Comments on: Rahm and “that 5th CD Thing” http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2008/12/19/rahm-and-that-5th-cd-thing/ Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:24:25 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Leen http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2008/12/19/rahm-and-that-5th-cd-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-121968 Leen Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:02:52 +0000 http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2008/12/19/rahm-and-that-5th-cd-thing/#comment-121968 <p>If Bush pardons all involved including himself…what a message. The U.S. government one of the most corrupt on the planet.</p> If Bush pardons all involved including himself…what a message. The U.S. government one of the most corrupt on the planet.

]]> By: raina http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2008/12/19/rahm-and-that-5th-cd-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-121735 raina Sat, 20 Dec 2008 20:34:45 +0000 http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2008/12/19/rahm-and-that-5th-cd-thing/#comment-121735 <p>Let me correct myself - the Sun-Times article said Emanuel spoke to Blago to tell him he accepted the Chief of Staff position, not to resign his seat.</p> Let me correct myself – the Sun-Times article said Emanuel spoke to Blago to tell him he accepted the Chief of Staff position, not to resign his seat.

]]> By: raina http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2008/12/19/rahm-and-that-5th-cd-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-121734 raina Sat, 20 Dec 2008 20:32:11 +0000 http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2008/12/19/rahm-and-that-5th-cd-thing/#comment-121734 <p>A recent article in the Chicago Sun-Times quoted an unnamed source, I believe from Emanuel or Obama camp, claiming the only time Emanuel spoke to Blago recently was to resign his seat. </p> <p>I posted this link to Crain’s/Greg Hinz column in another thread, but I think it’s more relevant to this one:</p> <p><a href="http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/article.pl?page_id=2308&plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3A1daca073-2eab-468e-9f19-ec177090a35cPost%3Af6ded055-86fa-4178-a7e6-6474a8ba5f01&sid=sitelife.chicagobusiness.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.chicagobusiness.com.....siness.com</a></p> <p>A governor appointing a Congressional seat thereby denying the vote would raise all sorts of questions, especially this governor and this seat. I can see Blago being willing to take a risk like this; he’s got nothing to lose, something to gain and he doesn’t seem that bright, to say the least. But would Emanuel, especially when he has the money and clout to support someone who could actually get elected, or when the possibility of redistricting exists, as mentioned in the Hinz column? </p> <p>I think a more plausible scenario is Emanuel was discussing the option of supporting someone who would be willing to give up the seat when he left the White House so he could run for re-election, and Blago got wind of it and looked for a way to insert himself into the situation so he could get something out of it.</p> A recent article in the Chicago Sun-Times quoted an unnamed source, I believe from Emanuel or Obama camp, claiming the only time Emanuel spoke to Blago recently was to resign his seat.

I posted this link to Crain’s/Greg Hinz column in another thread, but I think it’s more relevant to this one:

http://www.chicagobusiness.com…..siness.com

A governor appointing a Congressional seat thereby denying the vote would raise all sorts of questions, especially this governor and this seat. I can see Blago being willing to take a risk like this; he’s got nothing to lose, something to gain and he doesn’t seem that bright, to say the least. But would Emanuel, especially when he has the money and clout to support someone who could actually get elected, or when the possibility of redistricting exists, as mentioned in the Hinz column?

I think a more plausible scenario is Emanuel was discussing the option of supporting someone who would be willing to give up the seat when he left the White House so he could run for re-election, and Blago got wind of it and looked for a way to insert himself into the situation so he could get something out of it.

]]> By: Mary http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2008/12/19/rahm-and-that-5th-cd-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-121725 Mary Sat, 20 Dec 2008 20:17:29 +0000 http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2008/12/19/rahm-and-that-5th-cd-thing/#comment-121725 <p>20 - the droppoing and cramming they typing in when I was trying to do something else makes it pretty garbledy, but I do agree with you on the “bridge too far” likelihood for the politicized court - but I think it is the correct, normal approach on construction and should be made. You actually might, possibly, conceivably, end up with Scalia opting in favor of not allowing a President to order abrogation of the Consitution in secret and then granting 11th hour pardons, but likely not. He’d probaby take it all as an opportunity to excoriate Congress for not doing what they were supposed to with impeachments, and leave that as the remedy. But even if they had proceeded with impeachment, pardons are always quicker than the impeachment process and abuses involving classification of criminal behaviour will always make it hard for Congress to act timely, especially when the Courts acquiesce in the classification without review. </p> <p>So basically I think the arguments against the ability to pardon those he directed to commit crimes are solid and correct, but I have no faith in anyone ever having a forum where they can make them (I don’t think Obama’s DOJ will go there) - I pretty much have no confidence in the process anymore.</p> 20 – the droppoing and cramming they typing in when I was trying to do something else makes it pretty garbledy, but I do agree with you on the “bridge too far” likelihood for the politicized court – but I think it is the correct, normal approach on construction and should be made. You actually might, possibly, conceivably, end up with Scalia opting in favor of not allowing a President to order abrogation of the Consitution in secret and then granting 11th hour pardons, but likely not. He’d probaby take it all as an opportunity to excoriate Congress for not doing what they were supposed to with impeachments, and leave that as the remedy. But even if they had proceeded with impeachment, pardons are always quicker than the impeachment process and abuses involving classification of criminal behaviour will always make it hard for Congress to act timely, especially when the Courts acquiesce in the classification without review.

So basically I think the arguments against the ability to pardon those he directed to commit crimes are solid and correct, but I have no faith in anyone ever having a forum where they can make them (I don’t think Obama’s DOJ will go there) – I pretty much have no confidence in the process anymore.

]]> By: BooRadley http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2008/12/19/rahm-and-that-5th-cd-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-121651 BooRadley Sat, 20 Dec 2008 10:20:38 +0000 http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2008/12/19/rahm-and-that-5th-cd-thing/#comment-121651 <p>Mary, many thanks for the OT, very helpful in understanding where we’re going.</p> Mary, many thanks for the OT, very helpful in understanding where we’re going.

]]> By: Taechan http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2008/12/19/rahm-and-that-5th-cd-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-121632 Taechan Sat, 20 Dec 2008 04:02:43 +0000 http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2008/12/19/rahm-and-that-5th-cd-thing/#comment-121632 <p>Could Blago simply refuse to accept his resignation? Where would that leave Rahm?</p> Could Blago simply refuse to accept his resignation? Where would that leave Rahm?

]]> By: bmaz http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2008/12/19/rahm-and-that-5th-cd-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-121630 bmaz Sat, 20 Dec 2008 03:50:10 +0000 http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2008/12/19/rahm-and-that-5th-cd-thing/#comment-121630 <p>Trash up.</p> Trash up.

]]> By: JimWhite http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2008/12/19/rahm-and-that-5th-cd-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-121629 JimWhite Sat, 20 Dec 2008 03:41:21 +0000 http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2008/12/19/rahm-and-that-5th-cd-thing/#comment-121629 <p>OT: I put up a link last night to a memo from Waxman summarizing his digging on the Bush State of the Union claim that Iraq was seeking uranium. After reading the memo in more detail today, I came away with respect for Jami Miscik. I then did more reading about her and wrote an <a href="http://oxdown.firedoglake.com/diary/2555" rel="nofollow">Oxdown</a> where I suggest she might make a good DCI. I welcome feedback on that idea.</p> OT: I put up a link last night to a memo from Waxman summarizing his digging on the Bush State of the Union claim that Iraq was seeking uranium. After reading the memo in more detail today, I came away with respect for Jami Miscik. I then did more reading about her and wrote an Oxdown where I suggest she might make a good DCI. I welcome feedback on that idea.

]]> By: emptywheel http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2008/12/19/rahm-and-that-5th-cd-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-121628 emptywheel Sat, 20 Dec 2008 03:13:02 +0000 http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2008/12/19/rahm-and-that-5th-cd-thing/#comment-121628 <p>Yup. </p> <p>What would be really interested is if Blago started threatening to fuck with Rahmbo’s plans if he didn’t get something.</p> <p>Non-monetary, of course, just like Fitz said was increasingly discussed after he was refused a job.</p> Yup.

What would be really interested is if Blago started threatening to fuck with Rahmbo’s plans if he didn’t get something.

Non-monetary, of course, just like Fitz said was increasingly discussed after he was refused a job.

]]> By: bmaz http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2008/12/19/rahm-and-that-5th-cd-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-121627 bmaz Sat, 20 Dec 2008 03:11:32 +0000 http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2008/12/19/rahm-and-that-5th-cd-thing/#comment-121627 <p>Doesn’t mean he couldn’t have been discussing the issue though.</p> Doesn’t mean he couldn’t have been discussing the issue though.

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