The Repugs May Feel Orgamsic Right Now, But Blago Was Premature Ejaculation

[WeDidIt]

Blago getting busted in about March would have been a much bigger problem for Obama because a Senate pick would have already been seated.

Timing is everything and there was no better possible time for Blagojevich to be taken down.

And as anybody who has paid attention in Illinois could tell you, Blagojevich was going down. Nothing was going to stop that. Going down before the election could have cost Barack the election even though Barack did nothing. But having the bust happen right now puts it behind Barack before he really starts the job of governing this nation and keeps a tainted Senator from sitting in Barack's old seat when the fit hit the shan.

Fitzgerald timed it perfectly to have the minimal impact on the new administration. If Fitzgerald is anything, he is cognizant of unintended political consequences over his prosecutions.

[JeffR]

1. You make a very good case.

:thumbsup:

[bluestateguy]

2. There is a natural tendency for voters to pay less attention to politics during the holidays

Politicians know this.

If Republicans controlled congressional investigating committees with subpoena power, they might have been able to keep this story alive, but alas, they don't.

[monmouth]

3. Great post, glad to K&R

[Joanne98]

4. Good point.

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. That's my feeling too.

[pnwmom]

6. What you say makes a lot of sense. And also, the longer

Blago went on with his schemes, the more bystanders he could have pulled into the muck.

[Window]

7. K/R.

:kick:

[Starry Messenger]

8. Thank you!

It is the same way the Obama campaign handled things. Neutralize the poison early on. Don't let things just happen.

[CitizenPatriot]

9. I agree...I think this is just like all things Obama

and he is handling it perfectly.

I also sense it could be a perfect opportunity to let the fringe right pundits hang themselves by making allegations based on supposition which are later proven false. If this happens, Obama has a weapon for the next 8 years.

Lipstick on a pig. Remember that? Our guy knows what he's doing. I love watching him in action. They never see it coming, either.

[glitch]

10. Agreed. nt

[sofa king]

11. Yeah, I'll say.

He also timed his prosecution of someone--anyone? No--just one of the group of people who conspired to blow the cover of a CIA agent, so that it would have minimal impact on that administration.

And boy, did we ever pay for that.

[mwei924]

12. Awesome analogy btw.

[Berry Cool]

13. They're suffering from what Keith Olbermann would call "premature jocularity."

They won't be gleeful for long.

[WeDidIt]

15. The best part is, it's a distraction for the Birth Certificate Cultists

Once they realize that Blagojevich was hated by everybody in the Democratic PArtic of Illinois and that the IL-GOP was working mroe closely with the bastard than his own party was, they'll be back to ranting about Obama's "forged" birth certificate.

[WCGreen]

14. A stai on the bathroom carpet of life...

[tekisui]

16. Yep. Besides, 'guilt by association' doesn't work on Obama.

It drives the RW nuts, but it's true. He enjoys too much public support for that shit to touch him.

[Number23]

23. I was thinking the same thing

I don't think that Blago would have cost Obama the election by any means. But the OP's point is valid in that I think it would have cast an unwanted and unnecessary cloud over his campaign which still wouldn't have been a good thing.

Really interesting points in the OP. Glad to see them here.

[beachmom]

17. Plus, it is holiday season after one of the most watched presidential campaigns ever.

People are burned out and not paying as much attention. Perfect timing is right.

[truthisfreedom]

18. Good points.

Thanks.

[mucifer]

19. Problem is if Jackson Jr. really is #5 it's REALLY bad. I'm pretty sure the senate seat will

go republican. I'm thinking mark kirk. He's pretty conservative. I'm thinking the rest of IL is gonna go conservative probably Chicago will stay dem. They will paint all left wingers as being like blago. It's bad. oy vey.

[WeDidIt]

20. Nope, not bad at all

and Quinn will probably end up naming the replacement.

And we're almost two years away from the next election.

[mucifer]

21. Quinn won't. Too much taint in the idea of an appointment. I bet you mark kirk

will be our next senator. oy vey.

[WeDidIt]

22. I bet you're wrong. n/t

[Number23]

24. I think your scenario sound much more plausible

Isn't this type of thing the entire reason we have Lt. Governors and Deputy whatevers? So that if the primary official becomes incapacitated (or arrested) there is a natural, logical line of succession?

Since Quinn is also a Dem, I can't think of any reason why he wouldn't be allowed to step in once appointed Gov and put in his own Democratic choice for the Senate. The chance for a special election is also high but perhaps not quite as.

[political_Dem]

25. That is a very practical way of viewing this entire situation. Kudos.

However, the Blagojevich situation also overshadowed the fact that a Minnesota Court of Appeals refused to overturn Larry Craig's guilty plea. That too should have been played up yesterday in the MSM. But it wasn't.

[Hokie]

26. I agree on this

The media will have fun for a while but when the dust settles the facts are that Fitz has a weak case, Blagojevich schemed but didn't really get anything. He will be impeached or resign. The Lt. Gov. will make the senatorial appointment and life will move on to the next scandal, possibly Norm Coleman.

[prostock69]

27. Agree as well. :)

[pipi_k]

28. If I have only one regret in all of this, it's that...

We'll never know which corrupt politicians might have taken Blagojevich up on his offer.

Almost like the sting went down a little too soon, you know?


In any case, I'm always amazed at the sheer audacity and huge egos of people who think they can get away with stuff like this for very long. Especially given the track record, in this case, of some of the people who preceded Blagojevich.