BS: Senate Seat for Sale

Subject: RE: BS: Senate Seat for Sale
From: Bobert
Date: 17 Dec 08 - 08:17 PM

No, looks as if the Illinois legislature is gonna have to do it and to tall ya' the truth, Rigs, it ain't a slam dunk...

I couldn't give a rat's ass what happens as long as it is entertaining and the Repubs get off their kick to try to get Obama sucked into the noise...

Yeah, I know that I'm supposed to be against an election because that might get a Repub into fill a Dem seat... Hell's Bells... I couldn't care less... I just want get some entertainment outta this... It's kinda like a side show at the carnival...

It's time to rumble so get it on...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Senate Seat for Sale
From: Genie
Date: 18 Dec 08 - 02:52 PM

Well, the Dems have extra reason to be pissed at Blagojevich.   Not only have his shenanigans (going way back before this Senate seat thing) been a black mark on the party in Chigago, but they may result in the Dems losing a Senate seat that should have been theirs.   

Still, what Blagojevich is accused of re the Senate appointment is not that far afield of the LEGAL horsetrading that goes on among politicians and lobbyists.   And the Bush administration has been as heavily involved in trading government appointments for political favors as anyone else I can think of, if not more so.    What wonders might we uncover if Patrick Fitzgerald were turned loose on Bush and Cheney and all their cohorts?

Subject: RE: BS: Senate Seat for Sale
From: pdq
Date: 18 Dec 08 - 03:00 PM

"Bush administration has been as heavily involved in trading government appointments for political favors as anyone else..."

One shred of evidence? Perhaps all you need is haterd for all Republicans and a closed mind in order to make an unsubstantiated statement like that.

Subject: RE: BS: Senate Seat for Sale
From: Riginslinger
Date: 18 Dec 08 - 06:23 PM

"What wonders might we uncover if Patrick Fitzgerald were turned loose on Bush and Cheney..."


                     Didn't we go down this street with the Valerie Plame thing?

Subject: RE: BS: Senate Seat for Sale
From: Genie
Date: 18 Dec 08 - 06:35 PM

The Bush administration has protected its ranks from many investigations that could have shown illegal actions; they have redacted or outright destroyed many potentially incriminating documents. Some of the "shredding" or other document destruction was not legal; some of it has been, for the moment, protected by the overextension of so-called "executive privilege" (by the same factions who wanted the Secret Service to be subpoenaed to testify against Bill Clinton in the Lewinsky matter).   
I'd add that the Democratic leadership in both the House and Senate have been way too reticent to undertake Congressional investigation of suspected illegal actions of people in the G B Bush administration.   The firing of attorneys in the Federal Dept. Of Justice on political grounds and replacing them with highly partisan attorneys is just one of the areas where, even if this were to be fully adjudicated and found to be legal, it's still political horse-trading and putting partisan goals above the even-handed execution of law.

Subject: RE: BS: Senate Seat for Sale
From: Bobert
Date: 18 Dec 08 - 06:44 PM

Actually Genie has brought up something that I hadn't thought of and that is if Blago gets busted up big time over this then the Dems can just go ahead with the investigations of the dozen or se Bush scandals and say, "Hey we did it to our guy so what are you complaining about???"

So crank up the bus...

Sorry, Blagz...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Senate Seat for Sale
From: Riginslinger
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 05:48 PM

It looks like Blago is determined to stay!

Subject: RE: BS: Senate Seat for Sale
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 20 Dec 08 - 06:08 AM

From: Riginslinger
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 05:48 PM

It looks like Blago is determined to stay!

Well good for him!! Like so many politicians who like the comfort of getting an "E Ticket" on the Titanic!

Subject: RE: BS: Senate Seat for Sale
From: pdq
Date: 08 Jan 09 - 01:45 PM

Meet the Blagojevich burger: meat, cheese and a hefty slice of bologna


By Christopher Borrelli | Tribune reporter
January 7, 2009


The #!@%¿ Blagojevich Burger at Kuma's Corner is a &%$! valuable hamburger. This thing is &!%$ golden.

I mean, they're not just &^%$# giving it away. It costs $10. But as a note on the chalkboard of this popular Avondale burger joint on Chicago's Northwest Side makes plain: "Price is negotiable." Which is generous, for the #!@%¿ Blagojevich Burger—also known as the "Bleeping Blagojevich Burger"—is genius, not merely named in honor of Gov. Rod Blagojevich, with a vague metaphorical connection, like most sandwiches named for politicians or celebrities.

The #!@%¿ Blagojevich is deeply evocative of the man.

Or so we hear.
        
It is the invention of Kuma owner Michael Caine, who once sold a Chicago City Council Burger, topped with foie gras. That was much tastier. But then, &*!% 'em: The Blago begins with a 10-ounce patty, a feisty foundation that remains nonetheless in the @$ background, marrying well with the *&^@# condiments; the patty is best ordered pale pink for maximum evocativeness. Next, the burger is topped with a very thick slice of bologna, ensuring every bite of beef is undercut by a mouthful of salty, startlingly bold baloney.

The grandest touch, however, is the "bun." Burger and bologna are held between grilled cheese sandwiches of Wonder Bread and processed American cheese.

The grace note: yellow mustard, squirted into the shape of a dollar sign.

For the record, it went down surprisingly smoothly. However, once we picked off the bologna, we were left with a lot of cheese.

Caine has sold about 70 since last week, and he won't take less than $10.

"But if you want to pay more, sure."

Subject: RE: BS: Senate Seat for Sale
From: Riginslinger
Date: 08 Jan 09 - 10:18 PM

I hadn't realized Michael Caine was in the burger business. He ought to get together with Ted Turner and work on something using Bison meat.

Subject: RE: BS: Senate Seat for Sale
From: Sawzaw
Date: 09 Jan 09 - 12:26 AM

Illinois GOP wants closer look at Burris, Blagojevich ties

By Drew Griffin and Scott Bronstein CNN Special Investigations Unit

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois (CNN) -- Did Roland Burris secure his appointment to Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat through some kind of pay-to-play politics of the very sort that have tainted the man who appointed him, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich? Roland Burris told reporters in Washington on Wednesday his appointment has nothing to do with money.

Republicans in the Illinois state legislature are asking that question, and they want Burris, the former Illinois attorney general, to answer in person at a hearing scheduled for Thursday on Blagojevich's impeachment.

And the question is reverberating back to Washington, where Democratic leaders have been blocking Burris from taking the Senate seat, saying the appointment is tainted by Blagojevich, who was arrested last month and accused of trying to sell the seat for money and influence.

Blagojevich, however, has not been indicted and remains governor. He and Burris say the appointment is legal.

In a written affidavit given to the impeachment panel, Burris said he had one limited conversation with the governor about the Senate seat before he was appointed. And that conversation, he said, was initiated by a Blagojevich attorney.

But records show the two men have long ties to each other -- including lucrative state contracts, political contributions and even a job for the governor's wife. Those records are raising thorny questions from state officials, particularly Republicans.

"I want Mr. Burris to, under oath, talk about that, about exactly when his interest in his seat, when he became interested in the seat," said Republican State Rep. Jim Durkin, "how far back it went, who did he talk to, and exactly the communication that went back and forth between him and the governor and any type of documentation which he may have given to the governor."

On Wednesday, Burris told reporters in Washington that his selection had nothing to do with money or any pay-to-play scheme.

"There is certainly no pay-to-play involved, because I don't have no money," said Burris, who returned later in the day to Illinois, where he planned to appear Thursday before the impeachment panel.
Don't Miss

"I'm going to tell them exactly what transpired between the governor and I," he told reporters when he arrived in Chicago.

Illinois state records show Burris, who once ran against Blagojevich for the Democratic nomination for governor, and his lobbying firm have contributed more than $20,000 to the governor's political campaigns.

Two years ago, Burris hosted a $1,000-per-plate fund-raiser for Blagojevich.

What's more, Burris's consulting firm -- Burris & Lebed Consulting -- has won nearly $300,000 in state contracts over the past four years.

Finally, the governor's wife, Patti, was hired in September to an $80,000-a-year job with the Chicago Christian Industrial League, where Burris' lobbying partner is a board member......

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/07/burris.blagojevich.gop/index.html

Subject: RE: BS: Senate Seat for Sale
From: Riginslinger
Date: 09 Jan 09 - 06:19 AM

Still, Burris is probably cleaner than any of the other candidates mentioned.

Subject: RE: BS: Senate Seat for Sale
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 09 Jan 09 - 01:29 PM

The Theory of Intelligence

Coupla guys, leaning on the bar, on their next-to-last (6th) beer of the night.

'Well you see, Charlie, it's like this. A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members. In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Now, as we know, excessive intake of alcohol kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. And that, Charlie, is why you always feel smarter after a few beers.'

Subject: RE: BS: Senate Seat for Sale
From: Riginslinger
Date: 09 Jan 09 - 01:49 PM

It makes sense to me. So for Blagojevich to get out of this mess, all he has to do is drink more beer.

Subject: RE: BS: Senate Seat for Sale
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 09 Jan 09 - 02:03 PM

Actually, that joke was supposed to go into the First Joke Thread for 2009.

However, Rig may be right.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Senate Seat for Sale
From: pdq
Date: 09 Jan 09 - 02:07 PM

"Finally, the governor's wife, Patti, was hired in September to an $80,000-a-year job with the Chicago Christian Industrial League, where Burris' lobbying partner is a board member..."

One of the items mentioned in taped conversations as possible compensation for the Senate appointment (sale), was a fat job for his wife. You know, the kind of job you don't have to show up to do.

Subject: RE: BS: Senate Seat for Sale
From: SINSULL
Date: 09 Jan 09 - 02:08 PM

The joke's on us...

Subject: RE: BS: Senate Seat for Sale
From: gnu
Date: 09 Jan 09 - 02:11 PM

Time for some old fashioned justice? On accounta real justice don't seem ta be gettin done.

Subject: RE: BS: Senate Seat for Sale
From: Riginslinger
Date: 09 Jan 09 - 02:12 PM

"was a fat job for his wife."


             Better than a job for his fat wife, which would have sounded really bad on tape.

Subject: RE: BS: Senate Seat for Sale
From: Amos
Date: 09 Jan 09 - 02:50 PM

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to impeach Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich on Friday morning on the grounds of abuse of power as the state's chief executive. He is the first governor in Illinois's history to be impeached, and his case now goes to the state Senate for trial.

The Illinois House of Representatives debated a resolution to impeach Governor Rod R. Blagojevich on Friday in Springfield.

The House deliberated less than an hour and a half before voting 114 to 1 to oust the governor, just one day after a 21-member House investigative committee unanimously recommended impeachment. The only member to vote against impeachment was Milton Patterson, a Democrat from Chicago. No one spoke up to defend Mr. Blagojevich.

The last governor to be impeached was Evan Mecham of Arizona, who was removed from office in 1988 after serving 15 months.

Mr. Blagojevich, 52, was jogging in his Chicago neighborhood when the vote came down. He has scheduled a press conference this afternoon.

Legislators spent the morning discussing the merits of the case against Mr. Blagojevich, the two-term Democrat who has been embroiled in a sprawling legal and political drama since his arrest on Dec. 9 on federal corruption charges, including accusations that he schemed to sell the United States Senate seat formerly held by President-elect Barack Obama.

(NYT)

Subject: RE: BS: Senate Seat for Sale
From: Riginslinger
Date: 09 Jan 09 - 10:54 PM

The New York Times seems to think it is important to impeach Blago before some of this shit splashes over on Obama.

Subject: RE: BS: Senate Seat for Sale
From: Sawzaw
Date: 10 Jan 09 - 01:32 AM

Patti's Fundraising May Not Save 100-Year-Old Shelter

CAROL MARIN and DON MOSELEY Chicago Sun Times
   
Patti Blagojevich is the fundraiser for the Christian Industrial League, a 99-year-old homeless shelter and outreach center, but it remains in dire financial straits and has even discussed the possibility of bankruptcy. Every Monday through Friday Illinois First Lady Patti Blagojevich arrives at the Chicago Christian Industrial League to raise money to help the city's most needy citizens. Hired last September, she works out of a small office in the League's brand new facility in North Lawndale. The First Lady has not spoken publicly since her husband, Gov. Rod Blagojevich, was arrested by the FBI on corruption charges on December 9, 2008. She agreed to be photographed but declined to speak to both NBC Chicago and the Chicago Sun-Times.

Patti Blagojevich was hired as a fundraiser for the 99-year-old institution, but an investigation by the Chicago Sun-Times and NBC Chicago shows the Christian Industrial League is in dire financial trouble and that internally, the Board members have discussed the possibility of bankruptcy. According to the Christian Industrial League's interim executive director, Mary Shaver, private funding has dropped, federal HUD money has been lost and the facility is now only half full. Many of the financial problems can be traced back to when the Christian Industrial League moved from its home in Greektown to a plot on Roosevelt Road.

The new $25 million state-of-the-art shelter opened in 2006. It provides food for the hungry, beds for the homeless, and job training for the willing. For 97 years, the Christian Industrial League was located in Chicago's Greektown neighborhood, an area that in the last decade has become prime real estate.

Today condos selling for more than a half a million dollars sit on the old site. Among the condo developers are two politically powerful and well-connected businessmen. Michael Marchese is one of Mayor Richard Daley's closest friends. William Cellini is a Springfield multi-millionaire indicted in the ongoing pay-to-play federal investigation.

An investigation by Chicago Sun-Times reporter Tim Novak shows that taxpayers of the City of Chicago paid $13.5 million to facilitate the Christian Industrial League's 2006 move from Greektown to North Lawndale. And with that move the Marchese-Cellini team was free to begin building.

The Christian Industrial League was ready to move after nearly a century at the old site. "The buildings were falling down around us," Shaver said. But trouble was already looming, according to documents obtained by the Sun-Times.

Memos written by officials inside City Hall and the Christian Industrial League warned the mayor's office that costs associated with the move were out of control. "There's a four year trail that shows the Christian Industrial League never had any money to fund its share of the building," according to Sun Times reporter Tim Novak, "which is why they ended up hiring Patti Blagojevich."...........

She is failing at her job, the place is going bankrupt but she still gets paid. The city pays for them to tear down the old building and move so fat cats one of them charged with extortion, can build condos.

Subject: RE: BS: Senate Seat for Sale
From: Riginslinger
Date: 10 Jan 09 - 09:59 AM

Well, hopefully all of this will come out in the impeachment hearings.

Subject: RE: BS: Senate Seat for Sale
From: Sawzaw
Date: 17 Feb 09 - 03:24 PM

Should Burris be Scootered off to jail for perjury?

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. â€" U.S. Sen. Roland Burris has acknowledged trying to raise money for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich before being appointed to the Senate.

According to a transcript posted on the Chicago Tribune's Web site, Burris told reporters in Peoria Monday night that he talked to some friends about putting together a fundraiser after being called by the ex-governor's brother.

But Burris says he told Rob Blagojevich shortly after the November election that he couldn't get any friends to contribute and suggested he might be able to find others.

Burris testified last month to a committee that recommended impeaching Rod Blagojevich that he had told only one Blagojevich associate he was interested in being senator.

But he released an affidavit over the weekend indicating he had spoken to four others, including the calls from Rob Blagojevich.