Chicago Tribune: It must help them see Obama as some pristine

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Date: 10 Dec 2008 06:52:13
From:
Subject: Chicago Tribune: It must help them see Obama as some pristine

chicagotribune.com
BLAGOJEVICH ARRESTED
He's the clown, but joke's on us
John Kass

December 10, 2008

Now that Gov. Dead Meat has been arrested at his home and charged with
selling Illinois by the pound=97and Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat by
the slice=97let's just savor the aroma.

I love the smell of meat over coals in the morning.

It smells like . . . victory.

The people of Illinois needed some good news and they got it. Former
Republican Gov. George Ryan is in prison, and the arrest of his
successor, Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich, surely means that the
Illinois Combine that runs this state can stop with the rumors that
U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald will be leaving town.

And, as Blagojevich most likely prepares to be Ryan's bunkmate, let's
not forget the scores of other politicos, of all parties, who've gone
down on corruption charges=97including some of Mayor Richard Daley's
guys who helped rebuild that Democratic machine the mayor says doesn't
exist.

At a news conference in the federal building in Chicago, authorities
were asked about Illinois corruption.

"If it isn't the most corrupt state in the United States, it's
certainly one hell of a competitor," said Robert Grant, special agent
in charge of the FBI's Chicago office.

Grant had the privilege of standing outside Blagojevich's home about 6
a.m. Tuesday and calling the sleepy governor to say federal agents
were outside, waiting to arrest him quietly.

"I could tell I woke him up," Grant said. "And the first thing he said
was, 'Is this a joke?' "

No, but standing before a federal judge wearing jogging pants,
sneakers and a powder blue fleece sort of made the governor of
Illinois look like a jester. Or a joker.

Political corruption in the state that has made corruption an art form
isn't funny, like a clown. The joke is on all of us, everyone who
lives in Illinois. Because Blagojevich was elected governor on the
reform ticket, promising to clean up the state and end business as
usual.

Chicagoans aren't really surprised. This is the state run by the
Combine, with the Democratic machine on one side and the Republican
insiders on the other, and the Chicago Outfit forming the base. That
is the real iron triangle.

Blagojevich was supported by the machine and by the now-indicted
Republican power broker Big Bill Cellini. If that's not reform, what
is?

The governor is alleged to have tried to sell Obama's Senate seat to
the highest bidder, used his leverage in attempts to oust Tribune
editorial writers who didn't play ball, and schemed to shake down the
chief executive officer of Children's Memorial Hospital for campaign
cash in exchange for a state grant.

So though Illinois isn't surprised=97this is after all the home of the
Chicago Way=97the national media must be shocked.

They've been clinging to the ridiculous notion that Chicago is Camelot
for months now, cleaving to the idea with the willfulness of stubborn
children. It must help them see Obama as some pristine creature,
perhaps a gentle faun of a magic forest, unstained by our grubby
politics, a bedtime story for grown-ups who insist upon fairy tales.
But now the national media may finally be forced to confront reality.

Even national pundits with tingles running up their legs can't ignore
the tape recordings in which Blagojevich speculated how he'd get the
gold for picking Obama's successor.

"I'm going to keep this Senate option for me a real possibility, you
know, and therefore I can drive a hard bargain," Blagojevich allegedly
said on tape. "You hear what I'm saying? And if I don't get what I
want, and I'm not satisfied with it, then I'll just take the Senate
seat myself."

Obama's Senate seat, Blagojevich allegedly said, "is a [expletive]
valuable thing. You don't just give it away for nothing."

Then, on Nov. 5, he allegedly said, "I've got this thing, and it's
[expletive] golden and, uh, I'm just not going to give it up for
[expletive] nothing. I'm not gonna do it. And I can always use it, I
can parachute me there."

Parachute me?

If a jury hears that tape, it's [expletive] over.

I figure Blagojevich most likely will start talking to the feds,
blabbing about everyone he knows, in order to cut down his time,
because what's on the federal tapes is devastating.

Once he starts, the feds will have to slap him to shut him up.

Naturally, Obama didn't have much to say.

Obama said he never talked to Blagojevich about the Senate seat. In
this, his hands are clean.

But he also didn't want to get involved, much like last week, when he
didn't want to get involved in the Democratic push led by Sen. Dick
Durbin (D-Big Jim) to get Ryan out of prison.

"I had no contact with the governor or his office and so I was not
aware of what was happening," Obama told reporters at his transition
office in Chicago. "It's a sad day for Illinois; beyond that, I don't
think it's appropriate to comment."

I don't think Obama would ever countenance paying Blagojevich for a
Senate seat or allow others close to him to even consider it. I'm not
saying Obama is corrupt here. He's busy with all the great issues of
the day, but at some point the president-elect must address the stench
in his home state.

Because this is no fairy tale. This isn't Camelot.

This is Chicago.

And a governor is on the grill.

topset72
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-kass-10-dec10,0,7679488,p=
rint.column

Date: 30 Dec 2008 13:00:21
From: OrangeSFO
Subject: Re: Chicago Tribune: It must help them see Obama as some pristine

On Dec 10, 7:53=A0am, "Irish Reich" <mjos...@ameritech.net > wrote:
>

> Are you saying we can't trust Chris "a thrill ran up my leg when I heard
> Obama speak" Matthews and MSNBC to objectively report on The Messiah?
>
> Irish Mike

Mike, how many times a day do you daydream about the thrill running up
Chris Matthews' leg?

Date: 11 Dec 2008 11:32:29
From: funky cold medina
Subject: Re: Chicago Tribune: It must help them see Obama as some pristine

On Dec 10, 10:51=A0am, ramashiva <ramash...@earthlink.net > wrote:
> On Dec 10, 10:47=A0am, funky cold medina <kellywon...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Dec 10, 8:53=A0am, "James L. Hankins" <jhanki...@cox.net> wrote:
>
> > > "ramashiva" <ramash...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
>
> > >news:4e5b591d-90b3-49ca-a90a-abcfe62dad4d@t26g2000prh.googlegroups.com=
...
>
> > > >Exactly. =A0It gives him plausible deniability if evidence surfaces =
that
> > > >he was well aware of Blogojevich's machinations. =A0I have no respec=
t
> > > >for politicians who deal in plausible deniability.
>
> > > It's not a plausible deniability statement, it's an ambigous statemen=
t
> > > because Obama is the President-elect and he does not want to comment =
on the
> > > facts of a pending criminal case (one in which he might well be a wit=
ness).
> > > He has to say *something* about it because of his current position as=
the
> > > President-elect. =A0It's just standard politics 101.
>
> > You seem to be a good person Hankins, I don't know why you even bother
> > discussing current affairs. =A0I'm guessing you do it for the benefit o=
f
> > lurkers, not the ones you're responding to.
>
> > Ironically, most of them are so hell-bent on painting Obama as the
> > anti-christ incarnate, that legitimate questions get lost or obscured
> > in the rhetoric. =A0Anyone with a modicum of sense tones down the noise
> > -- hence genuine issues that probably should be raised are missed...
> > minimized by the severe onslaught of bullshit.
>
> > So yeah, keep crying wolf about Obama every chance you get... dumb-
> > asses. =A0Meanwhile, when there are significant questions to be
> > addressed, you'll be ignored as the hysterical drama-queens you are.
>
> And you will be ignored for the arrogant, patronizing, judgemental
> asshole that you are.
>
> William Coleman =A0(ramashiva)

Hey, jerk, I'm not patronizing.

Oh, BTW - you misspelled judgmental.

Date: 10 Dec 2008 10:51:42
From: ramashiva
Subject: Re: Chicago Tribune: It must help them see Obama as some pristine

On Dec 10, 10:47=A0am, funky cold medina <kellywon...@yahoo.com > wrote:
> On Dec 10, 8:53=A0am, "James L. Hankins" <jhanki...@cox.net> wrote:
>
> > "ramashiva" <ramash...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
>
> >news:4e5b591d-90b3-49ca-a90a-abcfe62dad4d@t26g2000prh.googlegroups.com..=
.
>
> > >Exactly. =A0It gives him plausible deniability if evidence surfaces th=
at
> > >he was well aware of Blogojevich's machinations. =A0I have no respect
> > >for politicians who deal in plausible deniability.
>
> > It's not a plausible deniability statement, it's an ambigous statement
> > because Obama is the President-elect and he does not want to comment on=
the
> > facts of a pending criminal case (one in which he might well be a witne=
ss).
> > He has to say *something* about it because of his current position as t=
he
> > President-elect. =A0It's just standard politics 101.
>
> You seem to be a good person Hankins, I don't know why you even bother
> discussing current affairs. =A0I'm guessing you do it for the benefit of
> lurkers, not the ones you're responding to.
>
> Ironically, most of them are so hell-bent on painting Obama as the
> anti-christ incarnate, that legitimate questions get lost or obscured
> in the rhetoric. =A0Anyone with a modicum of sense tones down the noise
> -- hence genuine issues that probably should be raised are missed...
> minimized by the severe onslaught of bullshit.
>
> So yeah, keep crying wolf about Obama every chance you get... dumb-
> asses. =A0Meanwhile, when there are significant questions to be
> addressed, you'll be ignored as the hysterical drama-queens you are.

And you will be ignored for the arrogant, patronizing, judgemental
asshole that you are.

William Coleman (ramashiva)

Date: 10 Dec 2008 10:47:40
From: funky cold medina
Subject: Re: Chicago Tribune: It must help them see Obama as some pristine

On Dec 10, 8:53=A0am, "James L. Hankins" <jhanki...@cox.net > wrote:
> "ramashiva" <ramash...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
>
> news:4e5b591d-90b3-49ca-a90a-abcfe62dad4d@t26g2000prh.googlegroups.com...
>
> >Exactly. =A0It gives him plausible deniability if evidence surfaces that
> >he was well aware of Blogojevich's machinations. =A0I have no respect
> >for politicians who deal in plausible deniability.
>
> It's not a plausible deniability statement, it's an ambigous statement
> because Obama is the President-elect and he does not want to comment on t=
he
> facts of a pending criminal case (one in which he might well be a witness=
).
> He has to say *something* about it because of his current position as the
> President-elect. =A0It's just standard politics 101.

You seem to be a good person Hankins, I don't know why you even bother
discussing current affairs. I'm guessing you do it for the benefit of
lurkers, not the ones you're responding to.

Ironically, most of them are so hell-bent on painting Obama as the
anti-christ incarnate, that legitimate questions get lost or obscured
in the rhetoric. Anyone with a modicum of sense tones down the noise
-- hence genuine issues that probably should be raised are missed...
minimized by the severe onslaught of bullshit.

So yeah, keep crying wolf about Obama every chance you get... dumb-
asses. Meanwhile, when there are significant questions to be
addressed, you'll be ignored as the hysterical drama-queens you are.

Good job.

Date: 10 Dec 2008 08:57:11
From: ramashiva
Subject: Re: Chicago Tribune: It must help them see Obama as some pristine

Date: 10 Dec 2008 08:49:20
From: Clarence
Subject: Re: Chicago Tribune: It must help them see Obama as some pristine

> Are you saying we can't trust Chris "a thrill ran up my leg when I heard
> Obama speak" Matthews and MSNBC to objectively report on The Messiah?
>
> Irish Mike

TV has long ago given up its place in line. There are so few actual
reporters now that I'm pretty sure one guy does it all and feeds it to
AP, where everyone else downloads it and then proceeds to opine using
every one of their 17 brain cells.

The role of an investigative press is imperative to our country's
life. IMPERATIVE. With virtually every newspaper now absorbed by
corporate interests, salaries for that type of reporting has been cut
to almost nothing. Blogging means shit; there's no access, no
discipline, it's stupid opinions. My guy against your guy. But if we
can't get real feet on the ground looking into the rectums of these
assholes, it's suicide. The founding fathers knew this. They KNEW
it!

I don't think it's going to get better. Personally, I believe we've
gone too far and there's no turning back. Parties mean nothing to the
common American, he figured that out somewhere along the line, and now
he's nurtured by hatred towards "the other guy". That's all it's
boiled down to now, hating. Hate Bush, hate Gore. Hate Bush, hate
Obama. Hate Clinton, hate Palin. Instead of being for a plank, it's
easier to gnash against the other guy's plank.

As if anyone even knows what a plank is nowadays. They don't even have
them anyway.... a race is about nothing. Nothing. When Clinton went
on TV and looked everyone straight in the eye and denied getting
blowjobs from that girl, that's when we rolled over. Yeah, it's been
done forever... but at least they weren't put on a world-wide stage to
be peered at by millions....when he flat out lied and we took it, it's
become absolutely flagrant... Obama could be standing there with his
dick in somebody's mouth and he'd deny it. Unless the other guy stood
up with a mouthful and turned to the camera and grinned.

Disgusting. Those who voted for Obama will deny to their dying breath
that he knew about selling that seat. The Feds aren't releasing all
they know because of the catastrophe it would create, but what's
coming? I am of no party, so I have no allegiance. I just scrutinize.

Date: 10 Dec 2008 08:29:28
From: ramashiva
Subject: Re: Chicago Tribune: It must help them see Obama as some pristine

On Dec 10, 8:12=A0am, "James L. Hankins" <jhanki...@cox.net > wrote:
> "ramashiva" <ramash...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
>
> news:1b0d5e4e-9c7e-4bb4-baaf-502c2a845aea@e1g2000pra.googlegroups.com...
> On Dec 10, 6:52 am, topse...@gmail.com wrote:
>
> > "I had no contact with the governor or his office
>
> This may be the truth, but is probably a lie.
>
> > and so I was not aware of what was happening,"
>
> This is almost certainly a lie. =A0It is perfectly clear that
> Blagojevich talked to someone on Obama's staff. =A0It is implausible, to
> say the least, that this staffer would not apprise Obama of the
> situation.
>
> We know from the cases of William Ayers and ACORN that Obama is, shall
> we say, less than totally forthcoming about his relationships with
> unsavory people. =A0He consistently minimizes his involvements and only
> changes his story when confronted with undeniable facts.
>
> Don't you find it a little bit peculiar that we have a situation where th=
e
> Gov. of Illinois has been indicted for corruption and a lengthy affidavit=
by
> an FBI agent indicating that the Gov. tried to corruptly deal with Obama,
> but Obama refused to engage in the corruption, but most of the discussion=
on
> this news group centers around nitpicky press conference statements made =
by
> Obama as if he did something wrong.

If he did talk to Blogojevich about his vacant Senate seat, or if he
did know that Blogovejich was trying to sell the Senate seat, then the
above statement I quoted is a lie. That would be wrong.

> As far as minimizing involvement and changing story, I have not seen
> anything to support that charge.

Surely you are not referring to his statements about Ayers or ACORN.
The record on that is clear and well documented.

>=A0"I was not aware of what was happening"
> could refer to many different things. =A0True, it's intentionally ambiguo=
us,

Exactly. It gives him plausible deniability if evidence surfaces that
he was well aware of Blogojevich's machinations. I have no respect
for politicians who deal in plausible deniability.

William Coleman (ramashiva)

Date: 10 Dec 2008 08:02:22
From: Bob T.
Subject: Re: Chicago Tribune: It must help them see Obama as some pristine

On Dec 10, 7:53=A0am, "Irish Mike" <mjos...@ameritech.net > wrote:
>
> Are you saying we can't trust Chris "a thrill ran up my leg when I heard
> Obama speak" Matthews and MSNBC to objectively report on The Messiah?

We can trust them exactly as much as we could trust Judith Miller when
she painted a terrifying picture of Saddam and all his WMD in the
runup to the invasion of Iraq.

- Bob T.
>
> Irish Mike

Date: 10 Dec 2008 07:45:33
From: Clarence
Subject: Re: Chicago Tribune: It must help them see Obama as some pristine

> =A0He consistently minimizes his involvements and only
> changes his story when confronted with undeniable facts.
>
> William Coleman =A0(ramashiva)

This is why we desperately need a free press. Without it, there
nothing to connect the people to the wolves and by turning the press
into cheerleaders for one party or the other, it leaves us desperately
vulnerable. Democrat voters made LBJ accountable, Republican voters
made Nixon accountable. Never trust either side.... if any of this can
help us realize that it's We and Them, then it may be worth it. It's
not Me against You. Does anybody understand that anymore? Where did
this weird business start, one party of citizens against another party
of citizens?? What good is that? "My guy is better than your guy".
It can't be that way. It has to be, "We want to know exactly what
these elected assholes are doing, and we want the whole picture".

If we as citizens don't want that, we're doomed.

Date: 10 Dec 2008 07:11:56
From: ramashiva
Subject: Re: Chicago Tribune: It must help them see Obama as some pristine

On Dec 10, 6:52=A0am, topse...@gmail.com wrote:

> "I had no contact with the governor or his office

This may be the truth, but is probably a lie.

> and so I was not aware of what was happening,"

This is almost certainly a lie. It is perfectly clear that
Blagojevich talked to someone on Obama's staff. It is implausible, to
say the least, that this staffer would not apprise Obama of the
situation.

We know from the cases of William Ayers and ACORN that Obama is, shall
we say, less than totally forthcoming about his relationships with
unsavory people. He consistently minimizes his involvements and only
changes his story when confronted with undeniable facts.

William Coleman (ramashiva)