The Man in the Iron Mask is Out and The Sun King Might get Eclipsed

"Louis XIV was a handsome young man with good health. “(Louis XIV) was graceful, dignified and awe-inspiring, if humourless.”  The Ancien Regime in Europe

'A man is held to be criminal,sometimes, by the great ones of the earth,not because he has committed a crime himself but because he knows of one which has been committed.”
― Alexandre Dumas, The Man in the Iron Mask


I can not stand Rod Blagojevich.  He is an remains a smirking jerk. In the 2002 Gubernatorial Primary, Blago campaign workers from the 19th Ward terrorized rival Paul Vallas's family, while he was out scaring up votes.   Campaign thugs scared Vallas's kids, but not his tough and lovely wife, Sharon, who had been a cop in the south suburbs.

Sharon Vallas scared off the tough guys, before calling the 22nd District.  I lived down the block from the Vallas family in the 19th Ward.

Some of my friends worked for Blagojevich, even though they knew Paul Vallas to be a man of rock-solid ability and integrity - he was their neighbor from 2525 West 107th Street, 60655.

Illinois State Senator Barack H. Obama backed Roland Burris in the primary. Obama would go on to become a US Senator, President of the United States and a Progressive Sun King and Blago his man in the iron mask.

Blagojevich won the Governor's Primary and Illinois State Senator Barack H. Obama got on the Blago bandwagon.   Blago won the Illinois gubernatorial race over GOP Attorney General James Ryan by 52%.


The skilled trades unions, like my Blago Backer 19th Ward neighbors, supported the Democrat Milorod Blagojevich.  The skilled trades unions would also enthusiastically back current Illinois Governor JB Pritzker.  Like JB Pr\itzker after him, Blago was a Progressive governor who valued the advice and counsel of Rahm Emanuel and Mikva Mafia of Hyde Park.


Governor Blagojevich gave senior citizens free bus rides, said he was blacker than Obama( well his Illinois Health Care programs were a template for ObamaCare) and thought about making Oprah Winfrey a United States Senator, like old Roland Burris.  A close aid committed suicide, by swallowing rat poison over a garbage dump in Joliet, while he went on  Comedy Central.

Blago's bouncing ball of boorishness reached an apogee when he deigned to sell President-elect Barack H. Obama's senate seat. Tapioca as south siders say, 'All done!'

His wife was humiliated into going on Survival.  His kids were denied a father.  Blago was locked away and the keys were thrown away. The smirking jerk went to the joint.

Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. and his wife did serious time as well

Blago became the Man in Iron Mask and Barack H. Obama Louis XIV.

That is ancient history  Boo Radley became President in 2016 - Old #45, Donald J. Trump is poised to reclaim The White House.  President Trump is the most reviled Chief Executive in our history, no getting past that.  Like Blago, most of this detestation by the good and the phony, was brought on by his own words and deeds.

That said, this spirited man in the Oval Office has struck a chord with 47% of American people who love or accept him as a leader.  He is Boo Radley - everyone with a brain hates him.  But boo Radley was no villain.  A goof, to be sure, but no monster.

Boo Radley sprung Blago in a most politically and morally cynical effort to stir the merde. No one can whip up a cauldron poop, like Blago and now that Iron Mask is off his mug it is only matter of time before this arch-grifter begins to tell the truth on the protected frauds like Dick Durbin, President Obama, Valerie Jarrett, Rahm Emanuel, Mike Madigan and especially the Wizard of Weed and Admiral of Abortion Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and his kith and kin.

The Obama legacy and the tax-payer funded temple to his Presidency on public lands willl take the biggest hits.

Others will do some time in the iron hotel.

Personally,  I think this was an abuse of Presidential pardons, but I would love to see The Sun King get his smirk eclipsed.

The Man in Iron Mask is out and he will shoot his mouth off.

Illinois School Reform is Dead -says Gov. Pat " Everyday People" Quinn

"Squeezy Will Now Choke School Reform to Death! Pension Debt?  . . . Not So Much!"

"These plutocrats at the top of the power heap, they may have a lot of money, but they don’t have any understanding of everyday people and what they go through." - Gov.Pat Quinn and the Family Stone

After picking up tree branches from the Chicago parkway on my property ( hard to get my head around that bit of Burnham ownership) I coffee'd-up and fended off potassium deficiency with an Irish-owned Chiquita banana and took in my morning's quota of political empty calories from Illinois Governor Pat " Everyday People" Quinn.

The Sun Times offers a political blog with the darling politically incorrect title of Early and Often ( the old-timey Democrat encomium for people who wanted to keep their jobs) which places solid reporters like Dan Mihiapolous and Natasha Korecki in close proximity to oily, or waxy political pests and nudniks needed by no one but editorial boards and other grifters.

Ms. Korecki is as solid and professional a reporter as one could hope for and did yeoman like work covering the vast decoupage that was the waning months of Gov. Rod Blagojevich's oil spill.  Korecki is no one's Carol Marin.  She is tough, witty and gifted with a foresight few journalists possess, because Korecki thinks for herself.

Sadly, Ms. Korecki is burdened with this Chicago Sun Times Civics Sesame Street for Dummies task, along with her more serious workload.

Nevertheless, Natasha Korecki, an everyday person if there ever was one, punches the time clock and gives editorial Star Chamber social engineers a solid eight.

Today, this morning, following coffee and banana, I joined Ms. Korecki for a Quinn-acopia of flat rhetoric and opaque insights.  Quinn drones about Stu Levine with whom Blago and Quinn spent many a happy hour in finding new and better ways to erase the middle class via pension and retirement scams  and Ralph Martire pie-charted tax increases.  Quinn squeezies  onto Stu-ey Levine like a plush python offered to teach Illinois morons about our unfunded mandates and pension debts.  I could almost see poor Natasha Korecki nodding off like a teacher at faculty meeting, when she too decides enough is enough.

The only take away of any substance in her exchange with Gov. Platitude Quinn comes about when Natasha Korecki somehow snaps herself out of a nap with a question that puzzles the droning Governor.

Q: Paul Vallas supports charter schools. Since you picked him as a lieutenant governor, does that mean you’re open to charter expansion?
A: No, Paul Vallas believes in public education. So do I. We believe in funding public education. A very, very important issue this year, we’ll be talking about that soon. ... He’s committed to a fair, open budget to properly fund education.

"No, Paul Vallas believes in public education!" ( exclamation mark my own)

Now, hold there a momentito!  Paul Vallas is The Grand Daddy of AMERICAN Charter Schools - ChiTown, Philly, N'Orl'ns, Connect -I-Cut!  Moreso, Paul Vallas has ALWAYS been open to Vouchers!  Real School reform.

Paul Vallas is every day people!  I know Paul.  I love Paul! I respect Paul!  If Paul were the top of this ticket, I'd vote Democrat in november.

Catholic schools comprise the bulk of private schools in Illinois.  Therefore, Catholic schools is a local euphemism for private education ( Non-public - no tax-money), including Dutch Reformed, Lutheran, Jewish, Muslim, and non-Denominational schools, as well as the elite first tier schools like Chicago Latin and Chicago Lab Schools.

Paul Vallas is solid man.  Pat Quinn is a pest with persistence, like all Progressives.  Like all Progressives, Pat Quinn is incapable of original thought and spouts only Hyde Park/Evanston Vatican Doctrine and Dogma.

Pat Quinn is no friend of Catholic schools.  By extension he is no friend of every day people who send their kids to Catholic schools.  Pat Quinn spoke for Paul Vallas.

Pat Quinn is the only one speaking - like any Progressive.  Everyday People, everyday people, everyday people, mean exactly what Pat Quinn thinks them to be - drones like himself.

Great job, Natasha Korecki!

Illinois DCFS Grants Abuse - granted by the Illinois Progressive Machine

Your Illinois Progressive Machine's Steve and Eydie

Some years ago, both Chicago newspapers and the blow-dried blow-hards on the idiot box took up the sanctimony and faux outrage over some Father John Smyth* who could not say no to helping any child and the fact that Illinois Department of Child and Family Services heaped the work of caring for children on his broad shoulders. Illinois "thought" about the children -Oh, My God!!! They are being cared for at Maryville and so many mental health professionals linked to the Illinois Progressive Machine are doing without!

Recently, in the wake of post-Blago hand-wringing there have been a few morsels in print concerning the looting of tax-payers' dollars via grants to DCHS providers -absent Father Smyth. Perhaps it had more to do with the fact that Father Smyth wore a stiff collar and black suit, but I tend to think that some in the media were upset over the confusing spelling of the man's last name.

An easier to sell more familiar Smith contracted up for grants without oversight.

A new Smith emerged - Dr. George E. Smith - a mental health professional with at least four companies doing a husky business with the State of Illinois.

Back in October, Chris Fusco and Dave McKinney trotted out the tale of old school improprieties that were long in place, but rocked a tad when State Sen. Ricky Hendon abruptly resigned following his impassioned work on Greg Harris's Religious Freedom and Civil Unions legislation -

While introducing Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, Hendon told the crowd that he had "never served with such an idiotic, racist, sexist, homophobic person in my life... If you think that women have no rights whatsoever, except to have his children, vote for Bill Brady. If you think gay and lesbian people need to be locked up and shot in the head, vote for Bill Brady." Hendon's remarks were immediately disavowed by Governor Quinn, among others, and Hendon was sharply criticized by members of the Illinois media. Hendon later tried to apologize to Brady on the Senate floor, but Brady would not accept his apology

One hand soaps up the other and hearty foam makes for lathery larder of opportunity!
Gay Lesbian Transgender BiSexual and Questioning issues and agenda link up with public pension deals, woman's need to commit infanticide, avoid the death penalty, right wrongful convictions and make sure that needy children all over Illinois provide mental health professionals the opportunity to lift at least $18 million dollars in grants to nowhere. If it is Progresively sanctioned it is costly, useless, and divisively combative, it always seems.

Rep. Greg Harris got his Civil Unions and immediately conducted a Father John Smyth on Illinois Catholic Social Services -stripped Catholic Charities of the right to direct adoptions of children by a husband and wife. Thus, clearing the path for more systemic opportunities, like those enjoyed by Dr. George E. Smith, it seems, and other Progressively networked grant grabbers.

Let's take a gander at this weekend's unconnected DCHS dots by Tribune Investigative reporters. Rickey Hendon seems absent since October and just who were the legislative God Daddies at Chicago State University anyway? One mght ask.

But Executive Inspector General Ricardo Meza said the wrongdoing may go further, as the state only investigated contracts Smith held dating back to 2008. Smith has been doing businesses with the state since 1986.

“This investigation could literally have taken us another year-and-a-half or two to uncover,” Meza told House lawmakers. “There had to be a point at our office where we decided that we thought that even though we did not fully uncover every piece of misconduct that Dr. Smith may have engaged in, we had to issue the report.”

Pressed if it was possible that more than $18 million in tax dollars were misspent, Meza said, “I think that’s a fair statement…we may never know.”

The Illinois attorney general’s office is investigating in an attempt to recoup some of the money, and federal grand jury subpoenas have named some of Smith's companies among records sought from state agencies, including Diversified Behavioral Comprehensive Care.

Meza said the investigation’s scope was limited partly because agencies are only required to keep documents for three years, a timeline lawmakers said they will push to extend.

Legislators also said they will also seek changes to the state’s Ethics Act, which prevents many cases of wrongdoing by state workers from being made public. The allegations against Smith’s were laid out in a report that contended former DCFS director Erwin McEwen failed to properly oversee grants. McEwen and Smith are longtime friends, and McEwen eventually refused to cooperate with investigators.

Under the law, reports are made public if it leads to an employee being fired or being suspended for three or more days. McEwen resigned, but a lower-level employee was suspended for five days, leading to the report’s release by the Executive Ethics Commission.

The commission could have redacted the majority of the report not dealing with the suspended employee, but decided to make the findings public.

Lawmakers also lashed out against Gov. Pat Quinn for not firing McEwen when the administration received the initial report last May. Instead, McEwen was allowed to stay on the state payroll through September.

Quinn general counsel John Schomberg said the administration wanted to give McEwen “due process” and “provide for additional transition time” as it searched for a replacement.

Schomberg said ethics laws also placed the governor’s office “between a rock and a hard place” because if they fired McEwen, they were not allowed to say why until the report was made public.

It was an argument Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, found lacking.

“What does one have to do to get fired working for Gov. Quinn?” Franks said. “If it was the private sector you would have opened yourself up to lawsuits for absolutely negligence. And I think that’s what’s happened here.”

What does it take to get fired by Governor Quinn?

Why, the Okay of Terry Cosgrove, Barbara Flynn-Burris-Currie, Greg Harris, Dawn Clark-Netsch, Dr. Quentin Young and the legion of lesser lights of Progressive Illinois, you silly man.

By the way, Diversified Behavioral Comprehensive Care. ain't that a company name that just cries out for Progessive approval?

However, the smoke screen is up and wafting cover for these committed ninnies and their attendant swag-grabbers -everyone is huffing and puffing about Speaker Madigan, the only competant adult in Springfield.

If the news media was in anyway concerned they would look carefully at the Progressive Machine and witness some real villians at work doing some lusty looting.

No outrage over this here financial mess at DCFS from any Public Guardian? Well, judge not the protected few and thou shalt be a judge, I reckon.

*

Murphy has called Maryville "a financial mess," and two monitors for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services have called for a financial audit of the institution, which got $62 million last year from taxpayers. Maryville also has a $100 million endowment.


Smyth said he welcomes any scrutiny of Maryville's books and plans to comply with other demands the monitors made in a report that criticized the institution's treatment model as outdated. DCFS Director Bryan Samuels said Wednesday the monitors' suggestions must be met within 60 days or the state will remove 160 wards it has at Maryville's main campus.


"I have no problem with the 10 or 11 things DCFS has put into the contracts," Smyth said. "We'll meet them within 60 days, and that's plenty of time."


Those issues include the audit, staffing levels and better employee-retention policies for Maryville

http://chicagoist.com/2010/10/24/rickey_hendon_blasts_bill_brady_cal.php
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/10/quinn-disavows-hendon-comments-rips-brady-on-social-issues.html

http://www.rickross.com/reference/maryville/maryville1.html

Charlie Rangel Goes All Blago - Veiled Threat, to Colleagues?

Charlie Rangel was always kind of a cartoon character to me. He reminded me of a wildly antic video game icon running hither and yon to various news media outlets and letting out with NOOYAWKEE English about . . . whatever.

Recently, the same media mopes, who have tried to turn Ted Kennedy into Benjamin Disraeli and present Bob Byrd as anything but a Grand Cyclops Pork Hustler right out of a Coen Brothers movie, now cast Charlie Rangel as Audie Murphy in the role of Dr. Martin Luther King playing Ghandi.

Rather, Charlie Rangel chewed the scenery as former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich on the floor of Congress, yesterday. Get this from the Denver Doric Column Building hack Dana Milbank -

"You're not going to tell me to resign to make you feel comfortable," Rangel informed his Democratic colleagues. "And for those who disagree, I'm sorry, but that's one thing you can't take away from me."

Midway through the diatribe, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi left her seat and walked to the back of the chamber. When Rangel finally finished, a few dozen Democrats -- mostly members of the black caucus, New Yorkers and liberals -- stood to applaud. Most Democrats -- including Rep. David Obey (Minn.), the man who was leading the teachers-and-cops bill on the floor -- sat in silence. Democratic members, approached by reporters for comment as they left the chamber, looked stricken. . . "You're not going to tell me to resign to make you feel comfortable," Rangel informed his Democratic colleagues. "And for those who disagree, I'm sorry, but that's one thing you can't take away from me. . . Rangel rambled through the allegations against him. Fundraising with official letterhead: "Grabbing the wrong stationery." The center named after him at the City University of New York: "A broken-down building." The office in the rent-controlled apartment: "The landlord has said he didn't treat me differently." The unpaid taxes on his Caribbean vacation place: "You'd have to be a tax expert" to get that right, said the deposed chairman of the tax-writing committee.

The diatribe was directed mostly at his own side of the aisle, where "no one is coming forward saying Rangel is not corrupt." He said he was told that his colleagues "all love you . . . but they love themselves better." He mocked those who turned against him for political expediency: "Do what you have to do."

Repeatedly, he dared his colleagues to vote on his fate. "Are you going to expel me from this body?" he demanded. "Are you going to say that while there's no evidence that I took a nickel, asked for a nickel, that there's no sworn testimony, no conflict, that I have to leave here?"


The angry lawmaker left his colleagues with two words: "Go home."

Dana Milbank, a huge Obama-bot and former MSNBC Tool-shed member, is like a tiny moral plastic wind up mouse scurrying around the kitchen floor - he never knows where to plant his feet and take a stand.

Charlie Rangel on the hand is a Harlem Hustler who defeated Adam Clayton Powell another Golden Gooser back when I was starting high school. Charlie Rangel knows where every unsucked, let alone unplucked bone is tossed in the House of Representatives and he has been insulted by the very people who demanded that he 'get it done for the people!'

Seems to me that Charlie is holding many decks of cards more than the idiot savant for Governor of Illinois and Charlie is not staring at a list Federal charge. This is politics baby!

Charlie will rat out rats, like Charlie says, "all love you . . . but they love themselves better." More better.

Blago Trial - D-Day Minus One: Tamara Holder and Jimmy Breslin on Fitzy's Case

The Adams Gents get their say and Fitzy's Team will try to compel the jurors to convict Milorad Blagojevich - Illinois's Impeached, Indicted, Tried and . . .we shall see former Governor.

Columnist John Kass, a guy with as sharp a political sense as my own is opaque - I thought George Ryan would dodge a politically concocted and played out trial, has called Blago Governor Dead Meat from the get-go.

It seemed to me that, unlike the George Ryan case for which Patrick Fitzgerald was custom fitted to manage, Fitzy pulled the trigger way too fast on Blago. It seemed to me that he did so in deference to our newly elected President.

It also seemed to me that Congressman Jesse Jackson was being staked out as the Judas Goat on this one. I am no huge fan of Jesse,Junior to say the least, but he never seemed like the porch-climbing hustler that his Old Man happens to be.

Blago? They guy was and remains a political gate-crasher and dim bulb. He was given the pie that is Illinois, because of fear of a Paul Vallas Broom-A-Palooza on politics as usual, were the Attic Brainiac to become Governor of Illinois.

my Pal,Attorney and Fox News Legal Contributor Tamara Holder, who could kick my ass the best day I ever lived, and I agree that Blago just might walk on a conviction.

Here is an excerpt from businessman Al Lewis' site Tell It to Al.com

“The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that I talk too much,” Blago said.

“This was the smartest move they could have done,” said Tamara Holder, a criminal defense attorney and Fox News analyst who has been covering the trial. “The moment you open Blagojevich up to cross examination, you never know what you are going to get.”

Holder has called the government’s case weak from the beginning. That’s more of a boost than Blago ever gave her.

When Blago was governor, Holder sent him letters pleading for pardons for some of her clients. “He left all of them on his desk when he was impeached,” Holder said.

I wish I could count how many times an editor once asked me, “How would Jimmy Breslin cover the story?”

The legendary columnist is renowned for dodging the mob of reporters assigned to JFK’s funeral and interviewing JFK’s grave digger instead.

Well, there was Jimmy Breslin, covering the trial. But there was no gravedigger for Blago.

“These charges wouldn’t get you five cents in New York City,” Breslin huffed. “I can’t smell money.”

Legendary Newsman Jimmy Breslin is long-in-the teeth that can still gnaw up a storm; Tamara Holder is long-in-the legs and smarter than the Medill School of Journalism - I think that they are on the money - Blago will walk because Fitzy can not Show Us The Money!

Tamara Holder Cites Fitzy's "Dirty Dozens" on Blago

My pal attorney and now Fox News Contributor Tamara Holder points to the Federal Prosecution of disgraceful former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich - Fitz is doing the dozens on Blago

Tamara Holder and I have crossed swords over police issues and other dicey topics - we rarely agree. Like my pals Steve Rhodes and Phil Krone, Tamara is Left of Center in her views and a like those two worthies a generous, thoughtful and witty adversary.

Doing the Dozens is an African American verbal slap-down between two rivals.

The dozens has its origins in the slave trade of New Orleans where deformed slaves—generally slaves punished with dismemberment for disobedience—were grouped in lots of a 'cheap dozen' for sale to slave owners. For a Black to be sold as part of the 'dozens' was the lowest blow possible.

In the Patrick Fitzgerald twist on the game only one player is allowed -Fitzy and The G. Fitzy does Political Justice - Gin Up Wild Public and Political Hate of Someone and Fitzy Prosecutes - Hate George Ryan -Check; Hate Jon Burge - Well Yeah!; Hate Blago - Ditto. Old Timers say the Feds can convict a Ham Sandwich - well Blago is 165 Libs of Smoked Mickleberry's! But, I think Fitzy squeezed out his shot way too soon. Blago was not yet the Publicly Marketed Figure of the Two Minute Hate.

George Ryan was going down because of the Willis Kids and Jon Burge arrested every Denzel Washington Look-alike in Area 2 and G. Flint Taylor had played the lazy-assed Chicago Media like Charlie Daniels for twenty years. George Ryan was given the maximum and curb-kicked out of every nickel he had earned in public service. Burge is going away even if the Holy Trinity show up.

Rod Blagojevich is a metaphor for everything that is wrong in and with politics - pure smarm, sleaze, and the rapid rising ascent of an unskilled, untalented, and larcenous goof.

However, Fitzy pulled the trigger on Blago immediately after the election of President Obama. Why? A question for the ages.

Blago has an A-Team Defense Squad around him and the howling mobs of outraged citizens - many of whom were committed Rod Blagojevich Partisans for years.

Tamara Holder lays out a solid presentation of the Prosecution and indicates why I believe that the daffy dimitted Democrat former Governor very likely may walk without ever spending a few semesters in the Iron Hotel.

Voila! The Dirty Dozens:

1

. Eight (8) of the Government's potential witnesses have been convicted of major federal crimes, yet they have not been sentenced. (Stuart Levine pleaded guilty in July 2009, yet he remains to be sentenced; also, John Harris, Tony Rezko and 5 others await sentencing.) Christopher Kelly's suicide is off limits for the defense too. (He was a co-defendant and close friend of Blago.)

2. The yet-to-be-sentenced witnesses have an incentive to tell the jury what the Government wants. Not until after these people testify will the Government determine the quality of and "truthfulness" of the person's testimony in its decision to recommend a favorable sentence for their own crimes.

3. Government witness Stuart Levine's drug abuse is not allowed before the jury, even though he admitted to abusing Ketamine, a horse tranquilizer, among other illegal drugs. How can the jury not consider one's zombie-like state-of-mind when determining whether he is a credible witness? (A judge in the same court found that such evidence was "fair game," yet Judge Zagel ruled it inadmissible!)

4. Stuart Levine says he's been committing crimes since 1972, yet the defense cannot impeach him by asking about his lengthy criminal past. A tranquilized criminal. Lovely.

5. The defense was not given transcripts of the 500+ hours of FBI audiotapes. The prosecution suggested they will play only 100 hours of the tapes. The defense's request to play all of the tapes was denied.

6. There were a total of about 5-6000 conversations. During the recordings, the Feds turned the tapes on and off as a method of "minimization." Put another way, it was the Feds who determined what part of a conversation was important and worth recording.

7. The Government has 800+ witnesses. They have not shared with the defense who they intend to call and on what date. As a result, the defense must be prepared to shoot from the hip when a random person strolls into court.
8. Even though there is no indication of who's going to testify on any given day, the judge ordered the defense to tell the Government if they plan to mention Blago's "good acts" in their opening, so the Government can prep for a rebuttal. This makes no sense whatsoever. I have never heard of the defense having to provide the prosecution with their theories of the case. Plus, argument is not part of an opening statement!

9. The defense asked for police reports in September 2009 but did not receive the reports until March 2010. The 175,000 pages of reports were generated before September 2009 -- in fact, they were generated an entire year before they were received, in March 2009! 175,000 pages.

10. The defense asked for a 30-day delay of trial, in anticipation of the Supreme Court's "honest services" rulings on July 1. The judge denied the one-month delay. Now, even if the rulings on "honest services" are in Blago's favor, it's too late because the jury will have already heard potentially damaging evidence. Then what is the judge going to say, "All of the past month's worth of evidence...um...there are certain parts you should not take into consideration." Give me a break! A 30-day delay wouldn't have been the end of the world, especially since the Government's case is so airtight!

11. Before the voir dire ever occurred, the judge sent 300 of 400 potential jurors home for "hardship" excuses. Like, "I live with my mom and I don't have a car; therefore, I cannot be here every day." That guy probably got excused.

12. The judge said he'll revisit the defense's request to have Obama testify. Every lawyer knows this means the judge is not going to require the President's presence. Interesting, considering the President issued a "transition-team" memo that specifically stated that he had Rahm Emanuel call the Governor's office to discuss his favorite candidates for the Senate seat.

In spite of the rulings and prosecution's tactics, I believe Rod Blagojevich has the greatest defense lawyers on his side. Be careful, Mr. Fitzgerald: I don't think Lincoln is going to be so quick to roll over in his grave.

Well done, Tamara! The Huffington Post??? My God, woman! You are too talented to be on Arianna's Hollywood Squares!



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_dozens

SEIU's Andy Stern in The Shadows, of Blago's Smile? Watching the Silverfish Scatter

A “labor union official” close to the President (who may be SEIU President Andy Stern) is said to contradict public statements on the case by Obama directly.

Blago's subpoena for President Obama is like turning on a light and watching the silver fish scatter.

Hours before Judge Zagel releases the Santiago Proffer of the Federal Case against the antic former Guv, Andy Stern exited the National scene stage left.

The 'labor Official' should just about prove that Kingmaker Marxist Andy Stern might have exceeded his grasp.

I do not believe that there is any mess on the President's shoes, but those close to the President, like SEIU's Andy Stern, could create a wave of disgust unseen thus far among the President's cheerleaders in the corporate media.

Santiago Proffer's Andy Stern Exits and Valerie Jarrett Waits

Around page seventy - well past the sordid stuff the Blago case gets meaty and stars SEIU's Andy Stern who exited the national scene -for a while -only hours before Judge Zagel granted the release of the Federal Case against former Governor Blagojevich.

He will not get cuffed or jailed for cussing his kids.

He will no doubt dodge sitting in the iron hotel altogether.

He will cause the Obama Administration, Dave Axelrod and Valerie ( Cody) Jarrett no end of trips to the Jumbo Sized Jar of CVS antiacid tablets for couple of spin cycles.

Andy Stern existed stage Left, but he'll be back folks! Big Ed, Rachel Maddow and Milkey Matthews as wellas the Chicago Media will parse and nuance the purple Red back to show-stopping and VAT concocting health.

Take a peak at a few pages 79-85.

On approximately November 3, 2008 (Blagojevich Call #117), Harris told Blagojevich that
Harris had been informed that Barack Obama very much cared about Senate Candidate B and
thought Senate Candidate B would make a good senator. Almost immediately after hearing that
Barack Obama thought Senate Candidate B would make a good senator, Blagojevich indicated he
was interested in getting a position as the Secretary of HHS in exchange for naming Senate
Case 1:08-cr-00888 Document 306 Filed 04/14/10 Page 73 of 91
74
Candidate B as senator. Blagojevich told Harris to research who else had been Secretary of HHS.
Blagojevich also indicated he wanted to leak to the press that he was considering Individual L as a
senate option. Although Blagojevich was not seriously considering Individual L as a senate option,
Blagojevich believed that if those interested in having Senate Candidate B named senator believed
that Blagojevich was, in fact, seriously considering Individual L, then Blagojevich would have
greater leverage to obtain personal benefit in exchange for naming Senate Candidate B as the
senator.
Later on November 3, 2008 (Blagojevich Call #149), Blagojevich talked to Harris again.
During the call, Blagojevich stated his belief that individuals associated with Service Employees
International Union (“SEIU”) were coming to meet with Blagojevich that day to push for Senate
Candidate B’s appointment. During this same conversation, Blagojevich asked when Harris was
going to talk to Individual M. Blagojoevich repeatedly referred to Harris’s conversation with
Individual M as the “off campus discussion.” These conversations were follow-ups to conversations
Blagojevich had with Harris earlier in the summer in which Blagojevich directed Harris to ask
Individual M for Individual M’s campaign fund money in exchange for naming Individual M to the
U.S. Senate Seat. Blagojevich believed that Individual M would provide campaign fund money to
Blagojevich because Individual M could not use the money in a federal election since the rules are
different for Illinois state elections and federal elections.
During this same time period, Blagojevich had several conversations with his wife in which
they discussed job options in addition to Secretary of HHS, such as ambassadorships, that
Blagojevich might be able to get if he named Senate Candidate B to the Senate seat. Blagojevich
expressed significant interest in what these positions paid. Blagojevich specifically tasked Deputy
Case 1:08-cr-00888 Document 306 Filed 04/14/10 Page 74 of 91
75
Governor A with looking into ambassadorships that Blagojevich might be able to obtain in exchange
for naming Senate Candidate B to the senate seat.
On the afternoon of November 3, 2008, Blagojevich met with Labor Union Official and
another representative of SEIU. During the meeting, there was a discussion about a number of
different candidates for the Senate seat. Both SEIU representatives expressed their view that Senate
Candidate B would be a good choice for the Senate seat. Blagojevich stated that he assumed that
if Obama was interested in Senate Candidate B being named to replace Obama, then Obama would
be in touch with Blagojevich.
On November 4, 2008 (Blagojevich Call #218), Blagojevich talked to Deputy Governor A.
Blagojevich complained that Advisor B, a former staffer who continued to advise Blagojevich, had
informed Blagojevich that Blagojevich should not take the Senate seat himself. Blagojevich
complained to Deputy Governor A that Blagojevich’s “upward trajectory” was stalled because of
Obama’s election. Blagojevich told Deputy Governor A that Blagojevich had made “decisions at
the expense of [his] family’s best interests for . . . [his] job as governor.” Blagojevich informed
Deputy Governor A “now is the time for me to put my fucking children and my wife first, for a
change.”
On November 5, 2008 (Blagojevich Call #255), Blagojevich informed Deputy Governor A
that Labor Union Official, who was one of the officials who had met with Blagojevich on November
3, 2008 to discuss the Senate seat, was coming back to meet with Blagojevich to discuss the Senate
seat. Labor Union Official was set to meet with Blagojevich the following day. Blagojevich talked
through jobs he could request in exchange for naming a candidate to the Senate seat and noted that
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none of them would be attainable if it were not for the fact Blagojevich had the right to fill the
Senate seat.
Later on November 5, 2008 (Blagojevich Call #261), Blagojevich talked to Harris. They
discussed what Blagojevich should say to Labor Union Official regarding what Blagojevich wanted
in exchange for naming Senate Candidate B to the Senate seat. Blagojevich practiced with Harris
his statements to Labor Union Official, including suggesting to Labor Union Official that
Blagojevich was interested in naming Individual L to the Senate seat. Blagojevich and Harris
discussed how Blagojevich could “make a play” for a job in Washington. Harris suggested that
Blagojevich tell Labor Union Official that Blagojevich wanted to accommodate the president-elect,
but also wanted to take care of the people of Illinois. Blagojevich responded by stating “Yeah. And,
and, and my, and me, do I say me.” Harris stated “Right, by, by keeping me strong.” Blagojevich
responded to Harris “But I don’t want that. I’m not looking for that. I’d like to get out, the fuck
outta here.” Shortly thereafter, Blagojevich stated that “the objective is to, to get a good gig over
there.” Harris stated that if Blagojevich’s goal was to trade the Senate seat for a job elsewhere, then
Blagojevich needed to “put it on the table” with Labor Union Official. Thereafter, Blagojevich
continued to practice with Harris his statements for his meeting with Labor Union Official.
Shortly thereafter on November 5, 2008 (Blagojevich Call #262), Blagojevich again talked
to Harris. Harris told Blagojevich that Harris did not think that the president-elect would provide
Blagojevich with a cabinet-level job in exchange for naming Senate Candidate B to the Senate.
Thereafter, Blagojevich and Harris discussed whether Blagojevich could get an ambassadorship in
exchange for naming Senate Candidate B to the Senate seat. Blagojevich told Harris to do research
with trading partners of the United States. Blagojevich questioned whether the president-elect could
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do “something big” in the “private sector” for Blagojevich in exchange for the Senate seat.
Blagojevich and Harris then discussed various private sector jobs Blagojevich might want in
exchange for the Senate seat. Blagojevich directed Harris to start researching private foundations
in which Blagojevich could get a job “right away.” In particular, Blagojevich told Harris to “see
what they pay.” Blagojevich told Harris that either Harris or Deputy Governor A should do the
research, but that word should not get around about the project.
Shortly thereafter on November 5, 2008 (Blagojevich Call #263), Blagojevich had a
conversation with Harris and Deputy Governor A. Based on Harris’s prior conversations with
Blagojevich, Harris informed Blagojevich that Harris had told Deputy Governor A that they were
looking for a “reasonable ask” in exchange for the Senate seat that “takes care” of Blagojevich’s
family and keeps Blagojevich’s future political ambitions open. Harris stated they were now looking
at private foundations in which the president-elect might have influence and would not appear to
look like a “deal” for the Senate seat. Harris suggested they look at private foundations that were
“heavily dependent on federal aid.” Deputy Governor A agreed to help with the research and asked
whether Blagojevich was looking for this job now or after Blagojevich left office in 2010.
Blagojevich stated “now.” Deputy Governor A and Harris discussed with Blagojevich various
private foundations about which they were familiar. Blagojevich stated, “something like that would
be great. What does that pay?” Blagojevich suggested to Harris and Deputy Governor A that it was
difficult to see this kind of deal coming together, but told Deputy Governor A and Harris to find the
foundations that SEIU funded. Deputy Governor A agreed that they should find the foundations
SEIU funded because then SEIU could help broker the deal with Blagojevich. Again, Blagojevich
told Deputy Governor A and Harris to “look into those ones that are funded by labor.”
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Later on November 5, 2008 (Blagojevich Call #281), Blagojevich spoke to Advisor B about
Blagojevich’s interest in getting a private foundation job. Blagojevich told Advisor B that SEIU and
the president-elect could remove the head of a particular foundation and give the position to
Blagojevich. Blagojevich told Advisor B that it was unlikely that he would be able to get a cabinet
position in exchange for the Senate seat, but “Health and Human Service would be my . . . I’d take
that in a second.”
Later on November 5, 2008 (Blagojevich Call #284), Blagojevich again spoke with Deputy
Governor A. Deputy Governor A reported back on research he had done for Blagojevich on private
foundations. In particular, Blagojevich asked Deputy Governor A about a particular charitable
organization that they had discussed previously. Deputy Governor A responded “So, it was founded
by two guys one was an entrepreneur.” Blagojevich responded “No, but how much money does the
guy make?” Deputy Governor A told Blagojevich it was hard to find salaries on-line, but Deputy
Governor A was still looking into the issue of pay. Deputy Governor A also informed Blagojevich
that Blagojevich could sit on other boards to make additional money if Blagojevich took a job with
a private foundation. Deputy Governor A stated that the director of one foundation was “on two
corporate boards and makes around $250,000 a year on the, in addition to her salary.” Blagojevich
responded “Yeah, see that’s what we’d want. That’s it.” Deputy Governor A told Blagojevich that
Blagojevich should make clear during the negotiations for the Senate seat that being on other boards
“would be another part of the game.” Blagojevich responded “That’s right.” Blagojevich told
Deputy Governor A to continue to research foundations. Blagojevich then practiced with Deputy
Governor A what Blagojevich would say publicly about certain criteria he was using to fill the
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Senate seat, including the future senator’s position on health care. In fact, Blagojevich was not
using his publicly-stated criteria to fill the Senate seat.
On the morning of November 6, 2008 (Blagojevich Calls #317, 319, and 321), Blagojevich
talked to Harris. Blagojevich had arranged a meeting with Labor Union Official for later that
afternoon. Harris and Blagojevich discussed the meeting with Labor Union Official and how
Blagojevich could ask for what Blagojevich wanted from Labor Union Official. Blagojevich stated
he had heard that Senate Candidate B might be interested in a cabinet-level position. Blagojevich
suggested he tell Labor Union Official that “they’re willing to give [Senate Candidate B] a cabinet
spot so if that’s the case, then give me the cabinet spot and give her, we’ll give her the Senate.”
Later Blagojevich asked whether they should have someone go to Senate Candidate B and tell
Senate Candidate B that if Blagojevich received the Secretary of HHS position, Blagojevich “could
appoint you in a second.” Later in the call, Harris suggested that Blagojevich request a position as
the paid national coordinator for Change To Win, an organization partially funded by SEIU, in
exchange for naming Senate Candidate B to the Senate seat. Harris suggested to Blagojevich that
the Change to Win idea might be better than a private foundation because the Change to Win job
is controlled by SEIU and Blagojevich would not necessarily have to step down as governor to take
it immediately, like he might have to do with a private foundation job. Blagojevich responded that
the Change to Win idea was a “fucking great idea.” Later, Blagojevich stated he would like to be
on some “corporate boards” in addition to taking the Change to Win job. Harris responded that
Harris thought Change to Win would be a full-time job. Blagojevich asked “would I be able to get
a little extra income though.” Harris responded that he did not think Blagojevich would want to sell
himself to SEIU as a part-time employee. Blagojevich responded “No, but if I could sit on a couple
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a boards, that’s not much time, or teach a class.” Later Blagojevich asked how much the Change
to Win job would pay. Harris suggested it probably paid at least what Labor Union Official made
working for SEIU. Blagojevich responded “I betcha he makes, well he lives on the north shore, you
gotta think he makes more than the governor, right?”
Later on November 6, 2008 (Blagojevich Calls #345 and 347), Blagojevich talked to his
wife. Blagojevich informed his wife that Individual N, a wealthy supporter of Blagojevich’s, had
asked for the vacant Senate seat. Blagojevich stated that he “planted” with Individual N the issue
of Blagojevich needing to figure what he was going to do after being governor in relation to the
Senate seat. Blagojevich informed his wife that Blagojevich was meeting with Labor Union Official
that afternoon. Blagojevich talked to his wife about becoming the national director of Change to
Win and that “hopefully you get paid decent.” Blagojevich also informed his wife that Change to
Win would allow him to form a national network of low wage workers to help in his future political
career. During the conversation, Blagojevich’s wife looked up information about Change to Win
on the internet, in part to determine “what they paid their people in 2006.” Blagojevich’s wife had
trouble finding the salary information on-line. Blagojevich responded “Don’t worry about it. Yeah,
that’s, you negotiate that. I’d like a 4-year contract for a million a year or somethin’. . . . Or 750 or
whatever. It’d have to be good. Obama’s got excess money, he just gives them more money.”
Blagojevich told his wife he was not sure the Change to Win idea would happen, but it was one of
several options.
On November 6, 2008, Blagojevich met with Labor Union Official alone. During the
meeting, Labor Union Official advocated that Senate Candidate B be named to the Senate seat. In
response, Blagojevich lied and informed Labor Union Official that Blagojevich was in “active”
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discussions with Individual L and her father about making Individual L the senator. Thereafter,
Blagojevich made clear to Labor Union Official that he would name Senate Candidate B to the
Senate seat in exchange for being named Secretary of HHS. Labor Union Official told Blagojevich
he did not think being named to Secretary of HHS was going to happen.
On November 7, 2008, Blagojevich discussed his request for the Secretary of HHS position
with several individuals, including Advisor B (Blagojevich Call #375). Although Blagojevich still
thought getting the Secretary of HHS was a longshot, he thought that after the meeting with Labor
Union Official the prospect was “a little likelier.” Blagojevich informed Advisor B, “So [Senate
Candidate B’s] holding Health and Human Services and I’m holding a U.S. Senate seat. Okay?
She’s holding hers with two hands, just kind’a clinging to, you know, little pieces of it. Me, I’ve
got the whole thing wrapped around my arms, mine, okay? . . . I’m willing to trade the thing I got
tightly held to her for something she doesn’t hold quite as tightly. How bad do you want what I have
and can you get the other person [Obama] who’s really got the, this, you know, who’s, who had that,
to do it. If you’re her, you’re [Senate Candidate B], I could be a U.S. Senator and a seat I, I can
hold.”
Later on November 7, 2008 (Blagojevich Calls #403, 405, 406, and 408), Blagojevich spoke
to Harris and Advisor A, a political advisor, about, among other things, Blagojevich’s request for
the Secretary of HHS position and the possibility of obtaining a job with Change to Win. Advisor
A suggested that it would be difficult for Blagojevich to obtain a federal government job that would
require Senate confirmation, but that Blagojevich might be able to get a high-ranking federal job that
did not require Senate approval. Blagojevich rejected Advisor A’s suggestion because the other
high-ranking federal jobs did not pay enough money. Advisor A told Blagojevich that Advisor A
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liked the Change to Win idea. Blagojevich asked whether the Change to Win idea was better than
trying to work out a deal to provide the Senate seat to Individual L. Advisor A indicated the Change
to Win idea was better to help Blagojevich financially and his future politically. Blagojevich agreed.
On November 10, 200823/ (Blagojevich Call #451), Blagojevich discussed the Senate seat
on a conference call with a variety of individuals. During the call, Blagojevich stated “Individual
I thinks we can get [Blagojevich’s wife], uh, on some corporate boards, paid corporate boards. What
do you think of that?” Individual I responded “Could Obama help on the private sector [Individual
F], where it wouldn’t be tied to him? . . . So it wouldn’t necessarily look like one for the other but.”
The majority of the call centered around how Blagojevich could use his ability to fill the Senate seat
to help Blagojevich in his post-political career. Blagojevich noted he was not in a position to state
he would not run for re-election again because he still had “to raise money for lawyers. . . .”
Blagojevich was repeatedly told by individuals on the phone call that he needed to make the Senate
pick and good things would happen later, but that he should not expect to receive a particular thing
right now. In response to one of these statements, Blagojevich’s wife stated “I don’t think you live
your life hoping that somebody is gonna help you down the line.” Blagojevich stated “Yeah,” and
Blagojevich’s wife then stated “That’s a bunch of baloney.”
Ultimately, Blagojevich stopped pursuing the Change to Win idea for several reasons. First,
Blagojevich learned that Labor Union Official’s salary was not what Blagojevich had hoped and
therefore a salary at Change to Win would not be at a level that Blagojevich wanted. Second,
Blagojevich became uncertain that a Change to Win job would still be present in 2010 when
Blagojevich left the governorship because the job was dependent on others being willing to give
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him the position several years later. As a result of these concerns, Blagojevich began to conspire
to trade the Senate seat to Senate Candidate B in exchange for millions of dollars in funding for a
501(c)(4) organization that Blagojevich would start from scratch, could control, and would provide
certainty for a well-paying job after Blagojevich was no longer governor.
On November 11, 2008 (Blagojevich Calls #487, 489), Blagojevich mentioned the idea of
a 501(c)(4) to Harris and that it was a place for Blagojevich “to ultimately be” but it would advocate
for health care while Blagojevich was still governor. Later on November 11, 2008 (Blagojevich Call
#493), Blagojevich told Advisor B that the 501(c)(4) would have “a Board that, you know, I’m
comfortable with and then when I’m no longer governor I go over there.” Blagojevich also
suggested to Advisor B that they should see if Individual N would fund the 501(c)(4) in exchange
for the Senate seat.
On November 12, 2008 (Blagojevich Call #521), Blagojevich informed Harris that CNN was
reporting that Senate Candidate B was going to take a position in the White House. Blagojevich and
Harris discussed the prospect that this was just a rumor meant to make it harder for Blagojevich to
negotiate something of value in exchange for naming Senate Candidate B to the Senate seat.
Blagojevich returned to the prospect of asking for millions of dollars in funding for a 501(c)(4) in
exchange for naming Senate Candidate B to the Senate seat. Blagojevich told Harris that
Blagojevich would name the Board of Directors of the organization so it would be controllable while
Blagojevich was still governor, but that the organization would be without a “major player until I
were to go there.” Later, in reference to associates of Senate Candidate A offering Blagojevich
significant amounts of campaign money in exchange for naming Senate Candidate A to the Senate
seat, Blagojevich stated “what [Senate Candidate A] got third parties saying to me is a heck of a lot
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more substantial than what we’re getting from the Obama people, okay?” Blagojevich stated that
his concern with Senate Candidate A is that Blagojevich does not trust Senate Candidate A to come
through with the promise of campaign money. Shortly thereafter, Blagojevich again instructed
Harris to have the “off campus discussion” with Individual M regarding getting campaign funds in
exchange for naming Individual M to the Senate seat.
Later on November 12, 2008 (Blagojevich Calls #533, 535, and 537), Blagojevich spoke to
Advisor A. Blagojevich explained his 501(c)(4) idea to Advisor A and stated it would be a place
for Blagojevich to get a job after he was governor, like Change to Win. Advisor A told Blagojevich
that Advisor A liked Change to Win better because it had “fewer fingerprints.” Blagojevich stated
his concern with Change to Win was that it might not be there in two years while the 501(c)(4) was
something Blagojevich could “control.”
Shortly thereafter on November 12, 2008 (Blagojevich Call #539), Blagojevich talked to
Harris. Harris told Blagojevich that Harris had talked to United States Congressman A and that
Senate Candidate B was, in fact, going to take a position at the White House.
Immediately after learning that Senate Candidate B may have taken herself out of
consideration for the Senate seat, Blagojevich made a direct effort to obtain money for his 501(c)(4)
in exchange for naming Senate Candidate B to the Senate seat. Blagojevich called Labor Union
Official (Blagojevich Call #541). During the call, Blagojevich informed Labor Union Official that
“one thing” Blagojevich would be interested in was the creation of a “501(c)(4)” issue advocacy
organization. Blagojevich stated the organization would be there if he were not governor anymore.
Blagojevich stated that right now it would be run by people he trusts and it would be a health care
organization. Blagojevich told Labor Union Official that certain wealthy individuals could put $10,
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$15, or $20 million into the organization over night. Blagojevich then stated that he and the
organization could “help our new Senator, [Senate Candidate B], go out” and push an agenda. Labor
Union Official understood that Blagojevich was connecting the funding of the 501(c)(4)
organization to Blagojevich naming Senate Candidate B to the Senate. Although Labor Union
Official told Blagojevich that Labor Union Official would get back to Blagojevich regarding
Blagojevich’s request for money, Labor Union Official never did.
Thereafter, in a series of a calls on November 12, 2008, Blagojevich indicated that his choice
to fill the Senate seat was based on three criteria. In order, Blagojevich indicated his first criterion
was his “legal” situation, which he further indicated was the picking of a candidate whose
appointment might help Blagojevich with his current legal situation in relation to the ongoing federal
criminal investigation into Blagojevich’s actions. At times, Blagojevich indicated that naming
himself the senator would help fit his “legal” criterion because Blagojevich believed he was less
likely to be indicted if he was in Washington D.C. and because, as a Senator, he would have a
“voice” in who the U.S. Attorney was for the Northern District of Illinois, although he would have
to “officially” recuse himself from the decision. Blagojevich’s second criterion was his “personal”
situation, which Blagojevich repeatedly indicated was premised on his and his family’s financial
well being. Blagojevich’s third criterion was his “political” situation.
Later on November 12, 2008 (Blagojevich Call #594), Blagojevich talked to Robert
Blagojevich about filling the Senate seat. Regarding filling the Senate seat, Robert Blagojevich
stated his advice was that Blagojevich “make sure it’s tit for tat, man you get something. I wouldn’t
give anything away.”
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After Blagojevich learned that Senate Candidate B was going to the White House,
Blagojevich still believed that there were several candidates favored by Obama to fill the Senate
vacancy and that Blagojevich might still be able to personally profit from a deal for the Senate seat.
On November 13, 2008, Blagojevich participated in several calls with Advisor B in which
he continued to push his idea of obtaining funding for a 501(c)(4) in exchange for naming a
candidate favored by Obama to the Senate vacancy. In one call on November 13, 2008 (Blagojevich
Call #624), Blagojevich stated that if Senate Candidate B could still get the Senate seat, Blagojevich
thought she would take it. Blagojevich informed Advisor B that Blagojevich had mentioned his
501(c)(4) idea to Labor Union Official. Blagojevich suggested he still might have leverage to get
what he wanted for the Senate seat because Obama would not want Blagojevich to take the Senate
seat himself.
Later on November 13, 2008 (Blagojevich Call #627), Blagojevich again spoke with Advisor
B. Blagojevich asked Advisor B to reach out to Lobbyist A, who Blagojevich knew to have a
friendship with United States Congressman A, to have Lobbyist A pass a message to United States
Congressman A that Blagojevich wanted help with the funding of a 501(c)(4). During the call,
Blagojevich stated, “the mission for Lobbyist A is to, essentially put it in [United States
Congressman A’s] head that we would like them to help us, you know, fund it.” In response,
Advisor B stated that while it was not said, this was “a play to put in play others.” Blagojevich
responded that what Advisor B was saying was “correct.” It was clear to Advisor B that Blagojevich
was saying that Blagojevich wanted to communicate to United States Congressman A that the
funding of the 501(c)(4) would get Obama the person he wanted in the Senate.