Beachwood Reporter Details Blago T'aint as Much Tainted as Illinois - The Besmeared Realities of Progressive Politics

Steve Rhodes did a real nice summary of the Obama Internal Whitewash - 'We did NOT inhale'- the fumes of Stinky Politics. But Illinois has been Smoke Free for a Year Now! Progressive Nanny Staters sent Old Man Tobacco the Way of Demon Rum and Effective Government!

That is Progressive. You see Progressive Political Reality is this - 'We can not win an election more than three hundred yards from the Lakefront without the 'Old Timey Saloon Keeper' methods, but we like to stand far and away from them and allow the Machinery to get us in.' Take politics out of the smoke-filled back rooms of the saloons and a Commonwealth akin to Sesame Street ( brought to you by grant from the MacArthur Center for Justice) will grass-root itself and make Teutopolis, Carmi, Rock Island, Ottawa, Papineau, and Coal City, IL virtual Hyde Parks.

Prohibit the rights of citizens by legislative fiat and Free Illinois!

Reform Crusaders, like Mike Quigley, Joe Moore, Ed Smith love to Prohibit and yet they always require old school Ward operatives of the smoke filled room variety to get out the vote and then Mike, Joe, and Ed can sink their Progressive incisors deeply into the hands that passed out the palm cards on election in the Chicago Media, once re-elected.

President Elect Barack Obama's political life was made possible from a grant of the local Ward Committeemen.

Now the chickens have come home to roost. No one within spitting distance of local Chicago politics is shocked or surprised, but propriety and the solemnity of the up-coming Change is Hope Inauguration on January 20th dictates a whiff a smelling salts in public. 'Saul, Saul why have you forsaken us!'

Beachwood Reporter's Steve Rhodes offers a nice redaction and commentary on the explosively obvious Obama Whitewash - 'We're Okay!'

"Obama also said 'he had no interest in dictating the results of the selection process and he would not do so, either directly or indirectly through staff or others,' the report said, adding that Whitaker relayed that information to Peters."

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But we know that Obama indeed did try to influence the selection process.

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Then again, if Jarrett bailed because the process was dirty, why this?

"After Jarrett removes herself from consideration from the Senate seat, Obama discusses other qualified candidates with Emanuel and Obama adviser Axelrod, including U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., state Comptroller Dan Hynes and Illinois Veterans Affairs Director Tammy Duckworth. Obama understands that Emanuel will relay these names to Blagojevich's office."

And again, if Obama "understands" that Emanuel will relay these names to Blagojevich's office, how is that not trying to influence the selection process?

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"But the report, when meshed with allegations in Blagojevich's criminal complaint, portrays Jarrett as being far more involved in seeking to be appointed to the Senate than has been previously known," the Sun-Times reports. "She removed herself from consideration after a conversation with a union official who had spoken with Blagojevich."

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Emanuel listened to at least one recording, according to an AP report.

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"Blagojevich, the complaint indicates, met with Balanoff around Nov. 5, at which time the governor understood Balanoff 'was an emissary' to discuss Jarrett's interest in the Senate seat."

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"'Though their conversation would seem to suggest that Blagojevich - who holds the sole power to appoint Obama's replacement - was seeking a quid pro quo, 'Ms. Jarrett did not understand the conversation to suggest that the governor wanted the cabinet seat as a quid pro quo for selecting any specific candidate to be the President-elect's replacement,' the Obama report states."

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"Obama, who has downplayed his role in the Senate selection process, 'believed it appropriate to provide the names of multiple candidates to be considered," according to the report."

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"Unlike other contenders, who went hat-in-hand to Blagojevich - under an ethics cloud even before he was arrested Dec. 9 on public corruption charges - Jarrett did not approach the governor directly. I can see why. Would have been off message," Lynn Sweet writes.

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In other words, don't taint the image with reality.

Thank God and Greyhound the Obama linens are unsoiled!

Rod Blagojevich is the Governor of Illinois. He was keel-hauled immediately after the election of President Elect Obama by Federal Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald - the all purpose bleach of the life political in Illinois. I feel that Fitzy might have pulled the trigger too quickly on Gov. Rod.

The Guv is the same guy who appeared to be as nutty as a Stuckey's Log when he ran against Paul Vallas in 2002. In fact, he just might be a little more restrained these days; however, the politically expedient in Illinois took a shine to young Milorad:

Here's my 'guy who gets the news with the other guys at Kean Gas at 5AM' political scratch sheet from Wikipedia:

In 2002, Blagojevich ran for his party's nomination to become governor. Blagojevich won a close primary campaign against former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris, whose base was largely African-American voters,[citation needed] and Chicago Public Schools Superintendent Paul Vallas, who ran well in the suburban "collar" counties of Chicago.[citation needed] Blagojevich finished strongly in southern Illinois, winning 55% of the primary vote downstate, enough to win a primary victory by a thin margin.[16]

During the primary, state Senator Barack Obama backed former Attorney General Burris, but supported Blagojevich after he won the primary at Burris' suggestion,[21] serving as a "top adviser" for the general election.[22] Future Obama senior adviser David Axelrod had previously worked with Blagojevich on Congressional campaigns, but did not consider Blagojevich ready to be governor and declined to work for him on this campaign.[22] According to Rahm Emanuel, he, Barack Obama, Blagojevich's campaign co-chair David Wilhelm, and another Blagojevich staffer "were the top strategists of Blagojevich's 2002 gubernatorial victory," meeting weekly to outline campaign strategies.[22] However, Wilhelm has said that Emanuel overstated Obama's role in the sessions, and Emanuel said in December 2008 that Wilhelm was correct and he had been wrong in his earlier 2008 recollection to The New Yorker.[22] ( emphasis my own - to point out the incidental 'well-lookee here' on future U.S. Senator Roland Burris of Illinois - The Land of Linens)

In the [general election, Blagojevich defeated Republican Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan.[16] Blagojevich's campaign was helped by his connected father-in-law, Chicago alderman Richard Mell.[16] Ethics scandals had plagued the previous administration of Republican George Ryan (no relation to Jim), and Blagojevich's campaign focused on the theme of "ending business as usual" in state government.[23] Polls prior to the election found that many Illinois voters were confused about the names of George Ryan and Jim Ryan, a fact Blagojevich capitalized on.[24] He asked, "How can you replace one Ryan with another Ryan and call that change? You want change? Elect a guy named Blagojevich."[24] Blagojevich won with 52% of the vote over Jim Ryan.[24] On election night, he said: “Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, Illinois has voted for change.” [23]

A Cornucopia of Progressive endorsements hailed Blago into the Governorship. SEIU opened its huge wallet! Progress Illinois! Hail Rod! Hail Progress! Hail Storms!

Yep, Change one set of soiled linens for the breezy fresh Progressive new ones - Oh, wait them undies is soiled as well!

Walp!

1. Gov. Rod Blagojevich is the Governor of Illinois and he is Constitutionally ( large 'C' as in Illinois Con and not small 'c' as in capable)empowered to appoint the next U.S. Senator.

2. Roland Burris will be the next the U.S. Senator.

3. None of this stuff is new or shocking.

4. Blagojevich will most likely be impeached, but will probably waltz on the charges brought on by Fitzy.

5. Politics needs to be purged of Progressive influence and returned to effective career politicians.

6. Smoke-filled back rooms are essential to the conduct of good government and effective government services - time to lift the smoking ban. Either that, or require that Lisa Madigan, Barbara Flynn-Curry, Mary Flowers and the the other solid women in politics take up dipping Copenhagen and gnawing chaws of Red Man.