Patrick Fitzgerald Is Back: Maybe This Time GOPers Will Not Attack
| Tue Dec. 9, 2008 11:44 AM PST
Patrick Fitzgerald is back.
With his dramatic arrest of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich on an assortment of corruption charges--including the allegation that Blagojevich wanted to sell the Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama--Fitzgerald, the hard-charging U.S. attorney in Chicago, has returned to the national stage as a scourge of dishonest government. His last star turn was as the special counsel who successfully prosecuted Scooter Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, for having lied to FBI agents and a grand jury during the investigation of the leak that outed CIA officer Valerie Plame Wilson.
Throughout that investigation, the no-nonsense Fitzgerald repeatedly insisted that the case was about a simple matter: whether Libby had lied. But he did note it had wider implications. When Fitzgerald presented his closing argument, he declared, "There is a cloud on the vice president." He added: "And that cloud remains because this defendant obstructed justice." Two weeks later, after winning a guilty verdict on four of five counts, Fitzgerald noted, "Mr. Libby had failed to remove that cloud....Sometimes when people tell the truth, clouds disappear. Sometimes they do not." And when Bush commuted Libby's sentence, ensuring that Libby would serve no prison time, Fitzgerald huffed, "It is fundamental to the rule of law that all citizens stand before the bar of justice as equals."
His not-too-subtle point was that when it came to integrity, the Bush White House--or at least Cheney's wing--was, well, cloudy. (The trial had revealed much about Cheney's hard-edged political operation.)
The Libby case, for some, was a hard-to-follow affair, and conservatives and Republican allies of Libby and the Bush administration had rampaged against Fitzgerald and tried mightily to muddy up the episode. Thus, Fitzgerald's implied indictment of the Bush crowd partially got lost in the middle of a partisan mud fight. With the Blagojevich case, Fitzgerald is once again championing honest government, but this time he appears to have a case less likely to get caught up in the distracting swirl of ideological attacks. After all, Blagojevich has few friends who will go on cable TV to blast Fitzgerald for being a run-amok prosecutor. There may even be Republicans who praise his pursuit of Blagojevich, a Democrat.
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At a Tuesday press conference to discuss the Blagojevich complaint, Fitzgerald was again on a high horse--apparently justifiably. The complaint is a strong one, based on wiretapped conversation in which Blagojevich (dropping plenty of f-bombs) openly talked about how he could trade the Senate seat for campaign contributions, a Cabinet post, a job at a nonprofit or labor outfit, or a well-paying spot on a corporate board for his wife. The complaint also outlines other illegal pay-to-play schemes involving government contracts. In describing all this, Fitzgerald railed against the culture of corruption that has plagued Illinois.
He decried Blagojevich's brazenness. Given that Blagojevich knew he was under investigation, the prosecutor said, "You might have thought in that environment pay-to-play wold slow down." Instead, it sped up, Fitzgerald maintained. And Fitzgerald went beyond describing the case against Blagojevich to assert that this way of doing business in Illinois had to change. Criminal charges could help in this regard, he noted. But there needed to be more: participants in the system had to refuse and squeal. "When people are approached to pay to play," Fitzgerald said, "first [they should] say no, and then report it." He proclaimed that Illinois was facing a "moment of truth."
Fitzgerald obviously hopes this case will do more than land the current governor in jail. He wants to drive reform throughout Illinois and Chicago. He is, of course, aiming high. His prosecution of Scooter Libby did discredit the Bush administration but it didn't do much to transform how the Bush administration and Washington operate. Libby escaped full punishment for having lied. (And it remains possible that George W. Bush will pardon Libby in the last month of his presidency.) The Blagojevich case offers Fitzgerald another high-profile opportunity, and this time, Fitzgerald might have a better chance of nudging government toward functioning as it should: ethically, honestly, and not for profit.
Comments
USA Babe,
It was out there but it has been scrubbed off many sites. You can google Carol Sowers Obama Senate seat, and you will see links to her article stating there was a meeting. She is a Chicago reporter. Also the video of Axelrod stating that Obama met wit the governor has mysteriously been taken off youtube. A lot of scrubbing.
http://hillbuzz.wordpress.com/2008/12/10/obama-caught-lying-he-did-talk-...
It's a bit naive to think he wasn't in contact with the Govenor. Given the nature of Illinois politics where he came up, come on now.
Interestingly, I was puzzled by Obama's almost immediate denials that he had been in any way in contact with the Governor's office. Why? Because for the last month it was simply understood, both by his own admission and by David Axelrod's interviews, that his own preference for his Senate replacement was probably made known to the Governor. And fittingly so. Of course, there would be nothing wrong about Obama simply saying, "I am surprised as the next person, since I have discussed my replacement as would be natural with a governor of my own party responsible for the appointment, and I never detected anything out of the ordinary on his part." Why instead the unbelievable denial of any communications that in turn earns the more unbelievable "misspoke" on the part of Axelrod? All that brings us back to the now familiar territory of "only a neighborhood acquaintance" and "not the (fill in the blanks) I once knew" and "I was only (fill in the appropriate adolescent age) when I was supposed to have (fill in the blanks)". The problem with Obama is that any one "pal" (to use that now taboo word) from the past in and of itself is no problem. But each one thrown under the bus?a Rev. Wright, a Tony Rezko, a Bill Ayers, a Father Pfleger, a Governor Blagojevich, a Rashid Khalidi, et al?serve to expand the possibilities that any one of them might come clean (or come dirty) and give us a very different picture at just the time Obama needs unity to govern the country.
I wish Obama well in governing us in times of peril, but I also wish he would just stop the stuttering in ex tempore settings, and come clean the first time.
Submitted by Realist (not verified) on Tue Dec. 9, 2008 3:51 PM PST.
I have no use for corrupt Democrats any more than I do corrupt Republicans, so I am cheering for Fitzgerald. I am very sorry that Fitz was unable to circumvent GOP corruption in Libby's case, and I hope that Fitz sees fit to campaign for the return of the rule of law regardless of the political orientation of the party in power.
I'm kind of suspicious that the charges against Blagojevich are motivated more by Fitzgerald's desire to prove his conservative bona fides and make amends for prosecuting Cheney's henchman than a pure desire for good government. Could Blagojevich actually be so stupid as to have actually done what he's accused of? Even assuming he said these things, is that, in and of itself, a crime, or is some overt act on his part to implement his scheme required? I'm certainly not saying the Illinois governor is innocent, but I'll hold my fire and see how all this shakes out before I start canonizing Fitzgerald.
ejs,
Patrick Fitzgerald has been one of the few people on the scene here in Illinois to rise above partisan politics and work for real clean government. As US Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, he has been impartial and quite effective--this is the 2nd governor he's had in his sights (Republican George Ryan was the first). My state needs this man.
The idea that the GOP won't jump to tie Obama to this event is a nice dream, and shows hope, but don't count on it for a minute. If they don't I'm sure Bilious O'Really and that douche nozzle Limpblow will attack with the full force of their hate spewing arsenal. After all there are STILL nut jobs on the lunatic Right that are trying to bring cases to court that question Obama's birth certificate and whether or not he's a natural born US citizen.
As shocking as the allegations against Blagojevich ARE, I was at least as shocked to hear the nearly hysterical way Fitzgerald delivered the Indictment to the Press; shouldn't a TRIAL begin before before the evidence is offered and a sentence is passed? And while it certainly seems Blagojevich will go down for this (and jolly well should!) -won't the process be tainted by a Trial-by-Media?
If any of this gets on Obama -even by inference- I will be a whole lot less willing to wait for court justice! My ex-husband used to say "lying slime bags should be covered in gravy and locked in a pen of hungry pit bulls"; perhaps a fitting punishment for said Gov. How did this potty-mouthed bully get elected, anyway, Bob?
On November 23: "Senior adviser David Axelrod appeared on Fox News Chicago and said...that the President-elect had not expressed a favorite to replace him, and his inclination was to avoid being a "kingmaker," Axelrod said, "I know he's talked to the governor and there are a whole range of names many of which have surfaced, and I think he has a fondness for a lot of them."
Today: "An Obama aide, speaking on the condition of anonymity, took back David Axelrod's remark last month that Barack Obama and Rod Blagojevich had spoken recently.
Stay tuned! More Blagojegate to come!
I'm from IL originally, and Blagojevich has been hated by most for a while now, party aside. Please don't doubt this guy's arrogance or culpability. Fitzgerald doesn't NEED a "trial by media" to make his case to the Illinois public. Everyone I know there is sick to death of the parade of corrupt governors. Hopefully, they'll get a(nother) good politician for governor next.
I have lived in Chicago all of my life, and I suppose I have gotten quite used to "Politics as Usual", but this one shocks even me. IF all that is being accused is true (and I would like to review the evidents more before buying in completely), than Blag should be in a cell right next to Ryan. It is to the point of embarrassing that we cannot find a decent governor to run our State, and yet can produce someone as incredible as Obama.
However, one post suggested that Daley should be next. Say what you will, but Chicago was all but dead until the recent Daley machine came to power. You may not like his tactics but he does get things done, and brings a lot to our city.A "simple" mayor is one thing, but a crooked governor is another.
Submitted by JT Barrie (not verified) on Wed Dec. 10, 2008 4:50 PM PST.
Fitzpatrick's efforts were rewarded by a commutation of sentencing on Libby. Will GW commute Blagojevitch's sentence to show how nonpartisan he is?
What's with all the scrubbing?
Think about a Governor saying a Senate Seat is valuable and he isn't going to give it away-maybe take it for himself and run for President in 2016! Multiply that kind of thinking by the number of Congressmen and the Lobbies and power groups and you will come to grasp with the corruption and downfall of America. Why are we in Iraq-Big Oil. Why are our Borders unguarded and drugs flowing into the U.S. by the trainload? Because of Amnesty Groups, the Hispanic Vote, and a source of non union cheap labor-even slave labor. Why do the Banks get money without asking and American Auto Companies have to beg a Congress that is responsible for their demise along with an idiot President that is owned by Big Oil! We are being sold out by the very people who were elected to look after the interests of the American People and protect our Borders from all enemies both foreign and domestic-Sadly, our biggest threat is the ones who were elected to safeguard our interests but sold out to the highest bidder!
I grew up in the Chicago area and moved back here about 7 years ago, just after Blago won the Democratic primary. Twice, I held my nose to vote for him. I will never do that for any candidate again.
For those of you unfamiliar with Illinois geography, Quincy is not exactly nearby. It's several hours away.
If Obama had actually met with Blago, rather than being at the same press conference and shaking hands, don't you think at least one Chicago news organization would have reported it?
The most telling detail concerning the Obama-Blago relationship is that Blago said, on tape, "They won't give me anything but appreciation. [Bleep] them."
At times like this, I sure miss Florida's government in the sunshine. Even Jeb Bush never sank this low, at least on state issues. Of course, there is that small matter of the 2000 election...
I think Fitzgerald had to do what he did in the news conference. You can't arrest a sitting governor without a pretty thorough explanation as to the reason. I think a lot of people don't believe Fitzgerald because they can't comprehend the crass and careless things the governor is accused of. Don't forget that Bush could pardon him for future convictions. Surely he won't.
Link please Red Baron. I've seen nothing reported about Obama and Blago meeting several times and I'm sure if that were true, a credible news source (not Faux news, hardly credible) would have evidence of it.
So, since you seem so sure, please provide the link to where you obtained your info.
I don't know that I agree he's honing his conservative creds, but I agree the way Fitz has handled this is more like a crusade than law enforcement. He jumped the gun, filing a complaint and making a crude arrest apparently before getting a grand jury indictment. He so much as said his motivation was political, albeit apparently moral: He didn't want Blagojevich to get away with appointing a crooked senator.
It reminds me of the movie "Majority Report," in which people were arrested before their crimes took place. In this case, the intent alone may be proved to be a level of crime, but I think he should have let this play out to prove a quid pro quo after it happened -- if what Blago blustered happened. The FBI had Blago tapped for years, and Blago knew that and said so. The investigation doesn't seem suddenly at risk of drying up. In fact, it appeared to have new whistleblowers daily.
I wonder how much of Fitz's haste is because Bush appointed him and Obama is likely to replace him come January. That, also, would be a political motivation for prosecution now, instead of when the fruit were ripe.
USA Babe,
It was out there but it has been scrubbed off many sites. You can google Carol Sowers Obama Senate seat, and you will see links to her article stating there was a meeting. She is a Chicago reporter. Also the video of Axelrod stating that Obama met wit the governor has mysteriously been taken off youtube. A lot of scrubbing.
http://hillbuzz.wordpress.com/2008/12/10/obama-caught-lying-he-did-talk-...
It's a bit naive to think he wasn't in contact with the Govenor. Given the nature of Illinois politics where he came up, come on now.
Interestingly, I was puzzled by Obama's almost immediate denials that he had been in any way in contact with the Governor's office. Why? Because for the last month it was simply understood, both by his own admission and by David Axelrod's interviews, that his own preference for his Senate replacement was probably made known to the Governor. And fittingly so. Of course, there would be nothing wrong about Obama simply saying, "I am surprised as the next person, since I have discussed my replacement as would be natural with a governor of my own party responsible for the appointment, and I never detected anything out of the ordinary on his part." Why instead the unbelievable denial of any communications that in turn earns the more unbelievable "misspoke" on the part of Axelrod? All that brings us back to the now familiar territory of "only a neighborhood acquaintance" and "not the (fill in the blanks) I once knew" and "I was only (fill in the appropriate adolescent age) when I was supposed to have (fill in the blanks)". The problem with Obama is that any one "pal" (to use that now taboo word) from the past in and of itself is no problem. But each one thrown under the bus—a Rev. Wright, a Tony Rezko, a Bill Ayers, a Father Pfleger, a Governor Blagojevich, a Rashid Khalidi, et al—serve to expand the possibilities that any one of them might come clean (or come dirty) and give us a very different picture at just the time Obama needs unity to govern the country.
I wish Obama well in governing us in times of peril, but I also wish he would just stop the stuttering in ex tempore settings, and come clean the first time.
Neo-cons, back off!! Of course, Obama wanted to recommend someone for his seat, because the Illinois constitution says the governor is supposed to appoint a vacated senate seat, but just because some contact was made doesn't mean there was skullduggery. Sorry, conspiracy lovers, Obama's not that stupid. These nutjobs who keep Obama's supposed involvement with Blago and Obama's so-called "born controversy" in the news need to buy their own island and run it like the facist theocracy they want to run here. And good riddance to bad rubbish!
Submitted by Ames Tiedeman (not verified) on Fri Dec. 12, 2008 5:55 PM PST.
Are you liberals upset yet? Obama is picking center right folk to run his Presidency and the Democrat Gov. in Illinois is about to go down. You just lost Spitzer in Ny., Now this? What about change? Are you going to somehow blame Bush???
Ames,
In response to your question: Hell, no , we're not upset! We've just won a mandate to raid conservative's closets and replace your guns with pink neckerchiefs and assless chaps, all the while chanting socialist, anti-"freedom fries" slogans that support the forcing of gay, Islamic marriage ceremonies on your sons and daughters, presided over by our new un- American, terror loving President-Elect(oh, and he's b-l-a-c-k). The Question you should ask yourself is: "Am I scared yet?"
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