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Obama: "Saddened And Sobered" By Blago, Says He Was Unaware
Obama comments on the Blago mess, as per the pool report:
"Like the rest of the people of Illinois I am saddened and sobered by the news that came out of the U.S.. Attorneys office today. But as this is an ongoing investigation involving the governor, I donʼt think it would be appropriate for me to comment on the issue at this time."
Obama then talked about his meeting with Al Gore today, and at the end of his scrum with reporters, he seemed to say that he hadn't known about the ongoing probe into Blago or the machinations around his Senate seat. In response to a barrage of shouted questions, Obama said:
"I had no contact with the governor or his office, and so I was not aware of what was happening," Mr. Obama said. "And as I said it is a sad day for Illinois. Beyond that I don't think it's appropriate to comment."
It's unclear whether this means that no one in Obama's circle was aware of the probe or of the machinations around the seat, and it's inconclusive on the question of whether anyone close to Obama was assisting with the investigation.
Late Update: RNC chairman Mike Duncan has this statement out, and he says Obama's brief comments weren't good enough:
"Leaders of both political parties have a responsibility to clearly condemn the actions by Governor Rod Blagojevich as alleged by federal prosecutors today. Americans expect strong leadership, but President-elect Barack Obama's comments on the matter are insufficient at best. Given the President-elect's history of supporting and advising Governor Blagojevich, he has a responsibility to speak out and fully address the issue."
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"It's unclear whether this means that no one in Obama's circle was aware of the probe or of the machinations around the seat..."
Come on...his statement makes it perfectly clear that people on his staff were aware (to what extent we don't know) of what was going on. Exact words "neither I nor my staff were aware..." shoots it all down. Remember "the definition of sexual relations" and what the definition of is, is? He had time to send out the word to his people, "anyone who had any contact with Blogs, pony up or be hung out to dry." At least we know what everyone will be talking about for the next few months.
December 9, 2008 3:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
hank aaron sucks
December 9, 2008 3:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
From the reports I've heard and read, watch-dog Rahm Emanuel is the one that tipped off the FBI when this low life contacted him trying to get leverage with the Obama Administration.
Looks like Rahm is having none of that. You unethical SOB's better be on guard-- Rahmbo is on watch. Look's like a great pick Mr. Obama.
December 9, 2008 4:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
The report was from a local FOX affiliate that included the phrase, "may have", meaning the reporter was voicing his own opinion, not fact.
December 9, 2008 4:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Even by your standards that's remarkably incoherent.
December 9, 2008 3:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
That guy in your avatar needs to be grasping a straw, not a baseball bat.
December 9, 2008 3:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Endless repetitions of Blago saying "EXPLETIVE 'em!"?
Or endless replays of how Rahm Emmanuel turned this corrupt turd of an elected official into the Feds? How, in other words, a very close Obama aide was instrumental in bringing Governor Sleaze to the attention of Federal investigators?
We can talk about that, yes we can, you betcha, and also.
December 9, 2008 3:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
If it turns out Rahm turned him in it will be a big plus for Obama...I'm just saying his statement hasn't knocked down anything except for the fact that it's now safe to assume that the Governor didn't discuss any bribe directly with him...
December 9, 2008 3:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
So, just for purposes of discussion, if a) Obama did not speak with the governor and b) the Governor has this to say about the Obama camp: "EXPLETIVE 'em" and c) Rahm Emmanuel dropped the dime on Governor Sleaze, you still think we'll be talking about this?
December 9, 2008 3:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, a certain subset of a subset of a subset of the population will be talking about it.
You betchya, goshdarn it, yup.
December 9, 2008 3:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dude, you get a, b and c and Obama's so clean he squeaks (which makes Biden a profit). The more I think about it though, if Rahm was the guy then Obama would've been ready for this to come out. There was a pretty long "delay" in the "I had no knowledge..." statement...like he was still gathering info.
December 9, 2008 3:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe because he was, you know, actually waiting to read the indictment and because, you know, he already had a meeting with Gore scheduled.
He's a freaking lawyer, SFC. You think he's going to rush out a comment the minute the news breaks, without actually reading the indictment?
I know this means, to some (tellmemore, I'm talking about YOU) this "delay", this careful language, the fact that he was in the SAME DAMN STATE AS BLAGO --- all of these mean he's connected somehow. The delay and the careful language reflect his professional training. The geography? Obviously his fault.
December 9, 2008 4:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
"He's a freaking lawyer, SFC. You think he's going to rush out a comment the minute the news breaks, without actually reading the indictment?"
Seriously, this is obviously all speculation. There are just 2 points I'm trying to make, both bolstered by your reminder that he is a lawyer:
First, if Rahm had been the tipster then (again speculation) he would've gone to Obama first, or to protect Obama would've gone to the prosecuter first but immediately reported it to Obama so there are a couple of weeks Obama's people had to prepare for this (internal investigation as to who talked to whom).
Second, because Obama words everything so carefully, his lack of clearing his staff in his statement is telling.
December 9, 2008 4:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seriously, you're a goof ball jumping on this cause that's your hobby.
Get a life beyond trollin TPM, get some air and a friend or two. Then come back and comment with a little perspective.
In the meanwhile, you're just some dork online looking to hop on whatever issue and give yourself a fit. It's not an opinion so much as it's a disorder.
You know it, I know it, we all know it. Seriously, help yourself.
December 9, 2008 6:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Stop, please.
It's prophet, not profit. You know better.
And, the comments from 'your side' remind of this statement read on the air by a not-long-for the newsroom anchor Rick Frederickson at KGMB TV in Honolulu, following a high speed chase in which I pursued a motorcyclist who died when his vehicle left the roadway and he hurtled head first into a lava rock wall at the base of Diamond Head:
"Police have not yet determined if Lafferty intentionally ran the motorcycle off the roadway."
Nice. There was absolutely no evidence—not even a suggestion—that I had done so, except in his feeble, little mind. A bit like the statement from the head of the Republican National Committee, Mike Duncan, who babbled:
"Given the President-elect's history of supporting and advising Governor Blagojevich, he has a responsibility to speak out and fully address the issue.
Memo to Mike Duncan, Rick Frederickson and to you, too:
You call all shut the hell up until the FACTS are laid on the table at the trial, and quit raising unsubstantiated but effectively irrefutable claims. Psst: Stopped beating your wife yet?
Yeah, now you get it…
December 9, 2008 7:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
..and I thought you sounded desperate during the election.
December 9, 2008 3:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
What am I thinking right now?
December 9, 2008 3:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
That I'm an asshat who doesn't know what he's talking about?...Come on! I was right, wasn't I!
December 9, 2008 3:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Read the complaint, or the transcipts of the conversations--It's clear that Obama wouldn't take part in any quid pro quo for the Senate seat.
The governor says "f---" Obama, because he won't give anything but appreciation.
Everyone in Illinois knew Blag was corrupt, everyone hated him, and Obama was way too smart to go anywhere near the guy.
The wingnuts have nothing but very lame guilt by association here.
At least we know what everyone will be talking about for the next few months.
We know what the wingnuts will be talking about, the rest of us will be concerned with getting the country back on track. Wingnuts and wingnut radio have no interest in that.
December 9, 2008 3:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree...100%. All I'm saying is that there was time for Obama to question his team and gather any possible info about a connection. Also if Rahm was the whistle blower, then he knew this was coming for a while...he would've issued a diffinative statement if he could have.
December 9, 2008 3:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
I dunno. Maybe he's waiting for Republicans to completely overstep on this, and then he'll discuss it more.
December 9, 2008 3:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wait a minute -- are you saying that they (Obama and his people) are guilty by remove because they did not bring this out to the public first? Is that how investigations are generally done in your head?
December 9, 2008 3:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not at all...just wondering about the delayed reaction time. From breaking news to less than definitive response...
December 9, 2008 3:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
And you built a whole edifice of paranoia, distrust, guilt just on that tiny, flimsy, imagined lag of delayed reaction? A delayed reaction time you gauge from outside, many times removed from the investigation and the Obama people, based on someone's interpretations? Shit.
SFC, I used to think you could think. Obviously, I was, like, totally wrong. You don't think. YOU DREAM AND FANTASIZE.
December 9, 2008 4:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Come on now...everything about this is speculation...all I'm doing is bringing up some possibilities...no one knows the truth of the sittuation and probably won't for a while.
December 9, 2008 4:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
No. You are not *just bring up possibilities*
You are wholesale trafficking in lies and innuendos with regard to Obama's veracity, along with messing with the trust that he has worked hard to acquire.
December 9, 2008 4:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
As I recall, you're referencing Bill Clinton. This is Barack Obama. Not all Democrats look alike, guy.
Good to know you read minds in your spare time. Have fun in those next few months trying to link Obama to this. While you're spinning your wheels, we'll be discussing stuff that actually matters.
December 9, 2008 3:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't worry, I'll be discussing what y'all are discussing...just from an alternative point of view.
December 9, 2008 3:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Didn't mean to imply that I was worried.
December 9, 2008 4:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
I could sense it though...mindreader...remember?
December 9, 2008 4:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
So, you freeps are giving the birth certificate conspiracy a rest for a while?
December 9, 2008 4:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
You mean we know what the wingnutz will be talking about over the next few months.
December 9, 2008 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
SFCWally still trollin I see.
December 9, 2008 6:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Troll: Suck on Obama's 79 percent approval. And Bush's 29. And 365 EVs. And 53-46. You're a jackass, and we are all laughing at you.
December 9, 2008 8:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Fun fact, the last year that Illinois elected a governor that was not eventually escorted from his post in handcuffs: 1994.
Saddening and sobering, indeed.
December 9, 2008 3:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
escorted from his post in handcuffs...
While it's true the previous governor, Ryan, elected in 1998, did go to prison, he was not charged until after leaving office voluntarily when his term expired in 2003.
So it could be argued that he was NOT "escorted from his post in handcuffs" either.
December 9, 2008 4:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Even assuming that Obama didn't know an arrest was imminent, he has proven to be a pretty smart guy, and his staff is pretty well-informed.
I'm sure he was aware that Rod was a sleazeball.
And I'm equally sure he knew that Fitzgerald is the hardest working, straightest shooting, corruption-bustingest prosecutor in Illinois, if not the country.
The end result is pretty easy to see.
December 9, 2008 3:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Come on...his statement makes it perfectly clear that people on his staff were aware (to what extent we don't know) of what was going on."
So by not denying his staff was aware, it is perfectly clear they WERE aware. Bizarre logic you got going there.
December 9, 2008 3:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
...if he was confident that his staff had no knowlege or connections to this he'd have said so...
December 9, 2008 3:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
why would he have to say anything definitive today?
December 9, 2008 4:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
...he doesn't, I just pointed out that he didn't.
December 9, 2008 4:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
So Obama hears about this, say, even 24 hours ago. He's supposed to be 'confident' that no member of his hundreds if not thousands strong staff had any 'knowledge' of discussions? Maybe we have a President-elect who assumes he doesn't know what lurks in the hearts of men and actually states as such.
December 9, 2008 4:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
I just hope ALL the facts are released SOON so that RUMORS won't get even more out of hand then they already are.
I can't help to think part of this arrest is politically motivated. Especially with what the FBI agent said about his colleagues being shocked with what they were hearing and that the State of Illinois was a close competitor of being the most corrupt.
December 9, 2008 3:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
So Obama had no contact yet Blago was taped saying that Obama wouldn't give him anything.
Someone is lying. Is it the guy who was secretly taped or the one making a statement for public consumption?
December 9, 2008 3:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dumbass. Blago said the campaign wouldn't give him anything not that Obama wouldn't. Nobody's lying.
December 9, 2008 3:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
So you're suggesting his "campaign" is doing things without his knowledge or approval?
Fail.
December 9, 2008 3:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Stop picking on poor trollmemore. Can't you people see that this is IT, the big thing they've been waiting for, the thing that proves beyond doubt that Obama is EVIL EVIL EVIL? How can you be so obtuse when he/she sees this with such penetrating clarity?
December 9, 2008 3:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
aack!! the trolls have arrived....
December 9, 2008 3:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
It?
I suspect this is only the beginning and he's not even in office yet.
December 9, 2008 4:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
More channeling from the Psychic Planet?
December 9, 2008 4:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Man, you guys are seriously scared of the guy aren't you? It's okay, I'm relatively sure he will let you keep your binky, blankie and night light.
December 9, 2008 4:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
tellmemore, you are the human embodiment of failure - kick rocks motherfucker.
December 9, 2008 4:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hilarious! REZKO REZKO REZKO REZKO REZKO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 9, 2008 3:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Money quote: "they're not willing to give me anything except appreciation. [Expletive] them."
"They" implies that Blago was talking to Obama's people.
If he were talking about talking to Obama directly, he would've used the pronoun "he" and "him."
Basic reading comprehension is important.
December 9, 2008 3:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Again, you're suggesting Obama's people are acting without his knowledge.
Fail.
December 9, 2008 3:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
REZKO REZKO REZKO REZKO!!!!!!!!!
Come on! Why aren't you providing the link to that two month old story any longer?
December 9, 2008 3:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tellmemore:
Even If you're right, and since Blago thinks Obama is a motherfucker and referred to Obama people as "fuck'em"
isn't it good that we finally have people around the President who are unwlling to piss all over the laws and ethics?
Unlike Wallace, you're a dusgusting troll you just spews ugliness. You don't have any intent for a fair or honest discussion.
I think Obama team were smart and more importantly correct not only for precluding Blago in any shape or form but also potentially alerting the Feds.
December 9, 2008 4:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly, and that's the same reason he made the statement that "he" had no knowledge of what was going on...
December 9, 2008 3:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
There is little doubt that Obama's team made it known to Blago that they wouldn't give him anything more than appreciation. They were no doubt carrying what they understood was Obama's message to Blago. Whether Blago ever overtly asked for a bribe from Obama's team is not known. What is equally unknown is whether anyone on Team Obama ever felt the need to discuss any specific bribe request with the President Elect. I would suspect, however, that if Rahm Emanuel is as good as I think he is, he would never have allowed anyone to whisper anything about a requested bribe to Obama. He would have handled it himself. Apparently he did. Blago is going to jail.
December 9, 2008 4:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
The message to politicians is don't ever attempt to solicit a bribe from Obama. If you do, you are going down.
December 9, 2008 4:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
When you're not talking to somebody, it's hard to offer them anything. Sorry if this interferes with another attempt to create guilt by association.
December 9, 2008 3:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Notice the quote is "I had no contact" not "we". Obama sends his surrogates to negotiate and tries in vain to establish plausible deniability.
Obama is lying. His office, his people had direct contact. He is culpable.
December 9, 2008 3:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're right. The gig is up. The curtain has finally been pulled back, and the WHOLE WORLD WILL SEE THE FRAUD THAT IS OBAMA!!!!!!!!!
Except someone forgot to notify Patrick Fitzgerald of this. Do you know who he has, btw?
December 9, 2008 3:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
And you know this beyond any reasonable doubt...how? Oh, right - you and SFCWallace read minds.
December 9, 2008 3:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
And you know this because you were a fly on the wall of his office until Rahm smacked you, right?
December 9, 2008 4:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
eep. Sorry. This was for Tellmemore above.
December 9, 2008 4:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
...I don't read minds...however, I have seen enough politicians respond to stuff like this to spot a less than "we had no idea...seriously!" response.
December 9, 2008 4:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just because you're cynical doesn't make it true, guy.
December 9, 2008 4:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry, I just remember, after Bill's definitive "I did not have sexual relations with that woman" statement, Sam Donaldson asked Mike McCurry what he meant by "sexual relations" and McCurry snapped back with "we all know what that means Sam, do I have to spell it out for you?" Apparently we didn't. Call it cynical I prefer to call it informed.
December 9, 2008 4:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe.
He can't say that his staff weren't involved, because Emmanuel appears to have been involved. He can't say that his staff never had contact with Blago, because they obviously did. You might be right. Maybe this is a carefully worded answer designed to provide wiggle-room. Or maybe, given the circumstances of the case, it would be difficult to answer definitively without talking about the case.
And since Rahm Emmanuel might have to testify, maybe there's a reason for Obama to be vague. What's clear is that he wasn't involved. What isn't obvious, from his answer, is the extent of his staff's involvement. You see something nefarious in that. I'm wondering if legal concerns are prompting such caution. (and not legal in the sense that Obama is concerned someone on his staff did something wrong, but legal in terms of the case against Blago...)
Which is why I asked the question I did earlier.
December 9, 2008 4:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
I see nothing nefarious, per se, but I will admit to anxiously waiting for the other shoe to drop. Not out of a desire to see anything scandalous but just because this is interesting stuff. I can't wait to see the special report on "The Daily Show."
December 9, 2008 4:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Perhaps the statement by Mike "We've turned the tide!!!" Duncan, cricizing Obama is what Obama's been waiting for?
December 9, 2008 5:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
SFC can only read minds and see the future when he stops taking his psychic inhibitor meds. That's why you can't expect him to be right, like, 100% or anything. (ahem)
It turns out he was actually on medication when predicting REZKO would take Obama down, hence the temporary lapse of psychic powers. ;)
December 9, 2008 7:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
What in the fuck do you even mean "culpable?" Cupable for what, exactly? And do be specific.
December 9, 2008 8:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
One glitch here -- David Axelrod was on Fox News Chicago a while ago and said about Obama: "I know he's talked to the governor and there are a whole range of names many of which have surfaced, and I think he has a fondness for a lot of them."
See Jake Tapper's link with video: http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/
This apparent discrepancy in the story needs to be clarified ASAP.
December 9, 2008 3:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Prepare for a lot of word parsing here.
Obama is lying.
December 9, 2008 3:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm not prepared to come to that conclusion -- we need more information.
December 9, 2008 4:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Silly Ellen. When you're a moronic, blind, partisan Obama hater, you don't need to know anything. In their warped minds, he's always been an evil criminal. They don't need facts, it's all guilt by association.
December 9, 2008 4:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hear you ---- I must have had a momentary lapse of logic. Gotta be more careful.
December 9, 2008 4:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama is lying
That's the nicest thing this moronic troll has said about Obama. Call them bottom-feeders.
December 9, 2008 4:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
More like Archaea which live off methane vents...
December 9, 2008 4:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
...if you can't take the heat...
December 9, 2008 4:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Heat? What heat? I don't see much heat around here. Aren't trolls cold-blooded creatures anyway?
December 9, 2008 5:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
... methane vent reference...
December 10, 2008 10:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
OMG!OMG!OMG! One of Obama's advisors said something that can be construed as not perfectly consistent with something else Obama said. Gotcha! Its all over! This is it! He's so done, I'm going to create a userid at TPM just to push out the story!
Honestly, are you people ever going to get tired of this ridiculous cycle? How many times have we been through this? Shall we list the parade of nontroversies that the Obama-haters were just absolutely sure would finally be the end for him? Hell, I don't even know if I can remember them all:
Parkingticketgate
Professorgate
Cigarettegate
McClurkingate
Michelleisn'tproudofAmericagate
Wrightgate
Rezkogate
LyingsociopathclaimshehadgaysexwithObamagate
Bittergate
Cigarettegate II
Whiteytapegate
Birthcertificategate
Cigarettegate III
Every single time, you got yourselves all wound up into a frenzy over the Big Obama Scandal You've Always Known Would Come. Every time, its been something that any fool should have been able to see didn't either didn't have anything of consequence to do with Obama or, else, didn't amount to a pile of dry mouseturds in an abandoned mobile home. Every time, nervous Nellies among his supporters run around in panic stricken circles frantically offering up usless advice. And every time, Obama comes out of the nontroversy squeaky clean and stronger than ever, you all look like idiots.
Been going on since the primaries. Are you not getting even a little tired making asses of yourselves?
December 9, 2008 6:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
'Tis a fine frenzy they get in and a wonderful rant you just had, NCSteve! But there is more, they are up to Cigarettegate IV. A woman in my friends training class at the Y in NYC just found out Obama smokes and had a royal hissy during and after his class. He could only let her frenzy on and pray it didn't spread!
December 9, 2008 11:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Fail.
December 9, 2008 3:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Someone from Obama's team talked to him, offered him nothing, and turned him in to the feds! This proves Obama's a corrupt, evil, secret muslim socialist criminal!" "Rezko!"
FAIL
December 9, 2008 4:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama knew nothing about Blago wanting a payoff for the seat and did not talk directly to Blago.
So what if Obama's aids did tell Blago who they preferred to have fill the seat. It still does not mean his people knew Blago was asking for money or favors for the seat. In fact Blago's own words show quite the opposite.
The trolls can conflate all they want but the fact is if anyone in Obama's camp knew about Blago asking for bribes for the seat Fitzgerald would have no problem adding them to the charges. Fitzgerald plays no favorites with Repugs so he certainly would play no favorites with Dems.
December 10, 2008 4:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
ABEND
December 9, 2008 4:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Funny!
Haven't seen that in a line of code for more than twenty years. Thanks for the chuckle. You've got to love IBM…
December 9, 2008 7:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, us old school geeks gotta represent!
:-)
December 9, 2008 7:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, that's not funny. I almost started spewing a torrent of profanity from sheer quarter century old spinal reflex at the mere sight of the word.
Ah, good times.
December 9, 2008 8:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
So who's lying, the president-elect or his senior advisor?
December 9, 2008 4:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, lets impeach him now and let Doddering McCain and his Starlet Palin have the WH.
LOL.
Dude, stop sniffing methane.
December 9, 2008 4:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
*yawn*
Hey who ordered pizza?
you gonna eat that?
December 9, 2008 4:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
What Obama is saying that he was not involved.
December 9, 2008 4:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Unless of course you look at the context (you know what that is?) of what Obama was talking about, and that was the specifics of the investigations. He was referring to the fact that he had not contact the Gov or his office regarding the investigation and therefore was unaware of what was happening with the investigation, thus could not elaborate in any details.
December 9, 2008 4:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dum de dum de dum...let's see. Trollmemore samples a selection from Jake Tapper, builds a house of cards on it, tosses a few "Epic fails" around...SOP...Jake Tapper is interesting. For example, if you read the story posted just before the one you cribbed from, you might find Fitzgerald's actual words about Obama's involvement.
But I'll just post them here for you:
And if you don't see it, it's not there Sorta Zen-like in its simplicity, no?
December 9, 2008 4:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sigh.
Let's pretend for a minute you're not tendentiously ignoring the context of Obama's remark and that you, and you alone, know exactly what was meant because, like all Obama-haters, you can read minds.
Let's pretend, for the sake of argument, that Axelrod and Obama said things that were factually inconsistent. That still wouldn't mean that one of them was lying. It merely means one of them was wrong. One lies when one a) makes a misstatement of fact b) with intent to deceive.
Last week, a lady pulled up beside the sidewalk I was walking on and asked me for directions to a specific restaurant downtown, which I gave her. This week, I passed the place she asked me about and I realized that I'd sent her to the wrong place. I wasn't lying to her when I gave her incorrect directions. I just didn't know what the hell I was talking about.
Given that you are a leading authority on not knowing what the hell you're talking about, I'd expect this concept would be easier for you to grasp.
December 9, 2008 8:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
I say NO to a special election. Why give the Repubs a chance for a pickup?
Just let Blago be impeached and then appoint a good Dem. Even if we have to wait awhile, it's better than letting the Repubs have a chance to take the seat.
December 9, 2008 4:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
That Blago is *such* a fucktard. Seriously, what was he thinking?!!
December 9, 2008 4:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Emil Jones just announced that he's calling back the state legislature to vote on a special election:
http://thecapitolfaxblog.com/2008/12/09/this-just-in-cullerton-wants-special-election-says-jones-concurs/
December 9, 2008 4:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Emil Jones...Obama's Svengali. This gets even more curious.
December 9, 2008 4:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh. My. God.
More silly from HurlmeCaca.
Guilt by association much?
December 9, 2008 4:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Svengali? LOLOLOL!!!!!
He's the President of the Illinois Senate, you little doodlebug...
December 9, 2008 4:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Plus, I thought Rev. Wright/Saul Alinsky/Bill Ayers was Obama's Svengali. Trollmemore really needs to get its talking points straight.
December 9, 2008 5:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=konL35ur0Bo&eurl=http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/
1:20
December 9, 2008 4:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dumbass. He _clearly_ says Obama is going out of his way not to be involved in Illinois politics and out of 2 minutes he says once that "Obama has talked to the Governor". It would be pretty much unbelievable that Obama _wouldn't_ talk to the governor of his home state at some point. You're attempt to twist this into some conspiracy between Obama and Blago is too transparent. Try again.
December 9, 2008 4:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
OH.MY.GOD.
The President-elect of a state spoke to the governor of that state?
OH.MY.GOD. Obviously, Obama needs to be impeached. Preferably before he takes office, don't you think?
December 9, 2008 4:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
So you're agreeing that Obama was lying when he said he had NO contact.
Thank you for your honesty. Pretty rare here.
December 9, 2008 5:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
I saw that. It does not say what you say it says. Clean your filters.
December 9, 2008 4:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
He could have conversations with Blago, Blago could have inquired about possible open positions without explicitly asking for it as payment for picking so and so, Obama could have been aware that someone in his staff had contacted the authorities but then had no knowledge that the authorities were in any way following up with the information provided by Rahm or others. All this could have happened without Obama knowing what was going on with the investigation. He didn't say that he didn't have knowledge of one or two pieces of the puzzle. So he wasn't lying.
December 9, 2008 4:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for the valiant attempt at parsing.
so should believe what Obama meant or what he said?
December 9, 2008 4:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Everyone parses. You would too if you have in the course of your daily business found out you had interacted legally and innocently with someone who is now under investigation. Because you have a zillion people such as yourselves taking every word and every sentence out of context in order to prove a conclusion you had already formed prior to the story breaking.
And he said I don't know what is happening (with the investigation) and he meant he didn't know what was happening (with the investigation). So he said what he meant and meant what he said.
December 9, 2008 4:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
He said he had no contact, Axelrod is on record saying he did.
Who is lying? Obsms certainly has a reason to distance himself. Prior to today Axelrod had no motive to lie about the contact.
Who's lying?
December 9, 2008 4:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
You are. I trust them.
December 9, 2008 4:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
what the hell is that? At least spell his name fully. Jeez.
December 9, 2008 4:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
He was saying he had no contact in relation to this investigation and that is why he didn't know what was happening. The only other people who know are the prosecutors and the would have talked to no one before the press conference. To take it a little further, the reporter said his question was was he aware of what was happening with his senate seat (not have you ever discussed the senate seat with the governor). He was unaware of what happening in the context of the crime committed.
December 9, 2008 4:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
And frankly, Obama's totally occupied with his transition, cabinet appointments and national agenda to have the time for Blago's machinations.
December 9, 2008 4:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Perfectly put.
Really, you wouldn't have any time to get involved in such crap as this when you are super-busy with the transition matter at this difficult time.
Blago said "F*** 'em" is already good enough. All I want to hear confirmed now is that Rahm turned him in.
December 9, 2008 4:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
The worst I see here is that someone from Obama's team talked to the governor and that they weren't going to play ball with him. Also, I'm sure Obama talked to the governor about other issues, but didn't want to get involved in the Senate issue. He also knew the governor stunk of corruption.
But from the wingnut point of view, this is all they need to call for a special prosecutor and begin impeachment proceedings on January 20.
Violating the Constitution and Geneva Conventions--Okay with Republicans.
Living in the same state as a corrupt governor--impeachable offense.
December 9, 2008 4:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Impeach Obama for what? Obama didn't do anything wrong.
December 9, 2008 4:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sure he did! He was born black and got elected President. Impeach him!
December 9, 2008 4:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama said he had NO contact, Axelrod is on record saying he did.
Who is lying? Obama certainly has a reason to distance himself. Prior to today Axelrod had no motive to lie about the contact.
Who's lying?
December 9, 2008 4:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Who's lying?
you are because you are practicing your FAILED mind reading skills in a vacuum. You take a news release with no idea of the certain facts as the investigators know it and off you go drawing conclusions.
December 9, 2008 4:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
no you dumb shithead. he said he wasn't aware of the scheming and bullshit that blagodick was trying to pull.
obviously, obama said he prefers jarret, aka candidate 1 and told him so.
learn to fucking read. god, you idiots are everywhere today.
December 9, 2008 4:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Co-sign. Nutjobs behaving as if conquering hero when there is nothing is tiring.
December 9, 2008 4:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
His surrogates were acting on his behalf. regardless of whether is was Obama, Emmanuel or anyone else...it is unlikely that Obama was unaware.
Or are you suggesting he is a "mushroom"?
December 9, 2008 4:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm curious. The answer
was in response to what shouted question?
Was the question "Have you ever had contact with Blagojevich?"
Do you know?
Or, was the question "Were you in contact while the investigation was ongoing?"
Hmmmm?
December 9, 2008 4:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seems the critical part of the question is the "what was happening" which I would take to mean as it related to the current prosection.
December 9, 2008 4:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for that information. Do you think it will sink in with tellmemore?
December 9, 2008 4:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe, but if it does, we'll never hear about it. It just goes to show how frustrated those like tellmemore are that they can't find anything to complain about with Obama.
December 9, 2008 4:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
and by the way, name one thing that obama did wrong. name one.
is obama implicated? did obama break the law? did obama take him up on the bribe?
name one thing.
and don't give me "obama lied." what did he lie about? prove it.
December 9, 2008 4:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, Who's on first.
December 9, 2008 5:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Two brief remarks and a question:
1) How very frustrating it must be for the Trolls, to know that this "scandal" will no doubt resolve itself in exactly the same way that every previous "scandal" about Obama has done - with the whole world losing interest and moving on.
2) Doesn't this feel just like old times?
And the question: what are the odds, do you suppose, that tellmemore is just a sock puppet for Fogu2?
December 9, 2008 4:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Indeed it does! Only there's even less there than there was in old times, if you catch my meaning...
tellmemore as fogu2?
I always thought fogu2 was really two people. The insulting, crap-spewing fogu, and then the sane one who would appear intermittently. This one? Can't say.
December 9, 2008 5:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, I do, and I agree entirely.
If memory serves, there were actually two "Fogu" user names on this board: Fogu2 and Fogu3. I never made a systematic study of them, but if I recall correctly, 2 was the purveyor of nonsense, while 3 was the sane one. In other words, I think that they really were two different people. Presumably, 3 was simply usurping 2's user name in order to annoy him (sort of like what occured with gotalife and gota1ife). I simply put forward the tellmemore=fogu2 hypothesis because I remember that Fogu2 was fond of the habit of quoting your own words back at you and then writing "FAIL" underneath.
December 9, 2008 5:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
This ROCKS! The place was getting boring without the wackos having anything to blather about. So far a single sentence has given proof of Obama's guilt (offense unknown) ... surely tomorrow we'll get the video of Michelle jumping out of a huge cake in a bikini screaming "whitey" while Rizko and Blago stuff c-notes in Obama's vest over in the corner.
Yes indeed, it does seems like old times.
(BTW: Technically that was two questions and a quick remark :-)
December 9, 2008 5:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Er ... Rezko that is.
December 9, 2008 5:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
You mean the court will refuse to hear it without comment?
December 9, 2008 5:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
tellmemore: the true essence of troll-jizz.
Avoid it like the plague.
December 9, 2008 5:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is this like when Clinton's partisans tried, during the primary, to remonstrate Obama for denouncing but not renouncing Farrakhan? So, what is the protocol here? What precise set of statements are necessary in order to "address the issue" "fully"? I seem to recall that there is an old papal rubric for the anathematization of heretics. Would that do the trick?
December 9, 2008 5:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gosh, that was a cheery link!
Duncan seems a bit confused here. If the Republicans were painting Obama as inexperienced, a waif wandering the world (with links to terrorists, natch), clueless when it comes to what's really needed for America, why would he be "advising" a governor?
I thought Sarah Palin and every other Republican kept telling us that governors were, well, just like Presidents, without the White House, or something. So why would a governor take advice from some lowly, wet-behind-the-ears Senator?
December 9, 2008 5:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama throws Axelrod under the bus. Axelrod is the liar? Meet the new boss.
December 9, 2008 5:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Timeline from this article:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/12/09/national/a121640S04.DTL&tsp=1
Nov. 11-
Blagojevich talked at length about Valerie Jarrett and said he knew that Obama wanted her for the open seat but "they're not willing to give me anything except appreciation. (Expletive) them."
Nov. 12-
Jarrett, a Chicago businesswoman made it known that she was not interested in the seat.
Nov. 15 -
Obama announced that Jarrett would be a senior White House adviser and assistant for intergovernmental relations.
And yet:
Obama said he wasn't aware of Blagojevich's maneuvering.
Fail.
December 9, 2008 5:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wrong again. You are on quite a losing streak. The only "fail" is your desperation to find something. The entire point, since you seem to be slow on this, is that Obama had nothing to do with what Blago was up to. Per *Blago's* "(expletive) them." Sorry, Obama has something Repubs don't: Integrity.
December 9, 2008 6:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
tellmemore thinks that because GOP politicians work that way, naturally Democratic politicians must work that way too.
December 9, 2008 6:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
give it up, tellmemore, tighten your tinfoil hat and go back to peddling the birth certificate story.
I can tell you what happened without knowing any more than we know right now.
Blagojevich or one of his people contacted one of Obama's people. Blago and Obama very likely never spoke to each other, these things don't happen that way unless serious negotiations are under way.
Blago's person or people made an oblique suggestion that they'd like something in return for naming Obama's preference, Valerie Jarrett, to the seat.
Obama's person or people - not being gibbering idiots and knowing Blago was being investigated and was corrupt as hell - told him he'd get Obama's appreciation and that's it.
End of story... except in the minds of idiots like tellmemore who are gearing up for Witch-Hunt 2: Electric Boogaloo.
December 9, 2008 6:17 PM | Reply | Permalink