Monthly Archives: June 2010

Blagojevich throws Obama under bus, Citizen Wells open thread, June 26, 2010

Blagojevich throws Obama under bus, Citizen Wells open thread.

I hope that Obama likes bus tread marks. That bus may go forward and backward several times before the Blagojevich trial is over.

Blagojevich trial, Obama was protected, Blagojevich arrested after 2008 election, Blagojevich wiretap, Chicago press,

Blagojevich trial, Obama was protected, Blagojevich arrested after 2008 election

The Citizen Wells blog began presenting articles about Rod Blagojevich ties to Chicago and Illinois corruption early in 2008 and has done so ongoing. It was clear to anyone paying attention, especially to the Tony Rezko trial early in 2008 that Blagojevich was entrenched in corruption. With all the information available from court transcripts and other sources, the feds knew far more. Therefore the question began being asked by mid 2008, “when is Blagojevich going to be indicted”.  When Blagojevich was arrested on December 8, 2008, the big question became, why did Patrick Fitzgerald and the US Justice Dept. wait until after the election to arrest Blagojevich.

Consider the following:

April 29, 2008

“Strong charges about pay-to-play politics in Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s administration have been hurled by prosecution star witness Stuart Levine in the federal corruption trial of the governor’s friend and fundraiser, Antoin “Tony” Rezko.
“Andy Martin says ‘retainer’ by Robert Blackwell, Jr. was classic Illinois ‘pay to play’ and may have been criminal behavior.”

“Robert Blackwell Jr., CEO and founder of Electronic Knowledge Interchange Inc., has been named to the transition team of Governor-elect Rod Blagojevich.”

Read more

May 1, 2008

“Maloof said Rezko told him to keep his name out of any grand jury testimony because prosecutors were “going to tie it back to [Illinois Gov. Rod] Blagojevich.””

“According to Maloof, Rezko said the three phones were “just in case somebody’s listening,” a remark Maloof took to mean that Rezko was worried about wiretaps.”

“Before the trial began, prosecutors identified Maloof as one of at least two people who made straw political contributions to candidates on Rezko’s behalf. One of the recipients of Maloof’s money was U.S. Sen. Barack Obama.”

Read more

May 14, 2008

“Obama supported the re-election of Gov. Rod Blagojevich, whose administration is embroiled in corruption probes.

EKI, a Blackwell company, gave $20,000 to Blagojevich.
Electronic Knowledge Interchange won $6 million in technology consulting and software development contracts. EKI did no state
work until after Blagojevich took office.”

Read more

August 28, 2008

“The Justice Department’s prosecution of Antoin “Tony” Rezko was always about prelude, never about climax. The jury’s conviction of Rezko Wednesday on 16 criminal counts is one more point on a long investigative arc — an arc now pointed directly at Gov. Rod Blagojevich and other of his associates.

That arc reaches beyond the horizon to points none of us can see. But prosecutor Christopher Niewoehner unequivocally — and forcefully — told the Rezko jurors during closing arguments where federal authorities now are concentrating: “This is a crime that involves the highest levels of power in Illinois.””

Read more

By August 28, 2008 we and most certainly federal prosecutors knew enough about Rod Blagojevich to indict him then.

September 29, 2008
“Here is a Chicago tribune story from Monday, September 29, 2008:

“Indict or impeach?
September 29, 2008
After what has happened in the last few days, it’s more likely that Gov. Rod Blagojevich will be indicted or impeached or both.

• The Tribune reported on Sunday that convicted political fixer Tony Rezko has talked to federal prosecutors and may cooperate in their investigation of the governor’s administration. At closing arguments in Rezko’s trial, a federal prosecutor told jurors that his crimes involved “the highest levels of power in Illinois.” Rezko has refused to help investigators—until, apparently, now.”

Read more

May 17, 2010

“These questions beg for an answer and we deserve one.
Why wasn’t Rod Blagojevich indicted soon after the Rezko trial ended in June 2008? He was wreaking havoc on the citizens of Illinois.
Why was the arrest of Blagojevich delayed until December 2008, after the 2008 elections?
Why was prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald given this assignment by Barack Obama?”

Read more

From a Blagojevich wiretap introduced as evidence.

“DATE: 11/12/2008
TIME: 12:36 P.M.
ACTIVITY: Rod Blagojevich home line incoming call.
SESSION: 558
SPEAKERS:
BLAGOJEVICH: Rod Blagojevich
HARRIS: John Harris”

http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/hot/us_v_blagojevich_exhibits/2010_06_24/transcript_11_12_2008_1236pm.pdf

The Chicago press weren’t the only ones shielding Obama.

The question is, did Patrick Fitzgerald or the US Justice Dept. shield Obama?

Obama met with Blagojevich on November 5 2008, Smoking gun?, Obama lies, Axelrod lies, Blagojevich wiretap, KHQA TV article, KHQA retraction, Obama denial, Axelrod denial

Obama met with Blagojevich on November 5 2008, Smoking gun?, Obama lies, Axelrod lies

“You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.”…Abraham Lincoln

 

Remember the controversial meeting between Obama and Blagojevich on November 5, 2008, one day after Obama stole the general election?

From KHQA TV.

“Ill. governor meeting with Obama today

By Carol Sowers
Wednesday, November 05, 2008 at 10:39 a.m.
CHICAGO, ILL. — Now that Barack Obama will be moving to the White House, his seat in the U.S. Senate representing Illinois will have to be filled.

That’s one of Obama’s first priorities today.

He’s meeting with Governor Rod Blagojevich this afternoon in Chicago to discuss it.

Illinois law states that the governor chooses that replacement.

There’s already been speculation about his selection…from Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. of Chicago’s south side who co-chaired Obama’s presidential campaign, to recently-retired state senate president Emil Jones, to the governor himself.”

Read more:

http://www.bizzyblog.com/BlagoObamaToMeetPerKHQA110508.html

KHQA TV then retracted the story.

“KHQA TV wishes to offer clarification regarding a story that appeared last month on our website ConnectTristates.com. The story, which discussed the appointment of a replacement for President Elect Obama in the U.S. Senate, became the subject of much discussion on talk radio and on blog sites Wednesday.

The story housed in our website archive was on the morning of November 5, 2008. It suggested that a meeting was scheduled later that day between President Elect Obama and Illinois Governor Blagojevich. KHQA has no knowledge that any meeting ever took place. Governor Blagojevich did appear at a news conference in Chicago on that date.

That’s fine, except for the fact that the KHQA story in my NewsBusters/BizzyBlog post earlier today was from November 8 — three days later (link again is to a file saved at my web host, obtained from Google cache shortly before it disappeared). It (obviously) talked about the meeting in the past tense (bold is mine):”

Read more:

http://www.bizzyblog.com/

Many, many thanks to Bizzy Blog for capturing verbage and screen shots. This is an excellent example of Orwellian attempts at revisionist history.

David Axelrod confirmed that Obama met with Blagojevich.

“At a news conference today, President-elect Barack Obama said that he had no contact with disgraced Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (D-IL) or anyone on the governor’s staff about potential replacements for Obama in the United States Senate. But that statement directly contradicts Obama’s top political strategist, David Axelrod, who told a local Chicago television reporter less than two weeks ago that Obama did have a conversation with Blagojevich about the Senate vacancy.

“I know [Obama has] talked to the governor, and there are a whole range of names, many of which have surfaced, and I think he has a fondness for a lot of them.””

Read more:

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2008/12/09/barack-obama-met-with-illinois-governor-about-senate-successor/

David Axelrod then issues a retraction.

“The Obama press office just sent out the following statement, via email:STATEMENT FROM SENIOR ADVISOR DAVID AXELROD

I was mistaken when I told an interviewer last month that the President-elect has spoken directly to Governor Blagojevich about the Senate vacancy. They did not then or at any time discuss the subject.
That should put the entire matter to rest.”

Read more:

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2008/12/09/axelrod-denies-barack-obama-met-with-blagojevich/

As many of you know, I have been scrutinizing the wiretap evidence presented in the Rod Blagojevich trial. It’s a dirty job, but somebody’s got to do it. I was reading the following segment again. At first I did not notice the importance until the date November 5, 2008 jogged my memory. I reread the segment and it’s context. It appears to me that Blagojevich is referring to a meeting that will take place with Obama the afternoon of November 5, 2008.

DATE: 11/05/2008
TIME: 8:31 A.M.
ACTIVITY: Rod Blagojevich home line incoming call.
SESSION: 261
SPEAKERS:
BLAGOJEVICH: Rod Blagojevich
HARRIS: John Harris

“(PAUSE)

BLAGOJEVICH So, okay. How do we play this? We do
our thing today at 1:30, right?
HARRIS Yeah, 1:00, 1:30 whatever, ah, Lucio was
gonna check Obama’s public schedule too,
to see…
BLAGOJEVICH Well, he wants to do it at 1:30 cause
Quinn’s doing something at 2:00 o’clock.11
I don’t think it really… (UI) wants,
he wants to screw Quinn, I don’t know.
HARRIS Right, okay.
BLAGOJEVICH You think we should do something today
or no?
HARRIS Yeah, I don’t think we ought to make it
ah, that detailed. In other words, when
you talk about your search team, I think
you ought to be vague, you ought not
mention who, you just ought to say,
senior members of my staff. You know.
Ah, you ought to say that ah, you know,
again, that Barack Obama’s agenda, help,
you know, help ’em, help president-elect
Obama. Ah, I’ve, I’ve given talking
points to Lucio to kind of word-smith
with Bob, for your consideration. I
think you ought to wrap it as much
around Obama as possible.

(PAUSE)”

http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/hot/us_v_blagojevich_exhibits/2010_06_22/transcript_11_05_2008_0831am.pdf

Balanoff and Axelrod were ruled out from information in the wiretap.
Looks damning to me.

 

Blagojevich wiretap, Blagojevich throws Obama under bus, Citizen Wells open thread, June 25, 2010

 Blagojevich wiretap, Blagojevich throws Obama under bus

“You know  made some misjudgements, but compared to even Obama, you know, I believe I’m more pristine on Rezko than him.”…Rod Blagojevich

Did you catch this last night?

https://citizenwells.com/2010/06/24/blagojevich-throws-obama-under-the-bus-obama-rezko-corruption-ties-blagojevich-wiretap-november-7-2008/

Blagojevich trial wiretap evidence, June 23, 2010, Taped November 8 2008, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, John Harris, Jarrett, Balanoff, Obama’s resignation is synchronized for Blagojevich’s benefit, Michelle controls Obama

Blagojevich trial wiretap evidence, June 23, 2010, Taped November 8 2008

More wiretap evidence was released yesterday, June 23, 2010, in the Rod Blagojevich trial. I picked one of the wiretaps because it is full of damning evidence and insight into Chicago corruption and the involvement of Barack and Michelle Obama.

From this one wiretap we learn:

  • Blagojevich is clearly involved in selling of senate seat.
  • Blagojevich has inside info on Obama’s senate seat resignation.
  • Tom Balanoff, President of local SEIU IL State Councils, is a go between Blagojevich and the Obamas.
  • Obama’s resignation is synchronized for Blagojevich’s benefit.
  • Obama follows Michelle’s lead.
  • Obama is trying to distance himself from Rezko.

Here are some exerpts from the wiretap:

“DATE: 11/07/2008
TIME: 10:46 A.M.
ACTIVITY: Rod Blagojevich home line incoming call.
SESSION: 374
SPEAKERS:
BLAGOJEVICH: Rod Blagojevich
HARRIS: John Harris
P. BLAGOJEVICH: Patti Blagojevich

Page 2

1 BLAGOJEVICH Um, didn’t know quite what to make of my
2 request. Uh, Barack rea-, really wants
3 to get away from Illinois politics.
4 HARRIS (Laughs)
5 BLAGOJEVICH (Laughs). Right?
6 HARRIS Right.

Page 4

16 BLAGOJEVICH We’re not available to these people yet.
17 Let Balanoff be the only one…
Page 5

10 HARRIS Right, right, right. So the question is
11 when do you want to meet with Balanoff.
12 That’s the immediate question.
13 BLAGOJEVICH He’s not available. He’s been, he’s out
14 of town. He’s in Boston Monday,
15 Tuesday. So I’ve got, if I can dodge
16 him today, which we’ll, Doug and I
17 easily can do. I’d have to, I’d, I can
18 deal with him nex-, maybe next Wednesday
19 or Thursday. You see what I’m saying?

Page 6

7 P. BLAGOJEVICH (Speaking in background) I think he
8 wouldn’t want to resign until he knows
9 that, you know…
10 BLAGOJEVICH Till he knows I’ll do Valerie Jarrett.
11 HARRIS Yeah, so he’s not gonna resign yet.
12 BLAGOJEVICH Look, she wants it. We know that.
13 HARRIS Right.
14 BLAGOJEVICH He’s also been told now that I would do
15 it if I got this. So now she knows I
16 can get this Senate seat if my friend
17 will give ’em this.
18 HARRIS Mm-hmm.
19 BLAGOJEVICH Okay? She’s the audience we’re
20 interested in right now. We know he’s,
21 he wants her and what, I don’t know the
22 nature of the relationship but it’s
23 clear he wants her and she’s got
24 influence with him. So now she knows
25 it’s there for her. To get it, I need26 X, right?
27 HARRIS Right. The question is if Alexi is28 coming in on her behalf, do we use Alexi29 to get the word back to her?
30 BLAGOJEVICH No, I don’t trust Alexi, I, no, under no 31 circumstances.
32 HARRIS Mm-hmm.
33 BLAGOJEVICH No, no. Absolutely, not. Balanoff…

Page 11

7 BLAGOJEVICH Once he resigns next week, I’m, I’ve got
8 total control.
9 HARRIS Right, ’cause if they start movin’
10 legislation to take it away from you,
11 bing, we…
12 BLAGOJEVICH I’m in. I’m takin’ me then.
13 HARRIS Right.
14 BLAGOJEVICH So that’s right. That’s, I forgot about
15 that. Boy that’s perfect.
16 HARRIS Right.
17 BLAGOJEVICH Him gettin’ out early is good.
18 HARRIS Right, no, no, him, him resigning early
19 is good for us.
20 BLAGOJEVICH Yeah. I’m tellin’ ya this is good,
21 John. They didn’t say no. They didn’t
22 say oh, now, maybe, again, look it,
23 Balanoff probably got to be the one, the
24 messenger to tell me that, but…
25 HARRIS Right.
26 BLAGOJEVICH Of course they gotta be squeamish about
27 the whole thing. It’s not what they
28 want.
29 HARRIS Well, at least we’ve frozen them from
30 filling it with someone else.
31 BLAGOJEVICH That’s right.

Page 12

1 HARRIS I mean, at least the answer wasn’t we
2 promised it to someone else.
3 BLAGOJEVICH Well, I don’t know, maybe Balanoff’s
4 gonna come back to me on it, but, but
5 look, if they opt to fill that spot,
6 they’re clearly sayin’, I mean, you
7 know, they’re clearly…

Page 14

6 BLAGOJEVICH Our thought was how do we get to, now
7 how do we get to her.
8 HARRIS (Coughs) Yeah, then Mosena would be the
9 way to get it to her.
10 BLAGOJEVICH Yeah, that’s good. In other words,
11 we’re predicating this on, Michelle
12 Obama, he’s more hen pecked than me. So
13 he listens to Michelle Obama more than I
14 listen to you. Okay.
28 BLAGOJEVICH He wants to get out of Chicago politics.
29 Okay. That’s their way of saying Rezko.
30 HARRIS (Laughs)
31 BLAGOJEVICH Know what I’m sayin’?

Page 15

11 HARRIS Well, what also makes it important if
12 they want her, a, a symbol of they want
13 her, is that they, they, they took the
14 Balanoff meeting right away.
17 BLAGOJEVICH That’s right. The very next morning.
18 HARRIS Yeah. Balanoff said I met and they
19 said, okay, come on in. (Laughs).”

http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/hot/us_v_blagojevich_exhibits/2010_06_23/transcript_11_07_2008_1046am.pdf

Blagojevich trial smoking guns?, Diversions, Citizen Wells open thread, June 24, 2010

Blagojevich trial smoking guns?, Diversions

I am not certain that I have seen the smoking gun(s) from the Rod Blagojevich trial that will implicate Obama and associates. However I am seeing lots of smoke. Where there is smoke there is fire or smoking guns. I continue to follow another story that involves Obama and will report further when I am allowed. In the meantime, let’s stay focused on our primary objective, saving this country, in spite of numerous diversions we are being hit with.

Disclose Act, June 24, 2010, Nancy Pelosi will schedule a vote, Pro gun organizations, Harry Reid, NRA exempt

Disclose Act, June 24, 2010, Nancy Pelosi will schedule a vote

I just received this from Dudley Brown of the National Association for Gun Rights.

“Reports are that Nancy Pelosi will schedule a vote tomorrow (Thursday, June 24) on the DISCLOSE Act, so you must act now to protect your gun rights.

Disclose would silence almost every pro-gun organization in America… Except the NRA.  In fact, the DISCLOSE Act was dead in the water until the NRA cut a deal to exempt itself (and a few big liberal groups like AARP and probably MoveOn.org) last week.

Please contact your Congressman right away and again Thursday at (202) 224-3121 or by email.

The goal of this draconian legislation is to make pro-freedom groups – like the National Association for Gun Rights – shut their mouths.   And without politicians who are held accountable, there’s almost no way to defend our gun rights.

As of early last week, this bill had a dicey future, but Pelosi, Reid and Schumer agreed to exempt the NRA (who is no longer opposing this bill because of their special deal).  That backroom deal made the bill much more likely to pass (which is, of course, why Dem leadership exempted the NRA).

In fact, Capitol insiders say Harry Reid may be the driving force for this exemption. Reid is in a very tough re-election race in Nevada, but the NRA has all but endorsed him (see the latest NRA magazine, with many flattering pictures of Reid).  If he’s held accountable for his bad votes on the gun issue, he will almost certainly lose – which is why he’d like to silence all of the pro-gun groups except the one that’s supporting him.   But that’s another story for another time.

You must act today to defeat this fiasco.

Your actions have stalled this bill, and made Democrat leadership delay the vote (in an attempt to avoid the maelstrom of conservative activists who have loudly voiced their opposition to this bill).

But now they’re emboldened by the calm in the storm.

We can’t let that happen.

You must call your Member of Congress today.

Yes, the NRA’s sell-out on this issue is epic.  But it seems they’re going to defend their deal until the bitter end.   It should not be forgotten, but we must put the heat on members of Congress.

Call your member of Congress today at (202) 224-3121 and/or send him/her an e-mail and tell him/her to oppose the DISCLOSE Act, regardless of the deal.

Also tell them that you will consider a vote for disclose as a vote against your gun rights (it is – what will we use to defend our gun rights with, if we don’t have the first amendment right to free speech?).

Call or e-mail their offices today, and send this to everyone you know.

Thank you for your activism,

Dudley Brown
Executive Director”

Obama amnesty plan, Republican senators letter, Administration Plan B, Bypass congress, Chuck Grassley, Republican Iowa

Obama amnesty plan, Republican senators letter, Administration Plan B

From Fox News June 23, 2010

“GOP Lawmakers Warn of Administration Plan to Grant Amnesty to Illegal Immigrants”

“Eight Republican senators and an independent group that supports tighter limits on immigration are warning that the Obama administration is drafting a plan to “unilaterally” issue blanket amnesty for millions of illegal immigrants as it struggles to win support in Congress for an overhaul of immigration laws.

The senators who wrote the White House on Monday say they are concerned that the administration is readying a “Plan B” in case a comprehensive reform bill cannot win enough support to clear Congress.

“It seems more real than just bullying (Republicans) into a bill — that it’s a plan that they can actually put forward … circumventing Congress,” an aide told FoxNews.com on Wednesday.

In their letter, the senators — Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa; Orrin Hatch, R-Utah; David Vitter, R-La.; Jim Bunning, R-Ky.; Saxby Chambliss, Ga.; Johnny Isakson, R-Ga.; James Inhofe, R-Okla.; and Thad Cochran, R-Miss. — urge the president to “abandon” what they say is a move to “unilaterally extend either deferred action or parole to millions of illegal aliens in the United States.”

“Such a move would further erode the American public’s confidence in the federal government and its commitment to securing the borders and enforcing the laws already on the books,” they wrote.

Deferred action and parole, which give illegal immigrants the ability to seek a work permit and temporary legal status, are normally granted on a case-by-case basis. But the aide said the lawmakers have learned from “sources” that the administration is considering flexing its authority to grant the status on a mass basis.

Numbers USA, an organization that presses for lower immigration levels along with humanitarian treatment of illegal immigrants, has started a petition to the president expressing “outrage” at the alleged plan.

Rosemary Jenks, director of government relations with Numbers USA, said she’s been hearing for weeks from “sources close to the Democratic leadership” in both chambers that administration officials are discussing whether the Department of Homeland Security could direct staff to grant “amnesty” for all illegal immigrants in the country.

“They’re trying to figure out ways around a vote,” she said.”

Read more:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/06/23/lawmakers-warn-administration-plan-unilaterally-grant-blanket-amnesty/

Republican Senators letter

Larry Sinclair lawsuit, Dan Parisi, WhiteHouse.com, Law firm retainer, Sinclair request

Larry Sinclair lawsuit, Dan Parisi, WhiteHouse.com, Law firm retainer, Sinclair request

Larry Sinclair has requested that I post the following comment today, June 23, 2010.
“Larry Sinclair for Congress 2010 I have found a seasoned Law office which specializes in Defamation/slander cases. I need to raise $5000.00 to retain their services. Can we get 100 people who want the truth known to contribute $50.00 each towards the $5000.00 retainer needed to secure the services of this law firm? Each one can be made through http://www.paypal.com and sent to email address: minnman0926@aol.com. If you click the personal tab and make sure “gift” is marked paypal will not deduct any fees from the contribution. Lets show Dan Parisi and DC’s most powerful Law Firm that we will fight for the truth.”

Larry called at 10:25 AM ET and asked that I add the following:

“I am putting up the title to my home and to my car to secure the retainer.”

Read more:

http://larrysinclair.com/index.html

US Labor Department, Aids and abets illegal immigration, June 23, 2010, Obama administration, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, Every worker in America has a right to be paid fairly whether documented or not

US Labor Department, Aids and abets illegal immigration

From The Detroit News June 23, 2010.

“Labor Dept. aids and abets crime of illegal immigration”

“Illegal immigrants in America have long flouted the law. And why not, since it’s seldom enforced.

Expect that to get worse now that the Obama administration is offering its assistance.

That’s right, specifically the Department of Labor. The nation’s top work force agency no longer is simply turning its head as hordes of people break the law and enter the United States each day, it now is offering a helping hand.

“Every worker in America has a right to be paid fairly whether documented or not (emphasis added), ” Labor Secretary Hilda Solis says in a public service announcement posted on the agency’s website. “So call us. It is free and confidential.”
 There it is, folks. Your tax dollars at work.

Solis is not imploring legal workers who are beaten or denied access to water or suffer some other abuse at the hands of an unscrupulous employer to call.

She’s telling illegal immigrants in America — criminals who have crossed the border without regard to our laws, often repeatedly — that if they don’t think they are being paid properly, they can get help from the federal government.

I’m not making this up. Go to the Department of Labor’s website ( http://www.dol.gov/wecanhelp/psa.htm) and watch it for yourself.

Solis is joined in her call by actors Jimmy Smits, Esai Morales and Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers.

“You work hard and you have the right to be paid every cent of the money you earn,” Morales says in another video. “Our laws protect you whether you’re documented or not.””

“The Labor Department didn’t return calls to explain its position, and when I called the toll-free number that Solis said was “free and confidential” and told the nice woman who answered that I had questions about using tax dollars to produce these videos to help criminals get more money, she asked me a lot of questions about who I was and why I was calling.

Perhaps if I had said I was an illegal immigrant I would have gotten faster answers.”

Read more:

http://www.detnews.com/article/20100623/OPINION03/6230315/1031#