to say that it doesn't matter to me whether he did anything wrong, it's simply wonderful to see a press feeding frenzy even before he gets sworn in. Let the Dems swallow a bit of this for a change. But I can't quite bring myself to that point: unless and until I see something more concrete pointing to wrongdoing on Obama's part, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and wish him well. Country first.

[peter (not peteruk)]

Nuts! I missed Steyn on Miller. Oh well. Tom, this is rather confusing having two threads with such similar sounding names. When does the egg nog recipe thread start?

[ben]

"Jackson will say "That's not the Balgo I knew." And throw him off the bus."

Not so easy now..with Blago saying "Door no. 5" has $$$$ behind it, inquiring minds might want to pull back the curtains.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Wow, Judge Napolitano is saying right now that the gov't. has over 300 hours of audio tape and only released 3 minutes of it.

[Patrick R. Sullivan]

You have to love the dicey situation Jesse Jr is in right now. Even if his daddy schooled him in the fine line between extortion and political backscratching, so that he didn't step over it in his discussions with Blago, he still has the examples of Scooter and Martha; he easily can say the wrong thing and end up indicted for obstructing justice.

[Appalled]

DOT:

Well said.

But I think if Axelrod ever says that Obama did something, that now has to be taken with a grain of salt. I think that's the lesson out of this one.

[Extraneus]

Really. I wouldn't want to go through the season without Burl. In fact, I think I'll give him a listen tonight, just to get in the mood.

[ben]

"I share the view--or at least the hunch--that Obama himself did nothing wrong"

I don't...Obama didn't get to where he is as a product of the cesspool of Chicago politics by being a saint...he has chits out, bet on it.

[peter (not peteruk)]

My prediction is that Blago will not get convicted; this is a dog and pony show and a pre-emptive strike to protect Obama and to give Fitz a little more job security.

[Extraneus]

As long as wishing him well doesn't involve any of his programs being enacted, or any judges confirmed, I'm on board, too.

[peter (not peteruk)]

Interesting twist, according to the US Constitution, the Illinois state legislature can call a special election:United States Constitution: Amendment XVII

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each state, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each state shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the state legislatures.

When vacancies happen in the representation of any state in the Senate, the executive authority of such state shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, that the legislature of any state may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.

This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution.

[bgates]

Country first.
A near cousin to "Obama last", in my mind. Sure, there's no reason to call for impeachment over this right now, but given his agenda weakening him is good for the country. If at some point he accidentally stumbles into doing the right thing and needs public support, I'll add my small voice of encouragement. We want him weak enough he really needs to be a centrist, right?

[bgates]

Or, "what extraneus said".

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

I don't know why so many are willing to give Obama a pass on this (and on nearly everything.) He is the classic manipulator. He sets people up, plays people off each other, and most of all he is a user.

[ben]

"My prediction is that Blago will not get convicted"

The jury is out on conviction...but anyone want to bet that Blago won't be charged with a slew of felonies?

[Jane]

The Zero Administration-To-Be, Jane, has already provided you with a wealth of material for your radio show.

Oh I know. I've spent all day practicing saying "Blaw- goy-a-vitch.

Yesterday was almost my last day in radio land. Dick forgot to turn off my mike during the commercial. (He remembered to turn off his). Then he said something about someone we both know and I responded - in a way not suitable for the radio. THEN the secretary came in and told me I was still on the air, and asked me if I swore, which I had. Luckily I had pushed the mike away.

No one heard the comment, but if they had, it would have been the end of me. All that open-mike stuff has taken on a whole new meaning.

[ben]

"I don't know why so many are willing to give Obama a pass on this ..."

Right on Sara (Pal2Pal), are you drinking bottled Kool-=id? Stay away from tap Kool-Aid...

[clarice]

Scrubbing for Obama:

http://sweetness-light.com/archive/obama-discussed-seat-with-blago-nov-5

[bad]

Clarice at Pajamamedia LUN

[MayBee]

But I think if Axelrod ever says that Obama did something, that now has to be taken with a grain of salt. I think that's the lesson out of this one.

Yes. We must assume he'll say whatever it takes to protect Obama. Either the first, second, or third story out of his mouth may be the truth if Obama likes it.

[Pofarmer]

I don't know why it would be necessary to replace Obama in the US Senate as he voluntarily hasn't been there for but a few days in the past 2 years.

GREAT POINT.

[ben]

"in a way not suitable for the radio."

Hmmmm, was it worse than Blago calling Obama a MF?

[Daddy]

Matt,

Steyn took offense that when Burl Ives sung that great Bing Crosby tune, "Swinging on a Star", that Ives, instead of singing
"But then if that sort of life is what
you WISH
You might grow up to be a fish"

instead sung
"But if that sort of life is what
you WANT
You might grow up to be a fish"

Naturally this outraged Dennis Miller, and I think even Sal was in high dudgeon. This then overflowed into Steyn's visceral anathma towards Ive's, "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas". Fun radio!

[PeterUK]

Nothing to do with me of course,but remembering Tony Bliar and the damage he wrought,you should be fair.Give Obama the same support the Democrats gave George Bush.

[ben]

Ok, Crazy Larry says that Blago uses Michelle Obama as example of someone who used "pay to play" to get her cushy board appointments, for which he believes his wife is more qualified than Michelle.

That is a whole new ballgame to explore, even discounting that it's Crazy Larry.

http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/12/09/michelle-obama-is-the-specifically-named-individual-on-page-64-of-the-affidavit-submitted-by-fbi/

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Right on Sara (Pal2Pal), are you drinking bottled Kool-=id? Stay away from tap Kool-Aid...

Huh? Sorry, but I don't bow to the Messiah's alter.

[Danube of Thought]

"We want him weak enough he really needs to be a centrist, right?"

No one would be happier than me to see him exposed as a criminal wrongdoer. But I wouldn't want to weaken him by accusing him of criminal behavior if he's innocent, and I haven't seen enough evidence yet to conclude that he's guilty.

[Sue]

ben,

I wondered that yesterday when I read it. Michelle crossed my mind immediately as the person Blag was referring to.

[ben]

"Huh? Sorry, but I don't bow to the Messiah's alter."

You misunderstood me...I meant thank God someone else is not drinking the Obama Kool-aid....

[Enlightened]

Well well. Perhaps it is Mrs. Bambi that might have some 'splainin to do. (oh - wait, families are off limits!)

Crazy Larry at NQ (per Ace) identifies her as "Specifically Named Individual" on page 64...Blago insinuating she was selected to Board of TreeHouse Foods, a WAL-MART vendor, via a pay and play scheme....since she was utterly unqualified for the job....

[ben]

"But I wouldn't want to weaken him by accusing him of criminal behavior if he's innocent,"

Wow, a much higher standard than the Dems used against Bush, DOT....

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

You misunderstood me...I meant thank God someone else is not drinking the Obama Kool-aid....

Duh! Sorry, I did misunderstand. I'll take Kool. LOL.

[Enlightened]

Besides wondering what the Clintons have on Bambi - why does Crazy Larry hate Mrs. PEBO so much?

[Jane]

Hmmmm, was it worse than Blago calling Obama a MF?

No the issue was talking about someone known locally by the audience. Very bad form.

[Sue]

Did y'all see Jesse Jackson Sr. hired a lawyer after the governor's arrest? Hmmm...indeedy....

[ben]

""Why does Crazy Larry hate Mrs. PEBO so much?"

He feels Obama usurped Hillary's presidency under false pretenses and shady politics...

[Sue]

There is no explaining Scary. He does what he does for his own reasons. Trying to find logic in his actions is futile.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Madigan may take him to high court

SPRINGFIELD -- If Gov. Blagojevich refuses to relinquish power and avoids impeachment, Attorney General Lisa Madigan is prepared to force his hand, aides said Tuesday.

The state's chief law enforcement officer is prepared to invoke an obscure Illinois Supreme Court rule under which the state's seven justices could vote to oust a sitting governor deemed unfit for office.

The attorney general is prepared to take action but believes the Legislature should have a reasonable time to act," Madigan spokeswoman Natalie Bauer said.

Bauer did not specify a timeline for Blagojevich to resign or for the House and Senate to act on impeachment before she would get involved.

[MayBee]

Chris Matthews on Hardball is picking up the "Maybe Blago is delusional and didn't really have any of these conversations" theme from Lawrence O'Donnell yesterday.

[Danube of Thought]

I certainly agree, Ben. And as usual I reserve the right to change my mind--it may well turn out that the pure bloodsport is just too delightful to resist. But I'm trying to stand on some sort of principle for at least a day or two.

[PeterUK]

Jane,
Obviously you misspoke,were misquoted,the microphone was faulty and you are really sorry that your words were misunderstood.
You could also apply any homophone that was suitable.

[clarice]

Jane, it's things like that that remind you why it's good to start small and learn your lesson on a small stage first.

[bad]

Pity Obama didn't follow that sage advice...

[Ranger]

No one would be happier than me to see him exposed as a criminal wrongdoer. But I wouldn't want to weaken him by accusing him of criminal behavior if he's innocent, and I haven't seen enough evidence yet to conclude that he's guilty.

Posted by: Danube of Thought | December 10, 2008 at 05:38 PM

It's not just about Obama. I that he is probably "clean" so to speak on this one (not directly involved in the pay to play). But, there are people in the Chicago crew he is building around him that are very probably dirty on this one. I don't think they went right to Fitz when this started, and I think, based on para. 107, that there was some back and forth between Team Barry and Team Blago on what would be acceptable and what wouldn't. Barry's very carefully parsed statement (that he almost screwed up in giving by saying we instead of I) indicates that someone in his crew was talking to Team Blago.

And as people are starting to realize, MO was a big player in the pay to play jobs for spouces program in Illinois.

[clarice]

If anyone knows delusional it's Chris.

He must be in some bind--a Fitz boot licker as I recall.

[PeterUK]

"Pity Obama didn't follow that sage advice..."

Yes, he could have started with Kenya.

[clarice]

I asked earlier why did Blag fire his deputy Greenlee? Turns out he "resigned"..I still want to know why..
Had he worn a wire for Fitz? If so, what can we expect on that 300 hours of audiotapes?

[Enlightened]

Isn't that special - Isn't Madigan supposed to be Senate Candidate #2? And she's going to force Blago to resign? Interesting.

Matthews thinks Fitzgerald's wiretaps and subsequent transcripts are bogus? Uh, I think there are VOICES on the tapes that have been identifed by authorities....how does Chrispittle explain that?

[MayBee]

And as people are starting to realize, MO was a big player in the pay to play jobs for spouces program in Illinois.

How can you say that? Just because neither Barack nor Michelle have actually spent any time at their employers for much of the past two years, and neither employer replaced them.

[bad]

Madigan was on Fox News earlier today SWEARING she has NO interest WHATSOEVER in a Senate seat...

[bad]

Oh, incidentally, Madigan has absolutely no ties to Blago.

Really, its what she said...

[Captain Hate]

Chris Matthews on Hardball is picking up the "Maybe Blago is delusional and didn't really have any of these conversations" theme from Lawrence O'Donnell yesterday.

Tweety and Larry; what was the total number of sequels of "Dumb and Dumber"?