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Re: A great idea: Force Barack’s hand – And an explanation

plutocrat03 — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 21:23:27 -0000

Rich

DNC spin, Sen Obama is a tool of the Chicago machine.

Re: A great idea: Force Barack’s hand – And an explanation

bad call — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 20:22:11 -0000

Suppose he made the call to Emil and persuded him to call for the veto. How long would it take McCain's troops to get an attack ad on the air taking the Blago talking points and saying that Obama got his Chicago Pals to stop the governor from making the ethics bill stronger. Doesnt want to limit campaign contributions etc.

I know it's not true, you know it's not true, but this is a national media that is willing to take all kinds of claims on their face (See: 'Obama wants to teach sex ed to 5 year olds' as an example)

Re: A great idea: Force Barack’s hand – And an explanation

Ted — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:57:16 -0000

If so many Illinois residents feel let down by Obama's failure to fight for positive change here in Illinois (as these posts evidence), would it be unfair to conclude that this is a harbinger of things to come if he is elected President and has to stand up to his own party in Washington to bring about "change!"

Re: A great idea: Force Barack’s hand – And an explanation

Snidely Whiplash — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 18:46:20 -0000

I think this has gotten way off topic. Remember, some use reform to further their careers. Others use their careers to further reform. Anybody even remotely honest (at least with themselves) knows which category Obama fits into.

Re: A great idea: Force Barack’s hand – And an explanation

Mr. Cub — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:56:52 -0000

What's the myth? He did endorse the Strogers, didn't he? That reflects his point of view on reform. How's that a myth?

Re: A great idea: Force Barack’s hand – And an explanation

phocion — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:31:45 -0000

Nice idea, Rich...for McCain to call him on. If Obama hasn't done anything as Senator so far, though, it's exceedingly unlikely he'll bring attention to the ethics-challenged state of affairs here. He's gotten a pass on his lack of reform bona fides in the past, and no one will pick it up now. That is, unless McCain/Palin start hammering him on it and connecting the dots between Barack and Emil.

Re: A great idea: Force Barack’s hand – And an explanation

keep it in the family — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:19:28 -0000

As a US Senator, Obama's office has been horrible at constituent services, a major responsibility of any elected official. Carol Mosely Braun ran her office the same way.
Obama has been running for President since he was sworn in and this has been a disservice to the people of Illinois.

Re: A great idea: Force Barack’s hand – And an explanation

Plutocrat03 — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:10:39 -0000

No myth Ric

Letter from Sens Obama and Durbin:

"Today we write to urge your attention to one race in particular.
Our friend, Todd Stroger, former state representative and alderman,
is candidate for president of the Cook County Board. Please
consider voting for Todd.... Todd is a good progressive
Democrat, who will bring those values and sensibilities to the job."

Seems like an endorsement to me. Tod Stroger is no refeormer, nor was he expected to be.

Other than being otherwise engaged, Sen. Obama is additionally beholden to Emil Jones. If he had the temerity to shake things up all his political sponsors would be up in arms.

When you consider the positive spin he could get from the populist slant for simply asking for good government, it makes me shudder regarding what he would do on the international stage.

By the way, what record in the Senate? I appreciate that freshmen tend not to be leaders, but he has been nearly silent.

I was in office when the last set of Illinois ethics reforms were introduced. They were laughable. We would call the new rules the 'Lack of Ethics Reform Law"

Re: A great idea: Force Barack’s hand – And an explanation

Steve — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:08:03 -0000

Rich is right on this one.Obama could do something but he isn't interesting in change in Illinois politics.The fact that he'd support Todd Stroger,hang out with Tony Rezko,and be quite silent on the recent Cook County sales tax increase,and not bothered by the Hired Truck scandal speaks volumes.Obama is your typical,sleazy Chicago politician.You'll be hearing more about this stuff on McCain commercials.

Re: A great idea: Force Barack’s hand – And an explanation

Clown College Observer — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:58:44 -0000

===Hardly. Heâ€™s got a record in the Senate. Rod never did compile one.===

Rich,

I completely disagree. His record in the Senate looks to be nothing more that a thinly-veiled attempt to fill in the right blanks on his resume to be a presidential candidate. That isn't to say that you could find a LOT of other pols that have records as thin, only that his list of accomplishments is pretty sparse.

It is also not helping things when the MSM makes these goofy statements comparing Obama to Lincoln, etc. Obama for me is far closer to a Jimmy Carter than Abraham Lincoln. I'm simply never going to agree with his stated positions (what little he has actually been pinned down on) and would never vote for the guy. None of this matters of course; Obama will win Illinois by at least 20 percentage points.

Re: A great idea: Force Barack’s hand – And an explanation

rachel — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:53:46 -0000

I may be wrong, but...if they wanted a comment from Senator Obama, shouldn't they have called his Senate office? The campaign office is for the Presidnetial race, they should not be commenting on his Senate positions.

Re: A great idea: Force Barack’s hand – And an explanation

Rich Miller — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:50:54 -0000

Dude, c'mon. Go Google it yourself. Leave your DC spin at the door, please.

Re: A great idea: Force Barack’s hand – And an explanation

James the Intolerant — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:50:16 -0000

What major ethcis plans did he leave his imprint on? I'm not being a smart-***, I just want to know. Those ethics bills must not have been very effective, because we still have pay-to-play on steroids.
And when you say qualified and viable about Stroger you are off the mark. I think Obama actually delivered some important votes to Stroger. And while I don't agree that Emil "made" him US Senator, I think the Hyde Park/U of C $$ made him a viable candidate along with the fact that he is a very smooth operator, I don't think he is going to ring in on a topic that could make Emil uncomfortable.

Re: A great idea: Force Barack’s hand – And an explanation

A Citizen — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:49:02 -0000

"...Heâ€™s got a record in the Senate..."
Really? What is it? Coulda fooled me. These guys take no responsibility for anything other than piggy-backing onto someone else's legislation that has proven to be politically beneficial. And then they crow like Sunday dinner's rooster!

Re: A great idea: Force Barack’s hand – And an explanation

Clown College Observer — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:47:01 -0000

===Every Sunday the newspaper reports on some of the votes in the US Senate. Durbin usually votes other than what I would prefer and Obama is â€œNot Presentâ€. I guess I should be pleased at least that he didnâ€™t rubber stamp Durbin? He is useless to Illinois as a senator - he simply doesnâ€™t report for duty and I find that unacceptable, presidential candidate or not. ===

If Obama returns to the Senate; he will again rubber stamp Durbin (who himself is a rubber stamp for Harry Reid) when necessary, and slip back into obscurity otherwise. Our 'leadership' from top to bottom in this state has failed and it amazes me that these people are the "best" we can find.

Re: A great idea: Force Barack’s hand – And an explanation

Rich Miller — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:43:06 -0000

===Obama is every bit the backbencher that Blagojevich was===

Hardly. He's got a record in the Senate. Rod never did compile one.

Re: A great idea: Force Barack’s hand – And an explanation

Clown College Observer — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:41:21 -0000

===#

This is non-news. Obama ceased serving as U.S. Senator the day after we elected him. He has been running for President ever since.

Provide and opinion on the embattled ethics reform legislation? Absolutely not! That would require leadership in putting the state before Obamaâ€™s own political ambitions. Not gonna happenâ€¦===

Agreed. Obama is every bit the backbencher that Blagojevich was. I can't imagine a scenario that he would involve himself in this type of dispute since it doesn't gain him anything. Obama already assumes he will carry Illinois by a significant margin and, much like not spending money advertising here, he won't involve himself in something that won't help his election.

For Obama, it is ALL about the campaign. If he actually manages to keep his campaign afloat for the next 55 days and get elected, he will start the campaign for re-election 10 minutes after he is sworn in. Other than Blagojevich, I can't think of a more shallow and self-involved politician in Illinois today.

Re: A great idea: Force Barack’s hand – And an explanation

BigDog — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:38:28 -0000

"A public smackdown of Emil, Rod, Todd, Daley, the whole kit and kaboodle. "

As someone solidly in the McCain camp, this might be the one thing Obama could do that would make me think twice...

Re: A great idea: Force Barack’s hand – And an explanation

Loop Lady — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:32:18 -0000

I agree with Canary and Radogno...

Barack has nothing to lose by calling Jones and inviting him to not be an obstructionist at this point in his career...If Jones doesn't comply, at least he can say he tried...Barack has been muc more interested in the last several years in his ascension to political prominence than he was in his salad days as a community organizer...that was a very long time ago koolaid drinkers...

Re: A great idea: Force Barack’s hand – And an explanation

A Citizen — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:31:39 -0000

Every Sunday the newspaper reports on some of the votes in the US Senate. Durbin usually votes other than what I would prefer and Obama is "Not Present". I guess I should be pleased at least that he didn't rubber stamp Durbin? He is useless to Illinois as a senator - he simply doesn't report for duty and I find that unacceptable, presidential candidate or not.

Re: A great idea: Force Barack’s hand – And an explanation

Vote Quimby! — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:14:47 -0000

Disappointed in the lack of leadership...change begins at HOME!

Re: A great idea: Force Barack’s hand – And an explanation

Clown College Observer — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:12:38 -0000

===Heâ€™s still our US Senator, isnâ€™t he?===

Only because he happened to be elected in the state I reside in. He in no way represents me.

Re: A great idea: Force Barack’s hand – And an explanation

Black Ivy — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:12:07 -0000

This is non-news. Obama ceased serving as U.S. Senator the day after we elected him. He has been running for President ever since.

Provide and opinion on the embattled ethics reform legislation? Absolutely not! That would require leadership in putting the state before Obama's own political ambitions. Not gonna happen...

Re: A great idea: Force Barack’s hand – And an explanation

Speaking At Will — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:12:06 -0000

(State Motto: Will the Defendant Please Rise?)

LOL!

Re: A great idea: Force Barack’s hand – And an explanation

South Side Mike — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 15:58:23 -0000

Will Obama touch it? Not on his life. He won't publicly call Emil because the press will immediately examine his relationship to his "godfather" in close detail. As we all know, no one in Illinois wants their connections to the Republican/Democratic machines/Combine to get too much press, especially one campaigning on a national "reform" ticket. (Strike that, Obama's never campaigned on reform, only "change." Call it cynicism from living in Illinois, but that's a subtle but telling distinction.)

Does he have an obligation to? Yes. Whether or not Obama likes it, he is still the elected public servant of Illinois. If he doesn't want that responsibility, he can always pull a Bob Dole in 1996 and resign from the Senate. If Obama loses the election, how will he explain his negligence to the state? Should he not sieze the easy opportunity to "buck his party" now, why shouldn't people consider him just another politician?

I am not saying that Durbin or Obama should be co-governors with Blago. But they should be willing to at least lend their opinion and support on basic issues like ethics reform without first consulting with campaign managers and spin doctors. And yes, if Arizona's government is as dysfunctional as Illinois' government, I would hope that McCain has weighed in on a few of those issues, too.