The governor wanted them to BUY the senate seat--to enrich himself. You may like so called deals but it is illegal. I prefer to elect my senators. What is this in Illinois an elected mafia?

Deals are made every day. That's politics. The deal normally enriches the deal maker even though they make us think the deal was in the interest of the people. This is politics.

The two main reasons this has become such a big deal are:

1. He got caught in a criminal investigation of the U.S. Attorney's office (which, by the way, the Obama transition people may well have put them up to -- or possibly Mayor Daley)

2. His race.

I still think there is much more to be revealed -- like for instance, the internal audit documents that the U.S. Attorney's office explicitly asked them not to make public until next week? Why could that be?

Stay tuned, film at eleven.

D

This is getting crazy. What Blago did was OK because that is what politicians do? What he did was ILLEGAL, period. No if's and's or buts. You can't make excuses for anyone involved in this, J. Jackson (Jr. or Sr.) Obama or anyone. From the start of Obama's run I have been warning people with two words..."Chicago politician"......I guess I was right all along.

I just want to know where is the line? The Illinois governor did what politicians do every day. At what point does it become illegal.

Jon G,

Harry Reid just called David Patterson, the governor of New York to say he wants Carolyn Kennedy to take Hillary Clinton's Senate seat. Is this not the same thing that Jesse Jackson did, or Barack Obama's campaign did? Would Patterson's be breaking the law if he inquired how appointing Carolyn would be a benefit to New York and himself? Where is the line? I am trying to understand when to make a deal becomes illegal.

Interested Observer:

I can understand that you would like to elect your senator. However, by law, in this situation, it is the governor's charge to replace a person in both Barack and Hillary's senate seats. I am just trying to understand when the deal makers are crossing the law when they are doing what they do every day. Where is the line?

Here's my take, for what it's worth:

From today's New York Times we know that Fitzgerald's case against Blagojevich is weak. The reason for this is that he essentially moved in too early. No actions have been taken. No money changed hands.

The questions is, why did Fitz move in early? Ostensibly, he moved in because the day before the Chicago Tribune ran a story that Blagojevich had been wire-tapped, blowing their cover.

But this leads to another question: why did the Tribune run the story? Answer: someone in Fitz's office tipped them off.

This then leads to another question: why did Fitz's office tip off the Tribune?

I see two possible answers here, neither very pretty.

1) Early on when the scandal broke, the New York Times ran a story indicating that Rahm Emmanual had been in talks with Blagojevich over the Senate Seat. If we assume that Obama's team did not know of the wire tapping, Fitz could have been very afraid that Emmanual or someone else was about to say or do something "over the line" so to speak. Given that this would have been recorded, it could have been disasterous for President Elect Obama before he had even taken office. Fitz needed cover to go in early before this could happen, so he had his office tip off the Tribune.

2) If we assume that Obama knew about the wire-tapping, he could have instructed Fitz's team to go in early exactly so there would be a weak case against Blagojevich. Fitz still needed cover for this, though, so the same tip-off applies.

My personal opinion is 1. If I'm right, Obama owes a debt of gratitude to Fitz for essentially taking a fall for him. And it will probably be a big fall. Fitz's career will be over for all real purposes.

There is really no case against the Governor. Everybody knows this which is why the Illinois Legislature is basically delaying any impeachment proceedings. They know that Fitz's prosecution will fail, and that there will be hell to pay when Blagojevich is vindicated.

One man's opinion.

Neal,

You may not be far from the truth. Now we find out that Jesse Jackson Jr. was a snitch for Fitzegerald!! Therefore, Jesse Jr. probably knew that Blagojevich was being taped. Now, if people who were alledgely speaking on behalf of Jesse jr, offered a million dollars so Jesse Jr. would be appointed to Barack's senate seat, there is a case that could be made that Jesse's people were trying to entrap the governor. Lord have mercy!!! In what times do we really live?

It was nice to see that Jesse Jackson Jr. went right to the feds after Blagojevich tried to shake him down. This just goes to show that there are honest Chicago politicians, Obama included.

The hopes of the entire world rest upon Obama's shoulders. We are facing a world financial crisis of a scope not seen since the 1930's. As well, he is perhaps the only world leader with both the intellect and legitimacy to navigate a peace between western and Islamic interests. I'm sure no one understands weight of this more than he himself does.

The Quakers have a doctrine of "way will open." In short it means that when difficult times set in, God will open a way through them. I truly believe that Obama is the "open way" for these times.

Let us pray that God will strengthen his shoulders and grant him wisdom for the tasks ahead.

I thought I would relate a quick Obama anecdote that involved my oldest son, Wiley.

Early on in the Democratic Primary, Obama made an unannounced Sunday morning visit to St. Lukes Methodist Church on 86th street. A friend of ours got word about it prior enough to take her children and Wiley to the service.

When the service ended, she and her three children got in line to, and succeded in shaking his hand. Wiley was next in line. Before Wiley could shake his hand, a very elderly African American woman (we are white)scooted in before him and was the last.

At first Wiley was disappointed. I told him, however, that that woman had probably been waiting her entire life for an event like this to happen. In fact, she probably thought that she would wait in vain. And she was not alone. Entire generations, of all colors, had been waiting for this.

I said, Wiley you are more blessed by getting to witness this woman shake Senator Obama's hand than if you had shaken his hand yourself.

He understood.

Neal,

Your story concerning your son Wiley is very moving. I am surprised that this experience took place knowing that very few Blacks, besides Marion Miller, attend St. Lukes. You definitely handled it in a Christian way. I don't know if you know it or not, but your Pastor, Kent Millard, publicly shared a story concerning Barack's visit to St. Luke. He said he received several phone calls from members who did not want Barack at the church. In fact, a large donor, $250,000 withdrew the commitment because of Barack's visit. I pray that your spirit becomes contagious.

You are right in that Barack has an enormous job ahead of him. And I too believe that he was divinely chosen to lead the way. It is our job to make sure he does not stray from the straight and narrow. May God continue to order our steps.

In the case of Blagojevich seeking to sell the senate seat this is politics as it has always been. It throws me how history is still so very prevalent and some behave as if because it is the 21st century governmental arenas have taken on a new shape. While a new day has come it has not yet been enacted just put into position. In my personal opinion what the governor of Ill. has done is illegal however it is not based on the what but how and his motive. Like it or not, anything initiated by anyone for one's own preservation is unethical and unrighteous. Nonetheless this is justice as we know it from the onset of the Constitution and Amendments put in place over 300 years ago. In reference to bBrack and his position or the lack thereof concernig this matter, incidents taking place that seek to destroy his character are right on target. One of the evidences of a person fulfilling their purposes as a result of helping to restore on any level is chaos all around them. It is the behavior of one who is chosen that determines the rise or continued failing of a system. In essence I can appreciate the confusion, ignorance and exposure of evil hearts during this time in our government much more today; anyone who has ears let him hear. For me it all says no matter what economic state, political or judicial deceptions, the end for all games is over and the world is runnig scared. I would be too if I had been apart of a system that held down values which degraded, dehumanized and literally bullied others out of their freedoms and right to be human. I concur with many who understand you reap what you sow, except on at a higher degress. Things always seem worse before they get better. This is when the power of God is seen in ways that no one can deny the existence of Jesus Christ. To God be the glory.

Now that the Illinois Governor has chosen a Black former District Attorney to replace Obama, what do you think should happen?

I think the Democrats in the Senate and House need to calm down and accept the Governor's choice. They did not prosecute Bagloyevich and he is still legally entitled to choose a replacement for Barack and he did that.

Once the legal process is finished and the Governor is found guilty of a crime that is unrelated to his choice, then let him serve whatever time is required. His choice of the person to replace Barack should have no bearing on the governor's case.

I think Barack has enough to deal with rather than become embroiled in some Illinois politics that can hurt us all as a major distraction from the economy and the problems of the world.

Pastor, I may have introduced something that should have been your call. I just did not have any more to contribute to the current discussion of this blog. I apologize if I have commited and error.

john marshall