Senate choice #5 will probably come out sooner of later in Blago scandal

[book_worm]

as a matter of fact Fitz may even bring charges against that person, whoever it is.

[babylonsister]

1. Who might this mystery person be? Any ideas? nt

[book_worm]

2. nope.

[PBS Poll-435]

4. Alan Keyes

Reclaiming what was stolen from him in '04.



:hide:

[FrenchieCat]

5. We need to list the possibilities.....

but the problem becomes who's number 2 through 5?

here's the list without numbers:

Valerie Jarett
Lisa Madigan
Tammy Duckworth
Jan Schakowsky?
Emil Jones Jr.
Jesse Jackson Jr.
Melissa Bean
Luis Gutierrez


Jarett is obviously #1 who took herself out of the running on 11/12
Lisa Madigan, was the Governor's arch enemy (so I don't even think she belongs on the list)
Tammy Duckworth is said not to have had any contact with the Gov whatsoever.
Jan Schakowsky said she did speak to him, but nothing said was untoward. I tend to believe her.

[babylonsister]

13. Who had the big bucks to pull this off?

I heard JJJ doesn't, but Emil Jones might. BUT! that's m$m speculating.

[FrenchieCat]

17. Luis Gutierrez is said to be under investigation himself......

as of October 2008. :(

In October 2008, Gutiérrez became subject to federal scrutiny as a result of a $200,000 loan he received from a campaign contributor on whose behalf he allegedly lobbied for a real estate deal. The longtime contributor, Calvin Boender, was a developer of the Galewood Yards residential and commercial real estate project who received public support from Gutiérrez in a July 7, 2004 letter to the mayor of Chicago, Richard M. Daley. Gutiérrez claimed that there is no relationship between the loan and his support for the project, but federal authorities have subpoenaed documents related to the project as they investigate zoning issues at Chicago's city hall.<3><4>

Gutierrez also referred to agents of the Department of Homeland Security as "Gestapo".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luis_Guti%C3%A9rrez

[babylonsister]

21. Hmmm. I think before this is over I'm going to know way more than

I ever wanted to know about IL politics. Out of all the states, it had to be Illinois, now?! Oy.

[redstate_democrat]

14. I don't know why everyone thinks its Emil Jones or JJJ. lol

People are so predictable. I can't wait until they put "Candidate 5" on front street. Should be something watching the machinations.

[babylonsister]

22. So who is your best guess? nt

[ErinBerin84]

24. Jesus, this is like a game of Clue!

[mwei924]

36. It was Jesse Jackson Jr. with a knife in the living room.

[ShadowLiberal]

39. Jackson seems very unlikely to have the cash/fundraising ability to be #5

[tonycinla]

44. JJ Jr.?

I understand Jessie Jackson Sr. had a 90 minute meeting with the Guv. last week.

[Andy823]

3. Yep, I think

#5 is in big trouble, especially if they can prove he offered money for Obama's senate seat! I wouldn't want to be in his shoes when the story breaks about who he or she may be.

[Maru Kitteh]

6. It sounds like he did everything but offer the seat on eBay

Asshole. It's like he thought he was a character in some dimestore Grisham novel.

[David Dunham]

8. Jesse Jackson, Jr. is whom Josh Marshall guessed no. 5 is.

[Occam Bandage]

11. That would suck. nt

[Maru Kitteh]

26. I'm still hoping that JJJ was wearing the wire tha finallyt brought it all down.

I guess we'll all find out in due time.

[dysfunctional press]

38. i don't think anyone wearing a wire is what got him- they had his office bugged.

blago's going where blago belongs.

[Occam Bandage]

7. My money's on Emil. nt

[FrenchieCat]

9. That won't be good for President Obama....

that's for sure!
Just the association by itself.

[Occam Bandage]

10. No matter who it is, it won't be good. Everyone who's been considered

has some degree of relationship with Barack Obama. Fortunately, Obama himself seems to have been entirely above-board here.

[redstate_democrat]

15. ...

"seems to have been entirely above board" should be changed to "IS entirely above-board"

[mucifer]

12. melissa bean would be the best bet she's pretty much a republican

[TexasObserver]

16. Emil Jones, an Illinois state legislator, is "Senate Candidate 5."

allegedly

If these tapes are real, and the reported comments are accurate, this governor is going away for a long time, unless he rolls on a whole bunch of people.

[FrenchieCat]

19. Do you have a link?

Or are you saying that is what you are deducing based on specific info? :shrug:

[TexasObserver]

23. Yes. The Smoking Gun.

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/1209081rod1.html

While the affidavit does not specifically name the six prospective Senate candidates discussed by Blagojevic, Harris, and the governor's aides, it appears that several are easily identified. "Senate Candidate 1" is Jarrett. "Senate Candidate 2" is Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan. Emil Jones, an Illinois state legislator, is "Senate Candidate 5." And "Senate Candidate 6" appears to be J.P. Pritzker, a wealthy Chicago businessman. Additionally, Rahm Emanuel, the incoming White House chief of staff, is referred to in the affidavit as "President-elect Advisor."

[FrenchieCat]

29. Who is Candidate 6? and why isn't he candidate 5? Just asking

Seems like the site only names 1, 2, 5 and 6.

So who are 3 & 4....and how can they tell exactly?

and how do we know that Emil is number 5. I still don't quite see
any evidence of that.

"Senate Candidate 1" is Jarrett. "Senate Candidate 2" is Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan. Emil Jones, an Illinois state legislator, is "Senate Candidate 5." And "Senate Candidate 6" appears to be J.P. Pritzker, a wealthy Chicago businessman.

Seems like they don't know as much as they do know.

[redstate_democrat]

46. Senate Candidate 4 is a deputy governor of Illinois.

[TexasObserver]

47. I'm simply repeating what they reported, and do not vouch for its accuracy.

At this point, it's all allegations, but some of the reported quotes are very damning.

This is likely to turn into an ongoing roast of Illinois Democratic politicians, and the GOP, and its deeply planted agents, will try desperately to attach them to Obama, Emanuel, and Axlerod.

[AllentownJake]

31. That is no more worthy than our speculation on here

[FrenchieCat]

32. That's kind of what I was figuring.....

I was looking for their "hidden" information, but couldn't find it. :shrug:

[AllentownJake]

28. Highly doubt it

He had nothing to gain by gaining the Senate Seat. He wouldn't have had as much power in the US senate as he does in the Illinois Senate as its majority leader.

[nevergiveup]

18. It has to be Emil Jones

He is one of the few who still had a good relationship with Blago. Unfortunately Jones also has/had a good relationship with Obama. This is a no win situation for Obama. I am sure he is clean but Blago hates him and might try to take him down. I heard this evening that Blago was the only Democratic Governor who was not given a speaking slot at the Democratic Convention and he also was not invited to Grant Park in Chicago on election night. Blago is bitter and when he starts talking hold on to your hat because the the lies are going to fly. The man is a total scumbag.

[FrenchieCat]

20. Great for America and for Barack Obama!

The Timing was sublime!

[mucifer]

25. I think he's just plain nuts.

[AllentownJake]

27. Jesse Jackson jr was having meetings and saying good things

as little as a week ago. He also was the one who seemed to want it the most.

Emil is retiring from the state Senate and he was the leader. Why on earth would he want to move into the US Senate as a someone who is not in charge. Plus he'd be 75 for a competitive state wide race in 2010. He hasn't had an actual race in 30 years.

On edit correcting to Jesse Jackson Jr. to not confuse with the Reverend Jesse Jackson his father.

[mwei924]

30. He'd be low in Senate seniority as well, without a long political future ahead to build on.

[FrenchieCat]

33. He means, Jesse Jackson Jr.

I think.

[AllentownJake]

35. yep

[mwei924]

37. I was talking about Jones.

[FrenchieCat]

40. Jones is as old as dirt. I can't see him going in as a Freshman

to the Senate somehow. He is like older than John McCain even.

[mwei924]

41. Exactly. He'd rank like 100 in seniority in the senate, without a lot of time to build up a resume.

[FrenchieCat]

42. Yep. Wouldn't make sense, with Jesse Jackson Jr. sitting right there....

wanting it.

[AllentownJake]

34. I think he thinks he can win a statewide race

Therefore at 43 I believe he thinks he can make it to something. 43 is rather young to become a Senator. Could be his stepping stone to the Govenor's Mansion or just a long career in the Senate.

[ShadowLiberal]

43. But #5 has broken promises to Blago in the past, they weren't friends before this

That doesn't sound like someone who has been one of Blago's few friends left.

[FrenchieCat]

45. JJJ then?