Report: Businessmen Said They Were Raising Money For Blago To Get Senate Seat For Jackson from TPMmuckraker

excerpted from http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/12/report_businessmen_said_they_w.php

Maybe this is why he and his good old dad are arming up with legal counsel.....

This doesn't look great for Jesse Jackson Jr.

The Chicago Tribune reports:

As Gov. Rod Blagojevich was trying to pick Illinois' next U.S. senator, businessmen with ties to both the governor and U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. discussed raising at least $1 million for Blagojevich's campaign as a way to encourage him to pick Jackson for the job, the Tribune has learned.

At a luncheon meeting on October 31, Nayak and Rajinder Bedi told many of the attendees that they were organizing a fundraiser for Blagojevich, and that the purpose of the event was to get Jackson named to the Senate seat, two sources tell the Trib.

The meeting led to a fundraiser last Saturday which was attended by Jesse Jackson's brother, a former business partner of one of the businessmen, Raghuveer Nayak.

One source told the paper that he overheard Nayak and Bedi discussing plans with another politically active Indian-American businessman.

Raghu said he needed to raise a million for Rod to make sure Jesse got the seat," the second businessman said. "He said, 'I can raise half of it, $500,000.' The idea was that the other two would help raise the rest.

Conservatives Use Auto Rescue To Engage In Union Busting Campaign from Think Progress

Late last night, Senate Republicans blocked a deal brokered by the White House and the Democratic leadership to extend a $15 billion loan to General Motors and Chrysler. Senators were "deadlocked over Republican demands for steep cuts in pay and benefits by the United Automobile Workers union in 2009." Republicans immediately blamed unions. "It sounds like the U.A.W. blew it up," said Sen. David Vitter (R-LA). Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) said, "[L]abor has got to give. If they want a bill they can get one."

Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) — who introduced the pay-cut amendment that sank the agreement — took to the morning shows today to blame the UAW for supposedly refusing to make concessions and allowing "these companies to fall into peril":

As I wake up this morning, knowing the gravity of where we were, the fact that they were willing to make no concessions — zero — and let these companies fall into peril as they are now, to me, as I wake up today, it's pretty surreal actually.

Watch a compilation of conservatives pointing the finger at unions:

rest at http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/12/blame-unions-watch/

The Real Reason Southern Republicans Oppose the Bailout from The Washington Independent

The news coverage today is all about how the greedy auto workers and their unions refused to accept the oh-so-reasonable compromise proposed by Senate Republicans that would require them to quickly drop their wages and benefits to match those of foreign-owned plants.

But none of the mainstream news coverage I've seen – whether in the New York Times, Washington Post or CBS news – mentions the fact that Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee and his fellow Republicans who torpedoed the deal are from the same Southern states where those foreign companies own and operate auto plants – none of which are unionized, and all of which provide lower wages and fewer benefits than the Big Three.

(Tennessee is home to a Volkswagen plant and Nissan's North American headquarters, while Alabama and Georgia have Honda and Kia Motors Corp. factories. These Southern states have all worked hard to keep the foreign companies from going to Detroit and other Northern states (where unions still exist), by providing huge state taxpayer subsidies.)

rest at http://washingtonindependent.com/21981/why-southern-republicans-oppose-the-bailout

The Recession Spares Nothing, Not Even Puppies from Consumerist

Ever feel like the poor state of the economy is impacting every area of life? Well, it is! A few examples popping up in some surprising places, like animal shelters...

Not only are jobs being lost, businesses failing, and bailout popping out all over the place, but even the more mundane aspects of life are being affected.

Families are cutting back on childcare:

Behind the drumbeat of grim economic news, a lot of quiet shuffling is going on as parents pull small children out of paid child care. Enrollment at some child-care centers is falling and nanny agencies are reporting mounting layoffs as families cut child-care costs — which rival mortgage payments in many households. An October online survey by the women's Web site BettyConfidential.com found that 12% of 100-plus parents who responded are cutting child care.

Pets are being abandoned in droves:

As families lose their homes to foreclosure, man's best friend and his fellow pets are being surrendered to shelters, abandoned on the streets or even left to starve in locked-up houses, according to animal welfare organizations around the country.

rest at http://consumerist.com/5108477/the-recession-spares-nothing-not-even-puppies

House Members Who Approved Auto Bailout Got More Campaign Fuel From the Industry from Capital Eye by Communications

excepted from http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2008/12/house-members-who-approved-aut.html

House Democrats voting to bail out Detroit's Big Three have collected 44 percent more money, on average, from auto manufacturers, dealers and unions than Democratic opponents of the bill. Republican supporters have collected 62 percent more than opponents in their party.

WASHINGTON (Dec. 12, 2008)--Members of the House of Representatives who approved a $14 billion cash infusion for Ford, Chrysler and General Motors on Wednesday night have received more campaign contributions, on average, from the automotive industry during their careers than those who opposed the rescue, the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics has found. The 237 who got the bill passed have received $87,063.44 on average from auto dealers, automakers and auto unions since 1989, while the 170 who voted against it received, on average, $80,756.80.

An 8 percent difference separated the auto-related campaign contributions of the bill's supporters from the opponents' haul. However, isolating the money by party, the gap was far wider. Auto manufacturers and dealers have historically been staunch Republicans, giving the GOP three-quarters of their contributions in the last 20 years. Because of the industry's Republican leanings, even Republicans who voted against lending the automakers' money Wednesday had received more money than Democrats who supported the bridge loan. Republicans' grip on the industry is loosening, however. In the 2008 cycle, the Big Three's PAC and individual contributions flipped to the side of the party that controls Congress. Auto unions remain solidly Democratic.  

House Democrats, who overwhelmingly supported the bill, received 44 percent more money, on average, from automakers, unions in the industry and auto dealers since 1989--$79,303.21 compared to $54,951.30 for the 20 Democrats who voted against the bill. The bill's 32 Republican supporters collected 62 percent more than opponents in their party--$136,777.44, versus $84,197.53 for the 150 Republicans who voted against the bailout package. (The Center for Responsive Politics has coded campaign finance data by industry back to the 1990 election cycle, or the calendar year 1989.)

Word of the Day: "Taint" from Crooks and Liars

Digby has been following the Conservative Illuminati as they do their best to try and smear Obama with Blagojevich.

Today on MSNBC, Shuster had on Pat Buchanan who said that Obama reacted "abnormally" to the Blagojevich news and failed to disclose which of his aides may have spoken to the Governor about his seat. Harold Ford very ineffectually defended Obama.

Buchanan replied:

Let me tell you, the problem is not that Rahm Emmanuel or Axelrod are involved in some deal.It is that they may be "tainted" by the fact that they talked to a Governor who is trolling and selling his Senate seat. They may have talked to him and if they did, they are supposed to report that to the US Attorney. Let me tell you Harold, a lot of my friends in the Nixon white house didn't do a thing when some guy came running in saying our guys just got caught breaking in and they didn't do anything with it.

rest at http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/word-day-taint

President Elect Obama's EX-Chrysler going for 100K on eBay

Chicago, Illinois (MMD Newswire) December 11, 2008 -- The owner of a 2005 Chrysler 300c became aware that Barack Obama was the previous driver of his vehicle. A website has been created.... www.obamas300c.com and the car has been placed on eBay. The opening bid was $100,000, and with 6 more days to go somebody has matched the opening bid.

The 300c is loaded with leather, sunroof, navigation, and chrome wheels, and a HEMI.

According to the website, in July 2004, Barack Obama took delivery of this 2005 Chrysler 300c from Park Plaza Dodge in Forest Park, Illinois. In 2007, Obama swapped his Chrysler sedan for a Ford Escape Hybrid at Hawk Ford in Oak Lawn, IL. Hawk Ford then transfered the 300C back to Park Plaza Dodge. Finally in February 08, the second and current owner purchased the 300C from them.


rest at http://www.mmdnewswire.com/president-elect-obamas-ex-chrysler-going-for-100k-on-ebay-4332-2.html

Obama on Blago: 'This Senate seat does not belong to any politician to trade' from Crooks and Liars

Download | Play    Download | Play

President-elect Obama was succinct in shooting down speculation about his connections to Rod Blagejovich today:

"I'm also aware of your interest in the matter of the Illinois Senate appointment. I was as appalled and disappointed as anybody by the revelations earlier this week. I have never spoken to the Governor on this subject. I am confident that no representatives of mine would have any part of any deals related to this seat. I think the materials released by the US attorney reflect that fact. I have asked my team to gather the facts of any contacts with the governor's office related to this vacancy so that we can share them with you over the next few days. Finally on this matter, let me say that this Senate seat does not belong to any politician to trade. It belongs to the people of Illinois and they deserve the best possible representation and they deserve to know that any vacancy will be filled in an appropriate way so that whoever is sent to Washington is fighting for the people of Illinois. I hope and expect that the leaders of the legislature will take steps to make sure this is so."

rest at http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/obama-blago-senate-seat-does-not-bel

Obama: Blagojevich Should Step Down from The Washington Independent

The Washington Post is reporting that Robert Gibbs, spokesman for President-elect Barack Obama, said Obama has added his voice to the cacophony calling for the resignation of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was arrested yesterday on federal corruption charges.

President-elect Barack Obama believes that Gov. Rod Blagojevich should resign, his advisers said on Wednesday. "The President-elect agrees with Lt. Gov. Quinn and many others that under the current circumstances it is difficult for the governor to effectively do his job and serve the people of Illinois," Robert Gibbs, the incoming White House press secretary, said[...]

rest http://washingtonindependent.com/21682/obama-blagojevich-should-step-down

Foreign Policy: The 10 Worst Predictions for 2008

Wow, some of these are fascinating in how off the mark they were, combined with the self assurance of the predictor....

Prognostication is by far the riskiest form of punditry. The 10 commentators and leaders on this list learned that the hard way when their confident predictions about politics, war, the economy, and even the end of humanity itself completely missed the mark.

1

Scott Gries/Getty Images

"If [Hillary Clinton] gets a race against John Edwards and Barack Obama, she's going to be the nominee. Gore is the only threat to her, then. … Barack Obama is not going to beat Hillary Clinton in a single Democratic primary. I'll predict that right now." —William Kristol, Fox News Sunday, Dec. 17, 2006

Weekly Standard editor and New York Times columnist William Kristol was hardly alone in thinking that the Democratic primary was Clinton's to lose, but it takes a special kind of self-confidence to make a declaration this sweeping more than a year before the first Iowa caucus was held. After Iowa, Kristol lurched to the other extreme, declaring that Clinton would lose New Hampshire and that "There will be no Clinton Restoration." It's also worth pointing out that this second wildly premature prediction was made in a Times column titled, "President Mike Huckabee?" The Times is currently rumored to be looking for his replacement.

rest at http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=4569

"No, fuck you, Governor." - Obama Wouldn't Play from Daily Kos

from http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/12/9/125617/069/115/671099

When the news of the arrest of Illinois Governor Rob Blagojevich broke, it took the RNC less than an hour to try and tie him to President-elect Barack Obama, an attempt so pitiful that even the Washington Times wasn't buying it. Apparently the RNC didn't bother to read the Criminal Complaint.

Here's where it talks about Candidate 1, Obama's preference to replace him in the US Senate:

By this time, media reports indicated that Senate Candidate 1, an advisor to the President-
elect, was interested in the Senate seat if it became vacant, and was likely to be supported by the President-elect.  During the call, ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated, "unless I get something real good for [Senate Candidate 1], shit, I'll just send myself, you know what I'm saying....And if I don't get what I want and I'm not satisfied with it, then I'll just take the Senate seat myself."  Later, ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated that the Senate seat "is a fucking valuable thing, you just don't give it away for nothing."

But Obama wouldn't play:

ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated that he is "struggling"  financially and does "not want to be Governor for the next two years."  ROD BLAGOJEVICH said that the consultants (Advisor B and another consultant are believed to be on the call at that time) are telling him that he has to "suck it up" for two years and do nothing and give this "motherfucker [the President-elect] his senator.  Fuck him.  For nothing?  Fuck him."  ROD BLAGOJEVICH states that he will put "[Senate Candidate 4]" in the Senate "before I just give fucking [Senate Candidate 1] a fucking Senate seat and I don't get anything."

Later in the conversation, ROD BLAGOJEVICH said he knows that the President-elect wants Senate Candidate 1 for the open seat but "they're not willing to give me anything except appreciation. Fuck them."

No, fuck you, Governor.

So Long, and Thanks for All the Tinfoil: SCOTUS Boots Obama Nationality Case from Firedoglake

via http://firedoglake.com/2008/12/09/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-tinfoil-scotus-boots-obama-nationality-case/

Just in time for the annual War On Christmas rush, SCOTUS boots the Obama nationality case:

The Supreme Court this morning unceremoniously declined to hear an emergency appeal from a man who claimed President-elect Barack Obama is not qualified for the presidency because he is not a "natural-born" citizen.

This was the Donofrio case. But, take heart, oh ye wingnuts of little faith, the Berg case still moves forward...for now.

Guess there's always taking a stab at a world record if all else fails.

Jeebus, do these people have nothing else to do?  Alas...no.

Blagojevich And Chief Of Staff Indicted For Attempting To Sell Obama’s Senate Seat from Firedoglake

Photo of Patrick Fitzgerald via strategerie.

Having seen a number of public corruption charges in my day, this one is an enormous doozy.  Pat Fitzgerald's office will hold a press conference at 11 am CT to discuss the charges and arrest of Blagojevich and his chief of staff.  

In the meantime, feast your eyes on the allegations from the 76-page FBI affadavit, via a press release from the USatty's office in Chicago: 

Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich and his Chief of Staff, John Harris, were arrested today by FBI agents on federal corruption charges alleging that they and others are engaging in ongoing criminal activity: conspiring to obtain personal financial benefits for Blagojevich by leveraging his sole authority to appoint a United States Senator; threatening to withhold substantial state assistance to the Tribune Company in connection with the sale of Wrigley Field to induce the firing of Chicago Tribune editorial board members sharply critical of Blagojevich; and to obtain campaign contributions in exchange for official actions – both historically and now in a push before a new state ethics law takes effect January 1, 2009. 

Blagojevich, 51, and Harris, 46, both of Chicago, were each charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery. They were charged in a two-count criminal complaint that was sworn out on Sunday and unsealed today following their arrests...

A 76-page FBI affidavit alleges that Blagojevich was intercepted on court-authorized wiretaps during the last month conspiring to sell or trade Illinois' U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama for financial and other personal benefits for himself and his wife. At various times, in exchange for the Senate appointment, Blagojevich discussed obtaining:

-- a substantial salary for himself at a either a non-profit foundation or an organization affiliated with labor unions;

-- placing his wife on paid corporate boards where he speculated she might garner as much as $150,000 a year;

-- promises of campaign funds – including cash up front; and

-- a cabinet post or ambassadorship for himself.

rest at http://firedoglake.com/2008/12/09/blagojevich-and-chief-of-staff-indicted-for-attempting-to-sell-obamas-senate-seat/

Paulson Asks Obama For Rest of Bailout Money: Figures Obama Born Yesterday from Firedoglake

excerpt from http://firedoglake.com/2008/12/06/paulson-asks-obama-for-rest-of-bailout-money-figures-obama-born-yesterday/

Seriously, Paulson and the Treasury department are asking Obama for the rest of the TARP money, since they know that the Senate won't agree without Obama's ok.

Given how well they've spent the money so far—hiding who much of it is going to, getting lousy collateral in exchange for the money, not convincing banks to actually lend again or reduce interest rates (in fact some, Citi for example, are increasing credit card interest rates) and so on, it's hard to imagine why Obama would be willing to give this crew the money.

Oh I'm sure that they'll tell Obama they'll spend it wisely, and I'm sure they'll threaten him with economic apocalypse if they don't get the cash. But the bottom line is that so far Paulson has used the TARP money as a personal slush fund to bail out his friends and make sure no one important loses their jobs by not tying the money to any real reform or requirements that the people who caused the crisis step down and let actual competent people fill their shoes.

An end to raw deals from government? If Obama has his way from Scholars and Rogues

from http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2008/12/06/an-end-to-raw-deals-from-government-if-obama-has-his-way/

Seems the last time a president tried to provide for the American people was LBJ (overshadowed, though, by getting a substantial number of America's youth killed in Vietnam).

One reason Americans hate taxes so much is that we have no concept we can get anything for our deductions except war. Looks like Obama's trying to show us that there's more to government.