[Rhodes22-list] Illinois Governor Arrested for Corruption

[Brad Haslett]

Merry Fitzmas and Happy RICO Year!

On the first day of Christmas my good pals gave to me:
One Senate seat for sale

On the second day of Christmas my good pals sent to me:
Two defense attorneys and one Senate seat for sale

On the third day of Christmas my good pals sent to me:
Three dead voters, two defense attorneys and one Senate seat for sale

On the fourth day of Christmas my good pals sent to me:
Four hired trucks, three dead voters, two defense attorneys and one
Senate seat for sale

On the fifth day of Christmas my good pals sent to me:
Five no bid contracts, four hired trucks, three dead voters, two
defense attorneys and one Senate seat for sale

On the sixth day of Christmas my good pals sent to me:
Six real estate transactions, five no bid contracts, four hired
trucks, three dead voters, two defense attorneys and one Senate seat
for sale

On the seventh day of Christmas my good pals sent to me:
Seven tax hikes, six real estate transactions, five no bid contracts,
four hired trucks, three dead voters, two defense attorneys and one
Senate seat for sale

On the eighth day of Christmas my good pals sent to me:
Eight patronage workers, seven tax hikes, six real estate
transactions, five no bid contracts, four hired trucks, three dead
voters, two defense attorneys and one Senate seat for sale

On the ninth day of Christmas my good pals sent to me:
Nine bleeped out cuss words, eight patronage workers, seven tax hikes,
six real estate transactions, five no bid contracts, four hired
trucks, three dead voters, two defense attorneys and one Senate seat
for sale

On the tenth day of Christmas my good pals sent to me:
Ten rolls of toilet paper, nine bleeped out cuss words, eight
patronage workers, seven tax hikes, six real estate transactions, five
no bid contracts, four hired trucks, three dead voters, two defense
attorneys and one Senate seat for sale

On the eleventh day of Christmas my good pals sent to me:

Eleven socialist programs, ten rolls of toilet paper, nine bleeped out
cuss words, eight patronage workers, seven tax hikes, six real estate
transactions, five no bid contracts, four hired trucks, three dead
voters, two defense attorneys and one Senate seat for sale

On the twelfth day of Christmas my good pals sent to me:
Twelve Angry General Assemblymen, eleven socialist programs, ten rolls
of toilet paper, nine bleeped out cuss words, eight patronage workers,
seven tax hikes, six real estate transactions, five no bid contracts,
four hired trucks, three dead voters, two defense attorneys and one
Senate seat for sale

On Sun, Dec 21, 2008 at 11:19 AM, Bill Effros <bill at effros.com> wrote:
> Blago has to be indicted.  Fitz forced his own hand in this one, and I
> think he did it on purpose because it makes it MUCH tougher to fire Fitz.
>
> Blago can't be impeached without bringing down 2/3 of the Illinois
> legislature.  They're all on tape, too, and they're all hoping to be
> little enough fish to swim away if they behave.
>
> I'm sure Blago's lawyer is advising them of their ... rights.
>
> It is impossible for the current legislature to impeach Blago because
> there isn't enough time, even if Blago doesn't put up a fight. So they
> would have to start all over again next year. I think they're hoping to
> be told by Fitz to leave Blago to him--that he'll take care of it this
> Spring.
>
> That leaves how to fill Obama's seat.  The Democrats don't want an
> election on this matter, and they seem to have said they won't accept
> Blago's choice.  I'm sure there is a lot of negotiating going on
> regarding this matter.  It will be interesting to see the outcome.
> Blago may say he won't appoint anyone until the outcome of his trial,
> which he will seek to repeatedly delay.
>
> The more people who say "let's leave this to Fitz" the harder it gets
> for Obama to fire him. MSM is starting to post material on the web that
> simply wasn't there 2 months ago.  We said the noose was tightening on
> Blago 9 months ago, and there was just nothing he could do about it
> except continue doing business as usual.  Now it's tightening on Obama,
> as well.  9 months ago Blago said the Rezko indictment exonerated him.
>
> Bill Effros
>
>
>
> Brad Haslett wrote:
>> Bill,
>>
>> Funny you mention Giannoulias, I've said all along he's the one guy
>> (actually his family's bank) that has the audit trail to tie
>> everything and everyone together.  Fitz will bring him in eventually
>> for a chat. No one in the MSM wants to address the 900 pound gorilla
>> in the room.  Every talking head is mimicking each other, "Fitz
>> exonerated Obama!"  Yada, yada, yada.  Quite the contrary is true,
>> everything Blago has done is exactly the same things The One has done.
>>  Even impeaching Blago is going to be a slippery slope because the
>> impeachable offenses will apply to Obama. My guess is that as Blago
>> goes, so goes Obama.  I'm not so sure Blago will go down at this
>> point.  If you were The One what would you do?  I'd follow your
>> suggestion - fire Fritz and take the heat.  It sure beats the other
>> options he's facing.
>>
>> Brad
>>
>> On Sun, Dec 21, 2008 at 9:55 AM, Bill Effros <bill at effros.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Brad,
>>>
>>> Point of Interest.  The actual Bojangles was a white guy.  The song was
>>> written by Jerry Jeff Walker, a white guy.  He was in a drunk tank in
>>> New Orleans.  They had segregated jails at the time.
>>>
>>> There is a pattern to Fitzgerald's prosecutions.  He makes sure he's
>>> "gotcha" before he indicts.  I don't think anybody has gotten off since
>>> he started -- at least, I'm not aware of anyone getting off. He had
>>> everything he needed on Blago before he indicted Rezko.  He just needed
>>> Rezko to tie the bows, and he likes a new "star witness" every time
>>> around.  Then he uses as many of the previous "star witnesses" as he
>>> feels he needs to insure the conviction.
>>>
>>> He would have put Obama on the stand for the Rezko trial if he felt he
>>> needed the testimony.  Obviously, he didn't need it.
>>>
>>> The defendants' lawyers then posture before the jury as the FBI and
>>> witness after witness who wore wires detail the indicted crimes.  The
>>> defense lawyers try to impeach the witnesses (after all, most of them
>>> ARE convicted crooks who have made deals with the government for lighter
>>> sentences) and tells the jury the defendant will take the stand to
>>> explain what REALLY happened.
>>>
>>> When Fitz is done, the defense attorney tells the jury the case was not
>>> proved, and the defense feels no need to present its side of the case.
>>>
>>> The defendant then starts singing either before or after the jury
>>> verdict, but almost always before sentencing.
>>>
>>> Why doesn't the defense present any witnesses at all?  Because Fitz has
>>> let it be known he will indict witnesses for perjury if they lie on the
>>> stand--and that includes the defendant.  Only the defense attorney can
>>> say things in court he knows are not true.
>>>
>>> Blago will posture and stay in power for as long as he can.  His
>>> attorney is surely negotiating a deal as we speak.  The only 2 important
>>> pieces left in this puzzle are Obama and Daley. Harris has the goods on
>>> Daley.  Blago has the goods on Obama--Obama's campaign was initially
>>> funded by Blago, Rezko, Ata, Kelly, Levine, Daley, Giannoulias, Davis
>>> etc.  Look at Obama's Senate Earmarks to learn where his funding came from.
>>>
>>> Second Point of Interest:  Did you know Carol Mosley Braun was also an
>>> attorney at Davis Miner?  What an incredible coincidence!  2 black
>>> Senators from Illinois from the same tiny law firm whose main client was
>>> convicted political fixer Antoin Rezko.
>>>
>>> My, my, my.
>>>
>>> Bill Effros
>>>
>>> Brad Haslett wrote:
>>>
>>>> Bill,
>>>>
>>>> First, Axlerod says The One has been talking to Blago, then the
>>>> transition team says no, Axlerod is being "inartful".  Put him under
>>>> oath, that'll solve the problem.  Word on the street is that "Hail to
>>>> the Chief" is being replaced by "Bojangles". I'm putting my money on
>>>> two years down the road, that's how long it will take for Blago to
>>>> tire of wearing a skirt and start singing like Rezko.
>>>>
>>>> Brad
>>>>
>>>> -----------------
>>>>
>>>> MR. OBJANGLES
>>>>
>>>> I knew a man, Objangles, and he danced for me
>>>> In worn out new deal shoes.
>>>> With short hair, a flashy shirt and fancy pants,
>>>> The old new deal soft shoe.
>>>> He tap danced so high, tap danced so high, then he lightly touched down.
>>>> I met him in a ward in Chicago, I was
>>>> So down and out.
>>>> He looked at me to be the Messiah of the age,
>>>> As he spoke right out.
>>>> He talked of hope, he talked of change. He laughed, clicked heels instead.
>>>> Mister Objangles
>>>> Mister Objangles
>>>> Mister Objangles
>>>>
>>>> Dance!
>>>>
>>>> On Wed, Dec 10, 2008 at 12:14 AM, Bill Effros <bill at effros.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> PS --
>>>>>
>>>>> Here is something else he actually did say:
>>>>>
>>>>> "We're not going to end corruption in Illinois by arrests and
>>>>> indictments alone.  What's going to make the difference is when people
>>>>> who are approached to pay-to-play first say no, and second report it."
>>>>>
>>>>> I believe he was talking to Mr. Obama, and I don't think this is the
>>>>> last we'll hear on this topic.
>>>>>
>>>>> Bill Effros
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Slim,
>>>>>
>>>>> That's not what he said.
>>>>>
>>>>> What he said was that Obama is not mentioned "IN THIS INDICTMENT."
>>>>>
>>>>> That is true.
>>>>>
>>>>> But, as you know if you follow him, old Fitz likes to amend indictments
>>>>> as he goes.
>>>>>
>>>>> "The Press" keeps getting the story totally wrong.  Obama has already
>>>>> started to dissemble.
>>>>>
>>>>> The New York Times already has its facts wrong:  "There is nothing in
>>>>> the criminal complaint unsealed Tuesday to indicate that Mr. Obama knew
>>>>> anything about plans to seek money and favors in exchange for his Senate
>>>>> seat; he has never been implicated in any other "pay to play" cases that
>>>>> have emerged from the long-running investigation of the Blagojevich
>>>>> administration."
>>>>>
>>>>> This is wrong on both counts.  Valerie Jarrett is Candidate A in the
>>>>> indictment.  She was Obama's choice to get his seat.  The Obama camp
>>>>> refused to pay Blagojevich for the nomination and she dropped out of the
>>>>> running.  Obama knew Blagojevich was seeking money and favors, he chose
>>>>> only to not pay -- I'm not sure, but I think he was required to report
>>>>> the extortion attempt. Fitz doesn't indict on judgment calls like this.
>>>>> Obama certainly was implicated in other "pay to play" cases involving
>>>>> the Blagojevich administration.  He came up repeatedly in the Rezko
>>>>> trial.  The FBI has been following him almost from the day he entered
>>>>> the Senate.  He was named in a previous indictment.  He was listed as a
>>>>> potential witness in the Rezko trial.
>>>>>
>>>>> When Mohammad Ata flipped at the end of the Rezko trial, Fitz no longer
>>>>> needed Obama on the stand, and didn't call him.
>>>>>
>>>>> Rezko complained to the judge that Fitz was pressuring him to implicate
>>>>> Obama.  He refused to do so before the jury verdict.  Now he is cooperating.
>>>>>
>>>>> Obama is in this up to his ears.  The house was a bribe.  Stuart Levine
>>>>> described exactly how the bribing was accomplished, as did several
>>>>> others who testified in the Rezko trial.  Thanks to the Patriot Act, the
>>>>> FBI was able to follow $20,000 worth of extorted money from the accounts
>>>>> of people who testified, into Obama's political action committee
>>>>> accounts.  This is twice the threshold amount for a federal indictment.
>>>>>
>>>>> Fitz doesn't have all the Obama ducks lined up just yet, so he didn't
>>>>> indict him just yet.  But he didn't say there is no implication of Obama
>>>>> whatsoever at this time.  In fact he has said just the opposite.
>>>>>
>>>>> Bill Effros
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Steven Alm wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> I think Fitz is the most intelligent, straight-talking and honest man man in
>>>>>> the theater.  I believe everything he says.  He is saying there's no
>>>>>> implication of Obama whatsoever at this time.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Bill, what do you know to the contrary?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Slim
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Tue, Dec 9, 2008 at 6:32 PM, Bill Effros <bill at effros.com> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Jb,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Patrick Fitzgerald is relentless.  And patient.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> He just rolls from one to the next.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Ben C. believes Obama has promised he will not replace Fitzgerald until
>>>>>>> "Operation Board Games" is complete.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Blagojevich has been described as a sociopath.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Fitzgerald already has the goods on Obama, and he knows it.  But he
>>>>>>> likes to wait until there is no question he will get convictions.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Even though Nixon fired the special prosecutor, he still had to resign
>>>>>>> in the end.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I can't believe Fitzgerald will stop short of the top prize.  The only
>>>>>>> question in my mind is whether he can get Daley.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Obama left fingerprints all over the place.  I don't know of any Daley
>>>>>>> has left. We are in for interesting times.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Bill Effros
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> PS -- Just saw that Blagojevich's co-conspirator in this indictment is a
>>>>>>> former Daley guy, so the only question for now is who they are going
>>>>>>> after next.  By all accounts I've seen, it's Obama.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> JbTek wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> It is just a matter of time before Obama is indicted and impeached.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Bill,
>>>>>>>> I don't think so.
>>>>>>>>  If there is anything that would keep him from POTUS, the Clinton machine
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> or
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> the Republican machine would have exposed it before the primary or
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> election,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> not after. The press isn't going to do it.
>>>>>>>> Jb
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>>>> From: "Bill Effros" <bill at effros.com>
>>>>>>>> To: "The Rhodes 22 Email List" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>>>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2008 3:18 PM
>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Illinois Governor Arrested for Corruption
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Jb,
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> This was contained in the Rezko indictment, and the information was made
>>>>>>>>> public during the Rezko trial.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Also contained in the indictment and released during the trial was the
>>>>>>>>> fact that Barack Obama was under investigation for involvement in the
>>>>>>>>> same matters.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> It is just a matter of time before Obama is indicted and impeached.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Bill Effros
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> JbTek wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Federal prosecutors have investigated Blagojevich's administration for
>>>>>>>>>> at least three years. They've been looking at everything from how he
>>>>>>>>>> hired people for state jobs to the actions of friends and contributors.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> So why did it take 3 years to arrest this guy when he has been doing
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> this
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> stuff the whole time, and they knew it.
>>>>>>>>>> Jb
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>>>>>> From: "Bill Effros" <bill at effros.com>
>>>>>>>>>> To: "R22 List" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>>>>>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2008 8:08 AM
>>>>>>>>>> Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Illinois Governor Arrested for Corruption
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> December 9, 2008
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>   Illinois Governor Arrested for Corruption
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> CHICAGO (AP) — An official says Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich
>>>>>>>>>>> (bluh-GOY'-uh-vich) has been arrested in Chicago on corruption charges
>>>>>>>>>>> stemming from the selection of the successor to President-elect Barack
>>>>>>>>>>> Obama's U.S. Senate seat.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> U.S. Attorney's office spokesman Randall Samborn says both Blagojevich
>>>>>>>>>>> and his chief of staff John Harris were arrested Tuesday. Authorities
>>>>>>>>>>> aren't yet releasing details about those charges. However, a federal
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> law
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> enforcement official tells The Associated Press the governor is
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> accused
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> of corruption charges. The official says the charges stem from the
>>>>>>>>>>> selection process of a successor to Obama.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Federal prosecutors have investigated Blagojevich's administration for
>>>>>>>>>>> at least three years. They've been looking at everything from how he
>>>>>>>>>>> hired people for state jobs to the actions of friends and
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> contributors.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> __________________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
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