Obama 'saddened' by Blagojevich arrest

What a history we missed by not having Mr. Gore running things for the last 8 years. The meeting today could have been a peer to peer transition meeting. Many of the corruptive political players could have been dispatched earlier by a more capable department of justice.
And the economy ----- I'll stop here.

First day of the scandal, first lie by Obama.

From the above article: "I had no contact with the governor or his office and so I was not aware of what was happening," [Obama] said."

David Axelrod, senior Obama advisor, Nov. 23rd, on TV: "I know [Obama's] talked to the governor [about a replacement] and names were mentioned."

Either Axelrod lied or Obama lied.

Now I see why the Obama folks stayed away from Blago... didn't speak at the convention, not invited to Grant Park, etc. Not being from Illinois I didn't realize what a dirtbag the governor is.

On Tuesday, Axelrod issued a statement saying: "I was mistaken. ... They did not then or at any time discuss the subject."

One wonders if the Trib caved to his demands during its recent staff bloodletting.

Tim Mc, it's not possible to change only one aspect of history.

If Gore had been elected in 2000, it's likely that we'd be as sick of him, and 16 years of Democrats, as we are of Bush now. Obama would likely still be a back-bench freshman senator from Illinois who gave good speeches. Perhaps, with a sitting Democratic president, Obama wouldn't have been invited to give his 2004 speech because he'd upstage Gore, who, to say the least, is not an electrifying speaker.

I always think that the Nixon presidency made the Carter presidency possible. Carter essentially ran against the memory of Nixon; "I will not lie to you." In the same way, the Bush presidency made the Obama presidency possible. I hope that it turns out better than the Carter presidency did.

unfortunately dave, they both inherited a sack of crap from their republican predecessors. and there's a strong argument to be made that a gore presidency stood a much better chance of avoiding 9/11, which would have meant no wars in afghanistan or iraq. most likely an environmental policy not run by oil companies, less spending, fairer tax policies, a better focus on healthcare and education, better federal emergency response and much more respect worldwide than we have harbored for the last eight years. that "lock box" doesn't look so bad in retrospect.

crud, I'd like to see the argument made. I've seen the assertion many times, but never any convincing supporting data. Of course, the Gore presidency is the road not taken, so we'll never know how it might have turned out.

The 9/11 hijackers were in the US, learning to fly airliners but not to land them, during the Clinton administration. In a land of 300 million people where we value individual freedom, it's easy to stay under the radar. There had been attacks on American interests by Islamic extremists going back at least to 1979, but our response was ineffectual or they were treated as criminal matters (e.g., the 1993 WTC bombing) rather than the acts of war that they were. In retrospect, it's easy to point out this and that item of intelligence and say, "They should have known!" but in prospect, it's like trying to pick the pepper from the fly spit.

I think that the 9/11 attacks would still have taken place with a Gore presidency, but the Afghanistan war wouldn't; Al Gore would still be working on the environmental impact statement for it!

sandy berger and richard clarke both made it clear to the incoming bush administration that al queda and bin laden were immanent threats. not a single high level meeting occurred in the first eight months of 2001. the incoming admin did everything they could to distance themselves from all things clinton, then focusing more on another nonsense star wars initiative. a gore presidency might have kept the same people and focus in place, not distance themselves from themselves.
9/11 might have happened either way, but in retrospect, i would give a gore administration a chance over the last eight pathetic years.

would you?

Right wing radio host lied to there audience saying Obama said he never said talked to the governor. Obama never said never. Obama has spoken to the governor over the years.

Here is what he did say. "Obviously, like the rest of the people of Illinois, I am saddened and sobered by the news that came out of the U.S. attorney's office today," Obama said. "But as this is an ongoing investigation involving the governor, I don't think it would be appropriate for me to comment on the issue at this time."

As reporters we being escorted from a brief photo opportunity following a nearly two hour meeting with Gore, they shouted questions about the matter at the president-elect.

"I'll just answer this one question," he responded.

"I had no contact with the governor or his office and so I was not aware of what was happening," he said. "And as I said, it's a sad day for Illinois. Beyond that, I don't think it's appropriate to comment."

Obama was not aware that the governor was going to arrested that morning for among other things trying to sell his senate seat. He was in a meeting with Gore for two hours so he didn't see the U.S. attorney's press conference.