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Tag(s): Barack Obama; Blagojevich; Chicago; Corruption; Obama Hillary New Hampshire; Obama-Barack; Party Machine Democratic; Party Platforms DNC; Party Politics Democratic; Rezko; (more...) Washington (less...)
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May 16, 2008 at 07:19:37

Curtain Time for Barack Obama - Part IV

by Evelyn Pringle Page 3 of 8 page(s)

www.opednews.com

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Three months after Ata was appointed to head the Finance Authority, the Times says, “the Blagojevich administration agreed to a 10-year extension of his company's lease, to 2014.”

Ata left his position in March 2005, when a state audit major problems at the agency. A month later, Ata was offered a three-year contract worth $165,600 to be a consultant to the IFA on a coal-related energy initiative. However, he turned it down, according to the Times, after the newspaper began inquiring about his employment and a previous building lease deal with the city of Chicago.

Rezko schemes to hide assets from creditors

The second Rezko indictment involves Ata and the Finance Authority, and alleges fraud in financial transactions with the General Electric Capital Corp in connection with the sale of a string of Papa John pizza restaurants in Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan.

The indictment and plea agreement provide a preview for the scheme hatched to conceal Rezko's assets from creditors through Obama's secret Land Trust.

When announcing the arrests, Fitzgerald stated: "The new indictment is part of Operation Board Games, an ongoing federal public corruption investigation of insider-dealing, influence-peddling and kickbacks involving private interests and public duties related to various state boards and non-profit organizations."

Co-schemer Abdelhamid Chaib, is the former the director of Rezko Concessions. Blagojevich appointed Chaib's wife to a position with the Department of Employment Security Review Board.

An exhibit presented to the jury shows Chaib contributed $10,000 to Blagojevich. Records show Obama received $5,000 from Chaib on June 30, 2003, the same day that Ata donated $5,000.

This indictment alleges that Rezko fraudulently caused General Electric Capital Corporation (GE), to extend more than $10 million in loans to finance what Rezko portrayed as sales of two different groups of Papa John’s pizza restaurants in the Chicago and Milwaukee areas.

The indictment says Rezko and his co-schemers fraudulently obtained a $4.5 million loan from GE in March 2001 to finance the purchase of the Milwaukee pizza stores by a straw purchaser, and his company, at an inflated price, and by the submission of fraudulent documents, including false financial statements about the condition of the stores.

The government alleges that they made similar fraudulent representations to obtain another $6 million loan in October 2001, in connection with Rezko’s sale of the Chicago area pizza restaurants from Rezko Enterprises to his own company, Chicago PJ.

After closing on the loan for the Chicago stores, the loan became delinquent, and Rezko caused additional false financial information to be submitted to GE in asking for forebearance on the default, according to the indictment.

In addition to defrauding GE, prosecutors allege that Rezko defrauded investors by concealing that he was transferring the company’s assets to himself and a straw purchaser.

The indictment says that as part of the scheme to defraud GE, in February 2004, Ata signed a letter on Finance Authority letterhead that falsely made it appear that Investor 1, now known to be Dr Paul Ray, had applied for financing with the IFA in connection with Ray's acquisition of the pizza restaurants.

Dr Ray was an investor in Riverside Park and contributed $3,000 to Obama on June 30, 2003, the exact same day the contributions were made by Chaib and Ata. Ray also gave Obama $2,000 on October 2003, on top of a donation of $1,000 on December 31, 2002.

The letter stated that Ray's financing would be recommended for approval by the IFA Board on March 15, 2004, and that the IFA would guarantee 50% of the total $16 million.

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Evelyn Pringle is a columnist for OpEd News and investigative journalist focused on exposing corruption in government and corporate America.

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21 comments

politic jock
politicjockpolitic jock

Pringle's True Colors

Ms. Pringle has utterly exposed herself as a Clinton surrogate when she wrote that "Obama is a political psychopath." After spending her investigative years on worthy causes such as the pharmaceutical industry and the Bush administration, it is now unequivocally clear that her allegiance is to the Clintons, rather than truth. Her signature says that she is an "investigative journalist focused on exposing corruption in government and corporate America," but if you do a google search with her name, you will not find one investigative report from her saying anything negative of the Clinton administration. Pretty astounding.

by politicjock (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 19 comments) on Friday, May 16, 2008 at 9:25:23 AM

I'm a 68 year old lifelong democrat, in the left wing of his party, married, no kids, atheist/agnostic, philosophical determinist; a second-hand books and records store owner, and small gallery owner in Los Angeles. Love music, politics and health issues. Strongly opposed to war, except as a last resort in response to persistent tyranny. Strongly favor democracy.
johncpI'm a 68 year old lifelong democrat, in the left wing of his party, married, no kids, atheist/agnostic, philosophical determinist; a second-hand books and records store owner, and small gallery owner in Los Angeles. Love music, politics and health issues. Strongly opposed to war, except as a last resort in response to persistent tyranny. Strongly favor democracy.

You're accusing Pringle, of the same nonsense you engage in

We're all biased, one way or another. Bias has some effect on the search for truth. But it's also, ultimately, meaningless. The mere fact that Pringle is presumbaly a Cinton supporter, is not a satisfactory case against her charges. The charges are either true or false. Similarly, your support of Obama is, believe it or not, not proof that he's pure and inncent of all charges leveled against him.

by johncp (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 14 comments) on Monday, May 19, 2008 at 5:53:22 PM

Dr. John Moffett is an active research neuroscientist in the Washington, DC area, who has published over 45 scientific articles on the nervous and immune systems. Dr. Moffett is also the author and webmaster of the political opinion website www.Factinista.org, and is a Managing Editor at OpEdNews.com.
John R MoffettDr. John Moffett is an active research neuroscientist in the Washington, DC area, who has published over 45 scientific articles on the nervous and immune systems. Dr. Moffett is also the author and webmaster of the political opinion website www.Factinista.org, and is a Managing Editor at OpEdNews.com.

Barack for President!

Thanks Evelyn, now I'm supporting Barack Obama even more. Your guilt-by-donation argument is sad, and makes Obama supporters like me even more determined to support him against the likes of you.

Next you can write about how I gave the Obama campaign another $100 in your honor.

It is amazing how people like Evelyn are using the same tactics against Obama that they objected to sooo much when they were used by the Repugs against Bill Clinton. Very sad indeed.

by John R Moffett (80 articles, 14 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 610 comments) on Friday, May 16, 2008 at 9:25:47 AM

I am like that little grey donkey: Benjamin, in George Orwell's "Animal Farm".
Karl Benjamin NowakI am like that little grey donkey: Benjamin, in George Orwell's "Animal Farm".

Not so fast..!

What I’ve heard lately he will never become the President of The United States. Not now, not ever.So be a nice guy and spoil some more of your precious hard earned dosh on a hopefully stillborn campaign. By the way I would love to see your already sour look turned harsher after Mr. Obamas concession speech on Nov 5.

by Karl Benjamin Nowak (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 5 comments) on Friday, May 16, 2008 at 10:10:48 AM

Wrote a book on Eminent Domain (The Eminent Domain Revolt), and that's how I learned about Obama's revolting role with Rezko in kicking people out of their housing.
John RyskampWrote a book on Eminent Domain (The Eminent Domain Revolt), and that's how I learned about Obama's revolting role with Rezko in kicking people out of their housing.

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I am married and live in Richmond, Virginia
HelenI am married and live in Richmond, Virginia

Yes!

I agree. Ms. Pringle, along with other Hillary supporters, has given me the incentive to donate money in the triples to Obama.

by Helen (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 18 comments) on Friday, May 16, 2008 at 6:26:28 PM

I'm a college educated, white woman, resident of New York City, 56 years old, a lifelong Democrat. My political views have always embraced elements of the liberal and the conservative. My political hero was Robert F. Kennedy. Almost all of my career has been spent in advertising, as a writer and later on as a writer/graphic designer. I recently gave up my regular employment to care for a very senior parent in her 90s who depends on me more and more each day. And that is my current "full tim...

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Suza ElizI'm a college educated, white woman, resident of New York City, 56 years old, a lifelong Democrat. My political views have always embraced elements of the liberal and the conservative. My political hero was Robert F. Kennedy. Almost all of my career has been spent in advertising, as a writer and later on as a writer/graphic designer. I recently gave up my regular employment to care for a very senior parent in her 90s who depends on me more and more each day. And that is my current "full tim...

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Curtains for Barack?

Hope so. It's hard not to wonder why dozens of corrupt, indicted, shady characters repeatedly gave to Obama's campaign and still Obama maintains his "What, me? Corrupt?" stance by vowing he knew nothing about nothing. As John Kass of the Chicago Trib says, Obama was deliberately "punching his ticket" on the way up by connecting with each of these rats in turn. (search for the Kass article "Obama Unstained by Chicago Way") You know, when you swim with the sharks, you're no dolphin. Obama, with his silver-tongue and his designer suits, is the perfect face to front for this group. And his high-sounding "ideals" are the perfect cover for the slime he and his friends worked so hard to create. Go Evelyn!

by Suza Eliz (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 15 comments) on Friday, May 16, 2008 at 11:52:49 AM

Retired on Social Insecurity. Long time grunt in the war on poverty, racism and war itself.
James CordrayRetired on Social Insecurity. Long time grunt in the war on poverty, racism and war itself.

More Racist Lies Written To Divide Us. Don't Be Fooled

Page 300 and counting of more of this person's despicible racism written to divide us and elect MadCain. Vote for whomever you want to, but don't be fooled by this garbage pretinding to be objective. The main thing is to defeat the republican criminals in November. The writer definitely has a future at Fox, where racism is appreciated and rewarded. Vote early and often Comrades.

by James Cordray (3 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 55 comments) on Friday, May 16, 2008 at 5:11:55 PM

You're drowning in your nonsense

You don't care about "unity," you care about getting your way. It's not the repubs you want most to defeat, it's the Hillary folk. If you think you can piss on Hillary, and exalt your Obamagoon squad, then come back to the Hillary-folk, and beg for our votes to help you against McCain, you're dumber than you sound.

by johncp (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 14 comments) on Monday, May 19, 2008 at 6:28:22 PM

My writing is based on the belief that we all have something to say. I first started out writing a letter to the editor, and then branched out into blogging.
I am a big believer in fighting for democracy, and am opposed to dynastic rule of the United States. Therefore I blog.
Laura RoslinMy writing is based on the belief that we all have something to say. I first started out writing a letter to the editor, and then branched out into blogging.
I am a big believer in fighting for democracy, and am opposed to dynastic rule of the United States. Therefore I blog.

hmm Obama or Hillary "lobbyists are people too" Clinton?

Obama

has won 15 landslides to Hillary's 3,
he's won 12 double digit victories to Hillary's 7
has won 32 contests to Hillary's 16

Lets see, shall I choose:

Pro War Hillary, or anti war Obama,
Hillary and her lobbyist donors, or Obama and his 1.5 million individual donors, which include myself?
Obama, or Hillary, whose spouse has made money lobbying for foreign countries (shady uranium deal), the secret (Saudi) donors to the Clinton library, Hillary's uncanny ability to massively fail at getting universal health care in an 8 year period (part of her vast experience)?
Hillary who can't manager her campaign debt how will she run a country, or Obama whose campaign debts are paid and has plenty of money in the bank?
Hillary who hired lots of male advisors, one who also was lobbying for Columbia while advising Hillary?
Tuzla sniper fire Hillary, or no drama Obama?
Gun toting hunting Hillary, throws back shots of Crown Royal, when in the south feigns a southern drawl Hillary? Or Obama who stays the same, from state to state?
Hillary who favors McCain over Obama, and endorses same policies (vote to declare Iranaian armies terrorists, Bush's dream come true), and her pandering vote of "gas tax holiday"? Save $30 per person while more bridges collapse? Or Obama who will talk to the voters as if they DO have a brain and CAN see through the pandering?

If you notice, there is a segment of Clinton supporters who have a big dream of a women being elected, there's another segment who thinks they are electing Bill to his third term, and then there's that racially motivated segment as seen in parts of WVA. The latter voted for Bush in 2004, and will vote for McInsane in 2008.

To see more apologists who claim to support Hillary but will out of revenge vote for the republican John McCain and 100 more years of war, see the really right wing group at HillaryIs44 . I won't provide the link, you can find it yourself. You will see sick stuff like the posters claiming Obama is a secret Muslim, lots of racist crap, and posters urging donations to McCain. Probably a sort of cointel pro op.

Hillary's support is not as solidly democratic and not as solid as to carry over to the November GE. Worse, the media and republicans have sat quietly and praised her instead of their usual, because they plan to air all of her dirty laundry (and Bills's) old and new if given the opportunity. Worse, Hillary's campaign has greatly alienated a large portion of the black voters, a big big mistake.

Her campaign is in big debt of at least $20 million, and likely growing at $1 million a day, yet there's talk that someone should bail her out of that debt. Even Mitt Romney didn't ask someone to pay off his debts. Hillary and Bill have earned $109 million (God bless us rich people) since leaving the whitehouse, not including about $25 million Bill is not required to report. And the money went to negative ads tearing down a fellow democrat.

by Laura Roslin (5 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 32 comments) on Friday, May 16, 2008 at 5:21:14 PM

POdVet is a proud veteran of the US Navy who served in Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Married father of 4 and an avid online gamer.
POdVetPOdVet is a proud veteran of the US Navy who served in Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Married father of 4 and an avid online gamer.

June 30 2003 A Good Day for Obama!

An hours research has shown that June 30 was a good day for senator Obama...sort of.

Abboud, Anthony donated $500 on June 30, 2003

Abdalla, Mustafa donated $1,000 on June 30, 2003

Aramanda, Joseph donated $500 on June 30, 2003

Ata, Ali donated $5,000 on June 30, 2003

Barta, James donated $2,000 on June 30, 2003

Butler, Velma donated $1,000 on June 30, 2003

Carriatore, Joseph donated $1,000 on June 30, 2003

Carriglio, Jack donated $1,000 on June 30, 2003

Chaib, Al donated $5,000 on June 30, 2003

Chipparoni, Guy donated $2,000 on June 30, 2003

Davis, Allison Pres. Davis Group the group donated $6,000 on June 30, 2003

Di Benedetto, Vincent donated $10,000 on June 30, 2003

Dibble, Kelly donated $250 on June 30, 2003

Farahati, Mandan donated $2,000 on June 30, 2003

Gustman, Lisa donated $1,000 on June 30, 2003

Lannen, Kathy donated $2,500 on June 30, 2003

Malek, Michel donated $10,000 on June 30, 2003

Malook, Elie donated $10,000 on June 30, 2003

Mesi, Philip donated $2,000 on June 30, 2003

Nammari, Suheil donated $2,000 on June 30, 2003

Othman, Talat donated $1,000 on June 30, 2003

Pollock, Martello donated $1,000 on June 30, 2003

Ray, Paul donated $3,000 on June 30, 2003

Sirazi, Semir donated $2,000 on June 30, 2003

Smith, Jacqueline donated $1,000 on June 30, 2003

Sreenan, Michael donated $2,000 on June 30, 2003

Wade, Deloris donated $1,000 on June 30, 2003

Winter, Michael donated $3,000 on June 30, 2003

Wislow, Susan donated $2,000 on June 30, 2003

All known associates of Tony Rezko or otherwise involved in "Operation Board Games" All found in a very short amount of time by a totally untrained person like me, and they donated a total of $80,750 to Obama on one day alone. Can you really say the association isn't worth taking a look at what else happened that day let alone on other days?

by POdVet (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 23 comments) on Friday, May 16, 2008 at 5:32:00 PM

GW is a proud American from NY State, concerned about media manipulation and overconsumption. He believes in fiscal responsibility, small government and strict ethics. He recently changed careers to become an inner city schoolteacher. A firm proponent of international adoption and curbing overpopulation, he hopes to adopt a third child and enjoys history, "honest" music and art and obscure vinyl records.
Gustav WynnGW is a proud American from NY State, concerned about media manipulation and overconsumption. He believes in fiscal responsibility, small government and strict ethics. He recently changed careers to become an inner city schoolteacher. A firm proponent of international adoption and curbing overpopulation, he hopes to adopt a third child and enjoys history, "honest" music and art and obscure vinyl records.

Faulty logic and out of balance

This logic has Obama ruining his career, credibility and campaign for $80,000 when he has an average of $10 million dollars a day coming in?

It's hard to swallow PodVet, that this teensie amount of money coming in from Rezko's crooked pals are talking louder then the million plus donors who want Obama to clean up politics.

If, as you imply, Obama does favors for those who donate to his campaign, then his priorities should lie with middle class Americans, not Rezko's pals because this $80,000 represents only .03% of his campaign total.

By your own logic, Obama should be answering to the donors who contributed the other 99.97%.

Who are they? The greatest number of campaign contributors in history making the smallest average donation amount in history. These are over one million Americans, somewhat younger and more educated then Clinton's or McCain's supporters.

Also, I notice you just began commenting on OpEd News two days ago, to talk up about Pringle's articles, joining others who have only joined this site very recently and represent the few positive comments on her obvious hatchet jobs. It would be more believable if you commented on a few other articles too, such as those pertaining to the GI Bill controversy, veteran's rights, military benefits, etc.

It's almost as if you were pals of Pringle, or maybe even Pringle herself! I hope I'm wrong...if so, please do branch out a bit more and see how much better writing OpEd News has to offer.

by Gustav Wynn (59 articles, 38 quicklinks, 5 diaries, 281 comments) on Friday, May 16, 2008 at 9:31:08 PM

I am a college graduate, a loyal patriot of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, a person whose convictions and pessimism drive my thought invoking others to think, and enjoy some politcal debate. I like truth even if it doesn't set you "free" in this US of A any longer. I am a liberal.
I do a bit of painting mostly in Acrylic. I do a bit of poetry writng mostly inspired by tragic thought. I do a ton of reading, mostly online. I speak straightforwardly and don't plan on changing. It's wor...

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shirley reeseI am a college graduate, a loyal patriot of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, a person whose convictions and pessimism drive my thought invoking others to think, and enjoy some politcal debate. I like truth even if it doesn't set you "free" in this US of A any longer. I am a liberal.
I do a bit of painting mostly in Acrylic. I do a bit of poetry writng mostly inspired by tragic thought. I do a ton of reading, mostly online. I speak straightforwardly and don't plan on changing. It's wor...

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Hill supporters whine

...A whole LOT. As someone who still hasn't decided WHO to vote for in the General election, I can sure eliminate Hillary fast. Her main deficit, Bill CLinton. Yes, I voted for Bill but what I have learned about him and his laws sent through, I simply find him one of the traitors. You say, well, it's Hill running , not Bill. I say, Hill will no doubt use Bill and his wisdom and their pillow talk won't be about Monica, flowers, Paula or any of the many others. NAFTA, Crimes Bill Act, and expansion of the failed DEA, and the ass kissing he did with the repubs to cut down on our military bases so the military "privatization" could occur (and has most certainly with Bush), and, the way Bill turned a blind eye on Wm Kristol's PNAC plan and let that slip through the legislation. Ppl supporting Hillary are ignorant of the true Clintonism that actually set Bush up for all he has accomplished. Read up. Wise up.

Obama is NOT a "plant of the terrorists" like yall keep trying to say or hint!! I hear it all the time. Hell, if he is a plant, our great and wonderful CIA and FBI sure are slacking. 40 yrs in this country and now running for Prez? OMD. please, ppl. Wise the hell up.

I find Hillary supporters more like McCain every day. Hill isn't a Democrat. She says she wants to "obliterate" Iran. She says "Liberal activists like me are hindering HER election". Well, guess what? NARAL just endorced Obama. The Liberal Kennedys endorced Obama. John Edwards supports Obama. Even Ron Paul supporters said Obama before the others if they don't write in Ron. The Liberal activist base is the true Democratic party--the real Democrats established way back.

Contributors to Obama? What about Rupert Murdoch (Fox news and Wash Journal Newspaper owner) has contributed to Hill. Blackwater Usa has contributed to Hill. Bill Clinton goes on Rush limbaugh and supports his "operation chaos". Seems to me Bush's contributors are contributing to Hillary. She ain't no Democrap! You all have been duped if you thunk Hill is Democrat.

I may kill 2 birds with one stone and vote a black woman for president, Cynthia McKinney. I just know for sure I won't vote for Hillary or McCain, they are "of" the same.

by shirley reese (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 311 comments) on Friday, May 16, 2008 at 6:32:33 PM

I'm a 65 year-old disabled/retired psychotherapist who is a proud activist liberal despite my having lived in Pine Bluff,Arkansas amidst extreme conservatives all my life. I was a single father to a now 38-year-old Califonia Energy Policy Analyst and am currently a single father of a 15-year-old budding liberal.Fantasy dinner guests would include Bill Moyers, Albert Einstein, Mark Twain, Mark Morford, Frank Rich, Molly Ivins,Jill Hennesey, Rachel Griffith,Rachel Maddow,Winona Ryder,Mia Farrow, A...

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Roy MurtishawI'm a 65 year-old disabled/retired psychotherapist who is a proud activist liberal despite my having lived in Pine Bluff,Arkansas amidst extreme conservatives all my life. I was a single father to a now 38-year-old Califonia Energy Policy Analyst and am currently a single father of a 15-year-old budding liberal.Fantasy dinner guests would include Bill Moyers, Albert Einstein, Mark Twain, Mark Morford, Frank Rich, Molly Ivins,Jill Hennesey, Rachel Griffith,Rachel Maddow,Winona Ryder,Mia Farrow, A...

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What a load of guilt by association/donation crap!

This long-winded smear is too disgraceful for words other than those related to fecal matter. I have observed the amoral Clintons for more than thirty years. They are not only sociopaths; they are also supreme lawyers well versed in covering their own scurrilous tracks. Pringle's long-winded, convoluted tale of Obama's turban clad criminal associates has a major missing ingredient.....CREDIBILITY! Bill and Hillary are dirty fighters and would stop at nothing to WIN. If Pringles tale could derail Obama it would have happened YESTERDAY! Get Real. I hope Rob isn't paying her by the word.

by Roy Murtishaw (14 articles, 0 quicklinks, 9 diaries, 77 comments) on Friday, May 16, 2008 at 7:01:56 PM

Steven Leser specializes in Politics, Science & Health, and Entertainment topics. He has held positions within the Democratic Party including District Chair and Public Relations Chair within county organizations.

Steven Leser writes for www.opednews.com, an internet only media site that has grown to become one of the highest traffic news sites in America, reaching more traffic, according to alexa.com, than all but the thirty largest daily newspapers in the US. Mr. Leser is one of t...

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Steven LeserSteven Leser specializes in Politics, Science & Health, and Entertainment topics. He has held positions within the Democratic Party including District Chair and Public Relations Chair within county organizations.

Steven Leser writes for www.opednews.com, an internet only media site that has grown to become one of the highest traffic news sites in America, reaching more traffic, according to alexa.com, than all but the thirty largest daily newspapers in the US. Mr. Leser is one of t...

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Hillary supporters' Sour Grapes know no Bounds

Aesop is somewhere smiling right now.

------------------------------

Once upon a time there was a fox strolling through the woods.
He came upon a grape orchard. There he found a bunch of
beautiful grapes hanging from a high branch.

"Boy those sure would be tasty," he thought to himself.
He backed up and took a running start, and jumped.
He did not get high enough.

He went back to his starting spot and tried again.
He almost got high enough this time, but not quite.

He tried and tried, again and again, but just couldn't get high
enough to grab the grapes.

Finally, he gave up.

As he walked away, he put his nose in the air and said:
"I am sure those grapes are sour.

Moral
IT IS EASY TO SCORN WHAT YOU CANNOT GET. (SL note: i.e. the Presidency)

by Steven Leser (210 articles, 44 quicklinks, 33 diaries, 1384 comments) on Friday, May 16, 2008 at 7:28:23 PM

Hater of Nazis above all. Hobbies include activism, military model building, military history, exciting and vital conversation with retired crooks. Retired
John HanksHater of Nazis above all. Hobbies include activism, military model building, military history, exciting and vital conversation with retired crooks. Retired

There are honest crooks and dishonest crooks.

I'm not ready to give up on Obama yet. I don't think Obama is a sociopath. If he is, he is a very good one. Hillary and Bill are habitual and casual liars. That is almost always a sign of psychopathy.

by John Hanks (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1191 comments) on Friday, May 16, 2008 at 9:39:42 PM

I have serious questions dont you?

Wynn: "This logic has Obama ruining his career, credibility and campaign for $80,000 when he has an average of $10 million dollars a day coming in?"

As should be rather noticeable, those donations he recieved are not recent when he is raking in millions most of it coming from bundlers and pac's btw. But it was in June 2003 when he had staked his viability as a candidate on being able to raise $1 Million by the end of June 2003. And these are not the only questionable things Senator Obama has done. I am not for Obama as I will freely admit, because he has proven to be duplicitou. Consider his Be a Democrat for a day campaign early in the race, where he urged Republicans and Independents to vote against Hillary by voting for him then they could go back to their real candidates. His claim of not accepting money from lobbyists...as long as you dont include Lawyers who's partners are lobbyists, doesn't include corporations that have major lobbying operations in Washington as long as the lobbyist isn't the one handing them the money. Doesn't include lobbyists who ply their trade in such state capitals as Springfield, Ill.; Tallahassee, Fla.; and Sacramento, though some deal with national clients and issues.

"Clearly, the distinction is not that significant," said Stephen Weissman of the Campaign Finance Institute, a nonpartisan think tank that focuses on campaign issues.
"He gets an asterisk that says he is trying to be different," Weissman said. "But overall, the same wealthy interests are funding his campaign as are funding other candidates, whether or not they are lobbyists."

Also consider In the list of earmarks he requested, $1 Million was requested for the construction of a new hospital pavilion at the University Of Chicago. The request was put in in 2006.
You know who works for the University of Chicago Hospital?
Michelle Obama. She’s vice president of community affairs.
In 2006, the Chicago Tribune reported that Mrs. Obama’s compensation at the University of Chicago Hospital, where she is a vice president for community affairs, jumped from $121,910 in 2004, just before her husband was elected to the Senate, to $316,962 in 2005, just after he took office.

Now I freely admit it was a link to Ms Pringle's article that brought me here in the first place. I had never heard of the site before, but rest assured it will not be the only articles I comment on. And I've stated on several other sites, that if Senator Obama can explain a few things rather than the MSM shielding him from answering I would be open to changing my opinion on him, but I'm sorry, saying the deal with Rezko was "A boneheaded thing to do" does not cut it for me.

by POdVet (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 23 comments) on Friday, May 16, 2008 at 10:24:58 PM

Serious Questions

Q: I have serious questions dont you?

A: Nobody's perfect, but by the same criteria Pringle is raising, I can show Obama does much better then the other candidates remaining.

Q: ...he had staked his viability as a candidate on being able to raise $1 Million by the end of June 2003...

A: And again, by your own criteria, the Rezko donations are a small percentage of the money he "needed" to raise then. $80,000 represents 8% of the overall total, with average US citizens representing the other 92% of the money instead of 99.97%. Is that such a big difference?

Q: Obama has proven to be duplicitous.

A: But how badly and how many times compared to our other choices? How can you bring up ethics reform without noting that Obama has been stronger then the other two in calling for greater government accountability and transparency? Pringle's blindsight of McCain/Clinton's own duplicitous acts is so glaring, it nullifies all her effort. How can you argue Obama is no good without weighing your alternatives?

Q: His claim of not accepting money from lobbyists...?

A: I'll repeat what I told a commenter on Pringle's earlier post:

Misunderstanding Corporate bundling - Any donation made to a presidential candidate must be limited to under $2500. These "corporate" donations are not checks written by the companies, they are given by individual employees of these companies, only up to the maximum amount allowed. Some firms do bundle them together to try to get favored status. They also may supply the money and just "use the names" of some people. This is illegal. Asian fundraisers are still in jail today because they filed the names of "straw donors" in Bill Clinton's 1996 campaign.

In the 2008 election, "corporate donors" contributed heavily to BOTH Obama and Hillary Clinton. Wall Street wants to be at the table, no matter who wins, and they favored Hillary over Obama. But the American people out-contributed them in Obama's total, by more then double.

So once again, look at the contributions Obama has taken in from ALL sources and then compare these donation sizes. Obama's biggest donors by far are unaffiliated citizen contributors giving less then $225 each. Again, we show that Obama represents more average Americans then any other candidate. Edwards agrees Obama will fight corporate influence best.

Q: "the same wealthy interests are funding his campaign as are funding other candidates, whether or not they are lobbyists."

A: True, but don't try to manipulate the raw totals. Obama gets more from real people. Also, it's only some of the same interests. Obama has support from Google, Harvard and other sources that Hillary doesn't.

Q: $1 Million was requested for the construction of a new hospital pavilion at the University Of Chicago.

A: OK, was it granted?

Q: Now I freely admit it was a link to Ms Pringle's article that brought me here in the first place. I had never heard of the site before, but rest assured it will not be the only articles I comment on.

A: We look forward to reading these other comments in the hopes you will see more balanced arguments and weigh in on the fight for the Democratic party going on between the populists and the corporatists.

Q: saying the deal with Rezko was "A boneheaded thing to do" does not cut it for me.

A: Noted, but then who will you be voting for? You haven't many options and I don't see the sense of bashing one candidate without discussing any alternative actions. This smells like a campaign operative or a really really dedicted follower of one of the other two candidates.

by Gustav Wynn (59 articles, 38 quicklinks, 5 diaries, 281 comments) on Sunday, May 18, 2008 at 12:58:37 AM

weighing the possibilities

Wynn: But how badly and how many times compared to our other choices? How can you bring up ethics reform without noting that Obama has been stronger then the other two in calling for greater government accountability and transparency? Pringle's blindsight of McCain/Clinton's own duplicitous acts is so glaring, it nullifies all her effort. How can you argue Obama is no good without weighing your alternatives?

In spring of 2007 the Obama campaign began their "Democrat for a Day" efforts urging Republicans and independents to violate state laws and vote in the Democratic primaries and vote against Clinton by voting for Obama, then they could rejoin their true party and vote for whoever they wanted in the GE. There is verifiable evidence that this happened in Florida, Nevada, Texas, California, Ohio, and Pennsylvania at the very least. Emails and Flyer's from these abound on the net as well as articles in several newspapers and even on HuffPo. That in my eyes is in direct conflict with the morals of the Democratic Party! I am not just blindly following my choice of a candidate in Clinton, I know full well all the things that have been said about her, I also know the Republicans spent $5 Billion investigating them and ended up with a stained dress. I've researched Peter Paul v Clinton, and it is a frivilous lawsuit brought by a 4 time felon who got mad when Bill wouldn't work for him after they found out he was a felon. I wouldn't work for him either and I could really use the money. I checked on all the candidates, and frankly the best actualy would probably be Nader, but he couldn't get elected if all the other candidates died the day before the election! McCain has a worse associate than rev Wright if Wright was at every Obama rally preaching his white hate. Frankly McCain's friend Haggee is the religious fanatic mirror image of Hitler, rather than wanting all jews dead like Hitler, Haggee wants everyone who doesn't support the Jewish state dead. I seriously spent several days surfing the web and checking everything I could find that was verifyable on the Candidates and one thing stands out above all others for me. Hillary Clinton has over 30 yrs of doing volunteer work (long before she ever thought about politics) doing pro-bono legal work, donating time and money, even taking pay cuts to work less hours to devote more time to the issues I care about like child advocacy, workers rights, and minority rights. She has fought for universal health care even when the insurance companies spent millions on lobbyists and tv ad's making false claims against her, and stood up to the Republican smear machine that was aimed at her. She never gave up, and even now though she has toned it down some, hers is still the only plan that covers everyone. I'll stop now before this become an article itself.

by POdVet (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 23 comments) on Sunday, May 18, 2008 at 6:01:29 PM

Your imbalance hurts your arguments

Obama used this as a strategy to appeal to Republicans in Florida which is not supposed to be counted, as well as California which he lost. The real knock on this strategy according to HuffPo was that anti-Hillary statements (which I haven't seen) supposedly appeared on 100 fliers in an isolated Nevada precinct before they were changed. Obama lost Nevada however.

Compare this to the 100,000 votes Hillary received in Ohio from Republicans who illegally switched parties for a day, giving her the win, as instructed by right wing hatemonger Rush Limbaugh and aided by Richard Mellon Scaife. In Ohio, ballots explicitly state voters cannot cross over purely for "strategic" purposes.

Then let's compare how many Republicans crossed over for Hillary in Pennsylvania and Indiana to how many crossed over for Obama. If you do this, you'll see that bringing up the "Democrat for a Day" complaint is a mistake because Hillary has benefited from this far more then Obama, giving her wins in big states and continuing presently.

Also do not talk about the morals of the Democratic Party unless you are prepared to shine a light on Hillary's arrangement with party bosses for locked-in support before the people cast a single vote. Is that keeping with democratic morals or is it a me-first morality?

You can dismiss the Clinton's long list of scandals, but the right and their pals in th