Obamessiah pushes for reform in Illinois!

[Toad]

 


C'mon.... you didn't REALLY believe that did you? It's actually just the opposite. Obama was asked to help push through a reform law being held up by the man that made him a US Senator, Emil Jones.

Now for a man all about change, that should have been simple right?

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/09/obama_sidesteps_reform_in_illi.html

Obama Sidesteps Reform in Illinois

For those of you who still cling to the fantasy that Barack Obama is "about change," you should note how he, or his minions, want nothing to do with reforming politics in Illinois, perhaps the most corrupt state in the Union.

"Throughout his political career, Barack Obama has fought for open and honest government," proclaims his campaign Web site. Apparently, no longer. When the Democratic presidential candidate--now his party's industrial-strength voice for our deliverance from political corruption everywhere--was asked by a reformer if he would help get his political mentor back home to get off the dime and move the most minimal of state ethics legislation toward passage, the Obama campaign sent word back that amounted to a "no."

State Sen. Emil Jones (D-Chicago) is the Chicago machine politician who might have been most instrumental in jump-starting Obama's political career. Now, as Illinois Senate president, Jones is the one sitting on the reform legislation, refusing to call it for an expected favorable vote before it officially dies of neglect.

Jones is the pal of Gov. Rod Blagojevich, no friend of reform, who used his amendatory veto power to change the legislation after it passed both houses so that Jones would get another chance to kill it.

If all that's confusing, welcome to Illinois politics, where intricacy is the best camouflage for chicanery. Suffice to say, neither Blagojevich nor Jones is working for reform...

[/size]

There some change you can believe in, eh?

Tell me again about how The Obamessiah is really going to bring us change?

Before you start to answer, read my sig block.

[skernsk]

There is a flaw in the report that I would like to have expanded on before passing judgement.

the Obama campaign sent word back that amounted to a "no."

What exactly was sent back?  I would love to just believe the media and assume that the reporter is stating the facts and not twisting the story for his or her own greater good.  But nope, I trust the media less than the two candidates.

[Nwbie]

If you knew Chicago politics you would understand that no matter if he did or didn't call Jones -- Jones would do what he wants... he is currently retiring and has managed to get his son... a person who has no political or state legislative experience whatsoever... placed on the ballot to replace him in the November election, no primary election to be done... just had the commiteemen in his political ward - vote to have the son put on the ballot... there is no opponent in the general election...
Now, as the reporter who is at the Chicago Tribune knows, and is bringing up something that he knows is an impossiblity to get Jones to even consider... asking Obama to make an intervention to "reform" Emil Jones - is like asking someone to change the sky color to a light green... it isn't going to happen.... his son might consider it after the election... but until then...they won't reform anything....

[Toad]

Perhaps so.

Still, if Obama is ready to go to DC and create change and knock heads to get it, you'd think he'd be will to step up and put a little pressure on Jones to create change in Illinois.

This is one of those cases where silence is deafening. It's Obamessiah talkin' the talk but unable to walk the walk.

Vote Libertarian!

[Nwbie]

Perhaps so.

Still, if Obama is ready to go to DC and create change and knock heads to get it, you'd think he'd be will to step up and put a little pressure on Jones to create change in Illinois.

This is one of those cases where silence is deafening. It's Obamessiah talkin' the talk but unable to walk the walk.

Vote Libertarian!

Don't disagree, would be nice, but it won't happen... Jones has a lot of control over the wards votes in IL...

[midnight Target]

Wait a minute.

We know what here?... I mean factually.

Maybe Obama (more likely some surrogate) was asked to force an Illinoise State Senator to "go home" and Obama said "no". As if Obama has the power to do such a thing. Now consider the article that would be written had Obama forced a State Legislator to do anything...

Yep... you got something there all right. <-- insert rolly eyes thing here

[Toad]

Well, let's look to the Chicago Sun Times for a bit more information.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/1159383,CST-NWS-leg12web.article

A top government watchdog group that worked closely with Obama during his Springfield years urged the Illinois senator to intervene at a time he is trying to make his reform credentials a cornerstone of his presidential campaign.

"As a presidential candidate, this is small potatoes. But as Illinois' U.S. senator, this is a place he could come in and quickly clean up some of the damage and serve his state," said Cindi Canary, director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, which has pushed for the donation restrictions for three years...

...Canary said the senator has an obligation to weigh in against the governor's changes in order to ensure the original "pay-to-play" measure survives and to prod Jones into allowing a vote before the election.

"A 30-second phone call to the Illinois Senate president could yield huge dividends to this state," she said...

Obama's campaign refused to tell the Sun-Times whether the senator supports either version. And a spokesman ducked questions on whether Obama would speak with Jones, as Canary suggested.

What's so tough about taking a position one way or the other on this issue? Either he's for reform or he's not.

He sure sounds like a MIGHTY reformer there. 

[midnight Target]

You got what? Quotes from a spokeshole for some group in Illinois? Yikes.... do you really think this is important? Do you have ANY clue what the legislation actually calls for except "reform". LOL..

[Toad]

Yeah, I do. Do you?

And yes, it is important. Because once again it goes to the character of the guy that wants his heartbeat to be the heartbeat of the President.

He claims he's for "change". He claims he will reform Washington.

Yet when it is time for reform in Illinois, he can't be assed to make a simple statement to the press or call the man who made him a US Senator and support this measure?

It points up the fact that he has never, ever bucked his party. He's a "team player" in the most crooked state political organziation in the US, the Daley machine.

He's making McC look better every day by his refusal to stand up to machine politics.

[Nwbie]

Yeah, I do. Do you?

And yes, it is important. Because once again it goes to the character of the guy that wants his heartbeat to be the heartbeat of the President.

He claims he's for "change". He claims he will reform Washington.

Yet when it is time for reform in Illinois, he can't be assed to make a simple statement to the press or call the man who made him a US Senator and support this measure?

It points up the fact that he has never, ever bucked his party. He's a "team player" in the most crooked state political organziation in the US, the Daley machine.

He's making McC look better every day by his refusal to stand up to machine politics.

You have no idea what you are talking about -- Jones does not answer to Daley - and neither does the Governor -- he does not have any power whatsover in state and very limited in county politics now
Daley machine politics is the city... and it has weakened considerably in the last decade,,,it is a long time since his Dad was the one you are referring to... he died years ago... and once Rostenkowski went to boys camp .. and Dunne left the county ... it weakened more.. Stroger /Daley connection was strong - but since Jr started running the county-- it has weakened considerably...
Like i stated before - Obama wouldn't have any sway at all in convincing or influencing state politicians to "reform" - and neither would McCain in Arizona.. it is a whole different ballgame... just some rants to make him look bad for something he has no control over... its like saying McCain or Bush are responsible for every wrong a republican does in state politics... there are plenty of them across the country... just rants .. nothing more .. nothing less

[Hangtime]

ahhh but all politics are 'local'. this is osamabama's constituency.

his silence speaks volumes.

your 'can't fight city hall' line also speaks volumes.

How very educational this is.

[Nwbie]

ahhh but all politics are 'local'. this is osamabama's constituency.

his silence speaks volumes.

your 'can't fight city hall' line also speaks volumes.

How very educational this is.

weak argument ... let it go

[Hangtime]

what.. chicago has a manifest destiny of corruption? 'Daley Doctrine'?

heluva 'Change'.

hehehehehheh.. impaled politics.

[Nwbie]

what.. chicago has a manifest destiny of corruption? 'Daley Doctrine'?

heluva 'Change'.

hehehehehheh.. impaled politics.

What the H are you talking about?

I tell you what... shoe me where McCain or Palin are going to do that in their respective states...
then start pointing fingers

yeah - Change we can believe in

rofl

[Elfie]

What the H are you talking about?

I tell you what... shoe me where McCain or Palin are going to do that in their respective states...
then start pointing fingers

yeah - Change we can believe in

rofl

Show me where McCain needs to do anything to clean up corruption in his state.  Palin already has......she even stood up to corruption in her own party, not to mention the corporate corruption she has stood up to.

Hang is correct, Illinois with the Daley Machine is one of the most corrupt political areas in our country.