United Liberty
Report: Rahm And Blagojevich Talked About Senate Seat
Sat, 12/13/2008 - 2:30pm | posted by Michael Orion Powell
TPM reports that Obama’s Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel may have been in contact with Illinois Governor Rob Blagojevich in regards to President-elect Barack Obama’s Senate replacement:
Fox Chicago News reports that Emanuel, the Chicago congressman who was appointed shortly after the election to be Obama’s White House chief of staff, had “multiple conversations” about the issue with the governor himself and with Blagojevich’s chief of staff, John Harris — who this week was charged along with his boss.
The source said it was likely that these conversations were recorded, since they took place after the federal wiretaps had begun.
I think that this scandal will end up passing by with Obama unscathed. From the transcripts of Rod Blagojevich’s conversations, he was obviously not pleased with the cooperation he was getting from the Obama camp. Obama will likely come out looking pretty good: a reformer who refused to engage in dirty politics even with Democratic politicians from his home state.
However, in the unlikely event it does turn out that Rahm Emanuel had deep involvement in Blagojevich’s “pay to play” scheme, that could really harm Obama. It would be especially tragic if a scandal were to sink a president before he even takes the oath of office.
The story remains that Blagojevich seems to have modeled himself after a combination of the Sopranos and the Three Stooges. The rest is wishful thinking by the same hard core group of delusional wingnuts, as far as I can tell.
Who are the delusional wingnuts? I don’t know who you’re referring to. If you mean right-wingers who want to believe Obama is knee-deep in corruption, I agree with you.
“Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of liberty.” - Thomas Jefferson
Based on the things we already heard from Blago’s other tapes, calling Obama a mother-f***er and saying he wanted more than just their “appreciation,” (and knowing how Emmanuel deals with people who piss him off), I’m guessing that the calls went something like this:
Emmanuel: There are a few names we’d like you to consider in your appointment.
Blago: So, what do I get if I appoint the people you like?
Emmanuel: What do you mean?
Blago: Well, what’s it worth to you? What do I get?
Emmanuel: What do you get?!?! You get our appreciation, you dumb mother-f***er. That’s what you get!
Just a guess, though. It was an open secret that the Feds were interested in Blago, and were possibly taping him. I have a hard time believing that Emmanuel would risk everything he’s gained recently on something stupid like this.
Well, politicians have risked their political careers on airport sex solicitations and upscale prostitutes. Richard Nixon ordered Watergate during an election he was set up to win. Strange things do happen.
“Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of liberty.” - Thomas Jefferson
True dat. We won’t really know until the tapes hit the airwaves, which I’m certain will happen eventually.
Post new comment