Obama outside his ritzy vacation rental in Kailua, HI
Auto Workers outside a closed Chrysler Truck plant in Warren, MI
Obama ready for his golf swing
Americans ready for a Chinook ride in Afghanistan
Apparently, the "I feel your pain" line is too 1992. Welcome to the celebrity presidency!
It's not just Rahm Emanuel who is hiding the details about his connection to America's least favorite governor. Apparently Attorney General nominee, Eric Holder, was hired by Hot Rod for $300K to preside over investigations of some shady casino deal in Illinois back in '04. Holder conveniently left this transaction out of the vetting process to the Senate Judiciary Committee. From the Chicago Sun-Times: Eric Holder has given hundreds of press interviews," Obama transition spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said in a statement. "He did his best to report them all to the committee, but as he noted in the questionnaire itself, some were undoubtedly missed in the effort to reconstruct a list of them."For the folks "proud of their country for the first time" since Obama got elected, this whole Blago thing has to be a huge turd in the punchbowl. What a pity.
Holder signed the questionnaire on Sunday -- five days after Blagojevich's arrest for allegedly putting Obama's U.S. Senate seat up for sale. The Judiciary Committee asked him to provide lists and "copies of transcripts or tape recordings of all speeches or talks delivered by you" and "all interviews you have given to newspapers, magazines or other publications."
The March 2004 Chicago news conference where Holder and Blagojevich spoke was widely covered because of a controversial 4-1 Gaming Board vote earlier that month to allow a casino to be built in Rosemont. That vote defied the recommendation of the board's staff, which had raised concerns about alleged organized-crime links to the Rosemont casino's developer.
Arne Duncan w/Fancy Suit and Haircut: No Stand and Deliver Here!In Chicago, Fryer helped public schools CEO Arne Duncan implement an incentive program for about 3,750 high school freshmen in 20 schools because Duncan expressed concern about the high rate of students who drop out in ninth or 10th grade. At the end of every five-week marking period, Green for Grades participants can earn $50 for every A, $35 for every B, and $20 for each C they receive in English, math, science, social studies, and physical education.Knowledge can prevent our nation's youth from drooling all over themselves and future generations getting eaten alive by the Chinese in today's competitive world, and you would think that would be enough of a motivating factor to keep these ungrateful youngsters in class. But in a state where even the Senate seat if up for grabs with cash, it's only natural that the youth will expect a monetized value attached to everything.
As hundreds of parents, teachers and supporters of public education descended on the State Capitol today to rally for more education dollars, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich met with Chicago Public Schools’ CEO Arne Duncan, Chicago Board of Education president Michael Scott, former Chicago Board of Education president Gery Chico, and several Chicago area lawmakers to discuss his Higher Standards, Better Schools Plan. The Governor’s proposal would boost school funding by $440 million without increasing the sales or income taxes, and increase high school graduation standards so students are better prepared for higher education and the workplace.Because Hot Rod's got a "really big fucking thing" with these education dollars! I'm sure Arne Duncan was not involved with any of sleaziness in the cesspool of Chicago.
File Photo of Bill Richardson Shaking Down a Youngster for Campaign CashThe inquiry is part of a long-running nationwide investigation into "pay-to-play" practices in local government bond markets. In other cities, federal investigators are questioning whether financial firms have lavished politicians with money and gifts in exchange for fee-paying work advising municipal and local governments on investments. Authorities indicted the mayor of Birmingham, Ala., this month on charges of taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts and loans from a firm that led the city into toxic investments and massive bankruptcy.A few weeks back Obama only offered praise for the New Mexico Governor. From NYT:
In the New Mexico case, the FBI and federal prosecutors are investigating how CDR, based in Beverly Hills, Calif., won lucrative fees from the New Mexico Finance Authority in 2004 soon after donating $100,000 to two Richardson organizations.
“Bill has seen from just about every angle what makes our economy work and what keeps it from working better,”Awarding contracts based on the company's political contributions may not be what's best for "the economy", but it sure is best for "the campaign". With all the funny money that's up for grabs in our bailout bonanza, there's going to be a lot of people getting cozy with the new administration.
Obama Promises Full-Scale Nuclear Annihilation! U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's administration will offer Israel a "nuclear umbrella" against the threat of a nuclear attack by Iran, a well-placed American source said earlier this week. The source, who is close to the new administration, said the U.S. will declare that an attack on Israel by Tehran would result in a devastating U.S. nuclear response against Iran.
Uh-oh, Gateway Pundit has dug up some articles and press releases that indicate Obama did indeed meet the much maligned Illinois Governor after he won the election. This kind of shatters Obama's claim that he had "no contact" with the soon-to-be-imprisoned governor. The media and prog-blogs are already trying to downplay their messiah's involvement, and Obama has just publicly admonished the corruptocrat governor (under the bus...and on his birthday!).
And, it should be pointed out, Mr. Obama has a relationship with Mr. Blagojevich, having not only endorsed Blagojevich in 2002 and 2006, but having served as a top adviser to the Illinois governor in his first 2002 run for the state house.I doubt The Obama is dumb enough to get involved with something so...criminal, but sometimes the ACORN doesn't fall far from the tree (wakka-wakka!).
That 2002 endorsement came at the same time that Axelrod had such serious concerns about whether Blagojevich was ready for governing he refused to work for his one-time client.
According to Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., Mr. Obama's incoming White House chief of staff, Emanuel, then-state senator Obama, a third Blagojevich aide, and Blagojevich's campaign co-chair, David Wilhelm, were the top strategists of Blagojevich's 2002 gubernatorial victory.
That's a screenshot from the newest internet sensation for people bored at work: Super Obama World. It's a parody of Super Mario Brothers 4 interspersed with enough advertising blitzes in between levels to make you grind your teeth. In this level, our hero Obama is in Wasilla to stop those darn book-burning Republicans (a stale reference to Sarah Palin that was debunked months ago). Overall, the game gets boring after about 15 seconds and deserves some space in Something Awful's notorious "ROM Pit".
Because America Hasn't Gotten Enough Al GoreToday, I am announcing a few key parts of my plan. First, we will launch a massive effort to make public buildings more energy-efficient. Our government now pays the highest energy bill in the world. We need to change that. We need to upgrade our federal buildings by replacing old heating systems and installing efficient light bulbs. That won’t just save you, the American taxpayer, billions of dollars each year. It will put people back to work.Nothing wrong with energy-efficiency, but requiring extorted tax-payer dollars to carry it out implies that the whole process is probably going to be unprofitable, inefficient, and mired in endless bureaucracy. Obama's announcement is great news for feel-good greeny businesses that don't stand a chance in the free market. This idea sounds suspiciously like Al Gore's 501 group (We Can Solve It) that has been sucking up commercial time on the major networks. The group is worth at least $300M and might be able to sponsor businesses in the future. From their FAQ:
How do I submit a business proposal or request for funding?Just like sheister T. Boone Pickens attempting to rip off Americans so he can get water rights in Texas, Obama is paving the path of the bleeding heart with gold in guaranteed public funds for green businesses. No one liked my previous idea of dumping nuclear waste at Al Gore's house I suppose.
We may consider partnerships with organizations and companies. At this time we are not able to provide funding for product development or scientific research. If you would like to suggest a partnership, please complete the form here.
A Sweaty Mess of a Man Needs a Public Makeover From The ObamaDemocrats are growing impatient with President-elect Barack Obama's refusal to inject himself in the major economic crises confronting the country. Obama has sidestepped some policy questions by saying there is only one president at a time. But the dodge is wearing thin. "He's going to have to be more assertive than he's been," House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank, D-Mass., told consumer advocates Thursday. Frank, who has been dealing with both the bailout of the financial industry and a proposed rescue of Detroit automakers, said Obama needs to play a more significant role on economic issues.Of course, Barney might have trouble schmoozing with a beloved public figure like The Obama, since the guy is apparently a serious asshole according to the Washington Post. But, just getting a head nod from Obama will mean that incompetent yutzes like Frank continue to get elected. A good deal for those in inner DC circles, shitty for the rest of the country.
