blago's lawyer quits

January 16, 2009

Gov Blagojevich's high-powered lawyer, Ed Genson states he will not represent Blagojevich for his impeachment trial. Neither Sam Adam Jr & Sr who were also retained for his criminal case. Reasons given - Blago has no chance at a fair trial and Genson et al will not be able to present an adequate defense. Then there's the matter of money, discovery and inevitability. Why add a loss? Fitzgerald has limited much of the discovery because of the criminal investigation. Blago has yet to be charged with anything and Fitzgerald's theatrical arrest resulted in absolutely nothing but a fast impeachment, which the Illinois legislature wanted anyway. It was an assist that should be looked in to. And once Blago's impeached, Fitzgerald can take all the time he needs since blago is no longer in a position to do damage. It's all a joke.

And they drew in Mrs Blagojevich for what? If blago did what is alleged - it's criminal. But what they did to blago's wife and children for the sake of sensationalism was just as criminal. ill resign to keep any type of evidence private.Maybe he'll resign.

And what about barry's team? When was the last time you saw Emanuel and Jarrett in public with barry? Will Jesse Jackson Jr (or Sr) be visible on Inauguration day?

Blagojevich's impeachment not a witch hunt?

January 14, 2009

You don't think the Blagojevich's discrediting and subsequent vote for impeachment was not politically motivated?

That it wasn't rushed through to save face for barry?

Of course it was.

Blagojevich has been under investigation for years - even before his reelection in 2006. The Democrats voted him into power, so how corrupt was he then and why didn't they care? blago has always been blago - just as governor he got more power and was dealing in more cash.

But when Fitzgerald has blago on the cusp of actually committing an offense - something he could have gotten on tape and on video - he abruptly pulls the plug.

Why?

Because it involved barry. Only logical explanation.

Why wait years and not catch blago in the act? He didn't actually DO anything on those tapes and the conspiracy rests on senate candidate #5 - Jesse Jackson, Jr. Heard about him lately?

blagojevich talked and swore and stuck it to his impeachers by appointing Burris, but he is innocent of any wrongdoing in the eyes of the law. Not so in the court of public opinion, the proobamedia, and most definitely not in Illinois.

Patrick Fitzgerald comes out with this eye-popping press conference and releases documents with f--- this and f--- that and dramatically states that "Lincoln would be rolling over in his grave!" and then what happens? He covers for barry by saying he doesn't want information released when he really wanted to interview barry and his top aides: Valerie Jarrett and Rahm Emanuel. And of course it was convenient for both of them to wait till right before the holidays to release it because barry would be out of commenting range and Fitzgerald wouldn't have to admit he wasn't ready to charge Blago.

When was the last time you saw Emanuel or Jarrett?

Who should be speaking for barry - axelrod or Emanuel? It is the transition not the campaign - even if barry is still giving speeches instead of press conferences.

Instead, they focus on Mr Burris - probably the least corrupt politician in the state - as being tainted because blago did his constitutional duty as a governor. It was legal appointment that pist everyone off because they didn't think blago would do it and they were positive he couldn't find someone who would accept it. But he called their bluff. That is what is driving all this frenetic urgency. Not the appointment itself or his choice of appointee. They're pist because he said f- you one last time. And not on tape, but in front of the whole world.

But his biggest sin was taking the press from barry. That's what finally made barry act.

Senator-elect Burris, if one is honest, is more qualified on every front to be senator than Caroline Kennedy. And what will Gov Patterson's appointment be based on? Is the pressure on him to pick Kennedy any less "tainted"? Who knows what has been offered behind the scenes that has not (as far as I know) been documented?

Lost in the blago rush to judgment farce is the fact that Fitzgerald has asked for at least three more months to indict or do whatever with Blagojevich. So why the rush in the first place? Why show his hand when blago the day before his arrest was telling people to go ahead and tape him. He clearly wasn't aware he was under surveillance and he clearly hadn't DONE anything and the appointment was clearly not yet made.

And after spending The People of Illinois' taxes out of one-sided spite, they all agreed that Burris was a legal appointment - as he always was. And today, Governor Blagojevich will swear in the members of the Illinois legislature as the legal governor. He will swear in the very people who will impeach him. That's legal. The Bills he has signed since his premature arrest are legal. And yet his appointment of Burris wasn't?

How can he be tainted in one regard, but not when it suits the Illinois legislators?

And why is anyone listening to Pat Quinn who will be taking over the job?

It was a circus manufactured to take the heat off barry's people. Blagojevich was arrested because barry's people were involved in his scheme. Jesse Jackson Jr was co-chair of barry's presidential campaign and still acting in official capacity. Valerie Jarret was barry's main choice for senator and was appointed White House advisor after she abruptly "decided" she didn't want to be senator. Who gave her a heads up? Rahm Emanuel was/is barry's White House Chief of Staff. And lest we forget - Harry Reid made his own phone calls to the tainted, crooked and corrupt governor to broker a deal or at the very least impact Blagojevich's appointment.

So if Burris is tainted - why isn't Reid, who is the head of the Senate?

Where is the mention of the (at least) three month delay in charging Blagojevich?

Where is the investigation and demanding of information from Jarrett, Emanuel, Reid, barry and Fitzgerald?

Instead, it's on Mr Burris whose appointment was always legal. And on blagojevich, who is still acting as governor, who is still signing bills, who is swearing in the members if Illinois legislature, and whose appointee will indeed be seated in the US senate. And incidental to all this, he is still innocent of any wrongdoing. He has not been indicted anywhere except in the court of public opinion and he now has absolutely no chance of getting a fair trial.

But he has served as a wonderful distraction for barry and his top aides Jarrett and Emanuel and barry's ex campaign co-chair, Jesse Jackson Jr. And then there's Reid, who was hoping Blago would go peacefully into the night by resigning.

Not a witch hunt?

where are they now?

Where are they now?

Patrick Fitzgerald confirms he asked barry to delay release of contacts

December 20, 2008

Patrick Fitzgerald confirms he asked barry to delay release of contacts

Drew Peterson engaged

December 18, 2008

Drew Peterson engaged

Truth. At last.

December 13, 2008

Chicago Tribune reporter, JOHN KASS:

He is merely a Chicago politician caught on tape.

Absolutely true. And that would be the tack of the story if barry wasn't involved.

Instead Blagojevich is crazy, bonkers, insane, delusional, a whack job...as a setup to rebut any comments made by him about barry. jonjon alter made sure to get it out there right away. The proobamedia like the good little obamerized cultists they are sheepled right along. Presently on the CNN feed there is one story and it's about Jesse Jackson, Jr.

If there were any lingering doubts as to whether pro-Obama media bias exists - they are proving it is alive and well. barry's daily pageantry filled say nothing and then answer pre-scripted softball questions press conferences took up the bulk of MSM coverage until Blagojevich. How many questions was barry asked? Four. Three on Blagojevich. Now Bush and the economy and the Detroit bailout has become an urgent topic dominating the news cycle.

Who are they kidding? Who needs a media study to be done to prove how little coverage it is getting - especially on NBC/MSNBC. What did Dateline do a bit on last night? Caylee Anthony.

And if it were Senator Clinton, John McCain or Gov Palin or anyone other than barry?

Democrats respond to Blagojevich

Funny thing - I haven't seen Senator Clinton's statement and she grew up in Chicago and reportedly proved voter fraud in the 1960 Nixon-Kennedy election. Mayor Daley Sr won the election for Kennedy by delivering Illinois. Jr has been following in kind.

12-9 BARRY in initial (no) comment on arrest:

I am saddened and sobered by the news that came out of the US Attorneys office today. But as this is an ongoing investigation involving the governor, I don't think it will be appropriate for me to comment on the issue at this time.

12-9 Lt Gov PAT QUINN: called on Gov. Blagojevich today to “do the right thing and step aside.”

I hope he does the appropriate thing for Illinois.

12-9 Speaker of the House MICHEAL MADIGAN refused to comment.

12-9 Rep JOHN FRITCHEY:

There is no doubt these allegations create a sense of immediacy for the House to take a look at beginning impeachment proceedings...I believe we need to act sooner rather than later.

12-10 SENATOR DICK DURBIN, (D-IL)

I am writing to ask you to step down as Governor of Illinois. Beyond guilt or innocence, the charges against you raise serious questions about your ability to carry out your duties as chief executive of our state.

I also ask you not to appoint the next United States Senator from Illinois. Because of the nature of the charges against you, no matter whom you were to select, that individual would be under a cloud of suspicion. That would not serve our state, our nation, or the United States Senate.

Legislative efforts to impeach you or remove your ability to appoint the replacement for the United States Senate have been initiated but those options could take some time accomplish. I urge you to choose the path that will be the most beneficial for the people of Illinois and the nation, and resign immediately

12-10 MAYOR DALEY:

He has to figure out what's best for him and his family and the state of Illinois. He will have to do the right thing.

12-11 BARRY press conference:

I’ve asked my team to gather the facts of any contacts with the governor’s office about this vacancy so that we can share them with you over the next few days. [Seen them yet?]

I to see is a quick resolution of this issue. I want to make sure that the next senator from the state of Illinois is carrying a forward tradition of service, that the next senator from Illinois is not tainted by what has taken place so far.

12-11 HOWARD DEAN:

The arrest of and complaint against Gov. Blagojevich raises serious concerns about his ability to effectively represent the people of Illinois. In the interest of the people of Illinois and all Americans, he should resign immediately. If he does not, I hope the Illinois legislature will take action.

12-12 ABNER MIKVA, former congressman, appeals court judge and political mentor of barry:

Obama saw this coming, and he was very cautious about not having dealings with the governor for quite some time. The governor was perhaps the only American public officeholder who didn't speak at the convention, and that wasn't by accident. He's politically poisonous. You don't get through Chicago like Barack Obama did unless you know how to avoid people like that.

12-12 IL Attorney General, LISA MADIGAN. US Senator 1998-2002 and pal of barry's. Her fater Micheal Madigan, Speaker of the House of Representatives, has had a major feud with Blagojevich and barry's senator maker and legislation diverter Emil Jones.

We think it is very clear he is incapable of serving. We want to make sure the people of Illinois have a governor who can legitimately fulfill the duties of that office.

12-12 JESSE JACKSON, JR interview with CNN's DON LEMON:

The governor not only cannot perform his functions under the constitution of the state of Illinois - but has clearly violated [he smiles like I'm not alone - he's worse] a number of statutes under out state statutes and potentially federal statutes. And there may be a capacity issue. A capacity as mental capacity - he cannot function under the duress.

12-12 BLAGOJEVICH:

I’ll have a lot to say at the appropriate time.

12-12 Lt Governor PAT QUINN said his selection process for the Senate seat would be transparent. Quinn said it would be "premature" to talk names but said he would "never" appoint himself.

It is an urgent matter. This is an emergency. Illinois is in a crisis.

12-13 MADIGAN: Is seeking for the IL Supreme Court to find him unfit to serve and wants Lt Governor Pat Quinn to take over.

I recognize that this is an extraordinary request, but these are extraordinary circumstances. Gov. Blagojevich can no longer fulfill his official duties with any legitimacy. [Blagojevich is] unable to serve as governor due to disability and should not rightfully continue to hold that office. His ability to provide effective leadership has been eliminated, and the state government is paralyzed.

Rep. Jack Franks (D-IL) said it would set "a dangerous precedent" for the court to remove a governor as proposed by Madigan, who is a likely candidate for governor in 2010. Franks, a fierce Blagojevich critic, said that kind of decision should be left to state lawmakers.

Illinois Supreme Court spokesman JOHN TYBOR would not comment on when the court might act on the motion, saying only that it "will be properly considered."

Senate candidate #5: Jesse Jackson, Jr

December 10, 2008

Jesse Jr tries to extricate himself from being named in the indictment as Senate candidate #5. He has adopted Template 118: Righteous indignation.

(10-31-08) taped call. BLAGOJEVICH:

We were approached pay to play. That, you know, he'd raise me 500 grand. An emissary came. Then the other guy would raise a million, if I made [Senate Candidate #5] a senator.

Rezko set Blagojevich up for less time? Is that what got him to squeal to the feds? His sentencing was due that very day and is now indefinite. Emil Jones? Something tells me it will come back to Rezko. Another prominent fundraiser? The unions? It better not be Jesse Sr. To think Jr sold out Sr for that senate seat. I wonder what their relationship is really like. Jr always talks about his high profile name and what his father is up to but without his father he would have never gotten a start. Jr has kept himself together and has been waiting for this moment. Well, not this moment but the senate seat.

Here's Jesse on his way to the press conference. Doesn't mind talking or mugging for the camera. I saw a video of him coming out of Blagojevich's office Tuesday and he said the process was "thoughtful". We can see what Blagojevich's mind runs on...cash. The $90K Rezko addition to his house doesn't seem like a big deal now.

video courtesy of SwimmingPolarBear

JACKSON JR (12-10-08 press conference video):

I thought mistakenly I had a chance. I did not know this process had been corrupted. I did not know that credentials, qualifications and record of service meant nothing to the governor....

I did not initiate nor authorize anyone, at any time, to promise anything to Gov. Blagojevich on my behalf. I never sent a message or an emissary to the governor to make an offer or to propose a deal about the U.S. Senate seat.

I spoke the the US attorney's office on Tuesday. They shared with me that I am NOT - I am not a target of this investigation. (keeps head down) and that I am not accused of any misconduct. In the days ahead, federal law enforcement want to meet and discuss what I know about senate selection process. I look forward to cooperating

Fitzgerald told him he was not a target. We already know the target was primarily Blagojevich and his top aides or the middlemen will go down too. But that doesn't mean he's not the subject of the investigation. So the door is still open. The allegations are out there and the amount of money is not unreasonable and he is candidate #5. Perhaps that's why Fitzgerald looked so sad. They acted quickly because barry's name came up. For sure it had to.

But Jackson's lawyer James Montgomery Sr set the table earlier:

Politicians and fundraisers do some very strange things from time to time. I wouldn't put it past someone to be purporting to represent Jesse without authority.

Here comes the Jesse Jr's bailout:

I have retained advice of legal counsel. Mr James Montgomery, Sr, who held his own press conference earlier this afternoon in Chicago. On his advice, and due to the ongoing investigation, I will not be taking any questions.

Nor, I think, will barry.

Dear Jesse Jackson Jr: YOUR tears need to be investigated!

December 10, 2008

If unfamiliar, this is what he said about Sen Clinton's "tears that melted the Granite State". Watch video below for reference and then watch Jesse's own tears that melted Capitol Hill and read the adaptation after the transcript.

video courtesy pundital
Here is Jesse Jr at the press conference today pandering to The American People with tears while still making his case for the senate seat. Tears begin 6:45

Video courtesy of Taylor Marsh

JACKSON: But I do not want to add one point before I leave.

This morning I got a text message from my little sister, who told me she was proud of me. She was proud of what I've done for this nation. For the 14 years I've nearly served in this Congress, I've tried to honor this institution. And I've tried to honor public service because I believe it is a noble profession. It is a profession that requires the highest possible sacrifice. it is public service - but it is private sacrifice.

And so this morning she told me: 'Jesse Jr I am proud of you'. That came from my, from my little sister. And I felt that kind of pride over the last 2 1/2 years in our state. And I know this is a low moment for the people of our state. Watching the president-elect carry himself in such an extraordinary way across this country to build bridges that have never been built in thius country - even I had become inspired. So somewhere along the way - over the last 2 1/2 years I got the idea that if a skinny kind with a funny name could become POTUS that a short kid with a somewhat controversial, but certainly a high profile name, could be a senator from Illinois.

I entered this process with that expectation and I hope that the people of my state and the people of our country will measure me based on the content of my character.

Thank you very much for having me.

He finally admits that he was on barry's campaign to take over his senate seat and why he was so agitated Sen Clinton won New Hampshire. He thought it was in the bag. It sounded like he was going to withdraw from the process but he ends up making a case for himself. Thanking the press was a little over the top. They're going to hammer him regardless.

Here's my adaptation of his Sen Clinton comment.

Something else happened in Washington that we're still analyzing in the US Attorney General's office. But there were tears that melted Capitol Hill. Those tears that Rep Jackson Jr cried clearly hoped to move reporters. He somehow tried to connect with his constituents.

We saw something very clever in that press conference today. We saw a sensitivity factor - something Jesse Jr has not been able to do with reporters. We saw tears--not in response to Katrina, not in response to other issues that have devastated the American people--the war in Iraq--we saw tears in response to his being named in the indictment. So his indictment brought him to tears - but not hurricane Katrina - not other issues.

So, my Fellow Americans, do you think it was a little affected - his tears? That it was staged?

There are a lot of issues for which we can be emotional about at this moment. I'm super sensitive to that. There are people without jobs, we're approaching a recession,the sub-prime market has collapsed as people are losing their homes, and yet in this dynamic, in Washington, we saw a melting and we saw how far Jesse Jackson Jr will go to stay out of jail and get elected to the Illinois senate.

Reid: three hoops for Burris

January 8, 2009

harry reid sure is patronizing. And an egomaniac who has something to prove. Must must have grown up poor or lacking and is trying to show he's just as good if not better than the people he thinks he rules. What is Nanci Pelosi's job? He is not going to like having a Columbia-Harvard "articulate" president looking down on him - especially if he some race issues. Not wanting Emil Jones or Jesse Jackson, jr cannot be entirely explained by race. Plenty of reasons supersede skin color.

So he had his photo op with Mr Burris and Dick Durbin. Had his lieutenant stand behind him while he presided and then he spoke. It was shocking. He sounded like a guy talking in a bar. He didn't even have the common respect for a fellow democrat (who has not been indicted on anything) to address him by his first name or title - just "Blagojevich". He has a personal vendetta. Perfectly clear. Maybe those conversations happened and maybe he did say some "racially insensitive" things. It would explain his blago venom. I bet he holds a mean grudge.

Excuses and concessions:

Jesse White's signature absolute necessity - rule has never been circumvented.

Testify before the impeachment committee.

And then he threw it back to Lisa Madigan just like barry would have. Illinois Supreme Court to rule on whether Jesse White's signature can be circumvented.

Jesse White is just keeping his word. Didn't expect blago to call their bluff. Never saw it coming. Noe of them did.

Clears all three - he can be reconsidered. But then Senate can refuse to seat him:

Article 1, Section 5 of the U.S. Constitution: "Each house shall be the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members.

I had no idea all these things were included in The Constitution. Anyway it will never happen.

How can a secretary of state veto a governor who has been found guilty of nothing?

Wasn't President Clinton signing and appointing during his impeachment proceedings?

And then there's race. Bobby Rush has never shied away from it.