Obama review done; release next week

[bijou]

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
The Obama transition team released a statement on its communications with Blagojevich in relation to Obama's Senate seat.

There are two pieces of news:
(1) The Obama team has completed its review of communications with Blagojevich's office and affirms that the president-elect had no contact with the governor and that his staff had no "inappropriate discussions."

(2) They won't release the review, however, until Dec. 22 -- at the U.S. Attorney's office's direction.

Below is the statement from Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer:
"At the direction of the President-elect, a review of Transition staff contacts with Governor Blagojevich and his office has been conducted and completed and is ready for release. That review affirmed the public statements of the President-elect that he had no contact with the governor or his staff, and that the President-elect's staff was not involved in inappropriate discussions with the governor or his staff over the selection of his successor as US Senator.  ...

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/12/15/1715437.aspx

[Wretched Excess]

why is it that I suspect that the one week delay in releasing this "investigation" is neither coincidental nor accidental?

[bijou]

why is it that I suspect that the one week delay in releasing this "investigation" is neither coincidental nor accidental?

Something is afoot, why would the Attorney's Office want a delay if all that is going to come out is what Obama and his team say happened. Blagojevich knows what he said, as do they so it is Obama's problem if it doesn't match up with the tapes.

[Wretched Excess]

Something is afoot, why would the Attorney's Office want a delay if all that is going to come out is what Obama and his team say happened. Blagojevich knows what he said, as do they so it is Obama's problem if it doesn't match up with the tapes.

I don't know, especially since no one on the staff of "He Who Occupies The Office of the President-Elect" is either a target or a person of interest of the special prosecutor.

[Wretched Excess]

it looks like it is the special prosecutor who suddenly wants the review delayed, although it was widely questioned why he pulled the trigger on the governor and his chief of staff rather precipitously.

from "He Who Occupies the Office of the President-Elect":

"Also at the President-elect's direction, Gregory Craig, counsel to the Transition, has kept the US Attorney's office informed of this fact-gathering process in order to ensure our full cooperation with the investigation. In the course of those discussions, the US Attorney's office requested the public release of the Transition review be deferred until the week of December 22, in order not to impede their investigation of the governor.  The Transition has agreed to this revised timetable for release," said Obama Transition Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer.

[Eupher]

I don't know about you guys, but my Bullshit meter just went off the charts.

First of all, if the Anointed One is beyond reproach ( ) , who directed this "review" of the Transition staff's records of conversation with Blago or his staff in the first place?

Secondly, why is the US Attorney (Fitz) so interested in lending the image of cooperation to the Anointed One?

If the Anointed One is truly "clean" [cough, gag], why does that play a part in the case against Blago?

Third, is Fitz so stupid as to think that any kind of "deal" that he strikes between his office and the Anointed One is truly one that can be respected?

If so, methinks Fitz just fell off a turnip truck. 

[Hawkgirl]

The thugs or criminals are not THAT stupid.  IF Obama had any involvement, they would make sure nothing is traced back to him .  He is THEIR chosen man, their bitch...They would not do anything to sabotage him.

[Eupher]

The thugs or criminals are not THAT stupid.  IF Obama had any involvement, they would be sure to make sure nothing traces back to him.  He is THERE chosen man, their bitch...They would not do anything to sabotage him.

Yes, of course, "plausible deniability" is the hallmark of political thuggery, one that the Anointed One knows well.

That still doesn't quite answer the questions above.

In retrospect, of course there is a potential connection between Obamalamadingdong and Blago - but how that impacts on Fitz's case just doesn't make sense. Either the Zero or his staff or a combination of the two had conversations with Blago or they didn't. It's real simple.

There is either a case or there isn't.

I guess the talking heads are gonna have a shitstorm about this one. 

[thundley4]

Let's not forget Axelrods comments about talking to Blowabitch, or the disappearing web articles about Obama meeting personally with him.

[Wretched Excess]

hmmmmmmm.  how conveeeeeeeeeeeeeenient. 

“The US Attorney's office requested the public release of the Transition review be deferred until the week of December 22, in order not to impede their investigation of the governor,” Pfeiffer says in a statement, “The Transition has agreed to this revised timetable for release.”

Obama and his family will be in Hawaii on vacation during the time of the investigation’s release.

Link

[Tess Anderson]

That's an Obama staff member's word that Fitz requested this delay, therefore unbelievable.

[Wretched Excess]

That's an Obama staff member's word that Fitz requested this delay, therefore unbelievable.

The guy occupies The Office Of the President-Elect.  it seems to me that such a lofty and revered public office could possibly decide for itself what is in it's best interests.  blago and his chief of staff are as dead as a bag of hammers;  I doubt any minor contact would explode the Fitmas Santa's present.  unless it's more serious that some insubstantial and informal discussion . . . 

[JohnnyReb]

...and just when does the electoral college meet?

[Wretched Excess]

Yesterday, I believe.

[Traveshamockery]

I get the feeling like the next four years are going to be more of the same with the messiah.  It's almost obvious when he speaks and denies any wrongdoing or whatever that his whole demeanor changes.  He doesn't even appear to be a good liar. 

And isn't it funny how when Sarah Palin cleared herself in any wrongdoing, the press was all over that?  Obama says his transition team has completed their investigation and they are all clear that the press just more or less accepts his word.

I'm not so sure he can keep this up for four years.