Gary Harwell
June 24, 2010, 16:18
... just too many maybes and probablies to hang his ass on..but then these things tend to take on a life of their own. Let's hope.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/blagojevich/2427402,CST-NWS-BLAGO24.article
June 24, 2010
BY NATASHA KORECKI AND SARAH OSTMAN Staff Reporters
A top aide to former Gov. Rod Blagojevich said he believed Barack Obama knew of Blagojevich's plot to win himself a presidential Cabinet post in exchange for appointing Valerie Jarrett to the U.S. Senate.
John Harris, Blagojevich's former chief of staff, testified Wednesday in the former governor's corruption trial that three days after the Nov. 4, 2008, presidential election, the ex-governor told Harris he felt confident Obama knew he wanted to swap perks.
» Click to enlarge image
John Harris, Rod Blagojevich's ex-chief of staff, said he was convinced Barack Obama knew of the quid quo pro Blagojevich expected for a Senate nod.
(Richard A. Chapman/Sun-Times)
RELATED STORIES
Blago: Obama's list of acceptable candidates 'B.S.' Live updates: The Blago Blog Sneed: Grand plans on Blago's Indian post
Rod Blagojevich and his wife, Patti, are on the phone discussing a job possibility at a labor organization.
Patti Blagojevich is looking online for salary information.
Rod Blagojevich: It doesn't matter. You're . . . just wasting f------ time . . . We're simply saying, create this position. Here's what I want . . .
Patti Blagojevich: Yeah.
R.B.: How about I hang up on you? What are you doin'? What is this? . . .
P.B.: I tried to be helpful and you jumped down my f------throat . . .
R.B.: I don't like you talkin' in some weird f------ way.
Rod Blagojevich to his wife on Barack Obama's marriage
R.B.: He's more henpecked than me. So he listens to Michelle Obama more than I listen to you.
Rod Blagojevich on a job with the Salvation Army
R.B.: Oh, that would be huge. But do you have to wear a uniform? Forget that.
Rod Blagojevich on a job at the United Way
R.B: The United Way. What is the United Way?
Rod Blagojevich on his potty mouth
R.B.: That's f------ good. I gotta stop swearin.' I gotta stop swearin'.
P.B: It's terrible.
R.B.: Yeah.
P.B.: Total gutter mouth.
R.B.: Very bad.
"The president understands that the governor would be willing to make the appointment of Valerie Jarrett as long as he gets what he's asked for. . . . The governor gets the Cabinet appointment he's asked for," Harris said, explaining a recorded call.
Harris said Blagojevich came away believing Obama knew what he wanted after having a conversation with a local union representative, who in turn spoke with labor leader Tom Balanoff, with whom Blagojevich met to discuss a Jarrett appointment. Jarrett, now a White House adviser, was seeking the appointment to Obama's Senate seat.
Defense lawyers say Harris' testimony contradicts the government's previous public statements that Obama knew nothing about deal-making involving the Senate seat appointment.
The defense on Wednesday moved to force the prosecution to turn over FBI reports of Obama's interview with federal agents in December of 2008. Obama is not accused of wrongdoing.
"Testimony elicited by the government from John Harris and wiretaps played in court raise the issue of President Obama's direct knowledge and communication with emissaries and others regarding the appointment to his Senate seat," lawyers wrote in the filing.
The filing came on the trial's third day of the extensive playback of recordings in which Blagojevich is heard repeatedly discussing ways to personally capitalize on his Senate seat appointment power. Blagojevich could be heard plotting to try to head up a charity; swearing and snapping at his wife, Patti, and dismissing the possibility of a federal position that pays $190,000 a year.
"I make $170 . . . So Fred, that has no appeal to me . . . I want to make money," Blagojevich tells national Democratic consultant Fred Yang. "I might as well go out and find a way to make money."
Obama's 2008 internal report about his staff's contacts with Blagojevich at the time indicates that Balanoff relayed to Jarrett that Blagojevich was interested in a Health and Human Services Cabinet post.
Recordings also revealed that Blagojevich had tried to get the Chicago Tribune's editorial board fired after it ran a series of disparaging write-ups about the then-governor.
Harris testified that he ignored Blagojevich's firing directive.
Also Wednesday, U.S. District Judge James Zagel refused to gag the talkative Blagojevich as prosecutors had asked. Zagel said Blagojevich keeps saying he's innocent, and that anyone who says otherwise is a liar.
The repetition, Zagel said, has rendered Blagojevich's out-of-court talk unnewsworthy.
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phillyfanatic wrote:
Will
6/24/2010 4:14 PM CDT on suntimes.com
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pawz wrote:
As a lifelong Chicagoan, I could not understand how so many people could be taken in by Obama. He never did a single thing to help the city of Chicago. If you can't solve the problems ... not even ONE problem ... of a city, how are you going to solve the problems of a nation? People are going to have to learn to stop listening to what politicians say and start looking at their records and the things they actually DO.
6/24/2010 4:10 PM CDT on suntimes.com
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batfly wrote:
Get use to the name of the new president... President Biden.
6/24/2010 4:04 PM CDT on suntimes.com
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weneedreagan wrote:
Vote for Kirk! It's nice to vent on here, but the only way to stop Obama is to take away his majority in congress. Without that, he is harmless.
6/24/2010 4:04 PM CDT on suntimes.com
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ronwagn wrote:
Go Blago! Get ALL the transcripts out. Let's show them how Chicago politics works. Obama revealed!
6/24/2010 4:00 PM CDT on suntimes.com
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master of my domain wrote:
Too many thugs, criminals, subversives, and America haters have surrounded, advised, contributed cash to, and mentored The Presidential Gasbag. Thankfully this POS weakling can't do irreparable harm in his one miserable term. The first order of business after the November elections should be to repeal health care reform, followed by making that punk in the White House miserable for his 2 remaining years. The sooner this Gasbag becomes a fading memory, the better.
6/24/2010 3:56 PM CDT on suntimes.com
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politicaljules wrote:
I dont give a rats rear end if this is the way it is done in Chicago! IT IS NOT HOW WE DO IT IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!
IMPEACH HIM NOW
TRAITOR
IMPEACH HIM NOW
LIAR
IMPEACH HIM NOW
TREASON
IMPEACH HIM NOW
FRAUD
IMPEACH HIM NOW
MARXIST
IMPEACH HIM NOW
COMMUNIST
IMPEACH HIM NOW
ENEMY OF THE STATE
IMPEACH HIM NOW
McCrystal knows it, and even Patreaus knows it. The GOP know it and the AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW IT. It is past time for him and his chicago thugs to GTFO.
Someone, ANYONE, grow a spine and IMPEACH HIM NOW! Do not give me the same old WHINY EXCUSE that it will never be voted on or approved. You still better start the process to prove to the American people that we still have a chance to save our country!
IMPEACH HIM NOW
6/24/2010 3:43 PM CDT on suntimes.com
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weneedreagan wrote:
If you don't approve of Obama and his policies, then vote for Mark Kirk in 4 months. Kirk isn't my favorite type of republican, but a vote for Alexi is a vote for Obama because Alexi will do as Obama orders him to do. That's the only power we have to stop Obama.
6/24/2010 3:39 PM CDT on suntimes.com
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charlie0 wrote:
david petreaus for president 2012!!!
or maybe jeb bush-newt gingrich. the only teams that could save the usa and its constitution now.
6/24/2010 3:37 PM CDT on suntimes.com
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rare bird wrote:
It’s The Sun-Times' duty to retract this headline. The story under it does not even say that Harris said that; it says that Blagojevich said to Harris that Blagojevich thought Obama knew. Who can explain what goes on inside Blagojevich’s head? Obama very likely knew instinctively that Blagojevich was a crook, but that’s not the same as having concrete, admissible knowledge. In any case, Obama clearly did not take any improper suggestion Blagojevich may have made, which is why Obama’s friend Valerie Jarrett is not one of our senators. This headline gives the false impression that Obama and Blagojevich were in cahoots.
6/24/2010 3:36 PM CDT on suntimes.com
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http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/blagojevich/2427402,CST-NWS-BLAGO24.article
June 24, 2010
BY NATASHA KORECKI AND SARAH OSTMAN Staff Reporters
A top aide to former Gov. Rod Blagojevich said he believed Barack Obama knew of Blagojevich's plot to win himself a presidential Cabinet post in exchange for appointing Valerie Jarrett to the U.S. Senate.
John Harris, Blagojevich's former chief of staff, testified Wednesday in the former governor's corruption trial that three days after the Nov. 4, 2008, presidential election, the ex-governor told Harris he felt confident Obama knew he wanted to swap perks.
» Click to enlarge image
John Harris, Rod Blagojevich's ex-chief of staff, said he was convinced Barack Obama knew of the quid quo pro Blagojevich expected for a Senate nod.
(Richard A. Chapman/Sun-Times)
RELATED STORIES
Blago: Obama's list of acceptable candidates 'B.S.' Live updates: The Blago Blog Sneed: Grand plans on Blago's Indian post
Rod Blagojevich and his wife, Patti, are on the phone discussing a job possibility at a labor organization.
Patti Blagojevich is looking online for salary information.
Rod Blagojevich: It doesn't matter. You're . . . just wasting f------ time . . . We're simply saying, create this position. Here's what I want . . .
Patti Blagojevich: Yeah.
R.B.: How about I hang up on you? What are you doin'? What is this? . . .
P.B.: I tried to be helpful and you jumped down my f------throat . . .
R.B.: I don't like you talkin' in some weird f------ way.
Rod Blagojevich to his wife on Barack Obama's marriage
R.B.: He's more henpecked than me. So he listens to Michelle Obama more than I listen to you.
Rod Blagojevich on a job with the Salvation Army
R.B.: Oh, that would be huge. But do you have to wear a uniform? Forget that.
Rod Blagojevich on a job at the United Way
R.B: The United Way. What is the United Way?
Rod Blagojevich on his potty mouth
R.B.: That's f------ good. I gotta stop swearin.' I gotta stop swearin'.
P.B: It's terrible.
R.B.: Yeah.
P.B.: Total gutter mouth.
R.B.: Very bad.
"The president understands that the governor would be willing to make the appointment of Valerie Jarrett as long as he gets what he's asked for. . . . The governor gets the Cabinet appointment he's asked for," Harris said, explaining a recorded call.
Harris said Blagojevich came away believing Obama knew what he wanted after having a conversation with a local union representative, who in turn spoke with labor leader Tom Balanoff, with whom Blagojevich met to discuss a Jarrett appointment. Jarrett, now a White House adviser, was seeking the appointment to Obama's Senate seat.
Defense lawyers say Harris' testimony contradicts the government's previous public statements that Obama knew nothing about deal-making involving the Senate seat appointment.
The defense on Wednesday moved to force the prosecution to turn over FBI reports of Obama's interview with federal agents in December of 2008. Obama is not accused of wrongdoing.
"Testimony elicited by the government from John Harris and wiretaps played in court raise the issue of President Obama's direct knowledge and communication with emissaries and others regarding the appointment to his Senate seat," lawyers wrote in the filing.
The filing came on the trial's third day of the extensive playback of recordings in which Blagojevich is heard repeatedly discussing ways to personally capitalize on his Senate seat appointment power. Blagojevich could be heard plotting to try to head up a charity; swearing and snapping at his wife, Patti, and dismissing the possibility of a federal position that pays $190,000 a year.
"I make $170 . . . So Fred, that has no appeal to me . . . I want to make money," Blagojevich tells national Democratic consultant Fred Yang. "I might as well go out and find a way to make money."
Obama's 2008 internal report about his staff's contacts with Blagojevich at the time indicates that Balanoff relayed to Jarrett that Blagojevich was interested in a Health and Human Services Cabinet post.
Recordings also revealed that Blagojevich had tried to get the Chicago Tribune's editorial board fired after it ran a series of disparaging write-ups about the then-governor.
Harris testified that he ignored Blagojevich's firing directive.
Also Wednesday, U.S. District Judge James Zagel refused to gag the talkative Blagojevich as prosecutors had asked. Zagel said Blagojevich keeps saying he's innocent, and that anyone who says otherwise is a liar.
The repetition, Zagel said, has rendered Blagojevich's out-of-court talk unnewsworthy.
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phillyfanatic wrote:
Will
6/24/2010 4:14 PM CDT on suntimes.com
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pawz wrote:
As a lifelong Chicagoan, I could not understand how so many people could be taken in by Obama. He never did a single thing to help the city of Chicago. If you can't solve the problems ... not even ONE problem ... of a city, how are you going to solve the problems of a nation? People are going to have to learn to stop listening to what politicians say and start looking at their records and the things they actually DO.
6/24/2010 4:10 PM CDT on suntimes.com
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batfly wrote:
Get use to the name of the new president... President Biden.
6/24/2010 4:04 PM CDT on suntimes.com
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weneedreagan wrote:
Vote for Kirk! It's nice to vent on here, but the only way to stop Obama is to take away his majority in congress. Without that, he is harmless.
6/24/2010 4:04 PM CDT on suntimes.com
Recommend
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User Image
ronwagn wrote:
Go Blago! Get ALL the transcripts out. Let's show them how Chicago politics works. Obama revealed!
6/24/2010 4:00 PM CDT on suntimes.com
Recommend
Report Abuse
User Image
master of my domain wrote:
Too many thugs, criminals, subversives, and America haters have surrounded, advised, contributed cash to, and mentored The Presidential Gasbag. Thankfully this POS weakling can't do irreparable harm in his one miserable term. The first order of business after the November elections should be to repeal health care reform, followed by making that punk in the White House miserable for his 2 remaining years. The sooner this Gasbag becomes a fading memory, the better.
6/24/2010 3:56 PM CDT on suntimes.com
Recommend
Report Abuse
User Image
politicaljules wrote:
I dont give a rats rear end if this is the way it is done in Chicago! IT IS NOT HOW WE DO IT IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!
IMPEACH HIM NOW
TRAITOR
IMPEACH HIM NOW
LIAR
IMPEACH HIM NOW
TREASON
IMPEACH HIM NOW
FRAUD
IMPEACH HIM NOW
MARXIST
IMPEACH HIM NOW
COMMUNIST
IMPEACH HIM NOW
ENEMY OF THE STATE
IMPEACH HIM NOW
McCrystal knows it, and even Patreaus knows it. The GOP know it and the AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW IT. It is past time for him and his chicago thugs to GTFO.
Someone, ANYONE, grow a spine and IMPEACH HIM NOW! Do not give me the same old WHINY EXCUSE that it will never be voted on or approved. You still better start the process to prove to the American people that we still have a chance to save our country!
IMPEACH HIM NOW
6/24/2010 3:43 PM CDT on suntimes.com
Recommend
Report Abuse
User Image
weneedreagan wrote:
If you don't approve of Obama and his policies, then vote for Mark Kirk in 4 months. Kirk isn't my favorite type of republican, but a vote for Alexi is a vote for Obama because Alexi will do as Obama orders him to do. That's the only power we have to stop Obama.
6/24/2010 3:39 PM CDT on suntimes.com
Recommend
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charlie0 wrote:
david petreaus for president 2012!!!
or maybe jeb bush-newt gingrich. the only teams that could save the usa and its constitution now.
6/24/2010 3:37 PM CDT on suntimes.com
Recommend
Report Abuse
User Image
rare bird wrote:
It’s The Sun-Times' duty to retract this headline. The story under it does not even say that Harris said that; it says that Blagojevich said to Harris that Blagojevich thought Obama knew. Who can explain what goes on inside Blagojevich’s head? Obama very likely knew instinctively that Blagojevich was a crook, but that’s not the same as having concrete, admissible knowledge. In any case, Obama clearly did not take any improper suggestion Blagojevich may have made, which is why Obama’s friend Valerie Jarrett is not one of our senators. This headline gives the false impression that Obama and Blagojevich were in cahoots.
6/24/2010 3:36 PM CDT on suntimes.com
Recommend
Report Abuse
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 >> Last