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And then there's Fred

A

Anonymous

Guest
You know, the Hollywood Hero that some Republicans are hoping can save the party. :roll:

He's been flying around the country on a private jet lent to him by a businessman and close adviser who has a criminal record for drug dealing.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/03/AR2007110301153.html?hpid=topnews
 

Steve

Well-known member
ff
the Hollywood Hero that some Republicans are hoping can save the party

the only Hollywood hero the "republicans" are hopeing for might be Duncan Hunter...

The one you mentioned above, seemed to ride in on the liberal media bandwagon..

While I am not against Thompson, he certianly is not a hero, but he is a hell of alot better then Hillary or Obama...

by the way what about Obama and his crooked house deal???

Two days running now, the Chicago Tribune has raised questions about the deals that Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and a friend made in 2005 to buy adjacent properties in Chicago.

Obama Among the reasons they've gotten the newspaper's attention: The man who bought the property next door to Obama's is Antoin "Tony" Rezko, who On Deadline readers may recall is not only a fundraiser and political confidant for Democratic Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich but also has been indicted and arrested on charges charges of fraud and extortion.

The reporting started Wednesday with this story, which lays out in some detail the history of the Obama and Rezko purchases.

It was one of those great deals,.. Obama paid for about a quarter of the land, and ended up with the house and 3/4 of the land,,, Rezko got the side yard and a jail term... now thats a pal..



Your right, Dems do have better crooked buddies then the top tier republicans...
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Are you deliberately lying? Or do you just not know any better? Obama seems to have answered all the questions. Rezko has not been tried or convicted of anything yet.

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama expressed regret late Friday for his 2005 land purchase from now-indicted political fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko in a deal that enlarged the senator's yard.

"I consider this a mistake on my part and I regret it," Obama told the Chicago Sun-Times in an exclusive and revealing question-and-answer exchange about the transaction.

In June 2005, Obama and Rezko purchased adjoining parcels in Kenwood. The state's junior senator paid $1.65 million for a Georgian revival mansion, while Rezko paid $625,000 for the adjacent, undeveloped lot. Both closed on their properties on the same day.

Last January, aiming to increase the size of his sideyard, Obama paid Rezko $104,500 for a strip of his land.
The transaction occurred at a time when it was widely known Tony Rezko was under investigation by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald and as other Illinois politicians befriended by Rezko distanced themselves from him.

In the Sun-Times interview, Obama acknowledged approaching Rezko about the two properties being up for sale and that Rezko developed an immediate interest. Obama did not explain why he reached out to Rezko given the developer's growing problems.

Last month, Rezko was indicted for his role in an alleged pay-to-play scheme designed to fatten Gov. Blagojevich's political fund. Rezko also was accused of bilking a creditor.

"With respect to the purchase of my home, I am confident that everything was handled ethically and above board. But I regret that while I tried to pay close attention to the specific requirements of ethical conduct, I misgauged the appearance presented by my purchase of the additional land from Mr. Rezko," Obama said.

"It was simply not good enough that I paid above the appraised value for the strip of land that he sold me. It was a mistake to have been engaged with him at all in this or any other personal business dealing that would allow him, or anyone else, to believe that he had done me a favor," the senator said.

The land deal came up in a court hearing Friday that delved into Rezko's finances. Obama said he has not been approached by federal prosecutors about the transaction nor has plans to go to them about it.

Obama and Rezko have been friends since 1990, and Obama said the Wilmette businessman raised as much as $60,000 for him during his political career. After Rezko's indictment, Obama donated $11,500 to charity--a total that represents what Rezko contributed to the senator's federal campaign fund.

After the controversy surfaced on Wednesday, the Sun-Times presented Obama's office with a lengthy set of questions about the land deal, Obama's relationship with Rezko and the story's impact on a potential 2008 bid for the White House.

Here are his responses:

Q: Senator, when did you first meet Tony Rezko? How did you become friends? How often would you meet with him, and when did you last speak with him?

A: I had attracted some media attention when I was elected the first black President of the Harvard Law Review. And while I was in law school, David Brint, who was a development partner with Tony Rezko contacted me and asked whether I would be interested in being a developer. Ultimately, after discussions in which I met Mr. Rezko, I said no.

I have probably had lunch with Rezko once or twice a year and our spouses may have gotten together on two to four occasions in the time that I have known him. I last spoke with Tony Rezko more than six months ago.

Q:. Have you or your wife participated in any other transactions of any kind with Rezko or companies he owns? Have you or your wife ever done any legal work ever for Rezko or his companies?

A: No.

Q: Has Rezko ever given you or your family members gifts of any kind and, if so, what were they?

A: No.

Q: The seller of your house appears to be a doctor at the University of Chicago . Do you or your wife know him? If so, did either of you ever talk to him about subdividing the property? If you ever did discuss the property with him, when were those conversations?

A: We did not know him personally, though my wife worked in the same University hospital. The property was subdivided and two lots were separately listed when we first learned of it. We did not discuss the property with the owners; the sale was negotiated for us by our agent.

Q: Did you approach Rezko or his wife about the property, or did they approach you?

A: To the best of my recollection, I told him about the property, and he developed an interest, knowing both the location and, as I recall, the developer who had previously purchased it.

Q: Who was your Realtor? Did this Realtor also represent Rita Rezko?

A: Miriam Zeltzerman, who had also represented me in the purchase of my prior property, a condominium, in Hyde Park. She did not represent Rita Rezko.

Q: How do you explain the fact your family purchased your home the same day as Rita Rezko bought the property adjacent to yours? Was this a coordinated purchase?

A: The sellers required the closing of both properties at the same time. As they were moving out of town, they wished to conclude the sale of both properties simultaneously. The lot was purchased first; with the purchase of the house on the adjacent lot, the closings could proceed and did, on the same day, pursuant to the condition set by the sellers.

Q: Why is it that you were able to buy your parcel for $300,000 less than the asking price, and Rita Rezko paid full price? Who negotiated this end of the deal? Did whoever negotiated it have any contact with Rita and Tony Rezko or their Realtor or lawyer?

A: Our agent negotiated only with the seller's agent. As we understood it, the house had been listed for some time, for months, and our offer was one of two and, as we understood it, it was the best offer. The original listed price was too high for the market at the time, and we understood that the sellers, who were anxious to move, were prepared to sell the house for what they paid for it, which is what they did.

We were not involved in the Rezko negotiation of the price for the adjacent lot. It was our understanding that the owners had received, from another buyer, an offer for $625,000 and that therefore the Rezkos could not have offered or purchased that lot for less.

Q: Why did you put the property in a trust?

A: I was advised that a trust holding would afford me some privacy, which was important to me as I would be commuting from Washington to Chicago and my family would spend some part of most weeks without me.

Q: A Nov. 21, 1999, Chicago Tribune story indicates the house you bought "sits on a quarter-acre lot and will share a driveway and entrance gate with a home next door that has not yet been built." Is this shared driveway still in the mix? Will this require further negotiations with the Rezkos?

A: The driveway is not shared with the adjacent owner. But the resident in the carriage house in the back does have an easement over it.

Q: Does it display a lack of judgment on your part to be engaging in real estate deals with Tony Rezko at a point his connections to state government had been reported to be under federal investigation?

A: I've always held myself to the highest ethical standards. During the ten years I have been in public office, I believe I have met those standards and I know that is what people expect of me. I have also understood the importance of appearances.

With respect to the purchase of my home, I am confident that everything was handled ethically and above board.

But I regret that while I tried to pay close attention to the specific requirements of ethical conduct, I misgauged the appearance presented by my purchase of the additional land from Mr. Rezko. It was simply not good enough that I paid above the appraised value for the strip of land that he sold me. It was a mistake to have been engaged with him at all in this or any other personal business dealing that would allow him, or anyone else, to believe that he had done me a favor. For that reason, I consider this a mistake on my part and I regret it.

Throughout my life, I have put faith in confronting experiences honestly and learning from them. And that is what I will do with this experience as well.

Q: Why did you not publicly disclose the transaction after Rezko got indicted?

A: At the time, it didn't strike me as relevant. I did however donate campaign contributions from Rezko to charity.

Q: Have you been interviewed by federal investigators about this transaction or about your relationship with Rezko? If not, do you intend to approach them?

A: I have not been interviewed by federal investigators. I have no reason to approach them.

Q: Did Rezko or his companies ever solicit your support on any matter involving state or federal government? Did Al Johnson, who was trying to get a casino license along with Tony Rezko, or Rezko himself ever discuss casino matters with you?

A: No, I have never been asked to do anything to advance his business interests. In 1999, when I was a State Senator, I opposed legislation to bring a casino to Rosemont and allow casino gambling at docked riverboats which news reports said Al Johnson and Tony Rezko were interested in being part of. I never discussed a casino license with either of them. I was a vocal opponent of the legislation. (http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/votehistory/srollcalls91/pdf/910SB1017_05251999_001000C.PDF)

Q: Has this disclosure about your relationship with Rezko changed your thoughts about a White House run?

A: No. As I have said, how I can best serve is something I will think about after the 2006 election next Tuesday.

Q: Did Rezko ever discuss with you his dealings with Stuart Levine, Christopher Kelly or William Cellini or the role he was playing in shaping Gov. Blagojevich's administration?

A: No.

Q: Are the Obamas the only beneficiaries of the land trust?

A: Yes.

Q: Are you aware of any efforts by previous owners to develop what is now the Rezko lot, possibly as townhomes?

A: I was not aware of any prior effort by the seller to develop the property, but always understood the other lot was to be developed upon sale.

Q: Did Rezko have an appraisal performed for the 10-foot strip?

A: I had an appraisal conducted by Howard B. Richter & Associates on November 21, 2005.

Q: Was there a negotiation? Did he have an asking price, or did he just say, whatever you think is fair?

A: I proposed to pay on the basis of proportionality. Since the strip composed one-sixth of the entire lot, I would pay one-sixth of the purchase price of the lot. I offered this to Mr. Rezko and he accepted it.

Q: How many fundraisers has Mr. Rezko hosted for you? Were these all in his home? How much would you estimate he has raised for your campaigns?

A: He hosted one event at his home in 2003 for my U.S. Senate campaign. He participated as a member of a host committee for several other events. My best estimate was that he raised somewhere between $50,000 and $60,000.

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

hopalong

Well-known member
Look out Frankie the SKY IS FALLING :D :D :D :D

The black copters are circling your house right now loaded with little green men in space suits to take you away!!
:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:


Rod Sterling would have a ball with your paranoia :D :D :D :D

edited for spelling
 

Steve

Well-known member
Are you deliberately lying? Or do you just not know any better? Obama seems to have answered all the questions.

when I do research on some one accused of corruption, I seldom use their "explanation"....but if you like here is another source that goes deeper into the "relationship between these two... seems to me the only person deliberately lying is the one who is sitting in the big fancy house... so be gullible if you like and take his word despite the facts...



Antoin "Tony" Rezko is an Illinois restaurant and real estate developer currently facing federal charges of attempted extortion, money laundering, and fraud.

In November, 2006, Barack Obama acknowledged his involvement in a real estate deal to which Rezko was a participant. Under the deal, Obama and Rezko purchased adjoining properties, with Rezko later reselling part of his parcel to Obama. No laws were broken and Obama is not under investigation. Obama acknowledges that the exchange may have appeared improper, and stated "I consider this a mistake on my part and I regret it."[1]

In April, 2007 Barack Obama was again connected to Rezko, when records were published in the Chicago Suntimes detailing the relationship between Obama, the law firm which employed him and Rezko's Rezmar Corp, a company which made government-subsidized, low-income housing projects, in a series of troubled real estate developments pursued by Rezko's Rezmar Corp, which brought in more than $43 million in government funding for these projects, many of which are currently in distress financially and disrepair. [7]

In June, 2007 the Chicago Sun-Times published a story about Obama writing letters to city and state officials on behalf of Rezko, so Rezko could receive more than $14 million in taxpayer funds to develop senior citizen housing, including $885,000 in development fees for Rezko and partner Allison Davis, Obama's former boss. Before the Sun-Times revealed Obama's letters in support of Rezko, Sen. Obama had insisted to the Tribune , "I've never done any favors for him." [8][9]

Also in June 2007, The Chicago Sun-Times discovered that Obama had collected at least $168,308 from Rezko over Obama's 12 years in politics, approximately triple the best estimate that Obama had provided of Rezko's donations. Obama had told the Sun-Times that Rezko raised "between $50,000 and $60,000" during Obama's political career.[10]

In the article you used to show Obama as being ethical, he is caught in at least one lie....

as for Rezko being in Jail.. gee I was slighty wrong,..he didn't get a jail term, yet....but he was in jail...

Nine homes owned by friends and family members were submitted to secure Rezko's release. He also must put up his own residences in Wilmette and Lake Geneva, Wis.

But essentially Obama recieved a sweet deal and is involved with a corrupt soon to be convicted scum....

but if you think getting a house for $300,000 under value and free use of a side yard is okey, if he Buys part of it when he gets caught..then let me sell you a bridge....it's old, but in a great location...

Dems do have better crooked buddies then the top tier republicans...
 

Steve

Well-known member
It was one of those great deals,.. Obama paid for about a quarter of the land, and ended up with the house and 3/4 of the land,,, Rezko got the side yard and a jail term... now thats a pal..

Are you deliberately lying? Or do you just not know any better? Obama seems to have answered all the questions. Rezko has not been tried or convicted of anything yet.

I should have written...

Rezko got part of the side yard and will soon get a jail term... now thats a pal..
 

Texan

Well-known member
ff said:
You know, the Hollywood Hero that some Republicans are hoping can save the party. :roll:

He's been flying around the country on a private jet lent to him by a businessman and close adviser who has a criminal record for drug dealing.
Yeah, that looks pretty bad, ff. There's no excusing that. Fred sure doesn't appeal to me, but that's a pretty poor reflection on his campaign - not to mention his choice of friends.

Fred says he didn't know about this so I guess we should take him at his word. The Clinton campaign knew exactly what they were doing affiliating their candidate with Sandy Burglar. I guess I missed your posts demonstrating your indignation over that.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Thompson's frequent flights aboard Martin's twin-engine Cessna 560 Citation have saved him more than $100,000, because until the law changed in September, campaign-finance rules allowed presidential candidates to reimburse private jet owners for just a fraction of the true cost of flights.

Martin entered a plea of guilty to the sale of 11 pounds of marijuana in 1979; the court withheld judgment pending completion of his probation. He was charged in 1983 with violating his probation and with multiple counts of felony bookmaking, cocaine trafficking and conspiracy. He pleaded no contest to the cocaine-trafficking and conspiracy charges, which stemmed from a plan to sell $30,000 worth of the drug, and was continued on probation.


Now to me this is not a "casual user" type conviction-this is down right "dealer" type convictions- and old Freds not knowing about it, being advised earlier about it, or else not caring about it :roll: --looks like a huge breakdown in his campaign staff and his ability to pick and choose advisors/assistants/appointees....

Fred may be a good "actor" at playing fantasy president but we've had one of those thats been playing with his fantasy's for the last 7 years--we now need someone that actually knows what he and his appointees are doing- and appointing them on ability, not cronyism....
 
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