Obama calls for Illinois governor to resign

Obama calls for Illinois governor to resign

ydr.inyork.com

President-elect Barack Obama is calling for the Illinois governor to resign.

Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs says the president-elect agrees with other prominent politicians in Illinois and elsewhere that "under the current circumstances, it is difficult for the governor to effectively do his job and serve the people of Illinois."

(visit the link for the full news article)


Related News Links:
www.chicagotribune.com

Related AboveTopSecret.com Discussion Threads:
Illinois Govenor Who Suspends State Business With B of A Taken Into Federal Custody
Illinois Governor Suspends All State Business With Bank Of America!

Agreed, and I think he needs to be out of there.

His remark that calling the Senate seat "a [expletive] valuable thing. You just don't give it away for nothing," just goes to show what kind of greedy *Snip* maggot this guy is.

And two days later:

"I've got this thing and it's [expletive] golden and uh, uh, I'm not just giving it up for [expletive] nothing," he said two days later, according to the affidavit.

www.chicagotribune.com...

The governor and his chief of staff, John Harris, were simultaneously charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and solicitation to commit bribery as part of what officials say was a wide-ranging scheme to shakedown campaign donors and politicians for high-paying posts and millions of dollars in campaign contributions.

Allegedly for sale: state jobs, state contracts and regulatory favors. In one surreal development, prosecutors said Blagojevich even tried to get critical editorial writers from the Chicago Tribune fired in exchange for helping parent Tribune Co. with a state plan to finance the purchase of Wrigley Field.

This guy exemplifies why this government needs a serious overhaul and house cleaning.


ydr.inyork.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

Mod Edit: Do Not Use Profanity.

[edit on 10-12-2008 by MemoryShock]

reply to post by TrueAmerican


We completely agree on this one TA.

I'm glad Obama's speaking out on this.

I hear that the Governor is taking bids for his post!

I hope that no one pulls a Jack Ruby on Blago. This is Chicagoland you know.

Blago, the egomaniac, hasn't gushed with names yet. Keep him protected until he coughs up his cronies.

Many people have a lot to lose if this case really opens up. They should definitely watch him like a hawk.

By all means fire his arse.

reply to post by TrueAmerican


Obama is trying to distance himself from the Cook County Political Machine as fast as he can. Blago has fallen because he took on Bank of A!! Obama, who attended Bilderberg this summer, knows better. What Blago did is not very much different that what any politician does...it is just how it is labled. History is just which lable is able to persist. Is a he a shrewd negotiator or ws he fishing for bribes.

Most Politicians look for the best deal, I will help you if you can do something for me. Can anyone say Hillary Clinton? "Bill I will behave if you can get me the NY Senator seat." Barak " I will campaign for you and endorse you if you give me Secratary of State". Obama to Rezko " I will look out for you if you help me buy my double lot mansion in hyde park, chicago (need the extra lot for when we have the presidential museum there)"

Look at Guliani, Made a fortune after 9/11. With politics comes kickbacks....somebody just decided to expose Blago and bring him down....

Moral of the Story, don't mess with the bankers.

Originally posted by Missing Blue Sky
Moral of the Story, don't mess with the bankers.

Yeah I thought that was way too fast for charges against him. I am not disputing the charges, but damn. It was like they were holding it waiting for him to do something!

And that's what I love about Ron Paul! He can take on the bankers cause they got NOTHING on him except their worthless cash, $75,000 of which he gives back every year to the treasury! I mean Christ, he's written legislation to abolish the fed completely. In your face bankers!

reply to post by Missing Blue Sky


As has already been discussed in the other threads on this site regarding this arrest, they were preparing to arrest him long before he said anything about B of A. So put that to rest.

reply to post by HunkaHunka

I will never understand people who say, that has already been covered...do not discuss it here. An informed discussion does not close itself to certain aspects, because one person in the group does not like the topic. If you did not like the post...tell me why...do not just say..."dont talk about that here!" Who are you to tell me to drop it? The best way to get someone to drop something is to ignore them, not curtail them.

I said much more than the banking coincidence in my post...the accusations are sensational and both sides have not been opened up yet. We have not heard from the candidates for the senate seat yet. Their testimony will give us much more insight. I am not a fan of Blago...but his crimes seem yet to be proven. It seems like more spin than fact right now.

reply to post by Missing Blue Sky


One more thing...they were not planning on arresting him for a long time...the investigation only started in October. It was an amazingly short time, as was discussed this mornong on WGN radio here in Chicago.

Political Wisdom: Blagojevich is Bad News for Obama


implications for Obama

FROM THE BLAGOJEVICH COMPLAINT

35. As described more fully in the following paragraphs, Mercy Hospital, which sought permission from the Planning Board to build a hospital in Illinois, received that permission through Rezko’s exercise of his influence at the Planning Board after Rezko was promised that Mercy Hospital would make a substantial campaign contribution to ROD BLAGOJEVICH. Rezko later told a member of the Planning Board that Mercy Hospital received the permit because ROD BLAGOJEVICH wanted the organization to receive the permit. 35. As described more fully in the following paragraphs, Mercy Hospital, which sought permission from the Planning Board to build a hospital in Illinois, received that permission through Rezko’s exercise of his influence at the Planning Board after Rezko was promised that Mercy Hospital would make a substantial campaign contribution to ROD BLAGOJEVICH. Rezko later told a member of the Planning Board that Mercy Hospital received the permit because ROD BLAGOJEVICH wanted the organization to receive the permit.

36. Levine’s criminal activities included his abuse of his position on the Planning Board to enrich both himself and Friends of Blagojevich. The Planning Board was a commission of the State of Illinois, established by statute, whose members were appointed by the Governor of the State of Illinois. At the relevant time period, the Planning Board consisted of nine individuals. State law required an entity seeking to build a hospital, medical office building, or other medical facility in Illinois to obtain a permit, known as a “Certificate of Need” (”CON”), from the Planning Board prior to beginning construction.

37. Levine, as well as Planning Board members Thomas Beck and Imad Almanaseer, testified under oath at the Rezko Trial. Beck testified that he asked Rezko to reappoint him to the Planning Board and that Beck thereafter followed Rezko’s directions regarding which CON applications Rezko wanted approved. Beck testified that it was his job to communicate Rezko’s interest in particular CONs to other members of the Planning Board, including Almanaseer, who were loyal to Rezko. Beck testified that he understood that Rezko spoke for the Blagojevich administration when Rezko spoke to Beck about particular CONs. Almanaseer testified that Beck instructed him that Rezko wanted Almanaseer to vote a particular way and that Almanaseer should follow Levine’s lead in voting on CONs. Almanaseer testified that before certain Planning Board meetings, he received notecards from Beck indicating how to vote on certain CON applications. Beck testified he provided these notecards to Almanaseer and certain other members of the Planning Board to communicate Rezko’s directions about certain CON applications.

38. During his testimony, Levine described a plan to manipulate the Planning Board to enrich himself and Friends of Blagojevich. The plan centered on an entity commonly known as Mercy Hospital (”Mercy”) that was attempting to obtain a CON to build a new hospital in Illinois. Levine knew the contractor hired to help build the hospital. In approximately November 2003, on behalf of the contractor, Levine checked with Rezko to determine whether Rezko wanted Mercy to obtain its CON. Rezko informed Levine that Mercy was not going to receive its CON. According to Levine, he asked Rezko whether it would matter to Rezko if Mercy’s construction contractor paid a bribe to Rezko and Levine and, in addition, made a contribution to ROD BLAGOJEVICH. Levine testified that Rezko indicated that such an arrangement would change his view on the Mercy CON.

39. Levine’s testimony regarding Rezko’s actions to change the Planning Board decision concerning Mercy’s application for a CON based on contributions for ROD BLAGOJEVICH is confirmed by attorney Steven Loren. Loren testified at Rezko’s criminal trial and, before that, in the grand jury. According to Loren, in approximately December 2003, Levine informed Loren that Rezko was against the Mercy CON. According to Loren, Levine relayed to Loren a conversation between Rezko and Levine during which Levine asked Rezko whether a political contribution to ROD BLAGOJEVICH would make a difference for Mercy’s CON, and Rezko responded to Levine that such a contribution might make a difference.

40. Thereafter, and confirmed by the testimony of Levine, Beck, and Almanaseer, as well as recorded conversations, Rezko switched his directions to Beck and informed Beck that Mercy was to receive its CON. According to Almanaseer, although he previously had been told by Beck that Rezko did not want Mercy to receive its CON, he was later told that there had been a change and that Rezko now wanted Mercy to receive its CON.

41. Mercy received its CON as a result of a controversial and irregular vote at a public Planning Board meeting. The vote brought significant publicity to the Planning Board and ultimately led to the disbanding of the Planning Board. Almanaseer testified under oath in the grand jury that not long after the Planning Board vote on Mercy’s CON he saw Rezko at a fundraiser. According to Almanaseer, he was still embarrassed about what had occurred at the Planning Board vote on Mercy’s CON and Rezko’s role in the vote. Almanaseer testified that he asked Rezko why Rezko had switched the vote on the Mercy CON. According to Almanaseer, Rezko stated: “The Governor wanted it to pass.”

II. FROM EVELYN PRINGLE’S “CURTAIN TIME” ONLINE ARTICLES

Tony Rezko is a private citizen. Therefore, the evidence presented in the trial focused on his influence over officials in getting members appointed to the Boards. Prosecutors did not discuss how the legislation got passed that enabled the Planning Board to be set up in a way that allowed for the appointment of members to rig the votes to begin with.

That part of the scheme will likely be detailed in future indictments, probably starting with Blagojevich. Blagojevich signed the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act with an effective date of June 27, 2003. However, before he could sign the act, a bill had to be passed by the Illinois House and Senate. As discussed fully in Curtain Time Part II, Obama was the inside guy in the senate who pushed through the legislation that resulted in the Act.

Obama was appointed chairman of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. The minute the bill was introduced, it was referred to his committee for review. The sponsors of the bill also served on this committee with Obama. Within a month, Chairman Obama sent word to the full senate that the legislation should be passed.

On May 31, 2003, Senate Bill 1332 passed and specified that the “Board shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate.” The legislation reduced the number of members from 15 to 9, paving the way for the appointment of a five-bloc majority to rig the votes.

The corrupt members appointed included three doctors who contributed to Obama. Michel Malek gave Obama $10,000 on June 30, 2003 and donated $25,000 to Blagojevich on July 25, 2003. Malek also gave Obama another $500 in September 2003.

Fortunee Massuda donated $25,000 to Blagojevich on July 25, 2003, and gave a total of $2,000 to Obama on different dates. After he was appointed, Dr Imad Almanaseer contributed a total of $3,000 to Obama. Almanaseer did not give money to Blagojevich.

When the first pay-to-play scheme was put in play, and the application for approval of a new hospital was submitted, the Department of Human Services, along with four other Illinois agencies, sent recommendations that the project should be approved even though experts said the hospital was not needed.

During the trial, Rezko’s attorney presented an email exchange to the jury that hinted at Obama’s role in setting up the scheme. The exchange showed that Obama and seven other top Illinois politicians consulted on the legislation passed in 2003 and were involved in recommending the members for the board.

Matthew Pickering wrote the memo to Blagojevich’s general counsel, Susan Lichtenstein, on behalf of David Wilhelm, a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, who headed Blagojevich’s 2002 campaign for governor.

Pickering said he and Wilhelm had “worked closely” over six months with state legislators. The memo recommended the appointees listed above and stated, “our attached recommendations reflect that involvement” with the political leaders.

The persons appointed to rig the votes, including those who contributed to Blagojevich and Obama, are cooperating in exchange for immunity or lighter prison sentences.

Feds shut down pay-to-play schemes

Only two pay-to-play schemes succeeded before the Feds swooped in and shut them all down. Blagojevich did not receive the $1.5 million from the Planning Board deal because the hospital was never built.

But Obama received $20,000 from the first kickback paid in the pension fund scheme and the straw donors used to funnel the $10,000 payments, Elie Maloof and Joseph Aramanda, also made $1,000 contributions to Obama’s failed run for Congress in 2000.

In addition, Aramanda gave $500 to Obama’s senate campaign on June 30, 2003. In the summer of 2005, Aramanda’s son landed an intern position in Obama’s Washington office.

Obama also received contributions for his senate campaign from the two persons appointed to rig the vote on the pension fund board. On June 30, 2003, Jack Carriglio contributed $1,000, and the other appointee, Anthony Abboud, donated $500 on June 30, 2003, $250 on March 5, 2004, and $1,000 on June 25, 2004.

The person chosen to funnel the kickback in a future scheme, Michael Winter, donated $3,000 to Obama on June 30, 2003.

I don't care how ,much icing you try to cover this cake with, Obama is going down, he better watch what he says,

The Chicago Trib. is sitting on all kinds of information, you don't even know about yet.

Originally posted by Stormdancer777
The Chicago Trib. is sitting on all kinds of information, you don't even know about yet.

Is that so?

And I suppose you do? Well, spill the beans.

The same pattern is revealed yet again.
If any of your buddies get caught doing anything wrong:
rule 1- distance yourself from that person.
rule 2- if that doesn't work, throw them under the bus.

Come on, how can anyone actually believe Obama didn't know what his Gov was doing?

Even Axelrod (aka Obama's Rove) said the two were working together to fill the Senate vacancy.

Now BO is asking him to resign?

This will get ugly so I ask,
Which other President elect was involved in a scandal before becoming President?