Turns out Obama’s Chief of Staff had a more personal interest in his discussions with Blago… as in what to do with his own Senate [oops...] House seat. Perhaps he’s not not sure about his future in Obama’s cabinet, or how long term that would be. Because his discussions with Blago on his own position included finding an “interim” representative.
From today’s Chicago Sun-Times..
Just after accepting the top post with Obama, Rahm Emanuel discussed with Blagojevich the possibility of keeping his congressional seat “warm” for him for a couple of years, the Sun-Times has learned.
Emanuel expressed interest in returning one day to his elected position because he was on track to become U.S. House speaker, the Sun-Times previously reported.
An Obama transition team report released Tuesday indicates Emanuel talked with the governor days after the election. Sources said Emanuel broached with Blagojevich the subject of finding a candidate to temporarily fill the seat. But Emanuel isn’t accused of promising something in return.
~~~Days after Emanuel and Blagojevich spoke about Emanuel’s seat, the governor is overheard telling aides on secret wiretaps he wanted Emanuel “to get the word today,” about raising money for the governor and that when “[Emanuel] asks me for the Fifth CD thing, I want it to be in his head.” The “Fifth CD” was a reference to Emanuel’s 5th Congressional District seat.
The ways of the beltway have always included the quid pro quo mentality. There is nothing illegal about favors in exchange for assistance in raising campaign bucks.
What I find most interesting is that Rahm’bo hasn’t resigned yet. Makes one wonder if he thinks he may be another politically expedient evictee from the Obama inner circle.
The Obama WH counsel designate, Greg Craig, issued his five page internal investigation on Obama and aides’ contact with Blago. In it, he states Obama had no direct contact with Blago, or his staff, on possible Senate seat replacements. Apparently, the President-elect left that task of the suggested preferred names to be relayed by Rahm’bo or Axelrod… a task that Emanuel confirmed was done as planned by delivering a list of candidates “acceptable” to the President elect.
It appears that with all the Congressional bozos leaving their seats with this election, there will quite a few unelected golden children in favor taking a very legal, if not slimely, short cut to power. What has US Congressional politics come to?
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