The Demise Of Illinois

So we all agree that there is a Chicago Machine & "a way things are done". Does anyone really believe that Obama was able to rise so quickly without playing the same game? Or that he can run in the same circles & be oblivious to what is going on around him?
In the spirit of pragmatism, I accept the fact that Obama is going to be our President & for the sake of the country I hope he turns out to be the best President we have ever had, but the questions need to be asked. Everyone was willing to accept his excuses about not knowing what Rezko was involved in or what Wright was preaching, but this issue is of an entirely different scope.

On a side note, I loved watching Chuck Todd on NBC being so pained by one of his own being accused of such horrible offenses...he always seems to take so much pleasure when a Rep gets in trouble.

 

David, didnt you think Detroit was a political wasteland too? Chicago has been corrupt since before Al Capone. Name someone else from either side who hasnt been ''playing the same game''?

 

Without a doubt he will have played the game I can not think of any one of them who does not do so, but do I think he is corrupt, simple answer no, was he aware of the full extent of what the Governer was doing I doubt it. The man wants to be president of the United States of America so I can not see him as been stupid enough to be involved in anything like this.

 

Reagan played the game, may have done some shady stuff too. But he was the Teflon Ron of the presidency, nothing stuck to him. Smart politicians maybe corrupt, as many politicians are, but they are smart enough to distance themselves from the real BS unlike the Illinois governors.

 

There is no successful politician that has not 'played the game'. But, most don't put sentae seats or anything else up for aution.

BTW: I just read that Candidate #5 is Jesse Jackson, JR. It sounds like he has deniability as he is not on tape, and the mentions of him are only by Blaggy and only in reference to an intermediary (ie: third hand info - no direct evidence). But Candidate #5 doesn't look come out looking too good on those tapes and it would seem unlikely that Blaggy was just talking about him for no reason.

 

I don't disagree but Chicago is rivaled only by Las Vegas in terms of a history of corruption and "playing the game" in Chicago takes on a whole new meaning.
How could Obama not know what was happening? If he didn't know, maybe he should have???
He isn't exactly new to political deals, after all his election to the Senate seat originally was a political deal cut with Hillary, wasn't it?

 

Y'alls ne'er been to Nahrlins.

 

Rare moment where the mesiah accidentally was not "distancing himself" as the media reports.

 

La Machine

This fish rots from the head down.
Complicit and knowning.

 

The Chicago Machine

Lots of interesting points and questions about the Chicago machine folks.

Here's my angle. Did Obama have an inkling to Blago? Yes. Good reason to distance oneself from him. It's not like a secret that Blago was being watched very closely.

Did Vess post a picture of them together being "buddies"? Yes. In politics one can even use a slimeball to get the vote. Blago was the slimeball BTW.

Now David. Did Obama's meteoric rise have anything to do with his knowledge of the "game" in Chicago? I wouldn't doubt it for a minute honestly.
Chicago politics is like a "crash course" in "how to get things done" basically.

This brings me to my real point. Politics is politics and it's always dirty no matter how "honest" you are. Dirt's gonna get in the way and one has to work around it.


It's not just Chicago, New Orleans or Las Vegas. It's EVERYWHERE. It happens in your town of 2000 people and if one doesn't believe it they should run for office, get elected and see.

Blago, for some reason, didn't think people actually DID realize this. He also went way ovre the edge and I hope he eventually has a horribly miserable life because of it. He deserves it.

Seeing that Obama is the President elect we can only hope that he has learned enough in his "crash course" to apply his learning to a world and national stage.

This may sound funny coming from me but in this age a new guy with "tricks up his sleeve" may be just what the doctor ordered.

 

Don't say we did! I didn't vote for that FRAUD Obama!

 

Wasnt Lincoln an Illinois politician?

 

Haha. You think this is high school, where I might be offended by you criticzing my ''town''? Thats funny. Las Vegas makes no bones about being corrupt. I like its honesty at being dishonest.

 

The good old days in Louisiana were that way too. It wasn't hidden. It was right out in the open.