Letters to the Editor
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@ Jedimaster
Speak with wisdom you do.
But, as another Chicago native, I have to say what other choice do we have? The Reader? Local news is covered by the local press. And note - it was in fact the local press that hounded George Ryan until he was indeed charged and convicted.
And it's not us in these posts that have conflated the two issues. It's the campaigns themselves. I watched Mr. Wolfson and Mr. Axelrod on THIS WEEK go back and forth on the two.
Remember, this is politcs. It's not about parity. It's about the appearance of parity. And reason be damned.
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Jabari - Public vs. Private
Re; Michelle Obama turning over her law firm billing records - that's a private business. Bill Clinton's foundation is a charitable organization that solicits donations. THere have also been reports of questionable dealings (e.g. Bill Clinton helping with a Russian mine deal which went against U.S. interests and in turn receiving $30 million to his foundation). It may be legit - but why not provide as much info. as possible. Does anyone think the Republicans aren't furiously investingating everything about the Clintons since he left office? I don't think Obama is asking them for anything not required by law or normally in a Presidential election. Like it or not Bill Clinton having been President puts him in a different light. Despite the time wasting of the impeachment proceedings, Bill Clinton did perjure himself. And he won't release information as to how or why he pardoned people including criminals like Mark Rich and Hillary Clinton's brother. Today there's a story of him selling stock in a company owned by a convicted felon. If OBama was a multi-millionaire the Rezko deal might be more objectionable. But by all appearances he seems to be moderately wealthy compared to most "more experienced" politicians (just because he hasn't been in Washington long enough). Frankly I don't care but I think all candidates should be held to equal scrutiny -- and that goes for Obama too.
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Question
It was alway my impression that the Chicago Tribune was a better newspaper paper of than the Sun Times. Isn't the Chicago Sun times considered rather a "inquirer" type of newspaper?
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@ manyctnj...
I can't muster any indication, but I can offer you a reply.
Mr. Rezko stands accused of using his relationship with top Illinois state officials, notably Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, to extort companies wanting to do business with two state boards, the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board and the state's Teachers Retirement System Board. No one has alleged that Senator Obama is in any way involved in that scheme (as it has been alleged concerning Governor Blagojevich). Those matters are currenlty being tried in Chicago (by Patrick Fitzgerald, I think).
The Obamas and Mrs. Rezko's purchased adjoining properties in Chicago which had previously been owned by the same person: a house and an empty lot. The Obamas were ready to move their young family out of the condo they were living in, were interested in purhcasing the Hyde Park house, but the owner was unwilling to sell the house without also unloading the lot. Mrs. Rezko agreed to purchase said adjoining lot. No one has yet claimed that these real estate transactions were a violation of the law or of ethics.
Yes, clearly the Rezko's hooked the Obama's up by agreeing to buy that empty lot, thereby allowing the Obama's to move their two little girls out of the condo that they were living in. And...? Do the sellers allege that they have were cheated? No. Were the realtors cheated out of their commissions? No. And as for the "sold part of the lot to Obama for less than what she paid for it" canard: Mrs. Rezko sold one-sixth of the lot to the Obamas... for one-sixth of her original purchase price. So that the Obamas could install a sidewalk.
So I guess this Obama supporter, being the googler that I am, really doesn't give a fat rat's behind about it.
I do care, however, that Senator Clinton couldn't be bothered to stay in town on the day of the "Potomac Primary" long enough to vote one the FISA reauthorization and and telecom immunity deal.
So, why don't you return the favor? Why aren't you excersised about your candidates refusal to, you know, do her job, or to make clear through an actual vote whether or not she believes that AT&T can break federal law in assisting the Bush administration in spying on you, and get away with it scott-free?
You might want to take a minute to read Greenwald's posts... there he is on the "Most Active Stories" link on the left column... numbers 2-5.
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Hey Joe- are YOU serious?!
"The Clintons' personal and financial affairs have already been investigated ad nauseam. (Obama)should focus on answering any serious questions raised about his own."
So says not-to-be-taken-seriously-ever Joe.
Joe is soooo obviously a Clintonite. And we thought real 'journalists' were supposed to be objective and unbiased. Well, real journalists are; Joe isn't.
Here's some free advice for you, Joe. Read something- anything- except your own scribblings. There's a BIG world out there, Joe. And some truth to be found if you look hard enough. One way to find it is to pull your egocentric head out of your butt and LOOK!!
One more thing, Joe (this is free too!): Hillary is going to lose the nomination to Barack. So Joe- better write something now, in advance, to CYA when it happens. Wouldn't be good to have not-to-be-taken-seriously Joe scrambling at the last minute for some not-to-be-taken-seriously excuse.
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Obama SOUGHT THIS GUY OUT to help him buy a house that he could not otherwise have afforded.
Actually I hard the real estate agent who handled the property sale on a video interview. She seemed pretty honest and straight forward,not a wheeler dealer type. Thee was nothing unusual about the deal. Obama did not seek out Renzo to help him. Thea gent said Obama couldnot afford the entire property , so the real estate agent said the owner agreed to spit the property, and it was the owner of the property who fund Renzo to by the other half. BEecauseu of the way the property was spit, Obama later bought a small piece of land form the Renzo land to expend his yard. Waht is wrong with that?