Excerpt
Wyma said he already was set to meet with the FBI when he was unnerved by the talk at two fundraising meetings he attended in early October. Blagojevich was stoking up pressure to stockpile money because a new ethics law would soon rein in his ability to raise donations from companies doing business with the state — a fertile avenue for cash.
At several points, Wyma said, Blagojevich appeared to link spending on certain state projects to campaign cash from donors likely to benefit from the state help.
"If they don't perform, (expletive) 'em," Blagojevich allegedly told Wyma at one point.
At a meeting Oct. 8, Wyma said Children's Memorial Hospital came up. The governor, Wyma said, mentioned how he had recently been called by former Cubs manager and ex-hospital board member Dusty Baker about raising Medicaid reimbursement rates to pediatric specialists at the hospital by at least $8 million.
The hospital had been seeking the boost for years. Wyma said Blagojevich told him he was going to give the go-ahead — but with a caveat. The governor wanted Children's CEO Patrick Magoon to kick in a $50,000 donation to his campaign, Wyma said.
"He was going to give the hospital 8 million bucks and he wanted to get Magoon for 50," Wyma testified the governor said.
Wyma said he raised cautionary flags, telling the governor he should wait to put distance between the rate hike and the fundraising request.
"What do you mean wait?" Wyma said Blagojevich asked. "How long? Ten days?"
It took one year, two independent counsels, and tens of thousands of Alaska taxpayer dollars to conclude that former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin did nothing wrong in connection with a legal defense fund created to pay legal fees resulting from allegations related to her service as governor. Indeed, the story of the endless harassment of Sarah Palin is incredible.
As background, in August 2008, GOP Presidential nominee Sen. John McCain shocked the political world when he selected then Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his Vice Presidential running mate. Her selection triggered an avalanche of meritless "ethics complaints." Unfortunately, the choices for dealing with such politically motivated distractions were limited.
Gov. Palin could have legally made a private appeal for cash from undisclosed donors to be sent to her home address. She did not. She could have asked for a special appropriation of Alaska tax dollars to pay for expenses incurred as a consequence of her service to Alaska. She did not. Instead, she opted for the most transparent, limited, and restrictive option available - the creation of a legal defense fund, following the precedent set by both Democratic and Republican national leaders before.
Yet, because she is who she is, everyone knew that any trust fund associated with her would be subject to unprecedented attack. For this reason, the language of the proposed trust fund was drafted to directly mirror the language and provisions used by the John Kerry Trust fund.
Indeed, former Democratic Presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry's trust was drafted by Perkins Coie, President Barack Obama's law firm.
On cue, within minutes of the announcement of Gov. Palin's trust, a complaint was filed. And, the first "independent counsel" selected to investigate the trust was none other than the Alaska office of Perkins Coie.
Apparently before realizing that Palin's trust was nearly identical to the trust Perkins Coie prepared for John Kerry, the Perkins Coie "independent counsel" found in a detailed nine-page "CONFIDENTIAL" letter -- that was promptly leaked to the media -- that Gov. Palin's trust was illegal.
Ridicule ensued. In addition, once the conflict of interest between representing President Obama and investigating Gov. Sarah Palin became public, the Perkins Coie "independent counsel" resigned. And so, a new second "independent counsel" (with no background or expertise in the area of legal expense funds) began the investigation anew.
In an unprecedented move of total transparency, Gov. Sarah Palin waived her attorney-client privilege so that she and her lawyers could answer every question regarding the creation and formation of her legal expense fund trust. After months of flyspecking every document, e-mail, and statement, the second independent counsel issued a new nine page detailed report citing two new supposed violations of the Alaska Ethics Act that were, interestingly enough, not even mentioned in the Perkins Coie report.
First, the new report challenges the use of the word "official" to distinguish Palin's legal expense fund from all other funds, including fraudulent funds. In fairness, as word leaked out that a legal expense fund was being created for Palin, numerous unauthorized funds started to pop up on the internet, with at least one collecting thousands of dollars. The question was how to protect innocent donors from sending money to internet scammers. The answer was to identify the official trust as the "official" (not "Official") legal expense fund.
Importantly, there were no references to anything "Official" on the website or in the trust. So, the website did not include the Alaska flag, the Official portrait, the Alaska seal, and so on and so on. Absolutely nothing "Official" was included. Within this context, the accusation regarding the use of the word "official" became just silly.
Second, the new report questioned whether trustee Kristen Cole, who serves on various boards in Alaska, could serve also as the trustee.
Importantly, the independent counsel's report noted specifically "that the investigation did not uncover any hint that the Trustee was motivated by an actual attempt to influence Governor Palin or that any undue influence or advantage was actually ever obtained or sought as a result of the services of Ms. Cole as Trustee."
So, if the original complaint never complained about Kristen Cole as the trustee, and the Perkins Coie specialists never raised the issue, and there was never any hint of impropriety, what is the problem? Well, basically, the new counsel thinks that "as a matter of policy and good government," public officials "should" not be allowed to serve as trustees. Enough said.
The fact is that as this process continued, a clear picture emerged. This whole thing was never about the trust at all. It was just more harassment. All Gov. Palin wanted to do was get it right and that is what the independent counsel found. At least, he got that part right.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/14/2010 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[0 views]
Top|| File under:
Just two weeks after Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn chopped $1.4 billion from the budget, the cash-strapped state is turning to the debt markets to get it through the fiscal year.
On Wednesday, it plans to raise $900 million through Build America Bonds to fund its first capital program in more than a decade. The money will be used to improve roads, bridges and schools.
And this debt issuance is only the beginning. The state plans to raise $1.3 billion in short-term notes next week and $1.4 billion in debt related to tobacco settlement funds in November.
And, the state plans to turn to the debt markets to fund $3.7 billion in pension obligations in December, if the state legislature approves. The state already sold $2.4 billion in pension notes in January.
States don't traditionally fund their pensions with debt, but the practice frees up other money that can be used for operations, said John Sinsheimer, Illinois' director of capital markets.
#5
Blago did this once already and the interest payments are killing us. Agreed, this won't end well. I think our public pensions are guaranteed by the state constitution, so we can't even cut them.
Posted by: Steve White ||
07/14/2010 13:01 Comments ||
Top||
#6
Iowa and Indiana aren't doing too poorly, Steve (if you're looking for a 'change of venue').
Posted by: Mullah Richard ||
07/14/2010 13:52 Comments ||
Top||
#7
I think our public pensions are guaranteed by the state constitution, so we can't even cut them.
Does that mean states are required to sell off everything to pay for them? Seems to me that there ought to be some way out. This is insane what they have to do. I don't think the laws should be a suicide pact.
#9
#4: The thought of SPENDING LESS hasn't even crossed their minds yet, has it? Posted by: bigjim-CA|
The idea (Spending less) and the reality (politician) are mutually incompatible, especially with politicians in the Democratic Party, or in states such as Illinois, New York, Massachusetts, and California. The only way to get them to change is to grab a few dozen of them and make them guests of honor at an old-fashioned necktie party. Nothing short of their own survival will force them to change. It's a shame our nation has come to this, but we're there, and maybe too far in for any change that doesn't require large numbers of (human) sacrifices.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
07/14/2010 19:28 Comments ||
Top||
#10
Just two weeks after Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn chopped $1.4 billion from the budget,
They did cut. Quite a bit, in fact. But sadly, not nearly enough.
#9
No need to worry. It's hard enough to get a camera to work after taking a photo of them fully clothed. Anything less would shatter the lens, corrupt the inner workings, and reprogram the electronics. On the other hand, Michelle Bachmann might be interesting in a swimsuit.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
07/14/2010 19:31 Comments ||
Top||
#10
See also FARK.com for ROMANIA'S counter-challenge, + RUSSIA'S?
#4
And to all you who bought Obama's line about being "pro life", and who backed this HCR bill as "non-abortion":
We told you they were lying. You (Stupak, and all the religious people who promoted the bill - and Obama earlier)
YOU OWE US AN APOLOGY AND A LOUD PUBLIC RETRACTION OF YOUR SUYPPORT FOR OBAMA AND THE HCR Law.
Otherwise you are a tool of evil and will be punished along with the evil you promoted. And it will go worse for you, for you were warned - and you know better.
#5
YOU OWE US AN APOLOGY AND A LOUD PUBLIC RETRACTION OF YOUR SUYPPORT FOR OBAMA AND THE HCR Law.
I'll take payment in the form of Stupidak and his crew voting against anything the Betrayer in Chief wants. If they don't, they are just as bad. I'm watching their hands now. I'll see what they do. And what they don't do.
Are you ready to accept your share of the blame for Obama's collapsing poll numbers? If only "spoiled Americans" would stop nitpicking his amazingly successful run as president, our country would be less child-like, or something like that.
In the face of ominous poll data splashed on the front page of today's Washington Post, libtalkers were in a tough position today. But only ultra-partisan Democratic Party crony Bill Press could manage to blame voters for Obama's failure to thrive....
BILL PRESS (32:49): I think this says more about the American people than it does about President Obama. I think it just shows once again that the American people are spoiled. Basically, spoiled-- as a people, we are too critical. We are quick to rush to judgment, we are too negative, we are too impatient. Especially impatient. We want it all solved yesterday, and if you don't, I don't care who you are -- get out of the way.
And again, basically spoiled. To the point where it makes me wonder if it's even possible to govern today. I gotta tell you, I don't think Abraham Lincoln -- who certainly didn't get everything right the first time -- could govern today. I'm not sure Franklin Roosevelt could govern today, the way we are again. Just about like spoiled children. And it's Americans, and it's the media, and if we don't get instant gratification, then screw you is basically our attitude.
Posted by: Mike ||
07/14/2010 08:07 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[8 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Yes, we are impatient not to see traditional American continue on a cultural and economic inversion by Hussein Obama.
#2
Regardless of whether or not Lincoln or FDR could govern today, at least they believed in the America that was founded on an idea. Obama doesn't. That is what people are fed up with.
#3
Collapsing poll numbers? I read that as collapsing golf numbers, which would have been really tragic considering all the practice he's been getting.
Posted by: Matt ||
07/14/2010 9:13 Comments ||
Top||
#4
In the run-up to the 1980 election there were any number of pundits moaning about the fact that the problems the country was facing were too big to be solved, regardless of who was president. So why not vote for Carter?
The nation voted for Reagan. The problems weren't too big. It had just been that the president was too small.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/14/2010 9:54 Comments ||
Top||
#5
Terrible idea that democracy and that consent of the governed thingy. Who needs representative government when the ruling class knows better about the size of government, health care, taxes, open borders and the evils of national identity. "We keep you alive to serve this ship. So row well, and live." /sarc off
#6
The press sold us a cipher. Now the cipher is unraveling. That's all. We didn't get to meet the real Bammo before we elected him. Now that we've finally learned something about him we don't like it.
#7
The media sold me nuthin. I knew what I was getting. An inexperienced, narcissist dilletante with no track record of accomplishing anything of substance. And he hasn't disappointed...
#9
I can't say I completely disagree with Bill Press's assertion that the American people are spoiled and impatient. We need not look any further than the 2008 election to confirm it. Obama promised hope and change without any concrete plan of what that really meant, what it would actually entail, and the American people in their impatience and sense of entitlement, were all to quick to embrace it.
He was supposed to be the post-partisan, post-racial pragmatic leader the world had been waiting for. Instead he has been a hyper-partisan, race-baiting, and aimless leader bordering on incompetence. Since he took office the economy has worsened and the world has gotten more dangerous, while the domestic fracture lines of race and class have widened as a result of his policies. In Obama's mind, America is not exceptional, free enterprise is part of the problem and not part of the solution, and our enemies should be treated more like our allies and our allies more like our enemies. Meanwhile, the Middle East marches ever closer to a nuclear arms race, bad actors around the world navigate their way through the corrridors of power with impunity, the unemployment rate shows no signs of improvement anytime soon, and he's spending the country into indentured servitude.
Contrary to his campaign promises he has delivered dismay instead of hope, and more of the bad same than any real, positive change.
Bottomline: The American people may be spoiled, impatient, and critical but we are only so because of the expectations set by Obama. He told us if we just did what he said, things would get better. But it's obvious to even the most obtuse observer that they haven't. So before you blame the American people, however much they deserve part of the blame, simple logic demands that you first hold Obama accountable for over-promising and under-delivering.
#11
I don't think Abraham Lincoln -- who certainly didn't get everything right the first time -- could govern today
He didn't get everything right, but he got this one right - "You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time". Barry's problem is that he's no longer got us fooled.
Tea Partiers are called racists for opposing a black president, racists for wanting lower taxes, and racists even for opposing health care reform.
So it should come as no surprise that today, the NAACP will vote on a resolution condemning Tea Partiers for the fact that there are racists in their midst. This racism was brought to their attention at the time of the House health care vote, when people shouted repeated racial slurs at Reps. John Lewis, D-Ga. and Andre Carson, D-Ind. -- 15 times, Carson said -- so quietly that none of the dozens of nearby video cameras picked it up, nor did anyone but Lewis, Carson and one aide ever claim to have heard it.
NAACP CEO Benjamin Jealous puts it thus:
"The Tea Party movement knows that there are tens of thousands of dedicated racists and ultra nationalists in their ranks," Jealous said. Those groups "must be repudiated by the regular, law-abiding members or they must take responsibility," Jealous added, saying "they can't have it both ways."
I have not seen a single interview of any Tea Partier -- and certainly of any credible movement leader -- who did not repudiate and denounce racism when asked. I hope they all continue to repudiate it, but I don't really think that's what the NAACP is trying to accomplish here.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/14/2010 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[4 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
I suspect there will be no Supreme Court style 5 to 4 decision on this one.
The greatest threat to their self identified group for the last two generations has been the failed unionized monopolistic state education systems. However, since the unions like, themselves are just another arm of the Democratic Party, they don't speak or raise hell for real reform to 'advance' their much embraced identity group. Selling out is an appropriate descriptor. Now who is really keeping the man down? /rhet question.
#7
They only account for 12% of the population, they should sit down and shut up while they are ahead.
Lest they invoke an old timey backlash from the great majority of the country that is sick of their bullshit.
#11
Well, Sarah Palin does sound pretty racist when she says the tea party doesn't care if Obama is half white or half black.
I know from Australia that if you identify as being black, then for someone to bring up that you are half white or half black is pretty insulting.
It's like calling an Aboriginal person a half-caste.
It's a backhanded way of doing it too... 'we don't care that you're half-white or half-black, it's your policies we are against' ... no even i get that message.
It means : You're a half-caste and we hate your policies too.
What she really should say is just stick to: we don't like the policies.
Democratic leaders already braced for losses in November in congressional and gubernatorial races may be looking at grief on yet another front: A record number of state legislatures could change party control this year, with Democrats at risk of losing their majorities in more than 20 state chambers, according to a comprehensive analysis.
Electing state lawmakers will be especially important this year because the party that controls at least one chamber of the legislature typically wins a seat at the table - and a veto - in the once-a-decade redrawing of congressional districts after the 2010 census.
A survey by the Washington-based Governing magazine last week found that more chambers could change party hands in 2010 than in any other election cycle since at least 2002. Although more than 20 Democrat-controlled state chambers are in play, Republicans are in jeopardy of losing just four.
Other surveys show Republican gubernatorial candidates looking strong in many states, increasing the chance of a major shift in the balance of power in state-level politics heading into the 2012 presidential election.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/14/2010 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[2 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Where have you been the last two years?
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
07/14/2010 11:38 Comments ||
Top||
#2
They are looking at a "win the battle lose the war" scenario. obama's hopefully one or less hopefully two terms will be worth nothing if GOP governors and legislatures control the re-apportionment process for a majority of the electoral districts on the nation.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
07/14/2010 12:36 Comments ||
Top||
#3
Dumb bastards will probably try to pass Cap and Trade as their saving grace.
Yes, they really are THAT out of touch with the rest of the country.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
It took one year, two independent counsels, and tens of thousands of Alaska taxpayer dollars to conclude that former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin did nothing wrong in connection with a legal defense fund created to pay legal fees resulting from allegations related to her service as governor. Indeed, the story of the endless harassment of Sarah Palin is incredible.
