EarthDogg All American 3989 Posts user info edit post |
Quote : | "If a Democratic member of Congress is to be believed, there's someone in the Obama administration who has committed a crime – and if the president knew about it, analysts say it could be grounds for impeachment.
"This scandal could be enormous," said Dick Morris, a former White House adviser to President Bill Clinton, on the Fox News Sean Hannity show last night. "It's Valerie Plame only 10 times bigger, because it's illegal and Joe Sestak is either lying or the White House committed a crime.
"Obviously, the offer of a significant job in the White House could not be made unless it was by Rahm Emanuel or cleared with Rahm Emanuel," he said. If the job offer was high enough that it also had Obama's apppoval, "that is a high crime and misdemeanor."
"In other words, an impeachable offense?" Hannity asked.
"Absolutely," said Morris.
The Obama White House has tried to minimize the issue.
"Lawyers in the White House and others have looked into conversations that were had with Congressman Sestak, and nothing inappropriate happened," White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs has stated. Gibbs told the White House press corps, "Whatever conversations have been had are not problematic."
But the administration also is taking no chances on what might be discovered.
According to Politico, the Justice Department has rejected a request from Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., for a special counsel to investigate and reveal the truth of the controversy.
The report said Assistant Attorney General Ronald Weich confirmed no special counsel would be needed. " |
According to the White House, there's nothing to this story. That means we probably have a good-size scandal in the making.
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=1586175/26/2010 10:41:47 PM |
Kris All American 36908 Posts user info edit post |
yeah, fabricating a war isn't an impeachable offense, but this is 5/26/2010 10:47:25 PM |
OopsPowSrprs All American 8383 Posts user info edit post |
Half of what you quoted was Dick Morris and Hannity blowing each other, so that tells me all I need to know. 5/26/2010 10:52:00 PM |
agentlion All American 13936 Posts user info edit post |
Quote : | " "It's Valerie Plame only 10 times bigger"" |
considering Hannity and Co. thought Valerie Plame was nothing, 10 times nothing is still nothing..5/26/2010 11:09:26 PM |
WillemJoel All American 8006 Posts user info edit post |
saw "Hannity"
threw it out the window. 5/26/2010 11:59:10 PM |
Wolfman Tim All American 9654 Posts user info edit post |
lol, World Net Daily 5/27/2010 12:04:48 AM |
Kris All American 36908 Posts user info edit post |
world net daily changed their domain name?
I'm going to have to be more careful before writing people off as crackpots 5/27/2010 1:37:06 AM |
smc All American 9221 Posts user info edit post |
I love a good conspiracy as much as the next, but isn't abandoning one job implicit in taking another? 5/27/2010 1:41:04 AM |
Golovko All American 27023 Posts user info edit post |
I stopped reading after
Someone let me know when this shit gets to a real news outlet.5/27/2010 10:15:09 AM |
Shaggy All American 17820 Posts user info edit post |
i cant tell what the problem is from the quoted text? 5/27/2010 10:22:02 AM |
EarthDogg All American 3989 Posts user info edit post |
Quote : | ""Lawyers in the White House and others have looked into conversations that were had with Congressman Sestak, and nothing inappropriate happened," White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs has stated. Gibbs told the White House press corps, "Whatever conversations have been had are not problematic." " |
That's a quote from Gibbs. Obama's lawyers "looked" into it and said everything is OK. Doesn't that make a hit on anyone's BS meter?
And trashing the source is silly. National Enquirer broke the John Edwards sleaze-bag story...and it turned out to be true.5/27/2010 10:30:12 AM |
Shaggy All American 17820 Posts user info edit post |
looked into what? 5/27/2010 10:33:38 AM |
timswar All American 41050 Posts user info edit post |
How is this new news?
This was in the news MONTHS ago. Sestak was bitching and moaning about it when he was trying to make traction against Specter. When it became obvious that he was going to overtake Specter he surprisingly started to shut up about it.
Seriously, what happened to put this back into the news again? 5/27/2010 10:38:40 AM |
DalCowboys All American 1945 Posts user info edit post |
^^^^
Quote : | "The controversy revolves around an oft-repeated statement by Rep. Sestak, D-Pa., that he had been offered a job by the Obama administration in exchange for dropping out of the senatorial primary against Obama supporter Sen. Arlen Specter. " |
[Edited on May 27, 2010 at 10:41 AM. Reason : ^]5/27/2010 10:41:17 AM |
Golovko All American 27023 Posts user info edit post |
Quote : | "i cant tell what the problem is from the quoted text?" |
You would be the last person I expect to see a problem with that 5/27/2010 10:44:04 AM |
Shaggy All American 17820 Posts user info edit post |
^^ ah, that makes sense then. 5/27/2010 10:49:55 AM |
eyedrb All American 5853 Posts user info edit post |
I dont know how they cannot appoint a special indep. prosector to investigate this.
The Plame thing turned out to not be a big deal, but they did a special prosecutor. 5/27/2010 11:38:56 AM |
adultswim Suspended 8379 Posts user info edit post |
World Net Daily is about as reputable a news source as the National Enquirer. They might get things right 5% of the time but 95% is total garbage.
[Edited on May 27, 2010 at 11:58 AM. Reason : .] 5/27/2010 11:57:53 AM |
tromboner950 All American 9667 Posts user info edit post |
^5% is far too generous. 5/27/2010 12:00:50 PM |
God All American 28747 Posts user info edit post |
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while. 5/27/2010 12:02:25 PM |
Shaggy All American 17820 Posts user info edit post |
blind squirrels probably have pretty good sense of smell 5/27/2010 12:12:33 PM |
thegoodlife3 All American 39304 Posts user info edit post |
who writes an article on what they saw on Hannity the night before? 5/27/2010 12:19:04 PM |
Shaggy All American 17820 Posts user info edit post |
how does a blind squirrel smell??????? 5/27/2010 12:19:12 PM |
TreeTwista10 minisoldr 148440 Posts user info edit post |
lol at the mere possibility that Obama isn't a flawless saint, get real faux news 5/27/2010 12:19:20 PM |
Shaggy All American 17820 Posts user info edit post |
Terrible!!! dohohohoho 5/27/2010 12:19:34 PM |
Shaggy All American 17820 Posts user info edit post |
fuk u treetwista 5/27/2010 12:20:18 PM |
Shaggy All American 17820 Posts user info edit post |
mods move his post below my punchline one tia 5/27/2010 12:20:49 PM |
TreeTwista10 minisoldr 148440 Posts user info edit post |
i thought the joke was like "how does a dog with no nose smell" or something 5/27/2010 2:07:11 PM |
aaronburro Sup, B 53065 Posts user info edit post |
Quote : | "Someone let me know when this shit gets to a real news outlet." |
Does NPR count as a real news outlet? Cause they've been talking about it all week5/27/2010 8:39:22 PM |
moron All American 34142 Posts user info edit post |
I think the whitehouse would be stronger without Rahm Emanuel anyway. 5/27/2010 8:48:26 PM |
m52ncsu Suspended 1606 Posts user info edit post |
Quote : | "Does NPR count as a real news outlet? Cause they've been talking about it all week" |
all NPR did was report that republicans are wanting it probed
http://topics.npr.org/topic/Joe_Sestak5/27/2010 9:04:47 PM |
moron All American 34142 Posts user info edit post |
^ sestak's claims haven't been secret.
The "newness" of this issue is in the claim that the offer is explicitly illegal. 5/27/2010 9:11:11 PM |
aaronburro Sup, B 53065 Posts user info edit post |
various reports are saying that Bill Clinton may have been the person who offered the position to Sestak. the plot thickens... 5/28/2010 10:34:49 AM |
m52ncsu Suspended 1606 Posts user info edit post |
link? 5/28/2010 11:07:10 AM |
aaronburro Sup, B 53065 Posts user info edit post |
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/05/exclusive_white_house_asked_cl_1.html http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/05/28/white-house-asked-clinton-urge-sestak-drop-senate-race/ http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2010/05/28/2331277.aspx http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/28/white-house-used-bill-clinton-to-ask-sestak-to-drop-out-of-race/
It's all still based on "anonymous source" at this point, but you've got three major sources saying it, including the NYT.
interestingly, this link from a CBS affiliate has the headline saying that Clinton did it, and saying that someone from the White House confirmed it. But the article itself says no such thing. http://cbs3.com/topstories/sestak.job.offer.2.1720486.html
[Edited on May 28, 2010 at 11:14 AM. Reason : ] 5/28/2010 11:11:47 AM |
LunaK LOSER :( 23634 Posts user info edit post |
POLITICO Breaking News: -----------------------------------------------------
White House Counsel Bob Bauer confirmed that Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel used President Bill Clinton as an intermediary to offer Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.) an unpaid, executive branch advisory board position to “avoid a divisive Senate primary,” Bauer denied Sestak was offered a nomination as Navy secretary, and said all discussions were “consistent with the relevant law and ethical requirements.” 5/28/2010 11:56:48 AM |
DalCowboys All American 1945 Posts user info edit post |
"Yo Bill, I'm really busy meeting with the Duke basketball team and such, you think you handle this for me? I mean I don't even have time to find out if Liz Birnbaum resigned or was fired. Thx, I'll kiss your ass later"
[Edited on May 28, 2010 at 2:00 PM. Reason : Liz] 5/28/2010 1:57:31 PM |
aaronburro Sup, B 53065 Posts user info edit post |
hahaha. Gov. Ed Rendell just effectively said "hey, people do this shit all the time. why are people upset about it?" Umm, maybe because it's fucking ILLEGAL, ed. Really? Your defense is "people do illegal shit all the time..."?
I thought Obama was gonna be "different." So much for the CHANGE we could BELIEVE in. 5/30/2010 2:15:18 PM |
moron All American 34142 Posts user info edit post |
Quote : | "“What these statutes say is you cannot promise somebody a future job in the government for political favors,” said Hans von Spakovsky, an election law expert at the conservative Heritage Foundation whose analysis has been cited by Issa.
Other disagreed.
“I don’t recall there being any federal statute that prohibits somebody from offering a job in exchange for political support,” said Jan Baran, a top GOP election lawyer who has worked for the Republican National Committee. “Not everything that’s bad form is illegal.” As for the laws Issa cited, none is relevant to Sestak’s situation, Baran said. “I don’t think they’ve ever been applied in this context,” he said. “In fact, they may not have ever been enforced at all.” " |
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2010/05/24/gop-takes-aim-at-sestak/5/30/2010 2:21:36 PM |
aaronburro Sup, B 53065 Posts user info edit post |
sorry. but people have fucking quoted the exact law, U.S.C number and all.] 5/30/2010 2:23:21 PM |
moron All American 34142 Posts user info edit post |
From what i've seen, there is plenty of wiggle room in the laws that could technically make this not illegal. Forgive me if i don't swallow the analysis of Heritage Foundation blindly, like you appear to be doing.
As the top GOP election lawyer said "not everything that’s bad form is illegal." 5/30/2010 3:11:20 PM |
Supplanter supple anteater 21831 Posts user info edit post |
This thread made me think me of a deal made by the Bartlett Administration in the second episode of The West Wing.
Quote : | "MANDY Lloyd, what? Why? Why did you go to breakfast to make that deal?
STAFFER 1 They offered us a good spot at the nominating convention.
MANDY Excuse me?
RUSSELL That’s true. I might nominate the President.
STAFFER 2 Possibly keynote.
RUSSELL Definitely something in primetime.
MANDY Of course, they offered you something good at the nominating convention. They don’t want you to get nominated at the nominating convention!" |
5/30/2010 3:21:35 PM |
aaronburro Sup, B 53065 Posts user info edit post |
what part of "you can't offer someone a nomination to a political position in exchange for a political act during a primary" do you think wasn't violated? I'm curious.
would you like to see the fucking law, itself?
Quote : | "Whoever, directly or indirectly, promises any employment, position, compensation, contract, appointment, or other benefit, provided for or made possible in whole or in part by any Act of Congress, or any special consideration in obtaining any such benefit, to any person as consideration, favor, or reward for any political activity or for the support of or opposition to any candidate or any political party in connection with any general or special election to any political office, or in connection with any primary election or political convention or caucus held to select candidates for any political office, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both." |
http://law.onecle.com/uscode/18/600.html
So, is dropping out of a race not a "political activity?" Is a nomination not a "promise of position?" Or was the primary not a "primary election?"
If dubya had done anything even remotely similar, you guys would have been all over him. As would I. have some fucking intellectual honesty and admit that this was illegal and that Obama should man up and at least fire whoever the fuck is responsible.
Seriously, it took me like five clicks on google to find the relevant law. And you are gonna hide behind "but a Bush guy said he couldn't remember a law...". Really? A BUSH OFFICIAL? When was the last fucking time YOU trusted anything a Bush official said.]5/30/2010 3:56:52 PM |
moron All American 34142 Posts user info edit post |
Quote : | "Seriously, it took me like five clicks on google to find the relevant law. And you are gonna hide behind "but a Bush guy said he couldn't remember a law...". Really? A BUSH OFFICIAL? When was the last fucking time YOU trusted anything a Bush official said. " |
lols
There are plenty of non Bush officials saying the same thing. I just figured you'd be able to relate better to a Bush official.
And if you'd read the non-bolded parts of your quote, you'd realize that it's not as cut and dry as your best friends at World Net Daily want you to think.5/30/2010 4:36:21 PM |
aaronburro Sup, B 53065 Posts user info edit post |
really? the law I quoted came from WorldNetDaily?
allow me to ask you again:
Quote : | "So, is dropping out of a race not a "political activity?" Is a nomination not a "promise of position?" Or was the primary not a "primary election?"" |
the rest of the law is all "OR". not "AND". in other words, moron, it need only fit the bolded parts to be applicable. are you THAT much of a partisan hack that you can't admit that 2+2=4? really. what part of the law did I leave out that exonerates the Obama administration. please, show me.]5/30/2010 4:41:50 PM |
moron All American 34142 Posts user info edit post |
was the position made possible in part or whole by an act of congress?
And in the context of the law, it seems like "political activity" would NOT include asking the candidate directly to not run for a seat, when you consider the rest of the sentence is talking about offering support or opposition for a particular candidate.
It seems the spirit of the law is more to stop a wealthy person from supporting or attacking a candidate in exchange for being offered government contracts or positions.
Not in dealing with asking a candidate in a political position not to run for a race so that he can maintain the existing political position.
Of course, it's really up to a court how they choose to interpret whether this would be a "political activity" under the scope and intent of the law, since it's not really clear in this situation.
My prediction is that there is going to be an investigation, no wrong doing will be found, the republicans will be content with the temporary negative atmosphere they've created surrounding the Obama administration, and the rest of the world will continue their lives as they shrugged this off a week ago because it has no real impact, like the Plame outing had, or the political firing of attorneys had under the previous administration.
If this has the effect of excising Rahm Emanuel though from the admin, i'd be pleased overall, because i've been saying for months now that he's poisoning the Obama administration.
But how anyone can believe this is little more than grasping at straws is beyond me.
[Edited on May 30, 2010 at 4:57 PM. Reason : ] 5/30/2010 4:57:17 PM |
aaronburro Sup, B 53065 Posts user info edit post |
Quote : | "was the position made possible in part or whole by an act of congress?" |
bull fucking shit and you KNOW it. that is in reference to the "benefit", as proven by the fact that the word "benefit" follows that clause. I figured you would engage in mental masturbation.
Quote : | "And in the context of the law, it seems like "political activity" would NOT include asking the candidate directly to not run for a seat, when you consider the rest of the sentence is talking about offering support or opposition for a particular candidate. " |
REALLY? dropping out of a race is NOT a political activity? really... REALLY? really... come on dude, you are reaching and you know it. this is bordering on "It all depends on your definition of the word 'is'" territory5/30/2010 5:10:10 PM |
NCSUStinger Duh, Winning 62452 Posts user info edit post |
Quote : | "I thought Obama was gonna be "different." So much for the CHANGE we could BELIEVE in. " |
your just now getting this?
behind the curve a little5/30/2010 5:11:45 PM |
aaronburro Sup, B 53065 Posts user info edit post |
Quote : | "Whoever, directly or indirectly, promises any employment, [OR]position, [OR]compensation, [OR]contract, [OR]OR appointment, [OR] other benefit, provided for or made possible in whole or in part by any Act of Congress, [OR] any special consideration in obtaining any such benefit, to any person as consideration, [OR]favor, [OR] reward for any political activity [OR] for the support of [OR] opposition to any candidate [OR] any political party in connection with any general [OR]special election to any political office, [OR] in connection with any primary election [OR] political convention or caucus held to select candidates for any political office, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
" |
that is how the law reads, dude. but really, dropping out of a race isn't a "political activity," nor is it in "support of" the other candidates? REALLY? and you accuse ME of "grasping at straws." I mean really. You are suggesting that the law first mentions a benefit, then provides a clause referencing everything including the benefit, then goes back to reference the benefit specifically by name? come on...
Ultimately, you are right in what will happen. This will be whitewashed by the administration, because the media won't fucking tell the truth about it, much less report on it. You are delusional, though, if you think Rahm Emmanuel went out promising a post as high as Secretary of the fucking Navy without first consulting Obama. (you know, the guy who is makes the fucking appointment, and all) But, I don't think they'll be able to prove that Obama knew or endorsed it.]5/30/2010 5:22:33 PM |
moron All American 34142 Posts user info edit post |
armchair lawyer ITT 5/30/2010 9:51:02 PM |