Blagojevich's Fall is a blow to Jesse Jackson, Jr.'s Senate Ambitions

[SuperTrouper]

because I honestly think that he was going to be nominated to take over Obama's seat by the embattled Governor. Now, with Blagojevich out of the picture, all bets are off. I think that Jesse, Jr. is talented but the new Governor (or the Acting Governor) will appoint someone outside Chicago to avoid the stench of Chicago politics. In New York, Patterson will appoint Caroline Kennedy, I think that it is now inevitable with the support of the Kennedy clan and the tacit approval from President-elect Obama.

[ShortnFiery]

1. We are so F**ked by this corrupt Plutocracy: CORPORATE United States of America.

:grr: :nuke:

p.s. does "the Kennedy clan's desires" trump every other QUALIFIED person? This truly sucks. :(

[WCGreen]

18. But But But...

Don't you want Camelot?

More to me Spamelot.

Did I go to sleep last night living in at least a lip service democracy and wake up in a de facto democratic monarchy?

[ShortnFiery]

19. Yah, it's been over time. Like putting a frog in warm water and slowly turing up the heat.

Stick a fork in us, were done - --> Fascism R U S ... A

[prolesunited]

30. If we're so fucked

why are you still here?

[ShortnFiery]

35. IMO, that's a silly question. This is ... "... Underground"

:evilgrin: ;)

[prolesunited]

40. No. I meant in the fascist USA

[SoxFan]

47. Rod Blagoevich is part of the "plutocracy"?

Yeah, riiiiight.

Blago is a sleazy machine hack. That's far from being part of the "plutocracy". But go ahead and keep saying this if it makes you feel better.

[Dreamer Tatum]

59. Can you explain what you mean?

This is influence peddling. In what way is a corporation involved?

[babylonsister]

2. No it isn't. I've read he wasn't going to appoint JJJ. nt

[SuperTrouper]

4. Perhaps not, but this cesspool of Chicago politics will smear Jackson. Now it is indeed amazing

to see how Obama navigated this political circle without getting tainted by it.

[babylonsister]

7. JJJ is an outstanding rep. imo, so I hope he won't be painted with

that same brush.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

14. who do you think "candidate 5" is?

http://cbs2chicago.com/local/rod.blagojevich.charged.2.883170.html

[babylonsister]

17. I don't know as I don't know who was interested in the position; I'm

also not real familiar with Chicago politics. I guess that's a good thing, though this will be a learning experience.

[genna]

106. Well, who do you think it is.

Everyone on the Chicago Delegation but Bobby Rush (CSPAN press conference) wanted that Senate seat. He was asked about Jesse Jackson Jr. He said he hadn't talked to JJJ because he didn't want to be tainted for the process ahead.


How many people in the Illinois Delegation.

[ProSense]

3. No, people are not guilty by association.

Patterson was Spitzer's Lt. Gov.

[SuperTrouper]

5. Both Patterson and Spitzer had their pecadillos exposed to the public

in a matter of days. Not guilty by association but guilty by their own character flaws.

[ProSense]

9. Neither case had anything to do with the other.

The point is that Patterson is now the NY Gov.

[SuperTrouper]

10. And he will appoint Sweet Caroline and not Cuomo

[Jersey Devil]

21. You really think Caroline and Cuomo will complete? They are cousins

They will work it out between them.

[SuperTrouper]

32. The deal: Sweet to Senate, Andy to the Governorship after Patterson is done

[Freddie Stubbs]

39. "After" can be a long time, as NY does not term limit its governors

[Freddie Stubbs]

38. Cuomo used to be married to Caroline's cousin, but they divorced back in 2003

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B03E4DB153AF932A35754C0A9659C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print

[iceman66]

6. I hope he gets impeached soon

otherwise whoever he appoints is going to be 'tainted' by this scandal.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

8. do you think he's candidate 5 ?

http://cbs2chicago.com/local/rod.blagojevich.charged.2.883170.html

[olkaz]

11. Who cares?

Chicago politics ruins the state. One more example.

[Thrill]

12. Jesse Jr. met with him yesterday. He may have blown the whistle on the Governor

[Clio the Leo]

13. "I've got enough trouble in terms of Illinois politics. "

Barack said on Meet the Press last Sunday,

".... the last thing I want to do is get involved in New York politics. I've got enough trouble in terms of Illinois politics."

Man, he wasn't kidding was he? lol

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28097635/page/4/

[SuperTrouper]

15. Quite prophetic

[Clio the Leo]

48. or quite informed. ;-) NT

[Gidney N Cloyd]

16. It's not just Chicago. The whole state is corrupt!

Downstate is just as bad as Chicago, they just don't have the big ticket issues that get noticed until, like Ryan, they get to Springfield.

[olkaz]

20. That's hilarious.

That's why "Downstate Illinois Politics" is as powerful a phrase as "Chicago Politics" right?

Downstate could be 100x more corrupt and not come close.

[ieoeja]

24. Q. Why did Nixon call off the 1960 recount?

A. Turned out there was a lot more cheating downstate than in Chicago.

[olkaz]

26. That's the best you can do?

Something from 1960 with no link?

[ieoeja]

33. Hard to believe you are from Illinois.

Half the fucking Illinois GOP is in jail now, and you're accusing CHICAGO of being corrupt? Oh, that's right. We're just BETTER at keeping our mouths shut apparently. What you going to toss out there next, the mafia? You do realize the mob is headquartered out in the 'burbs ... again with all the Republicans.

You do remember Fitz decapitating the mob this year? You do remember them finding the only Chicago political tie was a single $200 contribution to a single Alderman decades ago? You been out of state for awhile? They found plenty of other mob political ties. But, again, they were all out in the 'burbs with all the Conservatives.

[olkaz]

51. Okay, so machine politics does not exist in Chicago?

Come on.

[ieoeja]

53. Of course it does. So machine politics does not exist in the rest of Illinois?

Your turn.

[olkaz]

How is that comparison useful?

You're going to seriously extend that the two are equivalent?

[ieoeja]

58. No. The above poster said downstate was WORSE, not equivalent.

And as someone raised on a farm in southern Indiana, I have some idea how it works. I'd be surprised if somehow the culture changes when you cross the boundary.

There were two kinds of voters where I grew up. Those who knew how corrupt it was and were either getting theirs or knew they had a good shot at getting theirs at a latter time, and those who just couldn't believe those bad things people were saying about their neighbors.

[olkaz]

60. I don't think our opinions are that divergent, honestly.

I think we can both agree that we need some new leadership without the baggage of all the nepotism, cronyism, and rascalism of the past.

I think today is a step in that direction. Hopefully the party can come together now.

[ieoeja]

79. To that ...

... :toast:

[Danger Mouse]

22. You know jack shit about New York politics.

[SuperTrouper]

25. Say what? I grew up in the Bronx, I know from Abzug, Badillo, Molinari, Serrano, and Solarz

and the Kennedy name is still rewvered everywhere in NY, from JFK, RFK, and JFK,Jr. Caroline is well respected and she would make a wonderful Senator without going on a "listening tour"

[Danger Mouse]

27. There's more to NY than just the city.

Kirsten Gillibrand has been mentioned before. She's my rep, she's popular in Albany, and has access to the governor. She said she's not interested, but would she turn it down if offered the position?
I think Caroline would be good, but I don't think it's inevitable, really.

[Beacool]

23. Corruption in Chicago? Nooooo, say it ain't so...........

I'm shocked, I tell you, shocked that there's corruption in the fair city of Chicago. Why, they are pure as the driven snow. What's wrong with having dead people vote? Doesn't everyone else do it? You know the motto: vote early and vote often.

Interesting batch of politicians that have come out of the Chicago political machinery.......

:eyes:

[ieoeja]

31. Care to elaborate?

"Interesting batch of politicians that have come out of the Chicago political machinery"

You do know that "dead people voting" and "vote early and vote often" was hyperbole for "get out the vote"? They say old Man Daley used to laugh his ass off at the fact that idiots outside of Chicago actually thought he meant these things literally. Even Nixon believed it which is why he asked for a recount in 1960 only to discover that there was a lot more cheating outside Chicago than inside.

[ClarkUSA]

34. Yeah, it's like selling access to the Lincoln Bedroom, I guess. Good thing Obama is clean, eh?

In a conversation with Harris on November 11, the charges state, Blagojevich said he knew that the President-elect wanted Senate Candidate 1 for the open seat but “they’re not willing to give me anything except appreciation. <Expletive> them.”

[ieoeja]

36. Why do you assume she meant Obama. Hillary's ties run deeper.

Lest we forget, Hillary was born in Chicago and got her first taste of politics while still living in the area.

So maybe Beacool is trying to tar Hillary with her insinuations? It is really impossible to tell as Beacool is only ever willing to toss out insinuations without the fucking ovaries to come right out and say what she really means.

[ClarkUSA]

41. LOL

Good one and oh so true. ;)

[Beacool]

63. It just cheers the cockles of my heart

to see that NJ is an innocent babe in the woods when it comes to corrupt politicians. As bad as they are over here, we can always look to Chicago to find worse ones.

Attempting to sell a US senate seat????? Wow, one has to almost admire the cojones of this guy. Why did he think that he would get away with it?

:rofl:

Forgot to add, I have plenty of ovaries, sweetie.....

}(

[Beacool]

61. Sleeping overnight in the Lincoln Bedroom

after a financial contribution pales in comparison with a governor trying to literally sell a senate seat. For the record, even that dick Morrison said that CLinton hated doing those coffee meetings because it made him feel like a prostitute. Do remember that the Repugs had a financial advantage of 2 to 1 and the party urgently needed to raise money for Clinton's reelection and the rest of the Dems who were running in '96. The DNC coffers were near empty and everyone was scrambling to find new ideas to raise money. The means may have been a bit distateful, but no one was selling a senate seat for personal advantage.

[ClarkUSA]

78. Now you're trying to split hairs. Selling access is as unethical as selling Senate seats.

And let's not get into Monica Lewinsky... no pun intended. Take that, Faux Favreau Outrage.

[Beacool]

92. No comparison, selling a senate seat is illegal.

The other is unethical. As for Monica, she was the one wiggling her chubby butt at the president. Obviously he was a fool for going after it, but she was the chaser not the chasee (does that word exist?).

Favreau behaved like a frat boy and he should be smacked over the head for it. Though, I never called for his firing.

:shrug:

[ClarkUSA]

97. Both actions are deeply unethical... like adultery in the Oval Office with an intern.

Just because an action/decision is not illegal doesn't mean it's less unethical than something that is.

It's rather sexist to blame the single young woman instead of the married man with a long reputation for serial philandering.
I don't believe for a second that Bill didn't knowingly and actively seduce her. Interns don't just decide to seduce the President
unless they're given a green light. If you believe Monica made the first move, then I've got a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn.

Furthermore, Bill's amoral behavior succeeded in making it possible for Bush to campaign on bringing "honor and integrity" back
to the White House, which added a significant number of independent swing voters to the GOP column in a year that was already
an uphill battle for Gore.

Favreau's actions harmed no one and Hillary doesn't think "he should be smacked over the head for it" so why is it still an issue
with you and others?

:shrug:

[ecstatic]

54. Wow! Stereotype much?

:eyes:

[Beacool]

55. Nope,

dealt with enough of these people with a thug mentality while campaigning.

[ClarkUSA]

56. Yeah, and Arkansas politicians are all slick HillBillies, right?

:crazy:

[Beacool]

64. Oh, Clark.........

I'm sure that like every other state they have their level of corruption, but not in the grand scale of IL.

:7

[ClarkUSA]

70. AL seems much worse. Face it, you're tarring Obama's IL w/ a Clintonian broad brush grudge.

Besides, Obama came out of Chicago and he's clean as a whistle, despite all attempts to
deep-six/smear/malign/guilt by association him during the 2008 election year. Even
now, Team O comes off as lookin' good in all this. Finally, a president who's not for
sale. ;)

[Beacool]

73. My appreciation for the goings on in IL

predate Obama's campaign. It's not all about O.........

:7

[ClarkUSA]

77. Uh huh

:eyes:

[Beacool]

89. O ye of little faith.....................

;)

[ClarkUSA]

96. You never give me cause for HOPE that you'll CHANGE

:-(

[Beacool]

99. And you, my friend,

never give me much HOPE that you will ever CHANGE and stop bashing my gal and her hubby.

;)

[ClarkUSA]

101. The Clintons have earned my criticism and I feel free to say exactly how/why/when.

What's wrong with that?

:shrug:

[Beacool]

105. Well, your guy earned mine.

:shrug:

;-)

[ClarkUSA]

107. How'd he do so in this issue? Or the Gov. Blago issue we were discussing earlier?

:shrug:

[Beacool]

108. I didn't mean on the Blago issue.

I have my own feelings about him that have nothing to do with Hillary or the primaries. But, I'll withhold final judgment until he's actually doing the job.

[ieoeja]

57. Should have joined the Obama campaign instead of all those thugs with whomever you supported. n/t

[Beacool]

65. The thugs I'm thinking of

have the same mentality as the post-college frat boy who is now the new WH chief speech writer.

Want an example? A group of older teachers being taunted by O staffers to "show us your tits" at a caucus site in CO. Many more similar examples out there. But heck, all water under the bridge now that we are a warm and fuzzy family.

:pals:

[ClarkUSA]

74. Oh, then there are the thugs who sent "Obama is a Muslim" emails...

who happened to be Clinton aides. And then there are the thugs who insisted on the existence of Michelle Obama's "whitey" tapes.
There's no comparison, methinks. But if you want to keep that chip on your shoulder unto eternity, I'll be glad to play. ;)

[Beacool]

76. Some fools forwarded an email, they didn't initiate it.

The whitey tape came from the Freeper camp, just like the image of Obama in native garb (it had already been published in a rag a few months earlier).

:P

[ClarkUSA]

82. Oh, so that makes it okay?

That makes it WORSE, considering who the "fools" were working for. As for starting it, who knows who were really behind it?
Sounds like something Chris Lehane and Mark Penn would enjoy developing... also, the "whitey tape" smear was pushed by
rabid pro-Hillary blogger Larry Johnson and peddled here by known DU Clintonians, at DKos by Larry Johnson and on MyDD
by Larry Johnson's assistant Susan Hu and other liberal blogs written by Hillary hacks, as was the "image of Obama in native
garb".

But I'm not nursing a grudge, because it just goes to show you what a miserable failure sleezebag Clintonian Democratic
thuggery can be when faced with Team O's HOPE and CHANGE. And isn't it great that Team O wouldn't play ball but won the
World Series of Politics, anyway? Oh, and furthermore, isn't it terrific that Team O not only won't play ball with Clintonian or
McCainiac sleezebags but they turned in Gov. Blagojevich (Ellen Ratner, White House correspondent, told Thom Hartmann that
Obama's Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel blew the whistle on Blago)? Barack will finally be the kind of president Americans can be
proud of.

:woohoo: Obama Is 44. :party:

[Beacool]

87. I'll withhold judgment on how "terrific" he is until he actually does the job.

And there were plenty of thugs to go around, don't think that your side was as clean as the driven snow.

[ClarkUSA]

93. He has been doing a great job of being President-Elect so far...

Far better than Bill Clinton's disastrously bad transition in 1992. And our side "was as clean as the driven snow" compared
to our main opponents, both of whom seem to use the same Rovian playbook. After all, which campaign brought up William
Ayers first? (Hint: It wasn't the McCain campaign.) But all that matters now is... the best man won.

:party: Obama Is 44 :woohoo:

[Beacool]

95. A man won, let's leave it at that.

Best is still debatable. Let's wait a few years before we make that assertion.

;-)

[ieoeja]

83. Did they show their tits? Got pictures? n/t

[Beacool]

88. Nope,

but I do have a picture of one of the ladies who was there and she is in her 60s. The punks had zero respect for them.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

81. I really don't think people in New Jersey should be throwing stones.

[SuperTrouper]

102. LOL!! Especially after Torricelli and McGreevey scandals. NJ is up there with AK and IL

[karynnj]

100. Hey, on the how do you like your Senators thread, you said you were from NJ

Now, as a fellow New Jerseyan - who was born in the Indiana suburbs of Chicago - your sarcasm is out of place. NJ has at least as every bit as much corruption - and we've had governors and a Senator leave due to corruption.

Many many states have problems with corruption. Obama, who you are likely trying to smear by insinuation pushed ethics bills both here and in Illinois.

[SuperTrouper]

103. True. Here in CT we have our scandals, too, remember Rowland?

[wndycty]

28. Are you kidding me? Rod and Jesse hate one another

:kick:

[rvablue]

42. That may be the case, but I read yesterday that they met for 90 minutes. n/t

[prolesunited]

44. Sure is interesting to have all these people

who know nothing about Chicago politics and what Blago has been up to for years share their wisdom and insight on these threads.

Did you hear that it was B of A who pulled the strings because he had the temerity to stand up for the workers?

[prolesunited]

29. And you're backing this up with what?

Emil Jones was Blago's floated pick. If anything, this clears the way for Jesse Jackson Jr., who I hope gets the seat. He deserves the seat.

[TexasObserver]

37. That's likely one reason the Bush admin's political Justice dept acted now.

This is about the GOP trying to smear the Democratic party, Illinois politics, and Obama's successor in the senate.

[prolesunited]

43. Umm, I'm just happy this scheme was stopped

BEFORE Blago appointed someone to the Senate, you know, the person who offered him the biggest bribe. Or is that OK with you if it is Dems pulling this crap?

[TexasObserver]

45. Why do you believe such allegations with no proof, whatsoever?

The pro government gullibility by some here is truly appalling.

Do you always believe everything the Bushies tell you?


Patrick Fitzgerald proved in the Plame matter that he's more interested in kissing George Bush's ass than standing up to him.

[prolesunited]

49. Well, because I live in the Chicago area

and this case has been building for YEARS. They have taped conversations. People wore wires.

And what proof do YOU have that the Bushies are involved in this? Or do you believe anything that happens to Dems is a conspiracy and not a result of their own corrupt actions as in the case of Blaggo?

[TexasObserver]

52. The FBI and the Justice department are controlled by Bush.

He has the most politically corrupt Justice department ever.

There is no reason to presume anything they do is above board. They target who they want to get. When one of their US attorneys actually goes after corrupt GOP politicians, they get fired.

All you've really said is that Bush appointees have pursued this governor, and have leaked claims that may or may not be true.

[goodhue]

46. why do you think Jesse Jr was Blago's preferred candidate?

nothing I've read suggests that

[SuperTrouper]

67. Nothing wil surprise me. JJJ always has given me a negative vibe, perhaps my paranoia

[Freddie Stubbs]

50. Only if Jackson or his supporters were willing to bribe Blago

And I haven's seen any evidence of that.

[WeDidIt]

62. Senate Candidate #4 and #5 appear to have been ready to pay-to-play.

If JJ Jr. was either of them, he could be facing indictment.

[goodhue]

69. Candidate 4 is a deputy governor, so not JJJ

JJJ might be 5, but latest speculation is that 5 is Art Turner . . .

http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/tapped_archive?month=12&year=2008&base_name=a_guide_to_the_candidates

[SuperTrouper]

71. Oh boy, the speculation is driving me c razy. Hopefully we'll know details soon

[alwysdrunk]

91. There are rumors that #5 was some businessman.

Is Jesse Jr. considered a businessman? Also, they say #5 was ready to pony a mil for the appointment. Does he have that kind of scratch?

[maddowfan]

66. So There Is A Silver Lining

Can't stand Jesse Jackson Jr.

[Beacool]

68. Hear, hear!!!

Like the father, detest the son.

[Critters2]

72. The talk over the weekend was that Blago was going to name Emil Jones,

which would make sense. Jones would be likely to do business this way. My guess is that Jackson wouldn't pay up.

[Beacool]

75. Emil Jones????????

Geez, give me a break.

How about NY, IL and DE holding a special election and letting the voters decide???

No freebie seat in NY for Caroline just because her last name is Kennedy. No seat in any state for corrupt politicians. Enough already!!!

:puke:

[Critters2]

80. That's what the local news media were saying.

I'd like the idea of the voters deciding better if I didn't know that the voters elected Rod Blagojevich. Twice.

[Beacool]

86. I'm sure voters didn't know how corrupt the guy was.

I voted for McGreevey in NJ and I didn't know that he would give his lover a $100K job that he was not qualified to hold.

:-(

[ieoeja]

84. The following have two things in common...

The following have two things in common. Beacool has expressed her dislike of them in this thread. Can anyone guess the other? (Answer at the bottom.)



Emil Jones




Jesse Jackson Sr

http://www1.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/Jesse+Jackson+Holds+Press+Conf+Economic+Crisis+1Cb5JOI7QNns.jpg


Jesse Jackson Jr

http://www2.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/2008+Democratic+National+Convention+Day+1+JqAM8oeWnCKs.jpg


Barack Obama






















They are all from Chicago! Beacool obviously hates Chicagoans!

[Beacool]

85. I have no beef with Rev. Jackson.

:shrug:

[ieoeja]

90. Misunderstood "Like the father, detest the son."

I thought you meant that you detested the son *like* you detest the father. Instead you like the father, *but* detest the son.

Mea culpa.

[Beacool]

94. I had no negative feelings toward Jr.

until he mocked Hillary over the time that her voiced cracked in NH (she never cried). Jr. was quite vicious and asked why hadn't she cried for the victims of Katrina. He must have forgotten that his candidate went to New Orleans at Hillary's invitation. He must have also forgotten that Bill went there to offer his foundation's help. Since then Jr. has said other things too that have not endeared him to me. So no, I don't like Jesse Jr. As for Jones, he's no winner either, he's also not a straight shooter even though he's not in Blago's league of corruption.

[wildonion]

98. What are any good articles out there on the situation?

I found

this

and

this


Any others?

[Orsino]

104. If Blagojevich had planned to appoint Jackson...

...it would have been because Jackson played ball in some way. It wasn't going to come without a literal price tag.

[Unsane]

109. There's probably going to be a special election.

Though I'm holding out hope Blags appoints himself. Oh the political theater.