Comments on: Obama: I had ‘no contact’ with Blagojevich about Senate seat. http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/ Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:43:40 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: EugeneDebs http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/comment-page-3/#comment-5375062 EugeneDebs Wed, 10 Dec 2008 07:38:30 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/#comment-5375062 John Kerry Says: You ARE a racist and an ignorant cowardly PUNK TROLL. Everyone that reads your posts or is ever in your presence is a little dirtier for the experience you worthless piece of garbage. John Kerry Says:

You ARE a racist and an ignorant cowardly PUNK TROLL. Everyone that reads your posts or is ever in your presence is a little dirtier for the experience you worthless piece of garbage.

]]> By: EugeneDebs http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/comment-page-3/#comment-5375060 EugeneDebs Wed, 10 Dec 2008 07:34:46 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/#comment-5375060 willyloman Says: Spin all you want but you are full of it. He DID ask for money. He asked to get his wife a job on a board that would pay 150,000$, THAT is classic bribery, he asked for cash up front for his re-election. You are spinning so hard that if you arent careful you will screw yourself into the ground. The GUY WAS COMMITTING A CRIME and ITS ON TAPE. What a wanker. willyloman Says:

Spin all you want but you are full of it. He DID ask for money. He asked to get his wife a job on a board that would pay 150,000$, THAT is classic bribery, he asked for cash up front for his re-election. You are spinning so hard that if you arent careful you will screw yourself into the ground. The GUY WAS COMMITTING A CRIME and ITS ON TAPE. What a wanker.

]]> By: willyloman http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/comment-page-3/#comment-5375030 willyloman Wed, 10 Dec 2008 05:14:14 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/#comment-5375030 intent does go along way tbone. i will give you that. I don't know what the specific laws are here, but I would guess that perhaps, one way or the other (whether it is about the Senate appointment or the Bank of America accounts) just the accusation and the political pressure, in and of itself, might be all they needed, rather than a solid conviction in court. How much juice has Blago got now? He won't even be making the decision about the Senate seat now, the Illinois state Legislature will be doing it now. So yeah, maybe that is enough in a conspiracy case, or maybe not. But the effect was certainly the same. In the court of public opinion. intent does go along way tbone. i will give you that. I don’t know what the specific laws are here, but I would guess that perhaps, one way or the other (whether it is about the Senate appointment or the Bank of America accounts) just the accusation and the political pressure, in and of itself, might be all they needed, rather than a solid conviction in court.

How much juice has Blago got now? He won’t even be making the decision about the Senate seat now, the Illinois state Legislature will be doing it now.

So yeah, maybe that is enough in a conspiracy case, or maybe not. But the effect was certainly the same. In the court of public opinion.

]]> By: tbone http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/comment-page-3/#comment-5375018 tbone Wed, 10 Dec 2008 04:54:37 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/#comment-5375018 willyloman: I'm obviously coming to this thread late and haven't read much, but your comments about drug dealers (89) and "all he did was talk" arguments aren't very strong. Drug dealers can be busted for intent to sell based on quantity (even relatively small quantities) or the number of "bags" the drugs are in. As the name implies, the cops infer intent based on something other than the act of selling. In addition, people solicit sex from undercover police officers without an exchange of money. It is a crime to stand in line at an airport and talk about bombs. There are many examples of talking about crimes (i.e. conspiracy) that are illegal. willyloman:
I’m obviously coming to this thread late and haven’t read much, but your comments about drug dealers (89) and “all he did was talk” arguments aren’t very strong. Drug dealers can be busted for intent to sell based on quantity (even relatively small quantities) or the number of “bags” the drugs are in. As the name implies, the cops infer intent based on something other than the act of selling. In addition, people solicit sex from undercover police officers without an exchange of money. It is a crime to stand in line at an airport and talk about bombs. There are many examples of talking about crimes (i.e. conspiracy) that are illegal.

]]> By: willyloman http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/comment-page-3/#comment-5375016 willyloman Wed, 10 Dec 2008 04:53:27 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/#comment-5375016 anyway, i gotta run and read some more of that complaint. nice seeing you again Shayne. anyway, i gotta run and read some more of that complaint. nice seeing you again Shayne.

]]> By: willyloman http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/comment-page-3/#comment-5375014 willyloman Wed, 10 Dec 2008 04:52:44 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/#comment-5375014 The point I am making, is they all seem to dip their beaks a bit. Being from Illinois you should understand that. you have to look at why this guy got singled out, at this time, for this "crime". my guess is, Bank of America didn't want to lose any cash flow from the state of Illinois. The point I am making, is they all seem to dip their beaks a bit. Being from Illinois you should understand that.

you have to look at why this guy got singled out, at this time, for this “crime”.

my guess is, Bank of America didn’t want to lose any cash flow from the state of Illinois.

]]> By: willyloman http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/comment-page-3/#comment-5375012 willyloman Wed, 10 Dec 2008 04:50:21 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/#comment-5375012 "[T]he Seemingly Endless Revelations Of Wrongdoing At City Hall Have Been Accompanied By A Lengthy List Of City Tax And Fee Increases, Belt-Tightening Prompted By The Lackluster Economy And Growing Hostility From Organized Labor As Daley Seeks Contract Concessions And Pursues Increasing Privatization Of City Services." Chicago Tribune 2005 "Daley Said He Sat For Questions At The Request Of U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald's Office, Which Recently Alleged That Mayoral Aides Directed 'Massive Fraud' In City Hall Hiring And Promotions." Chicago Tribune 2005 "Sorich Was The Daley Administration's Go-To Patronage Guy In The Highly Influential Mayor's Office Of Intergovernmental Affairs, An Office The Court Described As 'The Beating Heart Of This Fraudulent Scheme.' On July 6, 2006, A Jury Found Sorich Guilty Of Systematically Rigging City Hiring For The Political Benefit Of Mayor Daley And His Favored Politicians." Chicago Sun Times 2008 You mean the guy involved in the Chicago Mob, Hired Truck program that cost millions of tax-payer dollars and supposedly got him kickbacks? That Mayor Daley? “[T]he Seemingly Endless Revelations Of Wrongdoing At City Hall Have Been Accompanied By A Lengthy List Of City Tax And Fee Increases, Belt-Tightening Prompted By The Lackluster Economy And Growing Hostility From Organized Labor As Daley Seeks Contract Concessions And Pursues Increasing Privatization Of City Services.” Chicago Tribune 2005

“Daley Said He Sat For Questions At The Request Of U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald’s Office, Which Recently Alleged That Mayoral Aides Directed ‘Massive Fraud’ In City Hall Hiring And Promotions.” Chicago Tribune 2005

“Sorich Was The Daley Administration’s Go-To Patronage Guy In The Highly Influential Mayor’s Office Of Intergovernmental Affairs, An Office The Court Described As ‘The Beating Heart Of This Fraudulent Scheme.’ On July 6, 2006, A Jury Found Sorich Guilty Of Systematically Rigging City Hiring For The Political Benefit Of Mayor Daley And His Favored Politicians.” Chicago Sun Times 2008

You mean the guy involved in the Chicago Mob, Hired Truck program that cost millions of tax-payer dollars and supposedly got him kickbacks? That Mayor Daley?

]]> By: Shayne http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/comment-page-3/#comment-5375008 Shayne Wed, 10 Dec 2008 04:39:32 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/#comment-5375008 No Mayor Daley is the guy bringing the Olympics to Chicago. And I'm no Hillary Clinton fan. No Mayor Daley is the guy bringing the Olympics to Chicago. And I’m no Hillary Clinton fan.

]]> By: willyloman http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/comment-page-3/#comment-5375006 willyloman Wed, 10 Dec 2008 04:36:13 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/#comment-5375006 and that is just the leading dems right now... don't get me started on the Bush Clan. Oh God... and that is just the leading dems right now…

don’t get me started on the Bush Clan. Oh God…

]]> By: willyloman http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/comment-page-3/#comment-5375004 willyloman Wed, 10 Dec 2008 04:35:00 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/#comment-5375004 Isn't a Daley one of the ones in the federal pen right now? Isn’t a Daley one of the ones in the federal pen right now?

]]> By: willyloman http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/comment-page-3/#comment-5375002 willyloman Wed, 10 Dec 2008 04:34:11 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/#comment-5375002 Yeah? And the new Secretary of State had a board of directors seat created for her at WalMart when her husband was Gov. of Ark. She ended up selling giving up her seat, keeping her huge pile of WalMart stock, and then secretly pressing for NAFTA that made the Waltons the wealthiest family in America and put millions of people out of work with outsourcing caused by NAFTA. She sold that stock for 15-20 million when she ran for president and was kinda hinting at the assignation of the other candidate for the post, while her husband made derogatory remarks about that guy's race while selling his speeches for 100k a pop (even to the Boy Scouts of America)... you see my point? Yeah? And the new Secretary of State had a board of directors seat created for her at WalMart when her husband was Gov. of Ark.

She ended up selling giving up her seat, keeping her huge pile of WalMart stock, and then secretly pressing for NAFTA that made the Waltons the wealthiest family in America and put millions of people out of work with outsourcing caused by NAFTA.

She sold that stock for 15-20 million when she ran for president and was kinda hinting at the assignation of the other candidate for the post, while her husband made derogatory remarks about that guy’s race while selling his speeches for 100k a pop (even to the Boy Scouts of America)…

you see my point?

]]> By: willyloman http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/comment-page-2/#comment-5374998 willyloman Wed, 10 Dec 2008 04:28:56 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/#comment-5374998 if you get a chance, read that criminal complaint against him. I'm reading it now. Unbelievable. These guys flying to fund raisers in new York, California, passing back and forth Chairmanships of "Foundations" in private jets. What was he, 48 at the time? One guy in the jet was the crystal meth freak, so you know that guy had to be getting high on something. I don't know. It's all just a big-ass scam if you ask me. I still say we name a king and queen and be done with it. if you get a chance, read that criminal complaint against him. I’m reading it now. Unbelievable. These guys flying to fund raisers in new York, California, passing back and forth Chairmanships of “Foundations” in private jets. What was he, 48 at the time? One guy in the jet was the crystal meth freak, so you know that guy had to be getting high on something.

I don’t know. It’s all just a big-ass scam if you ask me. I still say we name a king and queen and be done with it.

]]> By: Shayne http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/comment-page-2/#comment-5374996 Shayne Wed, 10 Dec 2008 04:28:08 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/#comment-5374996 The Chicagoland area is booming and so the surrounding suburbs are doing fine. But Mayor Daley and the governor have been fighting for years and the mayor has really high favorability ratings. The Chicagoland area is booming and so the surrounding suburbs are doing fine. But Mayor Daley and the governor have been fighting for years and the mayor has really high favorability ratings.

]]> By: Shayne http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/comment-page-2/#comment-5374994 Shayne Wed, 10 Dec 2008 04:25:45 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/#comment-5374994 Willy, why don't you go read his Wiki entry, and it's his father inlaw that was powerful. "Polling completed on October 13, 2008 put Blagojevich's approval rating among Illinois voters at 4%.[43] Blagojevich ranks as “Least Popular Governor” in the nation according to Rasmussen Reports By the Numbers.[5 On December 30, 2005, it was reported that a leasing deal reached for occupants of the remodeled Illinois Tollway oasis had come under investigation by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald. Those who signed the fast food contracts were reported to be connected to Blagojevich campaign fundraising.[3] This is in addition to other investigations in the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Department of Corrections and the Department of Children and Family Services.[3] The governor's wife, Patricia Blagojevich, was a business partner of Rezko's for at least a decade. In 2004, she received over $38,000 in real estate commissions from him.[57] In October 2006, it was revealed that Patricia Blagojevich, a licensed real estate broker, earned $113,700 in commissions from Anita and Amrish Mahajan. These were the only commissions earned by Patricia Blagojevich that year. Anita Mahajan owns a urinalysis company that holds a no-bid contract with the state Department of Children and Family Services. Amrish Mahajan is president of a bank that has two requests pending before state regulators to acquire two out-of-state banks" Willy, why don’t you go read his Wiki entry, and it’s his father inlaw that was powerful.
“Polling completed on October 13, 2008 put Blagojevich’s approval rating among Illinois voters at 4%.[43] Blagojevich ranks as “Least Popular Governor” in the nation according to Rasmussen Reports By the Numbers.[5
On December 30, 2005, it was reported that a leasing deal reached for occupants of the remodeled Illinois Tollway oasis had come under investigation by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald. Those who signed the fast food contracts were reported to be connected to Blagojevich campaign fundraising.[3] This is in addition to other investigations in the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Department of Corrections and the Department of Children and Family Services.[3]
The governor’s wife, Patricia Blagojevich, was a business partner of Rezko’s for at least a decade. In 2004, she received over $38,000 in real estate commissions from him.[57]

In October 2006, it was revealed that Patricia Blagojevich, a licensed real estate broker, earned $113,700 in commissions from Anita and Amrish Mahajan. These were the only commissions earned by Patricia Blagojevich that year. Anita Mahajan owns a urinalysis company that holds a no-bid contract with the state Department of Children and Family Services. Amrish Mahajan is president of a bank that has two requests pending before state regulators to acquire two out-of-state banks”

]]> By: willyloman http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/comment-page-2/#comment-5374992 willyloman Wed, 10 Dec 2008 04:24:46 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/#comment-5374992 Well, if this is about the Bank of America thing, and the timing sure makes that possible, then uh he's got a 70 page criminal complaint that might disagree with you. Hows the employment/unemployment numbers in Illinois? Where does your state rank? Well, if this is about the Bank of America thing, and the timing sure makes that possible, then uh he’s got a 70 page criminal complaint that might disagree with you.

Hows the employment/unemployment numbers in Illinois? Where does your state rank?

]]> By: Shayne http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/comment-page-2/#comment-5374990 Shayne Wed, 10 Dec 2008 04:20:47 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/#comment-5374990 You are not pro labor when you send business fleeing the state. He also increased taxes on the river boats so much that they had to cut their work force in half. Chicago is a pro-labor city and that has more to do with the strength of the unions and the members than it has anything to do with the governor. All Chicago politicians are pro union and he started in Chicago. You think he sacrificed his career? You don't know anything about him. It is no sacrifice in Chicago to be pro labor. You are not pro labor when you send business fleeing the state. He also increased taxes on the river boats so much that they had to cut their work force in half. Chicago is a pro-labor city and that has more to do with the strength of the unions and the members than it has anything to do with the governor. All Chicago politicians are pro union and he started in Chicago. You think he sacrificed his career? You don’t know anything about him. It is no sacrifice in Chicago to be pro labor.

]]> By: willyloman http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/comment-page-2/#comment-5374988 willyloman Wed, 10 Dec 2008 04:20:36 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/#comment-5374988 What about Blago's father? Wasn't he in politics and wasn't he like loaded? I know. Illinois... what do have like 3 prior govs in federal pen right now? Jebus What about Blago’s father? Wasn’t he in politics and wasn’t he like loaded?

I know. Illinois… what do have like 3 prior govs in federal pen right now? Jebus

]]> By: willyloman http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/comment-page-2/#comment-5374986 willyloman Wed, 10 Dec 2008 04:17:49 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/#comment-5374986 "I just don’t want him selling the senate seat." we are in agreement on that. I am not "blaming" Gore, I am just pointing out that this "probably" goes on more than we even want to know... in many different campaigns and transition teams. I am not even really saying anything bad about Rahm and Hillary, were they to have had a hand in it. It's a power struggle right now. However, if its got more to do with the Bank... thats different now I remember, that's right, you were an Edwards supporter. I liked him too after Kucinich got pushed out... “I just don’t want him selling the senate seat.”

we are in agreement on that.

I am not “blaming” Gore, I am just pointing out that this “probably” goes on more than we even want to know… in many different campaigns and transition teams.

I am not even really saying anything bad about Rahm and Hillary, were they to have had a hand in it. It’s a power struggle right now. However, if its got more to do with the Bank… thats different

now I remember, that’s right, you were an Edwards supporter. I liked him too after Kucinich got pushed out…

]]> By: Shayne http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/comment-page-2/#comment-5374984 Shayne Wed, 10 Dec 2008 04:16:30 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/#comment-5374984 So what you're saying is that an Illinois Democratic politician supported another Democrat rather than his Republican opposition with ties to the governor in jail. We haven't had a decent candidate for governor in like 40 years, maybe that's the problem. So what you’re saying is that an Illinois Democratic politician supported another Democrat rather than his Republican opposition with ties to the governor in jail. We haven’t had a decent candidate for governor in like 40 years, maybe that’s the problem.

]]> By: willyloman http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/comment-page-2/#comment-5374982 willyloman Wed, 10 Dec 2008 04:14:44 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/09/obama-no-contact-blagojevich/#comment-5374982 Absolutely Shayne! That's what I am saying. no he is not "pro-business" or "pro-free trade" but if you look at his record, for unions and teachers unions and trade unions... yeah, I think he is pretty pro-labor. Monday's press conference proved that. And if I am right, he sacrificed his career doing it, because he thought, right now with this appointment, they couldn't touch him. guess anyway Absolutely Shayne! That’s what I am saying. no he is not “pro-business” or “pro-free trade” but if you look at his record, for unions and teachers unions and trade unions… yeah, I think he is pretty pro-labor.

Monday’s press conference proved that. And if I am right, he sacrificed his career doing it, because he thought, right now with this appointment, they couldn’t touch him.

guess anyway

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