CapitolFax.com - Latest Comments in Separating the real from the meaningless

Re: Separating the real from the meaningless

Arthur Andersen — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 23:17:07 -0000

Rich-does bleep get one's comment deleted?

Re: Separating the real from the meaningless

Peach — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 10:45:57 -0000

Somehow, I suspect that the Obama-Emanuel haters are not new to the world of conspiracy theory

No, they've been watching the Bush/Cheney haters in action for so long they learned a thing or 2.

Re: Separating the real from the meaningless

Emily Booth — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 23:29:10 -0000

The Emperor Wears No Clothes. Is that what Victoria Toessing finds so "appalling" about Fitzgerald's opinions? I find it refreshing, appropriate and honest and about 6 years overdue (altho that is not Fitzgerald's fault). But, then, I don't work or live in the Beltway.

Re: Separating the real from the meaningless

steve schnorf — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 23:24:28 -0000

Somehow, I suspect that the Obama-Emanuel haters are not new to the world of conspiracy theory

Re: Separating the real from the meaningless

Steve — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 22:52:23 -0000

Eric Holder is going to have to answer for 300K and his connection to Blagojevich and the Rosemont Casino deal.Does Eric Holder look good defending a casino with ties to John "No Nose" DiFronzo?

Re: Separating the real from the meaningless

DuPage Dave — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 21:30:55 -0000

The FBI guy was right on- Illinois is a top contender for the "most corrupt state" title. We may not always win the super bowl, but we are in the playoffs every year.

The pension board corruption, the "endemic hiring fraud" problem, the real estate deals and now the selling of a Senate seat- and that's just one Illinois elected official!!

Re: Separating the real from the meaningless

Bill Baar — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 20:36:57 -0000

Gotta admit the FBI guy was a little out of line with the comments on Illinois as the most corrupt state.

There was a lot of emotion at that press conference.

That was unusual I think. I don't think it was wise. Why it occurred is good question.

Re: Separating the real from the meaningless

Cheswick — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 19:52:25 -0000

The biased source's husband and I shared the people mover at the Atlanta airport (I think) many years ago. I almost didn't read the article when I saw the author's name. But I did. Obviously, she wants to go after Fitzgerald in the courtroom.

Op-ed in the Wall Street Journal = shilling for business? Maybe.

Re: Separating the real from the meaningless

no plan B — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 19:41:16 -0000

Perhaps the Obama team's problem is trying to spin why they didn't go to the feds when they learned that RB was engaging in pay-to-play with other candidates

Re: Separating the real from the meaningless

hisgirlfriday — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 19:27:53 -0000

Rich, if that's what your sources tell you then I am more inclined to believe this is nothing and Rahm is in the clear but just based on him not being a "target" of Fitz really means squat to me.

I mean JJJ came out and said he was told he was not a target of the investigation and then it came out he was way more caught up in this than originally realized.

This dragging of feet on the part of Obama's team reminds me of the rolling disclosures in the Rezko house deal. Maybe no indictment of Rahm will come out of it and Obama won't have to replace him as chief of staff, but by the way they're acting I won't be surprised at all if there is something very embarrassing to Rahm and thus Obama on the tapes even if there isn't anything regarding a deal on the Senate seat.

Re: Separating the real from the meaningless

IrishPirate — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 19:07:08 -0000

I suggest one google the name of the author of the "biased" column. You will see why she has a bias. Can you say "high profile attorney"? I knew you could. By the way we are all biased in one way or another.

Re: Separating the real from the meaningless

Rich Miller — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 19:02:56 -0000

Greg, there's a big difference between "biased" and "totally biased."

Re: Separating the real from the meaningless

Greg — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 18:40:38 -0000

"And while this column is from a totally biased source, it makes some very good pointsâ€¦"

Who isn't biased? Asserting that the source is biased is a biased statement.

I don't mean to offend you or anything but from my perspective (there even more bias!) it was a kind of a gratuitous slap. If you believe her argument has merit why the need to label her?

Re: Separating the real from the meaningless

Rich Miller — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 18:09:03 -0000

scoot, Obama said there was no deal-making. Handing over a list is not deal-making.

Re: Separating the real from the meaningless

plutocrat03 — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 17:59:47 -0000

So far this early test of the administration is not going well. By hiding Emanuel and Axlerod who have their own strong ties to the political web of Illinois the administration is furthering the rumor mill that there is something wrong.

If they want this to go away they simply have to clearly state that there was no pay to play for either the Senate Seat (darn, there goes my Christmas present) OR Rahm's Congressional seat. If either of these two fellows are one tape offering or being asked for favors, they will have to be cut loose ASAP.

Where does the line of quid pro quo get drawn? Is asking to have someone pay your campaign debts before you join their administration crossing the line?

Re: Separating the real from the meaningless

scoot — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 17:58:40 -0000

Then why did Obama stand firm and say that no-one from my transition team has had any contact w/ the Guv? Did he mispeak...like Axelrod?

Re: Separating the real from the meaningless

Ahem — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 17:54:41 -0000

Obama should appoint someone after weighing the recommendations of both Fitzgeralds, Patrick and Peter. Peter didn't do too shabby appointing Patrick.

Re: Separating the real from the meaningless

wordslinger — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 17:26:22 -0000

Adding, Holder should recuse himself and everybody in the Obama administration should stay as far away from the Illinois criminal investigations as possible.

Let Fitz take the ball and run. There is no upside for Obama here.

The crisis will come when Fitz decides he wants to leave and Obama has to appoint a replacement. When that time comes, he should publicly ask for, and then appoint, Fitz's recommendation.

Obama, get out of Illinois politics! Please!

Re: Separating the real from the meaningless

Amy — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 17:23:45 -0000

wow, i would have thought the column was written by a bunch of sore former City Hall 4th floor occupants, not Victoria Toensing. the whining about Fitzgerald and what ethics he violated is most amusing. and we hear it from the locals all the time.

these people are more worked up about Fitzgerald than the actions of the corrupt.

Re: Separating the real from the meaningless

wordslinger — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 17:21:19 -0000

The WSJ column was excellent. I wasn't aware that the Justice Department had such guidelines. It's not just Fitz; every USATT that I can remember has felt the need to include those hackneyed groaners. Like Sgt. Friday said, just the facts, Fitz.

I doubt if Harris was a buffer. I don't think he had the history with Daley to qualify.

I have to disagree with you on Emanuel and the news value, Rich. A prominent public official getting caught on fed wiretaps in a criminal investigation, no matter how innocent or innocuous the conversation, is news.

As I posted elsewhere, I think the whole pre-election conversation between Harris and Emanuel is newsworthy for a number of reasons, none of them very complimentary to Emanuel. He's a buffer who needs his own buffer.

--"The family was big on buffers, Senator." Willie Cicci, GFII.

Re: Separating the real from the meaningless

tinman — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 17:19:56 -0000

Rich, amen on Fitz, his smart a#$ comments are not called for.

Re: Separating the real from the meaningless

Phineas J. Whoopee — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 17:17:48 -0000

Ahem, now there's a shirt I would buy.

I must say, the rest of the country has grasped what kind of a person our Blago is a lot quicker than we Illinoians did. I know they had Fitzgerald's help, but there is complete venom out there. Maybe we really are to used to corruption.
Saturday Night Live is sure to wreck tonight.

Re: Separating the real from the meaningless

Ahem — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 16:59:28 -0000

Oh, look, a rat!

Re: Separating the real from the meaningless

Stu — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 16:59:01 -0000

Blago on ice?
http://www.ktnv.com/Global/...

Re: Separating the real from the meaningless

Bill Baar — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 16:49:06 -0000

The more I think about Emanuel, he looks more and more a bumbler than guilty of much.

He couldn't get Obama's Senate pic out of the Guv.

He dragged the Guv into the muck talking to a Guv knowing he was under investigation.

And all around losing move.

Knowing how these guys talk, the tapes can be nothing but utter embarrasment... worse the a crime.. really dumb and crude I bet.