Blago-Gate Timeline (Update: Photo Added – Bumped)
John on December 15, 2008 at 4:38 pm
From the Volokh Conspiracy, a timeline of events that paints a pretty clear picture of what went on in the last month:
If we didn’t have Obama’s denial to contend with, the actions of all the parties, including those purporting to speak for Obama, are consistent with Obama and his staff learning about Blagojevich’s corrupt plans on Monday, Nov. 10.
Click over for the full timeline.
[HT: Ace]
Update: In addition to David Axelrod stating on national TV that Obama and Blagojevich had spoken about his replacement, we now have one additional source. It’s dated Nov. 8th and comes from the local CBS affiliate:
Now that Barack Obama will be moving to the White House, his seat in the U.S. Senate representing Illinois will have to be filled.
Obama met with Governor Rod Blagojevich earlier this week to discuss it.
Maybe they got it wrong. Maybe not.
Photo: Morgen did some digging and found this photo. I agree with him, it’s the best one yet:

The published caption reads “Governor Blagojevich confers with now President‐Elect Barack Obama.” Hmmm. Wonder what that was about.
Bumped 12/15: The link to the pdf where Morgen grabbed this pic is now broken. Apparently, someone decided this image needed to disappear. Sorry, fellahs, too late. Besides, we saved a copy here. Anyone from Chicago want to weigh in on where and when this was taken?
Category: Politics |




A case of a lie when the truth would do better?
December 10, 2008 @ 11:15 amFor Obama to strongly let his choice be known would be most acceptable in the world of politics. But Obama’s people made it quite clear there would be no favors for the choice.
The Tony Rezco deal is muc more serious, this escapade makes Obama look clean.
December 10, 2008 @ 11:37 amThere are absolutely no politicians in Illinois and most especially the Chicago area who are clean. Every single one of them is corrupt to the gills and a total hypocrite.
This is just another thug added to Obama’s “circle of fiends”. Let’s see, there is Wright, Ayers, Rezco, Beard, Daley, the Acorn group and the list goes on and on forever. Look who is advisors are Axelrod and Emanuel who are more of the chicago BS’ers. We are basically electing real criminals.
Obama has no moral scruples and he will make Harding look like a stalwart soul.
December 10, 2008 @ 5:08 pmI do not remember many posts about the curruption of Ted Stevens, the Scooter Libby commutation, the Keating five, infidelity by presidential candidates, or the pardons by Bush in these last days.
Politics always compromises fairness.
December 11, 2008 @ 4:25 amJohn – I sincerely hope President Bush will pardon the two custom agents now languishing in a California jail. It would be a disgrace to pardon Libby and not them.
December 11, 2008 @ 9:00 am[...] Verum Serum notes this photo as well, — taken from Blagojevich’s official newsletter dated [...]
December 11, 2008 @ 9:39 am[...] on December 11, 2008 The Blagojivech scandal isn’t the only one Obama is being associated with. Rezko is singing like a bird, and it very [...]
December 11, 2008 @ 12:21 pmI know I’m a liberal, but look at that photo. Look at Obama’s face. What does that expression say to you? To me, that looks like a Paddington Bear hard stare.
December 11, 2008 @ 1:02 pmI agree Rick – those agents need to be set free. By the way, how dare Bush pardon that turkey for Thanksgiving. The man is simply out of control!
December 11, 2008 @ 1:03 pm[...] KHQA 7 News (8 Nov 2008), cited by “Blago-Gate Timeline (Update: Photo Added),” Verum Serum (10 Dec [...]
December 11, 2008 @ 4:31 pmRumor has it that Obama’s main reason for meeting with Blagojevich was to learn how to pronounce his name. Initially, Obama thought Blagojevich was something that one did after having a huge meal.
December 11, 2008 @ 6:46 pmThat supposition doesn’t seem too wide of the mark, Jim.
December 12, 2008 @ 2:08 amMy attempt at humor.
December 12, 2008 @ 9:22 amThe photo is surely meant as incendiary and inflamatory and as usual…partican. I refuse to publish the photo I have of President Bush and Ted Stevens having a laugh. :)
December 12, 2008 @ 2:23 pmThere is nothing wrong with being partisan if the available facts raise questions about particular denials. It is also fine to be partisan when people realize the opposition is after your freedom and your property.
Like I said before every Chicago politician is corrupt otherwise they would not play the game. Obama’s chief of staff is one of them as is Obama. With these people you cannot be overly partisan.
Rick, not that the above will convince you since we think differently. An example is the way you brought up the Keating five, scooter Libby (I am still trying to figure out exactly what crime he committed), Bush’s pardons (huh?), etc. and compare that mix of “scandals” with a current governor who blatantly wants personal rewards for himself and his wife as part of the appointment process and obviously could not care less about who the best candidate for the state and the nation might be. With his “scruples” he would have appointed an illegal alien if the bid was the highest.
It is impossible to argue the point though because we see two different things. I see with Libby, a political “crime” (I guess he was too partisan), with the Keating five, I assume you were targeting McCain, but he was acquitted by the ethics committee (he was never charged or indicted either). I am not sure what you were referring to with the “last days” of Bush pardons but as far as I know no one else is interested either. Even the MSM hasn’t targeted him for criticism yet. So, at the end of the day I believe there is more materiality in the Ill. Governor’s arrest and impending indictment as it relates to the corruption in Ill. and potentially the nation than the potpourri of misdeeds you cited.
I do agree with you Bush should pardon the two custom agents without delay. He should also pardon Libby. My opinion is both were convicted under the evolving political crimes statutes. Bush should also state this fact as part of his final message which might help to put a chill on efforts to obtain federal “hate crime” legislation which will further degrade liberty.
December 12, 2008 @ 7:16 pmRalph – I agree that the governor of Illinois is corrupt to the core, but my point was the insinuation that Obama was tethered to his corruption. (see picture)
December 12, 2008 @ 10:07 pmRick, I have a photo of you and Larry Craig in the restroom. I’m thinking of releasing it here at VS.
December 12, 2008 @ 10:09 pmSpeaking of weird political shenanigans, I hear that Chappaquiddick’s niece is in the running for Monica Lewinsky’s ex-boyfriends wife’s Senate seat. They’ll probably give it to her as a sentimental gesture after Chappaquiddick croaks. The mere thought of it brings tears to my eyes. Camelot lives on.
December 12, 2008 @ 10:21 pmSpeaking of Chappaquiddick, word has it he brought Benny Hinn in to do the royal shazam on him. It obviously didn’t work. Big surprise. Hinn blamed in on not being able to properly iron his hair prior to meeting with the senator.
December 12, 2008 @ 10:36 pmRalph – re: Scooter Libby – ever heard of perjury?
December 13, 2008 @ 3:24 am“Rick, I have a photo of you and Larry Craig in the restroom. I’m thinking of releasing it here at VS.”
Jim – I offered no political favors at that meeting, it was strictly personal. :cool:
December 13, 2008 @ 3:47 amSlowsville at VS. Ever since that polygamy thread died, everything’s gone quiet. This Blagojevich thing is a dead story – he’ll get ejected from office and prosecuted. No big suprise here. Maybe he’ll become a polygamist and then we can resurrect that thead? NOT!!
December 13, 2008 @ 1:09 pmKeith, Yes I did but not recalling where you parked your car did not use to be a criminal act.
December 13, 2008 @ 2:40 pmBy the way for all here, it is my opinion (apparently, only mine so far) that Fitzgerald launched this crusade against the governor in order to protect the “chosen one”. Normally, the modus operandi is to wait until you have the bona fide offer. Sometimes they are lucky and they can actually tape the suitcase full of money being exchanged, etc. and then they pounce. In this case it is about a “crime spree” by a single individual over the telephone and it is all verbal. There are no offers from another party because Fitzbama did not want to wait for that and ruin his chances for upward mobility and/or endanger the “agent of change”.
Chicago pols are all corrupt, without true ethics or principles, Obama is one of them and so is the US Attorney.
December 13, 2008 @ 3:34 pm“Those who answer “true” to that question, IMO, do not truly know the Jesus their dear scriptures point to.”
And one day it will be revealed that Obama helped Oswald. :roll:
December 13, 2008 @ 5:27 pmWait a minute Rick – it was me who was on the grassy knoll that dark day in Dallas. And look at me today – I got away with it. Yeah baby!!
Excuse me, there’s a knock at my door. I believe it’s Larry Craig. He wants to use my bathroom (and Obama’s with him!). Don’t tell anyone.
December 13, 2008 @ 5:35 pmRalph – Libby’s inability to remember where he parked his car is an aspect of that trial that had passed me by. His lying to a court about whome he spoke to, about what, and when seemed to be the crux of it.
Put it another way; you don’t remember every place you park your car any more than everything you say, but if you park your car through a jewellers plate glass window that would tend to stick in the mind. If you talk to a journalist about the identity of a CIA covert agent, that should be something you have some recollection of.
December 14, 2008 @ 6:33 amWhich ever political party with which you identify, or the particular moral philosophy you espouse, makes you minimize the sins of your own camp and maximize the sins of the others.
The Democratic governor of Illinois is a scoundrel, but his Republican predecessor is in prison. I am declaring a tie!
“It’s a beautiful war!”
December 14, 2008 @ 7:47 amI have just been e-mailed a photo of Jim doing work on Ted Steven’s house.
December 14, 2008 @ 9:51 amI was refurbing his outhouse after it was visited upon by a Mr. Larry Craig. I’m pretty sure I saw Obama lurking somewhere in the bushes.
December 14, 2008 @ 11:29 amJokes really get screwed up when I get the spelling wrong (plus, they’re not very funny). “Refurbishing” not refurbing.
December 14, 2008 @ 11:33 am[...] This photo was found on the governor’s own web site. It has since been taken down! Wonder what they are having “no contact” about? [...]
December 14, 2008 @ 5:52 pm