Tony Rezko may hold the presidency in his hands.

[gulliver]

Rezko goes to trial on Monday. Let's hope he doesn't end up staring at a long prison sentence. If he does and he has something on Obama, he could cut a deal that would decide the presidency. This is where you truly have to trust that Obama did nothing illegal or that could even be the basis of credible charges. Obama certainly doesn't act like he is worried.

Obama may become the presumptive nominee soon, but we won't know whether he will stay the nominee or become president until after this Rezko matter is settled. I don't ever recall a candidacy with a situation like this one. Clinton/Flowers and Bush/DUI pale by comparison. This election looks like it could be one hell of a ride. Why, after all these years of wheeling and dealing, is Rezko going to trial now?

BTW, this isn't slime. I am a Hillary supporter, partly because of the Rezko problem, but I am OK with Obama. He handled the plagiarism, lapel pin, and Al Qaeda in Iraq issues very well. I would be ecstatic if someone could persuade me that this Rezko thing isn't a powderkeg.

[DesEtoiles]

1. You have only read the propaganda, not the facts, on Rezko.

Educate yourself and try again.

[gulliver]

6. Help me with a link to the non-propaganda?

Seriously, if you have something credible that eliminates the issue, post it. Settle it.

[DesEtoiles]

14. guess you don't know how to use Google

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/2/18/103737/109/704/458974

[anigbrowl]

40. Try this...

Obama's interview with the Sun-Times in Nov 2006, where he answers over 20 explicit questions on the matter. He's not exactly ducking and weaving here, is he? Doesn't sound like someone trying to deflect scrutiny.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/124171,CST-NWS-obama05.article

[Johnny__Motown]

2. GIVE IT UP THIS IS ALL BULL SHIT

[indimuse]

15. It's obvious that Rezko was expecting something from O...no!

Obama can't get away with his lies...ANYMOE!
for 100K rendering the remaining piece (that Rezko's wife kept) virtually useless (completely unbuildable). So ,Rezko basically bought a piece of land for $600K so that Obama could buy the house next to it... Then Rezko devalued his property by selling part of it to Obama for 1/6th of the price and making the rest of his investment worthless!
Sure it's not illegal, but it sure is fishy. It's obvious that Rezko was expecting something in return...Obama IS backed by a Nulear Energy Co...and one of Obama's AND Rezko's bud's have a contract in Iraq..for some Nuclear Energy deal...just sayin...

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

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[cali]

30. That's just deperate wishful thinking

stop wanking off to fantasies of Obama being a criminal mastermind. It's just sick.

[Omega3]

31. yeah, they specifically put in HER name so the collectors after him couldn't get at the money

[Botany]

3. It isn't a powderkeg

end of story .... move on

[maddezmom]

4. I don't think it's going to take Obama down, but Blago might be in for a world of hurt

[LadyVT]

5. Yeah, well, his trial date was postponed until the last possible moment.

Not a coincidence.

[cali]

36. Yes, yes. Of course the Judge, Fitzgerald and the defense attny

are all part of the secret cabal controlling the Manchurian candidate, Barack Obama.

Take off the tin foil headwear.

[ClassWarrior]

7. Sort of like those straws slipping through your grasping fingers?

:eyes:

NGU.

[stellanoir]

8. Who hasn't had an unethical person with whom they've interacted?

The odds are with them.

I don't think this is a big deal anymore.

[goclark]

35. God knows that Jennifer and Monica were just the tip of the iceberg

The Clinton's have been Whitewatered to death.

That was all a shame but for sure the Republicans have known and will continue to know ,every move they make all day long. The Clinton's are being vetted all day long in case they are naive.

[jezebel]

9. I thought Norman Hsu held it in his This is where you truly have to trust that H did nothing illegal

or that could even be the basis of credible charges.
Pot meet kettle.

[gulliver]

12. Did Hsu buy land right next to Hillary's? Maybe you are right, though...

... but the MSM is not picking up on the Hsu matter as true jeopardy for Clinton. The two look very different to me.

[sandnsea]

10. Chatwal, Gupta, Giustra

Hsu, Trie, Chung, Huang...

If Rezko is so blasted important to you, then why do none of you care about the truck load of crooks connected to Hillary.

[gulliver]

33. I'm not seeing these in the MSM. To date, I have not seen...

...any of the crooks connected to Clinton with the same potential for trouble as Rezko. Rezko has been tight with Obama on a one-to-one basis and even participated in a land deal with him. This is more like Whitewater only the prosecution is going on right in the midst of the election.

But if you think there is anything like the Rezko issue going on with Hillary, post it. Maybe there is something.

[sandnsea]

39. Oooh, the media isn't reporting it???

So much for the unfair media attacks on Hillary. It's bullshit. There's much more dirt against her than against Obama. They aren't reporting it because she has the power to stop it. Just like she has the power to whine about sexism and get people suspended and fired. But to stop a war? Oh hell she can't even get on the teeve about that.

Wake UP.

[THUNDER HANDS]

11. i have no interest in the case, and from what I've read

there won't be anything new coming out.

and even if there was, what would be the worst he could say, I did a favor for a guy in exchange for a deal on a house?

wow. shocking. get the pitchforlks and torches ready.

[SoFlaJet]

38. It's pretty obvious from the last two days what the marching orders

are from the Clinton shills working this site; Hit Obama hard on any and every thing Rezko-what is REALLY funny is IT AIN'T FUCKING WORKING and Hillary Clinton is about to lose 4 more contests on Tuesday and will have to suspend her campaign when 25 more super delegates switch over to Obama-SHE IS DONE and I laugh at all you fools who have been trying to hurt a fellow democrat with your lying bullshit

[sam sarrha]

13. he better bite the bullet and he will get pardoned, like all the rest

[NightWatcher]

16. CONGRATS ON REZKO POST NUMBER 785

and yall complained about whitewater coverage

[DesEtoiles]

17. Here is what Gulliver does NOT want you to read - the truth:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/2/18/103737/109/704/458974

This is for all those who have not yet been infected with the PLAGUE that is Obamamania... Yes, for those REAL DEMOCRATS out there who want the real news.

I fully expect to be flamed, drawn, and quartered for this, but there's been a brand new disclosure in the Rezko/Obama front that demands attention.

We all remember Tony Rezko, right? The indicted former "Friend of Barack" who, while under indictment, just so happened to go splitsies on a land purchase with the Obamas in 2005. Rezko (through his wife, Rita), bought a vacant parcel of land for full price - $625,000 - while the Obamas bought the adjacent house for $1.65 million - a full $300,000 off of the asking price!!!

We also remember how quickly Obamabots POUNCE on any mention of Rezko's name or any suggestion of any impropriety in this deal... How quickly they suggest that Obama's huge discount simply reflected real estate economics.

Well, well, well... Guess who decided to show up late to the party with a story to tell? The Sellers

Greuben's diary :: ::
That's right, America is about to become intimately acquainted with the names, Frederic Wondisford and Sally Radovick. An intrepid journalist tracked them down and asked them whether Obama received a favorable price because of the involvement of Rezko and his wife in the purchase of the vacant, adjacent parcel for full price. They were also asked whether Obama paid less than the next highest offer for the house.

What did they say?

The couple who sold Barack Obama his Chicago home said the Illinois senator's $1.65 million bid ``was the best offer'' and they didn't cut their asking price because a campaign donor bought their adjacent land, according to e- mails between Obama's presidential campaign and the seller.

Bloomberg - the Sellers Speak

That's right - read it and weep. Becasue of Rezko's involvement, the Obamas received a ZERO dollar discount from the price they would have paid from the market. Because of the Rezko's purchase of the adjoining plot, the Obamas beat out ZERO other bidders on the same property!

This is HUGE! Why did the Sellers come forward?

The sellers hadn't previously made their side of the story public out of concern for their privacy, according to Bill Burton, a spokesman for Obama's campaign. They approached Obama's Senate office 15 months ago and agreed to break their silence now through the campaign out of concern that the story was being distorted in the media, Burton said.

And check this out: how did they reach the sales price?

It also says that ``in the course of the negotiation over the sales price,'' Obama and his wife, Michelle, ``made several offers until the one accepted at $1.65 million, and that this was the best offer you received on the house.''

Wondisford has declined to talk directly about the matter.

The Obamas submitted three bids: $1.3 million on Jan. 15, 2005; $1.5 million on Jan. 21; and $1.65 million on Jan. 23, according to a copy of the sale contract shown to Bloomberg News. Obama received more than $1.2 million in book royalties and a book advance in 2005, the year he was sworn in to the U.S. Senate, his financial disclosure statement shows.

I think this is very telling about how the Obamas do business in general: they are clearly NEGOTIATORS who will COMPROMISE on price points in order to close a deal. Why didn't they stick to their demand of $1.3 million? Where is their backbone? And do we really want to elect a President who is able to negotiate a good deal on a piece of real estate without receiving financial favors?

Finally, check out this damning admission of how Rezko DIRECTLY helped Obama purchase the property:

Burton said Obama toured the property with Rezko for 15 to 30 minutes at some point before the purchase. Burton said Obama wanted Rezko's opinion of the property because Rezko was a real- estate developer in the area. Burton said he didn't know when the pre-sale tour occurred.

Wow. Just shocking. An admission that Rezko directly assisted Obama in purchasing the property with 15 to up to 30 minutes of assistance and "free," undisclosed, professional advice as to whether the Obamas should buy the property or not, and whether the Rezkos were going to purchase the adjacent parcel.

Imagine that: a politician with a friend in the real estate business asks his friend for advice as to a real estate purchase. And the friend gives that advice without receiving anything in return.

Is this the man we want to elect as President? Someone who asks questions before taking decisive action? Someone who negotiates to a more favorable price and backs down from an initial demand?

I think not. I rest my case.

[gulliver]

23. No, I've read this.

Charges would already have been filed against Obama if there were something known now. That's not the point. The point is that Rezko may be staring at prison time shortly. That's when things that weren't known before become known. What will Rezko do if he is facing prison and he has the power to hand the U.S. presidency to the Republicans?

[Lucinda]

18. The judge was on Ken Starr's Whitewater staff and has been on quite a fast track

Even IF there isn't any "there" there, I don't think its going to be ignored by the MSM. The legal personell connections to Plame and Whitewater make it ratings fodder before they even look at Rezko.

[DJ13]

19. Rezko is a Chicago issue, not one of national importance

Sorry, but you wont get the Obama scandal you're hoping for out of that trial.

It sucks, but Hillary will have to face the voters on her own merits, not on Obama's merits.

[Lucinda]

24. Fitzgerald and St. Eve making it a ratings draw before we even look at testimony

With ties between the judge and Whitewater and Fitzgerald with Plame you think it's going to be just a local story?

[Yael]

20. There were no other bidders on the property

If there were, and a deal was cut, that may look suspicious, but the Obamas were the only people to make an offer to the owners.

[monomach]

22. As someone who's had this shoved down his throat since it happened...

OBAMA IS NOT IN TROUBLE AT ALL.

They don;t have jack on him, despite attempts for so damned long by my hometown papers (Sun-times and Tribune).

Look for Governor Blagoklhfhsfjklhsjklfhfhjkldshfjkldsovich to get in some trouble, though.

[WillyT]

25. Aaaarrrgghh... I Can't Say It, I Can't Say It, I Fucking Can't Say It !!!

:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:
:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:
:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:
:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:
:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:
:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:


:smoke:

[high density]

27. Obama did nothing wrong and is not involved in this trial

So I don't know why you Clinton folks feel that this name needs to be repeated over and over and over here on DU. You guys can't manufacture a scandal by posting innuendo on DU.

[RBInMaine]

28. Or maybe Norman Hsu holds the presidency in HIS hands.

[sniffa]

29. "but I am OK with Obama."

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[gulliver]

34. That actually wasn't a joke...

...but I'll take a laugh any way I can get it.

[Omega3]

32. only IF the MSM covers this, they're most likely waiting till after 3/5

[hulka38]

37. OMG - that is classic satire. Only this poster sounds serious -

which makes it even funnier. :rofl:

[sendero]

41. I don't give a crap about Rezko....

..... just like I didn't give a crap about all the "guilt by association" bullshit the right wing tried to pin in Bill Clinton all through the 90s.

Supporters of HRC are hanging on to a totally false hope that somehow, anyhow HRC can pin some dirt on Obama in time to save HRC's campaign.

Nobody gives a shit about Rezko except the rabid HRC supporters who cannot accept they are losing. Tough nookies.