Cao To Washington, Blagojevich To Jail
After the string of Republican House defeats, indictments and convictions, plus Ted Stevens’ conviction, Joseph Cao’s election win over the disgraced William Jefferson of LA-02 comes as a much-needed boost to the GOP. Quin Hillyer paid attention to this race several weeks ago, and his article is the best account of Cao’s biography you are likely to find. Sharp, highly-educated and successful Asian Catholics from Louisiana do seem to be the best thing the Republicans have going for themselves, and this would be the case even if the GOP were not the ramshackle disaster that it is today.
The first I heard of Blagojevich’s arrest came through my front window from a passer-by talking to someone on his phone, “They have arrested our governor.” This is turning out to be a good week, I thought to myself. I assumed that Blagojevich was going to be brought down by whatever Rezko was giving the feds as part of his bargain with them, but the news about his trying to sell the open Senate seat for cash or other favors was like something out of a cartoon or perhaps a Northern version of Kingfish. Illinois has long had a reputation for corrupt politics, but in the last decade it seems as if it is striving to outdo all others in having crooks in office, while Louisiana is going in quite the other direction. Like Reihan, I imagine that “Candidate 5,” the person implicated as a potential buyer of the Senate seat, is probably State Sen. Emil Jones. If that is the case, it would be Obama’s ties to Jones, much more than any ties to Blagojevich or Rezko, that will cause people to look again at Obama’s Illinois connections. Jones’ role as Obama’s patron and sponsor in the state legislature has gone largely unremarked in the national media, except in John Kass‘ columns. It is not an exaggeration to say that Obama would probably not be where he is today without Jones, and if the latter were implicated it would be at the very least an embarrassment for the incoming administration.
3 Responses to “Cao To Washington, Blagojevich To Jail”
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Perhaps it will be a problem to Obama. But as it appears Obama turned Blago down cold, maybe not.
Politics certainly favors criminals and sociopaths. Being able to lie with a totally straight face is a plus in that world.
I am glad Blago is going down – if he has done as the indictment reads. I am glad Jefferson has lost his election. Far better to have honest people in office, of whichever party, than to have outright criminals selling their offices for the highest price.
I don’t think you will hear many online liberals bemoaning Blago’s arrest. It may be unfortunate, but it appears necessary.
I don”t know how Blago has kept himself out of jail for so long and am glad he is going to prison. I dont know if it is true but it is said (on Chicago’s local Fox affliate) that Rahm Emmanuel tipped Fitzgerald off about Blago trying to sell Obama’s Senate seat. Good for Rahm if that is true. Obama does not seem to be directly implicated but it does show he has shady connections (which almost everyone who has ever watched any part of the elections would have known). The only result might be that the press might turn more critical on Obama but that is already slowing happening.
Oops, seems Rahm was not the one who tipped Fitzgerald and Jessie Jackson Jr. was Candidate No. 5 (what a surprise *yawn*). Blago dug a hole with Jessie Jackson Jr. (not Emil Jones) to the bottom. This means that Blago and his wife are going to sing and Daley is going to be very very nervous. President Elect also has to start being a bit more honest and squeal the name of the staffer who was in contact with Blago.
I have to hand it to Blago. He is possibly the most entertaining crook I ever saw with no shame and awareness and uses profanity like he was a character in the Godfather.