CapitolFax.com - Latest Comments in Why this photo matters

Re: Why this photo matters

Bud Man — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 18:21:05 -0000

Anon 45 -

Welfare reform was only signed by Clinton after he was brought kicking and screaming to the table by Republicans and they put the pen in his hand with a gun to his head. He did not want to sign that bill and fought hard against it, but he knew his veto would get overriden, so he signed it to take credit for it instead of getting burned when he got overidden. I think you are spewing revisionist crap.

Rich, I couldn't agree more that Obama needs to conme clean on this deal. All of the other aspects of the relationship are small potatoes, but this house is huge. In my mind, the hosue deal leads to guilt by association. There uis just know way this happened by accident, and the fact the previous owners and real estate agents refuse to talk about speakes volumes for the whole affair.

Re: Why this photo matters

Arthur Andersen — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 17:55:20 -0000

FWIW, AA attended a fundraiser for "W" (don't hold it against me, folks)severalyears ago with the photo op line. Believe it or not, Rezko was two people ahead of me in line. Nice foto and his suit was much more finely tailored. The Clinton pic is obviously also from one of those quick shot events.

Re: Why this photo matters

Poli-Sci Geek — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 16:50:58 -0000

I don't remeber the Clinton economy as "good" where I lived in Illinois. All I remember is NAFTA and closing factories, unemployment, etc. AND Hillary's mishandling of national healthcare went a long way to fueling Newt's takeover of the House. Some record.

Re: Why this photo matters

Pardon Me — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 16:50:00 -0000

Look, whats done is done. Going forward BO needs to tell us how he will handle a Rezko presidential pardon request. Especially if TR keeps the details re. Michelles little cottage to himself.

Re: Why this photo matters

Rich Miller — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 16:15:02 -0000

Tone it down, VM.

Re: Why this photo matters

VanillaMan — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 16:13:46 -0000

I just can't believe the ridiculous myths about those Clinton years.

Boom years? The recession in 2000 began in 2000, and Mr. Clinton was in office - remember?

US respect overseas? You obviously weren't overseas when Clinton was in office or you wouldn't say that either. Anti-America sentiment was rampant during the Clinton years when he authorized bombings in Serbia against their wishes. They considered him an ignorant hillbilly meddler and after the Monica scandal, they had a field day. Nope - Bush can't be blamed for what happened before he became president, can he?

Middle class squeeze? You are nuts! It depends on who you want to believe regarding the US economy anymore. If you are a Democrat, you think we are forever on the verge of an economic meltdown, even when every sign clearly pointed out that the US economy has NEVER been bigger than it is now. Shut up!

Unwinnable war? You idiots have been saying that since 2003, yet it is obvious that the new democratically elected governments in Iraq have built a government in a shorter time than it has taken us to even begin rebuilding at Ground Zero. You demand that they replace two generations of dictatorship in a shorter time than it takes us to build a building? Who's crazy? Unwinnable? You don't even hear that crap coming from anyone running for president anymore since REALITY started invading our partisan world.

Go ahead and justify a vote for Hillary based on your fictional account of Mr. Bill's White House escapades. You are a partisan because you do not want to know anything that could contradict your narrow minded view of the world. The rest of us are what you would call, "open-minded".

Re: Why this photo matters

North of I-80 — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 16:01:36 -0000

Last Dem debate, Obama would have been perfect opening for Hsu and contributions from the busboy/waiters in China Town..... probably worse than Rezko (??) and would have steered it away. Releasing the Rezko/Clinton photo was a mistake... keeping Rezko in the news again, front page of Drudge.

To Anonymous 45; Clinton had Republican Senate + House to deal with. Clinton did nothing about 93 WTC attack, Kobar Towers USS Kole etc and left economy falling towards recession.

I don't understand why Rezko "slumlord" stuff is sticking to Obama.... did he assist Rezko getting $$$ for his slums? Was it Obamas IL Rep District where Rezkos slums went unheated in winter? Did anyone address it with Rezko or was there any 'looking-the-other-way' ? Or has any of this been examined & dismissed already?

The take from many here is that greatest concern is on the "present" votes: nobody here seems to care WHY the votes because it Sounds and Looks bad. It smells like indecision... I don't think that there is a yellow "present" button on the President's desk. I am just as concerned about the high number of missed votes in US Senate as the 'present' ones.

Re: Why this photo matters

jwscott72 — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 15:17:01 -0000

Man, I hope the feds can find a better fitting suit for Tony.

Re: Why this photo matters

Anonymous45 — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 15:07:03 -0000

Vole--revisionist crap...yeah like welfare reform was an opportunity squandered...Barack is running up against the Clintons who have resources deep and wide...get over it whiners...

Re: Why this photo matters

Rich Miller — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 14:52:06 -0000

===Every time Clinton says â€œRezkoâ€ or pushes a reporter to call Obama about it, Obama should say â€œHsu.â€===

Gesundheit.

Re: Why this photo matters

Vole — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 14:44:19 -0000

Anon45, how exactly did Bill influence the US economy? The US surplus? If you factor in their absconding of the social security trust fund then the deficit might have been zeroed out in the unitary budget, otherwise it was bogus. And it is extremely bogus for Bill to now say they were on track to produce projected surpluses of over 5 trillion dollars! As Bill likes to say, GIVE ME A BREAK! At a time of relative prosperity, the opportunities to work on the mega issues were largely squandered under Clinton. And how about Hillary's vote on this 6 year unwinnable war? No, I can't let the Clintons be ring master in the biggest show on earth again. I don't wish to relive the fairy tale. As a middle class grunt, I am going to be humping no matter who gets into office.

Re: Why this photo matters

Yellow Dog Democrat — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 14:44:18 -0000

Shouldn't Obama just be calling Clinton a hypocrite?

She just returned nearly $1 million in contributions bundled together by Norman Hsu, a fugitive on fraud charges from California?

Didn't Hsu also raise big money for all the folks endorsing Clinton now?

Yes, she did.

Every time Clinton says "Rezko" or pushes a reporter to call Obama about it, Obama should say "Hsu."

After awhile, she'll stop saying Rezko.

Re: Why this photo matters

Huh? — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 14:37:47 -0000

Let me see about the clinton's:
Rose law firm files disappearing and reappearing
white water
monica
$10,000 turned into $100,000 in suspect commodities transaction
impeachment
lying to federal officials
"depends on your defination of "is""

is that enough?

Re: Why this photo matters

Anonymous45 — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 13:58:40 -0000

Vole, I guess I'm a dedicated Dem cuz I don't have a prblem with this scenario--let's see when Bill left office, the US economy was humming along, US had a surplus, we enjoyed respect internationally, the middle class was in good shape, and we weren't in a six year unwinnable war--good God, we can't let the Clintons do this to us again!!!

Re: Why this photo matters

ItsTonyTime — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 13:50:51 -0000

Connection? How about 2 words. Card Games

The better story is who gave the snapshot to the media....Clinton WH, Uncle Tony.
Maybe Capt. Fax can shed some light

Re: Why this photo matters

Moe — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 13:50:40 -0000

America's loss....I'll stop now.

Re: Why this photo matters

Vole — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 13:50:27 -0000

Rich, the Clintons will govern as a team. Dedicated Dems don't seem to think this is a problem. But will it sell to independents? As one less than dedicated democrat who was sick of both of them by the end of Bill's second term it definitely does not buy my vote. NO MORE DYNASTIC RULE IN AMERICA!

Re: Why this photo matters

Rich Miller — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 13:46:45 -0000

Moe... No.

lol

Re: Why this photo matters

Moe — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 13:46:31 -0000

amy - is HRC trying to chuck da Mayor under the bus on Rezko?

Re: Why this photo matters

Moe — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 13:44:01 -0000

Rich - great question. Any chance of you being a panelist at a debate between now and Feb. 5th?

Re: Why this photo matters

Dimmiecrat — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 13:41:01 -0000

State senate districts are not so large that
the incumbents are not aware of community problems; while not having to address every
pothole, most good State Senators are well aware
of community issues, whether coming directly from
their constituents or from the Aldermen or State
Reps in their district. Especially if they are in
the Senate for more than a few years.
Doesn't it, then, require a "suspension of disbelief" that a State Senator, whose forte was community organizing and low income housing, would be unaware of the foreclosures and housing
court problems of buildings in or around his own district -- projects that he promoted and were developed by his own mentor and patron, represented by the Senator's own law firm? (Although the Senator may only have directly billed 5 hours on the projects,remember this was not a huge law firm. And didn't the developer's having a client relationship to the law firm have something to do with his long standing relationship to the Senator? It could not have been random selection.) Didn't the church groups,
or community groups, or housing activists ever
bring to his attention that these were problem
buildings? Did the local papers ever cover any of these housing project problems? Again it is very hard to believe that such a State Senator was
unaware. The earlier Sun Times articles last year
mapped numerous Rezko related problem buildings throughout his district and nearby. He never saw or heard of those problems? Did he ever call Rezko and privately try to get him to clean up his
act in his own district? "Hey, Tony, you are making me look bad" (And if he didn't, why not!!??) Did the associated church group ever contact the Senator for help with the troubled
buildings? Can one imagine they wouldn't??
If you think this through in terms of how this might have actually played out, it is hard to believe that the Senator was not more involved or aware than the ignorance of Rezko that he professes. It just doesn't happen that way in Chicago politics.
The issue of the vacant lot may have involved
questionable ethics or appearances, but it was a personal business deal that did not involve the public per se.
This issue of the Senator's relationship to
the developer of bad buildings in his own district is a matter of messing with the public good, and could be a real conflict of interest in terms of his State Senate duties. This is really the blank page that has to be filled in with questions AND answers; and this could prove to be an even bigger story. The old, what did he know and when did he know it?

Re: Why this photo matters

Snidely Whiplash — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 13:40:44 -0000

H.R.C. would likely diplomatically reply that, as a former president, she'd be foolish not to accept her husband's counsel, but in the end, the decision will be hers, and hers alone.

Actually, as long as Bill kept his hands out of foreign affairs (remember how he screwed up by having no foreign policy during the Yugoslav breakup?), I'd be very comfortable with him as far as the economy is concerned. After all, he did balance the budget and greatly strengthen Social Security. I really don't blame NAFTA on Bill Clinton specfically; practically everyone on both sides of the congressional aisle wanted it (too much money to be made by contributors).

Hillary running domestic policy independently scares me. She honestly strikes me as a neo-socialist of sorts.

Re: Why this photo matters

Garp — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 13:34:33 -0000

I am glad Obama got his hand burned by Rezco before he got fully torched. Hopefully, he has learned what kind of snakes are nesting throughout Illinois and how to avoid them.

The money guys were getting their hooks into him. The Rezco deal was probably a pay it forward favor. Guys like Rezco always have an agenda and Obama is lucky if he escaped being a pawn of these crooks.

Re: Why this photo matters

Rich Miller — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 13:27:51 -0000

Moe, I wonder why both Clintons haven't been asked about Bill's 1992 promise that when you elect him you elect her. They were supposed to be a team back then and somehow govern together. That didn't happen, of course. She didn't even have a security clearance.

But it's still a question that I haven't seen specifically asked. Will they govern as a team?

Re: Why this photo matters

amy — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 13:21:57 -0000

clinton campaign website says Rezko not a
contributor. Rezko got money from the City of
Chicago but it was probably federal money which
the city controls, tax credits. Maybe the photo
was from a Gutierrez fundraiser. Luis the link....