Food for thought: Jesse Jackson Jr. met with Blagojevich for 90 minutes yesterday

[rvablue]

First of all, let me be clear that JJJ was and remains my first choice to fill Obama's seat.

But I remembered reading this story yesterday and went back and googled it and frankly the quotes are quite interesting and deserve a second look given this morning's revelations.

Am I advocating someone be guilty by association? No. I am just posting this because I thought the fact-finding, research type DUers would find it interesting.


CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Originally posted: December 8, 2008

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. touts Senate credentials to Blagojevich
Posted by Dan Mihalopoulos at 7:36 p.m.

Following a 90-minute audition meeting today with Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. said he was confident in the process the governor is using to make his choice for a Senate successor to President-elect Barack Obama.

*SNIP*

Jackson has mounted the most highly visible campaign among several people who are being considered for the Senate post. He said the meeting with Blagojevich amounted to a “very productive conversation, very thoughtful” that covered a broad range of issues.

“I am convinced that the governor has a very thoughtful process that he has put in place and is wrestling and weighing a number of issues in this enormous decision that he has to make,” Jackson said. “Today, I leave confident that the governor has put in place processes and that his interview process for this position is thoughtful.”

Earlier in the day, Blagojevich called Jackson “a very strong candidate in a very strong position” for the job, but quickly cautioned that no one should “read too much into this because I haven’t made up my mind.” Blagojevich has indicated a decision could be made around Christmastime or the New Year.

[ecstatic]

1. Maybe he went to the meeting wearing a wire?

Perhaps that's why the story finally broke today?

[rvablue]

3. Interesting....I didn't think of that!

And being a fan, that would make me very, very happy that he had a part in bringing this egomaniacal crook down!

[Maru Kitteh]

29. I was thinking the very same thing myself.

[my2sense]

2. Sounds fishy to me too

:popcorn:

[SuperTrouper]

4. Very very interesting. That is why I said that Blago's arrest was a blow to JJJ

[Blackhatjack]

5. On the surface, this appears to be very bad for JJJ....

... 90 min meeting with a corrupt governor the day before he is arrested, seeking an office from the governor and saying nice things about him the process he is using to decide who gets the plum position.

IMHO the only way JJJ would wear a wire is if he was being 'squeezed' to cooperate under the threat of criminal charges.

[FrenchieCat]

9. The problem might be the Jesse Jackson getting involved with the Union story,

delivering food and speaking for them, then his son's 90 minute meeting with Blago, and then Blago showing up to stand with the Union Workers, and shutting down BofA business with Illinois Government.

Using the Union showdown as a PR event perhaps?

Just theorizing.

[TexasObserver]

6. The FBI bugged him three weeks before the election.

Sounds like they were desperately trying to find something to charge the governor with BEFORE the election, but would have had a hard time making stick a claim that he was selling the senate appointment.

Evidence at trial may prove the governor's guilt, but many here fail to acknowledge that the investigation into this THIRD Democratic governor in three years was motivated by a desire to achieve political gain by the GOP.

[polichick]

7. I have a feeling you're right.

[TexasObserver]

19. Thanks. It can be politically motivated, and he can still be guilty of something.

Many posters do not seem able to understand that salient fact. This guy may have done something wrong, maybe done something illegal. But prosecutors and investigators go after who they want to go after.

Patrick Fitzgerald was a complete lap dog for the Bush administration. His refusal to pursue more than Libby was gross incompetence, at best. He was a complete and utter failure in that role, played by Karl Rove, George Bush, and Dick Cheney. He has zero credibility, both for competence and integrity. He is a Bush sell out.

[polichick]

24. It's a fascinating situation, multi-layered - great movie material! :)

[TexasObserver]

26. John Gresham is writing it as we speak!

Any time a major politician of one party is prosecuted by the foot soldiers of the other party, there's reason to be suspicious.

Anyone who thinks US attorneys are not highly political simply doesn't get it. They go after whoever they want to nail. The exception is the US attorney who goes after a politician of their own party. That happened in California with Top Gun, and look what happened to her. They canned her ass in early 2005 for nailing the Dukester.

[polichick]

27. I see Tom Cruise in the Blago role, and Denzel for Barack.

[TexasObserver]

31. I like Will Smith for Obama.

I make this look good!

[polichick]

32. LOL

[rvablue]

25. He was a "lap dog", is that why Bush's cronies at DOJ were trying to get him fired

http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2007/mar/20/news/chi-0703200151mar20

[ieoeja]

28. But here in Illinois ... Patrick Fitzgerald decapitated the GOP.

He put numerous GOP officials in jail for the same Pay-to-Play crime he's going after Blagojevich for now. So we have dozens of GOPpers versus three Democrats (four if you count Rezko though Rezko appears to be an independant money man rather than a Democrat).

He was in the middle of prosecuting the Republicans when the state government changed hands. Amazingly, knowing the prosecution and investigation was ongoing, Blagojevich joined in the criminal activity. It's like the police are hauling the prostitutes and Johns out of the whorehouse in handcuffs only to have some guy walking by try to hire one of the prostitutes.

Before today I wrote it all off as baseless accusations motivated by (1) get-out-of-jail-free cards and (2) politics as all the accusers were Republican. But after today I am forced to admit that Blago really was this stupid.

Okay, the past couple years proved he was already stupid enough. Today just proved he was crooked enough.

[AZ Criminal JD]

34. Was he incompetent when he went after Republicans in Illinois?

[rvablue]

8. OH. MY. You've got to be kidding me.....did they also hypnotize him into explicitly saying

he wanted something in return for the seat.

Geesh.

[AllentownJake]

13. That's crap

Blago voted for Ronald Reagan twice in the 80s and for the Iraq war when he was in congress.

Sometimes someone is just corrupt and Blago sounds like the worst of them.

They have tapes. The only good news is on the tapes he bashes the President Elect.

[Rebubula]

17. Yup

Nothing to see here...just a big right wing conspiracy.

Patrick Fitzgerald is known for attacking Democrats without cause..



:crazy: :eyes:

[TexasObserver]

21. Patrick Fitzgerald is known for blowing the biggest case the past 30 years.

His handling of the Plame case proved he is either grossly incompetent, or a lap dog for Bush.

Or both, which seems more likely.

[WI_DEM]

10. Frankly I don't like the way JJJ has been so public in seeking this seat.

[FrenchieCat]

11. Me neither.

And the question would be if Jesse Jackson Jr. could be elected nationwide?
Illinois only has a 12% Black Population....and JJJ is no Obama.

[rvablue]

20. You mean, I'm sure, "elected statewide," right? n/t

[FrenchieCat]

23. Yes....thank you. Statewide.

my bad.

[redstate_democrat]

35. So are you suggesting that only blacks would vote for JJJ?

and if it is what you're saying, what would be your basis for an assumption like that?

[polichick]

12. He has been strikingly bold about it, for sure.

[SuperTrouper]

14. I only wish Harold Ford, Jr. lived in IL. He may be DLC but he is fine with me. Not so JJJ

[AllentownJake]

16. Harold Ford could run as a republican?

The guy spent the entire election on morning joe tearing Obama down.

[olkaz]

30. Good god, thank god he DOESN'T live in my state.

Jesus, if I want to vote for a Republican, I'll just vote for a Republican. I don't need a Republican pretending to be a Democrat on the ballot too.

[redstate_democrat]

36. What's your problem with JJJ? I'm sure you know absolutely nothing about him and are only

transferring your feelings about his father to him.

[ShortnFiery]

15. It would strike "a blow" to the liberal wing of the Democratic Party.

How very convenient for Rahm and other right leaning (DLC) democrats? :eyes:

[AllentownJake]

18. Blago voted for the Iraq War

He was in the right leaning part of the party.

[ShortnFiery]

22. I'm implying that it would IF they implicated Jesse Jackson Junior.

Perhaps I'm getting a little ahead of myself. ;) :blush:

[goodhue]

33. Keep in mind that news broke Friday that the Feds had Blago on tape

Pesumably both Blago and Jesse Jr were aware of this when they met yesterday.