This Sestak-Clinton-Emanuel-Obama Thing
Ursula Hennessey ·
May 28, 2010 at 9:45am
Let's just get the nonsense out of the way first. I, Ursula Q. "Public," am not at all "assured" by you, Mr. President, that "nothing improper took place." Nonsense. However, to my Ricochet political experts, please help me fill in some blanks with this New York Times story about Bill Clinton passing on Rahm Emanuel's "message" to Joe Sestak.
1) Why would Clinton do this? What does he get out of it?
2) Why would Sestak, or anyone, for that matter, be enticed by an unpaid advisory job? There must be some other, under-the-table kind of thing that will result in money, right?
3) Please explain why someone like me shouldn't be totally revolted by all political operators, if this is, indeed, run-of-the-mill political shenanigans?
- Comment (4)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (4)
Comments :
May '10
Re: This Sestak-Clinton-Emanuel-Obama Thing
Yesterday when President Obama said an announcement would be forthcoming and that nothing improper took place I assumed they had it all worked out "the chicago way." It comes down to Sestak. Sestak is backed in to a corner on this too and needs to move soon or the chanting about aiding a felony are going to start to sting. Being a clever politician he has used the situation to get something from the administration. My guess is a deal has been reached. The White House releases this story and Sestak will corroborate. I suppose that will be the end as it begins and ends with Sestak.
May '10
Re: This Sestak-Clinton-Emanuel-Obama Thing
My only guess as to why someone would take the unpaid advisory position is to either "gain" executive experience for a future gubernatorial campaign or to parlay the executive and legislative experience into a more lucrative lobbying career. And you should be revolted.
May '10
Re: This Sestak-Clinton-Emanuel-Obama Thing
I don't understand why this isn't a felony. The law states clearly that nothing of "value" may be offered, and as Pat points out, the position--while unpaid--has value, even if that value is just prestige, influence, and resume enhancement. This would be HUGE if it were Rove pulling the strings instead of Rahm. If it simply fades away, it would be an outrage.
May '10
Re: This Sestak-Clinton-Emanuel-Obama Thing
There's a sea story going around about Sestak when he was commanding a Carrier Strike Group. He apparently so infuriated the Carrier Air Wing, that the Air Boss told a new crop of aviators they'd never land a plane on his carrier deck until Sestak got what was coming to him. ADM Sestak kept a rubber ducky on his desk that he would include in pictures of his travels and activities while on deployments. The photos were taken for his young daughter, so the ducky had sentimental value for the Admiral. The ducky in question was taken from his office and launched off the fantail of the carrier. The video of the airborne ducky exists somewhere, but I doubt it will ever surface. I'm sure Sestak is still sore about it.
Maybe Sestak's GOP challenger might get some miles out of it. I'm picturing a political ad with Sestak and his DC cronies as clueless rubber duckies floating in a sea of national debt and gov't spending. Then, cut to a shot of the candidate pulling the drain stopper as water circles down the drain and saying he'll drain bid gov't spending and debt from Washington.