FROM CHICAGO BLOGGER WHO ALSO HAS NO SHORTAGE OF OPINIONS...PAT HICKEY!

Readers beware: I saw Mr. Hickey on Friday night and slipped a special pill in his beer. My intent was to get the guy -- who likes to blast me for some, er, I mean most, of my positions -- to see my side of the Jesse Jr. case. Alas! A victory! Please read below.

Tamara Holder and Pat Hickey Think Congressman Jackson is Having a Job Done on Him. It Don't Seem Right.

Congressman Jesse Jackson appears to be the only genuine victim of the Blagojevich Corruption Roller-coaster. Congressman Jesse L. Jackson who was named in the Criminal Complaint and subsequent indictment of Blago by the Federal Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald has now been piled on out of the blue with an additional set charges.

One accusation at a time Fitzy; One person at a time, one allegation at a time, Fitzy." My attorney pal. Tamara Holder said to me "It looks like they veered off the yellow brick road. Just an opinion, but this was about BLAGO. How did the arrows all of a sudden turn to JR?!?!"


Well, Tamara, from my front porch way down here in the 19th Ward, there appears to be some wiggle enough room for Paddy Fitz to drive a semi-trailer towing a Wide Load slab house. Seems like everyone Blago touched is now subject to a probe by the G.

This marriage of true minds brought together two polar opposites - me and Tamara Holder.

Two of God’s Creatures – Ms. Tamara Holder an athletic 'twenty something and change' beauty and attorney, activist, and legal affairs spokesperson for Fox News and CNN and me, a runty, old south side school teacher, who sits on the porch with a quart of Green River ( at minimum) jawing about politics and ‘those damned kids’ with my 19th Ward helot neighbors – polar opposites have come to the same conclusion that Congressman Jackson seems being fitted to wear a jacket that he just might not deserve.

Together we hope to raise some questions for our neighbors - Tamara's around Lincoln Park and my own around 108th & Rockwell -consider -

1. Why is Congressman Jackson being targeted with such vigor, while Blago goes on the Media Circuit, hawks an unreadable book and plays to his upcoming jury pool? And while Obama, Axelrod and Emanuel get to be tight-lipped too. "The Presidential Protection!"


2. Why are Feds Changing the Game? Are they dropping the Senate Shenanigans for Congressional mailings? Who benefits by Fitzy nailing Congressman Jackson's pelt to the shed?

3. Who's driving this railroad? Which Justice Department?

How's that?

4. As Ms. Holder mentioned to me -"How about we ask about how much money this is costing? Remember the Jesse Jackson investigation has been 5 months long with the Ethics Committee! TWO investigations, Fitzy's and Congresses. I wonder how much money Jackson used to allegedly have a staffer send a mass email to constituents regarding his desire for the Senate seat? All the while, the other leaders are flitting around in private jets and 1st class, reading his financials instead of the health care bill."

Fair questions in deed.

Full disclosure - I met Congressman Jackson on two occasions - back in 1993, Jesse Jackson, Junior was on the School Board for LeMans Academy in Rolling Prairie, Indiana along with Bulls Boss John Paxson. He impressed me as a well-read and very nice guy. Twelve or so years later, I met Congressman Jackson and his two adorable kids at Rainbow Cone, Ice Cream on Western Ave. and he did not seem bothered in the least that I had referred to him as Kid Staples - following his dramatic weight loss. I think his Old Man is a Race cottage industry stick-up artist, but, then again, my Dad is a gifted tradesman.

Watch Chicago Daily Observer for future thoughts on the Jackson issue from Beauty and the Beast.

Click my post title for Attorney Tamara Holder's sharp take on this issue

 www.xpunged.com and www.tamaraholder.com

CONGRESSMAN JESSE JACKSON, JR. "PROBE" HAS GROWN TENTACLES THAT MUST BE CUT OFF IMMEDIATELY

Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr.The Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. Witch Hunt must stop. This is getting absolutely ridiculous! How did the probe into whether Jesse Jackson, Jr. attempted to negotiate the purchase of Obama's vacant Senate seat from then Governor Rod Blagojevich turn into a full-on investigation into how Rep. Jackson used of his own campaign resources? This dual investigation (one by the Feds, the other by a Congressional committee) has nothing to do with its original purpose - was there a quid pro quo agreement between Jackson and Blagojevich?

In a previous blog I write:

JESSE JACKSON, JR. WITCH HUNT PREPOSTEROUS - PRESS HAS FORGOTTEN THE ISSUE: BLAGOJEVICH'S ALLEGED ATTEMPT TO SELL SENATE SEAT

In late May 2009, it was reported that Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. has paid his wife approximately $250,000 for her assistance in his campaign. Article here.

Most importantly, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee states that at least 40 members of Congress, from both parties, employ spouses or family members in their campaigns. As for Illinois, the practice is very very common.

The Office of Congressional Ethics probe, which was launched in April 2009, is supposed to investigate a matter for 30 days before making a recommendation to the House members' chief ethics panel, the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. That committee can take action, refuse action or continue the probe.

It has now been over FIVE MONTHS of investigation! The purpose of the ethics probe was to determine if Rep. Jackson was involved in any quid pro quo with Gov. Rod Blagojevich. They did not find any such wrongdoing or involvement with Gov. Blagojevich; therefore, the probe should have come to an end.

Instead, the committee has gone well beyond its original scope, so much so that the Feds have asked them to STOP. 

According to today's Sun Times, "The Office of Congressional Ethics revealed Wednesday it was probing whether Jackson improperly used his congressional staff to wage a political campaign for appointment to the U.S. Senate. Federal authorities have asked a congressional ethics committee to temporarily back off its probe of U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., fearing it would interfere with an ongoing investigation." Article here.

The latest "investigation" is into whether Congressman Jackson had his staff send out letters to constiutents regarding his campaign for the Senate seat. Really? 

Let's just do a cost-benefit analysis: the cost to taxpayers for TWO investigations: 1) the Ethics Committee investigation that has now proceeded for five months, and 2) the Federal investigation. The COST of the two separate investigations has gone WAY BEYOND the alleged "inappropriate" spending of Rep. Jackson. Why doesn't this "Committee" do something else with their time; instead of reading Jackson's financial statements, read that +1000 page health care bill? And maybe the Feds can spend more time on bringing down the bad guys instead of determining whether Rep. Jackson asked his staff to mail some letters?

I don't really care if you "like" Rep. Jackson or not. That's not the issue. The issue is that the probe has gone well beyond its scope, well beyond its purpose, and well beyond its allotted deadline. Clearly, there are ulterior motives since neither committee found what it was looking for, i.e. the Blago-Jackson quid pro quo zinger. The nonsense must stop!

 www.xpunged.com and www.tamaraholder.com

JESSE JACKSON, JR. WITCH HUNT PREPOSTEROUS - PRESS HAS FORGOTTEN THE ISSUE: BLAGOJEVICH'S ALLEGED ATTEMPT TO SELL SENATE SEAT

The witch hunt against Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. must come to an end. Today, it was reported that Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. has paid his wife approximately $250,000 for her assistance in his campaign. Article here.

Most importantly, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee states that at least 40 members of Congress, from both parties, employ spouses or family members in their campaigns. As for Illinois, the practice is very very common. 

This is issue spinning at its best.

1) The reason for the Congressional Ethics inquiry into Jesse Jackson, Jr. was specifically to determine if he was involved in any quid pro quo with then-Governor Rod Blagojevich for the Obama's vacant senate seat. Congressman Jackson was not the subject of an inquiry for any other reason.

2) The Congressman's wife, Sandi, has been his #1 supporter. She is not a stay-at-home wife but instead a highly educated lawyer with real practice experience. She brings great talent and expertise to the campaign.

3) The amount he has paid his wife, has been for real consulting work. She has been at the forefront of his campaining and her work has always been publicly known.

4) All payments to Sandi have been pre-approved. Congressman Jackson never paid her without full disclosure of his intent to do so.

5) Congressman Jackson fully disclosed to the Ethics Committee all payments to Sandi upon their request of his financial records.

6) From Rick Bryant at Congressman Jackson's office:

"There is nothing wrong and nothing new here.

"The fact is the Congressman sought and received written permission from the FEC to pay Sandi as a consultant. He also sought and received written FEC permission to contribute to her campaign. They both honor the practice of transparency.

"Sandi was paid on average $27,400 a year to regularly file FEC reports and advise his campaign. She has enormous experience -- a lawyer, former congressional chief of staff, former vice president of the U.S. Export/Import Bank, a former deputy director of the DNC. She's paid fair market value for bonafide services as the FEC stipulated eight years ago.

"The Alderman and Congressman remain each others biggest supporters, and their public life is an open book."

THE WITCH HUNT AGAINST JESSE JR. MUST COME TO AN END. THE ETHICS COMMITTEE'S JOB IS TO INQUIRE INTO THE BLAGOJEVICH - JACKSON RELATIONSHIP AND WHETHER THERE WAS ANY QUID PRO QUO CONVERSATION. LET'S GET BACK ON TRACK, IN THE INTEREST OF FAIRNESS AND JUSTICE.  QUIT SPINNING, QUIT EVADING THE REAL ISSUE AT HAND.

www.xpunged.com and www.tamaraholder.com

CONGRESSMAN JESSE JACKSON, JR. MAY BE CANDIDATE #5, BUT HE AIN'T STUPID!

Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. has confirmed that he is "Senate Candidate #5" - the Congressman whom Gov. Blagojevich was considering to appoint as Barack Obama’s replacement in the U.S. Senate under the pay-to-play belief the Governor would get at least $1 million from Jackson in campaign contributions for the spot.

We Learn from Our Parents' Mistakes

Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. and his son, Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr.As the son of Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. learned the game of politics at a very early age. Scandal, rumors, negative press, and even books (Shakedown: Exposing the Real Jesse Jackson) have surrounded Rev. Jackson (and his entire family) for years.

There is the old adage, "Like father like son." But in this case, (if you do believe the rumors and scandals of Rev. Jackson to be true), Jesse Jr. is hardly like his father.

Jesse Jr. has watched his father's triumphs and tragedies. He has received his father's advice and he has objected to his father's actions. Remember when Rev. Jackson wrote a column in the Sun-Times accusing Obama of having ''virtually ignored the plight of African Americans in this country.'?  This caused a huge frenzy, and immediately Jesse Jr. repudiated his father in a Letter to the Editor.

That's not to say that Jesse Jr. doesn't love his father.  It just seems that Jesse Jr. has watched enough to know that he must keep his distance if he wants to achieve his own political goals.  (If you do a Google image search, you will find but a handful of pictures of the two together out of the hundreds of them individually.)

Jesse Jr. has had the advantage (not disadvantage) of watching his father's mistakes and successes.  He reached the U.S. House through his own hard work and determination, but also with a knowledge of what NOT to do, given his father's journey.  Jesse knows better than to walk into a mine field.

Congressman Jackson Knew What Was Up

Everyone knew that Gov. Blagojevich was selling the seat.  And even if everyone didn't know, Jesse Jr. surely knew.  It was obvious.  All of the candidates had to have known.  Blagojevich didn't appoint someone immediately; instead, he was waiting for the final bidder, on the final day, before making the appointment.

Now, combine Jesse Jr.'s finely tuned understanding of politics, as mentioned above, and Jesse Jr.'s (alleged) knowledge the seat was for sale.  (Don't forget to add to the mix a little bit of knowledge that the Feds have been investigating Blagojevich for years.) There is NO WAY Jesse Jr. (or his advisors) walked into our Governor's office to negotiate any kind of pay-to-play deal with the Governor. 

Jesse Jr. has huge political aspirations and he has publicly shared his desire for the Senate appointment.  He also knows Gov. Blagojevich is pretty much hated by all politicians and lobbyists.  He knows there is tension between his father and the Governor.  (It was Rev. Jackson who brought Gov. Blagojevich with him to negotiate the release of 3 American soliders from Yugoslavia in 1999.)  The relationship between the two has since become strained.

I seriously doubt Jesse Jr., either directly or indirectly through his lieutenants, would attempt to pay Gov. Blagojevich for the seat.  It doesn't make sense.  It would be too obvious. Obama, Jackson, BlagojevichInstead, my speculation is that Jesse Jr. spoke to the Governor about paying for the seat (per the Gov.'s demands) and he immediately disclosed this information to the Feds.  Jr.'s meeting came one day before Gov. Blagojevich was arrested.  Jesse Jr. was not arrested with him in a conspiracy-type charge.  I think Jesse Jr. provided the clincher for the Feds to move in and make the arrest. 

I'm just speculating; however, I do know Rev. Jackson and Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. well enough to say with 99% certainty that there is no way Jesse Jr. got his hands dirty in Gov. Blagojevich's mess. NO WAY. Instead, I think it may be Congressman Jackson who we should thank for putting an end to this rigamarole by going to the Feds.

www.xpunged.com and www.tamaraholder.com